Dose optimization of extended collimators in boron neutron capture therapy.

In this paper, we propose the design of extending collimators aimed at reducing the radiation dose received by patients with normal tissues and protecting organs at risk in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Three types of extended collimators are studied: Type 1, which is a traditional design; Type 2, which is built upon Type 1 by incorporating additional polyethylene material containing lithium fluoride (PE(LiF)); Type 3, which adds lead (Pb) to Type 1. We evaluated the dose distribution characteristics of the above-extended collimators using Monte Carlo methods simulations under different configurations: in air, in a homogeneous phantom, and a humanoid phantom model.

The RodentGPOmics Atlas: a comprehensive database of rodent biology for genomes and pathogens.

Rodents represent the most abundant order of mammals, exhibiting remarkable diversity in morphology, habitats, behaviors, and hosted pathogens. Significant attention is currently focused on rodents as experimental animals for biomedical research. However, numerous aspects of rodents remain unexplored, such as their potential in unconventional biomedical models, molecular underpinnings of intriguing complex phenotypes, adaptations to environment or climate change, and host-pathogen interactions and arms race evolution.

Noninvasive myocardial work in severe aortic regurgitation: implications for postoperative left ventricular dysfunction.

Aims: Noninvasive myocardial work offers a promising echocardiographic method to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function as it integrates myocardial deformation and afterload. The study sought to investigate the association of myocardial work indices with post-operative LV dysfunction in patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methods And Results: Pre-operative LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV global work index (LV GWI), LV global constructive work (LV GCW), LV global wasted work (LV GWW), and LV global work efficiency (LV GWE) were measured.

Construction of a physical map for Aegilops geniculata chromosome 7M and localization of its novel purple coleoptile gene.

A physical map of Aegilops geniculata chromosome 7M was constructed, and a novel purple coleoptile gene was localized at 7MS bin FL 0.60-0.65 by development of wheat-Ae.

Trophic niche variation driven by water level fluctuations facilitates the co-occurrence of invasive tilapia species in a subtropical reservoir in China.

Investigating how multiple invasive fish species with similar ecological traits respond to different environmental conditions is crucial to understanding their successful invasion and coexistence. Here, we used stomach content analysis and stable isotope analysis to analyse the effects of water level fluctuation on the trophic niche plasticity of three dominant co-occurring invasive tilapia species (Coptodon zillii, Sarotherodon galilaeus, and Oreochromis niloticus) in the Shanmei Reservoir, southern China. We found that the tilapia species exhibited an iliophagous habit with dietary variations between the high-water (HW) and low-water (LW) level periods.

Gradient Distributed and Tightly Integrated Perovskite Heterojunction Constructed by Electric Field-Driven Ion Deposition for High-Performance X-ray Detection.

Perovskite heterojunctions combine the advantages of two different components but suffer difficulties in the tightness of interconnection and limitation of material selection. Here we report an electric field-driven ion deposition (EFID) strategy that controllably deposits perovskite ions on heterogeneous single crystals to form a gradient heterojunction with tight integration. The interconnection force of the gradient heterojunction by the EFID method is much better than that of the solution-grown heterojunction, which is easily decomposed.

Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in a patient with multiple primary gastric and rectal cancers with good prognosis: A case report.

Rationale: Multiple primary cancer is common in clinical practice, but its diagnosis process is complicated, and relevant genetic testing is required to assist in diagnosis when necessary. The formulation of treatment strategies for multiple primary cancer is a highly personalized process. In this article, we introduce a case of a patient with rectal cancer and gastric cancer who was diagnosed with multiple primary cancers, to investigate and explore the clinical application value of next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing in patients with multiple primary gastric and colorectal cancers.

Predictive value and model construction of preoperative nutritional indexes for postoperative leakage in gastric cancer.

Objective: We aimed to explore the predictive significance of the nutritional indexes in the occurrence of postoperative leakage after gastrectomy, aiming to develop and validate a predictive nomogram for assessing the risk of these complications.

Methods: Patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer were studied, using data from The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (2019-2022, n = 1075) for nomogram development and an external cohort from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (2022, n = 286) for validation. The model, focusing on postoperative leakage, was constructed through univariate and backward stepwise regression.

Nevus-associated acral melanoma has lower risk of recurrence and mortality than de novo acral melanoma: A multicenter, retrospective analysis of 482 patients.

Background: It is unknown whether acral melanomas (AMs) associated with pre-existing nevi have similar risk to other AMs.

Objective: To compare risk of recurrence and death between AMs associated with pre-existing nevi and de novo AMs.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study involving patients diagnosed with AMs between February 2011 and November 2022.

Remote-Contact Catalysis for Target-Diameter Semiconducting Carbon Nanotube Arrays.

Electrostatic catalysis uses an external electric field (EEF) to rearrange the charge distribution to boost reaction rates and selectively produce certain reaction products in small-molecule reactions (e.g., Diels-Alder addition), requiring a 10 MV/cm field aligned with the reaction axis.

A universal method for seizure onset zone localization in focal epilepsy using standard deviation of spike amplitude.

Background: Precisely localizing the seizure onset zone (SOZ) is critical for focal epilepsy surgery. Existing methods mainly focus on high-frequency activities in stereo-electroencephalography, but often fail when seizures are not driven by high-frequency activities. Recognized as biomarkers of epileptic seizures, ictal spikes in SOZ induce epileptiform discharges in other brain regions.

Transcriptome analysis of liver and ileum reveals potential regulation of long non-coding RNA in pigs with divergent feed efficiency.

Objective: LncRNA plays a significant role in regulating feed efficiency. This study aims to explore the key long non-coding RNAs, associated genes, and pathways in pigs with extreme feed efficiencies.

Methods: We screened pigs with extremely high and low RFI through a 12-week animal growth trial and then conducted transcriptome analysis on their liver and ileum tissues.

A Mendelian randomization study on the association between systemic inflammatory regulators and essential and secondary hypertension.

Background: Inflammation is an important driver of hypertension with numerous components, and there is a paucity of research on the specific inflammatory factors that induce hypertension; therefore, we wanted to investigate the relationship between specific inflammatory factors and hypertension.

Purpose: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted to assess the causal relationship between systemic inflammatory regulators and hypertension (primary or secondary types).

Method: a large-scale, published genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis encompassing 41 cytokines (involved 8,293 Finnish participants from three independent population cohorts: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS), FINRISK1997, and FINRISK2002.

The predictive value of stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters for delayed healing after tibial fracture post-surgery.

Purpose: The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the predictive value of stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters for delayed healing after tibial fracture post-surgery.

Methods: A cohort of 108 participants who underwent surgical intervention for tibial fractures caused by trauma was included in this retrospective study. Data collected from electronic medical records encompassed demographic characteristics, bone healing assessments, stress-induced hyperglycemia parameters, inflammatory markers, and stress-related hormones.

Deep Recyclable Trash Sorting Using Integrated Parallel Attention.

Sorting recyclable trash is critical to reducing energy consumption and mitigating environmental pollution. Currently, trash sorting heavily relies on manpower. Computer vision technology enables automated trash sorting.