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The long-lasting make-up was created to avoid migration of the product on the skin throughout the day. Currently, the formulation technology most commonly used to obtain it is based on the use of film-forming agents with volatile oils. However, with the growing trend in natural cosmetics, petroleum-based volatile compounds are increasingly being abandoned. The objective of this study is to determine whether a mixture of plant-based butters can be chosen to replace a mixture of volatile oil and synthetic wax in a long-lasting eyeshadow. Initial comparisons were made between two jojoba butters and a wax/volatile oil mixture in order to identify the best candidate to replace the latter. Then, the best candidate was incorporated into formula and finished formulas were compared using sensory evaluation, rheology and X-ray scattering. The results show that it is possible to preserve texture, rheological properties and structural organization of a formula by replacing a wax/oil mixture with vegetable butters. However, this does not mean that the formulas will behave the same on the eyelids over time. This work illustrates the real complexity faced by formulators when they must replace one raw material with another while guaranteeing the durability of all the product’s properties. This challenge is more relevant today as consumer demand for products based on natural ingredients is growing.

The building sector is a major player in the world’s contribution to climate change, partly due to its dependence on large quantities of materials. The circular economy model of material flow has been gaining attention in the past decade as it seeks to promote the use of construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) waste as inputs for new buildings or other applications, which would result in the diversion of materials from landfills. Developing a system capable of handling such waste requires a comprehensive knowledge of the composition of the building stock materials. This information, however, is rarely available. Thus, this research is proposing a conceptual model to aid city planners when considering the existing built environment as a resource for new construction. The methodology followed by this review includes a thorough analysis of 82 articles on quantity takeoff methods in the Urban Mining (UM) and CRD Waste Management (WM) fields. These articles were analyzed by considering a framework of four layers, i.e., (i) the approach, (ii) the analysis method, (iii) the granularity, and (iv) the performance analysis. The comprehensive analysis of the literature has highlighted the fact that the existing quantity takeoff methods need to consider more in-depth attributes and that the works performed by using machine learning methods are very important in the path toward the direction of improving these methods. With this conceptual model, waste management planners can select the appropriate methodology based on the available input data, and the type of output that they are looking.

Abstract Background Despite being a major advancement in modern medicine, vaccines face widespread hesitancy and refusal, posing challenges to immunization campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the pivotal role of beliefs in efficacy and safety on vaccine acceptance rates. This study explores the influence of efficacy and safety perceptions on vaccine uptake in Italy during the pandemic. Methods We administered a 70-item questionnaire to a representative sample of 600 Italian speakers. Participants were tasked with assessing the perceived effectiveness and safety of each vaccine dose, along with providing reasons influencing their vaccination choices. Additionally, we conducted an experimental manipulation, exploring the effects of four framing messages that emphasized safety and/or efficacy on participants’ willingness to receive a hypothetical fourth vaccine dose. Furthermore, participants were asked about their level of trust in the scientific community and public authorities, as well as their use of different information channels for obtaining COVID-19-related information. Results Our study reveals a dynamic shift in vaccine efficacy and safety perceptions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially influencing vaccination compliance. Initially perceived as more effective than safe, this assessment reversed by the time of the third dose. Beliefs regarding safety, rather than efficacy, played a significant role in anticipating future vaccinations (e.g., the booster dose). Safety-focused messages positively affected vaccination intent, while efficacy-focused messages showed limited impact. We also observed a changing trend in reasons for vaccination, with a decline in infection-related reasons and an increase in social related ones. Furthermore, trust dynamics evolved differently for public authorities and the scientific community. Conclusions Vaccine perception is a dynamic process shaped by evolving factors like efficacy and safety perceptions, trust levels, and individual motivations. Our study sheds light on the complex dynamics that underlie the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy, and their impact on willingness to vaccinate. We discuss these results in light of bounded rationality, loss aversion and classic utility theory.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading neurodegenerative pathology in aged individuals, but many questions remain on its pathogenesis, and a cure is still not available. Recent research efforts have generated measurements of multiple omics in individuals that were healthy or diagnosed with AD. Although machine learning approaches are well-suited to handle the complexity of omics data, the models typically lack interpretability. Additionally, while the genetic landscape of AD is somewhat more established, the proteomic landscape of the diseased brain is less well-understood. Here, we establish a deep learning method that takes advantage of an ensemble of autoencoders (AEs) — EnsembleOmicsAE–to reduce the complexity of proteomics data into a reduced space containing a small number of latent features. We combine brain proteomic data from 559 individuals across three AD cohorts and demonstrate that the ensemble autoencoder models generate stable latent features which are well-suited for downstream biological interpretation. We present an algorithm to calculate feature importance scores based on the iterative scrambling of individual input features (i.e., proteins) and show that the algorithm identifies signaling modules (AE signaling modules) that are significantly enriched in protein–protein interactions. The molecular drivers of AD identified within the AE signaling modules derived with EnsembleOmicsAE were missed by linear methods, including integrin signaling and cell adhesion. Finally, we characterize the relationship between the AE signaling modules and the age of death of the patients and identify a differential regulation of vimentin and MAPK signaling in younger compared with older AD patients.

