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Platinum-induced myelosuppression severely impedes successful chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Hence, it is clinically important to identify the patients who are at high risk for severe toxicity to certain chemotherapy. We first carried out a genome-wide scan of 906?703 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify genetic variants associated with platinum-induced myelosuppression risk in 333 NSCLC patients with chemotherapy. Then, we replicated 24 SNPs that had P<1 × 10-4in another independent cohort of 876 NSCLC patients. With P<0.05 as the criterion of statistical significance, we found that rs13014982 at 2q24.3 and rs9909179 at 17p12 exhibited consistently significant associations with myelosuppression risk in both the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) scan and the replication stage (rs13014982: odds ratio (OR)=0.55, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.41–0.74, P=7.29 × 10-5for GWAS scan and OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.65–0.93, P=0.006 for replication stage; rs9909179: OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.37–0.70, P=4.60 × 10-5for GWAS scan and OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.68–0.99, P=0.040 for replication stage; both in additive model). In combined samples of genome-wide scan and replication samples, the minor alleles of rs13014982 and rs9909179 remained significant associations with the decreased risk of myelosuppression (rs13014982: OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.61–0.83, P=1.36 × 10-5; rs9909179: OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.65–0.89, P=0.001). Rs13014982 at 2q24.3 and rs9909179 at 17p12 might be independent susceptibility markers for platinum-induced myelosuppression risk in NSCLC patients.

InSnZrO thin films were deposited on glass substrates by magnetron sputtering with an indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) target and a zirconium target. X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that InSnZrO thin films had better crystalline structure, larger grain size, and lower surface roughness than ITO thin films. Zr doping markedly improved the optical–electrical characteristics. In comparison with ITO thin films, the resistivity of InSnZrO thin films deposited at room temperature decreased from 6.24 × 10−3to 2.20 × 10−3Ω cm, and the maximum optical transmittance in the visible range was enhanced from 53.7 to 66.1%. The thin films showed an obvious Burstein–Moss effect with substrate temperature. Moreover, the direct transition model showed a wider optical bandgap of InSnZrO thin films than that of ITO thin films. As a result, InSnZrO thin films prepared by cosputtering revealed better overall properties than traditional ITO thin films.

Reviews of literature show that many successes of innovation management in firms would rest significantly on the identification of the needs and the degree, to which these activities are coordinated, integrated and focused. Unlike large organisations which can have more resources to develop innovation capacities, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would likely opt to acquire innovations from trading partners, research institutes and/or academic organisations through technology transfer (TT). This paper reviews six process-oriented models of innovation and TT as advocated in literature, and identifies several important features of TT practices for SMEs in developing countries. A conceptual framework of collaborative TT practices is proposed in an attempt to facilitate a multi-flow of information that drives towards strategic collaboration between SMEs and other stakeholders. Further research is needed to identify specific factors and investigate the relevancy of the approach to collaborative TT practices of Caribbean SMEs.

Summary: A pot culture experiment was carried out to study the effects of land use history and inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumberinum Owen (Foc) on soil nematodes communities during the cucumber growing season in 2007. The results showed that land use history and inoculation had significant effects on the abundance and diversity of soil nematodes. Bacterivores were found to be the most dominant group in this study. Irrespective of inoculation, numbers of fungivores, plant-parasites and values of trophic diversity index (TD) and plant-parasites index (PPI) were greater in greenhouse soils (GH) than in open field vegetable soils (OF) during the growth period of cucumber. While, the number of omnivores-predators and values of richness (SR) and maturity index (MI) presented an opposite trend. Foc inoculation had noticeable effects on numbers of plant-parasites and some taxa, such as Helicotylenchus, Epidorlaimus at flowering stage and Aphelenchus, Tobrilus at fruiting stage. Besides, inoculation significantly affected values of PPI at flowering stage and TD at fruiting stage, respectively. The faunal analysis showed that soil food web in GH was highly disturbed and in OF was degraded.

A new idea of the nanorods preparation and a novel application of calixarenes are presented. Calix[4]arene was introduced into solvothermal system to produce one-dimensional inorganic nanomaterial. The obtained product was characterized by XRD and TEM. Results of the XRD analysis showed that the product was pure cubic phase of PbS with high crystallinity. TEM images revealed that the diameter and length of the PbS nanorods were about 200 nm and up to 3.5 µm, respectively. Optical properties of the product were also studied. PL emission image showed that the product exhibited an emission peak at 308 nm in ultraviolet region showing a blue shift of 14 nm compared to the bulk material. The formation mechanism of PbS nanorods in the presence of calix[4]arene is discussed.

Transport of larger smoke particles generated by a fire in a compartment is studied. An atrium fire with three different heat release rates is taken as an example. The air flow pattern and temperature contours are predicted by a fire field (or application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The paths of smoke particles are modeled by the Lagrangian method coupled with the air movement induced by hot smoke. Distribution of smoke particles and their trajectories are then calculated. By superimposing the trajectories of particles of different sizes, the shape of the smoke plume is observed.

The solubility of ThO2· xH2O(am) is studied at I=0.1−4.0 M (NaHCO3-Na2CO3-NaCl) and 22 °C. Several sets of closed system experiments are performed at total carbonate concentrations of Ctot=[HCO3-]+[CO32-]=0.02 and 0.1 M in the range pHc= 8−11. In our recent study at I=0.5 M, the simultaneous evaluation of solubility data at widely varied pHcand carbonate concentrations has shown that Th(OH)(CO3)45-, Th(OH)2(CO3)22-and Th(OH)4(CO3)2-are the most important ternary complexes. The present results at I=0.1−4.0 M are used to describe the ionic strength dependence of the equilibrium constants logKs, 1yz(for the reactions Th(OH)4(am)+zCO32-↔Th(OH)y(CO3)z4-y-2z+(4-y)OH-) with the SIT. EXAFS measurements in 0.1 and 1.0 M carbonate solutions support the calculated speciation. They show clearly different spectra for the predominant species Th(OH)(CO3)45-and Th(CO3)56-, respectively.

Identifying prehistoric irrigated rice fields and characterizing the beginning of paddy soil development are important for a better understanding of human development and agricultural history. In 2003, paddy soils and irrigated rice fields buried at a depth of 100–130 cm were excavated at Chuo-dun-shan in the Yangtze River Delta, close to Suzhou, China. The fields of sizes between 1.4 and 16 m2were surrounded with ridges that were connected to ditches/ponds via outlets to control the water level within the fields. Many carbonized and partly carbonized rice grains with an age of 3,903 B.C.(measured 14C age 5,129±45 a BP) were recovered. The surface layers of these buried paddy fields showed a high content of soil organic matter and a considerable high density of rice opals. The latter were identified to derive from Oryzaspp. Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed aromatic carbon (C) as the predominant organic C form in the fossil surface layer. This is expected, if the major source represents burnt rice and straw. In summary, our data are in agreement with new evidences indicating that in China, paddy soils and irrigated rice cultivation were initiated and developed more than 6,000 years ago.Identifying prehistoric irrigated rice fields and characterizing the beginning of paddy soil development are important for a better understanding of human development and agricultural history. In 2003, paddy soils and irrigated rice fields buried at a depth of 100–130 cm were excavated at Chuo-dun-shan in the Yangtze River Delta, close to Suzhou, China. The fields of sizes between 1.4 and 16 m2were surrounded with ridges that were connected to ditches/ponds via outlets to control the water level within the fields. Many carbonized and partly carbonized rice grains with an age of 3,903 B.C.(measured 14C age 5,129±45 a BP) were recovered. The surface layers of these buried paddy fields showed a high content of soil organic matter and a considerable high density of rice opals. The latter were identified to derive from Oryzaspp. Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed aromatic carbon (C) as the predominant organic C form in the fossil surface layer. This is expected, if the major source represents burnt rice and straw. In summary, our data are in agreement with new evidences indicating that in China, paddy soils and irrigated rice cultivation were initiated and developed more than 6,000 years ago.

The thermowell inside the post-combustion chamber of an incineration plant failed as a result of severe high-temperature oxidation. An investigation showed that the failure was caused by deep intergranular oxidation and subsequent breakdown along the grain boundaries--in addition to gradual thinning of the component. The thermowell alloy was improper for this use because 1) there was insufficient Cr content for formation of a continuous adherent protective chromium oxide (Cr2O3) layer on the alloy surface under the operating condition and 2) the high operating temperature (950°C) approaches the upper temperature limit (1,000°C) for the alloy. The investigators recommended a silicon carbide (SIC) ceramic for replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous gold−silica nanocomposites have been synthesized through simple one-step sol−gel reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with a gold sol in the presence of dibenzoyl tartaric acid (DBTA) as a nonsurfactant template. The gold nanoparticles were incorporated into the three-dimensional silica network through the sol−gel process to afford monolithic crack-free DBTA-containing gold−silica gels. After removal of DBTA by calcination at 550 °C, annealed mesoporous gold−silica nanocomposites were obtained. The pore structure parameters were investigated by means of nitrogen sorption isotherm, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the mesoporous structure of the gold−silica nanocomposites has high surface areas up to 630 m²/g, large pore volume of ~0.5 cm³/g, and pore diameters of 3−4 nm with relatively narrow pore size distributions. With use of energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) elemental analysis, the compositions of the gold−silica composite materials were quantitatively measured. The effects of gold content on the pore parameters have been addressed. The TEM and X-ray mapping images show that gold particles in the range of 2−8 nm are homogeneously distributed throughout the silica matrixes for all the samples. The surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles was also investigated.

Self-association behavior and conformation variation of long chain branched (LCB) poly(2-ethyloxazoline) (PEOx) with a CH3-(CH2)17 (C18) modified surface are investigated using light scattering techniques in various solvents. It is found that this LCB-PEOx self-associates in less polar solvents to form metastable nanoaggregates instead of undergoing precipitation. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) of this LCB polymer was obtained from the sharp increase of both hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and scattering light intensity measured in dynamic light scattering. The cac strongly depends on solvent polarity, decreasing as the solvent becomes more hydrophobic. As the polarity of the solvent increases, C18 chains move from the outside surface to the interior. Inward movement of C18 chains can cause coupled LCB-polymer chains to move with them, resulting in shrinkage of the particle size. The self-association process in the LCB-PEOx involves intrachain (C18 chains) collapse and interchain association. By a combination of dynamic and static light scattering, the average density of individual LCB-PEOx molecules in ethanol was estimated below the cac. The hydrodynamic radius of the LCB-PEOx in ethanol was found to shrink upon increasing temperature, indicating that the solvent becomes poorer. During the heating process, self-association did not occur.

Building fire environment was simulated by a field model, or application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), based on large eddy simulation (LES). The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) model based on LES, developed at the Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA, was applied to study the plume flow induced by a fire; and the fire environment in a compartment. Part of the results were compared with those predicted by another CFD package based on Reynolds averaging of the Navier-Stokes equations through the modified k-ε model.

Two plume formulae commonly used in fire safety engineering design were assessed by simulating the aerodynamics induced by a fire. The self-developed fire field model CY-TEAM, based on a modified two-equation k-" turbulence model, was used to predict the air flow and temperature field. Twelve simulations of varying heat release rate and perimeter of fire, with bounded and unbounded ceiling, were carried out. It is found that the power law for the mass flux with height holds. At the plume region, the two equations for mass flux would give the same result for those fires with heat release rate related to its perimeter. Results were compared with experimental data and with another set of simulations with finer grids. Further, part of the results are compared with those predicted by the new fire field model FDS based on large eddy simulation developed at Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA. Good agreement among k-" turbulence model, large eddy simulation model and experimental data were found. A further verification on CY-TEAM in studying plume induced by heptane pool fires was reported.

Using data for loblolly pine from Georgia's Piedmont, we find that, although the transition from natural to artificial regeneration leads to increased and better distributed stems, the control of competing vegetation results in a dramatic boost to the growth rate from previous- to current-generation plantations. Our results indicate that the marginal returns of forest management are increasing rather than diminishing; the more intensive the management, the better its economic performance. These findings suggest that intensive management represents a major technical change and bodes well for the future of commercial forestry in the South.

The long-term growth of institutional timberland investments depends on the ability of timberland investment management organizations (TIMO) to deal effectively with securitization, leveraging, arbitraging, supply contracting, portfolio insurance, tax efficiency enhancement, and other issues. Financial engineering holds great promise for many of these issues. This study applies financial engineering techniques to two cases–supply contract and portfolio insurance. We believe that the potential benefits of these and other applications can be great.

