Contribution of Nuclear Fragmentation to Dose and RBE in Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy.

Variable relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of carbon radiotherapy may be calculated using several models, including the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM), stochastic MKM (SMKM), repair-misrepair-fixation (RMF) model, and local effect model I (LEM), which have not been thoroughly compared. In this work, we compared how these four models handle carbon beam fragmentation, providing insight into where model differences arise. Monoenergetic and spread-out Bragg peak carbon beams incident on a water phantom were simulated using Monte Carlo.

Comparative Adsorption of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Strains to Minnesota Soils.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an endemic disease affecting the swine industry. The disease is caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV). Despite extensive biosecurity and control measures, the persistence and seasonality of the virus have raised questions about the virus's environmental dynamics during the fall season when the yearly epidemic onset begins and when crop harvesting and manure incorporation into the field occur.

Alginate Hydrogel Beads with a Leakproof Gold Shell for Ultrasound-Triggered Release.

Focused ultrasound has advantages as an external stimulus for drug delivery as it is non-invasive, has high precision and can penetrate deep into tissues. Here, we report a gold-plated alginate (ALG) hydrogel system that retains highly water-soluble small-molecule fluorescein for sharp off/on release after ultrasound exposure. The ALG is crosslinked into beads with calcium chloride and layered with a polycation to adjust the surface charge for the adsorption of catalytic platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs).

Impact of a Novel Two-Phase Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Assisted Extraction on the Structural, Functional, and Flavor Properties of Hemp Protein Isolates.

Defatting dehulled hemp seeds is a crucial step prior to protein extraction. However, conventional methods rely on flammable solvents, posing significant health, safety, and environmental concerns. Additionally, hemp protein has poor extractability, challenging functionality, and flavor limitations, restricting its broader application in foods.

p97 Inhibitors Possessing Antiviral Activity Against SARS-CoV-2 and Low Cytotoxicity.

p97 (also known as valosin-containing protein, VCP) is a member of the AAA+ ATPase family and is intimately associated with protein quality control and homeostasis regulation. Therefore, pharmaceutical inhibition of p97 has been actively pursued as an anticancer strategy. Recently, p97 has emerged as an important pro-viral host factor and p97 inhibitors are being evaluated as potential antiviral agents.

Relatedness of White-Tailed Deer from Culling Efforts Within Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones in Minnesota.

In white-tailed deer (), closely related females form social groups, avoiding other social groups. Consequently, females infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) are more likely to infect social group members. Culling has been used to reduce CWD transmission in high-risk areas; however, its effectiveness in removing related individuals has not been assessed.

Machine Learning Models for the Early Real-Time Prediction of Deterioration in Intensive Care Units-A Novel Approach to the Early Identification of High-Risk Patients.

Predictive machine learning models have made use of a variety of scoring systems to identify clinical deterioration in ICU patients. However, most of these scores include variables that are dependent on medical staff examining the patient. We present the development of a real-time prediction model using clinical variables that are digital and automatically generated for the early detection of patients at risk of deterioration.

Environmental Applications of Mass Spectrometry for Emerging Contaminants.

Emerging contaminants (ECs), encompassing pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, represent a growing threat to ecosystems and human health due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and often-unknown toxicological profiles. Addressing these challenges necessitates advanced analytical tools capable of detecting and quantifying trace levels of ECs in complex environmental matrices. This review highlights the pivotal role of mass spectrometry (MS) in monitoring ECs, emphasizing its high sensitivity, specificity, and versatility across various techniques such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS).

Purine but Not Pyrimidine De Novo Nucleotide Biosynthesis Inhibitors Strongly Enhance the Antiviral Effect of Corresponding Nucleobases Against Dengue Virus.

Every year, dengue virus affects hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. To date, there is no specific medication to treat dengue virus infections. Nucleobases, the base of a nucleoside without ribose, are understudied as potential treatments for viral infections.

Characterizing Stream Condition with Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Southeastern Minnesota, USA: Agriculture, Channelization, and Karst Geology Impact Lotic Habitats and Communities.

Prior to implementing watershed-wide projects to reduce the impacts of agriculture on regional streams and rivers, stream habitats and benthic aquatic macroinvertebrate communities were assessed at 15 sites on the South Branch Root River and its major tributaries in southeastern Minnesota, USA. Triplicate kick-net samples were collected from each site during three time periods (1998, 1999, 2006/2008) and stream habitats were inventoried within 150 m long sections at each site. In total, 26,760 invertebrates representing 84 taxa were collected and used to rate stream sites using a regional multi-metric benthic index of biotic integrity (BIBI).

Resistance of to Trimethoprim: Insights into Genes Encoding Dihydrofolate Reductase, Thymidylate Synthase and Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase in the Rickettsiales.

Bacterial and eukaryotic dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzymes are essential for DNA synthesis and are differentially sensitive to the competitive inhibitors trimethoprim and methotrexate. Unexpectedly, trimethoprim did not reduce abundance, and the Stri DHFR homolog contained amino acid substitutions associated with trimethoprim resistance in . A phylogenetic tree showed good association of DHFR protein sequences with supergroup A and B assignments.

Genome-Wide Association and Genomic Prediction of Alfalfa ( L.) Biomass Yield Under Drought Stress.

Developing drought-resistant alfalfa ( L.) that maintains high biomass yield is a key breeding goal to enhance productivity in water-limited areas. In this study, 424 alfalfa breeding families were analyzed to identify molecular markers associated with biomass yield under drought stress and to predict high-merit plants.

Cell Type Specific Suppression of Hyper-Recombination by Human RAD18 Is Linked to Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen K164 Ubiquitination.

RAD18 is a conserved eukaryotic E3 ubiquitin ligase that promotes genome stability through multiple pathways. One of these is gap-filling DNA synthesis at active replication forks and in post-replicative DNA. RAD18 also regulates homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA breaks; however, the current literature describing the contribution of RAD18 to HR in mammalian systems has not reached a consensus.

Clinical Benefit of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin and High Prevalence of Pre-Existing Psychiatric Conditions in Patients with Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis.

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) is a locally invasive tumor composed of myofibroblast-like cells and collagen; it does not metastasize but can cause significant local morbidity. Most sporadic cases are associated with mutations in the CTNNB1 gene, which encodes beta-catenin. Various treatments have been used with differing efficacy and toxicity profiles.

Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia: Advances in Diagnosis, Genetic Insights, and Management Strategies.

CNL is a rare subtype of MPNs characterized by persistent neutrophilia, bone marrow hypercellularity, and specific genetic mutations, particularly in the gene. Advances in molecular diagnostics have greatly enhanced our understanding of CNL, distinguishing it from other myeloproliferative disorders and refining diagnostic criteria. This review provides an updated overview of CNL, focusing on breakthroughs in genetic profiling, including novel mutations with potential prognostic value and implications for targeted therapy.

Vascularization, Innervation, and Inflammation: Pathways Connecting the Heart-Brain Axis and Implications in a Clinical Setting.

With an aging population, the incidence of both ischemic heart disease and strokes have become the most prevalent diseases globally. These diseases have similar risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. However, there is also evidence of a relationship between the heart and the brain, referred to as the heart-brain axis.

"My Husband Is a 'Mama's Boy'": Women's Views on Male Engagement in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Western Kenya.

There is an increasing global acknowledgment of the critical role that men have as key partners in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). Most male-engagement initiatives do not address the perceived benefits and risks that women may experience because of increased male participation in MNCH, especially in Kenya. The aim of this study, therefore, is to qualitatively assess how women perceive and experience increased male engagement in MNCH in western Kenya.

"Lack" and "Finally": A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators in Rare Disease Healthcare.

This study explored the experiences of adults with diverse rare diseases (RDs) and RD caregivers with barriers and facilitators to healthcare access in the United States (US), including during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their recommendations for improving access. Adults with RDs and parents/caregivers to children with RDs (N = 1128) completed open-ended survey items. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Cracking the Code of Calcification: How Presence and Burden among Intracranial Arteries Influence Stroke Incidence and Recurrence.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerosis accounts for about 8% of all strokes in Western societies but the influence of arterial calcification on plaque instability is a topic on ongoing debate.

Purpose: Explore the association between the presence and burden of calcium in atherosclerotic plaques among intracranial arteries with the risk of clinical or silent stroke events through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, studies from PubMed and Embase were analyzed up to May 2024.

Infection with the zoonotic nematode, Trichinella murrelli in bobcats (Lynx rufus) from Minnesota, USA.

During a survey for other parasitic infections, tongue and limb muscles of wild bobcats (Lynx rufus) were examined microscopically from a sample of 190 Minnesota bobcats. One batch (n = 50) was studied in 2015, yielding no cases of Trichinella when examined only with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of <25 mg of tissue. In a 2024 cohort (n = 140), this method was paired with a compression of ∼5 g of tissue.

Mechanical thrombectomy in elderly stroke patients with low ASPECTS: insights from STAR.

Background: The elderly population (≥80 years) were underrepresented in recent trials of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke (LVO-AIS) with low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (≤5).

Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospectively maintained database of 37 thrombectomy centers. The primary cohort of the study comprised patients with LVO-AIS aged ≥80 who underwent EVT with ASPECTS≤5 from 2013 to 2023.

Direct compression tablet formulation of trimetazidine through systematic screening of oxalate salts.

Salt formation has been extensively used to modulate and improve the properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), such as solubility, stability and mechanical properties. Tablets of the anti-angina drug, trimetazidine (TMZ) are currently manufactured using the wet granulation process, rather than the more cost-effective direct compression method. In an effort to address the two main challenges associated with the commercial dihydrochloride salt (TMZ-2HCl), i.

Paediatric strategy forum for medicinal product development in diffuse midline gliomas in children and adolescents ACCELERATE in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency with participation of the Food and Drug Administration.

Fewer than 10 % of children with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) survive 2 years from diagnosis. Radiation therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment and there are no medicinal products with regulatory approval. Although the biology of DMG is better characterized, this has not yet translated into effective treatments.

Efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke and left ventricular assist device: review of the literature and meta-analysis.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used as definitive therapy or as a bridge to heart transplant in patients with advanced heart failure. Thromboembolic complications such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are common among patients with LVAD support. This study aims to evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with AIS due to large vessel occlusions (LVO) and LVAD-support.