990 research outputs found
Diffusion-limited aggregation as branched growth
I present a first-principles theory of diffusion-limited aggregation in two
dimensions. A renormalized mean-field approximation gives the form of the
unstable manifold for branch competition, following the method of Halsey and
Leibig [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 46}, 7793 (1992)]. This leads to a result for the
cluster dimensionality, D \approx 1.66, which is close to numerically obtained
values. In addition, the multifractal exponent \tau(3) = D in this theory, in
agreement with a proposed `electrostatic' scaling law.Comment: 13 pages, one figure not included (available by request, by ordinary
mail), Plain Te
Drug interactions may be important risk factors for methotrexate neurotoxicity, particularly in pediatric leukemia patients
Purpose: Methotrexate administration is associated with
frequent adverse neurological events during treatment for
childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here, we present
evidence to support the role of common drug interactions
and low vitamin B12 levels in potentiating methotrexate
neurotoxicity.
Methods: We review the published evidence and highlight
key potential drug interactions as well as present clinical
evidence of severe methotrexate neurotoxicity in conjunction
with nitrous oxide anesthesia and measurements of
vitamin B12 levels among pediatric leukemia patients during
therapy.
Results: We describe a very plausible mechanism for
methotrexate neurotoxicity in pediatric leukemia patients
involving reduction in methionine and consequential disruption
of myelin production. We provide evidence that a
number of commonly prescribed drugs in pediatric leukemia
management interact with the same folate biosynthetic
pathways and/or reduce functional vitamin B12 levels and
hence are likely to increase the toxicity of methotrexate in
these patients. We also present a brief case study supporting
out hypothesis that nitrous oxide contributes to methotrexate
neurotoxicity and a nutritional study, showing that
patients.
Conclusions: Use of nitrous oxide in pediatric leukemia
patients at the same time as methotrexate use should be
avoided especially as many suitable alternative anesthetic
agents exist. Clinicians should consider monitoring levels
of vitamin B12 in patients suspected of having methotrexate-
induced neurotoxic effects
Reply: Methotrexate neurotoxicity due to drug interactions: an inadequate folinic acid effect
No abstract available
Letter from David Felmley, R. H. Halsey, J. F. Millspaugh, and E. O. Vaile
Letter concerning a circular explaining a movement in the National Educational Association
Current-voltage scaling of a Josephson-junction array at irrational frustration
Numerical simulations of the current-voltage characteristics of an ordered
two-dimensional Josephson junction array at an irrational flux quantum per
plaquette are presented. The results are consistent with an scaling analysis
which assumes a zero temperature vortex glass transition. The thermal
correlation length exponent characterizing this transition is found to be
significantly different from the corresponding value for vortex-glass models in
disordered two-dimensional superconductors. This leads to a current scale where
nonlinearities appear in the current-voltage characteristics decreasing with
temperature roughly as in contrast with the behavior expected
for disordered models.Comment: RevTex 3.0, 12 pages with Latex figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B
54, Rapid. Com
Singular measures in circle dynamics
Critical circle homeomorphisms have an invariant measure totally singular
with respect to the Lebesgue measure. We prove that singularities of the
invariant measure are of Holder type. The Hausdorff dimension of the invariant
measure is less than 1 but greater than 0
Two-Dimensional Copolymers and Exact Conformal Multifractality
We consider in two dimensions the most general star-shaped copolymer, mixing
random (RW) or self-avoiding walks (SAW) with specific interactions thereof.
Its exact bulk or boundary conformal scaling dimensions in the plane are all
derived from an algebraic structure existing on a random lattice (2D quantum
gravity). The multifractal dimensions of the harmonic measure of a 2D RW or SAW
are conformal dimensions of certain star copolymers, here calculated exactly as
non rational algebraic numbers. The associated multifractal function f(alpha)
are found to be identical for a random walk or a SAW in 2D. These are the first
examples of exact conformal multifractality in two dimensions.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, revtex, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett., January
199
A Ball in a Groove
We study the static equilibrium of an elastic sphere held in a rigid groove
by gravity and frictional contacts, as determined by contact mechanics. As a
function of the opening angle of the groove and the tilt of the groove with
respect to the vertical, we identify two regimes of static equilibrium for the
ball. In the first of these, at large opening angle or low tilt, the ball rolls
at both contacts as it is loaded. This is an analog of the "elastic" regime in
the mechanics of granular media. At smaller opening angles or larger tilts, the
ball rolls at one contact and slides at the other as it is loaded, analogously
with the "plastic" regime in the mechanics of granular media. In the elastic
regime, the stress indeterminacy is resolved by the underlying kinetics of the
ball response to loading.Comment: RevTeX 3.0, 4 pages, 2 eps figures included with eps
How Sandcastles Fall
Capillary forces significantly affect the stability of sandpiles. We analyze
the stability of sandpiles with such forces, and find that the critical angle
is unchanged in the limit of an infinitely large system; however, this angle is
increased for finite-sized systems. The failure occurs in the bulk of the
sandpile rather than at the surface. This is related to a standard result in
soil mechanics. The increase in the critical angle is determined by the surface
roughness of the particles, and exhibits three regimes as a function of the
added-fluid volume. Our theory is in qualitative agreement with the recent
experimental results of Hornbaker et al., although not with the interpretation
they make of these results.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, revte
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