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To develop a green nanomaterial for specialty applications, spherical nanocellulose (SNC) was functionalized to a semicarbazone-Schiff base via a polymer analogous reaction. Firstly, SNC was synthesized from cellulose extracted from huge forest biomass, pine needles (PNs). The glucopyranose ring of SNC was oxidatively cleaved at C2-C3 to form SNC-dialdehyde (SNC-DA) by periodate oxidation. Both the aldehydic groups generated were reacted with semicarbazide to form a semicarbazone-Schiff base, referred to as functional spherical nanocellulose (FSNC). All the materials synthesized were characterized by FTIR, FESEM, EDS, TEM, and XRD studies. The FSNC was evaluated as an adsorbent for [Hg.sup.2+] ions. The adsorption adhered to pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir adsorption isotherm having a maximum adsorption capacity/Lungmuir adsorption capacity of 172.412 mg/g at 60 min. The selectivity of FSNC for [Hg.sup.2+] ions was confirmed from its appreciable removal (82%) from solution in tap water and 70% with other metal ions. FSNC exhibited bifunctional nature as it possesses antimicrobial activity against bacteria, that is, Gram (+) (Bacillus aereus) and Gram (--) (Escherichia coll and Salmonella typhi), and a fungus Byssochlamys fiilva. FSNC showed good recyclability up to eight sorption-desorption cycles. Thus, we have valorized biomass into an eco-friendly and low-cost bifunctional material as an adsorbent for [Hg.sup.2+] ions cum antimicrobial agent. Highlights * Spherical nanocellulose (SNC) prepared via acidic hydrolysis from pine needles * SNC functionalized to semicarbazone-based bifunctional Schiff base * The Schiff base is a rapid and efficient [Hg.sup.2+] ions adsorbent * The Schiff base has good antimicrobial activities against Gram (-) bacteria * Biowaste-based adsorbent has the potential to sustain the bio-circular economy KEYWORDS antimicrobial, pine needles, Schiff base, semicarbazone, spherical nanocellulose, 1 | INTRODUCTION The sustainability development goals have a deep link with the failing water quality and low availability of drinkable water across the world. (1) Among different pollutants, dyes [...]

ObjectivesThis practice parameter was revised collaboratively by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Radium Society (ARS). This practice parameter provides updated reference literature regarding both clinical-based conventional total body irradiation and evolving volumetric modulated total body irradiation.MethodsThis practice parameter was developed according to the process described under the heading The Process for Developing ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards on the ACR website ( https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Practice-Parameters-and-Technical-Standards ) by the Committee on Practice Parameters-Radiation Oncology of the ACR Commission on Radiation Oncology in collaboration with the ARS.ResultsThis practice parameter provides a comprehensive update to the reference literature regarding conventional total body irradiation and modulated total body irradiation. Dependence on dose rate remains an active area of ongoing investigation in both the conventional setting (where instantaneous dose rate can be varied) and in more modern rotational techniques, in which average dose rate is the relevant variable. The role of imaging during patient setup and the role of inhomogeneity corrections due to computer-based treatment planning systems are included as evolving areas of clinical interest notably surrounding the overall dose inhomogeneity. There is increasing emphasis on the importance of evaluating mean lung dose as it relates to toxicity during high-dose total body irradiation regimens.ConclusionsThis practice parameter can be used as an effective tool in designing and evaluating a total body irradiation program that successfully incorporates the close interaction and coordination among the radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, and radiation therapists.

RTK/RAS/RAF pathway alterations (RPAs) are a hallmark of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, we use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 85 cases found to be RPA(-) by previous studies from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to characterize the minority of LUADs lacking apparent alterations in this pathway. We show that WGS analysis uncovers RPA(+) in 28 (33%) of the 85 samples. Among the remaining 57 cases, we observe focal deletions targeting the promoter or transcription start site of STK11 (n = 7) or KEAP1 (n = 3), and promoter mutations associated with the increased expression of ILF2 (n = 6). We also identify complex structural variations associated with high-level copy number amplifications. Moreover, an enrichment of focal deletions is found in TP53 mutant cases. Our results indicate that RPA(-) cases demonstrate tumor suppressor deletions and genome instability, but lack unique or recurrent genetic lesions compensating for the lack of RPAs. Larger WGS studies of RPA(-) cases are required to understand this important LUAD subset.

A key mutational process in cancer is structural variation, in which rearrangements delete, amplify or reorder genomic segments that range in size from kilobases to whole chromosomes1-7. Here we develop methods to group, classify and describe somatic structural variants, using data from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), which aggregated whole-genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types8. Sixteen signatures of structural variation emerged. Deletions have a multimodal size distribution, assort unevenly across tumour types and patients, are enriched in late-replicating regions and correlate with inversions. Tandem duplications also have a multimodal size distribution, but are enriched in early-replicating regions-as are unbalanced translocations. Replication-based mechanisms of rearrangement generate varied chromosomal structures with low-level copy-number gains and frequent inverted rearrangements. One prominent structure consists of 2-7 templates copied from distinct regions of the genome strung together within one locus. Such cycles of templated insertions correlate with tandem duplications, and-in liver cancer-frequently activate the telomerase gene TERT. A wide variety of rearrangement processes are active in cancer, which generate complex configurations of the genome upon which selection can act.

The discovery of drivers of cancer has traditionally focused on protein-coding genes1-4. Here we present analyses of driver point mutations and structural variants in non-coding regions across 2,658 genomes from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium5 of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). For point mutations, we developed a statistically rigorous strategy for combining significance levels from multiple methods of driver discovery that overcomes the limitations of individual methods. For structural variants, we present two methods of driver discovery, and identify regions that are significantly affected by recurrent breakpoints and recurrent somatic juxtapositions. Our analyses confirm previously reported drivers6,7, raise doubts about others and identify novel candidates, including point mutations in the 5' region of TP53, in the 3' untranslated regions of NFKBIZ and TOB1, focal deletions in BRD4 and rearrangements in the loci of AKR1C genes. We show that although point mutations and structural variants that drive cancer are less frequent in non-coding genes and regulatory sequences than in protein-coding genes, additional examples of these drivers will be found as more cancer genomes become available.

Introduction: Menopause is an inevitable phase of a woman’s natural ageing process, marked by cessation of ovarian function. Hormonal changes during the phase causes derangement of lipid metabolism and thereby increasing cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. Diet plays a major role in influencing serum lipids. Aim: To determine and compare lipid profile, Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and non High-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) in pre and postmenopausal women based on vegetarian and non vegetarian diet. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 92 women (46 were premenopausal and 46 were postmenopausal) carried out at AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India between December 2019-May 2020. The groups were further divided into vegetarian and non vegetarians. Fasting lipid profile was determined by enzymatic methods. AIP and non HDL levels were calculated. Comparison of means between two groups was done using student t-test. Association between categorical variables was analysed using Chi-square test. Statistical significance was considered at p

The present research infers aspects of spatial attention frommovement to targets (and preferably not to foils) of a mouse-controlled cursor on a computer monitor. The long-term goalis a data-rich and rapid assessment technique that can be usedto diagnose individual and clinical deficits of attention. Theaim of this present research is validating the approach usinga college population of subjects. In the experiment, partici-pants attempt to move a cursor toward three spatial positions atwhich targets appear rapidly but at irregular times, and attemptto inhibit movements toward foils appearing at those positions.We assume that cursor movements toward a position indicatesattention has been directed toward that position. A modifiedHidden Markov Model (HMM) uses five sources of evidence,all based on parameters to be estimated, to predict the timevarying movement of attention: four aspects of cursor move-ment and a probability that attention will move from one timeinterval to the next. Five minutes of data are used to estimateparameters for each subject that produce a predicted attentiontrajectory which best matches what the subject is instructed todo. These parameters are used to predict the attention trajec-tory for the remainder of the hour of testing. The predictionsof attention movements are then matched to the appearance oftargets and foils to infer such components of attention as abil-ity to respond to targets vs foils, times to do so, and changesin these components over time. The results illustrate a promis-ing approach to assessment of attention that could likely beemployed for both adults and children in clinical settings re-quiring short testing periods.