Defining optimal soybean seeding rates and associated risk across North America

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeding rate research across North America is typically conducted in small geo-political regions where environmental effects on the seeding rate × yield relationship are minimized. Data from 211 individual field studies (∼21,000 data points, 2007–2017) were combined from across North America ranging in yield from 1,000– 7,500 kg ha−1. Cluster analysis was used to stratify each individual field study into similar environmental (soil × climate) clusters and into high (HYL), medium (MYL), and low (LYL) yield levels. Agronomically optimal seeding rates (AOSR) were calculated and Monte Carlo risk analysis was implemented. Within the two northern most clusters the AOSR was higher in the LYL followed by the MYL and then HYL. Within the farthest south cluster, a relatively small (±15,000 seeds ha−1) change in seeding rate from the MYL was required to reach the AOSR of the LYL and HYL, respectively. The increase in seeding rate to reach the LYL AOSR was relatively greater (5x) than the decrease to reach the HYL AOSR within the northern most cluster. Regardless, seeding rates below the AOSR presented substantial risk and potential yield loss, while seeding rates above provided slight risk reduction and yield increases. Specific to LYLs and MYLs, establishing and maintaining an adequate plant stand until harvest maximized yield regardless of the seeding rate, while maximizing seed number was important with lower seeding rates. These findings will help growers manage their soybean seed investment by adjusting seeding rates based upon the productivity of the environment.Fil: Gaspar, Adam P.. Dow Agrosciences Argentina Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Mourtzinis, Spyridon. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Kyle, Don. Dow Agrosciences Argentina Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Galdi, Eric. Dow Agrosciences Argentina Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Lindsey, Laura E.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Hamman, William P.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Matcham, Emma G. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Kandel, Hans J.. North Dakota State University; Estados UnidosFil: Schmitz, Peder. North Dakota State University; Estados UnidosFil: Stanley, Jordan D.. North Dakota State University; Estados UnidosFil: Schmidt, John P.. Dow Agrosciences Argentina Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Mueller, Daren S.. University of Iowa; Estados UnidosFil: Nafziger, Emerson D.. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Ross, Jeremy. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Carter, Paul R.. Dow Agrosciences Argentina Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Varenhorst, Adam J.. University of South Dakota; Estados UnidosFil: Wise, Kiersten A.. University of Kentucky; Estados UnidosFil: Ciampitti, Ignacio Antonio. Kansas State University; Estados UnidosFil: Carciochi, Walter Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Kansas State University; Estados UnidosFil: Chilvers, Martin I.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Hauswedell, Brady. University of South Dakota; Estados UnidosFil: Tenuta, Albert U.. University of Guelph; CanadáFil: Conley, Shawn P.. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unido

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p

Effect of alirocumab on mortality after acute coronary syndromes. An analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES randomized clinical trial

Background: Previous trials of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9) inhibitors demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, but not death. We assessed the effects of alirocumab on death after index acute coronary syndrome. Methods: ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) was a double-blind, randomized comparison of alirocumab or placebo in 18 924 patients who had an ACS 1 to 12 months previously and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite intensive statin therapy. Alirocumab dose was blindly titrated to target achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 25 and 50 mg/dL. We examined the effects of treatment on all-cause death and its components, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death, with log-rank testing. Joint semiparametric models tested associations between nonfatal cardiovascular events and cardiovascular or noncardiovascular death. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Death occurred in 334 (3.5%) and 392 (4.1%) patients, respectively, in the alirocumab and placebo groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98; P=0.03, nominal P value). This resulted from nonsignificantly fewer cardiovascular (240 [2.5%] vs 271 [2.9%]; HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.05; P=0.15) and noncardiovascular (94 [1.0%] vs 121 [1.3%]; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; P=0.06) deaths with alirocumab. In a prespecified analysis of 8242 patients eligible for ≥3 years follow-up, alirocumab reduced death (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94; P=0.01). Patients with nonfatal cardiovascular events were at increased risk for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths (P<0.0001 for the associations). Alirocumab reduced total nonfatal cardiovascular events (P<0.001) and thereby may have attenuated the number of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths. A post hoc analysis found that, compared to patients with lower LDL-C, patients with baseline LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) had a greater absolute risk of death and a larger mortality benefit from alirocumab (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90; Pinteraction=0.007). In the alirocumab group, all-cause death declined wit h achieved LDL-C at 4 months of treatment, to a level of approximately 30 mg/dL (adjusted P=0.017 for linear trend). Conclusions: Alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy has the potential to reduce death after acute coronary syndrome, particularly if treatment is maintained for ≥3 years, if baseline LDL-C is ≥100 mg/dL, or if achieved LDL-C is low. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01663402

