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OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. In the past decade, numerous studies focus on the prognostic nutritional index (i.e., a measure of serum albumin and lymphocyte in peripheral circulation) as a possible biomarker to predict the survival outcomes in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Prognostic nutritional index can reliably predict the survivability outcomes by effectively quantifying the nutritional and immunological status of cancer patients. To date, only one review has attempted to evaluate the impact of the prognostic nutritional index on the survival outcomes in lung cancer patients with certain limitations. The goal of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to bridge the gap in the literature and evaluate the capacity of the prognostic nutritional index for predicting the survivability outcomes in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of prognostic nutritional index scoring on survival outcomes in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic academic literature search was performed based on the PRISMA guidelines across Web of Science, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of prognostic nutritional index scoring (i.e., high/low) on survival outcomes (i.e., progression-free survival, overall survival) in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. RESULTS: From 963 studies, 16 eligible studies with 4250 lung cancer patients (62.32 ± 5.08 years) undergoing chemotherapy were included. Our meta-analysis revealed worse mortality outcomes in terms of progression-free survival (HR: 1.31) and overall survival (1.21) for the group with a low prognostic nutritional index score as compared to the group with a high prognostic nutritional index score in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Subsequent subgroup analyses further demonstrated markedly worse outcomes for progression-free survival (1.32) and overall survival (1.52) in nonsmall lung cancer patients with lower prognostic nutritional index scores. CONCLUSIONS: We provide preliminary evidence suggesting that lower prognostic nutrition index scores are associated with worse survivability outcomes (progression-free survival and overall survival) in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We also show that lower prognostic nutrition index scores correlate with even worse survival outcomes in patients with non-small lung cancer histological subtype of lung cancer. These findings should help clinicians to stratify the risks associated with the chemotherapeutic management of lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the extensive utilization of graphene nanomaterials, they inevitably enter our environment. The potential phytotoxicity and environmental impact of graphene oxide (GO) have recently attracted much attention. We designed the experiment based on seed germination, seedling morphology, physio-biochemical properties, and antioxidant enzyme activities of five rice genotypes (9311, MH63, R527, K866, and Nipponbare) under six concentrations of GO (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 150 mg dm-3). We studied the effects of different concentrations of GO on germination index (GI), shoot length (SL) and root length (RL), adventitious root number, shoot and root fresh masses, root/shoot ratio, chlorophyll (Chl) content, malondialdehyde content, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). Graphene oxide treatments significantly enhanced seed germination and root growth and inhibited shoot growth of all genotypes. Furthermore, we found a significant genotype-dependent response to GO treatments. According to the relative increment trend of GI, SL, and RL, root/shoot ratio, antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, POD, and SOD), and Chl content, 'R527' showed more tolerance to GO treatments than the other four genotypes. The 'MH63' and 'K866' were more sensitive than 'Nipponbare' and '9311'. It indicates that the GO-tolerant genotype might avoid free radicals damage from GO by increased antioxidant enzyme activities. Moreover, we should consider the genotype differences when evaluating the potential phytotoxicity of GO and environmental risk to ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ferromagnetic exchange interaction between Co and Mn in Heusler alloys has been phenomenologically investigated by analyzing the composition dependence of the magnetic moment and the Curie temperature in a series of quaternary CuCoMnAl alloys. The curves of the composition dependence of the magnetic moment show an interesting valleylike profile and their minima are positioned at different Co contents for different Mn concentrations. The ferromagnetic Co–Mn exchange interaction is a short-range effect which is only effective at the nearest-neighbor distance. At this distance, the exchange interaction can be further enhanced by a Mn-rich composition, but it might be destroyed by the lattice distortion due to the martensitic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin polarization both in the cubic austenitic and tetragonal martensitic phases of the Ni2MnGa alloy has been investigated using first-principles calculations combined with classical Bloch–Boltzmann transport theory. It is shown that the degree of spin polarization, while decreasing from 42% in the <001> directions of the austenitic phase to 30% in the [100] direction of the martensitic phase, rises to 75% in the [001] direction of the martensitic phase, resulting from a preferential reconstruction of the spin-down Fermi surfaces upon martensitic transformation. With this finding, various recent intriguing electrical measurements upon Ni2MnGa across the martensitic transformation can find an explanation. This also opens a way of searching for giant magnetoresistance materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure and magnetism of the Mn2FeZ (Z=Al, Ga, Si, Ge, Sb) Heusler alloys have been studied by density functional calculations. Two half-metallic ferromagnets, namely, Mn2FeAl and Mn2FeSb, are predicted. It is found that a small expansion of the crystal lattice can restore the half-metallicity in Mn2FeSi. The calculated total magnetic moments Mtot are 1μB/f.u. for Mn2FeAl and Mn2FeGa, 2μB/f.u. for Mn2FeSi and Mn2FeGe, and 3μB/f.u. for Mn2FeSb, which agree with the Slater–Pauling curve quite well. The moments of Mn (A) and Mn (B) are large and antiparallel to each other, which is indicative of ferrimagnetism in Mn2FeZ alloys. Fe shows only a small moment and its moment is parallel to that of Mn (B). By investigating the effect of lattice distortion on the half-metallicity and magnetic moments of Mn2FeZ, it is found that the half-metallic properties of Mn2FeSb are insensitive to the lattice distortion and a 100% spin polarization can be obtained within the wide range of 5.4–6.05 Å. This is preferable in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, can result in notable yield losses in rice production. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of a rice endophytic isolate, Streptomyces albidoflavus OsiLf‐2, on the control of rice blast and the possible mechanisms involved. In vitro assays displayed a variety of antagonistic effects of OsiLf‐2 against different physiological races of M. oryzae, with peak mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 74.1% to 83.0%. In vivo tests of OsiLf‐2 showed 18.0% and 19.6% reduction in disease index in greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. The stable active metabolites in its cell‐free culture filtrate inhibited the mycelial growth, spore germination and appressorial formation of M. oryzae in a dose‐dependent manner. They also possessed strong antifungal capacities toward various phytopathogens in vitro. OsiLf‐2 secreted multiple antimicrobial compounds, cell wall degradation enzymes, siderophore, plant hormones, and 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate deaminase, which might function in direct or indirect resistance to M. oryzae. In addition, a variety of defence responses were induced in OsiLf‐2‐treated rice, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation, callose deposition, defence‐related enzymes activation, and elevated expression of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways genes, which might contribute in resisting pathogen attack. The significant biological control activity and host defence‐stimulation ability of OsiLf‐2 suggest that this endophytic actinobacterial strain could be a promising candidate in the management of rice blast disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Aims/Objectives: We aimed to analyse the molecular backgrounds and red blood cell (RBC) antigen expression of a male blood donor with Rhmod phenotype and his family members. Background: Rh deficiency phenotypes are rarely found worldwide and are characterised by the lack of Rh antigen expression on RBCs. During routine screening, we found a blood donor who seemingly lacked Rh antigens. Therefore, we recruited the donor and his family for further investigation. Methods: RBC serotyping and antibody screening/identification were performed for each sample. A routine blood examination was also conducted. RHD, RHCE and RHAG were sequenced at the genomic DNA or RNA level. Eleven antigens or proteins associated with Rh complex were tested using flow cytometry analysis. Results: The proband and one of his brothers showed extremely weak D antigen and Rh expression levels but did not manifest anaemia. Most of the expressed RBC antigens of the two Rh‐deficient individuals were similar to the previously reported cases but with some exceptions. Molecular analyses demonstrated homozygous expression of a novel RHAG allele, namely, c.[572G>A;707A>C], both in the proband and one of his brothers. Conclusions: To our knowledge, we identified the second double‐variant RHAG allele and the first one related to Rhmod phenotype. The novel allele was also confirmed to be heritable by family analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider the random open balls Bn(ω):=B(ωn,rn) with their centers ωn being i.u.d. on the d-dimensional unit cube [0,1]d and with their radii rn∼cn-1d for some constant 0

The present study addressed the effects of growth hormone-transgenic and non-transgenic common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) predation on the community and populations of four gastropod species cultured in artificial environments. After a 110-day population-based predation experiment (three replicate pools [16 m2] for each genotype with one fish [total length 45.0~51.4 cm] and 150 Bellamya aeruginosa (Reeve 1863) per pool), there were no significant effects of predation by either transgenic or non-transgenic carp on the biomass, number, or size selectivity of the population. Following a 10-day community-based predation experiment (three replicate pools [16 m2] for each genotype with one fish [total length 45.0~50.5 cm] and 150 Alocinma longicornis (Benson 1842), 100 Parafossarulus sinensis (Neunayr 1883), 55 B. aeruginosa, and 33 Radix auricularia L. per pool), the consumption rate and the number of gastropods predated by transgenic carp were 2.60 times and 2.85 times higher, respectively, than those of non-transgenic carp. Furthermore, the biomass of A. longicornis, P. sinensis and B. aeruginosa consumed by transgenic carp was significantly ( p < .05) higher than that by non-transgenic carp. There was a significant difference in the type selection of the four gastropods by the transgenic and non-transgenic carp, but both predators preferred R. auricularia and avoided B. aeruginosa. Compared with the non-transgenic carp, predation by transgenic carp resulted in a significant decrease in A. longicornis ( p < .05) and an increase in B. aeruginosa ( p < .05). These results indicate that the effects of predation by both transgenic and non-transgenic carp on the B. aeruginosa population tend to be similar, but their effects on the community composed of the four gastropods were significant different. This information may be useful for assessing the environmental risk of transgenic carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]