Mitoxantrone is superior to doxorubicin in a multiagent weekly regimen for patients older than 60 with high-grade lymphoma: results of a BNLI randomized trial of PAdriaCEBO versus PMitCEBO

A prospective, multicenter, randomized trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy and toxicity of adriamycin with mitoxantrone within a 6-drug combination chemotherapy regimen for elderly patients (older than 60 years) with high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HGL) given for a minimum of 8 weeks. A total of 516 previously untreated patients aged older than 60 years were randomized to receive 1 of 2 anthracycline-containing regimens: adriamycin, 35 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on day 1 (n = 259), or mitoxantrone, 7 mg/m2 IV on day 1 (n = 257); with prednisolone, 50 mg orally on days 1 to 14; cyclophosphamide, 300 mg/m2 IV on day 1; etoposide, 150 mg/m2 IV on day 1; vincristine, 1.4 mg/m2 IV on day 8; and bleomycin, 10 mg/m2 IV on day 8. Each 2-week cycle was administered for a minimum of 8 weeks in the absence of progression. Forty-three patients were ineligible for analysis. The overall and complete remission rates were 78% and 60% for patients receiving PMitCEBO and 69% and 52% for patients receiving PAdriaCEBO (P = .05, P = .12, respectively). Overall survival was significantly better with PMitCEBO than PAdriaCEBO (P = .0067). However, relapse-free survival was not significantly different (P = .16). At 4 years, 28% of PAdriaCEBO patients and 50% of PMitCEBO patients were alive (P = .0001). Ann Arbor stage III/IV, World Health Organization performance status 2-4, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase negatively influenced overall survival from diagnosis. In conclusion, the PMitCEBO 8-week combination chemotherapy regimen offers high response rates, durable remissions, and acceptable toxicity in elderly patients with HGL

Elastic and Mechanical Properties of Human Dentin

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67340/2/10.1177_00220345580370041801.pd

Extensional rupture of model non-Newtonian fluid filaments

We present molecular dynamics computer simulations of filaments of model non-Newtonian liquid stretched in a uniaxial deformation to the point of breaking. The liquid consists of Lennard-Jones monomers bound into chains of 100 monomers by nonlinear springs, and several different constant velocity and constant strain rate deformations are considered. Generally we observe nonuniform extensions originating in an interplay between the stretching forces and elastic and capillary restoring mechanisms, leading to highly uneven shapes and alternating stretched and unstretched regions of liquid. Except at the fastest pulling speeds, the filaments continue to thin indefinitely and break only when depleted of molecules, rather than common viscoelastic rupture mechanisms.Comment: 7 pages text, 14 pages (eps) figure

Large Kinetic Power in FRII Radio Jets

We investigate the total kinetic powers (L_{j}) and ages (t_{age}) of powerful jets of four FR II radio sources (Cygnus A, 3C 223, 3C 284, and 3C 219) by the detail comparison of the dynamical model of expanding cocoons with observed ones. It is found that these sources have quite large kinetic powers with the ratio of L_{j} to the Eddington luminosity (L_{Edd}) resides in $0.02 <L_{j}/L_{Edd} <10$. Reflecting the large kinetic powers, we also find that the total energy stored in the cocoon (E_{c}) exceed the energy derived from the minimum energy condition (E_{min}): $2< E_{c}/E_{min} <160$. This implies that a large amount of kinetic power is carried by invisible components such as thermal leptons (electron and positron) and/or protons.Comment: 5 pages, accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Confinement and Chiral Symmetry Breaking via Domain-Like Structures in the QCD Vacuum

A qualitative mechanism for the emergence of domain structured background gluon fields due to singularities in gauge field configurations is considered, and a model displaying a type of mean field approximation to the QCD partition function based on this mechanism is formulated. Estimation of the vacuum parameters (gluon condensate, topological susceptibility, string constant and quark condensate) indicates that domain-like structures lead to an area law for the Wilson loop, nonzero topological susceptibility and spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry. Gluon and ghost propagators in the presence of domains are calculated explicitly and their analytical properties are discussed. The Fourier transforms of the propagators are entire functions and thus describe confined dynamical fields.Comment: RevTeX, 48 pages (32 pages + Appendices A-E), new references added [1,2,4,5] and minor formulae corrected for typographical error

M-theory dark matter

The phenomenological implications of the eleven dimensional limit of $M$-theory (strongly coupled $E_8\times E_8$) are investigated. In particular we calculate the supersymmetric particle spectrum subject to constraints of correct electroweak symmetry breaking and the requirement that the lightest supersymmetric particle provides the dark matter of the universe. We also calculate direct detection event rates of the lightest neutralino relevant for non-baryonic dark matter experiments. The modulation effect, due to Earth's annual motion is also calculated.Comment: LaTeX file, 30 pages including 12 figures;v2 typos fixed and references adde

Effect of some metal chlorides on the transformation of pyrite to pyrrhotite

Includes bibliographical references (p. 11-12)

Time of ovulation and artificial insemination following superovulation in the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

The southern hairy-nosed (SHN) wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) is an ideal model for developing assisted reproductive techniques (ART) which may be used to increase the population size of its critically endangered sister species, the northern hairy-nosed (NHN) wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii). Previously in SHN wombats, we demonstrated that multiple follicles are recruited and maturation to metaphase II occurs in 37 % of follicular oocytes recovered after treatment with 14. 3 mg porcine FSH (pFSH) every 12 h for 7 days, followed by a single 25 mg pLH injection 12 h later (DRUERY et al. 2003). The aims of this study were (1) to determine the timing of ovulation after superovulation and (2) to attempt artificial insemination (AI) after superovulation to produce live offspring. Six captive female wombats had their ovaries stimulated using the 7-day pFSH/pLH treatment protocol described above, and the timing of ovulation in relation to the pLH injection was determined using repeated laparoscopic examination (3 hourly). Ovulations were first observed 36 h after pLH injection (1 out of 33 mature follicles) and most follicles greater than 5 mm (39/51) had ovulated by 48 h post-pLH. Progesterone levels increased slowly after ovulation, indicating the presence of a luteal phase. This ovulation window was then used to time the delivery of semen by intra-uterine Al (IUAI) in SHN wombat females. Nine females were treated with the same pFSH/pLH protocol and inseminated 34h after the pLH injection with electro-ejaculated sperm (range 1.5 - 3.0 x 10 /uterus). Females were examined using ultrasound and laparoscopy on -day 18 post-IUAI for evidence of pregnancy and monitored for births at hourly intervals for 48 h from the expected time of parturition. Two pouch checks were then made at weekly intervals after the expected time of birth had _passed. At the time of AI these females responded to pFSH by producing multiple ovanan follicles. By day 17 - 18 post-IUAI, laparoscupic observations of enlarged uteri and ultrasonographic images of structures resembling gestational sacs strongly suggested up to five females were pregnant. However, no live births were observed. The exact point at which embryo viability was compromised was not determined. This study has confirmed successful ovulation using the pFSH/pLH protocol and determined the window for ovulation in female SHN wombats to be 36 - 48 h post­pLH injection. Further refinement of the insemination procedure is now required to increase fertilisation rates and improve post-conception survival, development and successful parturition of wombat neonates

Application of Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis to Determine γ-ray-induced Double-strand Breaks in Yeast Chromosomal Molecules

The frequency of DNA double-strand breaks (dsb) was determined in yeast cells exposed to γ-rays under anoxic conditions. Genomic DNA of treated cells was separated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, and two different approaches for the evaluation of the gels were employed: (1) The DNA mass distribution profile obtained by electrophoresis was compared to computed profiles, and the number of DSB per unit length was then derived in terms of a fitting procedure; (2) hybridization of selected chromosomes was performed, and a comparison of the hybridization signals in treated and untreated samples was then used to derive the frequency of dsb

On the Reliability of Meta-Analytic Reviews

The article addresses the issue of intercoder reliability in meta-analyses. The current practice of reporting a single, mean intercoder agreement score in meta-analytic research leads to systematic bias and overestimates the true reliability. An alternative approach is recommended in which average intercoder agreement scores or other reliability statistics are calculated within clusters of coded variables. These clusters form a hierarchy in which the correctness of coding decisions at a given level of the hierarchy is contingent on decisions made at higher levels. Two separate studies of intercoder agreement in meta-analysis are presented to assess the validity of the model.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67840/2/10.1177_0193841X9301700303.pd