BackgroundProgrammed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have limited efficacy as monotherapy in patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). A phase I study of the therapeutic HPV-16 DNA vaccine AMV002 in curatively treated patients with OPSCC demonstrated a measurable immune response against HPV while being associated with high safety and tolerability. This prospective phase Ib single centre pilot study aims to test the safety and tolerability of combined PD-L1 inhibitor, Durvalumab, with AMV002 in 12 patients with recurrent OPSCC.MethodsParticipants had evidence of R/M HPV-associated OPSCC. They received three intradermal administrations of AMV002 with Durvalumab followed by Durvalumab maintenance. Safety and tolerability data was the primary endpoint. The study was conducted with ethical approval (HREC/2018/QMS/47293) in Brisbane, Australia.FindingsThe most common adverse event (AE) related to vaccine administration was erythema at the injection site. There were no grade 3 or 4 vaccine related AEs. There was one presumed immune-related grade 3 elevation in lipase secondary to Durvalumab with no intervention required. No patient ceased study due to treatment-related AEs. At week 16, objective response rate was 8% (N=1) and disease control rate was 17% (N=2). At a median follow up of 25.6 (20.0-26.6) months there was one long term complete response while all other participants developed progressive disease. Of the 11 evaluated patients, 9, (82%) had E6 and/or E7-specific T cell responses to the vaccine.ConclusionThe combination of AMV002 therapeutic HPV-16 vaccine and Durvalumab was found to be safe and well tolerated with no increased safety signals generated. T cell responses to vaccine were observed but further work will be required to improve efficacy.

Climate change and water security are among the grand challenges of the 21st century, but literacy on these matters among high-school students is often unsystematic and/or detached from the real world. This study aims to introduce the educational objectives, methods, and early results of “Water and Us”, a three-module initiative that can contribute to advancing water education in a warming climate by focusing on the natural and anthropogenic water cycle, climate change, and emerging water conflicts. The method of Water and Us revolves around storytelling to aid understanding and generate new knowledge, learning by doing, a flipped-classroom environment, and a constant link to examples from the real world (such as ongoing droughts across the world or seeds of conflict regarding transnational river basins). Water and Us was established in 2021–2022 and, during that school year, involved ≥200 students as part of a proof of concept to test the complete didactic approach using small-scale experiments. Results from ≥40 h of proof-of-concept events confirmed the effectiveness of this approach with respect to conveying the essential elements of the natural and anthropogenic water cycle, the most commonly recurring concepts related to climate change and water as well as the possible conflicts and solutions related to water scarcity in a warming climate. The Water and Us team remains interested in networking with colleagues and potential recipients to upscale and further develop this work.

The mobile food record™ (mFR™) is a novel app that allows for the tracking of individual food waste and addresses the limitations of current methods to accurately quantify food waste. Extension educators may use data from the mFR™ to create educational initiatives for food waste prevention and education that may be implemented in settings such as schools and universities. The mFR is an innovative application that simplifies the process of collecting food-based data and accurately quantifying food waste for use in Extension.

