bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The SimSpay—Student Perceptions of a Low-Cost Build-It-Yourself Model for Novice Training of Surgical Skills in Canine Ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Langebæk Rikke , Toft Nils , Eriksen Thomas
Published: April 2015

Practical and ethical considerations have led to an increased use of artificial substitutes for live animals in veterinary surgical skills training. However, commercially produced models are expensive and homemade models often require full-time staff to produce enough models for training large groups of students. In the Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences of the University of Copenhagen, a low-cost build-it-yourself model, the SimSpay, was developed for novice training of surgical skills in canine ovariohysterectomy. The model did not require the use of trained technical staff or costly, hard-to-source supplies. The SimSpay was developed and implemented in the clinical veterinary curriculum in 2013. In 2014, 54 students participated in a questionnaire study to investigate their perception of the usefulness of the SimSpay as a learning tool. On a five-point Likert-type scale, students were asked to rate their perceived levels of competence, confidence, and anatomic knowledge before and after SimSpay training. Results demonstrate a strongly significant (p<.0001) increase in all three areas after training on the SimSpay. By increasing students' perceived levels of competence, confidence, and anatomic knowledge, the low-fidelity SimSpay is a useful, low-cost learning tool for teaching ovariohysterectomy.
Canine Prostate Palpation Simulator as a Teaching Tool in Veterinary Education
Authors: Capilé Karynn V. , Campos Gabriela M.B. , Stedile Rafael , Oliveira Simone T.
Published: April 2015

Adult dogs, especially elderly ones, are commonly affected by prostate diseases. Performing rectal palpation during physical examination in dogs is important in small animal clinical diagnosis. Prostate palpation training allows students to learn how to correctly introduce the finger into the rectum and identify the location, size, symmetry, and consistency of the prostate. Alternative methods are needed to teach this technique without using live dogs. Thus, our aim was to develop a canine prostate palpation simulator to provide students with the opportunity to learn the prostate palpation technique in dogs and to assess their opinion of this simulator as a teaching tool. The inner part of the canine mannequin contains a rotation system with three types of prostates that can be exchanged during the exam. Of the 64 participating students, 81% had never used alternative methods and 92.2% had never performed any prostatic palpation. According to the students' opinions, performing a clinical examination on a simulator allowed them to be prepared and familiarized with the palpation technique. They felt satisfied learning a practical method in a harmless way. Both the 3R (replacement, reduction, and refinement) and dog welfare principles were present in most of the students' concerns. We conclude that the simulator can help students to develop clinical skills for prostate palpation in dogs.
Predictability of the future development of aggressive behavior of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas based on decision tree analysis
Authors: Satomi Junichiro , Ghaibeh A. Ammar , Moriguchi Hiroki , Nagahiro Shinji
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

The severity of clinical signs and symptoms of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are well correlated with their pattern of venous drainage. Although the presence of cortical venous drainage can be considered a potential predictor of aggressive DAVF behaviors, such as intracranial hemorrhage or progressive neurological deficits due to venous congestion, accurate statistical analyses are currently not available. Using a decision tree data mining method, the authors aimed at clarifying the predictability of the future development of aggressive behaviors of DAVF and at identifying the main causative factors.

METHODS

Of 266 DAVF patients, 89 were eligible for analysis. Under observational management, 51 patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage/infarction during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

The authors created a decision tree able to assess the risk for the development of aggressive DAVF behavior. Evaluated by 10-fold cross-validation, the decision tree's accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 85.28%, 88.33%, and 80.83%, respectively. The tree shows that the main factor in symptomatic patients was the presence of cortical venous drainage. In its absence, the lesion location determined the risk of a DAVF developing aggressive behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Decision tree analysis accurately predicts the future development of aggressive DAVF behavior.
Cerebral hemodynamic disturbance in dural arteriovenous fistula with retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage: a prospective study using 123I-iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography
Authors: Kanemaru Kazuya , Kinouchi Hiroyuki , Yoshioka Hideyuki , Yagi Takashi , Wakai Takuma , Hashimoto Koji , Fukumoto Yuichiro , Umeda Takako , Onishi Hiroshi , Nishiyama Yoshihisa , Horikoshi Toru
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

The severity of cerebral hemodynamic disturbance caused by retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage (RLVD) of a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is related to neurological morbidity and unfavorable outcome. However, the cerebral hemodynamics of this disorder have not been elucidated well. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the cerebral venous congestive encephalopathy represented as a high-intensity area (HIA) on T2-weighted MR images and the cerebral hemodynamics examined by 123I-iodoamphetamine (IMP) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), as well as the predictive value of 123I-IMP SPECT for the development and reversibility of venous congestion encephalopathy.

METHODS

Based on the pre- and posttreatment T2 HIAs associated with venous congestion encephalopathy, patients were divided into 3 groups: a normal group, an edema group, and an infarction group. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at the region with RLVD was analyzed by 123I-IMP SPECT, and the results were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

There were 11, 6, and 3 patients in the normal, edema, and infarction groups, respectively. No patients in the normal group showed any symptoms related to venous congestion. In contrast, all patients in the edema and infarction groups developed neurological symptoms. The rCBF in the edema group was significantly lower than that in the normal group, and significantly higher than that in the infarction group. The cerebral vascular reactivity (CVR) of the infarction group was significantly lower than that of the normal and edema groups. After treatment, the neurological signs disappeared in the edema group, but only partial improvement was seen in the infarction group. The rCBF also significantly increased in the normal and edema groups, but not in the infarction group.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative rCBF measurement is useful for evaluating hemodynamic disturbance in dAVF with RLVD. The reduction of rCBF was strongly correlated with the severity of venous congestive encephalopathy, and loss of CVR is a reliable indicator of irreversible venous infarction caused by RLVD.
Assessment of third ventriculostomy patency with the 3D-SPACE technique: a preliminary multicenter research study
Authors: Algin Oktay , Ucar Murat , Ozmen Evrim , Borcek Alp Ozgun , Ozisik Pinar , Ocakoglu Gokhan , Tali E. Turgut
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

The goal of this study was to determine the value of the 3D sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip-angle evolutions (3D-SPACE) technique in the evaluation of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) patency.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients with ETV were examined using 3-T MRI units. Sagittal-plane 3D-SPACE with variant flip-angle mode, 3D T1-weighted (T1W), and 3D heavily T2-weighted (T2W) images were obtained with isotropic voxel sizes. Also, sagittal-axial plane phase-contrast cine (PC)-MR images were obtained. The following findings were evaluated: diameters of stoma and third ventricle, flow-void sign on 3D-SPACE and PC-MR images, integrity of the third ventricle on heavily T2W images, and quantitative PC-MRI parameters of the stoma. Obtained sequences were evaluated singly, in combination with one another, and all together.

RESULTS

The mean area, flow, and velocity values measured at the level of stoma in patients with patent stoma were significantly higher than those measured in patients with closed stoma (p < 0.05). There was significant correlation among PC-MRI, 3D-SPACE, and 3D heavily T2W techniques regarding assessment of ETV patency (p < 0.001). The 3D-SPACE technique provided the lowest rate of ambiguous results.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3D-SPACE technique seems to be the most efficient one for determination of ETV patency. The authors suggest the use of 3D-SPACE as a stand-alone first-line sequence in addition to routine brain MRI protocols in assessing patients with ETV, thereby decreasing scan time and reserving the use of a combination of additional sequences such as PC-MRI and 3D heavily T2W images in suspicious or complex cases.
Spring-assisted cranial vault expansion in the setting of multisutural craniosynostosis and anomalous venous drainage: case report
Authors: Costa Melinda A. , Ackerman Laurie L. , Tholpady Sunil S. , Greathouse S. Travis , Tahiri Youssef , Flores Roberto L.
Published: April 2015

Patients with multisutural craniosynostosis can develop anomalous venous connections between the intracranial sinuses and cutaneous venous system through enlarged emissary veins. Cranial vault remodeling in this subset of patients carries the risk of massive intraoperative blood loss and/or occlusion of collateral draining veins leading to intracranial venous hypertension and raised intracranial pressure, increasing the morbidity of cranial expansion. The authors report the use of spring-mediated expansion as a technique for cranial reconstruction in which the collateral intracranial venous drainage system can be preserved.

