227 research outputs found
Sequential Decoding of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes by Adaptive Reordering of Parity Checks
Decoding algorithms are investigated in which unpruned codeword trees are generated from an ordered list of parity checks. The order is computed from the received message, and low-density parity-check codes are used to help control the growth of the tree. Simulation results are given for the binary erasure channel. © 1992 IEE
Consensus report from the 6th International forum for liver MRI using gadoxetic acid
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/108276/1/jmri24419.pd
Tumor biopsy and patient enrollment in clinical trials for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Tumor biopsies may help to reliably distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other tumors, mostly cholangiocarcinoma as well as to identify the patient populations who most benefit from target-driven HCC treatments, in order to improve the success rate of experimental therapies. Clarifying tumor biology may also lead to identify biomarkers with prognostic role and/or enabling to predict response or resistance to therapies. Recently, clinical trials have more efficiently included biomarker endpoints and increasingly collected tumor tissue from enrolled patients. Due to their frail status and sometimes fast-progressing disease, the performance status of patients with HCC progressing on first-line therapy can deteriorate quickly, preventing their enrollment in clinical trials. However, the challenge of identifying the proper patient at the proper time can be overcome by periodic inter-department meetings involving the key specialists taking care of HCC patients, and solid networks between research centers and referring institutions. An early planned biopsy would also facilitate timely inclusion of patients in biology-driven clinical trials. Ultimately, institution of multidisciplinary teams can optimize treatment choice, biopsy timing, and quick enrollment of patients in clinical trials, before their performance status deteriorates
Low-frequency Current Fluctuations in Individual Semiconducting Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes
We present a systematic study on low-frequency current fluctuations of
nano-devices consisting of one single semiconducting nanotube, which exhibit
significant 1/f-type noise. By examining devices with different switching
mechanisms, carrier types (electrons vs. holes), and channel lengths, we show
that the 1/f fluctuation level in semiconducting nanotubes is correlated to the
total number of transport carriers present in the system. However, the 1/f
noise level per carrier is not larger than that of most bulk conventional
semiconductors, e.g. Si. The pronounced noise level observed in nanotube
devices simply reflects on the small number of carriers involved in transport.
These results not only provide the basis to quantify the noise behavior in a
one-dimensional transport system, but also suggest a valuable way to
characterize low-dimensional nanostructures based on the 1/f fluctuation
phenomenon
Field-effect transistors assembled from functionalized carbon nanotubes
We have fabricated field effect transistors from carbon nanotubes using a
novel selective placement scheme. We use carbon nanotubes that are covalently
bound to molecules containing hydroxamic acid functionality. The functionalized
nanotubes bind strongly to basic metal oxide surfaces, but not to silicon
dioxide. Upon annealing, the functionalization is removed, restoring the
electronic properties of the nanotubes. The devices we have fabricated show
excellent electrical characteristics.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Cellular expression, trafficking, and function of two isoforms of human ULBP5/RAET1G
Background:
The activating immunoreceptor NKG2D is expressed on Natural Killer (NK) cells and subsets of T cells. NKG2D contributes to anti-tumour and anti-viral immune responses in vitro and in vivo. The ligands for NKG2D in humans are diverse proteins of the MIC and ULBP/RAET families that are upregulated on the surface of virally infected cells and tumours. Two splicing variants of ULBP5/RAET1G have been cloned previously, but not extensively characterised.
Methodology/Principal Findings:
We pursue a number of approaches to characterise the expression, trafficking, and function of the two isoforms of ULBP5/RAET1G. We show that both transcripts are frequently expressed in cell lines derived from epithelial cancers, and in primary breast cancers. The full-length transcript, RAET1G1, is predicted to encode a molecule with transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains that are unique amongst NKG2D ligands. Using specific anti-RAET1G1 antiserum to stain tissue microarrays we show that RAET1G1 expression is highly restricted in normal tissues. RAET1G1 was expressed at a low level in normal gastrointestinal epithelial cells in a similar pattern to MICA. Both RAET1G1 and MICA showed increased expression in the gut of patients with celiac disease. In contrast to healthy tissues the RAET1G1 antiserum stained a wide variety or different primary tumour sections. Both endogenously expressed and transfected RAET1G1 was mainly found inside the cell, with a minority of the protein reaching the cell surface. Conversely the truncated splicing variant of RAET1G2 was shown to encode a soluble molecule that could be secreted from cells. Secreted RAET1G2 was shown to downregulate NKG2D receptor expression on NK cells and hence may represent a novel tumour immune evasion strategy.
