Comparative Analysis of Polyethylene-Oxidizing Laccases: Redox Properties and Enzyme-Polyethylene Interaction Mechanism.

Laccases that oxidize low-density polyethylene (LDPE) represent a promising strategy for bioremediation purposes. To rationalize or optimize their PE-oxidative activity, two fundamental factors must be considered: the enzyme's redox potential and its binding affinity/mode towards LDPE. Indeed, a stable laccase-PE complex may facilitate a thermodynamically unfavorable electron transfer, even without redox mediators.

Resolving the Nanostructure of Carbon Nitride-Supported Single-Atom Catalysts.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are gathering significant attention in chemistry due to their unique properties, offering uniform active site distribution and enhanced selectivity. However, their precise structure often remains unclear, with multiple models proposed in the literature. Understanding the coordination environment of the active site at the atomic level is crucial for explaining catalytic activity.

Silicon Drift Detectors for the Measurement and Reconstruction of Beta Spectra.

The ASPECT-BET project, or An sdd-SPECTrometer for BETa decay studies, aims to develop a novel technique for the precise measurement of forbidden beta spectra in the 10 keV-1 MeV range. This technique employs a Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) as the main spectrometer with the option of a veto system to reject events exhibiting only partial energy deposition in the SDD. A precise understanding of the spectrometer's response to electrons is crucial for accurately reconstructing the theoretical shape of the beta spectrum.

How Tumors Affect Hemodynamics: A Diffusion Study on the Zebrafish Transplantable Model of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma by Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a rare neuroendocrine tumor comprising 3-5% of thyroid cancers, arises from calcitonin-producing parafollicular C cells. Despite aggressive behavior, surgery remains the primary curative treatment, with limited efficacy reported for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent efforts have explored the pathogenetic mechanisms of MTC, identifying it as a highly vascularized neoplasm overexpressing pro-angiogenic factors.

A Machine Learning Model Based on MRI Radiomics to Predict Response to Chemoradiation Among Patients with Rectal Cancer.

Background: With rectum-sparing protocols becoming more common for rectal cancer treatment, this study aimed to predict the pathological complete response (pCR) to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (pCRT) in rectal cancer patients using pre-treatment MRI and a radiomics-based machine learning approach.

Methods: We divided MRI-data from 102 patients into a training cohort ( = 72) and a validation cohort ( = 30). In the training cohort, 52 patients were classified as non-responders and 20 as pCR based on histological results from total mesorectal excision.

Radiolabeled HER2-targeted molecular probes in breast cancer imaging: current knowledge and future prospective.

Breast cancer is the most frequent non-dermatologic malignancy in women. Breast cancer is characterized by the expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), and the presence or lack of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression. HER2 overexpression is reported in about 20 to 25% of breast cancer patients, which is usually linked to cancer progression, metastases, and poor survival.

Bifunctional Pd-Pt Supported Nanoparticles for the Mild Hydrodeoxygenation and Oxidation of Biomass-Derived Compounds.

The conversion of bio-based molecules into valuable chemicals is essential for advancing sustainable processes and addressing global resource challenges. However, conventional catalytic methods often demand harsh conditions and struggle with low product selectivity. This study introduces a series of bifunctional PdxPty catalysts supported on TiO2, designed for achieving selective and mild-temperature catalysis in biomass conversion.

A roadmap for improving data quality through standards for collaborative intelligence in human-robot applications.

Collaborative intelligence (CI) involves human-machine interactions and is deemed safety-critical because their reliable interactions are crucial in preventing severe injuries and environmental damage. As these applications become increasingly data-driven, the reliability of CI applications depends on the quality of data, shaping the system's ability to interpret and respond in diverse and often unpredictable environments. In this regard, it is important to adhere to data quality standards and guidelines, thus facilitating the advancement of these collaborative systems in industry.

GRADE-based procalcitonin guideline for emergency departments.

Procalcitonin is a useful biomarker for infection. Over the past two decades, there has been much research on the clinical applications of procalcitonin, yet the majority of these studies have been conducted in the intensive care setting. Despite the extensive use of procalcitonin in emergency departments, there have been no guidelines focusing specifically on these clinical settings.

An open-label, randomized phase III study of early switch maintenance vs delayed second-line nivolumab in advanced stage squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy-EDEN trial GOIRC 04-2016.

Background: As for squamous (Sq)-NSCLC, Checkmate-017 trial showed a significant overall survival (OS) improvement in favor of Nivolumab (Nivo) over Docetaxel in 2nd-line. We hypothesized that anticipating Nivo use, as early switch maintenance after 1st-line chemotherapy (CHT), might have improved survival as compared to delayed 2nd-line treatment.

Methods: EDEN was an open-label, 2-arm, phase III study which randomized (1:1) stage IIIB/IV Sq-NSCLC pts non-progressive after 1st-line platinum-based CHT, to receive early Nivo as switch maintenance (Arm A) or standard best supportive care followed by 2nd-line Nivo at disease progression (Arm B).

Exploring the performance of a DOI-capable TOF-PET module using different SiPMs, customized and commercial readout electronics.

Time resolution is crucial in positron emission tomography (PET) to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and image quality. Moreover, high sensitivity requires long scintillators, which can cause distortions in the reconstructed images due to parallax effects. This study evaluates the performance of a time-of-flight (TOF)-PET module that makes use of a single-side readout of a 4x4 3.

A GIMEMA survey on therapeutic use and response rates of FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia: Insights from Italian real-world practice.

