Kernel multi-task learning using task-specific features

In this paper we are concerned with multitask learning when task-specific features are available. We describe two ways of achieving this using Gaussian process predictors: in the first method, the data from all tasks is combined into one dataset, making use of the task-specific features. In the second method we train specific predictors for each reference task, and then combine their predictions using a gating network. We demonstrate these methods on a compiler performance prediction problem, where a task is defined as predicting the speed-up obtained when applying a sequence of code transformations to a given program.

Evaluación de dos tipos de fertilizantes foliares orgánicos (Súper magro, MM líquido) + un testigo en el rendimiento del cultivo del Tomate (Lycopersicum Sculentum) en el 2019 ITA (German Pomares Ordoñez) Juigalpa, Chontales, Nicaragua

La presente investigación se realizó en el Instituto Tecnológico Agropecuario (ITA) ubicada en el Municipio de Juigalpa, departamento de Chontales durante el primer semestre del año 2019, se realizó una investigación experimental, el propósito de esta investigación consistió en el estudio de la evaluación de dos tipos de fertilizantes foliares orgánicos (Súper magro y MM líquido) + un testigo en el rendimiento del cultivo del tomate (Licopersicum Sculentum) en el ITA German Pomares Ordoñez. Para ello fue necesario comparar el crecimiento y desarrollo del cultivo del tomate bajo fertilizantes orgánicos luego se determino el rendimiento productivo del cultivo ante los fertilizantes orgánicos, y finalmente se calculo la relación beneficio costo entre los fertilizantes orgánicos foliares. El presente estudio se basa en la importancia económica del tomate y el uso de los fertilizantes empleado por los productores. Metodológicamente este trabajo investigativo se aborda desde la perspectiva de los tipos de estudio experimental-transversales, con un diseño de bloques completamente al azar (DBCA). Los fertilizantes orgánicos evaluados fueron; T1, MM Liquido; T2, Supermagro, T3, Testigo, se midieron en las variables altura, grosor del tallo, cantidad de ramificaciones, cantidad de flores, cantidad de frutos y peso del fruto en el cultivo de tomate mediante la recolección de datos en campo, donde posteriormente se analizaron en los programas como Excel, Infostat obteniendo así diferente resultado en los tratamiento estudiado a un nivel de confiabilidad de 0.05% los cuales fueron; Altura de la planta, en tratamiento MM 36.13, SM 39.40 Testigo 35.20. Grosor del tallo, en tratamiento MM 4.07, SM 3.73, Testigo 3.93. Cantidad de ramificaciones en tratamiento MM 11.00, SM 10.60, Testigo 9.87. Cantidad de flores MM 22.70, SM 23.13, Testigo 21.73. Cantidad de frutos MM 11.47, SM 10.87 Testigo 10.53 y Peso del fruto MM 9.70, SM 9.33, Testigo 8.50

Extracellular Tumor-Related mRNA in Plasma of Lymphoma Patients and Survival Implications

BACKGROUND: We studied anomalous extracellular mRNAs in plasma from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and their survival implications. mRNAs studied have been reported in the literature as markers of poor (BCL2, CCND2, MYC) and favorable outcome (LMO2, BCL6, FN1) in tumors. These markers were also analyzed in lymphoma tissues to test possible associations with their presence in plasma. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: mRNA from 42 plasma samples and 12 tumors from patients with DLBCL was analyzed by real-time PCR. Samples post-treatment were studied. The immunohistochemistry of BCL2 and BCL6 was defined. Presence of circulating tumor cells was determined by analyzing the clonality of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes by PCR. In DLBCL, MYC mRNA was associated with short overall survival. mRNA targets with unfavorable outcome in tumors were associated with characteristics indicative of poor prognosis, with partial treatment response and with short progression-free survival in patients with complete response. In patients with low IPI score, unfavorable mRNA targets were related to shorter overall survival, partial response, high LDH levels and death. mRNA disappeared in post-treatment samples of patients with complete response, and persisted in those with partial response or death. No associations were found between circulating tumor cells and plasma mRNA. Absence of BCL6 protein in tumors was associated with presence of unfavorable plasma mRNA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Through a non-invasive procedure, tumor-derived mRNAs can be obtained in plasma. mRNA detected in plasma did not proceed from circulating tumor cells. In our study, unfavorable targets in plasma were associated with poor prognosis in B-cell lymphomas, mainly MYC mRNA. Moreover, the unfavorable targets in plasma could help us to classify patients with poor outcome within the good prognosis group according to IPI

Viral vector-mediated reprogramming of the fibroblastic tumor stroma sustains curative melanoma treatment.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex amalgam of tumor cells, immune cells, endothelial cells and fibroblastic stromal cells (FSC). Cancer-associated fibroblasts are generally seen as tumor-promoting entity. However, it is conceivable that particular FSC populations within the TME contribute to immune-mediated tumor control. Here, we show that intratumoral treatment of mice with a recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-based vaccine vector expressing a melanocyte differentiation antigen resulted in T cell-dependent long-term control of melanomas. Using single-cell RNA-seq analysis, we demonstrate that viral vector-mediated transduction reprogrammed and activated a Cxcl13-expressing FSC subset that show a pronounced immunostimulatory signature and increased expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-33. Ablation of Il33 gene expression in Cxcl13-Cre-positive FSCs reduces the functionality of intratumoral T cells and unleashes tumor growth. Thus, reprogramming of FSCs by a self-antigen-expressing viral vector in the TME is critical for curative melanoma treatment by locally sustaining the activity of tumor-specific T cells

Aggressive Regimens for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Decrease All-Cause Mortality

Rationale: A better understanding of the composition of optimal treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is essential for expanding universal access to effective treatment and for developing new therapies for MDR-TB. Analysis of observational data may inform the definition of an optimized regimen. Objectives: This study assessed the impact of an aggressive regimen–one containing at least five likely effective drugs, including a fluoroquinolone and injectable–on treatment outcomes in a large MDR-TB patient cohort. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients treated in a national outpatient program in Peru between 1999 and 2002. We examined the association between receiving an aggressive regimen and the rate of death. Measurements and Main Results: In total, 669 patients were treated with individualized regimens for laboratory-confirmed MDR-TB. Isolates were resistant to a mean of 5.4 (SD 1.7) drugs. Cure or completion was achieved in 66.1% (442) of patients; death occurred in 20.8% (139). Patients who received an aggressive regimen were less likely to die (crude hazard ratio [HR]: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.44,0.89), compared to those who did not receive such a regimen. This association held in analyses adjusted for comorbidities and indicators of severity (adjusted HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.43,0.93). Conclusions: The aggressive regimen is a robust predictor of MDR-TB treatment outcome. TB policy makers and program directors should consider this standard as they design and implement regimens for patients with drug-resistant disease. Furthermore, the aggressive regimen should be considered the standard background regimen when designing randomized trials of treatment for drug-resistant TB