A new macropterous Nocticola Bolivar, 1892 (Blattodea: Nocticolidae) from Singapore

Lucañas Cristian C.,Maosheng Foo 한국응용곤충학회 2023 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.26 No.2

A new epigean Nocticola Bolivar, N. pheromosa n. sp., is described from Singapore. This serves as the first record of the genus in Singapore. The new species closely resembles N. adebratti Roth in Roth & McGavin, 1994 in terms of macroptery and the shape of the ocelli but differs in terms of wing venations and male genital structure. Nocticola adebratti Roth from Borneo is redescribed. A key to known macropterous Nocticola is provided. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:66E068F2-4F41-4BF4-9C16-7D8C2E824E15.

Dietary analysis of eight insectivorous bats (Chiroptera) from Puting Bato Cave Complex, Burdeos, Polillo Island, Philippines

Phillip A. Alviola,Marnelli S. Alviola,Kirk J. Taray,Cristian C. Lucañas,Anna Pauline O. de Guia,Aimee Lynn B. Dupo,Virginia C. Cuevas,Nelson M. Pampolina,Ireneo L. Lit Jr. 국립중앙과학관 2023 Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol.16 No.3

Food habits of eight insectivorous bat species from Puting Bato Cave Complex, Polillo Island, wereexamined. Fecal samples collected from eight species of cave-dwelling insectivorous bats containedculled fragments from seven prey taxa (six insect orders and one fish prey). Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, andHymenoptera were the most consumed group in both percentage volume and percentage frequency. Thediet of Hipposideros diadema, H. pygmaeus, Rhinolophus arcuatus, and R. philippinensis mostly concurswith previous studies but with varying proportions. Baseline information on the diets of H. coronatus,M. paululus, R. macrotis, and R. rufus is provided in this study.

Single nucleotide polymorphism of GSTP1 and pathological complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant concomitant radiochemotherapy

Luca Nicosia,Giovanna Gentile,Chiara Reverberi,Giuseppe Minniti,Maurizio Valeriani,Vitaliana de Sanctis,Luca Marinelli,Fabiola Cipolla,Ottavia de Luca,Maurizio Simmaco,Mattia F. Osti 대한방사선종양학회 2018 Radiation Oncology Journal Vol.36 No.3

Purpose: Standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer consists of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with concomitant fluoropyrimidine or oxaliplatin and surgery with curative intent. Pathological complete response has shown to be predictive for better outcome and survival; nevertheless there are no biological or genetic factors predictive for response to treatment. We explored the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) GSTP1 (A313G) and XRCC1 (G28152A), and the pathological complete response and survival after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Genotypes GSTP1 (A313G) and XRCC1 (G28152A) were determined by pyrosequencing technology in 80 patients affected by locally advanced rectal cancer. Results: The overall rate of pathological complete response in our study population was 18.75%. Patients homozygous AA for GSTP1 (A313G) presented a rate of pathological complete response of 26.6% as compared to 8.5% of the AG+GG population (p = 0.04). The heterozygous comparison (AA vs. AG) showed a significant difference in the rate of pathological complete response (26.6% vs. 6.8%; p = 0.034). GSTP1 AA+AG patients presented a 5- and 8-year cancer-specific survival longer than GSTP1 GG patients (87.7% and 83.3% vs. 44.4% and 44.4%, respectively) (p = 0.014). Overall survival showed only a trend toward significance in favor of the haplotypes GSTP1 AA+AG. No significant correlations were found for XRCC1 (G28152A). Conclusion: Our results suggest that GSTP1 (A313G) may predict a higher rate of pathological complete response after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and a better outcome, and should be considered in a more extensive analysis with the aim of personalization of radiation treatment.

Single nucleotide polymorphism of GSTP1 and pathological complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant concomitant radiochemotherapy

Nicosia, Luca,Gentile, Giovanna,Reverberi, Chiara,Minniti, Giuseppe,Valeriani, Maurizio,de Sanctis, Vitaliana,Marinelli, Luca,Cipolla, Fabiola,de Luca, Ottavia,Simmaco, Maurizio,Osti, Mattia F. The Korean Society for Radiation Oncology 2018 Radiation Oncology Journal Vol.36 No.3

Purpose: Standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer consists of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with concomitant fluoropyrimidine or oxaliplatin and surgery with curative intent. Pathological complete response has shown to be predictive for better outcome and survival; nevertheless there are no biological or genetic factors predictive for response to treatment. We explored the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) GSTP1 (A313G) and XRCC1 (G28152A), and the pathological complete response and survival after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Genotypes GSTP1 (A313G) and XRCC1 (G28152A) were determined by pyrosequencing technology in 80 patients affected by locally advanced rectal cancer. Results: The overall rate of pathological complete response in our study population was 18.75%. Patients homozygous AA for GSTP1 (A313G) presented a rate of pathological complete response of 26.6% as compared to 8.5% of the AG+GG population (p = 0.04). The heterozygous comparison (AA vs. AG) showed a significant difference in the rate of pathological complete response (26.6% vs. 6.8%; p = 0.034). GSTP1 AA+AG patients presented a 5- and 8-year cancer-specific survival longer than GSTP1 GG patients (87.7% and 83.3% vs. 44.4% and 44.4%, respectively) (p = 0.014). Overall survival showed only a trend toward significance in favor of the haplotypes GSTP1 AA+AG. No significant correlations were found for XRCC1 (G28152A). Conclusion: Our results suggest that GSTP1 (A313G) may predict a higher rate of pathological complete response after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and a better outcome, and should be considered in a more extensive analysis with the aim of personalization of radiation treatment.

The Underutilization of Lifestyle Modifications in Primary Care Medicine

Jean-Marc Lucas(Jean-Marc Lucas ),Karl F. Kozlowski(Karl F. Kozlowski ) 사피엔시아 2019 Exercise Medicine Vol.3 No.-

Chronic disease accounts for the majority of deaths in the United States and is often attributed to obesity. A sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition are primary contributing factors to the development of obesity and thus chronic disease. Primary care providers are optimally positioned to prescribe exercise and nutrition (lifestyle medicine) as a treatment for chronic disease. Unfortunately, this opportunity seems to be regularly lost. Primary care providers often rely too heavily on weight loss pharmaceuticals and bariatric surgeries to treat obesity. This treatment approach however also does little to prevent and treat the accumulation of chronic diseases. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of conventional medical weight loss treatments and determine why primary care providers may not prescribe exercise and nutrition more frequently. Our findings suggest that some primary care providers may be uncomfortable prescribing lifestyle medicine as they receive little formal education in this field. In conclusion, prescription of exercise and nutrition by primary care providers may elicit greater long-term weight loss than current medical weight management practices. Medical management is most likely effective when combined with lifestyle medicine. We propose that primary care providers be better trained in lifestyle medicine through their formal and clinical education. Rates of chronic disease accumulation may potentially decrease if providers prescribe lifestyle medical treatments more frequently.

DLC Coatings for Hydraulic Applications

Luca Nobili,Luca Magagnin 한국표면공학회 2008 한국표면공학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2008 No.-

99mTc-Pertechnetate Scintigraphy Predicts Successful Postoperative Ablation in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Patients Treated with Low Radioiodine Activities

Luca Giovanella,Gaetano Paone,Teresa Ruberto,Luca Ceriani,Pierpaolo Trimboli 대한내분비학회 2019 Endocrinology and metabolism Vol.34 No.1

Background: Postoperative routine radioiodine (RAI) treatment is currently debated for patients with low-risk differentiated thyroidcarcinoma (DTC) patients. If performed, a low 131I activity (i.e., 1 to 2 GBq) is recommended with the aim to ablate thyroid remnantand facilitate subsequent follow-up by thyroglobulin measurement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between postsurgical technetium-99m (99mTc)-pertechnetate scintigraphy and the rate of successful remnant ablation after low activityradioiodine ablation in patients with DTC. Methods: Enrolled were 193 patients with low risk DTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and RAI ablation with a fixed 1.1 GBqactivity of 131I. 99mTc-pertechnetate scans were done and thyrotropin stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) levels measured just before ablation. Ablation effectiveness was assessed 6 to 12 months later by sTg measurement, neck ultrasound and diagnostic whole body scan. Results: A negative 99mTc-perthecnetate scans was the best predictor of successful ablation (P<0.001) followed by preablative sTglevels <0.8 ng/mL (P=0.008) and 99mTc-pertechnetate uptake rate values <0.9% (P=0.065). Neither sex nor age of the patient at thetime of ablation or tumor histology and size showed a significant association with the rate of successful ablation. Conclusion: The 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy is a simple and feasible tool to predict effectiveness of low activity 131I thyroid toablate thyroid remnants in patients with DTC.

The effect of repeated surface treatment of zirconia on its bond strength to resin cement

Lucas Campagnaro Maciel,Marina Amaral,Daher Antonio Queiroz,Kusai Baroudi,Laís Regiane Silva-Concílio 대한치과보철학회 2020 The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Vol.12 No.5

PURPOSE. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of repeated surface treatments on wettability and surface roughness for zirconia surface and bond strength of zirconia-based ceramics to resin cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Seventy blocks (10 × 10 × 3 mm) of zirconia-based ceramics were fabricated and divided into two groups according to the surface treatments: (A) 110 μm Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion and (R) 110 μm silica modified Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion. At stage 2, each group was subdivided into 5 groups according to the surface retreatments: (a) 110 μm Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion, (r) 110 μm silica modified Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion, (D) diamond bur, (Da) diamond bur + 110 μm Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion, and (Dr) diamond bur + 110 μm silica modified Al2O3 airborne-particle abrasion. Cylinders of self-adhesive resin cement were cemented onto each treated ceramic surface and subjected to micro-shear bond strength test. Additional specimens were prepared for roughness and wettability analyses. The data were subjected to t-test and One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test (α=.05). RESULTS. At stage 1, group R presented higher bond strength values than group A (P=.000). There was a statistically significant increase of bond strength at stage 2 for group A (P=.003). The diamond bur influenced the surface roughness, increasing the values (P=.023). Group R provided better wettability. Regardless of the applied surface treatment, most of failures were adhesive. CONCLUSION. The combination of application and reapplication of Rocatec Plus showed the best results of bond strength. Surface retreatment and recementation might be an indicated clinical strategy.

Optimal Fault Tolerant Error Governor for PID Controllers

Luca Cavanini,Francesco Ferracuti,Sauro Longhi,Andrea Monteriù 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2022 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.20 No.6

The Error Governor (EG) paradigm considers the issue of dynamically changing the error which drives a feedback controller featured by bounded control action magnitude to prevent the actuators’ saturation and to avoid the slow wind-up effects due to integrator or slow dynamics. Fault Tolerant (FT) policies are control methods permitting to mitigate the effect of faults occurring on driven actuators by modifying the structure of the controller which provides the reference signal for such actuators. In this paper, a FT policy based on an optimal EG approach is proposed. The policy, termed Fault-Tolerant Error Governor (FT-EG), permits to introduce a FT action in a closedloop system driven by PID controllers neglecting changes in the controller structure and, further, the wind-up issue given by nominal actuator saturation. The FT-EG is based on the solution of a constrained optimization problem and a computationally efficient version of the algorithm is presented. An analysis of control performance and the computational burden is provided, comparing in simulation studies the optimal FT-EG scheme performance with respect to control results provided by the baseline EG policy and saturated PID controller in the fault-free and the faulty scenario.

Positive Dynamical Systems: New Applications, Old Problems

Luca Benvenuti,Lorenzo Farina 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2023 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.21 No.3

This review paper presents four relevant and very recent real-world application problems demanding developments of long-standing theoretical open problems in the field of positive systems research. Notably, the selected applications belong to very different fields of science and technology, ranging from biology and medicine to civil and electronic engineering. This clearly shows how pervasive positive systems are in mainstream research. Additionally, the theoretical issues stemming from these applications are the living proofs of how the apparently simple positivity constraint on the variables of interest makes the theory behind practical problems far from trivial, even for the linear case.