Sprinklers are commonly sited in the high headspace atrium of a building where such systems are required. It was questioned whether sprinkler heads would be activated in the case of a fire. A fire modelling technique was applied to estimate the actuation time of sprinkler heads located in the atrium ceiling. The response time of sprinkler heads to a fire in a shop at a high level adjacent to the atrium roof was calculated. A self‐developed FORTRAN code together with the CFD model CFX4.2 were used to simulate the atrium fire environment. The standard k‐εmodel was used with two key parameters, diffusion coefficient and effective Prandtl number tuned. A comparison with some experiments reported in the literature was made. Satisfactory agreement between the predicted and measured results was found. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sprinklers are commonly sited in the high headspace atrium of a building where such systems are required. It was questioned whether sprinkler heads would be activated in the case of a fire. A fire modelling technique was applied to estimate the actuation time of sprinkler heads located in the atrium ceiling. The response time of sprinkler heads to a fire in a shop at a high level adjacent to the atrium roof was calculated. A self-developed FORTRAN code together with the CFD model CFX4.2 were used to simulate the atrium fire environment. The standard k-ɛ model was used with two key parameters, diffusion coefficient and effective Prandtl number tuned. A comparison with some experiments reported in the literature was made. Satisfactory agreement between the predicted and measured results was found. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Air movement in a big hall induced by a fire in a "bare cabin" was simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Applying CFD in simulat ing fire-induced air flow in buildings would require specification of free boundary conditions. Improper description of the free boundary conditions would give very different results. Three free boundary conditions commonly used were tested. Three sets of big hall geometry including two bare cabin designs and five heat re lease rates of fire of 20 kW m-1, 40 kW m -1, 60 kW m-1, 80 kW m-1, and 100 kW m-1were considered. The self-developed program CY-TEAM modified from TEAM was selected as the simulator. Further, the commercial software CFX4.2 was used to compare with part of the results predicted by CY-TEAM. This gave a total number of 60 simulations.Results predicted from all these different geometries, conditions and software were compared. It is concluded that the free boundary condition should be specified carefully in simulating fire-induced air flow with CFD.

Multiple sialic acid (SA) residues conjugated to a linear polyacrylamide backbone are more effective than monomeric SA at inhibiting influenza-induced agglutination of red blood cells. However, “polymeric inhibitors” based on polyacrylamide backbones are cytotoxic. Dendritic polymers offer a nontoxic alternative to polyacrylamide and may provide a variety of potential synthetic inhibitors of influenza virus adhesion due to the wide range of available polymer structures. We evaluated several dendritic polymeric inhibitors, including spheroidal, linear, linear-dendron copolymers, comb-branched, and dendrigraft polymers, for the ability to inhibit virus hemagglutination (HA) and to block infection of mammalian cells in vitro. Four viruses were tested:  influenza A H2N2 (selectively propagated two ways), X-31 influenza A H3N2, and sendai. The most potent of the linear and spheroidal inhibitors were 32−256-fold more effective than monomeric SA at inhibiting HA by the H2N2 influenza virus. Linear-dendron copolymers were 1025−8200-fold more effective against H2N2 influenza, X-31 influenza, and sendai viruses. The most effective were the comb-branched and dendrigraft inhibitors, which showed up to 50000-fold increased activity against these viruses. We were able to demonstrate significant (p &lt; 0.001) dose-dependent reduction of influenza infection in mammalian cells by polymeric inhibitors, the first such demonstration for multivalent SA inhibitors. Effective dendrimer polymers were not cytotoxic to mammalian cells at therapeutic levels. Of additional interest, variation in the inhibitory effect was observed with different viruses, suggesting possible differences due to specific growth conditions of virus. SA-conjugated dendritic polymers may provide a new therapeutic modality for viruses that employ SA as their target receptor.

L^2 non-Hermitian Floquet studies of intensity- and frequency-dependent threshold shifts of atomic hydrogen in intense laser fields are presented. We also performed a Monte Carlo classical trajectory study of the motion of an electron under the influence of both the Coulomb and the laser fields. We found that classical results are consistent with quantum-mechanical predictions with regard to continuum threshold shift and above-threshold ionization (ATI). In addition, our classical treatment reveals detailed mechanisms responsible for ATI processes.

Cable Television Report and Order (FCC 72-108, 74710, adopted February 2, 1972)Monroe Price and John Wicklein's Cable Television: A Guide for Citizen Action (Philadelphia: Pilgrim Press, 1505 Race St., 1972—$5.95/2.95)Charles Tate (ed.) Cable Television in the Cities: Community Control, Public Access, and Minority Ownership (Washington: The Urban Institute, 2100 M St., N.W., 1972—$3.95, paper)Leland L. Johnson, Cable Television and Higher Education: Two Contrasting Experiences (Memorandum R-828-M2) September 1971 54 pp. $3.00Michael R. Mitchell, State Regulation of Cable Television (Memorandum R-783-MF) October 1971 76 pp. $3.00Rolla Edward Park, Prospects for Cable in the 100 Largest Television Markets (Memorandum R-875-MF) October 1971 47 pp. $2.00Herbert S. Dordick and Jack Lyle, Access by Local Political Candidates to Cable Television: A Report of an Experiment (Memorandum R-881-MF) November 1971 35 pp. $2.00Walter S. Baer, Interactive Television: Prospects for Two-Way Services on Cable (Memorandum R-888-MF) November 1971 105pp. $4.00L.L. Johnson, W. S. Baer, R. Bretz, D. Camph, N.E. Feldman, R.E. Park, and R.K. Yin, Cable Communications in the Dayton Miami Valley: ,Basic Report (Memorandum R-943-KF/FF) January 1972 557 pp. $5.00Leland L. Johnson, Study Director, Cable Communications in the Dayton Miami Valley: Summary Report (Memorandum R-942-KF/FF) January 1972 56 pp. $3.00Mary Alice Mayer's CATV: A History of Community Antenna Television (Evanston, Ill.: Northwestern University Press, 1972)Frederick Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent (New York: Kenikat Press, $12.50)Dick Lupoff and Don Thompson (eds) All in Color for A Dime (New York: Ace, 1971—$1.50, paper)George Perry and Alan Aldridge The Penguin Book of Comics (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1971— $4.95 paper)William L. Rivers (surely one of the more prolific writers in the media text field) Free-Lancer and Staff Writer: Writing Magazine Articles (Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, 1972—$6.50)F.B. Marbut's News From the Capital: The Story of Washington Reporting (Carbondale, Ill: Southern Illinois University Press, 1971—$12.50)

Cowpea (Vigna sinensisL.) plants were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Acaulospora laevis) to investigate the effects of different concentrations of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP; 0, 10, and 100 mg kg−1) added to soil on their growth. Mycorrhizal plants were less affected by high concentration of DBP (100 mg kg−1) than non-mycorrhizal ones. Also the uptake and transformation of DBP by mycorrhizal plants differed from that of non-mycorrhizal plants.

Astaxanthin is a well-known antioxidant phytochemical that has limited bioavailability to humans. The present study was conducted to determine if astaxanthin present in full and defatted microalgae was bioavailable to layer hens and if dietary astaxanthin affected antioxidant status of the hens' tissues and eggs. A total of 50 White Leghorn Shavers (21 wk old) were divided into 5 groups (n= 10/group), individually caged in an environmentally controlled room, and fed a corn–soybean meal basal diet supplemented with microalgal (Haematococcus pluvialis) astaxanthin (Heliae, Gilbert, AZ) at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg for 6 wk. Body weight, feed intake, and egg production and quality were recorded weekly. At the end of study, blood and eggs were collected from all hens and liver samples were collected from 6 hens/group for biochemical analysis. Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA. Supplemental astaxanthin showed no effect on feed intake, BW gain, egg production, and egg quality (component weights or shell thickness). Supplemental microalgal astaxanthin resulted in dose-dependent enrichments (P< 0.05) of astaxanthin and total carotenoids in the plasma, liver, and egg yolk of hens. The maximal concentrations of astaxanthin reached 4.1 µg/mL, 5.8 mg/kg, and 36 mg/kg whereas those of total carotenoids reached 7.0 µg/mL, 75 mg/kg, and 114 mg/kg (on fresh tissue basis) in the plasma, liver, and egg yolk, respectively, of hens. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity was also enhanced (P< 0.05) in a dose-dependent fashion in the liver and egg yolk of hens. Meanwhile, total glutathione concentration and activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the liver of hens were decreased (P< 0.05) by the high dose of astaxanthin (80 mg/kg) supplementation compared with the control. Although the color of egg yolk was changed (P< 0.05; more orange) by the astaxanthin supplementation, there were no major changes in the fatty acid profiles of egg yolk caused by the diet treatments. In conclusion, supplemental dietary microalgal astaxanthin seemed to be highly bioavailable to be digested and deposited in the plasma, liver, and eggs of hens and to improve their antioxidant status, except at the highest dose of 80 mg/kg.

There is increasing evidence that some cancer therapies can promote tumor immunogenicity to boost the endogenous antitumor immune response. In this study, we used the novel combination of agonistic anti-TRAIL-R1 antibody (mapatumumab, Mapa) with low dose bortezomib (LDB) for this purpose. The combination induced profound myeloma cell apoptosis, greatly enhanced the uptake of myeloma cell apoptotic bodies by dendritic cell (DC) and induced anti-myeloma cytotoxicity by both CD8+T cells and NK cells. Cytotoxic lymphocyte expansion was detected within 24 h of commencing therapy and was maximized when myeloma-pulsed DC were co-treated with low dose bortezomib and mapatumumab (LDB+Mapa) in the presence of NK cells. This study shows that Mapa has two distinct but connected modes of action against multiple myeloma (MM). First, when combined with LDB, Mapa produced powerful myeloma cell apoptosis; secondly, it promoted DC priming and an NK cell-mediated expansion of anti-myeloma cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL). Overall, this study indicates that Mapa can be used to drive potent anti-MM immune responses.