113 research outputs found
Sphagnum farming on cut-over bog in NW Germany: Long-term studies on Sphagnum growth
Sphagnum farming allows sustainable and climate-friendly land use on bogs while producing a renewable substitute for peat in horticultural growing media. We studied Sphagnum productivity on an experimental Sphagnum culture established on a cut-over bog in Germany with strongly humified peat at the surface. Preparation of the site included levelling of the peat surface, construction of an irrigation system, spreading of Sphagnum papillosum fragments, covering them with straw, and finally rewetting. Provided there was an adequate (95 %) initial cover of Sphagnum fragments, the most relevant variables for Sphagnum productivity were found to be water supply and regular mowing of vascular plants. As long as sufficient water was supplied, the dry biomass accumulation of the established Sphagnum lawn remained high, reaching 3.7 t ha-1 yr-1 between 2007 and 2011. Annual dry Sphagnum biomass productivity over the period 2010â2011 was up to 6.9 t ha-1. During periods when high water table could not be maintained, substantial decomposition of the previously accumulated biomass occurred. After nine years the net accumulated dry mass per hectare was on average 19.5 t of pure Sphagnum and 0.7 t of subsurface vascular-plant biomass. Nitrogen deposition in the study region is apparently sufficient to support fast Sphagnum growth, whereas phosphorus and potassium may be limiting
Sphagnum regrowth after cutting
Sphagnum biomass is commercially harvested from semi-natural and natural peatlands. In this article we analyse the effects of harvesting Sphagnum by cutting off the top parts of the plants and leaving the cut stems to regenerate. We tested regrowth of Sphagnum palustre and Sphagnum papillosum in natural peatlands with high Sphagnum productivity in Kolkheti (Georgia, Transcaucasus) using two cutting depths (5, 10 cm) and two cutting intervals (1, 2 years). In Germany we measured regrowth of S. papillosum in an experimental Sphagnum farming field 2.5 years after cutting off the top 5 cm. Regrowth of Sphagnum was similar in both regions, with new capitula attaining 80 % cover one year after cutting and similar biomass productivities (Kolkheti: S. palustre 169â329 g m-2 yr-1, S. papillosum 152â246 g m-2 yr-1; Germany: S. papillosum 249 g m 2 yr-1). In Kolkheti, regrowth was independent of cutting depth. No relationship between site conditions and biomass regrowth was identified in either Kolkheti or Germany, probably because of the overarching effect of favourable hydrological conditions. This study shows that cutting is an appropriate method for harvesting Sphagnum and allows repeated harvests with fast Sphagnum regrowth. For S. palustre, it may even be possible to harvest annually without reducing yields
Towards net zero CO2 in 2050: an emission reduction pathway for organic soils in Germany
The Paris Agreement reflects the global endeavour to limit the increase of global average temperature to 2 °C, better 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels to prevent dangerous climate change. This requires that global anthropogenic net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced to zero around 2050. The German Climate Protection Plan substantiates this goal and explicitly mentions peatlands, which make up 5 % of the total area under land use and emit 5.7 % of total annual greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. Based on inventory reporting and assumptions of land use change probability, we have developed emission reduction pathways for organic soils in Germany that on a national level comply with the IPCC 1.5 °C pathways. The more gradual pathway 1 requires the following interim (2030, 2040) and ultimate (2050) milestones: Cropland use stopped and all Cropland converted to Grassland by 2030; Water tables raised to the soil surface on 15 % / 60 % / 100 % of all Grassland, on 50 % / 75 % / 100 % of all Forest land, and ultimately on 2/3 of all Settlements and on 100 % of all Wetlands. Also a more direct pathway 2 without interim âmoistâ water tables and the climate effect (radiative forcing) of different scenarios is presente
Atomic-scale confinement of optical fields
In the presence of matter there is no fundamental limit preventing
confinement of visible light even down to atomic scales. Achieving such
confinement and the corresponding intensity enhancement inevitably requires
simultaneous control over atomic-scale details of material structures and over
the optical modes that such structures support. By means of self-assembly we
have obtained side-by-side aligned gold nanorod dimers with robust
atomically-defined gaps reaching below 0.5 nm. The existence of
atomically-confined light fields in these gaps is demonstrated by observing
extreme Coulomb splitting of corresponding symmetric and anti-symmetric dimer
eigenmodes of more than 800 meV in white-light scattering experiments. Our
results open new perspectives for atomically-resolved spectroscopic imaging,
deeply nonlinear optics, ultra-sensing, cavity optomechanics as well as for the
realization of novel quantum-optical devices
