Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase I study of CNTO 95, a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) to αv integrins, in patients with solid tumors.

3119 Background: Integrins of the αv family are implicated in tumor angiogenesis and growth. CNTO 95 is a fully human mAb that binds to cellular αv integrins with a KD of ∼5 nM. In a rat aortic ring angiogenesis assay CNTO 95 (∼70 nM) completely inhibited microvessel growth. In human melanoma xenograft models in nude mice and rats CNTO 95 inhibited tumor growth by ∼80% and >99%, respectively (P< 0.0005). METHODS A Phase I dose-escalating study of CNTO 95 in patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard therapy is ongoing. CNTO 95 was infused on days 0, 28, 35 and 42, and standard clinical assessments as well as DCE-MRI and FDG-PET were also performed. RESULTS Thirteen patients, with a median number of two prior systemic therapies (range 1-5), have been enrolled at 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, n=7, 3 and 3, respectively. Tumor types included ovarian (6), colorectal (4), ureteric (1), PNET (1), and pseudomyxoma peritonei (1). An ileo-femoral DVT was seen in the first cohort, although this was confounded by tumor blockage of the blood supply to that patient's extremity. This cohort was expanded to 6 evaluable patients without additional DLTs. There were no other CNTO 95-related SAEs or Grade 3/4 adverse events. Three ovarian cancer patients (2 at 0.3 mg/kg, and 1 at 1 mg/kg) had stable disease (per RECIST criteria) at day 42 and remain on extended dosing. Dose escalation to a planned study maximum of 10 mg/kg continues. Single dose PK analysis showed that Cmax and AUC appeared to increase in a greater than dose proportional manner on days 1 and 42, perhaps due to a tissue or tumor binding mechanism. No accumulation was observed upon repeat dosing. CONCLUSIONS CNTO 95 is a fully human mAb to αv integrins with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic properties in rodents. In an ongoing Phase I trial CNTO 95 appears to be well tolerated and 3 patients are on extended therapy. [Table: see text].
Output feedback nonlinear energy-saving position control of electro-hydraulic asymmetric actuator

Both precise tracking performance and significant energy-saving effect are important issues for electro-hydraulic systems. Different from other available actuation methods, the electro-hydraulic systems generally suffer from severe energy consumption. To deal with the problem of energy saving and position tracking simultaneously, an output feedback nonlinear energy-saving controller is presented for electro-hydraulic asymmetric actuator. Specifically, the pump pressure is variable controlled in an open-loop manner based on the desired trajectory and system parameters to improve the system efficiency according to the concept of load-sensing control. Additionally, both the system states and the lumped uncertainties including parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities are estimated by an extended sliding mode observer. Moreover, a robust tracking controller is constructed to ensure a prescribed tracking performance. Thus, the multi-problem is resolved using only position measurement. The stability of the controller is verified by Lyapunov method, and the internal dynamics are demonstrated. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated by comparative experimental results.
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Collaboration in the Asian Century

type="main" xml:lang="en"> Science, technology and innovation drive economies around the globe. Worldwide, governments are recognising the importance of international science collaboration and research and are investing heavily, developing programs that facilitate international collaboration. The United States and countries within Europe have long held an advantage in scientific collaboration; however, new superpowers are emerging in Asia. This provides new opportunities for Australia to strategically engage internationally, although Australia will need to act quickly to ensure it is not left behind in global science and innovation in the Asian Century.
Seven Dominant Forces Affecting Asia Pacific Travel and Tourism Industry

Ancient Chinese wisdom says “out of crisis comes opportunity. ” For the early years of this new millennium, the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry has gone through and in a few cases is still suffering from the worst times in its modern incarnation. While history has proved the resilience of the travel and tourism industry, now more than ever before, there is a need for some indication as to what is ahead of us. PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) has identified seven dominant forces that may affect the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry over the next few years. These anchors will help the industry prepare its strategy in this increasingly turbulent world.
Motivation as a Factor Responsible for Entrepreneurial Growth in Nigeria: A Case Study of Export Logistics Limited, Akure, Nigeria

This paper evaluated the motivational factors that facilitate entrepreneurial growth, and the extent to which entrepreneurs’ motivation positively affects entrepreneurial growth of Export Logistics Limited, Akure, Nigeria. The study attempted to find answers to research questions by using survey design to collect data from 70 respondents with the aid of a 17-item questionnaire. The respondents comprised of management and staff of Export Logistics Limited, Akure. Data for this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistics - chi-square (X2) was used to test one hypothesis at 5% significant level. The findings revealed that the respondents were motivated by both monetary and non-monetary incentives. However, they were more motivated by monetary incentives, and there is a positive and significant relationship between entrepreneurs’ motivation and entrepreneurial growth. The paper recommended a continuous inclusion of a well-planned consensus motivational packages for entrepreneurs in government policies and provision of enabling environment by the government through its policy framework and guidelines. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n4p166
The effect of the type of cement on early revision of Charnley total hip prostheses. A review of eight thousand five hundred and seventy-nine primary arthroplasties from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register.

We studied the survival of 8579 Charnley prostheses, in 7922 patients, according to the different types of cement that had been used. All of the patients had had a primary total hip replacement for primary coxarthrosis. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.2 years (range, zero to 6.4 years). The data were collected from the national Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. The duration of survival was defined as the time to revision due to aseptic loosening. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival at 5.5 years for the 1226 femoral components that had been implanted with low-viscosity cement was 94.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 92.1 to 96.2 per cent), compared with 98.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 97.5 to 98.6 per cent) for the 6589 components that had been implanted with high-viscosity cement (p < 0.0001). The remaining 764 femoral components had been implanted with Boneloc cement, which was classified as neither high nor low-viscosity, and these components were considered as a separate group in the analyses. The Boneloc cement had been used for only three years, and the two-year survival rate of these prostheses was 95.5 per cent (p < 0.0001). The cement contained an antibiotic in 2801 (42 per cent of the hips in which the femoral component had been implanted with high-viscosity cement, compared with only thirty (2 per cent) of those in which it had been implanted with low-viscosity cement. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Proactive Workload Management for Bare Metal Deployment on Microservers

This paper introduces a concept for an energy-aware workload management (WM) for heterogeneous microserver environments. Its main focus is on highly dynamic service-driven workloads often coupled to user requests requiring fast response times. The WM is developed in scope of the M2DC (Modular Microserver Data Center) project, in which a new server generation of composable microservers is designed. Targeting an easy industrial applicability, the underlying middleware is based on a turnkey OpenStack platform. As part of that middleware, the WM makes use of workload/utilization and power data as well as corresponding (prediction) models to deploy applications on the most suitable microservers and temporarily shut down unused capacities, either proactively or reactively (in case of deviations from forecasts). The WM has been implemented and simulated within a virtual environment. However, the integration, refinement and evaluation on the new M2DC hardware is still work in progress.
Trading Style Analysis

This article offers an insight into the trading styles utilized within the currency industry. It questions whether trend-following techniques still remain the dominant trading style for currency commodity trading advisors (CTAs) and the extent to which the perceived use of fundamental strategies by currency overlay managers can be justified. The results show that over the period in question trend-following was the dominant trading style of currency CTAs. However, the results also show that a surprisingly high proportion of currency overlay managers were also found to be using this technique.
In fl ation Dynamics and the New Keynesian Phillips Curve : a Bayesian Approach

We propose a Bayesian approach to test the New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) both as an exact relation and as a noisy/potentially misspecified model. We do so in order to reconcile the contradicting evidence that the NKPC is rejected by a Wald test but nevertheless it provides a good approximation of inflation dynamics. We apply the proposed approach to US and EMU data. When the NKPC is tested as an exact relation its rejection is confirmed. When modelled as a noisy or potentially misspecified relation the NKPC is supported by the data. Therefore, according to our test the NKPC does not hold exactly, but may hold on average. The degree of noise/misspecification needed to accept the theory is reasonably low. Importantly, all the results of the paper are valid for any admissible value of the parameters measuring the degree of price stickiness and the portion of backward looking firms in the economy. JEL Classification: C11, E31
Nerve growth factor and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor increase neurotransmitter release in the rat visual cortex

A number of experiments have shown that neurotrophins are involved in the development and plasticity of the visual cortex (Bonhoeffer, T., Curr. Op. Neurobiol., 6, 119 1996). A possible mechanism underlying these effects is the neurotrophin modulation of synaptic transmission. We investigated whether nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can modulate the release of neurotransmitter in the rat visual cortex at the peak of the critical period for plasticity (P23). The release of glutamate, acetylcholine and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) from visual cortical synaptosomes was analysed in continuous perfusion conditions. We found that NGF enhances the depolarization‐evoked release of glutamate (≈ 90%) and acetylcholine (≈ 35%) but not that of GABA. By contrast, BDNF enhances the depolarization‐evoked release of all three neurotransmitters investigated (≈ 30%). BDNF and NGF were ineffective on basal release of neurotransmitters. The effect of NGF was not blocked by cholinergic antagonists atropine and mecamylamine. NGF and BDNF potentiation of transmitter release was strongly but not completely blocked by K252a, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The role of TrkA and p75NTR receptors was investigated in NGF‐induced potentiation of glutamate release. Block of NGF binding to p75NTR using specific blocking antibodies (REX‐IgG) slightly but significantly reduced the effect of NGF. Activation of TrkA in isolation by RTA‐IgG, an antibody that specifically activates TrkA, was less effective than activation of both receptors by NGF. These results show that neurotrophin action on neurotransmitter release was mostly mediated by Trk receptors with p75NTR having a little but significant positive role. Antigen blot analysis showed the presence of TrkA, TrkB and p75NTR receptors in the visual cortex.
Effective Protection and Intra‐Industry Trade: Some Positive and Normative Issues

The distinction between nominal and effective tariffs (or protection) is well established in the theoretical literature, albeit in the context of the traditional analysis of inter‐industry trade flows. This analysis is based upon assumptions such as product and production homogeneity, non‐increasing returns, armslength trade, and small open economy country conditions. Relaxation of some or all of these assumptions has direct implications for effective protection analysis under any type of trade flows. As is now widely recognised, however, relaxation of these assumptions is also likely to be associated with intra‐industry specialisation and exchange. It is to this wider issue of effective protection analysis in the context of “within‐industry” specialisation (vertical and/or horizontal) and of two‐way trade, that this paper is addressed.
Non-structural carbohydrates in the nutrition of high-yielding dairy cows during a transition period

The main aim of this study was to investigate experimentally the effect of different composi - tion of non-structural carbohydrates (NFC) in prepartum feed rations administered to high-yielding dairy cows at a high concentration of NFC in the diet on dry matter intake both before and after parturition and on subsequent milk performance, body condition and physiological traits of rumen fluid and blood. Thirty- six high-yielding dairy cows were allocated into one of the three well-balanced groups (K, O, and C), and each group received a different feeding rations. Feeding rations differed in non-structural carbohydrate (NFC) structure. The "K" (control) group received a feeding ration with NFC in the form of maize starch in particular, while the feeding rations of the other two (experimental) groups contained either (besides maize starch) saccharose from dried sugar beet (the "O" group ) or a dominant amount of NFC was in the form of saccharose (the "C" group). After calving, all dairy cows were given the same feeding ration from the first day after parturition. The experiment was conducted for 21 days before and 50 days after calving. FR in the form of total mixed ration was offered ad libitum. Dry matter intake, milk performance, body condition, live weight, and blood and rumen parameters were recorded for the duration of the experiment. Average daily dry matter intake before calving was highest in the "K" group (14.32 kg per head). Differences among groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Prepartum dry matter consumption dropped as the rate of saccharose in the diet of cows increased. Dry matter consumption levelled off after calving. Milk yield was also highest in the "K" group (43.71 kg/head/day), but fatness of milk and thus the production of fat cor - rected milk were lowest in this group. The highest milk fat content (4.10%) and fat corrected milk production (44.03 kg/head/day) were recorded in the "C" group, whereas the highest milk protein concentration was found in the milk of the "O" group. The composition of NFC affected dry matter intake before parturition, but these concentrations did not significantly affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, live weight, body condition or blood serum and rumen fluid parameters after calving.
Effects of cavitation bubble interaction with temporally separated fs-laser pulses

Abstract. We present a time-resolved photographic analysis of the pulse-to-pulse interaction. In particular, we studied the influence of the cavitation bubble induced by a fs-pulse on the optical focusing of the consecutive pulse and its cavitation bubble dynamics in dependence on temporal pulse separation in water. As a first result, by decreasing the temporal separation of laser pulses, there is a diminishment of the laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) efficiency in terms of energy conversion, caused by disturbed focusing into persisting gas bubbles at the focal volume. A LIOB at the focal spot is finally suppressed by impinging the expanding or collapsing cavitation bubble of the preceding pulse. These results could be additionally confirmed in porcine gelatin solution with various concentrations. Hence, the interaction between the laser and transparent ophthalmic tissue may be accompanied by a raised central laser energy transmission, which could be observed in case of a temporal pulse overlap. In conclusion, our experimental results are of particular importance for the optimization of the prospective ophthalmic surgical process with future generation fs-lasers.
The radiation‐induced block in spermatogonial differentiation is due to damage to the somatic environment, not the germ cells

Radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs cause permanent sterility in male rats, not by killing most of the spermatogonial stem cells, but by blocking their differentiation in a testosterone‐dependent manner. However, it is not known whether radiation induces this block by altering the germ or the somatic cells. To address this question, we transplanted populations of rat testicular cells containing stem spermatogonia and expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene into various hosts. Transplantation of the stem spermatogonia from irradiated adult rats into the testes of irradiated nude mice, which do not show the differentiation block of their own spermatogonia, permitted differentiation of the rat spermatogonia into spermatozoa. Conversely transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells from untreated prepubertal rats into irradiated rat testes showed that the donor spermatogonia were able to colonize along the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules but could not differentiate. Finally, suppression of testosterone in the recipient irradiated rats allowed the differentiation of the transplanted spermatogonia. These results conclusively show that the defect caused by radiation in the rat testes that results in the block of spermatogonial differentiation is due to injury to the somatic compartment. We also observed colonization of tubules by transplanted Sertoli cells from immature rats. The present results suggest that transplantation of spermatogonia, harvested from prepubertal testes to adult testes that have been exposed to cytotoxic therapy might be limited by the somatic damage and may require hormonal treatments or transplantation of somatic elements to restore the ability of the tissue to support spermatogenesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 149–158, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Integrated Visual Information for Maritime Surveillance

The main contribution of this chapter is to provide a data fusion (DF) scheme for combining in a unique view, radar and visual data. The experimental evaluation of the performance for the modules included in the framework has been carried out using publicly available data from the VOC dataset and the MarDT - Maritime Detection and Tracking (MarDT) data set, containing data coming from different real VTS systems, with ground truth information. Moreover, an operative scenario where traditional VTS systems can benefit from the proposed approach is presented.
Cascade and Parallel Convolutional Recurrent Neural Networks on EEG-based Intention Recognition for Brain Computer Interface

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a system empowering humans to communicate with or control the outside world with exclusively brain intentions. Electroencephalography (EEG) based BCIs are promising solutions due to their convenient and portable instruments. Despite the extensive research of EEG in recent years, it is still challenging to interpret EEG signals effectively due to the massive noises in EEG signals (e.g., low signal-noise ratio and incomplete EEG signals), and difficulties in capturing the inconspicuous relationships between EEG signals and certain brain activities. Most existing works either only consider EEG as chain-like sequences neglecting complex dependencies between adjacent signals or requiring pre-processing such as transforming EEG waves into images. In this paper, we introduce both cascade and parallel convolutional recurrent neural network models for precisely identifying human intended movements and instructions effectively learning the compositional spatio-temporal representations of raw EEG streams. Extensive experiments on a large scale movement intention EEG dataset (108 subjects,3,145,160 EEG records) have demonstrated that both models achieve high accuracy near 98.3% and outperform a set of baseline methods and most recent deep learning based EEG recognition models, yielding a significant accuracy increase of 18% in the cross-subject validation scenario. The developed models are further evaluated with a real-world BCI and achieve a recognition accuracy of 93% over five instruction intentions. This suggests the proposed models are able to generalize over different kinds of intentions and BCI systems.
A particle swarm optimization algorithm for grain logistics vehicle routing problem

Vehicle routing problems (VRP) arise in many real-life applications within transportation and logistics. This paper considers vehicle routing models in grain logistics (GLVRP) and its intelligent algorithm. The objective of GLVRP is to use a fleet of vehicles with specific capacity to serve a number of customers with fixed demand and time window constraints. In this paper, a novel real number encoding method of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for Open Vehicle Routing Problem is proposed. The vehicle is mapped into the integer part of the real number; and the sequence of customers in the vehicle is mapped into the decimal fraction of the real number. They are used to optimize the inner or outer routes and modify illegal solutions. In the experiments, a number of numerical examples are carried out for testing and verification. The Computational results confirm the efficiency of the proposed methodology.
Asymptotic mutual information for the balanced binary stochastic block model

We develop an information-theoretic view of the stochastic block model, a popular statistical model for the large-scale structure of complex networks. A graph G from such a model is generated by first assigning vertex labels at random from a finite alphabet, and then connecting vertices with edge probabilities depending on the labels of the endpoints. In the case of the symmetric two-group model, we establish an explicit ‘single-letter’ characterization of the pervertex mutual information between the vertex labels and the graph, when the mean vertex degree diverges. The explicit expression of the mutual information is intimately related to estimation-theoretic quantities, and –in particular– reveals a phase transition at the critical point for community detection. Below the critical point the per-vertex mutual information is asymptotically the same as if edges were independent. Correspondingly, no algorithm can estimate the partition better than random guessing. Conversely, above the threshold, the per-vertex mutual information is strictly smaller than the independent-edges upper bound. In this regime there exists a procedure that estimates the vertex labels better than random guessing.