This paper presents an enhanced probabilistic flood displacement risk assessment methodology. Several techniques have been proposed to estimate the number of people at risk of being displaced triggered due to climatic extremes. Among these methods, the probabilistic approach is promising for its quantitative nature and versatility at different scales. However, it has so far been limited to assessing loss of housing as the sole cause of displacement. The proposed methodology addresses this limitation by considering two additional elements beyond the traditional evaluation of housing loss: the likelihood of losing means of livelihood, directly included in the computation, and the likelihood of losing access to essential services, such as schools and health centers, provided as a factor to increase the propensity to displace. This new methodology is applied to assess flood disaster displacement risk in Fiji and Vanuatu, where climate change, coupled with the vulnerability of exposed assets, poses an existential threat to these Pacific islands, potentially leading to internal and cross-border population movements. Different climate scenarios were considered: current climate conditions (1979–2016 period), medium-term projected climate conditions (2016–2060), and long-term projected climate conditions (2061–2100). The average annual displacement increases in Fiji and Vanuatu by a factor of 3 and 4, respectively, in the projected long-term pessimistic climate scenario compared to current conditions. Depending on the country and climate change scenario, 20 to 40% of these displacements stem from loss of livelihoods as a dominant factor, highlighting the importance of considering this aspect in the vulnerability approach. The outcomes of these scenarios serve as the foundation for implementing displacement risk adaptation and management measures. This novel quantitative methodology holds significant potential for applications in larger domains and even globally.

Abstract Recently, crowdsourcing has been proposed as a tool for fighting misinformation online. Will internet users listen to crowdsourced fact-checking, and how? In this experiment we test how participants follow others’ opinions to evaluate the validity of a science-themed Facebook post and examine which factors mediate the use of this information. Participants observed a post presenting either scientific information or misinformation, along with a graphical summary of previous participants’ judgements. Even though most participants reported not having used information from previous raters, their responses were influenced by previous assessments. This happened regardless of whether prior judgements were accurate or misleading. Presenting crowdsourced fact-checking however did not translate into the blind copying of the majority response. Rather, participants tended to use this social information as a cue to guide their response, while also relying on individual evaluation and research for extra information. These results highlight the role of individual reasoning when evaluating online information, while pointing to the potential benefit of crowd-sourcing-based solutions in making online users more resilient to misinformation.

Abstract The Atlantic Forest has one of the richest floras in the world and floristic surveys are essential to understand its biodiversity and promote its conservation. This study aims to contribute to the floristic understanding of Anacardiaceae in the Iguaçu National Park (Brazil) and the Iguazú National Park (Argentina). Monthly samplings were performed from 03/2019 to 02/2020 and sporadic samplings from 11/2020 to 01/2021 in the main trails from both parks, as well as herbarium review and surveys on virtual platforms. Two native species: Lithraea molleoides and Schinus terebinthifolia, and two exotic cultivated species: Mangifera indica and Spondias purpurea were found in the Iguaçu National Park and only one native species, Schinus terebinthifolia, in the Iguazú National Park. Identification key, descriptions, photographs with diagnostic characters of the taxa, taxonomic comments, geographical distribution, phenology, common names, uses and observations are provided.

Background: While SBRT to the prostate has become a valuable option as a radical treatment, limited data support its use in the postoperative setting. Here, we report the updated results of the multicentric Post-Prostatectomy Ablative Radiation Therapy (POPART) trial, investigating possible predictors of toxicities and patient-reported outcomes. Methods: Patients with PSA levels between 0.1–2.0 ng/mL after radical prostatectomy received Linac-based SBRT to the prostate bed in five fractions every other day for a total dose of 32.5 Gy (EQD21.5 = 74.3 Gy). Late toxicity was assessed using CTCAE v.5 scale, while EPIC-CP, ICIQ-SF, IIEF 5 questionnaires and PSA levels measured quality of life and biochemical control. Pre- and post-treatment scores were compared using a paired t-test, with MID established at > 0.5 pooled SD from the baseline. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate potential associations between specific patient/tumor/treatment factors and outcome deterioration. Results: From April 2021 to April 2023 a total of 50 pts were enrolled and treated. Median follow-up was 12.2 (3–27) months. No late ≥ G2 GI or GU toxicity was registered. Late G1 urinary and rectal toxicities occurred in 46 % and 4 % of patients, respectively. Among 47 patients completing all EPIC-CP domains, four (9 %) showed worsened QoL, and eleven (26 %) developed erectile dysfunction correlating with PTV D2% (P = 0.032). At Multivariate analysis bladder wall D10cc independently correlated with late G1 GU toxicity (P = 0.034). Median post-treatment PSA nadir was 0.04 ng/mL (0.00 – 0.84). At the last follow-up, six patients presented with biochemical failure, including two nodal relapses. Conclusions: Our findings show that post-prostatectomy SBRT did not result in increased toxicity nor a significant decline in QoL measures, thus showing that it can be safely extended to the postoperative setting. Long-term follow-up and randomized comparisons with different RT schedules are needed to validate this approach.

