Induction chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: role, controversy, and future directions.

BackgroundThe value of induction chemotherapy (ICT) remains under investigation despite decades of research. New advancements in the field, specifically regarding the induction regimen of choice, have reignited interest in this approach for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN). Sufficient evidence has accumulated regarding the benefits and superiority of TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil) over the chemotherapy doublet cisplatin and fluorouracil. We therefore sought to collate and interpret the available data and further discuss the considerations for delivering ICT safely and optimally selecting suitable post-ICT regimens.DesignWe nonsystematically reviewed published phase III clinical trials on TPF ICT in a variety of LA SCCHN patient populations conducted between 1990 and 2017.ResultsTPF may confer survival and organ preservation benefits in a subgroup of patients with functionally inoperable or poor-prognosis LA SCCHN. Additionally, patients with operable disease or good prognosis (who are not candidates for organ preservation) may benefit from TPF induction in terms of reducing local and distant failure rates and facilitating treatment deintensification in selected populations. The safe administration of TPF requires treatment by a multidisciplinary team at an experienced institution. The management of adverse events associated with TPF and post-ICT radiotherapy-based treatment is crucial. Finally, post-ICT chemotherapy alternatives to cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy (i.e. cetuximab or carboplatin plus radiotherapy) appear promising and must be investigated further.ConclusionsTPF is an evidence-based ICT regimen of choice in LA SCCHN and confers benefits in suitable patients when it is administered safely by an experienced multidisciplinary team and paired with the optimal post-ICT regimen, for which, however, no consensus currently exists

Self-Calibration of Cameras with Euclidean Image Plane in Case of Two Views and Known Relative Rotation Angle

The internal calibration of a pinhole camera is given by five parameters that are combined into an upper-triangular $3\times 3$ calibration matrix. If the skew parameter is zero and the aspect ratio is equal to one, then the camera is said to have Euclidean image plane. In this paper, we propose a non-iterative self-calibration algorithm for a camera with Euclidean image plane in case the remaining three internal parameters --- the focal length and the principal point coordinates --- are fixed but unknown. The algorithm requires a set of $N \geq 7$ point correspondences in two views and also the measured relative rotation angle between the views. We show that the problem generically has six solutions (including complex ones). The algorithm has been implemented and tested both on synthetic data and on publicly available real dataset. The experiments demonstrate that the method is correct, numerically stable and robust.Comment: 13 pages, 7 eps-figure

Hybrid Focal Stereo Networks for Pattern Analysis in Homogeneous Scenes

In this paper we address the problem of multiple camera calibration in the presence of a homogeneous scene, and without the possibility of employing calibration object based methods. The proposed solution exploits salient features present in a larger field of view, but instead of employing active vision we replace the cameras with stereo rigs featuring a long focal analysis camera, as well as a short focal registration camera. Thus, we are able to propose an accurate solution which does not require intrinsic variation models as in the case of zooming cameras. Moreover, the availability of the two views simultaneously in each rig allows for pose re-estimation between rigs as often as necessary. The algorithm has been successfully validated in an indoor setting, as well as on a difficult scene featuring a highly dense pilgrim crowd in Makkah.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Machine Vision and Application

Keberhasilan Penggunaan Tiga Pengencer dalam Dua Jenis Kemasan pada Proses Pembekuan Semen Sapi Frisien Holstein

RINGKASAN Motilitas sperma (% SM) dan sperma hidup (% SH) setelah pascathawing digunakan sebagai kriteria penilaian keberhasilan penggunaan tiga macam pengencer dalam dua kemasan yang berbeda. Lima belas ejakulat dari tiga ekor sapi FH diencerkan dengan tiga macam pengencer, yaitu tris kuning telur (TKT), home made triladyl (HMT) dan androMed, yang mengandung lesitin kacang kedelai (KK), masing-masing dikemas dalam minitub 0.3 ml and straw Cassou 0.25 ml. Sampel diekuilibrasi selama empat jam pada temperatur 5oC kemudian dibekukan dalam uap nitrogen cair selama 10 menit. Hasil pascathawing menunjukkan % SM dan % SH pada pengencer KK (56,28; 74,22) lebih tinggi (P<0.05) jika dibandingkan dengan HMT (47,60; 65,93) dan TKT (48,74; 69,63). Tidak ada perbedaan kualitas pada teknik pengemasan dengan SM dan SH masing-masing 52,16; 69,4% (minitub) dan 49,59; 70,44% (Cassou). Persentase SH pada KK minitub (72,76?10,83) dan KK Cassou (75,67?8,1) menunjukkan hasil yang sama lebih baik jika dibandingkan dengan kombinasi lainnya. Persentase SM pada KK minitub (57,9?7,81) lebih tinggi jika dibandingkan dengan KK Cassou atau kombinasi lainnya

Effective-Range Expansion of the Neutron-Deuteron Scattering Studied by a Quark-Model Nonlocal Gaussian Potential

The S-wave effective range parameters of the neutron-deuteron (nd) scattering are derived in the Faddeev formalism, using a nonlocal Gaussian potential based on the quark-model baryon-baryon interaction fss2. The spin-doublet low-energy eigenphase shift is sufficiently attractive to reproduce predictions by the AV18 plus Urbana three-nucleon force, yielding the observed value of the doublet scattering length and the correct differential cross sections below the deuteron breakup threshold. This conclusion is consistent with the previous result for the triton binding energy, which is nearly reproduced by fss2 without reinforcing it with the three-nucleon force.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures and 6 tables, submitted to Prog. Theor. Phy

Rancang Bangun Protocol Modbus Pada Kwh Meter Elektronik Tipe Ion 8600 Untuk Memonitor Besaran Energi Listrik Trafo Dengan Menggunakan Aplikasi Citect Scada

PLN APP Karawang memiliki area yang luas dan memiliki banyak pelanggan dibutuhkan teknologi yang mampu melakukan pembacaan dan kontrol jarak jauh. Penelitian ini pada perancangan sistem dibagi menjadi tiga bagian yaitu sistem server, sistem client, dan sistem komunikasi. Sistem server dirancang menggunakan aplikasi Citect Scada v.6 yang di instal ke dalam PC/Laptop yang mampu terkoneksi dengan jaringan intranet PLN. Sistem Client dirancang dengan memanfaatkan peralatan primer berupa CT (Current Transformer) dan CVT (Capasitive Voltage Transformer) serta kWh Meter sebagai device untuk mengkonversi sinyal analog menjadi digital sehingga mampu dibaca oleh server. Untuk sistem komunikasi menggunakan fiber optik dan radio frekuensi yang telah tersedia di jaringan PLN. Dari hasil percobaan menunjukan bahwa sistem monitoringyang dibuat telah berfungsi sesuai dengan perancangan. Server mampu menampilkan data pembacaan energi secara realtime yang diambil dari kWh Meter melalui protocol modbus dengan akurasi 0.3-0.5 %

Degree spectra for transcendence in fields

We show that for both the unary relation of transcendence and the finitary relation of algebraic independence on a field, the degree spectra of these relations may consist of any single computably enumerable Turing degree, or of those c.e. degrees above an arbitrary fixed $\Delta^0_2$ degree. In other cases, these spectra may be characterized by the ability to enumerate an arbitrary $\Sigma^0_2$ set. This is the first proof that a computable field can fail to have a computable copy with a computable transcendence basis

A multi-exon deletion within WWOX is associated with a 46,XY disorder of sex development

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions where chromosomal, gonad or genital development is atypical. In a significant proportion of 46,XY DSD cases it is not possible to identify a causative mutation, making genetic counseling difficult and potentially hindering optimal treatment. Here, we describe the analysis of a 46,XY DSD patient that presented at birth with ambiguous genitalia. Histological analysis of the surgically removed gonads showed bilateral undifferentiated gonadal tissue and immature testis, both containing malignant germ cells. We screened genomic DNA from this patient for deletions and duplications using an Illumina whole-genome SNP microarray. This analysis revealed a heterozygous deletion within the WWOX gene on chromosome 16, removing exons 6-8. Analysis of parental DNA showed that the deletion was inherited from the mother. cDNA analysis confirmed that the deletion maintained the reading frame, with exon 5 being spliced directly onto exon 9. This deletion is the first description of a germline rearrangement affecting the coding sequence of WWOX in humans. Previously described Wwox knockout mouse models showed gonadal abnormalities, supporting a role for WWOX in human gonad development

Galectin-3 regulates intracellular trafficking of EGFR through Alix and promotes keratinocyte migration.

The EGFR-mediated signaling pathways are important in a variety of cellular processes, including cell migration and wound re-epithelialization. Intracellular trafficking of EGFR is critical for maintaining EGFR surface expression. Galectin-3, a member of an animal lectin family, has been implicated in a number of physiological and pathological processes. Through studies of galectin-3-deficient mice and cells isolated from these mice, we demonstrated that the absence of galectin-3 impairs keratinocyte migration and skin wound re-epithelialization. We have linked this pro-migratory function to a crucial role of cytosolic galectin-3 in controlling intracellular trafficking and cell surface expression of EGFR after EGF stimulation. Without galectin-3, the surface levels of EGFR are markedly reduced, and the receptor accumulates diffusely in the cytoplasm. This is associated with reduced rates of both endocytosis and recycling of the receptor. We have provided evidence that this previously unreported function of galectin-3 may be mediated through interaction with its binding partner Alix, which is a protein component of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery. Our results suggest that galectin-3 is potentially a critical regulator of a number of important cellular responses through its intracellular control of trafficking of cell surface receptors