Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leucovorin and fluorouracil with or without oxaliplatin as first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE In a previous study of treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, the LV5FU2 regimen, comprising leucovorin (LV) plus bolus and infusional fluorouracil (5FU) every 2 weeks, was superior to the standard North Central Cancer Treatment Group/Mayo Clinic 5-day bolus 5FU/LV regimen. This phase III study investigated the effect of combining oxaliplatin with LV5FU2, with progression-free survival as the primary end point. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four hundred twenty previously untreated patients with measurable disease were randomized to receive a 2-hour infusion of LV (200 mg/m(2)/d) followed by a 5FU bolus (400 mg/m(2)/d) and 22-hour infusion (600 mg/m(2)/d) for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks, either alone or together with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) as a 2-hour infusion on day 1. RESULTS Patients allocated to oxaliplatin plus LV5FU2 had significantly longer progression-free survival (median, 9.0 v 6.2 months; P =.0003) and better response rate (50.7% v 22.3%; P =.0001) when compared with the control arm. The improvement in overall survival did not reach significance (median, 16.2 v 14.7 months; P =. 12). LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin gave higher frequencies of National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 neutropenia (41. 7% v 5.3% of patients), grade 3/4 diarrhea (11.9% v 5.3%), and grade 3 neurosensory toxicity (18.2% v 0%), but this did not result in impairment of quality of life (QoL). Survival without disease progression or deterioration in global health status was longer in patients allocated to oxaliplatin treatment (P =.004). CONCLUSION The LV5FU2-oxaliplatin combination seems beneficial as first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer, demonstrating a prolonged progression-free survival with acceptable tolerability and maintenance of QoL.
Vaccination with a neural‐derived peptide plus administration of glutathione improves the performance of paraplegic rats

After damage to the central nervous system (CNS) the body is protected by an adaptive immune response which is directed against myelin‐associated proteins. Active immunization with nonpathogenic derivatives of CNS‐associated peptides (DCAP) reduces the degeneration of neurons and promotes motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. In order to improve even more the neurological outcome obtained with this therapy, either a combination of DCAP immunization plus glutathione monoethyl ester (GSHE) or a double DCAP immunization were performed. GSHE is a cell‐permeant derivative of glutathione, a potent antioxidant agent that significantly inhibits lipid peroxidation after SCI. After a contusive or compressive SCI, the combination of GSHE + DCAP immunization, induced better motor recovery, a higher number of myelinated axons and better rubrospinal neuron survival than immunization alone. On the other hand, double‐DCAP immunization counteracted the protective effect of DCAP therapy. Motor recovery and neuronal survival of double‐immunized rats were similar to those observed in control animals (PBS‐treated). Further studies revealed that double immunization was not encephalitogenic but inhibited the proliferative response of T‐cells specific to the DCAP‐immunized peptide. This clonal dysfunction was probably secondary to anergy. GSHE improves the protective effect induced by DCAP immunization while double immunization, reverts it.
Probability modelling to reduce decision uncertainty in environmental niche identification and driving factor analysis: CaNaSTA case studies

Hillside agro-ecosystems have a complex spatial and temporal distribution of natural resources. Farmers generally possess a vast body of knowledge about environmental resources on their farms but this knowledge is largely based on locally observable features rather than generalized knowledge. The lack of process-based knowledge concerning agroecosystem function creates uncertainty that obstructs sound decision-making under conditions of rising economic and ecologic pressure in many developing countries. Since the past decade, Precision Agriculture provides tools to reduce uncertainty caused by environmental variation. By describing spatial and temporal variation of the environment, Geographic Information Systems help to detect suitable crops for specific environmental niches and support farmers to find optimal management practices for their plot of land. Hence Precision Agriculture helps to raise the economic benefits of farming, ensures consistent product quality and reduces negative environmental impacts caused by inappropriate management practices.
Can Reduce Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Related to Neuromuscular Block Agents in Geriatric Surgical Population ?

The respiratory system undergoes various physiological and anatomical changes with age [1]. Gas exchanges are modified with a linear decrease of PaO2 up to the age of 70 years, and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia, hypoxia and exercise decrease in the elderly [2]. Furthermore, closing volume increases with age, and FEV1 declines 8% to 10% per decade due to reduced pulmonary compliance [3]. Also age-related decline in diaphragmatic strength may predispose geriatric population to diaphragmatic fatigue and ventilatory failure during increased ventilatory load on the respiratory system. Thus, elderly patients are at greater risk for many postoperative pulmonary complications and may have preexisting muscle weakness and respiratory dysfunction.
Detection of aberrant methylation of four genes in plasma DNA for the detection of breast cancer.

PURPOSE Novel approaches to breast cancer screening are necessary, especially in the developing world where mammography is not feasible. In this study, we explored the hypothesis that blood-based biomarkers have potential for biomarkers for breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We first determined the frequency of aberrant methylation of four candidate genes (APC, GSTP1, Rassf1A, and RARbeta2) in primary breast cancer tissues from West African women with predominantly advanced cancers. We used a high-throughput DNA methylation assay (quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction) to examine plasma from 93 women with breast cancer and 76 controls for the presence of four methylated genes. Samples were randomly divided evenly into training and validation data sets. Cutoff values for gene positivity of the plasma-based assay and the gene panel were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves in the training data set and subsequently evaluated as a screening tool in the validation data set. RESULTS Methylation of at least one gene resulted in a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 87%. Moreover, the assay successfully detected 33% (eight of 24) of early-stage tumors. CONCLUSION These data suggest that epigenetic markers in plasma may be of interest for detection of breast cancer. Identification of additional breast cancer specific methylated genes with higher prevalence in early stage cancers would improve this approach.
Smart parking service based on Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a prototype system of Smart Parking Services based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) that allows vehicle drivers to effectively find the free parking places. The proposed scheme consists of wireless sensor networks, embedded web-server, central web-server and mobile phone application. In the system, low-cost wireless sensors networks modules are deployed into each parking slot equipped with one sensor node. The state of the parking slot is detected by sensor node and is reported periodically to embedded web-server via the deployed wireless sensor networks. This information is sent to central web-server using Wi-Fi networks in real-time, and also the vehicle driver can find vacant parking lots using standard mobile devices.
A Study on the Cryopreservation of Stallion Semen with Alpha Lipoic Acid

Horses have the lowest fertility rate in all of the domesticated species. In order to accomplish succe ssful conception, artificial insemination, the assisted reproductive technique is the best procedure. Sperm quality duri ng cryopreservation dramatically diminishes because of the oxidative st resses which results from the production of reactiv e oxygen species (ROS) during sperm metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate if antioxidant alpha lipoic ac id (ALA) supplementation increases the efficacy of fertility Parameters in cryopreserved stallion semen. For th is research, a different concentrations / inclusion level of Alpha lipoic ac ids (0.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.125 mmol / ml) was used in the semen of two adult Equus caballus. Post thawed semen analysis (Motility, vitality, Plasma membrane int egrity, Acrosomal integrity and morphology of the semen) was conducted. The results indicate that there is no positive e ffect of ALA on fertility parameter of the post thawed stallion sem en. In conclusion, ALA like in other bovine species , do not appear to be cryoprotectant to stallion semen.
Optimal Ordering Strategies for Announced Price Increases

The familiar model for determining the optimal ordering strategy, given an announced price increase, assumes that the buyer has an opportunity to place an order at the end of the next economic order quantity cycle before the price increase takes effect. This paper extends the price increase model by relaxing the requirement on the timing of the price increase. Specifically, we develop optimal ordering strategies for situations where the price increase becomes effective at any future specified time. We also calculate savings for alternate ordering strategies.
Halothane Reduces Dysrhythmias and Improves Contractile Function After Global Hypoperfusion in Isolated Hearts

We investigated the effects of halothane on changes in cardiac function during hypoperfusion and recovery of function after reperfusion in the isolated perfused guinea pig heart. Heart rate, atrioventricular (AV) conduction time, the incidence and severity of dysrhythmias, and isovolumetric left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and its derivative were measured. Hearts (n = 85) were divided into three groups for 30 min of perfusion at 0% (no flow), 10%, and 25% of the control perfusion pressure (PP, 55 mm Hg). These groups were subdivided and exposed to 0%, 0.74% (0.23 ± 0.01 mM), or 1.65% (0.51 ± 0.01 mM) halothane 10 min before, during, and 10 min after hypoperfusion. Hypoperfusion was followed by 40 min of reperfusion at control PP. Exposure to 0.74% and 1.65% halothane before hypoperfusion produced a 9% and 13% decrease in heart rate, a 2% and 30% increase in AV conduction time, and a 25% and 51% decrease in LVSP and dLVP/dtmax, respectively. During the 30 min of hypoperfusion, heart rate decreased and AV conduction time increased; second- and third-degree AV block occurred in all hearts in the 0% and 10% PP groups, but only in some hearts in the 25% PP groups. Left ventricular systolic pressure rapidly decreased during hypoperfusion in all groups. During early reperfusion ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia occurred in the 0% and 10% PP groups but not in the 25% PP groups. During reperfusion 0.74% and 1.65% halothane greatly reduced the duration of ventricular fibrillation from 8.1 ± 3.3 min to 1.5 ± 0.8 and 1.9 ± 1.2 min in the 0% and 10% PP groups, respectively. A concentration of 0.74% halothane increased the incidence of supraventricular tachycardia on reperfusion in the 10% group (from a control of 20% to 65%), and 1.65% halothane increased the duration (2.6 ± 2.5 min) and incidence (38%) of supraventricular tachycardia on reperfusion in the 0% PP group. A concentration of 1.65% halothane facilitated recovery of LVSP after hypoperfusion in the 25% group but not in the 0% and 10% PP groups. These results indicate that halothane, in some instances, can have protective cardiac effects after graded hypoperfusion as assessed by improved contractility and by reduced severity of some dysrhythmias during reperfusion; however halothane may also increase the incidence of supraventricular tachycardia. The cardiac protection by halothane could be a result of reduced cardiac work before, during, and after hypoperfusion, or of some other direct protective cellular effects.
Prepandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine adjuvanted with AS03: a review of the pre-clinical and clinical data

Background: Universal and timely administration of a prepandemic vaccine is considered to be one of the most effective measures to reduce the incidence of pandemic influenza infection and consequently its morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To provide the reader with basic insights into influenza virus infections, the threat of a pandemic and the challenges it poses for vaccine development. Methods: This review summarizes the reported preclinical and clinical data obtained with the prepandemic H5N1 vaccine adjuvanted with AS03. Results: The AS03-adjuvanted prepandemic H5N1 influenza vaccine allows for antigen sparing, has a good safety and acceptable reactogenicity profile, induces an immune response that not only meets all European Committee for Medicinal Products (CHMP) and FDA requirements for the vaccine strain but also generates neutralizing antibodies that broadly cross-react against H5N1 drift strains, and finally conveys protection in a ferret model against lethal challenges with homologous and heterologous H5N1 viruses.
Online: views on costs and cost-effectiveness

Interviews with online users—both intermediaries and end—users—in The Media and The City are used as the basis for an assessment of funding and cost issues. Few experienced any difficulties obtaining financial support for online activities, with most justifying the expenditure on the grounds of savings in staff, material and space. The 'information-is-free' syn drome continues to restrict the online industry, and the atti tudes of some database hosts to this barrier are reported. The issue of cost-effectiveness is addressed by outlining the case of the iritermediary and that of the end-user. Many online users experience difficulties in determining which hosts or databases are the most cost-effective for a given search or service. The variant and constantly-shifting price structures adopted by hosts were at the heart of their problems and made cost benefit calculations particularly difficult.
Investor Protection and Share Prices: Evidence from Statutory Rules Governing Variations of Shareholders' Class Rights in Russia