Abstract Background To investigate the capability of a not-yet commercially available fully automated lexicographic optimization (LO) planning algorithm, called mCycle (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden), to further improve the plan quality of an already-validated Wish List (WL) pushing on the organs-at-risk (OAR) sparing without compromising target coverage and plan delivery accuracy. Material and Methods Twenty-four mono-institutional consecutive cervical cancer Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) plans delivered between November 2019 and April 2022 (50 Gy/25 fractions) have been retrospectively selected. In mCycle the LO planning algorithm was combined with the a-priori multi-criterial optimization (MCO). Two versions of WL have been defined to reproduce manual plans (WL01), and to improve the OAR sparing without affecting minimum target coverage and plan delivery accuracy (WL02). Robust WLs have been tuned using a subset of 4 randomly selected patients. The remaining plans have been automatically re-planned by using the designed WLs. Manual plans (MP) and mCycle plans (mCP01 and mCP02) were compared in terms of dose distributions, complexity, delivery accuracy, and clinical acceptability. Two senior physicians independently performed a blind clinical evaluation, ranking the three competing plans. Furthermore, a previous defined global quality index has been used to gather into a single score the plan quality evaluation. Results The WL tweaking requests 5 and 3 working days for the WL01 and the WL02, respectively. The re-planning took in both cases 3 working days. mCP01 best performed in terms of target coverage (PTV V95% (%): MP 98.0 [95.6–99.3], mCP01 99.2 [89.7–99.9], mCP02 96.9 [89.4–99.5]), while mCP02 showed a large OAR sparing improvement, especially in the rectum parameters (e.g., Rectum D50% (Gy): MP 41.7 [30.2–47.0], mCP01 40.3 [31.4–45.8], mCP02 32.6 [26.9–42.6]). An increase in plan complexity has been registered in mCPs without affecting plan delivery accuracy. In the blind comparisons, all automated plans were considered clinically acceptable, and mCPs were preferred over MP in 90% of cases. Globally, automated plans registered a plan quality score at least comparable to MP. Conclusions This study showed the flexibility of the Lexicographic approach in creating more demanding Wish Lists able to potentially minimize toxicities in RT plans.

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has had limited success (

Abstract Axillary lymphadenopathy is a common side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, leading to increased imaging-detected asymptomatic and symptomatic unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. This has threatened to negatively impact the workflow of breast imaging services, leading to the release of ten recommendations by the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) in August 2021. Considering the rapidly changing scenario and data scarcity, these initial recommendations kept a highly conservative approach. As of 2023, according to newly acquired evidence, EUSOBI proposes the following updates, in order to reduce unnecessary examinations and avoid delaying necessary examinations. First, recommendation n. 3 has been revised to state that breast examinations should not be delayed or rescheduled because of COVID-19 vaccination, as evidence from the first pandemic waves highlights how delayed or missed screening tests have a negative effect on breast cancer morbidity and mortality, and that there is a near-zero risk of subsequent malignant findings in asymptomatic patients who have unilateral lymphadenopathy and no suspicious breast findings. Second, recommendation n. 7 has been revised to simplify follow-up strategies: in patients without breast cancer history and no imaging findings suspicious for cancer, symptomatic and asymptomatic imaging-detected unilateral lymphadenopathy on the same side of recent COVID-19 vaccination (within 12 weeks) should be classified as a benign finding (BI-RADS 2) and no further work-up should be pursued. All other recommendations issued by EUSOBI in 2021 remain valid. Graphical abstract

"Veganism and betrayal" di Silvia Caprioglio Panizza.

