Background:: The aim of this study was to determine whether the response rate for the paclitaxel–carboplatin combination is superior to carboplatin alone in the treatment of patients with ...platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian carcinoma. Patients and methods:: Patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma, 6 months after treatment with a platinum-based regimen and with no more than two previous chemotherapy lines, were randomized to receive carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5 (arm A) or paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 + carboplatin AUC 5 (arm B). The primary end point was objective response, following a ‘pick up the winner’ design. Secondary end points included time to progression (TTP), overall survival, tolerability and quality of life (QoL). Results:: Eighty-one patients were randomized and included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The response rate in arm B was 75.6% 26.8% complete response (CR) + 48.8% partial response (PR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 59.7% to 87.6% and 50% in arm A (20% CR + 30% PR) (95% CI 33.8% to 66.2%). No significant differences were observed in grade 3–4 hematological toxicity. Conversely, mucositis, myalgia/arthralgia and peripheral neurophaty were more frequent in arm B. Median TTP was 49.1 weeks in arm B (95% CI 36.9–61.3) and 33.7 weeks in arm A (95% CI 25.8–41.5). No significant differences were found in the QoL analysis. Conclusions:: Paclitaxel–carboplatin combination is a tolerable regimen with a higher response rate than carboplatin monotherapy in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian carcinoma.
Aggressive behavior of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) towards conspecifics is widely described, but they have also often been reported attacking and killing harbour porpoises (Phocoena ...phocoena) around the world. However, very few reports exist of aggressive interactions between bottlenose dolphins and other cetacean species. Here, we provide the first evidence that bottlenose dolphins in the western Mediterranean exhibit aggressive behavior towards both striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). Necropsies and visual examination of stranded striped (14) and Risso's (2) dolphins showed numerous lesions (external rake marks and different bone fractures or internal organ damage by blunt trauma). Indicatively, these lessons matched the inter-tooth distance and features of bottlenose dolphins. In all instances, these traumatic interactions were presumed to be the leading cause of the death. We discuss how habitat changes, dietary shifts, and/or human colonization of marine areas may be promoting these interactions.
Nanocomposites of polylactide (PLA) and bacterial cellulose nanowhiskers (BCNW) with improved properties were obtained through melt compounding. Prior to melt processing, and with the aim of ...improving BCNW dispersion, lactic acid oligomers (OLLA) were in situ polymerized in the presence of the nanofiller (both freeze-dried and partially hydrated). This in situ polymerization reaction enhanced the compatibilization between hydrophilic cellulose and hydrophobic PLA, even leading to chemical grafting of the OLLA onto the surface of BCNW, when this was used in a partially hydrated form. The optimized dispersion attained through this pre-incorporation strategy was confirmed by comparison with materials obtained through direct melt compounding of PLA with BCNW. Differential scanning calorimetry experiments showed that although cellulose content had not effect on melting temperatures, the degree of crystallinity was significantly affected. Addition of grafted BCNW also resulted in improved mechanical properties increasing the elastic modulus and tensile strength up to 52 and 31 %, respectively, mainly ascribed to the promotion of filler–filler and filler–matrix interactions. Moreover, the developed nanocomposites showed improvements in the water and oxygen barrier properties (measured at 80 % RH), respectively, which make them attractive for food packaging applications. This could be explained by well-dispersed nanocrystals acting as blocking agents within the polymeric matrix, reducing the diffusion through the nanocomposite films and, hence, the water and oxygen permeability. Therefore, this work offers a new route for incorporating well dispersed nanocellulose within a hydrophobic PLA matrix, overcoming the dispersion problems that this entails, especially when working with melt compounding methods.
The detection of Partial Discharges (PD) is a reliable technique to analyze the status of electrical insulation in power transformers. Phase resolved partial discharge patterns are being complemented ...with high frequency pulse waveform analysis, in order to identify discharge sources. In addition to this, acoustic techniques are being implemented trying to locate PD sites in large power transformers. In this work, an inductive loop sensor will be used to identify two different PD sources by means of the energy distribution of the detected waveforms. Additionally, these PD sources will be located by means of acoustic measurements with an electrical reference, through the analysis of the acoustic activity detected for each sensor individually.
IPHASX J194359.5+170901 is a new high-excitation planetary nebula with remarkable characteristics. It consists of a knotty ring expanding at a speed of 28 km s−1, and a fast collimated outflow in the ...form of faint lobes and caps along the direction perpendicular to the ring. The expansion speed of the polar caps is ∼100 km s−1, and their kinematical age is twice as large as the age of the ring.
Time-resolved photometry of the central star of IPHASX J194359.5+170901 reveals a sinusoidal modulation with a period of 1.16 d. This is interpreted as evidence for binarity of the central star, the brightness variations being related to the orbital motion of an irradiated companion. This is supported by the spectrum of the central star in the visible range, which appears to be dominated by emission from the irradiated zone, consisting of a warm (6000-7000 K) continuum, narrow C iii, C iv and N iii emission lines, and broader lines from a flat H i Balmer sequence in emission.
IPHASX J194359.5+170901 helps to clarify the role of (close) binaries in the formation and shaping of planetary nebulae (PNe). The output of the common-envelope (CE) evolution of the system is a strongly flattened circumstellar mass deposition, a feature that seems to be distinctive of this kind of binary system. Also, IPHASX J194359.5+170901 is among the first post-CE PNe for which the existence of a high-velocity polar outflow has been demonstrated. Its kinematical age might indicate that the polar outflow is formed before the CE phase. This points to mass transfer on to the secondary as the origin, but alternative explanations are also considered.
Background. Sustained virological response (SVR) after therapy with interferon plus ribavirin reduces liver-related complications and mortality in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency ...virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We assessed the effect of SVR on HIV progression and mortality not related to liver disease. Methods. An observational cohort study including consecutive HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin between 2000 and 2008 in 19 centers in Spain. Results. Of 1599 patients, 626 (39%) had an SVR. After a median follow-up of approximately 5 years, we confirmed that failure to achieve an SVR was associated with an increased risk of liver-related events and liver-related death. We also observed higher rates of the following events in nonresponders than in responders: AIDS-defining conditions (rate per 100 person years, 0.84 95% confidence interval (CI), .59–1.10 vs 0.29 .10–.48; P = .003), non—liver-related deaths (0.65 .42–.87 vs 0.16 .02–.30; P = .002), and non—liver-related, non—AIDS-related deaths (0.55 .34–.75 vs 0.16 .02–.30; P = .002). Cox regression analysis showed that the adjusted hazard ratios of new AIDS-defining conditions, non—liver-related deaths, and non—liver-related, non—AIDS-related deaths for nonresponders compared with responders were 1.90 (95% CI, .89–4.10; P = .095), 3.19 (1.21–8.40; P = .019), and 2.85 (1.07–7.60; P = .036), respectively. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that eradication of HCV after therapy with interferon plus ribavirin in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients is associated not only with a reduction in liver-related events but also with a reduction in HIV progression and mortality not related to liver disease.
•Cu-SBA15 catalysts are active in hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol.•The Cu-support interaction is higher for intermediate copper loading (15wt%).•Long term stability is improved in ...comparison with copper chromite.•Selectivity to furfuryl alcohol is higher at low reaction temperature.
Vapor phase furfural hydrogenation has been investigated over Cu supported on SBA-15 silica catalysts. These SBA-Cu catalysts, with variable Cu loadings (8, 15 and 20wt%), have been prepared by impregnation and characterized by N2 sorption, XRD, XPS, N2O decomposition and TEM techniques. Compared with copper chromite, SBA-Cu catalysts showed a better catalytic performance, reaching a furfural conversion of 54mol% and a selectivity to furfuryl alcohol of 95mol%, after 5h of time-on-stream at 170°C, with the 15wt% Cu catalyst. The studies of the used catalysts by CNH analysis and thermo-programmed oxidation (TPO) evidenced a lower amount of carbonaceous deposits on this used SBA-15Cu catalyst. Moreover, the study of the copper dispersion by XPS, before and after the catalytic test, revealed that this intermediate copper loading gives rise to the most stable copper particles. The evaluation of the effect of different reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature (170–270°C), catalyst loadings and furfural concentration and H2 flow, on the catalytic performance has demonstrated that higher conversion are attained at low reaction temperature, and, as expected, by using high catalyst weight and low furfural feed.
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► The most effective chelants for mercury removal are iodide, EDTA, and thiosulfate. ► A lab method is developed for reliable assessment of the flushing technique. ► The reliability ...of the sequential extraction is checked against metal concentration.
The soil of Almaden mining district in Spain has a high concentration of mercury (1000
mg
kg
−1), therefore decontamination activities are necessary. This paper studies the effectiveness of some chelant agents (thiosulfate, EDTA, iodide and HNO
3) for the remediation of this soil which has been polluted for several millennia. The risk assessment of the contamination and the feasibility study (RA-FS) of the remediation were based on a standard sequential extraction procedure (SEP) together with lixiviation tests. Results obtained from these RA-FSs allow the prediction of the mercury removal reached in bench scale tests of the flushing technique.
In addition the SEP was performed before and after treatments, and it was found that in some cases the remaining mercury concentration after treatment is associated to the more mobile fractions, indicating that additional treatments would be required. It also indicates that an important additional removal would be obtained if acid extraction is carried out after the first treatment.
Finally, the reliability of the standard SEP used was tested to determine if the very high total metal concentration of this contaminated site affects the fractionation results. This was done by the repetition of each sequential extraction step before moving to the next one. Results indicate that both procedures give almost identical results for mercury but some important differences can be observed for iron.
The effects of the dietary administration of two bacterial probiotic strains (Ppd11 and Pdp13) from the Alteromonadaceae family for 60 days, were assessed by measuring growth and feed efficiency, ...activities of leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase and structural changes in the intestine of juvenile Senegalese sole. In addition, the profile of intestinal microbiota was studied by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis. Growth and nutrient utilization were significantly higher in fish receiving probiotics than in those fed the control diet. No differences were observed in proximal composition between treatments, though higher lipid muscle content was measured in fish receiving Pdp13. Those fish also exhibited higher activities of AP when compared to Ppd11 and control groups. The profile of intestinal microbiota clearly separated those fish receiving probiotics from those of the control group. Microscopical examination revealed accumulation of lipid droplets in the enterocytes of fish receiving the control diet, but not in those fed on probiotics. Interactions between those structural changes and growth performance are discussed.
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