bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of the Low Molecular Weight Heparin Tinzaparin on the Sensitization of Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancers—Preclinical In Vivo Evaluation in Xenograft Tumor Models
Authors: Mueller Thomas , Pfankuchen Daniel , Wantoch von Rekowski Kathleen , Schlesinger Martin , Reipsch Franziska , Bendas Gerd
Published: May 2017

Resistance formation of tumors against chemotherapeutics is the major obstacle in clinical cancer therapy. Although low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is an important component in oncology referring to guideline-based antithrombotic prophylaxis of tumor patients, a potential interference of LMWH with chemoresistance is unknown. We have recently shown that LMWH reverses the cisplatin resistance of A2780cis human ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Here we address the question whether this LMWH effect is also valid under in vivo conditions. Therefore, we established tumor xenografts of A2780 and cisplatin resistant A2780cis cells in nude mice and investigated the impact of daily tinzaparin applications (10 mg/kg BW) on anti-tumor activity of cisplatin (6 mg/kg BW, weekly) considering the tumor growth kinetics. Intratumoral platinum accumulation was detected by GF-AAS. Xenografts of A2780 and A2780cis cells strongly differed in cisplatin sensitivity. As an overall consideration, tinzaparin co-treatment affected the response to cisplatin of A2780cis, but not A2780 tumors in the later experimental time range. A subgroup analysis confirmed that initially smaller A2780cis tumors benefit from tinzaparin, but also small A2780 xenografts. Tinzaparin did not affect cisplatin accumulation in A2780cis xenografts, but strongly increased the platinum content in A2780, obviously related to morphological differences in both xenografts. Although we cannot directly confirm a return of A2780cis cisplatin resistance by tinzaparin, as shown in vitro, the present findings give reason to discuss heparin effects on cytostatic drug efficiency for small tumors and warrants further investigation.
In Vitro Glucuronidation and Sulfation of ε-Viniferin, a Resveratrol Dimer, in Humans and Rats
Authors: Courtois Arnaud , Jourdes Michael , Dupin Adeline , Lapèze Caroline , Renouf Elodie , Biais Benoît , Teissedre Pierre-Louis , Mérillon Jean-Michel , Richard Tristan , Krisa Stéphanie
Published: May 2017

ε-Viniferin is a resveratrol dimer that possesses antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities. However little is known about the metabolism of this oligostilbene. This study was thus undertaken as a first approach to identify and characterize the metabolites of ε-viniferin and to describe the kinetic profile of their appearance in humans and rats. The glucuronides and sulfates of ε-viniferin were first obtained by chemical hemi-synthesis and were fully characterized by UPLC-MS and NMR spectroscopy. Then, ε-viniferin was incubated with human or rat S9 liver fractions that led to the formation of four glucuronoconjugates and four sulfoconjugates. In both species, ε-viniferin was subjected to an intense metabolism as 70 to 80% of the molecule was converted to glucuronides and sulfates. In humans, the hepatic clearance of ε-viniferin (Vmax/Km) for glucuronidation and sulfation were 4.98 and 6.35 µL/min/mg protein, respectively, whereas, in rats, the hepatic clearance for glucuronidation was 20.08 vs. 2.59 µL/min/mg protein for sulfation. In humans, three major metabolites were observed: two glucuronides and one sulfate. By contrast, only one major glucuronide was observed in rats. This strong hepatic clearance of ε-viniferin in human and rat could explain its poor bioavailability and could help to characterize its active metabolites.
CdTe Nanocrystal Hetero-Junction Solar Cells with High Open Circuit Voltage Based on Sb-doped TiO2 Electron Acceptor Materials
Authors: Li Miaozi , Liu Xinyan , Wen Shiya , Liu Songwei , Heng Jingxuan , Qin Donghuan , Hou Lintao , Wu Hongbin , Xu Wei , Huang Wenbo
Published: May 2017

We propose Sb-doped TiO2 as electron acceptor material for depleted CdTe nanocrystal (NC) hetero-junction solar cells. Novel devices with the architecture of FTO/ZnO/Sb:TiO2/CdTe/Au based on CdTe NC and TiO2 precursor are fabricated by rational ambient solution process. By introducing TiO2 with dopant concentration, we are able to tailor the optoelectronic properties of NC solar cells. Our novel devices demonstrate a very high open circuit voltage of 0.74 V, which is the highest Voc reported for any CdTe NC based solar cells. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells increases with the increase of Sb-doped content from 1% to 3%, then decreases almost linearly with further increase of Sb content due to the recombination effect. The champion device shows Jsc, Voc, FF, and PCE of 14.65 mA/cm2, 0.70 V, 34.44, and 3.53% respectively, which is prospective for solution processed NC solar cells with high Voc.
Effect of Nano-SiO2 on the Early Hydration of Alite-Sulphoaluminate Cement
Authors: Sun Jinfeng , Xu Zhiqiang , Li Weifeng , Shen Xiaodong
Published: May 2017

The impact of nano-SiO2 on the early hydration properties of alite-sulphoaluminate (AC$A) cement was investigated with a fixed water to solid ratio (w/s) of one. Nano-SiO2 was used in partial substitution of AC$A cement at zero, one and three wt %. Calorimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric (TG/DTG), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were used to characterize the hydration and hydrates of the blended cement. The hydration of the AC$A cement was significantly promoted, resulting in an increase of the heat released with the addition of nano-SiO2. Phase development composition analysis showed that nano-SiO2 had no effect on the type of crystalline hydration products of the AC$A cement. Moreover, nano-SiO2 showed significant positive effects on pore refinement where the total porosity decreased by 54.09% at three days with the inclusion of 3% nano-SiO2. Finally, from the SEM observations, nano-SiO2 was conducive to producing a denser microstructure than that of the control sample.
Polyphenol Levels Are Inversely Correlated with Body Weight and Obesity in an Elderly Population after 5 Years of Follow Up (The Randomised PREDIMED Study)
Authors: Guo Xiaohui , Tresserra-Rimbau Anna , Estruch Ramón , Martínez-González Miguel , Medina-Remón Alexander , Fitó Montserrat , Corella Dolores , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Portillo Maria , Moreno Juan , Pi-Sunyer Xavier , Lamuela-Raventós Rosa
Published: May 2017

Overweight and obesity have been steadily increasing in recent years and currently represent a serious threat to public health. Few human studies have investigated the relationship between polyphenol intake and body weight. Our aim was to assess the relationship between urinary polyphenol levels and body weight. A cross-sectional study was performed with 573 participants from the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial (ISRCTN35739639). Total polyphenol levels were measured by a reliable biomarker, total urinary polyphenol excretion (TPE), determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method in urine samples. Participants were categorized into five groups according to their TPE at the fifth year. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the relationships between TPE and obesity parameters; body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). After a five years follow up, significant inverse correlations were observed between TPE at the 5th year and BW (β = −1.004; 95% CI: −1.634 to −0.375, p = 0.002), BMI (β = −0.320; 95% CI: −0.541 to −0.098, p = 0.005), WC (β = −0.742; 95% CI: −1.326 to −0.158, p = 0.013), and WHtR (β = −0.408; 95% CI: −0.788 to −0.028, p = 0.036) after adjustments for potential confounders. To conclude, a greater polyphenol intake may thus contribute to reducing body weight in elderly people at high cardiovascular risk.
Thirteen Ways to Write an Abstract
Authors: Hartley James , Cabanac Guillaume
Published: May 2017

The abstract is a crucial component of a research article. Abstracts head the text—and sometimes they can appear alone in separate listings (e.g., conference proceedings). The purpose of the abstract is to inform the reader succinctly what the paper is about, why and how the research was carried out, and what conclusions might be drawn. In this paper we consider the same (or a similar) abstract in 13 different formats to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
Limitations and Improvements of the Leaf Optical Properties Model Leaf Incorporating Biochemistry Exhibiting Reflectance and Transmittance Yields (LIBERTY)
Authors: Wang Jun , Ju Weimin
Published: May 2017

Leaf Incorporating Biochemistry Exhibiting Reflectance and Transmittance Yields (LIBERTY) models the effects of leaf biochemical concentrations on reflectance spectra on the basis of Melamed theory, which has several limitations. These are: (1) the radiation components are not treated satisfactorily; (2) the directional changes of both particle and sublayer scattering ratios are not considered; and (3) the boundary constraint which makes needle leaves different from broadleaves is not included. Proofs of these limitations as well as theoretical improvements are given in this study. Global sensitivity analysis (SA) of three models: the original LIBERTY, our improved LIBERTY (LIBERTYim) and The optical PROperties SPECTra model (PROSPECT) suggests that compared with LIBERTY, the global reflectance and transmittance of LIBERTYim are more sensitive to diametrical absorbance α d —a parameter related to leaf biochemistry. Moreover, the global reflectance and transmittance of LIBERTYim and PROSPECT had similar sensitivity patterns to the input variables, demonstrating indirectly the validity of our improvements over LIBERTY. However, neither LIBERTY nor LIBERTYim considers boundary constraints, which limits their applications in modelling needle leaf optical properties. We introduced a particle string model, which might be used to simulate needle leaf optical properties in the future.
An Improved RANSAC for 3D Point Cloud Plane Segmentation Based on Normal Distribution Transformation Cells
Authors: Li Lin , Yang Fan , Zhu Haihong , Li Dalin , Li You , Tang Lei
Published: May 2017

