A divergent heritage for complex organics in Isheyevo lithic clasts

Primitive meteorites are samples of asteroidal bodies that contain a high proportion of chemically complex organic matter (COM) including prebiotic molecules such as amino acids, which are thought to have been delivered to Earth via impacts during the early history of the Solar System. Thus, understanding the origin of COM, including their formation pathway(s) and environment(s), is critical to elucidate the origin of life on Earth as well as assessing the potential habitability of exoplanetary systems. The Isheyevo CH/CBb carbonaceous chondrite contains chondritic lithic clasts with variable enrichments in 15N believed to be of outer Solar System origin. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM-EELS) and in situ isotope analyses (SIMS and NanoSIMS), we report on the structure of the organic matter as well as the bulk H and N isotope composition of Isheyevo lithic clasts. These data are complemented by electron microprobe analyses of the clast mineral chemistry and bulk Mg and Cr isotopes obtained by inductively coupled plasma and thermal ionization mass spectrometry, respectively (MC-ICPMS and TIMS). Weakly hydrated (A) clasts largely consist of Mg-rich anhydrous silicates with local hydrated veins composed of phyllosilicates, magnetite and globular and diffuse organic matter. Extensively hydrated clasts (H) are thoroughly hydrated and contain Fe-sulfides, sometimes clustered with organic matter, as well as magnetite and carbonates embedded in a phyllosilicate matrix. The A-clasts are characterized by a more 15N-rich bulk nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N = 200–650‰) relative to H-clasts (δ15N = 50–180‰) and contain extremely 15N-rich domains with δ15N 15N-rich domains show that the lithic clast diffuse organic matter is typically more 15N-rich than globular organic matter. The correlated δ15N values and C/N ratios of nanoglobules require the existence of multiple organic components, in agreement with the H isotope data. The combined H and N isotope data suggest that the organic precursors of the lithic clasts are defined by an extremely 15N-poor (similar to solar) and D-rich component for H-clasts, and a moderately 15N-rich and D-rich component for A-clasts. In contrast, the composition of the putative fluids is inferred to include D-poor but moderately to extremely 15N-rich H- and N-bearing components. The variable 15N enrichments in H- and A-clasts are associated with structural differences in the N bonding environments of their diffuse organic matter, which are dominated by amine groups in H-clasts and nitrile functional groups in A-clasts. We suggest that the isotopically divergent organic precursors in Isheyevo clasts may be similar to organic moieties in carbonaceous chondrites (CI, CM, CR) and thermally recalcitrant organic compounds in ordinary chondrites, respectively. The altering fluids, which are inferred to cause the 15N enrichments observed in the clasts, may be the result of accretion of variable abundances of NH3 and HCN ices. Finally, using bulk Mg and Cr isotope composition of clasts, we speculate on the accretion regions of the various primitive chondrites and components and the origin of the Solar System’s N and H isotope variability

Normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) of urethral stricture following salvage SBRT or HDR for periurethral recurrences following prior definitive radiation therapy.

246 Background: SBRT and HDR brachytherapy have emerged as definitive salvage re-irradiation options for men with locally recurrent prostate cancer after prior radiation therapy (RT). Toxicity with re-irradiation remains a concern in this setting, particularly for salvage of periurethral recurrences. We calculated the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of urethral stricture following salvage re-irradiation (HDR and SBRT) after previous definitive RT (external beam or HDR) for periurethral recurrences. Methods: Two upfront definitive treatment plans were generated for 5 men with localized prostate cancer: External Beam RT (EBRT1) to a dose of 79.2 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions and HDR monotherapy (HDR1), 13.5 Gy x 2 implants. Periurethral recurrences were virtually created on diagnostic MRI scans for each of the five men and defined as a recurrent dominant intraprostatic lesion (DIL). Three salvage RT plans were generated for each patient (constraints in Table): HDR salvage (10 Gy whole gland; 13.5 Gy to DIL; 2 implants), SBRTr with maximal rectal sparing (constraints designed for salvage following prior EBRT; 30 Gy in 5 fractions whole gland; 40 Gy in 5 fractions to DIL), and SBRTu with maximal urethral sparing (constraints designed for patients with prior HDR monotherapy; same Rx). DVH data was collected for each plan (previous RT and each salvage approach) and the equivalent uniform dose (EUD) was calculated. NTCP for the urethral stricture in the summed plans (prior definitive treatment + each salvage plan) was calculated by the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model using the following parameters: (α/β = 5Gy; TD50= 116.7; m = 0.23; n = 0.3). Results: Prescription coverage of 90% of the DIL volume was achieved for each plan. The mean NTCP of urethral stricture for EBRT1 + HDR salvage was 55.2% (range, 52.2-59.1%) and for HDR1 + HDR salvage was 49.2% (42.9-57.5%). For EBRT1 + SBRTr and EBRT1 + SBRTu the NTCP for urethral stricture was 54.0% (50.4-61.0%) and 43.2% (39.4-48.4%), respectively. The NTCP of urethral stricture for HDR1 + SBRTr was 48.1% (41.0-57.2%) and for HDR1 + SBRTu was 37.6% (30.9-44.6%). Conclusions: In this modeling analysis of salvage RT for periurethral recurrences following previous RT (EBRT or HDR monotherapy), the NTCP for urethral stricture was numerically lowest for salvage SBRT using maximum urethral sparing dose constraints in comparison to salvage SBRT with maximum rectal sparing constraints or salvage HDR brachytherapy. This type of analysis lends insight into personalized treatment planning based on previous RT modality and previous dose to organs at risk. Expanded analysis is underway. [Table: see text] </jats:p

Carbon and nitrogen in carbonaceous chondrites: Elemental abundances and stable isotopic compositions

We have undertaken a comprehensive study of carbon and nitrogen elemental abundances and isotopic compositions of bulk carbonaceous chondrites. A strategy of multiple analyses has enabled the investigation of hitherto unconstrained small-scale heterogeneities. No systematic differences are observed between meteorite falls and finds, suggesting that terrestrial processing has a minimal effect on bulk carbon and nitrogen chemistry. The changes in elemental abundance and isotopic composition over the petrologic range may reflect variations in primary accreted materials, but strong evidence exists of the alteration of components during secondary thermal and aqueous processing. These changes are reflected within the CM2 and CO3 groups and follow the published alteration scales for those groups. The nitrogen isotope system appears to be controlled by an organic host, which loses a 15N-rich component with progressive alteration. This study recommends caution, however, over the use of bulk carbon and nitrogen information for classification purposes; variance in relative abundance of different components in carbonaceous chondrites is significant and reflects intrameteorite heterogeneities.The Meteoritics & Planetary Science archives are made available by the Meteoritical Society and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202