Technological Breakthrough for the Afforestation of Populus euphratica in the Mu Us Desert in China

The Mu Us Desert (MUD) is one of the four largest sandy lands in China. On 22 April 2020, the Shaanxi Forestry Bureau announced that the desertification land control rate in Yulin reached 93.24%, which means that the Mu Us Desert was about to “disappear” from the territory of Shaanxi. However, the problem of biological diversity, mostly for Pinus sylvestris and shrubs in the Mu Us Desert, remains serious. In order to consolidate the current forest conservation efforts, Populus euphratica has been considered an ideal candidate since the 1950s. However, the low survival rate and conservation rate of Populus euphratica in the MUD led us to perform further large-scale introduction for over 70 years. In this study, by using root control seedling technology, the survival and the conservation rate of Populus euphratica were increased to more than 90%. This study makes possible the introduction of Populus euphratica in the MUD, and the successful introduction of Populus euphratica will provide a new barrier for forest ecosystem stability in the desertification control project in the Yulin area.

A Meta-analysis of the Association Between Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Surgical Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

IntroductionThe use of preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in newly diagnosed breast cancer has been increasing. However, the value of MRI applied to the women with newly diagnosed breast cancer remains controversial. Therefore, this study focused on the association between preoperative MRI and surgical outcomes, which include mastectom y rate, breast conservation rate, and re-excision rate.Material and methodsA systematic literature search was performed by the Wan fang, VIP (Chinese biomedical databases), PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Vip databases. The keywords were "breast cancer", "magnetic resonance imaging", "mastectomy rate", "re-excision rate", and "breast conservation rate." A random-effects model was used to estimate the proportion of women with various outcomes in the MRI group, versus a non-MRI group. The odds ratio (OR) for each surgical outcome were calculated.Results4 RCTs (Randomized Controlled Trial) met the eligibility criteria that included a total of 2312 patients with breast cancer. The analysis results of the MRI group versus the non-MRI group were as follows: Mastectomy rate of 15% versus 10%, OR 2.01, 95% CI 0.79-5.11, P=0.14; Breast conservation rate 84% versus 89%, OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.29-1.17, P=0.13; Re-excision rate 17% versus 19%, OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.37-1.54, P=0.45.ConclusionsThere was no significant association between preoperative MRI and surgical outcomes. This study suggested that the use of preoperative MRI should be selective. The results showed that the application of preoperative MRI didn’t improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients. More randomized trials are needed for further study due to limited randomized trials.

Optimizing the control and automation of variable torque on 3-phase induction motor using programable neuro logic controller and variable frequency drive

This paper presents optimizing the control and automation of variable torque on 3-phase induction motor using programmable neuro logic controller (PNLC) and variable frequency drive (VFD). The system was designed by developing a transfer model of the nonlinear input current from the load cells and feed to an improved PLC model for an approximate current function which is identified by the VFD with respect to the controlled load torque to power the 4.07KW rated 3-phase induction motor. The models were implemented using control system toolbox, neural network toolbox and simulated with Simulink in MATLAB. From the simulation of the improved controller model, the step response time performance of the PLC was improved from 2.25s to 1.22s with the PNLC.The simulation result of the VFD controlled 3-PIM motor shows that 37.07% of energy (power) was conserved compared to a characterized system with 20% energy conservation rate. Keywords: 4.07KW 3-phase induction motor, PLC, ANN, VFD, Energy conservation rate

PLANT TISSUE CULTURE IN MUNTINGIA CALABURA IN VITRO CLONAL PROPAGATION, CALLUS INDUCTION AND GERMPLASM CONSERVATION OF ‘CERECILLO’ MUNTINGIA CALABURA L. (MUNTINGIACEAE)

Muntingia calabura L. (Muntingiaceae) is a fast-growing tree native to tropical America, abundant in the seasonally dry forest of the north coast of Peru. Tissue culture is an effective procedure to produce healthy plants, rapid clonal propagation and several morphogenic process. The objective of this study was to formulate an efficient method for micropropagation, morphogenesis callus induction and germplasm conservation of this species. In this study, seeds, shoot-tips and nodal segments of seedlings were used as explants, inducing various morphogenic processes in different combinations of growth regulators and osmoregulatory substances. In vitro seeds germination was 100% up to four months after the ripe fruits were collected and after 12 months the germination rate was 0.0%. The highest elongation of shoot was observed with 0.5 mg L-1 2iP (3.11 cm) although the highest number of shoots formed (18.0 and 16.5) was observed with 0.5 mg/L KIN or TDZ, respectively, after 30 days of culture. The best callus induction was obtained in 0.5 and 1.0 mg L-1 TDZ, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L-1 2,4-D, 2.0 mg L-1 NAA or 2.0 mg L-1 NAA with 0.1 and 0.5 mg L-1 BAP, after 45 days of culture period. Shoot regeneration (> 10 shoots/explant) was observed with 0.1 to 2.0 mg L-1 NAA. Root induction was observed in all shoots cultured in various concentrations of IBA and NAA-GA3, after 30 days of culture. After two months, well rooted plantlets were transplanted in greenhouse conditions, however, the survival rate was less than 10%. Only in treatment with mannitol 2.0% in explants without roots, the highest in vitro conservation rate (50%) was reached, after 6 months of culture, while in the control treatment in culture medium without ABA and mannitol, but supplemented with 0.02-0.02 mg L-1 (IAA-GA3), the conservation rate reached 100%. The results demonstrated the applicability of tissue culture in the micropropagation and in vitro germplasm conservation of M. calabura.

