Steering Operational Synergies in Terrestrial Observation Networks: Opportunity for Advancing Earth System Dynamics Modelling

Advancing our understanding of Earth system dynamics (ESD) depends on the development of models and other analytical tools that apply physical, biological, and chemical data. This ambition to increase understanding and develop models of ESD based on site observations was the stimulus for creating the networks of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs), and others. We organized a survey, the results of which identified pressing gaps in data availability from these networks, in particular for the future development and evaluation of models that represent ESD processes, and provide insights for improvement in both data collection and model integration. From this survey overview of data applications in the context of LTER and CZO research, we identified three challenges: (1) widen application of terrestrial observation network data in Earth system modelling, (2) develop integrated Earth system models that incorporate process representation and data of multiple disciplines, and (3) identify complementarity in measured variables and spatial extent, and promoting synergies in the existing observational networks. These challenges lead to perspectives and recommendations for an improved dialogue between the observation networks and the ESD modelling community, including co-location of sites in the existing networks and further formalizing these recommendations among these communities. Developing these synergies will enable cross-site and cross-network comparison and synthesis studies, which will help produce insights around organizing principles, classifications, and general rules of coupling processes with environmental conditions

Development and analysis of the Soil Water Infiltration Global database

In this paper, we present and analyze a novel global database of soil infiltration measurements, the Soil Water Infiltration Global (SWIG) database. In total, 5023 infiltration curves were collected across all continents in the SWIG database. These data were either provided and quality checked by the scientists who performed the experiments or they were digitized from published articles. Data from 54 different countries were included in the database with major contributions from Iran, China, and the USA. In addition to its extensive geographical coverage, the collected infiltration curves cover research from 1976 to late 2017. Basic information on measurement location and method, soil properties, and land use was gathered along with the infiltration data, making the database valuable for the development of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for estimating soil hydraulic properties, for the evaluation of infiltration measurement methods, and for developing and validating infiltration models. Soil textural information (clay, silt, and sand content) is available for 3842 out of 5023 infiltration measurements ( ∼ 76%) covering nearly all soil USDA textural classes except for the sandy clay and silt classes. Information on land use is available for 76% of the experimental sites with agricultural land use as the dominant type ( ∼ 40%). We are convinced that the SWIG database will allow for a better parameterization of the infiltration process in land surface models and for testing infiltration models. All collected data and related soil characteristics are provided online in *.xlsx and *.csv formats for reference, and we add a disclaimer that the database is for public domain use only and can be copied freely by referencing it. Supplementary data are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.885492 (Rahmati et al., 2018). Data quality assessment is strongly advised prior to any use of this database. Finally, we would like to encourage scientists to extend and update the SWIG database by uploading new data to it

Time to Switch to Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy in Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Europe and Thailand.

Background: Data on durability of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are limited. We assessed time to switch to second-line therapy in 16 European countries and Thailand. Methods: Children aged <18 years initiating combination ART (≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] plus nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI] or boosted protease inhibitor [PI]) were included. Switch to second-line was defined as (i) change across drug class (PI to NNRTI or vice versa) or within PI class plus change of ≥1 NRTI; (ii) change from single to dual PI; or (iii) addition of a new drug class. Cumulative incidence of switch was calculated with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks. Results: Of 3668 children included, median age at ART initiation was 6.1 (interquartile range (IQR), 1.7-10.5) years. Initial regimens were 32% PI based, 34% nevirapine (NVP) based, and 33% efavirenz based. Median duration of follow-up was 5.4 (IQR, 2.9-8.3) years. Cumulative incidence of switch at 5 years was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20%-23%), with significant regional variations. Median time to switch was 30 (IQR, 16-58) months; two-thirds of switches were related to treatment failure. In multivariable analysis, older age, severe immunosuppression and higher viral load (VL) at ART start, and NVP-based initial regimens were associated with increased risk of switch. Conclusions: One in 5 children switched to a second-line regimen by 5 years of ART, with two-thirds failure related. Advanced HIV, older age, and NVP-based regimens were associated with increased risk of switch

Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) Case Study Analysis Reveals the True Added Value of Early-Phase Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) Case Study Analysis Reveals the True Added Value of Early-Phase Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) between the European Union, represented by the European Commission (EC), and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). IMI is currently the world’s largest PPP in the biomedical sciences. The IMI is situated at a pre-discovery or proof-of-concept (POC) stage and covers early research to improve needed and poorly understood science. In 2009, the first IMI consortia conducting projects addressing the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) key challenges were initiated. Since then, IMI has already launched 49 consortia via 11 competitive Calls, and project execution of IMI projects will run until end of 2017. With the first IMI consortia heading towards the project end, it is time to take stock of the added value and the (so far unexplored) opportunities of the consortia under the umbrella of IMI. Currently there is a lack of empirical studies wherein the effectiveness of these partnerships is assessed. Not much research has been performed to identify the key components of successful PPPs. We set up a case study analysis to investigate the outputs on the short term and the outcomes on the long term of 6 IMI consortia reaching the project end. The specific case studies define the (missed) business opportunities and reveal the added value for science and society.status: publishe

Intellectual property policies in early-phase research in public–private partnerships

An Intellectual Property (IP) policy analysis reveals the use of a variety of IP frameworks within early-phase biomedical Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Dependent on the nature of the research objectives, enacted IP frameworks or ‘knowledge sharing strategies’ differ, ranging from ‘partnership oriented’ models towards ‘open’ models. While this variation seems instrumental to accommodate the variety in terms of objectives and (funding) partners present within PPPs, we also frequently observe vagueness and implicitness in terms of IP policies deployed. This latter feature seems to be less instrumental as coordination costs (within and outside the PPPS) are likely to increase.status: publishe

Perspectives and opportunities for precompetitive public-private partnerships.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The Impact of Legislative Framework Conditions on the Development of Stem Cell Technology: Assessment of National Innovation Systems

Stem cells have the potential to launch a newarea ofmedicine, curing deadly diseases with custom-made tissues and organs. But science and technology may have to take note of regulatory developments, which might impact if, how, and where that hope will be realized. Until now, no data have been available on the influence of national human stem cell research legislation on the technological activity in the field of stem cells. In this contribution, we assess whether legislative framework conditions affect technological activity in this field. Stem cell patent activity (US Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO]/European Patent Office [EPO]) and legislative framework conditions with respect to human stem cell research have been identified and characterized for the period 1997–2003 for 23 countries. For these countries, differences in human stem cell legislation coincide with differences in technological productivity.Where obtaining human stem cells from supernumerary embryos is permitted, higher levels of technological productivity for all types of stem cell research are observed.Amore permissive legislative approach to human therapeutic cloning coincides with greater emphasis on embryonic stem cell development activities in general. These findings suggest that technology trajectories are modulated by (national) legislative frameworks.status: publishe

Intellectual property policies in early-phase research in public-private partnerships

Knowledge-sharing strategies differ depending on the nature of the research objectives of public-private partnerships, but information about such strategies is often vague.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe