Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiotoxicity of epirubicin/paclitaxel-containing regimens: role of cardiac risk factors.

PURPOSE To evaluate the incidence of clinically relevant cardiac toxicity after treatment with epirubicin/paclitaxel-containing regimens in patients with metastatic breast cancer and to identify high-risk patients in whom the benefit of chemotherapy may be negated by the occurrence of congestive heart failure (CHF). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 105 patients who were referred for epirubicin/paclitaxel treatment were included in this study. Treatment regimens were as follows: (1) epirubicin 90 mg/m(2) plus paclitaxel 135 to 225 mg/m(2) over 3 hours (n = 76); and (2) gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 4 plus epirubicin/paclitaxel (n = 29). The occurrence of CHF was detected by physical examination, and left ventricular function was evaluated by bidimensional echocardiography to support the diagnosis. Cardiac risk factors examined in this study included age, prior radiotherapy to the chest, hypertension, and diabetes. RESULTS No patient experienced CHF while on treatment. Nine patients (9%) developed CHF after cumulative epirubicin doses of 1,080 mg/m(2) (n = 4), 720 mg/m(2) (n = 2), 630 mg/m(2) (n = 1), and 540 mg/m(2) (n = 2). One of the two patients who developed CHF after a cumulative epirubicin dose of 540 mg/m(2) had received consolidation with high-dose chemotherapy. Median time to appearance of cardiologic symptoms was 3 months after the end of treatment (range, 3 to 6 months). Overall, the incidence of CHF was 13% and 4% in patients with or without cardiac risk factors, respectively. The cumulative risk of developing CHF was estimated as 7.7% at a cumulative doses of 720 mg/m(2) and 48.7% at a cumulative dose of 1,080 mg/m(2). CONCLUSION This study shows that the incidence of CHF after an epirubicin/paclitaxel regimen is low up to cumulative epirubicin doses of 990 mg/m(2), thus allowing the safe administration of this regimen even in patients who received epirubicin in the adjuvant setting. However, the risk of developing CHF increases when a cumulative dose exceeding 990 mg/m(2) is reached, concomitantly with the presence of an additional cardiac risk factor.
Toll-like receptors activate programmed necrosis in macrophages through a receptor-interacting kinase-3–mediated pathway

We report here that mouse macrophages undergo receptor-interacting kinase-3 (RIP3)-dependent but TNF-α–independent necrosis when Toll-like receptors (TLR) 3 and 4 are activated by poly(I:C) and LPS, respectively. An adaptor protein, Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β (TRIF/TICAM-1), which is dispensable for TNF-α–induced necrosis, forms a complex with RIP3 upon TLR3/TLR4 activation and is essential for TLR3/TLR4-induced necrosis. Mice without RIP3 or functional TRIF did not show macrophage loss and elevation of inflammatory cytokines when they were exposed to LPS. Necrosis in mouse macrophages induced by either TNFR or TLR3/TLR4 is executed by reactive oxygen species. Taken together, these data indicate that there are multiple upstream necrosis-initiating signaling pathways converging on the RIP3 during an innate immune response to viral and bacterial infections in mammals.
Teacher assessment practices : case study of three grade 9 mathematics teachers in the Northern region of KwaZulu-Natal province.

The research project explored the Grade 9 mathematics teachers' assessment practices in the context of the National Policy on Assessment and Qualifications for Schools in the General Education and Training Band in South African Schools. The research project also explored the mathematics teachers' understanding of the assessment policy in Mathematics and the impact of teachers' understanding of assessment on their assessment practices. The research project was a case study of three Grade 9 Mathematics teachers from three schools in Obonjeni District in the Northern Zululand Region in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The data was collected through observations of teachers teaching Grade 9 Mathematics lessons, analysis of teachers' planning and assessment documents and teacher interviews. Each teacher was observed teaching his/ her lessons five times. Based on the results obtained it was concluded that: (a) teachers have different understandings of the same assessment policy and this resulted in teachers implementing the assessment policy differently. (b) teachers are using some of the assessment practices that are recommended in the assessment policy. and (c) teachers' understanding of assessment does not influence their assessment practices. Finally, recommendations made concerning assessment practices, could lead to teachers' better understanding of assessment.
Exclusive backoff scheme (EBS) for ad hoc mode in IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs

We propose a new backoff scheme, called exclusive backoff scheme (EBS), for ad hoc mode in IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs. Each station generates a unique backoff number before starting backoff procedure by using timing synchronization function (TSF) timer and a unique user's ID (UID), which makes a collision free access. The EBS shows better performance in the view of channel utilization and packet delay than original IEEE 802.11 CSMA/CA backoff scheme.
Two level security for medical images using watermarking/encryption algorithms

In this article, an attempt is made to provide two level securities for medical images using watermarking and encryption. Watermarking provides security and encryption, authenticates medical image and provides integrity. Watermarking is performed by using a new nontensor product wavelet filter banks, which have the ability to reveal singularities in different directions. Natural image is taken as the original image and the medical image is taken as a watermark image. The medical image is embedded into the LH sub band of the natural image. The encryption is performed by RSA, AES, and RC4 algorithms. A qualitative comparative analysis of the proposed algorithm is done for different encryption methods. The proposed algorithm has the ability to withstand different attacks like noise, rotation, contrast, and brightness attacks. Performance analysis is made by calculating PSNR, SSIM, NC, and CV.
A 210GHz fully integrated differential transceiver with fundamental-frequency VCO in 32nm SOI CMOS

The vastly under-utilized spectrum in the sub-THz frequency range enables disruptive applications including 10Gb/s chip-to-chip wireless communications and imaging/spectroscopy. Owing to aggressive scaling in feature size and device fT/fmax, nanoscale CMOS technology potentially enables integration of sophisticated systems at this frequency range. For example, CMOS sub-THz signal sources and TRXs have been reported [1-4], employing techniques such as distributed active radiator (DAR) and super-harmonic signal generator. The lack of RF amplification in CMOS sub-THz TRXs reported in prior work, however, results in low efficiency (and thus higher power dissipation), and high noise-figure (NF). This paper addresses these issues by demonstrating a 210GHz TRX with on-off-keying (OOK) modulation incorporating a 2×2 TX antenna array, a 2×2 spatial combining power amplifier (PA), a fundamental frequency VCO, and a low noise amplifier (LNA) in a 32nm SOI CMOS process (fT/fmax=250/350GHz).
Gaussian Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm Approach Applied to Loney's Solenoid Benchmark Problem

Optimization metaheuristics, such as Particle Swarm Optimization, Ant Colony Optimization and bacterial foraging strategies have become very popular in the optimization community and have been successfully applied to electromagnetic device design. The Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm is a rather new bio-inspired swarm intelligence approach which is competitive with other population-based algorithms and has the advantage of using fewer control parameters. In this work, a standard and an improved version of the ABC algorithm using Gaussian distribution are applied to Loney's solenoid problem, showing the suitability of these methods for electromagnetic optimization.
Gap junctions mediate intercellular spread of sodium between hippocampal astrocytes in situ

Activation of glutamatergic synapses results in long‐lasting sodium transients in astrocytes mediated mainly by sodium‐dependent glutamate uptake. Sodium elevations activate Na+/K+‐ATPase and glucose uptake by astrocytes, representing key signals for coupling glial metabolism to neuronal activity. Here, we analyzed the spread of sodium signals between astrocytes in hippocampal slice preparations. Stimulation of a single astrocyte resulted in an immediate sodium elevation that spread to neighboring astrocytes within a distance of ∼ 100 μm. Amplitude, slope, and propagation speed of sodium elevations in downstream cells decayed monotonically with increasing distance, indicative of a diffusion process. In contrast to sodium, calcium increases elicited by electrical stimulation were restricted to the stimulated cell and a few neighboring astrocytes. Pharmacological inhibition of mGluR1/5 slightly dampened the spread of sodium, whereas inhibition of glutamate uptake or purinergic receptors had no effect. Spread of sodium to neighboring cells was disturbed on pharmacological inhibition of gap junctions, reduced in animals at P4 and virtually omitted in Cx30/Cx43 double‐deficient mice. In contrast to results obtained earlier in cultured astrocytes, our data thus indicate that calcium signaling and metabotropic glutamate receptors are supportive of, but not prerequisites for, the spread of sodium between hippocampal astrocytes in situ, whereas expression of Cx30 and Cx43 is essential. Cx30/Cx43‐mediated sodium diffusion between astrocytes could represent a signal indicating increased metabolic needs, independent of concomitant calcium signaling. Spread of sodium might also serve a homeostatic function by supporting the re‐establishment of steep sodium gradients and by lowering the metabolic burden imposed on single cells. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CATECHOLAMINES AND PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA Table 1 Urinary Excretion of Free Catecholamines and Patients with Pheochromocytoma Location of the Tumor in Eighteen

T HE MEASUREMENT of norepinephrine and epinephrine in urine and plasma provides a reliable basis for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.1 2 Previous work" 3 has suggested that these assays may also be helpful in defining the location of the tumor in the body, thereby facilitating successful surgical treatment. In 6 cases of pheochromoeytoma von Euler3 noted a correlation between the type of amine excreted in the urine and the location of the tumor: 3 patients excreted increased amounts of epinephrine as well as norepinephrine and had tumors of the adrenal regions, while the other 3 excreted norepinephrine alone and had tumors in extraadrenal sites. In a later review of 35 cases of pheochromocytoma, however, von Euler and Str6ml noted several exceptions to this general correlation between the type of amine excreted and the location of the tumor. They concluded that the differential catecholamine assay in urine provided only suggestive evidence of tumor location. More precise information concerning the tumor site was obtained by catheterizing the venae eavae and demonstrating an increase in plasma catecholamine concentration at the level of venous drainage from the tumor.1' 4 To evaluate the practical usefulness of these approaches for localizing pheochromocytomas, we have reviewed our own and other data on urinary catecholamine excretion. In addition, we have performed 6 venous catheterizations in 5 patients with pheochromocytoma to determine the plasma catecholamine eoncentration at various locations within the great veinis. The results indicate that both procedures may be distinctly helpful under selected circumstances in the preoperative localization of the tumor.
IMMUNOPATHOLOGIC EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA–INFECTED INTERFERON-GAMMA KNOCKOUT MICE

Interferon-gamma knockout (IFN-gamma KO) mice were infected with Sarcocystis neurona merozoites to characterize the immunopathology associated with infection. By day 14 postinfection (PI), mice developed splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, characterized by marked lymphoid hyperplasia with increased numbers of germinal centers. Additional histopathologic changes included increased extramedullary hematopoiesis, multifocal mixed inflammatory infiltrates in the liver, perivascular infiltrate of the liver and lung, and interstitial pneumonia. The total number of B-cell splenocytes (P < 0.05) and the percentage of B-cells increased on day 14 PI in the spleen and on day 28 PI in the lymph nodes (P < 0.05). By day 28 PI, the number of B-cell splenocytes decreased significantly. A non–subset-specific decrease in percentages of CD4 lymphocytes throughout all lymphoid organs was observed on day 14 PI. However, total CD4 and CD44/CD4 splenocytes increased significantly by day 28 PI. Early-activation CD8 lymphocytes were reduced in the blood and spleen, whereas memory CD8 lymphocyte percentages and total numbers were significantly increased. On the basis of the results, we propose that S. neurona–infected IFN-gamma KO mice are immunocompromised and unable to clear the infection. Thus, they develop B-cell exhaustion and a delayed, but sustained, increased number of memory CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes due to chronic antigen stimulation.
K‐ras oncogene subtype mutations are associated with survival but not expression of p53, p16INK4A, p21WAF‐1, cyclin D1, erbB‐2 and erbB‐3 in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Previous studies of molecular prognostic markers following resection for exocrine pancreatic cancer have produced conflicting results. Our aim was to undertake a comprehensive analysis of potentially useful molecular markers in a large, multicentre patient population and to compare these markers with standard pathological prognostic variables. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were analysed from 157 patients [100 men and 57 women with a median (range) age of 60 (33–77) years] who had undergone pancreatectomy. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of p16INK4, p53, p21WAF1, cyclin D1, erbB‐2 and erbB‐3. Mutations in codons 12 and 13 of the K‐ras oncogene were detected by SSCP and sequencing following DNA extraction and amplification by PCR. The median (range) survival post‐resection was 12.5 (3–83) months. Abnormalities of p16INK4, p53, p21WAF1, cyclin D1, erbB‐2 and erbB‐3 expression were found in 87%, 41%, 75%, 72%, 33% and 57% of cases, respectively. There was no significant correlation between expression of any of these markers and patient survival. K‐ras mutations were found in 73 (75%) of 97 cases with amplifiable DNA. The presence of K‐ras mutation alone did not correlate with survival, but there were significant differences in survival according to the type of K‐ras mutation (p = 0.0007). Reduced survival was found in patients with GaT, cGT and GcT K‐ras mutations compared to GtT, aGT and GaC mutations. In conclusion, survival was associated with type of K‐ras mutation but not expression of p16INK4, p53, p21WAF1, cyclin D1, erbB‐2 and erbB‐3. Int. J. Cancer 89:469–474, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Introducing service improvement to the initial training of clinical staff

Background It is well recognised in healthcare settings that clinical staff have a major influence over change in how services are provided. If a culture of systematic service improvement is to be established, it is essential that clinical staff have an understanding of what is required and their role in its application. Methods This paper describes the development of short educational interventions (a module of 6–8 contact hours or a longer module of 18–30 h) for inclusion in the initial training of future clinical staff (nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, social work, operating department practice, public health and clinical psychology) and presents the results of an evaluation of their introduction. Each module included teaching on process/systems thinking, initiating and sustaining change, personal and organisational development, and public and patient involvement. Results Over 90% of students considered the modules relevant to their career. Nearly 90% of students felt that they could put their learning into practice, although the actual rate of implementation of changes during the pilot period was much lower. The barriers to implementation most commonly cited were blocks presented by existing staff, lack of time and lack of status of students within the workforce. Conclusion This pilot demonstrates that short educational interventions focused on service improvement are valued by students and that those completing them feel ready to contribute. Nevertheless, the rate of translation into practice is low. While this may reflect the status of students in the health service, further research is needed to understand how this might be enhanced.
A melanoma immune response signature including Human Leukocyte Antigen‐E

Paired cultures of early‐passage melanoma cells and melanocytes were established from metastatic lesions and the uninvolved skin of five patients. In this stringent autologous setting, cDNA profiling was used to analyze a subset of 1477 genes selected by the Gene Ontology term ‘immune response’. Human Leukocyte Antigen E (HLA‐E) was ranked 19th among melanoma‐overexpressed genes and was embedded in a transformation signature including its preferred peptide ligand donors HLA‐A, HLA‐B, HLA‐C, and HLA‐G. Mostly undetectable in normal skin and 39 nevi (including rare and atypical lesions), HLA‐E was detected by immunohistochemistry in 17/30 (57%) and 32/48 (67%) primary and metastatic lesions, respectively. Accordingly, surface HLA‐E was higher on melanoma cells than on melanocytes and protected the former (6/6 cell lines) from lysis by natural killer (NK) cells, functionally counteracting co‐expressed triggering ligands. Although lacking HLA‐E, melanocytes (4/4 cultures) were nevertheless (and surprisingly) fully protected from NK cell lysis.
Research on Investment-cash Flow Sensitivity from the Respective of Mispricing

