The effects of microplastic concentrations (10itemsl−1 and 1000itemsl−1) on the physiological responses of Atactodea striata (clearance rate, absorption efficiency, respiration rate) were ...investigated. The fates of ingested microplastics and the efficiency of depuration in removing ingested microplastics were also studied. A. striata ingested microplastics and the clearance rate was reduced at high concentration of microplastics. Since the respiration rate and absorption efficiency remained unchanged in exposed A. striata, reduction in the clearance rate would reduce the energy intake. Ingestion and retention of microplastics in the body were further limited by the production of pseudofaeces and faeces, and depuration in clean water, resulting in a very small amount of microplastics stored in the body of the clam.
Superelastic conducting fibers with improved properties and functionalities are needed for diverse applications. Here we report the fabrication of highly stretchable (up to 1320%) sheath-core ...conducting fibers created by wrapping carbon nanotube sheets oriented in the fiber direction on stretched rubber fiber cores. The resulting structure exhibited distinct short- and long-period sheath buckling that occurred reversibly out of phase in the axial and belt directions, enabling a resistance change of less than 5% for a 1000% stretch. By including other rubber and carbon nanotube sheath layers, we demonstrated strain sensors generating an 860% capacitance change and electrically powered torsional muscles operating reversibly by a coupled tension-to-torsion actuation mechanism. Using theory, we quantitatively explain the complementary effects of an increase in muscle length and a large positive Poisson's ratio on torsional actuation and electronic properties.
To investigate the risk factors for acute GVHD (aGVHD), based on NIH consensus criteria (NCC), we evaluated 775 patients who underwent allogeneic transplantation. Of them, 346 patients developed ...aGVHD by NCC, in whom we also analyzed factors affecting aGVHD-specific survival. The cumulative incidence of aGVHD was 44.7%, consisting of classic aGVHD (n=320) and late-onset (n=26). Multivariate analyses revealed that younger age (P=0.015), unrelated donors (P=0.004) and acute leukemia compared with other hematologic malignancies (P=0.005) were significant risk factors for aGVHD, whereas PBSCs showed no association (P=0.720). Multivariate analyses, with only aGVHD patients, revealed that late-onset aGVHD had superior aGVHD-specific survival to classic aGVHD (P=0.044), and identified the association of visceral organ involvement (P=0.002), severity of aGVHD at onset (P=0.035) and advanced disease status (P<0.001) with inferior aGVHD-specific survival. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the risk and prognostic factors for aGVHD by NCC with some differences with the previous reports that were based on old criteria. The difference in the risk factors according to different criteria will give insights about the pathophysiology of GVHD. The better prognosis of late-onset aGVHD than of classic aGVHD raises the necessity for prospective trials with a large cohort focusing on the onset time.
Purpose - In the last two decades, a proliferation of business process management (BPM) modeling languages, standards and software systems has given rise to much confusion and obstacles to adoption. ...Since new BPM languages and notation terminologies were not well defined, duplicate features are common. This paper seeks to make sense of the myriad BPM standards, organising them in a classification framework, and to identify key industry trends.Design methodology approach - An extensive literature review is conducted and relevant BPM notations, languages and standards are referenced against the proposed BPM Standards Classification Framework, which lists each standard's distinct features, strengths and weaknesses.Findings - The paper is unaware of any classification of BPM languages. An attempt is made to classify BPM languages, standards and notations into four main groups: execution, interchange, graphical, and diagnosis standards. At the present time, there is a lack of established diagnosis standards. It is hoped that such a classification facilitates the meaningful adoption of BPM languages, standards and notations.Practical implications - The paper differentiates BPM standards, thereby resolving common misconceptions; establishes the need for diagnosis standards; identifies the strengths and limitations of current standards; and highlights current knowledge gaps and future trends. Researchers and practitioners may wish to position their work around this review.Originality value - Currently, to the best of one's knowledge, such an overview and such an analysis of BPM standards have not so far been undertaken.
Background
The long-term outcomes of minimally invasive lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPND) are not completely known. The aim of this study was to compare long-term outcomes between robotic ...and laparoscopic LPND in low rectal cancer patients with suspected lymph node metastasis in the pelvic sidewall.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the records of all rectal cancer patients who had laparoscopic or robotic total mesorectal excision (TME) with LPND between March 2006 and June 2016. Stage IV patients were excluded. The outcomes of patients who had laparoscopic and robotic TME with LPND were compared.
Results
Twenty-nine patients had laparoscopic LPND and 70 had robotic LPND. No significant differences in patient characteristics were observed between the two groups. The urinary retention rate was lower in the robotic group than in the laparoscopic group (7.1% vs. 24.1%;
p
= 0.043). During a median follow-up of 44.3 months, the overall recurrence rates were 48.3% and 31.4% in the laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (
p
= 0.175). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 50.4% and 67.0% in the laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (
p
= 0.227). The 5-year overall survival rates were 65.0% and 92.2% in the laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (
p
= 0.017).
