Biochar from Digestate Pyrolysis as a Filler for Biopolymer Blends: Effect of Blend Composition

This study investigates the effect of biochar (BC) as a filler for biopolymer blends, with a focus on the effect of the biopolymer weight ratio on the final BC-added blends. The blends studied in this work were obtained by varying the weight ratio of poly-butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA) due to their great importance in packaging and agricultural fields. BC has been produced in our laboratories by the slow pyrolysis of the digestate obtained from the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). After pyrolysis, digestate-derived biochar has been milled and sieved to produce a powdery form with diameter of less than 45 μm. In order to better investigate the filler/polymer interactions, biochar particles were dimensionally, morphologically and chemically characterised. The inhomogeneity of the feedstock is responsible for content and high diversity of inorganics in biochar surface. The effect of BC on PBAT and PLA biopolymer matrices is different, and for the blend compositions the relative weight ratio between PBAT and PLA plays an important role. Furthermore, the biocomposite blend has been fully characterised: rheological, morphological, mechanical and dynamic-mechanical characterisations have been carried out, highlighting how the properties results strongly influenced by the presence of BC in the blend. In addition, a study of the viscous molar mass of the two polymer matrices when processed in the presence or absence of BC particless highlighting that a strong chemical interaction occurs between PLA and BC particles, unlike PBAT and BC

Dissecting the Interactions between Chlorin e6 and Human Serum Albumin

Chlorin e6 (Ce6) is among the most used sensitizers in photodynamic (PDT) and sonodynamic (SDT) therapy; its low solubility in water, however, hampers its clinical exploitation. Ce6 has a strong tendency to aggregate in physiological environments, reducing its performance as a photo/sono-sensitizer, as well as yielding poor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. The interaction of Ce6 with human serum albumin (HSA) (i) governs its biodistribution and (ii) can be used to improve its water solubility by encapsulation. Here, using ensemble docking and microsecond molecular dynamics simulations, we identified the two Ce6 binding pockets in HSA, i.e., the Sudlow I site and the heme binding pocket, providing an atomistic description of the binding. Comparing the photophysical and photosensitizing properties of Ce6@HSA with respect to the same properties regarding the free Ce6, it was observed that (i) a red-shift occurred in both the absorption and emission spectra, (ii) a maintaining of the fluorescence quantum yield and an increase of the excited state lifetime was detected, and (iii) a switch from the type II to the type I mechanism in a reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, upon irradiation, took place

Gustavson, Marguerite May

Background: Recent studies have reported improvement of outcomes (progression-free survival, overall survival, and prolongation of androgen deprivation treatment-free survival) with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in non-small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer. The aim of this retrospective, multicenter study (MITO RT-01) was to define activity and safety of SBRT in a very large, real-world data set of patients with metastatic, persistent, and recurrent ovarian cancer (MPR-OC). Materials and Methods: The endpoints of the study were the rate of complete response (CR) to SBRT and the 24-month actuarial local control (LC) rate on \u201cper-lesion\u201d basis. The secondary endpoints were acute and late toxicities and the 24-month actuarial late toxicity-free survival. Objective response rate (ORR) included CR and partial response (PR). Clinical benefit (CB) included ORR and stable disease (SD). Toxicity was evaluated by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scales, according to center policy. Logistic and Cox regression were used for the uni- and multivariate analysis of factors predicting clinical CR and actuarial outcomes. Results: CR, PR, and SD were observed in 291 (65.2%), 106 (23.8%), and 33 (7.4%) lesions, giving a rate of CB of 96.4%. Patient aged 6460 years, planning target volume (PTV) 6418 cm3, lymph node disease, and biologically effective dose \u3b1/\u3b210 > 70 Gy were associated with higher chance of CR in the multivariate analysis. With a median follow-up of 22 months (range, 3\u2013120), the 24-month actuarial LC rate was 81.9%. Achievement of CR and total dose >25 Gy were associated with better LC rate in the multivariate analysis. Mild toxicity was experienced in 54 (20.7%) patients; of 63 side effects, 48 were grade 1, and 15 were grade 2. The 24-month late toxicity-free survival rate was 95.1%. Conclusions: This study confirms the activity and safety of SBRT in patients with MPR-OC and identifies clinical and treatment parameters able to predict CR and LC rate. Implications for Practice: This study aimed to define activity and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in a very large, real life data set of patients with metastatic, persistent, recurrent ovarian cancer (MPR-OC). Patient age <60 years, PTV <18 cm3, lymph node disease, and biologically effective dose \u3b1/\u3b210 >70 Gy were associated with higher chance of complete response (CR). Achievement of CR and total dose >25 Gy were associated with better local control (LC) rate. Mild toxicity was experienced in 20.7% of patients. In conclusion, this study confirms the activity and safety of SBRT in MPR-OC patients and identifies clinical and treatment parameters able to predict CR and LC rate

