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A comparison of stage-specific all-cause mortality between testicular sex cord stromal tumors and germ cell tumors: results from the National Cancer Database.
BackgroundTesticular sex cord stromal tumors (SCSTs) are managed similarly to germ cell tumors (GCTs); however, few studies have directly compared outcomes between these tumor types. Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we sought to compare overall and stage-specific all-cause mortality (ACM) between SCSTs versus GCTs.MethodsNCDB was queried for patients diagnosed with SCSTs and GCTs between 2004 and 2013. Descriptive statistics were used to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between groups. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess associations with ACM.ResultsWe identified 42,192 patients diagnosed with testicular cancer between 2004 and 2013, with 280 having SCSTs and 41,912 patients having GCTs. Median age for SCSTs and GCTs was 45 (interquartile range [IQR] 34-59) and 34 (IQR 27-43), respectively (p < 0.001). Median follow-up was 39 and 52 months, respectively. Overall, patients with SCSTs had greater risk of ACM compared to those with GCTs (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.14-2.50). Private insurance, greater education, and fewer comorbidities were associated with reduced risk of ACM (p < 0.05 for all). Among those with stage I disease, tumor type was not associated with ACM on multivariable analysis. Among those with stage II/III disease, patients with SCSTs had increased risk of ACM compared to patients with GCTs (HR 3.29, 95% CI 1.89-5.72).ConclusionsPatients with advanced SCSTs had worse survival outcomes compared to those with advanced GCTs. These data suggest a need for further investigation to ascertain effective management recommendations for SCSTs
Electronic structure and optical properties of ZnX (X=O, S, Se, Te)
Electronic band structure and optical properties of zinc monochalcogenides
with zinc-blende- and wurtzite-type structures were studied using the ab initio
density functional method within the LDA, GGA, and LDA+U approaches.
Calculations of the optical spectra have been performed for the energy range
0-20 eV, with and without including spin-orbit coupling. Reflectivity,
absorption and extinction coefficients, and refractive index have been computed
from the imaginary part of the dielectric function using the Kramers--Kronig
transformations. A rigid shift of the calculated optical spectra is found to
provide a good first approximation to reproduce experimental observations for
almost all the zinc monochalcogenide phases considered. By inspection of the
calculated and experimentally determined band-gap values for the zinc
monochalcogenide series, the band gap of ZnO with zinc-blende structure has
been estimated.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure
A bound on 6D N=1 supergravities
We prove that there are only finitely many distinct semi-simple gauge groups
and matter representations possible in consistent 6D chiral (1,0) supergravity
theories with one tensor multiplet. The proof relies only on features of the
low-energy theory; the consistency conditions we impose are that anomalies
should be cancelled by the Green-Schwarz mechanism, and that the kinetic terms
for all fields should be positive in some region of moduli space. This result
does not apply to the case of the non-chiral (1,1) supergravities, which are
not constrained by anomaly cancellation.Comment: 23 pages, no figures; two paragraphs added to the proof in Appendix A
covering the SU(2) and SU(3) case, other minor correction
Two-qubit parametric amplifier: large amplification of weak signals
Using numerical simulations, we show that two coupled qubits can amplify a
weak signal about hundredfold. This can be achieved if the two qubits are
biased simultaneously by this weak signal and a strong pump signal, both of
which having frequencies close to the inter-level transitions in the system.
The weak signal strongly affects the spectrum generated by the strong pumping
drive by producing and controlling mixed harmonics with amplitudes of the order
of the main harmonic of the strong drive. We show that the amplification is
robust with respect to noise, with an intensity of the order of the weak
signal. When deviating from the optimal regime (corresponding to strong qubit
coupling and a weak-signal frequency equal to the inter-level transition
frequency) the proposed amplifier becomes less efficient, but it can still
considerably enhance a weak signal (by several tens). We therefore propose to
use coupled qubits as a combined parametric amplifier and frequency shifter.Comment: 6 figure
Charge Lattices and Consistency of 6D Supergravity
We extend the known consistency conditions on the low-energy theory of
six-dimensional N = 1 supergravity. We review some facts about the theory of
two-form gauge fields and conclude that the charge lattice Gamma for such a
theory has to be self-dual. The Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation conditions
in the supergravity theory determine a sublattice of Gamma. The condition that
this sublattice can be extended to a self-dual lattice Gamma leads to a strong
constraint on theories that otherwise appear to be self-consistent.Comment: 15 pages. v2: minor changes; references, additional example added;
v3: minor corrections and clarifications added, JHEP versio
Mapping 6D N = 1 supergravities to F-theory
We develop a systematic framework for realizing general anomaly-free chiral
6D supergravity theories in F-theory. We focus on 6D (1, 0) models with one
tensor multiplet whose gauge group is a product of simple factors (modulo a
finite abelian group) with matter in arbitrary representations. Such theories
can be decomposed into blocks associated with the simple factors in the gauge
group; each block depends only on the group factor and the matter charged under
it. All 6D chiral supergravity models can be constructed by gluing such blocks
together in accordance with constraints from anomalies. Associating a geometric
structure to each block gives a dictionary for translating a supergravity model
into a set of topological data for an F-theory construction. We construct the
dictionary of F-theory divisors explicitly for some simple gauge group factors
and associated matter representations. Using these building blocks we analyze a
variety of models. We identify some 6D supergravity models which do not map to
integral F-theory divisors, possibly indicating quantum inconsistency of these
6D theories.Comment: 37 pages, no figures; v2: references added, minor typos corrected;
v3: minor corrections to DOF counting in section
On parity functions in conformal field theories
We examine general aspects of parity functions arising in rational conformal
field theories, as a result of Galois theoretic properties of modular
transformations. We focus more specifically on parity functions associated with
affine Lie algebras, for which we give two efficient formulas. We investigate
the consequences of these for the modular invariance problem.Comment: 18 pages, no figure, LaTeX2
Limit analysis of loaded out-of-plane rubble masonry : a case study in Portugal
An integrated methodology for the characterization of the response of rubble
masonry is presented. The behaviour at collapse of a wall belonging to the
GuimarĂŁes castle (Portugal) is investigated through a rigid-plastic homogenization
procedure, accounting both for the actual disposition of the blocks constituting the
walls and texture irregularity, given by the variability of block dimensions.
A detailed survey is conducted by means of a photogrammetric technique, allowing
for a precise characterization of blocks dimensions and disposition. After a
geometric simplification assuming mortar joints reduced to interfaces, homogenized
masonry in- and out-of-plane strength domains are evaluated on a number of
different representing elements of volume (RVEs) having different sizes and
sampled on the walls of the castle. Strength domains are obtained using a finite
element (FE) limit analysis with a heterogeneous discretization by triangles and
interfaces.
Finally, a series of limit analyses are carried out on the façade for the safety
assessment under seismic loads by means of two numerical models, the first one
being a heterogeneous model and the second a homogenized approach. The
reliability of the results, in terms of limit load and failure mechanism, provided by
the homogenized model, when compared to the heterogeneous one is satisfactory.(undefined
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