PRESSURE DROP EXPERIMENTS OF UPPER AND LOWER DUMMY ASSEMBLIES FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL GAS COOLED REACTOR. SECTION V OF THE FUEL ASSEMBLY HEAT TRANSFER AND CHANNEL PRESSURE DROP EXPERIMENTS FOR THE EGCR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The design arrangement of the Experimental Gas Cooled Reactor contains six fuel assemblies stacked vertically, above one another, in each of 232 vertical fuel channels in the graphite core. Each stack of six fuel assemblies is preceded and followed by a dummy assembly. The upper dummy assembly contains a reflector plug and a latch mechanism. The lower dummy assembly contains an orifice with an adjustable plunger capable of varying reactor coolant flow through the orifice. The pressure drop characteristics of the dummy assemblies for eight different throttling positions were obtained in the test program at near atmospheric pressure using an air flow corresponding to Reynolds Numbers of 12,000 to 60,000 in the fuel element assemblies. The data of the tests are presented in the form of velocity head coefficients expressed in terms of the highest velocity head of the two test locations involved for each coefficient. (auth

The Zero-Removing Property and Lagrange-Type Interpolation Series

The classical Kramer sampling theorem, which provides a method for obtaining orthogonal sampling formulas, can be formulated in a more general nonorthogonal setting. In this setting, a challenging problem is to characterize the situations when the obtained nonorthogonal sampling formulas can be expressed as Lagrange-type interpolation series. In this article a necessary and sufficient condition is given in terms of the zero removing property. Roughly speaking, this property concerns the stability of the sampled functions on removing a finite number of their zeros

Prospective assessment of serum periostin as a biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of eosinophilic oesophagitis

Background Periostin is highly expressed in eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), but has not been extensively studied as a non-invasive biomarker. Aim To assess whether serum periostin distinguished EoE from controls at baseline, had utility for monitoring treatment response, or was associated with IL-13 levels. Methods This was a sub-analysis of a prospective cohort study of adults undergoing out-patient upper endoscopy. Incident cases of EoE were diagnosed per consensus guidelines. Controls were subjects with either GERD or dysphagia without EoE. EoE patients were treated with swallowed/topical steroids and had repeat endoscopy/biopsy. Serum periostin levels for cases and controls were compared at baseline, and pre/post-treatment levels were compared for cases. Serum IL-13 and tissue expression of periostin were also assessed. Results A total of 61 incident EoE cases and 87 controls were analysed. Despite a marked increase in tissue periostin expression in cases, the median baseline serum periostin level was only slightly higher in cases than controls (22.1 ng/mL vs. 20.7; P = 0.04); there was no change in post-treatment levels. There was also no difference in serum periostin for cases by histologic response or atopic status. There was a strong trend towards higher serum IL-13 levels in cases in the highest periostin quartile (57.1 pg/mL vs. 2.6; P = 0.07). Conclusions Serum periostin levels were similar in cases and controls, and there were no changes post-treatment. Given elevated IL-13 levels in the EoE patients with the highest periostin levels, future studies could explore periostin as a biomarker in EoE, perhaps in the setting of anti-IL-13 therapy

Signal and System Approximation from General Measurements

In this paper we analyze the behavior of system approximation processes for stable linear time-invariant (LTI) systems and signals in the Paley-Wiener space PW_\pi^1. We consider approximation processes, where the input signal is not directly used to generate the system output, but instead a sequence of numbers is used that is generated from the input signal by measurement functionals. We consider classical sampling which corresponds to a pointwise evaluation of the signal, as well as several more general measurement functionals. We show that a stable system approximation is not possible for pointwise sampling, because there exist signals and systems such that the approximation process diverges. This remains true even with oversampling. However, if more general measurement functionals are considered, a stable approximation is possible if oversampling is used. Further, we show that without oversampling we have divergence for a large class of practically relevant measurement procedures.Comment: This paper will be published as part of the book "New Perspectives on Approximation and Sampling Theory - Festschrift in honor of Paul Butzer's 85th birthday" in the Applied and Numerical Harmonic Analysis Series, Birkhauser (Springer-Verlag). Parts of this work have been presented at the IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing 2014 (ICASSP 2014

A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study of chemo-immunotherapy combination using motolimod with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group partners study.

A phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in women with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma to evaluate the efficacy and safety of motolimod-a Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) agonist that stimulates robust innate immune responses-combined with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), a chemotherapeutic that induces immunogenic cell death. Women with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma were randomized 1 : 1 to receive PLD in combination with blinded motolimod or placebo. Randomization was stratified by platinum-free interval (≤6 versus >6-12 months) and Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) performance status (0 versus 1). Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days until disease progression. The addition of motolimod to PLD did not significantly improve overall survival (OS; log rank one-sided P = 0.923, HR = 1.22) or progression-free survival (PFS; log rank one-sided P = 0.943, HR = 1.21). The combination was well tolerated, with no synergistic or unexpected serious toxicity. Most patients experienced adverse events of fatigue, anemia, nausea, decreased white blood cells, and constipation. In pre-specified subgroup analyses, motolimod-treated patients who experienced injection site reactions (ISR) had a lower risk of death compared with those who did not experience ISR. Additionally, pre-treatment in vitro responses of immune biomarkers to TLR8 stimulation predicted OS outcomes in patients receiving motolimod on study. Immune score (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes; TIL), TLR8 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, mutational status in BRCA and other DNA repair genes, and autoantibody biomarkers did not correlate with OS or PFS. The addition of motolimod to PLD did not improve clinical outcomes compared with placebo. However, subset analyses identified statistically significant differences in the OS of motolimod-treated patients on the basis of ISR and in vitro immune responses. Collectively, these data may provide important clues for identifying patients for treatment with immunomodulatory agents in novel combinations and/or delivery approaches. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT 01666444

The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Pain Intensity Among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Findings from the MSD Cohort Study

Objective: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and pain intensity among veterans with musculoskeletal disorder diagnoses (MSDs; nontraumatic joint disorder; osteoarthritis; low back, back, and neck pain). Setting: Administrative and electronic health record data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Subjects: A national cohort of US military veterans with MSDs in VHA care during 2001-2012 (N = 1,759,338). Methods: These cross-sectional data were analyzed using hurdle negative binomial models of pain intensity as a function of BMI, adjusted for comorbidities and demographics. Results: The sample had a mean age of 59.4, 95% were male, 77% were white/Non-Hispanic, 79% were overweight or obese, and 42% reported no pain at index MSD diagnosis. Overall, there was a J-shaped relationship between BMI and pain (nadir = 27 kg/m2), with the severely obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) being most likely to report any pain (OR vs normal weight = 1.23, 95% confidence interval = 1.21-1.26). The association between BMI and pain varied by MSD, with a stronger relationship in the osteoarthritis group and a less pronounced relationship in the back and low back pain groups. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of overweight/obesity among veterans with MSD. High levels of BMI (>27 kg/m2) were associated with increased odds of pain, most markedly among veterans with osteoarthritis

The Effectiveness of Contract Farming for Raising Income of Smallholder Farmers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a Systematic Review

Contract farming is used by an increasing number of firms as a preferred modality to source products from smallholder farmers in low and middle-income countries. Quality requirements of consumers, economies of scale in production or land ownership rights are common incentives for firms to offer contractual arrangements to farmers. Prices and access to key technology, key inputs or support services are the main incentives for farmers to enter into these contracts. There is great heterogeneity in contract farming, with differences in contracts, farmers, products, buyers, and institutional environments. The last decade shows a rapid increase in studies that use quasi-experimental research designs to assess the effects of specific empirical instances of contract farming on smallholders. The objective of this systematic review was to distill generalised inferences from this rapidly growing body of evidence. The review synthesised the studies in order to answer two questions: 1: What is known about the effect size of contract farming on income and food security of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries? 2: Under which enabling or limiting conditions are contract farming arrangements effective for improving income and food security of smallholders

Malignant islet-cell tumors of the pancreas

Although malignant islet-cell tumors are uncommon, they are an important group of pancreatic neoplasms because appropriate treatment can often result in effective palliation even though cure is infrequent. In general, these tumors are relatively slow growing so that a combination of surgical and chemotherapeutic measures may prove very beneficial. In some patients with tumors hypersecreting insulin, gastrin, glucagon, or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), the hormonal effects of the neoplasm can be life-threatening. Surgical treatment must, therefore, consider both the functional and malignant characteristics of the individual tumor. In many patients with functional tumors, surgical debulking of the primary tumor may be indicated even when a curative resection cannot be accomplished. Some malignancies may be cured by an appropriate pancreatic resection even when peripancreatic lymph nodes are already involved. Although a Whipple procedure is not indicated when hepatic metastases are present, this procedure may cure tumors localized to the pancreatic head and/or peripancreatic lymph nodes. Because hepatic metastases are usually multiple and involve both lobes, liver resections, other than wedge excisions of peripherally located functional metastases, are not indicated. Malignant nonfunctioning islet-cell tumors are probably best treated with systemic or regional chemotherapy when metastatic. Surgical resections or bypass procedures may be infrequently useful in those cases in which the primary tumor causes either duodenal or bile duct obstruction. The most effective methods used to control hepatic metastases are systemic and hepatic arterial chemotherapy. An alternative is selective hepatic artery embolization. Recently, an implantable hepatic arterial infusion pump has been used with encouraging results in this group of patients. The chemotherapeutic agents that have been most effective in the treatment of hepatic metastases include streptozotocin, DTIC, and fluorouracil . Les tumeurs insulaires malignes sont rares mais elles présentent un grand intérêt car si le traitement entraîne exceptionnellement leur guérison il assure une survie des malades qui en sont porteurs. Ce sont en effet des tumeurs malignes à développement lent, sensibles à l'action de l'association de la chimiothérapie et de la chirurgie. Chez certains sujets les tumeurs secrétant de l'insuline, de la gastrine, du glucagon, du V.I.P. peuvent mettre en jeu la vie du malade sous l'effet de l'hypersecrétion hormonale. Le traitement chirurgical dépend de ce fait, des caractères fonctionnels et du degré de malignité de chaque type de tumeur. En présence de lésions hypersecrétantes l'exérèse de la tumeur primitive doit être envisagée alors même que la possibilité d'obtenir une guérison définitive ne peut être escomptée. Il est aussi à noter que certaines lésions malignes ont été traitées avec succès alors que les ganglions lymphatiques correspondants étaient déjà envahis. Si l'opération est contre-indiquée en présence de métastases hépatiques la duodénopancréatectomie céphalique s'applique aux tumeurs insulaires céphaliques qu'elles s'accompagnent ou non d'un envahissement des ganglions juxta-pancréatiques. Du fait que les métastases hépatiques sont souvent multiples et qu'elles intéressent les deux lobes l'action sur le foie se limite à l'éxérèse des métastases accessibles à la résection hépatique segmentaire. Les tumeurs insulaires malignes qui ne sont pas hypersecrétantes relèvent de la chimiothérapie par voie générale ou de la chimiothérapie régionale dès lors qu'elles s'accompagnent de métastases. C'est seulement lorsque ces lésions entraînent une obstruction de la voie biliaire principale ou du duodénum que la résection ou les anastomoses de dérivation sont indiquées. La chimiothérapie par voie générale ou par la voie de l'artère hépatique ou encore l'embolisation de cette dernière représentent les meilleures méthodes de traitement des métastases hépatiques. L'emploi récent de pompes à infusion de l'artère hépatique a donné des résultats intéressants chez ces malades. Les agents chimiques les plus efficaces sont la streptozotocine, le DTIC et le Fluorouracil. Aunque los tumores malignos de células insulares del páncreas son raros, éstos constituyen un grupo importante entre las neoplasias pancreáticas por cuanto el tratamiento apropiado con frecuencia resulta en una paliación efectiva a pesar de que la curación sea poco frecuente. En general estos tumores son de crecimiento lento y la combinación de la cirugía con quimioterapia puede llegar a ser beneficiosa. En algunos pacientes con tumores que hipersecretan insulina, gastrina, glucagón o VIP (polipéptido vasoactivo intestinal), los efectos hormonales del neoplasma pueden poner en peligro la vida. Por ello el tratamiento quirúrgico debe considerar tanto las caracteristicas funcionales como las de malignidad de cada tumor en particular. En muchos pacientes con neoplasmas funcionantes, el debultamiento quirúrgico del tumor primario puede estar indicado cuando la resección curativa no es realizable. Algunas neoplasias malignas pueden ser curadas mediante una resección pancreática adecuada a pesar de que los ganglios linfáticos peripancreáticos ya se hallen afectados. Aún cuando el procedimiento de Whipple no esta indicado en presencia de metástasis hepáticas, esta operación puede curar tumores localizados en la cabeza del páncreas y/o en los ganglios linfáticos peripancreáticos. Debido a que las metástasis hepáticas generalmente son múlitples y afectan a ambos lóbulos, las resecciones hepáticas, diferentes de las resecciones en cuña para lesiones funcionantes localizadas en la periferie del higado no están indicadas. Los tumores malignos no funcionantes de células insulares probablemente deben ser tratadas con quimioterapia sistémica o regional cuando se encuentren en fase metastásica. Las resecciones quirúrgicas o los procedimientos derivativos infrecuentemente son de utilidad en aquellos casos en los cuales el tumor primario causa obstrucción duodenal o del conducto biliar. Los métodos de mayor efectividad en el control de las metéstasis hepáticas son los de quimioterapia sistémica y arterial hepática. Una alternativa es la embolización selectiva de la arteria hepática. Recientemente ha venido a ser utilizada una bomba implantable de infusión arterial heptica con resultados halagadores en este grupo de pacientes. Los agentes quimioterapéuticos que han probado ser de mayor efectividad en el tratamiento de las metástasis hepáticas incluyen la estreptozotocina, la dimetiltrizenoimidazol carboxamida (DTIC) y el Fluorouracilo.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41316/1/268_2005_Article_BF01656036.pd