Childhood intelligence predicts premature mortality : Results from a 40-year population-based longitudinal study

Acknowledgements This study was supported by a grant from the Luxembourg Fonds National de la Recherche (VIVRE FNR/06/09/18) and a PhD scholarship awarded to the first author by the Fonds National de la Recherche.Peer reviewedPostprin

Quantum control of electron--phonon scatterings in artificial atoms

The phonon-induced dephasing dynamics in optically excited semiconductor quantum dots is studied within the frameworks of the independent Boson model and optimal control. We show that appropriate tailoring of laser pulses allows a complete control of the optical excitation despite the phonon dephasing, a finding in marked contrast to other environment couplings.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Optimal quantum control in nanostructures: Theory and application to generic three-level system

Coherent carrier control in quantum nanostructures is studied within the framework of Optimal Control. We develop a general solution scheme for the optimization of an external control (e.g., lasers pulses), which allows to channel the system's wavefunction between two given states in its most efficient way; physically motivated constraints, such as limited laser resources or population suppression of certain states, can be accounted for through a general cost functional. Using a generic three-level scheme for the quantum system, we demonstrate the applicability of our approach and identify the pertinent calculation and convergence parameters.Comment: 7 pages; to appear in Phys. Rev.

Adjuvant low-dose interferon α2a with or without dacarbazine compared with surgery alone: a prospective-randomized phase III DeCOG trial in melanoma patients with regional lymph node metastasis

Background: More than half of patients with melanoma that has spread to regional lymph nodes develop recurrent disease within the first 3 years after surgery. The aim of the study was to improve disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) with interferon (IFN) α2a with or without dacarbazine (DTIC) compared with observation alone. Patients and methods: A total of 444 patients from 42 centers of the German Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group who had received a complete lymph node dissection for pathologically proven regional node involvement were randomized to receive either 3 MU s.c. of IFNα2a three times a week for 2 years (Arm A) or combined treatment with same doses of IFNα2a plus DTIC 850 mg/m2 every 4-8 weeks for 2 years (Arm B) or to observation alone (Arm C). Treatment was discontinued at first sign of relapse. Results: A total of 441 patients were eligible for intention-to-treat analysis. Kaplan-Meier 4-year OS rate of those who had received IFNα2a was 59%. For those with surgery alone, survival was 42% (A versus C, P = 0.0045). No improvement of survival was found for the combined treatment Arm B with 45% survival rate (B versus C, P = 0.76). Similarly, DFS rates showed significant benefit for Arm A, and not for Arm B. Multivariate Cox model confirmed that Arm A has an impact on OS (P = 0.005) but not Arm B (P = 0.34). Conclusions: 3 MU interferon α2a given s.c. three times a week for 2 years significantly improved OS and DFS in patients with melanoma that had spread to the regional lymph nodes. Interestingly, the addition of DTIC reversed the beneficial effect of adjuvant interferon α2a therap

Glioblastoma in the oldest old: Clinical characteristics, therapy, and outcome in patients aged 80 years and older

Background: Incidence rates of glioblastoma in very old patients are rising. The standard of care for this cohort is only partially defined and survival remains poor. The aims of this study were to reveal current practice of tumor-specific therapy and supportive care, and to identify predictors for survival in this cohort. Methods: Patients aged 80 years or older at the time of glioblastoma diagnosis were retrospectively identified in 6 clinical centers in Switzerland and France. Demographics, clinical parameters, and survival outcomes were annotated from patient charts. Cox proportional hazards modeling was performed to identify parameters associated with survival. Results: Of 107 patients, 45 were diagnosed by biopsy, 30 underwent subtotal resection, and 25 had gross total resection. In 7 patients, the extent of resection was not specified. Postoperatively, 34 patients did not receive further tumor-specific treatment. Twelve patients received radiotherapy with concomitant temozolomide, but only 2 patients had maintenance temozolomide therapy. Fourteen patients received temozolomide alone, 35 patients received radiotherapy alone, 1 patient received bevacizumab, and 1 took part in a clinical trial. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.3 months and median overall survival (OS) was 4.2 months. Among patients who received any postoperative treatment, median PFS was 3.9 months and median OS was 7.2 months. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥70%, gross total resection, and combination therapy were associated with better outcomes. The median time spent hospitalized was 30 days, accounting for 23% of the median OS. End-of-life care was mostly provided by nursing homes (n = 20; 32%) and palliative care wards (n = 16; 26%). Conclusions: In this cohort of very old patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, a large proportion was treated with best supportive care. Treatment beyond surgery and, in particular, combined modality treatment were associated with longer OS and may be considered for selected patients even at higher ages

