Fluctuations and scaling in creep deformation

The spatial fluctuations of deformation are studied in creep in the Andrade's power-law and the logarithmic phases, using paper samples. Measurements by the Digital Image Correlation technique show that the relative strength of the strain rate fluctuations increases with time, in both creep regimes. In the Andrade creep phase characterized by a power law decay of the strain rate $\epsilon_t \sim t^{-\theta}$, with $\theta \approx 0.7$, the fluctuations obey $\Delta \epsilon_t \sim t^{-\gamma}$, with $\gamma \approx 0.5$. The local deformation follows a data collapse appropriate for an absorbing state/depinning transition. Similar behavior is found in a crystal plasticity model, with a jamming or yielding phase transition

Hematopoetic stem cell transplantation for solid tumors in Europe

Background: Hematopoetic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are discussed as treatment options for patients with solid tumors. Transplant numbers have changed substantially over the last decade, few controlled studies are available and different opinions prevail. Objective information on current practice is needed. Patients and methods: Data from 27 902 HSCT for solid tumors (2% allogeneic, 98% autologous), collected by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) activity survey from 1991 to 2002 were used to assess trends, transplant rates and coefficient of variation of transplant rates in Europe. Results: Transplant numbers increased from 536 in 1991 to 4154 in 1997 and decreased to 1913 in 2002. Indications were neuroblastoma (2504 HSCT; 9%), glioma (662 HSCT; 2%), soft tissue sarcoma (1253 HSCT; 4%), germ cell cancer (3291 HSCT; 12%), breast cancer (13 524 HSCT; 48%), Ewing's sarcoma (1896 HSCT; 7%), lung cancer (387 HSCT; 1%), ovarian cancer (845 HSCT; 3%) and other solid tumors (3540 HSCT; 14%). Allogeneic cells were used in <20 cases up to 1997; since then allogeneic HSCT increased to 159 in 2002, mainly for renal cell carcinoma. Low coefficients of variation in transplant rates (<60%) are observed for Ewing's sarcoma (<56.5%), suggesting consensus for this indication. Conclusions: These data give an overview on current practice of HSCT for solid tumors in Europe. They provide objective information for health-care providers and patient counsellin

Secondary acute leukemia following mitoxantrone-based high-dose chemotherapy for primary breast cancer patients

n/

Group memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: a feasibility randomized controlled trial

Objective: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a group memory rehabilitation programme combining compensation and restitution strategies. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Community. Participants: People with multiple sclerosis who reported memory difficulties were recruited. Interventions: A group memory rehabilitation programme, comprising ten 1.5-hour sessions, was compared with a waiting list control. Main measures: The primary outcome was the Everyday Memory Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included the General Health Questionnaire 28 and MS Impact Scale administered four and eight months after randomization. In addition, those in the intervention group gave feedback about the intervention. Results: Forty-eight participants were recruited. They were aged 34–72 years (mean 54.3, SD 11.0) and 33 (69%) were women. There were no significant differences between the two groups on the Everyday Memory Questionnaire or MS Impact Scale (P > 0.05) at four or eight months after randomization. However, the intervention group reported significantly better mood than controls on the GHQ-28 at eight months (P = 0.04). Participants showed minimal benefit from the memory rehabilitation programme on quantitative measures but the intervention was well received, as indicated by positive feedback at the end of the intervention. Conclusions: There was no significant effect of the intervention on memory but there was a significant effect on mood. The results suggest a larger scale study is justified

Second-line high-dose chemotherapy in patients with mediastinal and retroperitoneal primary non-seminomatous germ cell tumors: the EBMT experience

Background: Results of second-line chemotherapy in patients with extragonadal non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) appear inferior to results in testicular NSGCT. Patients with retroperitoneal NSGCT achieve a comparable long-term survival rate of 30%, but the salvage rates of patients with mediastinal primary are less than 10%. We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients with mediastinal and retroperitoneal NSGCT treated with second-line high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) registered with the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Patients and methods: Between 1987 and 1999, 59 registered patients with retroperitoneal (n=37) and mediastinal (n=22) primary NSGCT, median age 28 years (range 18-60), were treated with second-line HDCT. All had received cisplatin-containing chemotherapy as first-line treatment. Results: Toxic death occurred in three cases (5%). With a median follow-up of 58 months (range 14-114), 18/59 patients (30%) continue to be disease-free. Of three patients who had a disease recurrence after HDCT, one patient achieved a disease-free status with further chemotherapy and surgery. In total, 19 patients (32%) are currently disease-free. Sixteen of 37 patients (43%) with retroperitoneal NSGCT, and three of 22 patients (14%) with mediastinal NSGCT are currently alive and disease-free. Conclusions: Second-line HDCT might represent a possible option for patients with retroperitoneal primary NSGCT. New salvage strategies are needed for patients with mediastinal NSGC

Numerical Simulation of a Passive Control of the Flow Around an Aerofoil Using a Flexible, Self Adaptive Flaplet

© 2018 The Author(s) Self-activated feathers are used by almost all birds to adapt their wing characteristics to delay stall or to moderate its adverse effects (e.g., during landing or sudden increase in angle of attack due to gusts). Some of the feathers are believed to pop up as a consequence of flow separation and to interact with the flow and produce beneficial modifications of the unsteady vorticity field. The use of self adaptive flaplets in aircrafts, inspired by birds feathers, requires the understanding of the physical mechanisms leading to the mentioned aerodynamic benefits and the determination of the characteristics of optimal flaps including their size, positioning and ideal fabrication material. In this framework, this numerical study is divided in two parts. Firstly, in a simplified scenario, we determine the main characteristics that render a flap mounted on an aerofoil at high angle of attack able to deliver increased lift and improved aerodynamic efficiency, by varying its length, position and its natural frequency. Later on, a detailed direct numerical simulation analysis is used to understand the origin of the aerodynamic benefits introduced by the flaplet movement induced by the interaction with the flow field. The parametric study that has been carried out, reveals that an optimal flap can deliver a mean lift increase of about 20% on a NACA0020 aerofoil at an incidence of 20 o degrees. The results obtained from the direct numerical simulation of the flow field around the aerofoil equipped with the optimal flap at a chord Reynolds number of 2 × 10 4 shows that the flaplet movement is mainly induced by a cyclic passage of a large recirculation bubble on the aerofoil suction side. In turns, when the flap is pushed downward, the induced plane jet displaces the trailing edge vortices further downstream, away from the wing, moderating the downforce generated by those vortices and regularising the shedding cycle that appears to be much more organised when the optimal flaplet configuration is selected

Salvage high-dose chemotherapy in female patients with relapsed/refractory germ-cell tumors: A retrospective analysis of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Background: High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation is a standard option for relapsed/refractory testicular germ-cell tumor (GCT), but only few data have been reported in female patients with GCT. We conducted a retrospective analysis of female patients with GCT treated with HDC and registered with the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Patients and methods: Between 1985 and 2013, 60 registered female patients with GCT, median age 27 years (range 15-48), were treated with salvage HDC. Forty patients (67%) had primary ovarian GCT, 8 (13%) mediastinal, 7 (12%) retroperitoneal and 5 (8%) other primary sites/unknown. Twenty-two patients (37%) received HDC as second-line therapy, 29 (48%) as third-line, and 9 (15%) as fourth- to sixth-line. Nine of 60 patients (15%) received HDC as late-intensification with no evidence of metastasis before HDC. The conditioning HDC regimens comprised carboplatin in 51 of 60 cases (85%), and consisted of a single HDC cycle in 31 cases (52%), a multi-cycle HDC regimen in 29 (48%). Results: Nine cases who underwent late intensification HDC were not evaluable for response. Of the other 51 assessable patients, 17 (33%) achieved a complete response (CR), 8 (16%) a marker-negative partial remission (PRm-), 5 (10%) a marker-positive partial remission, 5 (10%) stable disease, and 13 (25%) progressive disease. There were 3 toxic deaths (6%). With an overall median follow-up of 14 months (range 1-219), 7 of 9 (78%) patients with late intensification and 18 of the 25 patients (72%) achieving a CR/PRm- following HDC were free of relapse/progression. In total, 25 of 60 patients (42%) were progression-free following HDC at a median follow-up of 87 months (range 3-219 months). Conclusions: Salvage HDC based on carboplatin represents a therapeutic option for female patients with relapsed/refractory GCT

Personalizing, not patronizing: the case for patient autonomy by unbiased presentation of management options in stage I testicular cancer

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common neoplasm in males aged 15 to 40 years and approximately 65%-75% have clinical stage I (CSI) disease. Both surveillance and adjuvant chemotherapy may be applied with indistinguishable long-term survival rates. Therefore, the patient should decide based on risk factors and potential benefits and harms rather than adopting a uniform recommendation for al