Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 10-Gb/s OEIC with Meshed Spatially-Modulated Photo Detector in 0.18-$\mu{\hbox {m}}$ CMOS Technology

This paper describes the design of a 10-Gb/s fully integrated CMOS optical receiver, which consists of a novel spatially-modulated photo detector (SMPD), a low-noise trans-impedance amplifier (TIA), and a post-limiting amplifier on a single chip. The bandwidth of proposed meshed SMPD can be boosted up to 6.9 GHz under a reverse-biased voltage of 14.2 V. The measured responsivity of the meshed SMPD is 29 mA/W as illuminated by 850-nm light source. To compensate the relatively low responsivity of on-chip CMOS photo detector (PD), a high-gain TIA with nested feedback and shunt peaking is proposed to achieve low-noise operation. The optical receiver is capable of delivering 25-kΩ conversion gain when driving 50-Ω output loads. For a PRBS test pattern of 27- 1, the 10-Gb/s optoelectronic integrated circuit (OEIC) has optical sensitivity of - 6 dBm at a bit-error rate (BER) of 10 -11. Implemented in a generic 0.18-μm CMOS technology, the chip area is 0.95 mm by 0.8 mm. The trans-impedance amplifier, post amplifier, and output buffer respectively drain 38 mW, 80 mW, and 27 mW from the 1.8-V supply.
Antitumor Activity of Recombinant Human Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (rH-TNFα) and Liposome-entrapped rH-TNFα

The antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rH-TNF alpha) and liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha were evaluated in various glioma cell lines and a rat brain T9 gliosarcoma model. rH-TNF alpha had a direct cytotoxic activity against various glioma cell lines in vitro, and indirect cytotoxic activity against gliosarcoma (T9) in vivo. Liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha had increased direct cytotoxic activity in vitro, and against experimentally induced brain tumors in vivo. The effects in vivo were probably due to vascular damage of the tumor vessels as shown by histological examination and activation of cytotoxic macrophages as shown in vitro. These results indicate that the general or local administration of liposome-entrapped rH-TNF alpha may become a useful adjunct treatment for malignant brain tumor.
The germinal center/activated B-cell subclassification has a prognostic impact for response to salvage therapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a bio-CORAL study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the prognostic value of the cell of origin (COO) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBLC), prospectively treated by rituximab, dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and cisplatin (R-DHAP) versus rituximab, ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide and followed by intensive therapy plus autologous stem-cell transplantation on the Collaborative Trial in Relapsed Aggressive Lymphoma (CORAL) trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Among the 396 patients included on the trial, histologic material was available for a total of 249 patients at diagnosis (n = 189 patients) and/or at relapse (n = 147 patients), which included 87 matched pairs. The patient data were analyzed by immunochemistry for CD10, BCL6, MUM1, FOXP1, and BCL2 expression and by fluorescent in situ hybridization for BCL2, BCL6 and c-MYC breakpoints. The correlation with survival data was performed by using the log-rank test and the Cox model. RESULTS Characteristics of immunophenotype and chromosomal abnormalities were statistically highly concordant in the matched biopsies. In univariate analysis, the presence of c-MYC gene rearrangement was the only parameter to be significantly correlated with a worse progression-free survival (PFS; P = .02) and a worse overall survival (P = .04). When treatment interaction was tested, the germinal center B (GCB) -like DLBCL that was based on the algorithm by Hans was significantly associated with a better PFS in the R-DHAP arm. In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic relevance was found for the GCB/non-GCB the Hans phenotype interaction treatment (P = .04), prior rituximab exposure (P = .0052), secondary age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (P = .039), and FoxP1 expression (P = .047). Confirmation was obtained by gene expression profiling in a subset of 39 patients. CONCLUSION COO remains a major and independent factor in relapsed/refractory DLBCL, with a better response to R-DHAP in GCB-like DLBCL. This needs confirmation by a prospective study.
A 30 Gb/s/Link 2.2 Tb/s/mm $^{2}$ Inductively-Coupled Injection-Locking CDR for High-Speed DRAM Interface

This paper presents a 30 Gb/s/link 2.2 Tb/s/mm2 inductive-coupling link for a high-speed DRAM interface. The data rate per layout area is the highest among DRAM interfaces reported up to now. The proposed interface employs a high-speed injection-locking CDR technique that utilizes the derivative property of inductive coupling. Compared to conventional injection-locking CDR based on an XOR edge detector, the proposed technique doubles the operation speed and increases the data rate to 30 Gb/s/link. As a result, the data rate per layout area is increased to 2.2 Tb/s/mm2 , which is 2X that of the state-of-the-art inductive-coupling link, and 22X that of the state-of-the-art wired link.
A study on HIV and hepatitis C virus among commercial sex workers in Tallinn

Introduction: Estonia is confronted by a dramatic expansion of the initially injection drug use-driven HIV epidemic. Little is known about HIV occurrence in population groups at high risk other than injection drug users. Objective: To obtain data on the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among female sex workers (FSW) in Tallinn. Design: An unlinked, anonymous, cross-sectional survey of FSW recruited in Tallinn from October 2005 to May 2006. Methods: 227 FSW were recruited for the survey and biological sample collection (HIV, HCV antibodies detection) using a combination of time-location, community and respondent-driven sampling. Results: Among 227 women the HIV and HCV prevalences were 7.6% (95% CI 4.6% to 12.5%) and 7.9% (95% CI 4.5% to 12.6%), respectively. HIV prevalence was higher among FSW working in the street (odds ratio (OR) 6.4; 95% CI 1.1 to 35.6) and at the brothels and apartments supervised by the organised sex industry (OR 5.0; 95% CI 1.3 to 18.4). The duration of sex work was negatively associated with HIV prevalence (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.97). Conclusions: Prevention needs of FSW in this area include increasing rates of HIV testing and putting in place effective programmes that can help extend HIV prevention behaviours across a range of sexual and drug use risk behaviours.
Who attends primary care services prior to attendance at genitourinary services and what level of care have they received?

Objective: To determine the proportion of patients initially attending primary care services and describe the care received prior to attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 1000 new patients attending GUM services in Cornwall between June and December 2006. Patients were asked during consultation whether they had attended primary care before coming and what examination, investigation and management had been carried out there. Results: 35% (348/1000) of patients had attended primary care initially. Genital examination had been carried out in primary care on 60% (111/185) female and 58% (93/159) male patients (p = 0.78). Chlamydia testing had been carried out in 27% (46/171) female and 6% (8/139) male patients (p<0.005). 33% (100/301) patients seen in primary care had been offered treatment. 74% (68/92) patients with genital warts had been correctly diagnosed in primary care and 9% (8/92) of these offered treatment. Conclusions: The majority of these patients, including those given a diagnosis and/or offered treatment in primary care, had not had a chlamydia test or any other investigations. With the potential “fall out” of patients between primary care and GUM services, this may represent a missed opportunity to detect and appropriately manage sexually transmitted infections.
Risk-adapted treatment in clinical stage I testicular seminoma: the third Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group study.

PURPOSE To confirm the efficacy of a risk-adapted treatment approach for patients with clinical stage I seminoma. The aim was to reduce both the risk of relapse and the proportion of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy while maintaining a high cure rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 2004 to 2008, 227 patients were included after orchiectomy in a multicenter study. Eighty-four patients (37%) presented no local risk factors, 44 patients (19%) had tumors larger than 4 cm, 25 patients (11%) had rete testis involvement, and 74 patients (33%) had both criteria. Only the latter group received two courses of adjuvant carboplatin, whereas the rest were managed by surveillance. RESULTS After a median follow-up time of 34 months, 16 relapses (7%) have been documented (15 [9.8%] among patients on surveillance and one [1.4%] among those treated with carboplatin). All relapses occurred in retroperitoneal lymph nodes, except for one case in pelvic nodes. Median node size was 25 mm, and median time to recurrence was 14 months. All patients were rendered disease-free with chemotherapy. The actuarial 3-year disease-free survival rate was 88.1% (95% CI, 82.3% to 93.9%) for patients on surveillance and 98.0% (95% CI, 94.0% to 100%) for those treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Overall 3-year survival was 100%. CONCLUSION With the limitations of the short follow-up duration, we confirm that a risk-adapted approach is effective for stage I seminoma. Adjuvant carboplatin seems adequate treatment for patients with 2 risk criteria, as is active surveillance for those with 0 to one risk factors. More reliable predictive factors are needed to improve the applicability of this model.
Startup Techniques for 95 mV Step-Up Converter by Capacitor Pass-On Scheme and ${\rm V}_{\rm TH}$-Tuned Oscillator With Fixed Charge Programming

This paper presents a 95 mV startup-voltage step-up DC-DC converter for energy harvesting applications. The capacitor pass-on scheme enables operation of the system from an input voltage of 95 mV without using additional off-chip components. To compensate for the die-to-die process variation, post-fabrication threshold voltage (VTH) trimming is applied to reduce the minimum operating voltage (VDDMIN) of the oscillator. Experimental results demonstrate the 34% VDDMIN reduction of the oscillator by post-fabrication VTH trimming. The proposed step-up converter achieves the lowest startup voltage in standard CMOS without using a mechanical switch or large transformer.
Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line therapy in advanced gastric cancer: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study.

PURPOSE The Avastin in Gastric Cancer (AVAGAST) trial was a multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of adding bevacizumab to capecitabine-cisplatin in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients received bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg or placebo followed by cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) on day 1 plus capecitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily for 14 days every 3 weeks. Fluorouracil was permitted in patients unable to take oral medications. Cisplatin was given for six cycles; capecitabine and bevacizumab were administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Log-rank test was used to test the OS difference. RESULTS In all, 774 patients were enrolled; 387 were assigned to each treatment group (intention-to-treat population), and 517 deaths were observed. Median OS was 12.1 months with bevacizumab plus fluoropyrimidine-cisplatin and 10.1 months with placebo plus fluoropyrimidine-cisplatin (hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.03; P = .1002). Both median progression-free survival (6.7 v 5.3 months; hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.93; P = .0037) and overall response rate (46.0% v 37.4%; P = .0315) were significantly improved with bevacizumab versus placebo. Preplanned subgroup analyses revealed regional differences in efficacy outcomes. The most common grade 3 to 5 adverse events were neutropenia (35%, bevacizumab plus fluoropyrimidine-cisplatin; 37%, placebo plus fluoropyrimidine-cisplatin), anemia (10% v 14%), and decreased appetite (8% v 11%). No new bevacizumab-related safety signals were identified. CONCLUSION Although AVAGAST did not reach its primary objective, adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy was associated with significant increases in progression-free survival and overall response rate in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer.
Estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA and ER-related gene expression in breast cancers that are 1% to 10% ER-positive by immunohistochemistry.

PURPOSE We examined borderline estrogen receptor (ER) -positive cancers, defined as having 1% to 10% positivity by immunohistochemistry (IHC), to determine whether they show the same global gene-expression pattern and high ESR1 mRNA expression as ER-positive cancers or if they are more similar to ER-negative cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS ER status was determined by IHC in 465 primary breast cancers and with the Affymetrix U133A gene chip. We compared expressions of ESR1 mRNA and a 106 probe set ER-associated gene signature score between ER-negative (n = 183), 1% to 9% (n = 25), 10% (n = 6), and more than 10% (n = 251) ER-positive cancers. We also assessed the molecular class by using the PAM50 classifier and plotted survival by ER status. RESULTS Among the 1% to 9%, 10%, and more than 10% ER IHC-positive patients, 24%, 67%, and 92% were also positive by ESR1 mRNA expression. The average ESR1 expression was significantly higher in the ≥ 10% ER-positive cohorts compared with the 1% to 9% or ER-negative cohort. The average ER gene signature scores were similar for the ER-negative and 1% to 9% IHC-positive patients and were significantly lower than in ≥ 10% ER-positive patients. Among the 1% to 9% ER-positive patients, 8% were luminal B and 48% were basal-like; among the 10% ER-positive patients, 50% were luminal. The overall survival rate of 1% to 9% ER-positive patients with cancer was between those of patients in the ≥ 10% ER-positive and ER-negative groups. CONCLUSION A minority of the 1% to 9% IHC ER-positive tumors show molecular features similar to those of ER-positive, potentially endocrine-sensitive tumors, whereas most show ER-negative, basal-like molecular characteristics. The safest clinical approach may be to use both adjuvant endocrine therapy and chemotherapy in this rare subset of patients.
Low Store Energy, Low VDDmin, 8T2R Nonvolatile Latch and SRAM With Vertical-Stacked Resistive Memory (Memristor) Devices for Low Power Mobile Applications

Many mobile SoC chips employ a “two-macro” approach including volatile and nonvolatile memory macros (i.e. SRAM and Flash), to achieve high-performance or low-voltage power-on operation with the capability of power-off nonvolatile data storage. However, the two-macro approach suffers from slow store/restore speeds due to word-by-word serial transfer of data between the volatile and nonvolatile memories. Slow store/restore speeds require long power-on/off time and leave the device vulnerable to sudden power failure . This study proposes a resistive memory (memristor) based nonvolatile SRAM (or memristor latch) cell to achieve fast bit-to-bit parallel store/restore operations, low store/restore energy consumption, and a compact cell area. This resistive nonvolatile 8T2R (Rnv8T) cell includes two fast-write memristor (RRAM) devices vertical-stacked over the 8T, and a novel 2T memristor-switch, which provides both memristor control and SRAM write-assist functions. The write assist feature enables the Rnv8T cell to use read favored transistor sizing to prevent read/write failure at lower VDDs. We also fabricated the first macro-level memristor-based (or RRAM-based) nonvolatile SRAM. This 16 Kb Rnv8T macro achieved the lowest store energy and R/W VDDmin (0.45 V) of any nonvolatile SRAM or two-macro solution.
Natural Rubber Latex: Study of a Novel Carrier for Casearia sylvestris Swartz Delivery

