Structural and Chemical Analysis of Three Regions of Bamboo (Phyllostachys Edulis).

This study focuses on three different regions of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis): an inner layer (IB), middle layer (MB), and outer layer (OB), to comprehensively characterize the structural features, chemical composition (ash, extractives and lignin contents), and the lignin monomeric composition as determined by analytical pyrolysis. The results show that bamboo presents a gradient structure. From the IB to OB, the vascular bundle density and fiber sheath ratio increase, the porosity decreases (from 45.92% to 18.14%), and the vascular bundle diameter-chord ratio increases (from 0.85 to 1.48). In terms of chemical composition, the ash, extractives, and acid-soluble lignin content gradually decrease from IB to OB. The holocellulose content follows the trend: MB (66.3%) > OB (65.9%) > IB (62.8%), while the acid-insoluble lignin content exhibits the opposite trend: IB (22.6%) > OB (17.8%) > MB (17.7%). Pyrolysis products reveal the diversity of carbohydrates and lignin derivatives, with a lignin monomeric composition rich in syringyl and guaiacyl units and lower amounts of H-units: the IB has an H:G:S relation of 18:26:55, while 15:27:58 is the ratio for the MB and 15:40:45 for the OB; S/G ratio values were, respectively, 1.22, 1.46, and 0.99. A comprehensive analysis highlights significant gradient variations in the structure and chemistry of bamboo, providing robust support for the classification and refinement methods of bamboo residues for potential applications.

Contamination by microplastics and sorbed organic pollutants in the surface waters of the Tietê River, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.

Microplastics (MPs) are particles between 1 µm and 5 mm in size, originating mainly from poor solid waste and effluent management, that can reach water bodies from various sources. In freshwater environments, the occurrence, distribution, and characterization of this new class of pollutants are still little explored, especially in Brazil. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of MPs, as well as the presence and concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) sorbed to these particles in the surface waters of the Tietê River - SP. Surface water samples were collected in duplicate during the dry and wet seasons. The identification and characterization of the MPs was carried out through visual inspection and the chemical identity of the particles was verified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR). For the analysis of PCBs adsorbed to the MPs, the sample extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The MPs were found in concentrations ranging from 6.67 to 1530 particles m-3, with a predominance of the polymers polyethylene (PE, with 58.17 %) and polypropylene (PP, with 23.53 %). The main morphological categories identified were fragments (56.63 %), fibers (28.42 %), and transparent films (13.06 %). Higher abundances of PCBs were observed in the lower size range, between 0.106 and 0.35 mm. The total concentrations of PCBs in MPs ranged from 20.53 to 133.12 ng g-1. The results obtained here are relevant for understanding the dynamics and level of contamination of MPs and organic pollutants sorbed to these particles in the Tietê River, as well as helping with mitigation measures for the restoration and preservation of this ecosystem.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae ST-1901 in Rio de Janeiro from 2006 to 2022: Phylogeny and antimicrobial resistance evolution of a well-succeeded pathogen.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global threat to public health due to the accumulation of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. ST-1901 is an internationally important sequence type (ST) because of its high incidence and the usual occurrence of chromosomally determined resistance. In this study, we describe the evolution of the ST-1901 and its single locus variants in Rio de Janeiro from 2006 to 2022. We analyzed 82 N. gonorrhoeae isolates according to antimicrobial susceptibility profile, resistance mechanisms, molecular typing, and phylogenetics. Six different single locus variants were detected. Phylogenetic analysis identified five clades, which share similar characteristics. Resistance rates for penicillin and tetracycline decreased due to the lower occurrence of resistance plasmids, but intermediary resistance to penicillin rose. Resistance to ciprofloxacin remained high throughout all clades and the years of the study. Regarding resistance to azithromycin, alterations in mtrR promoter and gene, and 23S rRNA encoding gene rrl were detected, with a notable rise in the incidence of C2611T mutations in more recent years occurring in four of five clades. In contrast, ß-lactam resistance associated penA 34 mosaic was found only in one persisting clade (Clade D), and unique G45D and A39T mutations in mtrR gene and its promoter (Nm-Like) were found only in Clade B. Taken together, these data suggest that ST-1901, a persistently circulating lineage of N. gonorrhoeae in Rio de Janeiro, has undergone changes over the years and may evolve to develop resistance to the current recommended dual therapy adopted in Brazil, namely, ceftriaxone and azithromycin.

