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Effect of sulfation on a tough hybrid hydrogel network
No full textDataset corresponding to submitted manuscript. Full details will be added here following publication
Samenloop in België: technische regels voor het behoud van een gematigd strafklimaat in verhitte tijden
No full textThe integration of location and inventory decisions in supply chain networks: A literature review and future prospects
No full textSupply chain network design, a critical aspect of supply chain management, involves determining the physical network through which goods flow from suppliers to end customers. Strategic decisions involve locating facilities, capacity planning, and sourcing, which are crucial for cost-effectiveness and competitiveness. Traditionally, companies make these decisions in isolation, neglecting their interconnectivity with tactical and operational decisions. However, modern challenges such as evolving market dynamics and increasing competition necessitate integrated decision-making, particularly in inventory management and facility location, to enhance supply chain efficacy. Operations research and operations management techniques, such as the modeling of joint location and inventory decisions as a location-inventory problem (LIP), offer support in this integrated approach. In this paper, we present a review of recent contributions in the field of LIP research through an elaborated classification framework, which expands upon an existing classification framework. Our review reveals prevalent modeling assumptions in the current literature on LIP and provides insights into the evolving landscape of LIP research. By critically questioning these assumptions, we highlight the need for more realistic approaches in future LIP research. Based on this review, we identify specific future research directions, emphasizing their relevance to different contexts of LIP. Finally, we propose specific suggestions for future reviews.This research is supported by Research Foundation Flanders, Belgium (FWO junior research project G021422N), and by VLAIO cSBO project STRAUSS HBC.2023.0008
Does Adjuvant Mitotane Impact Cure Rates in Adrenocortical Carcinoma? Insights From the ICARO-GETTHI/SEEN Registry
No full textContext Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with a high risk of postoperative recurrence. Although adjuvant mitotane is commonly used, its potential for achieving cure rather than simply postponing inevitable recurrence remains uncertain.Objective This study investigates whether mitotane impacts ACC recurrence patterns by preventing or delaying recurrence.Methods This retrospective analysis used data from the ICARO-GETTHI/SEEN registry, which includes 36 Spanish hospitals. Recurrence in nonmetastatic ACC patients after resection was analyzed using Cox models, flexible longitudinal models, and mixture cure models to evaluate the impact of mitotane.Results Among 244 patients, 133 (52%) received adjuvant mitotane, with therapeutic levels monitored in 84%. Findings suggest a possible "cure fraction" with a 32.5% estimated 30-year cure rate (95% CI, 23.4%-45.0%). Cox regression indicated a 39% reduced recurrence risk (HR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.95) for mitotane-treated patients, with effects diminishing over 24 months. Mixture cure models suggest mitotane primarily delays rather than prevents recurrence. Effect modification analysis showed significant benefit in male patients (HR 0.33; 95% CI, 0.16-0.69), younger patients, tumors with higher Ki-67% (modeled as a continuous variable), and those with venous invasion (HR 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.82), with potential synergy when combined with radiotherapy.Conclusion This study underscores the intriguing possibility that adjuvant mitotane delays recurrence, yet questions remain as to its curative capacity. The early benefit suggests a cytostatic effect, but certain subgroups-especially males, younger individuals, and those with high-risk tumors-may experience a more durable outcome. Further research is needed to explore mitotane's curative potential in ACC management.Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the ICARO registry researchers for their contributions to this study and to GETTHI and SEEN for their support in promoting it. Special thanks to Natalia Cateriano, Miguel Vaquero, and the IRICOM SL team for developing, maintaining, and providing ongoing IT support for the registry’s web platform. To Miguel Ángel and Sofía Carmona, for reminding me that a little chaos can be the best “cure” for prolonged writing sessions.
Funding
This work is sponsored by the Grupo Español de Medicina Traslacional y Tumores Huérfanos e Infrecuentes (GETTHI) and the Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (SEEN). The database is funded by Esteve-HRA Pharm Rare Disease. The funders were not involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication
The Patient's Role Development in the Process of Participating in Multidisciplinary Team Meetings: From Passive Attendees to Active Members or Dropouts
No full textMental health patients are increasingly invited to participate in multidisciplinary team meetings during their admission to inpatient mental health units. To participate effectively, patients must adopt a role that enables them to actively engage and take their place as contributing member of the team. This study aims to understand how mental health patients experience the development of their roles when participating in multidisciplinary team meetings and to identify which dynamics are meaningful to them. A qualitative interview approach, using principles of grounded theory, was employed. Twelve mental health patients in Belgium were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method. The conceptual framework which emerged reveals that mental health patients strive to assume a partnership role within the team. To effectively take on this role, they identify three key components as essential: being informed and prepared, being seen and heard and being able to understand. Based on their reflections on these components and the perceived value of their contributions and efforts, mental health patients decide whether to become and remain active members, revert to passive attendance or disengage entirely. These insights can encourage organisations to create an environment where mental health patients can grow into their role as partners in multidisciplinary team meetings. Such an environment would enable collaborative efforts between patients and the treatment team, recognising each patient as a unique individual capable of making their own choices. By focusing on what is personally meaningful to the patient and addressing their specific needs, this approach ensures that care is tailored to what is crucial for patients' recovery.The authors express their gratitude to all the participants who participated in the study. A special thank goes also to Thomas D'Hondt (TD) and Lieke Vercruysse (LV), both affiliated to the psychiatric hospital Sint-Jozef Pittem (Belgium), for making this study possible and the assistance during the process of analysing the data (LV)
Charge-Transfer States at the Fullerene Interface Cause Nonradiative Recombination Losses in Sn-Based Perovskite Solar Cells
No full textTin-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional PSCs that typically contain toxic lead. In this work, we study the influence of the Sn-perovskite/fullerene interface on the open-circuit voltage (V oc). When the fullerene derivative ICBA is used as the electron transport layer, the V oc reaches 0.68 V, while the band gap of the Sn-perovskite is 1.44 eV, giving a voltage deficit of 0.76 V. Using PCBM as the electron transport layer, this deficit is 0.19 V higher. Herein, we identify through Fourier transform photocurrent spectroscopy and luminescence measurements that interfacial charge-transfer states at the Sn-perovskite/fullerene interface induce a nonradiative recombination channel. The energy of these states should be increased in order to mitigate voltage losses at the contacts.The authors acknowledge funding through the projectPERCISTAND (Grant Agreement 850937). S.H. and M.V.L.acknowledge financial support by the Flanders ResearchFoundation (FWO) strategic basic research doctoral grant 1S31922N and through a postdoctoral fellowship (1270123N),respectively
Prevalence, Activity Limitations and Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Specific Neck Pain in Burundi: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textIntroduction: Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) causes a great deal of discomfort, impacting a person's functionality and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, activity limitations, and quality of life in patients with NSNP in Burundi. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical aims, covering the period from September 2023 to February 2024. It focused on NSNP patients received in three health facilities of Bujumbura. In addition to sociodemographic data, clinical data including pain, disability, psychological status and quality of life were collected. Results: Most of patients (47.1%) were over 40 years old, with an average of 49.30 (13.30) years. The majority was female, married, employed, and had a university education. Most of them (64.70%) described their pain as moderate to severe, with a mean score of 6.20 (1.60) on the numerical scale. A minority had poor health-related quality of life (20.60%). The majority had mild to moderate disability in both the psychological (41.20%) and physical (55.90%) components. Pain location during the current episode had a statistically significant association with social aspects (p=0.049). Individuals with lower levels of education, a more sedentary lifestyle, and greater psychological distress are likely to experience increased activity limitations (p<0.05). Conclusion: NSNP is a significant public health concern in Burundi, impacting individuals' socio-professional lives and overall quality of life. Individuals with lower levels of education, a more sedentary lifestyle, and greater psychological distress are likely to experience increased activity limitations. The state of health was perceived as poor by 20.60% of the sample. The physical component of health status was more impaired than the mental component, and the majority of patients presented moderate to severe disabilities, highlighting the need for preventive and management measures to mitigate its impact on individuals and the healthcare system in Burundi.We would like to thank all the patients who consented to participate in this study and all the contributors to its successful completion
Optimizing cost through dynamic stochastic resetting
No full textThe cost of stochastic resetting is considered within the context of a discrete random walk (RW) model. In addition to standard stochastic resetting, for which a reset occurs with a certain probability after each step, we introduce a novel resetting protocol which we dubbed dynamic resetting. This protocol entails an additional dynamic constraint related to the direction of successive steps of the RW. We study this novel protocol for a one-dimensional RW on an infinite lattice. We analyze the impact of the constraint on the walker's mean-first passage time and the cost (fluctuations) of the resets as a function of distance of target from the resetting location. Further, cost optimized search strategies are discussed