Using a sand wave model for optimal monitoring of navigation depth

In the Euro Channel to Rotterdam Harbor, sand waves reduce the navigable depth to an unacceptable level. To avoid the risk of grounding, the navigation depth is monitored and sand waves that reduce the navigation depth unacceptably are dredged. After the dredging, the sand waves slowly regain their original height. To reduce the high costs of surveying and dredging, the North Sea Service of the Department of Transport, PublicWorks andWater Management, is implementing a Decision Support System to reduce the required amount of surveys and provide optimal information on the necessity to dredge. Currently, the system predicts the growth of sand waves using a linear trend. The trend is determined from observations using a Kalman-filter including geo-statistical components to incorporate spatial dependencies. This works well for sand waves that are close to their maximum height. After dredging however, the sand wave height is far from its equilibrium and the growth rate is much higher, making the linear prediction worthless. Here we show that replacing the linear trend with a landau equation improves the predictions of the regeneration. Comparison shows that the landau equation predicts the crest evolution better than the linear equation for both undisturbed sand waves and dredged sand waves, with an root mean square error that is 25% less

Weight loss and elevated gluconeogenesis from alanine in lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The role of gluconeogenesis from protein in the pathogenesis of weight loss in lung cancer is unclear. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to study gluconeogenesis from alanine in lung cancer patients and to analyze its relation to the degree of weight loss. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we used primed-constant infusions of [6,6-(2)H(2)]-D-glucose and [3-(13)C]-L-alanine to assess whole-body glucose and alanine turnover and gluconeogenesis from alanine in weight-losing (WL, n = 9) and weight-stable (WS, n = 10) lung cancer patients and healthy control (n = 15) subjects. RESULTS: Energy intake and plasma alanine concentrations did not differ significantly among the subject groups. Mean (+/-SEM) whole-body glucose production was significantly higher in WL than in WS and control subjects (0.74 +/- 0.06 compared with 0.55 +/- 0.04 and 0.51 +/- 0.04 mmol*kg(-)(1)*h(-)(1), respectively, P < 0.01). Alanine turnover was significantly elevated in WL compared with WS and control subjects (0.57 +/- 0.04 compared with 0.42 +/- 0.05 and 0.40 +/- 0.03 mmol*kg(-)(1)*h(-)(1), respectively, P < 0.01). Gluconeogenesis from alanine was significantly higher in WL than in WS and control subjects (0.47 +/- 0.04 compared with 0.31 +/- 0.04 and 0.29 +/- 0.04 mmol*kg(-)(1)*h(-)(1), respectively, P < 0.01). The degree of weight loss was positively correlated with glucose and alanine turnover and with gluconeogenesis from alanine (r = 0.45 for all, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant glucose and alanine metabolism occurred in WL lung cancer patients. These changes were related to the degree of weight loss and not to the presence of lung cancer per se

Randomized controlled trial on the effect of 1-hour infusion of vincristine versus push injection on neuropathy in children with cancer (final analysis)

Introduction: Vincristine is an integral component of treatment for children with cancer. Its main dose-limiting side effect is vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN). The VINCA trial was a randomized controlled trial that explored the effect of 1-hour infusion compared with push injection of vincristine on the development of VIPN in children with cancer. The short-term outcomes (median follow-up 9 months) showed that there was no difference in VIPN between the randomization groups. However, 1-hour infusion was less toxic in children who also received azoles. We now report the results of the final analyses (median follow-up 20 months), which includes treatment outcome as a secondary objective (follow-up 3 years). Methods: VIPN was measured 1–7 times per participant using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and the pediatric-modified total neuropathy score. Poisson mixed model and logistic generalized estimating equation analysis for repeated measures were performed.Results: Forty-five participants per randomization group were included. There was no significant effect of 1-hour infusion compared with push injection on VIPN. In participants receiving concurrent azoles, the total CTCAE score was significantly lower in the one-hour group (rate ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.33–0.80, p = 0.003). Four patients in the one-hour group and one patient in the push group relapsed. Two patients in the one-hour group died. Conclusion:1-hour infusion of vincristine is not protective against VIPN. However, in patients receiving concurrent azoles, 1-hour infusion may be less toxic. The difference in treatment outcome is most likely the result of differences in risk profile.</p

Repeated-root cyclic and negacyclic codes over a finite chain ring

AbstractWe show that repeated-root cyclic codes over a finite chain ring are in general not principally generated. Repeated-root negacyclic codes are principally generated if the ring is a Galois ring with characteristic a power of 2. For any other finite chain ring they are in general not principally generated. We also prove results on the structure, cardinality and Hamming distance of repeated-root cyclic and negacyclic codes over a finite chain ring