Results of an Early Access Treatment Protocol of Daratumumab Monotherapy in Spanish Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Daratumumab is a human CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody approved as monotherapy for heavily pretreated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. We report findings for the Spanish cohort of an open-label treatment protocol that provided early access to daratumumab monotherapy and collected safety and patient-reported outcomes data for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. At 15 centers across Spain, intravenous daratumumab (16 mg/kg) was administered to 73 patients who had >= 3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug, or who were double refractory to both. The median duration of daratumumab treatment was 3.3 (range: 0.03-13.17) months, with a median number of 12 (range: 1-25) infusions. Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 74% of patients and included lymphopenia (28.8%), thrombocytopenia (27.4%), neutropenia (21.9%), leukopenia (19.2%), and anemia (15.1%). Common (>5%) serious treatmentemergent adverse events included respiratory tract infection (9.6%), general physical health deterioration (6.8%), and back pain (5.5%). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 45% of patients. The median change from baseline in all domains of the EQ-5D-5L and EORTC QLQ-C30 was mostly 0. A total of 18 (24.7%) patients achieved a partial response or better, with 10 (13.7%) patients achieving a very good partial response or better. Median progression-free survival was 3.98 months. The results of this early access treatment protocol are consistent with previously reported trials of daratumumab monotherapy and confirm its safety and antitumoral efficacy in Spanish patients with heavily treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
Overcoming establishment thresholds for peat mosses in human-made bog pools
Globally, peatlands have been affected by drainage and peat extraction, with adverse effects on their functioning and services. To restore peatâforming vegetation, drained bogs are being rewetted on a large scale. Although this practice results in higher groundwater levels, unfortunately it often creates deep lakes in parts where peat was extracted to greater depths than the surroundings. Revegetation of these deeper waters by peat mosses appears to be challenging due to strong abiotic feedbacks that keep these systems in an undesired bare state. In this study, we theoretically explore if a floating peat mat and an open humanâmade bog lake can be considered two alternative stable states using a simple model, and experimentally test in the field whether stable states are present, and whether a state shift can be accomplished using floating biodegradable structures that mimic buoyant peat. We transplanted two peat moss species into these structures (pioneer sp. Sphagnum cuspidatum and laterâsuccessional sp. S. palustre) with and without additional organic substrate. Our model suggests that these open humanâmade bog lakes and floating peat mats can indeed be regarded as alternative stable states. Natural recovery by spontaneous peat moss growth, i.e., a state shift from open water to floating mats, is only possible when the water table is sufficiently shallow to avoid light limitation (<0.29 m at our site). Our experiment revealed that alternative stable states are present and that the floating structures facilitated the growth of pioneer S. cuspidatum and vascular plants. Organic substrate addition particularly facilitated vascular plant growth, which correlated to higher moss height. The structures remained too wet for the lateâsuccessional species S. palustre. We conclude that open water and floating peat mats in humanâmade bog lakes can be considered two alternative stable states, and that temporary floating establishment structures can induce a state shift from the open water state to peatâforming vegetation state. These findings imply that for successful restoration, there is a clear water depth threshold to enable peat moss growth and there is no need for addition of large amounts of donorâpeat substrate. Correct species selection for restoration is crucial for success
Nutrient dynamics of 12 Sphagnum species during establishment on a rewetted bog
Peatland degradation through drainage and peat extraction have detrimental environmental and societal consequences. Rewetting is an option to restore lost ecosystem functions, such as carbon storage, biodiversity and nutrient sequestration. Peat mosses (Sphagnum) are the most important peat-forming species in bogs. Most Sphagnum species occur in nutrient-poor habitats; however, high growth rates have been reported in artificial nutrient-rich conditions with optimal water supply. Here, we demonstrate the differences in nutrient dynamics of 12 Sphagnum species during their establishment in a 1-year field experiment at a Sphagnum paludiculture area in Germany. The 12 species are categorized into three groups (slower-, medium- and fast-growing). Establishment of peat mosses is facilitated by constant supply of nutrient-rich, low pH, and low alkalinity surface water. Our study shows that slower-growing species (S. papillosum, S. magellancium, S. fuscum, S. rubellum, S. austinii; often forming hummocks) displayed signs of nutrient imbalance. These species accumulated higher amounts of N, P, K and Ca in their capitula, and had an elevated stem N:K quotient (>3). Additionally, this group sequestered less C and K per m2 than the fast and medium-growing species (S. denticulatum, S. fallax, S. riparium, S. fimbriatum, S. squarrosum, S. palustre, S. centrale). Lower lawn thickness may have amplified negative effects of flooding in the slower-growing species. We conclude that nutrient dynamics and carbon/nutrient sequestration rates are species-specific. For bog restoration, generating ecosystem services or choosing suitable donor material for Sphagnum paludiculture, it is crucial to consider their compatibility with prevailing environmental conditions
Daratumumab Monotherapy for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Results of an Early Access Treatment Protocol in Europe and Russia
Introduction
Daratumumab is a human IgGÎș monoclonal antibody targeting CD38. Despite the demonstrated benefit of daratumumab in multiple myeloma, not all patients have access to commercially available daratumumab. Here we report a pooled analysis of patients from the UK, Spain, Italy, and Russia enrolled in an open-label, early access treatment protocol (EAP) that provided daratumumab (16 mg/kg) monotherapy to patients with heavily pre-treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).
