Tuning of a hypersonic surface phononic band gap using a nanoscale two-dimensional lattice of pillars

We present experimental and theoretical evidence of a phononic band gap in a hypersonic range for thermally activated surface acoustic waves in two-dimensional (2D) phononic crystals. Surface Brillouin light scattering experiments were performed on the (001) surface of silicon, loaded with a 2D square lattice of 100- or 150-nm-high aluminum pillars with a spacing of 500nm. The surface Brillouin light scattering spectra revealed a different type of surface mode, related to the modulation of the lattice structure and the mechanical eigenmodes of the pillars. The experimental data were in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations performed using the finite-element method.Peer reviewe

55. How often should we obtain complete blood counts (CBC's) from patients receiving radical radiation therapy?

Data on factors influencing decline in peripheral blood counts during radiation treatment are sparse and no guidelines exist on the appropriate frequency of obtaining CBC's from the patients.Patients and methodsA series of charts from 460 consecutive patients receiving radiotherapy in 1995 and 1996 was reviewed. In the final database, the data from patients receiving definitive radiotherapy with information on baseline CBC's and at least two results during treatment were included (183 patients, 810 results). Critical nadir values of haemoglobin (HGB), white blood cells (WBC) and platelets (PLT) requiring further tests and interventions were defined as follows: HG

Treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa-based conditioning treatment before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients with hematological malignancies

Treosulfan-based conditioning prior to allogeneic transplantation has been shown to have myeloablative, immunosuppressive, and antineoplastic effects associated with reduced non-relapse mortality (NRM) in adults. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of treosulfan-based conditioning in children with hematological malignancies in this phase II trial. Overall, 65 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (35.4%), acute myeloid leukemia (44.6%), myelodysplastic syndrome (15.4%), or juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (4.6%) received treosulfan intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/m2/day (7.7%), 12 g/m2/day (35.4%), or 14 g/m2/day (56.9%) according to their individual body surface area in combination with fludarabine and thiotepa. The incidence of complete donor chimerism at day +28 was 98.4% with no primary and only one secondary graft failure. At 36 months, NRM was only 3.1%, while relapse incidence was 21.7%, and overall survival was 83.0%. The cumulative incidence of acute graft-vs.-host disease was 45.3% for grades I–IV and 26.6% for grades II–IV. At 36 months, 25.8% overall and 19.4% moderate/severe chronic graft-vs.-host disease were reported. These data confirm the safe and effective use of treosulfan-based conditioning in pediatric patients with hematological malignancies. Therefore, treosulfan/fludarabine/thiotepa can be recommended for myeloablative conditioning in children with hematological malignancies

Integrated genomics and proteomics define huntingtin CAG length-dependent networks in mice.

To gain insight into how mutant huntingtin (mHtt) CAG repeat length modifies Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis, we profiled mRNA in over 600 brain and peripheral tissue samples from HD knock-in mice with increasing CAG repeat lengths. We found repeat length-dependent transcriptional signatures to be prominent in the striatum, less so in cortex, and minimal in the liver. Coexpression network analyses revealed 13 striatal and 5 cortical modules that correlated highly with CAG length and age, and that were preserved in HD models and sometimes in patients. Top striatal modules implicated mHtt CAG length and age in graded impairment in the expression of identity genes for striatal medium spiny neurons and in dysregulation of cyclic AMP signaling, cell death and protocadherin genes. We used proteomics to confirm 790 genes and 5 striatal modules with CAG length-dependent dysregulation at the protein level, and validated 22 striatal module genes as modifiers of mHtt toxicities in vivo

Bordetella pertussis Strains with Increased Toxin Production Associated with Pertussis Resurgence

A more virulent strain of the disease is emerging

allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation hct in the eighth decade of life how much does age matter

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