  Short course chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy and surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer: a randomized multicentric phase II study.; ; POLUS, Marc  et alin Annals of Oncology (2012), 23(6), 1525-30 BACKGROUND: Induction chemotherapy has been suggested to impact on preoperative chemoradiation efficacy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To evaluate in LARC patients, the feasibility and efficacy ... [more ▼] BACKGROUND: Induction chemotherapy has been suggested to impact on preoperative chemoradiation efficacy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To evaluate in LARC patients, the feasibility and efficacy of a short intense course of induction oxaliplatin before preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with T2-T4/N+ rectal adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to arm A-preoperative CRT with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) continuous infusion followed by surgery-or arm B-induction oxaliplatin, folinic acid and 5-FU followed by CRT and surgery. The primary end point was the rate of ypT0-1N0 stage achievement. RESULTS: Fifty seven patients were randomly assigned (arm A/B: 29/28) and evaluated for planned interim analysis. On an intention-to-treat basis, the ypT0-1N0 rate for arms A and B were 34.5% (95% CI: 17.2% to 51.8%) and 32.1% (95% CI: 14.8% to 49.4%), respectively, and the study therefore was closed prematurely for futility. There were no statistically significant differences in other end points including pathological complete response, tumor regression and sphincter preservation. Completion of the preoperative CRT sequence was similar in both groups. Grade 3/4 toxicity was significantly higher in arm B. CONCLUSIONS: Short intense induction oxaliplatin is feasible in LARC patients without compromising the preoperative CRT completion, although the current analysis does not indicate increased locoregional impact on standard therapy. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 13 (2 ULg) Nonlinear modal analysis of aerospace structures; Kerschen, Gaëtan ; Golinval, Jean-Claude et alin Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (2011) The dynamic systems theory is well-established for linear systems and can rely on mature tools such as the theories of linear operators and linear integral transforms. This is why theoretical and ... [more ▼] The dynamic systems theory is well-established for linear systems and can rely on mature tools such as the theories of linear operators and linear integral transforms. This is why theoretical and experimental modal analysis, i.e., the computation of vibration modes from a mathematical model and from experimental data, respectively, is really quite sophisticated and advanced. Even though linear modal analysis served, and is still serving, the structural dynamics community for applications ranging from bridges to satellites, it is commonly accepted that nonlinearity is a frequent occurrence in engineering structures. Because linear modal analysis fails in the presence of nonlinear dynamical phenomena, the development of a practical nonlinear analog of modal analysis would be an extremely timely contribution; it is clearly missing in the structural dynamics literature. A new framework for nonlinear modal analysis of real-world structures, which includes the computation of nonlinear modes from finite element models, is introduced in this paper. This framework will permit a rigorous, yet understandable by the practicing engineer, analysis of nonlinear dynamical phenomena. It will also provide solid theoretical foundations for extending finite element model validation to nonlinear aerospace structures. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 23 (0 ULg)Nonlinear normal modes of real-world structures: application to a full-scale aircraft; Kerschen, Gaëtan ; Golinval, Jean-Claude et alin Proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (2011) The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the numerical computation of the nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) of complex real-world structures is now within reach. The application considered in this ... [more ▼] The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the numerical computation of the nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) of complex real-world structures is now within reach. The application considered in this study is the airframe of the Morane-Saulnier Paris aircraft, whose ground vibration tests have exhibited some nonlinear structural behaviors. The finite element model of this aircraft, elaborated from drawings, has more than 80000 degrees of freedom, and softening nonlinearities exist in the connection between the external fuel tanks and the wing tips. From this model, a reduced-order model, which is accurate in the [0-100Hz] range, is constructed using the Craig- Bampton technique. The NNMs of the reduced model are then computed using a numerical algorithm combining shooting and pseudo-arclength continuation. The results show that the NNMs of this full-scale structure can be computed accurately even in strongly nonlinear regimes and with a reasonable computational burden. Nonlinear modal interactions are also highlighted by the algorithm and are discussed. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 11 (1 ULg)Nonlinear normal modes and band zones in granular chains with no precompression; ; et al in Nonlinear Dynamics (2011), 63 We study standing waves (nonlinear normal modes—NNMs) and band zones in finite granular chains composed of spherical granular beads in Hertzian contact, with fixed boundary conditions. Although these are ... [more ▼] We study standing waves (nonlinear normal modes—NNMs) and band zones in finite granular chains composed of spherical granular beads in Hertzian contact, with fixed boundary conditions. Although these are homogeneous dynamical systems in the notation of Rosenberg, we show that the discontinuous nature of the dynamics leads to interesting effects such as separation between beads, NNMs that appear as traveling waves (these are characterized as pseudo-waves), and localization phenomena. In the limit of infinite extent, we study band zones, i.e., pass and stop bands in the frequency–energy plane of these dynamical systems, and classify the essentially nonlinear responses that occur in these bands. Moreover, we show how the topologies of these bands significantly affect the forced dynamics of these granular media subject to narrowband excitations. This work provides a classification of the coherent (regular) intrinsic dynamics of one-dimensional homogeneous granular chains with no pre-compression, and provides a rigorous theoretical foundation for further systematic study of the dynamics of granular systems, e.g., the effects of disorders or clearances, discrete breathers, nonlinear localized modes, and high-frequency scattering by local disorders. Moreover, it contributes toward the design of granular media as shock protectors, and in the passive mitigation of transmission of unwanted disturbances. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 8 (2 ULg)Theoretical and experimental modal analysis of nonlinear aerospace structures; Golinval, Jean-Claude ; Kerschen, Gaëtan in Proceedings of the AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technologies Conference (2010) Because nonlinearity is a frequent occurrence in aerospace applications, there is a need for e cient analysis procedures. In this context, nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) o er a solid mathematical tool for ... [more ▼] Because nonlinearity is a frequent occurrence in aerospace applications, there is a need for e cient analysis procedures. In this context, nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) o er a solid mathematical tool for interpreting a wide class of nonlinear dynamical phenomena. The objective of this study is to highlight the usefulness of NNMs for modeling and testing of nonlinear aerospace structures. Both theoretical and experimental modal analysis are described and are illustrated. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 10 (0 ULg)Modal testing using nonlinear normal modes: experimental demonstration; Kerschen, Gaëtan ; Golinval, Jean-Claude in Proceedings of the International Conference on Noise and Vibration Engineering (2010) Modal testing and analysis is well-established for linear vibrating structures. While the common practice is to assume linear behavior, nonlinearity is a frequent occurrence in engineering applications ... [more ▼] Modal testing and analysis is well-established for linear vibrating structures. While the common practice is to assume linear behavior, nonlinearity is a frequent occurrence in engineering applications and can drastically alter the behavior of mechanical systems. In this paper, an attempt is made to extend experimental modal analysis methodology to a practical nonlinear analog. In this context, nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) offer a solid theoretical and mathematical tool for interpreting a wide class of nonlinear dynamical phenomena, yet they have a clear and simple conceptual relation to the classical linear normal modes. Based on a nonlinear extension of phase resonance testing (also called force appropriation), the proposed methodology excites the structure to isolate one single NNM during the experiments. Thanks to the invariance principle, the energy dependence of that nonlinear mode (i.e., the NNM modal curves and their frequencies of oscillation) can be extracted from the resulting free decay response using time-frequency analysis. The proposed method is demonstrated using an experimental cantilever beam with a geometrical nonlinearity. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 6 (2 ULg)Practice guidelines on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia; ; et al in Belgian Journal of Medical Oncology [=BJMO] (2010), 4 On July 1st 2009, a panel of experts met with the goal to provide a joint medical opinion on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA), as well as a joint ... [more ▼] On July 1st 2009, a panel of experts met with the goal to provide a joint medical opinion on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA), as well as a joint proposal for revised reimbursement criteria in Belgium. The goal is to provide a clear and workable guidance on the use of ESAs in their registrered indication : chemotherapy induced anemia in cancer patients. An overview of participating experts can be found in Table 1. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 28 (1 ULg)An equivalence test for comparing DNA sequencesVan Steen, Kristel ; ; et alin Pharmaceutical Statistics (2005), 4(3), 203-214 Detailed reference viewed: 3 (2 ULg)Genome wide scan in a Flemish inflammatory bowel disease population: support for the IBD4 locus, population heterogeneity, and epistasis; ; Van Steen, Kristel et alin Gut (2004), 53(7), 980-986 Background and aims: Genome wide scans in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have indicated various susceptibility regions with replication of 16cen (IBD1), 12q (IBD2), 6p (IBD3), 14q11 (IBD4), and 3p21. As ... [more ▼] Background and aims: Genome wide scans in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have indicated various susceptibility regions with replication of 16cen (IBD1), 12q (IBD2), 6p (IBD3), 14q11 (IBD4), and 3p21. As no linkage was previously found on IBD regions 3, 7, 12, and 16 in Flemish IBD families, a genome wide scan was performed to detect other susceptibility regions in this population. Methods: A cohort of 149 IBD affected relative pairs, all recruited from the Northern Flemish part of Belgium, were genotyped using microsatellite markers at 12 cM intervals, and analysed by Genehunter non-parametric linkage software. All families were further genotyped for the three main Crohn's disease associated variants in the NOD2/CARD15 gene. Results: Nominal evidence for linkage was observed on chromosomes 1 (D1S197: multipoint nonparametric linkage (NPL) score 2.57, p = 0.004; and at D1S305-D1S252: NPL 2.97, p = 0.001), 4q (D4S406: NPL 1.95, p = 0.03), 6q16 (D6S314: NPL 2.44, p = 0.007), 10p12 (D10S197: NPL 2.05, p = 0.02), 11q22 (D11S35-D11S927: NPL 1.95, p = 0.02) 14q11-12 (D14S80: NPL 2.41, p = 0.008), 20p12 (D20S192: NPL 2.7, p = 0.003), and Xq (DXS990: NPL 1.70, p = 0.04). A total of 51.4% of patients carried at least one NOD2/CARD15 variant. Furthermore, epistasis was observed between susceptibility regions 6q/10p and 20p/10p. Conclusion: Genome scanning in a Flemish IBD population found nominal evidence for linkage on 1p, 4q, 10p12, and 14q11, overlapping with other genome scan results, with linkage on 14q11-12 supporting the IBD4 locus. The results further show that epistasis is contributing to the complex model of IBD and indicate that population heterogeneity is not to be underestimated. Finally, NOD2/CARD15 is clearly implicated in the Flemish IBD population. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 16 (3 ULg)Using word frequencies for testing equivalence between two DNA sequences; Van Steen, Kristel ; et alin Genetic Epidemiology (2002), 23 Detailed reference viewed: 6 (2 ULg)An equivalence test for comparing DNA sequences.; Van Steen, Kristel ; et alin American Journal of Human Genetics (2001), 69(4), 1576 Detailed reference viewed: 17 (7 ULg) |
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