The purpose of this study is to provide an accurate formula for calculating entropy for short DNA sequences and to demonstrate how to use it to examine leukemia patient surviving. We used IDIBAPS leukemia patient’s data base with 117 anonymized records. The generalized form of the Robust Entropy Estimator (EnRE) for short DNA sequences was proposed and key EnRE futures was showed. The Survival Analysis has been done using statistical package IBM SPSS. Entropy EnRE were calculated for leukemia patients for two samples: A. 2 groups divided by median EnRE and B. 2 groups of patients were formed according to their belonging to 1st and 4th quartiles of EnRE. The result of survival analysis are statistically significant: A. p < 0.05; B. p < 0.005. The death hazard for a patient with EnRE below median is 1.556 times that of a patient with EnRE over median and that the death hazard for a patient of 1st quartile (lowest EnRE) is 2.143 times that of a patient of 4th quartile (highest EnRE). The transition from median to quartile patients’ groups with more EnRE differentiation confirmed the unique significance of the entropy of DNA sequences for leukemia patients surviving.

Track-structure Monte Carlo simulations are useful tools to evaluate initial DNA damage induced by irradiation. In the previous study, we have developed a Gean4-DNA-based application to estimate the cell surviving fraction of V79 cells after irradiation, bridging the gap between the initial DNA damage and the DNA-rejoining kinetics by means of the two-lesion kinetics (TLK) model. However, since the DNA repair performance depends on cell line, the same model parameters cannot be used for the different cell lines. Thus, we extended the Geant4-DNA application with an updated TLK model for the evaluation of DNA damage repair performance in HSGc-C5 carcinoma cells which are typically used for evaluating proton/carbon radiation treatment effects. For this evaluation, we also performed experimental measurements for cell surviving fractions and DNA-rejoining kinetics of the HSGc-C5s cells. Concerning fast- and slow-DNA rejoining, the TLK model parameters were adequately optimized with the simulated initial DNA damage. Using the optimized TLK model, the Geant4-DNA simulation is now able to predict cell survival and DNA-rejoining kinetics for HSGc-C5s cells.

Macadamia nut plantings in China are expanding year by year. In order to further promote the superior varieties, this study analyzed the effects of different varieties of rootstock and scion on the survival rate as well as the effects of 18 different ratios of substrate composition on seedling growth were analyzed. The results showed that: The survival rate of HAES788 varieties as rootstock and Guire No.1 as scion was the highest, reaching 96%. The optimal grafting time in December was better than that in March. Substrate formulations 12, 13, 15 and 16 had agglomerated soil and well-developed root systems compared to the controls. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, and dry weight of aboveground and underground parts were significantly higher than those of the control. In addition, the substrate formulations 12, 13, 15 and 16 significantly improved the organic matter, total nitrogen, and total potassium content of the substrate soils, but little on total phosphorus content. All in all, macadamia grafting times are best in December, with HAES788 and Guire No.1 being the best rootstock and scion. Substrate formulations 12, 13, 15 and 16 are the optimal formula. This study provides a solid foundation to produce high-quality macadamia seedlings.

Early treatment is the mainstay of sepsis therapy. We suspected that early recognition of sepsis by prehospital healthcare providers may shorten time to antibiotic administration in the Emergency Department. We retrospectively evaluated all patients above 18 years of age that were diagnosed with sepsis or severe infection in our Emergency Department between 2018 and 2020. We recorded the suspected diagnosis at time of presentation, type of referring healthcare provider and time until initiation of antibiotic treatment. Differences between groups were calculated using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. Of the 277 patients that were diagnosed with severe infection or sepsis in the emergency department, an infection was suspected in 124 (44.8%) patients and sepsis was suspected in 31 (11.2%) patients by referring healthcare providers. Time to initiation of antibiotic treatment was shorter in patients where sepsis or infection had been suspected prior to arrival for both patients with severe infections (p = 0.022) and sepsis (p = 0.004). Given the well described outcome benefits to early sepsis therapy, recognition of sepsis needs to be improved. Appropriate scores should be used as part of routine patient assessment to reduce time to antibiotic administration and improve patient outcomes.