Safety and efficacy of salvage conventional re-irradiation following stereotactic radiosurgery for spine metastases

Marcus A. Florez(Marcus A. Florez ),Brian De(Brian De ),Bhavana V. Chapman(Bhavana V. Chapman ),Anussara Prayongrat(Anussara Prayongrat ),Jonathan G. Thomas(Jonathan G. Thomas ),Thomas H. Beckham(Thom 대한방사선종양학회 2023 Radiation Oncology Journal Vol.41 No.1

Purpose: There has been limited work assessing the use of re-irradiation (re-RT) for local failure following stereotactic spinal radiosurgery (SSRS). We reviewed our institutional experience of conventionally-fractionated external beam radiation (cEBRT) for salvage therapy following SSRS local failure. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 54 patients that underwent salvage conventional re-RT at previously SSRS-treated sites. Local control following re-RT was defined as the absence of progression at the treated site as determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Competing risk analysis for local failure was performed using a Fine-Gray model. The median follow-up time was 25 months and median overall survival (OS) was 16 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.8–24.9 months) following cEBRT re-RT. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards analysis revealed Karnofsky performance score prior to re-RT (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93– 0.98; p = 0.003) and time to local failure (HR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94–1.00; p = 0.04) were associated with longer OS, while male sex (HR = 3.92; 95% CI, 1.64–9.33; p = 0.002) was associated with shorter OS. Local control at 12 months was 81% (95% CI, 69.3–94.0). Competing risk multivariable regression revealed radioresistant tumors (subhazard ratio [subHR] = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15–0.90; p = 0.028) and epidural disease (subHR = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12–0.78; p =0.013) were associated with increased risk of local failure. At 12 months, 91% of patients maintained ambulatory function. Conclusion: Our data suggest that cEBRT following SSRS local failure can be used safely and effectively. Further investigation is needed into optimal patient selection for cEBRT in the retreatment setting.

국가 대학입시 제도 내의 독일어 시험-문제점과 대안-

( Marcus Stein ) 한국독일어교육학회 2007 외국어로서의 독일어 Vol.20 No.-

한국 대학 입시제도 안에서 독일어 시험 문제는 전공자들에 의해 오래전부터 비판의 대상이 되어 왔다. 본 논문에서는 시험문제 출제에 관련한 중요한 사안들을 요약 서술하고 시험문제를 분석한 것을 토대로 하여 시험에 대한 비판적 판단을 해보고자 한다. 특히 여기에서 중점적으로 문제 삼고자 하는 것은, 어떠한 언어적, 소통적 개념이 시험문제 구성의 근간을 이루느냐 하는 것이다. 본 논문에서 보이고자 한 것은, 현금의 소통적 행위 중심적 외국어 교육이라는 화두와 그리고 그에 상응하는 시험 및 평가라는 관점에서 보았을 때, 과제 중 상당수가 소통적 화용적 범주와 관련되어 있음에도 불구하고, 소통 능력을 평가하기에는 적절하지 않다는 것이다. 그 뿐 아니라 이 시험의 이론적 기초가 되는 “소통”의 축약되고 도식화된 모델은 이 시험에 사용되는 간접적 테스트 방식과 함께, 피상적이고 암기위주의 학습방식을 유도하게끔 하는데, 이는 언어습득에 그다지 도움이 되지 않는데도 수업 활동의 상당부분을 차지하는 방식이라는 것이다. 이러한 논지에서 본 논문에서는 대학입시 제도에서 외국어 지식에 대한 검증 방식을 근본적으로 새롭게 만들어 볼 것을 제안하였다. 새로운 시험을 개발하는 것이 그 대안 중 하나가 될 수 있으며, 보다 급진적인 또 다른 대안은 외부에서 실시하고 국제적으로 인정된 언어능력 인증을 대학입시에서 인정해 주는 것이다.

