5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) continuous intravenous infusion compared with bolus administration. Final results of a randomised trial in metastatic colorectal cancer

The aim of this Phase III, balanced randomised trial was to compare continuous intravenous infusion (CVI) of 5-FU with bolus (B) administration for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). One hundred and fifty-five non-pretreated patients were randomised to receive CVI 5-FU at a dose of 750 mg/m2/day (d), 7 d every 21 d (n = 77), or bolus 5-FU 500 mg/m2/d x 5 d every 28 d (n = 78). Incremental dose escalation at 50 mg per step was recommended in the absence of toxicity. All the patients had measurable metastatic disease (M), particularly, liver and a good performance status (WHO grade 0-1). Dose intensity was significantly higher in CVI than in the bolus group: 1369 mg/m2/week versus 558 mg/m2/week (P = 0.0001). Grade II-IV stomatitis was more frequent in the CVI group (31% versus 9%; P < 0.0001) as was hand and foot syndrome (14% versus 3%; P < 0.001). Diarrhoea (22% versus 12%) and grade III granulocytopenia (2% versus 6%) were comparable. Responses were more frequent in the CVI (26%) than in the bolus group (13%) (P < 0.04); progression-free survival was higher for the CVI group (P = 0.04), but there was no statistical difference in overall survival (median: 10 months (m) compared to 9 m), and 1 year survival (SD) 42% (6%) versus 40% (6%). In the multivariate analysis, survival was better for patients with a good PS, well-differentiated adenocarcinomas and a primary tumour without serosal extension. In conclusion, with a higher dose intensity, CVI 5-FU improved tumour control, but not overall survival.     

Combining Points and Tangents into Parabolic Polygons

Image and geometry processing applications estimate the local geometry of objects using information localized at points. They usually consider information about the tangents as a side product of the points coordinates. This work proposes parabolic polygons as a model for discrete curves, which intrinsically combines points and tangents. This model is naturally affine invariant, which makes it particularly adapted to computer vision applications. As a direct application of this affine invariance, this paper introduces an affine curvature estimator that has a great potential to improve computer vision tasks such as matching and registering. As a proof-of-concept, this work also proposes an affine invariant curve reconstruction from point and tangent data.     

Quantitative characterisation of Au–Co–PTFE composite coatings by differential enthalpic analysis

Energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) have been previously used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of PTFE in gold–PTFE composite coatings. The inclusion rate of PTFE particles in the composite coating is determined close to the surface by these two methods and particularly within a thickness of 0.5 μm by EDS. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is investigated for a direct determination of the inclusion rate of PTFE, independently of the depth in the coating. The gold matrix allows us to release from metal oxidation and, associated with PTFE (chemically inert), to isolate easily the composite coating by dissolution of the metal support. Correlation is made between the DSC and EDS methods previously proposed as detection tools.     

High Performance GPU‐based Proximity Queries using Distance Fields

Proximity queries such as closest point computation and collision detection have many applications in computer graphics, including computer animation, physics‐based modelling, augmented and virtual reality. We present efficient algorithms for proximity queries between a closed rigid object and an arbitrary, possibly deformable, polygonal mesh. Using graphics hardware to densely sample the distance field of the rigid object over the arbitrary mesh, we compute minimal proximity and collision response information on the graphics processing unit (GPU) using blending and depth buffering, as well as parallel reduction techniques, thus minimizing the readback bottleneck. Although limited to image‐space resolution, our algorithm provides high and steady performance when compared with other similar algorithms. Proximity queries between arbitrary meshes with hundreds of thousands of triangles and detailed distance fields of rigid objects are computed in a few milliseconds at high‐sampling resolution, even in situations with large overlap.     

Output power density of 5.1/mm at 18 GHz with an AlGaN/GaN HEMT on Si substrate

Microwave frequency capabilities of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) on high resistive silicon (111) substrate for power applications are demonstrated in this letter. A maximum dc current density of 1 A/mm and an extrinsic current gain cutoff frequency (F/sub T/) of 50 GHz are achieved for a 0.25 /spl mu/m gate length device. Pulsed and large signal measurements show the good quality of the epilayer and the device processing. The trapping phenomena are minimized and consequently an output power density of 5.1 W/mm is reached at 18 GHz on a 2/spl times/50/spl times/0.25 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ HEMT with a power gain of 9.1dB.     

Channel Shape and Turbulence Issues in Flood Flow Hydraulics

This paper reports the results of some further reflections by the writer on the nature of the flow physics in flooded channels where the floodplain flow overtops that in the main channel. A lot of the early conclusions drawn on this issue come from results of the Flood Channel Facility (FCF) program carried in the United Kingdom in the 1990s, but also from numerical work such as that of the writer. This paper takes this work further and reports that the FCF geometry may have led to conclusions that are dependent on a channel layout that is not fully representative of nature. It indicates that the flow structure evolves as a function of the channel width-to-depth ratio, and requires different turbulence model approaches to be computed accurately as this happens. In particular the standard k–ε is shown to become less adequate. It is also shown that the bank slope is influential in determining the flow structure, and that the flatter the slope the more likely it is to present increasing difficulties for modeling.     

Deposition of thick and 50% porous YpSZ layer by spraying nitrate solution in a low pressure plasma reactor

The deposition of Yttria partially Stabilized Zirconia (YpSZ) for Thermal Barrier Coating application (TBC) is a current topic of interest. The TBC must exhibit high thickness (100–300 μm), vertical cracks in order to be a strain tolerant layer, and high porosity to decrease the thermal conductivity. In this paper, a solution of nitrate salt is introduced into a low pressure plasma discharge (600 Pa, 80–220 W) to obtain YpSZ layers.Several analytical techniques were used to study the characteristics and the stability of the YpSZ layers obtained in the low pressure plasma reactor. Optical emission spectroscopy indicated that the oxidant chemistry in the plasma is responsible for the formation of the oxide and the elimination of the nitrates at low temperature (T < 300 °C on the layer). SEM, water porosimetry, thermal diffusivity and XRD analyses were performed to study the effect of the parameters (power of the plasma discharge, post-treatment, heat treatment) on the structure, the morphology and the stability of YpSZ coatings. For example, it was observed that YpSZ is 50% porous in all cases and that the nanostructures of the coating resist against high temperature conditions (1200 °C/5 h).     

Building blocks for a two-frequency laser lidar-radar: a preliminary study

A new principle of lidar-radar is theoretically and experimentally investigated. The proposed architecture is based on the use of an rf modulation of the emitted light beam and a direct detection of the backscattered intensity. Use of a radar-processing chain allows one to obtain range and Doppler measurements with the advantages of lidar spatial resolution. We calculate the maximum range of this device, taking into account different possible improvements. In particular, we show that use of a pulsed two-frequency laser and a spatially multimode optical preamplification of the backscattered light leads to calculated ranges larger than 20 km, including the possibility of both range and Doppler measurements. The building blocks of this lidar-radar are tested experimentally: The radar processing of an rf-modulated backscattered cw laser beam is demonstrated at 532 nm, illustrating the Doppler and identification capabilities of the system. In addition, signal-to-noise ratio improvement by optical pre-amplification is demonstrated at 1.06 microm. Finally, a two-frequency passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is developed. This laser then permits two-frequency pulses with tunable pulse duration (from 18 to 240 ns) and beat frequency (from 0 to 2.65 GHz) to be obtained.     

Net N immobilisation during the biodegradation of mucilage in soil as affected by repeated mineral and organic fertilisation

Repeated fertilisation of crops with manure commonly increases both the amount and the quality of soil organic matter, the mineralisation of which strongly determines the availability of N to plants. In the rhizosphere, the microbial mineralisation/immobilisation of N is enhanced due to rhizodeposition (release of organic compounds from roots). In this work, we studied N transformations during incubation of maize root mucilage in soils that had been previously fertilized with composted pig manure or with ammonium nitrate for 7 years. Our work revealed mucilage was rapidly mineralised (average half-life of 3 days), inducing a rapid N immobilisation of 94 mg N g⁻¹ of mucilage C, followed by a slow remineralisation. Fertilisation with manure induced a persistent stimulation of the soil organic matter mineralisation, leading to an enhanced content of soil inorganic N (+23% in 58 days of incubation). Due to this stimulation of microbial activity in the soil fertilized with manure, the decrease in inorganic N during the biodegradation of mucilage lasted a shorter time as compared to the mineral fertilisation. However, the type of fertilisation did not significantly change the amount of N immobilised.     

Families of automata characterizing context-sensitive languages

In the hierarchy of infinite graph families, rational graphs are defined by rational transducers with labelled final states. This paper proves that their traces are precisely context-sensitive languages and that this result remains true for synchronized rational graphs.Received: 17 December 2003, Published online: 27 December 2004