ABSTRACTBackground: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder, characterized by pronounced instability in emotions, self-image, and interpersonal relationships. Experiences of childhood maltreatment are among the risk factors for BPD. While self-damaging and aggressive acts often occur, not every person with the disorder shows markedly dysregulated behaviour. Internalized symptoms, such as shame, loneliness, and self-disgust tend to be more pervasive and persist after clinical remission.Objective: Here we investigated associations between BPD symptom severity, childhood maltreatment, and emotion regulation difficulties. We further explored if the Borderline Symptom List (BSL) could potentially be used to differentiate between internalized symptoms (intrapsychic strain) and externalized symptoms (dysregulated behaviours) in future research.Method: 187 women with at least mild BPD symptoms (65% having a diagnosis of BPD) completed the BSL 23 including its 11-item supplement (BSL-S), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Participants further underwent a semi-structured clinical interview to assess BPD criteria (International Personality Disorder Examination, IPDE). Multivariate models and regression-based bootstrapping analyses were performed to test direct and indirect effects.Results: Childhood trauma severity, especially emotional abuse, positively predicted BPD symptom severity. A significant indirect effect through emotion regulation difficulties was found (k2=.56). When exploring associations with BPD criteria (IPDE), the BSL-23 mean significantly correlated with separation anxiety, identity and mood problems, chronic emptiness, suicidal ideation, and dissociation, while the BSL-S correlated with self-harming impulsive behaviour and anger outbursts.Conclusions: Findings complement previous research, highlighting the role of childhood maltreatment and emotion regulation difficulties in BPD. While our findings need to be seen as preliminary and interpreted with caution, they suggest that the BSL may be used to differentiate between internalized symptoms and behavioural expressions of BPD in future research. Such a distinction might help to deepen the understanding of this complex heterogenous disorder.

The paper analyzes the contents of the civic education curriculum, recently reintroduced by the Act No. 92/2019, with respect to the emphasis laid on the knowledge of the Constitution. Some educational tools originating in the university are then presented, including the attempt to bring legal language closer to the more strictly scientific one, starting from a logical-mathematical analysis of the Italian Constitution.

The present works focuses on the theoretical analysis of the Italian temporal particle ancora, in its aspectual (ancora/still) and non-aspectual (ancora/again) temporal uses. The gist of this proposal is that the additive component of the meaning of ancora comes about as an obligatory inference derived via exhaustification, rather than being presupposed. The interpretation of ancora under negation is subject to another instance of Exh, which operates on the alternatives triggered by the Rise-Fall intonation in Italian, similar to other focus particles like solo (only) and anche (also).

IntroductionCutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cSCCHN) can metastasize by invading nerves and spread toward the central nervous system. This metastatic process is called perineural invasion (PNI) and spread (PNS). An in vivo sciatic nerve mouse model is used for cSCCHN PNI/PNS. Here we describe a complementary whisker pad model which allows for molecular studies investigating drivers of PNI/PNS in the head and neck environment.MethodsA431 cells were injected into the whisker pads of BALB/c Foxn1nu and NSG-A2 mice. Tumor progression was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and primary tumor resection was performed. PNI was detected by H&E and IHC. Tumor growth and PNI were assessed with inducible ablation of LOXL2.ResultsThe rate of PNI development in mice was 10%-28.6%. Tumors exhibited PNI/PNS reminiscent of the morphology seen in the human disease. Our model’s utility was demonstrated with inducible ablation of LOXL2 reducing primary tumor growth and PNI.DiscussionThis model consists in a feasible way to test molecular characteristics and potential therapies, offers to close a gap in the described in vivo methods for PNI/PNS of cSCCHN and has uses in concert with the established sciatic nerve model.

The speed and scale of the global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented pressures on health services worldwide, requiring new methods of service delivery during the health crisis. In the setting of severe resource constraint and high risk of infection to patients and clinicians, there is an urgent need to identify consensus statements on head and neck surgical oncology practice. We completed a modified Delphi consensus process of three rounds with 40 international experts in head and neck cancer surgical, radiation, and medical oncology, representing 35 international professional societies and national clinical trial groups. Endorsed by 39 societies and professional bodies, these consensus practice recommendations aim to decrease inconsistency of practice, reduce uncertainty in care, and provide reassurance for clinicians worldwide for head and neck surgical oncology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the setting of acute severe resource constraint and high risk of infection to patients and staff.

