Edge colorings of graphs on surfaces and star edge colorings of sparse graphs

In my dissertation, I present results on two types of edge coloring problems for graphs. For each surface Σ, we define ∆(Σ) = max{∆(G)| G is a class two graph with maximum degree ∆(G) that can be embedded in Σ}. Hence Vizing’s Planar Graph Conjecture can be restated as ∆(Σ) = 5 if Σ is a sphere. For a surface Σ with characteristic χ(Σ) ≤ 0, it is known ∆(Σ) ≥ H(χ(Σ))−1, where H(χ(Σ)) is the Heawood number of the surface, and if the Euler char- acteristic χ(Σ) ∈ {−7, −6, . . . , −1, 0}, ∆(Σ) is already known. I study critical graphs on general surfaces and show that (1) if G is a critical graph embeddable on a surface Σ with Euler character- istic χ(Σ) ∈ {−6, −7}, then ∆(Σ) = 10, and (2) if G is a critical graph embeddable on a surface Σ with Euler characteristic χ(Σ) ≤ −8, then ∆(G) ≤ H(χ(Σ)) (or H(χ(Σ))+1) for some special families of graphs, namely if the minimum degree is at most 11 or if ∆ is very large et al. As applications, we show that ∆(Σ) ≤ H (χ(Σ)) if χ(Σ) ∈ {−22, −21, −20, −18, −17, −15, . . . , −8}and ∆(Σ) ≤ H (χ(Σ)) + 1 if χ(Σ) ∈ {−53, . . . , 23, −19, −16}. Combining this with [19], it follows that if χ(Σ) = −12 and Σ is orientable, then ∆(Σ) = H(χ(Σ)). A star k-edge-coloring is a proper k-edge-coloring such that every connected bicolored sub- graph is a path of length at most 3. The star chromatic index χ′st(G) of a graph G is the smallest integer k such that G has a star k-edge-coloring. The list star chromatic index ch′st(G) is defined analogously. Bezegova et al. and Deng et al. independently proved that χ′ (T) ≤ 3∆ for anyst 2 tree T with maximum degree ∆. Here, we study the list star edge coloring and give tree-like bounds for (list) star chromatic index of sparse graphs. We show that if mad(G) \u3c 2.4, then χ′ (G)≤3∆+2andifmad(G)\u3c15,thench′ (G)≤3∆+1.Wealsoshowthatforeveryε\u3e0st 2 7 st 2 there exists a constant c(ε) such that if mad(G) \u3c 8 − ε, then ch′ (G) ≤ 3∆ + c(ε). We also3 st 2 find guaranteed substructures of graph with mad(G) \u3c 3∆ − ε which may be of interest in other2 problems for sparse graphs

Observations on the vibration of axially-tensioned elastomeric pipes conveying fluids

A study of the effect of axial tension on the vibration of a single-span elastomeric pipe clamped at both ends conveying fluid has been carried out both experimentally and theoretically. A new mathematical model using a penalty function technique and the method of kinematic correction and fictitious loads has been developed. The influence of flowing fluid and axial tension on natural frequencies and mode shapes of the system has been described using this model and compared with experimental observations. Linear and non-linear dynamic response of the harmonically excited pipe has also been investigated for varying flow velocities and initial axial tensions

Use of multiple biomarkers for evaluation of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

To assess cardiac toxicity of anthracycline treatment with six biomarkers of cardiac injury: myoglobin, creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB). Methods: We evaluated anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in 12 acute myeloid leukemia patients (mean age 51.3 ± 10.7 years, 7 females). All biomarkers were measured at the baseline, after first chemotherapy (CT) with anthracyclines, after last CT with anthracyclines (total cumulative dose 479.8 ± 106.2 mg/m2) and 6 months thereafter. Values above the reference range were considered elevated. Results: GPBB increased above the cut-off (7.30 µg/L) in 2 (16.7%) patients after first CT, in 3 (25.0%) patients after last CT and remained elevated in 2 (16.7%) patients within 6 months after CT. CTnI became elevated (above 0.40 µg/L) in 1 (8.3%) patient after first and last CT and within 6 months after CT. CTnT remained negative (below 0.01 µg/L) during CT in all patients. Six months after CT, delayed cTnT positivity was found in 1 (8.3%) patient. All patients with cTnI or cTnT positivity had elevated GPBB. Other biomarkers (myoglobin, CK-MB mass, H-FABP) remained within the reference range in all patients. Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that GPBB could be a new promising marker for detection of anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity and probably superior to cardiac troponins. The predictive value for development of cardiomyopathy in the future is not clear and will be evaluated during a prospective follow-up.Цель: провести оценку кардиотоксичности, вызываемой антрациклином, с помощью ряда биомаркеров поражения сердца: миоглобина, креатин-киназы MB (CK-MB mass), кардиального тропонина T (cTnT), кардиального тропонина I (cTnI), белка, связывающего жирные кислоты (H-FABP), и гликогенфосфорилазы BB (GPBB). Методы: оценку кардиотоксичности проводили у 12 больных острой миелоидной лейкемией (средний возраст — 51,3 ± 10,7 года, 7 женщин). Измерены начальные показатели всех биомаркеров, а также таковые после проведения первой и последней химиотерапии (ХT) антрациклинами (общая накопленная доза — 479,8 ± 106,2 мг/м2 ) и через 6 мес после завершения терапии. Значения выше начальных рассматривали как повышенные. Результаты: уровень GPBB превысил норму (7,30 µg/L) у 2 больных (16,7%) после первой ХT, у 3 (25,0%) — после последней ХT и оставался повышенным у 2 больных (16,7%) и через 6 мес после ХT. Уровень CTnI повысился (более 0,40 µg/L) у 1 больного (8,3%) после первой и последней ХT, а также и через 6 мес после ХT. Значения CTnT оставались в пределах нормы (ниже 0,01 µg/L) во время проведения CT у всех пациентов. Через 6 мес после ХT отдаленная положительная реакция на cTnT выявлена у 1 больного (8,3%). У всех пациентов с положительными cTnI или cTnT установлен повышенный уровень GPBB. Другие биомаркеры (миоглобин, CK-MB, H-FABP) оставались в пределах нормы у всех больных. Выводы: предварительные результаты, полученные в данном исследовании, позволяют предположить, что GPBB можно рассматривать как новый перспективный маркер для выявления кардиотоксичности, вызванной антрациклинами, и, возможно, превосходит предложенные ранее тропонины. Возможная прогностическая ценность этого маркера при развитии кардиомиопатии пока не установлена

Preliminary Water Assessment Reports of The Test Basins of The Watch Project

This report presents the initial plans of the case studies how they link to rest of the Watch project and on which water resources they will focus. This report will function as the basis for further discussions on how to improve the integration of the case studies within the project and to develop a more general protocol for each of the case studies. Currently 5 catchments are used within the Watch project, they differ in climatic and hydro-geological features and expected climate changes: the Glomma River basin (Eastern Norway), the upper Guadiana basin (Central Spanish Plateau), the Nitra River basin (central Slovakia), the Upper-Elbe basin (part of the Elbe River) and the island of Crete. Also the water resources issues vary over these cases. Agricultural (and domestic) water use is under pressure in the Mediterranean catchments probably aggravating with the expected increase in drought frequency under future climate. The Norwegian catchment provides hydropower services under threat of precipitation increase rather than decrease. The central European catchments are threatened mainly by increased variability, i.e. increased frequencies of extremes in a densely populated environment, and river flow may need additional buffers (reservoirs) to reduce floodrisk and store water for dry period

The use of cardiac biomarkers in detection of cardiotoxicity associated with conventional and high-dose chemotherapy for acute leukemia

Aim: Monitoring of cardiotoxicity of conventional and high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) with multiple biomarkers of cardiac injury — glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), cardiac troponins (cTnT, cTnI), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass), myoglobin. Methods: A total of 47 adult acute leukemia patients were studied — 24 patients treated with conventional CT containing anthracyclines (ANT) and 23 patients treated with HD-CT (myeloablative preparative regimen) followed by hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Cardiac biomarkers were assessed prior to treatment (before CT/HD-CT), after first CT with ANT, after last CT with ANT in the first group, after HD-CT and after HCT in the second group. Values above the reference range were considered elevated. Results: Before CT/HD-CT, all biomarkers of cardiac injury were below the cut-offs in all patients. GPBB increased above the cut-off (7.30 μg/L) in 4 (16.7%) patients after first CT and in 5 (20.8%) patients after last CT with ANT. GPBB increased above the cut-off in 5 (21.7%) patients after HD-CT and remained elevated in 5 (21.7%) patients after HCT. CTnI became elevated (above 0.40 μg/L) in 2 (8.3%) patients after first and last CT with ANT. Both patients with cTnI positivity had elevated GPBB. Other tested biomarkers remained below the cut-offs during the study. Conclusion: Our results suggest that GPBB could become a sensitive biomarker for detection of acute cardiotoxicity associated with conventional CT containing ANT and HD-CT followed by HCT. The predictive value for development of cardiomyopathy in the future is not known and should be evaluated during a prospective follow-up. Based on our data, a larger prospective and multicenter study would be most desirable to define the potential role of new circulating biomarkers in the assessment of cardiotoxicity in oncology

Radiation distributions in TCV

Total radiative powers measured by foil bolometer and AXUV camera systems are compared to SOLPS5 simulations in low and high density deuterium and helium diverted discharges on the TCV tokamak. For low density the match between simulation and measurements is satisfactory, but at high density strongly radiating regions outside the SOLPS5 simulation grid are seen in measurements and this may indicate the presence of enhanced convective particle transport in the low field side midplane region. The chord coverage of the foil bolometer system does not, however, allow detailed resolution in this region. The comparison of foil and AXUV data also demonstrates that ageing of the AXUV diodes under plasma irradiation combined with the unevenness of the diode spectral response, strongly limits their application for total radiative power measurements. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Biochemical markers and assessment of cardiotoxicity during preparative regimen and hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute leukemia

Introduction: Cardiotoxicity is a relatively frequent and potentially serious complication of antitumor treatment. Anthracyclines and other high-dose chemotherapy represent the greatest risk. The aim of the study was to assess cardiotoxicity during preparative regimen (PR) and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in acute leukemia (AL) with biochemical markers — “N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide” (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB mass). Methods: Nineteen adult AL patients previously treated with anthracyclines — idarubicine, daunorubicine, mitoxantrone with standard doses for a cycle as 3 х 12 mg/m2, 3 х 50 mg/m2, 3 х 10 mg/m2 accordingly were studied. PR consisted of high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-C) in combination with busulphan or total body irradiation (TBI). Plasma NT-proBNP, cTnT and CK-MB mass concentrations were measured the day before PR, the day after PR, the day after HCT and 14 days after HCT. Results: Before PR, mean plasma NT-proBNP value was 106.3 ± 55.7 ng/l. After PR, it increased to 426.1 ± 391.5 ng/l. After HCT, a further increase to 847.6 ± 780.6 ng/l was observed. Fourteen days after HCT, the mean NT-proBNP was 330.8±236.8 ng/l. The differences were statistically significant in comparison with the baseline values (p < 0.01). The NT-proBNP elevations were more pronounced in patients with cumulative doses (CD) of anthracyclines above 450 mg/m2 (p < 0.05), in patients with PR containing HD-C and TBI (p < 0.05). In all patients, plasma cTnT and CK-MB mass concentrations remained unchangable during PR and HCT. Conclusion: Our results suggest that administration of PR and HCT is in most AL patients associated with acute neurohumoral activation (significant rise in NT-proBNP). Persistent NT-proBNP elevations, in our study in 12 (63.2 %) patients, indicate subclinical cardiotoxicity (risk for development of heart failure) and require further follow-up. More pronounced NT-proBNP elevations in patients with higher CD of anthracyclines and in patients with PR containing combination of HD-C and TBI confirm that these therapeutic procedures seem to be more cardiotoxic and not very appropriate for patients with cumulation of risk factors for cardiotoxicity. Negative plasma cTnT and CK-MB mass concentrations show no detectable damage of cardiomyocyte structure during PR and HCT.Введение: кардиотоксические осложнения — это относительно частые и потенциально опасные последствия противоопухолевой терапии. Наибольшую кардиотоксичность отмечают при применении высоких доз химиопрепаратов, в частности антибиотиков антрациклинового ряда. Целью данного исследования была оценка кардиотоксичности при лекарственной подготовке пациентов с острым лейкозом (ОЛ) и проведении им трансплантации гематопоэтических стволовых клеток (ГСК), а также определение следующих биохимических маркеров – N-терминального промозгового натрийуретического пептида (NT-proBNP), сердечного тропонина T (cTnT) и креатинкиназы MB (CK-MB). Методы: обследованы 19 взрослых пациентов с ОЛ, прошедших предварительное лечение (ПЛ) с применением антрациклиновых антибиотиков (АА) – идарубицина, даунорубицина, митотриксантрона в дозах 3 х 12 мг/м2 , 3 х 50 мг/м2 , 3 х 10 мг/м2 соответственно. Кроме применения АА, ПЛ включало высокие дозы циклофосфамида (ВД-Ц) в сочетании с бусульфаном или радиолучевой терапией (РЛТ). Концентрацию NT-proBNP, cTnT и CK-MB определяли в плазме крови за день до и через день после проведения ПЛ, а также за день до и через 14 дней после трансплантации ГСК. Результаты: уровень NT-proBNP перед проведением ПЛ составил 106,3 ± 55,7 нг/л, а после повышался до 426,1 ± 391,5 нг/л. После трансплантации ГСК отмечали дальнейшее возрастание исследуемого показателя до 847,6 ± 780,6 нг/л. Через 14 дней после трансплантации ГСК концентрация NT-proBNP достигла 330,8 ± 236,8 нг/л, при этом разница была статистически достоверна по сравнению с исходными значениями (p < 0,01). Повышение уровня NT-proBNP в плазме крови более выражено у пациентов, получавших АА в суммарной дозе (СД) выше 450 мг/м2 (p < 0,05), а также у больных, получавших ВД-Ц и РЛТ (p < 0,05). Концентрация cTnT и CK-MB при проведении ПЛ и трансплантации ГСК не изменялась по отношению к исходному уровню. Выводы: показано, что применение ПЛ и трансплантация ГСК у большинства пациентов с ОЛ сопровождается острой нейрогуморальной активацией, что проявлялось в существенном повышении уровня NT-proBNP. Постоянно высокий уровень NTproBNP, отмеченный у 12 (63,2%) пациентов, свидетельствует о бессимптомной кардиотоксичности (риске развития сердечной недостаточности) и требует последующего врачебного наблюдения больных. Более выраженное повышение уровня NT-proBNP у пациентов с более высокой СД АА и у больных, получавших ВД-Ц и РЛТ, свидетельствует о том, что такое лечение является более кардиотоксичным и не рекомендовано для применения в случае наличия факторов риска проявления кардиотоксичности

Theory-based scaling laws of near and far scrape-off layer widths in single-null L-mode discharges

Theory-based scaling laws of the near and far scrape-off layer (SOL) widths are analytically derived for L-mode diverted tokamak discharges by using a two-fluid model. The near SOL pressure and density decay lengths are obtained by leveraging a balance among the power source, perpendicular turbulent transport across the separatrix, and parallel losses at the vessel wall, while the far SOL pressure and density decay lengths are derived by using a model of intermittent transport mediated by filaments. The analytical estimates of the pressure decay length in the near SOL is then compared to the results of three-dimensional, flux-driven, global, two-fluid turbulence simulations of L-mode diverted tokamak plasmas, and validated against experimental measurements taken from an experimental multi-machine database of divertor heat flux profiles, showing in both cases a very good agreement. Analogously, the theoretical scaling law for the pressure decay length in the far SOL is compared to simulation results and to experimental measurements in TCV L-mode discharges, pointing out the need of a large multi-machine database for the far SOL decay lengths