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2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose (2-[18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) plays a crucial role in the management of lymphoma in different settings, such as staging disease, assessing response to therapy, predicting prognosis, and planning RT. Beside visual analysis, several semiquantitative parameters were introduced to study lymphoma with promising results. These parameters can represent different disease characteristics, like body composition (such as sarcopenic index), dissemination of disease (Dmax), tumor burden (including metabolic tumor volume) and texture features. All these parameters showed promising results, especially in terms of prognosis (progression free survival and overall survival), but lack of standardization and shared methodology remains a big issue. Advances in PET-based biomarkers are on the horizon, yet their integration into clinical decision-making is currently hindered by methodological limitations that require resolution through confirmatory prospective validation in specific patient groups. This review highlights studies demonstrating the prognostic and predictive value of these semiquantitative parameters in lymphoma, while also discussing their potential applicability in clinical practice.

Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression serves as a predictive biomarker for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (mGEA). The peritoneum is one of the most common metastatic sites and is associated with a poor prognosis and apparently lower clinical efficacy of ICIs. Patients and methods: We investigated the heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression in mGEA by examining its concordance between primary tumors and matched peritoneal metastases (PMs), and before and after systemic treatment. PD-L1 expression was assessed using combined positive score (CPS) by immunohistochemistry with VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) assays on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. Results were reported using CPS cut-offs of 1 and 5. Results: Twenty-two primary tumor and matched PM specimens from patients with mGEA were analyzed. The concordance of PD-L1 CPS was 54.5% with a CPS cut-off of 1 and 72.7% with a CPS cut-off of 5, highlighting spatial heterogeneity. Notably, none of the PD-L1-positive primary tumor samples tested positive in the matched PM specimens using the CPS ≥5 cut-off. Potential temporal heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression related to chemo(immuno)therapy administration was also observed, with a 55.6% concordance rate using the CPS ≥5 cut-off. Conclusions: PD-L1 expression in PMs from mGEA is characterized by both spatial and potentially temporal heterogeneity, with the variability being more pronounced at lower CPS cut-off values. This variability complicates its role as a predictive biomarker for ICI outcomes. The high intrapatient discordance rate in PD-L1 CPS expression between positive primary tumor samples and matched PM specimens suggests that peritoneal specimens should not be used as the only source for PD-L1 assessment if representative tissue from other disease sites is available.

Daniel Goleman perceptively and accurately noted that emotional intelligence is critical to leadership success, claiming that emotional intelligence is far more important to leadership emergence and effectiveness than intellectual capacity. Goleman’s research later confirmed an 85% relationship between emotional intelligence and leader effectiveness. It may be the most critical area for current and aspiring leaders to develop. While leadership scholars accept the importance of emotional intelligence for leadership and the fact that emotional intelligence can be developed, there appears to be some uncertainty around how emotional intelligence can be developed. The authors shed light on that area and provide current and aspiring leaders with some proven strategies for developing the four predominant components of emotional intelligence. The importance of emotional intelligence to leadership is well documented, and leaders would be well served by working to heighten their levels of emotional intelligence and, in doing so, increase their leadership potential, efficacy, and impact.

AISI 304 is widely regarded as the most common austenitic stainless steel and is utilized in various household and industrial applications, including food handling equipment, machinery components, and heat exchangers. Its popularity stems from its excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and ease of manufacturing. Given its diverse applications, it is crucial to study the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the welded zone, especially considering the potential for weld decay during fusion welding. In this context, two critical thermal-dependent factors for ensuring high-quality welds are grain growth and hardness variation in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) during the welding process. This paper presents an innovative finite element (FE) model developed to analyze the grain growth and hardness reduction that occur in the HAZ during plasma arc welding (PAW) of AISI 304 steel for solid expansion tube (SET) technology. Using the commercial FE software SFTC DEFORM-3D™, a user subroutine was created that integrates a physics-based model with the Hall–Petch (H-P) equation to predict changes in grain size and hardness. This study introduces a comprehensive numerical model, encompassing the user subroutine, heat source fitting, and geometry, which accurately predicts the thermal phenomena associated with grain coarsening and hardness reduction in the HAZ during the welding of austenitic stainless steel. The results from the numerical model, including the customized user routines, show good agreement with experimental data, leading to a maximum error prediction of 10 HV in hardness, 30 µm in grain size, and 10% in HAZ extension.