Methods
Intravenous daratumumab 16 mg/kg was administered to patients who had receivedââ„â3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), or who were double refractory to both a PI and an IMiD. Safety and patient-reported outcomes data were collected.
Results
A total of 293 patients receivedâ â„ 1 dose of daratumumab. The median duration of daratumumab exposure was 4.2 (range 0.03â24.1) months, with a median number of 13 (range 1â37) infusions. The overall response rate was 33.1%, and the median progression-free survival was 4.63 months. Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 60.1% of patients, of which the most common were thrombocytopenia (18.8%), anemia (11.9%), and neutropenia (11.6%). The most common serious adverse events were pneumonia (4.4%) and pyrexia (4.1%). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 45.1% of patients. The median change from baseline in all domains of patient-reported outcome instruments (European Quality of Life Five Dimensions Questionnaire [EQ-5Dâ5L], European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] Quality of Life Questionnaire [QLQ-C30], and EORTC Multiple Myeloma Module [QLQ-MY20]) was generally 0 or close to 0.
Conclusion
These EAP results are consistent with those from previous trials of daratumumab monotherapy and confirm its safety in patients from Europe and Russia with heavily pre-treated RRMM.
Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02477891
Results of an early access treatment protocol of daratumumab monotherapy in spanish patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
Daratumumab is a human CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody approved as monotherapy for heavily pretreated relapsed and
refractory multiple myeloma. We report findings for the Spanish cohort of an open-label treatment protocol that provided early access
to daratumumab monotherapy and collected safety and patient-reported outcomes data for patients with relapsed or refractory
multiple myeloma. At 15 centers across Spain, intravenous daratumumab (16mg/kg) was administered to 73 patients who had â„3
prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug, or who were double refractory to both. The
median duration of daratumumab treatment was 3.3 (range: 0.03â13.17) months, with a median number of 12 (range: 1â25)
infusions. Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 74% of patients and included lymphopenia (28.8%),
thrombocytopenia (27.4%), neutropenia (21.9%), leukopenia (19.2%), and anemia (15.1%). Common (>5%) serious treatmentemergent adverse events included respiratory tract infection (9.6%), general physical health deterioration (6.8%), and back pain
(5.5%). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 45% of patients. The median change from baseline in all domains of the EQ-5D-5L and
EORTC QLQ-C30 was mostly 0. A total of 18 (24.7%) patients achieved a partial response or better, with 10 (13.7%) patients
achieving a very good partial response or better. Median progression-free survival was 3.98 months. The results of this early access
treatment protocol are consistent with previously reported trials of daratumumab monotherapy and confirm its safety and antitumoral
efficacy in Spanish patients with heavily treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
Sphagnum farming from species selection to the production of growing media : a review
Sphagnum farming - the production of Sphagnum biomass on rewetted bogs - helps towards achieving global climate goals by halting greenhouse gas emissions from drained peat and by replacing peat with a renewable biomass alternative. Large-scale implementation of Sphagnum farming requires a wide range of know-how, from initial species selection up to the final production and use of Sphagnum biomass based growing media in horticulture. This article provides an overview of relevant knowledge accumulated over the last 15 years and identifies open questions.Peer reviewe
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