bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dehydration and anatexis of UHP metagranite during continental collision in the Sulu orogen
Authors: Li W.‐C. , Chen R.‐X. , Zheng Y.‐F. , Hu Z.
Published: July 2014

Dehydration and anatexis of ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks during continental collision are two key processes that have great bearing on the physicochemical properties of deeply subducted continental crust at mantle depths. Determining the time and P–T conditions at which such events take place is needed to understand subduction‐zone tectonism. A combined petrological and zirconological study of UHP metagranite from the Sulu orogen reveals differential behaviours of dehydration and anatexis between two samples from the same UHP slice. The zircon mantle domains in one sample record eclogite facies dehydration metamorphism at 236 ± 5 Ma during subduction, exhibiting low REE contents, steep MREE–HREE patterns without negative Eu anomalies, low Th, Nb and Ta contents, low temperatures of 651–750 °C and inclusions of quartz, apatite and jadeite. A second mantle domain records high‐T anatexis at 223 ± 3 Ma during exhumation, showing high REE contents, steeper MREE–HREE patterns with marked negative Eu anomalies, high Hf, Nb, Ta, Th and U contents, high temperatures of 698–879 °C and multiphase solid inclusions of albite + muscovite + quartz. In contrast, in a second sample, one zircon mantle domain records limited hydration anatexis at 237 ± 3 Ma during subduction, exhibiting high REE contents, steep MREE–HREE patterns with marked negative Eu anomalies, high Hf, Nb, Ta, Th and U contents, medium temperatures of 601–717 °C and multiphase solid inclusions of albite + muscovite + hydrohalite. A second mantle domain in this sample records a low‐T dehydration metamorphism throughout the whole continental collision in the Triassic, showing low REE contents, steep MREE–HREE patterns with weakly negative Eu anomalies, low Th, Nb and Ta contents, low temperatures of 524–669 °C and anhydrite + gas inclusions. Garnet, phengite and allanite/epidote in these two samples also exhibit different variations in texture and major‐trace element compositions, in accordance with the zircon records. The distinct P–T–t paths for these two samples suggest separate processes of dehydration and anatexis, which are ascribed to the different geothermal gradients at different positions inside the same crustal slice during continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. Therefore, the subducting continental crust underwent variable extents of dehydration and anatexis in response to the change in subduction‐zone P–T conditions.
Influences of Different Hysterectomy Techniques on Patients' Postoperative Sexual Function and Quality of Life
Authors: Radosa Julia C. , Meyberg-Solomayer Gabriele , Kastl Christina , Radosa Christoph G. , Mavrova Russalina , Gräber Stefan , Baum Sascha , Radosa Marc P.
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Hysterectomy ranks among the most frequently performed gynecological surgical procedures. At the time of operation, the majority of patients are premenopausal and sexually active. Hence, detailed counseling about the effects of hysterectomy on postoperative sexuality and quality of life can be regarded as an integral part of preoperative counseling. However, available data on these subjects are limited and contradictory.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess quality of life and sexuality following three common hysterectomy procedures—total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy (SLH), and vaginal hysterectomy (VH)—in premenopausal patients using the European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Scale (EQ-5D) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Main Outcome Measures

Preoperative and postoperative EQ-5D and FSFI scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Kruskal–Wallis analysis and Mann–Whitney U-test with post hoc Bonferroni correction were used to assess differences among the three subgroups.

Methods

All premenopausal patients who underwent TLH, SLH, or VH without adnexectomy due to benign uterine disorders between April 2011 and June 2013 at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Saarland University Hospital were enrolled in this observational cohort study. Sexuality and quality of life status were assessed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively using two standardized validated questionnaires: the FSFI, a multidimensional, self-reported instrument for the assessment of female sexual function, and the EQ-5D, a standardized, validated instrument to measure an individual's health status.

Results

Of 402 eligible patients, 237 completed the study. Patient characteristics and preoperative FSFI and EQ-5D scores did not differ among the three hysterectomy subgroups. Postoperative FSFI and EQ-5D scores were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) than preoperative scores for all procedures but did not differ among the groups.

Conclusions

In this cohort of premenopausal women, hysterectomy without adnexectomy performed due to benign uterine pathologies had significant positive effects on postoperative sexual function and quality of life, regardless of the surgical technique used.
Across Oceans and Revolutions: Law and Slavery in French Saint‐Domingue and Beyond
Authors: Wood Laurie M.
Published: July 2014

New work on colonial legal regimes suggests new pathways for scholarship on legal regimes, legal consciousness, judicial personnel, and the Atlantic world. Malick Ghachem's recent book, The Old Regime and the Haitian Revolution (2012), introduces scholars to one legal regime—that of the French plantation colony of Saint‐Domingue—to show how enslaved and free people continually negotiated the terms of master sovereignty and manumission. This debate lasted from Saint‐Domingue's establishment as a slave society in the seventeenth century to its revolution in the 1790s, which overthrew the slave regime and culminated in independence in 1804 as the republic of Haiti.
Molecular study of bacterial diversity within the trophosome of the vestimentiferan tubeworm Ridgeia piscesae
Authors: Forget Nathalie L. , Perez Maëva , Juniper S. Kim
Published: July 2014

A large proportion of the faunal biomass in hydrothermal vent ecosystems relies on symbiotic relationships, with bacteria as a source of nutrition. Whereas multiple symbioses have been observed in diverse vent hosts, siboglinid tubeworms have been thought to harbour a single endosymbiont phylotype affiliated to the Gammaproteobacteria. In the case of the Northeast Pacific vestimentiferan Ridgeia piscesae, two previous studies suggested the presence of more than one symbiont. The possibility of multiple, and possibly habitat‐specific, symbionts in R. piscesae provided a potential explanation for the tubeworm's broad ecological niche, compared with other hydrothermal vent siboglinids. This study further explored the diversity of trophosome bacteria in R. piscesae using two methodological approaches not yet applied to this symbiosis. We carried out 454‐pyrosequencing on trophosome samples from 46 individual worms and used catalyzed reporter deposition‐fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD‐FISH) to verify the presence of the major groups detected in the pyrotag data. Both methods yielded inconsistent and sometimes contradictory results between sampling sites, and neither provided irrefutable evidence for the presence of symbionts other than the expected Gammaproteobacteria. We therefore conclude that the other adaptive mechanisms must be considered to explain the broad physico‐chemical niche occupied by the different growth forms of R. piscesae.
At least some protist species are not ubiquitous
Authors: Fontaneto Diego , Hortal Joaquín
Published: July 2014

Body size is one of the main regulators of the ecological characteristics of living organisms, including their biogeography. The ‘ubiquity hypothesis’ for microorganisms states that they are widely distributed, if not cosmopolitan, due to their small size that allows passive dispersal, in contrast to large organisms that are limited by geographical barriers in their active dispersal. Such idea, summarized in the tenet ‘Everything is everywhere, but the environment selects’, has driven most of the research in biogeography for microscopic organisms in the last decades, spurring a debate on whether there are fundamental differences in the biogeography of small and large organisms or not (Fenchel & Finlay 2004; Foissner 2008; Hortal 2011). The strong focus on the ubiquity hypothesis may have been often abused to provide a rationale for otherwise descriptive work on the spatial distribution of microscopic organisms; nevertheless, such focus also provides a framework to understand the mechanisms originating and maintaining biodiversity in space. The reliability of the analyses on unknown and understudied organisms is improving, and Heger et al. (2013) is a splendid example on small unicellular eukaryotes of what should be done to overcome the major problems and ambiguities that heated the debate on the ubiquity hypothesis.
Genetic structure of an introduced paper wasp,Polistes chinensis antennalis(Hymenoptera,Vespidae) inNewZealand
Authors: Tsuchida Koji , Kudô Kazuyuki , Ishiguro Norio
Published: July 2014

Several eusocial wasps are prominent invaders to remote islands. The paper waspPolistes chinensis antennalisis native to East Asia, was introduced to New Zealand in 1979 and has expanded its distribution there. This provides an excellent opportunity to examine the impacts of an initial bottleneck and subsequent expansion on genetic structure. We analysed and compared the genetic population structures of the native (Japan and South Korea) and invasive New Zealand populations. Although 94% of individuals had shared haplotypes detected across both populations, the remaining 6% had private haplotypes identified in only one of the three countries. The genetic variation at microsatellite loci was lower in New Zealand than in native countries, and the genetic structure in New Zealand was clearly distinct from that in its native range. Higher frequencies of diploid‐male‐ and triploid‐female‐producing colonies were detected in New Zealand than in the native countries, showing the reduction in genetic variation via a genetic bottleneck. At least two independent introductions were suggested, and the putative source regions for New Zealand were assigned as Kanto (central island) and Kyushu (south island) in Japan. Serial founder events following the initial introduction were also indicated. The estimated dispersal distance between mother and daughter in New Zealand was twice that in Japan. Thus, the introduction history ofP. chinensis antennalisin New Zealand is probably the result of at least two independent introductions, passing through a bottleneck during introduction, followed by population expansion from the point of introduction.
Systematic identification of tRNAome and its dynamics in Lactococcus lactis
Authors: Puri Pranav , Wetzel Collin , Saffert Paul , Gaston Kirk W. , Russell Susan P. , Cordero Varela Juan A. , van der Vlies Pieter , Zhang Gong , Limbach Patrick A. , Ignatova Zoya , Poolman Bert
Published: July 2014

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) through their abundance and modification pattern significantly influence protein translation. Here, we present a systematic analysis of the tRNAome of Lactococcus lactis. Using the next‐generation sequencing approach, we identified 40 tRNAs which carry 16 different post‐transcriptional modifications as revealed by mass spectrometry analysis. While small modifications are located in the tRNA body, hypermodified nucleotides are mainly present in the anticodon loop, which through wobbling expand the decoding potential of the tRNAs. Using tRNA‐based microarrays, we also determined the dynamics in tRNA abundance upon changes in the growth rate and heterologous protein overexpression stress. With a fourfold increase in the growth rate, the relative abundance of tRNAs cognate to low abundance codons decrease, while the tRNAs cognate to major codons remain mostly unchanged. Significant changes in the tRNA abundances are observed upon protein overexpression stress, which does not correlate with the codon usage of the overexpressed gene but rather reflects the altered expression of housekeeping genes.
Tradition on Fire: Polydoxy, Orthodoxy, and Theological Epistemology
Authors: Craigo‐Snell Shannon
Published: July 2014

This article explores four accounts of fire in texts that have become influential to theological epistemology, written by Luce Irigaray, René Descartes, George Fox, and Blaise Pascal. Each of these fires represents an epistemological conversion to a particular way of knowing about God. While the authors of the Keller and Schneider volume resist a strict binary opposition between polydoxy and orthodoxy, the book as a whole—whether inadvertently or inescapably—functionally reduces orthodoxy to a single epistemological viewpoint, diagnosed by Irigaray as the Logic of the One. This singular view of orthodoxy has two drawbacks. First, it is inadequate to the multiplicity of Christian orthodoxies. It cannot account for the fires of Fox and Pascal, or for the orthodoxies that threatened them. Second, polydoxy itself is limited. Reading all orthodoxies through the lens of Irigaray's critique re‐inscribes the Logic of the One that she protests. Furthermore, this pattern belies the relationality that polydoxy emphasizes. Thus, the continuing development of polydoxy might require attending to the specific multiplicities of orthodoxy itself.
Receiving the Gift
Authors: Ward Graham
Published: July 2014

Taking the Christian Scriptures as its starting point, this article attempts a critical reflection on Polydoxy. While expressing a number of sympathies with elements of the project, four questions are raised in my reception of the book. First: the roles of revealed truth and authority within polydoxy's project. Second: whether the project constructs a false foil in its presentation of “orthodoxy.” Third: the nature of the panentheism that some of the contributors to the volume espouse. And fourth: whether characterising panentheism as apophatic renders that espousal more coherent from a Christian theological perspective. These four questions focus on the Christological models presented in Polydoxy. I conclude that Christian orthodoxy concerns the articulation of a Christological logic that can “save us” and, on the basis of my critical reflection, I am left wondering whether the theology presented to us in Polydoxy can really do that.
Contribution of the drought tolerance‐related Stress‐responsive NAC1 transcription factor to resistance of barley to Ramularia leaf spot
Authors: McGrann Graham R. D. , Steed Andrew , Burt Christopher , Goddard Rachel , Lachaux Clea , Bansal Anuradha , Corbitt Margaret , Gorniak Kalina , Nicholson Paul , Brown James K. M.
Published: July 2014

NAC proteins are plant transcription factors that are involved in tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, as well as in many developmental processes. Stress‐responsive NAC1 (SNAC1) transcription factor is involved in drought tolerance in barley and rice, but has not been shown previously to have a role in disease resistance. Transgenic over‐expression of HvSNAC1 in barley cv. Golden Promise reduced the severity of Ramularia leaf spot (RLS), caused by the fungus Ramularia collo‐cygni, but had no effect on disease symptoms caused by Fusarium culmorum, Oculimacula yallundae (eyespot), Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (powdery mildew) or Magnaporthe oryzae (blast). The HvSNAC1 transcript was weakly induced in the RLS‐susceptible cv. Golden Promise during the latter stages of R. collo‐cygni symptom development when infected leaves were senescing. Potential mechanisms controlling HvSNAC1‐mediated resistance to RLS were investigated. Gene expression analysis revealed no difference in the constitutive levels of antioxidant transcripts in either of the over‐expression lines compared with cv. Golden Promise, nor was any difference in stomatal conductance or sensitivity to reactive oxygen species‐induced cell death observed. Over‐expression of HvSNAC1 delayed dark‐induced leaf senescence. It is proposed that mechanisms controlled by HvSNAC1 that are involved in tolerance to abiotic stress and that inhibit senescence also confer resistance to R. collo‐cygni and suppress RLS symptoms. This provides further evidence for an association between abiotic stress and senescence in barley and the development of RLS.
Cytoplasmic TDP‐43 accumulation in cells of the adrenal medulla in individuals with or without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Okamoto Koichi , Amari Masakuni , Fujita Yukio , Makioka Kouki , Fukuda Toshio , Suzuki Keiji , Takatama Masamitsu
Published: July 2014

The transactive response DNA‐binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP‐43) is normally located predominantly in the nucleus, whereas pathological TDP‐43 is mostly found in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic TDP‐43 accumulation has not yet been reported in normal general organs. In our preliminary study, paraffin sections of the general organs of individuals with or without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were immunostained with antibodies against TDP‐43 and phosphorylated TDP‐43 (pTDP‐43). Diffuse and granular immunostaining pattern of TDP‐43 and pTDP‐43 were observed frequently in the cytoplasm of renal tubular cells, and less frequently in the cells of several organs; however, the majority of these immunoreactivities were nonspecific biotin reactions. Conversely, many TDP‐43‐positive and pTDP‐43‐negative cytoplasmic accumulations were observed in the adrenal medulla in every individual (with or without ALS). Skein‐like or round inclusions were not observed. The cells in the adrenal medulla were well preserved, and the cytoplasmic TDP‐43 accumulations were frequent in the cells of all routine autopsy cases without loss of nuclear TDP‐43 immunostaining; therefore, we considered that this was a physiological phenomenon. This is the first study that demonstrated the cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP‐43 in routinely autopsied cases.
Adenocarcinoma arising from intracranial recurrent mature teratoma and featuring mutated KRAS and wild‐type BRAF genes
Authors: Kim Eun Soo , Kwon Mi Jung , Song Joon Ho , Kim Dong Hoon , Park Hye‐Rim
Published: July 2014

Malignant transformation or recurrence of intracranial mature teratoma is an extremely rare occurrence, compared to the usual ovarian counterpart. Previously, yolk sac tumor elements have been considered to be selective progenitors of enteric‐type adenocarcinoma arising from intracranial germ cell tumors. However, the present case demonstrates the occurrence of enteric‐type adenocarcinoma in recurrent intracranial mature cystic teratoma 12 years after gross total removal, a case of which has not previously been documented in the literature. The 11.5‐cm long, dura mater‐based tumor on the right fronto‐temporal lobe displaced the brain; however, the patient had no neurologic symptoms or discomfort other than pus‐like discharge on the scalp. Microscopic examinations revealed a small focus of adenocarcinoma and dysplastic colonic mucosa in the mature cystic teratoma. No immature elements were seen. The cystic wall was almost denuded and showed an exuberant xanthogranulomatous reaction with foreign‐body type giant cells engulfing keratin materials and cholesterol clefts, suggesting that chronic inflammation due to repeated cyst wall rupture and the previous resection may contribute to malignant transformation. The adenocarcinoma showed strong immunohistochemical expression of CK20 and p53, but CK7 in patches. The molecular profile of the adenocarcinoma showed a mutation in KRAS and wild‐type BRAF, which might be associated with malignant transformation of intracranial mature teratomas. In conclusion, the intracranial mature teratomas should require long‐term follow‐up, and clinicians, radiologists and pathologists should be aware of the potential for malignant progression of recurrent intracranial mature cystic teratoma despite gross total resection and no neurologic symptoms.
Reducing occupational sedentary time: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of evidence on activity‐permissive workstations
Authors: Neuhaus M. , Eakin E. G. , Straker L. , Owen N. , Dunstan D. W. , Reid N. , Healy G. N.
Published: July 2014

Excessive sedentary time is detrimentally linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Studies have been investigating the use of activity‐permissive workstations to reduce sedentary time in office workers, a highly sedentary target group. This review systematically summarizes the evidence for activity‐permissive workstations on sedentary time, health‐risk biomarkers, work performance and feasibility indicators in office workplaces. In July 2013, a literature search identified 38 relevant peer‐reviewed publications. Key findings were independently extracted by two researchers. The average intervention effect on sedentary time was calculated via meta‐analysis. In total, 984 participants across 19 field‐based trials and 19 laboratory investigations were included, with sample sizes ranging from n = 2 to 66 per study. Sedentary time, health‐risk biomarkers and work performance indicators were reported in 13, 23 and 23 studies, respectively. The pooled effect size from the meta‐analysis was −77 min of sedentary time/8‐h workday (95% confidence interval = −120, −35 min). Non‐significant changes were reported for most health‐ and work‐related outcomes. Studies with acceptability measures reported predominantly positive feedback. Findings suggest that activity‐permissive workstations can be effective to reduce occupational sedentary time, without compromising work performance. Larger and longer‐term randomized‐controlled trials are needed to understand the sustainability of the sedentary time reductions and their longer‐term impacts on health‐ and work‐related outcomes.
An unusual case of a misplaced denture
Authors: Nayyer Namita V. , Macluskey Michaelina
Published: July 2014

The aspiration of a foreign body is a rare occurrence in adults. We present a case of a missing partial denture, which remained undetected clinically and radiographically at the initial presentation to the accident and emergency department, leading to discharge of the patient with the partial denture still lodged within the oropharynx. This case highlights that clinicians should be aware of potential hazards associated with denture wear in individuals who are at high risk of tracheobronchial aspiration and as such be able to recognise any arising complications.
Factors Explaining Variability in Health Literacy Outcomes of Public Health Nursing Clients
Authors: Monsen Karen A. , Chatterjee Snigdhansu B. , Timm Jill E. , Kay Poulsen J. , McNaughton Diane B.
Published: July 2014

Objectives

To evaluate variability in health literacy outcomes due to home visiting (HV) program components including PHN, Intervention, and Client.

Design and Sample

A comparative, correlational study evaluated PHN home visiting program data that included PHNs (N = 16); Interventions (N = 21,634); and Clients (N = 141). Client age ranged from 14 to 46 (median = 21, mean = 22.8, SD = 6.65). Clients were predominately White (75.9%), not married (84.4%), and female (99.3%). PHNS documented care using electronic health records (EHR) and the Omaha System.

Measures

The outcome of interest was health literacy benchmark attainment (adequate knowledge) operationalized by Omaha System Problem Rating Scale for Outcomes Knowledge scores averaged across problems.

Intervention

Program of individually tailored, evidence‐based HV interventions provided by PHNs.

Results

There were 233 different interventions for 22 problems. Knowledge benchmark was attained by 16.3% of clients. Four factors explained variance in reaching the knowledge benchmark: Client (51%), Problem (17%), Intervention (16%), and PHN (16%).

Conclusions

The PHN and intervention tailoring are actionable components of HV programs that explain variability in health literacy outcomes. Further research should examine effects of training on PHN relationship skills and intervention tailoring to optimize outcomes of evidence‐based PHN HV programs, and to evaluate whether improving health literacy may subsequently improve client problems.
Externalities, Productivity and Sustained Growth
Authors: Yin Xiaopeng
Published: July 2014

This paper shows that the existence of endogenous growth, in the closed‐form solution, in a single sector economy with a convex technology in an overlapping generations (OLG) framework, which attempts to fill the current gap in endogenous growth theory. It finds there is an unbounded growth when trade, in the form of knowledge spillover, affects labor productivity through the formation of human capital with self‐education that is not an independent sector but builds the human capital here. This conclusion holds even though there is the “limited income” expressed as the “non‐increasing wage/investment ratio” for each generation. Moreover, it shows the convergence of growth rates for each country, which is unique and constant, while the growth rate per capita negatively relates with each country's population growth rate. Also, there is no “poverty trap” with the introduction of externalities that is different from existing literature.
Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the IL27 Gene with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Paradowska‐Gorycka A. , Raszkiewicz B. , Jurkowska M. , Felis‐Giemza A. , Romanowska‐Prochnicka K. , Mańczak M. , Olesinska M.
Published: July 2014

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the autoimmune diseases, where different polymorphisms in cytokine genes play a pathogenic role. Interleukin 27 (IL‐27) is a novel pro‐/anti‐inflammatory cytokine, an excellent candidate for chronic inflammatory disease studies. The aim of the study was to identify polymorphisms in the IL‐27 gene and their possible association with susceptibility to and severity of RA. Two hundred and seventy‐four patients with RA and of 295 healthy individuals were examined for −924A/G and 4730T/C IL27 gene polymorphisms using PCR‐RFLP method and TaqMan SNP genotyping assay, respectively. Haplotype frequencies of IL‐27 polymorphisms were estimated using SHEsis platform. Frequencies of the −924GG genotype and the −924G allele were statistically higher in RA patients comparing with the healthy control group (P = 0.008 and P = 0.004, respectively). Overall, strong LD was observed between the IL27 gene −924A/G and 4730 T/C polymorphisms (D′ = 0.613, r2 = 0.199). From four possible haplotypes, frequencies of two (CA and CG) showed significant differences between both examined groups (respectively: P < 0.001 and P = 0.001062). The genotype–phenotype analysis showed significant association between the IL‐27 4730 T/C polymorphism and HAQ score and means value of the ESR, additionally they revealed that individuals with the polymorphic allele −924G had more advanced disease than wild‐type allele carriers. Present findings indicated that IL27 −924A/G polymorphism may be involved in susceptibility to RA in the Polish population.
Does Fusarium‐caused seed mortality contribute to Bromus tectorum stand failure in the Great Basin?
Authors: Meyer S E , Franke J‐L , Baughman O W , Beckstead J , Geary B
Published: July 2014

Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass, downy brome) is an important invader in western North America, dominating millions of hectares of former semi‐arid shrubland. Stand failure or ‘die‐off’ is relatively common in monocultures of this annual grass. The study reported here investigated whether soil‐borne pathogens could be causal agents in die‐offs. Soils from two die‐off areas and adjacent B. tectorum stands were used in a glasshouse experiment with sterilised and non‐sterilised treatments. Soil sterilisation did not increase emergence, which averaged 80% in both die‐off and non‐die‐off soils. Seedling biomass was higher in die‐off soils, probably due to increased nitrogen availability. Fusarium was isolated from 80% of killed seeds in non‐sterilised soil treatments. In pathogenicity tests with 16 Fusarium isolates, host seeds incubated under water stress (−1.5MPa for 1 week prior to transfer to free water) suffered over twice the mortality of seeds incubated directly in free water (25–83% with water stress vs. 5–43% without water stress). These results suggest that soil‐borne Fusarium could play a role in B. tectorum stand failure in the field, but that low water stress conditions in the glasshouse experiment were not conducive to high levels of disease. Pathogenic Fusarium isolates were obtained from seeds planted in both die‐off and non‐die‐off soils, suggesting that microenvironmental factors that affect levels of water stress might be as important as relative abundance of soil‐borne pathogens in mediating spatial patterns of disease incidence in the field.
Editorial
Authors: Schirato Tony , Swalwell Melanie , Rupar Verica
Published: July 2014

Editorial
Introduction: 'Asian' Media Arts in/and New Zealand
Authors: Swalwell Melanie
Published: July 2014

Introduction: 'Asian' Media Arts in/and New Zealand
Undoing ‘the folded lie’: media, art and ethics
Authors: Webb Jen
Published: July 2014

Undoing ‘the folded lie’: media, art and ethics
Diwali Downunder: Transforming and Performing Indian Tradition in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Johnson Henry , Figgins Guil
Published: July 2014

Diwali Downunder: Transforming and Performing Indian Tradition in Aotearoa/New Zealand
All Blacks, eyeliner, and Queer Eye: Metrosexuality and the “crisis of homo/heterosexual definition”
Authors: Brady Anita
Published: July 2014

All Blacks, eyeliner, and Queer Eye: Metrosexuality and the “crisis of homo/heterosexual definition”
Reflections on journalism and objectivity: an episode, ideal or obstacle
Authors: Rupar Verica
Published: July 2014

Reflections on journalism and objectivity: an episode, ideal or obstacle
“The Public’s Right to Know”: Television News Coverage of the Ngāpuhi Media Ban
Authors: Abel Sue
Published: July 2014

“The Public’s Right to Know”: Television News Coverage of the Ngāpuhi Media Ban
Review of Dunleavy, Trisha (2005) Ourselves in Primetime: a history of New Zealand television drama.
Authors: Zanker Ruth
Published: July 2014

Review of Dunleavy, Trisha (2005) Ourselves in Primetime: a history of New Zealand television drama.
Effect of surface polishing and vacuum firing on electron stimulated desorption from 316LN stainless steel
Authors: Malyshev Oleg B. , Hogan Benjamin T. , Pendleton Mark
Published: July 2014

The reduction of thermal outgassing from stainless steel by surface polishing or vacuum firing is well-known in vacuum technology, and the consequent use of both techniques allows an even further reduction of outgassing. The aim of this study was to identify the effectiveness of surface polishing and vacuum firing for reducing electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) from 316LN stainless steel, which is a frequently used material for particle accelerator vacuum chambers and components. It was found that, unlike for thermal outgassing, surface polishing does not reduce the ESD yield and may even increase it, while vacuum firing of nonpolished sample reduces only the H2 ESD yield by a factor 2.
Noninvasive referencing of intraocular tumors for external beam radiation therapy using optical coherence tomography: A proof of concept
Authors: Rüegsegger Michael B. , Geiser Dominik , Steiner Patrick , Pica Alessia , Aebersold Daniel M. , Kowal Jens H.
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

External beam radiation therapy is currently considered the most common treatment modality for intraocular tumors. Localization of the tumor and efficient compensation of tumor misalignment with respect to the radiation beam are crucial. According to the state of the art procedure, localization of the target volume is indirectly performed by the invasive surgical implantation of radiopaque clips or is limited to positioning the head using stereoscopic radiographies. This work represents a proof‐of‐concept for direct and noninvasive tumor referencing based on anterior eye topography acquired using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods:

A prototype of a head‐mounted device has been developed for automatic monitoring of tumor position and orientation in the isocentric reference frame for LINAC based treatment of intraocular tumors. Noninvasive tumor referencing is performed with six degrees of freedom based on anterior eye topography acquired using OCT and registration of a statistical eye model. The proposed prototype was tested based on enucleated pig eyes and registration accuracy was measured by comparison of the resulting transformation with tilt and torsion angles manually induced using a custom‐made test bench.

Results:

Validation based on 12 enucleated pig eyes revealed an overall average registration error of 0.26 ± 0.08° in 87 ± 0.7 ms for tilting and 0.52 ± 0.03° in 94 ± 1.4 ms for torsion. Furthermore, dependency of sampling density on mean registration error was quantitatively assessed.

Conclusions:

The tumor referencing method presented in combination with the statistical eye model introduced in the past has the potential to enable noninvasive treatment and may improve quality, efficacy, and flexibility of external beam radiotherapy of intraocular tumors.
SU‐C‐17A‐07: The Development of An MR Accelerator‐Enabled Planning‐To‐Delivery Technique for Stereotactic Palliative Radiotherapy Treatment of Spinal Metastases
Authors: Hoogcarspel S J , Kontaxis C , van der Velden J M , Bol G H , van Vulpen M , Lagendijk J J W , Raaymakers B W
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

To develop an MR accelerator‐enabled online planning‐todelivery technique for stereotactic palliative radiotherapy treatment of spinal metastases. The technical challenges include; automated stereotactic treatment planning, online MR‐based dose calculation and MR guidance during treatment.

Methods:

Using the CT data of 20 patients previously treated at our institution, a class solution for automated treatment planning for spinal bone metastases was created. For accurate dose simulation right before treatment, we fused geometrically correct online MR data with pretreatment CT data of the target volume (TV). For target tracking during treatment, a dynamic T2‐weighted TSE MR sequence was developed. An in house developed GPU based IMRT optimization and dose calculation algorithm was used for fast treatment planning and simulation. An automatically generated treatment plan developed with this treatment planning system was irradiated on a clinical 6 MV linear accelerator and evaluated using a Delta4 dosimeter.

Results:

The automated treatment planning method yielded clinically viable plans for all patients. The MR‐CT fusion based dose calculation accuracy was within 2% as compared to calculations performed with original CT data. The dynamic T2‐weighted TSE MR Sequence was able to provide an update of the anatomical location of the TV every 10 seconds. Dose calculation and optimization of the automatically generated treatment plans using only one GPU took on average 8 minutes. The Delta4 measurement of the irradiated plan agreed with the dose calculation with a 3%/3mm gamma pass rate of 86.4%.

Conclusions:

The development of an MR accelerator‐enabled planning‐todelivery technique for stereotactic palliative radiotherapy treatment of spinal metastases was presented. Future work will involve developing an intrafraction motion adaptation strategy, MR‐only dose calculation, radiotherapy quality‐assurance in a magnetic field, and streamlining the entire treatment process on an MR accelerator.
SU‐C‐18A‐01: Online Atlas Selection Using 3D Gabor Features
Authors: Yang J , Beadle B , Balter P , Court L
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

To develop and validate 3D Gabor features for on‐the‐fly selection of the best atlas to improve atlas‐based segmentation.

Methods:

Twenty‐one planning CT images of head and neck cancer patients were acquired and the submandibular glands and esophagus were contoured manually by a head‐and‐neck oncologist. One image was randomly chosen as the test and the remaining became the atlases. All atlases were rigidly registered to the test image and the union of the transformed atlas contours defined a local region for each organ. A bank of 3D Gabor filters was created with different scales and directions in the 3D space. These filters were applied to each image in the defined local region to extract 3D Gabor features, which are composed of the mean and standard deviation of each Gabor filtered 3D data. A distance metric was defined for Gabor features to determine the similarity between an atlas and the test image. For validation, the organ contours of all atlases were deformed to the test image and compared with the manual contour using Dice similarity coefficient, which determined the actual similarity.

Results:

A number of 144 Gabor filters (4 scales and 36 directions) was created to extract Gabor features for submandibular glands. The best atlas identified by the Gabor features was actually the second best atlas determined by the Dice value (71.7%); however, it is very close to the actual best atlas (73.3%). Similarly, a number of 48 Gabor filters (3 scales and 16 directions) was created for selecting the best esophagus atlas. The Gabor features identified the three best atlases exactly as they were determined by the Dice values.

Conclusion:

The 3D Gabor features showed great potential for online atlas selection to improve atlas‐based segmentation.

This work was partially supported by a sponsored research grant from Varian Medical Systems.
SU‐C‐18A‐02: Image‐Based Camera Tracking: Towards Registration of Endoscopic Video to CT
Authors: Ingram S , Yang J , Beadle B , Rao A , Wendt R , Castillo R , Court L
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

Endoscopic examinations are routinely performed on head and neck and esophageal cancer patients. However, these images are underutilized for radiation therapy because there is currently no way to register them to a CT of the patient. The purpose of this work is to develop a method to track the motion of an endoscope within a structure using images from standard clinical equipment. This method will be incorporated into a broader endoscopy/CT registration framework.

Methods:

We developed a software algorithm to track the motion of an endoscope within an arbitrary structure. We computed frame‐to‐frame rotation and translation of the camera by tracking surface points across the video sequence and utilizing two‐camera epipolar geometry. The resulting 3D camera path was used to recover the surrounding structure via triangulation methods. We tested this algorithm on a rigid cylindrical phantom with a pattern spray‐painted on the inside. We did not constrain the motion of the endoscope while recording, and we did not constrain our measurements using the known structure of the phantom.

Results:

Our software algorithm can successfully track the general motion of the endoscope as it moves through the phantom. However, our preliminary data do not show a high degree of accuracy in the triangulation of 3D point locations. More rigorous data will be presented at the annual meeting.

Conclusion:

Image‐based camera tracking is a promising method for endoscopy/CT image registration, and it requires only standard clinical equipment. It is one of two major components needed to achieve endoscopy/CT registration, the second of which is tying the camera path to absolute patient geometry. In addition to this second component, future work will focus on validating our camera tracking algorithm in the presence of clinical imaging features such as patient motion, erratic camera motion, and dynamic scene illumination.
SU‐C‐18A‐07: The Importance of Image Processing for Simulated Deformations
Authors: Kirby N , Morin O , Nie K , Chen J , Pouliot J
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

Deformations can be digitally applied to patient images to evaluate the accuracy of deformable image registration (DIR). However, this can also deform image noise and artifacts, leaving a fingerprint of the underlying deformation that could skew accuracy determination. Image processing can be used to erase this fingerprint and create a more realistic DIR test scenario. The importance of image processing to simulated deformations is tested here.

Methods:

These tests utilize a virtual pelvic phantom, made from a patient CT image, and a pelvic‐shaped water phantom to acquire noise signatures. Two image‐filtering techniques are tested here: a spatial convolution with a Gaussian (SCG) and an edgepreserving filter (EPF) that preferentially removes the Fourier components associated with noise. Four different processing scenarios are evaluated here. The first is no processing (NP). For the second, noise from the water phantom is added to the set of test images without filtering (NF). The third and fourth scenarios add noise after applying the SCG and EPF filtering methods. EPF provides the most realistic test scenario. These processing scenarios are tested for their effect on the spatial accuracy of the DIR algorithms from MIM Software and Velocity Medical Solution.

Results:

For NP, NF, SCG, and EPF, the mean errors from MIM were 0.78, 1.11, 1.44, and 1.24 mm, respectively. The corresponding maximum errors for MIM were 21.7, 18.8, 26.1, and 21.1 mm, respectively. Velocity was relatively insensitive to these different processing scenarios, where the mean errors ranged from 1.66 to 1.74 mm and the maximum errors from 12.1 to 12.4 mm.

Conclusion:

Velocity creates globally smooth deformations, whereas MIM exhibits much more local pliability. This local pliability makes MIM sensitive to differences in image processing. Thus, an objective evaluation of its accuracy with simulated deformations must utilize realistic noise scenarios, with carefully balanced image processing.
SU‐C‐18C‐04: Evaluation of Effective Dose During Ureteroscopy for Obese and Non‐Obese Patients
Authors: Wang C , Nguyen G , Chung Y , Cabrera F , Shin R , Lipkin M , Yoshizumi T
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

Ureteroscopy involves fluoroscopy which potentially results in considerable amount of radiation dose to the patient. Purpose of this study was two‐fold: (a) to develop the effective dose computational model for obese and non‐obese patients undergoing left and right ureteroscopy, and (b) to evaluate the utility of a commercial Monte Carlo software for dose assessment in ureteroscopy.

Methods:

Organ dose measurements were performed on an adult male anthropomorphic phantom, representing the non‐obese patients, with 20 high‐sensitivity MOSFET detectors and two 0.18cc ionization chambers placed in selected organs. Fat‐equivalent paddings were placed around the abdominal region to simulate for obese patients. Effective dose (ED) was calculated using ICRP 103 tissue weighting factors and normalized to the effective dose rate in miliSivert per second (mSv/s). In addition, a commercial Monte Carlo (MC) dose estimation program was used to estimate ED for the non‐obese model, with table attenuation correction applied to simulate clinical procedure.

Results:

For the equipment and protocols involved in this study, the MOSFETderived ED rates for the obese patient model (‘Left’: 0.0092±0.0004 mSv/s; ‘Right’: 0.0086±0.0004 mSv/s) was found to be more than twice as much as that to the non‐obese patient model (‘Left’: 0.0041±0.0003 mSv/s; ‘Right’: 0.0036±0.0007 mSv/s). The MC‐derived ED rates for the non‐obese patient model (‘Left’: 0.0041 mSv/s; ‘Right’: 0.0036 mSv/s; with statistical uncertainty of 1%) showed a good agreement with the MOSFET method.

Conclusion:

The significant difference in ED rate between the obese and non‐obese patient models shows the limitation of directly applying commercial softwares for obese patients and leading to considerable underestimation of ED. Although commercial softwares offer a convenient means of dose estimation, but the utility may be limited to standard‐man geometry as the software does not account for table attenuation, obese patient geometry, and differences between the anthropomorphic phantom and MC mathematical phantom.
SU‐D‐18A‐03: Markerless Motion Tracking of Lung Tumors Using Dual‐Energy Fluoroscopy
Authors: Patel R , Panfil J , Campana M , Block AM , Harkenrider MM , Surucu M , Roeske JC
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy of dual energy (DE) vs. single energy (SE) fluoroscopic imaging in lung tumors using a markerless template‐based tracking algorithm.

Methods:

Ten representative patient breathing patterns were programmed into a Quasar™ motion phantom. The phantom was modified by affixing pork ribs to the surface, and a cedar insert with a small spherical volume was used to simulate lung and tumor, respectively. Gated 60kVp(6mA) and 120kVp(1.5mA) fluoroscopic sequences were acquired using the Varian TrueBeam Integrated Imaging Solution. These high and low energy frames were subsequently aligned by phase and amplitude. Frame‐by‐frame weighted logarithmic subtraction was performed resulting in a DE fluoroscopic image sequence that highlighted soft tissue structures. A template‐based algorithm was then used to track tumor motion throughout the sequence for DE and SE images (120kVp). Tracking coordinates were evaluated against ground truth tumor locations as identified by a physician. A displacement of greater than 3 mm was considered a non‐successful track. The same process was also repeated for images obtained from 3 SBRT lung patients, none of which had implanted fiducials.

Results:

For phantom imaging, a total of 1925 frames were analyzed. The algorithm successfully tracked the target on 91.6%(1763/1925) of DE frames vs. 74.9%(1441/1923) SE images (p<0.001). The displacement between tracking coordinates and ground truth for the phantom was 1.1mm+/−0.7mm for DE and 1.5mm+/− 0.6mm for SE (p<0.001). Images from 3 patients were analyzed with the tumor tracked on 84.9%(478/563) of frames for DE vs. 53.5%(301/563) for SE (p<0.001). The average difference to ground truth for successfully tracked DE frames was 0.6mm+/−0.6mm vs. 1.7mm+/−0.7mm SE (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

This work indicates the potential for markerless tumor tracking utilizing DE fluoroscopy. With DE imaging, the algorithm showed improved detectability vs. SE fluoroscopy and was able to accurately track the tumor in a majority of cases.

This work was supported by Varian Medical Systems
SU‐D‐18C‐07: Framework for Time‐Dependency Analysis of MRI Data to Visualize and Quantify Lung Ventilation by Using Oxygen as Contrast Media
Authors: Etzel R , Fiebich M
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

To visualize and quantify lung ventilation by analyzing MRI data time‐dependent an eligible framework is capable to use the contrast enhancing characteristic of oxygen in functional lung MRI.

Methods:

A framework was developed and programmed by using the tool Fiji, which is an image processing package based on ImageJ. The analysis was performed on previously recorded 1.5T magnetic resonance images of narcotized and mechanically ventilated pigs in both dorsal and transversal plane, with a slice thickness of 8 mm and 32 pictures per slice. The oxygen rate of the pigs' breathing was alternated periodically from 21 to 100 percent and backwards within an eight seconds interval. Several lung areas were blocked mechanically. After importing the MR sequence into Fiji the framework could be started automatically with pre‐set or manually adjusted parameters. The framework analyzed all pixels of each picture temporally to detect the variation of gray values related to the temporal change in oxygen rate.

Results:

The software is able to detect time‐dependent changes in signal intensity during dynamic examination of the lung. Change of pixel intensities and time‐to‐peak of the output signal showed a significant relation between oxygen rate and gray value of the stored data and the generated images and curves. The blocked lung areas could be identified in the resultimages since pixels located in these regions representing less signal in contrast with other regions.

Conclusion:

This work confirmed the ability of oxygen to be used as contrast media in magnetic resonance imaging. The developed and tested framework for time‐dependent analysis of MRI data has demonstrated the significance of a quantification of lung ventilation based on oxygen‐induced change in output signal.