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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2006.11.008 Byline: Bogdan C. Popescu (a), Bruno Crispo (a)(b), Andrew S. Tanenbaum (a), Arno Bakker (a) Keywords: Distributed systems; Security; Middleware; Wide area replication Abstract: Wide-area service replication is becoming increasingly common, with the emergence of new operational models such as content delivery networks and computational grids. This paper describes the security architecture for Globe, an object-based middleware specifically designed to support dynamic replication of services over wide-area networks. Replication introduces a series of new security issues, including the need to restrict replica privileges with respect to method execution, and protection of distributed objects against malicious hosts running instances of their code. Our modular security design addresses these new threats, as well as a broad range of traditional ones, and is validated through a series of performance measurements. Additional contributions include a novel authentication mechanism specifically designed for wide-area deployment, which combines some of the best features of public key authentication protocols (reliance on an offline trusted third party in particular) with the computational efficiency characteristic to symmetric key schemes. Author Affiliation: (a) Dept. of Computer Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1081A, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands (b) DIT, University of Trento, Italy Article History: Received 2 January 2006; Revised 18 October 2006; Accepted 3 November 2006 Article Note: (miscellaneous) Responsible Editor: L. Salgarelli

Pharmacological ovarian control required for the implementation of artificial insemination and embryo-related technologies usually includes the use of eCG, naturally produced in pregnant mares. In this study, we report the superovulatory response and embryo development in mice obtained with a new glycoprotein with eCG-like activity (reCG) produced by recombinant DNA technology. A total of 150 females from three different mouse strains (C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ and B6D2F1/J) were subjected to a superstimulatory protocol consisting of 5 IU of natural eCG (n = 50), 5 IU of reCG (n = 50), or received a placebo (no-eCG, n = 50) by intraperitoneal route, followed by 5 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin 48 h later. Overall, no significant differences were observed in the total number of ova/zygotes (33.6 ± 2.4 vs 28.7 ± 2.6; P = NS) and viable ova/zygotes (31.5 ± 2.4 vs 25.8 ± 2.5; P = NS) collected per female among eCG and reCG treated females, respectively, which were greater (P < 0.05) than those obtained in no-eCG treated females (6.9 ± 0.7 and 5.9 ± 0.7, respectively). Zygotes derived from the three experimental groups (n = 2914) were subjected to in vitro culture until hatching 4.5 days post coitum (dpc). Regardless of the mouse strain, no differences were observed among eCG and reCG treated females for overall cleavage rate 1.5 dpc (58.5% vs 60.5%), development rate 3.5 dpc (47.2% vs 48.9%) and hatching rate 4.5 dpc (49.5% vs 54.5) (P = NS). Control females from no-eCG treated group showed lower cleavage and development rates (36.4% and 29.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study reports for the first time comparable superovulatory response and embryo development between recombinant and natural eCG treatment, which has important implications for reproductive technologies in several species. • A new recombinant eCG-like activity glycoprotein (reCG) was compared with natural eCG in mice. • Superovulatory response induced with reCG was similar to eCG, and greater than no eCG treatment. • Embryo developmental competence was similar to natural eCG, and greater than no eCG treatment. • We report for the first time the success of a recombinant eCG-like glycoprotein for superovulation/embryo production in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We characterized patients with meningitis and 30- and 90-day readmissions. • We found national 30- and 90-day readmission rates of 7.0% and 11.4%, respectively, among adults receiving inpatient meningitis care. • Readmission was associated with greater comorbidity, and readmissions were most often for meningitis, septicemia, or medical complications. • These findings suggest that premorbid health state may be a more important driver of readmissions than age in adults. • These data will likely become the benchmark for future public health or health service research evaluations of hospitalization outcomes for meningitis in the adult population. Our objectives were to (1) characterize patient and clinical characteristics of adults hospitalized with meningitis; (2) describe meningitis hospitalization outcomes, including 30- and 90-day readmissions; and (3) determine whether clinical, patient, or index hospitalization characteristics are associated with readmission and readmission outcomes. This retrospective study of the 2014 National Readmissions Database extracted data on hospitalized adults with a principal diagnosis of meningitis and examined hospitalization outcomes