Based on the traditional research,this study examines the financial market mispricing on the sensitivity of investment to internal cash flows.Using a sample of listed companies in China over the period 2003-2008,we find that companies have higher investment-cash flow sensitivities,financial constraint has a significant effect and earnings management has insignificant effect on investment-cash flow sensitivity during the period of stock index going up.Moreover,we also find that during the period of stock index going down,the companies whose stock price was overvalued by earnings management could not obtain external equity financing.The earnings management reflects the higher willingness to invest and stable stock prices,thus this kind of companies' investment-cash flow sensitivity is higher.We explained these results using asymmetric information theory,investors' sentiment and managerial behavior and pointed out the direction for further research.
A Phase III Study of Balugrastim Versus Pegfilgrastim in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy With Doxorubicin and Docetaxel.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-per-cycle balugrastim versus pegfilgrastim for neutrophil support in breast cancer patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. METHODS Breast cancer patients (n = 256) were randomized to 40 or 50 mg of subcutaneous balugrastim or 6 mg of pegfilgrastim ≈24 hours after chemotherapy (60 mg/m(2) doxorubicin and 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel, every 21 days for up to 4 cycles). The primary efficacy parameter was the duration of severe neutropenia (DSN) in cycle 1. Secondary parameters included DSN (cycles 2-4), absolute neutrophil count (ANC) nadir, febrile neutropenia rates, and time to ANC recovery (cycles 1-4). Safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity were assessed. RESULTS Mean cycle 1 DSN was 1.0 day with 40 mg of balugrastim, 1.3 with 50 mg of balugrastim, and 1.2 with pegfilgrastim (upper limit of 95% confidence intervals for between-group DSN differences was <1.0 day for both balugrastim doses versus pegfilgrastim). Between-group efficacy parameters were comparable except for time to ANC recovery in cycle 1 (40 mg of balugrastim, 2.0 days; 50 mg of balugrastim, 2.1; pegfilgrastim, 2.6). Median terminal elimination half-life was ≈37 hours for 40 mg of balugrastim, ≈36 for 50 mg of balugrastim, and ≈45 for pegfilgrastim. Antibody response to balugrastim was low and transient, with no neutralizing effect. CONCLUSION Once-per-cycle balugrastim is not inferior to pegfilgrastim in reducing cycle 1 DSN in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy; both drugs have comparable safety profiles. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This paper provides efficacy and safety data for a new, once-per-cycle granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, balugrastim, for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with breast cancer receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. In this phase III trial, balugrastim was shown to be not inferior to pegfilgrastim in the duration of severe neutropenia in cycle 1 of doxorubicin/docetaxel chemotherapy, and the safety profiles of the two agents were similar. Once-per-cycle balugrastim is a safe and effective alternative to pegfilgrastim for hematopoietic support in patients with breast cancer receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy associated with a greater than 20% risk of developing febrile neutropenia.
Rasch analysis of word identification and magnitude estimation scaling responses in measuring naive listeners' judgments of speech intelligibility of children with severe-to-profound hearing impairments.

PURPOSE Speech intelligibility research typically relies on traditional evidence of reliability and validity. This investigation used Rasch analysis to enhance understanding of the functioning and meaning of scores obtained with 2 commonly used procedures: word identification (WI) and magnitude estimation scaling (MES). METHOD Narrative samples of children with hearing impairments were used to collect data from listeners with no previous experience listening to or judging intelligibility of speech. WI data were analyzed with the Rasch rating scale model. MES data were examined with Rasch partial credit model when individual scales were unknown, and the Rasch rating scale model was used with reported individual scales. RESULTS Results indicated that both procedures have high reliability and similar discriminatory power. However, reliability and separation were lower for MES when scales were unknown. Both procedures yielded similar speech sample ordering by their difficulty. However, sampling gaps were noted as well as item misfit issues. CONCLUSIONS Functioning wise, both WI and MES procedures were highly reliable in measuring speech intelligibility, and measurement precision may be increased by asking participants to report their individual scales when using MES. Meaning wise, operationalization of speech intelligibility did not change when either WI or MES procedure was used. However, the sample selection procedure needs to be further refined to allow for a wider selection of stimuli.
Bayesian Regularization in Nonlinear Imaging: Reconstructions From Experimental Data in Nonlinearized Microwave Tomography

In this paper, we investigate the robustness and the effectiveness of a microwave imaging technique, based on the Bayesian estimation theory, for the reconstruction of dielectric profiles. The method has been applied and validated on real experimental data. Our statistical-based inversion algorithm takes advantage of Bayesian regularization, which permits the inversion of a strongly nonlinear model using a Markov random field as an a priori statistical model of the unknown image. Such choice leads to a robust and effective nonlinear inversion method. The exhaustive analysis performed on the experimental data shows the good performance of the method.