Current staging methods for pancreatic cancer (PC) are inadequate, and biomarkers to aid clinical decision making are lacking. Despite the availability of the serum marker carbohydrate antigen 19.9 ...(CA19.9) for over two decades, its precise role in the management of PC is yet to be defined, and as a consequence, it is not widely used.
We assessed the relationship between perioperative serum CA19.9 levels, survival and adjuvant chemotherapeutic responsiveness in a cohort of 260 patients who underwent operative resection for PC.
By specifically assessing the subgroup of patients with detectable CA19.9, we identified potential utility at key clinical decision points. Low postoperative CA19.9 at 3 months (median survival 25.6 vs 14.8 months, P = 0.0052) and before adjuvant chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors. Patients with postoperative CA 19.9 levels >90 U/ml did not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.7194) compared with those with a CA19.9 of ≤90 U/ml (median 26.0 vs 16.7 months, P = 0.0108). Normalization of CA19.9 within 6 months of resection was also an independent favorable prognostic factor (median 29.9 vs 14.8 months, P = 0.0004) and normal perioperative CA19.9 levels identified a good prognostic group, which was associated with a 5-year survival of 42%.
Perioperative serum CA19.9 measurements are informative in patients with detectable CA19.9 (defined by serum levels of >5 U/ml) and have potential clinical utility in predicting outcome and response to adjuvant chemotherapy. Future clinical trials should prioritize incorporation of CA19.9 measurement at key decision points to prospectively validate these findings and facilitate implementation.
The high-quality light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) represent a unique laboratory for the study of stellar rotation, which is a fundamental observable driving stellar ...and planetary evolution, including planetary atmospheres and impacting habitability conditions and the genesis of life around stars. As of 2020 April 14, this mission delivered public light curves for 1000 TESS objects of interest (TOIs), observed with a 2 minute cadence during the first 20 months of the mission. Here, we present a search for rotation signatures in these TOIs, using fast Fourier transform, Lomb-Scargle, and wavelet techniques, accompanied by a rigorous visual inspection. This effort revealed 163 targets with rotation signatures, 131 of which present unambiguous rotation periods ranging from 0.321 and 13.219 days, whereas 32 of them present dubious rotation periodicities. Of these stars, 109 show flux fluctuations whose root cause is not clearly identified. For 714 TOIs, the light curves show a noisy behavior, corresponding to typically low-amplitude signals. Our analysis has also revealed 10 TOI stars with pulsation periodicities ranging from 0.049 to 2.995 days and four eclipsing binaries. With upcoming TESS data releases, our periodicity analysis will be expanded to almost all TOI stars, thereby contributing in defining criteria for follow-up strategy itself, and the study of star-planet interactions, surface dynamic of host stars, and habitability conditions in planets, among other aspects. In this context, a living catalog is maintained on the Filtergraph visualization portal at https://filtergraph.com/tess_rotation_tois.
Abstract
In antiferromagnets, the efficient transport of spin-waves has until now only been observed in the insulating antiferromagnet hematite, where circularly (or a superposition of pairs of ...linearly) polarized spin-waves diffuse over long distances. Here, we report long-distance spin-transport in the antiferromagnetic orthoferrite YFeO
3
, where a different transport mechanism is enabled by the combined presence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and externally applied fields. The magnon decay length is shown to exceed hundreds of nanometers, in line with resonance measurements that highlight the low magnetic damping. We observe a strong anisotropy in the magnon decay lengths that we can attribute to the role of the magnon group velocity in the transport of spin-waves in antiferromagnets. This unique mode of transport identified in YFeO
3
opens up the possibility of a large and technologically relevant class of materials, i.e., canted antiferromagnets, for long-distance spin transport.
To monitor progression to inflammatory arthritis (IA) in individuals with non-specific musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms and positive anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. To develop a ...pragmatic model to predict development of IA in this patient group.
In this prospective observational cohort, patients with new non-specific MSK symptoms and positive anti-CCP were recruited from regional primary care and secondary care referrals. Clinical, imaging and serological parameters were assessed at baseline. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of progression to IA and develop a risk score to stratify patients at presentation.
100 consecutive patients (73 women, mean age 51 years) were followed up for median 19.8 months (range 0.1-69.0); 50 developed IA after a median 7.9 months (range 0.1-52.4), 34 within 12 months. The majority (43/50) fulfilled the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. A model for progression to IA was devised using four variables: tenderness of hand or foot joints, early morning stiffness ≥30 min, high-positive autoantibodies, and positive ultrasonographic power Doppler signal. None of the five individuals at low risk (score 0) progressed to IA, compared with 31% of 29 at moderate risk (1-2) and 62% of 66 at high risk (≥3). Adding shared epitope increased the number at low risk (score 0-1; 0/11 progressed).
In patients presenting with non-specific MSK symptoms and anti-CCP, the risk of progression to IA could be quantified using data available in clinical practice. The proposed risk score may be used to stratify patients for early therapeutic intervention.
NCT02012764 at ClinicalTrials.gov.
Low-voltage, high-performance thin film transistors (TFTs) that use amorphous metal oxide (MO) semiconductors as the active layer have been getting tremendous attention due to their essential role in ...future portable electronic-devices and systems. However, reducing the operating voltage of these devices to or below 1 V is a very challenging task because it is very difficult to obtain low threshold voltage (V TH ) and small subthreshold swing (SS) MO TFTs. In this article, indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) TFTs that use solution-deposited Ta 2 O 5 operating at 1 V are demonstrated. To enhance the dielectric properties of the fabricated ultrathin (d ~ 22 nm + 2 nm) tantalum pentoxide films, n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was used. The morphology and electrical properties of both pristine and OTS-treated Ta 2 O 5 films have been studied. The optimized Ta 2 O 5 /OTS IGZO TFTs operate at 1 V with saturation field-effect mobility larger than 2.3 cm 2 /V·s, threshold voltage of around 400 mV, SSs below 90 mV/dec, and current ON-OFF ratios well above 10 5 . The performance of the presented TFTs is high enough for many commercial applications such as disposable sensors or throwaway, low-end electronics significantly reducing the cost of their production.
A new IoT‐based smart energy meter for smart grids Avancini, Danielly B.; Rodrigues, Joel J. P. C.; Rabêlo, Ricardo A. L. ...
International journal of energy research,
January 2021, 2021-01-00, 20210101, Volume:
45, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Summary
The significant increase in energy consumption by the growth of the population or by the use of new equipment has brought big challenges to the energy security as well as the environment. ...There is a need that consumers can track their daily use and understand consumption standards for better organizing themselves to obtain financial and energetic efficiency. With the improvement of smart networks technology for better energy supply, a smart meter is not just a simple measurement gadget anymore, but it has additional functions including smart equipment control, bidirectional communication that allows integration of users and networks, and other functionalities. Smart meters are the most fundamental components in smart power grids. Besides, the meters used with a management system can be utilized for monitoring and controlling home appliances and other gadgets according to the users' need. A solution of an integrated and single system should be more efficient and economical. Smart measurement systems allow monitoring the energy consumption of the final consumers while providing useful information about the energy quality. The information provided by these systems is used by the operators to enhance the energy supply, and different techniques can be also applied for this end, such as charge scheduling, management from the demand side, and non‐intrusive load monitoring. The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming a great ally in the management of smart distribution and energy consumption in smart systems scenarios. To address these issues, this paper proposes and demonstrates a new smart energy meter following an IoT approach and its associated costs and benefits. The developed device incorporates several communication interfaces. In order to easily integrate with any monitoring software solution, the meter has a multi‐protocol connection. Finally, the provided solution is validated and demonstrated in real‐life environments and it is also under use.
This paper proposes the design and implementation of a smart power meter following an Internet of Things (IoT) approach and integrated in an IoT middleware. The design provides an intelligent low‐power metering system. The proposed solution is installed at the end consumer for IoT operation, and it is capable to send commands and monitoring the quality of the power supply provided by the local utility. It is also possible to receive instant updates of any monitored variable failure. Data monitoring and management is performed through an IoT middleware called In.IoT. The solution is validated, demonstrated, and validated in real environments and it is under use.
Background:
Up to 70% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience cognitive difficulties. Cognitive rehabilitation is a type of therapy that helps manage cognitive problems.
Objective:
The ...Cognitive Rehabilitation for Attention and Memory in MS (CRAMMS) trial showed some evidence of effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in improving cognitive function, with some participants benefitting more than others. We therefore conducted a secondary analysis of the CRAMMS data to understand who benefits most.
Methods:
We grouped baseline data into four categories of possible predictors. We used regression models to identify specific factors/characteristics that could predict the likelihood that an individual will benefit from cognitive rehabilitation.
Results:
The models predicted whether a participant improved or did not improve in neuropsychological function following cognitive rehabilitation in up to 86% of participants. Results suggest that younger participants with medium to high education, diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) who have not experienced any recent relapses, with mild to moderate cognitive difficulties were most likely to benefit from cognitive rehabilitation.
Conclusion:
We can predict which participants are most likely to demonstrate significant improvements in neuropsychological function following group-based cognitive rehabilitation. Clinically, this allows us to optimise limited neuropsychology resources by offering such cognitive rehabilitation to those most likely to benefit.
Abstract
To alleviate anti-cancer treatment burden in advanced breast cancer, patient-clinician communication strategies based on nocebo-effect mechanisms are promising. We assessed distinct/combined ...effects on psychological outcomes (e.g. anxiety; main outcome) and side-effect expectations of (1) nocebo information about the (non)pharmacological origin of side effects, and (2) clinician-expressed empathy through reassurance of continuing support. Furthermore, we explored whether information and empathy effects on side-effect expectations were mediated by decreased anxiety. In a two-by-two experimental video-vignette design, 160 cancer patients/survivors and healthy women watched one of four videos differing in level of nocebo information (±) and empathy (±). Regression and mediation analysis were used to determine effects of information/empathy and explore anxiety’s mediating role. Anxiety was not influenced by empathy or information (Stai-state: p = 0.281; p = 0.410, VAS p = 0.387; p = 0.838). Information improved (specific) side-effect coping expectations (p < 0.01). Empathy improved side-effect intensity expectations (p < 0.01 = specific; p < 0.05 = non-specific/partial) and specific side-effect probability expectations (p < 0.01), and increased satisfaction, trust, and self-efficacy (p < 0.001). No mediating effects were found of anxiety on expectations. Mainly empathy, but also nocebo information improved psychological outcomes and—mainly specific—side-effect expectations. Exploring the power of these communication elements in clinical practice is essential to diminish the anti-cancer treatment burden in advanced breast cancer.
PDF
