Assessment of data intelligence algorithms in modeling daily reference evapotranspiration under input data limitation scenarios in semi-arid climatic condition.

Crop evapotranspiration is essential for planning and designing an efficient irrigation system. The present investigation assessed the capability of four machine learning algorithms, namely, XGBoost linear regression (XGBoost Linear), XGBoost Ensemble Tree, Polynomial Regression (Polynomial Regr), and Isotonic Regression (Isotonic Regr) in modeling daily reference evapotranspiration (ETo) at IARI, New Delhi. The models were developed considering full and limited dataset scenarios. The efficacy of the constructed models was assessed against the Penman-Monteith (PM56) model estimated daily ETo. Results revealed the under full and limited dataset conditions, XGBoost Ensemble Tree gave the best results for daily ETo modeling during the model training period, while in the testing period under scenarios S1(Tmax) and S2 (Tmax, and Tmin), the Isotonic Regr models yielded superior results over other models. In addition, the XGBoost Ensemble Tree models outperformed others for the rest of the input data scenarios. The XGBoost Ensemble Tree algorithms reported the best values of correlation coefficient (r), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Thus, we recommend applying the XGBoost Ensemble Tree algorithm for precisely modeling daily ETo in semi-arid climatic conditions.

Comparison of International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference Versus Sepsis-3 Definitions for Children Presenting With Septic Shock to a Tertiary Care Center in India: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the proportion of children fulfilling "Sepsis-3" definition and International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference definition among children diagnosed to have septic shock and compare the mortality risk between the two groups. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: PICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital from 2014 to 2017. PATIENTS: Children (≤ 17 yr old) with a diagnosis of septic shock at admission or during PICU stay. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We applied both International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference and the new "Sepsis-3" definition (sepsis with hypotension requiring vasopressors and a lactate value of ≥ 2 mmol/L) to identify cases of septic shock by these definitions. Key outcomes such as mortality, proportion attaining shock reversal at 24 hours and organ dysfunction were compared between those fulfilling "Sepsis-3" definitions ("Sepsis-3" group) and those fulfilling "International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference" definition ("International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference" group). A total of 216 patients fulfilled International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference definitions of septic shock. Of these, only 104 (48%; 95% CI, 42-55) fulfilled "Sepsis-3" definition. Children fulfilling "Sepsis-3 plus International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference definitions" ("Sepsis-3 and International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference" group) had lower proportion with shock resolution (61% vs 82%; relative risk, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.62-0.88) and higher risk of multiple organ dysfunction (85% vs 68%; 1.24; 1.07-1.45) at 24 hours. The mortality was 48.5% in "Sepsis-3 and International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference" group as compared with 37.5% in the "International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference only" group (relative risk, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.94-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of children with septic shock identified by International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference definitions were observed to fulfill the criteria for shock as per "Sepsis-3" definitions. Lack of difference in the risk of mortality between children who fulfilled "Sepsis-3" definition and those who did not fulfill the definition raises questions on the appropriateness of using this definition for diagnosis of septic shock in children.

Assessment of raloxifene, estradiol-17ß, dl-ormeloxifene and levormeloxifene on thrombin activity.

Abstract Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Cancer-associated thrombosis is well established in clinical settings, and thrombin has been found to induce angiogenesis at cancer sites. This establishes a link between cardiovascular diseases and cancer, where cancer and thrombin have been intricately associated. Various selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been reported to exhibit anticancer activity. Therefore, we investigated estradiol-17ß and SERMs dl-ormeloxifene (centchroman), raloxifene and levormeloxifene (l-centchroman) for their anticancer effects and their effect on thrombin activity. Methods: Anticancer activity was assessed against PC-3 cell line by flow cytometry following treatment with estradiol-17ß and SERMs at 10 nM-1 mM concentrations. The cells were stained with propidium iodide and the percentage of cells in the sub-G0/G1 region was considered apoptotic. Thrombin inhibitory effect was evaluated by thrombin inhibition assay in vitro following incubation with 100 nM-3 mM concentrations of estradiol-17ß or various SERMs. Further, the effect of estradiol-17ß and SERMs on endogenous thrombin generation potential (ETP) was assessed by thrombin generation assay on rat plasma in vitro. Results: These compounds exhibited >90% cell death in PC-3 cell lines at 1 mM concentration except estradiol-17ß. Neither estradiol-17ß, dl-ormeloxifene and levormeloxifene showed any thrombin inhibitory or enhancing activity in thrombin inhibition assay, nor did they show any effect on ETP on rat plasma in vitro. However, raloxifene inhibited thrombin activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Raloxifene decreased ETP of the plasma at 3 and 1 mM,which is equivalent to that of 30-100 U/mL of heparin. Interestingly, raloxifene increased thrombin generation at lower concentrations and it inhibited thrombin generation at higher concentrations. Conclusions: These observations suggest that dl-ormeloxifene, estradiol-17ß and levormeloxifene do not possess thrombin inhibitory activity. Raloxifene possesses thrombin modulatory effect in addition to its anticancer activity, and this observation may help us in understanding the thromboembolic complications associated with raloxifene.