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In the last century, the issue of "water reserves" has become a remarkably strategic topic in modern science and technology. In this context, water resource treatment and management systems are being developed in both agricultural and urban area scenarios. This can be achieved using superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), highly cross-linked hydrogels with three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer structures capable of absorbing, swelling and retaining huge amounts of aqueous solutions. SAPs are able to respond to several external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, electric field, and solution composition and concentration. They can be used in many areas, from sensor technology to drug delivery, agriculture, firefighting applications, food, and the biomedical industry. In addition, new categories of functional SAP-based materials, mainly superabsorbent polymer composites, can also encapsulate fertilizers to efficiently provide the controlled release of both water and active compounds. Moreover, SAPs have great potential in wastewater treatment for the removal of harmful elements. In this respect, in the following review, the most promising and recent advances in the use of SAPs and composite SAPs as tools for the sustainable management and remediation of water resource are reviewed and discussed by identifying opportunities and drawbacks and highlighting new challenges and aims to inspire the research community.

Background: In literature are reported different analytical methods (AM) to choose the proper fit model and to fit data of the time-activity curve (TAC). On the other hand, Machine Learning algorithms (ML) are increasingly used for both classification and regression tasks. The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of employing ML both to classify the most appropriate fit model and to predict the area under the curve (τ)., Methods: Two different ML systems have been developed for classifying the fit model and to predict the biokinetic parameters. The two systems were trained and tested with synthetic TACs simulating a whole-body Fraction Injected Activity for patients affected by metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma, administered with [ 131 I]I-NaI. Test performances, defined as classification accuracy (CA) and percentage difference between the actual and the estimated area under the curve (Δτ), were compared with those obtained using AM varying the number of points (N) of the TACs. A comparison between AM and ML were performed using data of 20 real patients., Results: As N varies, CA remains constant for ML (about 98%), while it improves for F-test (from 62 to 92%) and AICc (from 50 to 92%), as N increases. With AM, [Formula: see text] can reach down to - 67%, while using ML [Formula: see text] ranges within ± 25%. Using real TACs, there is a good agreement between τ obtained with ML system and AM., Conclusions: The employing of ML systems may be feasible, having both a better classification and a better estimation of biokinetic parameters., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Dosimetry in molecular radiotherapy for personalized treatment is assuming a central role in clinical management of aggressive/relapsed tumors. Relapsed/refractory metastatic high-risk neuroblastoma (rrmHR-NBL) has a poor prognosis and high-activity 131 I-mIBG therapy could represent a promising strategy. The primary aim of this case series study was to report the absorbed doses to whole-body ( D WB ), red marrow ( D RM ) and lesions ( D Lesion ). A secondary aim was to correlate D Lesion values to clinical outcome., Methods: Fourteen patients affected by rrmHR-NBL were treated with high-activity 131 I-mIBG therapy (two administrations separated by 15 days). The first administration was weight-based whereas the second one was dosimetry-based (achieving D WB equals to 4 Gy). In all patients D WB and D RM was assessed; 9/14 patients were selected for D Lesion evaluation using planar dosimetric approach (13 lesions evaluated). Treatment response was classified as progressive and stable disease (PD and SD), partial and complete response (PR and CR) according to the International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria. Patients were divided into two groups: Responder (CR, PR, SD) and Non-Responder (PD), correlating treatment response to D Lesion value., Results: The cumulative D WB , D RM and D Lesion ranged from (1.5; 4.5), (1.0; 2.6) and (44.2; 585.8) Gy. A linear correlation between D WB and D RM and a power law correlation between the absorbed dose to WB normalized for administered activity and the mass of the patient were observed. After treatment 3, 2, 4 and 5 patients showed CR, PR, SD and PD respectively, showing a correlation between D Lesion and the two response group., Conclusions: Our experience demonstrated feasibility of high activity therapy of 131 I-mIBG in rrmHR-NBL children as two administration intensive strategy. Dosimetric approach allowed a tailored high dose treatment maximizing the benefits of radionuclide therapy for pediatric patients while maintaining a safety profile. The assesment of D Lesion contributed to have a deeper understaning of metabolic treatment effects., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/qims-21-548). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare, (2022 Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. All rights reserved.)