Potentiation of tumour necrosis factor-mediated cell killing by VP16 on human ovarian cancer cell lines. In vitro results and clinical implications

Synergism between recombinant human tumour necrosis factor (rHuTNF) and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor VP16 during the killing of cells has been studied in six human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2774, A2780, SW626, IGROV-1, SKOV3, Pa1) and a cervical carcinoma cell line (Me180). Studies were performed using an assay of colony formation inhibition (drug treatment for 1 h) and a growth inhibition assay (continuous exposure for 20 h). Concomitant treatment of cells with VP16+rHuTNF enhanced cell killing in all the cell lines tested--an effect observed in both short- and long-term cytotoxicity assays. This study suggests that the activity of VP16 in ovarian cancer cell lines might be enhanced by rHuTNF in in vitro models.     

Terminal velocity of non-spherical particles falling through a Carreau model liquid

A procedure has been proposed for the estimation of the terminal falling velocity of non-spherical particles moving in a Carreau model fluid in the transition flow region. The procedure is based on a modification of the relationship formerly developed for the fall of spherical particles including the particle dynamic shape factor. The suitability of the proposed procedure has been confirmed by good agreement between experimental and calculated terminal falling velocity data. In the experiments, the terminal falling velocity of short cylinders and rectangular prisms in polymer solutions of different measure of shear thinning and elasticity has been measured.     

Designing for parallel fuzzy computing

As the number of fuzzy logic applications increases, demand for faster architectures will grow. Our design for a VLSI fuzzy processor uses fuzzy inference techniques that optimize processing time. Preprocessing that reduces the number of rules to be processed, parallel computation of active rule degrees of activation, and scalability are major features of this architecture. The journal issue contains a concise summary of this article. The complete article is linked to Micro's home page on the World Wide Web (http://www.computer.org/pubs/micro/micro.htm)     

A combined queueing network and stochastic Petri-net approach for evaluating the performability of fault-tolerant computer systems

In this paper the performability analysis of fault-tolerant computer systems using a hierarchical decomposition technique is presented. A special class of queueing network (QN) models, the so-called BCMP [4], and generalized stochastic Petri nets (GSPN) [1] which are often used to separately model performance and reliability respectively, have been combined in order to preserve the best modelling features of both.

A conceptual model is decomposed into GSPN and BCMP submodels, which are solved in isolation. Then, the remaining GSPN portion of the model is aggregated with flow-equivalents of BCMP models, in order to compute performability measures. The substitutes of BCMP models are presented by means of simple GSPN constructs, thereby preserving the 1st and 2nd moments of the throughput. A simple example of a data communication system where failed transmissions are corrected, is presented.     

Bulk modification of styrene–butadiene–styrene triblock copolymer with maleic anhydride

The bulk modification of SBS rubber with maleic anhydride in a mixing chamber of a Haake rheomixer was studied. The effect of temperature, maleic anhydride, and benzoyl peroxide concentrations on the grafting efficiency was evaluated. High grafting efficiency was achieved when the ratio of peroxide and maleic anhydride concentration was high. On the other hand, on this condition high insoluble fraction was generated. The addition of a diamine, 4,4′‐diaminediphenylmethane to the reaction mixture minimizes the amount of insoluble polymer. However, the grafted MAH content also decreases. The graft copolymer was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and the grafting extension was determined by titration. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2953–2960, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10355     

Current basis for the ultrastructural clinical diagnosis of tumors: A review

The ultrastructural diagnosis of tumors requires a careful analysis that should be done in an orderly fashion. It requires precise planning from the time of specimen collection to the selection of the area to be examined. Pictures must be taken systematically and every micrograph should allow to answer whether the number of cells photographed is adequate; whether mitoses are present, what is the pattern of the tumor; what is the appearance of the cell membrane; whether the cells are joined by junctional complexes; whether free surfaces possess microvilli or cilia; what organelles are present and how they are distributed; whether there are secretory granules, melanosomes, or other cytoplasmic elements. Nuclear and nucleolar size and shape have to be taken into consideration. The composition of the interstitial extracellular matrix is important in certain types of tumors. Although these questions are not the only ones to be addressed, their use in a logical fashion is helpful when it concerns the ultrastructural diagnosis.     

The murine Tcl1 oncogene: embryonic and lymphoid cell expression

In human leukemias and lymphomas nonrandom chromosomal rearrangements cause changes in cell growth and/or survival in such a way as to promote malignancy. The detailed study of the biochemical and genetic pathways altered in human cancer requires the identification or development of models to allow the study and manipulation of cancer gene function. Recently, the breakpoint gene TCL1, involved in chromosome translocations observed mostly in mature T-cell proliferations and chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL), was isolated and characterized, and showed to be part of a new gene family of proteins involved in these tumors. The murine Tcl1 gene, is similar in sequence to the murine and human MTCP1 gene also involved in T cell leukemias. The murine Tcl1 gene was shown to reside on mouse chromosome 12 in a region syntenic to human chromosome 14. Furthermore, we show that the murine Tcl1 gene is expressed early in mouse embryonic development and demonstrates expression in fetal hematopoietic organs as well as in immature T and B cells. Characterization of the murine Tcl1 gene will help in developing a mouse model of CLL and would provide the best opportunity to study and decipher the role of TCL1 in malignant transformation.     

A C/I advantageous satellite system configuration for land mobile applications

A satellite system based on the frequency scanning concept has been recently assessed for L‐band land mobile communications. The study – promototed by ESA/ESTEC for an European application mission – has reached an advanced electrical design phase. The selected configuration is particularly advantageous in terms of Carrier‐to‐Intermodulation ratio (C/I) performance, which constitutes a requirement of key‐importance in the envisaged user applications. The advantage in C/I is due to the proper choice of the on‐board transmitter configuration, which adopts power module pairs where the overall power demand is evenly distributed. The consequent improved C/I is then achievable at both transmitter and radiated far field level. The present paper aims a contribution to the design methodology of frequency scanning satellite systems, by joining two key‐aspects: in fact an analytical approach is proposed to demonstrate the C/I advantage achievable through frequency scanning satellite systems and the methodology is applied to a concrete example, the ESA/ESTEC system, whose feasibility has been fully proved in previous studies. The analysis is performed both at transmitter level and in the far field. The main results achieved are hereinafter presented. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.