Treatment Patterns and Health Resource Utilization Among Patients Diagnosed With Early Stage Resected Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer at US Community Oncology Practices

AbstractBackgroundPlatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy has extended survival in clinical trials in patients with completely resected non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There are few data on the use of adjuvant therapy in community-based clinical practice in the United States.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study using electronic medical record and billing data collected during routine care at US community oncology sites in the Vector Oncology Data Warehouse between January 2007 and January 2014. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a primary diagnosis of stage IB to IIIA NSCLC were eligible if they had undergone surgical resection. Treatment patterns, health care resource use, and cost were recorded, stratified by stage at diagnosis.ResultsThe study included 609 patients (mean age, 64.8 years, 52.9% male), of whom 215 had stage IB disease, 130 stage IIA/II, 110 stage IIB, and 154 stage IIIA. Adjuvant systemic therapy after resection was provided to 345 (56.7%) of 609 patients, with lower use in patients with stage IB disease (39.1%) than stage II to IIIA disease (64.9-68.2%) (P < .0001). The most common adjuvant regimen at all stages was the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel. There were no statistically significant differences in office visits or incidence of hospitalization by disease stage. During adjuvant treatment, the total monthly median cost per patient was $17,389.75 (interquartile range,$8,815.61 to $23,360.85).ConclusionAdjuvant systemic therapy was used in some patients with stage IB NSCLC and in the majority of patients with stage IIA to IIIA disease. There were few differences in regimen or health care resource use by disease stage

Strain transfer and partitioning between the Panamint Valley, Searles Valley, and Ash Hill fault zones, California

We report new geologic and geomorphic observations that bear on the interpretation of connectivity and strain transfer among the Panamint Valley, Searles Valley, and Ash Hill fault zones, southern Walker Lane belt of California. Although these faults partition strain regionally onto dominantly normal and strike-slip structures, strain transfer occurs in a complex way not typical of linked strike-slip and extensional faults. The Searles Valley fault (W-directed normal fault) transfers slip onto the Panamint Valley zone, which changes from dominantly NNW-trending dextral strike-slip to more normal motion where they join. The Ash Hill fault (mostly right-lateral strike slip) transfers strain into the northern continuation of the Searles Valley zone, via a complex array of hanging-wall normal and strike-slip faults. These complex interactions, based on the age of structurally offset markers, appear to be stable over~105 years

Effect of mutual coupling on torque production in switched reluctance motors

In many cases, the normal operation of switched reluctance machines requires excitation of two or more phases simultaneously. When multiple phases are conducting simultaneously, the flux paths from each phase will overlap, which may lead to localized saturation. In such cases, the flux linkage must be considered a function not just of the current in the test winding but of all excited windings. The degree of mutual coupling between phases influences the per-phase magnetization curves and torque characteristics. In machines with even phase numbers, the degree of mutual coupling between phases varies due to discontinuities in the phase polarity arrangement. From nonlinear finite element simulations, it is possible to compare the i - loop diagrams under single-phase and multiphase excitations, and hence the torque produced. The mutual flux linkage from each phase can be calculated separately for each rotor position using the frozen permeability method, to further analyze the mutual coupling effects. For a given excitation current profile, the torque can be maximized by careful arrangement of the phase polarities

Rhipicephalus aquatilis sp. nov. (Acari: Ixodidae), a new tick species parasitic mainly on the sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekei, in East and Central Africa

This tick, originally referred to as Rhipicephalus species Ill by Yeoman & Walker (1967), was first collected from a sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekei, and then occasionally from cattle, in Tanzania. Further collections, mostly from sitatunga, have since been seen from Uganda and Zambia. Descriptions of the adults of this species are given, together with information on their hosts and their distribution.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.mn201

Rhipicephalus interventus sp. nov. (Acari: Ixodidae), a new tick species closely related to Rhipicephalus tricuspis Dönitz, 1906 and Rhipicephalus lunulatus Neumann, 1907, from East and Central Africa

Descriptions of the adults of this new species are given, together with information on its hosts and distribution. Previously it was referred to briefly by Walker, Keirans, Pegram & Clifford (1988), who noted that in many respects it is intermediate in appearance between R. tricuspis and R. lunulatus.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.mn201

Ixodes (Afrixodes) bakeri Authur & Cliford, 1961 (Acarina : Ixodidae): description of the male and immature stages from rodents and insectivores and notes on its biology in South Africa

The male, nymph and larva of Ixodes (A.) bakeri are described and illustrated with line drawings and scanning electron microscope photographs. This species was originally described from 1 female from Otomys sp., Nyika Plateau, Malawi. The present material consists of 28 collections from insectivores and 19 collections from rodents, Van Riebeeck Nature Reserve, Transvaal, plus 1 collection from a rodent in the Jonkershoek Valley, Cape Province, Republic of South Africa. Its biology in South Africa is also discussed.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to final presentyation PDF-Format

Ixodes (Afrixodes) neitzi, n. sp. (Acarina :Ixo didae) from the mountain reedbuck in South Africa

Ixodes (Afrixodes) neitzi n. sp. is described from females and males collected from the mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. Information is provided to distinguish this new species from other closely related Ixodes species that occur in the Ethiopian region. Its predilection sites are noted and the area in which it occurs is described briefly.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Clarification of the status of Rhipicephalus kochi Dönitz, 1905 (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae)

Figures of the types of Rhipicephalus kochi, and of its synonym Rhipicephalus neavei Warburton, 1912, are presented. These are accompanied by complete descriptions of all stages of R. kochi, illustrated with scanning electron microscope photographs. The basic differences between this species, Rhipicephalus pravus Dönitz, 1910 and Rhipicephalus punctatus Warburton, 1912 are outlined. R. kochi occurs south of the Equator in parts of eastern, central and southern Africa. Its adults feed most commonly on cattle, various antelopes and wild pigs, and on hares. Little is known about the hosts of the immature stages; nymphae have been recorded in a field collection once only, from Petrodromus tetradactylus, the 4-toed elephant shrew.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format