Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paclitaxel and gemcitabine vs. paclitaxel and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in advanced non-nasopharyngeal head and neck cancer. An efficacy and cost analysis randomized study conducted by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

BACKGROUND The prognosis of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) is poor. Median survival of these patients following chemotherapy is in the range of 6 to 9 months. In the present randomized phase III trial we compared two new combinations containing new drugs with proven activity in phase II studies with patients with HNC. PATIENTS AND METHODS From November 1999 until November 2004, 166 eligible patients with HNC were enrolled in the study. They were treated with paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks (group A, 85 patients) or with paclitaxel, as in group A, and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 4 weeks (group B, 81 patients). RESULTS There was no significant difference in response rate (20% versus 29%, P = 0.21), time to disease progression (median; 4.4 months versus 6.0 months, P = 0.09) and survival (median; 8.6 months versus 11.05 months, P = 0.25). Both regimens were generally well tolerated. The most frequently reported side effect, apart from alopecia, was neutropenia. Overall, there was no significant difference in severe toxicity between the two treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS The present study could not demonstrate a survival benefit with either regimen. Both treatments were well tolerated. Randomized studies comparing each of the two regimens with standard chemotherapy are warranted.
Segmentation of Micro-CT images : an understudied problem

Aims Segmentation of biomedical images is a very wide subject and it is a mandatory step for the analysis and quantification of biomedical features. Any expert of imaging knows that does not exist a single segmentation technique able to segment all kinds of images, therefore the choice of the technique, and its settings, are related to the problem at hand. In high resolution micro-CT images of trabecular bone a fixed threshold was found to be a reasonable solution for segmentation of trabecular structure [1-4]. In order to choose the right threshold, however, a comparison with the golden standard is required, usually synchrotron facilities, histological studies or Archimedes’ principle [3, 5, 6]. By comparing micro-CT images to higher resolution images it is possible to find the right threshold, but only for the specific set-up. Moreover, limits of the fixed threshold for the segmentation of micro-CT images were already pointed out for specimens with bone volume fraction (BV/TV) below 15% [7]. Generally, when the dimensions of the analyzed objects become comparable to the image resolution, the partial volume effect starts to play an important role in image segmentation, and the error in quantification of biomedical features rises. In order to reduce this kind of errors, many techniques able to adapt to the analyzed image were introduced. In the Otsu method a fixed threshold is automatically identified for every new image depending on its histogram [8], but more sophisticated active segmentation techniques were also developed along the years [9-11]. The purpose of the active segmentation techniques is the definition of contours around the object(s) to be segmented, in which the curve deforms to minimize the contour energy that includes the components of internal energy from the contour and external energy from the object. The aim of the present study is to compare some of the most used or promising techniques on a dataset of micro-CT images of trabecular bone in order to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Cardiopulmonary, Histological, and Inflammatory Alterations After Lung Contusion in a Novel Mouse Model of Blunt Chest Trauma

Severe blunt chest trauma remains an important injury with high morbidity and mortality. However, the associated immunological alterations are poorly understood. Existing big animal models require large-scale settings, are often too expensive, and research products for immunological studies are limited. In this study we aimed to establish a new model of blunt, isolated and bilateral chest trauma in mice and to characterize its effects on physiological and inflammatory variables. Male C3H/HeN mice (n = 9–10/group) were anesthetized and a femoral artery was catheterized. The animals were subjected to trauma or sham procedure and monitored for 180 min. Blunt chest trauma was induced by a blast wave focused on the thorax. Trauma intensity was optimized by varying the exposure distance. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood gases and plasma cytokine levels were measured. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed. In addition, outcome was evaluated in a 10-day survival study. Chest trauma caused a drop (P < 0.05) in blood pressure and heart rate, which partly recovered. Blood gases revealed hypoxemia and hypercarbia (P < 0.05) 180 min after trauma. There was marked damage to the lungs but none to abdominal organs. Histologically, the characteristic signs of a bilateral lung contusion with alveolar and intrabronchial hemorrhage were found. Plasma interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor &agr; were considerably increased after 180 min. Blunt chest trauma resulted in an early mortality of 10% without subsequent death. On the basis of these findings, this novel mouse model of blunt chest trauma appears suitable for detailed studies on immunological effects of lung contusion.
A Systematic Review of Medial and Lateral Entry Pinning Versus Lateral Entry Pinning for Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus

The supracondylar fracture of the distal humerus is the most common pediatric fracture in the elbow. This systematic review summarizes the existing data about the effect of medial and lateral (medial/lateral) entry pins versus only lateral entry pin fixation on the risk of iatrogenic nerve injury and deformity or loss of reduction. A literature search identified clinical trials and observational studies presenting the probability of nerve injury and/or deformity or loss of reduction associated with closed reduction and either medial/lateral entry or lateral entry pinning of supracondylar fractures in pediatric patients. Data from 2054 children were identified from 35 studies; 2 randomized trials, 6 cohort studies, and 25 case series. For operative fixation with medial/lateral entry pins, the probability of ulnar nerve injury is 5.04 times higher than with lateral entry pins. When all documented operative nerve injuries are included, the probability of iatrogenic nerve injury is 1.84 times higher with medial/lateral entry pins than with isolated lateral pins. Medial/lateral pin entry provides a more stable configuration, and the probability of deformity or loss of reduction is 0.58 times lower than with isolated lateral pin entry. When the prospective studies alone were analyzed, there were no significant difference in the probability of iatrogenic nerve injury or deformity and displacement, although the confidence intervals were wide. This systematic review indicates that medial/lateral entry pinning, of pediatric supracondylar fractures, remains the most stable configuration and that care needs to be taken regardless of technique to avoid iatrogenic nerve injury and loss of reduction.
Microsatellite distribution and indication for locoregional therapy in small hepatocellular carcinoma

Intrahepatic disease recurrence is observed frequently after locoregional therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the indication for locoregional therapy is still unclear. To clarify the indication for locoregional therapy for small HCC tumors, the authors measured the distance of microsatellites from the main tumor and analyzed the relation between this distance and clinicopathologic factors.
Tempo de tratamento de pacientes inscritos no Programa de Controle da Tuberculose. Ribeirão Preto-SP (1998-1999)

Trata-se de um estudo exploratorio descritivo que busca analisar o tempo de tratamento da tuberculose de pacientes inscritos no PCT de um servico de saude do municipio de Ribeirao Preto-SP, nos anos de 1998 e 1999. Os dados foram obtidos atraves de livros de registro e prontuarios. Utilizou-se o programa Epi-Info, versao 6.04d para o cadastramento, tabulacao e analise. Observou-se que dos 140 pacientes em estudo, 105 (75%) curaram, 20 (14,29%) foram transferidos, 05 (3,57%) tiveram mudanca de diagnostico, 05 (3,57%) abandonaram e 05 (3,57%) foram a obito. Em relacao a cura, 39,05% curaram em ate 6 meses; 39,05% entre 6,1 9 meses; 20% em mais de 9 meses e 1,9% foi ignorado. Identificou-se que a historia de tratamento anterior, intercorrencias patologicas, aids e alcoolismo contribuiram para o nao cumprimento correto da terapeutica, prolongando o tempo de tratamento entre os individuos curados. Quanto ao tempo de tratamento dos pacientes que nao evoluiram para a cura, 09 (25,71%) nao curaram apos 6 meses de tratamento (03 abandonos, 03 obitos, 02 mudancas de diagnostico e 01 transferencia). Verificou-se que as intercorrencias podem acontecer ao longo do tratamento, ocasionando desvios como o nao cumprimento do esquema terapeutico, aumentando o tempo de tratamento, o risco de abandono e ate mesmo o obito. Destacam-se, neste estudo, falhas no preenchimento dos prontuarios e fichas de notificacao.
Lactate release from cultured astrocytes and neurons: A comparison

Lactate released into the surrounding salt solution as well as the cellular lactate content were measured in cerebral primary cultures of mouse astrocytes and of mouse neurons. Any newly produced lactate was immediately released as lactic acid into the extracellular compartment via a lactate/proton cotransport. The astrocytic release was about 2,000 nmol × mg−1 × hr−1; the neuronal release was about 300 nmol × mg−1 × hr−1. However, if election transport was blocked with dinitrophenol, the neuronal lactate release was as high as the astrocytic one under normal conditions. High glucose (30 mM) and K+ (60 mM) increased lactate release of astrocytes but not of neurons. In contrast it was found that insulin (1 μM) exposure mainly stimulated neuronal lactate release rather than glial release. Adenosine stimulated both neuronal and glial release. Neither intracellular lactate content nor concentration changed significantly in either cell type under any conditions tested. The pathophysiological implications of these measurements are discussed.
Traspaso de tipo de cambio y metas de inflación en Chile

Utilizando datos trimestrales de la economia chilena desde 1986 hasta 2009, en este articulo se examina el efecto de implementar, en forma gradual, un regimen de metas de inflacion sobre el coeficiente de traspaso de tipo de cambio a precios. En una primera fase, el esquema de metas de inflacion contribuye a reducir de manera sustancial el coeficiente de traspaso. En la segunda etapa de su implementacion, sin embargo, luego de que la autoridad extiende el horizonte de politica monetaria y flexibiliza el regimen cambiario, el coeficiente de traspaso aumenta en forma significativa. Los resultados de este trabajo muestran que el traspaso de tipo de cambio a precios, ademas de ser sensible al entorno inflacionario, depende estrechamente de las reglas del juego que definen el marco de politica monetaria.
Association Between C‐Reactive Protein and Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation: A Meta‐analysis

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with inflammation. Increased serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels are important representatives of an inflammatory state of AF. A variety of studies have evaluated whether increased CRP levels have an association with AF recurrence after catheter ablation. However, the results remain inconsistent, therefore, this meta‐analysis was conducted to offer suggestions.
Why Do Populations of Southern Pine Beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Fluctuate?

It is widely believed that population outbreaks of the southern pine beetle ( Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm.) are caused by vagaries of climate, such as periods of severe drought. According to this view, D. frontalis population dynamics are dominated by density-independent processes. We have statistically analyzed a 30-yr record of D. frontalis activity in east Texas and have assessed the relative roles of density-independent and density-dependent factors in beetle population fluctuations. Regressions of the rate of population change on three climatic variables were not significant. By contrast, both time-series and regression analyses provided strong and consistent evidence for delayed density regulation of D. frontalis populations. Thus, in contrast to previous analyses, we conclude that D. frontalis outbreaks are driven not by stochastic fluctuations of weather, but by some unknown population process acting in a delayed density-dependent manner. This result provides a starting point for a current study that will experimentally test various hypotheses concerning the role of natural enemies in D. frontalis cycles.
Central nervous system involvement in neonatal rotavirus infection

Abstract Rotavirus is an ubiquitous virus associated with severe gastro-enteritis in children under 2 years of age. However, serious conditions, including central nervous system involvement, have been associated with rotavirus infection. We investigated the clinical signs and symptoms of rotavirus infection in 156 neonates, specifically focusing on neurological signs. Neurological signs identified were apnoea, jitteriness, convulsions and poor sucking. Of the 156 babies, 66 were rotavirus-positive and 90 rotavirus-negative. In the rotavirus-positive group, 19.7% manifested apnoea compared with 22.2% in the rotavirus-negative group. The other three symptoms occurred in <10% of the neonates. Rotavirus dsRNA was detected by RT-PCR in the CSF of two. One had apnoea, the other no CNS symptoms. Although rotavirus infection in neonates is hardly ever asymptomatic and may cause death, it has not been associated with CNS symptomatology in our studies.
Two cases of confined placental mosaicism for chromosome 4, including one with maternal uniparental disomy

Two cases of trisomy 4 mosaicism are reported including one with molecularly confirmed uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 4. Cytogenetic analysis of a chorionic villus sample (CVS) in Case 1 showed complete trisomy 4 in trophoblast and diploidy in chorionic stroma. Amniotic fluid analysis demonstrated a 46,XX complement. After intrauterine fetal death at 30 weeks, molecular analysis confirmed the presence of trisomy 4 of maternal meiotic origin, while fetal tissues showed maternal UPD for chromosome 4. Cultured CVS in Case 2 revealed trisomy 4 in 2/30 cells analyzed. This pregnancy resulted in a healthy livebirth with biparental inheritance of chromosome 4. Molecularly confirmed UPD4 has not been previously reported, and therefore, although the adverse outcome in Case 1 is likely due to the trisomy 4 in the placenta, an imprinting effect associated with UPD4 cannot be excluded. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
La construcción de la identidad del "joven" en internet: apuntes sobre el consumo cultural y mediático de los jóvenes

Esta comunicacion trata conectar el proceso de construccion y consolidacion de la identidad juvenil a traves del consumo cultural y mediatico con el hecho constatado de que Internet, como nuevo espacio de comunicacion y de oferta cultural, es una maquina de consumo que requiere de mas usuarios y nuevos consumidores, jovenes, cualificados y adaptados al nuevo medio. Nos encontramos por tanto, como indica Armand Mattelart, en un contexto en el que se impone la logica de la “cultura global constituida a partir del management y el marketing” (Mattelart, 2002: 99), una logica en las que priman los intereses de las empresas publicitarias, que han ocupado el lugar de la informacion y del consumo cultural casi por completo, y que pretenden afianzar su discurso con el objetivo de aumentar el numero de visitantes y usuarios de los sitios web a los que dan soporte. Desde este punto de vista, la unica logica que cabe es la de la captacion de los clientes y la del retorno de imagen por parte de las empresas que invierten; y para ello se hace necesario moldear un nuevo consumidor que se adapte al medio. En este contexto, la audiencia joven que consume generos televisivos juveniles se convierte en la cantera principal para este nuevo publico.
Therapeutic Developments in Friedreich Ataxia

Friedreich ataxia is an inherited, severe, progressive neuro- and cardiodegenerative disorder for which there currently is no approved therapy. Friedreich ataxia is caused by the decreased expression and/or function of frataxin, a mitochondrial matrix protein that binds iron and is involved in the formation of iron-sulfur clusters. Decreased frataxin function leads to decreased iron-sulfur cluster formation, mitochondrial iron accumulation, cytosolic iron depletion, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Cloning of the disease gene for Friedreich ataxia and elucidation of many aspects of the biochemical defects underlying the disorder have led to several major therapeutic initiatives aimed at increasing frataxin expression, reversing mitochondrial iron accumulation, and alleviating oxidative stress. These initiatives are in preclinical and clinical development and are reviewed herein.
Comparison of ISDN and MPDS communication modes via Inmarsat Fleet services

Inmarsat introduced the Fleet family of services in 2002/2003. For the first time mobile packet data service (MPDS) was introduced into maritime communications, allowing continuous connection of ships to terrestrial networks with payment for volume of data exchanged rather than the duration of airtime used. Noting that the Fleet family of services also provides the ISDN option, questions are being raised, both technical and commercial, about the advantages and disadvantages of each option. This paper discusses both technical and commercial issues in that respect.
Occupational lead exposure in battery manufacturing workers, silver jewelry workers, and spray painters in western Maharashtra (India): effect on liver and kidney function

We studied liver and kidney function tests of occupational lead exposed Battery Manufacturing Workers (BMW) (n = 30), Silver Jewelry Workers (SJW) (n = 30), and Spray Painters (SP) (n = 35) and normal healthy subjects (n = 35), all 20 to 40 years of age, in Western Maharashtra (India). Venous blood and random urine samples were collected from all groups. The blood lead (Pb-B) and urinary lead (Pb-U) levels were significantly increased in all experimental groups, except urinary lead excretion in SJW as compared with the controls. Liver functions tests parameters (serum transaminase enzymes SGOT, AST, SGPT, ALT) activities were significantly increased only in SP; no alteration was noticed in BMW and SJW as compared with the control group. Serum total protein levels were significantly decreased in all three experimental groups as compared with control subjects. Serum albumin concentrations were significantly decreased in SJW, SP, and increased in BMW. The serum globulin levels, however, were significantly decreased, and the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio was increased in BMW and SJW as compared with the control. The bilirubin level was significantly increased only in BMW. Blood urea was significantly increased only in BMW, and blood urea and serum uric acid were decreased in SJW. The serum creatinine level was not significantly altered in any experimental groups. Increased Pb-B values in all experimental groups indicate the greater rate of lead absorption and impairment of liver and kidney functions in all three types of occupational lead-exposed workers of Western Maharashtra (India).
Pipelined, Flexible Krylov Subspace Methods

We present variants of the Conjugate Gradient (CG), Conjugate Residual (CR), and Generalized Minimal Residual (GMRES) methods which are both pipelined and flexible. These allow computation of inner products and norms to be overlapped with operator and nonlinear or nondeterministic preconditioner application.The methods are hence aimed at hiding network latencies and synchronizations which can become computational bottlenecks in Krylov methods on extreme-scale systems or in the strong-scaling limit. The new variants are not arithmetically equivalent to their base flexible Krylov methods, but are chosen to be similarly performant in a realistic use case, the application of strong nonlinear preconditioners to large problems which require many Krylov iterations. We provide scalable implementations of our methods as contributions to the PETSc package and demonstrate their effectiveness with practical examples derived from models of mantle convection and lithospheric dynamics with heterogeneous viscosity structure. These represent challenging problems where multiscale nonlinear preconditioners are required for the current state-of-the-art algorithms, and are hence amenable to acceleration with our new techniques. Large-scale tests are performed in the strong-scaling regime on a contemporary leadership supercomputer, where speedups approaching, and even exceeding $2\times$ can be observed. We conclude by analyzing our new methods with a performance model targeted at future exascale machines.
A generalized single product and single-period inventory problem with non-linear parameters

In this paper, we extend the study of the classical single-period newsboy inventory problem by considering costs that are non-linear functions of the decision variable. We assume that the demand probability density function is known to the decision maker. We prove that, under some much more relaxed conditions, the total expected profit function remains concave and classical optimization methods can thus be used to obtain the global optimal solution. After that, we provide numerical examples for illustrative purpose.
Farnesol and geranylgeraniol modulate the structural properties of phosphatidylethanolamine model membranes

The biological activity of farnesol (FN) and geranylgeraniol (GG) and their isoprenyl groups is related to membrane-associated processes. We have studied the interactions of FN and GG with 1,2-dielaidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DEPE) membranes using DSC and X-ray diffraction. Storage of samples at low temperature for a long time favors a multidomain system formed by a lamellar crystalline (Lc) phase and isoprenoids (ISPs) aggregates. We demonstrate that ISPs alter the thermotropic behavior of DEPE, thereby promoting a HII growth in a lamellar Lc phase with a reduced degree of hydration. The HII phase occurs with the same repeat distance (dHII=5.4 nm) as the Lc phase and upon heating it expands considerably (δd/δT≈0.22 nm/°C). The dimensional stabilization of this HII phase coincides with the transition temperature of the Lc to Lα phase. Thereafter, the system DEPE/ISP will progress by increasing the nonlamellar-forming propensity and reaching a single HII phase at high temperature. The cooling scan followed a similar structural path, except that the system went into a stable gel phase Lβ with a repeat distance, dLβ=6.5 nm, in co-existence with a HII phase. The formation of ISP microdomains in model PE membranes substantiates the importance of the isoprenyl group in the binding of isoprenylated proteins to membranes and in lipid–lipid interactions through modulation of the membrane structure.