bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sci—Thur PM: Planning & Delivery — 05: Evaluation of dose difference between VMAT plans with and without jaw tracking
Authors: Milette MP , Teke T
Published: September 2014

The goal of this study is to quantify the dose difference between VMAT plans calculated with and without jaw tracking. In this study the sites were chosen so that there would be jaw tracking in the direction perpendicular to the leaf motion (Y jaws). For VMAT plans without jaw tracking in the Y direction there is additional dose (over the leaf transmission) leaking through abutting leaves that can't be moved out of the field and therefore move across the treatment field during delivery. VMAT plans for four head and neck patients with concurrent boost and three pelvis patients with concurrent prostate boost were generated using jaw tracking. A code was written in Matlab to convert each VMAT plan with jaw tracking (JT plan) to a VMAT plan with static jaws (SJ plan). The ST plan dose distribution was then recalculated and compared to the JT plan dose. VMAT plans with static jaws leave an additional dose trail compared to VMAT plans with jaw tracking. Between 6.7 and 230 cc of the SJ plans received an additional 2% of the prescription dose when compared to the JT plans and 0.5 to 30.1 cc received an additional 4% of the prescription dose. The additional dose trail left by the 2 arcs VMAT plans was less than the 1 arc VMAT for most plans presented in this study. This additional dose is given to normal tissues and/or critical structures surrounding the PTV.
Poster — Thur Eve — 05: Objective phantom‐based and porcine model comparison of filtered back projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction and model based iterative reconstruction algorithms
Authors: Omotayo Azeez , Elbakri Idris
Published: September 2014

We performed objective image quality evaluation of three commercial reconstruction algorithms available on a GE DiscoveryCT750HD multi‐detector CT (MDCT) scanner at different dose levels. Using a Catphan500 phantom and a freshly euthanized pig carcass (∼ 36kg), we evaluated the noise and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) for the three reconstruction algorithms: filtered back‐projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR™) and model based iterative reconstruction (code named VEO™). At a dose of ∼ 1.5 mGy, ASIR™ offers noise reduction up to 54% with the phantom, while VEO™ reduces noise by up to 70% with the porcine model. At low doses, VEO™ offers better noise reduction capabilities over FBP and ASIR™, depending on helical pitch. The level of noise reduction increases as pitch increases. Similar trend was observed with CNR increases as VEO™ offered significantly better CNR over FBP and ASIR™. Compared to FBP, iterative algorithms reduce image noise and increase CNR. The model‐based iterative algorithm (VEO™) produced better noise and contrast resolution in both phantom and porcine images compared to FBP and ASIR™.
Poster — Thur Eve — 06: Dose assessment of cone beam CT imaging protocols as part of SPECT/CT examinations
Authors: Tonkopi E , Ross AA
Published: September 2014

Purpose:

To assess radiation dose from the cone beam CT (CBCT) component of SPECT/CT studies and to compare with other CT examinations performed in our institution.

Methods:

We used an anthropomorphic chest phantom and the 6 cc ion chamber to measure entrance breast dose for several CBCT and diagnostic CT acquisition protocols. The CBCT effective dose was calculated with ImPACT software; the CT effective dose was evaluated from the DLP value and conversion factor, dependent on the anatomic region. The RADAR medical procedure radiation dose calculator was used to assess the nuclear medicine component of exam dose.

Results:

The entrance dose to the breast measured with the anthropomorphic phantom was 0.48 mGy and 9.41 mGy for cardiac and chest CBCT scans; and 4.59 mGy for diagnostic thoracic CT. The effective doses were 0.2 mSv, 3.2 mSv and 2.8 mSv respectively. For a small patient represented by the anthropomorphic phantom, the dose from the diagnostic CT was lower than from the CBCT scan, as a result of the exposure reduction options available on modern CT scanners. The CBCT protocols used the same fixed scanning techniques. The diagnostic CT dose based on the patient data was 35% higher than the phantom dose. For most SPECT/CT studies the dose from the CBCT component was comparable with the dose from the radiopharmaceutical.

Conclusions:

The patient radiation dose from the cone beam CT scan can be higher than that from a diagnostic CT and should be taken into consideration in evaluating total SPECT/CT patient dose.
Poster — Thur Eve — 09: Evaluation of electrical impedance and computed tomography fusion algorithms using an anthropomorphic phantom
Authors: Chugh Brige Paul , Krishnan Kalpagam , Liu Jeff , Kohli Kirpal
Published: September 2014

Integration of biological conductivity information provided by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) with anatomical information provided by Computed Tomography (CT) imaging could improve the ability to characterize tissues in clinical applications. In this paper, we report results of our study which compared the fusion of EIT with CT using three different image fusion algorithms, namely: weighted averaging, wavelet fusion, and ROI indexing. The ROI indexing method of fusion involves segmenting the regions of interest from the CT image and replacing the pixels with the pixels of the EIT image. The three algorithms were applied to a CT and EIT image of an anthropomorphic phantom, constructed out of five acrylic contrast targets with varying diameter embedded in a base of gelatin bolus. The imaging performance was assessed using Detectability and Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). Wavelet fusion and ROI‐indexing resulted in lower Detectability (by 35% and 47%, respectively) yet higher SSIM (by 66% and 73%, respectively) than weighted averaging. Our results suggest that wavelet fusion and ROI‐indexing yielded more consistent and optimal fusion performance than weighted averaging.
Poster — Thur Eve — 10: Partial kV CBCT, complete kV CBCT and EPID in breast treatment: a dose comparison study for skin, breasts, heart and lungs
Authors: Roussin E , Archambault L K , Wierzbicki W
Published: September 2014

