The main objective of the research was to study the influence of the abrasive water jet cutting (AWJC) parameters on the surface roughness parameters Rz1max and Rt, obtained when processing Kevlar ...fiber-reinforced polymers (KFRP). For this purpose, a full factorial experimental program was designed and roughness evaluations were carried out in two different zones of the cut slot. In this way, it was possible to test the statistical significance of the input parameters effects and characterize both these regions, by means of prediction models proposed for each roughness parameter. Finally, response surfaces and level curves were represented to facilitate the selection of proper factors combination to achieve surface finish requirements.
•Hyperemic and nonhyperemic coronary physiology are used to assess myocardial ischemia.•The diagnostic accuracy of the diastolic hyperemia-free ratio (DFR) has not been compared with fractional flow ...reserve (FFR).•The overall diagnostic accuracy of DFR is 83% compared with FFR.•When DFR values are 0.88 to 0.90, the diagnostic accuracy decreases to 40%.•FFR should be performed when the DFR is 0.88 to 0.90 to confirm the presence of ischemia.
Hyperemic and nonhyperemic pressure ratios are frequently used to assess the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery disease and to guide the need for myocardial revascularization. However, there are limited data on the diagnostic performance of the diastolic hyperemia-free ratio (DFR). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the DFR compared with invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR). We performed a prospective, single-center study of 308 patients (343 lesions) who underwent DFR and FFR for evaluation of visually estimated 40% to 90% stenoses. Diagnostic performance of the DFR compared with FFR was evaluated using linear regression, Bland–Altman analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves. The overall diagnostic accuracy of the DFR was 83%; the accuracy rates were 86%, 40%, and 95% when the DFR was <0.86, 0.88 to 0.90, and >0.93, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predicative value, and negative predictive value were 60%, 91%, 71%, and 87%, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.75 (p <0.05). The Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean difference of 0.09, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.84 to 0.92, p <0.05). In conclusion, the DFR has a good diagnostic performance compared with FFR but 17% of the measurements were discordant. The diagnostic accuracy of the DFR was only 40% when the DFR was 0.88 to 0.90, suggesting that FFR may be useful in these arteries.
Abrasive water jet machining has become an indispensable process for cutting Kevlar fiber-reinforced polymers used in applications such as ballistics protection, race cars, and protective gloves. The ...complex and diffuse action of a large number of input parameters leads to the need to evaluate the quality characteristics of the technological transformation as a result of the deployment of experimental studies adapted to the specific processing conditions. Thus, the paper focuses on identifying the influence of different factors and modeling their action on the characteristics that define the quality of the cut parts, such as the kerf taper angle and the
roughness parameter, by applying statistical methods of design and analysis of experiments.
To further understand the molecular pathogenesis of desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), a fatal malignancy occurring primarily in adolescent/young adult males, we used next-generation RNA ...sequencing to investigate the gene expression profiles intrinsic to this disease. RNA from DSRCT specimens obtained from the Children's Oncology Group was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 system and subjected to bioinformatic analyses. Validation and functional studies included WT1 ChIP-seq, EWS-WT1 knockdown using JN-DSRCT-1 cells and immunohistochemistry. A panel of immune signature genes was also evaluated to identify possible immune therapeutic targets. Twelve of 14 tumor samples demonstrated presence of the diagnostic EWSR1-WT1 translocation and these 12 samples were used for the remainder of the analysis. RNA sequencing confirmed the lack of full-length WT1 in all fusion positive samples as well as the JN-DSRCT-1 cell line. ChIP-seq for WT1 showed significant overlap with genes found to be highly expressed, including IGF2 and FGFR4, which were both highly expressed and targets of the EWS-WT1 fusion protein. In addition, we identified CD200 and CD276 as potentially targetable immune checkpoints whose expression is independent of the EWS-WT1 fusion gene in cultured DSCRT cells. In conclusion, we identified IGF2, FGFR4, CD200, and CD276 as potential therapeutic targets with clinical relevance for patients with DSRCT.
Abstract Purpose To introduce the goals of EAV database modeling, to describe the situations where entity–attribute–value (EAV) modeling is a useful alternative to conventional relational methods of ...database modeling, and to describe the fine points of implementation in production systems. Methods We analyze the following circumstances: (1) data are sparse and have a large number of applicable attributes, but only a small fraction will apply to a given entity; (2) numerous classes of data need to be represented, each class has a limited number of attributes, but the number of instances of each class is very small. We also consider situations calling for a mixed approach where both conventional and EAV design are used for appropriate data classes. Results and conclusions In robust production systems, EAV-modeled databases trade a modest data sub-schema for a complex metadata sub-schema. The need to design the metadata effectively makes EAV design potentially more challenging than conventional design.
Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor in adults. Radiation therapy has replaced enucleation and is now the preferred treatment in most cases. Nonetheless, around 70% ...of patients develop radiation-related complications, some of which are vision-threatening. The objective of this review is to present the most important complications associated with radiotherapy in the treatment of uveal melanoma and their pathogenesis, incidence, risk factors, and available preventive and therapeutic measures. The most common complications are cataracts, with a reported incidence ranging from 4% to 69%, and radiation retinopathy, reported in 5-68% of cases. Radiation-related complications are responsible for approximately half of secondary enucleations, the leading cause being neovascular glaucoma. A poor visual outcome is mainly associated with the presence of radiation retinopathy and radiation optic neuropathy. Therapeutic options are available for the majority of complications with the notable exception of optic neuropathy. However, many studies report a final visual acuity of less than 20/200 in more than 60% of treated eyes. Reducing complication rates can be achieved by lowering the dose of radiation, with the use of eccentric, customized plaques and careful planning of the irradiation delivery in order to protect structures vital to vision and by associating radiation therapy with other methods with the aim of reducing tumor volume.
The relationship between diabetes mellitus and ocular complications has been extensively studied by many authors. Diabetic keratopathy has already been well characterized and defined as a clinical ...entity. This review focuses on exploring corneal epithelial changes in diabetic patients, aiming to provide a pragmatic overview of the existing knowledge on this topic. The paper systematically examines alterations in corneal epithelial structure and their impact on diabetic patients. Advanced imaging techniques are also discussed for their role in precise characterization and improved diagnostics. Additionally, the paper explores the mechanisms behind corneal epithelial changes in diabetes, looking at factors such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and Advanced Glycation End-Products. The impact of altered corneal epithelial integrity on barrier function and susceptibility to external issues is considered, addressing potential links to heightened proteolytic enzyme activities and delayed wound healing observed in diabetic individuals. The review also covers the practical implications of corneal epithelial changes, including the association with corneal erosions, persistent epithelial defects, and an increased risk of dry eye syndrome in diabetic patients.
Objectives
We compared the outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) by transcatheter (TAVR) and surgical (SAVR) routes with those of optimal medical management in patients with cancer and severe ...aortic stenosis (AS).
Background
Cancer therapy requires optimal cardiac output; however, the treatment of AS in cancer patients is not established.
Methods
Cancer patients with severe AS during January 2009 through February 2018 at a large cancer center were identified. Demographic and clinical characteristics including previous or active cancer diagnosis, history of chest radiotherapy, AS treatment, and survival were collected. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression, the Kaplan–Meier analysis, and log‐rank tests were used to compare overall survival (OS) between AS treatment groups.
Results
Sixty‐five cancer patients with severe AS were identified; 28 received optimal medical treatment alone, 30 received TAVR, and seven received SAVR. The patients were predominantly male (n = 44, 68%) with a mean age of 71.17 years. The median OS was 9.87 months, and the most common cause of death was cancer (n = 29, 94% of deaths). AVR was associated with a lower risk of death than no AVR (hazard ratio HR 0.38, P = 0.007), and patients who underwent TAVR (HR 0.36, P = 0.01) had better survival than those with no AVR. Malignancy type, stage, and treatment were not associated with OS.
Conclusions
Patients with cancer and severe AS who underwent AVR, predominantly TAVR, experienced better survival than those who had no AVR regardless of cancer type or cancer treatment. TAVR may be considered in patients with cancer and AS.
The Biological Reference Repository (BioR) is a toolkit for annotating variants. BioR stores public and user-specific annotation sources in indexed JSON-encoded flat files (catalogs). The BioR ...toolkit provides the functionality to combine and retrieve annotation from these catalogs via the command-line interface. Several catalogs from commonly used annotation sources and instructions for creating user-specific catalogs are provided. Commands from the toolkit can be combined with other UNIX commands for advanced annotation processing. We also provide instructions for the development of custom annotation pipelines.
The package is implemented in Java and makes use of external tools written in Java and Perl. The toolkit can be executed on Mac OS X 10.5 and above or any Linux distribution. The BioR application, quickstart, and user guide documents and many biological examples are available at http://bioinformaticstools.mayo.edu.
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