Overlapping community detection using core label propagation algorithm and belonging functions

Applied Intelligence - The community detection in complex networks has become a major field of research. Disjoint community detection deals often with getting a partition of nodes where every node...     

Elastic-Property Measurements on CVI SiC/SiC Minicomposites by Acoustic Microscopy

In situ elastic properties of the fiber and matrix in composites obtained via chemical vapor infiltration/chemical vapor deposition (CVI-CVD) have been determined using acoustic microscopy. An unusually high frequency was used to attain the resolution that was required by the structure and small size of the constituents in these nonhomogeneous materials. A coupling liquid was prepared with acoustic properties that were chosen with consideration of the high frequency and the material characteristics. Local measurements on the fibers and matrix were achieved by studying the acoustic signature that was processed on very small areas. The elastic modulus of the fibers and matrices was deduced from the velocity measurements.     

Effects of gabapentin on the different components of peripheral and central neuropathic pain syndromes: a pilot study

Anticonvulsants are widely used in the treatment of neuropathic pain, and are assumed to act preferentially on lancinating, shooting pain. In the present study, the effects of gabapentin, a novel anticonvulsant, were evaluated systematically on both spontaneous and evoked pain in 18 patients with peripheral nerve injuries or central lesions. Gabapentin was administered orally in gradually increasing doses up to a maximum of 2,400 mg/day. Evaluations of spontaneous ongoing and paroxysmal pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia were performed at the beginning of the study ('baseline') and 6 weeks after the steady-state dose had been reached. Quantitative sensory tests were used to measure detection and pain thresholds to mechanical and thermal stimuli and the responses to suprathreshold stimuli. Gabapentin induced a moderate and statistically significant relief of ongoing spontaneous pain and was particularly effective in reducing paroxysmal pain. A striking finding was the significant effect on brush-induced and cold allodynia. In contrast, no effects were observed on detection and pain thresholds to static mechanical and hot stimuli. Side effects were generally minor and did not interfere with everyday activities. The present study suggests that gabapentin has preferential antihyperalgesic and/or antiallodynic effects, and is equally effective in pain due to peripheral nerve injuries and central lesions.     

Myeloperoxidase: an enzyme involved in intrinsic vincristine resistance in human myeloblastic leukemia

One of the differences between acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is their sensitivity to vincristine. Although vincristine plays an important role in chemotherapeutic regimens for ALL, it does not possess clinically significant activity in AML. Horseradish peroxidase, a heme-centered peroxidase, oxidatively degrades Vinca derivatives and thereby abrogates their cytotoxic activity. This finding suggested that myeloperoxidase (MPO), a heme-centered peroxidase characteristically found in AML and not in ALL, might also degrade vincristine. We first examined the effects of MPO on vincristine in a cell-free system and demonstrated that this enzyme is capable of catalyzing vincristine's oxidative breakdown. We also observed that vincristine is more rapidly degraded in tissue culture by MPO-positive HL-60 cells than by a MPO-negative HL-60 subclone. The degree of MPO activity in these cell lines correlated in a positive manner with their degree of resistance to vincristine's cytotoxic activity. Moreover, the differential resistance to vincristine observed between these cell lines could be increased by increasing the concentration of H2O2 available to the enzyme. These data support the hypothesis that MPO-mediated oxidation of vincristine accounts in part for this drug's lack of activity in AML.     

Osteoid osteoma of the middle ear. Review of the literature apropos of the first described case

In the submitted review the authors present basic information on immunization against viral hepatitis B (VHB) in patients with chronic renal failure. These patients have a significantly lower response to the vaccine against VHB, due in particular to secondary immunodeficiency. Possible correction of this adverse situation can be achieved by modification of the immunization pattern (type and dosage of vaccine, the period and early time of vaccination, route of administration) and adjuvant immunomodulating therapy.     

Signal processing in the reflective acoustic microscope

We describe a new technique to enhance the image in the scanning acoustic microscope in the reflection mode. We use a 20 ns pulse modulated r.f. signal and a sampling oscilloscope to separate the incident signal from the reflected signal. The resulting image shows up details that are of the order of one micrometre with a good signal/noise ratio. We can further improve this resolution by phase measurements.     

Design of a temperature stable surface-acoustic-wave device on silicon

We show that the SiO2/Si is a suitable surface-acoustic-wave structure for integrated oscillators. By adjusting the thickness of the SiO2, layer we can annul the first-order temperature coefficient of the phase delay. In this case the second-order temperature coefficient of frequency is equal to ?4.5×10?8/(°C)2 and it is close to that of the quartz ST-X.     

A phase II study of interleukin-2 in 49 patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) within cluster M4 of the myeloid section of the Second International Swine CD Workshop, C4 (No. 144) and PM18-7 (No. 192), showed reactivity with thymocytes and among cells of myelomonocytic origin with mature macrophages but not with monocytes and granulocytes. Both mAb recognize a protein showing two bands of 205 kDa and 130 kDa under both reducing and non-reducing conditions. Although epitope mapping with these mAb could not be performed, this cluster received the SWC9 designation.