This paper uses a quasi-experimental framework provided by recent changes in Russian corporate law to study the effect of investor protection on the value of shares. The legal change analyzed involves the empowerment of preferred (non-voting) shareholders to veto unfavorable changes in their class rights. Based on a novel hand-collected dataset of dual class stock companies in Russia and using the difference-in-difference estimator, the study finds a statistically and economically significant effect of improved protection of preferred shareholders on the value of their shares. The result is robust to several changes in the empirical specification.
A two-year longitudinal study on the etiology of acute diarrhea in young children in Northern Italy.

During a 24-month period, 561 young children (6 months-2 years of age) hospitalized for acute diarrhea were studied for enteric pathogens. Patients positive for one or more pathogens were 359 (64.0%). Infection with one pathogen was found in 266 (47.4%) patients, whereas multiple infection was detected in 93 (16.6%) patients. Enteropathogens associated with disease were Rotaviruses: 150 (26.7%), Adenoviruses: 99 (17,6%), non-polio Enteroviruses: 48 (8.5%), Coronaviruses: 10 (1.8%), Parvoviruses: 5 (0.9%), Salmonella sp. : 41 (7.3%), Campylobacter fetus: 45 (8.0%), Giardia lamblia: 8 (1.4%), and "enteropathogenic" E. coli: 63 (11.2%) of which 15 (3%) produced heat labile enterotoxin. Seasonal occurrence of enteropathogens is also described.
Monoclonal antibody to a major surface glycoprotein immunogen differentiates isolates and subpopulations of Trichomonas vaginalis

To produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to highly immunogenic membrane proteins of Trichomonas vaginalis NYH286, the sera of subcutaneously infected BALB/c mice were first monitored for antibody to trichomonad surface proteins. The sera possessed antibody to one major surface protein by 7 days and antibody to numerous other trichomonad membrane proteins by 4 weeks postinfection. A hybridoma was then generated that synthesized an MAb, designated C20A3, which reacted to a parasite-derived glycoprotein possessing a molecular weight of 267,000 (267K glycoprotein). The immunogen corresponded to the single high-molecular-weight immunogenic surface protein recognized by 7-day mouse antisera. The MAb differentiated T. vaginalis isolates by a whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by indirect immunofluorescence, using either fixed or live organisms. All isolates, however, possessed C20A3-reactive material when tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using detergent extracts of the isolates incubated with MAb-coated microtiter well plates. The epitope was accessible to antibody binding on live T. vaginalis organisms expressing the major immunogen, and the 267K glycoprotein was readily removed from the parasite membranes by trypsinizing the intact trichomonads. The antigen incorporated radiolabeled glucose, mannose, and acetate. Also, an unlabeled 267K glycoprotein on nitrocellulose blots was detected by 125I-concanavalin A and 125I-wheat germ agglutinin, confirming the glycoprotein nature of the immunogen. Finally, of seven isolates used in this study, one possessed a cross-reactive 170K, rather than 267K, antigen. The data reinforce the idea that antigenic heterogeneity among T. vaginalis isolates may be a function of the presence or absence of high-molecular-weight glycoprotein immunogens from trichomonal membranes.
Location Strategies and Knowledge Spillovers

Given the importance of proximity for knowledge spillovers, we examine firms' location choices expecting differences in firms' strategies. Firms will locate to maximize their net spillovers as a function of locations' knowledge activity, their own capabilities, and competitors' anticipated actions. Using new entrants into the United States from 1985 to 1994, we find that firms favor locations with academic innovative activity. Other results highlight differences in firms' location strategies suggesting that firms consider not only gains from inward knowledge spillovers but also the possible cost of outward spillovers. While less technologically advanced firms favor locations with high levels of industrial innovative activity, technologically advanced firms choose only locations with high levels of academic activity and avoid locations with industrial activity to distance themselves from competitors.
Polymer Nanocomposites: From Synthesis to Applications

Nanocomposites are composites in which at least one of the phases shows dimensions in the nanometer range (Roy et al., 1986). These are high performance materials that exhibit unusual property combinations and unique design possibilities and are thought of as the materials of the 21st century. With an estimated annual growth rate of about 25% and huge demand for engineering polymers, their potential is so promising that they are useful in several applications ranging from packaging to bio-medical. Literature survey reveals that about 18,000 publications, including papers and patents, have been published on nanocomposites in the last two decades. It has been reported that at the nanoscale (below about 100 nm), a material’s property can change dramatically. With only a reduction in size and no change in the substance itself, materials can exhibit new properties such as electrical conductivity, insulating behavior, elasticity, greater strength, different color, and greater reactivity-characteristics that the very same substances do not exhibit at the microor macroscale. For example, 1. By the time gold crystals are just 4 nm across, the melting point drops to 700 K from its “encyclopedia value” of 1337 K (Mulvaney, 2001). 2. White crystals such as those of ZnO and TiO2 are used as paint pigments or whitening agents, but they become increasingly colorless as the crystals shrink in size, and ZnO and TiO2 colloids become invisible to the human eye below about 15 nm (Mulvaney, 2001). 3. Aluminum-can spontaneously combust at the nanoscale and has been used as rocket fuel. Additionally, as dimensions reach the nanometer level, interactions at interfaces of phases become largely improved, and this is important to enhance materials properties. In this context, the surface area/volume ratio of reinforcement materials employed in the preparation of nanocomposites is crucial to the understanding of their structure–property relationships. Further, discovery of CNTs (carbon nanotubes) (Iijima, 1991) and their subsequent use to fabricate composites exhibiting some of the unique CNT related mechanical, thermal and electrical properties (Biercuk et al., 1991; Ounaies et al., 2003; Weisenberger et al., 2003) added a new and interesting dimension to this area. The possibility of spinning CNTs into composite products and textiles (Dalton et al., 2003) made
A Circular Microstrip Antenna with Tuning Stub above Wide-Slot Ground Plane for Band-Notched UWB Using Inverted-U Slot

A simple and compact circular microstrip antenna with tuning stub above wide-slot ground plane for band-notched ultra wide-band (UWB) using inverted-U slot is presented. The proposed antenna is easy to be integrated with microwave circuitry for low manufacturing cost. The antenna is successfully designed, simulated and measured including SWR, radiation patterns and gain. The antenna can operate in the 2.8-12.8 GHz frequency range and cover the UWB operating bandwidth of 3.1- 10.6 GHz with a notched frequency band of 5.06-5.96 GHz. The antenna gain varies from -4.1 dBi to 7.1 dBi and yields bi-directional pattern.
A software‐defined 5G cellular network with links virtually pooled for public safety operators

During disaster relief operations, public safety personnel performs data communication almost exclusively through terrestrial commercial networks. However, common cellular infrastructures are often unable to provide acceptable throughput and even basic availability owing to congestion or infrastructural disruption. In order to overcome these issues, this paper proposes the implementation of a network abstraction that we define as virtual resource pooling. This allows to virtually pool the resources provided by the cellular channels on which field operators are connected. The proposal aims to harmoniously blend together the multihoming capabilities of modern devices and their collaborative potential by leveraging the software‐defined networking facilities that are expected to be present in the core infrastructures of fifth‐generation networks. Coupled with the envisioned performance and packet core plasticity of the latter, such a system may have the potential to provide future public safety operators with broadband capabilities and high quality of experience in day‐to‐day tasks and major planned events while providing improved communication guarantees in unplanned disasters. To experimentally assess our proposal, we present a test bed that has been built and used to perform network emulation runs and to extract their results. These indicate that a system with virtual resource pooling may greatly enhance not only throughput and quality of service properties but also the resilience guarantees that network tenants may offer to field operators. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.