Conclusions
Robotic TME with LPND is safe and feasible. In particular, it is associated with lower urinary retention. Robotic TME with LPND might yield a similar local recurrence rate and 5-year disease-free survival, but favorable long-term overall survival as compared to the laparoscopic approach. However, considering the retrospective nature and both major variables of TME and LPND involved together, this should be cautiously interpreted.
S.Y. Park, S.‐H. Kim, S.‐H. Choi, H. Sung, M.‐N. Kim, J.H. Woo, Y.S. Kim, S.‐K. Park, J.‐H. Lee, K.‐H. Lee, S.‐G. Lee, D.J. Han, S.‐O. Lee. Clinical and radiological features of invasive pulmonary ...aspergillosis in transplant recipients and neutropenic patients. Transpl Infect Dis 2010: 12: 309–315. All rights reserved
: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an important cause of mortality in transplant recipients and in patients with neutropenia. Although IPA has been studied extensively in neutropenic patients, there are limited data on IPA in recipients of solid organ transplants (SOTs). We compared the clinical features and radiologic findings of 27 SOT recipients with IPA with those of 35 neutropenic patients with IPA. The SOT recipients were more likely than neutropenic patients to show peribronchial consolidation (31% vs. 7%; P=0.03) or ground‐glass opacity (38% vs. 7%; P=0.007) and less likely to have fever (22% vs. 80%; P<0.001), macro‐nodules (35% vs. 67%; P=0.02), mass‐like consolidation (27% vs. 67%; P=0.004), halo signs (8% vs. 56%; P<0.001), or air‐crescent signs (0% vs. 22%; P=0.01).
The purpose of this study was to examine the association of support from family and friends for adoption of healthy eating habits and performing exercise with improvements of self‐leadership in ...patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This cross‐sectional study examined 251 patients with CRC who received primary curative surgery in South Korea. Demographic and clinical information, receipt of social support for adoption of healthy eating habits and performing exercise and self‐leadership were collected. Greater participation by family and the use of rewards for performance of exercise were associated with greater behavioural awareness and volition, greater task motivation and constructive cognition of self‐leadership in patients. Patients exercising with friends had greater task motivation in self‐leadership. The use of rewards by family was associated with performing and maintaining exercise programme for more than 6 months, and family encouragement to adopt healthy eating habits was associated with excellent quality of diet. Family support for exercising and adopting healthy eating habits had more wide‐ranging benefits in self‐leadership than support from friends; however, support from each group improved self‐leadership. Support from family was valuable for increasing the actual performance of exercise and for helping patients with cancer to adopt healthy diets.
Worldwide, some 240 million people have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), with the highest rates of infection in Africa and Asia. Our understanding of the natural history of HBV infection and the ...potential for therapy of the resultant disease is continuously improving. New data have become available since the previous APASL guidelines for management of HBV infection were published in 2012. The objective of this manuscript is to update the recommendations for the optimal management of chronic HBV infection. The 2015 guidelines were developed by a panel of Asian experts chosen by the APASL. The clinical practice guidelines are based on evidence from existing publications or, if evidence was unavailable, on the experts’ personal experience and opinion after deliberations. Manuscripts and abstracts of important meetings published through January 2015 have been evaluated. This guideline covers the full spectrum of care of patients infected with hepatitis B, including new terminology, natural history, screening, vaccination, counseling, diagnosis, assessment of the stage of liver disease, the indications, timing, choice and duration of single or combination of antiviral drugs, screening for HCC, management in special situations like childhood, pregnancy, coinfections, renal impairment and pre- and post-liver transplant, and policy guidelines. However, areas of uncertainty still exist, and clinicians, patients, and public health authorities must therefore continue to make choices on the basis of the evolving evidence. The final clinical practice guidelines and recommendations are presented here, along with the relevant background information.
The effects of oxygen on the mechanical properties and the lattice strain of commercial pure CP) Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloys are discussed here in terms of the Vickers hardness, tensile strength and ...elongation. The Vickers hardness and tensile strength of the CP Ti and the Ti-6Al-4V alloys increased with an increase in the oxygen concentration. On the other hand, the elongation of the CP Ti decreased considerably as the oxygen concentration increased, while that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloys gradually decreased as the oxygen concentration increased. Thus, the oxygen concentration has a greater effect on the mechanical properties of CP Ti compared to its effects on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. This can be explained in terms of the difference in the solid solution effect of oxygen between the CP Ti and the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Where, the mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were previously affected by an earlier lattice expansion caused by an increment in the c/a ratio of the Ti-6Al-4V during the Al and V alloying process.
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