Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study of Modified FOLFOX6 With Bevacizumab in Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma

Background: The median survival for patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma is <12 months. Bevacizumab has demonstrated promising activity in metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma when used in combination with cisplatin-based regimens for patients from the Americas. We conducted a prospective phase II trial to investigate the efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with the oxaliplatin-based regimen, modified FOLFOX6, in patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients with untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, or distal esophagus received mFOLFOX6 (leucovorin 400 mg/m2, fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 bolus and 2400 mg/m2 continuous infusion over 46 h, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2) and bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) every 2 weeks until disease progression or intolerance. Response by RECIST was evaluated by CT scan every 8 weeks. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary objectives were safety, response rate, and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 39 patients with untreated metastastic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma were enrolled between September 2008 and June 2012. Median number of cycles administered was 12 (range, 4 to 86). The confirmed response rate was 56.4% (3 complete response and 19 partial response). The median PFS was 7.8 months and median OS was 14.7 months. Three patients remain on treatment, and 11 patients are alive, of whom 6 have survived >24 months. Treatment-related grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (33.3%), neuropathy (20.5%), thromboembolism (VTE) (7.7%), thrombocytopenia (7.7%), anemia (2.6%), hypertension (2.6%), and proteinuria (2.6%). We observed no GI perforations or grade 3/4 GI hemorrhagic events. Conclusions: First-line mFOLFOX6 with bevacizumab for metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma was well tolerated and associated with longer PFS and OS compared with historical data from similar populations treated without bevacizumab. Our results suggest that the addition of bevacizumab to mFOLFOX6 may provide clinical benefit in American patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, a finding consistent with previous studies of first-line bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy for this disease.
Proteome analysis of snake venom toxins: pharmacological insights

Snake venoms are an extremely rich source of pharmacologically active proteins with a considerable clinical and medical potential. To date, this potential has not been fully explored, mainly because of our incomplete knowledge of the venom proteome and the pharmacological properties of its components, in particular those devoid of enzymatic activity. This review summarizes the latest achievements in the determination of snake venom proteome, based primarily on the development of new strategies and techniques. Detailed knowledge of the venom toxin composition and biological properties of the protein constituents should provide the scaffold for the design of new more effective drugs for the treatment of the hemostatic system and heart disorders, inflammation, cancer and consequences of snake bites, as well as new tools for clinical diagnostic and assays of hemostatic parameters.
Monitoring Ground Subsidence Along the Shanghai Maglev Zone Using TerraSAR-X Images

In this letter, the permanent scatterer interferometric synthetic aperture radar (PS-InSAR) method is applied to extract ground subsidence using X-band TerraSAR-X images. A zone of 1 km width on both sides of the Shanghai maglev was selected, and the ground subsidence rates were obtained on all permanent scatters or highly coherent targets. The results show that permanent scatters are distributed on the rail of the maglev, and the subsidence rates of these PS points are mostly less than 3 mm/a. A KS-test is formulated to judge the agreements between the subsidence results obtained by PS-InSAR and those obtained by spirit leveling, which indicated that PS-InSAR results are acceptable statistically. In addition, the PS-InSAR results show some ground subsiding troughs near the maglev track, with subsidence rates of more than 10 mm/a.
Age-dependent differences of treadmill exercise on spatial learning ability between young- and adult-age rats

The effect of exercise, which increases hippocampal neurogenesis and improves memory function, is well documented, however, differences in the effect of exercise on young children and adults are not yet known. In the present study, age-dependent differences of treadmill exercise on spatial learning ability between young- and adult-age rats were investigated. The rats in the exercise groups were forced to run on a motorized treadmill for 30 min once a day for 6 weeks. Radial 8-arm maze test was conducted for the determination of spatial learning ability. Cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was determined by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine immunohistochemistry. Western blot for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) was performed. In the present study, the number of errors in the young-age rats was effectively decreased by treadmill exercise. Hippocampal neurogenesis was more active in the young-age rats than in the adult-age rats. BDNF and TrkB expression in the hippocampus was greater in the adult-age rats than in the young-age rats. The results of this study showed that adults have excellent spatial learning abilities than children, but the improvement of exercise-induced spatial learning ability through neurogenesis is better in children.
Multitenant Transport Networks With SDN/NFV

We propose the combination of optical network virtualization and network function virtualization (NFV) for deployment of on-demand OpenFlow-controlled virtual optical networks (VON). Each tenant SDN controller is run on the cloud, so the tenant can control the deployed VON. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed use case and provides implementation details in the ADRENALINE testbed of an NFV orchestrator, which is able to provide multitenancy on top of an heterogeneous transport network by means of network orchestration and virtualization.
Epidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis Using Traditional and Molecular Techniques: Houston, Texas

Objective. To investigate the transmission dynamics of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) by analyzing the clinical characteristics with the molecular profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates during a 5-year period. Methods. A retrospective review of a prospective population-based active surveillance and molecular epidemiology project was conducted in private and public pediatric clinics within Houston and Harris County, Texas. The study population consisted of patients who had pediatric TB diagnosed from October 1, 1995, through September 30, 2000. Cases and potential source cases (PSC) were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Available Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from cases and PSCs were characterized and compared by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism, spoligotyping, and genetic group assignment. Clinical characteristics were described, and molecular characterizations were compared. Data were analyzed by using EpiInfo 6.02b and SAS 8.2. Results. A total of 220 (92%) of 238 pediatric TB cases were included. Epidemiologic and clinical findings were consistent with previous studies. Molecular profiles from 3 cases did not match the profile of PSC. Four previously unknown PSCs were identified using molecular techniques. Fifty-one (71.8%) of 71 isolates matched at least 1 other Houston Tuberculosis Initiative TB database isolate and were grouped into 33 molecular clusters. Cases were more likely to be clustered when the patients were younger than 5 years, identified a source case, or were US born. Conclusions. Traditional contact tracing may not always be accurate, and molecular characterization can lead to identification of previously unrecognized source cases. Recent transmission plays a significant role in the transmission of TB to children as evident by the high degree of clustering found in our study population.
6$\,\times\,$ 128-Gb/s Nyquist-WDM PDM-16QAM Generation and Transmission Over 1200-km SMF-28 With SE of 7.47 b/s/Hz

The Nyquist wavelength-division multiplexing technique enable a solution to achieve high spectral efficiency in long-haul transmission system. Compare to polarization division multiplexing quadrature-phase-shift-keying, even high-level modulation scheme such as polarization division multiplexing 16-quadrature-amplitude-modulation is much more sensitive to intra-channel noise and inter-channel linear crosstalk caused by Nyquist wavelength-division multiplexing. We experimentally demonstrated the generation and transmission of the 6 × 128-Gb/s Nyquist wavelength-division multiplexing sixteen quadrature amplitude modulation signal over 1200-km single-mode fiber (SMF)-28 with Erbium-doped fiber amplifier only amplification with a net SE of 7.47 b/s/Hz, which is so far, to our knowledge, the highest SE for the signal with the bit rate above 100-Gb/s using the polarization-division multiplexing 16-quadrature-amplitude-modulation format. This experiment was successfully enabled by digital-signal-processing (DSP) pre-equalization of transmitter-side impairments and DSP post-equalization of the channel and receiver-side impairments. Nyquist-band is considered in the pre- equalization to enhance the tolerance of the polarization-division multiplexing 16-quadrature-amplitude-modulation to the aggressive spectral shaping. The bit error rate for each of the 6 channels is smaller than the limitation of the forward-error-correction limit of 3.8 ×10-3 after 1200-km SMF-28 transmission.
Five-year clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers.

OBJECTIVE The clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers was evaluated at 5 years. METHOD AND MATERIALS One hundred eighty-six porcelain laminate veneers were placed in 61 patients, aged 18 to 70 years, by a single operator following the same clinical procedure. At the 5-year recall, esthetics, marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, fracture rate, and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS At recall 98.4% of the veneers were satisfactory without intervention. The retention rate was excellent, the fracture rate was very low, and the maintenance of esthetics was superior. Patient satisfaction was very high. CONCLUSION Porcelain laminate veneers offer a reliable and effective procedure for the conservative and esthetic treatment of anterior teeth.
Globalization and the Environmental Spillovers of sectoral FDI

We analyze the environmental impact of capital inflows and investigate different hypotheses: the Halo Effect (FDI improves environmental standards by bringing in clean technology), the Pollution Haven argument (capital flows to poor countries with environmentally lax standards) and the Environmental Kuznets Curve, EKC (pollution increases with economic growth, and declines when wealth reaches a certain threshold). We find: (i) a differential industry effect: FDI flows into manufacturing support the pollution haven hypothesis, while those flowing into services support the halo effect hypothesis; (ii) an income inequality effect: on aggregate, FDI flowing into low and middle income countries degrades the environment, while flows to high-income countries benefit the environment and support a halo effect; (iii) EKC results hold if capital flows into agriculture and services industries in relatively lower income countries and if flows go into mining and manufacturing in wealthier economies.
Dysregulation of Met receptor tyrosine kinase activity in invasive tumors.

The MET protooncogene was discovered because of the ability of oncogenic Met to mediate chemically induced transformation of a human osteogenic sarcoma cell line (1). The normal product of this gene, Met, is an unusual receptor tyrosine kinase that can be distinguished from most other such proteins on the basis of its biosynthesis and its structural features. This transmembrane protein is synthesized as a single-chain precursor, which undergoes intracellular proteolytic cleavage at a basic amino acid site, yielding a disulfide-linked heterodimer. Its C-terminal, intracellular region contains a multifunctional docking site that binds to various signaling molecules. These features define a Met receptor tyrosine kinase family consisting of three related proteins, Met, Ron, and c-Sea, the last of which may be the chicken ortholog of Ron.
Generalized Spatial Kernel based Fuzzy C-Means Clustering Algorithm for Image Segmentation

Image segmentation plays an important role in image analysis. It is one of the first and most important tasks in image analysis and computer vision. This proposed system presents a variation of fuzzy c- means algorithm that provides image clustering. Based on the Mercer kernel, the kernel fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm (KFCM) is derived from the fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm (FCM). The KFCM algorithm that provides image clustering and improves accuracy significantly compared with classical fuzzy C-Means algorithms. This proposed system makes the use of the advantages of KFCM and also incorporates the local spatial information and gray level information in a novel fuzzy way. The new algorithm is called Generalized Spatial Kernel based Fuzzy C- Means (GSKFCM) algorithm. The major characteristic of GSKFCM is the use of a fuzzy local (both spatial and gray level) similarity measure, aiming to guarantee noise insensitiveness and image detail preservation as well as it is parameter independent. The purpose of designing this system is to produce better segmentation results for images corrupted by noise, so that it can be useful in various fields like medical image analysis, such as tumor detection, study of anatomical structure, and treatment planning.
Antioxidant factors, nitric oxide levels, and cellular damage in leprosy patients.

INTRODUCTION The immune response caused by Mycobacterium leprae is a risk factor for the development of oxidative stress (OS) in leprosy patients. This study aimed to assess OS in leprosy patients before the use of a multidrug therapy. METHODS We evaluated the nitric oxide (NO) concentration; antioxidant capacity; levels of malondialdehyde, methemoglobin and reduced glutathione; and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leprosy patients. RESULTS We observed lower SOD activity in these leprosy patients; however, the NO levels and antioxidant capacity were increased. CONCLUSIONS The infectious process in response to M. leprae could primarily be responsible for the OS observed in these patients.
Argotrainer — Learning go in an augmented-reality environment

In recent years, researchers have begun paying more attention to the use of augmented reality in education. Augmented reality can make learning processes more engaging and entertaining by superimposing virtual images over the real world. In this paper, we propose the use of augmented reality as a new way to learn how to play Go. Go is a popular board game that is difficult for beginners to learn because of its highly complicated strategies and patterns. Teaching these strategies in an augmented environment is more intuitive and fun than conventional ways of learning through textbooks or computer software on a monitor screen. It can also reduce the gap between learning theories and applying book knowledge in a game. To illustrate this, we introduce ARGoTrainer, a marker-based augmented-reality system that acts like a Go tutor and teaches users the strategies of Go. The system allows users to play against human players as well as artificial opponents (the computer Go engine) without losing the physical interaction of the board game. While playing games, the system provides context-driven and real-time assistants to teach users strategies like fuseki (opening moves), joseki (common corner patterns), and territorial analysis. Those strategic suggestions are generated based on the state of the game and are recompiled in real time after each new move. These personalized learning assistants can reduce the time it takes to adapt and apply theories in actual games. A preliminary user study revealed that this new way of learning Go is entertaining and the system could be more effective than learning only from books.
Human Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Confiscated Gorilla

In 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile confiscated eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) that had a high degree of direct contact with human caretakers. Our findings confirm that pathogens can transfer between nonhuman primate hosts and humans.
Ultrasound-Guided Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block: Comparison of Two Techniques

To aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and efficacy between two techniques of ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve with or without locating the nerve. The study enrolled 106 patients undergoing knee surgery who received 5 ml of 1% mepivacaine immediately under the inguinal ligament 1 to 2 cm medial to the anterior superior iliac spine (subinguinal technique) or around the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve located (nervetargeting technique). The time required to perform the block and the onset time of the block were similar for both techniques. However, a significantly higher percentage of patients obtained loss of pinprick sensation on the lateral thigh within 10 minutes with the subinguinal technique than with the nerve-targeting technique. The findings suggest that ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks can be easily performed and that injecting local anaesthetic immediately under the inguinal ligament rather than around the nerve itself blocks the nerve more reliably.
TRPC4 expression determines sensitivity of the platelet-type capacitative Ca2+ entry channel to intracellular alkalosis

The present study was designed to analyze the molecular basis of the intracellular pH-dependent capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) of human platelets and megakaryocytic cells, specifically to test the hypothesis that members of the classical transient receptor potential (TRPC) protein family are involved in the CCE pathway that is promoted by intracellular alkalosis. Human platelets as well as the tested megakaryocytic cell lines (CMK cells, MEG-01 cells) and HEK293 cells displayed thapsigargin-induced CCE and responded to monensin with comparable elevation in intracellular pH. Promotion of CCE by monensin-induced intracellular alkalosis, however, was profound in mature platelets, moderate in CMK cells and lacking in MEG-01 cells as well as in HEK293 cells. Analysis of the TRPC expression pattern by immunoblotting revealed that mature platelets and CMK cells express TRPC4 along with TRPC1 and TRPC3, while TRPC4 is lacking in MEG-01 cells. HEK293 cells displayed CCE characteristics as well as lack of TRPC4 expression similar to MEG–01 cells. Over-expression of TRPC4 in HEK293 cells was found to result in a gain of pH-sensitivity of CCE with clearly detectable promotion of CCE in response to monensin. These results suggest that platelet CCE channel complexes contain TRPC4 as a molecular component that determines sensitivity of CCE to intracellular alkalosis.
Investigating genetic discrimination in Australia: a large‐scale survey of clinical genetics clients

We report first results from the Australian Genetic Discrimination Project of clinical genetics services clients’ perceptions and experiences regarding alleged differential treatment associated with having genetic information. Adults (n = 2667) who had presented from 1998 to 2003 regarding predictive or presymptomatic testing for designated mature‐onset conditions were surveyed; 951/1185 respondents met inclusion criteria for current asymptomatic status. Neurological conditions and familial cancers were primary relevant conditions for 87% of asymptomatic respondents. Specific incidents of alleged negative treatment, reported by 10% (n = 93) of respondents, occurred in life insurance (42%), employment (5%), family (22%), social (11%) and health (20%) domains. Respondents where neuro‐degenerative conditions were relevant were more likely overall to report incidents and significantly more likely to report incidents in the social domain. Most incidents in the post‐test period occurred in the first year after testing. Only 15% of respondents knew where to complain officially if treated negatively because of genetics issues. Recommendations include the need for increased community and clinical education regarding genetic discrimination, for extended clinical genetics sector engagement and for co‐ordinated monitoring, research and policy development at national levels in order for the full benefits of genetic testing technology to be realised.
MicC, a Second Small-RNA Regulator of Omp Protein Expression in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT In a previous bioinformatics-based search for novel small-RNA genes encoded by the Escherichia coli genome, we identified a region, IS063, located between the ompN and ydbK genes, that encodes an ∼100-nucleotide small-RNA transcript. Here we show that the expression of this small RNA is increased at a low temperature and in minimal medium. Twenty-two nucleotides at the 5′ end of this transcript have the potential to form base pairs with the leader sequence of the mRNA encoding the outer membrane protein OmpC. The deletion of IS063 increased the expression of an ompC-luc translational fusion 1.5- to 2-fold, and a 10-fold overexpression of the small RNA led to a 2- to 3-fold repression of the fusion. Deletion and overexpression of the IS063 RNA also resulted in increases and decreases, respectively, in OmpC protein levels. Taken together, these results suggest that IS063 is a regulator of OmpC expression; thus, the small RNA has been renamed MicC. The antisense regulation was further demonstrated by the finding that micC mutations were suppressed by compensatory mutations in the ompC mRNA. MicC was also shown to inhibit ribosome binding to the ompC mRNA leader in vitro and to require the Hfq RNA chaperone for its function. We suggest that the MicF and MicC RNAs act in conjunction with the EnvZ-OmpR two-component system to control the OmpF/OmpC protein ratio in response to a variety of environmental stimuli.
Bisphosphonates, a New Treatment for Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis in Children

BACKGROUND Long-term corticoids used as a treatment for rheumatic diseases are the most frequent cause of osteoporosis in the pediatric population. Bisphosphonates have been proved to be useful in treating osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of pamidronate in corticoid-induced osteoporosis in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten children affected with rheumatic diseases and osteoporosis underwent biannual cycles of intravenous pamidronate (4 to 12 cycles). Complete clinical, radiological, biochemical and densitometric follow-up was performed at every treatment cycle. RESULTS Good clinical and radiological evolution was observed in most of our patients; no new vertebral fractures were reported. Good densitometric evolution has been linked to the onset of puberty (rise in IGF-I levels) and low values for inflammatory activity markers (ESR and CRP). Self-limited hyperthermia and mild abdominal pain were observed during pamidronate infusion, but no other side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS Pamidronate is a safe and useful treatment for corticoid-induced osteoporosis in the pediatric population.