On the Impact of Texture and Grain Size on the Pseudoelastic Properties of Polycrystalline Fe–Ni–Co–Al–Ti Alloy

The effects of thermomechanical treatments on crystallographic texture and grain size evolution and their impact on the pseudoelastic properties in Fe41–Ni28–Co17–Al11.5–Ti2.5 (at.%) were studied in the present paper. The results show that cold rolling leads to brass-type texture in this alloy, which is typical for low stacking fault energy materials. Thermal treatments up to 1300 °C were conducted and it is shown that the presence of β-phase helps to control grain growth. After the dissolution of the secondary phase induced by heat treatment at higher temperatures, a strong {230}〈001〉 recrystallization texture evolves in cold rolled samples already upon imposing medium reduction ratios. Finally, good pseudoelastic properties are found in conditions being characterized by adequate texture and grain sizes spanning over the entire thickness of the samples tested.Fil: Sobrero, Cesar Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Lauhoff, C.. University of Kassel; AlemaniaFil: Wegener, T.. University of Kassel; AlemaniaFil: Niendorf, T.. University of Kassel; AlemaniaFil: Krooß, P.. University of Kassel; Alemani

Metastatic colorectal cancer: integrating irinotecan into combination and sequential chemotherapy

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Integración de conocimientos teóricos y prácticos mediante métodos de relevamiento y evaluación de malezas en una práctica a campo

El presente trabajo se refiere a la implementación en la Cátedra de Matología de una nueva actividad práctica que se desarrolla a campo. Esta actividad tiene como objetivo que los alumnos utilicen los conceptos de la teoría y adquieran destreza en el uso de la metodología para realizar el relevamiento y evaluación de malezas como una herramienta para su futura actividad profesional. Los estudios de malezas se realizan con la finalidad de conocer la comunidad predominante para determinar: su abundancia, grado de cobertura, realizar mapas de distribución, el efecto de los herbicidas sobre las malezas o cultivos y, el efecto de la interferencia de las malezas sobre el cultivo. Para ello, en lotes del Campo Experimental de la Facultad o de Productores, se trabaja en forma grupal, cada grupo selecciona su metodología de muestreo. Los mismos deben determinar abundancia, cobertura y densidad de malezas mediante el uso de escalas. La información obtenida se vuelca en tablas. El relevamiento les permite utilizar lo aprendido sobre reconocimiento de malezas al estado de plántulas y adultas, mediante el uso de herbarios, fotografías, así como, el uso de manuales de reconocimiento. Manejar y comparar escalas. Presentar y discutir los resultados mediante informes en forma escrita y oral.Eje temático 1: Problemáticas y alternativas de mejora de la enseñanza f - Los procesos de formación en los años superioresFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

484pretrospective ras analysis of the epic trial cetuximab plus irinotecan vs irinotecan in patients pts with second line metastatic colorectal cancer mcrc

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Propuesta de enseñanza de la Matología en las facultades de Agronomía

La resolución MECYT 334/03 contempla la enseñanza de las malezas en las universidades entre las Básicas Agronómicas y en el núcleo temático de Protección Vegetal. La asignatura Matología fue incluida por la Universidad Nacional de Santiago en 1975. El objetivo fue analizar los cambios realizados y proponer un núcleo temático adecuado para la reestructuración de la enseñanza de las malezas. Metodología: A partir de 1980 la Cátedra de Matología realizó diferentes propuestas en los procesos de enseñanza intentando lograr aproximarse a un mejor sistema de enseñanza integrado y agronómico de las malezas. Los diferentes procesos fueron: Pruebas de diagnóstico a la iniciación; encuestas; trabajos prácticos de laboratorio, invernáculo y campo; presentaciones de informes; herbarios; muestrarios de semillas y plántulas; mesas paneles; seminarios y exposiciones temáticas grupales; monografías; traducciones de textos; estudios de casos agronómicos; resolución de problemas; método científico; exámenes integradores de varios tipos. Se analizaron los cambios y se realizó la propuesta temática. Resultados: Se extrajo un conjunto temático que constituyen las unidades actuales: 1.- El conocimiento de la maleza. 2.- Bioecología de malezas. 3.- Ambiente y plaga. 4.- Herbicidología. 5.- Biotecnología y malezas. Conclusión: La propuesta incluye un núcleo temático adecuado para la enseñanza universitaria de las malezas en Facultades de Agronomía.Eje temático 2: Los cambios e innovaciones en los procesos de formación a - Alternativas didácticas y experiencias de renovación de la enseñanzaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Phase II study of a triplet regimen in advanced colorectal cancer using methotrexate, oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil

Building upon the concept of schedule-specific biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil (FU), which alternates bolus and continuous infusion (CI) FU, we have incorporated oxaliplatin (l-OHP) following the bolus part of the regimen to explore the activity of this new combination. Patients with advanced, untreated, measurable colorectal cancer received sequential methotrexate (MTX) (days 1 and 15)-->l-OHP+FU (days 2 and 16) (200, 85 and 600 mg m(-2), respectively) followed by 3 weeks of CI FU (200 mg m(-2) day(-1)) given from day 29 to 50, modulated by weekly leucovorin (LV) (20 mg m(-2)). After 1 week of rest, the second cycle was started. The treatment was continued until progression or patient's refusal. According to the intention-to-treat analysis on all 46 patients accrued, the response rate was 42% (95% CL=28-55%), with three complete responses and 16 partial responses. The median overall survival was 15.9 months and the median progression-free survival 6.9 months. Toxicity was very mild, with the bolus part of the regimen more toxic than the infusional part (24 vs 7% of grade III-IV, respectively). This new combination of MTX -->l-OHP-FU followed by FU CI is well tolerated, feasible and produces activity results similar to other more simple, but more toxic, regimens. Pros and cons of the different fluoropyrimidines-l-OHP combinations are discussed

