Origins of xyloglucan-degrading enzymes in fungi.

The origin story of land plants - the pivotal evolutionary event that paved the way for terrestrial ecosystems of today to flourish - lies within their closest living relatives: the streptophyte algae. Streptophyte cell wall composition has evolved such that profiles of cell wall polysaccharides can be used as taxonomic markers. Since xyloglucan is restricted to the streptophyte lineage, we hypothesized that fungal enzymes evolved in response to xyloglucan availability in streptophyte algal or land plant cell walls.

A new leaf inhabiting ascomycete from the Jurassic (ca 170 Mya) of Yorkshire, UK, and insights into the appearance and diversification of filamentous Ascomycota.

Leaf-associated fungi, the fungi that depend on leaves to sporulate, have a rich Cenozoic record, however their earlier diversity is poorly characterized. Here we describe Harristroma eboracense gen. et sp.

Clinical implementation and evaluation of stereotactic liver radiotherapy in inspiration breath-hold using nasal high-flow therapy and surface guidance.

Objective: To evaluate 2 years of clinical experience with markerless breath-hold liver stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) using noninvasive nasal high-flow therapy (NHFT) for breath-hold prolonging and surface guidance (SGRT) for monitoring.

Methods: Heated and humidified air was administered via a nasal cannula (40 L/min, 80% oxygen, 34 °C). Patients performed voluntary inspiration breath-holds with visual feedback.

Dosimetry and Monte Carlo modelling of the Papillon+ contact X-ray brachytherapy device.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate a Monte Carlo (MC) model for the Papillon+ contact x-ray brachytherapy (CXB) device, producing 50 kilovolt (kV) X-rays, specifically focusing on its application with a 25 mm diameter rectal applicator for contact therapy.

Material And Methods: The validation process involved depth dose and transverse dose profile measurements using EBT3 gafchromic films positioned in a plastic water low energy range phantom. The half-value layer (HVL) was further measured and derived from the simulated X-ray spectra.

Robustness of intensity modulated proton treatment of esophageal cancer for anatomical changes and breathing motion.

Background And Purpose: In this study, we assessed the robustness of intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) in esophageal cancer for anatomical variations during treatment.

Methods: The first sixty esophageal cancer patients, treated clinically with chemoradiotherapy were included. The treatment planning strategy was based on an internal target volume (ITV) approach, where the ITV was created from the clinical target volumes (CTVs) delineated on all phases of a 4DCT.