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Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy is being increasingly used for pancreatic cancer (PCa), particularly in patients with locally advanced and borderline resectable disease. A wide variety of dose fractionation schemes have been reported in the literature. This HyTEC review uses tumor control probability models to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the various SBRT treatment regimens used in the treatment of patients with localized PCa. Methods and Materials A PubMed search was performed to review the published literature on the use of hypofractionated SBRT (usually in 1-5 fractions) for PCa in various clinical scenarios (eg, preoperative [neoadjuvant], borderline resectable, and locally advanced PCa). The linear quadratic model with α/β= 10 Gy was used to address differences in fractionation. Logistic tumor control probability models were generated using maximum likelihood parameter fitting. Results After converting to 3-fraction equivalent doses, the pooled reported data and associated models suggests that 1-year local control (LC) without surgery is ≈79% to 86% after the equivalent of 30 to 36 Gy in 3 fractions, showing a dose response in the range of 25 to 36 Gy, and decreasing to less than 70% 1-year LC at doses below 24 Gy in 3 fractions. The 33 Gy in 5 fraction regimen (Alliance A021501) corresponds to 28.2 Gy in 3 fractions, for which the HyTEC pooled model had 77% 1-year LC without surgery. Above an equivalent dose of 28 Gy in 3 fractions, with margin-negative resection the 1-year LC exceeded 90%. Conclusions Pooled analyses of reported tumor control probabilities for commonly used SBRT dose-fractionation schedules for PCa suggests a dose response. These findings should be viewed with caution given the challenges and limitations of this review. Additional data are needed to better understand the dose or fractionation-response of SBRT for PCa.

Despite increasing college campus prevention efforts, and identification of effective strategies to reduce drinking, reducing alcohol related negative consequences (ARNC, e.g., regrets, blackouts, self- and other- injury, law enforcement exposure, sexual assault, and considering suicide) continues to be a challenge. While college students with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are at greater risk for alcohol misuse, research regarding the association between ACE and ARNC remains limited.Data are responses of currently drinking students on the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA II) and College Student Health Survey (CSHS), administered in 2018 to students in California and Minnesota (N = 6,667).On average, students reported one ARNC (SD = 1.30) although 13 % experienced three or more different types of ARNC in the past year. Every ACE was associated with a 19 % to 41 % increase in the IRR of ARNC. Students with 1-3 ACE experienced significantly more types of ARNC events (IRR 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.44-1.67) than students with no ACE and students with ≥ 4 ACE experienced statistically significantly more types of ARNC events (IRR 2.04, 95 % CI: 1.82-2.31) than their peers with 1-3 or no ACE. The ACE-ARNC relationship did not vary by drinking frequency or binge drinking.The consistent ACE - ARNC relationship across drinking behaviors suggests alcohol consumption does not fully explain the association between ACE and ARNC and that early adversity heightens vulnerability for ARNC. Implications for future prevention and intervention efforts are discussed.

The aim of this study was to compare fecal microbiome, plasma, fecal and urine metabolomes, and serum biochemistry of adult companion dogs according to body condition scores. Blood, serum/plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected from 66 clinically healthy, adult companion dogs of either normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), or obese dogs (OB). analyses included fecal microbiome analyses via 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon; sequencing, nontargeted plasma, fecal, and urine metabolomics using liquid chromatography/gas chromatography-mass; spectrometry, and serum biochemistry for each dog. Few significant differences in serum biochemistry and fecal microbiome Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) were found between weight groups and there was high OTU variation between individual dogs. NW dogs had higher relative abundance of the genus Eubacterium (log-fold change 4.3, adjusted P value = .003) and lower relative abundance of the family Bifidobacteriaceae (log-fold change −3.6, adjusted P value = .02) compared to OB dogs. The microbiome of NW dogs had higher OTU richness compared with OB dogs. Metabolome analysis showed 185 plasma, 37 fecal, and 45 urine metabolites that significantly differed between NW and OW or OB dogs. There were notable significant differences in relative abundance of several plasma phospholipid moieties and fecal volatile fatty acids between weight phenotypes. The combinations of host and gut microbiota and metabolic shifts suggest a pattern that could help detection of early metabolic changes in overweight dogs before the development of obesity related disease. The results of this study support the need for continued investigation into sensitive measures of metabolic aberrancies in overweight dogs.

The crystal structure of the [Co(NH3)6]2[ReF6]3·3H2O (I) salt is reported. The salt crystallizes in the trigonal space group P31m with the following unit cell dimensions: a = 15.8714(4) A, b = 15.8714(4) A, and c = 9.8657(4) A. The structure of (I) consists of [Co(NH3)6]3+ cations, [ReF6]2− anions, and co-crystallized water molecules which are linked by hydrogen bonding. In (I), independent [ReF6]2− anions and [Co(NH3)6]3+ cations octahedron are slightly distorted. Characteristic vibration bands of the [Co(NH3)6]3+ cation, [ReF6]2− anion as well as the co-crystallized H2O molecules are observed in the infrared spectra of (I). UV-Visible analyses in water showed that the absorption of the [Co(NH3)6]3+ cation predominate the spectra of (I).

Accurate wave forecasts are essential for the safe and efficient maritime operations and, in particular, the maintenance of offshore wind farms. Here, machine learning and remote monitoring from satellites are integrated to provide uniquely detailed predictions of significant wave height (SWH). C-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar images from European Space Agency Sentinel-1 satellites were combined with wave-buoy data from around the UK, using the CEFAS Wavenet. A total of 240 images in wide swarth mode were collected, that represent significant wave height ranging from 0 to 4.7 m. Image properties related to sea surface roughness in dual-polarization mode, together with the wave buoy data, trained an ensemble of artificial neural networks. The trained networks were shown to provide an effective method for the estimation of the SWH, having an RMSE = 0.23 m for SWH

The success of computational materials science models for cement and concrete, at the micrometer-to-millimeter scale, is based on careful characterization of the two main starting materials – cement and aggregates. Concrete is a complex material, and models based on over-simplified chemical, geometrical, and topological assumptions have limits on the behavior they can realistically simulate. In this paper, a sample of Ottawa sand was carefully characterized, since this material is used in laboratories all around North America as the specified sand for many standard tests, including what is possibly the most highly-used ASTM test of all in the field of cement-based materials, C-109, the mortar cube strength test. Particle shape and size distributions were acquired via a combination of X-ray tomography, spherical harmonic analysis, sieve analysis, microscopy and image analysis, and laser diffraction. Quantitative X-ray diffraction showed that the Ottawa sand used was very pure α−quartz with 1% amorphous content. Elastic moduli information at the particle level was obtained via instrumented nanoindentation. Polarized light microscopy showed that the particles that were indented were single crystals. Results for the Young's modulus, E, of Ottawa sand were E = 110 GPa ± 5 GPa (assumed Poisson's ratio of 0.08), in agreement with other nanoindentation results for Ottawa sand in the literature but more than one standard deviation larger than the results obtained from isotropic averages of the elastic moduli tensor of α−quartz, measured by ultrasonic and Brillouin scattering techniques and averaged in various ways. This kind of disagreement has been seen for other minerals as well as α−quartz, and indicates that nanoindentation measurement of elastic moduli for particulate minerals used in cement and concrete and other applications must be used with some care. This characterization procedure can now be confidently employed for any class of sand or gravel particle that is desired to be used in a three-dimensional mortar or concrete model.

Local alteration of species abundance in natural communities due to anthropogenic impacts may have secondary, cascading effects on species at higher trophic levels. Such effects are typically hard to single out due to their ubiquitous nature and, therefore, may render impact assessment exercises difficult to undertake. Here we describe how we used empirical knowledge together with modelling tools to predict the indirect trophic effects of a future warm-water outflow on populations of shorebirds and wildfowl. Of the main potential benthic prey used by the birds in this instance, the clam Macoma balthica was the only species suspected to be adversely affected by a future increase of temperature. Various scenarios of decreases in prey energy content, simulating various degrees of temperature increase, were tested using an individual-based model, MORPH, in order to assess the effects on birds. The survival and body condition of eight of the 10 bird species modelled, dunlin, ringed plover, turnstone, redshank, grey plover, black-tailed godwit, oystercatcher and shelduck were shown to be not influenced even by the most conservative prey reduction scenarios. Most of these species are known to feed primarily on polychaete worms. For the few bivalve-feeding species, the larger size-classes of polychaete worms were predicted to be a sufficient alternative food. Only knot was predicted to have a lower survival under the two worst case scenario of decreased M. balthica energy content. We believe that this is the first time such predicted cascade effects from a future warm-water outflow have been shown.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) polymer nanocomposites are attractive multifunctional materials with a growing range of commercial applications. With the increasing demand for these materials, it is imperative to develop and validate methods for on-line quality control and process monitoring during production. In this work, a novel combination of characterization techniques is utilized, that facilitates the non-invasive assessment of CNT dispersion in epoxy produced by the scalable process of calendering. First, the structural parameters of these nanocomposites are evaluated across multiple length scales (10 −10 m to 10− 3 m) using scanning gallium-ion microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and small-angle neutron scattering. Then, a non-contact resonant microwave cavity perturbation (RCP) technique is employed to accurately measure the AC electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. Quantitative correlations between the conductivity and structural parameters find the RCP measurements to be sensitive to CNT mass fraction, spatial organization and, therefore, the processing parameters. These results, and the non-contact nature and speed of RCP measurements identify this technique as being ideally suited for quality control of CNT nanocomposites in a nanomanufacturing environment. When validated by the multiscale characterization suite, RCP may be broadly applicable in the production of hybrid functional materials, such as graphene, gold nanorod, and carbon black nanocomposites.

The ambient temperature equation of state (EoS) of technetium metal has been measured by X-ray diffraction. The metal was compressed using a diamond anvil cell and using a 4:1 methanol-ethanol pressure transmitting medium. The maximum pressure achieved, as determined from the gold pressureEquation of state for technetium from X-ray diffraction and first-principle calculations scale, was 67 GPa. The compression data shows that the HCP phase of technetium is stable up to 67 GPa. The compression curve of technetium was also calculated using first-principles total-energy calculations. Utilizing a number of fitting strategies to compare the experimental and theoretical data it is determined that the Vinet equation of state with an ambient isothermal bulk modulus of B 0T =288 GPa and a first pressure derivative of B′ =5.9(2) best represent the compression behavior of technetium metal.