Natural rubber latex (NRL) from Hevea brasiliensis has showed interesting biomedical properties as improving wound healing, cell adherence, tissue formation, and angiogenesis. It is used for biosynthesis of nanoparticles, sensors and prosthesis and for drug delivery systems (for drugs, plant extracts, and nanoparticles). To enhance its wound healing properties was incorporated Casearia sylvestris Swartz extract, whose pharmacological activity includes anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, antiulcer, and antitumor due to its casearins and phenols. Results showed the prolonged release of its compounds (35 days) and the mechanism of release is super case II () by Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Although SEM shows different sizes of clusters at the surface, the release is homogeneous through the biomembrane. FTIR shows no interaction between the matrix and the extract, with computation of the presence of some casearins.
FSTL5 is a marker of poor prognosis in non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE Integrated genomics approaches have revealed at least four distinct biologic variants of medulloblastoma: WNT (wingless), SHH (sonic hedgehog), group C, and group D. Because of the remarkable clinical heterogeneity of group D tumors and the dismal prognosis of group C patients, it is vital to identify molecular biomarkers that will allow early and effective treatment stratification in these non-WNT/non-SHH tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS We combined transcriptome and DNA copy-number analyses for 64 primary medulloblastomas. Bioinformatic tools were used to discover marker genes of molecular variants. Differentially expressed transcripts were evaluated for prognostic value in the screening cohort. The prognostic power of follistatin-like 5 (FSTL5) immunopositivity was tested for 235 nonoverlapping medulloblastoma samples on two independent tissue microarrays. RESULTS Comprehensive analyses of transcriptomic and genetic alterations delineate four distinct variants of medulloblastoma. Stable subgroup separation was achieved by using the 300 transcripts that varied the most. Distinct expression patterns of FSTL5 in each molecular subgroup were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunopositivity of FSTL5 identified a large cohort of patients (84 of 235 patients; 36%) at high risk for relapse and death. Importantly, more than 50% of non-WNT/non-SHH tumors displayed FSTL5 negativity, delineating a large patient cohort with a good prognosis who would otherwise be considered intermediate or high-risk on the basis of current molecular subgrouping. CONCLUSION FSTL5 expression denoted a dismal prognosis both within and across medulloblastoma subgroups. The addition of FSTL5 immunohistochemistry to existing molecular stratification schemes constitutes a reliable and cost-effective tool for prognostication in future clinical trials of medulloblastoma.
Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel is an active regimen in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase I/II trial.

PURPOSE The trial objectives were to identify the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of first-line gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and to provide efficacy and safety data. Additional objectives were to evaluate positron emission tomography (PET) scan response, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and CA19-9 levels in relation to efficacy. Subsequent preclinical studies investigated the changes involving the pancreatic stroma and drug uptake. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer were treated with 100, 125, or 150 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel followed by gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. In the preclinical study, mice were implanted with human pancreatic cancers and treated with study agents. RESULTS A total of 20, 44, and three patients received nab-paclitaxel at 100, 125, and 150 mg/m(2), respectively. The MTD was 1,000 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine plus 125 mg/m(2) of nab-paclitaxel once a week for 3 weeks, every 28 days. Dose-limiting toxicities were sepsis and neutropenia. At the MTD, the response rate was 48%, with 12.2 median months of overall survival (OS) and 48% 1-year survival. Improved OS was observed in patients who had a complete metabolic response on [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Decreases in CA19-9 levels were correlated with increased response rate, progression-free survival, and OS. SPARC in the stroma, but not in the tumor, was correlated with improved survival. In mice with human pancreatic cancer xenografts, nab-paclitaxel alone and in combination with gemcitabine depleted the desmoplastic stroma. The intratumoral concentration of gemcitabine was increased by 2.8-fold in mice receiving nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine versus those receiving gemcitabine alone. CONCLUSION The regimen of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine has tolerable adverse effects with substantial antitumor activity, warranting phase III evaluation.
An Assessment of the Utility of Formalized Palliative Care Education: A Niagara Case Study

&NA; ♦ Palliative care has been identified by the Canadian province of Ontario's Ministry of Health as having fundamental developmental deficiencies. In response to these deficiencies, four initiatives were implemented in 1992: (1) education initiatives for interdisciplinary providers; (2) education initiatives for family physicians; (3) support and maintenance of hospice volunteer visiting programs; and (4) establishment of regional pain and symptom management teams. The first initiative, education for interdisciplinary providers, focused on educating providers in long‐term care facilities/hospitals/home care programs. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the perceived benefits of this formal education in the region of Niagara. This article reports the results of a questionnaire survey with Niagara regional service providers (n = 112) who have received palliative care education through the first initiative. In addition, facility/hospital/home care administrators (n = 50) were surveyed to determine their assessment of the practitioner/volunteer education. The results found in this investigation show that palliative care education has had a significant impact on the palliative care service delivery in the Niagara region, and suggests continued funding for ongoing education.