Familienleitbilder 2016: Methodenbericht zur 2. Welle

In den Jahren 2012 und 2016 führte TNS Infratest Sozialforschung im Auftrag des Bundesinstituts für Bevölkerungsforschung (BiB) in Wiesbaden Erhebungen zum Thema "Familienleitbilder in Deutschland" durch. Untersuchungsgegenstand sind kulturelle Leitbilder im Kontext von Familie, also subjektive und kollektiv geteilte Vorstellungen von bspw. einer "normalen Familie", einer "guten Partnerschaft", dem "richtigen Alter" zum Heiraten, der idealen Kinderzahl oder von Elternschaft. Grundgesamtheit ist die Wohnbevölkerung Deutschlands im Alter von 20 bis 39 Jahren. Für diese Population wurde auf Basis des Dual-Frame-Ansatzes (unter Einbezug von Mobilfunk-Telefonnummern) eine repräsentative Stichprobe gezogen und mittels CATI-Verfahren telefonisch interviewt. Befragt wurden 5.000 Personen im Zeitraum vom 27. August bis zum 15. November 2012. Ein Interview dauerte durchschnittlich etwa eine halbe Stunde. In der zweiten Erhebungswelle 2016 sollten möglichst viele dieser Zielpersonen erneut befragt werden. Kurzbefragungen in den Zwischenjahren 2013 und 2014 dienten dazu, das Panel stabil zu halten. Im Jahr 2016 konnten daher insgesamt 1.835 Personen erneut befragt werden. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, den Einfluss von normativ-kulturellen Leitbildern auf das generative Verhalten, Partnerschaften, die Rollen von Müttern und Vätern und andere Phänomene des Familienlebens zu analysieren. Durch das Längsschnittdesign soll untersucht werden, wie stabil Familienleitbilder im Lebensverlauf sind und welche Faktoren zu Änderungen beitragen. Außerdem soll geklärt werden, welchen Einfluss Familienleitbilder auf Familienformen, -entwicklungsverläufe und das Geburtenverhalten nehmen. Der vorliegende Bericht dokumentiert unter methodischen Aspekten die Feldarbeit der zweiten Erhebungswelle von der Finalisierung des Erhebungsinstrumentes mittels Pretest über die Bildung der Bruttostichprobe, die Realisierung der Interviews bis hin zu Gewichtung und Datenaufbereitung.In the years 2012 and 2016 TNS Infratest Sozialforschung conducted surveys on the subject of "Familienleitbilder in Germany" on behalf of the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) based in Wiesbaden. The study focuses on cultural leitbilder in the context of family issues, such as subjective and collectively shared conceptions for instance of a "normal" family, a "good" relationship, the "best" age to get married, the ideal number of children and of parenthood. The statistical population refers to the resident population of Germany between the ages of 20 and 39 years. For this population, a representative sample was generated on the basis of the dual-frame approach (inclusive of mobile phone numbers) and telephone interviews were conducted according to the CATI-method. 5,000 persons were interviewed in the time period between 27 August and 15 November 2012. An interview lasted approximately half an hour on the average. In the second wave collected in 2016 as many as possible of these subjects had to be interviewed again. Short surveys in the interim years 2013 and 2014 served to keep the panel stable. Hence, in 2016 it was possible to interview all in all 1,835 persons again. The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of normative-cultural leitbilder on generative behavior, relationships, parental roles and other phenomena of family life. The panel design of the study is intended to investigate the stability of family leitbilder in the life course and the factors that contribute to changes. Furthermore, the study is designed to explain the impact of family leitbilder on family structures, family developments and generative behavior. The report on hand documents in methodological terms the field phase of the second wave starting with the completion of the survey instrument by means of pretest, followed by the selection of the gross sample, implementation of the interviews, weighting and culminating in data processing

The EORTC-DeCOG nomogram adequately predicts outcomes of patients with sentinel node-positive melanoma without the need for completion lymph node dissection

Purpose: Based on recent advances in the management of patients with sentinel node (SN)–positive melanoma, we aimed to develop prediction models for recurrence, distant metastasis (DM) and overall mortality (OM). Methods: The derivation cohort consisted of 1080 patients with SN-positive melanoma from nine European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) centres. Prognostic factors for recurrence, DM and OM were studied with Cox regression analysis. Significant factors were incorporated in the models. Performance was assessed by discrimination (c-index) and calibration in cross-validation across centres. The models were externally validated using a prospective cohort consisting of 705 German patients with SN-positive: 473 trial participants of the German Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group study (DeCOG-SLT) and 232 screened patients. A nomogram was developed for graphical presentation. Results: The final model for recurrence and the calibrated models for DM and OM included ulceration, age, SN tumour burden and Breslow thickness. The models showed reasonable calibration. The c-index for the recurrence, DM and OM model was 0.68, 0.70 and 0.70, respectively, and 0.70, 0.72 and 0.74, respectively, in external validation. The EORTC-DeCOG model identified a robust low-risk group, with all identified low-risk patients (approximately 4% of the entire population) having a 5-year recurrence probability of <25% and an overall 5-year recurrence rate of 13%. A model including information on completion lymph node dissection (CLND) showed only marginal improvement in model performance. Conclusions: The EORTC-DeCOG nomogram provides an adequate prognostic tool for patients with SN-positive melanoma, without the need for CLND. It showed consistent results across validation. The nomogram could be used for patient counselling and might aid in adjuvant therapy decision-making