Masonry using lime binders is very common in all regions of the world. Models for the future climate in northern regions predict conditions conducive for the materials used in mass masonry being saturated for longer periods and therefore at higher risk of binder leaching and consequent deterioration. Following work on uncarbonated lime mortars, ammonium nitrate leachant was used to accelerate the deterioration of carbonated mortars containing natural hydraulic lime binders. Leaching of binder significantly reduced the strength of the mortar and slightly increased its sorptivity. The resistance to deterioration increased in the order NHL2

All 229 identified zeotype frameworks are screened in their siliceous form by grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation for their ability to separate a radiochemically relevant Kr/Xe mixture in a pressure swing adsorption process. Prior to screening, our model was benchmarked against experimental single gas adsorption measurements, and it was found that for Kr and Xe a Lennard-Jones 9-6 potential with a softer repulsion than an equivalently parameterized Lennard-Jones 12-6 potential was necessary to accurately model fluid–fluid interactions. Examination of the most promising candidate materials, we concluded that zeolites with small, accessible cages about the size of a Xe atom performed the best initially. Zeolites with narrow pore channels with spots along the pore wall with high local surface area are the best performers across all loadings.

Investigations of solvothermal reactions with pertechnetate, [TcO4]−, have produced four new low-valent Tc extended metal atom chain (EMAC) complexes with multiple metal-metal bonds. The thermal reaction of potassium pertechnetate with glacial acetic acid, under in-situ hydrogen production from the decomposition of sodium borohydride, yields purple elongated crystals determined to be tetraacetato ditechnetium (II,III) acetate (1), [Tc2(O2CCH3)4(μ-O2CCH3]n. Compound 1 was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and its magnetic properties recorded between 10 and 300 K. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 indicates the Tc2+5 tetraacetato unit is linked by the carboxylate oxygens of the bridging acetate, similar to known chloride and bromide linkage polymers of composition [Tc2(μ-O2CCH3)4Cl]n, and [Tc2(μ-O2CCH3)4Br]n. Using the same synthetic method three similar compounds have been synthesized from propionic, benzoic and pivalic acid.

This paper describes a radiative transfer method for calculating radiances in all-sky conditions and performing an integration over the view hemisphere of an arbitrary plane to calculate tilted irradiance. The advantage of this method is the combination of cloud parameters inside the radiative transfer model with a tilt procedure. For selected locations this method is applied with cloud, ozone, water vapour and aerosol input data to determine tilted irradiance, horizontal irradiance and optimal tilt angle. A validation is performed for horizontal and tilted irradiance against high-quality pyranometer data. For 27 sites around the world, the annual horizontal irradiation predicted by our model had a mean bias difference of +0.56% and a root-mean-squared difference of 6.69% compared to ground measurements. The difference between the annual irradiation estimates from our model and the measurements from one site that provides tilted irradiance were within ±6% for all orientations except the north-facing vertical plane. For European and African sites included in the validation, the optimal tilt from our model is typically a few degrees steeper than predictions from the popular PVGIS online tool. Our model is generally applicable to any location on the earth’s surface as the satellite cloud and atmosphere data and aerosol climatology data are available globally. Furthermore, all of the input data are standard variables in climate models and so this method can be used to predict tilted irradiance in future climate experiments.

We aimed to compare overall survival after standard-dose versus high-dose conformal radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy and the addition of cetuximab to concurrent chemoradiation for patients with inoperable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer.In this open-label randomised, two-by-two factorial phase 3 study in 185 institutions in the USA and Canada, we enrolled patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer, a Zubrod performance status of 0-1, adequate pulmonary function, and no evidence of supraclavicular or contralateral hilar adenopathy. We randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) patients to receive either 60 Gy (standard dose), 74 Gy (high dose), 60 Gy plus cetuximab, or 74 Gy plus cetuximab. All patients also received concurrent chemotherapy with 45 mg/m(2) paclitaxel and carboplatin once a week (AUC 2); 2 weeks after chemoradiation, two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy separated by 3 weeks were given consisting of paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (AUC 6). Randomisation was done with permuted block randomisation methods, stratified by radiotherapy technique, Zubrod performance status, use of PET during staging, and histology; treatment group assignments were not masked. Radiation dose was prescribed to the planning target volume and was given in 2 Gy daily fractions with either intensity-modulated radiation therapy or three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. The use of four-dimensional CT and image-guided radiation therapy were encouraged but not necessary. For patients assigned to receive cetuximab, 400 mg/m(2) cetuximab was given on day 1 followed by weekly doses of 250 mg/m(2), and was continued through consolidation therapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival. All analyses were done by modified intention-to-treat. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00533949.Between Nov 27, 2007, and Nov 22, 2011, 166 patients were randomly assigned to receive standard-dose chemoradiotherapy, 121 to high-dose chemoradiotherapy, 147 to standard-dose chemoradiotherapy and cetuximab, and 110 to high-dose chemoradiotherapy and cetuximab. Median follow-up for the radiotherapy comparison was 22.9 months (IQR 27.5-33.3). Median overall survival was 28.7 months (95% CI 24.1-36.9) for patients who received standard-dose radiotherapy and 20.3 months (17.7-25.0) for those who received high-dose radiotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.76; p=0.004). Median follow-up for the cetuximab comparison was 21.3 months (IQR 23.5-29.8). Median overall survival in patients who received cetuximab was 25.0 months (95% CI 20.2-30.5) compared with 24.0 months (19.8-28.6) in those who did not (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.84-1.35; p=0.29). Both the radiation-dose and cetuximab results crossed protocol-specified futility boundaries. We recorded no statistical differences in grade 3 or worse toxic effects between radiotherapy groups. By contrast, the use of cetuximab was associated with a higher rate of grade 3 or worse toxic effects (205 [86%] of 237 vs 160 [70%] of 228 patients; p0.0001). There were more treatment-related deaths in the high-dose chemoradiotherapy and cetuximab groups (radiotherapy comparison: eight vs three patients; cetuximab comparison: ten vs five patients). There were no differences in severe pulmonary events between treatment groups. Severe oesophagitis was more common in patients who received high-dose chemoradiotherapy than in those who received standard-dose treatment (43 [21%] of 207 patients vs 16 [7%] of 217 patients; p0.0001).74 Gy radiation given in 2 Gy fractions with concurrent chemotherapy was not better than 60 Gy plus concurrent chemotherapy for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer, and might be potentially harmful. Addition of cetuximab to concurrent chemoradiation and consolidation treatment provided no benefit in overall survival for these patients.National Cancer Institute and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Two new technetium iodide compounds, Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 I and K[Tc 8 (μ-I) 8 I 4 ]I, were synthesized in an autoclave from the reaction of KTcO 4 in glacial acetic acid with hydroiodic acid and/or alkali metal iodide salts at 210 °C under 60–70 atm hydrogen pressure. The structures of Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 I and K[Tc 8 (μ-I) 8 I 4 ]I were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 I crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 7.1194(6) A, b = 14.5851(13) A, c = 7.1586(6) A, and β = 110.9540(10)°. The structure of Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 I consists of infinite chains of Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 + units linked by bridging iodides, an arrangement similar to the one found in Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 X (X = Cl, Br). The Tc Tc separation in Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 I (i.e., 2.1146(4) A) is consistent with the presence of a Tc Tc bond of order 3.5. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal Tc 2 (O 2 CCH 3 ) 4 I to be paramagnetic ( μ eff = 1.84 B.M.) and support the electronic configuration σ 2 π 2 δ 2 δ ∗1 for the Tc 2 5+ unit in the compound. The compound K[Tc 8 (μ-I) 8 I 4 ]I crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /n with a = 8.0018(5) A, b = 14.5125(10) A, c = 13.1948(9) A, and β = 102.3090(10)°, and is the first octanuclear technetium iodide cluster to be reported. The Tc Tc separations in the [Tc 8 (μ-I) 8 I 4 ] cluster (i.e., 2.164(3) A, 2.5308(8) A and 2.72(3) A) suggest the presence of Tc Tc triple bonds, Tc Tc double bonds and Tc Tc single bonds.

Biochar has potential to sequester carbon in soils and simultaneously improve soil quality and plant growth. More understanding of biochar variation is needed to optimise these potential benefits. Slow pyrolysis at 600 °C was undertaken to determine how yields and characteristics of biochars differ when produced from eight different agricultural residues. Biochar properties such as carbon content, surface area, pH, ultimate and proximate analysis, nutrient and metal content and the R50 recalcitrance index were determined. Significant variations seen in biochar characteristics were attributed to feedstock variation since pyrolysis conditions were constant. Biochar yields varied from 28% to 39%. Average carbon content was 51%. Ash content of both feedstocks and biochars were correlated with biochar carbon content. Macronutrients were concentrated during pyrolysis, but biochar macronutrient content was low in comparison to biochars produced from more nutrient rich feedstocks. Most biochars were slightly alkaline, ranging from pH 6.1 to pH 11.6. pH was correlated with biochar K content. Aromaticity was increased with pyrolysis, shown by a reduction in biochar H/C and O/C ratios relative to feedstock values. The R50 recalcitrance index showed biochars to be either class 2 or class 3. Biochar carbon sequestration potential was 21.3%-32.5%. The R50 recalcitrance index is influenced by the presence of alkali metals in the biochar which may lead to an under-estimation of biochar stability. The residues assessed here, at current global availability, could produce 373 Mt of biochar. This quantity of biochar has the potential to sequester 0.55 Pg CO2 yr(-1) in soils over long time periods.

The molecular and electronic structure, as well as the electronic absorption spectrum of Tc2(O2CCH3)2Cl4 were studied by multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods. The computed ground state geometry is in excellent agreement with the experimental structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The total bond order (i.e., 3.20) is consistent with the presence of a moderately strong quadruple Tc–Tc bond and is the largest bond order reported so far for a multiple Tc–Tc bonded complex. Effective bond order analysis indicates stronger p and d bonds for Tc2(O2CCH3)2Cl4 (i.e., 1.71 for p and 0.59 for d) than for Tc2Cl8 2� (i.e., 1.68 for p and 0.47 for d). The electronic absorption spectrum was recorded in

Rice bran chemical profiles differ across rice varieties and have not yet been analysed for differential chemopreventive bioactivity. A diverse panel of seven rice bran varieties was analysed for growth inhibition of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Inhibition varied from 0% to 99%, depending on the variety of bran used. Across varieties, total lipid content ranged 5-16%, individual fatty acids had 1.4- to 1.9-fold differences, vitamin E isoforms (α-, γ-, δ-tocotrienols, and tocopherols) showed 1.3- to 15.2-fold differences, and differences in γ-oryzanol and total phenolics ranged between 100-275ng/mg and 57-146ngGAE/mg, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify bioactive compounds implicated in CRC cell growth inhibitory activity. Total phenolics and γ-tocotrienol were positively correlated with reduced CRC cell growth (p

