753 research outputs found
Iron deficiency-mediated stress regulation of four subgroup Ib BHLH genes in Arabidopsis thaliana
Unified aeroacoustics analysis for high speed turboprop aerodynamics and noise. Volume 3: Application of theory for blade loading, wakes, noise, and wing shielding
Results of the program for the generation of a computer prediction code for noise of advanced single rotation, turboprops (prop-fans) such as the SR3 model are presented. The code is based on a linearized theory developed at Hamilton Standard in which aerodynamics and acoustics are treated as a unified process. Both steady and unsteady blade loading are treated. Capabilities include prediction of steady airload distributions and associated aerodynamic performance, unsteady blade pressure response to gust interaction or blade vibration, noise fields associated with thickness and steady and unsteady loading, and wake velocity fields associated with steady loading. The code was developed on the Hamilton Standard IBM computer and has now been installed on the Cray XMP at NASA-Lewis. The work had its genesis in the frequency domain acoustic theory developed at Hamilton Standard in the late 1970s. It was found that the method used for near field noise predictions could be adapted as a lifting surface theory for aerodynamic work via the pressure potential technique that was used for both wings and ducted turbomachinery. In the first realization of the theory for propellers, the blade loading was represented in a quasi-vortex lattice form. This was upgraded to true lifting surface loading. Originally, it was believed that a purely linear approach for both aerodynamics and noise would be adequate. However, two sources of nonlinearity in the steady aerodynamics became apparent and were found to be a significant factor at takeoff conditions. The first is related to the fact that the steady axial induced velocity may be of the same order of magnitude as the flight speed and the second is the formation of leading edge vortices which increases lift and redistribute loading. Discovery and properties of prop-fan leading edge vortices were reported in two papers. The Unified AeroAcoustic Program (UAAP) capabilites are demonstrated and the theory verified by comparison with the predictions with data from tests at NASA-Lewis. Steady aerodyanmic performance, unsteady blade loading, wakes, noise, and wing and boundary layer shielding are examined
Projection-Based Local and Global Lipschitz Moduli of the Optimal Value in Linear Programming
In this paper, we use a geometrical approach to sharpen a lower bound given in [5] for the Lipschitz modulus of the optimal value of (finite) linear programs under tilt perturbations of the objective function. The key geometrical idea comes from orthogonally projecting general balls on linear subspaces. Our new lower bound provides a computable expression for the exact modulus (as far as it only depends on the nominal data) in two important cases: when the feasible set has extreme points and when we deal with the Euclidean norm. In these two cases, we are able to compute or estimate the global Lipschitz modulus of the optimal value function in different perturbations frameworks
Projection-based local and global Lipschitz moduli of the optimal value in linear programming
In this paper, we use a geometrical approach to sharpen a lower bound given in [5] for the Lipschitz modulus of the optimal value of (finite) linear programs under tilt perturbations of the objective function. The key geometrical idea comes from orthogonally projecting general balls on linear subspaces. Our new lower bound provides a computable expression for the exact modulus (as far as it only depends on the nominal data) in two important cases: when the feasible set has extreme points and when we deal with the Euclidean norm. In these two cases, we are able to compute or estimate the global Lipschitz modulus of the optimal value function in different perturbations frameworks.This research has been partially supported by Grants PGC2018-097960-B-C21 and
PID2020-116694GB-I00 from MICINN, Spain, and ERDF, ‘A way to make Europe,’ European Union
Pretherapeutic gamma-glutamyltransferase is an independent prognostic factor for patients with renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) regulates apoptotic balance and promotes cancer progression and invasion. Higher pretherapeutic GGT serum levels have been associated with worse outcomes in various malignancies, but there are no data for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
METHODS: Pretherapeutic GGT serum levels and clinicopathological parameters were retrospectively evaluated in 921 consecutive RCC patients treated with nephrectomy at a single institution between 1998 and 2013. Gamma-glutamyltransferase was analysed as continuous and categorical variable. Associations with RCC-specific survival were assessed with Cox proportional hazards models. Discrimination was measured with the C-index. Decision-curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical net benefit. The median postoperative follow-up was 45 months.
RESULTS: Median pretherapeutic serum GGT level was 25 U l(-1). Gamma-glutamyltransferase levels increased with advancing T (P<0.001), N (P=0.006) and M stages (P<0.001), higher grades (P<0.001), and presence of tumour necrosis (P<0.001). An increase of GGT by 10 U l(-1) was associated with an increase in the risk of death from RCC by 4% (HR 1.04, P<0.001). Based on recursive partitioning-based survival tree analysis, we defined four prognostic categories of GGT: normal low (<17.5 U l(-1)), normal high (17.5 to <34.5 U l(-1)), elevated (34.5 to <181.5 U l(-1)), and highly elevated (⩾181.5 U l(-1)). In multivariable analyses that adjusted for the effect of standard features, both continuously and categorically coded GGT were independent prognostic factors. Adding GGT to a model that included standard features increased the discrimination by 0.9% to 1.8% and improved the clinical net benefit.
CONCLUSIONS: Pretherapeutic serum GGT is a novel and independent prognostic factor for patients with RCC. Stratifying patients into prognostic subgroups according to GGT may be used for patient counselling, tailoring surveillance, individualised treatment planning, and clinical trial design
Calculus of Tangent Sets and Derivatives of Set Valued Maps under Metric Subregularity Conditions
In this paper we intend to give some calculus rules for tangent sets in the
sense of Bouligand and Ursescu, as well as for corresponding derivatives of
set-valued maps. Both first and second order objects are envisaged and the
assumptions we impose in order to get the calculus are in terms of metric
subregularity of the assembly of the initial data. This approach is different
from those used in alternative recent papers in literature and allows us to
avoid compactness conditions. A special attention is paid for the case of
perturbation set-valued maps which appear naturally in optimization problems.Comment: 17 page
Associations Between Presenting Symptoms, Clinicopathological Parameters, and Prognosis in a Contemporary Series of Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma
PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of presenting symptoms on survival in a contemporary series of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively recorded data on the presenting symptoms, pathology, and RCC-specific survival of 633 consecutive RCC patients who underwent surgery between 2003 and 2012.
RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-three RCCs (68%) were incidental, 111 (18%) were associated with local symptoms, and 89 (14%) were associated with systemic symptoms. Among those with incidental RCC, 317 patients (73%) were completely asymptomatic and 116 patients (27%) presented with symptoms not related to the tumor. During a median follow-up interval of 40 months (interquartile range: 39 to 69 months), 77 patients died from RCC. In univariate analyses, symptom classification was significantly associated with RCC-specific survival (p<0.001). Patients with incidental RCC and unrelated symptoms tended to have worse prognosis than did patients who were completely asymptomatic, although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.057). The symptom classification was associated with advanced TNM stages (p<0.001) and grade (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that presenting symptoms are associated with tumor characteristics and survival. The majority of RCCs are diagnosed incidentally in patients without any symptoms or with symptoms not related to RCC. Patients in the latter group tend to have a worse prognosis than do patients who are completely asymptomatic. With the increasing number of incidentally diagnosed RCCs, substratification of patients with incidental tumors may be prognostically relevant
A Computer-Assisted Uniqueness Proof for a Semilinear Elliptic Boundary Value Problem
A wide variety of articles, starting with the famous paper (Gidas, Ni and
Nirenberg in Commun. Math. Phys. 68, 209-243 (1979)) is devoted to the
uniqueness question for the semilinear elliptic boundary value problem
-{\Delta}u={\lambda}u+u^p in {\Omega}, u>0 in {\Omega}, u=0 on the boundary of
{\Omega}, where {\lambda} ranges between 0 and the first Dirichlet Laplacian
eigenvalue. So far, this question was settled in the case of {\Omega} being a
ball and, for more general domains, in the case {\lambda}=0. In (McKenna et al.
in J. Differ. Equ. 247, 2140-2162 (2009)), we proposed a computer-assisted
approach to this uniqueness question, which indeed provided a proof in the case
{\Omega}=(0,1)x(0,1), and p=2. Due to the high numerical complexity, we were
not able in (McKenna et al. in J. Differ. Equ. 247, 2140-2162 (2009)) to treat
higher values of p. Here, by a significant reduction of the complexity, we will
prove uniqueness for the case p=3
In Vivo and In Vitro Mechanical Loading of Mouse Achilles Tendons and Tenocytes—A Pilot Study
A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Protein Substitution in Human Burn Wounds
Objective: In major burn wounds of more than 15% total burn surface area mediator-associated reactions lead to capillary leak resulting in critical condition. Little is known about the efficiency of protein substitution. We quantified and qualified the systemic and local protein loss in burn patients during protein substitution, comparing fresh frozen plasma and the human serum protein solution Biseko. Methods: In 40 patients suffering from second-degree burn wounds with the total burn surface area between 20% and 60%, immediately after admission a defined wound surface area was enclosed with in a wound chamber. Wound fluid and serum samples were collected in 8 hour intervals for 2 days. Samples were analyzed for total protein, albumin, immunoglobulins -A, -G, -M, clotting parameters, c-reactive protein, and white blood cells. Protein substitution started 24 hour posttrauma. In a randomized pattern, patients received equal volumes of fresh frozen plasma or Biseko. Results: Total protein and albumin accumulated in high concentrations in wound fluid. With beginning of fresh frozen plasma substitution on day 2 posttrauma, serum total protein (1.7 g–3.9 g) and albumin (1.3 g–3.4 g) concentrations increased. Substitution of Biseko resulted in a stronger increase (serum total protein 1.8 g to 4.5 g, albumin 0.9 g to 3.4 g). Wound fluid concentrations revealed similar change patterns. Immunoglobulins showed higher serum levels in the Biseko group. C-reactive protein and white blood cell values indicated a lower immunological reaction in the Biseko group. Conclusions: Substitution of human protein solutions such as Biseko can result in significantly higher serum protein and albumin concentrations as well as lower infection parameters. Higher serum immunoglobulins could help to decrease potential immunodeficiency
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