Hypofractionated radiotherapy in carcinoma breast: What we have achieved?

Healthy breast tissue is sensitive to radiation fraction size, such that small changes in fraction size can lead to larger changes in radiation effects on these tissues. Conventional breast and/or chest wall irradiation uses 2 Gy daily fractions, for 5-6 weeks. Such a long treatment schedule has major implications on both patient quality of life and burden of radiotherapy (RT) departments.

Correlation Equation for Predicting the Single-Collector Contact Efficiency of Colloids in a Horizontal Flow.

The single-collector contact efficiency (η0) for physicochemical colloid filtration under horizontal flow in saturated porous media was calculated using trajectory analysis in three dimensions. Past studies have developed correlation equations for colloids with densities close to that of water, such as bacteria and latex particles. A new correlation equation was developed for predicting η0 based on a large number of trajectory simulations to account for higher-density particles representative of metal colloids.

Evaluation of neuropathic pain occurring after high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy of oral tongue.

Purpose: To recognize neuropathic pain as a complication of high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy of oral tongue and to evaluate the possible causes of neuropathy.

Material And Methods: Twenty one patients who underwent interstitial brachytherapy for early cancer of oral tongue were evaluated. The patients either underwent primary brachytherapy (42-48 Gy at 3-4 Gy/fraction) or a boost (18-24 Gy at 3 Gy/fraction) after external radiation to 40 Gy.

Enhanced reductive dechlorination of trichloroethylene by sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron.

Direct injection of reactive nanoscale zerovalent iron particles (NZVI) is considered to be a promising approach for remediation of aquifers contaminated by chlorinated organic pollutants. In this study we show that the extent of sulfidation of NZVI enhances the rate of dechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) compared to that by unamended NZVI, and the enhancement depends on the Fe/S molar ratio. Experiments where TCE was reacted with NZVI sulfidated to different extents (Fe/S molar ratios 0.

Thermoluminescence properties of lithium magnesium borate glasses system doped with dysprosium oxide.

We report the impact of dysprosium (Dy(3+)) dopant and magnesium oxide (MgO) modifier on the thermoluminescent properties of lithium borate (LB) glass via two procedures. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves reveal a single prominent peak at 190 °C for 0.5 mol% of Dy(3+).

Effects of diurnal temperature variation on microbial community and petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soils from a sub-Arctic site.

Contaminated soils are subject to diurnal and seasonal temperature variations during on-site ex-situ bioremediation processes. We assessed how diurnal temperature variations similar to that in summer at the site from which petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil was collected affect the soil microbial community and the extent of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons compared with constant temperature regimes. Microbial community analyses for 16S rRNA and alkB genes by pyrosequencing indicated that the microbial community for soils incubated under diurnal temperature variation from 5°C to 15°C (VART5-15) evolved similarly to that for soils incubated at constant temperature of 15°C (CST15).

Why is diagnosing brain death so confusing?

Purpose Of Review: Although detailed practice parameters have been developed to help guide physicians in brain death determination, guidelines based on these parameters widely vary. The recent case of Jahi McMath not only highlights social misconceptions but also serves as a call to action to decrease medical variability and confusion regarding brain death determination. This review discusses common sources of variations in brain death determination - we divide these sources into before, during, and after brain death declaration.

Microfibrous borate bioactive glass dressing sequesters bone-bound bisphosphonate in the presence of simulated body fluid.

Ion exchange occurs between borate bioactive glass and simulated body fluid. Borate bioactive glass dressings may be used for managing bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw through the formation of a complex incorporating leached calcium and borate ions and sequestered bone-bound bisphosphonates.

Reduced transport potential of a palladium-doped zero valent iron nanoparticle in a water saturated loamy sand.

Direct in situ injection of palladium-doped nanosized zero valent iron (Pd-NZVI) particles can contribute to remediation of various environmental contaminants. A major challenge encountered is rapid aggregation of Pd-NZVI and hence very limited mobility. To reduce aggregation and concurrently improve particle mobility, the surface of bare Pd-NZVI can be modified with stabilizing surface modifiers.

Pilot-scale bioremediation of a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated clayey soil from a sub-Arctic site.

Bioremediation is a potentially cost-effective solution for petroleum contamination in cold region sites. This study investigates the extent of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (C16-C34) in a pilot-scale biopile experiment conducted at 15°C for periods up to 385 days, with a clayey soil, from a crude oil-impacted site in northern Canada. Although several studies on bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils from cold region sites have been reported for coarse-textured, sandy soils, there are limited studies of bioremediation of petroleum contamination in fine-textured, clayey soils.

Efficacy of radical radiotherapy alone for functional preservation of larynx in laryngeal carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: Concurrent chemoradiation is the current standard of care in locally advanced head and neck cancer. But, in our setup, many patients of carcinoma larynx are treated with only radical radiotherapy because of poor general condition of the patients. This study was performed to assess the influence radical radiotherapy alone on functional preservation of larynx.

Thermoluminescence dosimetry properties and kinetic parameters of lithium potassium borate glass co-doped with titanium and magnesium oxides.

Lithium potassium borate (LKB) glasses co-doped with TiO2 and MgO were prepared using the melt quenching technique. The glasses were cut into transparent chips and exposed to gamma rays of (60)Co to study their thermoluminescence (TL) properties. The TL glow curve of the Ti-doped material featured a single prominent peak at 230 °C.

Autocatalytic isomerizations of the two most stable conformers of carbonic acid in vapor phase: double hydrogen transfer in carbonic acid homodimers.

The cis-cis [(cc)] and cis-trans [(ct)] conformers of carbonic acid (H2CO3) are known as the two most stable conformers based on the different orientations of two OH functional groups present in the molecule. To explain the interconversion of the (cc)-conformer to its (ct)-conformer, the rotation of one of the two indistinguishable OH functional groups present in the (cc)-conformer has been shown until now as the effective isomerization mechanism. Moreover, the (ct)-conformer, which is slightly energetically disfavored over the (cc)-conformer, has been considered as the starting point for the decomposition of H2CO3 into CO2 and H2O molecules.

Transport, motility, biofilm forming potential and survival of Bacillus subtilis exposed to cold temperature and freeze-thaw.

In cold climate regions, microorganisms in upper layers of soil are subject to low temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw (FT) conditions during the winter. We studied the effects of cold temperature and FT cycles on the viability and survival strategies (namely motility and biofilm formation) of the common soil bacterium and model pathogen Bacillus subtilis. We also examined the effect of FT on the transport behavior of B.

Impact of annealing on surface morphology and photoluminescence of self-assembled Ge and Si quantum dots.

Controlled growth and characterization of germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) nanostructure are the key issues for optoelectronic device fabrication. The role of post-annealing on the structural and optical properties of radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering grown of Ge and Si quantum dots (QDs) deposited on Si(100) substrate is studied. Atomic force microscopy confirmed the formation of Si and Ge QDs with estimated sizes lower than -17 nm and -14 nm respectively.

New mechanism for autocatalytic decomposition of H2CO3 in the vapor phase.

In this article, we present high level ab initio calculations investigating the energetics of a new autocatalytic decomposition mechanism for carbonic acid (H2CO3) in the vapor phase. The calculation have been performed at the MP2 level of theory in conjunction with aug-cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-pVTZ, and 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets as well as at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The present study suggests that this new decomposition mechanism is effectively a near-barrierless process at room temperature and makes vapor phase of H2CO3 unstable even in the absence of water molecules.

Straining of polyelectrolyte-stabilized nanoscale zero valent iron particles during transport through granular porous media.

In this study, the relevance of straining of nano-sized particles of zero valent iron coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-NZVI) during transport in model subsurface porous media is assessed. Although deposition of polyelectrolyte stabilized-NZVI on granular subsurface media due to physicochemical attachment processes has been reported previously, there is limited knowledge on the significance of the collector (sand) diameter on the deposition and spatial distribution of the retention of such nanoparticles. Experiments were conducted to assess the transport of CMC-NZVI in columns packed with four different-sized sands of mean diameter of 775 μm, 510 μm, 250 μm and 150 μm and at three different particle concentrations of 0.

Palliative radiation in primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid: a rare case report.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare neoplasm with aggressive behavior. Until date, only around 60 cases have been reported in the literature. Primary treatment of the patient is radical surgery.

Role of cold climate and freeze-thaw on the survival, transport, and virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica.

Surface and near-surface soils in cold climate regions experience low temperature and freeze-thaw (FT) conditions in the winter. Microorganisms that are of concern to groundwater quality may have the potential to survive low temperature and FT in the soil and aqueous environments. Although there is a body of literature on the survival of pathogenic bacteria at different environmental conditions, little is known about their transport behavior in aquatic environments at low temperatures and after FT.

Rhamnolipid biosurfactant and soy protein act as effective stabilizers in the aggregation and transport of palladium-doped zerovalent iron nanoparticles in saturated porous media.

Palladium-doped nanosized zerovalent iron (Pd-NZVI) particles can contribute to the transformation of chlorinated solvents and various other contaminants into innocuous products. To make Pd-NZVI an effective in situ subsurface remediation agent, these particles need to migrate through a targeted contaminated area. However, previous studies have reported very limited mobility of these particles in the groundwater environment and attributed it to rapid aggregation and subsequent pore plugging.

Enduring legacy of a toxic fan via episodic redistribution of California gold mining debris.

The interrelationships between hydrologically driven evolution of legacy landscapes downstream of major mining districts and the contamination of lowland ecosystems are poorly understood over centennial time scales. Here, we demonstrate within piedmont valleys of California's Sierra Nevada, through new and historical data supported by modeling, that anthropogenic fans produced by 19th century gold mining comprise an episodically persistent source of sediment-adsorbed Hg to lowlands. Within the enormous, iconic Yuba Fan, we highlight (i) an apparent shift in the relative processes of fan evolution from gradual vertical channel entrenchment to punctuated lateral erosion of fan terraces, thus enabling entrainment of large volumes of Hg-laden sediment during individual floods, and (ii) systematic intrafan redistribution and downstream progradation of fan sediment into the Central Valley, triggered by terrace erosion during increasingly long, 10-y flood events.

Survival and failure outcomes in primary thyroid lymphomas: a single centre experience of combined modality approach.

Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a rare malignancy and represents 2%-5% of all thyroid malignancies and 1%-2.5% of all malignant lymphomas. We present our institute's experience in combined modality management of 16 successive patients of PTL treated from 2005 to 2010.

Optimized hyper beamforming of linear antenna arrays using collective animal behaviour.

A novel optimization technique which is developed on mimicking the collective animal behaviour (CAB) is applied for the optimal design of hyper beamforming of linear antenna arrays. Hyper beamforming is based on sum and difference beam patterns of the array, each raised to the power of a hyperbeam exponent parameter. The optimized hyperbeam is achieved by optimization of current excitation weights and uniform interelement spacing.