Resumo Objetivo Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir a abordagem da psicologia indígena no cuidado de estudantes indígenas em contexto universitário. Método Utilizando o método qualitativo, este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso detalhando a trajetória de formação da Rede de Escuta e Desaprendizagens Étnico-Subjetivas, para analisar a aplicação dos pressupostos da psicologia indígena no suporte a estudantes indígenas e seus familiares na Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Resultados Evidenciou-se a necessidade de reconhecer diferentes epistemologias para uma conexão terapêutica respeitosa. Foram observados desafios na aplicação de práticas alinhadas com a psicologia indígena, destacando a coautoria nas sessões, a valorização das perspectivas dos pacientes e as desaprendizagens contínuas. O estudo dos elementos culturais das etnias envolvidas mostrou-se crucial para evitar a patologização das cosmovisões e subjetividades indígenas. Conclusão A psicologia indígena apresenta-se como um vetor de mudança nas disputas de narrativas culturais, destacando a lacuna na abordagem clínica e a necessidade urgente de estudos para desenvolver intervenções personalizadas para o atendimento das diferentes etnias indígenas.

Estudos sobre a formação em Práticas Integrativas e Complementares têm se concentrado na análise curricular dos cursos da Saúde e as pesquisas abrangendo as percepções dos profissionais a respeito dos processos formativos devem ser mais elucidadas. O estudo objetiva identificar os processos de formação e capacitação dos profissionais ofertantes de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares nos Centros de Atenção Psicossocial de uma região metropolitana. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa. Realizaram-se entrevistas semiestruturadas com 45 profissionais, as quais foram posteriormente analisadas segundo a Análise de Conteúdo Temática. As pós-graduações, graduação, formações em serviço e o ensino privado foram as trajetórias adotadas pelos profissionais, revelando a existência de uma formação difusa para a oferta no cenário investigado. Esses resultados podem subsidiar o planejamento de estratégias educacionais para a ordenação dos recursos humanos em Práticas Integrativas e Complementares.

In Internal Radiotherapy, radiopharmaceutical dosimetry provides an accurate estimation of absorbed radiation doses to organs at risk and tumours. In this paper Velocity Theranostics (Varian Medical Systems), is investigated. Its performances are compared to OLINDA 2.0 in both an anthropomorphic phantom and a group of patients. Velocity Theranostics was evaluated with a cohort of patients (15) treated with 177Lu radiolabelled peptides. The absorbed doses were calculated for the liver, spleen and kidneys, separately with OLINDA 2.0 and Velocity Theranostics using the same set of images. To reduce the contribution of Time-integrated activities (TIAs) on the results and to merely compare the dose calculation algorithms, the OLINDA 2.0 absorbed doses were calculated using the TIA values calculated in Velocity Theranostics. The absorbed doses from Velocity Theranostics were found to be correlated with the doses from OLINDA 2.0 with the TIAs from Theranostics (Lin’s coefficient = 0.894 and R2 = 0.9531). Absorbed doses from Velocity Theranostics are reliable at least as reliable as those for OLINDA 2.0, with many advantages regarding accuracy of calculations and robustness. In conclusion, the personalisation of dosimetry may be totally fulfilled by computational systems for absorbed dose in internal radiotherapy, equipped with a complete workflow and borrowed from external radiotherapy.