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Management strategies for early- and late-planted soybean in the north-central United States

It is widely recognized that planting soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] early is critical to maximizing yield, but the influence of changing management factors when soybean planting is delayed is not well understood. The objectives of this research were to (a) identify management decisions that increase seed yield in either early- or late-planted soybean scenarios, and (b) estimate the maximum break-even price of each management factor identified to influence soybean seed yield in early- or late-planted soybean. Producer data on seed yield and management decisions were collected from 5682 fields planted with soybean during 2014−2016 and grouped into 10 technology extrapolation domains (TEDs) based on growing environment. A subsample of 1512 fields was classified into early- and late-planted categories using terciles. Conditional inference trees were created for each TED to evaluate the effect of management decisions within the two planting date timeframes on seed yield. Management strategies that maximized yield and associated maximum break-even prices varied across TEDs and planting date. For early-planted fields, higher yields were associated with artificial drainage, insecticide seed treatment, and lower seeding rates. For late-planted fields, herbicide application timing and tillage intensity were related to higher yields. There was no individual management decision that consistently increased seed yield across all TEDs

Egenmonitorering : evidenskartläggning genom sammanställning av systematiska översikter för utvalda diagnosgrupper

Background In Region Västra Götaland (VGR), the development of remote patient monitoring is given high priority, aiming for improvements for patients and reduction of healthcare costs. In this report we defined remote patient monitoring as continuous follow-up of relevant health-related parameters of patients located outside healthcare facilities (e.g. at home). Measurements taken by analogue or digital devices, objective and/or subjective assessments, are delivered digitally to the patient and to a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional provides the patient with feedback on the reported data (feedback may be automatically generated if data are within a predefined range). The plan in VGR is to introduce remote monitoring in selected diagnosis groups – some of which already started using remote monitoring. Aim The aim of this report was to provide an overview of systematic reviews regarding remote monitoring(as add on or replacement of visits in current standard of care) compared to standard of care in 25 selected diagnosis groups. Method In order to clarify how remote monitoring is intended to be used in the 25 diagnosis groups, representatives from the respective clinical areas were interviewed. As the scope of this project covered many diagnosis groups, the search was limited to systematic reviews (SRs) of randomised (RCTs) or non-randomised clinical trials. The relevance of each identified SR for our PICO(Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes) was assessed by at least two project members (one clinical representative and one from HTA-centrum). Relevant SRs were assessed by at least two project members using SNABBSTAR, a tool developed by The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) for assessment of risk of bias/systematic errors in SRs. The tool consists of six steps and assessment of an SR is stopped as soon as the criteria for a specific level are not met. The steps are: 1. Definition of PICO and literature search; 2. Inclusion/exclusion according to PICO, listing of included studies; 3. Risk of bias assessments; 4. Evidence synthesis/meta-analyses; 5. Certainty of evidence consideration; 6. Documentation of excluded studies, conflicts of interest, and an a priori published SR protocol. SNABBSTAR evaluates how useful an SR is by assessing the methodology used in the SR. In the current project, SRs reaching at least SNABBSTAR level 4 were considered to provide relevant data synthesis. As reaching SNABBSTAR level 5 or 6 is considered necessary for reliable conclusions, we cited key conclusions only from SRs reaching these levels. We did not extract any data from the included SRs.ResultsThe literature search resulted in 3,332 hits. Of these, 279 were read in full text to assess their relevance for the PICO. Seventy-five SRs were considered relevant and were included; these were assessed by SNABBSTAR.  [More about the abstract in fulltext

