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Purpose: Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) is an irradiation technique developed to improve large cancer response. Although preliminary studies report highly positive results, data are still limited. The aim of this retrospective monocentric study was to investigate SFRT safety and activity. Methods and Materials: We analyzed all patients who underwent SFRT as a palliative treatment for large solid extracranial cancer (>4.5 cm) at our institution. The primary endpoint was objective response rate assessment at 3 months. Additionally, patients’ antalgic response, target volume reduction, and performance status modification were measured. Toxicity data were recorded. Results: From November 2021 to August 2023, 20 consecutive patients (20 lesions) underwent SFRT. We prescribed a minimum dose of 20 Gy in 5 fractions to 95% of the Planning Target Volume (PTV_20) and a minimum dose of 50 Gy to 50% of the sphere volume. The median beam-on time was 5 minutes (IQR1-3, 4-7 minutes; range, 3-16 minutes). Patients’ median age was 70 years (range, 18-85 years). The median lesion volume was 560.4 cm3 (IQR1-3, 297.4-931.5 cc; range, 168.3-3838.3 cm3). Of the 20 patients, 14 and 10 were alive at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The 3-month objective response rate was 79% (95% CI, 49%-95%), with a median target volume reduction of 54% (IQR1-3, 32%-69%; range, 6%-80%). At 6 months, all patients were free from local disease progression. All patients reported an antalgic response with a rapid onset. All treatment-related toxicities occurred within 1 month after SFRT and quickly recovered. No acute toxicity ≥ grade 3 and late toxicity was reported. No patient experienced a worsening in performance status. Conclusions: Our results provide further evidence supporting SFRT as a safe and promising option for palliative patients affected by large neoplastic lesions.

This paper presents the initial findings of a qualitative study investigating the relationship between ethics and education in Italian preschool settings. The research employs the methodology of Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) to emphasise the indispensable role of promoting ethical awareness in early childhood education. The preliminary results from the interpretation of intensive interviews with preschool teachers indicate that the structuring of ethically significant educational experiences can be a factor in the growth of ethical awareness. From a theoretical and practical perspective, the study posits that stimulating ethical awareness from early childhood can prevent the rise of an increasingly widespread phenomenon: ethical illiteracy.

In high-intensity and sprint interval training, the frequency of contractions is typically higher compared with moderate-intensity continuous training, but it remains unclear whether this contributes to the effective increase in fatigue resistance mechanisms. Here, we investigated the role of contraction frequency in high-intensity training on endurance adaptations of mouse skeletal muscle. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into groups based on high (0.25 s contraction every 0.5 s) and low (0.25 s contraction every 4.5 s) contraction frequencies, with either 360 contractions per session (Hi360 and Lo360) or 30 contractions per session (Hi30 and Lo30). The plantar flexor muscles were stimulated using in vivo supramaximal electrical stimulation, where all muscle fibers were maximally activated, every other day for 5 wk. In both the Hi360 and Lo360 groups, where force production declined to less than 40% of the initial value during the training session, muscle endurance, and mitochondrial content and respiratory capacity, were increased to a similar extent. In contrast, the rate of torque decline during the training session was more pronounced in the Hi30 group compared with the Lo30 group. In response, the Hi30 group, but not the Lo30 group, exhibited increased fatigue resistance and mitochondrial respiration, which was accompanied by increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) expression and an activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (Ulk1) pathway. These data suggest that the frequency of contractions is a critical factor in determining the efficient enhancement of mitochondrial respiratory capacity and muscle endurance through high-intensity training, presumably due to promotion of mitochondrial quality control. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We investigated how training programs varying in contraction frequencies impact the endurance capacity of mouse skeletal muscle, using in vivo supramaximal electrical stimulation to ensure maximal activation of all muscle fibers. Increasing the frequency of contractions during high-intensity training led to increased fatigue resistance and mitochondrial respiratory capacity with fewer repetitions per training session, highlighting the pivotal importance of contraction frequency during exercise training in shaping endurance adaptations in skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft corals produce a diverse range of natural products with pharmaceutical potential, such as antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects. The Alcyoniidae family, particularly the genera Sarcophyton and Sinularia, is rich in bioactive terpenoids. However, despite extensive research, their anti-biofouling properties against the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis remain underexplored. This study investigates these compounds as potential eco-friendly antifouling agents. A new cembrane-type diterpenoid, 11,12-epoxycembrene A (1), and 15 known compounds were isolated from three soft corals distributed in Okinawa, Japan. The chemical structures of these secondary metabolites were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, an anti-biofouling assay of potential anti-biofouling agents against M. galloprovincialis was performed and their toxicities were assessed by means of the brine shrimp mortality test. In conclusion, this study identifies new and known bioactive compounds from soft corals, introduces an improved anti-biofouling assay, and highlights the potential of dimethylamine-containing diterpenes as environmentally friendly antifouling agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a decision support system (DSS) aimed at solving a real-world supplier selection problem (SSP) for a global service provider (GSP) operating in the facility management (FM) industry. The GSP provides its customers with FM services, which are subcontracted to external suppliers selected on the basis of multiple criteria, like economic soundness, quality of service, capacity, and closeness. The SSP is formulated as a multi-objective generalized assignment problem, where the quality and the closeness of the selected suppliers are maximized, whereas a penalty produced by overcapacity assignments is minimized. The quality of each supplier is computed by applying a weighted sum method, resulting from a multi-criteria decision analysis in which the criteria weights are determined through an Analytic Hierarchy Process. The DSS is developed using a modular architecture with a relational database, a supplier evaluator, and a simulator, as well as an additional user-friendly interface. The simulator relies on a rolling horizon algorithm and three alternative configurations to assign contracts to suppliers. The effectiveness of the DSS is assessed by means of extensive computational experiments on historical data. The results show a significant average improvement of 25% compared to the solution adopted by the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multinodular and vacuolating neuronal tumor of the cerebrum (MVNT) is a rare tumefactive lesion requiring differentiation from glial tumors. Multinodular and vacuolating posterior fossa lesions of unknown significance (MV-PLUS) were initially reported in 2019 as posterior fossa lesions with characteristics similar to MVNT. MV-PLUS is often considered as a “leave-me-alone lesion” not necessitating surgical intervention. However, no studies have reported on MV-PLUS with long-term follow-up. In this report, we presented six new cases of MV-PLUS and reviewed existing literature on the condition. The median observation period for our cases was 93 months (range 79–124 months), significantly longer than previously reported. None of the patients underwent surgical treatment or showed any imaging changes during the observation period. We emphasize the importance of understanding the imaging characteristics of MV-PLUS to accurately differentiate these infratentorial lesions and avoid unnecessary surgical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]