Over the past decades, the integration of content and language in education has been gaining ground in different design formats and at various levels of education worldwide. This study describes a pilot project carried out at the School of Pharmacy of an Italian University, using a partial-CLIL format, as this was the only model accepted for experimentation by the School. The terms "partial CLIL" and "adjunct CLIL" describe different degrees of integration. Since this was the first trial with students from the Pharmacy program, the main concern was finding out how they would respond to such an "'innovative" approach. Despite the plethora of literature available on CLIL in higher education, there is a lack of research regarding students' views on the issue; no consideration seems to be given to the main protagonists who undergo this "novel" approach. Hence, the aim of the study was to seek students' voice on the experience--their thoughts and feelings. Student perceptions are essential for future didactical applications. A mixed method approach to data collection was employed to give strong validity to the data (direct observation, focus group interview followed by a survey questionnaire). The preliminary findings gathered from the qualitative and quantitative analysis contribute positively to the organization of CLIL courses in higher education. Overall, the results reveal positive student views, but, at the same time, encourage reflections for teachers and stakeholders on how to prepare students for CLIL lessons and on structuring CLIL programs for future implementations.

Abstract Background Vaccine hesitancy exists on a continuum ranging between complete adherence and complete refusal due to doubts or concerns within a heterogeneous group of individuals. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the contextual factors influencing attitudes and beliefs shaping COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, qualitative research with equity-deserving groups, accounting for unique lived experiences, remains a gap in the literature. We aim to identify and begin to understand and document the unique contextual factors shaping hesitancy by equity-deserving groups as it relates to relationships with government and health authorities. Methods Participants were recruited and interviewed between Aug-Dec 2021. Semi-structured interviews using a convergent interviewing technique were conducted with individuals from the general population, as well as individuals who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit, members of the LGBT2SQ + community, low-income Canadians, Black Canadians, and newcomers. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed by a team of researchers. Memos were written following interviews and used to complement the thematic analysis of the interview data. Themes are presented in the results section. Results The rationale for hesitancy among equity-deserving groups is consistent with literature documenting hesitancy in the general population. Contextual factors surrounding equity-deserving groups’ attitudes and beliefs, however, are unique and relate to a history of oppression, discrimination, and genocide. We identified factors unique to subgroups; for example, religious or fatalistic beliefs among participant who identify as FNMI, fear associated with lack of testing and speed of vaccines’ production among participants who identify as FNMI, Black, and LGBT2SQ + , distrust of the healthcare system for LGBT2SQ + and Black Canadians, and distrust of the government and opposition to vaccine mandates for participating who identify as LGBT2SQ + , low-income, FNMI, or Black Canadian. Newcomers stood out as very trusting of the government and accepting of COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions While our data on vaccine hesitancy largely mirror concerns reported in the vast body of literature citing rationale for COVID-19 hesitancy in high-income countries, the contextual factors identified in our work point to the need for wider systemic change. Our results may be used to support efforts, beyond tailored promotion campaigns, to support the confident acceptance of vaccines for COVID-19 and the acceptance of novel vaccines as future infectious diseases emerge.

Purpose This study’s primary aim was to assess factors affecting ultrasound attenuation coefficient (AC) measurement repeatability using the Canon ultrasound (US) system. The secondary aim was to evaluate whether similar results were obtained with other vendors’ AC algorithms. Methods This prospective study was performed at two centers from February to November 2022. AC was obtained using two US systems (Aplio i800 of Canon Medical Systems and Arietta 850 of Fujifilm). An algorithm combining AC and the backscatter coefficient was also used (Sequoia US System, Siemens Healthineers). To evaluate inter-observer concordance, AC was obtained by two expert operators using different transducer positions with regions of interest (ROIs) varying in terms of depth and size. Intra-observer concordance was evaluated on measurements performed intercostally, subcostally, and in the left liver lobe. Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient was used. Results Thirty-four participants (mean age, 49.4±15.1 years; 18 females) were studied. AC values progressively decreased with depth. The measurements in intercostal spaces on bestquality US images using a 3-cm ROI with its upper edge 2 cm below the liver capsule during breath-hold showed the highest intra-observer and inter-observer concordance (0.92 [95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 0.95] and 0.89 [0.82 to 0.96], respectively). Measurements in the left lobe showed the lowest intra-observer and inter-observer concordance (0.67 [0.43 to 0.90] and 0.58 [0.12 to 1.00], respectively). Intercostal space measurements also had the highest repeatability for the other two ultrasound systems. Conclusion AC values obtained in intercostal spaces on best-quality images using a 3-cm ROI placed with its top 2 cm below the liver capsule were highly repeatable.

