Cardiac-sparing radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background We have carried out a study to determine the scope for reducing heart doses in photon beam radiotherapy of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). Materials and methods Baseline VMAT plans were created for 20 LA-NSCLC patients following the IDEAL-CRT isotoxic protocol, and were re-optimized after adding an objective limiting heart mean dose (MDHeart). Reductions in MDHeart achievable without breaching limits on target coverage or normal tissue irradiation were determined. The process was repeated for objectives limiting the heart volume receiving ≥ 50 Gy (VHeart-50-Gy) and left atrial wall volume receiving ≥ 63 Gy (VLAwall-63-Gy). Results Following re-optimization, mean MDHeart, VHeart-50-Gy and VLAwall-63-Gy values fell by 4.8 Gy and 2.2% and 2.4% absolute respectively. On the basis of associations observed between survival and cardiac irradiation in an independent dataset, the purposefully-achieved reduction in MDHeart is expected to lead to the largest improvement in overall survival. It also led to useful knock-on reductions in many measures of cardiac irradiation including VHeart-50-Gy and VLAwall-63-Gy, providing some insurance against survival being more strongly related to these measures than to MDHeart. The predicted hazard ratio (HR) for death corresponding to the purposefully-achieved mean reduction in MDHeart was 0.806, according to which a randomized trial would require 1140 patients to test improved survival with 0.05 significance and 80% power. In patients whose baseline MDHeart values exceeded the median value in a published series, the average MDHeart reduction was particularly large, 8.8 Gy. The corresponding predicted HR is potentially testable in trials recruiting 359 patients enriched for greater MDHeart values. Conclusions Cardiac irradiation in RT of LA-NSCLC can be reduced substantially. Of the measures studied, reduction of MDHeart led to the greatest predicted increase in survival, and to useful knock-on reductions in other cardiac irradiation measures reported to be associated with survival. Potential improvements in survival can be trialled more efficiently in a population enriched for patients with greater baseline MDHeart levels, for whom larger reductions in heart doses can be achieved.

MICROENCAPSULATION OF L. FERMENTUM ISOLATED FROM TRADITIONAL DAIRY PRODUCTS AND ITS STABILITY ON EXPOSURE TO SIMULATED GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS

The physiological state of food may affect the survival potential of health promoting microorganisms. The current research was thus undertaken for comparing the invitro stability of two similar species of L. fermentum isolated from two different dairy products. The isolates were analyzed for their viability after microencapsulation in sodium alginate and were also compared using the non-encapsulated strain in simulated gastric and intestinal conditions. Viability of the cultures were also compared against reference standard (i.e) Lactobacillus acidophilus procured from MTCC Chandigarh. The percentage log reduction of non- encapsulated cultures i.e curd, raw milk and MTCC was 58.32%,58.28%,58.43% while that of encapsulated cultures was 10.19%, 10.03% and 11.18% as observed in gastric juice. The log reduction of non -encapsulated cultures as observed was 3.80%, 3.10% and 2.23% for curd raw milk and MTCC cultures respectively while that of encapsulated cultures was 1.54%, 1.52% and 1.16%in simulated intestinal conditions. The raw milk isolate was found with slightly better adaptation in response to the viability both in case of gastric and intestinal juice. The result thus justifies the physiological state of food which may affect the osmotic response and stress of similar microflora although isolated from two different food consortiums.

Understanding Plant Social Networking System: Avoiding Deleterious Microbiota but Calling Beneficials

Plant association with microorganisms elicits dramatic effects on the local phytobiome and often causes systemic and transgenerational modulation on plant immunity against insect pests and microbial pathogens. Previously, we introduced the concept of the plant social networking system (pSNS) to highlight the active involvement of plants in the recruitment of potentially beneficial microbiota upon exposure to insects and pathogens. Microbial association stimulates the physiological responses of plants and induces the development of their immune mechanisms while interacting with multiple enemies. Thus, beneficial microbes serve as important mediators of interactions among multiple members of the multitrophic, microscopic and macroscopic communities. In this review, we classify the steps of pSNS such as elicitation, signaling, secreting root exudates, and plant protection; summarize, with evidence, how plants and beneficial microbes communicate with each other; and also discuss how the molecular mechanisms underlying this communication are induced in plants exposed to natural enemies. Collectively, the pSNS modulates robustness of plant physiology and immunity and promotes survival potential by helping plants to overcome the environmental and biological challenges.

Early detection of marine non-indigenous species on Svalbard by DNA metabarcoding of sediment

Non-indigenous species (NIS) in the Arctic have an increased likelihood of arrival from ship traffic in the region, while the survival potential of the species becomes more likely in a warming environment. Monitoring is essential to detect the rate and magnitude of the establishment of NIS. In this study, a list of 123 potential marine NIS for Svalbard was drafted and the presence of marine NIS in soft sediment of Kongsfjorden in Svalbard was assessed using molecular metabarcoding techniques. For 37 species, including eight potential Arctic NIS, we generated new 18S and/or COI barcode sequences to improve the available online reference databases. In total, 299 species were identified in the sediment samples, including seven potential NIS. Three of these potential NIS have not been reported before in Svalbard: the harpacticoid copepod Euterpina acutifrons, and the ascidians Botrylloides violaceus and Molgula manhattensis. Another novel observation for Svalbard was the polychaete Chone mollis. Additional studies are needed to assess whether the NIS have been established on Svalbard and what their potential impact on the local system may be. Metabarcoding proved to be an effective monitoring tool to detect the presence of new species in Svalbard marine waters. We advise its use to set up a baseline record for the presence of NIS at points of entry, especially harbours. This approach is also valuable for biodiversity monitoring, in particular the detection of small organisms and life stages that are hard to identify using current visual techniques.

Assessment of survival potential of four grid-connected solar photovoltaic power stations in Jiangsu Province, China

The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of the construction of 1-MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (GCSPV) power stations at four locations of Jiangsu province, China. The economic, emission, sensitivity and risk analyses of the proposed systems are all performed using the RETScreen clean energy management software. The GCSPV system in Xuzhou is more economically viable than those in other regions under consideration, while this system in Nanjing is relatively less economically viable. The GCSPV power stations in Xuzhou have the largest annual Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions reduction due to its largest electricity production from the proposed system. The sensitivity analysis results on NPV show significant variations due to the variations of electricity export rate (EER) and initial costs (ICs) parameters. The NPV of the proposed system increases from 707,589 $ to 2,046,766 $ with the increase of the EER, while the NPV of the system decreases with the increase of the ICs at the same of EER. The risk analysis shows the largest influence on the NPV of the project is the change of the EER with positive correlation, while the least impact on the NPV is the debt term with positive correlation.

MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere

Whether terrestrial life can withstand the martian environment is of paramount interest for planetary protection measures and space exploration. To understand microbial survival potential in Mars-like conditions, several fungal and bacterial samples were launched in September 2019 on a large NASA scientific balloon flight to the middle stratosphere (∼38 km altitude) where radiation levels resembled values at the equatorial Mars surface. Fungal spores of Aspergillus niger and bacterial cells of Salinisphaera shabanensis, Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis, and Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 were launched inside the MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival, and Biological Outcomes Experiment) payload filled with an artificial martian atmosphere and pressure throughout the mission profile. The dried microorganisms were either exposed to full UV-VIS radiation (UV dose = 1148 kJ m−2) or were shielded from radiation. After the 5-h stratospheric exposure, samples were assayed for survival and metabolic changes. Spores from the fungus A. niger and cells from the Gram-(–) bacterium S. shabanensis were the most resistant with a 2- and 4-log reduction, respectively. Exposed Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9 was completely inactivated (both with and without UV exposure) and S. capitis subsp. capitis only survived the UV shielded experimental condition (3-log reduction). Our results underscore a wide variation in survival phenotypes of spacecraft associated microorganisms and support the hypothesis that pigmented fungi may be resistant to the martian surface if inadvertently delivered by spacecraft missions.

Candida auris ve Antifungal İlaçlara Direnç Mekanizmaları

Candida auris has been isolated from clinical samples in different regions and countries since it was first described in 2009. Due to the difficulties in identification; decreased susceptibility or resistance to antifungal agents; exceptional capacity to colonize and persist on surfaces; ability to survive despite standard disinfection procedures; and significant increase in the number of regions and countries with reported cases, C.auris has become a global health concern and placed among the World’s ten most concerned fungi list in 2018. It is stated that 60-90% of C.auris strains are resistant to fluconazole, 10-30% exhibit high minimum inhibitory concentration values for amphotericin B, and up to 5% can be considered as resistant to echinocandins. Existing data obtained from ongoing research on molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance in C.auris revealed some common features with other Candida species. However, diverging aspects are also reported. In this review article, current information on molecular mechanisms and biofilm-related factors responsible for decreased susceptibility or resistance to antifungal agents and unexpectedly high survival potential of C.auris have been discussed.

SURVIVAL POTENTIAL OF STRESSED CHICKS

Two hundred and forty broiler, cockerel and pullet chicks were deprived feeds, water brooder heat or combination of these to stimulate similar careless or accidental farm situations so as to find their effect on the chicks survival.The type of bird as well as brooder heat had no significant effect (P>0.05) respectively on survival of chicks exposed to starvation stress, Age of chicks and nature of starvation significantly affected chicks survival. condition. A significant (P<0.05) mortality rate was recorded at ages 4 and 5 days. The maximum and evening to monitor the room temperature survival duration was 8 days for all stress chicks. Those deprived of only water survived significantly (P <0.05) longer than others. either feed, drinking water or both.

The Russian agro-industrial sector under the influence of stress factors

The paper considers the problems of dynamics of agro-industrial sector in Russia and the tendencies of its functioning in the contemporary context. The specific features of the country agrarian sphere, advantages and disadvantages of raw-material and agricultural orientation of the Russian economy are studied. It is emphasized that the agrarian sector is basic for the country development; the achievements in the field of providing the agrarian sphere with agricultural means of production are pointed out. Simultaneously, it is stressed that adaptation of the agricultural market to new conditions is connected with the factors of irresistible force influencing not only the national economy but also the whole world economy. The survival potential under the given conditions is connected, on the one hand, with the efforts of national producers, and, on the other hand, it directly depends on the transformation of financial relations and economic interrelations of the world community countries.