Laser-driven production with advanced targets of Copper-64 for medical applications

Radionuclides are of paramount importance in nuclear medicine both for clinical uses and radiopharmaceutical production. Among the others, nuclides suitable for theranostics like Copper-64 are particularly attractive since they can play both a diagnostic and therapeutic role. In the last years, the growing demand for these nuclides stimulated the research of new solutions, along with cyclotrons already in use, for their production. In this respect, a promising alternative is laser-driven proton accelerators based on the interaction of superintense laser pulses with target materials. Because of their potential compactness and flexibility, they are under investigation for several applications ranging from materials science to nuclear medicine. Moreover, the use of advanced Double-Layer targets (DLTs) was identified as a viable route to increase the number and energy of the accelerated protons to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications. In this contribution, we numerically investigate the use of DLT-based laser-driven sources for Copper-64 production. We show that activities relevant to pre-clinical studies can be achieved with an existing 150 TW laser and DLTs. Moreover, we extend the discussion by considering a broad range of laser systems by exploiting a theoretical model. Our results can guide the choice of laser and target parameters for future experimental investigations

Validation of the new technology sensor fusion K-50 based on data integration detected by GPS 50 Hz and inertial sensors

Advanced technology systems applied to sports are increasingly valid support for operators and technicians in the sector. Useful to improve the correct planning of training and therefore of the athlete as well as to the correct management of workloads developed during it and of the season. Studies carried out on the use of new dedicated technologies have shown how supportive they are for improving the performance and preparedness of the individual and the athlete in our case, mathematically developing real parameters for the sessions of the sport practiced (Barbero et a., 2010, Boyd et al., 2011, Brodie et al., 2016, Izzo et al., 2018). The attempt is to further reduce the error coefficient, of the same, the GPS in this case, the objective of this validation study is the validity and reliability of the advanced GPS device K-50 (K-Sport Universal, Ita). The test protocol was administered to 50 junior soccer students-players aged 17 ± 3 years by amateur sports clubs in Italy. The athletes were subjected to different types of stresses considered in the literature, significant in surveys with GPS (Izzo et al., 2018). The GPS device K-50 in our case is a tool, also equipped with inertial sensors (IMU) such as accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, and it is the only one on the market that has the features to be able to use the technologies integrated into a calculation method integrated within the K-50 device, thanks to the use of a Sensor Fusion which allows more performing and sharper data quality. The results of the research protocol were compared using different methodologies for the calculation of some investigated parameters or using the GPS device with the Doppler effect, using the Sensor Fusion, and using the position calculation with different interpolations such as Lat-Lon 0.2 and Lat-Lon 0.05 (Latitude - longitude). In the end, the decidedly positive test results verify the validity of the device (GPS K-50). With the use of inertial systems enriched with the Sensor Fusion the error of the device in measuring the distances traveled is very close to zero with a standard deviation within the percentage limits

The global symmetry index, symmetry index, quality index and kinematics of the gait cycle with the synchronized contribution of the latest generation magneticinertial and electromyographic technology. Practical surveys and planning hypotheses for the revision of gesture.

The walk is certainly the cornerstone of human mobility. The literature has focused on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of walking and how certain parameters can change after an aerobic fatigue test. Our research proposal is based, in an innovative way in literature, on the analysis of specific parameters of the gait cycle, considered highly significant, such as the global symmetry index, the symmetry index, the quality index of the gait cycle, pelvic kinematics and muscle activation and the differences in these parameters before and after an aerobic fatigue test (resistance of the gesture over time). A total of 27 male athletes, aged (9-11) participated to the study, in which state-of-the-art equipment was used in the field of movement sciences that includes a device that integrates triaxial inertial sensors and a set of synchronized wireless probes, part of fourth generation instruments, still the most advanced on the market, for wireless surface electromyographic analysis. Thanks to these devices it was possible to carry out an evaluation of the subjects directly, with the live acquisition of data during the entire execution of the test protocol, allowing to evaluate the aforementioned parameters, which are considered strategic in pre-adolescent age, both for a more accurate basic construction of the element sure to offer a better planning of work sessions or training sessions at the time and in the future, also in consideration of periods immediately following high workloads, where fatigue affects the precision of gestures in the young athlete with various consequences, including significant ones, which is not always taken into consideration

Dynamic inertial analysis of the technical boxing gesture of Jab

The purpose of this study is to analyze the inertial dynamics of the Jab technical gesture in boxing. The target is to test and establish with the precision of the latest generation inertial technology the real physical parameters of the mechanical components of the technical gesture subjected to analysis to use, in the event of an expected congruence, the parameters obtained as key elements in the project of sports training investigated for performative purposes, given that the literature on this subject is scarce and sometimes with data obtained using non-state-of-the-art equipment and therefore not reliable. Five boxers (n = 5) took part in this research, considered sufficient for an exploratory study, respectively two female (n = 2), (18.5 ± 6.4 years, weight 63.7 ± 0.4 kg, height 169 ± 1.4 cm; arm length 69.5 ± 2.1 cm) and three male (n = 3), (23.0 ± 3.5 years, weight 80.0 ± 7.0 kg, height 184.3 ± 7.1 cm; arm length 79.7 ± 2.5 cm). These athletes were from different levels of experience, also to obtain specific threshold data in the various stadiums, however, all participating in national level competitions (elitè level). From the dataset, it’s possible to appreciate a different average acceleration value in the Jab execution phase between 8.65 m/s² (woman) and 13.85 m/s² (man) of the stroke, statistically significant (p <0.05), even in the small sample. The same situation is true for the torsion phase of the trunk between the best performing male boxer (boxer 1) and the best female boxer (boxer 5) respectively 0.733 vs 0.338 g² (p <0.05). This allows us to understand how gender and category differences are a key element in relation to the training planning of the discipline and that often turn out to be quite generic and that doesn’t take into account accurately and weighed the differences and what are the values to be respected in the specific training workload and also in the performance level of the exercises necessary to achieve those physiological conditions and techniques useful for performance improvement. The differences in this sample were also evident between individuals of the same gender and level

Evaluation of differences at high intensity threshold and its performance value during the most valuable soccer championships in Europe

The sports performance of footballers during games and training has been the subject of research for years. Nowadays thanks to the new technologies applied to the match analysis, is possible to highlightperformance using statistical-mathematical criteria. Recent studies support that not only the phase of the match spent at high speeds are determinants, but even each instant in which the acceleration and deceleration values cross above the high intensity thresholds.Our research seeks essentially to add, in the literature, a specific study, concerning quantity and quality of work expressed on these parameters, above the high intensity thresholds, in the various European elite championships.The search raises 26 players for each match (including substitutes), 260 athletes per championship, for a total of 1300 players (average age 28.4 years, height 1.79 meters, weight kg 78) and 9100 parameters data.The high intensity parameters evaluated are:Distance covered at high intensity (> 16 Km/h); Distance covered in Acceleration (> 2m/s²); Distance covered in Deceleration (< -2m/s²); Distance covered a MP> 20 Watt / Kg; Average AMP; D = Total Distance; Drel = distance/minute. Data shows that the comparison in French league is balanced, that is high intensity activity is equal for winning and losing teams, in German and Italian championship, winning teams work below the high intensity threshold compared with losers, in the English and Spanish league winning teams work upper the high intensity threshold respect to losers. This confirms that the efficiency of sport performance, in case of football the victory of competition or matches, is not directly dependent only on the ability to carry out high-intensity activities and also supports the lack of specific training aimed at promoting the development of such skills. A more specific investigation directed at the analysis of only winning teams and losing teams in all championships showed a no decisive difference in high intensity parameters. In the chart below, it is highlighted that the high intensity activity is greater in the parameters of D_AccHI and D_DecHI in the winning teams than the losers (5-6%)