Egenmonitorering : evidenskartläggning genom sammanställning av systematiska översikter för utvalda diagnosgrupper

Background In Region Västra Götaland (VGR), the development of remote patient monitoring is given high priority, aiming for improvements for patients and reduction of healthcare costs. In this report we defined remote patient monitoring as continuous follow-up of relevant health-related parameters of patients located outside healthcare facilities (e.g. at home). Measurements taken by analogue or digital devices, objective and/or subjective assessments, are delivered digitally to the patient and to a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional provides the patient with feedback on the reported data (feedback may be automatically generated if data are within a predefined range). The plan in VGR is to introduce remote monitoring in selected diagnosis groups – some of which already started using remote monitoring. Aim The aim of this report was to provide an overview of systematic reviews regarding remote monitoring(as add on or replacement of visits in current standard of care) compared to standard of care in 25 selected diagnosis groups. Method In order to clarify how remote monitoring is intended to be used in the 25 diagnosis groups, representatives from the respective clinical areas were interviewed. As the scope of this project covered many diagnosis groups, the search was limited to systematic reviews (SRs) of randomised (RCTs) or non-randomised clinical trials. The relevance of each identified SR for our PICO(Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes) was assessed by at least two project members (one clinical representative and one from HTA-centrum). Relevant SRs were assessed by at least two project members using SNABBSTAR, a tool developed by The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) for assessment of risk of bias/systematic errors in SRs. The tool consists of six steps and assessment of an SR is stopped as soon as the criteria for a specific level are not met. The steps are: 1. Definition of PICO and literature search; 2. Inclusion/exclusion according to PICO, listing of included studies; 3. Risk of bias assessments; 4. Evidence synthesis/meta-analyses; 5. Certainty of evidence consideration; 6. Documentation of excluded studies, conflicts of interest, and an a priori published SR protocol. SNABBSTAR evaluates how useful an SR is by assessing the methodology used in the SR. In the current project, SRs reaching at least SNABBSTAR level 4 were considered to provide relevant data synthesis. As reaching SNABBSTAR level 5 or 6 is considered necessary for reliable conclusions, we cited key conclusions only from SRs reaching these levels. We did not extract any data from the included SRs.ResultsThe literature search resulted in 3,332 hits. Of these, 279 were read in full text to assess their relevance for the PICO. Seventy-five SRs were considered relevant and were included; these were assessed by SNABBSTAR.  [More about the abstract in fulltext

Planting date, cultivar, seed treatment, and seeding rate effects on soybean growth and yield

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield is a function of many factors including genetic attributes of the cultivar, environmental conditions, and management practices. Temporally variable weather patterns in North America, especially in the northern Great Plains, have resulted in the re-examination of how spring production practices interact with the environmental conditions to influence yield. This study evaluated the impact of four plantings dates, four seeding rates, and two soybean maturity groups (MGs) using treated and untreated (control) seed on soybean growth, seed yield, and composition. The study was conducted at Volga, SD, in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The planting dates in the study ranged from early May to early July and the four seeding rates were 247,000; 333,500; 420,000; 506,500 seeds ha−1. Stand establishment decreased as seeding rate increased irrespective of planting date. The number of growing degree days (GDDs) to R1 decreased with delayed planting. Delayed planting also decreased the number of GDDs to R8, the length of the reproductive phase (R1−R8), and seed yield. Delayed planting decreased seed yield for both MGs but the rate of decrease was greater forMG 2.4 than MG 1.4. Seed treatment increased seed yield irrespective of planting date. Seed protein was variable among planting dates and between MGs while seed oil decreased with delayed planting. The research documents the impact of delayed planting on soybean yield and quality and highlights the importance of early planting in soybean irrespective of maturity group and growth habit