using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression models were built to determine whether characteristics were associated with 30- or 90-day readmissions. For the 30-day readmission analyses, 18,883 adults qualified. Meningitis hospitalizations commonly involved adults 25 to 54 years of age who were insured by private carriers. The readmission rates were 7.0% at 30 days and 11.4% at 90 days. Readmission was associated with greater comorbidity burden (2 conditions: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60, range 1.24-2.08; 3 conditions: AOR = 1.92, range 1.43-2.58; 4+ conditions: AOR = 2.68, range 2.04-3.51 vs 0 or 1 condition), public insurance (Medicare: AOR = 1.85, range 1.30-2.62; Medicaid: AOR = 1.48, range 1.16-1.90 vs private insurance), and medical error (AOR = 1.43, range 1.07-1.91). Readmissions were most often for meningitis, septicemia, or medical complications. Readmission after hospitalization for meningitis is associated with both fixed and modifiable factors. More research is needed to determine which post-meningitis readmissions are preventable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stereo-PIV investigation of circular and chevron impinging synthetic jets. • Analysis of time-averaged and phase-averaged mean and turbulent statistics. • 3D reconstructions of large coherent vortex structures impinging on the wall. • Chevron synthetic jet shows preferential directions of outflow of the wall jet. • Chevron nozzle affects the distribution and shape of vortical impinging structures. The flow field of a chevron synthetic jet in impinging configuration at Reynolds number Re = 4500 , dimensionless stroke length L 0 / D = 28 and nozzle-to-plate distance H / D = 2 is experimentally investigated by means of Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry. This study is motivated by the need of explaining the heat transfer behaviour of the chevron synthetic jet highlighting its differences with respect to the circular synthetic jet. Two different experiments are carried out. The first experiment is devoted to the characterisation of the flow field evolution on the impingement plate. The second experiment is a three-dimensional reconstruction of the entire flow field at three characteristic phases. The results show that the circular synthetic jet presents a circular velocity pattern on the plate, while the chevron exit leads to the acceleration of the fluid, thus to a larger impinging velocity with a star-shaped pattern. Furthermore, in both configurations a secondary vortex ring is formed on the wall at a radial position of about 2 diameters. For the circular synthetic jet, the intense turbulence levels are located in two annular regions: the inner region is due to the turbulent wall jet generated by the impinging trailing jet and the outer region is due to the effect of the generation of the secondary vortex ring. For the chevron synthetic jet, the intense turbulence level is produced by the turbulent wall jet along preferential paths. These preferential paths are caused by the star-shaped distribution of impinging velocity and the impinging streamwise coherent vortices. These features characterizing the impinging flow field are fundamental to understand and explain the mechanisms behind the heat transfer behaviour of such devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a behavioral biometric-based smartphone user authentication mechanism, namely, AnswerAuth , which relies on the very common users' behavior. Behavior, here, refers to the way a user slides the lock button on the screen, to unlock the phone, and brings the phone towards her ear. The authentication mechanism works with the biometric behavior based on the extracted features from the data recorded using the built-in smartphone sensors, i.e., accelerometer, gyroscope, gravity, magnetometer and touchscreen, while the user performed sliding and phone-lifting actions. We tested AnswerAuth on a dataset of 10,200 behavioral patterns collected from 85 users while they performed the unlocking actions, in sitting, standing , and walking postures, using six state-of-the-art conceptually different machine learning classifiers in two settings, i.e., with and without simultaneous feature selection and classification. Among all the chosen classifiers, Random Forest (RF) classifier proved to be the most consistent and accurate classifier on both full and reduced features and provided a True Acceptance Rate (TAR) as high as 99.35%. We prototype proof-of-the-concept Android app, based on our findings, and evaluate it in terms of security and usability. Security analysis of AnswerAuth confirms its robustness against the possible mimicry attacks. Similarly, the usability study based on Software Usability Scale (SUS) 1 1 https://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/system-usability-scale.html. questionnaire verifies the user-friendliness of the proposed scheme (SUS Score of 75.11). Experimental results prove AnswerAuth as a secure and usable authentication mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The 30-day readmission rate is increasingly utilized as a metric of quality that impacts reimbursement. To date, there are no nationally representative