BackgroundVisceral adiposity, more so than overall adiposity, is associated with chronic disease and mortality. There has been, to our knowledge, little research exploring the association between diet quality and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) among a mulitethnic population aged 18-80 y.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this cross-sectional analysis was to examine the association between diet quality [Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores] and VAT among a multiethnic population of young, middle, and older aged adults in the United States. Secondary objectives were to repeat these analyses with overall adiposity and blood-based biomarkers for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk as outcome measures.MethodsA total of 540 adults (dropped out: n = 4; age: 18-40 y, n = 220; 40-60 y, n = 183; 60-80 y, n = 133) were recruited across 3 sites (Honolulu County, San Francisco, and Baton Rouge) for the Shape Up! Adults study. Whole-body DXA, anthropometry, fasting blood draw, and questionnaires (food frequency, physical activity, and demographic characteristics) were completed. Linear regression was used to assess the associations between HEI-2010 tertiles and VAT and secondary outcome measures among all participants and age-specific strata, while adjusting for known confounders.ResultsVAT, BMI (kg/m2), body fat percentage, total body fat, trunk fat, insulin, and insulin resistance were inversely related to diet quality (all P values

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy to the prostate bed in patients with biochemical and/or clinical relapse following radical prostatectomy who were enrolled in the prospective, observational, multicentric POPART trial (NCT04831970). Methods: Patients with post-radical prostatectomy PSA levels of ≥0.1–2.0 ng/mL and/or local relapse at PSMA PET/CT or multiparametric MRI were treated with Linac-based SBRT on the prostate bed up to a total dose of 32.5 Gy in five fractions every other day (EQD21.5 = 74.2 Gy). Maximum acute toxicity was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5 scale. International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP) scores were assessed at baseline and during the follow-up. Results: From April 2021 to June 2022, thirty men with a median age of 72 years (range 55–82) were enrolled in three centers. The median PSA level before RT was 0.30 ng/mL (range 0.18–1.89 ng/mL). At 3 months post-treatment, no GI or ≥2 GU side effects were reported; three patients (10%) experienced Grade 1 GU toxicity. No changes in ICIQ-SF or in the urinary domains of EPIC-CP were observed, while a transient worsening was registered in the bowel domain. At the same time point, all but two patients, who progressed distantly, were found to be biochemically controlled with a median post-treatment PSA level of 0.07 ng/mL (range 0–0.48 ng/mL). Conclusions: Our preliminary findings show that SBRT can be safely extended to the postoperative setting, without an increase in short-term toxicity or a significant decline in QoL. Long-term results are needed to confirm this strategy.

This study aimed to comprehensively present data on treatment optimization in linac-based SBRT for localized prostate cancer at a single institution. Moreover, the dosimetric quality and treatment efficiency of single-arc (SA) versus dual-arc (DA) VMAT planning and delivery approaches were compared. Re-optimization was performed on twenty low-to-intermediate-risk- (36.25 Gy in 5 fractions) and twenty high-risk (42.7 Gy in 7 fractions) prostate plans initially administered with the DA FFF-VMAT technique in 2021. An SA approach was adopted, incorporating new optimization parameters based on increased planning and clinical experience. Analysis included target coverage, organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing, treatment delivery time, and the pre-treatment verification’s gamma analysis-passing ratio. The SA optimization technique has consistently produced superior plans. Rectum and bladder mean doses were significantly reduced, and comparable target coverage and homogeneity were achieved in order to maintain a urethra protection strategy. The mean SA treatment delivery time was reduced by 22%; the mean monitor units increased due to higher plan complexity; and dose measurements demonstrated optimal agreement with calculations. The substantial reduction in treatment delivery time decreased the probability of prostate motion beyond the applied margins, suggesting potential decrease in treatment-related toxicity and improved target coverage in prostate SBRT. Further investigations are warranted to assess the long-term clinical outcomes.

