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Acacia spp. are invasive in Southern Europe, and their high propagation rates produce excessive biomass, exacerbating wildfire risk. However, lignocellulosic biomass from Acacia spp. may be utilised for diverse biorefinery applications. In this study, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), high-performance anion-exchange chromatography pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and lignin content determinations were used for a comparative compositional characterisation of A. dealbata, A. longifolia and A. melanoxylon. Additionally, biomass was treated with three white-rot fungi species (Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor), which preferentially degrade lignin. Our results showed that the pre-treatments do not significantly alter neutral sugar composition while reducing lignin content. Sugar release from enzymatic saccharification was enhanced, in some cases possibly due to a synergy between white-rot fungi and mild alkali pretreatments. For example, in A. dealbata stems treated with alkali and P. ostreatus, saccharification yield was 702.3 nmol mg−1, which is higher than the samples treated only with alkali (608.1 nmol mg−1), and 2.9-fold higher than the non-pretreated controls (243.9 nmol mg−1). By characterising biomass and pretreatments, generated data creates value for unused biomass resources, contributing to the implementation of sustainable biorefining systems. In due course, the generated value will lead to economic incentives for landowners to cut back invasive Acacia spp. more frequently, thus reducing excess biomass, which exacerbates wildfire risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed delineation of flood-prone areas over large regions represents a challenge that cannot be easily solved with today's resources. The main limitations lie in algorithms and hardware, but also costs, scarcity and sparsity of data and our incomplete knowledge of how inundation events occur in different river floodplains. We showcase the implementation of a data-driven web application for regional analyses and detailed (i.e., tens of meters) mapping of floodplains, based on (a) the synthesis of hydrogeomorphic features into a morphological descriptor and (b) its classification to delineate flood-prone areas. We analysed the skill of the descriptor and the performance of the mapping method for European rivers. The web application can be effectively used for delineating flood-prone areas, reproducing the reference flood maps with a classification skill of 88.59% for the 270 major river basins analysed across Europe and 84.23% for the 64 sub-catchments of the Po River. • Progress in hydrogeomorphic flood hazard mapping is presented. • A cloud-based web application for data-driven hydrogeomorphic flood hazard mapping is implemented. • The GFI classifier displayed strong discerning capabilities for mapping flood-prone areas in Europe. • Flood-prone areas for the whole Europe are computed and evaluated for different return periods using the proposed web application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary bifurcations exhibit localised turbulent flow and an enhanced propensity for atherothrombosis, platelet deposition and plaque rupture. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events. Such risk is modulated by anatomical complexity, intraprocedural factors and pharmacological therapy. There is no consensus on the appropriate PCI strategy or the optimal regimen and duration of antithrombotic treatment in order to decrease the risk of ischaemic and bleeding complications in the setting of coronary bifurcation. A uniform therapeutic approach meets a clinical need. The present initiative, promoted by the European Bifurcation Club (EBC), involves opinion leaders from Europe, America, and Asia with the aim of analysing the currently available evidence. Although mainly derived from small dedicated studies, substudies of large trials or from authors' opinions, an algorithm for the optimal management of patients undergoing bifurcation PCI, developed on the basis of clinical presentation, bleeding risk, and intraprocedural strategy, is proposed here.

