Impacts of employment status, partnership, cancer type, and surgical treatment on health-related quality of life in irradiated head and neck cancer survivors

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sociodemographic and clinical variables in survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy, with or without surgery. Materials and Methods: HRQoL was measured using the functional assessment of cancer therapy—head and neck (FACT-H&N) in a cross-sectional survey involving 150 patients. Of these, 60 had nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), treated exclusively with radiotherapy, while 90 had oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OSCC), undergoing radical surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Key variables included cancer type, age, gender, partnership status, education, and employment, with additional clinical variables assessed in patients with OSCC. Statistical analyses included multiple regression, ANOVA, and t-tests to explore relationships between variables and HRQoL. Results: Cancer type, surgical treatment, and employment status emerged as significant independent predictors of HRQoL in HNC patients. Patients with NPC reported better HRQoL on three FACT-H&N subscales—social/family well-being, functional well-being, and additional concerns—compared to patients with OSCC. Unemployed individuals exhibited lower HRQoL on four subscales. In patients with OSCC, partnership status and segmental mandibulectomy were found to predict HRQoL independently. Conclusions: This study concludes that cancer type, surgical intervention, and employment status notably influence HRQoL among HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy. In addition, partnership status is a key factor affecting HRQoL in patients with OSCC

Reconstruction of primary vertices at the ATLAS experiment in Run 1 proton–proton collisions at the LHC

This paper presents the method and performance of primary vertex reconstruction in proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 1 of the LHC. The studies presented focus on data taken during 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of √s=8 TeV. The performance has been measured as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing over a wide range, from one to seventy. The measurement of the position and size of the luminous region and its use as a constraint to improve the primary vertex resolution are discussed. A longitudinal vertex position resolution of about 30μm is achieved for events with high multiplicity of reconstructed tracks. The transverse position resolution is better than 20μm and is dominated by the precision on the size of the luminous region. An analytical model is proposed to describe the primary vertex reconstruction efficiency as a function of the number of interactions per bunch crossing and of the longitudinal size of the luminous region. Agreement between the data and the predictions of this model is better than 3% up to seventy interactions per bunch crossing

Advances in theory, data analysis, and application of the age-stage, two-sex life table for demographic research, biological control, and pest management

This paper reviews and introduces innovative research pertaining to the age-stage, two-sex life table. The main topics discussed are: (1) Analysis of data involving group-reared life table studies. We address the rationale behind the data analysis used when constructing a group-reared life table. Proper analysis of grouped-reared life table data enables the collection of realistic and applicable data for ecological studies, devising efficient mass-rearing programs and formulating pest management routines using time- and labor-saving group-rearing methods. (2) The bootstrap-match technique. This novel technique is applicable to those instances when constructing a complete life table involves collecting the immature independently from the adult data. (3) Application of the set theory in life table research. This procedure enables a mathematical description of the population structure and bootstrap samples. (4) Application of the multinomial theorem. Using the multinomial theorem enables calculation of the exact probability of bootstrap samples. (5) Inclusion of infertile bootstrap samples. Because it is impossible to calculate the intrinsic rates of increase for infertile samples, they are normally omitted in life table analysis. Inclusion of these infertile bootstrap samples produces an unbiased life table analysis. (6) The Cartesian product. The Cartesian product of two sets produces the complete coverage of all possible differences. We compared the paired bootstrap test, the Cartesian paired test based on bootstrap results, and the Cartesian paired test based on the multinomial theorem. (7) Integration of life table data with predation data. This procedure, which is especially relevant to biological control programs, enables a comprehensive study of the predator-prey relationship. (8) Computer simulation based on life tables. Population projection based on the age-stage, two-sex life table not only provides the means to predict the dynamics of stage structures of a given pest population, but also provides an insight into the dynamics of predation capacity of the predator population. (9) Problems in life table research. Each of the subjects discussed is crucial for the theoretical advancement and practical applications of scientific demographic research.Fil: Chi, Hsin. Shandong Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Kavousi, Aurang. University Of Zanjan; IránFil: Gharekhani, Gholamhossein. University Of Maragheh; IránFil: Atlihan, Remzi. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University; TurquíaFil: Salih Özgökçe, Mehmet. Ordu University; TurquíaFil: Güncan, Ali. Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University; TurquíaFil: Gökçe, Ayhan. Ordu University; TurquíaFil: Smith, Cecil L.. University Of Georgia Athens; Estados UnidosFil: Benelli, Giovanni. University Of Pisa; ItaliaFil: Guedes, Raul Narciso C.. Universidade Federal de Viçosa.; BrasilFil: Amir Maafi, Masood. Iranian Research Institute Of Plant Protection; IránFil: Shirazi, Jalal. Urmia University; IránFil: Taghizadeh, Roya. University Of Kurdistan; IránFil: Maroufpoor, Mostafa. Fujian Academy Of Agriculture Sciences; ChinaFil: Xu, Yong Yu. University, Shaanxi; ChinaFil: Zheng, Fang Qiang. Shandong Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Ye, Bao Hua. Shandong Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Chen, Zhen Zhen. Shandong Agricultural University; ChinaFil: You, Min Sheng. Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Science; ChinaFil: Fu, Jian Wei. Ryutsu Keizai University; JapónFil: Li, Jian Yu. Bangladesh Agricultural University; BangladeshFil: Shi, Meng Zhu. University Of Chile; ChileFil: Hu, Zu Qing. Mahasarakham University; TailandiaFil: Zheng, Chang Ying. Cairo University; EgiptoFil: Luo, Lan. Crop Research Institute.; República ChecaFil: Yuan, Zhong Lin. Fujian Academy Of Agriculture Sciences; ChinaFil: Zang, Lian Sheng. Qingdao Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Chen, Yong Ming. Qingdao Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Tuan, Shu Jen. Qingdao Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Lin, Ya Ying. Qingdao Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Wang, Hai Hong. Qingdao Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Gotoh, Tetsuo. Qingdao Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Shaef Ullah, Mohammad. Bangladesh Agricultural University; BangladeshFil: Botto Mahan, Carezza. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: De Bona, Sophie. Faculty Of Sciences; ChileFil: Bussaman, Prapassorn. Mahasarakham University; TailandiaFil: Gabre, Refaat M.. Cairo University; EgiptoFil: Saska, Pavel. Group Functional Diversity Of Invertebrates And Plants; República ChecaFil: Schneider, Marcela Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Ullah, Farman. Crop Research Institute; República ChecaFil: Desneux, Nicolas. Université Côte Dazur; Franci

Global pattern, trend, and cross-country inequality of early musculoskeletal disorders from 1990 to 2019, with projection from 2020 to 2050

BackgroundThis study aims to estimate the burden, trends, forecasts, and disparities of early musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders among individuals ages 15 to 39 years. MethodsThe global prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), projection, and inequality were estimated for early MSK diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), low back pain (LBP), neck pain (NP), gout, and other MSK diseases (OMSKDs). FindingsMore adolescents and young adults were expected to develop MSK disorders by 2050. Across five age groups, the rates of prevalence, YLDs, and DALYs for RA, NP, LBP, gout, and OMSKDs sharply increased from ages 15–19 to 35–39; however, these were negligible for OA before age 30 but increased notably at ages 30–34, rising at least 6-fold by 35–39. The disease burden of gout, LBP, and OA attributable to high BMI and gout attributable to kidney dysfunction increased, while the contribution of smoking to LBP and RA and occupational ergonomic factors to LBP decreased. Between 1990 and 2019, the slope index of inequality increased for six MSK disorders, and the relative concentration index increased for gout, NP, OA, and OMSKDs but decreased for LBP and RA. ConclusionsMultilevel interventions should be initiated to prevent disease burden related to RA, NP, LBP, gout, and OMSKDs among individuals ages 15–19 and to OA among individuals ages 30–34 to tightly control high BMI and kidney dysfunction. FundingThe Global Burden of Disease study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is funded by the Scientific Research Fund of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital (2022QN38).This study was produced as part of the GBD Collaborator Network and in accordance with the GBD Protocol (IHME ID: 4241-GBD2019). For GBD studies, a waiver of informed consent was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Washington. The Global Burden of Disease study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is funded by the Scientific Research Fund of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital (2022QN38). Y.J. and C.G. were joint first authors who contributed equally to the manuscript. L.-s.T. and D.W. were joint senior authors. Y.J., C.G., L.-s.T., and D.W. were writing authors of the manuscript