bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer Treated With Cetuximab: Overall and KRAS-Specific Results of the NCIC CTG and AGITG CO.17 Trial
Authors: Au Heather-Jane , Karapetis Christos S. , O'Callaghan Chris J. , Tu Dongsheng , Moore Malcolm J. , Zalcberg John R. , Kennecke Hagen , Shapiro Jeremy D. , Koski Sheryl , Pavlakis Nick , Charpentier Danielle , Wyld David , Jefford Michael , Knight Gregory J. , Magoski Nadine M. , Brundage Michael D. , Jonker Derek J. 
Published: March 2009

Purpose National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group CO.17 demonstrated the antiepidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab improves overall and progression-free survival in patients with advanced, chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly in patients with wild-type KRAS tumors. This article reports the health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) outcomes from CO.17. Patients and Methods Patients (N = 572) with pretreated EGFR-detectable advanced CRC were randomly assigned to cetuximab and best supportive care (BSC) or to BSC alone. HRQL primary end points assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 were physical function (PF) and global health status (GHS); mean changes from baseline to 8 and 16 weeks were assessed. Post hoc analysis by KRAS mutation status was performed. Results Questionnaire compliance was 94% at baseline, but it declined differentially (67% v 47% for cetuximab v BSC at 16 weeks). PF change scores were −3.9 for cetuximab and −8.6 for BSC (P = .046) at 8 weeks and were −5.9 and −12.5 for cetuximab and BSC, respectively, (P = .027) at 16 weeks. GHS change scores were −0.5 and −7.1 (P = .008) at 8 weeks and were −3.6 and −15.2 (P = .008) at 16 weeks for cetuximab and BSC, respectively. In patients who had tumors with wild-type KRAS status, cetuximab resulted in less PF deterioration at 8 weeks (−0.7 v −7.2; P = .11) and 16 weeks (−3.4 v −13.8; P = .008) compared with BSC. Patients with wild-type status who received cetuximab experienced improved GHS at 8 weeks, whereas patients who received BSC alone deteriorated (3.2 v −7.7; P = .002). Cetuximab preserved GHS at 16 weeks (−0.2 v −18.1; P < .001). No significant differences were noted between study arms for patients with mutated KRAS tumors. Conclusion Cetuximab offers important HRQL and survival benefits for pretreated patients with advanced, wild-type KRAS CRC.
Simplifying the TNM System for Clinical Use in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Onitilo Adedayo A. , Engel Jessica M. , Lundgren Catharina Ihre , Hall Per , Thalib Lukman , Doi Suhail A.R. 
Published: March 2009

Purpose The TNM stratification has been found useful at stratifying patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) into prognostic risk groups. However, it is cumbersome to implement clinically given the large number of bins within this system and the complicated system of arriving at stage information. Patients and Methods We decided to quantify each variable in this system to arrive at a simplified quantitative alternative to the TNM system (QTNM) and compare this with the conventional system. We used our electronic record system to identify 614 cases of DTC managed at our institution from 1987 to 2006. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and a simplified QTNM score was devised using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results We were able to quantify the TNM system as follows: 4 points each for age older than 45 years and presence of neck nodal metastases while 6 points for tumor size larger than 4 cm or extrathyroidal extension and 1 point for nonpapillary DTC. A sum of 0 to 5 points was low risk, 6 to 10 points intermediate, and 11 to 15 points high risk. Comparison with the conventional TNM system and two other systems revealed similar or better discrimination with the QTNM and this discrimination was maintained when this risk stratification was applied to a unique validation set. Conclusion The QTNM system as opposed to the conventional TNM system seems to be a simple and effective method for risk stratification for both recurrence and cancer-specific mortality.
Stabilization and Solidification of Hazardous, Radioactive, and Mixed Wastes: 2nd Volume
Authors: Gilliam TM , Wiles CC 
Published: March 2009

Description
39 papers by researchers working with stabilization and solidification technologies from both the low-level radioactive and chemically hazardous waste communities are presented in sections on:
• Regulatory and Technical Guidance
• Specialty Wastes: Organics, Ashes, and Resins
• Laboratory-Scale Leachability Studies
• Laboratory-Scale Process Development
• Test Method Development
• Large-Scale Evaluation or Demonstration
Laboratory Treatment and Field Demonstration Lessons Learned from a Waste Stabilization Project
Authors: Means JL , Heath JC , McLaughlin WJ 
Published: March 2009

For a ten-year period, 1976 to 1986, the U.S. Navy leased most of its naval station, Treasure Island, Hunters Point Annex (HPA), to Triple A Machine Shop, which operated the station as a commercial ship repair facility. Triple A generated waste sandblasting grit contaminated with toxic heavy metals (i.e., lead and copper). The grit accumulated in a 2300-m3 (3000-yd3) pile. This three-phase study evaluated the effectiveness of a sulfide-based chemical fixation process in rendering the grit nonhazardous under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State of California hazardous waste rules and regulations.
Two significant lessons resulted from the study. First, the unsatisfactory degree of stabilization of the lead and copper during the field demonstration was a direct result of their encapsulation in organic coatings (antifouling agents, pigments, etc.). Understanding the physicochemical form of the contaminant is as important as knowing the type and amount of the contaminant present. Second, sulfide-based formulations used in the laboratory enhanced the degree of stabilization over that which occurred in the field. During laboratory treatability studies, it is important to cure the waste in a setting that simulates the conditions that will be encountered in the field.
Sulfide binders, as shown in this study, have a role in stabilization/solidification where conventional technologies are unable to meet performance criteria.
Higher maternal TSH levels in pregnancy are associated with increased risk for miscarriage, fetal or neonatal death
Authors: Benhadi N , Wiersinga W M , Reitsma J B , Vrijkotte T G M , Bonsel G J 
Published: March 2009

BackgroundTo examine the relationship between maternal TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations in early pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage, fetal or neonatal death.MethodCohort study of 2497 Dutch women. TSH, FT4, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies concentrations were determined at first booking. Child loss was operationalized as miscarriage, fetal or neonatal death. Women with overt thyroid dysfunction were excluded.ResultsTwenty-seven cases of child loss were observed. The mean TSH and FT4level in the women with child loss was 1.48 mU/l and 9.82 pmol/l compared with 1.11 mU/l and 9.58 pmol/l in women without child loss. The incidence of child loss increased by 60% (OR=1.60 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–2.47)) for every doubling in TSH concentration. This association remained after adjustment for smoking, age, parity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, previous preterm deliveries, and previous preterm stillbirth/miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio=1.80 (95% CI: 1.07–3.03)). This was not true for FT4concentrations (OR=1.41 (95% CI: 0.21–9.40);P=0.724).ConclusionIn a cohort of pregnant women without overt thyroid dysfunction, the risk of child loss increased with higher levels of maternal TSH. Maternal FT4concentrations and child loss were not associated.
Global uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of a food-web bioaccumulation model
Authors: Ciavatta Stefano , Lovato Tomas , Ratto Marco , Pastres Roberto 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
A global uncertainty and sensitivity analysis (UA/SA) of a state-of-the-art, food-web bioaccumulation model was carried out. We used an efficient screening analysis technique to identify the subset of the most relevant input factors among the whole set of 227 model parameters. A quantitative UA/SA was then applied to this subset to rank the relevance of the parameters and to partition the variance of the model output among them by means of a nonlinear regression of the outcomes of 1,000 Monte Carlo simulations. The concentrations of four representative persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in two representative species of the coastal marine food web of the Lagoon of Venice (Italy) were taken as model outputs. The screening analysis showed that the ranking was remarkably different in relation to the species and chemical being considered. The subsequent Monte Carlo–based quantitative analysis pointed out that the relationships among some of the parameters and the model outputs were nonlinear. The nonlinear regression showed that the fraction of output variance accounted for by each parameter was strongly dependent on the range of the octanol–water partition coefficient (KOW) values being considered. For the less hydrophobic chemicals, the main sources of model uncertainty were the parameters related to the respiratory bioaccumulation, whereas for the more hydrophobic ones, KOW and the other parameters related to the dietary uptake explained the largest fractions of the variance of the chemical concentrations in the organisms. The analysis highlighted that efforts are still needed for reducing uncertainty of model parameters to get reliable results from the application of food web bioaccumulation models.
Effects of photosystem II inhibitors and their mixture on freshwater phytoplankton succession in outdoor mesocosms
Authors: Knauert Stefanie , Dawo Ursula , Hollender Juliane , Hommen Udo , Knauer Katja 
Published: March 2009

AbstractEffects of three photosystem II inhibitors and of their mixture on a freshwater phytoplankton community were studied in outdoor mesocosms. Atrazine, isoproturon, and diuron were applied as 30% hazardous concentrations (HC30s) obtained from species-sensitivity distributions. Taking concentration addition into account, the mixture comprised one-third of the HC30 of each substance. Effects were investigated during a five-week period of constant concentrations and a five-month posttreatment period when the herbicides dissipated. Total abundance, species composition, and diversity and recovery of the community were evaluated. Ordination techniques, such as principal component analysis and principal response curve, were applied to compare the various treatments on the community level. The three herbicides stimulated comparable effects on total abundance and diversity of phytoplankton during the period of constant exposure because of the susceptibility of the dominant cryptophytes Chroomonas acuta and Cryptomonas erosa et ovata and the prasinophyte Nephroselmis cf. olivacea. Moreover, concentration addition described combined effects of atrazine, isoproturon, and diuron on total abundance and diversity in the constant-exposure period, because their mixture induced effects on abundance and diversity similar to those of the single substances. Principal component and principal response curve analyses revealed that the community structure of diuron- and isoproturon-treated phytoplankton recovered two weeks after constant exposure, which might be related to the fast dissipation of the phenylureas. Species compositions of mixture-and atrazine-treated communities were not comparable to that of the control community five months after the end of constant exposure. This might be explained by the slower dissipation of atrazine relative to the phenylureas and by differences in the species sensitivities, resulting in a different succession of phytoplankton.
Combined experimental and theoretical study on photoinduced toxicity of an anthraquinone dye intermediate toDaphnia magna
Authors: Wang Ying , Chen Jingwen , Lin Jing , Wang Zhen , Bian Haitao , Cai Xiyun , Hao Ce 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe toxicity of chemicals can be enhanced by light through two photochemical pathways: Photomodification to more toxic substances and photosensitization. In the present study, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) mechanism for photoinduced acute toxicity of 1-amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone (ADBAQ) to Daphnia magna was clarified by experiment and theoretical calculation. The results of the present study show that ADBAQ exhibited high toxicity to D. magna under simulated solar radiation (SSR), with a median effective concentration of 1.23 ±0.19 nM (mean ± standard deviation). The photomodified ADBAQ (mixtures of ADBAQ and its photoproducts) was less phototoxic than the intact ADBAQ. The SSR-only or ADBAQ-only treatments did not affect the ROS level in D. magna, whereas increased ROS levels were observed in the presence of SSR and ADBAQ. The ROS in vivo were determined by measuring the fluorescence of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein, which is a useful technique to assess toxicity of chemicals to aquatic organisms. The antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene, decreased the photoinduced oxidative damage to D. magna, probably by scavenging ROS. These experimental results demonstrate that photosensitization is the potential mechanism of photoinduced toxicity of ADBAQ to D. magna. Proposed phototoxic pathways of ADBAQ were elucidated by means of time-dependent density functional theory. The theoretical calculation indicates that superoxide anion and singlet oxygen are able to be generated through electron transfer or energy transfer in the photosensitization reactions.
Effect of competing ions and complexing organic substances on the cadmium uptake by the soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti
Authors: Slaveykova Vera I. , Dedieu Karine , Parthasarathy Nalini , Hajdu Rita 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
In an effort to improve the understanding and prediction of Cd uptake by soil bacteria, adsorbed and intracellular Cd were determined in unpolluted and highly polluted model soil solutions within a concentration range spanning from 10−9 to 5 × 10−5 M Cd. In parallel, the free Cd ion concentrations ([Cd2+]) were measured by a hollow fiber permeation liquid membrane. Obtained results demonstrated that Cd uptake by bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti was related to [Cd2+] in the solution. Addition of different complexing organic substances reduced [Cd2+] in the bacterial medium and decreased both adsorbed and intracellular Cd. The adsorbed Cd was considerably reduced in the presence of 10−4 to 5 × 10−2 M [Ca] or [Mg]. No effect on Cd adsorption was observed in the presence of Zn or Mn, even at 100-fold excess. Intracellular Cd decreased in the presence of a high excess of Ca and Zn, while no significant effect was observed in the presence of Mg. An increase of dissolved Mn from 10−9 to 10−8 M resulted in a twofold decrease of the intracellular Cd, but no clear trend was observed in the presence of 10−7 to 10−6 M Mn. Based on complexation and competition studies, the stability constants, necessary for quantitative description of Cd uptake by S. meliloti and the development of the bacterial biotic ligand model for Cd, were derived and validated in the solutions containing mixtures of Cd, Zn, Ca, and Mg. Further numerical simulations of Cd uptake by S. meliloti exposed to soil pore waters demonstrated the importance of Zn competition and the insignificant influence of Ca and H on Cd uptake.
Euler-Seidel method for certain combinatorial numbers and a new characterization of Fibonacci sequence
Authors: Mező István , Dil Ayhan 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
In this paper we use the Euler-Seidel method for deriving new identities for hyperharmonic and r-Stirling numbers. The exponential generating function is determined for hyperharmonic numbers, which result is a generalization of Gosper’s identity. A classification of second order recurrence sequences is also given with the help of this method.
Lacunary equi-statistical convergence of positive linear operators
Authors: Aktuğlu Hüseyin , Gezer Halil 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
In this paper, the concept of lacunary equi-statistical convergence is introduced and it is shown that lacunary equi-statistical convergence lies between lacunary statistical pointwise and lacunary statistical uniform convergence. Inclusion relations between equi-statistical and lacunary equi-statistical convergence are investigated and it is proved that, under some conditions, lacunary equi-statistical convergence and equi-statistical convergence are equivalent to each other. A Korovkin type approximation theorem via lacunary equi-statistical convergence is proved. Moreover it is shown that our Korovkin type approximation theorem is a non-trivial extension of some well-known Korovkin type approximation theorems. Finally the rates of lacunary equi-statistical convergence by the help of modulus of continuity of positive linear operators are studied.
