ALBERT

Description: Deep sea manganese nodules are considered as important natural resources for the future because of their Ni, Cu and Co contents. Their different shapes cannot be correlated clearly with their chemical composition. Surface constitution, however, can be associated with the metal contents. A classification of the nodules is suggested on the basis of these results. The iron content of the nodules strikingly shows relations to the physical properties (e.g. density and porosity). The method of density-measurement is the reason for this covariance. The investigation of freeze-dried nodular substance does not give this result. The Fe-rich nodules lose more hydration water than the Fe-poor ones during heat drying. The reason for this effect is the different crystallinity, respectively the particle size. The mean particle size is calculated on the basis of geometrical models. The X-ray-diffraction analysis proves the variation of crystallinity in connection with the Fe-content, too. The internal nodular textures also show characteristic distinctions.

Description: Atmospheric reanalyses covering the European region are mainly available as part of comparably coarse global reanalysis. The aim of this paper is to present the development and evaluation of a next generation regional reanalysis for the European CORDEX EUR-11 domain with a horizontal grid spacing of approximately 6 km. In this context, a reanalysis is understood as assimilation of heterogeneous observations with a physical model such as a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. The reanalysis system presented here is based on the NWP model COSMO by the German Meteorological Service DWD (Deutscher Wetterdienst) using a continuous nudging scheme. In order to assess the added value of data assimilation, a dynamical downscaling experiment has been conducted, i.e., an identical model set-up but without data assimilation. Both systems have been evaluated for a one-year test period, employing standard measures such as analysis increments, biasses, or log-odds ratios, as well as tests for distributional characteristics. An important aspect is the evaluation from different perspectives and with independent measurements such as satellite infrared brightness temperatures using forward operators, integrated water vapour from GPS stations, and ceilometer cloud cover. It can be shown that the reanalysis better resolves local extreme events, which is basically an effect of the higher spatio-temporal resolution, as it is known from dynamical downscaling approaches. An important criterion for regional reanalyses, though, is the coherence with independent observations of high temporal and spatial resolution, which has significantly improved compared to dynamical downscaling. The system is intended to become operational within a year, continuously reprocessing and evaluating longer time periods. The reanalysis data is planned to become available to the research community within a year.

Description: Introduction. The group of patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM) who benefit from two cycles of high-dose (HD) melphalan (MP) has not yet been clearly defined. In this single-institution, nonrandomized study, we evaluate the long-term results of tandem HDMP and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in previously untreated pts and investigate the pretherapeutic and therapeutic factors predictive for survival. Patients and treatment. From 2/94 to 10/05, 90 pts were included. Pt characteristics: Age median 53 (range 31–70, 29% 〉60 yrs), m/f 59/41%, MM stage I/II/III 5/23/72%, A/B 88/12% (Durie/Salmon), Bence Jones protein 42%, albumin 2.5 mg/mL 70%, CRP 〉5 mg/L 61%, IL2-receptor elevated 49%, and thymidine kinase〉10 U/L 48%. 28% of pts received HD dexamethasone and 72% conventional-dose chemotherapy, mainly VAD-based, prior to intended 2 (administered 1–3) cycles of HD cyclophosphamide (CY) (2–3 g/m2, days 1+2) and 2 (administered 0–3) cycles of HDMP (100 mg/m2, days 1+2). HDCY cycles were supported by G-CSF or GM-CSF and HDMP cycles by autologous PBSC and G-CSF. PBSC were collected after the first or second cycle of HDCY. Results. 14% (n=13) of pts received only CY, 30% (n=27) 1 cycle of HDMP, and 56% 2–3 cycles (n=47/3), depending on treatment complications, number of PBSC available, and patient compliance. 54% of pts achieved CR (defined as disappearance of myeloma protein in serum and urine and 50% and in urine 〉90% from baseline), and 3% no change after completion of treatment. 7% of pts died during treatment. With a median follow-up of 5.8 yrs, the probability of overall survival (OS) for the entire group of pts was 48% and 41% at 5 and 7 yrs, respectively, and the probability of progression-free survival (PFS) 35% and 21%. In multivariate analysis, CRP ≤5 mg/L and b2MG ≤2.5 mg/mL were independent positive pretherapeutic parameters for OS and b2MG ≤2.5 mg/mL for PFS. Among the therapeutic factors, achievement of CR after completion of treatment and the use of tandem HDMP independently predicted prolonged OS and PFS. Pts who achieved CR had a median OS and PFS of 110 and 64 months, respectively, compared with 45 and 27 months in pts with PR or NC (p