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In this study, a binary fluidised bed made out of quartz sand and cenospheres for the biomass combustion process was created. Materials were fluidised with air to achieve a vertical density profile (from 0.5 g/cm³ to 1.1 g/cm³) resulting from grains segregation. The density profile was selected to ensure optimal control over the location of the combusted fuel particle. This involved positioning the process as close to the bottom sieve as possible. Fluidised bed combustion was carried out at temperatures of 600 °C, 700 °C, 820 °C and 870 °C using straw, willow and sawmill pellets as fuels. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of flue gases was performed using an FTIR spectrometer. Over 90 % carbon conversion from the biomass to carbon dioxide was achieved at 700 °C. At 820 °C and 870 °C, 100 % of biomass carbon left the reactor as CO2. The composition of organic compounds in the process products remained low, reaching a maximum of 3.0 % wt. at 600 °C. To gain further insights into the processes occurring in the immediate vicinity of biomass samples, a complementary TGA/FTIR analysis was conducted. This aimed to clarify the impact of the biomass particle decomposition stage in the fluidised bed combustion process. The proposed mechanism for biomass combustion in the binary fluidised bed contains the particle decomposition stage and the subsequent stage resulting from the coalescence of bubbles containing flammable components and bubbles containing oxidiser.

The paper presents results of a study of oxidative decomposition of methanol in a fluidized bed of silver catalyst. The process of methanol oxidation was carried out on Ag-coated cenospheres core-shell catalyst. The catalyst was obtained by precipitation of silver from methanolic solution of silver nitrate on cenospheres. Cenospheres are lightweight, inert, hollow spheres, which can be easily introduced into a fluidized bed. Application of the catalyst in a form of fluidized bed should ensure good temperature equalization which is very important at low temperatures due to the possibility of generation of formaldehyde. It turned out that local hot points occur in that kind of a catalyst (in the form of a fluidized bed but with very low density), thus use of additional acoustic wave is necessary to ensure good control over the temperature of the process. The products of the process of methanol oxidation were monitored on-line by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The catalyst has proven to be highly active in the oxidative decomposition of methanol. Full of methanol conversion in reaction of complete oxidation was achieved at 350°C.

In two hemophilic brothers infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Burkitt's leukemia developed within 1 year. Both patients were treated by aggressive chemotherapy, and both are still in complete remission for 23 and 14 months, respectively. Sera from both brothers contained anti-HIV antibodies. However, DNA extracted from the tumor cells, when analyzed by Southern blot using a cloned HIV probe, did not reveal HIV-related sequences. Hybridization experiments with an Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) probe revealed the presence of EBV-specific sequences in the tumors' DNA. In both patients' tumors rearranged c-myc genes were found. The rearrangements occurred in both genes 3' to the third exon of c-myc, thereby suggesting that a variant chromosomal translocation took place in both cases. Indeed, karyotype analysis of the malignant cells of one of the patients revealed the variant t(2:8) translocation. In contrast to the majority of Burkitt's tumors carrying this translocation, which are kappa light-chain producers, cells of our patient expressed lambda chains. Furthermore, in both cases the lymphoblasts carried IgG on the surface, again an unusual finding in Burkitt's tumors. Finally, because both patients had an identical HLA phenotype, the role of genetic factors in the development of such tumors should be considered.

THE source depletion1estimation of dry deposition from the atmosphere is less accurate than the physically more correct surface depletion method2,3. Several surface depletion models2–9have been developed but the source depletion method is still used1,10. The errors introduced by using the latter might have important consequences for assessing the impact of deposition from anthropogen sources. Only the recent4–6studies discussed here quantify the descrepancy between the two deposition methods We suggest that a ratio R, based on a representative measure of the eddy diffusivity, plume height, and the deposition velocity, should be used to discriminate between cases where the source depletion method introduces significant errors and those where the difference between the two methods is negligible.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The article presents an interview with filmmaker Isabella Rossellini. When asked about sexuality in animals, she refers to her short films on sex lives of bugs, insects and animals "Green Porno" in which she wanted to share her interest about nature and the variety of life. She says that even as a little girl she dreamed of the wilderness and wanted to be like Jane Goodall who lived with chimpanzees.