The impact of organ motion and the appliance of mitigation strategies on the effectiveness of hypoxia-guided proton therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To investigate the impact of organ motion on hypoxia-guided proton therapy treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hypoxia PET and 4D imaging data of six NSCLC patients were used to simulate hypoxia-guided proton therapy with different motion mitigation strategies including rescanning, breath-hold, respiratory gating and tumour tracking. Motion-induced dose degradation was estimated for treatment plans with dose painting of hypoxic tumour sub-volumes at escalated dose levels. Tumour control probability (TCP) and dosimetry indices were assessed to weigh the clinical benefit of dose escalation and motion mitigation. In addition, the difference in normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) between escalated proton and photon VMAT treatments have been assessed. RESULTS Motion-induced dose degradation was found for target coverage (CTV V95% up to -4%) and quality of the dose-escalation-by-contour (QRMS up to 6%) as a function of motion amplitude and amount of dose escalation. The TCP benefit coming from dose escalation (+4-13%) outweighs the motion-induced losses (<2%). Significant average NTCP reductions of dose-escalated proton plans were found for lungs (-14%), oesophagus (-10%) and heart (-16%) compared to conventional VMAT plans. The best plan dosimetry was obtained with breath hold and respiratory gating with rescanning. CONCLUSION NSCLC affected by hypoxia appears to be a prime target for proton therapy which, by dose-escalation, allows to mitigate hypoxia-induced radio-resistance despite the sensitivity to organ motion. Furthermore, substantial reduction in normal tissue toxicity can be expected compared to conventional VMAT. Accessibility and standardization of hypoxia imaging and clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings in a clinical setting

Reduction of colonic inflammation in HLA-B27 transgenic rats by feeding Marie Ménard apples, rich in polyphenols

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are immunomediated ailments affecting millions of individuals. Although diet is regarded as an important factor influencing IBD, there are no accepted dietary recommendations presently available. We administered 7.6 % lyophilised apples obtained from two cultivars (Golden Delicious and Marie Ménard, low and high in polyphenols, respectively) to HLA-B27 transgenic rats which develop spontaneous IBD. After 3 months feeding, rats fed Marie Ménard apples had reduced myeloperoxidase activity (3.6 (sem 0.3) v. 2.2 (sem 0.2) U/g tissue; P <0.05) and reduced cyclo-oxygenase-2 (P <0.05) and inducible NO synthase gene expression (P <0.01) in the colon mucosa and significantly less diarrhoea (P <0.05), compared with control rats. Cell proliferation in the colon mucosa was reduced significantly by feeding Golden Delicious apples, with a borderline effect of Marie Ménard apples. Gene expression profiling of the colon mucosa, analysed using the Whole Rat Genome 4 x 44 K Agilent Arrays, revealed a down-regulation of the pathways of PG synthesis, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling and TNFalpha-NF-kappaB in Marie Ménard-fed rats. In the stools of the animals of this group we also measured a significant reduction of bacteria of the Bacteriodes fragilis group. In conclusion, the administration of Marie Ménard apples, rich in polyphenols and used at present only in the manufacturing of cider, ameliorates colon inflammation in transgenic rats developing spontaneous intestinal inflammation, suggesting the possible use of these and other apple varieties to control inflammation in IBD patient

Potential impact of a nonavalent HPV vaccine on HPV related low-and high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions: A referral hospital-based study in Sicily

While bivalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccines have been used for about 10&nbsp;years, a nonavalent vaccine against HPV types 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52 and 58 has been recently approved by FDA and EMA and is now commercially available. The objective of our study was to evaluate the potential impact of the nonavalent vaccine on HPV infection and related low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL, HSIL), compared to the impact of the quadrivalent vaccine, in a female population living in Sicily (Italy). Low estimates of HPV vaccine impact were calculated as prevalence of HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52 and 58 genotypes, alone or in association, but excluding presence of other HPV types; high estimates were calculated as prevalence of HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52 and 58 genotypes alone or in association, in the presence of other HPV types. The nonavalent HPV vaccine showed increased impact, compared to the quadrivalent vaccine. Estimates of potential impact varied from 30.9% (low estimate) to 53.3% (high estimate) for LSIL, and from 56.9% to 81,0% for HSIL. The proportion of additional cases potentially prevented by the nonavalent vaccine was 14.4%\u201323.8% for LSIL, and 19.0%\u201332.8% for HSIL. The benefit of the nonavalent vaccine compared to the quadrivalent vaccine was more than 80% for both low and high impact estimates for LSIL and more than 50% for both low and high impact estimates for HSIL. The present study confirms that the switch from a first generation HPV vaccines to a nonavalent vaccine would increase the prevention of cervical HSIL in up to 90% of cases