Dear Editor, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important diagnostic imaging modality, especially in children where radiation exposure is an important concern. As children undergoing MRI scans need to lie still for an extended period of time in an environment with loud noises, sedation is often required.1 However, its use comes with risks of adverse cardiorespiratory events2-3 and utilisation of hospital resources when children are admitted for monitoring post-sedation. Optimising the MRI environment, distraction techniques and the use of mock scanners minimises the need for sedation in children.4-8 A multi-faceted approach, which combines these components, has been shown to be effective in children as young as 4 years old.9-10

• Book : ()
• Pub. Date : 2025
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Abstract Light-matter interaction is exploited in spectroscopic techniques to access information about molecular, atomic or nuclear constituents of a sample. While scattered light carries both amplitude and phase information of the electromagnetic field, the latter is lost in intensity measurements. However, often the phase information is paramount to reconstruct the desired information of the target, as it is well known from coherent x-ray imaging. Here we introduce a phase retrieval method which allows us to reconstruct the field phase information from two-dimensional time- and energy-resolved spectra. We apply this method to the case of x-ray scattering off Mössbauer nuclei at a synchrotron radiation source. Knowledge of the phase allows also for the reconstruction of energy spectra from two-dimensional experimental data sets with excellent precision, without theoretical modelling of the sample. Our approach provides an efficient and accurate data analysis tool which will benefit x-ray quantum optics and Mössbauer spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation alike.

• Book : 16(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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Haloarchaea, a group of extremophilic archaea, thrive in hypersaline environments characterized not only by high salinity but also by other extreme conditions, such as intense UV radiation, high osmotic pressure, heavy metal contamination, oxidative stress, and fluctuating temperatures. This study investigates the environmental adaptation strategies of species of two genera, Haloarcula and Natrinema, the second and third largest haloarchaeal genera, respectively, after Halorubrum. Comparative genomic analyses were conducted on 48 species from both genera to elucidate their genomic diversity, metabolic potential, and stress-tolerance mechanisms. The genomes revealed diverse metabolic pathways, including rhodopsin-mediated phototrophy, nitrogen assimilation, and thiamine biosynthesis, which support their survival and adaptation to extreme conditions. The analysis identified mechanisms for oxidative stress mitigation, DNA repair, “salt-in” and “salt-out” osmoregulatory strategies, adaptations to temperature shifts and heavy metal exposure, and immune defense. Experimental validation of four representative species, Haloarcula terrestris S1AR25-5AT, Haloarcula saliterrae S1CR25-12T, Haloarcula onubensis S3CR25-11T, and Natrinema salsiterrestre S1CR25-10T, isolated from the heavy-metal-rich hypersaline soils in the Odiel Saltmarshes (Huelva, Spain), demonstrated their tolerance, especially to arsenic, corroborating genomic predictions. This study advances our understanding of the resilience of haloarchaea under poly-extreme conditions and underscores their ecological significance and promise for biotechnological applications, such as the bioremediation of heavy-metal-polluted environments and the production of valuable biomolecules.

• Book : 13(4)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.761-761
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AbstractSeveral emerging applications of silicon photonics, including sensing, ranging, and optical trapping, require fixed, well‐collimated beams that enable interaction with targets placed centimeters away from the chip. Generating such beams without using bulk‐optic lenses entails radiating lightwaves with diameters of hundreds of microns directly from the chip. Gratings with sufficiently low strength have so far only been shown in the silicon nitride platform using specialized shallow etch steps; in silicon‐on‐insulator the implementation becomes much more challenging due to the increased index contrast. Here, the first silicon‐on‐insulator grating capable of radiating such large beams is reported. Using a fully etched, double‐period subwavelength structure, with feature sizes compatible with deep‐ultraviolet lithography, a beam diameter in excess of , with a radiation efficiency, is experimentally demonstrated.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Hydrophobic graphene nanosheets were successfully modified with titanium dioxide to create a pure and stable nanoparticle. The resulting material exhibited improved heat transfer efficiency when used as nanofluid in pool boiling. We prepared graphene nanofluid, titanium dioxide nanofluid, and graphene-titanium dioxide hybrid nanofluid with varying concentrations to investigate their heat transfer characteristics. The heat transfer coefficient of graphene-titanium dioxide hybrid nanofluid is higher than that of water at the same heat flow density, especially in the low heat flow density region( below q=4?105W/m2). Additionally, by employing a high-speed camera, we observed that the hybrid nanofluid displayed shorter bubble generation periods and smaller bubble separation diameters. These findings highlight the exceptional heat transfer performance of the covalently modified and hybridized nanofluid. Overall, our comprehensive testing program confirms the enhanced heat transfer capabilities of this modified nanofluid, positioning it as a promising choice for various heat transfer applications.