Abstract Disinformation about science can impose enormous economic and public health burdens. A recently proposed strategy to help online users recognise false content is to follow the techniques of professional fact checkers, such as looking for information on other websites (lateral reading) and looking beyond the first results suggested by search engines (click restraint). In two preregistered online experiments (N = 5387), we simulated a social media environment and tested two interventions, one in the form of a pop-up meant to advise participants to follow such techniques, the other based on monetary incentives. We measured participants’ ability to identify whether information was scientifically valid or invalid. Analysis of participants’ search style reveals that both monetary incentives and pop-up increased the use of fact-checking strategies. Monetary incentives were overall effective in increasing accuracy, whereas the pop-up worked when the source of information was unknown. Pop-up and incentives, when used together, produced a cumulative effect on accuracy. We suggest that monetary incentives enhance content relevance, and could be combined with fact-checking techniques to counteract disinformation.

In Hong Kong, Indonesian migrant domestic workers (IMDWs) are forced to leave behind young children in their home country. Often spending the majority of their time in their employer's households, they must manage their limited personal time to maintain connections with their families back home. Many women IMDWs try to overcome distance limitations by performing transnational mothering using any available media to reach their children and to manage and witness their development. By using communication tools such as Internet-mediated calls for distance nurturing, they are able to keep up with their children's lives and monitor day-to-day developments. This research examines the role of communication technologies with an emphasis on the use of social media by women IMDWs in maintaining connections with their families back home. It examines the role social media plays in caregiving for women IMDWs, for whom the family and children's wellbeing back home are one of their most important concerns. This research incorporates netnography, which aims to understand online social interactions. The research was conducted from 2013 to 2019 physically in Hong Kong and through virtual channels. The findings indicate how social media is used as an emotional outlet by women IMDWs in Hong Kong, and how emotional care can be maintained to empower the migrant mothers. Social media and information and communication technology (ICT) have greatly improved channels of communication for IMDWs and created a new space of intimacy. Yet social media also has the possibility of creating tensions and anxiety for IMDWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including labor exploitation of domestic workers, women's roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, and gender-based cyber violence.

The efficacy of linac-based SRS/fSRS treatments using the single-isocenter coplanar FFF-VMAT technique for both single and multiple BM was investigated. Seventy patients (129 BM) treated with 15–21 Gy in 1 (n = 59) or 27 Gy in 3 (n = 11) fractions were analyzed. For each fraction, plans involving the intra-fractional errors measured by post-treatment CBCT were recalculated. The relationships of BM size, distance-to-isocenter, and barycenter shift with the difference in target coverage were evaluated. Clinical outcomes were assessed using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. The median delivery time was 3.78 min (range, 1.83–9.25). The median post-treatment 3D error was 0.5 mm (range, 0.1–2.7) and the maximum rotational error was 0.3° (range, 0.0–1.3). In single BM patients, the GTV D95% was never reduced by >5%, whereas PTV D95% reductions >1% occurred in only 11 cases (29%). In multiple BM patients, dose deficits >5% and >1% occurred in 2 GTV (2%) and 34 PTV (37%), respectively. The differences in target coverage showed a moderate-to-strong correlation only with barycenter shift. Local failure of at least one treated BM occurred in 13 (21%) patients and the 1-year and 2-year local control rates for all lesions were 94% and 90%, respectively. The implemented workflow ensured that the degradation of target and brain dose metrics in delivered treatments was negligible. Along with encouraging clinical outcomes, these findings warrant a reduction in the PTV margins at our institution.

How do we see the world aright? This question is central to Iris Murdoch’s philosophy as well as to that of her great source of inspiration, Simone Weil. For both of them, not only our action, but the very quality of our being depends on the ability to see things as they are, where vision is both a metaphor for immediate understanding and a literal expression of the requirement to train our perception so as to get rid of illusions. For both, too, the method to achieve this goal is attention. For both, finally, attention requires a dethronement of the self, considered as the source of illusion. In this paper I investigate what moral perception means for each of these philosophers and how it operates through attention and its relationship with the self. I will show that, despite many striking similarities, Murdoch’s project does not equal ‘Weil minus God’, but offers a different concept of the self, a different understanding of its removal, and therefore a different picture of attention and moral perception. In evaluating both views, I will gesture towards a third way represented by Zen Buddhism, which both philosophers variously consider but do not embrace.

