Acute leukemia of childhood: A single institution's experience

The aim of this study was to investigate distribution of immunophenotypic and cytogenetic features of childhood acute leukemia (AL) in the cohort of 239 newly diagnosed patients registered at the leading pediatric oncohematology center in the country during a six-year period (1996-2002). With approximately 60-70% of all childhood AL cases in Serbia and Montenegro being diagnosed and treated in this institution the used data represent a valid research sample to draw conclusions for entire country. On the basis of five phenotypic markers, the distribution of immunological subtypes was as follows: 169 (70.7%) expressed B-cell marker CD19 (137 were CD10 positive and 32 CD10 negative), 37 (15.5%) belonged to T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (cyCD3 positive), and 33 (13.8%) were acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) (CD13 positive and/or CD33 positive in the absence of lymphoid-associated antigens). The ratio of males and females was 1.5:1. Most of the cases were between the ages of 2 and 4, and were predominantly B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cases. Another peak of age distribution was observed at the age of 7. The frequency of T-ALL (18% of ALL) was similar to that reported for Mediterranean countries: France (19.4%), Greece (28.1%), Southern Italy (28.3%), and Bulgaria (28.0%). Cytogenetic analyses were performed in 193 patients: 164 ALL and 29 AML. Normal karyotype was found in 57% of ALL and in 55% of AML patients, while cytogenetic abnormalities including structural, numerical, and complex chromosomal rearrangements were found in 43% of ALL and in 45% of AML patients. Our results represent a contribution to epidemiological aspects of childhood leukemia studies

Katalitičko delovanje sumporne kiseline na morfologiju elektrohemijski dobijenog bakarnog praha

The subject of the research is influence of sulfuric acid on morphology of electrochemically obtained copper powder during galvanostatic electrolysis mode. In this paper electrodeposition of copper powder from sulphate electrolyte was carried out. Electrolytes with three different concentrations of Cu2+ (7 g/dm3, 18 g/dm3 and 33 g/dm3) were used, each in combination with three different concentrations of H2SO4 (100 g/dm3, 150 g/dm3 and 200 g/dm3), so that copper powder was deposited from nine electrolytes. Copper wire with surface area of 1cm2 was used as cathode, and copper anode in the form of metal sheet was pressed against the wall of electrochemical cell that had volume of 500 cm³. Experiments were carried out at room temperature, and electrolyte stirring was performed using a magnetic stirrer. Copper powder was deposited galvanostatically at current densities of j = 1500 A/m2, j=2000 A/m2 and j=2500 A/m2. Produced copper powder was removed from cathode every three minutes. All the characteristics of powder depend on the size and shape (morphology) of particles and they are mutually correlated. Research of morphology and size of particle was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Increase of H2SO4 concentration causes increase in branching of copper powder. It was concluded that the size of copper powder grains reduces with the increase in concentration of H2SO4.Predmet istraživanja je uticaj sumporne kiseline na morfologiju elektrohemijski dobijenog bakarnog praha pri galvanostatskom režimu elektrolize. U ovom radu je vršeno elektrohemijsko taloženje bakarnog praha iz sulfatnih elektrolita. Korišćeni su elektroliti sa tri koncentracije Cu2+ (7 g/dm3, 18 g/dm3 i 33 g/dm3) i svaka u kombinaciji sa tri koncentracije H2SO4 (100 g/dm3, 150 g/dm3 i 200 g/dm3), tako da je bakarni prah taložen iz devet elektrolita. Kao katoda je korišćena bakarna žica površine 1cm2, a bakarna anoda u obliku lima je bila priljubljena uz zid elektrohemijske ćelije, zapremine 500 cm³. Eksperimenti su izvođeni na sobnoj temperaturi, a mešanje elektrolita vršeno je pomoću magnetne mešalice. Bakarni prah taložen je galvanostatski pri gustinama struje od: j=1500 A/m2, j=2000 A/m2 i j=2500 A/m2. Proizvedeni bakarni prah je uklanjan sa katode svaka tri minuta. Sve osobine praha zavise od oblika i dimenzija čestica (morfologije) i međusobno su povezane. Ispitivanje morfologije i veličine čestica vršeno je pomoću skenirajuće elektronske mikroskopije (SEM). Sa povećanjem koncentracije H2SO4, povećava se i razgranatost bakarnog praha. Utvrđeno je da se veličina čestica smanjuje sa povećanjem koncentracije H2SO4

Methods and devices for registration of road microprofiles

The vehicle presents a dynamic system performing vibrations under the influence of certain stimulus. Information driver receives from the environment and the vehicle is: macro and micro texture of the road, vibrations and noise of the vehicle's subsystem and so on. The road is usually evaluated according to its macro and micro texture. Microroughness of the roads is of great importance for the study of vehicle's oscillatory movements, reliable computation of vehicle systems, safety etc. Therefore, a special attention must be given to them during the analysis of dynamics, strength and safety of the vehicle. Microroughness that characterize the microprofile of the road in longitudinal and transverse direction have random character and can be established by experimental study of the road with utilization of devices. Accordingly, a variety of devices have been developed for measurement of macro- and micro profiles of the road as well as numerous mathematical and experimental procedures, which with certain approximation satisfy the given requirements, and with the increasing use of computer technology

Productive characteristics and body measurements of alpine goats raised under smallholder production systems in central Serbia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate present level of productivity and determine linear body traits of Alpine goats raised in Serbia on smallholder farms. Data were collected from 22 smallholder farms located in Belgrade district, with total of 330 purebred Alpine does 2-9 years of age, 145 yearling does and 476 kids. Traits measured were: body weight of does, body weight of kids at birth, 30 days of age and at weaning (90-120 days), prolificacy of mature and yearling (primiparous) does, six linear body traits of does (wither height, body length, hearth girth, chest depth, chest width, pelvic width) and milk production (milk yield, milk fat and milk protein content). The analysis showed the average body weight of does to be 54.96 kg, while the average body weight of kids at birth, 30 days of age and weaning was 2.73 kg, 8.7 kg and 18.3 kg., respectively. Prolificacy was 144% in mature and 125% in yearling does. Measurements of linear body traits were: wither height 67.87 cm, body length 71.92 cm, hearth girth 81.79 cm, chest depth 32.93, chest width 21.49 cm and pelvic width 17.63 cm. Among dairy production traits, following results were obtained: lactation length 220.73 days, total milk yield 531.66 kg, milk fat content 3.33% and milk protein content 3.16%. It was concluded that the overall productivity of Alpine goats raised under smallholder production systems in Serbia is satisfying. Giving the fact that these animals are usually kept under poor conditions, many of these productive traits are very good

Effect of the Surface on the Electron Quantum Size Levels and Electron g-Factor in Spherical Semiconductor Nanocrystals

The structure of the electron quantum size levels in spherical nanocrystals is studied in the framework of an eight--band effective mass model at zero and weak magnetic fields. The effect of the nanocrystal surface is modeled through the boundary condition imposed on the envelope wave function at the surface. We show that the spin--orbit splitting of the valence band leads to the surface--induced spin--orbit splitting of the excited conduction band states and to the additional surface--induced magnetic moment for electrons in bare nanocrystals. This additional magnetic moment manifests itself in a nonzero surface contribution to the linear Zeeman splitting of all quantum size energy levels including the ground 1S electron state. The fitting of the size dependence of the ground state electron g factor in CdSe nanocrystals has allowed us to determine the appropriate surface parameter of the boundary conditions. The structure of the excited electron states is considered in the limits of weak and strong magnetic fields.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Low Temperature Growth of In2O3and InN Nanocrystals on Si(111) via Chemical Vapour Deposition Based on the Sublimation of NH4Cl in In

Indium oxide (In2O3) nanocrystals (NCs) have been obtained via atmospheric pressure, chemical vapour deposition (APCVD) on Si(111) via the direct oxidation of In with Ar:10% O2at 1000 °C but also at temperatures as low as 500 °C by the sublimation of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) which is incorporated into the In under a gas flow of nitrogen (N2). Similarly InN NCs have also been obtained using sublimation of NH4Cl in a gas flow of NH3. During oxidation of In under a flow of O2the transfer of In into the gas stream is inhibited by the formation of In2O3around the In powder which breaks up only at high temperatures, i.e.T > 900 °C, thereby releasing In into the gas stream which can then react with O2leading to a high yield formation of isolated 500 nm In2O3octahedrons but also chains of these nanostructures. No such NCs were obtained by direct oxidation forTG < 900 °C. The incorporation of NH4Cl in the In leads to the sublimation of NH4Cl into NH3and HCl at around 338 °C which in turn produces an efficient dispersion and transfer of the whole In into the gas stream of N2where it reacts with HCl forming primarily InCl. The latter adsorbs onto the Si(111) where it reacts with H2O and O2leading to the formation of In2O3nanopyramids on Si(111). The rest of the InCl is carried downstream, where it solidifies at lower temperatures, and rapidly breaks down into metallic In upon exposure to H2O in the air. Upon carrying out the reaction of In with NH4Cl at 600 °C under NH3as opposed to N2, we obtain InN nanoparticles on Si(111) with an average diameter of 300 nm

Radiation-induced synthesis and swelling properties of p(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/itaconic acid/oligo (ethylene glycol) acrylate) terpolymeric hydrogels

Since it is presumed that by incorporation of pH-responsive (IA) and temperature-responsive (OEGA) co-monomers, it is possible to prepare P(HEMA/IA/OEGA) hydrogels with dual (pH and thermo) responsiveness, the main purpose of our study is to investigate the influence of different mole fractions of IA and especially OEGA on the diversity of the swelling properties of the obtained hydrogels. For that reason, a series of terpolymeric hydrogels with different mole ratios of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), itaconic acid (IA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylates (OEGA) was synthesised by gamma radiation. The obtained hydrogels were characterised by swelling studies in the wide pH (2.2-9.0) and temperature range (20-70 degrees C), confirming dual (pH and thermo) responsiveness and a large variation in the swelling capability. It was observed that the equilibrium swelling of P(HEMA/IA/OEGA) hydrogels, for a constant amount of IA, increased progressively with an increase in OEGA share. On the other hand, the dissociation of carboxyl groups from IA occurs at pH GT 4; therefore, small mole fractions of IA render good pH sensitivity and a large increase in the swelling capacity of these hydrogels at higher pH values. Additional characterisation of structure and properties was conducted by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical measurements, confirming that the inherent properties of P(HEMA/IA/OEGA) hydrogels can be significantly tuned by variation in their composition. According to all presented, it seems that the obtained hydrogels can be a beneficial synergetic combination for controlled delivery of bioactive molecules such as drugs, peptides, proteins, etc. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.12th Tihany Symposium on Radiation Chemistry, Aug 27-Sep 01, 2011, Zalakaros, Hungar

Cytogenetic diepoxybutane sensitivity in Serbian children with Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited disorder with aplastic anemia, cancer susceptibility, and hypersensitivity to alkylating agents such as diepoxybutane (DEB). The DEB test is used to screen for FA among patients with bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFS). From February of 2004 to May of 2006, 29 children with BMFS were diagnosed and treated at the Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia (MCHIS). In the examined group, five out of 29 patients (17.2%) were found to have increased DEB-induced chromosome breakage (0.58-2.15 vs. 0.00-0.20 breaks/cell; p&lt;0.001) with no overlap. Our results suggest the importance of this analysis for differential diagnosis and adequate therapy of FA among patients with BMFS