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This study sought to identify whether piggery effluent-derived nitrogen sources can be formulated with urea and nitrification inhibitors to better synchronize nitrogen (N) supply with crop demand than conventional urea fertilizer alone. A 288 pot pasture growth and leaching growth accelerator trial (5 pasture cuts) was completed with a factorial treatment structure of three N sources (2.63 g N [kg soil]−1 applied as 100% urea-N, 8% struvite-N + 92% urea-N, and 8% piggery pond sludge-N + 92% urea-N), five rates of three nitrification inhibitors (including 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate, DMPP; limonene+ethanol; and dicyandiamide, DCD), and matrix encapsulated forms of these inhibitors. Applying a combination of piggery sludge with urea increased N uptake during the first 4 weeks of plant growth (by 65%), though total N uptake throughout the trial (22 weeks) did not differ across the N-sources. The microbial community of the soil to which the sludge was added was significantly different from the un-amended soil at the conclusion of the trial. All inhibitor formulations significantly decreased leaching losses of mineral-N relative to the control (by 14 to 61%). The use of DMPP decreased initial nutrient uptake, deferring uptake until later in the experiment. Inhibitor addition resulted in microbial community effects that persisted throughout the trial. The study demonstrated that a piggery-derived N-source and a nitrification inhibitor can be used to manipulate plant N uptake to occur later or earlier in a growing period with equal cumulative uptake, achieving an 11% increase in residual N store, and decreased N leaching losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of radiation (RT) in the management of pancreatic cancer (PCa) remains controversial given the negative results of Alliance A021501 trial. Yet, several retrospective series have shown excellent control and survival with dose escalation. Treatment planning typically focuses on max doses to luminal bowel to limit GI toxicity. This study assesses outcomes after multimodal therapy including RT for patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced PCa with a focus on associations with intermediate and high doses to luminal bowel. Single institution, multi-center retrospective review of consecutive patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced PCa treated with RT from 2014 to 2019. Acute and late toxicities per CTCAE v5.0 and systemic therapy, surgery, and RT treatment details were recorded. Luminal bowel (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small bowel, and large bowel) dose parameters were measured including total volume receiving at least 50% of the prescription dose (V50%) and maximum dose to 0.03 cc (D0.03cc). Logistic regression used to assess associations with Grade 2+ toxicity and Cox regression used to assess associations with survival in a data management and decision management software. Of 95 patients with median KPS 80% (IQR 80% - 90%), 76.8% received chemotherapy (35.8% FOLFIRINOX, 25.3% Gemcitabine and Abraxane, and 14.7% FOLFIRINOX followed by Gemcitabine and Abraxane) with median 4 cycles (IQR 2-7), and 29.5% (n=28) had definitive intent resection. RT was fractionated long course (69.3%, n=61) or SBRT (30.7%, n=27) to median 59.4 Gy BED10 (IQR 53.1 Gy – 72.0 Gy). The median luminal bowel D0.03cc was 85.0 Gy BED3 (IQR 75.1 Gy – 89.4 Gy) with median luminal bowel V50% 225.7 cc (IQR 13.2 cc – 544.7 cc). Median OS was 21.0 months (range 1.7-123.6) and was associated with increasing number of chemotherapy cycles (p<0.01), definitive surgery (p<0.01), performance status (p<0.05), and use of FOLFIRINOX (p=0.02), but not with use of SBRT (p=0.10) or higher BED10 (p=0.64). Acute RT toxicity was predominantly Grade 1 (42.0%, n=37) with some Grade 2 (12.5%, n=11) and Grade 3 (3.4%, n=3). Acute Grade 2+ toxicity included fatigue, anorexia, and diarrhea. Late RT toxicities included Grade 1 (23.9%, n=21) abdominal pain, diarrhea, or nausea with 5.7% (n=5) experiencing Grade 2 diarrhea and 2.3% (n=2) Grade 3 pancreatitis. There were no acute or late Grade 4 or 5 events. Bowel D0.03cc (p=0.04), but not V50% (p=0.38) was associated with higher rates of Grade 2+ toxicity. In this study with high luminal bowel V50% and D0.03cc, RT was relatively safe with few high-grade toxicities. Further study is warranted to better characterize bowel constraints at intermediate and high dose levels along with prospective evaluation of dose-escalated radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]