AimIn this study, a not yet commercially available fully-automated lexicographic optimization (LO) planning algorithm, called mCycle (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden), was validated for cervical cancer.Material and methodsTwenty-four mono-institutional consecutive treatment plans (50 Gy/25 fx) delivered between November 2019 and April 2022 were retrospectively selected. The automatic re-planning was performed by mCycle, implemented in the Monaco TPS research version (v5.59.13), in which the LO and Multicriterial Optimization (MCO) are coupled with Monte Carlo calculation. mCycle optimization follows an a priori assigned priority list, the so-called Wish List (WL), representing a dialogue between the radiation oncologist and the planner, setting hard constraints and following objectives. The WL was tuned on a patient subset according to the institution’s clinical protocol to obtain an optimal plan in a single optimization. This robust WL was then used to automatically re-plan the remaining patients. Manual plans (MP) and mCycle plans (mCP) were compared in terms of dose distributions, complexity (modulation complexity score, MCS), and delivery accuracy (perpendicular diode matrices, gamma analysis-passing ratio, PR). Their clinical acceptability was assessed through the blind choice of two radiation oncologists. Finally, a global quality score index (SI) was defined to gather into a single number the plan evaluation process.ResultsThe WL tuning requested four patients. The 20 automated re-planning tasks took three working days. The median optimization and calculation time can be estimated at 4 h and just over 1 h per MP and mCP, respectively. The dose comparison showed a comparable organ-at-risk spare. The planning target volume coverage increased (V95%: MP 98.0% [95.6–99.3]; mCP 99.2%[89.7–99.9], p >0.05). A significant increase has been registered in MCS (MP 0.29 [0.24–0.34]; mCP 0.26 [0.23–0.30], p 0.05). In the blind choice, all mCP results were clinically acceptable and chosen over MP in more than 75% of cases. The median SI score was 0.69 [0.41–0.84] and 0.73 [0.51–0.82] for MP and mCP, respectively (p >0.05).ConclusionsmCycle plans were comparable to clinical manual plans, more complex but accurately deliverable and registering a similar SI. Automated plans outperformed manual plans in blinded clinical choice.

Clerodendrum bungei Steud. es confirmada para la Flora Argentina, citada anteriormente sin material de referencia. Se presenta una breve descripción de la especie, fotos de campo y comentarios sobre su distribución geográfica y ecología. Además, se provee una una clave de las especies adventicias y nativas de Clerodendrum en Argentina.

BackgroundAccurately assessing dietary intake can promote improved nutrition. The PortionSize app (Pennington Biomedical Research Center) was designed to quantify and provide real-time feedback on the intake of energy, food groups, saturated fat, and added sugar. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the preliminary feasibility and validity of estimating food intake via the PortionSize app among adults. MethodsA total of 15 adults (aged 18-65 years) were recruited and trained to quantify the food intake from a simulated meal by using PortionSize. Trained personnel prepared 15 simulated meals and covertly weighed (weigh back) the amount of food provided to participants as well as food waste. Equivalence tests (±25% bounds) were performed to compare PortionSize to the weigh back method. ResultsParticipants were aged a mean of 28 (SD 12) years, and 11 were female. The mean energy intake estimated with PortionSize was 742.9 (SD 328.2) kcal, and that estimated via weigh back was 659.3 (SD 190.7) kcal (energy intake difference: mean 83.5, SD 287.5 kcal). The methods were not equivalent in estimating energy intake (P=.18), and PortionSize overestimated energy intake by 83.5 kcal (12.7%) at the meal level. Estimates of portion sizes (gram weight; P=.01), total sugar (P=.049), fruit servings (P=.01), and dairy servings (P=.047) from PortionSize were equivalent to those estimated via weigh back. PortionSize was not equivalent to weigh back with regard to estimates for carbohydrate (P=.10), fat (P=.32), vegetable (P=.37), grain (P=.31), and protein servings (P=.87). ConclusionsDue to power limitations, the equivalence tests had large equivalence bounds. Though preliminary, the results of this small pilot study warrant the further adaptation, development, and validation of PortionSize as a means to estimate energy intake and provide users with real-time and actionable dietary feedback.