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Background: The eighth edition of nodal classification is defined only by the anatomical location of metastatic lymph nodes and has limited prognostic discrimination power. The authors aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance and discriminatory capability of the number of metastatic lymph nodes (nN) in resected nonsmall cell lung cancer. Materials and methods: Patients with stage IA to IIIB resected nonsmall cell lung cancer between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013 were analyzed as a Chinese cohort. The optimal thresholds for the nN classification were determined by the X-tile. The receiver operating characteristic curve, net reclassification improvement and standardized net benefit calculated by decision curve analysis was estimated to quantify the nN classification's performance in prognostic stratification. External validation in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database was performed to test the robustness of the nN classification. Results: Both cohorts showed a stepwise prognosis deterioration with increasing nN. One to three, four to six, and more than six were selected as optimal thresholds of nN classification in the Chinese cohort, which included 4432 patients, then validated in the SEER cohort (n=28 022 patients). Multivariate Cox analysis showed the nN classification was an independent predictive factor for overall survival in both cohorts (Chinese cohort and SEER cohort: N0 vs. N1-3, P< 0.001; N0 vs. N3-6, P <0.001; N0 vs. N>6, P<0.001). And prognostic discriminatory capability was improved in the nN classification compared with location-based N classification [5-year NRI score, 0.106 (95% CI: 0.049-0.132) and 5-year time-independent AUC, 0.593 (95% CI: 0.560-0.625) vs. 0.554 (95% CI: 0.520-0.588), P<0.001]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have been considered as promising next-generation batteries due to their natural abundance, flat discharge voltage and high theoretical specific energy density. However, the wide application of these ZABs is seriously hindered by the high cost and poor electrochemical stability of noble electrocatalysts. In this paper, we develop a facile method to prepare ultra-small iron-based nitride and nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (Fe2N/N-CNTs) hybrid materials as bifunctional electrocatalysts for ZABs. In the presence of CNTs with large surface areas, ultra-small Fe2N nanoparticles with the diameter of around 5 nm are successfully prepared. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of Fe2N/N-CNTs is comparable to the Pt/C, while the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity is much better than the Pt/C. At last, the home-made ZABs with Fe2N/N-CNTs have significant rechargeable activities and cyclic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several new urethane-based dimethacrylates were synthesized, characterized and used to formulate the resin composites. Compressive strength (CS) was used as a screen tool to evaluate the mechanical property of the formed composites. Flexural strength, diametral tensile strength, water sorption, degree of conversion and shrinkage of the composites were also evaluated. The results show that most of the synthesized urethane-based dimethacrylates were solid, which are not suitable to dental filling restorations. However, it was found that liquid urethane-based dimethacrylates could be derivatized using asymmetrical methacrylate synthesis. Not only the newly synthesized urethane-based dimethacrylates showed lower viscosity values but also their constructed composites exhibited higher mechanical strengths. Without triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) addition, the new urethane-constructed composites showed significantly lower water sorption and shrinkage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective As computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer becomes more common in China, so too does detection of pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs). Although a number of national or international guidelines about pulmonary GGNs have been published, most of these guidelines are produced by respiratory, oncology or radiology physicians, who might not fully understand the progress of modern minimal invasive thoracic surgery, and these current guidelines may overlook or underestimate the value of thoracic surgery in the management of pulmonary GGNs. In addition, the management for pre-invasive adenocarcinoma is still controversial. Based on the available literature and experience from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, we composed this consensus about diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary GGNs. For lesions which are considered as adenocarcinoma in situ, chest thin layer CT scan follow-up is recommended and resection can only be adopt in some specific cases and excision should not exceed single segment resection. For lesions which are considered as minimal invasive adenocarcinoma, limited pulmonary resection or lobectomy is recommended. For lesions which are considered as early stage invasive adenocarcinoma, pulmonary resection is recommend and optimal surgical methods depend on whether ground glass component exist, location, volume and number of the lesions and physical status of patients. Principle of management of multiple pulmonary nodules is that primary lesions should be handled with priority, with secondary lesions taking into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiSiCN, TiSiCON, TiCrSiCN, TiCrSiCON, CrSiCN and CrSiCON coatings have been deposited on WC-Co substrates and Si wafers using plasma enhanced magnetron sputtering (PEMS) technique. The microstructure, composition and mechanical properties of the non-oxygen coatings and oxygen-containing coatings were studied by XRD, SEM, EDS and load-depth-sensing indentation. The tribological behavior of the coatings against Al 2 O 3 balls was conducted by pin-on-disc tests. The results show that TiSiCON, TiCrSiCON and CrSiCON coatings exhibit the face center cubic (fcc) TiN-type (or CrN-type) structure. The existence of oxygen will induce loose structure and more defects for TiSiCON, TiCrSiCON and CrSiCON coatings compared with TiSiCN, TiCrSiCN and CrSiCN, respectively. The addition of oxygen element would lead to the decrease of the hardness ( H ) and elasticity of Ti(Cr)SiCN coatings. TiCrSiCON and CrSiCON coatings with oxygen element have lower friction coefficients and wear rate compared with TiCrSiCN and CrSiCN coatings without oxygen, respectively. The TiSiCON with higher friction coefficient and wear rate shows poor abrasive wear resistance than TiSiCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to traditional "store-and-fiorward" routing element mechanism, network coding offers an elegant solution for achieving maximum network throughput. The core idea is that intermediate network nodes linearly combine received data packets so that the destination nodes can decode original files from some authenticated packets. Although network coding has many advantages, especially in wireless sensor network and peer-to-peer network, the encoding mechanism of intermediate nodes also results in some additional security issues. For a powerful adversary who can control arbitrary number of malicious network nodes and can eavesdrop on the entire network, cryptographic signature schemes provide undeniable authentication mechanisms for network nodes. However, with the development of quantum technologies, some existing network coding signature schemes based on some traditional number-theoretic primitives vulnerable to quantum cryptanalysis. In this paper we first present an efficient network coding signature scheme in the standard model using lattice theory, which can be view ed as the most promising tool for designing post-quantum cryptographic protocols. In the security proof, we propose a new method for generating a random lattice and the corresponding trapdoor, which may be used in other cryptographic protocols. Our scheme has many advantages, such as supporting multi-source networks, low computational complexity and low communication overhead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke on the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma in situ/minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (AIS/ MIA). Data from seven case-control studies participating in the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) were pooled, resulting in 625 cases of AIS/MIA and 7,403 controls, of whom 170 cases and 3,035 controls were never smokers. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted ORs (ORadj) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), controlling for age, sex, race, smoking status (ever/never), and pack-years of smoking. Study center was included in the models as a randomeffects intercept term. Ever versus never exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke was positively associated with AIS/MIA incidence in all subjects (ORadj = 1.48; 95%CI, 1.14-1.93) and in never smokers (ORadj = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.00-2.12). There was, however, appreciable heterogeneity of ORadj across studies (P = 0.01), and the pooled estimates were largely influenced by one large study (40% of all cases and 30% of all controls). These findings provide weak evidence for an effect of secondhand tobacco smoke exposure on AIS/MIA incidence. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of secondhand tobacco smoke exposure using the newly recommended classification of subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The feed servo system of CNC machine tool is a complex electromechanical coupling system. Due to the characteristics of time-varying parameters, load disturbances and motor nonlinear, it is difficult to model for the control system accurately. An approach is presented that a fuzzy adaptive PID controller is designed by the PID controller combined with the fuzzy controller based on the mathematical model of the CNC machine tool feed servo system. The controller is applied to control the feed servo system and gained better control performance. The simulation results show that this method not only has no static distortion, but also has a fast response with little overshoot. This fuzzy adaptive PID controller has high stability and accuracy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carinal resection remains a technical challenge to thoracic surgeons. There is no single, ideal technique for reconstruction. Reduction of anastomotic tension is the principal concern for carinal resection and reconstruction. We report a case of carinal wedge resection for a carinal tumor; the medial walls of left and right main bronchus were sutured together to create a "neocarina." Thus, maintaining the continuity between the trachea and bronchus has no longitudinal tension. This procedure is feasible for carinal reconstruction with a limited wedge resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]