Personalized neoadjuvant strategy in luminal A breast cancer to increase breast conserving surgery (BCS) rate [PLATO study].

TPS603 Background: The most important and well established benefit of neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients is increased breast conservation rate. However, in ER-positive and HER-2 negative breast cancer, the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is not as good as other subtype of breast cancer, such as HER-2 or triple-negative breast cancer. In addition, with the advancement of multi-gene assay tools for this subtype, adjuvant chemotherapy is not needed at all in significant proportion of this subtype. Through a selective neoadjuvant therapy, either chemotherapy or endocrine therapy using histopathologic markers and 70-gene assay (Mammaprint. Agendia inc.), we hypothesize that we could increase the breast conservation rate in ER-positive and HER-2 negative breast cancer. Methods: This study is a non-randomized, phase II, prospective study. The main inclusion criteria is women with stage I-IIIA, ER-positive and HER-2 negative breast cancer that tumor size is measurable. BCS is not feasible considering the tumor size, location, and patient's breast size. Two surgeons in each institution will judge the feasibility of BCS. Main exclusion criteria is diffuse malignant microcalcification or multicentric breast cancer. The conversion rate from BCS-ineligible to BCS-eligible with NCT was 35.8% in ER-positive and HER-2 negative breast cancer in our previous study. We assumed that with the study regimen, the rate will be increased to 50.8% (15% increase). Given these estimates, under 10% type II error rate and 90% power, 122 patients in total will be enrolled from nine tertiary hospitals in Korea. All the patients initially will be tested with Mammaprint assay. When the Mammaprint result is high risk, the patients will receive NCT. When the Mammaprint result is low risk, the patients will receive neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. Postmenopausal women receive letrozole 2.5mg per day for 16 weeks. Premenopausal women receive leuprorelin every 4 weeks with letrozole for 16 weeks. Period of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy can be prolonged maximum 24 weeks by physician’s decision. The primary endpoint is conversion rate from BCS-ineligible to BCS-eligible of more than 50%. The secondary endpoint is actual breast conservation rate, pathologic complete response, clinical response rate, and disease-free survival. Clinical trial information: NCT03900637 .

Changes in soil conservation service and its driving factors: case studies in global top five largest basins

<p>Soil conservation service is an important regulating ecosystem service. We estimated the soil conservation rate of the top five largest basins in the world from 2000 to 2018, classified the trend of conservation rate for each basin and each location as four types (i.e., significant decrease, decrease, increase and significant increase), and analyzed the relationships between soil conservation rate and driving factors. Results show that the Yangtze River basin produces the highest average soil conservation rate (with the value of 1429.68 t ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>). The Yangtze, Mississippi and Yellow River basins show a generally increasing conservation trend. Partial principal component analysis between soil conservation rate and driving factors show that slope gradient has the greatest impact on soil conservation rate, followed by rainfall and NDVI. Vegetation greening (increasing NDVI) could partly offset the effect of increasing rainfall on soil conservation rate in the Mississippi and Yellow River basins. More direct and quantitative variables should be used to represent human activities to analyze the impact on soil conservation change.</p>

“Evaluación de la Estabilidad de Antocianinas durante el Almacenamiento de Zanahoria Púrpura (Daucus carota)”

