Accurate assessment of soil carbon fractions would provide valuable contributions towards monitoring in ecological observatories, assessment of disturbance impacts, global climate and land use ...change. The majority of chemometric modelling studies have focused on measuring only total soil carbon (C), with only a few evaluating individual soil C pools. Analysis of pools allows for a more detailed picture of ecosystem processes, specifically decomposition and accretion of C in soils. This study evaluated the potential of the visible near infrared (VNIR), mid infrared (MIR) and a combined VNIR–MIR spectral region to estimate and predict soil C fractions. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and random forest (RF) ensemble tree regression models were used to estimate four different soil C fractions. The soil C fractions analysed included total — (TC), organic — (SOC), recalcitrant — (RC) and hydrolysable carbon (HC). The sample set contained 1014 soil samples collected across the state of Florida, USA. Laboratory analysis revealed the wide range of total and organic C values, from 1 to 523g·kg−1, with only about 10% of the samples containing inorganic C which was therefore omitted from the study. Both PLSR and RF modelling were shown to be effective in modelling all soil C fractions, with as much as 94–96% of the variation in the TC, SOC and RC pools, and 86% of HC being explained by the models. Although both PLSR and RF models were successful in modelling C fractions, RF models appear to target the physical properties linked to the property being analysed, and may therefore be the better modelling method to use when generalising to new areas. This study demonstrates that diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is an effective method for non-destructive analysis of soil C fractions, and through the use of RF modelling a spectral range between 2000 and 6000nm should suffice to model these soil C fractions.
•We model soil carbon fractions successfully.•Mid-infrared has better predictive capabilities than visible-near-infrared.•The spectral region above 2000nm contributes most to carbon fraction models.•Random forest models have potential to generalise to new sites.
In this paper we used two sets of calculated molecular descriptors to predict blood‐brain barrier (BBB) entry of a collection of 415 chemicals. The set of 579 descriptors were calculated by ...Schrodinger and TopoCluj software. Polly and Triplet software were used to calculate the second set of 198 descriptors. Following this, modelling and a two‐deep, repeated external validation method was used for QSAR formulation. Results show that both sets of descriptors individually and their combination give models of reasonable prediction accuracy. We also uncover the effectiveness of a variable selection approach, by showing that for one of our descriptor sets, the top 5 % predictors in terms of random forest variable importance are able to provide a better performing model than the model with all predictors. The top influential descriptors indicate important aspects of molecular structural features that govern BBB entry of chemicals.
This letter summarizes recommendations from the interdisciplinary working group of renal tumors (IAGN) of the German Cancer Society for the systemic treatment of advanced/metastatic renal cell ...carcinoma in the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
In all, 231 isolates of Phytophthora nicotianae representing 14 populations from different host genera, including agricultural crops (Citrus, Nicotiana, and Lycopersicon), potted ornamental species ...in nurseries (Lavandula, Convolvulus, Myrtus, Correa, and Ruta), and other plant genera were characterized using simple-sequence repeat markers. In total, 99 multilocus genotypes (MLG) were identified, revealing a strong association between genetic grouping and host of recovery, with most MLG being associated with a single host genus. Significant differences in the structure of populations were revealed but clonality prevailed in all populations. Isolates from Citrus were found to be genetically related regardless of their geographic origin and were characterized by high genetic uniformity and high inbreeding coefficients. Higher variability was observed for other populations and a significant geographical structuring was determined for isolates from Nicotiana. Detected differences were related to the propagation and cultivation systems of different crops. Isolates obtained from Citrus spp. are more likely to be distributed worldwide with infected plant material whereas Nicotiana and Lycopersicon spp. are propagated by seed, which would not contribute to the spread of the pathogen and result in a greater chance for geographic isolation of lineages. With regard to ornamental species in nurseries, the high genetic variation is likely the result of the admixture of diverse pathogen genotypes through the trade of infected plant material from various geographic origins, the presence of several hosts in the same nursery, and genetic recombination through sexual reproduction of this heterothallic species.
•Treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer varied in clinical practice.•Platinum-based regimens were the most common first-line systemic therapy.•Use of cetuximab plus platinum was ...limited despite guideline preferred designation.•Median survival was 8 months, highlighting the need for more efficacious treatments.
Given a lack of universally-accepted standard-of-care treatment for patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), study objectives were to assess treatment utilization and survival outcomes for R/M HNSCC in the real-world setting.
A multi-site retrospective chart review was conducted in Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain), Asia Pacific (Australia, South Korea, Taiwan), and Latin/North America (Brazil and Canada) to identify patients who initiated first-line systemic therapy for R/M HNSCC between January 2011 and December 2013. Patients were followed through December 2015 to collect clinical characteristics, treatment and survival data.
Among 733 R/M HNSCC patients across 71 sites, median age was 60 years (inter-quartile range 54–67), 84% male, and 70% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1; 32% had oral cavity and 30% oropharyngeal cancers. The most common first-line regimen across all countries consisted of platinum-based combinations (73%), including platinum + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (26%), cetuximab + platinum ± 5-FU (22%), or taxane + platinum ± 5-FU (16%). However, use of different platinum-based combinations varied substantially; administration of cetuximab + platinum ± 5-FU was frequent in Italy (81%), Germany (46%) and Spain (38%), whereas use in other countries was limited. Median follow-up was 22.6 months (95% confidence interval CI: 21.5–24.6 months). Median real-world overall survival was only 8.0 months (95% CI: 7.0–8.0), with one-year survival reaching only 30.9% (95% CI: 27.5–34.3).