In vitro efficacy of lavender oil, otological gel and gentamicin to eradicate biofilm produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Otitis externa (OE) is one of the most frequently diagnosed dermatological diseases in dogs, having a multifactorial aetiology. Among the bacterial agents associated with canine OE, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is of special concern owing to its frequent multidrug resistance profile and ability to form biofilms related to the infection's chronicity and recurrence. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the antibiofilm activity of two innovative antimicrobials-an otological gel containing a synthetic antimicrobial peptide and Lavandula angustifolia essential oil-with gentamicin (a conventional antibiotic) using biofilm-producing P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from dogs with OE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The biofilm eradication capacity of gentamicin, otological gel and lavender oil was determined against a collection of 12 P. aeruginosa biofilm-producers among 35 clinical isolates obtained from the ear canals of dogs with OE. Also, the antimicrobial activity of the otological gel against P. aeruginosa biofilms was assessed in an in vitro model of dog cerumen. RESULTS: Lavender oil showed the best effectiveness after 30 min of contact, eradicating 58.3% (seven of 12) of the isolates, and gentamicin showed full eradication (12 of 12) after 24 h. The otological gel acted more slowly than the lavender oil; yet at 24 h, the antibiofilm capacity of both compounds was similar, with no significant difference between them. It also was found that triglycerides from synthetic cerumen earwax had antipseudomonal activity and, when combined with the otological gel, led to the full eradication of P. aeruginosa. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this in vitro study indicate that lavender oil and the otological gel may be effective topical treatments for canine OE promoted by P. aeruginosa biofilm-producers, as alternatives to gentamicin.

Peroxiporins and Oxidative Stress: Promising Targets to Tackle Inflammation and Cancer.

Peroxiporins are a specialized subset of aquaporins, which are integral membrane proteins primarily known for facilitating water transport across cell membranes. In addition to the classical water transport function, peroxiporins have the unique capability to transport hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species involved in various cellular signaling pathways and regulation of oxidative stress responses. The regulation of H2O2 levels is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis, and peroxiporins play a significant role in this process by modulating its intracellular and extracellular concentrations. This ability to facilitate the passage of H2O2 positions peroxiporins as key players in redox biology and cellular signaling, with implications for understanding and treating various diseases linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. This review provides updated information on the physiological roles of peroxiporins and their implications in disease, emphasizing their potential as novel biomarkers and drug targets in conditions where they are dysregulated, such as inflammation and cancer.

Characterisation of 3D-printable thermoplastics to be used as tissue-equivalent materials in photon and proton beam radiotherapy end-to-end quality assurance devices.

Objective.To investigate the potential of 3D-printable thermoplastics as tissue-equivalent materials to be used in multimodal radiotherapy end-to-end quality assurance (QA) devices.Approach.Six thermoplastics were investigated: Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) and StoneFil. Measurements of mass density (ρ), Relative Electron Density (RED), in a nominal 6 MV photon beam, and Relative Stopping Power (RSP), in a 210 MeV proton pencil-beam, were performed. Average Hounsfield Units (HU) were derived from CTs acquired with two independent scanners. The calibration curves of both scanners were used to predict averageρ,RED and RSP values and compared against the experimental data. Finally, measured data ofρ,RED and RSP was compared against theoretical values estimated for the thermoplastic materials and biological tissues.Main results.Overall, goodρand RSP CT predictions were made; only PMMA and PETG showed differences >5%. The differences between experimental and CT predicted RED values were also <5% for PLA, ABS, PETG and PMMA; for HIPS and StoneFil higher differences were found (6.94% and 9.42/15.34%, respectively). Small HU variations were obtained in the CTs for all materials indicating good uniform density distribution in the samples production. ABS, PLA, PETG and PMMA showed potential equivalency for a variety of soft tissues (adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, brain and lung tissues, differences within 0.19%-8.35% for all properties). StoneFil was the closest substitute to bone, but differences were >10%. Theoretical calculations of all properties agreed with experimental values within 5% difference for most thermoplastics.Significance.Several 3D-printed thermoplastics were promising tissue-equivalent materials to be used in devices for end-to-end multimodal radiotherapy QA and may not require corrections in treatment planning systems' dose calculations. Theoretical calculations showed promise in identifying thermoplastics matching target biological tissues before experiments are performed.

Rational formulation and industrial manufacturing of lipid-based complex injectables: Landmarks and trends.