Given the limited data on the real-life therapeutic use of feline McDonough sarcoma (FMS)-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitors in Italy, we surveyed investigators at 59 Italian hematology centers to gain insight into the proportion of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving FLT3 inhibitors and we collected data on the efficacy and safety of these agents. The survey results showed that in the real-life setting the response rate of the 3/7 + midostaurin regimen in newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML and of gilteritinib in the relapsed/refractory AML were comparable to that reported in the registrative clinical trials. The 3/7 + midostaurin treatment resulted in a 63% of complete remission (CR) rates and gilteritinib in a 44% of CR rates.

Comparing medication persistence with oral and subcutaneous semaglutide in a real-world setting.

Aims: To compare medication persistence and efficacy of oral and subcutaneous semaglutide, in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective observational cohort study. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) starting treatment with either formulation of semaglutide between January 1 2019 and July 31 2023 and with at least one follow-up visit were included.

Faricimab versus the standard of care for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Italy: an indirect treatment comparison.

Objectives: To assess through an indirect treatment comparison (ITC) the potential benefit of faricimab over the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) real-life scenario, hereby defined standard of care (SoC), in Italy, that is, aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab, in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) naïve to any anti-VEGF treatment.

Methods: Individual patient-level data from the phase III clinical trials TENAYA and LUCERNE (faricimab cohort) and the real-world study RADIANCE (RADIANCE cohort) were used. Efficacy was evaluated with changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST) from baseline to 1 year (week 52 in the RADIANCE and week 48 in the faricimab cohorts, respectively).

Size-Dependent Multiexciton Dynamics Governs Scintillation From Perovskite Quantum Dots.

The recent emergence of quantum-confined nanomaterials in the field of radiation detection, in particular lead halide perovskite nanocrystals, offers scalability and performance advantages over conventional materials. This development raises fundamental questions about the mechanism of scintillation itself at the nanoscale and the role of particle size, arguably the most defining parameter of quantum dots. Understanding this is crucial for the design and optimization of future nanotechnology scintillators.

Feasibility and effectiveness of the prolonged use of eltrombopag in addition to immunosuppression in patients with acquired aplastic anemia: a single-center real-life experience.

Acquired Aplastic Anemia (AAA) is a rare disease involving primary bone marrow failure with consequent pancytopenia. The addition of the synthetic thrombopoietin-receptor agonist eltrombopag (ELT) to standard immunosuppression for the treatment of AAA has led to improvements in hemopoietic outcomes of AAA. Most of the data on the use of ELT for AAA was based on a maximum of 6 months of therapy.

Prognostic value of magnetic resonance enterography for children with Crohn's disease: A multicenter, multireader study.

Background: Paediatric Inflammatory Crohn's MRE Index (PICMI) is a multi-point index of intestinal inflammation (mucosal and transmural) for children with CD. The present study aims to assess whether PICMI at diagnosis may predict the course of CD and to test the inter-reader agreement.

Methods: CD children with a ≥ 1-year follow-up were retrospectively enrolled.

Renewable proteins from agricultural and animal sources as innovative multifunctional bio-fillers for rubber composites: A comprehensive review.

There is a growing need to find novel, sustainable solutions for elastomer reinforcement. Many biomass polymers have been used for this purpose, including cellulose, starch, lignin and protein. Among these, proteins are an under-explored solution, although they are promising materials due to their abundance in agricultural and animal by-products and the multifunctional properties they can impart to composites.

Hemoadsorption improves kidney microcirculatory oxygenation and oxygen consumption, ameliorates tubular injury, and improves kidney function in a rat model of sepsis-induced AKI.

Microcirculatory dysfunction, hypoxia, and inflammation are considered to be central in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). In this experimental study, we hypothesized that extracorporeal removal of inflammatory cytokines by hemoadsorption (HA) therapy may mitigate renal injury associated with sepsis-induced AKI. To this end, we investigated renal microcirculatory oxygenation and perfusion, oxygen consumption, lactate, systemic hemodynamic variables, tubular cell integrity, inflammatory mediators, and kidney function in a rat model of septic AKI elicited by endotoxin infusion.

Reduced rank regression dietary patterns and dyslipidemia in Brazilian adolescents: results from the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (ERICA).

Background: Evidence on the harmful effects of diet on serum lipids in adolescence has not been consistent. The present study sought to establish which dietary patterns are associated with biomarkers of dyslipidemia.

Methods: Data from 36,217 Brazilian adolescents participating in the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents were evaluated.

Neuroergonomic Attention Assessment in Safety-Critical Tasks: EEG Indices and Subjective Metrics Validation in a Novel Task-Embedded Reaction Time Paradigm.

This study addresses the gap in methodological guidelines for neuroergonomic attention assessment in safety-critical tasks, focusing on validating EEG indices, including the engagement index (EI) and beta/alpha ratio, alongside subjective ratings. A novel task-embedded reaction time paradigm was developed to evaluate the sensitivity of these metrics to dynamic attentional demands in a more naturalistic multitasking context. By manipulating attention levels through varying secondary tasks in the NASA MATB-II task while maintaining a consistent primary reaction-time task, this study successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the paradigm.

A comprehensive survey of artificial intelligence adoption in European laboratory medicine: current utilization and prospects.

Background: As the healthcare sector evolves, Artificial Intelligence's (AI's) potential to enhance laboratory medicine is increasingly recognized. However, the adoption rates and attitudes towards AI across European laboratories have not been comprehensively analyzed. This study aims to fill this gap by surveying European laboratory professionals to assess their current use of AI, the digital infrastructure available, and their attitudes towards future implementations.