A Point Decision For Partially Identified Auction Models

This paper proposes a decision theoretic method to choose a single reserve price for partially identified auction models, such as Haile and Tamer, 2003, using data on transaction prices from English auctions. The paper employs Gilboa and Schmeidler, 1989 for inference that is robust with respect to the prior over unidentified parameters. It is optimal to interpret the transaction price as the highest value, and maximize the posterior mean of the seller’s revenue. The Monte Carlo study shows substantial gains relative to the average revenues of the Haile and Tamer interval.

Prognosis of Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer without Serosal Invasion

Introduction: The impact of age on the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of elderly, advanced gastric cancer patients without serosal invasion compared to their younger counterparts. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 43 elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer without serosal invasion. The clinicopathologic findings were compared between the elderly (age >70 years) and young (age <36 years) patients. Results: Significantly higher numbers of elderly patients had tumors with differentiated histology, whereas more young patients had tumors with undifferentiated histology (P < 0.01). Curability (risk ratio, 3.122; confidence interval, 1.242-4.779; P < 0.001) was an independent prognostic factor of survival. The 5-year survival rates were not significantly different between the elderly and the young patients according to the absence of serosal invasion (80.0% vs 77.9%; P = 0.654) and undergoing curative resection (82.0% vs 78.9%; P = 0.312). Meanwhile, among the elderly patients, those who underwent curative resection had a better survival rate than those with non-curative resection (82.0% vs 67.8%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer without serosal invasion do not have a worse prognosis than their younger counterparts, indicating that age does not impact the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer. The important prognostic factor was whether the patients underwent curative resection

Enhanced overall efficiency of GaInN-based light-emitting diodes with reduced efficiency droop by Al-composition-graded AlGaN/GaN superlattice electron blocking layer

AlxGa1-xN/GaN superlattice electron blocking layers (EBLs) with gradually decreasing Al composition toward the p-type GaN layer are introduced to GaInN-based high-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs). GaInN/GaN multiple quantum well LEDs with 5- and 9-period Al-composition-graded AlxGa1-xN/GaN EBL show comparable operating voltage, higher efficiency as well as less efficiency droop than LEDs having conventional bulk AlGaN EBL, which is attributed to the superlattice doping effect, enhanced hole injection into the active region, and reduced potential drop in the EBL by grading Al compositions. Simulation results reveal a reduction in electron leakage for the superlattice EBL, in agreement with experimental results. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.open1133sciescopu

Prognosis of gastric cancer patients with paraaortic lymph node metastasis versus those with distant metastases

Background. It has long been thought that cases of advanced gastric cancer with paraaortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis are impossible to cure. However, several recent reports on the long-term survival of patients with PALN metastasis have reported an increase in the use of gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy, involving the dissection of more nodes than those invaded by the tumor, as the standard surgery for advanced gastric cancer. Material and methods. We reviewed the records of 1,015 patients with a confirmed histologic diagnosis of gastric cancer. Among patients with stage IV gastric cancer, 38 had PALN metastasis compared with 233 with peritoneal dissemination and 77 with hepatic metastasis. Results. Based on tumor location, metastasis to the PALNs was more common in upper-third cancer (p < 0.01); hepatic metastasis was more common in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma; and peritoneal dissemination was more common in poorly differentiated cancer (p < 0.001). The 5-year survival in patients with metastasis to the PALNs was significantly higher (28.2%) than in patients with peritoneal dissemination (5.2%) or hepatic metastasis (12.0%) (p < 0.01). Conclusions. The results reveal a better 5-year survival associated with gastric cancer patients with PALN metastasis as compared with those with other distant metastases. Therefore, we recommend performing a more extended lymphadenectomy in patients with gastric cancer, especially those with suspected metastasis to the PALNs.Introduction. It has long been thought that cases of advanced gastric cancer with paraaortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis are impossible to cure. However, several recent reports on the long-term survival of patients with PALN metastasis have reported an increase in the use of gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy, involving the dissection of more nodes than those invaded by the tumour, as the standard surgery for advanced gastric cancer. Material and methods. The records of 1,015 patients with a confirmed histologic diagnosis of gastric cancer had been reviewed. Among patients with stage IV gastric cancer, 38 had PALN metastasis compared with 233 with peritoneal dissemination and 77 with hepatic metastasis. Results. Based on tumour location, metastasis to the PALNs was more common in upper-third cancer (p < 0.01); hepatic metastasis was more common in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and peritoneal dissemination was more common in poorly differentiated cancer (p < 0.001). The 5-year survival in patients with metastasis to the PALNs was significantly higher (28.2%) than in patients with peritoneal dissemination (5.2%) or hepatic metastasis (12.0%) (p < 0.01). Conclusions. The results reveal a better 5-year survival associated with gastric cancer patients with PALN metastasis as compared with those with other distant metastases. Therefore, performing a more extended lymphadenectomy in patients with gastric cancer is recommended, especially those with suspected metastasis to the PALNs

Short-Term Effects of Combined Serial Casting and Botulinum Toxin Injection for Spastic Equinus in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that combination therapy of serial cast and botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection can further enhance the effects of a BTX-A injection in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have an equinus foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children in group A (30 legs of 21 children) received a serial casting application after an injection of BTX-A, and children in group B (25 legs of 17 children) received only a BTX-A injection. Assessments were performed before the intervention and 1 month after the intervention. RESULTS: After the intervention, there were significant improvements in tone, dynamic spasticity, and passive range of motion (ROM) in both groups. However, the changes were greater in group A than in group B. Dimension D (standing) in Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 was significantly improved in group A but not in group B. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in dimension E (walking, running, jumping) in GMFM-66 in either group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that a serial casting application after BTX-A injection can enhance the benefits of BTX-A injection in children with cerebral palsy.ope

UNCERTAINTY PROPAGATION ANALYSIS FOR YONGGWANG NUCLEAR UNIT 4 BY MCCARD/MASTER CORE ANALYSIS SYSTEM

This paper concerns estimating uncertainties of the core neutronics design parameters of power reactors by direct sampling method (DSM) calculations based on the two-step McCARD/MASTER design system in which McCARD is used to generate the fuel assembly (FA) homogenized few group constants (FGCs) while MASTER is used to conduct the core neutronics design computation. It presents an extended application of the uncertainty propagation analysis method originally designed for uncertainty quantification of the FA FGCs as a way to produce the covariances between the FGCs of any pair of FAs comprising the core, or the covariance matrix of the FA FGCs required for random sampling of the FA FGCs input sets into direct sampling core calculations by MASTER. For illustrative purposes, the uncertainties of core design parameters such as the effective multiplication factor (keff), normalized FA power densities, power peaking factors, etc. for the beginning of life (BOL) core of Yonggwang nuclear unit 4 (YGN4) at the hot zero power and all rods out are estimated by the McCARD/MASTER-based DSM computations. The results are compared with those from the uncertainty propagation analysis method based on the McCARD-predicted sensitivity coefficients of nuclear design parameters and the cross section covariance data

Recognition of and interventions for Mibyeong (subhealth) in South Korea: a national web-based survey of Korean medicine practitioners

AbstractBackgroundMedically unexplained symptoms (MUSs) are common in primary care. At present, there are no proven, comprehensive treatments available in primary care for patients with MUSs. However, MUS has parallels with “subhealth” or Mibyeong from traditional East-Asian medicine, and thus, Mibyeong interventions could be effective in treating MUS. Unfortunately, studies on Mibyeong and its intervention methods are relatively rare.MethodsWe administered a web-based survey to 17,279 Korean medicine (KM) practitioners registered with the Association of Korean Medicine. The response rate was 4.9% (n=849). Based on the responses received, we assessed how much they agreed with concepts related to Mibyeong on a 7-point scale from “do not agree” to “strongly agree.” Respondents were also asked to indicate how frequently they encountered various subtypes and patterns of Mibyeong, and how frequently they use listed intervention methods.ResultsData from 818 respondents were analyzed after excluding those with no clinical experience. On average, respondents were male general practitioners aged between 30 years and 49 years, working or living in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do. Responses did not differ by demographics. Respondents generally thought that Mibyeong referred to subjective or borderline findings without certain disease, and that Mibyeong has various subtypes and patterns. Subtypes included fatigue, pain, and digestion problems; patterns were either deficiencies (e.g., qi, blood, and yin deficiency) or stagnations (e.g., liver qi depression and qi stagnation). Decoction was the most frequently used type of intervention for Mibyeong of all items listed, followed by acupuncture and moxibustion. Patient education was also recommended, suggesting healthy eating, promoting healthy environment, and exercise.ConclusionWe were able to provide preliminary results on KM practitioners’ recognition of and interventions for Mibyeong, but further research is needed to develop a detailed definition of Mibyeong and its myriad subtypes and patterns, and evaluations of the efficacy of Mibyeong interventions

Prognosis of Stage IV Gastric Cancer Patients

Aim. This study evaluated the survival of gastric cancer patients with metastasis to the hepatoduodenal, retropancreatic, mesenteric, and para-aortic lymph nodes. Materials and methods. We analyzed the survival rate of 435 gastric cancer patients who underwent operation from 2001 to 2010 at the Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital. There were 43, 25, 16, and 55 patients with metastasis to the hepatoduodenal, retropancreatic, mesenteric, and para-aortic nodes, respectively. Results. Based on tumor location, metastasis to the para-aortic lymph nodes was more common in upper-third cancer, and that to the hepatoduodenal lymph nodes was more common in lower-third cancer. The survival rate of patients with non-regional lymph node metastasis was better than that of patients with hepatic metastasis or peritoneal dissemination (p < 0.05). Conclusion. We recommend performing a more extended lymphadenectomy than a D2 lymphadenectomy in patients with advanced gastric cancer those having metastasis to the hepatoduodenal nodes