Real Time Spectrum Markets and Interruptible Spectrum

Marcus Michael J. The Korea Institute of Information and Commucation 2006 Journal of communications and networks Vol.8 No.2

Historically, spectrum use has been increased through use of high frequencies, improved modulation, and between antenna techniques. However, these approaches are reaching practical limits. Cognitive radio allows new approaches to improve the intensity of use in spectrum which is licensed but under utilized. This paper addresses two such possible approaches. Real time spectrum markets permit users to exchange spectrum use. Interruptible spectrum would allow public sector spectrum users to recoup economic benefits for allowing others to share their low average, high peak use spectrum subject to preemption.

A Calcium-Collagen Chelate Dietary Supplement Attenuates Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Marcus L. Elam,Sarah A. Johnson,Shirin Hooshmand,Rafaela G. Feresin,Mark E. Payton,Jennifer Gu,Bahram H. Arjmandi 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.3

Menopause leads to an increased risk for osteoporosis in women. Although drug therapies exist, increasing numbers of people prefer alternative therapies such as dietary supplements, for example, calcium, vitamin D, and collagen hydrolysates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. We have previously shown that a 3-month intervention using a calcium-collagen chelate (CC) dietary supplement was efficacious in improving bone mineral density (BMD) and blood biomarkers of bone turnover in osteopenic postmenopausal women. This study reports the long-term efficacy of CC in reducing bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Thirty-nine women were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 5 g of CC containing 500 mg of elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) or control (500 mg of calcium and 200 IU vitamin D) daily for 12 months. Total body, lumbar, and hip BMD were evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood was collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months to assess levels of blood biomarkers of bone turnover. Intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance pairwise comparisons and multivariate analysis to assess time and group interactions. The loss of whole body BMD in women taking CC was substantially lower than that of the control group at 12 months in those who completed the study and the ITT analysis, respectively (CC: - 1.33% and - 0.33% vs. control: - 3.75% and - 2.17%; P = .026, P = .035). The CC group had significantly reduced levels of sclerostin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b) (P < .05), and higher bone-specific alkaline phosphatase/TRAP5b ratio (P < .05) than control at 6 months. These results support the use of CC in reducing bone loss in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Modeling Inter- Korean Economic Integration

( Marcus Noland ),( Sherman Robinson ),( Li Gang Liu ) 세종대학교 경제통합연구소 (구 세종대학교 국제경제연구소) 1998 Journal of Economic Integration Vol.13 No.3

We construct the Korean Integration Model (KIM), a two-country computable general equilibrium (CGE) model linking the North and South Korean economies. Using KIM, we simulate the impact of a customs union and a monetary union of the two economies both in the presence and absence of crossborder factor mobility. Factor mobility is of critical importance. If factor markets do not integrate, the macroeconomic impact on South Korea of economic integration with the North is relatively small, while the effects on North Korea are large. With a monetary union and factor market integration, there is a significant impact on the South Korean income and wealth distribution. If investment flows from South to North and labor flows from North to South, there is a shift in the South Korean income distribution toward capital, and within labor toward urban high skill labor, suggesting growing income and wealth inequality in the South. (JEL Classification: F15, O53, P33)

ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF SSDI AND SSDV TECHNIQUES FOR VIBRATION DAMPING

Marcus Neubauer,Jorg Wallaschek 한국소음진동공학회 2008 한국소음진동공학회 국제학술대회논문집 Vol.2008 No.7

Asian medical students: quality of life and motivation to learn

Marcus A. Henning,Susan J. Hawken,Christian Krageloh,Yipin Zhao,Iain Doherty 서울대학교 교육연구소 2011 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.12 No.3

Issues linked with the notions of quality of life (QOL) and motivation to learn among Asian medical students have not been well documented. This is true in both the international and the New Zealand contexts. Our paper addresses this lack of research by focusing on the QOL of international and domestic Asian students studying in New Zealand, where Asian students form a significant proportion of tertiary students. Although there is evidence to suggest that Asian students do well academically, it was felt that an investigation into their QOL would be instructive as QOL will likely have an impact on cognition, behavior, general well-being, and motivation. The present study surveyed fourth- and fifth-year medical students to examine the relationship between QOL and motivation to learn and to consider how Asian medical students compare against European medical and non-medical student peers. The study utilized the World Health Organization-Quality of Life questionnaire (BREF version) and a shortened version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. The results show that the Asian medical students in this study generated significantly lower scores in terms of their satisfaction with social relationships compared with their non-Asian peers. In addition, international Asian medical students appear to be more at risk than domestic Asian students with respect to test anxiety. The paper considers the findings and the implications for quality of life, motivation to learn, medical education, and the Asian student community.

