Apnea-like suppression of respiratory motion: First evaluation in radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compensation for respiratory motion is needed while administering radiotherapy (RT) to tumors that are moving with respiration to reduce the amount of irradiated normal tissues and potentially decrease radiation-induced collateral damages. The purpose of this study was to test a new ventilation system designed to induce apnea-like suppression of respiratory motion and allow long enough breath hold durations to deliver complex RT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The High Frequency Percussive Ventilation system was initially tested in a series of 10 volunteers and found to be well tolerated, allowing a median breath hold duration of 11.6min (range 3.9-16.5min). An evaluation of this system was subsequently performed in 4 patients eligible for adjuvant breast 3D conformal RT, for lung stereotactic body RT (SBRT), lung volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and VMAT for palliative pleural metastases. RESULTS: When compared to free breathing (FB) and maximal inspiration (MI) gating, this Percussion Assisted RT (PART) offered favorable dose distribution profiles in 3 out of the 4 patients tested. PART was applied in these 3 patients with good tolerance, without breaks during the "beam on time period" throughout the overall courses of RT. The mean duration of the apnea-like breath hold that was necessary for delivering all the RT fractions was 7.61min (SD=2.3). CONCLUSIONS: This first clinical implementation of PART was found to be feasible, tolerable and offers new opportunities in the field of RT for suppressing respiratory motion.

Quantum suppression of shot noise in field emitters

We have analyzed the shot noise of electron emission under strong applied electric fields within the Landauer-Bttiker scheme. In contrast to the previous studies of vacuum-tube emitters, we show that in new generation electron emitters, scaled down to the nanometer dimensions, shot noise much smaller than the Schottky noise is observable. Carbon nanotube field emitters are among possible candidates to observe the effect of shot-noise suppression caused by quantum partitioning.

Differential suppression of rice weeds by allelopathic plant aqueous extracts

Herbicidal potential of different plant aqueous extracts was evaluated against early seedling growth of rice weeds in pot studies. Plant aqueous extracts of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), brassica (Brassica compestris), mulberry (Morris alba), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldunensis), and winter cherry (Withania somnifera) at a spray volume of 18 L ha-1 each at the 2-4 leaf stage of rice weeds viz horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum) [broad-leaf], jungle rice (Echinochloa colona), and E. crus-galli (barnyard grass) [grasses] and purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) and rice flat sedge (C. iria) [sedges]. The results showed significant interactive effects between plant aqueous extracts and the tested weed species for seedling growth attributes depicting that allelopathic inhibition was species-specific. Shoot and root length, lateral plant spread, biomass accumulation, and leaf chlorophyll contents in test species were all reduced by different extracts. The study suggested the suppressive potential of allelopathic plant aqueous extracts against rice weeds, and offered promise for their usefulness as a tool for weed management under field conditions.

Symmetric pollen mitosis I and suppression of pollen mitosis II prevent pollen development in Brachiaria jubata (Gramineae)

Microsporogenesis and pollen development were analyzed in a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) accession of the forage grass Brachiaria jubata (BRA 007820) from the Embrapa Beef Cattle Brachiaria collection that showed partial male sterility. Microsporocytes and pollen grains were prepared by squashing and staining with 0.5% propionic carmine. The meiotic process was typical of polyploids, with precocious chromosome migration to the poles and laggards in both meiosis I and II, resulting in tetrads with micronuclei in some microspores. After callose dissolution, microspores were released into the anther locule and appeared to be normal. Although each microspore initiated its differentiation into a pollen grain, in 11.1% of them nucleus polarization was not observed, i.e., pollen mitosis I was symmetric and the typical hemispherical cell plate was not detected. After a central cytokinesis, two equal-sized cells showing equal chromatin condensation and the same nuclear shape and size were formed. Generative cells and vegetative cells could not be distinguished. These cells did not undergo the second pollen mitosis and after completion of pollen wall synthesis each gave rise to a sterile and uninucleate pollen grain. The frequency of abnormal pollen mitosis varied among flowers and also among inflorescences. All plants were equally affected. The absence of fertile sperm cells in a considerable amount of pollen grains in this accession of B. jubata may compromise its use in breeding and could explain, at least in part, why seed production is low when compared with the amount of flowers per raceme.

Participation of the cholinergic system in the ethanol-induced suppression of paradoxical sleep in rats

Sleep disturbance is among the many consequences of ethanol abuse in both humans and rodents. Ethanol consumption can reduce REM or paradoxical sleep (PS) in humans and rats, respectively. The first aim of this study was to develop an animal model of ethanol-induced PS suppression. This model administered intragastrically (by gavage) to male Wistar rats (3 months old, 200-250 g) 0.5 to 3.5 g/kg ethanol. The 3.5 g/kg dose of ethanol suppressed the PS stage compared with the vehicle group (distilled water) during the first 2-h interval (0-2 h; 1.3 vs 10.2; P < 0.001). The second aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which ethanol suppresses PS. We examined the effects of cholinergic drug pretreatment. The cholinergic system was chosen because of the involvement of cholinergic neurotransmitters in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. A second set of animals was pretreated with 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mg/kg pilocarpine (cholinergic agonist) or atropine (cholinergic antagonist). These drugs were administered 1 h prior to ethanol (3.5 g/kg) or vehicle. Treatment with atropine prior to vehicle or ethanol produced a statistically significant decrease in PS, whereas pilocarpine had no effect on minutes of PS. Although the mechanism by which ethanol induces PS suppression is not fully understood, these data suggest that the cholinergic system is not the only system involved in this interaction.

