Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine maintenance therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: dose adjustments by white cell counts or by pharmacokinetic parameters?

In a consecutive study of 14 boys and 17 girls with non-B-cell ALL who were > or = 1 year of age at diagnosis, the degree of myelosuppression during the last year of MTX/6MP maintenance therapy was analyzed in relation to the erythrocyte concentration of MTX polyglutamates and 6-thioguanine nucleotides (E-MTX and E-6TGN, the respective major cytotoxic metabolites of MTX and 6MP). For each patient, E-MTX and E-6TGN levels were measured 2-15 (median, 6) and 2-17 (median, 7) times, respectively. From these measurements, arithmetic means of E-MTX and E-6TGN were calculated (mE-MTX and mE-6TGN, respectively). Since MTX and 6MP probably work synergistically, the product of mE-MTX and mE-6TGN was calculated for each patient (mE-MTX x 6TGN). The degree of myelosuppression was registered as the mean WBC determined following cessation of the therapy minus the mean WBC measured during the therapy (mWBCshift). The mean WBCs measured on therapy (mWBC(on)) and off therapy were highly correlated (r = 0.48, P = 0.009). The median mWBCshift was 2.7 x 10(9)/l (range, 1.4-4.8 x 10(9)/l). In a multivariate regression analysis, the best-fit model to predict the mWBCshift included mE-MTX x 6TGN, age at drug withdrawal, and mWBC in the order given [mWBCshift = 4.3 + 0.00089 x (mE-MTX x 6TGN) - 0.097 x age - 0.41 x mWBC(on); global rs = 0.66, P = 0.0002]. Thus, the patients with higher mE-MTX x 6TGN values, the younger patients, and the patients with the lowest WBC during therapy had the most pronounced degree of myelosuppression as measured by mWBCshift. These results indicate that E-MTX and E-6TGN may give a better reflection of the treatment intensity than do the WBCs alone.     

A new environmental friendly method for the preparation of sugar acids via catalytic oxidation on gold catalysts

A novel and efficient way of producing of aldonic acids is reported. The selective catalytic oxidation of monosaccharides (arabinose, ribose, xylose, lyxose, mannose, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, N-acetyl-glucosamine) and disaccharides (lactose, maltose, cellobiose, melibiose) on Au, Pd and Pt catalysts was investigated. By using the gold catalyst, a total selectivity with respect to aldonic acids and a high catalytic activity for all investigated sugars was found. The reaction conditions for the production of maltobionic and lactobionic acids via oxidation on gold catalysts were optimised. A high long-term stability of two different gold catalysts for the oxidation of maltose and lactose, respectively, was found.     

Quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence in the aggregates of LHCII: steady state fluorescence and picosecond relaxation kinetics

The protein composition, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence emission spectra were studied in solubilized and aggregated LHCII complexes, that were prepared according to two different isolation protocols: (1) by fractionation of cation-depleted thylakoid membranes using the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 according to the procedure of Burke et al. [(1978) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 187, 252-263] or (2) by solubilization with N-beta-dodecyl maltoside (beta-DM) of photosystem II (PSII) membrane fragments in the presence of cations [Irrgang et al. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 178, 207-217]. Based on the analysis of the decay-associated emission spectra measured at 10 and 80 K five long-wavelength chlorophyll species were identified in aggregated LHCII complexes. These five forms are characterized by emission maxima at 681.5, 683, 687, 695, or 702 nm. All of these forms were found in both types of LHCII preparations but the relative amounts and temperature dependency of these species were markedly different in the aggregated LHCII complexes isolated by the two procedures. It was found that these differences cannot be simply explained by effects due to using a less mild detergent as beta-DM or by an ionic influence of Ca2+. Biochemical analysis of the protein composition showed that beta-DM type LHCII consists of all the chlorophyll (Chl)binding proteins belonging to the antenna system of PSII except the CP29 type II gene product (CP29). In contrast, the Triton X-100-solubilized LHCII is highly depleted in CP26 (CP 29 type I gene product) and is contaminated by a variety of unidentified polypeptides. It is proposed that the aggregates of LHCII prepared using Triton X-100 acquire specific spectral and kinetic features due to interaction between the bulk of LHCII subunits and minor protein(s).     

An elementary proof of Sylvester’s double sums for subresultants

In 1853 Sylvester stated and proved an elegant formula that expresses the polynomial subresultants in terms of the roots of the input polynomials. Sylvester’s formula was also recently proved by Lascoux and Pragacz using multi-Schur functions and divided differences. In this paper, we provide an elementary proof that uses only basic properties of matrix multiplication and Vandermonde determinants.     

Towards a distributed multi-agent framework for shared resources scheduling

Nowadays, manufacturers have to share some of their resources with partners due to the competitive economic environment. The management of the availability periods of shared resources causes a problem because it is achieved by the scheduling systems, which assume a local environment where all resources are on the same site. Therefore, distributed scheduling with shared resources is an important research topic. In this communication, we introduce the architecture and behaviour of DSCEP framework (Distributed, Supervisor, Customer, Environment, and Producer) under shared resources situation with disturbances. We are using a simple example of manufacturing system to illustrate the ability of DSCEP framework to solve the shared resources scheduling problem in complex systems.     

13C- and 23Na-NMR investigations on alkali cellulose

Summary Solid state ²³Na- and ¹³C-NMR spectra of alkali cellulose are presented as a function of NaOH-concentration of the steeping lye, steeping temperature and amount of adhering lye (press factor). Results are discussed with regard to chemical binding of NaOH to the cellulose chain in the system cellulose/ NaOH/H₂O.Presented at the 22nd Microsymposium, Characterization of Structure and Dynamics of Macromolecular Systems by NMR Methods, Prague, CSSR, July 20–23,1981     

Reduction of NOx by H2 on WOx-Promoted Pt/Al2O3/SiO2 Catalysts Under O2-Rich Conditions

This work addresses the reduction of NO_x by H₂ under O₂-rich conditions using Al₂O₃/SiO₂-supported Pt catalysts with different loads of WO_x promotor. The samples were thoroughly characterised by N₂ physisorption, temperature-programmed desorption of CO, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, laser raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy with probe molecule CO. The catalytic studies of the samples without WO_x showed pronounced NO_x conversion below 200 °C, whereas highest efficiency was related to small Pt particles. The introduction of WO_x provided increasing deNO_x activity as well as N₂ selectivity. This promoting effect was referred to an additional reaction path at the Pt-WO_x/Al₂O₃/SiO₂ interface, whereas an electronic activation of Pt by strong metal support interaction was excluded.

Graphic Abstract

     

Mechanical and dynamical mechanical properties of chloroprene rubber and cellulose II composites

Vulcanized composites of chloroprene rubber (CR) with cellulose II (Cel II) as a filler were investigated. Cel II, obtained by the coagulation of cellulose xanthate, was incorporated in the rubber by the traditional method. The filler content varied from 0 to 30 phr. For comparison purposes, carbon black (CB)–CR composites were also studied. The CB amount varied from 0 to 45 phr. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties were determined, and the CR composite containing 20 phr of Cel II showed the best set of properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2425–2430, 2004     

Application of K2CO3 catalysts in the coal gasification process using nuclear heat

Conventional gasification processes use coal not only as feedstock to be gasified but also for supply of energy for reaction heat, steam production, and other purposes. With a nuclear high temperature reactor (HTR) as a source for process heat, it is possible to transform the whole of the coal feed into gas. This concept offers advantages over existing gasification processes: saving of coal, as more gas can be produced from coal; less emission of pollutants, as the HTR is used for the production of steam and electricity instead of a coal-fired boiler; and a lower production cost for the gas. However, the process has the disadvantage that the temperature is limited to the outlet temperature (950 °C max) of the helium cooling gas of the HTR. Therefore the possibility of catalytic steam gasification was examined. Model calculations based on experimental results show that use of 3–4 wt% relative to coal of K²CO³ catalyst increases the throughput of a large scale nuclear gasification plant by ≈65%, while gas production costs decrease by ≈15%. Corrosion by catalysts is not significant at low concentration (< 5 wt%) and low temperature (< 900 °C).