A patient with bilateral lambdoid, sagittal, and unicoronal synostosis presented for cranial reconstruction. A tracheostomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunt were placed prior to intervention. At the time of reconstruction, a Luckenschadel skull abnormality and Chiari malformation Type I were present. A preoperative CT venogram demonstrated large collateral superficial occipital veins, small bilateral internal jugular veins, and hypoplastic jugular foramina. Collateral flow from the transverse and sigmoid sinuses through large occipital emissary veins was seen. Spring-mediated cranial vault expansion was performed with care to preserve the large collateral veins at the occipital midline. Four springs were placed at each lambdoid and the posterior and anterior sagittal sutures following 1-cm strip suturectomies. Removal of the springs was performed 2 months postoperatively.

Cranial vault expansion was performed without disturbing the aberrant intracranial/extracranial venous collateral system. Estimated blood loss was 150 ml. A CT scan obtained 3 months postoperatively showed resolution of the Luckenschadel deformity and a 40% volumetric increase in the skull compared with the preoperative CT.

Patients with anomalous venous drainage patterns and multisutural synostosis can undergo spring-mediated cranial vault expansion while preserving the major emissary veins draining the intracranial sinuses. Risks of blood loss, intracranial venous hypertension, and increased intracranial pressure may be decreased compared with traditional techniques of repair.
Evolution of mycoheterotrophy in Polygalaceae: The case of Epirixanthes
Authors: Mennes Constantijn B. , Moerland Michelangelo S. , Rath Magnus , Smets Erik F. , Merckx Vincent S. F. T.
Published: April 2015

• Premise of the study: The mycoheterotrophic lifestyle has enabled some plant lineages to obtain carbon from their mycorrhizal symbionts. The mycoheterotrophic genus Epirixanthes (Polygalaceae) consists of six species from tropical Asia. Although it is probably closely related to the chlorophyllous genus Salomonia and linked to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, lack of DNA sequence data has thus far prevented these hypotheses from being tested. Therefore, the evolutionary history of Epirixanthes remains largely unknown.

• Methods: We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Epirixanthes based on nuclear ITS and plastid matK data. Divergence times were inferred using a Bayesian relaxed clock approach, and we phylogenetically analyzed its mycorrhizal symbionts. We furthermore assigned these symbionts to operational taxonomic units, compared them with symbionts of other Polygalaceae, and measured their phylogenetic diversity.

• Key results: We found that Epirixanthes is placed in tribe Polygaleae as sister to Salomonia. Epirixanthes has a Miocene‐Oligocene stem age and grows exclusively in symbiosis with fungi of Glomeraceae. Salomonia and some Polygala species are linked to both Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae, resulting in higher phylogenetic diversity values. The majority of the symbionts of Epirixanthes are not found in Salomonia or Polygala, although a few shared fungal taxa are found.

• Conclusions: Epirixanthes forms a relatively young mycoheterotrophic lineage. The Oligocene‐Miocene origin suggests its evolution was influenced by the environmental dynamics in Southeast Asia during this time. Although comparison of fungi from Epirixanthes with those from Salomonia and Polygala suggests some specialization, many other mycoheterotrophic plants are linked to a more narrow set of Glomeraceae.
Thermidor in Ethiopia? Agrarian Transformations between Economic Liberalization and the Developmental State
Authors: Chinigò Davide , Fantini Emanuele
Published: April 2015

L’article analyse les récentes politiques foncières mises en place par le gouvernement Éthiopien pour promouvoir la commercialisation agricole, dans la perspective de la trajectoire historique de formation de l’État Éthiopien et à partir du paradigme des « situations thermidoriennes » développé par Jean-François Bayart. L’idée d’un Thermidor Éthiopien éclaircit les stratégies originales et sélectives de libéralisation politique et économique adoptées par une élite postrévolutionnaire qui cherche à consolider son pouvoir à l’époque de la globalisation néolibérale. Les contradictions de ces stratégies pour ce qui concerne le foncier sont approfondies à travers l’étude des réformes de modernisation agricole, des coopératives agricoles, des institutions des micro-finances et des micro et petites entreprises agricoles dans la zone de West Arsi (région Oromia). Ces transformations agricoles sont caractérisées par une dynamiques sélective et incomplète de libéralisation, au nom du developmental state, et demeurent au cœur du processus de formation de l’État Éthiopien contemporain, à travers des processus de (re)configuration et (re)négociation des espaces et du pouvoir.
Neural Network based Age and Gender Classification for Facial Images
Authors: Kalansuriya Thakshila R , Dharmaratne Anuja T
Published: April 2015