Political Conflict Resolution and Democratic Consolidation in Indonesia: The Role of the Constitutional Court

Marcus Mietzner 동아시아연구원 2010 Journal of East Asian Studies Vol.10 No.3

This article argues that Indonesia's Constitutional Court has played a significant role in that country's transformation from a violence-prone polity into Southeast Asia's most stable democracy. The Court has advanced institutional conflict resolution mechanisms and expanded democratic rights—two achievements identified by Linz and Stepan as major indicators of a consolidating democracy. Building on models developed by Ginsburg and Horowitz, my analysis also illustrates why the Court has been able to defend its autonomy and become an agent of democratization. While sharing Ginsburg's emphasis on high levels of power diffusion as a key reason for the Court's success, this article moves beyond such an approach. Most importantly, it suggests that the judges' “judicial activism”—as expressed in a number of controversial but popular decision—increased Indonesian society's support for the Court to such an extent that is has now become largely invulnerable to attempts of external intervention.

Metabolic changes associated with macular telangiectasia of retinal neurodegeneration

Marcus Fruttiger 한국실험동물학회 2021 한국실험동물학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2021 No.7

Macular Telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) is an uncommon eye disease that can lead to blindness in the center of vision. Histologically, it is characterized by neural degeneration in the macula, specifically a loss of Müller glia cells, associated by vascular changes and photoreceptor degeneration, which are likely secondary to the glial changes. Genetically, the disease is complex, although a genome wide association study (GWAS) has identified variants in genes associated with the glycine-serine metabolism as the most important genetic risk factors. Serum analysis of MacTel patients has shown systemic low levels of glycine and serine, but pathology only occurs in the retina and patients are otherwise healthy. The glycine-serine metabolism is linked to numerous other pathway and global metabolomics serum analysis revealed changes in several adjacent pathways, implicating potential stress in the one-carbon, transmethylation and glutathione metabolism. Further changes were also found in several lipid groups, including the sphingolipid metabolism, where low serine levels can lead to the formation of deoxysphingolipids, which can contribute to MacTel pathology as they are known for their cytotoxic properties. These findings now facilitate a platform to investigate the molecular disease mechanisms of MacTel in animal models in future studies.

Evaluation of Kinetic and Mass Transfer Parameters for Adsorption of Clavulanic Acid into Natural and Synthetic Zeolites

Marcus B. S. Forte,Marcio A. Mazutti,Francisco Maugeri Filho,Maria Isabel Rodrigues 한국생물공학회 2011 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.16 No.6

This work investigates the adsorption of clavulanic acid using natural six cationic forms (Na^+, Ca^(+2),Ba^(+2), Sr^(2+), K^(+), and Mg^(2+)) of the X and NZ zeolites in a stirred tank reactor since the separation is an important step of the biomolecule production. A mathematical model was proposed taking into account the transport of CA molecules from the liquid phase to the surface of the adsorbent and after diffusion into the particles. The estimated kinetic and mass transfer parameters were used to evaluate adsorption rates and mass transfer resistances involved in the separation of clavulanic acid from the broth. It has been shown that mass-transfer phenomena were a limiting step in the clavulanic acid adsorption process and that the adsorption rate should be considered to evaluate the system. Amongst the materials, the synthetic zeolite NaX was selected as the most appropriate material to separate clavulanic acid because this material presented the highest values for the observed reaction rate,compensating for the external mass transfer resistance. Modeling and simulation of clavulanic acid purification using the zeolite NaX showed a satisfactory fitting of experimental data. The model was used to simulate the process and it was evaluated for its technical and economical viability by comparisons considering the influence of the solid:liquid ratio on the adsorption equilibrium time and on the hydrolysed mass of biomolecule.