Food surplus recovery is one of the priorities of modern society. Mass distribution allows one to reserve goods unsuitable for selling for organisations able to distribute them to people in need. This work contributes to this direction by considering a reward programme for donors. A methodology for supporting the cycle of the reallocation of the food surplus to people in need usingblockchain technology to support the traceability of the flows and to allow the exact evaluation of the rewards to be assigned to each retailer is described. A mathematical model is proposed for calculating the reward. An actual application of the methodology is also described.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in cancer diagnoses and reductions in treatments. The aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on prostate cancer by evaluating whether there has been a shift towards more aggressive (Gleason) and more advanced tumors (stage IV) and a decline in treatments. The study was conducted on 1123 cases of prostate cancer incident in the Province of Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy, in the period of 2018–2021. In 2020, there was a decline in new diagnoses of prostate cancer (−31%), followed by a slight recovery in 2021 (+5%). While Gleason 7 and 8–10 values remained constant, a significant decrease was recorded in stage I (38.7%, 41.6%, 35.5%, and 27.7%) and an increase in stage IV (13.1%, 13%, 15.4%, and 20%) cases in the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. However, there was no impact on surgical treatment (which remained constant at around 35%) and radiotherapy (around 39%). Our findings underline the profound impact of COVID-19 on prostate cancer management, highlighting the importance of healthcare resilience in the face of unprecedented disruptions.

Information on the flyer deformation during laser impact welding (LIW) is an important aspect to consider when high reliability of the welded components is required. For this reason, accurate numerical models simulating thermal and mechanical aspects are needed. In the present work, the cross-section morphology during LIW of Ti/Brass joints at varying laser pulse energies is modeled by a 2D finite element (FE) model. A hydrodynamic plasma pressure model able to describe the evolution of the pressure load step by step, taking into account the progressive deformation of the flyer, was implemented. Hence, this paper proposes an alternative method to the conventional node concentrated forces or predefined velocity as flyer boundary conditions. The levels of the equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ), shear stress, and critical flyer velocity at the collision point were used as reference parameters to predict the success of the welding bond, distinguishing the welded area from the unwelded area. The model was validated by comparison with the experimental data, which showed the effectiveness of the proposed FE code in predicting the cross-section morphology of the welded materials. Moreover, practical industrial information such as variation in the flyer impact velocity, collision angle, and process temperatures was predicted by varying the process laser pulse energy according to the basic principle of the process.

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) containing persistent and potentially hazardous substances have garnered attention for their ubiquitous presence in natural environments. This study investigated the impact of polyethylene glycol (PEG), a common PPCP component, on Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mussels were subjected to two PEG concentrations (E1: 0.1 mg/L and E2: 10 mg/L) over 14 days. Oxidative stress markers in both gills and digestive glands were evaluated; cytotoxicity assays were performed on haemolymph and digestive gland cells. Additionally, cell volume regulation (RVD assay) was investigated to assess physiological PEG-induced alterations. In the gills, PEG reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) at E1. In the digestive gland, only LPO was influenced, while SOD activity and oxidatively modified proteins (OMPs) were unaltered. A significant decrease in cell viability was observed, particularly at E2. Additionally, the RVD assay revealed disruptions in the cells subjected to E2. These findings underscore the effects of PEG exposure on M. galloprovincialis. They are open to further investigations to clarify the environmental implications of PPCPs and the possibility of exploring safer alternatives.