Hepatic Function during Repeated TACE Procedures and Prognosis after Introducing Sorafenib in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Multicenter Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 602-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Hiraoka ◽  
Takashi Kumada ◽  
Masatoshi Kudo ◽  
Masashi Hirooka ◽  
Yohei Koizumi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Hepatic Function ◽  
Sorafenib Treatment ◽  
Refractory Status ◽  
Multicenter Analysis ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Tace Procedure ◽  
Better Than

Background/Aim: We evaluated the relationship of hepatic function with repeated transarterial catheter chemoembolization (TACE) and prognosis after sorafenib treatment in various patient cohorts. Methods: Study 1 comprised of 212 Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage-B (BCLC-B) HCC patients classified as Child-Pugh A (CP-A) and who had received repeated TACE treatments (r-TACE) (naïve:recurrence = 66:146). Study 2 comprised of 435 patients with unresectable HCC classified as CP-A in who sorafenib was introduced (naïve:recurrence = 37:398; CP score 5:6 = 282:153; macro-vessel invasion [MVI]+: extrahepatic metastasis [EHM]+ both negative = 124:226:143). Changes in hepatic function along with CP and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score/grade during r-TACE in Study 1, and prognosis after introducing sorafenib in Study 2 were evaluated. Results: Hepatic function worsened to CP-B in 9-14% with each TACE procedure, while 18-21% had a change of classification from ALBI-1 to ALBI-2. When the prognosis of patients with the best CP score of 5 was analyzed, those with ALBI-1 (n = 154) had a better outcome than those with ALBI-2 (n = 128) (MST 17.5 vs. 9.9 months; p = 0.01), while ALBI-1 (n = 43) patients also showed a better outcome than ALBI-2 (n = 34) patients with a CP score of 5 without MVI/EHM (MST: 17.5 vs. 10.0 months; p = 0.029). The Akaike's Information criterion for ALBI-grade (MST: grade 1 vs. 2 = 16.9 vs. 10.4 months; p = 0.001) was also better than that for CP (MST: score 5 vs. 6 = 14.4 vs. 10.5 months; p = 0.003) (3195.6 vs. 3197.5) in all 435 patients. Conclusion: The rate of patients with downgraded hepatic function during r-TACE, especially with regard to ALBI-grade, was not low. ALBI-grade was shown to be a better hepatic function assessment tool than CP in patients receiving sorafenib treatment. Strict judgment of TACE-refractory status in patients with unresectable HCC is needed to improve prognosis before downgrading the hepatic function.

scholarly journals Estimation of C∗-Integral for Central Cracked Plate Under Biaxial Loading

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (07) ◽  
pp. 2050079
Author(s):  
Yanwei Dai ◽  
Fei Qin ◽  
Yinghua Liu ◽  
Weizhe Feng ◽  
Guian Qian
Keyword(s):  
Loading Condition ◽  
Biaxial Loading ◽  
Classical Method ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Cracked Plate ◽  
Reference Stress ◽  
Creep Time ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

The reference stress method (RSM) is a classical method to estimate [Formula: see text]-integral of creep crack. An extended reference stress method (ERSM) is given for the central cracked plate (CCP) under biaxial loading in this paper. The applicability and verification for the proposed ERSM is given. The study finds that the solutions with the proposed ERSM agree better than those of RSM under biaxial loading condition. A theoretical form to predict the relationship of [Formula: see text]-integral between biaxial loading and uniaxial loading is discussed. Relation between [Formula: see text]-integral and creep time under biaxial loading is validated and discussed.

scholarly journals Hourly Relationship between Reference Evapotranspiration and Shoot Shrinkage in Walnut Trees and Pomegranate under Deficit Irrigation

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Eduardo Salgado ◽  
Nieggiorba Livellara ◽  
Esteban Chaigneau ◽  
Fernando Varas ◽  
Italo F. Cuneo
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Reference Evapotranspiration ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The Past ◽  
Slope Analysis ◽  
Daily Scale ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

Diameter fluctuations of branches, shoots, or fruits are related to plant transpiration and water potential. In the past, several models have related dendrometric variables and evapotranspiration on a daily scale. However, trunk–branch shrinkage occurs only between dawn and midday, while evapotranspiration occurs most of the day from sunrise to sunset. Previous models have failed to incorporate this key fact. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship of hourly daily shrinkage (HDS) between dawn and the next 4 h to the hourly reference evapotranspiration (EToh) of the same period in walnut trees and pomegranate plants under different irrigation regimes. Our data show that the relationship between EToh and HDS is much better than several previous models that included maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and reference evapotranspiration (ETo). The novel slope analysis of the relationship between HDS versus time used here corresponds to the velocity at which the HDS occurs, which depends on the ETo intensity at that moment. This new method of analyzing this type of data calls for a revision of these models and sets a new baseline for future analysis.