The advantages of kilovoltage cone beam CT (kV CBCT) imaging over electronic portal imaging device (EPID) such as accurate 3D anatomy, soft tissue visualization, fast rigid registration and enhanced precision on patient positioning has lead to its increasing use in clinics. The benefits of this imaging technique are at the cost of increasing the dose to healthy surrounding organs. Our center has moved toward the use of daily partial rotation kV CBCT to restrict the dose to healthy tissues. This study aims to better quantify radiation doses from different image‐guidance techniques such as tangential EPID, complete and partial kV CBCT for breast treatments. Cross‐calibrated ionization chambers and kV calibrated Gafchromic films were used to measure the dose to the heart, lungs, breasts and skin. It was found that performing partial kV CBCT decreases the heart dose by about 36%, the lungs dose by 31%, the contralateral breast dose by 41% and the ipsilateral breast dose by 43% when compared to a full rotation CBCT. The skin dose measured for a full rotation CBCT was about 0.8 cGy for the contralateral breast and about 0.3 cGy for the ipsilateral breast. The study is still ongoing and results on skin doses for partial rotation kV CBCT as well as for tangential EPID images are upcoming.
Pom-pom-like constitutive equations for comb polymers
Authors: Lentzakis Helen , Das Chinmay , Vlassopoulos Dimitris , Read Daniel J.
Published: September 2014

In analogy with the pom-pom model, we introduce a simple model for comb polymers with multiple side-arms attached to a linear backbone by considering a set of coupled equations describing the stretch in the individual interbranch backbone segments. The stretch equations predict a sudden onset of backbone stretch as the flow rate is increased. Drag-strain coupling smooths this transition to some extent. For a series of well characterized polyisoprene and polystyrene combs, we find good agreement with the experimentally determined transient stress growth coefficients in uniaxial extension.
Draft Genome Assembly of Klebsiella pneumoniae Type Strain ATCC 13883
Authors: Daligault H. E. , Davenport K. W. , Minogue T. D. , Bishop-Lilly K. A. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Frey K. G. , Jaissle J. , Koroleva G. I. , Ladner J. T. , Lo C.-C. , Meincke L. , Munk A. C. , Palacios G. F. , Redden C. L. , Johnson S. L.
Published: September 2014

Klebsiella pneumoniae
is a common cause of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in immunocompromised individuals. Here, we present the 5.54-Mb scaffolded assembly of the type strain
K. pneumoniae
type strain ATCC 13883, as deposited in GenBank under accession no. JOOW00000000.
Draft Genome Sequence of “
Candidatus
Phytoplasma asteris” Strain OY-V, an Unculturable Plant-Pathogenic Bacterium
Authors: Kakizawa Shigeyuki , Makino Ayaka , Ishii Yoshiko , Tamaki Hideyuki , Kamagata Yoichi
Published: September 2014

Phytoplasmas are unculturable plant-pathogenic bacteria causing devastating damage to agricultural production worldwide. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of “
Candidatus
Phytoplasma asteris” strain OY-V. Most of the known virulence factors and host-interacting proteins were conserved in OY-V. This genome furthers our understanding of genetic diversity and pathogenicity of phytoplasmas.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Flagellated Xanthomonas fuscans subsp.
fuscans
Strain CFBP 4884
Authors: Indiana A. , Briand M. , Arlat M. , Gagnevin L. , Koebnik R. , Noël L. D. , Portier P. , Darrasse A. , Jacques M. A.
Published: September 2014

We report the draft genome sequence of the flagellated strain CFBP 4884 of
Xanthomonas fuscans
subsp.
fuscans
, which was isolated in an outbreak of common bacterial blight of beans along with non-flagellated strains. Comparative genomics will allow one to decipher the genomic diversity of strains cohabiting in epidemics.
Genome Assembly of Serratia marcescens Type Strain ATCC 13880
Authors: Daligault H. E. , Davenport K. W. , Minogue T. D. , Broomall S. M. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Gibbons H. S. , Jaissle J. , Rosenzweig C. N. , Scholz M. , Teshima H. , Johnson S. L.
Published: September 2014

Serratia marcescens
ATCC 13880 is the type strain of the species and a commonly used quality control strain. Here, we present the annotated genome assembly of 5.13 Mbp (59.8% G+C content) as submitted to NCBI under accession no. JOVM00000000.
Complete Genome Assembly of Enterococcus faecalis 29212, a Laboratory Reference Strain
Authors: Minogue T. D. , Daligault H. E. , Davenport K. W. , Broomall S. M. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Chertkov O. , Freitas T. , Gibbons H. S. , Jaissle J. , Koroleva G. I. , Ladner J. T. , Palacios G. F. , Rosenzweig C. N. , Xu Y. , Johnson S. L.
Published: September 2014

Enterococcus faecalis
is a nonmotile Gram-positive coccus, found both as a commensal organism in healthy humans and animals and as a causative agent of multiple diseases, in particular endocarditis. We sequenced the genome of
E. faecalis
ATCC 29212, a commonly used reference strain in laboratory studies, to complete “finished” annotated assembly (3 Mb).
Complete Genome Assembly of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, a Serotype O6 Reference Strain
Authors: Minogue T. D. , Daligault H. A. , Davenport K. W. , Bishop-Lilly K. A. , Broomall S. M. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Chertkov O. , Coyne S. R. , Freitas T. , Frey K. G. , Gibbons H. S. , Jaissle J. , Redden C. L. , Rosenzweig C. N. , Xu Y. , Johnson S. L.
Published: September 2014

We present the complete genome assembly of
Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 as submitted to NCBI under accession no. CP009072. This strain was originally isolated from a clinical sample in Seattle, Washington (1946), and is often used in quality control testing. The assembled genome is 5.20 Mb (50.4% G+C content) and includes two plasmids.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Listeria monocytogenes Type Strain 53 XXIII
Authors: Davenport K. W. , Daligault H. E. , Minogue T. D. , Bishop-Lilly K. A. , Bruce D. C. , Chain P. S. , Coyne S. R. , Frey K. G. , Jaissle J. , Koroleva G. I. , Ladner J. T. , Li P.-E. , Palacios G. F. , Redden C. L. , Scholz M. B. , Teshima H. , Johnson S. L.
Published: September 2014

Listeria monocytogenes
causes the food-borne illness listeriosis that primarily infects “vulnerable” groups (e.g., elderly adults, pregnant women, very young children, and the immunocompromised). We sequenced the genome of
L. monocytogenes
XXIII (ATCC 15313) and assembled it into a single scaffold (three contigs) and deposited the annotated assembly into GenBank as accession no. JOOX00000000.
A cluster-randomised controlled trial of a physical activity and nutrition programme in retirement villages: a study protocol
Authors: Holt Anne-Marie , Jancey Jonine , Lee Andy H , Kerr Deborah A , Hills Andrew P , Anderson Annie S , Howat Peter A
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Physical activity levels of Australia's ageing population are declining and coincidentally rates of overweight and obesity are increasing. Adequate levels of physical activity and a healthy diet are recognised as important lifestyle factors for the maintenance of a healthy weight and prevention of chronic diseases. Retirement village (RV) residents rarely engage in physical activity and nutrition programmes offered, with poor attendance and low use of existing facilities such as on-site fitness centres and classes and nutrition seminars. The RV provides a unique setting to access and engage with this older target group, to test the effectiveness of strategies to increase levels of physical activity, improve nutrition and maintain a healthy weight.

Method and analysis

This cluster-randomised controlled trial will evaluate a physical activity, nutrition and healthy weight management intervention for insufficiently active (‘not achieving 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week’) adults aged 60–75 residing in RV's. A total of 400 participants will be recruited from 20 randomly selected RV's in Perth, Western Australia. Villages will be assigned to either the intervention group (n=10) or the control group (n=10) each containing 200 participants. The Retirement Village Physical Activity and Nutrition for Seniors (RVPANS) programme is a home-based physical activity and nutrition programme that includes educational resources, along with facilitators who will motivate and guide the participants during the 6-month intervention. Descriptive statistics and mixed regression models will be performed to assess the intervention effects. This trial will evaluate an intervention for the modification of health risk factors in the RV setting. Such research conducted in RV's has been limited.

Ethics and dissemination

Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: HR128/2012). Dissemination of the study results will occur through publications, reports, conference presentations and community seminars.

Trial registration number

Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12612001168842)
Context-aware Fuzzy Control Systems
Authors: Pelc Mariusz
Published: September 2014

In this paper an example of a hierarchical context-aware run-time reconfigurable control system is presented. The context-awareness is resulting from using policy-based computing as a technology allowing the control system to replace its decision making logic in run-time in response to changing environment conditions.

The proposed solution allows system experts to specify policies (AGILE policies) used in the Supervision Layer for the purpose of making decisions regarding the most appropriate controller configuration and on the other side, they can specify policies (Fuzzy Logic policies) used in the Control Layer in order to generate control signals allowing to achieve specified control goals.

Novelty of the proposed solutions lays in combination of two technologies, Open Decision Point technology originating from the Software Engineering domain Policy-based Computing that is originating from the Knowledge Engineering domain in application to non-linear control systems.
A fully-discrete-state kinetic theory approach to traffic flow on road networks
Authors: Fermo Luisa , Tosin Andrea
Published: September 2014

This paper presents a new approach to the modeling of vehicular traffic flows on road networks based on kinetic equations. While in the literature the problem has been extensively studied by means of macroscopic hydrodynamic models, to date there are still not, to the authors' knowledge, contributions tackling it from a genuine statistical mechanics point of view. Probably one of the reasons is the higher technical complexity of kinetic traffic models, further increased in case of several interconnected roads. Here such difficulties of the theory are overcome by taking advantage of a discrete structure of the space of microscopic states of the vehicles, which is also significant in view of including the intrinsic microscopic granularity of the system in the mesoscopic representation.
Crowd motion from the granular standpoint
Authors: Faure Sylvain , Maury Bertrand
Published: September 2014

Following the approach initially proposed in Maury and Venel,30,31 we consider here crowd motion from the standpoint of granular media, and we investigate how theoretical and numerical tools in nonsmooth analysis can help better understanding some paradoxical features. We shall be especially interested in evacuation processes, jams, and we will detail how the granular nature of the flow helps to understand two well-known phenomena, the so-called "Faster is Slower" effect, and "Stop-and-Go" waves.
On the control through leadership of the Hegselmann–Krause opinion formation model
Authors: Wongkaew Suttida , Caponigro Marco , Borzì Alfio
Published: September 2014

This paper deals with control strategies for the Hegselmann–Krause opinion formation model with leadership. In this system, the control mechanism is included in the leader dynamics and the feedback control functions are determined via a stabilization procedure and with a model predictive optimal control process. Correspondingly, the issues of global stabilization, controllability, and tracking are investigated. The model predictive control scheme requires to solve a sequence of open-loop optimality systems discretized by an appropriate Runge–Kutta scheme and solved by a nonlinear conjugate gradient method. Results of numerical experiments demonstrate the validity of the proposed control strategies and their ability to drive the system to attain consensus.
The covalence and infrared spectra of cationic hydrogen bonds and dihydrogen bonds
Authors: Oliveira Boaz G.
Published: September 2014

A theoretical study of hydrogen bonds and dihydrogen bonds formed by ethyl cation, hydrocarbons and magnesium hydride is presented with calculations performed at the BHandHLYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The structural results and IR analyses demonstrated great insights, mainly the strengthening and weakness of the CC bond of the ethyl cation and π or pseudo-π bonds, respectively. The interaction strength was measured through the supermolecule as well as by means of additional approaches. The QTAIM calculations were applied to characterize not only the intermolecular interactions but specifically the covalent character in the H+⋯ π, H+⋯ pseudo-π and H+⋯ H contacts. The NBO calculations were useful to interpret the polarization on the CC bond and whether this effect is related with the bond length reduction as well as increase of charge density and frequency shifts.
Beyond My Wildest Expectations
Authors: Nester Eugene
Published: September 2014

With support from my parents, I fulfilled their and my expectations of graduating from college and becoming a scientist. My scientific career has focused on two organisms, Bacillus subtilis and Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and two experimental systems, aromatic amino acid synthesis and DNA transfer in bacteria and plants. Studies on B. subtilis emphasized the genetics and biochemistry of aromatic amino acid synthesis and the characterization of competence in DNA transformation. I carried out both as a postdoc at Stanford with Josh Lederberg. At the University of Washington, I continued these studies and then investigated how Agrobacterium transforms plant cells. In collaboration, Milt Gordon, Mary-Dell Chilton, and I found that this bacterium could transfer a piece of its plasmid into plant cells and thereby modify their properties. This discovery opened up a host of intriguing questions that we have tried to answer over the last 35 years.
Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi and the Pathogenesis of Typhoid Fever
Authors: Dougan Gordon , Baker Stephen
Published: September 2014

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the cause of typhoid, is host restricted to humans. S. Typhi has a monophyletic population structure, indicating that typhoid in humans is a relatively new disease. Antimicrobial usage is reshaping the current S. Typhi global population and may be driving the emergence of a specific haplotype, H58, that is well adapted to transmission in modern settings and is able to resist antimicrobial killing more efficiently than other S. Typhi. Evidence gathered through genomics and functional studies using the mouse and in vitro cell systems, together with clinical investigations, has provided insight into the mechanisms that underpin the pathogenesis of human typhoid and host restriction. Here we review the latest scientific advances in typhoid research and discuss how these novel approaches are changing our understanding of the disease.
Myosin 5b loss of function leads to defects in polarized signaling: implication for microvillus inclusion disease pathogenesis and treatment
Authors: Kravtsov Dmitri , Mashukova Anastasia , Forteza Radia , Rodriguez Maria M. , Ameen Nadia A. , Salas Pedro J.
Published: September 2014

Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is an autosomal recessive condition resulting in intractable secretory diarrhea in newborns due to loss-of-function mutations in myosin Vb (Myo5b). Previous work suggested that the apical recycling endosomal (ARE) compartment is the primary location for phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) signaling. Because the ARE is disrupted in MVID, we tested the hypothesis that polarized signaling is affected by Myo5b dysfunction. Subcellular distribution of PDK1 was analyzed in human enterocytes from MVID/control patients by immunocytochemistry. Using Myo5b knockdown (kd) in Caco-2BBecells, we studied phosphorylated kinases downstream of PDK1, electrophysiological parameters, and net water flux. PDK1 was aberrantly localized in human MVID enterocytes and Myo5b-deficient Caco-2BBecells. Two PDK1 target kinases were differentially affected: phosphorylated atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) increased fivefold and phosohoprotein kinase B slightly decreased compared with control. PDK1 redistributed to a soluble (cytosolic) fraction and copurified with basolateral endosomes in Myo5b kd. Myo5b kd cells showed a decrease in net water absorption that could be reverted with PDK1 inhibitors. We conclude that, in addition to altered apical expression of ion transporters, depolarization of PDK1 in MVID enterocytes may lead to aberrant activation of downstream kinases such as aPKC. The findings in this work suggest that PDK1-dependent signaling may provide a therapeutic target for treating MVID.
Recovery of the pulmonary chemoreflex and functional role of bronchopulmonary C-fibers following chronic cervical spinal cord injury
Authors: Lee Kun-Ze , Chang Yu-Shuo
Published: September 2014

Persistent impairment of pulmonary defense reflexes is a critical factor contributing to pulmonary complications in patients with spinal cord injuries. The pulmonary chemoreflex evoked by activation of bronchopulmonary C-fibers has been reported to be abolished in animals with acute cervical hemisection (C2Hx). The present study examined whether the pulmonary chemoreflex can recover during the chronic injury phase and investigated the role of bronchopulmonary C-fibers on the altered breathing pattern after C2Hx. In the first protocol, bronchopulmonary C-fibers were excited by intrajugular capsaicin administration in uninjured and complete C2Hx animals 8 wk postsurgery. Capsaicin evoked pulmonary chemoreflexes in both groups, but the reflex intensity was significantly weaker in C2Hx animals. To examine whether spared spinal white matter tissue contributes to pulmonary chemoreflex recovery, the reflex was evaluated in animals with different extents of lateral injury. Linear regression analyses revealed that tidal volume significantly correlated with the extent of spared tissue; however, capsaicin-induced apnea was not related to injury severity when the ipsilateral-to-contralateral white matter ratio was <50%. In the second protocol, the influence of background bronchopulmonary C-fiber activity on respiration was investigated by blocking C-fiber conduction via perivagal capsaicin treatment. The rapid shallow breathing of C2Hx animals persisted after perivagal capsaicin treatment despite attenuation of pulmonary chemoreflexes. These results indicate that the pulmonary chemoreflex can recover to some extent following spinal injury, but remains attenuated even when there is moderate spinal tissue sparing, and that altered breathing pattern of C2Hx animals cannot be attributed to endogenous activation of bronchopulmonary C-fibers.
Recruitment of rat diaphragm motor units across motor behaviors with different levels of diaphragm activation
Authors: Seven Yasin B. , Mantilla Carlos B. , Sieck Gary C.
Published: September 2014

Phrenic motor neurons are recruited across a range of motor behaviors to generate varying levels of diaphragm muscle (DIAm) force. We hypothesized that DIAm motor units are recruited in a fixed order across a range of motor behaviors of varying force levels, consistent with the Henneman Size Principle. Single motor unit action potentials and compound DIAm EMG activities were recorded in anesthetized, neurally intact rats across different motor behaviors, i.e., eupnea, hypoxia-hypercapnia (10% O2 and 5% CO2), deep breaths, sustained airway occlusion, and sneezing. Central drive [estimated by root-mean-squared (RMS) EMG value 75 ms after the onset of EMG activity (RMS75)], recruitment delay, and onset discharge frequencies were similar during eupnea and hypoxia-hypercapnia. Compared with eupnea, central drive increased (∼25%) during deep breaths, and motor units were recruited ∼12 ms earlier ( P < 0.01). During airway occlusion, central drive was ∼3 times greater, motor units were recruited ∼30 ms earlier ( P < 0.01), and motor unit onset discharge frequencies were significantly higher ( P < 0.01). Recruitment order of motor unit pairs observed during eupnea was maintained for 98%, 87%, and 84% of the same pairs recorded during hypoxia-hypercapnia, deep breaths, and airway occlusion, respectively. Reversals in motor unit recruitment order were observed primarily if motor unit pairs were recruited <20 ms apart. These results are consistent with DIAm motor unit recruitment order being determined primarily by the intrinsic size-dependent electrophysiological properties of phrenic motor neurons.
Individual Differences in Aversion to Ambiguity Regarding Medical Tests and Treatments: Association with Cancer Screening Cognitions
Authors: Han Paul K.J. , Williams Andrew E. , Haskins Amy , Gutheil Caitlin , Lucas F. Lee , Klein William M.P. , Mazor Kathleen M.
Published: September 2014

Background: Aversion to “ambiguity”—uncertainty about the reliability, credibility, or adequacy of information—about medical tests and treatments is an important psychological response that varies among individuals, but little is known about its nature and extent. The purpose of this study was to examine how individual-level ambiguity aversion relates to important health cognitions related to different cancer screening tests.

Methods: A survey of 1,074 adults, ages 40 to 70 years, was conducted in four integrated U.S. healthcare systems. The Ambiguity Aversion in Medicine (AA-Med) scale, a measure of individual differences in aversion to ambiguity (AA) about medical tests and treatments, was administered along with measures of several cancer screening-related cognitions: perceived benefits and harms of colonoscopy, mammography, and PSA screening, and ambivalence and future intentions regarding these tests. Multivariable analyses were conducted to assess the associations between AA-Med scores and cancer screening cognitions.

Results: Individual-level AA as assessed by the AA-Med scale was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with lower perceived benefits, greater perceived harms, and greater ambivalence about all three screening tests, and lower intentions for colonoscopy but not mammography or PSA screening.

Conclusion: Individual-level AA is broadly and simultaneously associated with various pessimistic cognitive appraisals of multiple cancer screening tests. The breadth of these associations suggests that the influence of individual-level AA is insensitive to the degree and nonspecific with respect to the causes of ambiguity.

Impact: Individual-level AA constitutes a measurable, wide-ranging cognitive bias against medical intervention, and more research is needed to elucidate its mechanisms and effects. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2916–23. ©2014 AACR.
Microvascular Thrombosis, Fibrinolysis, Ischemic Injury, and Death After Cerebral Thromboembolism Are Affected by Levels of Circulating α2-Antiplasmin
Authors: Reed Guy L. , Houng Aiilyan K. , Wang Dong
Published: September 2014

Objective—

Ischemic stroke is primarily attributable to thrombotic vascular occlusion. Elevated α2-antiplasmin (a2AP) levels correlate with increased stroke risk, but whether a2AP contributes to the pathogenesis of stroke is unknown. We examined how a2AP affects thrombosis, ischemic brain injury, and survival after experimental cerebral thromboembolism.

Approach and Results—

We evaluated the effects of a2AP on stroke outcomes in mice with increased, normal, or no circulating a2AP, as well as in mice given an a2AP-inactivating antibody. Higher a2AP levels were correlated with greater ischemic brain injury (
r
s
=0.88,
P
<0.001), brain swelling (
r
s
=0.82,
P
<0.001), and reduced middle cerebral artery thrombus dissolution (
r
s
=−0.93,
P
<0.001). In contrast, a2AP deficiency enhanced thrombus dissolution, increased cerebral blood flow, reduced brain infarction, and decreased brain swelling. By comparison to tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a2AP inactivation hours after thromboembolism still reduced brain infarction (
P
<0.001) and hemorrhage (
P
<0.05). Microvascular thrombosis, a process that enhances brain ischemia, was markedly reduced in a2AP-deficient or a2AP-inactivated mice compared with TPA-treated mice or mice with increased a2AP levels (all
P
<0.001). Matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, which contributes to acute brain injury, was profoundly decreased in a2AP-deficient or a2AP-inactivated mice versus TPA-treated mice or mice with increased a2AP levels (all
P
<0.001). a2AP inactivation markedly reduced stroke mortality versus TPA (
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—

a2AP has profound, dose-related effects on ischemic brain injury, swelling, hemorrhage, and survival after cerebral thromboembolism. By comparison to TPA, the protective effects of a2AP deficiency or inactivation seem to be mediated through reductions in microvascular thrombosis and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.
Complication Rates and Center Enrollment Volume in the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial
Authors: Gonzales Nicole R. , Demaerschalk Bart M. , Voeks Jenifer H. , Tom MeeLee , Howard George , Sheffet Alice J. , Garcia Lawrence , Clair Daniel G. , Barr John , Orlow Steven , Brott Thomas G.
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose—

Evidence indicates that center volume of cases affects outcomes for both carotid endarterectomy and stenting. We evaluated the effect of enrollment volume by site on complication rates in the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial (CREST).

Methods—

The primary composite end point was any stroke, myocardial infarction, or death within 30 days or ipsilateral stroke in follow-up. The 477 approved surgeons performed >12 procedures per year with complication rates <3% for asymptomatic patients and <5% for symptomatic patients; 224 interventionists were certified after a rigorous 2 step credentialing process. CREST centers were divided into tertiles based on the number of patients enrolled into the study, with Group 1 sites enrolling <25 patients, Group 2 sites enrolling 25 to 51 patients, and Group 3 sites enrolling >51 patients. Differences in periprocedural event rates for the primary composite end point and its components were compared using logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and symptomatic status within site-volume level.

Results—

The safety of carotid angioplasty and stenting and carotid endarterectomy did not vary by site-volume during the periprocedural period as indicated by occurrence of the primary end point (
P
=0.54) or by stroke and death (
P
=0.87). A trend toward an inverse relationship between center enrollment volume and complications was mitigated by adjustment for known risk factors.

Conclusions—

Complication rates were low in CREST and were not associated with center enrollment volume. The data are consistent with the value of rigorous training and credentialing in trials evaluating endovascular devices and surgical procedures.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00004732.
Blood Pressure–Lowering Treatment With Candesartan in Patients With Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke
Authors: Jusufovic Mirza , Sandset Else C. , Bath Philip M.W. , Berge Eivind
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose—

Early and intensive blood pressure–lowering treatment seems to be beneficial in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke and high blood pressure. We wanted to see if similar benefits can be shown from a later and more gradual blood pressure lowering, using data from the Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial (SCAST).

Methods—

SCAST was a randomized- and placebo-controlled, double-masked trial of candesartan given for 7 days, in 2029 patients with acute stroke and systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg. We assessed the effects of candesartan in the 274 patients with hemorrhagic stroke, using the trial’s 2 coprimary effect variables: the composite vascular end point of vascular death, stroke or myocardial infarction, and functional outcome at 6 months, according to the modified Rankin Scale. We used Cox proportional hazards models and ordinal regression for analysis and adjusted for key, predefined prognostic variables.

Results—

There was no association between treatment with candesartan and risk of vascular events (17 of 144 [11.8%] versus 13 of 130 [10.0%]; hazard ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–2.83;
P
=0.41). For functional outcome we found evidence of a negative effect of candesartan (common odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.50;
P
=0.036).

Conclusions—

There was no evidence that blood pressure–lowering treatment with candesartan is beneficial during the first week of hemorrhagic stroke. Instead, there were signs that such treatment may be harmful, but this needs to be verified in larger studies.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00120003.
The Relation Between Residential Property and Its Surroundings and Day- and Night-Time Residential Burglary
Authors: Montoya Lorena , Junger Marianne , Ongena Yfke
Published: September 2014

This article examines how residential property and its surroundings influence day- and night-time residential burglary. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles of territoriality, surveillance, access control, target hardening, image maintenance, and activity support underpin the study. Data were collected by observing 851 houses in the city of Enschede, half of which were burgled and half representing a random selection of houses not burgled. Multilevel multinomial regression models were estimated for predicting day- and night-time burglaries. The findings show that territoriality and access control predict daytime burglary while access control and target hardening predict night-time burglary. The analysis controls for offender availability, target attractiveness, and residential stability. The conclusion is that two separate burglary prevention frameworks are needed: one for day-and another one for night-time burglary.
Increasing Physical Activity in Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments
Authors: Smith William R. , Moore Robin , Cosco Nilda , Wesoloski Jennifer , Danninger Tom , Ward Dianne S. , Trost Stewart G. , Ries Nicole
Published: September 2014

The problem of childhood obesity can be addressed through study of how built environment characteristics can foster physical activity (PA) among preschool children. A sample of 355 behavior settings in 30 childcare center outdoor learning environments (OLEs) was studied using behavioral mapping techniques. Observers coded activity levels of preschool children across behavior settings. The level of PA observed in 6,083 behavioral displays of children aged 3 to 5 was modeled using multi-level statistical techniques. Both adjacency and centrality of play settings were found to be important factors in increasing the degree of PA, net the effect of numerous other variables. In addition, child-to-child interaction was found to foster PA (more for boys than girls) whereas a teacher’s custodial actions limit PA. Results demonstrate that design of OLE form (particularly adjacency of behavior settings) and content (use of manipulable items such as wheeled toys and balls) facilitates higher levels of PA.
Neither Class nor Status: Arts Participation and the Social Strata
Authors: Reeves Aaron
Published: September 2014

What is the relationship between social stratification and arts participation? Because the barriers to both participation and consumption vary, the relationship between the social strata and arts participation may differ from the relationship between social strata and arts consumption. Using three pooled waves of the Taking-Part survey ( N = 78,011), I estimate latent class and multinomial logistic models to examine the association between education, social status, social class, and income with patterns of arts participation. Five latent clusters are observed and both social status and social class are insignificantly associated with each cluster. In contrast, education remains strongly correlated with most forms of arts participation. These results indicate that arts participation, as a constituent part of ‘lifestyle’, is not primarily explained through social status or social class but rather through education.
Effect of backward walking training on postural balance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study
Authors: El-Basatiny Heba M Youssr , Abdel-aziem Amr Almaz
Published: September 2014

Objective:

To study the effect of additional backward walking training on postural control in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

Design:

Randomized controlled study.

Setting:

Physical therapy clinics.

Subjects:

Thirty spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsied children of both sexes (10-14 years, 14 girls and 16 boys).

Intervention:

Children were randomly assigned into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. Both groups received a traditional physical therapy program for 12 weeks. Experimental group additionally received backward walking training which was provided 25 min/day, 3 days/week for 3 successive months.

Outcome measures:

Baseline and post-treatment assessment for overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices were evaluated by using Biodex balance system.

Results:

After treatment; two way ANOVA revealed significant improvement in overall, anteroposterior and mediolateral stability indices of experimental group at the most stable level (level 12) and moderately unstable level (level 7) (1.40 ± 0.44 and 1.73 ± 0.51; 1.11 ± 0.34 and 2.13 ± 0.52; 1.93 ± 0.51 and 2.68 ± 0.52) respectively, than control group (1.77 ± 0.44 and 2.17 ± 0.56; 1.44 ± 0.44 and 2.54 ± 0.49; 2.39 ± 0.65 and 3.11 ± 0.49) respectively, ( P < 0.05). There were significant improvement in all measured variables for both groups at both levels ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Additional backward walking training to traditional physical therapy program yields improvement in postural stability indices in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy than traditional physical therapy alone.
Optimum processing parameters for wood-bamboo hybrid composite sleepers
Authors: Xiao Shengling , Lin Hong , Shi Sheldon Q , Cai Liping
Published: September 2014