Plane segmentation is a basic task in the automatic reconstruction of indoor and urban environments from unorganized point clouds acquired by laser scanners. As one of the most common plane-segmentation methods, standard Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) is often used to continually detect planes one after another. However, it suffers from the spurious-plane problem when noise and outliers exist due to the uncertainty of randomly sampling the minimum subset with 3 points. An improved RANSAC method based on Normal Distribution Transformation (NDT) cells is proposed in this study to avoid spurious planes for 3D point-cloud plane segmentation. A planar NDT cell is selected as a minimal sample in each iteration to ensure the correctness of sampling on the same plane surface. The 3D NDT represents the point cloud with a set of NDT cells and models the observed points with a normal distribution within each cell. The geometric appearances of NDT cells are used to classify the NDT cells into planar and non-planar cells. The proposed method is verified on three indoor scenes. The experimental results show that the correctness exceeds 88.5% and the completeness exceeds 85.0%, which indicates that the proposed method identifies more reliable and accurate planes than standard RANSAC. It also executes faster. These results validate the suitability of the method.
Fine-Resolution Repeat Topographic Surveying of Dryland Landscapes Using UAS-Based Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry: Assessing Accuracy and Precision against Traditional Ground-Based Erosion Measurements
Authors: Gillan Jeffrey , Karl Jason , Elaksher Ahmed , Duniway Michael
Published: May 2017

Structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry from unmanned aerial system (UAS) imagery is an emerging tool for repeat topographic surveying of dryland erosion. These methods are particularly appealing due to the ability to cover large landscapes compared to field methods and at reduced costs and finer spatial resolution compared to airborne laser scanning. Accuracy and precision of high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) derived from UAS imagery have been explored in many studies, typically by comparing image coordinates to surveyed check points or LiDAR datasets. In addition to traditional check points, this study compared 5 cm resolution DTMs derived from fixed-wing UAS imagery with a traditional ground-based method of measuring soil surface change called erosion bridges. We assessed accuracy by comparing the elevation values between DTMs and erosion bridges along thirty topographic transects each 6.1 m long. Comparisons occurred at two points in time (June 2014, February 2015) which enabled us to assess vertical accuracy with 3314 data points and vertical precision (i.e., repeatability) with 1657 data points. We found strong vertical agreement (accuracy) between the methods (RMSE 2.9 and 3.2 cm in June 2014 and February 2015, respectively) and high vertical precision for the DTMs (RMSE 2.8 cm). Our results from comparing SfM-generated DTMs to check points, and strong agreement with erosion bridge measurements suggests repeat UAS imagery and SfM processing could replace erosion bridges for a more synoptic landscape assessment of shifting soil surfaces for some studies. However, while collecting the UAS imagery and generating the SfM DTMs for this study was faster than collecting erosion bridge measurements, technical challenges related to the need for ground control networks and image processing requirements must be addressed before this technique could be applied effectively to large landscapes.
A Framework for the Multi-Level Fusion of Electronic Nose and Electronic Tongue for Tea Quality Assessment
Authors: Zhi Ruicong , Zhao Lei , Zhang Dezheng
Published: May 2017

Electronic nose (E-nose) and electronic tongue (E-tongue) can mimic the sensory perception of human smell and taste, and they are widely applied in tea quality evaluation by utilizing the fingerprints of response signals representing the overall information of tea samples. The intrinsic part of human perception is the fusion of sensors, as more information is provided comparing to the information from a single sensory organ. In this study, a framework for a multi-level fusion strategy of electronic nose and electronic tongue was proposed to enhance the tea quality prediction accuracies, by simultaneously modeling feature fusion and decision fusion. The procedure included feature-level fusion (fuse the time-domain based feature and frequency-domain based feature) and decision-level fusion (D-S evidence to combine the classification results from multiple classifiers). The experiments were conducted on tea samples collected from various tea providers with four grades. The large quantity made the quality assessment task very difficult, and the experimental results showed much better classification ability for the multi-level fusion system. The proposed algorithm could better represent the overall characteristics of tea samples for both odor and taste.
Synergetic Effects of Combined Nanomaterials for Biosensing Applications
Authors: Holzinger Michael , Le Goff Alan , Cosnier Serge
Published: May 2017

Nanomaterials have become essential components for the development of biosensors since such nanosized compounds were shown to clearly increase the analytical performance. The improvements are mainly related to an increased surface area, thus providing an enhanced accessibility for the analyte, the compound to be detected, to the receptor unit, the sensing element. Nanomaterials can also add value to biosensor devices due to their intrinsic physical or chemical properties and can even act as transducers for the signal capture. Among the vast amount of examples where nanomaterials demonstrate their superiority to bulk materials, the combination of different nano-objects with different characteristics can create phenomena which contribute to new or improved signal capture setups. These phenomena and their utility in biosensor devices are summarized in a non-exhaustive way where the principles behind these synergetic effects are emphasized.
Social Welfare Control in Mobile Crowdsensing Using Zero-Determinant Strategy
Authors: Hu Qin , Wang Shengling , Bie Rongfang , Cheng Xiuzhen
Published: May 2017

As a promising paradigm, mobile crowdsensing exerts the potential of widespread sensors embedded in mobile devices. The greedy nature of workers brings the problem of low-quality sensing data, which poses threats to the overall performance of a crowdsensing system. Existing works often tackle this problem with additional function components. In this paper, we systematically formulate the problem into a crowdsensing interaction process between a requestor and a worker, which can be modeled by two types of iterated games with different strategy spaces. Considering that the low-quality data submitted by the workers can reduce the requestor’s payoff and further decrease the global income, we turn to controlling the social welfare in the games. To that aim, we take advantage of zero-determinant strategy, based on which we propose two social welfare control mechanisms under both game models. Specifically, we consider the requestor as the controller of the games and, with proper parameter settings for the to-be-adopted zero-determinant strategy, social welfare can be optimized to the desired level no matter what strategy the worker adopts. Simulation results demonstrate that the requestor can achieve the maximized social welfare and keep it stable by using our proposed mechanisms.
Cooperative Spatial Retreat for Resilient Drone Networks
Authors: Kang Jin-Hyeok , Kwon Young-Min , Park Kyung-Joon
Published: May 2017

Drones are broadening their scope to various applications such as networking, package delivery, agriculture, rescue, and many more. For proper operation of drones, reliable communication should be guaranteed because drones are remotely controlled. When drones experience communication failure due to bad channel condition, interference, or jamming in a certain area, one existing solution is to exploit mobility or so-called spatial retreat to evacuate them from the communication failure area. However, the conventional spatial retreat scheme moves drones in random directions, which results in inefficient movement with significant evacuation time and waste of battery lifetime. In this paper, we propose a novel spatial retreat technique that takes advantage of cooperation between drones for resilient networking, which is called cooperative spatial retreat (CSR). Our performance evaluation shows that the proposed CSR significantly outperforms existing schemes.
Regional Disparities in Emissions of Rural Household Energy Consumption: A Case Study of Northwest China
Authors: Wu Wenheng , Zhu Hongying , Qu Yinghao , Xu Kaiying
Published: May 2017

The purpose of this paper is to present the emissions status of multiple rural areas from the perspective of a field survey and make up for the defects of the traditional emission cognition of single type of area. The basic data in the lower reaches of the Weihe River of Northwest China were collected through household questionnaire surveys, and emissions from rural household energy consumption were calculated in the paper. In addition, the grey relational analysis method was used to identify influential factors of emission disparities. The results show that the total emissions of the plain, loess tableland, and Qinling piedmont areas are 1863.20, 1850.43, and 2556.68 kg, respectively. Regional disparities in emissions of rural household energy consumption vary greatly. CO2 emissions are highest in the Qinling piedmont area, followed by the loess tableland area. For other emissions, there is no fixed order of the three areas, which suggests that disparities in emissions are connected with the dominant type of energy consumption. Diversification of energy use might not necessarily produce higher emissions, but the traditional biomass energy pattern does generate more emissions. The regional supply capacity of household energy is the original influence factor of disparities in emissions, and factors that influence these disparities are directly related to differences among farmers, followed by the age structure, educational background, income level, occupation, and so on.
Supplier Qualification Sub-Process from a Sustained Perspective: Generation of Dynamic Capabilities
Authors: De-Pablos-Heredero Carmen , Fernández-Valero Gonzalo , Blanco-Callejo Miguel
Published: May 2017

This research describes the generation of dynamic capabilities in the Repsol supplier qualification sub-process based on a sustained value chain, using a proposed model consisting of seven stages of supplier approval. A qualitative and descriptive approach, focusing on social and sustained commitment methodology has been applied. An analysis of a case of a successful firm in the supplier qualification sub-process has been performed based on the achievement of positive results from the dynamic capabilities theory. The results show how REPSOL contributes to the sustained development of its suppliers with specific actions arising from the implementation of its dynamic capabilities in organizational governance, the environment, human rights, labor practices, consumer issues, fair operating practices, and developing the communities with which it operates, in a model that seeks to respond to the expectations of society. The research performed shows that REPSOL’s capabilities are generated by influencing their competitive efficiency and better defining a sustained value chain integrated with its suppliers. The description and analysis of REPSOL’s supplier qualification sub-process becomes a business guideline for reaching dynamic capabilities in the process of qualification of suppliers. The proposed model means an inspiration for firms operating in the same, or different, industries.
A Quantitative Assessment of Causes of Bovine Liver Condemnation and Its Implication for Food Security in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa
Authors: Jaja Ishmael , Mushonga Borden , Green Ezekiel , Muchenje Voster
Published: May 2017

Food production needs to double, with minimum waste, if hunger and poverty is to be alleviated in South Africa. The condemnation of liver during meat inspection represents a huge waste of a protein food resource. This paper measures the quantity of liver condemned in three abattoirs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and assesses the causes and the monetary loss associated with these condemnations. A retrospective study (RS) (n = 51 302) involving the use of abattoir slaughter records from 2010–2012 and a post-mortem meat inspection (PMMI) (n = 1374) was conducted from July to December 2013. The RS revealed the leading cause of liver wastage as fasciolosis (5.95%, 4.48%, and 2.7%), fibrosis (2.74%, 2.37%, and 1.0%), and abscessation (1.11%, 2.78%, and 1.5%) for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 respectively. During the PMMI, the same factors caused liver condemnation in addition to calcification (8.3%, 6.8%, and 3.2%), Cysticercosis bovis (1.7%, 2.4%, and 1.3%) and improper evisceration (4.8%, 12.4%, and 27.1%) for the abattoirs X, Y, and Z respectively. A total of R 343, 330 (USD 45,271.07) was lost due to the condemnation of liver between 2010 and 2012. The further loss of 3290.4 kg of liver was calculated for the six month in 2013, and its financial value was R 59, 227.2 (USD 5889.82). The result of this study provide baseline information on major causes of liver wastage in cattle slaughtered in South Africa as well as the direct financial losses and demonstrate the huge waste of ideal protein food source.
Linking Transitions to Sustainability: A Study of the Societal Effects of Transition Management
Authors: Schäpke Niko , Omann Ines , Wittmayer Julia , Van Steenbergen Frank , Mock Mirijam
Published: May 2017

Sustainability transitions as processes of fundamental change in societal systems are open-ended, nonlinear and uncertain. Respective research and governance approaches, e.g., transition management, propose a reflexive way of governing, aiming for a number of societal effects to help facilitating a transition. Effects include empowerment, social learning and social capital development. Jointly mentioned effects shall allow for reflexivity and innovation in developing socially robust and contextualized solutions to sustainability challenges that work in practice. But, understanding the mentioned societal effects and their interplay in more depth is necessary to design and assess transition management processes. While such understanding and related assessment framework is under development in the transition management literature, transdisciplinary sustainability research can provide a rich body of tools and experiences. Building on a review of the literature, this article develops an evaluation framework focusing on social learning, empowerment and social capital as important and hitherto under-conceptualised aspects of the sustainability transition literature. This framework is used to empirically investigate the effects of two specific transition management processes at the local scale. In doing so, the article provides a conceptual and empirical understanding of how social learning, empowerment and social capital contribute to a transition towards sustainability. The three effects are shown to be interrelated, mutually supportive and bridging different scale levels from individuals to groups, niches and beyond. Results highlight possibilities to facilitate and assess societal effects, addressing sustainability as their inherent quality.
Building Criteria for Evaluating Green Project Management: An Integrated Approach of DEMATEL and ANP
Authors: Chou Ying-Chyi , Yang Chia-Han , Lu Ching-Hua , Dang Van , Yang Pei-An
Published: May 2017

A complete framework for assessing a green project management has not been clearly identified in prior literature. The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of dimensions and criteria for evaluating a green project management. An integrated approach combining the decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and the analytical network process (ANP) is used to determine the interrelationship structure and priority of each dimension and each criterion in a green project management. Six dimensions and twenty-four criteria of a green project management are identified based on related research in the fields of environmental sustainability and supply chain management. The empirical results show the interrelationship structure and priority of each dimension and each criterion in a green project management. The findings of this study provide important implications for both managerial managers and academic researchers.
A Multi-Objective Chance-Constrained Programming Approach for Uncertainty-Based Optimal Nutrients Load Reduction at the Watershed Scale
Authors: Liu Xujun , Zhang Mengjiao , Su Han , Dong Feifei , Ji Yao , Liu Yong
Published: May 2017

A multi-objective chance-constrained programming integrated with Genetic Algorithm and robustness evaluation methods was proposed to weigh the conflict between system investment against risk for watershed load reduction, which was firstly applied to nutrient load reduction in the Lake Qilu watershed of the Yunnan Plateau, China. Eight sets of Pareto solutions were acceptable for both system investment and probability of constraint satisfaction, which were selected from 23 sets of Pareto solutions out of 120 solution sets. Decision-makers can select optimal decisions from the solutions above in accordance with the actual conditions of different sub-watersheds under various engineering measures. The relationship between system investment and risk demonstrated that system investment increased rapidly when the probability level of constraint satisfaction was higher than 0.9, but it reduced significantly if appropriate risk was permitted. Evaluation of robustness of the optimal scheme indicated that the Pareto solution obtained from the model provided the ideal option, since the solutions were always on the Pareto frontier under various distributions and mean values of the random parameters. The application of the multi-objective chance-constrained programming to optimize the reduction of watershed nutrient loads in Lake Qilu indicated that it is also applicable to other environmental problems or study areas that contain uncertainties.
Hong Kong Chinese adults’ knowledge of exercise recommendations and attitudes towards exercise
Authors: Wong Man Kin , Cheng Sai Yip Ronald , Chu Tsun Kit , Lee Cheuk Nang , Liang Jun
Published: May 2017

Background

Physical inactivity is known to be one of the major risk factors for many chronic conditions.

Aim

To determine Hong Kong Chinese adults’ physical activity (PA) knowledge, its relationship with certain variables including sex, education, age, and its correlation with different types of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and others. The Hong Kong Chinese adults' general attitudes towards PA will also be examined.

Design & setting

Cross-sectional study in one primary care centre.

Method

A randomized sample of Chinese adults aged >18 years with anonymous self-administered questionnaires.

Results

The mean percentage of correct responses for exercise guidelines was 62.3%, 84.5% for traditional PA, and 48.4% for lifestyle PA, respectively. Traditional PA refers to exercises which use large muscle groups. Lifestyle PAs include activities which can be done throughout the day. The total mean percentage of correct responses was 67% (knowledge score 13.4 +/– 3.34). There were no significant differences between PA knowledge and sex, education levels, age groups, and presence of chronic diseases (P>0.05), but the knowledge level for lifestyle PA was less than that of traditional PA (P<0.001). A weak correlation was found between responders’ activeness for a health benefit and the PA knowledge levels (P>0.05). Two hundred and sixy-six (93.3%) responders reported a willingness to maintain or start exercise.

Conclusion

The results suggest a need for more education about the latest PA recommendations, especially lifestyle PA. The weak correlation between PA knowledge and actual behaviour showed that PA knowledge itself might not affect PA behaviour. The enhancement of the general public’s knowledge, motivation, and psychosocial support along with stage-of-change interventions and the provision of counselling skills may result in PA behaviour change, which in turn can lead to the achievement of health benefits.
The Effects of Auricular and Body Acupuncture in Turkish Obese Female Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial Indicated Both Methods Lost Body Weight But Auricular Acupuncture Was Better Than Body Acupuncture
Authors: Cayir Yasemin , Set Turan , Kosan Zahide
Published: May 2017

It was aimed to observe the efficacy of body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture for the management of obesity. Fifty female obese patients were randomized into 2 groups; a Body Acupuncture Group (GBA; n=25) and an Auricular Acupuncture Group (GAA; n=25). All patients were followed
up for 12 weeks. Their anthropometric measurements (body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference and hip circumference) were recorded for analysis in every 15 days. Patients were compared in terms of anthropometric measurements. Patients in the GAA received 6 sessions
of auricular acupuncture in every 15 days. We used bilateral 2 points namely antiaggression point and stomach point for auricular acupuncture. Bilateral LI4, LI11, ST25, ST36, SP6, SP9, CV12, and CV6 points were selected for two times in a week (totally 24 sessions) in the GBA. Independent
samples t test, Mann Whitney U test and paired samples t-test were used in the comparisons. Significance level was set at p<0.05. Seventeen patients in GBA and 21 patients in GAA completed the study. The mean age of patients was 36.2±10.5 years (GBA: 32.7±12.3; GAA: 39.1±7.9).
The mean weight was 95.7±11.8 kg before acupuncture, and it decreased to 92.5±14.4 kg after acupuncture in GBA; and it was 95.1±15.6 kg before acupuncture and it decreased to 91.5±11.0 kg after acupuncture in GAA. Change in weight after acupuncture was 2.6±2.4
kg in GBA, and 4.2±3.4 kg in GAA (p<0.05). In both groups, changes in weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and hip circumference were statistically significant (p<0.05). Only one patient reported side effect related to acupuncture. Body acupuncture
and auricular acupuncture have the therapeutic role in the management of obesity. In this study, auricular acupuncture is more effective in reducing body weight than body acupuncture. Thus, auricular acupuncture may be useful and safe, nonpharmacological treatment.
Ovarian Cancer in ManitobA: Trends in Incidence and Survival, 1992–2011
Authors: Lambert P. , Galloway K. , Altman A. , Nachtigal M.W. , Turner D.
Published: May 2017

Background: Because the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, in a study of diagnosis years between 1995 and 2007, showed lower-than-expected survival for Manitoba’s ovarian cancer patients, we undertook an analysis to describe the features of ovarian cancer diagnosed in Manitoba during a 20-year period. We also determined the most recent trends in survival to see if the previous results were sustained. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, ovarian cancer cases diagnosed during 1992–2011 were extracted from the Manitoba Cancer Registry. The incidence of ovarian cancer was calculated for the overall group and for age, morphology, residence, treatment, and stage. Trends over time, with a particular focus on changes that might correlate with poor survival, were analyzed. The 1- and 3-year relative survival rates were also calculated. Results: The incidence of ovarian cancer did not vary over time (p = 0.640), even when stratified by age or morphology groups. Use of adjuvant chemotherapy decreased (p = 0.005) and use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy increased over time (p = 0.002). Diagnoses of stage iv cancers declined over time (p < 0.020). Trends in incidence did not coincide with previously observed decreases in relative survival. Conclusions: A decline in diagnoses of stage iv ovarian cancer could be responsible for a recent increase in relative survival. However, sample size might have limited power in some analyses, and the previously reported decrease in relative survival might have been due to a random fluctuation in the data. Future efforts will focus on continued monitoring of the patterns of ovarian cancer presentation and outcomes in Manitoba.
Factors Influencing Treatment Selection and Survival in Advanced Lung Cancer
Authors: Tabchi S. , Kassouf E. , Florescu M. , Tehfe M. , Blais N.
Published: May 2017

Purpose: Despite numerous breakthrough therapies, inoperable lung cancer still places a heavy burden on patients who might not be candidates for chemotherapy. To identify potential candidates for the newly emerging immunotherapy-based treatment paradigms, we explored the clinical and biologic factors affecting treatment decisions. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed at our university-affiliated cancer centre between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2013. Patient demographics, systemic treatment, and survival were examined. Results: During the 3-year study period, 683 patients fitting the inclusion criteria were identified. First-line therapy was administered in 49.5% of patients; only 22.4% received further lines of therapy. The main reasons for withholding therapy were poor performance status [ps (43.2%)], rapidly deteriorating ps (31.9%), patient refusal of therapy (20.9%), and associated comorbidities (4%). Older age, the presence of brain metastasis at diagnosis, and non-small-cell histology were also associated with therapeutic restraint. Oncology referrals were infrequent in patients who did not receive therapy (32.2%). Older patients and those with a poor ps experienced superior survival when treatment was administered (hazard ratio: 0.25; 95% confidence interval: 0.16 to 0.38; and hazard ratio: 0.44; 95% confidence interval: 0.23 to 0.87 respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Advanced lung cancer still poses a therapeutic challenge, with a high proportion of patients being deemed unfit for therapy. This issue cannot be resolved until appropriate measures are taken to ensure the inclusion of older patients and those with a relatively poor ps in large clinical trials. Immunotherapy might be interesting in this setting, given that it appears to be more tolerable. Another consequential undertaking would be the deployment of strategies to reduce wait times during the diagnostic process for patients with a high index of suspicion for lung cancer.
Metformin and Breast Cancer Stage at Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Lega I.C. , Fung K. , Austin P.C. , Lipscombe L.L.
Published: May 2017

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to use a large, population-based cohort to examine the association between metformin and breast cancer stage at diagnosis while accounting for mammography differences. Methods: We used data from Ontario administrative health databases to identify women 68 years of age or older with diabetes and invasive breast cancer diagnosed from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to compare breast cancer stage at diagnosis (stages i and ii vs. iii and iv) between the women exposed and not exposed to metformin. We also examined the association between metformin use and estrogen receptor status, tumour size, and lymph node status in the subset of women for whom those data were available. Results: We identified 3125 women with diabetes and breast cancer; 1519 (48.6%) had been exposed to metformin before their cancer diagnosis. Median age at breast cancer diagnosis was 76 years (interquartile range: 72–82 years), and mean duration of diabetes was 8.8 ± 5.9 years. In multivariable analyses, metformin exposure was not associated with an earlier stage of breast cancer (odds ratio: 0.98; 95% confidence interval: 0.81 to 1.19). In secondary analyses, metformin exposure was not associated with estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, tumours larger than 2 cm, or positive lymph nodes. Conclusions: This population-based study did not show an association between metformin use and breast cancer stage or tumour characteristics at diagnosis. Our study considered older women with long-standing diabetes, and therefore further studies in younger patients could be warranted.
Comparative Survival in Patients with Brain Metastases from Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated before and after Implementation of Radiosurgery
Authors: Greenspoon J.N. , Ellis P.M. , Pond G. , Caetano S. , Broomfield J. , Swaminath A.
Published: May 2017

Introduction: Survival after a diagnosis of brain metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) is generally poor. We previously reported a median survival of approximately 4 months in a cohort of patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (wbrt). Since that time, we implemented a program of stereotactic radiosurgery (srs). In the present study, we examined survival and prognostic factors in a consecutive cohort of patients after the introduction of the srs program. Methods: Data from a retrospective review of 167 nsclc patients with brain metastasis referred to a tertiary cancer centre during 2010–2012 were compared with data from a prior cohort of 91 patients treated during 2005–2007 (“pre-srs cohort”). Results: Median overall survival from the date of diagnosis of brain metastasis (4.3 months in the srs cohort vs. 3.9 months in the pre-srs cohort, p = 0.74) was not significantly different in the cohorts. The result was similar when the no-treatment group was excluded from the srs cohort. Within the srs cohort only, significant differences is overall survival were observed between treatment groups (srs, wbrt plus srs, wbrt, and no treatment), with improved survival being observed on univariate and multivariate analysis for patients receiving srs compared with patients receiving wbrt alone (p < 0.001). Conclusions: No improvement in survival was observed for nsclc patients with brain metastases after the implementation of srs. Selected patients (younger age, female sex, good performance status, fewer brain metastases) treated with srs appeared to demonstrate improved survival. However, those observations might also reflect better patient selection for srs or a greater tendency to offer those patients systemic therapy in addition to srs.
Treatment and Outcomes for Glioblastoma in Elderly Compared with Non-elderly Patients: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Morgan E.R. , Norman A. , Laing K. , Seal M.D.
Published: May 2017