• Book : (00)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.63-63
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При изучении биологической продуктивности лесов и разработке нормативов учета всех компонентов биомассы необходимо знать закономерности динамики плотности древесины растущих деревьев как их ключевой экологической характеристики, требующей применения неразрушающих методов. Пилодин-метод как один из наиболее простых и доступных востребован в селекционных программах, однако отбор по показателю плотности, получаемому пилодин-тестером, оказался эффективным не для всех древесных видов, а изменчивость плотности, объясняемая этим методом, варьирует от 27 до 92 %. Квалиметрия методом сопротивления бурению древесины на базе резистографа как более чувствительного прибора по сравнению с пилодин-тестером также нашла широкое применение в селекционных программах, но оба метода основаны на локальном зондировании, и его экстраполяция на все дерево дает смещения оценок. Применение ригидометр-конструкции лишено недостатка, присущего двум вышеупомянутым методам, но он оказался сравнительно трудоемким для выполнения множественных замеров. Акустический метод оценки модуля упругости и плотности древесины чувствителен к наличию пороков древесины и позволяет снять противоречие целевых установок селекции, направленных одновременно на повышение скорости роста и плотности древесины. Радиационные методы успешно регистрируют внутрикольцевую плотность, но требуют применения дорогого оборудования. Преимущество NIR-спектроскопии (ближнего инфракрасного спектра) перед всеми остальными методами состоит в возможности оценивать химию древесины и выход целлюлозы, но она не дает прямой оценки и требует специальной калибровки. Таким образом, любая техника имеет свои ограничения, и краткий ее анализ может способствовать выбору варианта, наиболее пригодного для того или иного метода неразрушающего контроля. When studying the biological productivity of forests and developing standards for accounting for all components of biomass, it is necessary to know the laws of the dynamics of the wood density of growing trees as their key environmental characteristics that require the use of non-destructive methods. The pilodyn method, as one of the simplest and most accessible, is in demand in breeding programs, but the selection based on the density indicator obtained by the pilodyn tester was not effective for all tree species, and the density variability explained by this method varies in the range from 27 to 92 %. Qualimetry by the method of wood drilling resistance based on a resistograph, as a more sensitive device compared to a pilodyn tester, has also been widely used in breeding programs, but both methods are based on local probing, and its extrapolation to the entire tree gives biases of estimates. The use of the rigidimeter design does not have the drawback inherent in the two methods mentioned above. But, the method proved to be relatively time-consuming to perform multiple measurements. The acoustic method for assessing the modulus of elasticity and density of wood is sensitive to the presence of wood defects and allows you to remove the contradiction of selection targets aimed at simultaneously increasing the growth rate and density of wood. Radiation methods require the use of expensive equipment and successfully register the intra-ring density. The advantage of NIR-spectroscopy over all other methods is the ability to evaluate the chemistry of wood and the yield of cellulose, but it does not give a direct assessment and requires special calibration. Thus, any technique has its limitations, and it is important to be able to choose the technique that is most suitable for a particular.