Systemic therapies used in clinical practice for patients with R/M HNSCC vary substantially across countries. Prognosis remains poor in this patient population, highlighting the need for newer, more efficacious treatments.
Experimental studies suggest that transplantation of blood-derived or bone marrow-derived progenitor cells beneficially affects postinfarction remodeling. The safety and feasibility of autologous ...progenitor cell transplantation in patients with ischemic heart disease is unknown.
We randomly allocated 20 patients with reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to receive intracoronary infusion of either bone marrow-derived (n=9) or circulating blood-derived progenitor cells (n=11) into the infarct artery 4.3+/-1.5 days after AMI. Transplantation of progenitor cells was associated with a significant increase in global left ventricular ejection fraction from 51.6+/-9.6% to 60.1+/-8.6% (P=0.003), improved regional wall motion in the infarct zone (-1.5+/-0.2 to -0.5+/-0.7 SD/chord; P<0.001), and profoundly reduced end-systolic left ventricular volumes (56.1+/-20 mL to 42.2+/-15.1 mL; P=0.01) at 4-month follow-up. In contrast, in a nonrandomized matched reference group, left ventricular ejection fraction only slightly increased from 51+/-10% to 53.5+/-7.9%, and end-systolic volumes remained unchanged. Echocardiography revealed a profound enhancement of regional contractile function (wall motion score index 1.4+/-0.2 at baseline versus 1.19+/-0.2 at follow-up; P<0.001). At 4 months, coronary blood flow reserve was significantly (P<0.001) increased in the infarct artery. Quantitative F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography analysis revealed a significant (P<0.01) increase in myocardial viability in the infarct zone. There were no differences for any measured parameter between blood-derived or bone marrow-derived progenitor cells. No signs of an inflammatory response or malignant arrhythmias were observed.
In patients with AMI, intracoronary infusion of autologous progenitor cells appears to be feasible and safe and may beneficially affect postinfarction remodeling processes.
Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a Class I Guideline recommendation, and has been shown to be a cost-effective intervention after a cardiac event, it has been reimbursed at levels insufficient ...to cover hospital operating costs. In January 2011, Medicare increased payment for CR in hospital outpatient settings by ≈180%. We evaluated the association between this payment increase and participation in CR of eligible Medicare beneficiaries to better understand the relationship between reimbursement policy and CR utilization.
From a 5% Medicare claims sample, we identified patients with acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention, or cardiac valve surgery between January 1, 2009 and September 30, 2012, alive 30 days after their event, with continuous enrollment in Medicare fee-for-service, Part A/B for 4 months. Trends and changes in CR participation were estimated using an interrupted time series approach with a hierarchical logistic model, hospital random intercepts, adjusted for patient, hospital, market, and seasonality factors. Estimates were expressed using average marginal effects on a percent scale.
Among 76 695 eligible patients, average annual CR participation was 19.5% overall. In the period before payment increase, adjusted annual participation grew by 1.1 percentage points (95% CI, 0.48-2.4). No immediate change occurred in CR participation when the new payment was implemented. In the period after payment increase, on average, 20% of patients participated in CR annually. The annual growth rate in CR participation slowed in the post-period by 1.3 percentage points (95% CI, -2.4 to -0.12) compared with the prior period. Results were somewhat sensitive to time window variations.
The 2011 increase in Medicare reimbursement for CR was not associated with an increase in participation. Future studies should evaluate whether payment did not reach a threshold to incentivize hospitals or if hospitals were not sensitive to reimbursement changes.
This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods that separate net ecosystem exchange (NEE) into its major components, gross ecosystem carbon uptake (GEP) and ecosystem ...respiration (Reco). In particular, we analyse the effect of the extrapolation of night‐time values of ecosystem respiration into the daytime; this is usually done with a temperature response function that is derived from long‐term data sets. For this analysis, we used 16 one‐year‐long data sets of carbon dioxide exchange measurements from European and US‐American eddy covariance networks. These sites span from the boreal to Mediterranean climates, and include deciduous and evergreen forest, scrubland and crop ecosystems.
We show that the temperature sensitivity of Reco, derived from long‐term (annual) data sets, does not reflect the short‐term temperature sensitivity that is effective when extrapolating from night‐ to daytime. Specifically, in summer active ecosystems the long‐term temperature sensitivity exceeds the short‐term sensitivity. Thus, in those ecosystems, the application of a long‐term temperature sensitivity to the extrapolation of respiration from night to day leads to a systematic overestimation of ecosystem respiration from half‐hourly to annual time‐scales, which can reach >25% for an annual budget and which consequently affects estimates of GEP. Conversely, in summer passive (Mediterranean) ecosystems, the long‐term temperature sensitivity is lower than the short‐term temperature sensitivity resulting in underestimation of annual sums of respiration.
We introduce a new generic algorithm that derives a short‐term temperature sensitivity of Reco from eddy covariance data that applies this to the extrapolation from night‐ to daytime, and that further performs a filling of data gaps that exploits both, the covariance between fluxes and meteorological drivers and the temporal structure of the fluxes. While this algorithm should give less biased estimates of GEP and Reco, we discuss the remaining biases and recommend that eddy covariance measurements are still backed by ancillary flux measurements that can reduce the uncertainties inherent in the eddy covariance data.
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