Purpose: Elderly patients make up a large percentage of the individuals newly diagnosed with glioblastoma (gbm), but they face particular challenges in tolerating standard therapy, and compared with younger patients, they experience significantly shorter survival. We set out to compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in a non-elderly group (<65 years) and an elderly group (≥65 years) of patients diagnosed with gbm. Methods: This retrospective population-based study used a province-wide cancer registry to identify patients with a new diagnosis of gbm within a 6-year period (2006–2012). Of the 138 patients identified, 56 (40.6%) were 65 years of age or older. Demographic characteristics, treatment patterns, and overall survival (os) in the elderly and non-elderly groups were compared. Predictors of os were determined using multivariate analysis. Results: Elderly patients were more likely to present with a poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ≥ 2), to undergo biopsy without resection, and to receive whole-brain or hypofractionated radiotherapy. Compared with non-elderly patients, the elderly patients were less likely to receive adjuvant temozolomide. Survival time was significantly shorter in the elderly than in the non-elderly patients (7.2 months vs. 11.2 months). In multivariate analysis, surgical resection, hypofractionated radiotherapy (compared with whole-brain or conventional radiotherapy), and chemotherapy were predictive of os in older patients. Among elderly patients receiving radiation, survival was improved with the use of combined therapy compared with the use of radiation only (11.3 months vs. 4.6 months). Conclusions: Overall survival was shorter for elderly patients with gbm than for non-elderly patients; the elderly patients were also less likely to receive intensive surgical or adjuvant therapy. Our population-based analysis demonstrated improved os with surgical resection, hypofractionated radiotherapy, and temozolomide, and supports the results of recent clinical trials demonstrating a benefit for combination chemoradiotherapy in older patients.
Challenges and Insights in Implementing Coordinated Care between Oncology and Primary Care Providers: A Canadian Perspective
Authors: Tomasone J.R. , Vukmirovic M. , Brouwers M.C. , Grunfeld E. , Urquhart R. , O’Brien M.A. , Walker M. , Webster F. , Fitch M.
Published: May 2017

We report here on the current state of cancer care coordination in Canada and discuss challenges and insights with respect to the implementation of collaborative models of care. We also make recommendations for future research. This work is based on the findings of the Canadian Team to Improve Community-Based Cancer Care Along the Continuum (canimpact) casebook project. The casebook project identified models of collaborative cancer care by systematically documenting and analyzing Canadian initiatives that aim to improve or enhance care coordination between primary care providers and oncology specialists. The casebook profiles 24 initiatives, most of which focus on breast or colorectal cancer and target survivorship or follow-up care. Current key challenges in cancer care coordination are associated with establishing program support, engaging primary care providers in the provision of care, clearly defining provider roles and responsibilities, and establishing effective project or program planning and evaluation. Researchers studying coordinated models of cancer care should focus on designing knowledge translation strategies with updated and refined governance and on establishing appropriate protocols for both implementation and evaluation.
The Role of Family Physicians in Cancer Care: Perspectives of Primary and Specialty Care Providers
Authors: Easley J. , Miedema B. , O’Brien M.A. , Carroll J. , Manca D. , Webster F. , Grunfeld E.
Published: May 2017

Background: Currently, the specific role of family physicians (fps) in the care of people with cancer is not well defined. Our goal was to explore physician perspectives and contextual factors related to the coordination of cancer care and the role of fps. Methods: Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we conducted telephone interviews with 58 primary and cancer specialist health care providers from across Canada. Results: The participants—21 fps, 15 surgeons, 12 medical oncologists, 6 radiation oncologists, and 4 general practitioners in oncology—were asked to describe both the role that fps currently play and the role that, in their opinion, fps should play in the future care of cancer patients across the cancer continuum. Participants identified 3 key roles: coordinating cancer care, managing comorbidities, and providing psychosocial care to patients and their families. However, fps and specialists discussed many challenges that prevent fps from fully performing those roles: (1) The fps described communication problems resulting from not being kept “in the loop” because they weren’t copied on patient reports and also the lack of clearly defined roles for all the various health care providers involved in providing care to cancer patients. (2) The specialists expressed concerns about a lack of patient access to fp care, leaving specialists to fill the care gaps. The fps and specialists both recommended additional training and education for fps in survivorship care, cancer screening, genetic testing, and new cancer treatments. Conclusions: Better communication, more collaboration, and further education are needed to enhance the role of fps in the care of cancer patients.
Management of Egfr-Mutated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Practical Implications from a Clinical and Pathology Perspective
Authors: Cabanero M. , Sangha R. , Sheffield B.S. , Sukhai M. , Pakkal M. , Kamel-Reid S. , Karsan A. , Ionescu D. , Juergens R.A. , Butts C. , Tsao M.S.
Published: May 2017

Starting in the early 2000s, non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) subtypes have evolved from being histologically described to molecularly defined. Management of lung adenocarcinomas now generally requires multiple molecular tests at baseline to define the optimal treatment strategy. More recently, second biopsies performed at progression in patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis) have further defined the continued use of molecularly targeted therapy. In the present article, we focus on one molecular subtype: EGFR-mutated nsclc. For that patient population, multiple lines of tki therapy are now available either clinically or in clinical trials. Each line of treatment is guided by the specific mutations (for example, L858R, T790M, C797S) identified in EGFR. We first describe the various mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR tki treatment. We then focus on strategies that clinicians and pathologists can both use during tissue acquisition and handling to optimize patient results. We also discuss future directions for the molecular characterization of lung cancers with driver mutations, including liquid biopsies. Finally, we provide an algorithm to guide treating physicians managing patients with EGFR-mutated nsclc. The same framework can also be applied to other molecularly defined nsclc subgroups as resistance patterns are elucidated and additional lines of treatment are developed.