The ongoing increase of atmospheric temperature may induce soil organic carbon (SOC) loss and exacerbate the greenhouse effect. As a result, there is a great effort to understand the relationship ...between temperature and the heterotrophic soil respiration rate (RSOIL) as it has significant implications for anticipated change of the Earth system. Soil respiration depends on the size of respiring microbial biomass (MBC) and when RSOIL is measured without concurrent measurement of MBC, the apparent temperature sensitivity of RSOIL could be misinterpreted since MBC can change with temperature within days or weeks of warming. The effect of temperature driven changes in MBC on the apparent temperature sensitivity of RSOIL was evaluated using a meta-analysis of 27 laboratory and field experiments conducted at different temporal scales (1–730 d) and under a wide range of temperatures (2–50 °C) and soil conditions. Across all studies, the apparent temperature sensitivity decreased when MBC decreased with increasing temperature and vice versa. We observed a steep decrease of MBC above optimal temperature (27.1 ± 1.0 °C), which attenuated the apparent temperature sensitivity of RSOIL, an aspect previously explained by the existence of reaction rate temperature optima. The temperature response of the MBC specific respiration rate was, however, highly non-linear and soil specific. Including MBC in soil biogeochemical models requires careful consideration of the variability of temperature-associated physiological changes of soil microorganisms. Without it, microbially explicit models cannot predict temperature induced SOC loss better than older, empirical models based on first order reaction kinetics.
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•Temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic soil respiration is affected by temperature driven changes in microbial biomass.•Attenuation of the temperature sensitivity above ∼25 °C is caused by increased death rate of microbial biomass.•The relationship between temperature and microbial biomass specific respiration is highly non-linear and soil specific.
Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have underlying malignancy have a higher mortality rate compared with those without cancer, although the magnitude of such excess risk is not ...clearly defined. We performed a systematic review and pooled analysis to provide precise estimates of the mortality rate among patients with both cancer and COVID-19.
A systematic literature search involving peer-reviewed publications, preprints and conference proceedings up to July 16, 2020, was performed. The primary end-point was the case fatality rate (CFR), defined as the rate of death among patients with cancer and COVID-19. The CFR was assessed with a random effects model, which was used to derive a pooled CFR and its 95% confidence interval (CI).
Fifty-two studies, involving a total of 18,650 patients with both COVID-19 and cancer, were selected for the pooled analysis. A total of 4243 deaths were recorded in this population. The probability of death was 25.6% (95% CI: 22.0%–29.5%; I2 = 48.9%) in this patient population.
Patients with cancer who develop COVID-19 have high probability of mortality. Appropriate and aggressive preventive measures must be taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in patients with cancer and to optimally manage those who do contract the infection.
•Patients with both cancer and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a higher mortality than reported in the overall COVID-19-positive population.•We aim to provide precise mortality estimates among patients with cancer and COVID-19.•Pooled case mortality rate was 25.6% (95% CI: 22.0%–29.5%; I2 = 48.9%).•Aggressive measures must be taken to reduce risk of infection in patients with cancer.
The global COVID-19 outbreak is worrisome both for its high rate of spread, and the high case fatality rate reported by early studies and now in Italy. We report a new methodology, the Patient ...Information Based Algorithm (PIBA), for estimating the death rate of a disease in real-time using publicly available data collected during an outbreak. PIBA estimated the death rate based on data of the patients in Wuhan and then in other cities throughout China. The estimated days from hospital admission to death was 13 (standard deviation (SD), 6 days). The death rates based on PIBA were used to predict the daily numbers of deaths since the week of February 25, 2020, in China overall, Hubei province, Wuhan city, and the rest of the country except Hubei province. The death rate of COVID-19 ranges from 0.75% to 3% and may decrease in the future. The results showed that the real death numbers had fallen into the predicted ranges. In addition, using the preliminary data from China, the PIBA method was successfully used to estimate the death rate and predict the death numbers of the Korean population. In conclusion, PIBA can be used to efficiently estimate the death rate of a new infectious disease in real-time and to predict future deaths. The spread of 2019-nCoV and its case fatality rate may vary in regions with different climates and temperatures from Hubei and Wuhan. PIBA model can be built based on known information of early patients in different countries.
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•The mortality rate determines whether a highly infectious disease becomes a public concern.•Summarizing information after the fact does not contribute to real-time readiness to deal with the disease.•The Patient Information Based Algorithm (PIBA) estimates the death rate of a disease in real-time.•PIBA can be used to estimate the death rate of a new infectious disease in real time and to predict future deaths.
Background & Aims
Cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are highly prevalent in Europe, with accompanying high mortality rates and social costs. As epidemiological data on these diseases ...are scarce, age‐standardized death rate (ASDR) can serve as an indirect assessment of their burden.
Methods
We analysed the ASDRs for LC and HCC from data reported in the WHO official death registries from 1970 to 2010, and compared ASDRs over the decades. The European Detailed Mortality Database was also used as source of data.