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a relatively rare clinico-pathologic subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymohoma. The optimal management, the prognostic factors and the role of PET/CT scan in this entity remain a matter of debate. While several retrospective studies suggested that dose-dense regimens are more effective than standard CHOP, the impact of adding rituximab (R) on the outcome of patients (pts) with PMBCL has not been fully evaluated. In this retrospective analysis we reviewed the clinical and radiological records of 81 consecutive pts with PMBCL treated in Sheba Medical Center between August 1985 and October 2006. Chemotherapy in the pre-rituximab era (−R cohort) included VACOPB (n=47) or 6 courses of standard CHOP (n=5). Since October 2002, 6 cycles of R were added concurrent with the treatment in another 29 pts (+R cohort): R-VACOPB (n=21) and R-CHOP (n=8). Radiotherapy was not administered following initial chemotherapy to any of the pts. Median age at diagnosis was 31 years (yrs) (range 17–61). Stage I/II and bulky mediastinum (≥ 10 cm in diameter) were present in 88% and 33%, respectively, and extranodal involvement was evident in 44% of all pts. After a median follow-up of 85 months (range 9–240), the overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival at 5 yrs for the entire cohort were 89% and 66%, respectively, with a plateau 1–2 yrs following treatment. PFS at 5 years was significantly better with +R (81%) than with -R cohort (58%, P=0.03). Five-year PFS in pts treated with R-VACOPB, R-CHOP, VACOP-B and CHOP were 84%, 74%, 62%, 20%, respectively (P=0.025). Yet, there was no significant difference in OS between +R and -R cohorts (96% vs. 88% at 5 yrs, p=0.29). Direct survival comparisons demonstrated that 5-yr OS and PFS were significantly better in VACOPB than in CHOP (P=0.04 and 0.05, respectively) and that R-VACOPB was significantly superior to VACOPB in terms of PFS (p=0.05). In contrast, there was no difference in 5-yr PFS between R-VACOPB and R-CHOP (p=0.44). Univariate analysis revealed that aaIPI was not predictive of OS (p=0.51). Age above 31 yrs (p=0.02) and pericardial effusion (p=0.04) were the only predictors of reduced OS. Furthermore, beginning in 2003, 16 consecutive pts in the +R cohort, who were scanned by PET/CT-FDG before starting and after completion of therapy, were also evaluated in the middle (mid-PET) of treatment. The estimated 3-year PFS rate for mid-PET negative pts (n=8) and for mid-PET positive pts (n=8) was 86% and 75%, respectively (P=0.48). In terms of treatment failure, the negative predictive value of mid-PET was 100%, while the positive predictive value was only 25%. In conclusion, our population-based historical comparison demonstrates that the addition of R to anthracycline-based therapy significantly improved PFS in pts with PMBCL. We observed superior PFS with VACOPB compared with CHOP, but this superiority was abrogated by the introduction of R as part of initial therapy. These findings merit further study in randomized prospective studies.

Loss of fertility is a major concern in young women undergoing high dose chemotherapy (HDT). Although it is generally accepted that therapy of the myeloabelative range is related with a high rate of fertility loss, we observed during the last years eight spontaneous pregnancies with normal deliveries in young women after bone marrow transplantation. Seven patients (pt’s) were with lymphoma and MM and were conditioned with BEAM regimen (n=6) and melphalan 200mg/sm (n=1) prior to an autologous SCT, while one patient had a secondary AML and underwent BEAM primed autologous SCT and Busulfex/FA primed allogeneic BMT. The median age at transplant of this group was 28y and median time from transplant to pregnancy was 25 months. More than 100 women of 18–40y.o were transplanted in our center during this period; however, obviously the fertility rate cannot be calculated as it is related with additional parameters including survival, post transplant complications and mainly patient’s preferences. Naturally we observed during the same period many young patients with ovarian failure post transplant, as well as one successful pregnancy from a cryopreserved embryo. Methods. We Therefore initiated in October 2000 a fertility preservation program in which all women of 18 – 40y.o were offered a pretransplant IVF with embryo preservation, and/or ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC), according to their clinical status. 651 pt’s were transplanted in our center in the last 44 months, of which 81 were women of 18–41y.o that were all enrolled in this program. Results. Seven pt’s of this group (8.6%) underwent IVF. The major causes of denying IVF were the need to delay BMT for more than clinically accepted, prolonged preexisting ovarian failure, lack of a suitable partner and patient’s preference. Seventeen pt’s (21%) underwent OTC. The major causes of denying OTC were patient’s preference (mainly due to no evidence of success with this method) and thrombocytopenia/neutropenia. During this period: One patient of this group was fertilized with her cryopreserved embryos 32 months after transplant and is at her 16 week of pregnancy. One patient underwent a successful transplantation of her cryopreserved ovarian tissue 2.5 years after HDC while in a documented ovarian failure, and gave birth to a healthy baby on June 2005. The OTC of this patient was performed after cis-platinum containing salvage therapy for relapsing NHL, prior to BEAM primed SCT, and immediately after a failure of hormonal stimulation for IVF. One patient underwent a cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation on July 2005 Conclusions: 1. Spontanous pregnancy after HDT, mainly at the younger age, is not a rare phenomenon. 2. Most young patients prior to HDT are not eligible for IVF. 3. Pretransplant ovarian tissue cryopreservation is a feasible tool in this set-up. The first success with this method is promising.