“Evaluación de la Estabilidad de Antocianinas durante el Almacenamiento de Zanahoria Púrpura (Daucus carota)” “Stability of Anthocyanins in the Storge of Carrot Purple (Daucus carota)” Valle Colchao Manuel E., Aguirre Miranda Julio, Domínguez Castañeda Jorge Departamento de Ingeniería Agroindustria, Universidad Nacional del Santa DOI: https://doi.org/10.33017/RevECIPeru2011.0032/ RESUMEN La investigación tuvo como finalidad evaluar la Estabilidad de Antocianinas Durante el Almacenamiento de Zanahoria Púrpura (Daucus carota) de la variedad Índigo winter, cosechado del Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA) – Estación Experimental Agraria Donoso Huaral. En estado de madurez fisiológica, posteriormente se llevó al Laboratorio de Composición y Análisis de Productos Agroindustriales donde se seleccionó, clasificó uniformemente y fueron empacada en grupos de 3; donde dos de ellas eran de Polietileno de Baja Densidad y Polipropileno de Baja Densidad y otra sin empaque; luego fueron almacenadas en 3 diferentes temperaturas; Ambiente, 5º C y 10º C. Por un periodo de almacenamiento de 11 días. Como variable dependiente de estudio se evaluó la Tasa de Conservación de Antocianinas. Para la evaluación de la investigación, se ha comparado los mejores resultados de las muestras empacadas; siendo la zanahoria púrpura empacada en Bolsa de Polietileno de Baja Densidad y Almacenada a 5o C, la que conservó mejor las Antocianinas (97.03%); En comparación de una que no fue empacada y almacena a Temperatura Ambiente, se obtuvo un conservación del 94.03%. Descriptores: INIA, zanahoria púrpura, Indigo winter, antocianinas, estabilidad. ABSTRACT Research was intended evaluate Stability of Anthocyanins in the Storge of Carrot Purple (Daucus carota), Indigo winter, comes from of Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA) – Estación Experimental Agraria Donoso Huaral. It was harvested in physiological maturity, later it went to Composition and Analysis Agroindustrial Products Laboratory where it was selected, classified uniformly and were packed in groups of 3; where two of them were of Low-Density Polyethylene and Low-Density Polypropylene and other one without packing; then they were stored in 3 different temperatures; Environment, 5º C and 10º C. Variable dependent on study evaluated Anthocyanin Conservation Rate. For a period of storage of 11 days. The Research compared the best results of the packed samples; the carrot purple packed in Low-Density Polyethylene and Stored to 5º C, which preserved better the Anthocyanin (97.03 %). In compares of one not packed and stored to Temperature Environment, there was obtained conservations 94.03 %. Keywords: INIA, purple carrot, Indigo winter, anthocyanins, stability. Trabajo Completo en Pdf

Вплив кормових добавок із морських гідробіонтів на продуктивність каченят-бройлерів

Представлено результати досліджень кормових добавок із морських гідробіонтів, білково-мінераль-ної та мінеральної, виготовлених за розробленими нами технологіями, які підтверджені патентами України на корисну модель: № 42687 «Спосіб одержання кормової добавки з морських гідробіонтів для птиці» від 10.07.2009; № 34634 «Спосіб одержання кормової добавки з морських гідробіонтів для птиці» від 11.08.2008. Їх використанні в кількості 10 % у раціоні каченят-бройлерів позитивно впливає на продуктивність каченят, не знижує приріст живої маси, сприяє збереженню каченят при вирощуванні та незначним середньодобовим приростам живої маси. Recently the production of livestock production has decreased in the country. It accounts for the reduction of animal and bird livestock, fodder production, the proportion of protein-mineral food of animal origin. In this regard the problem of surching alternative animal feed resources is becoming particularly important. Sea hydrobionts possessing sustainable proteins and valuable biodiversity crucial for growth and development of animals and birds are suggested to be one of such precious sources. Using sea hydrobiont forage in poultry farming is of crucial importance as it is one of the fastest-growing branches of animal industry. The purpose of the research in view of the above, the tusk is to consider the impact sea hydrobiont additives on broiler ducks productivity. The study focuses on sea hydrobiont additives both protein-mineral and mineral produced according to our own designed technology by means of shredding mussels primary processing and agrarian wastes (iodine). The study of sea hydrobionts impact on broiler ducks productivity was carried out under existing instructions and regulatory documents. In accordance with the study methodology control and test groups of ducks were provided with staple ration for 8 days (aged from 12 to 20 days). From the 21st day till the end of the period (60 days in total) their ration was enreached by paste-like additives in the amount of 10 % to the staple ration. We used the additives in 2 ways: 10 % replacement of the staple ration with additives and adding extra 10 % of additives to enreach the staple ration. In the course of the study it was found that using protein-mineral hydrobiont additives has a positive effect on broiler ducks growth regardless the way used. The 10 % replacement of the staple ration with hydrobiont additive does not reduce body weight gain which made up 100.4 % in the test group of ducks. Adding extra 10 % of protein-mineral additive to the ration increases the intensity of body weight gain by 6.9 %, relative growth rate and survival rate of ducks by 5.6 %. The impact of mineral additive on ducks productivity when raised them according to our scheme is less but at the same time it contributes to ducks growth and development. The 10 % replacement of the ration with mineral additive does not have a big impact on growth and development. But adding extra 10 % of mineral to the ration increases the intensity of live body weight gain by 4.9 % compared to the control group of ducks. The growth rate and conservation rate are also increased by 3.9 %. Sea hydrobiont additives produced according to our own technology can be used when raising broiler ducks as non-traditional source of proteins and minerals for staple ration. Enreaching the ration of ducks by protein-mineral additive in the amount of 10 % or replacing the ration by the same amount of the additive allows to increase their body weight gain by 6.9 % as well as relative growth and conservation rate. Enreaching the ration by mineral additive increases body weight gain of ducks by 4.9 %. The 10 % replacement with such an additive does not effect their productivity.