Background: The optimal treatment of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for lesions located at coronary bifurcations is still debated., Methods: Data on 5036 consecutive patients who underwent PCI on coronary bifurcation at 17 major coronary intervention centers between January 2012 and December 2014 were collected., Results: Follow-up at a median 18 months (IQR 11-28) was available for 4506 patients (89%). Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) occurred in 395 patients (8.8%): cardiac death in 152 (3.4%), myocardial infarction, excluding periprocedural, in 156 (3.5%) and stent thrombosis in 110 cases (2.4%). At multivariable Cox regression, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30% (P < 0.001), bail-out stenting (beyond a planned strategy of either single or double stenting) (P < 0.001), admission for an acute coronary syndrome (P < 0.001), age >66 years (P < 0.001), multivessel disease (P < 0.001) and diabetes (P < 0.001) were independently associated with MACE. Sensitivity analysis identified premature discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (P < 0.001) and side branch (SB) lesion length ≥9 mm (P < 0.05) as additional independent predictors of MACE., Conclusions: Beyond traditional risk factors, multivessel disease, the length of the SB lesion, "bail-out" stenting and premature DAPT discontinuation are independent predictors of mid-term MACE after PCI of coronary bifurcations. This highlights the importance of a carefully planned PCI strategy and adequate therapy adherence to improve the clinical outcomes in these patients., Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01967615., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study sought to report the late multimodality imaging and clinical outcomes of the novel poly-l-lactic-acid-based DESolve novolimus-eluting bioresorbable coronary scaffold for the treatment of de novo coronary lesions., Background: Bioresorbable scaffolds are an alternative to drug-eluting metallic stents and provide temporary vascular scaffolding, which potentially may allow vessel restoration and reduce the risk of future adverse events., Methods: Overall, 126 patients were enrolled at 13 international sites between November 2011 and June 2012. The primary endpoint was in-scaffold late lumen loss at 6 months. Major adverse cardiac events, the main safety endpoint, were defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization. All patients underwent angiography at 6 months. Serial intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography were performed in a subset of patients., Results: The scaffold device success rate was 97% (n = 122 of 126), and procedural success was 100% (n = 122 of 122). The major adverse cardiac event rate was 3.3% (n = 4 of 122) at 6 months and 7.4% (n = 9 of 122) at 24 months, including 1 probable stent thrombosis within the first month. At 6-month angiographic follow-up, in-scaffold late lumen loss was 0.20 ± 0.32 mm. Paired intravascular ultrasound analysis demonstrated a significant increase in vessel, lumen and scaffold dimensions between post-procedure and 6-month follow-up, and strut-level optical coherence tomography analysis showed full strut coverage in 99 ± 1.7%., Conclusions: Our results showed favorable performance of the DESolve scaffold, effective inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia, and for the first time, early luminal and scaffold growth at 6 months with sustained efficacy and safety through 2 years. (Elixir Medical Clinical Evaluation of the DESolve Novolimus Eluting Bioresorbable Coronary Scaffold System-The DESolve Nx Trial; NCT02086045)., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims and Background: More than 60% of patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving non-platinum-based chemotherapy experience anemia, which is associated with fatigue and impaired quality of life. Epoetin alfa treatment in patients with a variety of malignancies has been shown to decrease transfusion requirements and improve hemoglobin levels and quality-of-life efficacy parameters., Patients: Retrospective subgroup analyses were performed in patients with breast cancer who were part of a multinational, randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of anemic cancer patients (n = 375) undergoing non-platinum-based chemotherapy., Results: In the breast cancer subpopulation (n = 114, 48% with stage IV disease at baseline), the hemoglobin increase was greater for epoetin alfa patients than placebo patients (2.3 versus 0.9 g/dL). Epoetin alfa patients had lower transfusion requirements (28.2% versus 33.3%), improvement or preservation versus deterioration of quality of life, and a higher proportion of responders (patients achieving a > or = 2 g/dL increase in hemoglobin levels unrelated to transfusion) (68.0% versus 22.9% for placebo). The results were similar to those observed in the full study cohort, where statistical analyses showed the differences to be significant (P <0.05 for all). Epoetin alfa treatment was well tolerated. Although the study was not designed or powered for survival as an endpoint, Kaplan-Meier estimates for the full cohort showed a trend in overall survival favoring epoetin alfa treatment (P = 0.13, log rank test); a similar benefit was seen in the breast cancer subpopulation., Conclusions: In the full study cohort and the breast cancer subpopulation, epoetin alfa effectively treated anemia (increased hemoglobin levels and decreased transfusion requirements) and improved or preserved quality of life. Results concerning potential survival benefits support further study of epoetin alfa in anemic cancer patients.