Revealing nano-scale lattice distortions in implanted material with 3D Bragg ptychography

Small ion-irradiation-induced defects can dramatically alter material properties and speed up degradation. Unfortunately, most of the defects irradiation creates are below the visibility limit of state-of-the-art microscopy. As such, our understanding of their impact is largely based on simulations with major unknowns. Here we present an x-ray crystalline microscopy approach, able to image with high sensitivity, nano-scale 3D resolution and extended field of view, the lattice strains and tilts in crystalline materials. Using this enhanced Bragg ptychography tool, we study the damage helium-ion-irradiation produces in tungsten, revealing a series of crystalline details in the 3D sample. Our results lead to the conclusions that few-atom-large ‘invisible’ defects are likely isotropic in orientation and homogeneously distributed. A partially defect-denuded region is observed close to a grain boundary. These findings open up exciting perspectives for the modelling of irradiation damage and the detailed analysis of crystalline properties in complex materials.

Temporal and sequential order of nonoverlapping gene networks unraveled in mated female Drosophila

In this study, we reanalyzed available datasets of gene expression changes in female Drosophila head induced by mating. Mated females present metabolic phenotypic changes and display behavioral characteristics that are not observed in virgin females, such as repulsion to male sexual aggressiveness, fidelity to food spots selected for oviposition, and restriction to the colonization of new niches. We characterize gene networks that play a role in female brain plasticity after mating using AMINE, a novel algorithm to find dysregulated modules of interacting genes. The uncovered networks of altered genes revealed a strong specificity for each successive period of life span after mating in the female head, with little conservation between them. This finding highlights a temporal order of recruitment of waves of interconnected genes which are apparently transiently modified: the first wave disappears before the emergence of the second wave in a reversible manner and ends with few consolidated gene expression changes at day 20. This analysis might document an extended field of a programmatic control of female phenotypic traits by male seminal fluid.

Extended Field Equations for Conformally Curved Spacetime

The recent Planck Legacy release has confirmed the presence of an enhanced lensing amplitude in the cosmic microwave background power spectra, which prefers a positively curved early Universe with a confidence level greater than 99%. In addition, the spacetime curvature of the entire galaxy differs from one galaxy to another due to their diverse energy densities. This study considers both the implied positive curvature of the early Universe and the curvature across the entire galaxy as the curvature of ‘the background or the 4D bulk’ and distinguishes it from the localized curvature that is induced in the bulk by the presence of comparably smaller celestial objects that are regarded as ‘relativistic 4D branes’. Branes in different galaxies experience different bulk curvatures, thus their background or bulk curvature should be taken into consideration along with their energy densities when finding their induced curvatures. To account for the interaction between the bulk and branes, this paper presents extended field equations in terms of brane-world modified gravity consisting of conformal Einstein field equations with a boundary term, which could remove the singularities and satisfy a conformal invariance theory. A visualization of the evolution of the 4D relativistic branes over the conformal space-time of the 4D bulk is presented.

Laparoscopic or Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common cause of death in female patients over 45 years of age. Surgical treatment (laparoscopic total hysterectomy and radical hysterectomy plus laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy) is the most curative therapeutic resource in the initial stages (Ia1, Ia2 and Ib1). The treatment adopted in the development of this pathology is fundamental as the technique used to determine the prognosis of cervical cancer and obtain information on lymphatic involvement. Imaging techniques have advanced in recent years, but the only reliable way to detect lymph node involvement is the pathological study of the extracted pieces. The goal of laparoscopic staging is to assess bladder, bowel, and lymph node involvement and intra-abdominal disease. Laparoscopic pelvic and lumboaortic lymphadenectomy is effective in staging and treating gynecologic cancers. Laparoscopic lumboaortic lymphadenectomy has few complications, rescues an acceptable number of lymph nodes, and requires a shorter hospital stay. In addition, it identifies cervical cancers that require extended-field radiation therapy.

