W=0 Pairing in (N,N)(N,N) Carbon Nanotubes away from Half Filling

We use the Hubbard Hamiltonian $H$ on the honeycomb lattice to represent the valence bands of carbon single-wall $(N,N)$ nanotubes. A detailed symmetry analysis shows that the model allows W=0 pairs which we define as two-body singlet eigenstates of $H$ with vanishing on-site repulsion. By means of a non-perturbative canonical transformation we calculate the effective interaction between the electrons of a W=0 pair added to the interacting ground state. We show that the dressed W=0 pair is a bound state for resonable parameter values away from half filling. Exact diagonalization results for the (1,1) nanotube confirm the expectations. For $(N,N)$ nanotubes of length $l$, the binding energy of the pair depends strongly on the filling and decreases towards a small but nonzero value as $l \to \infty$. We observe the existence of an optimal doping when the number of electrons per C atom is in the range 1.2$\div$1.3, and the binding energy is of the order of 0.1 $\div$ 1 meV.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

A Quality Control Study on Involved Node Radiation Therapy in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Lymphoma Study Association/Fondazione Italiana Linfomi H10 Trial on Stages I and II Hodgkin Lymphoma:Lessons Learned

Purpose: Involved node radiation therapy (INRT) was introduced in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Lymphoma Study Association/Fondazione Italiana Linfomi H10 trial, a large multicenter trial in early-stage Hodgkin Lymphoma. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of INRT in this trial. Methods and Materials: A retrospective, descriptive study was initiated to evaluate INRT in a representative sample encompassing approximately 10% of all irradiated patients in the H10 trial. Sampling was stratified by academic group, year of treatment, size of the treatment center, and treatment arm, and it was done proportional to the size of the strata. The sample was completed for all patients with known recurrences to enable future research on relapse patterns. Radiation therapy principle, target volume delineation and coverage, and applied technique and dose were evaluated using the EORTC Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance platform. Each case was reviewed by 2 reviewers and, in case of disagreement also by an adjudicator for a consensus evaluation. Results: Data were retrieved for 66 of 1294 irradiated patients (5.1%). Data collection and analysis were hampered more than anticipated by changes in archiving of diagnostic imaging and treatment planning systems during the running period of the trial. A review could be performed on 61 patients. The INRT principle was applied in 86.6%. Overall, 88.5% of cases were treated according to protocol. Unacceptable variations were predominately due to geographic misses of the target volume delineations. The rate of unacceptable variations decreased during trial recruitment. Conclusions: The principle of INRT was applied in most of the reviewed patients. Almost 90% of the evaluated patients were treated according to the protocol. The present results should, however, be interpreted with caution because the number of patients evaluated was limited. Individual case reviews should be done in a prospective fashion in future trials. Radiation therapy Quality Assurance tailored to the clinical trial objectives is strongly recommended.</p

Molecular mechanisms of cell death: recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death 2018.

Over the past decade, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) has formulated guidelines for the definition and interpretation of cell death from morphological, biochemical, and functional perspectives. Since the field continues to expand and novel mechanisms that orchestrate multiple cell death pathways are unveiled, we propose an updated classification of cell death subroutines focusing on mechanistic and essential (as opposed to correlative and dispensable) aspects of the process. As we provide molecularly oriented definitions of terms including intrinsic apoptosis, extrinsic apoptosis, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, parthanatos, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, lysosome-dependent cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, immunogenic cell death, cellular senescence, and mitotic catastrophe, we discuss the utility of neologisms that refer to highly specialized instances of these processes. The mission of the NCCD is to provide a widely accepted nomenclature on cell death in support of the continued development of the field

Classification of current anticancer immunotherapies

During the past decades, anticancer immunotherapy has evolved from a promising therapeutic option to a robust clinical reality. Many immunotherapeutic regimens are now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for use in cancer patients, and many others are being investigated as standalone therapeutic interventions or combined with conventional treatments in clinical studies. Immunotherapies may be subdivided into “passive” and “active” based on their ability to engage the host immune system against cancer. Since the anticancer activity of most passive immunotherapeutics (including tumor-targeting monoclonal antibodies) also relies on the host immune system, this classification does not properly reflect the complexity of the drug-host-tumor interaction. Alternatively, anticancer immunotherapeutics can be classified according to their antigen specificity. While some immunotherapies specifically target one (or a few) defined tumor-associated antigen(s), others operate in a relatively non-specific manner and boost natural or therapy-elicited anticancer immune responses of unknown and often broad specificity. Here, we propose a critical, integrated classification of anticancer immunotherapies and discuss the clinical relevance of these approaches

Ballistic excitation scattering processes in superfluid &quot;3He-B and spin-lattice relaxation in copper down to 7#mu#K

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX186000 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Diuretic agents related to indapamide

A series of N-(4-chloro-3-sulfamoylbenzamido)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (IV-1) and isoquinoline (IV-2) have been synthesized and their diuretic and antihypertensive activities evaluated. While none of the test compounds was found to be provided with antihypertensive properties, most of them displayed a diuretic activity comparable to (IV-2 a) or higher (IV-1 a,b) (IV-2 c) than those of indapamide and clopamide, taken as reference drugs

Radiofrequency ablation of bone metastases induces long-lasting palliation in patients with untreatable cancer.

Introduction: In oncological patients, life quality can be greatly impaired by the presence of painful bone metastases, as standard forms of treatment often achieve inadequate palliation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with respect to pain relief in patients with refractory bone metastases or who are ineligible to conventional treatments. Methods: 12 patients with 13 painful osteolytic skeletal metastases, and who were unresponsive to analgesic drug therapy, underwent one (seven lesions) or two (five lesions) RFA sessions under computed tomography (CT) guidance. The RFA procedure was completed in all patients without complications. One patient also received cementoplasty after the RFA procedure. To obtain semiquantitative pain scores, the brief pain inventory (BPI) was administered before treatment and during follow-up. The local effects of RFA were monitored for at least one year in eight of 12 patients with CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Immediate pain relief after treatment was experienced by nine of 12 patients, but in two cases, pain recurred within the first week. Long-lasting palliation was obtained in seven of 12 patients. BPI mean scores for worst and average daily pain decreased from 7.7 and 5.0, respectively, at baseline, to 3.1 and 1.8, respectively, at one year. Imaging follow-up showed large areas of necrosis in nine of 12 lesions. Conclusion: In our preliminary experience, RFA showed good and long-lasting efficacy for pain control in bone metastases. A possible role of RFA as a coadjuvant palliative treatment in these cases is suggested

Efficacia della somministrazione per via endomammaria di cloxacillina benzatina per il trattamento delle infezioni intramammarie dell'ovino nel corso dell'asciutta

The efficacy of the administration at drying off in Sarda ewes of an intramammary suspension containing cloxacillin (300 mg) as benzatine was evaluated in n. 7 farms. The trial was conducted in each farm on treated (T) and untreated (U) groups including n. 142 and n. 136 half-udders (= experimental unit) respectively. All half-udders were affected with sub-clinical mastitis (positive bacteriological examination and SCC/ml over &gt;300.000). Five milk samplings were carried out from each half-udder. 2 samplings were done before treatment and 3 after. Bacteriology and somatic cells count (SCC/ml) was performed on each sample. Before treatment the Coagulase Negative Staphylococci accounted for 91.6% of the isolates. The duration of the treatment (62±22.8 days) was equivalent to the drying period. The last 3 samples were carried out 3.8±2.9, 11.0±3.2 and 58.8±16.5 days after parturition. Overall average bacteriological cure rate observed for the 3 samplings after parturition was respectively in the T and C groups 82.3% and 36.8% (3rd sampling); 81.2% and 48.1% (4th sampling); 61.3% and 33.3%. The SCC(x103)/ml (geometrical mean) in groups T and C was respectively 367 and 1,903 (3rd sample); 288 and 846 (4th sample); 393 and 960 (5th sample). The differences between the groups T and C for the bacteriological cure and the SCC values were statistically significant (P&lt;.001) for the 3 samplings. = In 7 allevamenti di pecore di razza sarda è stata valutata l’efficacia della somministrazione intramammaria in asciutta di una sospensione contenente cloxacillina (300 mg) come benzatina. In ciascun allevamento la prova è stata condotta su un gruppo trattato (T) e controllo (C) per complessive n. 142 e n. 136 emimammelle (=unità sperimentale) con mastite subclinica in atto (esame batteriologico positivo e CCS/ml &gt;300.000). Da ciascuna emimammella sono stati effettuati cinque prelievi di latte, di cui due prima e tre dopo il trattamento. Su ciascun campione è stato effettuato l’esame batteriologico e determinato il contenuto in cellule somatiche (CCS/ml). I patogeni isolati prima del trattamento erano rappresentati prevalentemente da Stafilococchi Coagulasi Negativi (91,6%). La durata del trattamento (62±22,8 giorni) è coincisa con quella dell’asciutta. Gli ultimi tre prelievi sono stati effettuati a distanza di 3,8±2,9, 11,0±3,2 e 58,8±16,5 giorni dopo il parto. La guarigione batteriologica complessiva, valutata nei tre prelievi successivi al parto, è risultata (valori medi) ne gruppi T del 82,3%, 81,2% e 61,3% e nei gruppi C del 36,8%, 48,1% e 33,3%. Nei gruppi T e C il CCS (x10 3 ) /ml (media geometrica) è risultato rispettivamente pari a 367 e 1.903 (3° prelievo); 288 e 846 (4° prelievo); 393 e 960 (5° prelievo). Le differenze osservate tra i gruppi T e C per la guarigione batteriologica e per il CCS sono risultate statisticamente significative (P&lt;0,001) nei tre prelievi