DNA flow cytometric analysis in patients with operable non-small cell lung carcinoma

Fresh surgical specimens of tumors from 60 patients with previously untreated non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who underwent radical surgery between January 1991 and October 1992 were investigated by means of flow-cytometry. The nuclear DNA measurement was carried out using a Facscan (Becton, Dickinson, USA). Analysis of the DNA content was performed in all 60 patients whilst cell cycle analysis was possible in 41 cases (68.3%). Forty-two of the 60 cases (70%) were aneuploid and 18 (30%) were diploid. The overall mean value of DNA index was 1.5. Diploid NSCLC were compared with aneuploid tumors: no significant differences in age distribution, sex ratio, histology and staging were found between the two groups (P > 0.05). An S-phase proportion of more than 10% was found in 30 out of 41 patients (73.2%). Early cancer deaths were reported in four patients (6.6%): the aneuploidy rate was very close in these patients (75%) and in the remaining surviving patients (69.6%). An S-phase proportion of more than 10% was found in 100% of early cancer deaths and in 70.2% of the remaining cases; such a difference seems of some importance although it was not statistically significant (P = 0.071). In conclusion, flow-cytometry studies seem to be a useful tool in the understanding of the biological behavior of patients with NSCLC. In the present prospective report there were no significant correlations between DNA measurements and clinical outcome, however, these results suggest that a high S-phase proportion should be seen as a possible prognostic indicator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reaction steady states and stationary states in modelling semi-batch enzyme hydrolysis

Dimensionless material balance equations describing an uninhibited enzyme hydrolysis process in a semi-batch reactor (i.e. fed-batch reactor) are formulated; numerical solution of these equations provided concentration profiles of the enzyme-substrate complex by using published kinetic parameters. The unrestricted values obtained are compared with estimates based separately on the reaction steady state and stationary state assumptions. Results are discussed in terms of the enzyme/substrate inventory used and it is found that the reaction steady state is a satisfactory approximation only when this ratio is sufficiently small. The stationary state may be a better approximation at other values, particularly when enzyme is added to substrate or when an empty tank is being filled. Reaction yields from semi-batch and batch operations are compared. Processing takes longer in the semi-batch operations and complete conversions are only practical in this mode when enzyme is added to substrate.     

Compatibilizing PPE and PA6 with nitro-phthalimide derivatives

Compatibilization of poly(2,6-dimethyl (PPE) with 1,4 phenylene-ether) PA6 has been achieved in two steps: first, (PPE) was functionalized with N-methyl-4-nitro-phthalimide; then, functionalized PPE was allowed to react, by melt blending, with the amine end group of PA6, giving a trans-imidation product. The reaction path was followed by torque measurements in a Brabender apparatus and the products characterized by infrared (i.r.) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The above PPE/PA6 blends, modified with a suitable rubbery component (Kraton G), showed a remarkable Izod impact strength value, compared to the uncompatibilized mixture (170 versus 30 Jm^–1). The maximum impact values were obtained with 1.65% functionalized PPE.     

The Air is Always Cleaner on the Other Side: Race,Space, and Ambient Air Toxics Exposures in California

Abstract: Environmental justice advocates have recently focused attention on cumulative exposure in minority neighborhoods due to multiple sources of pollution. This article uses U.S. EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) for 1996 to examine environmental inequality in California, a state that has been a recent innovator in environmental justice policy. We first estimate potential lifetime cancer risks from mobile and stationary sources. We then consider the distribution of these risks using both simple comparisons and a multivariate model in which we control for income, land use, and other explanatory factors, as well as spatial correlation. We find large racial disparities in California's “riskscape” as well as inequalities by other factors and suggest several implications for environmental and land use policy.     

Philadelphia obtains useful information from its customers about taste and odour quality.

Customers are sensitive to the flavour of water. Customers evaluate drinking water based on their expectations, on experiences with their usual drinking water and on experiences with alternative waters. The Philadelphia Water Department provides one example of success in developing a better understanding of customer perceptions and attitudes about tap water taste and odour. Philadelphia found that customers do communicate in ways that water utilities can understand. Water utilities can enhance that communication and collect useful data. In addition, water utilities can characterise their tap water flavour, track it for changes and correlate changes to customer complaints.     

Synthesis and properties of zinc nanoparticles: The role and prospects of radiation chemistry in the development of modern nanotechnology

Zinc-containing nanoparticles stable in the liquid phase are synthesized by the radiation chemical reduction of zinc ions in solutions of inverse micelles. The effects of the absorbed radiation dose and the size of the micelle water pool on the spectral characteristics of samples are studied. The HPLC and electron microscopy results indicate that the composition of nanoparticles synthesized depends on the salt nature. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Revina, E.V. Oksentyuk, A.A. Fenin, 2007, published in Zashchita Metallov, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 6, pp. 613–618.     

Invariance and polynomial design of strategies in the linear-quadratic game

A new algorithm to solve the H ^∞ control problem in the case of full information was presented. It combines the spectral and matrix methods. The polynomial Lur’e-Riccati operator was introduced. Parametrization of all solutions of the controlled plant equation by hidden variables was presented within the framework of the J.C. Willems behavioral approach. The kernel of the polynomial Lur’e-Riccati operator was decomposed into the direct sum of subspaces that are similar to the Jordan blocks. The saddle point of the linear-quadratic game which was found by V.A. Yakubovich in 1970 was shown to provide solution to the H ^∞ control problem for a considerable class of controlled plants.     

Ultrasound‐activated Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile with carbonylic compounds catalysed by alkaline‐doped saponites

α,β‐Unsaturated nitriles have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of a carbonylic compound with malononitrile, assisted by sonochemical irradiation. Two alkaline‐promoted clays (Li⁺‐ and Cs⁺‐exchanged saponites) have been employed as catalysts. The influence of the carbonylic compound (benzaldehyde or cyclohexanone) and the use of a solvent on the catalytic activity have been studied. Remarkable increase in the conversion values has been found when the reaction is activated by ultrasound, as compared with the thermal activation. In this green, solvent‐free procedure, α,β‐unsaturated nitriles have been produced in very high yields (97%) when the Cs⁺‐saponite is used as catalyst. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry