• Cenococcum geophilum is a widely distributed mycorrhizal species associated with diverse gymnosperm and angiosperm hosts. In previous studies, a significant amount of genetic and genotypic ...diversity has been detected in this species, despite the fact that C. geophilum is not thought to reproduce by meiotic or mitotic spores. • We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of 103 C. geophilum isolates from a California oak woodland and seven non-California isolates using a glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. In addition, a subset of isolates was analyzed using sequences from ITS-rDNA, a Group I intron located in the 3′ end of the SSU-rDNA and a portion of the mitochondrial SSU-rDNA. • Phylogenetically distinct lineages, or cryptic species, of C. geophilum were detected at the scale of a single soil sample within our field site. As much genetic diversity was found within a soil sample as was found for isolates collected across the USA. • Our results help explain the large amount of physiological, phenotypic, and genetic differences reported among isolates of C. geophilum from similar as well as diverse geographic regions. The ecological role that these sympatric cryptic species play remains to be determined.
The ELIMED transport and dosimetry beamline for laser-driven ion beams Romano, F.; Schillaci, F.; Cirrone, G.A.P. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
09/2016, Letnik:
829
Journal Article
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A growing interest of the scientific community towards multidisciplinary applications of laser-driven beams has led to the development of several projects aiming to demonstrate the possible use of ...these beams for therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, laser-accelerated particles differ from the conventional beams typically used for multiscipilinary and medical applications, due to the wide energy spread, the angular divergence and the extremely intense pulses. The peculiarities of optically accelerated beams led to develop new strategies and advanced techniques for transport, diagnostics and dosimetry of the accelerated particles. In this framework, the realization of the ELIMED (ELI-Beamlines MEDical and multidisciplinary applications) beamline, developed by INFN-LNS (Catania, Italy) and that will be installed in 2017 as a part of the ELIMAIA beamline at the ELI-Beamlines (Extreme Light Infrastructure Beamlines) facility in Prague, has the aim to investigate the feasibility of using laser-driven ion beams for multidisciplinary applications. In this contribution, an overview of the beamline along with a detailed description of the main transport elements as well as the detectors composing the final section of the beamline will be presented.
Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (Auto-HCT) is commonly an in-patient procedure. However, Auto-HCT is increasingly being offered on an outpatient basis. To better characterize the safety ...of outpatient Auto-HCT, we compared the outcome of 230 patients who underwent Auto-HCT on an in-patient vs outpatient basis for myeloma or lymphoma within a single transplant program. All outpatient transplants occurred in a cancer center day hospital. Hematopoietic recovery occurred earlier in the outpatient cohort, with median time to neutrophil recovery of 10 vs 11 days (P<0.001) and median time to platelet recovery of 19 vs 20 days (P=0.053). Fifty-one percent of the outpatient cohort never required admission, with this percentage increasing in later years. Grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicities occurred in 29% of both cohorts. Non-relapse mortality at 1 year was 0% in the outpatient cohort and 1.5% in the in-patient cohort (P=0.327). Two-year PFS was 62% for outpatient vs 54% for in-patient (P=0.155). One- and two-year OS was 97% and 83% for outpatient vs 91% and 80% for in-patient, respectively (P=0.271). We conclude that, with daily outpatient evaluation and aggressive supportive care, outpatient Auto-HCT can result in excellent outcomes for myeloma and lymphoma patients.
Context. Observations of polarized emission are a significant source of information on the magnetic field that pervades the interstellar medium of the Galaxy. Despite the acknowledged importance of ...magnetic fields in interstellar processes, our knowledge of field configurations on all scales is seriously limited. Aims. This paper describes an extensive survey of polarized Galactic emission at 1.4 GHz that provides data with arcminute resolution and complete coverage of all structures from the broadest angular scales to the resolution limit, giving information on the magneto-ionic medium over a wide range of interstellar environments. Methods. Data from the DRAO Synthesis Telescope, the Effelsberg 100-m Telescope, and the DRAO 26-m Telescope have been combined. Angular resolution is ~1' and the survey extends from $\ell$ = 66$^{\circ}$ to $\ell$ = 175$^{\circ}$ over a range –3° < b < 5$^{\circ}$ along the northern Galactic plane, with a high-latitude extension from $\ell$ = 101$^{\circ}$ to $\ell$ = 116$^{\circ}$ up to b = 17$\fdg$5. This is the first extensive polarization survey to present aperture-synthesis data combined with data from single antennas, and the techniques developed to achieve this combination are described. Results. The appearance of the extended polarized emission at 1.4 GHz is dominated by Faraday rotation along the propagation path, and the diffuse polarized sky bears little resemblance to the total-intensity sky. There is extensive depolarization, arising from vector averaging on long lines of sight, from $\ion{H}{ii}$ regions, and from diffuse ionized gas seen in Hα images. Preliminary interpretation is presented of selected polarization features on scales from parsecs (the planetary nebula Sh 2-216) to hundreds of parsecs (a superbubble GSH 166-01-17), to kiloparsecs (polarized emission in the direction of Cygnus X).
Patient registries, frequently referred to as outcome registries, are 'organized systems' that use observational study methods to collect uniform data. Registries are used to evaluate specified ...outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition or exposure that serves one or more predetermined scientific, clinical or policy purposes. Outcome registries were established very early in the development of hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). Currently, myriads of national and international HSCT registries collect information about HSCT activities and outcomes. These registries have contributed significantly to determining trends, patterns, treatment practices and outcomes. There are many different HSCT registries, each with different aims and goals; some are led by professional organizations, others by government authorities, health care providers or third parties. Some registries simply assess activity and others study outcomes. These registries are complementary and are gradually developing interoperability with each other to expand future collaborative research activities. A key development in the last few years was the incorporation of recommendations into the World Health Organization guiding principles on cell, tissue and organ transplantation. The data collection and analysis should be an integral part of therapy and an obligation rather than a choice for transplant programs. This article examines challenges in ensuring data quality and functions of outcome registries, using HSCT registries as an example. It applies to all HSCT-related data, but is predominantly focused on HSCT registries of professional organizations.
The disintegration of a capsule shell may determine the onset of drug dissolution from capsule formulations. In this study, the release of a rapidly dissolving model drug (paracetamol), from two ...hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsules containing either carageenan (HPMC-C) or gellan gum (HPMC-G) and one hard gelatin (HG) capsule, were investigated using a conventional
in vitro model, the USP dissolution apparatus I, and a novel
in vitro model of the human gastric compartment, the dynamic gastric model (DGM). The results obtained
in vitro were compared with
in vivo gamma scintigraphy human data and
in vivo gastric emptying profiles available in the literature. The drug release from HPMC-G capsules, observed with the USP dissolution apparatus I, was delayed with respect to the other two capsules, while the results obtained from the DGM in the fasted state were closer together, which was in agreement with data from the
in vivo studies. In the fasted state, the capsule rupture times obtained from the DGM were similar to those observed by gamma scintigraphy
in vivo studies. In the fed state, the ‘apparent’ rupture times observed with the DGM were delayed compared to fasted, and were even longer than those observed by scintigraphy
in vivo for HPMC-G and HG capsules. However, these discrepancies can reasonably be explained by considering the impact of food upon dispersion of the capsule contents and the sampling from the DGM, when compared to the human scintigraphy experiments.
In this paper, we describe modern statistical methods for presentation of the results of studies of bone marrow transplantation. We focus here on 'univariate' or unadjusted techniques to describe the ...outcomes of such studies. In another paper we will discuss multivariate methods. We discuss the type of data one may have available to make inference about outcomes. We explain the differences between the Kaplan-Meier estimator of the survival function and the cumulative incidence curve, how these curves should be interpreted and when each is the appropriate summary statistic. We discuss the weighted log rank statistic and show how different weights can be used to put emphasis on detecting differences between groups in different time periods. We also present a simple estimate of current leukemia-free survival which is useful in summarizing post-transplant events.
Phytophthora ramorum, causal agent of sudden oak death, is an emerging plant pathogen first observed in North America associated with mortality of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and coast live oak ...(Quercus agrifolia) in coastal forests of California during the mid-1990s. The pathogen is now known to occur in North America and Europe and have a host range of over 40 plant genera. Sudden oak death has become an example of unintended linkages between the horticultural industry and potential impacts on forest ecosystems. This paper examines the biology and ecology of P. ramorum in California and Oregon forests as well discussing research on the pathogen in a broader management context.
Patient/caregiver out-of pocket costs associated with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are not well known. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate patient/caregiver out-of-pocket costs in the ...first 3 months after allogeneic HCT. Thirty patients were enrolled at three sites. Before HCT, participants completed a baseline survey regarding household income and insurance coverage. Subsequently, they maintained a paper-based diary to track daily out-of-pocket expenses for the first 3 months after HCT. Telephone interviews were conducted to follow-up on the missing/incomplete diaries and on study completion. Twenty-five patients/caregivers completed the baseline survey. Among these, the median pre-tax household income was $66 500 (range, $30-$375 000) and 48% had to temporarily relocate close to the transplant center. Insurance coverage was managed care plan (56%), Medicaid (20%), Medicare (17%) and other (8%). Twenty-two patients/caregivers completed 4 diaries; the median out-of-pocket expenses were $2440 (range, $199-$13 769). Patients/caregivers who required temporary lodging had higher out-of-pocket expenses compared with those who did not (median, $5247 vs $716). Patients/caregivers can incur substantial out-of-pocket costs over the first 3 months, especially if they need to temporarily relocate close to the transplant center. Our study lays the foundation for future research on the early and long-term financial impact of allogeneic HCT on patients/caregivers.
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