data on readmission rates after thyroid surgery. We aimed to determine national readmission rates after inpatient thyroidectomy operations and whether select clinical factors were associated with increased odds of postthyroidectomy readmission. Methods Using the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database, we identified patients undergoing inpatient thyroid surgery as defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, procedure codes for thyroid lobectomy, partial thyroidectomy, complete thyroidectomy, and substernal thyroidectomy. Descriptive statistics were used to report readmission rates, most common diagnosis and causes of readmission, and timing of presentation after discharge. Multivariable logistic regression models controlling for potential confounders were used to determine whether select factors were associated with 30-day readmission. Results A total of 22,654 patients underwent inpatient thyroid surgery during the study period, 990 of whom (4.4%) were readmitted within 30 days. Among these, the most common diagnoses during readmission were disorders of mineral metabolism and hypocalcemia, accounting for 36.0% and 26.6% of readmissions, respectively. This held true regardless of the apparent indication for thyroid surgery (goiter, cancer, or thyroid function disorder) or timing of readmission after discharge. Calcium-related abnormalities were the top diagnoses at readmissions (22.1%). Most readmissions (54.6%) occurred within 7 days of discharge, with 24.6% within the first 2 days Factors associated with an increased odds of readmission included having Medicare (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.47 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–2.11) or Medicaid insurance (AOR 1.44 [CI 1.04–1.99]), being discharged to inpatient post acute care (AOR 2.31 [CI 1.48–3.62]) or to home health care (AOR 1.78 [CI 1.21–2.63]), having an Elixhauser comorbidity score ≥ 4 (AOR 2.04 [CI 1.27–3.26]), and a duration of stay ≥2 days after the thyroid surgery (AOR 2.7 [CI 1.9–3.82]). The only complication during index admission associated with increased odds of readmission was hypocalcemia (AOR 1.5 [CI 1.1–2.06]. Indications for thyroid surgery were not associated with increased odds of readmission. Conclusion Readmissions after thyroid surgery are relatively low and occur early after surgery. The most common diagnoses identified on readmission were calcium and mineral metabolism disorders, which also were the most common cause of readmission. Socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, and complications during the index admissions were found to be associated with nonelective, postthyroidectomy readmissions. Recognition of these risk factors may guide the development of interventions and protocols to decrease readmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence suggests that immune receptors may participate in many aging-related processes such as energy metabolism, inflammation, and cognitive decline. CD300f, a TREM2-like lipid-sensing immune receptor, is an exceptional receptor as it integrates activating and inhibitory cell-signaling pathways that modulate inflammation, efferocytosis, and microglial metabolic fitness. We hypothesize that CD300f can regulate systemic aging-related processes and ultimately healthy lifespan. We closely followed several cohorts of two strains of CD300f−/− and WT mice of both sexes for 30 months and observed an important reduction in lifespan and healthspan in knockout mice. This was associated with systemic inflammaging, increased cognitive decline, reduced brain glucose uptake observed by 18FDG PET scans, enrichment in microglial aging/neurodegeneration phenotypes, proteostasis alterations, senescence, increased frailty, and sex-dependent systemic metabolic changes. Moreover, the absence of CD300f altered macrophage immunometabolic phenotype. Taken together, we provide strong evidence suggesting that myeloid cell CD300f immune receptor contributes to healthy aging. [Display omitted] • CD300f−/− mice show reduced lifespan, but no specific cause of death is identified • This is associated with inflammaging, senescence, frailty, and cognitive decline • CD300f−/− mice exhibit microglial aging states and sex-dependent metabolic changes • Absence of CD300f reduces macrophage immunometabolic fitness in a sex-dependent way Evans et al. report that the absence of CD300f myeloid cell immune receptor in male and female mice induces a reduced lifespan. Animals display diverse aged-related conditions such as inflammaging, frailty, cognitive decline, brain senescence markers, microglial aging phenotypes, and reduced macrophage metabolic fitness, as well as sex-dependent metabolic alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Heat transfer in circular and chevron synthetic jets is studied by IR thermography. • Star-shaped heat transfer pattern for chevron synthetic jets is shown at high L 0 / D. • Heat transfer rate increases as L 0 / D reduces. • Chevron exit provides heat transfer enhancement at small nozzle-to-plate distances. Abstract An experimental investigation on the heat transfer enhancement achieved by impinging synthetic jets with vortex generators, in the form of chevron elements at the nozzle exit, is carried out. The heated thin foil heat transfer sensor is used in conjunction with the infrared thermography to measure the spatial distribution of the Nusselt number on the target plate. The heat transfer rates of impinging circular and chevron synthetic jets are compared under the same condition of cavity pressure. A parametric study on the effect of the dimensionless stroke length and the nozzle-to-plate distance on the heat transfer rates is carried out. For increasing dimensionless stroke length, at short nozzle-to-plate distances, the chevron synthetic jet reveals a star-shaped heat transfer pattern similar to that observed for an impinging continuous one. The results show that a chevron exit geometry can provide a significant heat transfer enhancement for relatively small nozzle-to-plate distances, up to a 20% increase with respect to the circular synthetic jet. At small dimensionless stroke lengths, such an enhancement is observed for a wide range of nozzle-to-plate distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mechanical thrombectomy after acute ischemic stroke has been shown to improve clinical outcomes. Data on short-term hospitalization outcomes after thrombectomy are needed. Our objective was to quantify 30- and 90-day readmissions after thrombectomy and identify factors associated with readmissions.Methods: Retrospective observational analysis of adult patients hospitalized between January and November 2014, using data from the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Readmission rates were calculated and examined according to patient, clinical, and hospital characteristics using descriptive statistics. Weighted unconditional logistic regression models estimated the odds of readmission and examine the associations between select characteristics and readmission.Results: 4850 individuals who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in 2014 were eligible for 30-day readmissions analyses. The nonelective readmission rate was 12.5% at 30 days, 20.7% at 90 days. Sepsis and stroke were the most common reasons for readmission. Female sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.34, 1.02-1.77 at 30 days), discharge to inpatient postacute care facility (AOR 1.61, 1.07-2.41 at 30 days, AOR 1.99, 1.47-2.69 at 90 days), and longer initial length of stay (AOR 1.52, 1.04-2.23 at 30 days, AOR 1.67, 1.14-2.43 at 90 days) were associated with a higher likelihood of readmission. Thrombectomy complications were rare and not associated with readmission.Conclusions: 1 in 8 thrombectomy patients had a short-term readmission in 2014. Characteristics suggestive of a complicated hospital course or greater physical disability were the primary predictors of readmission. This study provides preliminary data for evaluations of the public health impact of mechanical thrombectomy in real world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the uniqueness backward in time for smooth solutions to a linear parabolic equation is an improperly posed problem. On the other hand, for the p -laplacian parabolic problem, p ∈ ( 1 , 2 ) , the extinction of the solution in a finite interval of time is one of the major property. In this note we investigate on the extinction property in the case of an electrorheological fluid. In the L 2 -setting of weak solutions we are able to prove the following characterization: there is extinction of a solution to p ( x ) -Stokes IBVP iff p ( x ) ∈ [ 2 n n + 2 , 2 ) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of oxygen-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB)-water-carbon dioxide semi-clathrate system was investigated. A system comprised of 9.5 ppmw MWCNTs and 40 wt % TBAB was chosen and the average gas consumption rate was calculated for different conditions. At 14 °C, the average gas consumption rate during growth decreased to a plateau with increasing induction time at 3.0 °C subcooling for systems with and without MWCNTs. The addition of MWCNTs increased the gas consumption rate during growth for induction times less than one hour but did not affect it at longer induction times. The maximum gas consumption enhancement from the added MWCNTs was 15%. Dissolution runs at equilibrium conditions indicated that the presence of MWCNTs improved the dissolution rate of carbon dioxide gas into the liquid by lowering the time constant τ by 5%. This suggests that the gas-liquid interfacial resistance of carbon dioxide gas mass transfer is not the limiting factor for hydrate growth in this TBAB semi-clathrate system with and without nanoparticles. At a lower subcooling of 1.5 °C, there was no significant difference in the gas consumption rates with the addition of MWCNTs, due to prolonged induction times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the flow fields generated by two synthetic jets with a chevron and a conventional circular nozzle exits are studied and compared. For both configurations, the devices are operated at the same input electrical power, thus leading to Reynolds and Strouhal numbers equal to 5600 and 0.115 (for the circular exit) and 6000 and 0.106 (for the chevron exit). Phase-locked stereoscopic particle image velocimetry measurements