A snapshot on radiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) head and neck working group

Objectives: The objective of the paper was to assess real-life experience in the management of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in radiotherapy departments and to evaluate the variability in terms of adherence to American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) recommendations. Materials and methods: In May 2020, an anonymous 30-question online survey, comparing acute phase of outbreak and pre-COVID-19 period, was conducted. Two sections exploited changes in general management of HNC patients and different HNC primary tumors, addressing specific statements from ASTRO ESTRO consensus statement as well. Results: Eighty-eight questionnaires were included in the demographic/clinical workflow analysis, and 64 were analyzed for treatment management. Forty-eight percent of radiotherapy departments became part of oncologic hubs. First consultations reduced, and patients were addressed to other centers in 33.8 and 18.3% of cases, respectively. Telematic consultations were used in 50% of follow-up visits and 73.9% of multidisciplinary tumor board discussions. There were no practical changes in the management of patients affected by different primitive HNCs. Hypofractionation was not favored over conventional schedules. Conclusions: Compared to pre-COVID era, the clinical workflow was highly re-organized, whereas there were no consistent changes in RT indications and schedules

The FRET-based structural dynamics challenge -- community contributions to consistent and open science practices

Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) has become a mainstream technique for probing biomolecular structural dynamics. The rapid and wide adoption of the technique by an ever-increasing number of groups has generated many improvements and variations in the technique itself, in methods for sample preparation and characterization, in analysis of the data from such experiments, and in analysis codes and algorithms. Recently, several labs that employ smFRET have joined forces to try to bring the smFRET community together in adopting a consensus on how to perform experiments and analyze results for achieving quantitative structural information. These recent efforts include multi-lab blind-tests to assess the accuracy and precision of smFRET between different labs using different procedures, the formal assembly of the FRET community and development of smFRET procedures to be considered for entries in the wwPDB. Here we delve into the different approaches and viewpoints in the field. This position paper describes the current "state-of-the field", points to unresolved methodological issues for quantitative structural studies, provides a set of 'soft recommendations' about which an emerging consensus exists, and a list of resources that are openly available. To make further progress, we strongly encourage 'open science' practices. We hope that this position paper will provide a roadmap for newcomers to the field, as well as a reference for seasoned practitioners

Sticks and carrots for reducing property-level risks from floods: an EU-US comparative perspective

In discussing legal and policy frameworks for flood risk management, the attention is often put on increasing resilience in public spaces. In terms of private properties, discussions are geared toward enhancing the adaptive capacity of future developments. This paper focuses on the instruments associated with resilience of existing privately owned residential buildings mainly from the perspective of post-flood policies and compensation regimes. The paper scrutinizes the relevant legal and policy landscapes in the United States, the European Union and two Member States – the UK and the Netherlands. The goal is to provide mutual lessons learned between the EU, its Member States, and the US and to set forth generally applicable recommendations for improving post-flood policies for existing buildings