Compatibility between livestock databases used for quantitative biosecurity response in New Zealand

AIM: To characterise New Zealand's livestock biosecurity databases, and investigate their compatibility and capacity to provide a single integrated data source for quantitative outbreak analysis. METHODS: Contemporary snapshots of the data in three national livestock biosecurity databases, AgriBase, FarmsOnLine (FOL) and the National Animal Identification and Tracing Scheme (NAIT), were obtained on 16 September, 1 September and 30 April 2014, respectively, and loaded into a relational database. A frequency table of animal numbers per farm was calculated for the AgriBase and FOL datasets. A two dimensional kernel density estimate was calculated for farms reporting the presence of cattle, pigs, deer, and small ruminants in each database and the ratio of farm densities for AgriBase versus FOL calculated. The extent to which records in the three databases could be matched and linked was quantified, and the level of agreement amongst them for the presence of different species on properties assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic. RESULTS: AgriBase contained fewer records than FOL, but recorded animal numbers present on each farm, whereas FOL contained more records, but captured only presence/absence of animals. The ratio of farm densities in AgriBase relative to FOL for pigs and deer was reasonably homogeneous across New Zealand, with AgriBase having a farm density approximately 80% of FOL. For cattle and small ruminants, there was considerable heterogeneity, with AgriBase showing a density of cattle farms in the Central Otago region that was 20% of FOL, and a density of small ruminant farms in the central West Coast area that was twice that of FOL. Only 37% of records in FOL could be linked to AgriBase, but the level of agreement for the presence of different species between these databases was substantial (kappa >0.6). Both NAIT and FOL shared common farm identifiers which could be used to georeference animal movements, and there was a fair to substantial agreement (kappa 0.32–0.69) between these databases for the presence of cattle and deer on properties. CONCLUSIONS: The three databases broadly agreed with each other, but important differences existed in both species composition and spatial coverage which raises concern over their accuracy. Importantly, they cannot be reliably linked together to provide a single picture of New Zealand's livestock industry, limiting the ability to use advanced quantitative techniques to provide effective decision support during disease outbreaks. We recommend that a single integrated database be developed, with alignment of resources and legislation for its upkeep

Traditional Aucan knowledge on fish and plants eaten by fish along the Tapanahoni River, Suriname

Suriname’s freshwater systems are home to a large diversity of (endemic) fish species, and communities of Suriname’s interior strongly depend on this diversity for their nutrient intake. However, studies on traditional knowledge of the country’s freshwater fish and fish-plant interactions are scarce. Here, we present our findings of a pilot study in the Aucan Maroon community of Diitabiki (Tapanahoni river). We report the species of freshwater fish caught for food, their corresponding Aucan names and plants eaten by fish and/or used for fishing by the local population. We held semi-structured interviews and performed participant observation with fishers and forest guides in August and September 2021. We recorded 14 fish species, of which 12 were identified to species level, and recorded 16 Aucan fish names, of which nine were previously undocumented. Furthermore, we reported 11 plant species that were used for fishing and one fish poison (Tephrosia sinapou (Buc’hoz) A.Chev.). Suriname’s riverine ecosystems are threatened by gold mining activities that endanger the health of local communities, as well as the fish populations and riverine forests on which both people and fish depend. Local knowledge on fish, their feeding behavior and the flooded forests is essential for the conservation of this important Amazonian ecosystem, for the development of sustainable management plans and health education programs on mercury levels in consumption fish

CO2 collective laser scattering on moving density perturbations in a plasma

CO/sub 2/ laser scattering from plasma density perturbations which are not wave-like in nature moving through the beam is calculated for various geometries and scale-lengths. Exact expressions are found for the heterodyne detector currents as a function of time, and for the corresponding frequency spectra. In particular, the cases of small-scale rotating density perturbations in cylindrical plasmas and off-axis rotation of the entire plasma column are analyzed in detail. By way of illustration, the theoretical results are compared with some measured scattering spectra from a magnetized ar

Pre-existing subclones determine radioresistance in rectal cancer organoids

Summary: More than half of all patients with cancer receive radiation therapy, but resistance is commonly observed. Currently, it is unknown whether resistance to radiation therapy is acquired or inherently present. Here, we employed organoids derived from rectal cancer and single-cell whole-genome sequencing to investigate the long-term evolution of subclones in response to radiation. Comparing single-cell whole-genome karyotypes between in-vitro-unirradiated and -irradiated organoids revealed three patterns of subclonal evolution: (1) subclonal persistence, (2) subclonal extinction, and (3) subclonal expansion. Organoids in which subclonal shifts occurred (i.e., expansion or extinction) became more resistant to radiation. Although radioresistant subclones did not share recurrent copy-number alterations that could explain their radioresistance, resistance was associated with reduced chromosomal instability, an association that was also observed in 529 human cancer cell lines. These data suggest that resistance to radiation is inherently present and associated with reduced chromosomal instability

Dose finding study for unilobar radioembolization using holmium-166 microspheres to improve resectability in patients with HCC: the RALLY protocol

Abstract Background High dose unilobar radioembolization (also termed ‘radiation lobectomy’)—the transarterial unilobar infusion of radioactive microspheres as a means of controlling tumour growth while concomitantly inducing future liver remnant hypertrophy—has recently gained interest as induction strategy for surgical resection. Prospective studies on the safety and efficacy of the unilobar radioembolization-surgery treatment algorithm are lacking. The RALLY study aims to assess the safety and toxicity profile of holmium-166 unilobar radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ineligible for surgery due to insufficiency of the future liver remnant. Methods The RALLY study is a multicenter, interventional, non-randomized, open-label, non-comparative safety study. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are considered ineligible for surgery due to insufficiency of the future liver remnant (< 2.7%/min/m2 on hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan will be included. A classical 3 + 3 dose escalation model will be used, enrolling three to six patients in each cohort. The primary objective is to determine the maximum tolerated treated non-tumourous liver-absorbed dose (cohorts of 50, 60, 70 and 80 Gy). Secondary objectives are to evaluate dose–response relationships, to establish the safety and feasibility of surgical resection following unilobar radioembolization, to assess quality of life, and to generate a biobank. Discussion This will be the first clinical study to assess the unilobar radioembolization-surgery treatment algorithm and may serve as a stepping stone towards its implementation in routine clinical practice. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register NL8902 , registered on 2020–09-15

Novel Benchmark Values for Open Major Anatomic Liver Resection in Non-Cirrhotic Patients. A Multicentric Study of 44 International Expert Centers

Objective: This study aims at establishing benchmark values for best achievable outcomes following open major anatomic hepatectomy for liver tumors of all dignities. Background: Outcomes after open major hepatectomies vary widely lacking reference values for comparisons among centers, indications, types of resections, and minimally invasive procedures. Methods: A standard benchmark methodology was used covering consecutive patients, who underwent open major anatomic hepatectomy from 44 high-volume liver centers from 5 continents over a five-year period (2016–2020). Benchmark cases were low-risk non-cirrhotic patients without significant co-morbidities treated in high-volume centers (≥30 major liver resections/year). Benchmark values were set at the 75th percentile of median values of all centers. Minimum follow-up period was 1 year in each patient. Results: Of 8044 patients, 2908 (36%) qualified as benchmark (low risk) cases. Benchmark cutoffs for all indications include R0 resection ≥78%; liver failure (grade B/C) ≤10%; bile leak (grade B/C) ≤18%; complications ≥grade 3 and CCI® ≤46% and ≤9 at 3 months, respectively. Benchmark values differed significantly between malignant and benign conditions so that reference values must be adjusted accordingly. Extended right hepatectomy (H1,4-8 or H4-8) disclosed higher cutoff for liver failure, while extended left (H1-5,8 or H2-5,8) were associated with higher cutoffs for bile leaks, but had superior oncologic outcomes, when compared to formal left hepatectomy (H1-4 or H2-4). The minimal follow up for a conclusive outcome evaluation following open anatomic major resection must be 3 months. Conclusion: These new benchmark cut-offs for open major hepatectomy provide a powerful tool to convincingly evaluate other approaches including parenchymal-sparing procedures, laparoscopic/robotic approaches, and alternative treatments, such as ablation therapy, irradiation or novel chemotherapy regimens