Magnetic properties of the mixed spin-5/2 and spin-3/2 Blume-Capel Ising system on the two-fold Cayley tree
Authors: Yessoufou Rachidi , Amoussa Saliou , Hontinfinde Felix 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
We use exact recursion relations to study the magnetic properties of the half-integer mixed spin-5/2 and spin-3/2 Blume-Capel Ising ferromagnetic system on the two-fold Cayley tree that consists of two sublattices A and B. Two positive crystal-field interactions Δ1 and Δ2 are considered for the sublattice with spin-5/2 and spin-3/2 respectively. For different coordination numbers q of the Cayley tree sites, the phase diagrams of the model are presented with a special emphasis on the case q = 3, since other values of q reproduce similar results. First, the T = 0 phase diagram is illustrated in the (D
A = Δ1/J,D
B = Δ2/J) plane of reduced crystal-field interactions. This diagram shows triple points and coexistence lines between thermodynamically stable phases. Secondly, the thermal variation of the magnetization belonging to each sublattice for some coordination numbers q are investigated as well as the Helmoltz free energy of the system. First-order and second-order phase transitions are found. The second-order phase transitions become sharper and sharper when D
A or D
B increases. The first-order transitions only exist for some appropriate non-zero values of D
A and/or D
B. The corresponding transition lines never connect to the second-order transition lines. Thus, the non-existence of tricritical points remains one of the key features of the present model. The magnetic exponent β
0 of the model is estimated and found to be ¼ at small values of D
A = D
B = D and β
0 = ½ at large values of D. At intermediate values of D, there is a crossover region where the magnetic exponent displays interesting behaviours.
Combustion synthesis and luminescent properties of a blue-green emitting phosphor: (Ba1.95, Eu0.05)ZnSi2O7:B3+
Authors: Yao Shan-shan , Li Yuan-yuan , Xue Li-hong , You Yan , Yan You-wei 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
A blue-green emitting phosphor (Ba1.95, Eu0.05)ZnSi2O7: Bx3+ was prepared by combustion synthesis and an efficient blue-green emission under near-ultraviolet was observed. The luminescence, crystallinity and particle sizes were investigated by using luminescence spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The emission spectrum shows a single band centered at 503 nm, which corresponds to the 4f
65d
1 →4f
7 transition of Eu2+. The excitation spectrum is a broad band extending from 260 to 465 nm, which matches the emission of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes. The optical absorption spectra of the (Ba1.95, Eu0.05)ZnSi2O7: B0.063+ exhibited band-gap energies of 3.9 eV. The results showed that boric acid was effective in improving the luminescence intensity of (Ba1.95, Eu0.05)ZnSi2O7, and the optimum molar ratio of boric acid to zinc nitrate was about 0.06. The phosphor (Ba1.95, Eu0.05)ZnSi2O7: B0.063+ synthesized by combustion method showed 1.5 times improved emission intensity compared with that of the Ba1.95ZnSi2O7: Eu0.052+ phosphor under λex = 353 nm.
Exposure and temperature dependences of contact angle of liquid crystals on photoaligning surface
Authors: Gvozdovskyy I. , Kurioz Yu. , Reznikov Yu. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe report on first studies of wetting of liquid crystal on photoaligning surface. We observed strong light-induced variations of a contact angle of a liquid LC 5CB on a photoaligning surface of fluoro-polyvinyl-cinnamate (PVCN-F) and we connected these variations with changes of PVCN-F polarity. We also present drastic changes of the contact angle of a nematic liquid crystal (MLC-6080) on the PVCN-F surface in a vicinity of temperature anchoring transition of liquid crystal from homeotropic orientation to planar one. We did not find any peculiarities in temperature dependence of the contact angle of isotropic liquid (glycerol) on PVCN-F and of nematic liquid crystal on pure glass in the same temperature range. It allows us to suggest that rearrangement of LC molecules and flexible fragments in the LC-polymer interface are responsible for the change of surface tensions both of LC and polymer and the observed jump of the contact angle.
UBIAS systems for cognitive interpretation and analysis of medical images
Authors: Ogiela L. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe main subject of this publication is to present a selected class of cognitive categorisation systems - understanding based image analysis systems (UBIAS) which support analyses of data recorded in the form of images. Cognitive categorisation systems operate by following particular type of thought, cognitive, and reasoning processes which take place in a human mind and which ultimately lead to making an in-depth description of the analysis and reasoning process. The most important element in this analysis and reasoning process is that it occurs both in the human ability cognitive/thinking process and in the system’s information/reasoning process that conducts the in-depth interpretation and analysis of data.