A design model for Open Distributed Processing systems

This paper proposes design concepts that allow the conception, understanding and development of complex technical structures for open distributed systems. The proposed concepts are related to, and partially motivated by, the present work on Open Distributed Processing (ODP). As opposed to the current ODP approach, the concepts are aimed at supporting a design trajectory with several, related abstraction levels. Simple examples are used to illustrate the proposed concepts

Self-assembly of "Mickey Mouse" shaped colloids into tube-like structures: experiments and simulations

The self-assembly of anisotropic patchy particles with triangular shape was studied by experiments and computer simulations. The colloidal particles were synthesized in a two-step seeded emulsion polymerization process, and consist of a central smooth lobe connected to two rough lobes at an angle of $\sim$90$^{\circ}$, resembling the shape of a "Mickey Mouse" head. Due to the difference in overlap volume, adding an appropriate depletant induces an attractive interaction between the smooth lobes of the colloids only, while the two rough lobes act as steric constraints. The essentially planar geometry of the "Mickey Mouse" particles is a first geometric deviation of dumbbell shaped patchy particles. This new geometry is expected to form one-dimensional tube-like structures rather than spherical, essentially zero-dimensional micelles. At sufficiently strong attractions, we indeed find tube-like structures with the sticky lobes at the core and the non-sticky lobes pointing out as steric constraints that limit the growth to one direction, providing the tubes with a well-defined diameter but variable length both in experiments and simulations. In the simulations, we found that the internal structure of the tubular fragments could either be straight or twisted into so-called Bernal spirals

Down-staging (<pT2) of urothelial cancer at cystectomy after the diagnosis of detrusor muscle invasion (pT2) at diagnostic transurethral resection (TUR): Is prediction possible?

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) with musculus detrusor (MD) invasion is treated by cystectomy. Subsequent pathologic evaluation of cystectomies does not reveal MD invasion (<pT2) in a subgroup of patients. Our objective was to identify features at diagnostic transurethral resection (TUR) predicting down-staging (<pT2) at cystectomy. Patients with pathologically confirmed MD invasion at TUR followed by cystectomy for UCC without (neo-) adjuvant therapy were included (N=106). Slides of both TUR and cystectomy specimens were reviewed, and survival analyses were performed. In total, 27/106 (26 %) tumors were down-staged at cystectomy, of which 13 (12 %) had no residual tumor (pT0). There was no significant difference in age, gender, time interval between TUR and operation, number of slides sampled, and presence of TUR scar between down-staged (<pT2) and pT2 UCC. At review of TUR specimens (N=52) with UCC initially diagnosed as pT2, MD invasion was not confirmed in eight cases (15 %). One case showed extensive histiocytic reaction misinterpreted as UCC; in four cases, muscularis mucosae had been considered MD, and in three cases, desmoplastic reaction mimicked MD. No histologic parameter at TUR was significantly associated with down-staging at cystectomy. Overall and disease-specific survival was not statistically different in down-staged and pT2 UCC. In conclusion, down-staging of UCC (<pT2) at cystectomy occurred in 26 %. At review of diagnostic TURs, MD invasion was not confirmed in 15 %. No clinical or pathologic parameter was predictive for down-staging at cystectomy. There was no difference in survival between down-staged and pT2-staged UCC

Screening for distant metastases in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence: the impact of different imaging modalities on distant recurrence-free interval

Purpose In patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), the detection of distant disease determines whether the intention of the treatment is curative or palliative. Therefore, adequate preoperative staging is imperative for optimal treatment planning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of conventional imaging techniques, including chest X-ray and/or CT thorax-(abdomen), liver ultrasonography(US), and skeletal scintigraphy, on the distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI) in patients with IBTR, and to compare conventional imaging with 18F-FDG PET-CT or no imaging at all. Methods This study was exclusively based on the information available at time of diagnoses of IBTR. To adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between the three imaging groups, a propensity score (PS) weighted method was used. Results Of the 495 patients included in the study, 229 (46.3%) were staged with conventional imaging, 89 patients (19.8%) were staged with 18F-FDG PET-CT, and in 168 of the patients (33.9%) no imaging was used (N=168). After a follow-up of approximately 5 years, 14.5% of all patients developed a distant recurrence as frst event after IBTR. After adjusting for the PS weights, the Cox regression analyses showed that the diferent staging methods had no signifcant impact on the DRFI. Conclusions This study showed a wide variation in the use of imaging modalities for staging IBTR patients in the Netherlands. After using PS weighting, no statistically signifcant impact of the diferent imaging modalities on DRFI was shown. Based on these results, it is not possible to recommend staging for distant metastases using 18F-FDG PET-CT over conventional imaging technique