Tc2(μ-O2CCH3)4Cl2 is a key starting material for further explorations of dinuclear technetium(III) chemistry and is obtained in 70% yield from readily available starting materials via hydrothermal techniques. Its single crystal X-ray structure reveals the familiar paddle-wheel motif of four bridging acetate groups spanning a short Tc–Tc bond (2.1758(3) A), augmented by axial chlorides at a Tc–Cl separation of 2.5078(4) A. The Tc–Tc quadruple bond length is slightly shorter than the one found in the pivalate derivative, Tc2(O2CCMe3)4Cl2 (2.192(1) A), and slightly longer than found in [Tc2(O2CCH3)4](TcO4)2 (2.149(1) A), the only other structurally characterized members of the small family of Tc2(O2CR)4X2 dimers.

Purpose In current clinical practice, single isotopes, such as 125 I or 103 Pd, are used as single sources in prostate seed implants. A mixture of two radionuclides in the seeds has been proposed for prostate cancer treatment. This study investigates a method for determining the prescription dose for these new seeds using the biological effective dose (BED). Methods Ten prostate cancer cases previously treated using single radionuclide seeds were selected for this study. The BED distribution for these cases was calculated. Plans using other radionuclides were then calculated based on this BED distribution. Prescription values could then be obtained for the calculated plans. The method was verified by calculating the prescription dose for 103 Pd and 125 I and comparing to clinical values. The method was then applied to a hybrid seed that consisted of a mixture of 125 I and 103 Pd radionuclides, which deliver equal dose to 1 cm from the source in water (50/50D@1 cm). A prescription BED value was also calculated. Results A prescription BED of 110 Gy was found to correlate to a prescription dose of 145, 120, and 137 Gy for 125 I, 103 Pd, and 50/50D@1 cm hybrid seeds, respectively. Conclusion The method introduced in this article allows one to calculate the prescription dose for new and novel sources in brachytherapy. The method was verified by calculating a prescription dose for 125 I and 103 Pd radionuclides that coincides with values used clinically.

Quantitative imaging using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography modalities will play an increasingly important role in the design of oncology trials addressing molecularly targeted, personalized therapies. The advent of molecularly targeted therapies, exemplified by antiangiogenic drugs, creates new complexities in the assessment of response. The Quantitative Imaging Network addresses the need for imaging modalities which can accurately and reproducibly measure not just change in tumor size but changes in relevant metabolic parameters, modulation of relevant signaling pathways, drug delivery to tumor and differentiation of apoptotic cell death from other changes in tumor volume. This article provides an overview of the applications of quantitative imaging to phase 0 through phase 3 oncology trials. We describe the use of a range of quantitative imaging modalities in specific tumor types including malignant gliomas, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, lymphoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer and sarcoma. In the concluding section, we discuss potential constraints on clinical trials using quantitative imaging, including complexity of trial conduct, impact on subject recruitment, incremental costs and institutional barriers. Strategies for overcoming these constraints are presented.

Powdered samples of montmorillonite were functionalized with alkylammonium ions of various chain lengths and subjected to two different constant volume washing procedures: water only or sequential ethanol–water. The alkylammonium montmorillonites were analyzed with X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry to obtain insights into the effect of washing procedure. The ethanol–water procedure greatly reduced the amount of surfactant present that was not bound by cation exchange, and in some instances affected the crystallinity of the surfactant. Additionally, contact angle measurements on the compacted alkylammonium montmorillonites were obtained to assess the effect of functionalization and washing on the wettability of two common epoxides used in clay–epoxy nanocomposites. Regardless of surfactant treatment, the alkylammonium montmorillonites with ethanol–water washing exhibited lower contact angles for the epoxides, which is consistent with lower final surfactant content.

Objective The objective of this study is to improve the performance of dental resins by adding a small amount of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs), which have outstanding mechanical properties and unique photoactivities. Methods Acrylic acid modified TiO 2 NPs (AP25) were prepared and added to a mixture of bis-phenol-A-dimethacrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (mass ratio 1:1) at seven mass fractions. Disks made of these resins were subjected to FTIR microspectroscopy, nanoindentation, microindentation, and 3-point bending to determine the degree of vinyl conversion (DC) modulus and hardness. The shear bond strengths (SBS) of dentin adhesives containing various amount of AP25 were also examined. Results The DC increased as a function of mass fraction of AP25 and reached a plateau at 0.1%. The DC of the resin mixture was improved by ≈7% up to 91.7 ± 0.8%. The elastic modulus and hardness of the composites increased initially as more AP25 were added, and decreased after reached the maximum value at approximately 0.06% mass fraction of AP25. The maximum elastic modulus was ≈48% higher than that of the NP-free resin, and the maximum hardness was more than twice higher than that of the NP-free resin. Using these resin composites as dental adhesives, the mean SBS using resins with 0.1% mass fraction of AP25 was ≈30% higher than those using NP-free resin. Significance By adding a small amount of AP25 to the resin, the DC and the mechanical properties of resins were improved dramatically. These findings could lead to better performing dental adhesives.