Lipid-based complex injectables are renowned for their effectiveness in delivering drugs, with many approved products. While significant strides have been made in formulating nanosystems for small molecular weight drugs, a pivotal breakthrough emerged with the recognition of lipid nanoparticles as a promising platform for delivering nucleic acids. This finding has paved the way for tackling long-standing challenges in molecular and delivery aspects (e.g., mRNA stability, intracellular delivery) that have impeded the clinical translation of gene therapy, especially in the realm of immunotherapy. Nonetheless, developing and implementing new lipid-based delivery systems pose significant challenges, as industrial manufacturing of these formulations often involves complex, multi-batch processes, giving rise to issues related to scalability, stability, sterility, and regulatory compliance. To overcome these obstacles, embracing the principles of quality-by-design (QbD) is imperative. Furthermore, adopting cutting-edge manufacturing and process analytical tools (PAT) that facilitate the transition from batch to continuous production is essential. Herein, the key milestones and insights derived from the development of currently approved lipid- nanosystems will be explored. Additionally, a comprehensive and critical overview of the latest technologies and regulatory guidelines that underpin the creation of more efficient, scalable, and flexible manufacturing processes for complex lipid-based nanoformulations will be provided.

Towards a species-level phylogeny for Neotropical Myrtaceae: Notes on topology and resources for future studies.

PREMISE: Increasingly complete phylogenies underpin studies in systematics, ecology, and evolution. Myrteae (Myrtaceae), with ~2700 species, is a key component of the exceptionally diverse Neotropical flora, but given its complicated taxonomy, automated assembling of molecular supermatrices from public databases often lead to unreliable topologies due to poor species identification. METHODS: Here, we build a taxonomically verified molecular supermatrix of Neotropical Myrteae by assembling 3909 published and 1004 unpublished sequences from two nuclear and seven plastid molecular markers. We infer a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree that covers 712 species of Myrteae (~28% of the total diversity in the clade) and evaluate geographic and taxonomic gaps in sampling. RESULTS: The tree inferred from the fully concatenated matrix mostly reflects the topology of the plastid data set and there is a moderate to strong incongruence between trees inferred from nuclear and plastid partitions. Large, species-rich genera are still the poorest sampled within the group. Eastern South America is the best-represented area in proportion to its species diversity, while Western Amazon, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean are the least represented. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a time-calibrated tree that can be more reliably used to address finer-scale eco-evolutionary questions that involve this group in the Neotropics. Gaps to be filled by future studies include improving representation of taxa and areas that remain poorly sampled, investigating causes of conflict between nuclear and plastid partitions, and the role of hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting in relationships that are poorly supported.

Insights into cork weathering regarding colour, chemical and cellular changes in view of outdoor applications.

A comprehensive analysis of outdoor weathering and soil burial of cork during 1-year experiments was carried out with measurements of CIELAB color parameters, cellular observations by scanning electron microscopy, and surface chemical features analysed by ATR-FTIR and wet chemical analysis. Cork applied in outdoor conditions above and below ground retained its physical structure and integrity without signs of deterioration or fracturing. The cellular structure was maintained with some small changes at the one-cell layer at the surface, featuring cellular expansion and minute cell wall fractures. Surface color and chemistry showed distinct results for outdoor exposure and soil burial. The weathered cork surfaces acquired a lighter color while the soil buried cork surfaces became darker. With outdoor weathering, the cork polar solubles increased (13.0% vs. 7.6% o.d. mass) while a substantial decrease of lignin occurred (about 28% of the original lignin was removed) leading to a suberin-enriched cork surface. The chemical impact on lignin is therefore responsible for the surface change towards lighter colors. Soil-burial induced hydrolysis of ester bonds of suberin and xylan, and the lignin-enriched cork surface displayed a dark brown color. FTIR and wet chemical results were consistent. Overall cork showed a considerable structural and physical stability that allows its application in outdoor conditions, namely for building façades or other surfacing applications. Architects and designers should take into account the color dynamics of the cork surfaces.

Experimental comparison of cylindrical and plane parallel ionization chambers for reference dosimetry in continuous and pulsed scanned proton beams.

Objective. In this experimental work we compared the determination of absorbed dose to water using four ionization chambers (ICs), a PTW-34045 Advanced Markus, a PTW-34001 Roos, an IBA-PPC05 and a PTW-30012 Farmer, irradiated under the same conditions in one continuous- and in two pulsed-scanned proton beams.Approach. The ICs were positioned at 2 cm depth in a water phantom in four square-field single-energy scanned-proton beams with nominal energies between 80 and 220 MeV and in the middle of 10 × 10 × 10 cm3dose cubes centered at 10 cm or 12.5 cm depth in water. The water-equivalent thickness (WET) of the entrance window and the effective point of measurement was considered when positioning the plane parallel (PP) ICs and the cylindrical ICs, respectively. To reduce uncertainties, all ICs were calibrated at the same primary standards laboratory. We used the beam quality (kQ) correction factors for the ICs under investigation from IAEA TRS-398, the newly calculated Monte Carlo (MC) values and the anticipated IAEA TRS-398 updated recommendations.Main results. Dose differences among the four ICs ranged between 1.5% and 3.7% using both the TRS-398 and the newly recommendedkQvalues. The spread among the chambers is reduced with the newlykQvalues. The largest differences were observed between the rest of the ICs and the IBA-PPC05 IC, obtaining lower dose with the IBA-PPC05.Significance. We provide experimental data comparing different types of chambers in different proton beam qualities. The observed dose differences between the ICs appear to be related to inconsistencies in the determination of thekQvalues. For PP ICs, MC studies account for the physical thickness of the entrance window rather than the WET. The additional energy loss that the wall material invokes is not negligible for the IBA-PPC05 and might partially explain the lowkQvalues determined for this IC. To resolve this inconsistency and to benchmark MC values,kQvalues measured using calorimetry are needed.

Laboratory Assessment of the Effects of AGA@4life Multidisciplinary Intervention on the Inflammatory Profile, MMPs, and TIMPs in a Geriatric Population.

In recent years, the world's aging population has increased, contributing to the development of age-related pathologies, which have been aggravated by physical inactivity and excessive fat intake. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a nutritional program (control group-CG) combined with exercise (intervention group-IG) on the inflammatory profile, MMPs, and TIMPs in a group of 34 elderly participants (IG, n = 18; CG, n = 16). Participants underwent a full multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation (T0), with the gathering of clinical information and biochemical and hematological determinations being re-evaluated eight weeks later (T1). A diet manual was made, which provided a selection of different types of diets resulting from the nutritional needs of the different users at the center. The aerobic exercise consisted of two sessions per week with a total duration of 1 h. The laboratory evaluation was performed by slot blot. Statistical analysis included a paired sample t-test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. We observed that in the IG, there was a significant increase at T1 of TNF-α (p < 0.05) and MMP-2 (p < 0.05), without changes in IL-6 and MMP-9, showing that the intervention did not cause an exacerbated inflammatory response in exercised elderly people. The intervention program implemented showed potential to contribute to better active aging strategies, taking advantage of the known benefits of exercise without inducing a harmful inflammatory response in elderly participants.

The behavior of thermally modified wood after exposure in maritime/industrial and urban environments.

Natural and thermally modified Pine, Ash, and Acacia woods were exposed in two different environments: urban and maritime/industrial. The weathering effects were evaluated during 24 months regarding color, chemical, and structural changes. In all wood species, thermal modification induced color, chemical, and structural changes. All woods became darker (Pine ΔL*: -32.01; Ash ΔL*: -36.83; Acacia ΔL*: -27.50), total extractives content increased (Pine: 19 %; Ash: 32 % and Acacia: 18 %), and the samples presented deformation and damaged cells. Total lignin was not significantly changed, although there were detected changes in lignin, namely the reduction of G-units in Pine (≈2 %) and reduction of S/G ratio in Acacia (≈0.04 %). Ash remained almost the same. After weathering, modified woods suffered fewer color changes, indicating that the thermal modification could improve the resistance to color change. Acacia wood, when exposed to maritime/industrial conditions, revealed a higher color change (ΔE: 35.7 at 24 months) when compared with urban conditions (ΔE: 23.5 at 24 months). Delignification, possibly caused by photodegradation, occurred in all wood samples, and the loss of extractive happened, perhaps caused by rain. Modified woods were slightly less resistant to weathering in maritime/industrial environments. Some structural damage, namely cracked cells, the appearance of molds, blue staining, and particle deposition, was observed. The thermal modification enables color stabilization but does not seem to improve the weathering resistance in all studied wood species. Exposure to the different environments did not lead to significant differences in the morphology and chemical composition of the three natural and modified wood species.

A novel approach correlating pathologic complete response with digital pathology and radiomics in triple-negative breast cancer.

This rapid communication highlights the correlations between digital pathology-whole slide imaging (WSI) and radiomics-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. The research collected 12 patients who had both core needle biopsy and MRI performed to evaluate pathologic complete response (pCR). The results showed that higher collagenous values in pathology data were correlated with more homogeneity, whereas higher tumor expression values in pathology data correlated with less homogeneity in the appearance of tumors on MRI by size zone non-uniformity normalized (SZNN). Higher myxoid values in pathology data are correlated with less similarity of gray-level non-uniformity (GLN) in tumor regions on MRIs, while higher immune values in WSIs correlated with the more joint distribution of smaller-size zones by small area low gray-level emphasis (SALGE) in the tumor regions on MRIs. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was associated with collagen, tumor, and myxoid expression in WSI and GLN and SZNN in radiomic features. The correlations of WSI and radiomic features may further our understanding of the TNBC tumoral microenvironment (TME) and could be used in the future to better tailor the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This communication will focus on the post-NAC MRI features correlated with pCR and their association with WSI features from core needle biopsies.

3D Niche-Inspired Scaffolds as a Stem Cell Delivery System for the Regeneration of the Osteochondral Interface.

The regeneration of the osteochondral unit represents a challenge due to the distinct cartilage and bone phases. Current strategies focus on the development of multiphasic scaffolds that recapitulate features of this complex unit and promote the differentiation of implanted bone-marrow derived stem cells (BMSCs). In doing so, challenges remain from the loss of stemness during in vitro expansion of the cells and the low control over stem cell activity at the interface with scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. Here, this work scaffolds inspired by the bone marrow niche that can recapitulate the natural healing process after injury. The construct comprises an internal depot of quiescent BMSCs, mimicking the bone marrow cavity, and an electrospun (ESP) capsule that "activates" the cells to migrate into an outer "differentiation-inducing" 3D printed unit functionalized with TGF-ß and BMP-2 peptides. In vitro, niche-inspired scaffolds retained a depot of nonproliferative cells capable of migrating and proliferating through the ESP capsule. Invasion of the 3D printed cavity results in location-specific cell differentiation, mineralization, secretion of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and genetic upregulation of collagen II and collagen I. In vivo, niche-inspired scaffolds are biocompatible, promoted tissue formation in rat subcutaneous models, and regeneration of the osteochondral unit in rabbit models.

Are images worth a thousand words? A preliminary study testing a video for owner education in canine atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Successful management of canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is challenging and effective pet owner education is crucial to successful outcomes. However, there are limited proven educational strategies in this area. Our goal was to create an effective and engaging educational tool for owners of dogs with cAD. HYPOTHESIS: Video-based education efficacy would be comparable to traditional verbal delivery. Secondary objectives included assessing client perception of the intervention, and determining if there were clinical benefits for the dogs and improved client adherence to treatment. SUBJECTS: Twenty-nine dogs with cAD and their owners were recruited from a teaching hospital of a European veterinary medicine faculty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this 8 week, prospective, randomised controlled study, clients in the control group (CG, n = 13) received verbal education and those in the intervention group (IG, n = 16) watched a video. Client knowledge was assessed at Day (D)0 and D56. Treatment adherence and perceived utility and appeal ratings were measured at D56. Clinical progress was assessed at D0 and D56 using CADESI-04 and PVAS10. RESULTS: The differences found in the means of cAD knowledge score, clinical outcomes, utility and appeal ratings and owners' adherence score between groups were not statistically significant. A significant association between the outcome and the intervention group concerning education success [CG, six of 13 (46.15%); IG, 15 of 16 (93.75%)] was found (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Video-based instructions positively impacted owners' education and demonstrated their potential as a valuable tool. The authors believe that video-based education could be a time-efficient alternative for initial cAD education in veterinary clinics.

Observing the neighborhood multidimensionality and overweight in children of different developmental stages-the emergence of an unusual association.