are used to reconstruct the three-dimensional coherent vortex structures. Time-averaged and phase-averaged mean and turbulent statistics are analysed and discussed. The flow field strongly depends on the exit geometry. In presence of the chevron exit, the conventional vortex ring issued through the circular nozzle exit, is replaced by a non-circular vortex ring with additional streamwise vortices. The mutual interaction between these structures prevents the axis-switching of the non-circular vortex ring during its convection. These streamwise vortices disappear convecting downstream and the vortex ring assumes a circular shape. Comparing the two configurations, the chevron exit generates a larger time-averaged streamwise velocity along the centreline but with lower turbulent kinetic energy intensity. Differences are also present between the notch and the apex planes of the chevron exit. In the notch plane, both the time-averaged axial velocity component profile in the spanwise direction and the shearlayer width are wider than in the apex plane. Furthermore, the presence of the streamwise vortices causes a flow motion towards the jet axis in the apex plane and an opposite motion in the notch plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melting of frozen water droplets is a fundamental and ubiquitous process and the study of the transport processes occurring within the system during phase change is essential to understanding the forces that govern it. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be added to liquid systems prior to crystallization in order to modify the properties of the phase change process and of the liquid or solid systems themselves. In this study, the melting behavior of frozen sessile droplets composed of water and 50 ppm of either functionalized or non-functionalized aqueous MWCNTs is investigated. Droplets are thawed from their base on a hydrophobic substrate set to temperatures between 1 and 30 °C. Tracking of MWCNT clusters during melting shows convective fluid motion occurring within the liquid melt at temperatures above 5 °C. This circulation is contingent on the presence of the ice phase above. The internal fluid dynamics are attributed predominantly to thermocapillary effects as a result of temperature-induced surface tension gradients along the air/liquid interface in the melt. Further, the melting times of MWCNT-containing systems were longer than pure water samples. These results highlight new and important mechanisms driving the melting processes within water droplet systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in women, obesity is associated with increased BC incidence and mortality and high levels of circulating insulin may negatively impact on cancer incidence. In the present study, we investigated whether the strength of several anthropometric and metabolic parameters varies between BC molecular subtypes. Eligible cases were 991 non-metastatic BC patients recruited between January 2009 and December 2013. Anthropometric, clinical and immunohistochemical features were measured. Multivariate logistic regression models were built to assess HER2 positive BC risk, comparing (a) triple positive (TP) with luminal A, luminal B and triple negative (TN) and (b) HER2-enriched group with luminal A, luminal B and TN. We stratified patients in pre- and post-menopause: significant differences emerged for luminal A in relation to age: they were more likely to be older compared to other groups. Among postmenopausal patients, the adjusted multivariate analysis showed that high BMI and high waist circumference were inversely correlated to TP subtype when compared to luminal B (OR = 0.48 and OR = 0.49, respectively). Conversely, HOMA-IR was a risk factor for TP when compared to luminal A and TN (OR = 2.47 and OR = 3.15, respectively). Our findings suggest a potential role of higher abdominal fat in the development of specific BC molecular subtypes in postmenopausal women. Moreover, they support a potential role of insulin resistance in the development of HER2 positive BC, although this role appears to be stronger when hormone receptors are co-expressed, suggesting a difference in the etiology of these two BC subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The optimal extent of the groin lymph node (LN) dissection for melanoma patients with positive sentinel LN biopsy is still debated and no agreement exist on dissection of pelvic LN. This study aimed at investigating predictors of pelvic LN metastasis and prognostic significance of having metastasis in the pelvic LNs. Methods Clinicopathologic data of 740 patients with positive groin sentinel LN who underwent ilioinguinal completion LN dissection at four Italian centre were analysed. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of pelvic LN metastasis and to adjust prognostic significance of pelvic LN metastasis. Results More than a quarter (26%) of patients had positive non-SLNs after inguinal and pelvic lymphadenectomy, which were located in their pelvis in the 12% of cases. Older patients [(OR) 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–2.78] having thick primary (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.01–2.53) and ≥ 2 positive SLNs (OR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.4–4.47) were more likely to harbour pelvic LN metastasis. Interestingly, 4% of all patients (34% of patients with positive pelvic LNs) had pelvic LN metastasis with negative inguinal LNs. Pelvic LN metastasis was independently associated with higher risk of recurrence and lower survival. 5-year disease free and overall survival was 30% and 50%, respectively, for patients with pelvic LN metastasis. Conclusions Pelvic LNs are frequently positive after ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy and it should be considered for all patients, especially those who are older, have thick primary and ≥ 2 positive SLN. Patients with pelvic LN metastasis have worse prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with a special quasilinear elliptic system, which can be seen as a perturbed p -Laplacean, p ∈ ( 1 , 2 ) , in the whole space R n . For its “shape”, it is close to the p -Stokes system. However, our quasilinear second-order differential operator is given by means of ∇ u and not by its symmetric part, so that our system cannot be considered as a p -Stokes system. Hence, it is called modified p -Stokes system. We look for the high regularity of the solutions ( u , π ) , in the sense of D 2 u , ∇ π ∈ L q ( R n ) , q ∈ ( n , ∞ ) . In particular, we get ∇ u , π ∈ C 0 , α ( R n ) . As far as we know, such a result of high regularity is the first concerning the coupling of unknowns ( u , π ) . However, our result also holds for the p -Laplacean, and it is the first high regularity result in an unbounded domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest has grown in tetra- n -butylammonium bromide (TBAB) semi-clathrates due to their formation at lower pressures and higher temperatures than conventional gas hydrates. This study focuses on TBAB semi-clathrates formed with carbon dioxide and methane and is to our knowledge the first study to report and model semi-clathrate former solubility under hydrate–liquid–vapor equilibrium conditions. A thermodynamic model was developed using the Trebble–Bishnoi equation of state to calculate vapor and liquid phase fugacity. Liquid activity was determined using the electrolyte non-random two liquid model (eNRTL). The solid semi-clathrate phase was modeled using a modified van der Waals–Platteeuw model (vdW–P), with parameters re-optimized based on the data obtained in this study. Equilibrium conditions were successfully modeled over the temperature range of 281–294 K, pressure range of 377–11,000 kPa and TBAB composition range of 5–40 wt%. The model functioned well for carbon dioxide with an average absolute relative error (AARE) of 4.7% for pressure prediction and an AARE of 17.5% for solubility. Methane was more difficult to model and yielded AAREs of 21.6% for pressure and 32.5% for solubility. Further understanding of semi-clathrate crystal structure and interactions between methane and TBAB would aid in improving the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Few studies are available on the potential impact of body weight on breast cancer prognosis in screen-detected patients. Moreover, it is not known whether body mass index (BMI) could have a different prognostic impact in screen-detected versus symptomatic breast cancer patients. To investigate these unsolved issues, we carried out a retrospective study evaluating the effect of BMI on breast cancer prognosis in screen-detected vs symptomatic breast cancer patients. Materials and methods We conducted a follow-up study on 448 women diagnosed with incident, histologically-confirmed breast cancer. Patients were categorized according to their BMI as normal weight, overweight and obese. Disease free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and BMI curves were compared according to mode of cancer detection. Results Among screen-detected patients, higher BMI was associated with a significant lower DFS, whereas no significant difference was observed among symptomatic patients. OS showed similar results. In the multivariate analysis adjusting for age, education, tumor size, nodal status, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and menopausal status, the risk for high level of BMI among screen-detected patients did not reach the statistical significance for either recurrence or survival. Conclusion Our study highlights the potential impact of high bodyweight in breast cancer prognosis, the findings confirm that obesity plays a role in women breast cancer prognosis independently from diagnosis mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We consider the Dirichlet boundary value problem for nonlinear -systems of partial differential equations with -growth, , in the -dimensional case. For clearness, we confine ourselves to a particularly representative case, the well known -Laplacian system. We are interested in regularity results, up to the boundary, for the second order derivatives of the solution. We prove -global regularity results, for arbitrarily large values of . In turn, the regularity achieved implies the Hölder continuity of the gradient of the solution. It is worth noting that we cover the singular case . See . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]