Real-world efficacy and safety of nivolumab in previously-treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and association between immune-related adverse events and survival: the Italian expanded access program

Background: The Italian Renal Cell Cancer Early Access Program was an expanded access program that allowed access to nivolumab, for patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) prior to regulatory approval. Methods: Pts with previously treated advanced or mRCC were eligible to receive nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Pts included in the analysis had received ≥1 dose of nivolumab and were monitored for drug-related adverse events (drAEs) using CTCAE v.4.0. Immune-related (ir) AEs were defined as AEs displaying a certain, likely or possible correlation with immunotherapy (cutaneous, endocrine, hepatic, gastro-intestinal and pulmonary). The association between overall survival (OS) and irAEs was assessed, and associations between variables were evaluated with a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 389 pts were enrolled between July 2015 and April 2016. Overall, the objective response rate was 23.1%. At a median follow-up of 12 months, the median progression-free survival was 4.5 months (95% CI 3.7-6.2) and the 12-month overall survival rate was 63%. Any grade and grade 3-4 drAEs were reported in 124 (32%) and 27 (7%) of pts, respectively, and there were no treatment-related deaths. Any grade irAEs occurred in 76 (20%) of patients, 8% cutaneous, 4% endocrine, 2% hepatic, 5% gastro-intestinal and 1% pulmonary. Of the 22 drAEs inducing treatment discontinuation, 10 (45%) were irAEs. Pts with drAEs had a significantly longer survival than those without drAEs (median OS 22.5 versus 16.4 months, p = 0.01). Pts with irAEs versus without irAEs had a more significant survival benefit (median OS not reached versus 16.8 months, p = 0.002), confirmed at the landmark analysis at 6 weeks. The occurrence of irAEs displayed a strong association with OS in univariable (HR 0.48, p = 0.003) and multivariable (HR 0.57, p = 0.02) analysis. Conclusions: The appearance of irAEs strongly correlates with survival benefit in a real-life population of mRCC pts treated with nivolumab

Additive Manufacturing of Binary Ni–Ti Shape Memory Alloys Using Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion: Functional Reversibility Through Minor Alloy Modification and Carbide Formation

Shape memory alloys (SMAs), such as Ni–Ti, are promising candidates for actuation and damping applications. Although processing of Ni–Ti bulk materials is challenging, well-established processing routes (i.e. casting, forging, wire drawing, laser cutting) enabled application in several niche applications, e.g. in the medical sector. Additive manufacturing, also referred to as 4D-printing in this case, is known to be highly interesting for the fabrication of SMAs in order to produce near-net-shaped actuators and dampers. The present study investigated the impact of electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-EB/M) on the functional properties of C-rich Ni50.9Ti49.1 alloy. The results revealed a significant loss of Ni during PBF-EB/M processing. Process microstructure property relationships are discussed in view of the applied master alloy and powder processing route, i.e. vacuum induction-melting inert gas atomization (VIGA). Relatively high amounts of TiC, being already present in the master alloy and powder feedstock, are finely dispersed in the matrix upon PBF-EB/M. This leads to a local change in the chemical composition (depletion of Ti) and a pronounced shift of the transformation temperatures. Despite the high TiC content, superelastic testing revealed a good shape recovery and, thus, a negligible degradation in both, the as-built and the heat-treated state

Machine learning applied to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: a new tool to diagnose autonomic failure?

BACKGROUND: Autonomic failure (AF) complicates Parkinson’s disease (PD) in one-third of cases, resulting in complex blood pressure (BP) abnormalities. While autonomic testing represents the diagnostic gold standard for AF, accessibility to this examination remains limited to a few tertiary referral centers. OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to investigate the accuracy of a machine learning algorithm applied to 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) as a tool to facilitate the diagnosis of AF in patients with PD. METHODS: Consecutive PD patients naïve to vasoactive medications underwent 24 h-ABPM and autonomic testing. The diagnostic accuracy of a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) model exploiting ABPM parameters was compared to autonomic testing (as per a modified version of the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score not including the sudomotor score) in the diagnosis of AF. RESULTS: The study population consisted of n = 80 PD patients (33% female) with a mean age of 64 ± 10 years old and disease duration of 6.2 ± 4 years. The prevalence of AF at the autonomic testing was 36%. The LDA model showed 91.3% accuracy (98.0% specificity, 79.3% sensitivity) in predicting AF, significantly higher than any of the ABPM variables considered individually (hypotensive episodes = 82%; reverse dipping = 79%; awakening hypotension = 74%). CONCLUSION: LDA model based on 24-h ABPM parameters can effectively predict AF, allowing greater accessibility to an accurate and easy to administer test for AF. Potential applications range from systematic AF screening to monitoring and treating blood pressure dysregulation caused by PD and other neurodegenerative disorders