Down-staging (< pT2) of urothelial cancer at cystectomy after the diagnosis of detrusor muscle invasion (pT2) at diagnostic transurethral resection (TUR): is prediction possible?

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) with musculus detrusor (MD) invasion is treated by cystectomy. Subsequent pathologic evaluation of cystectomies does not reveal MD invasion (< pT2) in a subgroup of patients. Our objective was to identify features at diagnostic transurethral resection (TUR) predicting down-staging (< pT2) at cystectomy. Patients with pathologically confirmed MD invasion at TUR followed by cystectomy for UCC without (neo-) adjuvant therapy were included (N = 106). Slides of both TUR and cystectomy specimens were reviewed, and survival analyses were performed. In total, 27/106 (26 %) tumors were down-staged at cystectomy, of which 13 (12 %) had no residual tumor (pT0). There was no significant difference in age, gender, time interval between TUR and operation, number of slides sampled, and presence of TUR scar between down-staged (< pT2) and pT2 UCC. At review of TUR specimens (N = 52) with UCC initially diagnosed as pT2, MD invasion was not confirmed in eight cases (15 %). One case showed extensive histiocytic reaction misinterpreted as UCC; in four cases, muscularis mucosae had been considered MD, and in three cases, desmoplastic reaction mimicked MD. No histologic parameter at TUR was significantly associated with down-staging at cystectomy. Overall and disease-specific survival was not statistically different in down-staged and pT2 UCC. In conclusion, down-staging of UCC (< pT2) at cystectomy occurred in 26 %. At review of diagnostic TURs, MD invasion was not confirmed in 15 %. No clinical or pathologic parameter was predictive for down-staging at cystectomy. There was no difference in survival between down-staged and pT2-staged UCC

Antibody EPR3864 is specific for ERG genomic fusions in prostate cancer: implications for pathological practice

Genomic rearrangements involving genes encoding erythroblast transformation-specific transcription factors are commonly present in prostate cancer. The TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion that leads to ERG overexpression occurs in similar to 70% of prostate cancers. Implementation of fusion gene detection in pathological practice, however, has been hampered by the lack of reliable ERG antibodies. The objective of this study was first to compare ERG immunohistochemistry using the recently described antibody EPR3864 with ERG mRNA by quantitative PCR and, second, to investigate ERG immunohistochemistry in diagnostic prostate cancer needle biopsies. We analyzed 41 primary prostate adenocarcinomas obtained by radical prostatectomy and 83 consecutive prostate cancer needle biopsies. In the prostatectomy specimens, immunohistochemical ERG expression was highly concordant with the ERG mRNA overexpression (sensitivity 100% and specificity 85%). ERG overexpression was due to TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in all cases. ERG protein expression was identified in 51/83 adenocarcinomas (61%) on needle biopsies. ERG expression was more frequent in tumors infiltrating >= 2 needle biopsies (P= 50% of a single biopsy (P = 0.018). Expression of ERG also occurred in 11/21 (52%) high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia lesions. In 5/87 (6%) needle biopsies containing benign secretory glands, weak ERG staining was focally observed. In all of these cases, respective glands were adjacent to adenocarcinomas. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry for ERG strongly correlated with ERG mRNA overexpression and was specific for prostate cancer on needle biopsies. Therefore, ERG immunohistochemistry is an important adjunctive tool for pathophysiological studies on ERG gene fusions, and might support the pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in a subset of prostate needle biopsies. Modern Pathology (2011) 24, 1128-1138; doi:10.1038/modpathol.2011.65; published online 15 April 201