Background
Nowadays, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) in breast cancer is more and more standardized, not only in advanced tumours but also in those for which there is an attempt to achieve ...breast-conserving surgery. In literature, we can find evidences of the relationship between several types of tumours and systemic inflammatory response. Our objective is to analyse the prognostic value of blood parameters (lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio (NMR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in breast cancer (BC) patients treated with nCT.
Methods
A retrospective cohort of 150 breast cancer patients treated with nCT and subsequently with surgery was analysed. Data about the patients, histology, response to chemotherapy and peripheral blood values of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils was collected, and used to calculate the LMR, NMR and NLR. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for the variables to see the relationship of the ratios to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).
Results
Patients with high LMR (≥5.46) and low NLR (<3.33) were associated with a lower percentage of relapse (
P
= 0.048 and
P
= 0.015, respectively) and, above all, NLR was associated with a better survival (
P
= 0.024), being those factors that predict a good progress.
Conclusion
High LMR and low NLR can be considered as favourable prognostic factors in BC patients treated with nCT.
Increasing the nitrogen use efficiency of maize is an important goal for food security and agricultural sustainability. In the past 100 years, maize breeding has focused on yield and above-ground ...phenes. Over this period, maize cultivation has changed from low fertilizer inputs and low population densities to intensive fertilization and dense populations. The authors hypothesized that through indirect selection the maize root system has evolved phenotypes suited to more intense competition for nitrogen. Sixteen maize varieties representing commercially successful lines over the past century were planted at two nitrogen levels and three planting densities. Root systems of the most recent material were 7 º more shallow, had one less nodal root per whorl, had double the distance from nodal root emergence to lateral branching, and had 14% more metaxylem vessels, but total mextaxylem vessel area remained unchanged because individual metaxylem vessels had 12% less area. Plasticity was also observed in cortical phenes such as aerenchyma, which increased at greater population densities. Simulation modelling with SimRoot demonstrated that even these relatively small changes in root architecture and anatomy could increase maize shoot growth by 16% in a high density and high nitrogen environment. The authors concluded that evolution of maize root phenotypes over the past century is consistent with increasing nitrogen use efficiency. Introgression of more contrasting root phene states into the germplasm of elite maize and determination of the functional utility of these phene states in multiple agronomic conditions could contribute to future yield gains.
This study presents the latest results on the mesospheric CO2 clouds in the martian atmosphere based on observations by OMEGA and HRSC onboard Mars Express. We have mapped the mesospheric CO2 clouds ...during nearly three martian years of OMEGA data yielding a cloud dataset of a1460 occurrences. The global mapping shows that the equatorial clouds are mainly observed in a distinct longitudinal corridor, at seasons L s =0-60A and again at and after L s =90A. A recent observation shows that the equatorial CO2 cloud season may start as early as at L s =330A. Three cases of mesospheric midlatitude autumn clouds have been observed. Two cloud shadow observations enabled the mapping of the cloud optical depth (Ie" =0.01-0.6 with median values of 0.13-0.2 at I' =1I14m) and the effective radii (mainly 1-3I14m with median values of 2.0-2.3I14m) of the cloud crystals. The HRSC dataset of 28 high-altitude cloud observations shows that the observed clouds reside mainly in the altitude range a1460-85km and their east-west speeds range from 15 to 107m/s. Two clouds at southern midlatitudes were observed at an altitude range of 53-62km. The speed of one of these southern midlatitude clouds was measured, and it exhibited west-east oriented speeds between 5 and 42m/s. The seasonal and geographical distribution as well as the observed altitudes are mostly in line with previous work. The LMD Mars Global Climate Model shows that at the cloud altitude range (65-85km) the temperatures exhibit significant daily variability (caused by the thermal tides) with the coldest temperatures towards the end of the afternoon. The GCM predicts the coldest temperatures of this altitude range and the season L s =0-30A in the longitudinal corridor where most of the cloud observations have been made. However, the model does not predict supersaturation, but the GCM-predicted winds are in fair agreement with the HRSC-measured cloud speeds. The clouds exhibit variable morphologies, but mainly cirrus-type, filamented clouds are observed (nearly all HRSC observations and most of OMEGA observations). In a1415% of OMEGA observations, clumpy, round cloud structures are observed, but very few clouds in the HRSC dataset show similar morphology. These observations of clumpy, cumuliform-type clouds raise questions on the possibility of mesospheric convection on Mars, and we discuss this hypothesis based on Convective Available Potential Energy calculations.