Why is it that sometimes small droughts trigger serious crop losses while in other cases even large droughts do not have such a major effect? In this paper, we identify socio-economic indicators associated with sensitivity and resilience to drought for each of China's main grain crops (rice, wheat and corn). Provincial harvest and rainfall data (1961–2001) are used to calculate an annual “crop-drought vulnerability index”. We separate “sensitive cases” (where significant harvest losses occurred in years with only minor droughts) and “resilient cases” (where harvest losses were minimal despite there being a major drought) and explore the socio-economic characteristics of these different situations. Results show that sensitive cases were particularly common in economically poor landlocked provinces and in wealthy coastal areas that have a limited land base. In such “sensitive cases”, the size of the rural population and the quantity of agricultural inputs were negatively correlated with drought vulnerability, while for resilient cases, vulnerability was negatively correlated with the abundance of land. This leads us to propose a series of drought-vulnerability typologies based on the extent to which land, labour, capital, agricultural technology, and infrastructure buffer or exacerbate the effect of a drought event.

The recent G8 Gleneagles climate statement signed on 8 July 2005 specifically mentions a determination to lessen the impact of aviation on climate [ Gleneagles, 2005 . The Gleneagles communique: climate change, energy and sustainable development. http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PostG8_Gleneagles_Communique.pdf ]. In January 2005 the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) commenced operation as the largest multi-country, multi-sector ETS in the world, albeit currently limited only to CO2 emissions. At present the scheme makes no provision for aircraft emissions. However, the UK Government would like to see aircraft included in the ETS and plans to use its Presidencies of both the EU and G8 in 2005 to implement these schemes within the EU and perhaps internationally. Non-CO2 effects have been included in some policy-orientated studies of the impact of aviation but we argue that the inclusion of such effects in any such ETS scheme is premature; we specifically argue that use of the Radiative Forcing Index for comparing emissions from different sources is inappropriate and that there is currently no metric for such a purpose that is likely to enable their inclusion in the near future.

Optical absorption edge spectra have been measured by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy on a complete suite of rare earth sesquisulfide compounds of varying structure type. Optical band gaps were extracted from these data. The observed band gaps tend to vary with crystal structure type but many compounds with the same structure have similar band gaps independently of the particular rare earth ion. The ordered α-structure has a substantially lower band gap than the defect γ-structure for all compounds examined except for La 2 S 3 .

A new form of cobalt succinate has been discovered using high-throughput methods and its structure was solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Co7(C4H4O4)4(OH)6(H2O)3⋅7H2O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 2 1 / c with cell parameters: a = 7.888 ( 2 ) A , b = 19.082 ( 6 ) A , c = 23.630 ( 7 ) A , β = 91.700 ( 5 ) ° , V = 3555 ( 2 ) A 3 , R 1 = 0.0469 . This complex structure, containing 55 crystallographically distinct non-hydrogen atoms, is compared to the previously reported nickel phase, characterized using ab initio structure solution from synchrotron powder diffraction data.

HFC-134a (CF 3 CH 2 F) is the most rapidly growing hydrofluorocarbon in terms of atmospheric abundance. It is currently used in a large number of household refrigerators and air-conditioning systems and its concentration in the atmosphere is forecast to increase substantially over the next 50–100 years. Previous estimates of its radiative forcing per unit concentration have differed significantly ∼ 25%. This paper uses a two-step approach to resolve this discrepancy. In the first step six independent absorption cross section datasets are analysed. We find that, for the integrated cross section in the spectral bands that contribute most to the radiative forcing, the differences between the various datasets are typically smaller than 5% and that the dependence on pressure and temperature is not significant. A “recommended'' HFC-134a infrared absorption spectrum was obtained based on the average band intensities of the strongest bands. In the second step, the “recommended'' HFC-134a spectrum was used in six different radiative transfer models to calculate the HFC-134a radiative forcing efficiency. The clear-sky instantaneous radiative forcing, using a single global and annual mean profile, differed by 8%, between the 6 models, and the latitudinally-resolved adjusted cloudy sky radiative forcing estimates differed by a similar amount. We calculate that the radiative forcing efficiency of HFC-134a is 0.16 ± 0.02 Wm - 2 ppbv - 1 .

Nickel 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (trimesic acid, TMA) and nickel 5-sulfoisophthalate (SIPA) coordination polymers, containing a unique planar tetranickel cluster bridged by μ 3 -F, were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by single crystal XRD. Ni2(TMA)(F)(H2O)4⋅2H2O [1] crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with cell parameters at 293 K: a = 7.7447 ( 2 ) A , b = 8.6239 ( 3 ) A , c = 10.6572 ( 3 ) A , α = 101.01 ( 1 ) ° , β = 92.29 ( 1 ) ° , γ = 94.89 ( 1 ) ° , V = 695.00 ( 1 ) A 3 , R 1 = 0.0826 . Ni2(SIPA)(F)(H2O)5⋅4H2O [2] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters at 293 K: a = 20.6425 ( 4 ) A , b = 11.1001 ( 2 ) A , c = 18.1779 ( 4 ) A , β = 114.67 ( 1 ) ° , V = 3785.06 ( 1 ) A 3 , D c = 1.937 g cm −3 , R 1 = 0.0533 . The two-dimensional sheets of TMA are transformed into the one-dimensional chains of SIPA when a sulfonate group replaces a carboxylate group on otherwise similar ligands.