Kaurene diterpene induces apoptosis in U87 human malignant glioblastoma cells by suppression of anti-apoptotic signals and activation of cysteine proteases

Gliomas are the most common and malignant primary brain tumors in humans. Studies have shown that classes of kaurene diterpene have anti-tumor activity related to their ability to induce apoptosis. We investigated the response of the human glioblastoma cell line U87 to treatment with ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (kaurenoic acid, KA). We analyzed cell survival and the induction of apoptosis using flow cytometry and annexin V staining. Additionally, the expression of anti-apoptotic (c-FLIP and miR-21) and apoptotic (Fas, caspase-3 and caspase-8) genes was analyzed by relative quantification (real-time PCR) of mRNA levels in U87 cells that were either untreated or treated with KA (30, 50, or 70 µM) for 24, 48, and 72 h. U87 cells treated with KA demonstrated reduced viability, and an increase in annexin V- and annexin V/PI-positive cells was observed. The percentage of apoptotic cells was 9% for control cells, 26% for cells submitted to 48 h of treatment with 50 µM KA, and 31% for cells submitted to 48 h of treatment with 70 µM KA. Similarly, in U87 cells treated with KA for 48 h, we observed an increase in the expression of apoptotic genes (caspase-8, -3) and a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (miR-21 and c-FLIP). KA possesses several interesting properties and induces apoptosis through a unique mechanism. Further experiments will be necessary to determine if KA may be used as a lead compound for the development of new chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of primary brain tumors.

The suppression of the Haller-Bauer scission for synthetic purposes /|nby S. M. Vines. -- 260 St. Catharines, Ont. : [s. n.],

A number of 2-chlorobenzophenones, containing electron releasing groups (e.g. hydroxy, thiomethoxy and methoxy) in the 4' - position, were prepared by the Friess rearrangement, or the Friedel-Crafts reaction. These ketones, when treated with potassamide in liquid ammonia, underwent partial Haller-Bauer scission, unlike 2-chlorobenzophenone which is known to undergo complete scission. Under similar conditions 4-nitrobenzophenone also underwent partial scission, but the main reaction in this case was nucleophilic amination of the nitro containing ring. This amination reaction was shown not to be a useful general reaction for aromatic nitro compounds. 3-Methylxanthone was then prepared by treatment of 2- and 3- chloro-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylbenzophenone with . little, if any, attendant scission. The corresponding 2fluoro- compound also gave the xanthone, but as the 3-fluoro compound did not, it was concluded that the 2-fluoro compound reacted through a nucleophilic substitution mechanism, rather than the benzyne mechanism invoked for the chloro and bromo compounds. 3-Methylthioxanthone was synthesised by treatment of methyl 4-tolyl sulphide and 2-chlorobenzoyl chloride with aluminum chloride in carbon disu1phide, followed.by heating. This compound was also prepared by treatment of 3-chloro-2'thiomethoxy- 5'-methylbenzophenone with potassamide in liquid ammonia.

Suppression of long-branch attraction artefacts in the animal phylogeny using a site-heterogeneous model

Affiliation: Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal

Suppression of chaos through reverse period doubling in coupled directly modulated semiconductor lasers

The effect of coupling on two high frequency modulated semiconductor lasers is numerically studied. The phase diagrams and bifurcatio.n diagrams are drawn. As the coupling constant is increased the system goes from chaotic to periodic behavior through a reverse period doubling sequence. The Lyapunov exponent is calculated to characterize chaotic and periodic regions.

Quantum suppression of shot noise in field emitters

We have analyzed the shot noise of electron emission under strong applied electric fields within the Landauer-Bttiker scheme. In contrast to the previous studies of vacuum-tube emitters, we show that in new generation electron emitters, scaled down to the nanometer dimensions, shot noise much smaller than the Schottky noise is observable. Carbon nanotube field emitters are among possible candidates to observe the effect of shot-noise suppression caused by quantum partitioning.

Suppression of root-knot nematode through innovative mustard biofumigation

The nematicidal activity of mustard plant against hatching, migration and mortality of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica was investigated. In vitro test confirmed that mixing the sandy clay soil mixture with mustard as 4% as a biofumigant significantly reduce the percentage of egg hatching at all different incubation periods 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h, compared to control treatment (un-amended mixture soil and eggs in free water). Results indicate that the percentage of egg hatching reduction was 88.5, 90, 81.4, 74 and 69.4%, respectively. Mustard mixed with soil as a biofumigant led to high percentage of larval mortality at the different intervals periods in vitro. The percentage of larval mortality was 94, 100, 90.5, 90.5, and 79.4%, respectively compared to control. Laboratory results confirmed that the highest reduction in egg hatching and larval mortality was obtained after incubation period for 48 h. In vivo experiment reveals that the incorporation of the soil pots with mustard at all different doses used 3, 5% (48 h before nematode inoculation, or soil infestation with nematode), and 5% (one week before nematode inoculation or 7% of soil weight) significantly reduces all the nematode parameters compared to plant treated nematode alone. All nematode parameters i.e. the number of galls per root system, gall index, number of egg masses per root system, as well as number of juveniles per 250g soil showed high reduction with mixing the soil pots with mustard at 5% (one week before nematode inoculation), followed by the same treatment for 48h before nematode inoculation. Mustard application, one week before nematode inoculation, reduced the nematode parameters by 97, 64, 97, and 93%, respectively, compared to control. The percent of chemical components i.e. total sugars, total amino acids and total phenols were markedly enhanced compared to positive and negative control. The highest percentage was obtained with mustard at 5% one week before nematode inoculation by 68.7, 57.3 and 45%, respectively. Finally, we have to conclude that this modified technology is an innovative and can be used efficiently to control Root-knot nematode under organic agriculture and Global GAP agricultural systems instead of these carcinogenic nematicides.