Automatic face identification and verification from facial images attain good accuracy with large sets of training data while face attribute recognition from facial images still remain challengeable. Hence introducing an efficient and accurate facial image classification based on facial attributes is an important task. This paper proposes a methodology for automatic age and gender classification based on feature extraction from facial images. In contrast to the other mechanisms proposed in the literature, the main concern of this methodology is the use of biometric feature variation of male and female for the classification. It uses two types of features namely, primary and secondary features and it includes three main iterations: Preprocessing, Feature extraction and Classification. This study has been carried out using facial images of age range 8-60 years consisting of both gender types and the age classification has been done according to predefined age ranges. Proposed solution is able to classify images in different lighting conditions and different illumination conditions. Classification is done using Artificial Neural Networks according to the different shape and texture variations of wrinkles on face images. This study has been evaluated and tested on both foreign and Asian face images in both gender types and the four age categories used.International Journal on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2014 07(02)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/icter.v7i2.7154
A Game Based Learning Approach to Enrich Special Education in Sri Lanka
Authors: Perera Nadira T , Wijerathne Induni S D , Wijesooriya Manori M , Dharmarathne A T , Weerasinghe A R
Published: April 2015

In this fast moving world, providing equal access to information and knowledge to everybody is restricted due to specific groups of students who are not capable to engage in learning in a regular manner because of their physical, mental or psychological disabilities. These kinds of students require individual attention and special assistance from their parents and teachers in learning process. They might benefit from some other special learning techniques provided as learning aids rather than conventional learning methods. Since Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based learning is a novel approach which integrates learning with computing, this research is intended to explore the relevancy of ICT based education for enhancing the learning effectiveness of students with special needs. A few game based activities have been developed considering both functional and non-functional requirements, gathered through discussions had with doctors and teachers in special education. These activities focus on basic concepts of three subject areas as Colour, Number and Language. In order to evaluate the performance improvement, two tests were carried out as ‘pre-test’ and ‘post-test’ for a sample of students with the developed activities. Number of levels completed by each student, number of mistakes made during the game and time taken to finish a game were measured throughout the user evaluation phase. With this experiment, it was proven that ICT can be used as a driving tool to enhance the learning effectiveness in special education domain.International Journal on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2014 07 (2)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/icter.v7i2.7157
Evaluation of the Factors influencing the Indigenous Software Products Development in Nigeria
Authors: Binuyo G.O. , Oyebisi T.O. , Olayinka A. , Afolabi B.S.
Published: April 2015

This paper evaluate the internal and external factors influencing software development in Nigeria. The significance of these factors were also examined and the level of acceptability of the locally developed software products. The ICT firms that specialized in software development, educational institutions and other major stakeholders, including users of software packages were also covered.Data were collected using sets of questionnaire and from secondary sources. The questionnaire was administered on purposively selected software developers in select ICT firms and elicited information on factors influencing the indigenous software product development in Nigeria. A five-point Likert scale rating of 5 to 1 was used to determine the relative weight of the influencing variables. The result indicated the internal factors influencing software development were human resources (3.69), on the job training (3.58), R&D activities (3.48) and working experience (3.37).While access to technical information and support (3.65), competition with international market (3.59), economic factor (3.46), access to professional skill from the labour market (3.39) were the external factors that influence software development in Nigeria with significant difference F= 8.60 p≤0.05. Acceptability of locally developed software in Nigeria, was on the average, relatively low compared with the foreign software products. This was due to the problem of reliability, efficiency, security and scope of functionality. These were circumstances that made users prefer foreign software products. Similarly, the result revealed that the desirable and critical role of government support and policy to drive the software industry for growth were lacking. This implies the need for effective policy framework for the development of software in the short, mid and long term prognosis within the earlier opportunity niches and should be accorded the desirable national attention and priority.International Journal on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2014 07 (03)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/icter.v7i3.7159
T Cell Immunity to the Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase of Burkholderia pseudomallei: A Correlate of Disease Outcome in Acute Melioidosis
Authors: Reynolds Catherine , Goudet Amélie , Jenjaroen Kemajittra , Sumonwiriya Manutsanun , Rinchai Darawan , Musson Julie , Overbeek Saskia , Makinde Julia , Quigley Kathryn , Manji Jiten , Spink Natasha , Yos Pagnarith , Wuthiekanun Vanaporn , Bancroft Gregory , Robinson John , Lertmemongkolchai Ganjana , Dunachie Susanna , