Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combination of precision radiotherapy with chemotherapy and immunotherapy in non-recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly radiosensitive cancer with a unique geographical distribution pattern and a close relationship with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Over recent decades, the rapid development of precision radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, proton therapy, and carbon-ion therapy, has not only achieved significantly improved clinical outcomes, but also reduced radiation-related toxicities in the management of NPC, especially for the early-stage disease. However, radiotherapy alone is not sufficiently effective for patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. Based on robust medical evidence from clinical trials, platinum-based concurrent chemotherapy has been established as the standard treatment option for patients with NPC at the intermediate-to-advanced stages. In addition, the combination of precision radiotherapy with different chemotherapy schedules and regimens is still under extensive investigation. Meanwhile, emerging immunotherapy techniques, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, combined with precision radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, is considered a promising strategy to treat locoregionally advanced NPC. Apart from the validation of its therapeutic efficacy, a reliable strategy to select patients that would benefit from different combination therapies is highly anticipated in the future. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the evidence for various combination strategies based on precision radiotherapy in patients with non-recurrent/metastatic NPC, and provides an insight into the related ongoing and future clinical trials.
Roles of integrins in central nervous system

整合素是位于细胞表面的重要黏附分子,具有介导细胞与细胞外基质及细胞与细胞间的黏附,调节细胞生存、增殖、分化等多项功能. 中枢神经系统内整合素分布广泛,通过其与周围基质和神经细胞的相互作用,传递信息,在中枢神经系统的发育和功能维持中起重要作用. 对整合素的进一步研究,可能为防治中枢神经系统疾病提供新的切入点和新的临床思路。
Early vigour and allelopathy – two useful traits for enhanced barley and wheat competitiveness against weeds

Summary The objectives of this study were to identify traits in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) related to the competitive ability of the crop and to determine their importance. Weed biomass 1–2 weeks prior to ear emergence was used as a measure of genotypic differences in competitiveness against weeds. Crop trait measurements comprised early crop biomass, early shoot height, straw length, heading and maturity. Early crop biomass 1–2 weeks prior to ear emergence was used as an overall trait for the various characters related to early vigour. In addition to these morphological traits, the potential allelopathic activity of the tested cultivars was determined using an agar-based bioassay with Lolium perenne (ryegrass). In both barley and wheat, multiple regression analysis revealed that early crop biomass and potential allelopathic activity were the only parameters that significantly contributed to competitiveness. In barley, early crop biomass explained 24–57% of the observed genotypic variance across 4 years, allelopathic activity explained 7–58% and combined they explained 44–69% of the observed genotypic variance. In wheat, the corresponding figures were lower: 14–21% for early biomass, 0–21% for allelopathic activity and 27–37% when combined. Model predictions suggested that new cultivars with increased early vigour and allelopathic activity offer a potential to further reduce weed interference.
Fibrin-Specific Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute CVA within 6 Hours of Onset, Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials that assessed 6-months functional outcome, mortality and intracranial hemorrhage and compared thrombolytic therapy with placebo in patients randomized within the first 6 hours following CVA. We searched these databases: MEDLINE (1990-2018), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews. Two blinded reviewers reviewed the eligible articles and rated study quality using the Jadad score. We calculated pooled Odds Ratios (ORs) using a random effect model.
Trend in the pup production of grey seals Halichoerus grypus at Froan, Norway, from 1974 to 1987

Pup counts of grey seals at Froan, Norway, during the period 1974 to 1987 are given. The counts indicate an increase in pup production from 1974 to 1983. The counts from 1985 to 1987 indicate a stagnation and possibly a decrease in production. This is probably due to culls at the breeding ground, particularly during the 1984 breeding season.
Proliferation and Differentiation of B Lymphocytes: A Model

Clonal selection provides the underlying basis for the model. The starting point for each clone is taken to be a multipotential stem cell. A given stem cell will be programmed so as to restrict its genetic potential for antibody production. The next distinct cell type is the committed B-lymphocyte at which stage the cell first produces antibody. In the committed lymphocyte a receptor antibody is produced constitutively. This is now the first time at which antigen can function in clonal seleiirtion and expansion. The committed lymphocyte must be able to respond to antigen in three distinct ways. 1) Cell division may be initiated leading to an amplification in the number of committed lymphocytes each e'quivalent in potential to, and only slightly differentiated from, their progenitor cell. The daugther cells produced in this way are termed 'memory' cells. 2) The committed cell may differentiate either preceding, accompanying or subsequent to proliferative response. The crudal step in differentiation is considered to be the switch from production of receptor antibody to the secretion of antibody. The end point of this pathway is the liigh rate forming/secreting cell (AFC). 3) Tolerance may result This may be thought of as the case in which the committed lymphocyte, on exposure to antigen, does not give rise to either memory cells or AFC and is prevented from doing so on any future occasion. The model includes such a response of a committed Blymphocyte to antigen without implying that this is the only road to tolerance. Since tolerance is a phenomenon observed at the level of the whole animal there may be a wide variety of reasons for its estabUshment.
A Dihydroisoquinoline Targetor-Based Acid Resistant Chemical Delivery System of Azidothymidine (AZT)

AbstractA 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline targetor-based brain-specific chemical delivery system (CDS) (6) was prepared for 3'-deoxyazidothymidine (AZT). The synthesis involved acylation of the 5'-OH group of the AZT by the anhydride of isoquinoline-4-carboxylic acid, followed by N-methylation with methyl iodide of the resulting ester and subsequent sodium borohydride reduction of the quaternary salt. Lipophilicity and stability studies in buffers and biological tissues were performed for 6 in comparison with a similar 1,4-dihydropyridine targetor-based CDS of AZT (7). The dihydroisoquinoline derivative 6 proved to be more lipophilic than 7 and quite stable to acidic conditions, including in pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid, while the dihydropyridine analog rapidly degraded under these conditions as a result of an irreversible water addition reaction. The oxidation of the isoquinoline CDS in brain tissue was some-what slow compared to the dihydropyridine derivative. The study indicated that the isoquinoline-based C.
Antitumor Activity of Combination Treatment of Lentinus edodes Mycelium Extracts with 5-Fluorouracil against Human Colon Cancer Cells Xenografted in Nude Mice

AIM: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the widely used chemotherapeutic drugs targeting various cancers, but its chemoresistance remains as a major obstacle in clinical settings. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of Lentinus edodes mycelium extracts (designated as LEM), an edible mushroom extracts, as a 5-FU adjuvant agent. Furthermore, we intended to study the underlying mechanisms to account for the role of LEM. METHODS: Human colon cancer COLO 205 cells were treated with 5-FU, LEM, or combination of 5-FU with LEM. Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest was demonstrated by DNA ladder electrophoresis and flow cytometry, respectively. Additionally, COLO 205 cells were transplanted into athymic nude mice as a tumor model for evaluation of the antitumor effect of combination treatment with LEM plus 5-FU. The mechanisms for altered cell cycle progression were investigated by immunoblotting analyses of the G 0 /G 1 -phase regulatory proteins. RESULTS: COLO 205 cells were markedly sensitized to apoptosis and G 0 /G 1 -phase arrest by combination treatment of 5-FU with LEM when compared with 5-FU alone. Our results furthermore indicated that LEM markedly enhanced the 5-FU-mediated upregulation of the p53, p21/Cip1 and p27/Kip1 proteins in COLO 205 cells-xenografted tumor tissues. In contrast, although the expression levels of cyclins B and D3 proteins were down regulated in the 5-FU-treated tumor tissues, no significant potentiation effect was observed in the tumors with 5-FU and LEM combination treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that combination of 5-FU with LEM may represent a novel chemotherapeutic strategy in colon cancers and that p53, p21/Cip1 and p27/Kip1 may play some important roles for the involvement in antitumor activity.
THE SHORT-RUN PERFORMANCE OF THE IPO SHARES OF NUCLEARELECTRICA AND ROMGAZ. AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

This paper is proposing an empirical analysis of the short-run performance of the shares subsequent to the two IPO’s in the Romanian capital market in 2013, specifically the IPO of S.N. NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A. and of S.N. G.N. ROMGAZ S.A. It will be analyze if these two IPO’s, the most important ones in Romania in the last 5 years, present the same general characteristics of underpricing that have been determined and documented by researchers like Jay R. Ritter or Kristian Rydqvist. This research will be realized by applying the models proposed in their works and by making an empirical determination of the short-run performance of the two stocks mentioned relative to the evolution of the market and to the initial price, observed until December 2014.
Intrinsic rebound potentials of 26 species of Pacific sharks

A demographic technique is used to compare the intrinsic rates of population increase of 26 shark species hypothetically exposed to fishing mortality. These rates (r2M) are used as a measure of the relative ability of different sharks to recover from fishing pressure. The method incorporates concepts of density dependence from standard population modelling and uses female age at maturity, maximum reproductive age, and average fecundity. A compensatory response to population reduction is assumed in pre-adult survival to the extent possible given the constraints of the life-history parameters. ‘Rebound’ productivity was strongly affected by age at maturity and little affected by maximum age. Species with lowest values (r2M 0.08) were small coastal, early-maturing species. Sharks with mid-range values (r2M = 0.04–0.07) were mostly large (> 250 cm maximum size) pelagic species, relatively fast growing and early maturing. Possible selection pressures for these three shark groups, management implications, practical applications for the derived parameter r2M, and recommended areas of research are discussed.
Territorial distribution of histone H1 alleles in a population of Vicia unijuga formed after urbanization of natural habitat

Territorial distribution of four alleles of one histone H1 subtype was investigated in the natural population of a leguminous plant Vicia unijuga A.Br, inhabiting an area of about 35 km2, including Novosibirsk Academy Town (Akademgorodok). Histone H1 was isolated from pools of 100 plants (one leaflet per plant) collected from points of approximately 100 m2. The proportion of alleles estimated for 119 different points revealed a radial cline. The frequency of an allele that predominates everywhere in the circumference decreases towards the historical centre of Akademgorodok, while two other alleles show the opposite tendency. The observed pattern of territorial distribution was likely due to some man-caused factor (presumably insecticide treatment) that has been acting for a period of time not exceeding the 25 years of Akademgorodok's existence. Key words: histone H1 polymorphism, Vicia unijuga A.Br. , natural selection in an urbanized area.
The roots of early mammals lie in the Karoo: Robert Broom's foundation and subsequent research progress

ABSTRACT Robert Broom (1866–1951) was the first palaeontologist to live in South Africa. Having trained as a medical doctor in Scotland he came to South Africa in 1897 and practised medicine while pursuing palaeontology as a hobby. As a pioneering palaeontologist, with no bounds to his infectious enthusiasm, he made an enormous contribution to a wide variety of fields of palaeontological endeavour. The reason why he specifically came to South Africa was to explore the evolutionary origin of mammals by undertaking research on the therapsid fossil record from the rocks of the Karoo. It was in this field that he published most of his scientific papers. Despite the then lack of large comparative collections and good fossil preparation facilities, Broom not only laid the foundations of therapsid taxonomy, biology, diversity and biostratigraphy. He also contributed substantially to developing and promoting – both locally and internationally – expertise in the science of palaeontology in South Africa. This paper acknowledges the pioneering research foundation laid by Robert Broom in the Karoo, and highlights the subsequent increase in our knowledge of therapsids, their biology, and our understanding of the origins of mammals.
Observations and Predation of a Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo (Carpococcyx renauldi) Nest in Northeastern Thailand

Abstract We found the first documented wild nest of a Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo (Carpococcyx renauldi) at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand in June 2007. The large stick nest was monitored for 24 days including 1095 hrs of video footage; it contained two eggs and was in dense vegetation 4.85 m above the ground. Nest attentiveness of adults was almost constant with both birds taking turns to incubate or brood. Food delivered to nestlings included lizards, nestlings, a snake, frogs, earthworms, and other invertebrates. Nest defense was observed against several known nest predators but the nest ultimately failed due to predation by a pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemistrina). These observations provide insight into the breeding ecology of the only two congeners, C. viridis and C. radiceus, for which little is known of their ecology and both are endangered.
Hundredth Anniversary of the “Synapse”: I. A Short History of the Milestones in Synapse Research

Abstract On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the term “synapse”, gradual progress of the knowledges conducting to the notion of chemical transmission was related. It was particularly stressed how the synapse was understood by the major contributors in this field. The soundness of the choice of the term synapse, instead of syndesm that was proposed at first, was underlined by a comparison of the original meanings of the two words and confirmed by their use in a treatise of Aristotle. It appeared that the notion of humoral immunity influenced the birth of humoral theory of chemical transmission, which was illustrated in the textbook of M. Verworn.
A monograph of the genus Colignonia (Nyctaginaceae)

Species of the neotropical genus Colignoniu are perennial herbs, subshrubs and lianas from 1 m to c. 15 m tall. The genus ranges from c. 5°N in Colombia to c. 28°S in Argentina and comprises six species. It occurs in the Andean montane rain forest and cloud forest, often in disturbed areas. The flowers are of two types and divide the genus into two sections, viz. Pterocarpae (3 spp) with a 3-lobed perianth, and Colignonia (3 spp) with a 5-lobed perianth. C. pentoptera is described as new. C. biumbellata is reduced to subspecific status under C. parviflora. C. acutifolia, originally described by Heimerl as a variety of C. glomerata, is referred to C. parviflora as a distinct variety of ssp. biumbellata. Several names are reduced to synonymy. The chromosome number 2 n = 34 is recorded for three species (Sect. Colignoniu) and 2 n= 32 for three species (Sect. Pterocarpae). The correlation between chromosome numbers and perianth type supports the subdivision of the genus. Considerable morphological variation, correlated with changes in temperature and altitude, was observed in the field and in plants under cultivation. Pollen morphology and relationships to other genera in the Nyctaginaceae are discussed. Colignonia seems most closely related to Mirabilis, Commicarpus, Boerhaaviu, and Pisoniella.
REVIEW OF SEASONAL CLIMATE FORECASTING FOR AGRICULTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

SUMMARY We review the use and value of seasonal climate forecasting for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with a view to understanding and exploiting opportunities to realize more of its potential benefits. Interaction between the atmosphere and underlying oceans provides the basis for probabilistic forecasts of climate conditions at a seasonal lead-time, including during cropping seasons in parts of SSA. Regional climate outlook forums (RCOF) and national meteorological services (NMS) have been at the forefront of efforts to provide forecast information for agriculture. A survey showed that African NMS often go well beyond the RCOF process to improve seasonal forecast information and disseminate it to the agricultural sector. Evidence from a combination of understanding of how climatic uncertainty impacts agriculture, model-based ex-ante analyses, subjective expressions of demand or value, and the few well-documented evaluations of actual use and resulting benefit suggests that seasonal forecasts may have considerable potential to improve agricultural management and rural livelihoods. However, constraints related to legitimacy, salience, access, understanding, capacity to respond and data scarcity have so far limited the widespread use and benefit from seasonal prediction among smallholder farmers. Those constraints that reflect inadequate information products, policies or institutional process can potentially be overcome. Additional opportunities to benefit rural communities come from expanding the use of seasonal forecast information for coordinating input and credit supply, food crisis management, trade and agricultural insurance. The surge of activity surrounding seasonal forecasting in SSA following the 1997/98 El Niño has waned in recent years, but emerging initiatives, such as the Global Framework for Climate Services and ClimDev-Africa, are poised to reinvigorate support for seasonal forecast information services for agriculture. We conclude with a discussion of institutional and policy changes that we believe will greatly enhance the benefits of seasonal forecasting to agriculture in SSA.
Bacterial community patterns of municipal water of Sukkur city in different seasons

The objective of this study was to determine whether there was an association of seasonal variation and bacterial communities of municipal water. The sampling was carried out fortnightly after a flow time of 5 min to eliminate any contaminant present in the mouth of tap in sterilized screw caped 500 ml white glass flasks (Pyrex), containing 0.1 ml of a 1.8% solution of sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate (Na 2S2O3.5H 2O) per 100 ml of sample. Samples were placed in ice boxes and brought to laboratory within 1 h of collection. Samples were analyzed for bacterial communities using standard microbiological method (membrane filtration technique). The suspected colonies were then further purified and identified using API 20E (BioMerieux) commercial identification kit. Twelve pathogenic bacterial species were isolated and identified from municipal water on conventional and selective media. Their prevalence was higher in summer season. The average isolation rate was as follows: Escherichia coli 69.4%, Proteus mirabilis 65.2%, Providencia rettgeri 65.2%, Providencia stuarti 61%, Klebsiella oxytoca 54.1%, Citrobacter youngae 60%, Non fermenter species 57%, Chryseobacterium meningosepticum 51.3%, Vibro mimicus 39%, V. cholerae 38%, Aeromons hydrphilia 65.2% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 78%. It is important to mention that water samples were positive for the above pathogens throughout the study period (2005 to 2007). The temperature of water samples was reported highest in July to September and the pH of water samples ranged 7 and 7.8. The bacteriological quality of drinking water under study was very poor. In summer, the isolation rate of bacterial communities was higher than in winter
The effects of body condition at calving, food intake and performance in early lactation on blood composition of dairy cows given complete diets

In each of two trials, three groups of eight cows, with condition scores of 1-5 to 2, 2-5 to 3 and 3-5 to 4 at calving, were given a complete diet for the first 16 weeks of lactation. Food intake, milk yield, live weight and condition score were measured, and related to levels of plasma glucose and free fatty acids, serum insulin, prolactin and progesterone in weekly blood samples, in an attempt to explain differences in food intake. In both trials, levels of plasma free fatty acids were high after calving for all cows and declined rapidly until week 8, after which they were fairly constant. Glucose and insulin levels increased after calving, producing curves similar to that for dry-matter intake in the first 8 weeks of lactation. Prolactin levels fluctuated too markedly to provide useful information. Progesterone levels increased until week 7 and then fluctuated at 3-week intervals coincident with oestrus. Dry-matter intake was negatively correlated with free fatty acid levels and positively correlated with insulin in trial 1, and with glucose and progesterone in both trials.
THE EFFECTS OF OFDM SYNCHRONIZATION IMPERFECTIONS AND CALCULATION OF UNCODED BERS FOR THE IDEALIZED OFDM SYSTEM MODEL

- The aim of this paper is to provide some theoretical background on the OFDM transmission technique. We review the block diagram of a “classic” OFDM system, which employs a GI to mitigate the impairments of the multipath radio channel. We also discuss several design considerations related to hardware properties and derive the mathematical model for an idealized system, leading to the conclusion that data symbols can be transmitted independently of each other [i.e., without ISI and intercarrier interference (ICI)]. Moreover, the effects of synchronization imperfections are analyzed, like carrierfrequency and phase offsets and timing errors. Differential and coherent detection schemes can be evaluated for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels. We also show that, for the system proposal under investigation, differential detection in time direction is much preferable to differential detection in frequency direction. Imperfect synchronization and channel estimation may be assessed by extending the system model used and by incorporating the SNR degradations due to ICI and ISI. Basic aspects are discussed in this paper. Issues for further refinement of the methods are addressed.