Phase II clinical trial assessing the addition of hyperthermia to salvage concurrent chemoradiotherapy for unresectable recurrent head and neck cancer in previously irradiated patients.

Background: This single-arm phase II trial aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of incorporating hyperthermia into salvage concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for previously irradiated unresectable recurrent head and neck cancer.

Methods: We enrolled patients with non-metastatic recurrent head and neck cancer who had previously undergone radiotherapy (RT) and were unfit for salvage surgery. Eligible patients received hyperthermia during salvage CCRT.

Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of CLG family genes reveal likely roles in epidermal development in Arabidopsis.

We identified a CXCXCPXC motif and 11 CLG genes that regulate epidermal development by interacting with homeodomain leucine-zipper IV family proteins in Arabidopsis. Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), the key regulators of plant growth and development, can be categorized based on the sequence patterns of zinc finger motifs. Here, by aligning the amino acid sequences of CFL1, AtCFL1, AtCFL2, GIRl, and GIR2, we identified the CXCXCPXC motif in their C-terminus, which differs from all the previously characterized canonical zinc finger motifs.

Green accounting and reporting in Bangladesh's pharmaceutical and textile industries: A holistic perspective.

This study examined the factors influencing green accounting and reporting practices (GARPs) in Bangladesh's pharmaceutical and textile industries. Hence, it draws upon disclosure theory to disclose relevant information in the context of environmental accounting and encourages them to boost their environmental performance. It utilized content analysis from 13 pharmaceuticals and 22 textiles data from Dhaka stock exchange (DSE) listed companies of Bangladesh and applied quantitative methods for comparative analysis.

Full-length EFOP3 and EFOP4 proteins are essential for pollen intine development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Pollen development is critical to plant reproduction, but the underlying regulatory molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) EFR3 OF PLANT 3 (EFOP3) and EFR3 OF PLANT 4 (EFOP4) genes encode members of the Armadillo (ARM) repeat superfamily that play key roles in pollen development. Herein, we demonstrate that EFOP3 and EFOP4 are co-expressed in pollen at anther stages 10-12, but loss-of-function of both EFOP3 and EFOP4 leads to male gametophyte sterility, irregular intine, and shriveled pollen grains at anther stage 12.

The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Value of Chinese Firms: Exploring from Degree of Internationalization.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm value in the Chinese market and identify factors that may influence it. We discuss the relationship between CSR engagement in Chinese firms and firm value from a nonlinear perspective. In addition, we examine how the degree of internationalization in a firm may affect the relationship between CSR and firm value.

Sequencing and Genomic Analysis of Sorghum DNA Introgression Variant Line R21 and Recipient Rice Jin Hui 1 Revealed Repetitive Element Variation.

Transferring the genome of distant species to crops is an efficient way to create new germplasms. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are unclear. In this study, a new rice restorer line R21 with heat tolerance was created by introgressing the genomic DNA of sorghum into the recipient restorer line Jin Hui 1.

VIRESCENT-ALBINO LEAF 1 regulates leaf colour development and cell division in rice.

The de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides is crucial to all living organisms, but limited information is available for plants. In this study, we isolated a virescent-albino leaf 1 (val1) mutant of rice (Oryza sativa) that produces dynamic green-revertible albino and narrow-leaf phenotypes. In albino leaves, chloroplast development was defective, pigment contents were reduced, and cell division was impaired compared with the wild-type.

Adaptor proteins GIR1 and GIR2. II. Interaction with the co-repressor TOPLESS and promotion of histone deacetylation of target chromatin.

Understanding how root hair development is controlled is important for understanding of many fundamental aspects of plant biology. Previously, we identified two plant-specific adaptor proteins GIR1 and GIR2 that interact with the major regulator of root hair development GL2 and suppress formation of root hair. Here, we show that GIR1 and GIR2 also interact with the co-repressor TOPLESS (TPL).

Verification and compensation of respiratory motion using an ultrasound imaging system.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if it is feasible to use ultrasound imaging as an aid for moving the treatment couch during diagnosis and treatment procedures associated with radiation therapy, in order to offset organ displacement caused by respiratory motion. A noninvasive ultrasound system was used to replace the C-arm device during diagnosis and treatment with the aims of reducing the x-ray radiation dose on the human body while simultaneously being able to monitor organ displacements.

Methods: This study used a proposed respiratory compensating system combined with an ultrasound imaging system to monitor the compensation effect of respiratory motion.

A respiratory compensating system: design and performance evaluation.

This study proposes a respiratory compensating system which is mounted on the top of the treatment couch for reverse motion, opposite from the direction of the targets (diaphragm and hemostatic clip), in order to offset organ displacement generated by respiratory motion. Traditionally, in the treatment of cancer patients, doctors must increase the field size for radiation therapy of tumors because organs move with respiratory motion, which causes radiation-induced inflammation on the normal tissues (organ at risk (OAR)) while killing cancer cells, and thereby reducing the patient's quality of life. This study uses a strain gauge as a respiratory signal capture device to obtain abdomen respiratory signals, a proposed respiratory simulation system (RSS) and respiratory compensating system to experiment how to offset the organ displacement caused by respiratory movement and compensation effect.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy for primary or secondary oligometastatic lung cancer using Tomotherapy.

Background: To retrospectively review the outcome of patients with primary or secondary oligometastatic lung cancer, treated with hypofractionated Tomotherapy.

Methods: Between April 2007 and June 2011, a total of 33 patients with oligometastatic intrapulmonary lesions underwent hypofractionated radiotherapy by Tomotherapy along with appropriate systemic therapy. There were 24 primary, and 9 secondary lung cancer cases.

Comprehensive MDCT evaluation of patients with suspected May-Thurner syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this essay is to introduce the MDCT protocol and interpretation techniques for optimal evaluation of patients with suspected May-Thurner syndrome.

Conclusion: May-Thurner syndrome is always the working diagnosis when a patient presents with unilateral left lower limb swelling without signs of infection. MDCT is useful for fast, comprehensive evaluation of the vascular system to determine whether May-Thurner syndrome or an alternative condition is present.

A compensating system of respiratory motion for tumor tracking: design and verification.

Using the reverse motion of the treatment couch, this study offset the organ displacement generated by respiratory motion to solve the current clinical problem of increasing field sizes and safety margin expansions. This study used the self-designed simulated respiratory system (SRS) coupled with radiochromic EBT film to verify the self-developed respiratory compensation system. Pressure signals were generated from SRS to simulate abdomen movements during respiratory motion.

Over-expression of WOX1 leads to defects in meristem development and polyamine homeostasis in Arabidopsis.

In plants, the meristem has to maintain a separate population of pluripotent cells that serve two main tasks, i.e., self-maintenance and organ initiation, which are separated spatially in meristem.