The impact of the use of autologous BMT (ABMT) as an up-front therapy on the natural history of multiple myeloma (MM) is limited, mainly due to the course of disease at progression after ABMT. Conventional salvage at that stage was reported to offer overall survival of only 14–17 months. The benefit of thalidomide and reduced intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation (RIC SCT), which were introduced at that stage, is limited by the duration of response and toxicity. It was shown, however, that the aggressiveness of relapse clearly predicts for outcome in this set-up. Methods. Patients (pt’s) with progression after ABMT were treated according to a strategy based on the nature of relapse, with thalidomide (Thal) and reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation (RIC SCT) as following: all progressing patients had Thal ± Dexa for induction of response, but only at a clinical indication for therapy. DTPACE combination was given to those who failed to respond to Thal. Pt’s with aggressive progression were offered a RIC SCT at response, while patients with an indolent progression were offered a RIC SCT only at escape from response to Thal or if being resistant to Thal+Dexa. Re-induction therapy was delivered prior to transplant. The post transplant therapy included DLI and/or Thal according to the findings in minimal residual disease (MRD) studies and base line chromosomal studies. Results. Seventy five pts (age 36–66, median 58 y) with indolent (n= 46, 61%) or aggressive (n=29, 39%) progression, were treated according to this strategy. The overall response rate (= or >PR) to Thal ± Dexa was 58.6%. Thirty six pt’s (48%) subsequently underwent RIC SCT (27 related, 9 unrelated donor) and 10 pts with an indication but no matched donor had a 2nd ABMT. Treatment related mortality was 9.3% (7 pt, all after RIC SCT, giving transplant related mortality rate of 16.6% for RIC SCT in this setting). RIC SCT reversed resistant to Thal in 7 pt. The median overall survival (OS) from progression of the entire group is 39 months with a projected 3-years survival rate of 52% (follow-up 19m-74m, median= 34m). The nature of relapse was found to be a strong independent favorable prognostic factor with a median post relapse OS of >62m (not yet reached) vers. 24m, for pt’s with indolent compared with aggressive relapse (p=0.00002). In 24 patients (32%), the duration of response exceeded the first progression free period (from ABMT until progression). The median OS from ABMT of this group of patients is 85m, compared with a median OS rate of 56m from ABMT in a comparable historical group of 62 patients from our center that relapsed after ABMT prior to the introduction of the Thal /RIC SCT strategy. Conclusion. The therapy with Thal and RIC SCT with a strategy based on the nature of disease progression after ABMT can improve post relapse and overall survival of MM patients. This may significantly add to the contribution of ABMT to the outcome of therapy in MM.

ABVD is widely considered as the gold standard treatment for advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), although about 40% of patients relapse or do not respond to initial treatment. Recently, the HD9 trial of the German Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Study Group has shown that escalated (esc) BEACOPP regimen can achieve better disease control than ABVD, but has a high incidence of acute and long-term toxicities including high occurrence of AML/MDS. In an attempt to decrease toxicity while preserving the potential benefit of upfront intensive therapy, we conducted a pilot study, which tested the feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of combined escBEACOPP-ABVD regimen as therapy for newly diagnosed patients with high risk (IPS≥3) stage III–IV HL. Patients initially received 2 cycles of escBEACOPP followed by reevaluation with CT and gallium or PET/CT-FDG scans. When complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was achieved, patients continued to receive 4 cycles of ABVD, while those failing to achieve a response were withdrawn from the study. Since August 2001, 21 patients entered the study and at the time of present analysis four of them are still receiving therapy. Three (18%) of 17 patients, who completed chemotherapy, received consolidative radiotherapy. Median age at diagnosis was 26 years (range 18–56) and 11 (57%) were males. Stage IV and B symptoms were evidenced in 19 (90%) and 17 (81%), respectively, and 7 (33%) had bulky mediastinal mass. Histology included nodular sclerosis in 18 patients (86%), mixed cellularity in 2 (10%) and lymphocyte predominance in 1 (5%). Following the first 2 cycles of escBEACOPP the overall response rate (CR+PR) was 100%. At the end of all therapy 15 patients (88%) were in CR, one patient in PR and only a single patient had progressive disease. With a median follow-up of 20 months no patient relapsed or died. Toxicity included WHO grade III–IV granulocytopenia in 15 patients (88%) and grade III–IV infection in one patient. Hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics was necessary in 10 patients (59%). Almost all of these events occurred during the first two cycles of escBEACOPP, while acute toxicity during the ABVD phase was mild. In conclusion, the combined escBEACOPP-ABVD regimen is well tolerated and is associated with a high CR rate when used in advanced HL patients with high IPS scores. Further follow-up is obviously required in order to determine long-term survival and late complications of this regimen.