Dry bulk density of Gezira Vertisol as determined by X-ray computed tomography

     Soil bulk density is an important parameter indicating the aeration of the soil, the extent of its compaction, its permeability and the state of ease of tillage. It is as well important for expression of gravimetric soil moisture values as volumetric. Current measurements of soil bulk density depend on methods that, to some extent, disturb the soil. In the case of cracking soils, sampling of soil by cylinders probably results in an imprecise determination of the bulk density considering the possible bias in placing the core samplers away from large cracks. The clod method also results in siY1ificant overestimation of the field bulk density of soils because of the small sample used and hence less number of cracks accounted for.      Under continuous cultivation and cropping as practiced in the Gezira for more than 80 years, it is quite possible that the repeated wetting and drying of the soil could cause an adverse effect on soil structure that is possibly envisaged in effects on soil bulk density. X- ray computed tomography is a non-destructive imaging technique to construct a 3-dimensional image of the scanned object (Crestana et al., 1985; Hopmans et al., 1994; Phogat et ale, 1991; Rogasik et al., 1994, 1999). The computed tomogaphy scan has shown so far a consi- derable improvement in quantification of soil morphological parame- ters (Rogasik et al., 1994, 1999).      The objective of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of the X-ray computed tomography in determination of the narrow spaced differences in the bulk density of cracking soils and to use the results  btained   to   examine   the  effects  of   continuous   cropping   on  soi

Discrimination of soil phases by dual energy x-ray tomography

Numerous soil ecological functions are influenced by soil structure through its impact on spatial and temporal distributions of soil particles, water, and air within the soil profile. The nondestructive technique of x‐ray computed tomography (CT) was used for studying soil structure. X‐ray attenuation determined for two energy levels (80 kV and 120 kV) was used to calculate distributions of water, air, and solids, as well as the voxel dry bulk density for two silt loam subsoils. The spatial resolution during scanning was 0.25 mm in the horizontal and 1 mm in the vertical direction. For different voxel sizes, the weighted mean of the derived volumetric water, air, and solid contents, and the dry bulk densities agreed with the sample's phase composition and dry bulk density obtained by weighing. The use of dual energy scanning to study the heterogeneity of soil structure and the spatial distribution of water, air, and solids is discussed

Off-label use of targeted therapies in osteosarcomas: data from the French registry OUTC'S (Observatoire de l'Utilisation des Thérapies Ciblées dans les Sarcomes):

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to explore the off-label use of targeted therapies (TTs) for patients with osteosarcoma registered within the French Sarcoma Group--Bone Tumor Study Group (GSF-GETO) national registry. METHODS: All patients with an osteosarcoma, registered between January 1, 2009 and July 15, 2013 were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with refractory relapsed osteosarcomas received 33 treatment lines of TTs. The median age at the beginning of treatment was 19 years (range 9-72). The median number of previous lines of chemotherapy was 3 (range 1-8). Before inclusion, 3 patients were in second complete remission, 26 were in progression for metastatic relapse. Twenty-three patients received sirolimus (in combination with cyclophosphamide for 18); 5, sunitinib; 4, sorafenib; and one, pazopanib. Stable disease was observed for 45.5% of patients (95% Confidence Interval (CI) [20-52.8]). The median Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was 3 months (95% CI [2-5.4]) for patients treated by sirolimus and 1.8 months (95% CI [1.3-2.8]) for patients receiving multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors; 6-month PFS 15%. The median Overall Survival (OS) was 6.8 months (95% CI [4.7-12.1]), and one-year OS was 24%. In a multivariate analysis, PFS was superior for patients receiving sirolimus compared to other TTs (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 2.7, 95% CI [1.05-7.1]). No toxic death was reported. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were observed in 27 and 6% of cases respectively. CONCLUSION: Off-label TTs, especially sirolimus, reported benefit in the treatment of refractory osteosarcomas with an acceptable toxicity profile, including in pediatric population

State-space prediction of field-scale soil water content time series in a sandy loam

The description of field soil water content time series can be affected by uncertainty due to measurement errors of the respective state variables, errors due to assumptions underlying the model, and errors in the determination of boundary conditions. In this study, a simple state-equation was applied for predicting field soil water contents at three different soil depths. The simple state-model yielded large deviations of predictions from the measured soil water content, especially for the upper soil depth. Apparently, the magnitude of the estimated evaporation rate was too high. The prediction result could significantly be improved when the calculated evaporation was reduced by a factor of 0.7. In order to account for uncertainty sources associated with this simple approach, the state-equation was combined with a stochastic technique, the so-called Kalman-Filter. Applying the Kalman-Filter, the prediction quality significantly increased, even when the erroneously high evaporation was assumed to be true. However, prediction uncertainty increased for the same time periods, for which it was shown earlier that spatial correlation of soil water status was either random or very short. When the Kalman-Filter was applied in a scenario to the surface layer only, simulated soil water content in layers 2 and 3 agreed to measurements and were highly improved compared to simulations when layer I was not filtered. Hence, application of lab determined soil hydraulic property functions in combination with state observations of upper soil horizon water content and with the Kalman-Filter provides a promising opportunity to describe and predict soil water contents for entire soil profiles even under the presence of uncertainty sources

European Reference Network for rare adult solid cancers, statement and integration to health care systems of member states: a position paper of the ERN EURACAN

International audienc