CTONG0806 assessed the efficacy of pemetrexed versus gefitinib as second-line treatment in advanced nonsquamous nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor ...(EGFR).
Patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC harboring wild-type EGFR, detected by direct sequencing, and previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive gefitinib (250 mg/day) orally or pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) i.v. on day 1 of a 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). The Independent Review Committee (IRC) evaluated all pictorial data.
From February 2009 to August 2012, 161 patients were enrolled, and 157 were assessable (81 in the gefitinib arm, 76 in the pemetrexed arm). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two arms. The median PFSs were 4.8 versus 1.6 months in the pemetrexed and gefitinib arms, respectively hazard ratio (HR) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40–0.75, P < 0.001 as confirmed by IRC evaluation (5.6versus 1.7 months, HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38–0.75, P < 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) showed a trend of superiority in the pemetrexed arm (12.4 versus 9.6 months, HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.49–1.04, P = 0.077). Quality-of-life assessment showed no marked difference between the arms. No unexpected adverse events were found. Of 108 patients with sufficient DNA samples, EGFR mutation status was re-tested by Scorpion amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS); 32 (29.6%) tested positive (19 in the pemetrexed arm, 13 in the gefitinib arm; median PFS: 8.1 versus 7.0 months, HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.43–2.08, P = 0.877).
CTONG0806 is the first trial to show significant improvement in PFS and an improved OS trend with pemetrexed compared with gefitinib as second-line setting treatment of EGFR wild-type advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. ARMS is superior to direct sequencing in excluding false-negative patients.
NCT00891579.
A low-temperature solar Rankine system utilizing R245fa as the working fluid is proposed and an experimental system is designed, constructed and tested. Both the evacuated solar collectors and the ...flat plate solar collectors are used in the experimental system, meanwhile, a rolling-piston R245fa expander is also mounted in the system. The new designed R245fa expander works stably in the experiment, with an average expansion power output of 1.73
kW and an average isentropic efficiency of 45.2%. The overall power generation efficiency estimated is 4.2%, when the evacuated solar collector is utilized in the system, and with the condition of flat plate solar collector, it is about 3.2%. The experimental results show that using R245fa as working fluid in the low-temperature solar power Rankine cycle system is feasible and the performance is acceptable.
The material class of rare earth nickelates with high Ni3+ oxidation state is generating continued interest due to the occurrence of a metal-insulator transition with charge order and the appearance ...of non-collinear magnetic phases within this insulating regime. The recent theoretical prediction for superconductivity in LaNiO3 thin films has also triggered intensive research efforts. LaNiO3 seems to be the only rare earth nickelate that stays metallic and paramagnetic down to lowest temperatures. So far, centimeter-sized impurity-free single crystal growth has not been reported for the rare earth nickelates material class since elevated oxygen pressures are required for their synthesis. Here, we report on the successful growth of centimeter-sized LaNiO3 single crystals by the floating zone technique at oxygen pressures of up to 150 bar. Our crystals are essentially free from Ni2+ impurities and exhibit metallic properties together with an unexpected but clear antiferromagnetic transition.
Background
Laparoscopic spleen‐preserving distal pancreatectomy (LSPDP) is designed principally for the removal of benign and low‐grade malignant lesions in the left pancreas. The aims of this study ...were to compare LSPDP with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (LDPS), compare two splenic preservation techniques (splenic vessel preservation and Warshaw technique) and investigate factors that influence splenic preservation.
Methods
Information from patients who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy between December 2004 and January 2016 at a single institution was reviewed. Data were extracted from a prospectively developed database. Intention‐to‐treat and propensity score matching analyses were employed. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to investigate factors affecting splenic preservation.
Results
There were 206 patients in total (126 planned LSPDP and 80 planned LDPS procedures), of whom 108 underwent LSPDP and 98 LDPS. In intention‐to‐treat analysis, the duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the LSPDP group than in the LDPS group (mean 191·0 versus 220·5 min respectively; P < 0·001). Tumour size was an independent risk factor for splenic vessel resection in planned splenic vessel preservation operations, and a cut‐off value of 3 cm provided optimal diagnostic accuracy. After a median follow‐up of 35·9 months, there were no clinically significant splenic infarctions and no patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding after LSPDP.
Conclusion
Planned LSPDP had a high splenic preservation rate and was associated with significantly shorter operating time than LDPS. Splenic vessel preservation could be predicted using a tumour cut‐off size of 3 cm.
Usually achieved for small tumours
ABSTRACT
High time resolution and accuracy are of critical importance in the studies of timing analysis and time delay localization of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) and ...pulsars. The Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) consisting of two micro-satellites, GECAM-A and GECAM-B, launched on 2020 December 10, is aimed at monitoring and locating X-ray and GRBs all over the sky. To achieve its scientific goals, GECAM is designed to have the highest time resolution (0.1 $\mu {\rm s}$) among all GRB detectors ever flown. Here, we make a comprehensive time calibration campaign including both on-ground and on-orbit tests to derive not only the relative time accuracy of GECAM satellites and detectors, but also the absolute time accuracy of GECAM-B. Using the on-ground calibration with a $\rm ^{22}Na$ radioactive source, we find that the relative time accuracy between GECAM-A and GECAM-B is about 0.15 $\mu {\rm s}$ (1σ). To measure the relative time accuracy between all detectors of a single GECAM satellite, cosmic-ray events detected on orbit are utilized since they could produce many secondary particles simultaneously record by multiple detectors. We find that the relative time accuracy among all detectors onboard GECAM-B is about 0.12 $\mu {\rm s}$ (1σ). Finally, we use the novel Li-CCF method to perform the absolute time calibration with Crab pulsar and SGR J1935+2154, both of which were jointly observed by GECAM-B and Fermi/GBM, and obtain that the time difference between GECAM-B and Fermi/GBM is 3.06 ± 6.04 $\mu {\rm s}$ (1σ).
Abstract
Reconnection fronts, also known as dipolarization fronts (DFs), and kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) are two of the widely observed structures and waves in the terrestrial magnetotail, but their ...correlation remains elusive in previous spacecraft measurements. Using high-resolution Magnetospheric Multiscale data, here we provide the first observational identification of KAWs behind the DF. These low-frequency dispersive KAWs propagate quasi-perpendicular to the magnetic field at phase speeds slower than local Alfvén speed, and are highly correlated with high-frequency whistlers propagating obliquely to the magnetic field. Specifically, whistlers appear at local magnetic field minima (wave troughs of KAWs) and disappear at local magnetic field maxima (wave crests of KAWs), highly consistent with the source region of whistler waves previously reported near equator and dayside magnetopause. Our study also suggests that the KAWs behind DFs could originate from the diffusion region of magnetic reconnection. These findings improve our understanding of the relationship between DFs, KAWs, and whistler waves in terrestrial magnetotail.
The electrochemical behaviour of Ni-base alloys (Inconel 625, Inconel 718, G3 and Incoloy 825) is carried out at 80
°C in CO
2/H
2S corrosion environments using cyclic potentiodynamic polarisation ...and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The passivity mechanisms are analysed and discussed. In addition, some significant characterisation parameters such as
E
corr,
I
pass,
E
pit,
E
pp, Δ
E and
I
pass in cyclic polarisation curves are analysed and compared to reveal the corrosion resistance of various Ni-base alloys. The equivalent circuit model and ZsimpWin software are utilised to discuss the Nyquist plots of various Ni-base alloys. The diffusion mechanism in EIS measurement is discussed. The result shows that the corrosion resistance of the Ni-base alloys to CO
2 corrosion or CO
2/H
2S corrosion follows the sequence: Inconel 625
>
G3
>
Inconel 718
>
Incoloy 825. H
2S works as a cathodic depolariser with accelerating initiation of the corrosion process.
Background
A combination of analgesic agents with different mechanisms can induce additive or synergistic analgesia. The N‐type voltage‐dependent calcium channel (N‐VDCC) is a novel therapeutic ...target for pain control. In addition to providing effective pain relief when used alone, N‐VDCC blockers produce synergistic analgesia when used in combination with opiates. However, the interaction between N‐VDCC blockers and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remains unclear.
Methods
Using isobolographic analysis and composite additive curve analysis, the antinociceptive interaction between ZC88, a selective N‐VDCC blocker and ibuprofen, a classical NSAID, was investigated in two mouse models of visceral and somatic inflammatory pain.
Results
In the acetic acid writhing test, both ZC88 (10.5–42 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and ibuprofen (50–200 mg/kg, orally) produced dose‐dependent antinociception, with ED50 values of 27.2 and 100.5 mg/kg, respectively. ZC88 in combination with ibuprofen (ZC88 + ibuprofen) also induced significant antinociception, and isobolographic analysis revealed a synergistic interaction at 50% effect level. The experimental ED50 (ED50 mix) of this combination (34.5 mg/kg) was significantly lower than the theoretical ED50 (ED50 add; 63.8 mg/kg). Additionally, composite additive curve analysis displayed synergistic interaction at other effect levels. In the formalin test, ZC88 or ibuprofen alone significantly reduced late‐phase rather than early‐phase pain, with ED50 values of 31.3 and 123.9 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, both isobolographic analysis and composite additive curve analysis revealed synergistic antinociception of ZC88 + ibuprofen (40.6 mg/kg of ED50 mix vs. 77.6 mg/kg of ED50 add).
Conclusion
ZC88 in combination with ibuprofen produces synergistic antinociception in mouse models of somatic and visceral inflammatory pain.
Significance
Because ZC88 + ibuprofen achieves the same antinociceptive effect at lower doses, the use of this combination could result in fewer dose‐related untoward effects. The potentiation of ZC88 on ibuprofen‐induced antinociception indicates that N‐VDCC blocker has potential benefit to treat severe inflammatory pain.
Electronic structures, elastic properties and thermal stabilities of Mg17Al12, Mg2Si and Al2Y have been determined from first-principle calculations. The calculated heats of formation and cohesive ...energies show that Al2Y has the strongest alloying ability and structural stability. The brittle behavior and structural stability mechanism is also explained through the electronic structures of these intermetallic compounds. The elastic constants are calculated, the bulk moduli, shear moduli, Young's moduli and Poisson ratio value are derived, the brittleness and plasticity of these phases are discussed. Gibbs free energy, Debye temperature and heat capacity are calculated and discussed.
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