Recursive POD expansion for the advection-diffusion-reaction equation

This paper deals with the approximation of advection-diffusion-reaction equation solution by reduced order methods. We use the Recursive POD approximation for multivariate functions introduced in [M. AZAÏEZ, F. BEN BELGACEM, T. CHACÓN REBOLLO, Recursive POD expansion for reactiondiffusion equation, Adv.Model. and Simul. in Eng. Sci. (2016) 3:3. DOI 10.1186/s40323-016-0060-1] and applied to the low tensor representation of the solution of the reaction-diffusion partial differential equation. In this contribution we extend the Recursive POD approximation for multivariate functions with an arbitrary number of parameters, for which we prove general error estimates. The method is used to approximate the solutions of the advection-diffusion-reaction equation. We prove spectral error estimates, in which the spectral convergence rate depends only on the diffusion interval, while the error estimates are affected by a factor that grows exponentially with the advection velocity, and are independent of the reaction rate if this lives in a bounded set. These error estimates are based upon the analyticity of the solution of these equations as a function of the parameters (advection velocity, diffusion, reaction rate). We present several numerical tests, strongly consistent with the theoretical error estimates.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadAgence nationale de la rechercheGruppo Nazionale per il Calcolo ScientificoUE ERA-PLANE

Factor selection procedures in a Google Earthtm aided landslide susceptibility model: application to the Beiro river basin (Spain)

A procedure to select the controlling factors connected to the slope instability has been defined. It allowed to assess the landslide susceptibility in the Rio Beiro basin (about 10 km2) over the north\u2010eastern area of the city of Granada (Spain). Field and remote (Google EarthTM) recognition techniques allowed to generate a landslide inventory consisting in 128 phenomena. Univariate tests, using both association coefficients and validation results of single parameter susceptibility models, allowed to select among 15 controlling factors the ones that resulted as good predictor variables; these have been combined for unique conditions analysis and susceptibility maps were finally prepared. In order to verify both the goodness of fit and the prediction skill of the susceptibility models, two different validation procedures were applied and compared. Both procedures are based on a random partition splitting of the landslide archive for producing a test and a training subset. The relative error, considered between the intersected target landslides by the different susceptibility classes, was used to estimate the predictive skill of the maps

Gene expression of the IGF pathway family distinguishes subsets of gastrointestinal stromal tumors wild type for KIT and PDGFRA.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and are the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. While the majority of GISTs harbor activating mutations in either the v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT) or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) tyrosine kinases, approximately 10-15% of adult GISTs and 85% of pediatric GISTs lack such mutations. These "wild-type" GISTs have been reported to express high levels of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), and IGF1R-targeted therapy of wild-type GISTs is being evaluated in clinical trials. However, it is not clear that all wild-type GISTs express IGF1R, because studies to date have predominantly focused on a particular subtype of gastric wild-type GIST that is deficient in the mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex. This study of a series of 136 GISTs, including 72 wild-type specimens, was therefore undertaken to further characterize wild-type GIST subtypes based on the relative expression of transcripts encoding IGF1R. Additional transcripts relevant to GIST biology were also evaluated, including members of the IGF-signaling pathway (IGF1, IGF2, and insulin receptor [INSR]), neural markers (CDH2[CDH: Cadherin], neurofilament, light polypeptide, LHX2 [LHX: LIM homeobox], and KIRREL3 [KIRREL: kin of IRRE like]), KIT, PDGFRA, CD34, and HIF1A. Succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit B protein expression was also assessed as a measure of SDH complex integrity. In addition to the previously described SDH-deficient, IGF1R(high) wild-type GISTs, other SDH-intact wild-type subpopulations were defined by high relative expression of IGF1R, neural markers, IGF1 and INSR, or low IGF1R coupled with high IGF2. These results underscore the complexity and heterogeneity of wild-type GISTs that will need to be factored into molecularly-targeted therapeutic strategies

Nurses' detection of ineffective inspiratory efforts during mechanical ventilation

Background Patient-ventilator dyssynchrony is common and may influence patients\u2019 outcomes. Detection of such dyssynchronies relies on careful observation of patients and airway flow and pressure measurements. Given the shortage of specialists, critical care nurses could be trained to identify dyssynchronies. Objective To evaluate the accuracy of specifically trained critical care nurses in detecting ineffective inspiratory efforts during expiration. Methods We compared 2 nurses\u2019 evaluations of measurements from 1007 breaths in 8 patients with the evaluations of experienced critical care physicians. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the Cohen \u3ba for interobserver agreement were calculated. Results For the first nurse, sensitivity was 92.5%, specificity was 98.3%, positive predictive value was 95.4%, negative predictive value was 97.1%, and \u3ba was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89\u20130.94). For the second nurse, sensitivity was 98.5%, specificity was 84.7%, positive predictive value was 70.7%, negative predictive value was 99.3%, and \u3ba was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.70\u20130.78). Conclusion Specifically trained nurses can reliably detect ineffective inspiratory efforts during expiration

Dimensions of invasiveness: Links between local abundance, geographic range size, and habitat breadth in Europe\u2019s alien and native floras

Understanding drivers of success for alien species can inform on potential future invasions. Recent conceptual advances highlight that species may achieve invasiveness via performance along at least three distinct dimensions: 1) local abundance, 2) geographic range size, and 3) habitat breadth in naturalized distributions. Associations among these dimensions and the factors that determine success in each have yet to be assessed at large geographic scales. Here, we combine data from over one million vegetation plots covering the extent of Europe and its habitat diversity with databases on species\u2019 distributions, traits, and historical origins to provide a comprehensive assessment of invasiveness dimensions for the European alien seed plant flora. Invasiveness dimensions are linked in alien distributions, leading to a continuum from overall poor invaders to super invaders-abundant, widespread aliens that invade diverse habitats. This pattern echoes relationships among analogous dimensions measured for native European species. Success along invasiveness dimensions was associated with details of alien species\u2019 introduction histories: earlier introduction dates were positively associated with all three dimensions, and consistent with theory-based expectations, species originating from other continents, particularly acquisitive growth strategists, were among the most successful invaders in Europe. Despite general correlations among invasiveness dimensions, we identified habitats and traits associated with atypical patterns of success in only one or two dimensions - for example, the role of disturbed habitats in facilitating widespread specialists. We conclude that considering invasiveness within a multidimensional framework can provide insights into invasion processes while also informing general understanding of the dynamics of species distributions

Effect of membrane permeability on survival of hemodialysis patients.

The effect of high-flux hemodialysis membranes on patient survival has not been unequivocally determined. In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, we enrolled 738 incident hemodialysis patients, stratified them by serum albumin 4 g/dl, and assigned them to either low-flux or high-flux membranes. We followed patients for 3 to 7.5 yr. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference between high-flux and low-flux membranes, and a Cox proportional hazards model concurred. Patients with serum albumin < or = 4 g/dl had significantly higher survival rates in the high-flux group compared with the low-flux group (P = 0.032). In addition, a secondary analysis revealed that high-flux membranes may significantly improve survival of patients with diabetes. Among those with serum albumin < or = 4 g/dl, slightly different effects among patients with and without diabetes suggested a potential interaction between diabetes status and low serum albumin in the reduction of risk conferred by high-flux membranes. In summary, we did not detect a significant survival benefit with either high-flux or low-flux membranes in the population overall, but the use of high-flux membranes conferred a significant survival benefit among patients with serum albumin < or = 4 g/dl. The apparent survival benefit among patients who have diabetes and are treated with high-flux membranes requires confirmation given the post hoc nature of our analysis