Comparison of intensive versus moderate chemotherapy of lymphocytic lymphomas: a progress report

In an Easter Cooperative Oncology Group trial, Cytoxan-prednisone (CP) Induction was compared to BCNU-prednisone (BP) in 273 patients with lymphocytic lymphoma. Response rates were comparable, with 21% achieving complete response and 40%, partial response. Patients with a nodular pattern responded better. Maintenance phase comparing cyclic intensive therapy (BCVP) with intermittent chlorambucil revealed the superiority of BCVP as demonstrated by improvement of the quality of response and somewhat longer remissions. The value of the Rappaport classification in the evaluation of lymphoma chemotherapy results is discussed. It is suggested tha NHL be separated into "favorable" and "unfavorable" groups, based on the presence or absence of nodularity and treatment schedules devised accordingly.     

Chemical basis for interspecific responses to sex pheromones ofTrogoderma species (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Interspecific responses among severalTrogoderma species have been correlated with their pheromone components. The most important component emitted by four of the species is (Z)- or (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecenal, which is not detectable in extracts of macerated beetles. The response to macerated beetles is probably due to the corresponding alcohol and ester. The recency of common origin of seven species is discussed.     

2,6-Dichlorophenol,the sex pheromone of the Rocky Mountain wood tick,Dermacentor andersoni Stiles and the American dog tick,Dermacentor variabilis (Say)

2,6-Dichlorophenol is the only active sex attractant component detected in the extracts of the Rocky Mountain wood tick,Dermacentor andersoni Stiles and the American dog tick,Dermacentor variabilis (Say). It elicits from the male of each species a hierarchy of responses culminating in copulation. This compound probably occurs generally throughout the metastriate Ixodidae. 2,6-Dibromophenol, an artifact, also elicits the same sexual responses from the wood tick, but phenol andp-cresol do not.Supported by grants nos. AI 10,986 and AI 10,987 from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014.     

Plasma polymerization of hexafluoropropylene: Film deposition and structure

Thin, pinhole-free, highly adhering films for advanced technology applications can be deposited through plasma polymerization, a low temperature, solvent-free process. This research studies the influence of plasma environment (power, pressure, and monomer mass flow rate (F_m)) on the plasma polymerization of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) using a common industrial parallel-plate plasma reactor. The deposition and structure of the transparent, yellow, and highly adhering plasma polymerized HFP (PPHFP) film are investigated. The rate of polymerization (R_p) increases with power (W) and reaches a plateau when the plasma changes from energy starved to monomer starved while the rate of etching (R_e) continues to increase. The rate of deposition (R_d), the difference between R_p and R_e, increases with W, reaches a maximum, and then decreases. In a monomer starved plasma R_d increases with F_m or pressure through a more efficient utilization of the energy supplied at a given W or even at a given W/F_m. The abstraction of F and the preferential scission of the C? CF₃ bond can explain the F/C ratio of 1.5, the significant amount of double bonds, and the relative lack of CF₃ in a PPHFP that consists of CF₃, CF₂, and CF groups. A gas phase dominated polymerization produces submicrometer particles some of which agglomerate into spheres. Both the particles and the spheres deposit on the surface and are incorporated into the film with further polymerization. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Field responses of the western pine beetle1 and one of its predators to host- and beetle-produced compounds

The responses of the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brev-icomis LeConte) andTemnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim) to candidate attractants—exo- andendo-brevicomm, frontalin,trans-verbenol, ver-benone, and ponderosa pine turpentine and its major monoterpene components—were quantified by counts of beetles on traps baited with the various attractants, singly and in combinations released simultaneously. Combinations ofexo-brevicomin and frontalin plus a monoterpene or turpentine were the most attractive toD. brevicomis. The responses to these attractant combinations were reduced when verbenone plustrans-verbenol were present. All single compounds and binary mixtures, exceptexo-brevicomin plus frontalin, were much less attractive.exo-Brevicomin was most attractive toT. chlorodia, and this response appeared to decrease when verbenone plustrans-verbenol were present.Coleoptera: Scolytidae.Coleoptera: Trogositidae.This research was supported in part by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in part by grants from the Rockefeller Foundation to the University of California. Commercial enterprises and products are mentioned solely for information, and do not imply endorsement by the sponsoring agencies and organizations.     

Hierarchical structure in LCP/PET blends

The structural hierarchy in injection molded blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and a commercial liquid crystal polymer (LCP), two immiscible polymers, was characterized at various blend compositions. The macroscopic core and skin have a gradient structure and are subdivided into ordered and disordered layers. The sublayers consist of rodlike domains at 25% LCP. The domains become thinner, longer, and more fibril-like with increasing LCP concentration. The interconnection between the LCP domains also becomes more significant at higher LCP concentrations. The highest degree of orientation in the injection direction is at the mold surface and the lowest at the sample center. The LCP orientation reflects the elongational and fountain flow in the mold and increases with increasing LCP concentration. Schematic structural models were used to illustrate the levels of structure in these blends. A minimum exists in the tensile strength, elongation at break, and impact strength with varying blend composition at approximately 50% LCP. The tensile strength of the LCP-rich blends is significantly lowered by the presence of a weldline or an angle between the stress and orientation directions. The unique mechanical properties of the LCP depend on the formation of a highly oriented and highly connected hierarchical structure that does not exist in blends with 75% or less LCP.     

Polymerized high internal‐phase emulsions: Properties and interaction with water

The synthesis and characterization of novel polymerized high internal‐phase emulsions (polyHIPE) materials are described. Homogeneous, highly porous, low‐density, open‐cell crosslinked copolymers were prepared by polymerizing the continuous phase of HIPE containing styrene and varying amounts of 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the homopolymers were similar to the literature values, but the copolymer T_gs were lower than expected. These results indicate that the copolymer composition is richer in 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate than the feed composition. The homopolymer moduli, calculated from the foam moduli, were similar to the literature values. The influence of composition and surface treatment on the water absorbed by the foams was investigated. For example, washing a polyHIPE based on poly(ethylhexyl acrylate) in water at 70°C increased water absorption because of the removal of the residual salt. Adding a fluorinated comonomer to the HIPE reduced hydrophilicity and, thus, water absorption. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2018–2027, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10555     

Pheromonal attraction and allomonal interruption ofIps pini in California by the two enantiomers of ipsdienol

Air containing volatile compounds from around maleIps pini boring in ponderosa pine logs from California was condensed, fractionated by GC, and assayed in the laboratory and field. The only fraction that showed consistent activity in laboratory assays contained a single compound identified as ipsdienol (2-methyl-6-methylene-2,7-octadien-4-ol). Synthetic racemic ipsdienol showed no activity in either the laboratory or field. However, (–)-ipsdienol, the naturally occurring enantiomer, was attractive toI. pini in the laboratory and field, whereas (+)-ipsdienol interrupted the response ofI. pini to a natural source of attraction in field tests. (–)-Ipsdienol is a major component of the attractant pheromone of this species, since its level of activity in laboratory assays was quantitatively comparable to that of the condensed volatiles, and it was as attractive as maleI. pini boring in ponderosa pine in the field. (+)-Ipsdienol is a component of the pheromone of the competing species,I. paraconfusus.(C.B.R.I. Contribution No. 1043.)