We describe the use of a photoacoustic aerosol sensor for fire detection applications. The sensor is based on a cylindrical resonant chamber which is completely open on both sides in order to allow the smoke to enter it by pure diffusion. The sensor is equipped with a resonance tracking system that continuously monitors the changes in the resonance frequency caused by environmental conditions or an actual fire situation. The results show that our sensor has a very good response to smoke originating in open flaming combustion processes, which are hard to detect with commercially available sensors, and a low cross-sensitivity to the usual false alarm sources making it an ideal candidate to fill in an existing gap in the fire detection devices.

Purpose To measure the internal lung motion due to respiration using magnetic resonance images (MRIs); to evaluate the correlation between lung motion and skin surface motion and the reliability of tracking lung motion with external fiducials. Methods and materials An MRI protocol using fast gradient-echo sequences was developed to acquire dynamic cine images of the thoracoabdominal region along the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. The subjects (3 healthy volunteers and 4 lung cancer patients) were instructed to perform normal or altered breathing during MRI. Lung vessels identified on MRI were used as anatomic landmarks for internal lung structures. From sagittal cine MRI scans, the positions of the lung vessels and skin surface were tracked and their movements measured. Correlation between the movements of the external markers and internal structures was then calculated and analyzed. Results Lung vessel motion in the superior–inferior (SI) direction correlated best with mid-upper abdominal skin surface movement (correlation coefficient, 0.89 ± 0.09 and 0.87 ± 0.23 for volunteers and patients, respectively). The anterior-posterior (AP) vessel motion generally correlated poorly with the skin surface movement, with marker placement on the upper chest yielding the strongest results (correlation coefficient, 0.72 ± 0.23 and 0.44 ± 0.27 for volunteers and patients, respectively). The strength of the correlation depended on the locations of the tracked vessels, locations of the skin surface, and subjects' breathing patterns. The best correlation was seen between the motion of an abdominal fiducial and SI lung motion. Significant intersubject variability was also observed. Conclusion Movement of an external fiducial may not correlate fully with, or predict, internal lung motion. Effective monitoring of respiration may have to rely on a combination of multiple fiducials and other physiologic parameters, such as lung volume and/or air flow.

Purpose To test the hypothesis that the magnitude of thoracic tumor motion can be used to determine the desirability of respiratory gating. Methods and materials Twenty patients to be treated for lung tumors had computed tomography image data sets acquired under assisted breath hold at normal inspiration (100% tidal volume), at full expiration (0% tidal volume), and under free breathing. A radiation oncologist outlined gross tumor volumes (GTVs) on the breath-hold computed tomographic images. These data sets were registered to the free-breathing image data set. Two sets of treatment plans were generated: one based on an internal target volume explicitly formed from assessment of the excursion of the clinical target volume (CTV) through the respiratory cycle, representing an ungated treatment, and the other based on the 0% tidal volume CTV, representing a gated treatment with little margin for residual motion. Dose-volume statistics were correlated to the magnitude of the motion of the center of the GTV during respiration. Results Patients whose GTVs were >100 cm 3 showed little decrease in lung dose under gating. The other patients showed a correlation between the excursion of the center of the GTV and a reduction in potential lung toxicity. As residual motion increased, the benefits of respiratory gating increased. Conclusion Gating seems to be advantageous for patients whose GTVs are 3 and for whom the center of the GTV exhibits significant motion, provided residual motion under gating is kept small.

Several new forms of transition metal diglycolates (C4H4O5) and iminodiacetates (C4H5O4N) have been synthesized hydrothermally, and their structures solved using single crystal XRD. Isostructural diglycolates of the formula M(H2O)(dga) · H2O (M=Co, Mn) contain 1D cavities occupied by water (Co: [1] P212121, a=6.8220(11) A, b=9.9700(17) A, c=10.9102(18) A, R1=0.0206, Mn: [1] P212121, a=6.8796(18) A, b=9.856(3) A, c=11.067 A, R1=0.0287). In the case the cobalt phase [1], a color change and significant structural changes accompany dehydration at 200 °C, yielding a new phase with reversible water absorption/desorption. A dense, anhydrous phase forms at higher temperatures, Co(dga) [2] (P212121, a=5.8462(12) A, b=8.1152(17) A, c=11.223(2) A, R1=0.0311). Two layered iminodiacetates are also described: Ni(H2O)2(ida) [3] (Pca21, a=13.921(7) A, b=5.131(3) A, c=9.595(5) A, R1=0.0315) and Co(H2O)(ida) [4] (P21/c, a=7.925(3) A, b=10.628(4) A, c=7.358(3) A, β=109.598(7)°, R1=0.0250). These materials further illustrate both the role of higher reaction temperatures in reducing the framework water content and the importance of ligand flexibility in determining the metal–oxygen–metal dimensionality in hybrid systems.

A novel layered hydrotalcite-like material, Co7(H2O)2(OH)12(C2H4S2O6), has been prepared hydrothermally and the structure determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction (a=6.2752(19) A, b=8.361(3) A, c=9.642(3) A, α=96.613(5)°, β=98.230(5)°, γ=100.673(5)°, R1=0.0551). The structure consists of brucite-like sheets where 1/6 of the octahedral sites are replaced by two tetrahedrally coordinated Co(II) above and below the plane of the layer. Ethanedisulfonate anions occupy the space between layers and provide charge balance for the positively charged layers. The compound is ferrimagnetic, with a Curie temperature of 33 K, Curie–Weiss θ of −31 K, and a coercive field of 881 Oe at 5 K.

A modified 3-field technique was designed with opposed cranial fields and a single spinal field encompassing the entire spinal axis. Two methods of plan verifications were performed before the first treatment. First, a system of orthogonal rulers plus the thermoplastic head holder was used to visualize the light fields at the craniospinal junction. Second, film phantom measurements were taken to visualize the gap between the fields at the level of the spinal cord. Treatment verification entailed use of a posterior-anterior (PA) portal film and placement of radiopaque wire on the inferior border of the cranial field. More rigorous verification required a custom-fabricated orthogonal film holder. The isocenter positions of both fields when they matched were recorded using a record-and-verify system. A single extended distance spinal field collimated at 42 degrees encompassed the entire spinal neuraxis. Data were collected from 40 fractions of craniospinal irradiation (CSI). The systematic error observed for the actual daily treatments was -0.5 mm (underlap), while the stochastic error was represented by a standard deviation of 5.39 mm. Measured data across the gapped craniospinal junction with junction shifts included revealed a dose ranging from 89.3% to 108%. CSI can be performed without direct visualization of the craniospinal junction by using the verification methods described. While the use of rigorous film verification for supine technique may have reduced the systematic error, the inability to visualize the supine craniospinal junction on skin appears to have increased the stochastic error compared to published data on such errors associated with prone craniospinal irradiation.

We have obtained two layered nickel cyclopropanecarboxylates by using hydrothermal synthesis: Ni 9 (OH) 2 (H 2 O) 6 (C 4 H 5 O 2 ) 8 ·2H 2 O ( 1 ) and Ni 5 (OH) 2 (C 4 H 5 O 2 ) 8 ( 2 ). The structures for both materials were solved using single-crystal XRD (( 1 ) Pbcn , a =14.810(3) A, b =24.246(5), c =24.607(5) A, V =8836(3) A 3 , R 1 =0.0575; ( 2 ) Pbca , a =19.406(4) A, b =18.466(4) A, c =21.579(4) A, V =7733(3) A 3 , R 1 =0.0593). Both structures consist of layers based on 2D Ni–O–Ni networks of NiO 6 octahedra decorated by cyclopropanecarboxylate. The layers in ( 1 ) are based on a network of corner- and edge-sharing NiO 6 octahedra forming sheets of 18-member rings, and those in ( 2 ) are based on corner-, edge- and face-sharing NiO 6 octahedra forming 16-membered rings. The synthesis of these materials further illustrates that open-framework hybrid materials with extended metal–oxygen–metal connectivity may be synthesized with monofunctional carboxylates.

Purpose: New insight into the extent of the target volume for the postoperative irradiation of malignant pleural mesothelioma as determined during surgery has indicated that standard conformal radiotherapy (IMRT) is not sufficient for curative treatment. We describe a novel technique for implementing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to deliver higher doses to treat the full extent of these complex target volumes. Methods and Materials: After extrapleural pneumonectomy, 7 patients underwent simulation, treatment planning, and treatment with IMRT to the involved hemithorax and adjacent abdomen. The target volumes encompassed the entire operative bed, including the ipsilateral mediastinum, anterior pleural reflection, and ipsilateral pericardium and the insertion of the diaphragm and crura. These were extensively marked during surgery with radiopaque markers to facilitate target delineation. Results: Setup uncertainty and respiratory-dependent motion were found to be small. Coverage of the planning target volume was very good, with the crus of the diaphragm the most difficult volume to irradiate. The radiation doses to normal structures were acceptable. Conclusion: IMRT for treatment of malignant mesothelioma after extrapleural pneumonectomy results in more potentially curative doses to large, complex target volumes with acceptable doses to normal tissues. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc.

The accumulation of unwanted crystalline deposits (fouling) reduces the efficiency of heat exchangers considerably. In order to decrease the cost of fouling two strategies have been developed. The first fouling mitigation strategy is based on the modification of energy and geometry related characteristics of the heat transfer surface to realize an increased duration of the induction period. By means of a DSA (drop shape analysis) measurement device the interaction at the interface crystal/heat transfer surface is determined. The deployment of the fracture energy model and the interfacial defect model relates wetting characteristics to the adhesion phenomenon. Hence, a first estimation of the optimal choice of surface material is realized. Furthermore, the influence of surface topography on interfacial interactions has been analyzed. The second fouling mitigation strategy is based on the adjustment of the hydrodynamic flow conditions using a pulsation technique. Here, single strokes of higher velocity are superimposed on the stationary flow. These strokes shift the equilibrium of forces to an improved removal process. Fouling experiments have proved that pulsation is a powerful tool to mitigate the built-up of fouling layers on heat transfer surfaces.

Human activity has perturbed the Earth's energy balance by altering the properties of the atmosphere and the surface. This perturbation is of a size that would be expected to lead to significant changes in climate. In recent years, an increasing number of possible human-related climate change mechanisms have begun to be quantified. This paper reviews developments in radiative forcing that have occurred since the second assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and proposes modifications to the values of global-mean radiative forcings since pre-industrial times given by IPCC. The forcing mechanisms which are considered here include those due to changes in concentrations of well-mixed greenhouse gases, tropospheric and stratospheric ozone, aerosols composed of sulphate, soot, organics and mineral dust (including their direct and indirect effects), and surface albedo. For many of these mechanisms, the size, spatial pattern and, for some, even the sign of their effect remain uncertain. Studies which have attributed observed climate change to human activity have considered only a subset of these mechanisms; their conclusions may not prove to be robust when a broader set is included.