scholarly journals Understory vegetation relationships with soil element contents in a northern boreal forest ecosystem near a phosphate massif

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Matkala ◽  
Maija Salemaa ◽  
Jaana Bäck
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
P Content ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Total P ◽  
Better Than

Abstract. We studied the relationship of forest understory vegetation with nutrient contents of soil and tree leaves near Sokli phosphate ore in northern Finland, where the soil contains naturally high variation in phosphorus (P) contents. At most study plots boreal dwarf shrubs, bryophytes and lichen formed a dense mat under a mixture of sparsely growing Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pubescens. However, some plots were dominated by B. pubescens and had a higher variety and number of forbs and grasses in the understory. The total P content in the soil humus layer explained the abundance and species composition of the vegetation slightly better than the total nitrogen content. The spatial variation in contents of soil elements was high both between and within plots, emphasizing the heterogeneity of soil. High contents of P in the humus layer (max. 2600 mg kg−1) were measured from the birch-dominated plots. As the P contents of birch leaves and leaf litter were also rather high (2580 mg kg−1 and 1280 mg kg−1, respectively), this may imply that the leaf litter of birch forms an important source of P to the soil.

Consistency, Inter-rater Reliability, and Validity of 441 Consecutive Mock Oral Examinations in Anesthesiology 

1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 288-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Schubert ◽  
John E. Tetzlaff ◽  
Ming Tan ◽  
Victor J. Ryckman ◽  
Edward Mascha
Keyword(s):  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Faculty Evaluations ◽  
Oral Practice ◽  
Oral Examinations ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Background Oral practice examinations (OPEs) are used extensively in many anesthesiology programs for various reasons, including assessment of clinical judgment. Yet oral examinations have been criticized for their subjectivity. The authors studied the reliability, consistency, and validity of their OPE program to determine if it was a useful assessment tool. Methods From 1989 through 1993, we prospectively studied 441 OPEs given to 190 residents. The examination format closely approximated that used by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Pass-fail grade and an overall numerical score were the OPE results of interest. Internal consistency and inter-rater reliability were determined using agreement measures. To assess their validity in describing competence, OPE results were correlated with in-training examination results and faculty evaluations. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship of OPE with implicit indicators of resident preparation such as length of training. Results The internal consistency coefficient for the overall numerical score was 0.82, indicating good correlation among component scores. The interexaminer agreement was 0.68, indicating moderate or good agreement beyond that expected by chance. The actual agreement among examiners on pass-fail was 84%. Correlation of overall numerical score with in-training examination scores and faculty evaluations was moderate (r = 0.47 and 0.41, respectively; P < 0.01). OPE results were significantly (P < 0.01) associated with training duration, previous OPE experience, trainee preparedness, and trainee anxiety. Conclusion Our results show the substantial internal consistency and reliability of OPE results at a single institution. The positive correlation of OPE scores with in-training examination scores, faculty evaluations, and other indicators of preparation suggest that OPEs are a reasonably valid tool for assessment of resident performance.

scholarly journals Verification of two- and three-parameter simple height-diameter models for birch in the European part of Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 375-382
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Lebedev
Keyword(s):  
Information Criterion ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Literary Sources ◽  
Error Coefficient ◽  
European Part Of Russia ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Two Parameter

The accuracy of determining the height of trees is essential both in forestry and in scientific research. Height is usually determined using specific models, where it is a function of the diameter at breast height. On the materials of 23 sample plots with the measurement of model trees in birch stands, the parameters were determined for 29 two-parameter and three-parameter models that are most often found in literary sources. The following metrics evaluated the quality of the models: root mean square error, mean absolute percentage error, coefficient of determination, adjusted coefficient of determination, Akaike information criterion, and Bayesian information criterion. Three-parameter models of the dependence of height on diameter by a set of metrics show somewhat better quality than two-parameter models. Nevertheless, in general, the differences between most models are minor. Along with the models selected as the best, the Näslund and Chapman-Richards equations, which are often used in the literature as the most flexible, showed good quality. The methodology of this study allows you to repeat the same work for tree species and forest conditions, for which information on the nature of the relationship of height with diameter is incomplete or missing.

scholarly journals STUDY ON TEMPERATURE FIELD OF ASYMMETRIC LARGE-SPAN ARCH SHEDS UNDER LOW-TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENT

2020 ◽  
pp. 239-248
Author(s):  
Kai Zhou ◽  
Zhiwei Meng ◽  
Jialin Hou ◽  
Min Wei ◽  
Tianguo Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Large Span ◽  
Distribution Uniformity ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

In order to improve the effective sunshine time, heat storage capacity and temperature distribution uniformity of traditional arch shed under low temperature, this paper designed a large-span arch shed which has larger sunny side span and east-west orientation. According to the numerical and measured data, it is concluded that the heat storage capacity and temperature distribution of asymmetrical arch shed are better than those of symmetrical arch shed within a certain range of the ratio between sunny and shaded side. After that, ten different asymmetric arch sheds were designed. It is concluded that the structure of 11+9 m along north-south direction has the best heat storage capacity. Besides that, the analysis of outside wind speed and opening size of top vent were carried out. It is found that the outside wind and top vent can effectively promote convection and exchange of the air, and then achieve the purpose of reducing the temperature. At the end of this paper, in order to identify the relationship of temperature with the structure of arch shed, outside wind speed, and opening size of top vent, a mathematical model was built based on response surface methodology, which would provide theoretical guidance for the design of arch sheds.

scholarly journals Analyzing the spatial-temporal influence of built environment on taxi ridership

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Que Yuhua
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Transportation System ◽  
Critical Dimensions ◽  
Taxi Service ◽  
Global Regression ◽  
Temporal Influence ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

Taxi is an important component in urban transportation system, which covers wide area and maintains 24h available. Exploring the relationship of taxi and built environment is very important to manage taxi service and improve transportation system. The issue is addressed by capturing the influence of built environment on taxi ridership considering spatial and temporal non-stationarities. The grid cells are developed as analysis units and the global regression model is adopted for preliminary exploring. Then the GWR are implemented considering spatial heterogeneity and the GTWR is used to analyze the spatiotemporal influence of built environment on taxi ridership. An empirical study conducted in Hong Kong Island using one-week taxi’s GPS data demonstrates the effectiveness of the regression models. It’s verified that GWR performs better than OLS, and GTWR outperforms the rest two regression models, indicating both time and space are critical dimensions.

MANEUVERING OF BIOMIMETIC FISH BY INTEGRATING A BUOYANCY BODY WITH MODULAR UNDULATING FINS

2007 ◽  
Vol 04 (04) ◽  
pp. 671-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. LOW
Keyword(s):  
Field Trials ◽  
Biomimetic Robots ◽  
Laboratory Tank ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Phase Angles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Undulating Fin ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Buoyancy Control

Biomimetic robots borrow their senses and structure from animals, such as insects, fishes, and human. Development of underwater vehicles is one of the areas where biomimetic robots can potentially perform better than conventional robots. In this paper, an undulating fin mechanism has been developed and used as the propulsion system of fish in various fin types. The layout and workspace of the modular fin segments are considered and analyzed. The relationship of the individual fin segment and phase angles with the overall fin trajectory is also discussed. A gymnotiform knifefish robot, as an example, has been developed to demonstrate the design methodology and prototype performance. The maneuvering and the buoyancy control can be achieved by the integration of a buoyancy tank with the undulating fin. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory tank and the variation of velocity with respect to several swimming parameters was analyzed. Field trials have also been conducted in an outdoor pool to demonstrate the swimming capability of the knifefish robot and its buoyancy performance in 4 m deep water.

Relationship of Preservice Music Teachers’ Primary Instrument Background and Teaching Effectiveness in Brass and Woodwind Techniques Classes

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean R. Powell ◽  
Molly A. Weaver ◽  
Robin K. Henson
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Effectiveness ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Music Teacher Education ◽  
Brass Players ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Primary Instrument

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between preservice music teachers’ primary instrument background and their teaching effectiveness in brass and woodwind techniques classes. Study participants ( N = 135) were preservice music teachers enrolled in secondary instrument techniques courses (brass and woodwinds) from fall 2011 through spring 2015 in three universities. Participants taught a 10-minute video recorded lesson to a beginning-level university student on a brass or woodwind instrument at the end of the semester. All videos were subsequently assessed by two researchers using a researcher-designed rubric. The results of analyses of variance showed that brass-teaching scores tended to be higher than woodwind-teaching scores for all groups. Brass players taught brass more effectively than woodwind players, and woodwind players taught woodwinds better than brass players. Brass and woodwind players scored higher than percussionists, vocalists, pianists, and string players in both brass and woodwind teaching. Implications for music teacher education are discussed.

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