THE NATURE OF INFORMATION IN TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORTS: AN ANALYSIS OF WRITER INTENTIONS, TEXTS, AND READER EXPECTATIONS (R&D ORGANIZATIONS, TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT).

THE NATURE OF INFORMATION IN TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORTS: AN ANALYSIS OF WRITER INTENTIONS, TEXTS, AND READER EXPECTATIONS (R&D ORGANIZATIONS, TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT)

The evolution of trait variance creates a tension between species diversity and functional diversity

It seems intuitively obvious that species diversity promotes functional diversity: communities with more plant species imply more varied plant leaf chemistry, more species of crops provide more kinds of food, etc. Recent literature has nuanced this view, showing how the relationship between the two can be modulated along latitudinal or environmental gradients. Here we show that even without such effects, the evolution of functional trait variance can erase or even reverse the expected positive relationship between species- and functional diversity. We present theory showing that trait-based eco-evolutionary processes force species to evolve narrower trait breadths in more tightly packed, species-rich communities, in their effort to avoid competition with neighboring species. This effect is so strong that it leads to an overall reduction in trait space coverage whenever a new species establishes. Empirical data from land snail communities on the Galapagos Islands are consistent with this claim. The finding that the relationship between species- and functional diversity can be negative implies that trait data from species-poor communities may misjudge functional diversity in species-rich ones, and vice versa. The positive relationship between species diversity and functional diversity has been shown to vary. Here, the authors use theoretical models and data from Galapagos land snail communities to show how eco-evolutionary processes can force species to evolve narrower trait breadths in more species-rich communities to avoid competition, creating a negative relationship.Funding Agencies|Charles Darwin Foundation; Galapagos National Park Directorate [044-06, PC-45-14]; Swedish Research Council [VR 2017-05245]; National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (IDeA) [P30 GM103324]; National Science Foundation [1523540, 1751157]; National Geographic Society; American Malacological Society; Western Society of Malacology; Conchologists of America; Systematics Research Fund; Research Foundation Flanders; University of Namur [FSR Impulsionnel 48454E1]; Fund for Scientific Research, FNRS [PDR T.0048.16]; ARC grant DIVERCE, a concerted research action from the special research fund [18/23-095]</p

Anonymized DICOM-RT dose-volume histogram, clinical, and serial DIGEST data from the MD Anderson Head and neck Cancer Symptom Working Group (Kamal et al., PMCID: PMC6595477)

Anonymized public clinical, dose-volume, and DIGEST outcome data, as detailed in Kamal et al. (PMID: 29961581; PMCID: PMC6595477).Data consists of 3 txt files encoded as csv files: 1 detailing clinical variables and serial DIGEST objective swallowing assessments ("Anonymized clinical data.txt"); 1 detailing dose-volume histograms parameters in 1-Gy bins for labeled swallowing muscle organs at risk [OARs]("Anonymized OAR dose-summary .txt"); and 1 detailing summary statistics (mean and maximum dose) for all listed OARs ("Anonymized OAR dose-summary .txt"). Patient cases are labeled using a random-number-generated hex as an anonymized patient "AnonID" across all .txt files.Data labels are generally self-explanatory; please email MKJomaa [AT] mdanderson.org with queries re: syntax.As these are fully anonymized data, we are unable to link them to internal datasets or provide additional case-specific information outside that contained herein.</div

Comparison of cytomegalovirus-specific immune cell response to proteins versus peptides using an IFN-γ ELISpot assay after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Measuring CMV-specific cellular immunity may improve the risk stratification and management of patients. IFN-γ ELISpot assays, based on the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CMV pp65 and IE-1 proteins or peptides, have been validated in clinical settings. However, it remains unclear to which extend the T-cell response to synthetic peptides reflect that mediated by full-length proteins processed by antigen-presenting cells. We compared the stimulating ability of pp65 and IE-1 proteins and corresponding overlapping peptides in 16 HSCT recipients using a standardized IFN-γ ELISpot assay. Paired qualitative test results showed an overall 74.4% concordance. Discordant results were mainly due to low-response tests, with one exception. One patient with early CMV reactivation and graft-versus-host disease, sustained CMV DNAemia and high CD8$^+$ counts showed successive negative protein-based ELISpot results but a high and sustained response to IE-1 peptides. Our results suggest that the response to exogenous proteins, which involves their uptake and processing by antigen-presenting cells, more closely reflects the physiological response to CMV infection, while the response to exogenous peptides may lead to artificial in vitro T-cell responses, especially in strongly immunosuppressed patients

Standardized monitoring of cytomegalovirus-specific immunity can improve risk stratification of recurrent cytomegalovirus reactivation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Recurrence of cytomegalovirus reactivation remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Monitoring cytomegalovirus-specific cellular immunity using a standardized assay might improve the risk stratification of patients. A prospective multicenter study was conducted in 175 intermediate- and high-risk allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients under preemptive antiviral therapy. Cytomegalovirus-specific cellular immunity was measured using a standardized IFN-γ ELISpot assay (T-Track® CMV). Primary aim was to evaluate the suitability of measuring cytomegalovirus-specific immunity after end of treatment for a first cytomegalovirus reactivation to predict recurrent reactivation. 40/101 (39.6%) patients with a first cytomegalovirus reactivation experienced recurrent reactivations, mainly in the high-risk group (cytomegalovirus-seronegative donor/cytomegalovirus-seropositive recipient). The positive predictive value of T-Track® CMV (patients with a negative test after the first reactivation experienced at least one recurrent reactivation) was 84.2% in high-risk patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a higher probability of recurrent cytomegalovirus reactivation in high-risk patients with a negative test after the first reactivation (hazard ratio 2.73; p=0.007). Interestingly, a post-hoc analysis considering T-Track® CMV measurements at day 100 post-transplantation, a time point highly relevant for outpatient care, showed a positive predictive value of 90.0% in high-risk patients. Our results indicate that standardized cytomegalovirus-specific cellular immunity monitoring may allow improved risk stratification and management of recurrent cytomegalovirus reactivation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation