bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study of Modified Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and Fluorouracil With Bevacizumab in Patients With Metastatic Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Shah Manish A. , Jhawer Minaxi , Ilson David H. , Lefkowitz Robert A. , Robinson Edric , Capanu Marinela , Kelsen David P. 
Published: December 2010

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a modified administration schedule of docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (mDCF) with bevacizumab in patients with advanced gastroesophageal malignancies. Patients and Methods Previously untreated patients with metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma received bevacizumab 10 mg/kg, docetaxel 40 mg/m2, fluorouracil 400 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2 on day 1, fluorouracil 1,000 mg/m2/d × 2 days intravenous continuous infusion beginning on day 1, and cisplatin 40 mg/m2 on day 3. The primary objective was to improve 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) from 43% (historical DCF control) to 63% with the addition of bevacizumab. The target accrual was 44 patients to have 10% type I and II error rates. Results In total, 44 eligible patients with cancer were enrolled from October 2006 to October 2008: 22 gastric, 20 gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and two esophagus. In 39 patients with measurable disease, the confirmed response rate was 67% (95% CI, 50% to 81%). Six-month PFS was 79% (95% CI, 63% to 88%), and median PFS was 12 months (95% CI, 8.8 to 18.2 months). With 26-month follow-up, median overall survival (OS) was 16.8 months (95% CI, 12.1 to 26.1 months), and 2-year survival was 37%. Treatment-related grade 3 to 4 toxicity was as follows: neutropenia without fever (50%), fatigue (25%), venous thromboembolism (39%), and nausea, vomiting, mucositis, neuropathy, and febrile neutropenia less than 10% each. In subset analysis, diffuse gastric cancer had significantly worse PFS and OS, and the response rate in proximal/GEJ tumors was 85% (95% CI, 62% to 97%). Conclusion mDCF with bevacizumab appears tolerable and has notable patient outcomes in patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Six-month PFS was 79%, surpassing our predefined efficacy end point, and median and 2-year OS were 16.8 months and 37%, respectively.
Octreotide for Symptomatic Treatment of Diarrhea due to Cytomegalovirus Colitis
Authors: Bartels Michael C , Mergenhagen Kari A 
Published: December 2010

Objective To report the improvement of diarrhea in a patient with cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis who was treated with octreotide after failure of loperamide. Case Summary: An 84-year-old male presented with chronic diarrhea and CMV colitis; he had been experiencing protracted diarrhea since 2006. In October 2009 he failed a 21 -day course of valgancyclovir 900 mg orally twice daily. Several months later, due to continuing diarrhea and progressive malnutrition, a colonoscopy and subsequent biopsy again showed CMV. In March 2010 he was started on a 28-day course of intravenous ganciclovir 130 mg daily. Three weeks into treatment he continued with copious amounts of diarrhea, with no relief from loperamide, which was titrated from 2 mg/day to 2 mg every 6 hours. On day 20 of ganciclovir treatment he was started on octreotide 50 μg subcutaneously every 8 hours; within a few days, the patient began to experience decreased stool frequency and consistency. He completed the full 28-day course of ganciclovir, with octreotide continuing unchanged, with much improvement in his diarrheal symptoms and improvement in appetite, nutritional status, and quality of life. Discussion: Studies regarding the treatment of CMV colitis-associated diarrhea are scarce, and are typically limited to treating the underlying cause with antiviral medications and with the addition of antimolility agents. Three cases have been reported in the literature in which octreotide was used for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea, none of which was refractory to loperamide. Conclusions: This is the first known case of a patient with chronic diarrhea due to CMV colitis that was unresponsive to loperamide, required protracted antiviral treatment (valgancyclovir and gancyclovir), and subsequently experienced relief by the use of octreotide 50 μg subcutaneously every 8 hours.
A Potential Interaction between Warfarin and Atovaquone
Authors: Hidalgo Kathleen , Lyles Adraine , Dean Stacey R 
Published: December 2010

Objective To report a case of increased international normalized ratio (INR) in a patient established on warfarin therapy who was then initiated on atovaquone therapy. Case Summary: A 53-year-old African American male with HIV was prescribed warfarin 5 mg/day for 12 months after diagnosis of idiopathic deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli (target INR 2.5 [range 2.0-3.0]). The patient required Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia prophylaxis and was prescribed atovaquone instead of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole therapy because of the latter drug's known interaction with warfarin. The patient's INR rose by greater than 50% (from 2.3 to 3.5) after 7 days of concomitant warfarin and atovaquone. In response, the patient's total weekly warfarin dose was decreased by 5%. Eight days later, the patient's INR was still supratherapeutic at 3.1. Approximately 4 weeks later, his INR was 4.2. One dose of warfarin was withheld and then the total weekly warfarin dosage was decreased by another 10%. Eight days later, the patient discontinued atovaquone therapy but continued on warfarin as prescribed One day after atovaquone discontinuation, his INR decreased to 1.7. Due to this subtherapeutic INR level, 8 days later the total weekly warfarin dose was increased by 5%. Although a follow-up appointment was scheduled, no further INR values were obtained because the patient's 12-month course of anticoagulation therapy was completed and warfarin was discontinued. The patient did not report any adverse effects or signs or symptoms of hemorrhage while his INR values were supratherapeutic. Discussion: Warfarin's potential for interactions with other highly protein-bound drugs, such as atovaquone, can result in displacement from protein binding sites and increased serum concentrations of warfarin. Based on a search of MEDLINE/PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and the Food and Drug Administration MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program (all through July 31, 2010), no cases were found of an interaction between atovaquone and warfarin. The Horn Drug Interaction Probability Scale calculated this to be a probable interaction between warfarin and atovaquone. Conclusions: Although current medication references do not report an interaction between atovaquone and warfarin, knowledge of their pharmacodynamic properties can enable practitioners to anticipate the consequences of a possible transient increase in warfarin serum concentration, such as that seen in our patient, when given concomitantly.
The Neogene transition from C3to C4grasslands in North America: assemblage analysis of fossil phytoliths
Authors: Strömberg Caroline A. E. , McInerney Francesca A. 
Published: December 2010

The rapid ecological expansion of grasses with C4photosynthesis at the end of the Neogene (8–2 Ma) is well documented in the fossil record of stable carbon isotopes. As one of the most profound vegetation changes to occur in recent geologic time, it paved the way for modern tropical grassland ecosystems. Changes in CO2levels, seasonality, aridity, herbivory, and fire regime have all been suggested as potential triggers for this broadly synchronous change, long after the evolutionary origin of the C4pathway in grasses. To date, these hypotheses have suffered from a lack of direct evidence for floral composition and structure during this important transition. This study aimed to remedy the problem by providing the first direct, relatively continuous record of vegetation change for the Great Plains of North America for the critical interval (ca. 12–2 Ma) using plant silica (phytolith) assemblages.Phytoliths were extracted from late Miocene-Pliocene paleosols in Nebraska and Kansas. Quantitative phytolith analysis of the 14 best-preserved assemblages indicates that habitats varied substantially in openness during the middle to late Miocene but became more uniformly open, corresponding to relatively open grassland or savanna, during the late Miocene and early Pliocene. Phytolith data also point to a marked increase of grass short cells typical of chloridoid and other potentially C4grasses of the PACMAD clade between 8 and 5 Ma; these data suggest that the proportion of these grasses reached up to ∼50–60% of grasses, resulting in mixed C3-C4and highly heterogeneous grassland communities by 5.5 Ma. This scenario is consistent with interpretations of isotopic records from paleosol carbonates and ungulate tooth enamel. The rise in abundance of chloridoids, which were present in the central Great Plains since the early Miocene, demonstrates that the “globally” observed lag between C4grass evolution/taxonomic diversification and ecological expansion occurred at the regional scale. These patterns of vegetation alteration imply that environmental change during the late Miocene-Pliocene played a major role in the C3-C4shift in the Great Plains. Specifically, the importance of chloridoids as well as a decline in the relative abundance of forest indicator taxa, including palms, point to climatic drying as a key trigger for C4dominance.
Fimbriae of Porphyromonas gingivalis are Important for Initial Invasion of Osteoblasts, but Not for Inhibition of Their Differentiation and Mineralization
Authors: Zhang Wenjian , Ju Jun , Rigney Todd , Tribble Gena D. 
Published: December 2010

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is etiologically associated with chronic periodontitis. The major fimbriae of this periodontal pathogen mediate binding to host gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts, a critical function in the initiation of periodontitis. However, the role of fimbriae in P. gingivalis–osteoblast interactions remains unknown. In the present study, the involvement of major fimbriae in the initial and long‐term interactions between P. gingivalis and osteoblasts is investigated.Methods: Primary mouse calvarial osteoblast cultures were established and inoculated with P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 or YPF1, a major fimbriae–deficient mutant of P. gingivalis. Confocal microscopy images were acquired to assess bacterial invasion. DNA content measurement, real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and alizarin red S staining and calcium content analysis were used to study the impact of bacteria on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblasts, respectively.Results: Compared to the parent strain, YPF1 was significantly reduced in invasion of osteoblasts after 3 hours interaction. However, extended culture of infected osteoblasts did not reveal significant differences in persistence between the two strains. Proliferation of osteoblasts was not affected by either strain, and differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts were inhibited by both strains to comparable levels.Conclusion: This study reveals that major fimbriae are involved in the initial invasion of osteoblasts by P. gingivalis, but are not essential for the subsequent inhibition of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in long‐term culture.
Nicotine‐Induced Damage Affects Gingival Fibroblasts in the Gingival Tissue of Rats
Authors: Milanezi de Almeida Juliano , Bosco Alvaro Francisco , Bonfante Samara , Theodoro Letícia Helena , Nagata Maria José Hitomi , Garcia Valdir Gouveia 
Published: December 2010

Background: Very limited information is available from in vivo studies about whether smoking and/or nicotine affect gingival tissues in the absence of plaque. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the systemic administration of nicotine in the proliferation and counting of fibroblast‐like cells in the gingival tissue of rats.Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups to receive subcutaneous injections of a saline solution (control group = group C) or nicotine solution (group N; 3 mg/kg) twice a day. The animals were euthanized 37, 44, or 51 days after the first subcutaneous injection. Specimens were routinely processed for serial histologic sections. Five fields of view in the connective tissue adjacent to the gingival epithelium and above the alveolar bone crest of the maxillary first molar were selected for the counting of fibroblast‐like cells. Data were statistically analyzed (P <0.05).Results: The intergroup analysis detected a lower number of fibroblast‐like cells in group N compared to group C on days 37 (2.65 ± 1.41 and 6.67 ± 3.25, respectively), 44 (2.70 ± 1.84 and 8.57 ± 2.37, respectively), and 51 (2.09 ± 1.41 and 7.49 ± 2.60, respectively) (P <0.05). The quantification of fibroblast‐like cells showed no significant difference (P >0.05) in the intragroup analysis of control and nicotine throughout experimental periods. In the intergroup analysis, group N had reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen–positive fibroblasts compared to group C in all periods (P <0.05).Conclusion: The daily systemic administration of nicotine negatively affected, in vivo, the number and proliferation of fibroblast‐like cells in the gingival tissue of rats.
Synthesis and characterization of coordination polymers prepared from CuII and NiII cyclam perchlorate and carmosine
Authors: Vlassa Mihaela , Borodi George , Blăniţa Gabriela , Cojocaru Ileana , Vlassa Mircea , Silvestru Cristian 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Reaction of [CuII(cyclam)](ClO4)2 or [NiII(cyclam)](ClO4)2 in DMF with aqueous 4-hydroxy-3-(4-sulfonato-1-naphthylazo)naphthalen-1-sulfonate disodium salt (carmoisine) yielded coordination polymers {[CuII(cyclam)](carmoisine dianion)(H2O)5}n and powder {[NiII(cyclam)](carmoisine dianion)}n, respectively (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetrazacyclotetradecane). They were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR, Raman spectrometry and TGA.
An explicit formula of Atkinson type for the product of the Riemann zeta-function and a Dirichlet polynomial
Authors: Ishikawa Hideaki , Matsumoto Kohji 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
We prove an explicit formula of Atkinson type for the error term in the asymptotic formula for the mean square of the product of the Riemann zeta-function and a Dirichlet polynomial. To deal with the case when coefficients of the Dirichlet polynomial are complex, we apply the idea of the first author in his study on mean values of Dirichlet L-functions.
TEM studies of PtSi low Schottky-barrier contacts for source/drain in MOS transistors
Authors: Łaszcz Adam , Ratajczak Jacek , Czerwinski Andrzej , Kątcki Jerzy , Breil Nicolas , Larrieu Guilhem , Dubois Emmanuel 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy methods were used to determine the impact of two different implantation processes on the morphology of platinum silicide layers constituting low Schottky barrier contacts intended as the source/drain in MOS transistors. These processes are very promising candidates for the reduction of the Schottky barrier height (SBH) of contacts and are realized by (i) implantation-through-metal (ITM) followed by dopant-segregation induced by silicidation annealing and (ii) implantation-through-silicide (ITS) followed by dopant-segregation due to the post-silicidation annealing. The studies showed that depending on the type and conditions of the process (ITM or ITS with various post-silicidation annealing temperatures) different morphologies of PtSi layers and PtSi/Si interfaces roughnesses are observed. Better quality silicide layers and silicide/silicon interfaces were found for samples after the ITS process with post-silicidation annealing at 500°C than for samples after the ITM process or the ITS process with post-silicidation annealing at temperatures not exceeding 400°C.
The observed microstructure of grains and interfaces in these samples, along with the impact of the dopant-segregation, may significantly influence the SBH value. The diffraction patterns and EDXS measurements revealed that regardless of the process type, the formed silicide layer is always PtSi.
Wilson loops, geometric operators and fermions in 3d group field theory
Authors: Dowdall R. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Group field theories whose Feynman diagrams describe 3d gravity with a varying configuration of Wilson loop observables and 3d gravity with volume observables at each vertex are defined. The volume observables are created by the usual spin network grasping operators which require the introduction of vector fields on the group. We then use this to define group field theories that give a previously defined spin foam model for fermion fields coupled to gravity, and the simpler “quenched” approximation, by using tensor fields on the group. The group field theory naturally includes the sum over fermionic loops at each order of the perturbation theory.
Recovery of bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether from aqueous solution onto activated carbon
Authors: Pełech Robert 
Published: December 2010

Recovery of bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether from aqueous solution onto activated carbon
The results of the studies of bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether adsorption from aqueous solution onto AG5 activated carbon were presented here. Dynamic adsorptivity, mass transfer zone and the velocity of the adsorption front of the 10cm adsorption bed depth for the velocity of flow 9 and 25 cm/min were determined. For the regeneration of the adsorption bed, acetone rinsing was used. Total washout of adsorbed bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether from the bed was obtained. After the regeneration the adsorbent has not shown deterioration of adsorption properties. To isolate bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) ether from acetone, distillation was used.
Analysis of sodium tripolyphosphate production processes with a cumulative calculation method
Authors: Kowalski Zygmunt , Kijkowska Regina , Gorazda Katarzyna , Wzorek Zbigniew , Nowak Anna 
Published: December 2010

Analysis of sodium tripolyphosphate production processes with a cumulative calculation method
Sodium tripolyphosphate - one of the condensed phosphates is an important ingredient in various types of cleaning substances and a food additive. The paper presents a comparison of different variants of STPP production with the application of the cumulative calculation method. The material balances of the processes were taken as the basis of the analysis. The method of the process analysis as shown in the cumulative calculation determines the influence of the emissions of dust and gas pollutions originating from a particular production process, as well as wastewater and solid wastes resulting from it, upon the natural environment. It was proved that the solution of the production STPP with the dry one-step method has the lowest impact on the environment among the three assessed solutions.
Thermal utilization of mixtures of bone waste
Authors: Staroń Paweł , Kowalski Zygmunt , Krupa-Żuczek Kinga , Wzorek Zbigniew 
Published: December 2010

Thermal utilization of mixtures of bone waste
The results of a research related to the physico - chemical properties of the mixture of bone - waste and their ingredients have been presented. The mixtures was made up from waste: bovine bones, pork bones, bone sludge and bone meal. The content of the individual waste in the mixtures was selected on the basis of the heat of the combustion of the mixture and the amount of the waste produced in a meat processing plant. The heat of the combustion has been determined by the calorimeter, the content of phosphorus by spectrophotometric method, calcium by titration and phase composition by X - ray diffraction.
The investigations confirmed that pork bones have the highest heat of the combustion 17 MJ/kg because of a big amount of fats. The analyzed waste has contained on average 16.5 wt % phosphorus and above 30 wt % calcium. X - ray diffraction method has proved that in bone waste one phase - hydroxyapatite occurs.
Polyolefin oxo-degradation accelerators - a new trend to promote environmental protection
Authors: Cichy Barbara , Kwiecień Jacek , Piątkowska Magdalena , Kużdżał Ewa , Gibas Edyta , Rymarz Grażyna 
Published: December 2010

Polyolefin oxo-degradation accelerators - a new trend to promote environmental protection
The paper presents the results of the tests on the preparation of iron (III) stearate - the most prominent oxo-biodegradation agent for polyolefinic plastics. The process chosen for testing was the double precipitation process, using stearic acid alkalised with soda lye and iron (III) chloride or iron (III) sulphate. A number of iron (III) stearate preparation methods described in the literature were tested and an analytical procedure for monitoring the process was developed using both the classical and instrumental techniques. FTIR spectroscopy is the most useful technique for the product quality control and identification. During the study the characteristics of the proper product were also determined using the DSC methods. Microscopy and laser diffraction particle size analysis were applied to determine the size of the precipitated product grains. An application sample of the product obtained by the double decomposition method from iron (III) sulphate as the iron carrier has successfully passed the application tests in the polyethylene packaging film.
Enhancement of XPS surface sensitivity in nanocrystalline material
Authors: Wróbel Rafal 
Published: December 2010

Enhancement of XPS surface sensitivity in nanocrystalline material
The influence of the particle size on the surface sensitivity in XPS analysis was investigated. Previous reports about such influence were qualitatively only. In this report there are given mathematical description of XPS sensitivity and quantitative results. It was found that influence due to nanometric size on XPS analysis can be noticeable for particles below 15 nm of diameter and increases dramatically with reduction of the size.
Prediction of gas holdup in the three-phase fluidized bed: air/Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid systems
Authors: Sivakumar V. , Senthilkumar K. , Kannadasan T. 
Published: December 2010

Prediction of gas holdup in the three-phase fluidized bed: air/Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid systems
The application of the three-phase fluidization technology in wastewater treatment and other biochemical processes has been regularly addressed in the past decades. For the design and development of the three-phase fluidized bed reactors, knowledge of the hydrodynamic parameter such as gas holdup is essential and hence in this paper an attempt has been made to study the effect of fundamental and operating variables on gas holdup. On the basis of the experimental results, a unified correlation has been developed to predict gas holdup in the fluidized bed using the Newtonian and the non-Newtonian liquids. The experimental results showed good agreement with those predicted according to the developed correlation.
Generating Functions for Hecke Algebra Characters
Authors: Konvalinka Matjaž , Skandera Mark 
Published: December 2010

AbstractCertain polynomials inn2variables that serve as generating functions for symmetric group characters are sometimes called (Sn) character immanants. We point out a close connection between the identities of Littlewood–Merris–Watkins and Goulden–Jackson, which relateSncharacter immanants to the determinant, the permanent and MacMahon's Master Theorem. From these results we obtain a generalization of Muir's identity. Working with the quantum polynomial ring and the Hecke algebraHn(q), we define quantum immanants that are generating functions for Hecke algebra characters. We then prove quantum analogs of the Littlewood–Merris–Watkins identities and selected Goulden–Jackson identities that relateHn(q) character immanants to the quantum determinant, quantum permanent, and quantum Master Theorem of Garoufalidis–Lê–Zeilberger. We also obtain a generalization of Zhang's quantization of Muir's identity.