The present study examines whether the association of the neighborhood environment and overweight in children is moderated by age. This was a cross-sectional study of 832 children aged 3 to 10 years living in the city of Oporto (Portugal). Children were recruited under the scope of the project "Inequalities in Childhood Obesity: The impact of the socioeconomic crisis in Portugal from 2009 to 2015." Overweight was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire capturing sociodemographic characteristics and their perceptions of their neighborhood environment. Logistic regressions were used to examine the influence of parental perceived neighborhood characteristics (latent variables: attractiveness, traffic safety, crime safety, and walkability) on overweight in children. A stratified analysis by age category was conducted. Overall, 27.8% of the children were overweight, 17.4% were aged 3 to 5 years, and 31.8% were aged 6 to 10 years. Children aged 3 to 5 years were more sensitive to the neighborhood environment than children aged 6 to 10 years. For children aged 3 to 5 years, the risk of overweight was inversely associated with neighborhood crime safety (OR = 1.84; 95% CI 1.07-3.15; p = 0.030).    Conclusion: Our study suggests the existence of a sensitive age period in childhood at which exposure to a hostile neighborhood environment is most determining for weight gain. Until today, it was thought that the impact of the neighborhood environment on younger children would be less important as they are less autonomous. But it may not be true. What is Known: • The neighborhood environment may adversely affect children's weight status. However, the moderating role of child age in the association between neighborhood environment and overweight is uncertain. What is New: • The study highlights that the association between the neighborhood environment and child overweight is attenuated by age. It is stronger for preschoolers than for early school-age children.

Monte Carlo modelling of a prototype small-body portable graphite calorimeter for ultra-high dose rate proton beams.

Background and purpose: Accurate dosimetry in Ultra-High Dose Rate (UHDR) beams is challenging because high levels of ion recombination occur within ionisation chambers used as reference dosimeters. A Small-body Portable Graphite Calorimeter (SPGC) exhibiting a dose-rate independent response was built to offer reduced uncertainty on secondary standard dosimetry in UHDR regimes. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of the geometry and material properties of the device on the dose measurement. Materials and methods: A detailed model of the SPGC was built in the Monte Carlo code TOPAS (v3.6.1) to derive the impurity and gap correction factors, kimp and kgap. A dose conversion factor, DwMC/DgMC, was also calculated using FLUKA (v2021.2.0). These factors convert the average dose to its graphite core to the dose-to-water for a 249.7 MeV mono-energetic spot-scanned clinical proton beam. The effect of the surrounding Styrofoam on the dose measurement was examined in the simulations by substituting it for graphite. Results: The kimp and kgap correction factors were 0.9993 ± 0.0002 and 1.0000 ± 0.0001, respectively when the Styrofoam was not substituted, and 1.0037 ± 0.0002 and 0.9999 ± 0.0001, respectively when substituted for graphite. The dose conversion factor was calculated to be 1.0806 ± 0.0001. All uncertainties are Type A. Conclusions: Impurity and gap correction factors, and the dose conversion factor were calculated for the SPGC in a FLASH proton beam. Separating out the effect of scatter from Styrofoam insulation showed this as the dominating correction factor, amounting to 1.0043 ± 0.0002.

Clinical management of feline chronic kidney disease in Portugal: a questionnaire-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to characterise the clinical management of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) by veterinary practitioners in Portugal. METHODS: A questionnaire-based study was designed to be completed by all veterinarians who had diagnosed and treated at least one case of feline CKD in the previous year. RESULTS: A total of 409 veterinary practitioners responded to the questionnaire, with approximately half of them diagnosing 2-5 cases of feline CKD per month (n = 219, 53.5%). Although a high proportion of these reported using the guidelines published by the International Renal Interest Society (n = 379, 92.7%), only 19.1% (n = 78) systematically performed systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements in all of their patients. A renal diet was advised by almost all respondents (n = 406, 99.3%), but 36.9% (n = 150) of them considered that it represented less than 75% of the daily food intake for most of their patients. This dietary intervention was often prescribed regardless of stage (n = 298, 73.4%) and without a proper gradual diet transition. Appetite stimulants were frequently prescribed (n = 366, 89.5%), as well as a calcium channel blocker (n = 171, 41.8%) and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (n = 245, 59.9%) to control systemic hypertension and proteinuria, respectively. Prescription of a phosphate binder was also common (n = 311, 76.0%). Regarding monitoring, 70.9% (n = 290) recommended that stable patients be reassessed every 2-3 months or more frequently, but only 35.7% (n = 146) were able to comply with this periodicity due to owners' constraints. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings showed that although most survey respondents are aware of international guidelines for the clinical management of cats with CKD, the SBP measurement still needs to be more systematic to allow proper substaging and detection of systemic hypertension. The monitoring frequency was lower than recommended. Furthermore, the introduction of a renal therapeutic diet should be refined to improve its acceptance rate.