Clinical and self-reported markers of reproductive function in female survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on clinical reproductive markers and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: This study was embedded within the DCOG LATER-VEVO study; a Dutch, multicenter, retrospective cohort study between 2004 and 2014. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B, antral follicle count (AFC), and self-reported (first) pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in female childhood HL survivors and controls.Results: 84 HL survivors and 798 controls were included, aged 29.6 and 32.7 years old at time of assessment. Median age at HL diagnosis was 13.4 years. Cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED-score) exceeded 6000 mg/m2 in 56 women and 14 survivors received pelvic irradiation.All clinical markers were significantly deteriorated in survivors (odds-ratio for low AMH (&lt; p10) 10.1 [95% CI 4.9; 20.6]; low AFC (&lt; p10) 4.6 [95% CI 2.1; 9.9]; elevated FSH (&gt; 10 IU/l) 15.3 [95% CI 5.7; 41.1], low Inhibin B (&lt; 20 ng/l) 3.6 [95% CI 1.7; 7.7], p &lt; 0.001). Pregnancy outcomes were comparable between survivors and controls (± 80% live birth, ± 20% miscarriage). However, survivors were significantly younger at first pregnancy (27.0 years vs 29.0 years, P = 0.04). Adjusted odds-ratio for time to pregnancy &gt; 12 months was 2.5 [95% CI 1.1; 5.6] in survivors, p = 0.031. Adverse outcomes were specifically present after treatment with procarbazine and higher CED-score.Conclusion: HL survivors appear to have an impaired ovarian reserve. However, chance to achieve pregnancy seems reassuring at a young age. Additional follow-up studies are needed to assess fertile life span and reproductive potential of HL survivors, in particular for current HL treatments that are hypothesized to be less gonadotoxic.</p

The modelled surface mass balance of the Antarctic Peninsula at 5.5 km horizontal resolution.

This study presents a high-resolution (similar to 5.5 km) estimate of surface mass balance (SMB) over the period 1979-2014 for the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), generated by the regional atmospheric climate model RACMO2.3 and a firn densification model (FDM). RACMO2.3 is used to force the FDM, which calculates processes in the snowpack, such as meltwater percolation, refreezing and runoff. We evaluate model output with 132 in situ SMB observations and discharge rates from six glacier drainage basins, and find that the model realistically simulates the strong spatial variability in precipitation, but that significant biases remain as a result of the highly complex topography of the AP. It is also clear that the observations significantly underrepresent the high-accumulation regimes, complicating a full model evaluation. The SMB map reveals large accumulation gradients, with precipitation values above 3000 mm we yr(-1) in the western AP (WAP) and below 500 mm we yr(-1) in the eastern AP (EAP), not resolved by coarser data sets such as ERA-Interim. The average AP ice-sheet-integrated SMB, including ice shelves (an area of 4.1 x 10(5) km(2)), is estimated at 351 Gt yr(-1) with an interannual variability of 58 Gt yr(-1), which is dominated by precipitation (PR) (365 +/- 57 Gt yr(-1)). The WAP (2.4 x 10(5) km(2)) SMB (276 +/- 47 Gt yr(-1)), where PR is large (276 +/- 47 Gt yr(-1)), dominates over the EAP (1.7 x 10(5) km(2)) SMB (75 +/- 11 Gt yr(-1)) and PR (84 +/- 11 Gt yr(-1)). Total sublimation is 11 +/- 2 Gt yr(-1) and meltwater runoff into the ocean is 4 +/- 4 Gt yr(-1). There are no significant trends in any of the modelled AP SMB components, except for snowmelt that shows a significant decrease over the last 36 years (-0.36 Gt yr(-2))

Survival in patients with neuroendocrine tumours of the small intestine: Nomogram validation and predictors of survival

Neuroendocrine tumours of the small intestine (SI‐NETs) are rare and heterogeneous. There is an unmet need for prognostication of disease course and to aid treatment strategies. A previously developed nomogram based on clinical and tumour characteristics aims to predict disease‐specific survival (DSS) in patients with a SI‐NET. We aimed to validate the nomogram and identify predictors of survival. Four hundred patients with a grade 1 or 2 SI‐NET were included, between January 2000 and June 2016. Predicted 5‐ and 10‐year survival was compared to actual DSS. Multivariable analysis identified predictors for actual DSS. We found that in low‐, medium-and high‐risk groups 5‐year nomogram DSS vs. actual DSS was 0.86 vs. 0.82 (p 6x ULN and elevated liver tests were identified as independent predictors for a worse DSS. This shows that the nomogram was able to differentiate, but underestimated DSS for patients with a SI‐NET. Improvement of prognostication incorporating new emerging biomarkers is necessary to adequately estimate survival