• Book : (1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.81-81
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• Pub. Date : 2025
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ABSTRACT Objective: The primary aim of radiation therapy planning is to achieve optimal tumor control probability (TCP) while minimizing the risk of normal tissue complications (NTCPs). Traditionally, the dose–volume histogram has been a reliable tool for evaluating volumetric dose distribution in treatment plans. This study aims to assess the radiobiological efficacy of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiation therapy (ss-IMRT), and dynamic IMRT (d-IMRT) in the treatment of thoracic tumors. Materials and Methods: This study involved 13 patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the thorax. Thirteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic site were included in this study. For each patient, three treatment plans (VMAT, ss-IMRT, and d-IMRT) were created, and the corresponding radiobiological parameters, such as equivalent uniform dose (EUD), TCP, and NTCP, were computed using Niemierko and LKB model for all 39 treatment plans using BIOSUITE software. Results: The estimated average TCPs for ss-IMRT, d-IMRT, and VMAT are 61.51%, 62.86%, and 63.09%, respectively. Moreover, the average NTCPs observed for the organ at risk, lung, for ss-IMRT, d-IMRT, and VMAT were 3.27%, 1.96%, and 1.29%, respectively. In terms of the spinal cord, the average NTCPs for ss-IMRT, d-IMRT, and VMAT were 0.07%, 0.0%, and 0.0%, respectively. For the heart, the average NTCPs for ss-IMRT, d-IMRT, and VMAT were 0.10%, 0.12%, and 0.13%, respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that VMAT might give equivalent TCP with less NTCP when compared to IMRT. The development of treatment planning techniques based on radiobiological factors aided in the prudent selection of physical parameters to attain high TCP and low NTCP.

• Book : 21(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.131-136
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BackgroundNon-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients with low tumor mutational burden (TMB) showed low sensitive to conventional fractionated radiotherapy in our previous study. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) in locally advanced NSCLC patients with low-TMB compared to conventional fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of 74 locally advanced NSCLC patients with low-TMB undergoing definitive radiotherapy from January 2017 to July 2023, with 31 patients received HFRT (received radiation doses of >2Gy and ≤5 Gy per fraction) and 43 received CFRT (received radiation doses of 1.8-2 Gy per fraction). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR) to radiotherapy was analyzed in the two groups. Univariate analysis was performed to assess the impact of clinical characteristics on PFS. We also analyzed PFS in subgroups receiving HFRT or CFRT combined with immunotherapy and chemotherapy.ResultsSurvival analysis revealed the median PFS of 13 months in the HFRT group was significantly better than the 10 months in the CFRT group (p = 0.024). The 6-month and 12-month PFS rates were 80.6% and 61.3% for the HFRT group, versus 81.4% and 39.5% for the CFRT group, respectively. Median OS was 27 months in the HFRT group and 20 months in the CFRT group (p = 0.079). There were no statistically significant differences in major adverse events between the HFRT and CFRT groups (all p>0.05). In the subgroup receiving combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy, the median PFS was 10 months in the HFRT group and 9 months in the CFRT group (p = 0.092).ConclusionHFRT was superior to CFRT in prolonging PFS for patients with low-TMB locally advanced NSCLC. It was a safely and effective approach for these patients and was worth further prospective studies with larger sample sizes.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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Oral cavity cancer, encompassing lip, mouth, and tongue cancers, is of interest because it is the sixteenth most prevalent neoplasia globally, accounting for 389,846 new cases and approximately 188,000 deaths by 2022. The specific objective of this study was to investigate morphological changes in the nuclei of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using specific DNA staining techniques and an automated Irregularity Nuclear Index (NII) for classification. Samples from 32 patients diagnosed with OSCC were analyzed, with a focus on distinguishing tumor differentiation stages through nuclear morphometric analysis. A mixed-method approach was employed using fluorescence microscopy and FIJI software to quantify nuclear irregularities, which revealed significant insights into apoptosis, mitosis, interphase, and senescence. These findings aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide new tools for the early detection and management of oral cavity cancer. This research highlights the potential for integrating digital methodologies in pathology to bridge gaps in our understanding of the relationship between morphological nuclear changes and molecular alterations in tumor progression.

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• Pub. Date : 2025
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