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[Display omitted] • Cs₂AgBiBr₆, a lead-free double perovskite, offers excellent photophysical properties, structural stability, and environmental safety. • The photodetector has a simpler, more cost-effective design by eliminating the hole transport material (HTM) and using carbon electrodes. • Offers high responsivity (50 mA/W), detectivity (5.1 x 10¹¹ Jones), and a fast response time (160 ms). • The carbon electrodes and HTM-free design enhance the device stability in humidity, heat, and extended light exposure. Conventional Lead-based hybrid perovskite photodetectors face significant challenges due to toxicity and poor ambient stability. This study contributes to the development of sustainable and efficient photodetectors by leveraging the exceptional properties of Lead-free Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 double perovskite. A key feature of this work is the use of Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 in a hole transport material (HTM)-free architecture with carbon electrodes, simplifying fabrication and enhancing device stability. The Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 films are fabricated using a one-step spin-coating method under ambient conditions. Structural and optical analysis confirms the formation of a cubic perovskite phase with a 2.02 eV bandgap. The photodetector operates in a self-powered mode, detecting a broad spectral range from 350 to 600 nm, with impressive responsivity (50 mA/W), detectivity (5.1 × 1011 Jones), and a fast rise time (160 ms). The Type-II band alignment at the Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 -TiO 2 interface enables the self-powered operation. The inherent structural stability of Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 results in excellent durability, maintaining performance over multiple photocycles (>500), prolonged exposure to simulated sunlight (>1 h), high humidity (RH ∼ 90 % for 4 h), and elevated temperatures (80 °C for 4 h). Moreover, the device retained its responsivity for more than 60 days when stored under ambient conditions without encapsulation. With its simplified HTM-free architecture and Carbon electrode, the detector exhibits excellent photoresponse and resilience under harsh conditions, demonstrating the potential of Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 in addressing the lead toxicity and stability issues in photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Surgery remains the cornerstone of the curative treatment of localized colorectal cancer (CRC), but both radiotherapy and chemotherapy play an important role in the management of these patients to help improve survival. Treatment of locally advanced and metastatic disease often requires multimodality therapy. Advances in both surgical techniques and non-surgical oncology have led to a reduction in the mortality rate over the last 40 years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women. Radical chemo-radiotherapy is the standard of care for the majority of patients in India since most patients get diagnosed late and have locally advanced disease. Traditional Manchester system based brachytherapy planning and dose delivery continues to be widely practiced. Cervical cancer with disease extension beyond upper vagina presents a unique problem for brachytherapy dose delivery. Ovoid in tandem in the vagina is considered 'Non-standard application' in the traditional Manchester system where a lower dose to 'Point A' is accepted respecting the tolerances. Even in the era of image based brachytherapy, the number and position of the source channels limit the extent of dose optimization possible within the various normal tissue tolerances. The Rotterdam applicator, with both Ovoids and vaginal cylinder, offers the possibility of improved dose delivery in this group of patients. The potential dosimetric advantage was tested in this study. Consecutive cervical cancer patients with vaginal disease beyond mid vagina at presentation were selected for Rotterdam Application. All patients had MR imaging in addition to standard CT planning. High Risk target volume (HRCTV) and organs at risk (OAR) were contoured on MR images as per the GEC-ESTRO guidelines and dose optimized plans were generated on Oncentra planning system V4.6. Residual disease in the vagina was part of the HRCTV and the length of vagina to be treated (tandem vaginal loading) was decided by the extent of initial disease involvement. The prescription dose was 8 Gy and dose constraints to OARs were (≤6 Gy/fx) to rectal D2cc and (≤7.5 Gy/fx) to the bladder D2cc (Subir Nag HDR BT dosimetry data). Two sets of treatment plans were generated for each application 1) with central tandem loading only (IUT PLAN) and 2) Rotterdam plan where ovoids were loaded in addition to central tandem. The HRCTV D90, D2cc Bladder, D2cc Rectum were documented and compared between the two plans. Data was analyzed statistically using paired t-test (normally distributed) or Wilcoxon signed rank test (Non-normal). A p-value < 0.05 is considered to be statistically significant. Between 1st January 2021 and 30th June 2022, 24 patients were eligible for Rotterdam application. However, applicator placement was not feasible in 6 patients (25%) with severe upper vaginal narrowing. MR image based plans were generated for 31 applications. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 59 years. Stage wise distribution was as follows IIB-3, IIIB-4, IIIC1-4, IIIC2-2, & IVA-5. At the time of brachytherapy, 10 patients had minimal residual disease involving cervix and upper vagina. None of the patients had residual disease involving lower vagina. The mean HRCTV volume was 30cc (range- 14.29 cc- 51.92cc). The prescription goal of 8Gy or greater was achieved in 18 Rotterdam applications while with standard loading, 12 applications met the goal. The HRCTV D90 was >7Gy in 7 Rotterdam & 8 standard applications, >6Gy in 6 Rotterdam & 8 standard applications. With the standard plan, the dose was <6Gy for 3 applications. The minimum HRCTV D90 with Rotterdam plan was 6.3 Gy for HRCTV of 30cc. The difference in mean D90 HRCTV between the two plans (7.1Gy vs. 7.7Gy) was statistically significant (p <.001). The mean D2cc Bladder was found to be significantly better with the Rotterdam applicator, however, there was no statistically significant difference in mean D2cc Rectum between the two plans. Rotterdam applicator offers greater optimization possibilities, thus improving HRCTV dose compared to standard Intrauterine and tandem application in cervical cancer patients with vaginal involvement. However, Rotterdam applicator placement was not feasible in a subset of patients (∼ 25%) due to anatomical limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) is an effective method of palliating painful bone metastases and can improve function and reduce analgesic requirements. In advanced cancer patients, quality of life (QOL) is the primary outcome of interest over traditional endpoints such as survival. The purpose of our study was to compare bone metastasis-specific QOL scores among patients who responded differently to palliative RT. Methods and Materials: Patients receiving RT for bone metastases across 6 countries were prospectively enrolled from March 2010-January 2011 in a trial validating the QLQ-BM22 and completed the QLQ-BM22 and the core measure (QLQ-C30) at baseline and after 1 month. Pain scores and analgesic intake were recorded, and response to RT was determined according to the latest published guidelines. The Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric and Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared changes in QOL among response groups. A Bonferroni-adjusted P<.003 indicated statistical significance. Results: Of 79 patients who received palliative RT, 59 were assessable. Partial response, pain progression, and indeterminate response were observed in 22, 8, and 29 patients, respectively; there were no patients with a complete response. Patients across all groups had similar baseline QOL scores apart from physical functioning (patients who progressed had better initial functioning). One month after RT, patients who responded had significant improvements in 3 of 4 QLQ-BM22 domains (painful site, P<.0001; painful characteristic, P<.0001; and functional interference, P<.0001) and 3 QLQ-C30 domains (physical functioning, P=.0006; role functioning, P=.0026; and pain, P<.0001). Patients with progression in pain had significantly worse functional interference (P=.0007) and pain (P=.0019). Conclusions: Patients who report pain relief after palliative RT also have better QOL with respect to bone metastasis-specific issues. The QLQ-BM22 and QLQ-C30 are able to discriminate among patients with varying responses and are recommended for use in future bone metastasis clinical trials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]