Dosimetric comparison of autocontouring techniques for online adaptive proton therapy.

anatomical and daily set-up uncertainties impede high precision delivery of proton therapy. With online adaptation, the daily plan is reoptimized on an image taken shortly before the treatment, reducing these uncertainties and, hence, allowing a more accurate delivery. This reoptimization requires target and organs-at-risk (OAR) contours on the daily image, which need to be delineated automatically since manual contouring is too slow. Whereas multiple methods for autocontouring exist, none of them are fully accurate, which affects the daily dose. This work aims to quantify the magnitude of this dosimetric effect for four contouring techniques.

Approach: plans reoptimized on automatic contours are compared with plans reoptimized on manual contours. The methods include rigid and deformable registration (DIR), deep-learning based segmentation and patient-specific segmentation.

Results: it was found that independently of the contouring method, the dosimetric influence of using automatic OAR contours is small ( 5% prescribed dose in most cases), indicating that manual verification of that contour remains necessary. However, when compared to non-adaptive therapy, the dose differences caused by automatically contouring the target were small and target coverage was improved, especially for DIR.

Significance: the results show that manual adjustment of OARs is rarely necessary and that several autocontouring techniques are directly usable. Contrarily, manual adjustment of the target is important. This allows prioritizing tasks during time-critical online adaptive proton therapy and therefore supports its further clinical implementation

Tuber mesentericum and Tuber aestivum Truffles: New Insights Based on Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses

Tuber aestivum, one of the most sought out and marketed truffle species in the world, is morphologically similar to Tuber mesentericum, which is only locally appreciated in south Italy and north-east France. Because T. aestivum and T. mesentericum have very similar ascocarp features, and collection may occur in similar environments and periods, these two species are frequently mistaken for one another. In this study, 43 T. aestivum and T. mesentericum ascocarps were collected in Italy for morphological and molecular characterization. The morphological and aromatic characteristics of the fresh ascocarps were compared with their spore morphology. Afterwards, we amplified and sequenced the elongation factor 1-α (EF1α) locus and built maximum likelihood trees to assess phylogenetic similarities between the two species. Tuber aestivum and T. mesentericum sequences cluster into different clades, with T. mesentericum sequences divided into three different sub-clades. According to their morphological features, three samples (T7, T8 and T12) were classified as T. mesentericum. However, when fresh, these ascocarps lacked the typical phenolic aromatic note. These specimens fall into the sub-clade III of the T. mesentericum phylogeny, which has the lowest genetic distance from the T. aestivum clade

The Italian National Project of Astrobiology-Life in Space-Origin, Presence, Persistence of Life in Space, from Molecules to Extremophiles

The \u2018\u2018Life in Space\u2019\u2019 project was funded in the wake of the Italian Space Agency\u2019s proposal for the development of a network of institutions and laboratories conceived to implement Italian participation in space astrobiology experiments

Waveform Modelling for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

LISA, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, will usher in a new era in gravitational-wave astronomy. As the first anticipated space-based gravitational-wave detector, it will expand our view to the millihertz gravitational-wave sky, where a spectacular variety of interesting new sources abound: from millions of ultra-compact binaries in our Galaxy, to mergers of massive black holes at cosmological distances; from the beginnings of inspirals that will venture into the ground-based detectors' view to the death spiral of compact objects into massive black holes, and many sources in between. Central to realising LISA's discovery potential are waveform models, the theoretical and phenomenological predictions of the pattern of gravitational waves that these sources emit. This white paper is presented on behalf of the Waveform Working Group for the LISA Consortium. It provides a review of the current state of waveform models for LISA sources, and describes the significant challenges that must yet be overcome.Comment: 239 pages, 11 figures, white paper from the LISA Consortium Waveform Working Group, invited for submission to Living Reviews in Relativity, updated with comments from communit

Template-free synthesis of hybrid silica nanoparticle with functionalized mesostructure for efficient methylene blue removal

A simple one-pot synthesis process for functionalized mesostructured silica nanoparticles (MSNP) is reported. The novel process demonstrated the possibility to achieve MSNP with a surface area up to 501 m2.g−1 using a phosphonate based nonsilane precursor such as N, N´-bis[4,6-bis(diethylphosphono)-1,3,5-triazin-yl]-1,2-diaminoethane (ED). MSNP obtained by using 20 mol% of ED achieved a surface area of 80 m2.g−1 and increasing the ED content to 30 mol% resulted in a surface area of 501 m2.g−1. Zeta potential of novel MSNPs (−65.5 and 70.0 mV) were much higher than the nanoparticle (NP) prepared from only TEOS (−49 mV), indicating the presence of a large number of –SiOH and phosphonic acid surface functional groups, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The functionalized MSNPs were used as an adsorbent for the removal of cationic pollutants like methylene blue (MB). The MSNP with the highest porosity displayed favorable MB adsorption behavior with ~380 mg.g−1 of MB adsorption capacity. Facile regeneration in an acidic medium (~pH 4.5) with easy recyclability (10 cycles) confirmed the practical applicability of this novel functionalized MSNPs

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Conceptual Design of a Soft X‐ray SASE‐FEL Source

FELs based on SASE are believed to be powerful tools to explore the frontiers of basic sciences, from physics to chemistry to biology. Intense R&D programs have started in the USA and Europe in order to understand the SASE physics and to prove the feasibility of these sources. The allocation of considerable resources in the Italian National Research Plan (PNR) brought about the formation of a CNR‐ENEA‐INFN‐University of Roma "Tor Vergata" study group. A conceptual design study has been developed and possible schemes for linac sources have been investigated, bringing to the SPARX proposal. We report in this paper the results of a preliminary start to end simulation concerning one option we are considering based on an S‐band normal conducting linac with high brightness photoinjector integrated in a RF compressor

3D documentation of footwear impressions and tyre tracks in snow with high resolution optical surface scanning

The three-dimensional documentation of footwear and tyre impressions in snow offers an opportunity to capture additional fine detail for the identification as present photographs. For this approach, up to now, different casting methods have been used. Casting of footwear impressions in snow has always been a difficult assignment. This work demonstrates that for the three-dimensional documentation of impressions in snow the non-destructive method of 3D optical surface scanning is suitable. The new method delivers more detailed results of higher accuracy than the conventional casting techniques. The results of this easy to use and mobile 3D optical surface scanner were very satisfactory in different meteorological and snow conditions. The method is also suitable for impressions in soil, sand or other materials. In addition to the side by side comparison, the automatic comparison of the 3D models and the computation of deviations and accuracy of the data simplify the examination and delivers objective and secure results. The results can be visualized efficiently. Data exchange between investigating authorities at a national or an international level can be achieved easily with electronic data carriers

Resolution of lower second molar impaction through miniscrew-supported biomechanics: A proposal for a simplified classification

Two case reports are presented showing how the strategic use of skeletal anchorage via orthodontic miniscrews manages to solve the complex problems of orthodontic disimpaction of second mandibular molars with excellent anchorage control and reduction of the adverse effects common to the use of conventional methods. The temporary anchorage device (TAD)-mediated biomechanics used can be categorized as both “pulling from the distal side” and “pushing from the mesial side” techniques in which both direct and indirect anchorage mechanics were employed. Each of these mechanics has its advantages and disadvantages, which must be weighed and considered on a case-by-case basis. Based on the force application side and the type of anchorage, a simplified classification of TADs supported biomechanics for the recovery of fully or partially impacted second molars is proposed. © 2021 CE