394,684 research outputs found
Pharmacoeconomic analysis of adjuvant oral capecitabine vs intravenous 5-FU/LV in Dukes' C colon cancer: the X-ACT trial
Full text linkOral capecitabine (Xeloda<sup>®</sup>) is an effective drug with favourable safety in adjuvant and metastatic colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin-based therapy is becoming standard for Dukes' C colon cancer in patients suitable for combination therapy, but is not yet approved by the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the adjuvant setting. Adjuvant capecitabine is at least as effective as 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV), with significant superiority in relapse-free survival and a trend towards improved disease-free and overall survival. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of adjuvant capecitabine from payer (UK National Health Service (NHS)) and societal perspectives. We used clinical trial data and published sources to estimate incremental direct and societal costs and gains in quality-adjusted life months (QALMs). Acquisition costs were higher for capecitabine than 5-FU/LV, but higher 5-FU/LV administration costs resulted in 57% lower chemotherapy costs for capecitabine. Capecitabine vs 5-FU/LV-associated adverse events required fewer medications and hospitalisations (cost savings £3653). Societal costs, including patient travel/time costs, were reduced by >75% with capecitabine vs 5-FU/LV (cost savings £1318), with lifetime gain in QALMs of 9 months. Medical resource utilisation is significantly decreased with capecitabine vs 5-FU/LV, with cost savings to the NHS and society. Capecitabine is also projected to increase life expectancy vs 5-FU/LV. Cost savings and better outcomes make capecitabine a preferred adjuvant therapy for Dukes' C colon cancer. This pharmacoeconomic analysis strongly supports replacing 5-FU/LV with capecitabine in the adjuvant treatment of colon cancer in the UK
“Mirror Image Effect” Space Charge Distribution in XLPE Power Cable under Opposite Stressing Voltage Polarity
No full textThe paper presents space charge distributions under opposite voltage polarities in full size cross-linked polyethylene power cables using the pulsed electro-acoustic technique. Under both positive and negative polarities, space charge distributions possess similar profiles but opposite polarities. A similar phenomenon had been reported previously in plaque samples and was termed the “mirror image effect”. By comparing the results between cables treated by degassing under different conditions, the paper concludes that the “mirror image” charge distribution is mainly attributed to a bulk effect within the volume of the insulation, whilst electron transfer by tunneling through an electrode/insulator interface contributes to the generation of homo “mirror image” close to the electrodes
Practical application of on-line partial discharge monitoring technique on 500kV shunt reactor
No full textConsidering the damage mechanism of oil-impregnated paper insulation in power transformers, shunt reactors and other high voltage electrical apparatus caused by partial discharge, a concept of “destructive partial discharge” is introduced in this paper. The intensity of this discharge is regarded as several thousands pico-coulomb (pC) and may cause the insulation a fatal damage. An oil-paper insulation is usually able to withstand this type of partial discharge for a period of time prior to failure. This provides engineers a time window to detect it. This paper describes an on-line partial discharge monitoring system for 500kV shunt reactors. The commission results from 3 single-phase shunt reactors either connected or disconnected to the grid showed that the on-line partial discharge detecting system has a high noise immunising ability. Two years later after the installation, a pre-warning signal was received from one shunt reactor indicating the existence of an intermittent discharge. The acoustic emission system located its position at the low end of the high voltage bushing in the oil. Dissolved gasses analysis (DGA) in the oil suggested the presence of partial discharge, as acetylene (C2H2) was as high as 20ppm. PD activity was further confirmed by a physical examination on the reactor
O kung Fu e o desenvolvimento infantil : desenvolvimento motor
No full textEste trabalho busca elementos para verificar a ligação do Kung Fu, uma arte
marcial chinesa, com o desenvolvimento motor infantil, baseando-se no conceito do
desenvolvimento motor de GALLAHUE, D. L.; OZMUN, J. C e MEINEL, K., e assim poder
associar estes conceitos a pratica desta, que atualmente é uma das artes marciais mais praticadas
no mundo. Mas antes de apresentar o desenvolvimento motor, passa-se por uma revisão da
história do Kung Fu, e uma revisão sobre o desenvolvimento, para que se possa desenvolver
com clareza a idéia da ligação das duas coisas. Durante a pesquisa foi realizado como forma de
busca de dados, um sistema de diário de observação de alunos praticantes de Kung Fu em
diversos níveis de aprendizagem e treinamento, respeitando a faixa etária proposta pelo trabalho,
para poder apresentar conclusões consistentes. Sem aprofundar-se no tipo de treinamento
realizado e nos estilos existentes da modalidade esportiva, mas se atentando exclusivamente as
crianças no treinamento, com os dados coletados, foi possível observar uma grande relação entre
o Kung Fu e a melhora do desenvolvimento de capacidades como coordenação motora geral,
equilíbrio, lateralidade, noção de direita e esquerda, posição e sentido.This paper searches for elements to verify the connection of Kung Fu, a
Chinese martial art, with the motor development of children, based on the concept of motor
development of GALLAHUE, D. L.; OZMUN, J. C e MEINEL, K., and this way be able to
associate these concepts to it, which is currently one of the most practiced martial arts in the
world. But before presenting the motor development, it will go through a review of the history
of Kung Fu, and a review about the development, so that it can develop a clear idea of the
connection of both things. During the research it was conducted as a way of data searching, a
system of observation journal of students practicing Kung Fu at different levels of learning and
training, respecting the age proposed for the work, to present consistent conclusions. Without
going too deep into the kind of training conducted and in the different existing styles of the
sport, but exclusively paying attention to the children in training, with the collected data, it was
possible to observe a strong relation between Kung Fu and the improvement of capacities as
general motor coordination, balance, laterality, sense of right and left, position and direction
The Influence of Material Modification and Residues on Space Charge Accumulation in XLPE for DC Power Cable Application
No full textThe effects of material modification and cross-linking by-products (residues) quantity on space charge accumulation and decay in XLPE have been investigated using the pulsed electro-acoustic technique. The threshold stress for space charge generation during voltage-ramping was found to show considerable variation and to depend upon the material and the amount of residue present. However, the modified XLPE material was found to exhibit a higher threshold for space charge accumulation than the reference XLPE whatever the conditions. De-gassed samples were found to exhibit the highest threshold stress, with that of the modified de-gassed XLPE accumulating no space charge at all even after 24 hours stressing at 70kV. In general heterocharge regions were formed when the residues were present and homocharge or no charge was formed when the residues were removed by degassing. Differences were also found in the space charge decay following short-circuit (volts-off), with the decay of heterocharge being rapid, whereas that of homocharge was slow. A tentative explanation is offered to explain these features
Mutation frequencies following the 5-FU-, 4NQO-, and CPT-treatment.
No full textA), C), and E) The frequencies of overall Lys+ mutations following treatments with 5-FU (10 μM), CPT (100 μM), or 4NQO (0.2 μg/mL), respectively, for 24 hrs. B), D), and F) The frequencies of the uracil-dependent A>C and T>G mutations following treatments with 5-FU, CPT and 4NQO, respectively. Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals. The number of cultures used to determine the frequencies of mutations and the numerical values of the median mutation frequencies and the confidence intervals represented as graphs in this figure are listed in S4 Table.</p
Influence of the metal sites of M-N-C (M = Co, Fe, Mn) catalysts derived from metalloporphyrins in ethylbenzene oxidation
No full textTransition metal catalysts M-N-C (M = Co, Fe, Mn) were synthesized by a template-free method by heating meso-tetraphenyl porphyrins (i.e. CoTPP, FeTPPCI, MnTPPCl) precursors. The catalysts were characterized by N-2 adsorption-desorption, thermogravimetry, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The selective oxidation of ethylbenzene with molecular oxygen under a solvent-free condition was carried out to explore the catalytic performance of the M-N-Cs, which exhibited different catalytic performance. That was ascribed to the difference in M (Co, Fe, Mn) and different graphitization degree forming during the heating process, in which M (Co, Fe, Mn) might have different catalytic activity on the formation of the M-N-C catalyst. All the M-N-C composites had remarkable recyclability in the selective oxidation of ethylbenzene. (C) 2016, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Excess body weight, liver steatosis, and early fibrosis progression due to hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation
No full textAIM:
To investigate how weight gain after OLT affects the speed of fibrosis progression (SFP) during recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of the graft.
METHODS:
Ninety consecutive patients (63 males, median age 53 years; 55 with HCV-related liver disease), transplanted at a single institution, were studied. All were followed for at least 2 years after OLT and had at least one follow-up graft biopsy, performed not earlier than 1 year after the transplant operation. For each biopsy, a single, experienced pathologist gave an estimate of both the staging according to Ishak and the degree of hepatic steatosis. The SFP was quantified in fibrosis units/month (FU/mo). The lipid metabolism status of patients was summarized by the plasma triglycerides/cholesterol (T/C) ratio. Body mass index (BMI) was measured before OLT, and 1 and 2 years after it.
RESULTS:
In the HCV positive group, the highest SFP was observed in the first post-OLT year. At that time point, a SFP 26.0 kg/m(2). At completion of the first post-transplant year, a BMI value >26.5 kg/m(2) was associated with a T/C ratio 0.100 FU/mo descended in the following order: female recipients with a high T/C ratio, male recipients with high T/C ratio, and recipients of either gender with low T/C ratio. Hepatic steatosis was observed more frequently in recipients who, in the first post-transplant year, had increased their BMI >=1.5 kg/m(2) in comparison to the pre-transplant value. Hepatic steatosis was inversely associated with the staging score.
CONCLUSION:
Among HCV positive recipients, excess weight gain post-OLT does not represent a factor favoring early liver fibrosis development and might even be protective against it
The Influence of Residue on Space Charge Accumulation in Purposely Modified Thick Plaque XLPE Sample for DC Application
No full textEffects residues (cross-linking by-products and additives) in polyethylene on space charge accumulation and decay have been investigated using the pulsed electro-acoustic technique. Space charge profiles have shown a great variation both in the charge initiation during the voltage ramping-up process and during long term stressing and decay (volts off). Samples were subjected to different conditioning processes, resulting in different proportions of residues (fresh, 0.5% residue and thoroughly degassed). The results show that residual impurities, including the by-products of cross-linking, play a key role in the space charge accumulation in cross-linked polyethylene. On the removal of impurities by degassing, a small homocharge build up was found in the vicinity of the electrode. It is concluded that space charge accumulation is governed by the charge injection through dielectric/electrode interface when the sample is thoroughly degassed
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