Results
In 1970, Portugal had the highest reported mortality for LC, followed by France and Italy. However, in 2010, Finland, Austria and Germany were respectively the three highest, while the UK showed the highest increase over those four decades (+284.8%). The annual ASDRs for LC have dropped in Europe from 20.4/105 inhabitants in 1970 to 9.6 in 2010; a 53% decrease. For HCC, Spain, Italy and Denmark were ranked first through third, while in 2010 Italy, France and Luxembourg replaced them. Portugal had the highest increase (+654.7%). In 1980‐2010, the ASDR for HCC in Europe increased from 3.4/105 inhabitants to 6.3, up 85.4%. In the majority of nations—except for the UK, Finland and Ireland—there was a decrease in LC mortality and an increase for HCC mortality.
Conclusions
The LC mortality rate is decreasing in Europe, yet there is a significant increase in HCC mortality. This phenomenon requires greater attention so we can understand the risk factors and implement preventive measures.
Background
The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate to ...provide annual updates on cancer occurrence and trends in the United States.
Methods
Data on new cancer diagnoses during 2001–2018 were obtained from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries’ Cancer in North America Incidence file, which is comprised of data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‐funded and National Cancer Institute‐funded, population‐based cancer registry programs. Data on cancer deaths during 2001–2019 were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System. Five‐year average incidence and death rates along with trends for all cancers combined and for the leading cancer types are reported by sex, racial/ethnic group, and age.
Results
Overall cancer incidence rates were 497 per 100,000 among males (ranging from 306 among Asian/Pacific Islander males to 544 among Black males) and 431 per 100,000 among females (ranging from 309 among Asian/Pacific Islander females to 473 among American Indian/Alaska Native females) during 2014–2018. The trend during the corresponding period was stable among males and increased 0.2% on average per year among females, with differing trends by sex, racial/ethnic group, and cancer type. Among males, incidence rates increased for three cancers (including pancreas and kidney), were stable for seven cancers (including prostate), and decreased for eight (including lung and larynx) of the 18 most common cancers considered in this analysis. Among females, incidence rates increased for seven cancers (including melanoma, liver, and breast), were stable for four cancers (including uterus), and decreased for seven (including thyroid and ovary) of the 18 most common cancers. Overall cancer death rates decreased by 2.3% per year among males and by 1.9% per year among females during 2015–2019, with the sex‐specific declining trend reflected in every major racial/ethnic group. During 2015–2019, death rates decreased for 11 of the 19 most common cancers among males and for 14 of the 20 most common cancers among females, with the steepest declines (>4% per year) reported for lung cancer and melanoma. Five‐year survival for adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer improved between 2001 and 2018; however, overall incidence (2001–2018) and mortality (2001–2019) continued to increase for this site. Among children (younger than 15 years), recent trends were stable for incidence and decreased for mortality; and among, adolescents and young adults (aged 15–39 years), recent trends increased for incidence and declined for mortality.
Conclusions
Cancer death rates continued to decline overall, for children, and for adolescents and young adults, and treatment advances have led to accelerated declines in death rates for several sites, such as lung and melanoma. The increases in incidence rates for several common cancers in part reflect changes in risk factors, screening test use, and diagnostic practice. Racial/ethnic differences exist in cancer incidence and mortality, highlighting the need to understand and address inequities. Population‐based incidence and mortality data inform prevention, early detection, and treatment efforts to help reduce the cancer burden in the United States.
The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate annually to provide updated information about cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. Part 1 of this year's report provides information on cancer incidence and mortality rates and trends for males and females and by race/ethnicity for common cancer sites, with an in‐depth look at pancreatic cancer.
•There is big difference in road death rates among countries.•Compared 15 interventions adopted by UN member countries.•Comparison through Brown-Forsythe Variance Analysis.•Stricter law and its ...enforcement in fifteen aspects associate lower road death rate.
There is big difference in road death rates among countries from as high as 81.56 in Congo to as low as 0.34 in Norway in terms of per 10 thousand vehicles registered. To find the reason behind this, we compared both graphically and statistically 15 interventions adopted by UN member countries. Comparison of the means of each intervention through Brown-Forsythe Variance Analysis was done. The study found and confirmed that stricter law and its enforcement in the following aspects associate lower road death rate: BAC restriction, speed limits on urban roads, rural roads and motorways, helmet law, seat-belt law, child restraint law, vehicle standard, audits or star rating of new road infrastructure projects, inspections/star ratings of existing road infrastructure projects, design standards for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, investments to upgrade high risk locations, policies & investment in urban public transport, policies promoting walking and cycling, emergency medicine and trauma surgery. If all countries have road death rate as low as Norway's 0.34, the total global road fatality will be 67,205—or 5 % of the current fatality. Thus it is advisable that interventions adopted by countries with low death rates should be popularized to other countries with high road death rates so as to cut down global total number of road deaths.
The trends of the main demographic phenomena provide useful information about the future evolution of the number and age structure of Romania’s population. The mutations in the social-economic ...structure of the country have led to a dynamic territorial mobility of the population; at the same time, they have direct consequences upon the socio-demographic structure of the population. In the past years, demographic migration has become a common fact. The young and mature population migrates from the rural to the urban environment, motivated by the living and working conditions in the urban centers. Consequently, the remaining rural inhabitants are mostly old-aged. The aging of the rural population is also caused by a series of demographic and social-economic factors. The economic effects of the demographic evolution will be seen in time and will bring about changes in the various subpopulations (school children, fertile population, inhabitants able to work).
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