Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in Sweden, with more than 5000 new cases annually. Median age at time of diagnosis is approximately 75 years. Owing to the ageing population, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing. The improvement in surgical technique and the introduction of adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy increased the 5-year survival rate from approximately 30-40% in the early 1960s to almost 60% in the late 1990s. The cost of public health care has risen considerably, and case-costing systems are increasingly demanded. Linked to clinical guidelines and quality registers, such control systems form a proper basis for quality assurance projects and improvement. The aim of this thesis is to describe the efficiency and cost effectiveness of colorectal cancer treatment in a defined Swedish population. Emergency surgery for colon cancer, constituting 25% of the cases, increased both mortality and cost. Among emergency cases there was not only an increase in postoperative mortality but also a stage specific decrease in long-term survival rate. Correct staging is decisive for further treatment of patients after colon cancer surgery and influences long-term survival. The number of lymph nodes examined varied between different pathology departments and could be used as a quality measurement. The proportion of tumour stage III increased the more nodes examined. A prognostic estimation of stage III cases that is less sensitive to the number of nodes examined is proposed. A case-control study aimed at identifying risk factors for anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery confirmed previously known risk factors but failed to identify further steps during the perioperative course that were amenable to improvement. This research has confirmed that population-based quality and case-costing registers, linked to clinical guidelines, constitute a proper source for projects of quality improvement and decisions about distribution of resources in health care.

Sensor networks are being used in several emerging applications not even imagined some years ago due to advances in sensing, computing, and communication techniques. However, these advances also pose various challenges that must be faced. One important challenge is related to the autonomous capability needed to setup and adapt the networks, which decentralizes the control of the network, saving communication and energy resources. Middleware technology helps in addressing this kind of problem, but there is still a need for additional solutions, particularly considering dynamic changes in users' requirements and operation conditions. This paper presents an agent-based framework acting as an integral part of a middleware to support autonomous setup and adaptation of sensor networks. It adds interoperability among heterogeneous nodes in the network, by means of autonomous behavior and reasoning. These features also address the needs for system setup and adaptations in the network, reducing the communication overhead and decentralizing the decision making mechanism. Additionally, preliminary results are also presented.

In this work, a new multicast routing algorithm for wireless networks is presented. The algorithm, called SWIM (Source-initiated WIreless Multicast), is a depth-optimal multicast tree formation algorithm. SWIM is fully distributed and has an average computational complexity of O(N 2 ). SWIM forms a shared tree from the source(s) to destinations / yet, as a by-product, it creates a multicast mesh structure by maintaining alternative paths at every tree node. This makes SWIM suitable for both ad hoc networks and access networks with multiple gateways. An extension to the main algorithm is presented for the use in dynamic networks with mobility and/or dynamic destination group. Performance of SWIM is studied with simulations and is compared to other algorithms in the literature. Due to depth optimality, SWIM achieves a lower average and maximum delay than the compared algorithms. The throughput performance is found to be high. Working capability with rateless codes are also studied.

Space structures are inevitable while covering large spans. Space structures are skeletal structures, which are lighter for the same stiffness when compared with RCC roofs. Till now, space structures, like any other metal structures have been designed assuming the joints as rigid, although there have been several publications about semi rigid joints. Of course, the publications mostly deal with 2D structures and there are very few reports on 3D structures. Space structures, by their nature fall into the latter category. The joints in a space structure are popularly called as "nodes". Generally, nodes, which ensure concentricity of member axes, are either solid or hollow. These are either cast or forged. There are other proprietary types, which do not come under the above classification, and have not been considered in this thesis. Hollow nodes are obviously more economical than solid nodes, but also more flexible. While it is prudent to prefer hollow nodes, it is equally necessary to assess their flexibility, because of its influence on the behaviour of the structure. The hollow spherical node is very popular because of its simplicity and adaptability to various forms of space frames. Double layer grids, which are the most popular forms for roofing applications, are being increasingly implemented. While the hollow spherical node is well suited for double layer grids, an evolutionary development has been what is called as the hollow octahedral node (this node is simply referred to as the 'Octa ' node in this thesis). Chapter 1 introduces space frames and double layer grids in particular, with the advantages of using double-layer grids. Jointing systems available around the world are briefed and the node connector used in the present study is introduced with a brief write-up on its advantages and disadvantages. This chapter also explores the available literature and, the scope and objectives of the thesis are mentioned. Chapter 2 introduces 3D finite element models of the hollow spherical and octahedral nodes. The stiffness matrixes of these nodes have been derived by conducting analyses on the computer for six sizes each of the Octa and spherical nodes. Using the stiffness matrix of the node, a new method of incorporating this into the regular analysis of a space truss has been developed. The new method proposed yields realistic values for the forces in the members and takes into account the elastic deflections in the node under the action of member forces. Implementation of the proposed method has been carried out by writing a custom program using state-of-the-art object oriented programming techniques. A sample problem has been analyzed using this program to demonstrate the effect of including joint flexibility. The effect of flexibility of nodes on the effective length of compression members in double-layer grids has been evaluated. The effect of compliance on the dynamic characteristics of a space frame has also been evaluated for the sample space frame with flexible joints. The analysis program has been modified to evaluate the natural frequencies of the system using rigid or flexible nodes. The study of the Octanode and spherical node under the action of uniaxial compression and tension dominates the contents of Chapter 3. The two types of nodes have been analyzed using commercially available finite element software considering material nonlinearity. The stress patterns from the analyses have been examined thoroughly. Two consistent methods for fixing the load at yield in both uniaxial compression and tension have been proposed using the load-displacement curve. Yield loads for all the nodes have been evaluated using both the methods and the results agree well between the two methods. Three material yield values have been selected for each of the node size for evaluating the yield values viz. 240,320 and 415 MPa. The members of a double layer grid are connected to the nodes by bolts and holes are drilled in the nodes for this purpose. The bolthole patterns differ between two popular types of double-layer grids. Both these bolthole patterns have been modeled separately in the above exercise and the results for these two have been shown to be approximately the same. The effect of varying diameters of the boltholes on the response of the nodes has been examined. Relationships between the yield load, diameter, thickness and material yield have been developed using the method of least squares. The differences in the behaviour of the nodes under uniaxial compression and tension have been discussed. Ramberg Osgood type of relationships have been worked out for all the load-displacement curves obtained from the analyses. The simulation of non-linear behaviour of nodes with cracks with plastic crack closing forces have been carried out with useful insights into the behaviour of the two types of nodes in uniaxial compression and tension. Chapter 4 is devoted largely for studying the two types of nodes under the influence of biaxial load combinations. The combinations studied are dual compression, dual tension and compression-tension. In all cases equal loads are applied along two orthogonal; directions in the horizontal plane. Stress patterns have been examined for each type of load combination and yield values for each case have been obtained using one of the methods proposed in chapter 3. These have been compared with the corresponding uniaxial values in both compression and tension. Some useful inferences have been possible by studying the behaviour of the nodes under the various biaxial load combinations. In each case, relationships between the biaxial yield load, uniaxial yield load, diameter of node, thickness of node and material yield of node have been obtained using the method of least squares. The nodes have been analyzed under some selected Multi-axial loading and combinations of load which cause yield based on the second method proposed in Chapter 3 have been obtained and tabulated. However, a proper and thorough study of the nodes under multi-axial loading proved to be beyond the scope of this thesis. Chapter 5 contains the contributions made towards developing new methods and algorithms for obtaining the several results of chapters 2, 3 and 4, using object oriented programming (OOP) techniques. The contributions have been in Object Pascal, the underlying language of Delphi, a popular RAD tool developed by Borland/Inprise of USA. Several new modules have been developed to reliably handle the large amounts of data generated by the hundreds of analyses detailed in chapters 2,3 and 4. The ease with which new methods were possible to be incorporated into existing software using OOP has been demonstrated, with source code examples. Comparisons with other types of tools available and die advantages of using OOP have also been demonstrated using the experience during the preparation of this thesis. A strong case for OOP as an indispensable tool for the researcher has been made. Chapter 6: Several important conclusions and suggestions for future work have been made. Appendix 1 contains a brief note on the Method of Least Squares. Appendix 2 contains a small write-up on Delphi and OOP. Concepts of OOP have been briefly described and comparisons between three popular OOP languages have been attempted. A brief description of the features in Delphi's Object Pascal has also been provided. Appendix 3 contains the listing of Unit Arrays, which is a general purpose unit developed to make handling of large arrays easy. Several matrix calculations have been implemented which make the unit extremely useful for programmers. Appendix 4 contains the full listing of program FormK, which has been developed for chapter 2 to derive the fall stiffness matrix of a space frame node. The program picks up results from several analyses, forms a few columns of the stiffness matrix and then fills up the rest using the cyclic symmetry present in the space frame node. This program is given in full, with the intention that other researchers may find it useful to use it as-is or use after making small alterations to suit their circumstances. OOP is known for fast, reliable and easy ways of implementing modifications to existing code. Appendix 5 provides the full listing of the Object Pascal program for extracting Eigenvalues of a space truss with rigid joints or flexible joints. The incorporation of flexibility of the joints proposed in chapter 2 has been implemented. Descriptions of the program's implementations have been provided in chapter 5. Bibliography contains the alphabetical list of references.

Network lifetime is a key issue in wireless sensor networks where sensor nodes, distributed typically in remote/hostile sensing areas, are powered by finite energy batteries which are not easily replaced/recharged. Depletion of these finite energy batteries can result in a change in network topology or in the end of network life itself. Hence, prolonging the life of wireless sensor networks is important. Energy consumed in wireless sensor nodes can be for the purpose of i) sensing functions, ii) processing/computing functions, and ii) communication functions. For example, energy consumed by the transmit and receive electronics constitute the energy expended for communication functions. Our focus in this thesis is on the efficient use of energy for sensing. In particular, we are concerned with energy efficient algorithms for scheduling the sensing activity of sensor nodes. By scheduling the sensing activity we mean when to activate a sensor node for sensing (active mode) and when to keep it idle (sleep mode). The novel approach we adopt in this thesis to achieve efficient scheduling of sensing activity is an information coverage approach, rather than the widely adopted physical coverage approach. In the physical coverage approach, a point is said to be covered by a sensor node if that point lies within the physical coverage range (or the sensing radius) of that sensor, which is the maximum distance between the sensor and the point up to which the sensor can sense with acceptable accuracy. Information coverage, on the other hand, exploits cooperation among multiple sensors to accurately sense a point even if that point falls outside the physical coverage range of all the sensors. In this thesis, we address the question of how to schedule the activity of various sensor nodes in the network to enhance network lifetime using information coverage. In the first part of the thesis, we are concerned with scheduling of sensor nodes for sensing point targets using information coverage – example of a point-target being temperature or radiation level at a source or point that needs to be monitored. Defining a set of sensor nodes which collectively can sense a point-target accurately as an information cover, we propose an algorithm to obtain Disjoint Set of Information Covers (DSIC) that can sense multiple point-targets in a given sensing area. Being disjoint, the resulting information covers in the proposed algorithm allow a simple round-robin schedule of sensor activation (i.e., activate the covers sequentially). We show that the covers obtained using the proposed DSIC algorithm achieve longer network life compared to the covers obtained using an Exhaustive-Greedy-Equalized Heuristic (EGEH) proposed recently in the literature. We also present a detailed complexity comparison between the DSIC and EGEH algorithms. In the second part of the thesis, we extend the point target sensing problem in the first part to a full area sensing problem, where we are concerned with energy efficient ‘area-monitoring’ using information coverage. We refer to any set of sensors that can collectively sense all points in the entire area-to-monitor as a full area information cover. We first propose a low-complexity heuristic algorithm to obtain full area information covers. Using these covers, we then obtain the optimum schedule for activating the sensing activity of various sensors that maximizes the sensing lifetime. The optimum schedules obtained using the proposed algorithm is shown to achieve significantly longer sensing lifetimes compared to those achieved using physical coverage. Relaxing the full area coverage requirement to a partial area coverage requirement (e.g., 95% of area coverage as adequate instead of 100% area coverage) further enhances the lifetime. The algorithms proposed for the point targets and full area sensing problems in the first two parts are essentially centralized algorithms. Decentralized algorithms are preferred in large networks. Accordingly, in the last part of the thesis, we propose a low-complexity, distributed sensor scheduling algorithm for full area sensing using information coverage. This distributed algorithm is shown to result in significantly longer sensing lifetimes compared to those achieved using physical coverage.

La tolérance orale permet la modulation de la réponse immunitaire à l’égard des antigènes exogènes présents dans la lumière intestinale. Essentiels à l’établissement d’une relation symbiotique entre le système immunitaire et la flore intestinale, l’induction et le maintien de la tolérance orale reposent sur différents mécanismes immunologiques. Parmi eux, l’induction de cellules T régulatrices par les cellules dendritiques et de mécanismes apoptotiques. Or, la glycoprotéine membranaire CD47 est impliquée, en périphérie, dans ces mécanismes. Cependant, le rôle de CD47 dans la tolérance orale n’est pas connu. À l’aide d’un modèle murin déficient en CD47, nous avons démontré principalement, que l’absence de CD47 est associée à une diminution de 50 % de la proportion de cellules dendrites myéloïdes CD11b+CD103- retrouvées dans les ganglions mésentériques. Suite au transfert adoptif de cellules T antigènes spécifiques dans nos différents modèles expérimentaux, on a, aussi, observé une diminution de 45 % de leur niveau d’activation dans les ganglions mésentériques. Malgré les effets observés, le CD47 n’est pas impliqué dans l’induction d’une réaction de tolérance orale secondaire à l’administration intragastrique de fortes doses d’ovalbumine. Cependant, nous avons démontré que CD47 est impliquée au niveau de la migration des cellules dendritiques de la peau et de certaines sous-populations retrouvées dans les ganglions mésentériques. / Oral tolerance allows the modulation of the immune response against exogenous antigens present in the intestinal lumen. Essential to establish a symbiotic relationship between the immune system and intestinal flora, the induction and maintenance of oral tolerance rests on different immunological mechanisms. Among them, induction of regulatory T cells by dendritic cells and apoptotic mechanisms. However, the membrane glycoprotein CD47 is involved in the periphery of these mechanisms. However, the role of CD47 in oral tolerance is unknown. With a mouse model deficient in CD47, we showed mainly that the absence of CD47 is associated with a decrease of 50% in the proportion of myeloid dendritic cells CD11b+ CD103- found in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Following the adoptive transfer of antigen specific T cells in our experimental models, we also observed a decrease of 45% of their level of activation in mesenteric lymph nodes. Despite the observed effects, CD47 is not involved in the induction of oral tolerance response secondary to intragastric administration of high doses of ovalbumin. However, we have shown that CD47 is involved in the migration of dendritic cells of the skin and some sub-populations found in mesenteric lymph nodes.

Background: Factors predicting survival in men with lymph node-positive prostate cancer are still poorly defined. Patients and Methods: 193 prostate cancer patients with histopathologically proven lymph node involvement with a median follow-up of 7.3 years were studied. 94% of patients received immediate hormonal therapy. Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated to evaluate overall survival rates and compared with the log-rank test. Cumulative disease-specific and competing mortality rates were calculated by competing risk analysis and compared with the Pepe-Mori test. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the independent significance of predictors of all-cause mortality. Results: Age (70 years or older vs. younger), Gleason score (8–10 vs. 7 or lower) and the number of involved nodes (3 or more vs. 1–2) were identified as independent predictors of all-cause mortality. When patients with 0–1 of these risk factors were compared with those with 2–3 risk factors, all-cause (rates after 10 years 21% vs. 71%, p < 0.0001), disease-specific (12 vs. 37%, p = 0.009) and competing mortality (9 vs. 33%, p = 0.02) differed significantly. Conclusions: Some of the excess mortality in patients with poor-risk lymph node-positive prostate cancer may be attributed to increased competing mortality, possibly caused by an interaction between comorbid diseases and hormonally treated persistent or progressive prostate cancer. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Dans cette thèse nous nous sommes intéressés de trois types de problèmes : 1 -Existence et unicité d’une fonction harmonique strictement positive associée à une marche aléatoire inhomogène confinée dans un orthant. 2 -Etude de la convergence en loi des arbres de Galton Watson critiques conditionnés à avoir un nombre assez grand de noeuds protégés. 3 -Etude de la convergence en loi des arbres de Galton Watson conditionnés à avoir une génération anormalement grande. / In this thesis we are interested in three types of problems: 1-Existence and uniqueness of a positive harmonic function associated with an inhomogeneous random walk confined in an orthant. 2-Study of convergence in distribution of critical Galton Watson trees conditioned to have a large enoughnumber of protected nodes. 3-Study of the convergence in distribution of Galton Watson trees conditioned to have a large generation.

In this thesis the two disciplines of Statistics and Artificial Neural Networks are combined into an integrated study of a data set of a weather modification Experiment. An extensive literature study on artificial neural network methodology has revealed the strongly interdisciplinary nature of the research and the applications in this field. An artificial neural networks are becoming increasingly popular with data analysts, statisticians are becoming more involved in the field. A recursive algoritlun is developed to optimize the number of hidden nodes in a feedforward artificial neural network to demonstrate how existing statistical techniques such as nonlinear regression and the likelihood-ratio test can be applied in innovative ways to develop and refine neural network methodology. This pruning algorithm is an original contribution to the field of artificial neural network methodology that simplifies the process of architecture selection, thereby reducing the number of training sessions that is needed to find a model that fits the data adequately. [n addition, a statistical model to classify weather modification data is developed using both a feedforward multilayer perceptron artificial neural network and a discriminant analysis. The two models are compared and the effectiveness of applying an artificial neural network model to a relatively small data set assessed. The formulation of the problem, the approach that has been followed to solve it and the novel modelling application all combine to make an original contribution to the interdisciplinary fields of Statistics and Artificial Neural Networks as well as to the discipline of meteorology. / Mathematical Sciences / D. Phil. (Statistics)

The diploma thesis deals with the analysis of the transport-geographical attributes of the South Bohemian Region. Basically, the thesis considers two important characteristics of the settlement structure-transport relationship. These are transport regionalization and hierarchization of the transport centres. Besides the viewpoint of the public transport the diploma thesis also deals with the individual automobile transport. The first chapters describe goals of the thesis and analyse relevant literature. These are followed by detailed methodological part containing the description of the choice of the settlement centres, delimitation of the transport regions and the analysis of hierarchy of the transport nodes. The further chapters analyse the real condition of the South Bohemian Region itself from the points of view of the attributes mentioned above.