The objective of this study was to investigate the optimum processing parameters to manufacture wood-bamboo hybrid composites for railway sleepers. Wood particles and bamboo strips were used as reinforcing materials, and phenol formaldehyde resin was used as matrix. About 108 composite boards with resin contents of 8% to 15.5%, target densities of 0.55 to 1.05 g/cm3, hot-pressing time of 0.40 to 0.65 min/mm, and press temperatures of 165℃ to 175℃ were fabricated. The effect of manufacturing parameters on the properties of the sleepers was examined. Regression equations were developed to illustrate the relationships between processing parameters and the sleeper properties, i.e. modulus of rapture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), and thickness swelling (TS). A nonlinear programming model was derived, from which the composite sleeper properties can be estimated. Given the manufacturing conditions (resin content, target composite density, press time, and press temperature), the composite sleeper properties can be estimated. Using the nonlinear programming model, the optimal MOR, MOE, IB, or TS could be obtained under certain practical constraints. When a resin content of 15.5%, target density of 0.8 g/cm3, hot-pressing time of 0.65 min/mm, and hot-pressing temperature of 170℃ were used, the optimal MOR value of 70.08 MPa was obtained under the conditions that MOE, IB, and TS be greater than the requirements of the standards.
Effects of cutting parameters on ductile material removal mode percentage in rotary ultrasonic face machining
Authors: Yuan Songmei , Zhang Chong , Hu Junjie
Published: September 2014

Rotary ultrasonic machining is an excellent method for processing hard brittle materials and has been investigated extensively via theoretical and experimental studies. However, there are few researches about rotary ultrasonic machining of ceramic matrix composite materials. Material removal mode presents both ductile-mode and brittle-fracture when machining hard brittle materials. The ratio of ductile-mode and brittle-fracture has a significant impact on processing status and processing quality. In this article, we developed a cutting force model for rotary ultrasonic face machining of ceramic matrix composite materials. Based on this model, we investigated the effects of cutting parameters on ductile-mode percentage of ceramic matrix composite materials. The cutting depth, feedrate and spindle speed are assumed to be three main factors that affect the ductile-mode percentage in rotary ultrasonic face machining. The primary aim of this article is to verify the correctness of the assumption using a three-variable three-level orthogonal experiment array. The experimental results agreed well with the assumption. The main factors deciding the ductile-mode percentage were found to be cutting depth and feedrate.
Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and human papillomavirus in a sexual health clinic setting in urban Sri Lanka
Authors: Samarawickrema NA , Tabrizi SN , Young E , Gunawardena P , Garland SM
Published: September 2014

The prevalences of Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and human papillomavirus (HPV) in Sri Lanka are not well reported; the objective of this study is to describe the prevalences of these four sexually transmitted infections among attendees of sexual health clinic in an urban setting. Vaginal swabs were collected from consenting women attending a sexual health clinic and tested for the presence of the above sexually transmitted infections using nucleic acid amplification techniques. Basic demographic details were sought from each participant (483 women of age range 14–61, median 30 years, IQR 12 years) via a research assistant–administered questionnaire. Overall, a prevalence of T. vaginalis, C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and HPV was 2.3%, (95% CI: 1.2–4.1%), 8.2% (95% CI: 5.6–11.4%), 7.6% (95% CI: 5.2–10.8%), and 44.4% (95% CI: 39.8–49.1%), respectively. Among the 197 positive for HPV, HPV6 accounted for 23.1%, HPV16 (12.5%), then HPV11, HPV66 and HPV58 were the commonest. Vaccine-related types (6/11/16/18) were detected in 59.9% of cases (95%CI: 52.7–66.8%). The high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (45.2%) is a potential risk factor for an increase in HIV infections in the country and the high carriage of HPV supports the need for cervical cancer screening and prevention programmes.
Persistent Optimizing
Authors: Walsh Audrey , Meagher-Stewart Donna , Macdonald Marilyn
Published: September 2014

Mothers’ ability to provide healthy food choices for their children has become more complex in our current obesogenic environment. We conducted a total of 35 interviews with 18 mothers of preschool children. Using constructivist grounded theory methods, we developed a substantive theory of how mothers make food choices for their preschoolers. Our substantive theory, persistent optimizing, consists of three main integrated conceptual categories: (a) acknowledging contextual constraints, (b) stretching boundaries, and (c) strategic positioning. Implications to improve mothers’ ability to make healthy food choices that reduce their children’s risk of becoming overweight or obese are discussed.
In a Longevity Society, Loss and Grief Are Emerging Risk Factors for Health Care Use
Authors: Miles Toni P. , Allegra Joseph C. , Ezeamama Amara , Simpson Cherie , Gerst-Emerson Kerstin , Elkins Jennifer
Published: September 2014

In a society of long lives, parent and child life can overlap by as much as 50 years. Most children now experience the death of their parents as adults. Many of the 2.5 million deaths each year in the United States are parents. Parental loss is a risk factor for subsequent illness. The Health and Retirement Survey is a representative cohort of persons aged 50 to 70 years. Using the 2010 cohort data, we estimate risk for use of health care after the death of a parent. Loss is a near universal experience in the cohort (87%). A report of any loss increases risk of health care utilization by 20% to 30%. For a longevity society, preventing loss-related hospitalization is a measurable outcome for bereavement care.
Assessing Assessment
Authors: Farwell Tricia M. , Alligood Leon , Fitzgerald Sharon , Blake Ken
Published: September 2014

This article introduces an objective grammar and math assessment and evaluates the assessment’s outcome and reliability when fielded among eighty-one students in media writing courses. In addition, the article proposes a rubric for grading straight news leads and compares the rubric’s reliability with the reliability of rating straight news leads on an “A to F” scale without the guidance of a rubric. The study found evidence suggesting all three assessments may be useful tools in evaluating student learning in basic media writing courses.