Impact of Ultra High-risk Genetics on Real-world Outcomes of Transplant-eligible Multiple Myeloma Patients.

Refined prediction of early relapse following standard-of-care (SoC) autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) could inform real-world risk-stratified post-ASCT strategies. We investigated the impact of double hit genetics (≥2 adverse markers: t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), gain(1q), del(17p)) on outcome in 139 NDMM patients who underwent SoC ASCT between January 2014 and October 2019 at our center. Double hit genetics were associated with a significantly shortened progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.27, P < 0.001) and overall survival (HR = 4.01, P = 0.03), and characterized most early relapses. Our results support the real-world utility of extended genetic profiling for improved risk prediction in NDMM

Functional farm household typologies through archetypal responses to disturbances

Methods to construct farm household typologies may differ in their approach but they share a common feature: they rely mostly on structural farm data. Methods to build functional typologies are far less abundant. Households or communities are complex social-ecological systems that often exhibit patterns in their response to disturbances (e.g., droughts, floods, price shocks, policy change). We propose building functional typologies – classifiable ´behaviours´ of rural actors – using archetype analysis to categorise such responses and identify salient behaviours. We illustrate this approach by examining the response of rural households to recurrent droughts in northern Patagonia, Argentina, as revealed by 23 in-depth interviews about perceptions and strategies concerning droughts. Using the algorithm from Mørup and Hansen (2012), and the corrected Akaike decision rule, we identified three archetypes (A–C) that represented three distinct aggregated responses of households to droughts. Archetype A presented variable degrees of resistance to droughts (production losses < 40%), avoidance and diversification, whereas archetype B exhibited tolerance (higher losses) and some degree of transformability (off-farm income). Archetype C farms exhibited high levels of vulnerability, if some degree of tolerance to high losses, but no real adaptive strategy to speak of. Such pattern could not have been identified through the more commonly used typology building methods such as using multivariate and clustering techniques. By allowing to combine qualitative and quantitative information, and to deal with a relatively small number of observations, archetype analysis appears as highly suitable to delineate functional farm household typologies.Fil: Tittonell, Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Solano Hernández, Ainhoa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: López Ridaura, Santiago. Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo; MéxicoFil: Easdale, Marcos Horacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentin

Trend-cycles of vegetation dynamics as a tool for land degradation assessment and monitoring

The use of time series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), obtained from satellite sensors has become frequent in studies for land degradation assessment and monitoring. Linear trends of NDVI are usually considered as indicators of vegetation dynamics and widely used as proxies for land degradation. Yet, long-term trends of NDVI often exhibit unidirectional (monotonic) but also cyclic (non-monotonic) dynamics, including mid-term oscillations, both of which are poorly captured by linear trends. Trend-cycle is a time series analysis that represents a smoothed version of a seasonally adjusted time series, which provides information on long-term movements while including changes in direction underlying the series. We assessed NDVI trend-cycles in Patagonia (Argentina) as proxies for land dynamics, integrating trend and medium-term cycles (> 4 years). We used MODIS images between years 2000 and mid-2018; trend-cycles were analysed using the Basis Pursuit method. We observed that trend-cycles explained a significant portion of total temporal variability (reaching almost 20%), from which most patterns were explained by non-monotonic behaviour. We identified five major patterns in vegetation dynamics: decreasing (0.1% of area), increasing (0.6%), recovery (48.8%), relapsing (36.8%) and no trend-cycle (13.8%). Contrary to what is generally seen in the literature, monotonic patterns and particularly decreasing trend-cycles were marginally recorded in the last 18 years of NDVI records in Patagonia. Instead, the greater proportion of the area was classified as initial or advanced recovery and initial relapsing patterns, which refer to phases of a cyclic behaviour. We call for the need to revisit the conceptualization of land degradation assessment by means of remote sensing, and to critically review the ability of linear trends to reflect vegetation dynamics. Finally, we discuss the potential use of trend-cycle as a tool to monitor land dynamics and progress towards land degradation neutrality

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for primary central nervous system lymphoma:a multi-centre retrospective analysis from the United Kingdom

The prognosis of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has improved in recent years. This has partly been achieved by remission induction protocols incorporating high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) and rituximab. Given the high rates of relapse, consolidation therapy is usually considered in first response. Whole brain radiotherapy may prolong PFS but appears to confer no long-term survival advantage and is associated with significant neurocognitive dysfunction. Attempts to improve efficacy and reduce neurotoxicity of consolidation therapy have included thiotepa-based high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (HDC-ASCT). This multi-centre, retrospective study reports the outcome of 70 patients undergoing HDC-ASCT for PCNSL in the United Kingdom. The median age at diagnosis was 56 years and all patients received HD-MTX-containing induction regimens. All patients underwent HDC-ASCT in first response. The rate of complete response increased from 50% before HDC-ASCT to 77% following HDC-ASCT. Treatment-related mortality was 6%. At a median follow-up of 12 months from HDC-ASCT, the estimated 1-and 2-year PFS rates were 71.5% and overall survival 86.4% and 83.3%, respectively. These data are comparable to published studies of HDC-ASCT for PCNSL, supporting its feasibility and efficacy

Economics of Land Degradation in Argentina

Argentina is one of the countries with a vibrant agricultural sector, which provides both economic development opportunities and environmental challenges. Argentina was selected as a case study due to its rich land degradation data, its diverse agroecological systems, and rapid poverty reduction. The country also represents high human development index countries. This study reports the cost of land degradation, the cost of inaction and cost and benefits of taking action against land degradation. The total loss of ecosystem services due to land-use/cover change (LUCC), wetlands degradation and use of land degrading management practices on grazing lands and selected croplands is about 2007 US$75 billion, which is about 16$4 per US$ invested—justifying the need to take action to improve human welfare and environmental protection. The actions against land degradation include investment in restoration of degraded lands and prevention of land degradation through stricter regulation of agricultural expansion into forests and other higher value biomes. They also include reforestation and other restoration efforts; protection wetlands and restoration of degraded wetlands. The excessive use of agrochemicals also require action to regulate their potential off-site effects. Case studies also show that promotion of rotational grazing, extending conservation agriculture beyond soybean; tillage method and crop-livestock production systems offer promising strategies for addressing land degradation. The world has a lot to learn from Argentina—given its rapid poverty reduction and successful adoption rate of conservation agriculture using public-private partnership. If Argentina aims at maintaining its economic and social development, it will need to work harder to address its growth-related environmental challenges that affect the poor the most. Argentina is better prepared to face these challenges. This study will contribute to informing policy makers on the best strategies for taking action against land degradation and the returns to such actions.Fil: Bouza, Mariana Eve. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Aranda Rickert, Adriana Marina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Brizuela, Maria Magdalena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, Marcelo Germán. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Sasal, Maria Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Sione, Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Beghetto, Stella. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrián. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Oszust, José Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Bran, Donaldo Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Velazco, Virginia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Gaitán, Juan José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Silenzi, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Echeverría, Nora Elena. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: de Lucia, Martín Pascual. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Iurman, Daniel Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Vanzolini, Juan. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Castoldi, Federico José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Hormaeche, Joaquin Etorena. Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrallo Sustentable de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Johnson, Timothy. International Food Policy Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Meyer, Stefan. International Food Policy Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Nkonya, Ephraim. International Food Policy Research Institute; Estados Unido

National parks policy and planning: a comparative analysis of friluftsliv (Norway) and the dual mandate (New Zealand)

This is an original manuscript / preprint of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events on 26.02.2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/19407963.2016.1145688.Conservation management in Norway is anchored in the historical tradition of friluftsliv although Norway's evolving economic policy signals that growing priority is being given to recreation and nature-based tourism development in association with protected natural areas (PNAs). Here we present the results of an international comparative study that examined conservation policy and recreation/tourism management in Norway and New Zealand, where a legislated dual mandate of conservation and tourism in PNAs is longstanding. Our analysis of conservation policy and planning documents in Norway and New Zealand highlights important contrasts in conservation and recreation/tourism management that are deeply embedded in national socio-historical contexts. Our findings highlight lessons that may be learned and applied in Norway. However we also caution that the application of lessons from New Zealand's ‘utilitarian conservation’ policy context may require a reformulation or refinement of the friluftsliv tradition.submittedVersio