Radiation-Induced Emesis (RIE) in Extended-Field Radiotherapy for Gynecological Malignancies: Dosimetric and Non-Dosimetric Factors

Radiation-induced emesis (RIE) is usually noted during abdominal-pelvic radiotherapy. In gynecological malignancies, it is usually noted in para-aortic but not whole-pelvic irradiation. Irradiated small bowel (SB) may be associated with RIE. The significance of SB dosimetry remains unclear. Dosimetric and non-dosimetric factors were evaluated and correlated with RIE in 45 patients with gynecological malignancies undergoing extended-field radiotherapy (EFRT) (median 45 Gy) from 2006 to 2021. Early-onset RIE (within 72 h after the first fraction of EFRT) was noted in 10 of 12 RIE patients. RIE was significantly associated with the SB mean dose. The RIE rates were 58.3% and 15.2% (p = 0.007) in patients with a low (<63%) and high (≥63%) SB mean dose. Logistic regression revealed that the SB mean dose remained the independent factor of overall RIE (p = 0.049) and early-onset RIE (p = 0.014). Therefore, constraint of the SB mean dose limited to less than 63% of the prescribed dose is suggested to decrease RIE.

Sensitive detection of Plasmodium vivax malaria by the rotating-crystal magneto-optical method in Thailand

The rotating-crystal magneto-optical detection (RMOD) method has been developed for the rapid and quantitative diagnosis of malaria and tested systematically on various malaria infection models. Very recently, an extended field trial in a high-transmission region of Papua New Guinea demonstrated its great potential for detecting malaria infections, in particular Plasmodium vivax. In the present small-scale field test, carried out in a low-transmission area of Thailand, RMOD confirmed malaria in all samples found to be infected with Plasmodium vivax by microscopy, our reference method. Moreover, the magneto-optical signal for this sample set was typically 1–3 orders of magnitude higher than the cut-off value of RMOD determined on uninfected samples. Based on the serial dilution of the original patient samples, we expect that the method can detect Plasmodium vivax malaria in blood samples with parasite densities as low as $$\sim$$ ∼ 5–10 parasites per microliter, a limit around the pyrogenic threshold of the infection. In addition, by investigating the correlation between the magnitude of the magneto-optical signal, the parasite density and the erythrocytic stage distribution, we estimate the relative hemozoin production rates of the ring and the trophozoite stages of in vivo Plasmodium vivax infections.

A Case Series of Dosimetric Comparison-VMAT (RapidArc), IMRT, 3DCRT for Extended Field Radiotherapy in Cervical Cancer

Purpose: To compare plans of 3DCRT, IMRT and VMAT (RapidArc) and evaluate them in different dosimetric aspects along with dose to organs at risk with each technique to determine the best treatment technique for Extended field RT in cervical cancer patients Material & Methods: We evaluated External Beam radiotherapy plans of 10 patients of FIGO 2018 stage rIIIC2 who received Extended Field Radiotherapy (EFRT) to primary site along with regional nodes-bilateral external, internal iliac lymph nodes, presacral and para-aortic lymph nodes. The dose prescribed for all patients was 50.4Gy/28 fractions at 180cGy/fraction. Few patients had received gross nodal boost following this, but for better comparison only the initial phase of 50.4Gy/28 fractions was considered. All patients were planned with 3DCRT, IMRT and RapidArc. We evaluated and compared these plans dosimetrically in terms of Homogeneity Index, Conformity Index, Target Volume Coverage, Gradient Index, Unified Dosimetry Index, Integral dose, Monitor units and Doses to Organs at risk such as Anorectum, Bladder, Bowel Bag, Bilateral Femoral Heads, Bilateral Kidneys and Bone Marrow. Results: Intensity modulated techniques RapidArc and IMRT significantly spared critical organs compared to 3DCRT. Between RapidArc and IMRT, the critical organ sparing was comparable, but RapidArc had better target coverage, lesser MU and lesser treatment time. All techniques had acceptable HI, CI, GI, UDI and whole body Integral dose. Conclusion: Intensity modulated techniques should be the standard for EFRT in cervical cancer. Both RapidArc and IMRT are acceptable techniques of treatment delivery although the former may be preferred if and when available.