Conclusions/Significance:
We demonstrate that the expression patterns of ULBP5RAET1G are very similar to the well-characterised NKG2D ligand, MICA. However the two isoforms of ULBP5/RAET1G have very different cellular localisations that are likely to reflect unique functionality
Rapid retreat of permafrost coastline observed with aerial drone photogrammetry
Permafrost landscapes are changing around the Arctic in response to climate
warming, with coastal erosion being one of the most prominent and hazardous
features. Using drone platforms, satellite images, and historic aerial
photographs, we observed the rapid retreat of a permafrost coastline on
Qikiqtaruk â Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, in the Canadian Beaufort Sea.
This coastline is adjacent to a gravel spit accommodating several culturally
significant sites and is the logistical base for the Qikiqtaruk â Herschel
Island Territorial Park operations. In this study we sought to (i)Â assess
short-term coastal erosion dynamics over fine temporal resolution,
(ii)Â evaluate short-term shoreline change in the context of long-term
observations, and (iii)Â demonstrate the potential of low-cost lightweight
unmanned aerial vehicles (âdronesâ) to inform coastline studies and
management decisions. We resurveyed a 500 m permafrost coastal reach at high
temporal frequency (seven surveys over 40 d in 2017). Intra-seasonal
shoreline changes were related to meteorological and oceanographic variables
to understand controls on intra-seasonal erosion patterns. To put our
short-term observations into historical context, we combined our analysis of
shoreline positions in 2016 and 2017 with historical observations from 1952,
1970, 2000, and 2011. In just the summer of 2017, we observed coastal retreat
of 14.5 m, more than 6 times faster than the long-term average rate of
2.2±0.1 m aâ1 (1952â2017). Coastline retreat rates exceeded
1.0±0.1 m dâ1 over a single 4 d period. Over 40 d, we estimated
removal of ca. 0.96 m3 mâ1 dâ1. These findings highlight
the episodic nature of shoreline change and the important role of storm
events, which are poorly understood along permafrost coastlines. We found
drone surveys combined with image-based modelling yield fine spatial
resolution and accurately geolocated observations that are highly suitable to
observe intra-seasonal erosion dynamics in rapidly changing Arctic
landscapes.</p
Relapse in resected lung cancer revisited: does intensified follow up really matter? A prospective study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>beside the well known predominance of distant vs. loco-regional relapse, several aspects of the relapse pattern still have not been fully elucidated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>prospective, controlled study on 88 patients operated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a 15 months period. Stage IIIA existed in 35(39.8%) patients, whilst stages IB, IIA and IIB existed in 10.2%, 4.5% and 45.5% patients respectively. Inclusion criteria: stage I-IIIA, complete resection, systematic lymphadenectomy with at least 6 lymph node groups examined, no neoadjuvant therapy, exact data of all aspects of relapse, exact data about the outcome of the treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>postoperative lung cancer relapse occurred in 50(56.8%) patients. Locoregional, distant and both types of relapse occurred in 26%, 70% and 4% patients respectively. Postoperative cancer relapse occurred in 27/35(77.1%) pts. in the stage IIIA and in 21/40(52.55) pts in the stage IIB. In none of four pts. in the stage IIA cancer relapse occurred, unlike 22.22% pts. with relapse in the stage IB. The mean disease free interval in the analysed group was 34.38 ± 3.26 months.</p> <p>The mean local relapse free and distant relapse free intervals were 55 ± 3.32 and 41.62 ± 3.47 months respectively Among 30 pts. with the relapse onset inside the first 12 month after the lung resection, in 20(66.6%) pts. either T3 tumours or N2 lesions existed. In patients with N0, N1 and N2 lesions, cancer relapse occurred in 30%, 55.6% and 70.8% patients respectively</p> <p>Radiographic aspect T stage, N stage and extent of resection were found as significant in terms of survival. Related to the relapse occurrence, although radiographic aspect and extent of resection followed the same trend as in the survival analysis, only T stage and N stage were found as significant in the same sense as for survival. On multivariate, only T and N stage were found as significant in terms of survival.</p> <p>Specific oncological treatment of relapse was possible in 27/50(54%) patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>the intensified follow up did not increase either the proportion of patients detected with asymptomatic relapse or the number of patients with specific oncological treatment of relapse.</p
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