The suitability of the combined microgravity and electrical tomography to detect and characterize caves deeply buried in limestones is tested. We have selected the buried Algaidilla cave, in the ...Estepa range (western Betic Cordillera), which is partially submerged below the water table and which was intersected between 26 and 66m in depth by two boreholes. At that location, microgravity, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarization (IP) data was collected along four profiles. Algaidilla cave is associated with a −0.5mGal residual gravity anomaly minimum. Microgravity models reveal an approximately horizontal N–S elongated shape with a maximum length of 150m and a width of 40m. Resistivity variations provide information on the cave sectors remaining above, as well as below the water table. Forward modeling and depth of investigation (DOI) support the suitability of ERT to constrain the cave geometry. The cave is identified as having an intermediate to low-resistivity feature, which approximately matches the 250Ω·m contour line along its ceiling. In addition, induced polarization models show high chargeability anomalies probably associated with decalcification clays. The location and approximately geometry of Algaidilla cave estimated from geophysical modeling suggests that nearby overburden may develop cave-ins and collapse sinkholes. Microgravity is proved as a powerful tool to detect caves at this depth, but this method alone fails to estimate the geometry. ERT results delineate the cavity both above and below the water table. Although the deepest sectors of the models should be interpreted with caution since they are less constrained by the data, below the water table the cavity shows great resistivity contrast with regard to the background carbonate. In addition, this study points out the usefulness of the IP method for detecting decalcification clays, often present at the base of karstic caves.
•We use the combination of nondestructive geophysics methods to detect deeply caves.•We use microgravity, electrical resistivity tomography and induced polarization.•Forward modeling supports the suitability of the response of ERT and IP profiles.•The DOI index discriminates the unreliable parts of the electrical profiles.•The high resolution of the measurement allows obtaining a trusted model of the cave.
The microstructural stability of nickel-based superalloys is critical for maintaining alloy performance during service in gas turbine engines. In this study, the precipitate evolution in a model ...polycrystalline Ni-based superalloy during aging to 1000 hours has been studied
via
transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and neutron diffraction. Variations in phase composition and precipitate morphology, size, and volume fraction were observed during aging, while the constrained lattice misfit remained constant at approximately zero. The experimental composition of the γ matrix phase was consistent with thermodynamic equilibrium predictions, while significant differences were identified between the experimental and predicted results from the γ′ phase. These results have implications for the evolution of mechanical properties in service and their prediction using modeling methods.
The ixodicidal activity of the methanolic extracts of Artemisia ludoviciana (Astereceae), Cordia boissieri (Boraginaceae) and Litchi chinensis (Sapindaceae) against two field populations of ...Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus from the state of Nuevo Leon (NL) and Veracruz (VER) was evaluated. The extract of L. chinensis in the concentration of 150 mg/ml showed efficacies of 100% and 99% against engorged females and mortalities of 98% and 99% against larvae. C. boissieri in the same concentration showed efficacies of 71% and 37% against engorged adults and mortalities of 33.04% and 10.33% against larvae and A. ludoviciana had efficacies of 94% and 83% in adults and mortalities of 89.39% and 89.21% against larvae in both populations respectively. The enzymatic activity of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Carboxylesterase (CaE), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) was measured in both populations of ticks. As a result, a significant difference between both populations was shown, being the VER population the one that exhibited a higher enzymatic activity (p ≤ 0.05). It can be concluded that the methanolic extract of the seed of L. chinensis shows potential ixodicidal activity and can be used as an alternative source of tick control, however, prior characterization, toxicity and formulation studies are necessary.
In marine ecosystems, rising atmospheric CO2 and climate change are associated with concurrent shifts in temperature, circulation, stratification, nutrient input, oxygen content, and ocean ...acidification, with potentially wide-ranging biological effects. Population-level shifts are occurring because of physiological intolerance to new environments, altered dispersal patterns, and changes in species interactions. Together with local climate-driven invasion and extinction, these processes result in altered community structure and diversity, including possible emergence of novel ecosystems. Impacts are particularly striking for the poles and the tropics, because of the sensitivity of polar ecosystems to sea-ice retreat and poleward species migrations as well as the sensitivity of coral-algal symbiosis to minor increases in temperature. Midlatitude upwelling systems, like the California Current, exhibit strong linkages between climate and species distributions, phenology, and demography. Aggregated effects may modify energy and material flows as well as biogeochemical cycles, eventually impacting the overall ecosystem functioning and services upon which people and societies depend.
This Letter reports the first measurement of the 235U $\bar{ν}$e energy spectrum by PROSPECT, the Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum experiment, operating 7.9 m from the 85 MWth highly ...enriched uranium (HEU) High Flux Isotope Reactor. With a surface-based, segmented detector, PROSPECT has observed 31678±304(stat) $\bar{ν}$e-induced inverse beta decays, the largest sample from HEU fission to date, 99% of which are attributed to 235U. Despite broad agreement, comparison of the Huber 235U model to the measured spectrum produces a χ2/ndf=51.4/31, driven primarily by deviations in two localized energy regions. The measured 235U spectrum shape is consistent with a deviation relative to prediction equal in size to that observed at low-enriched uranium power reactors in the $\bar{ν}$e energy region of 5–7 MeV.
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A unified description for the hardness in martensitic steels for a wide range of carbon contents is presented. It is based on describing the strength contributions of lath and plate ...martensite, precipitates and retained austenite. Descriptions of the dislocation density in both martensitic structures are obtained in terms of carbon content and tempering conditions. It is shown that a peak in hardness usually observed for carbon contents ranging 0.6–1wt% is a result of a compromise between the strength of martensite, and the increase in retained austenite. A parametric analysis is performed suggesting possible scenarios for hardness improvement.
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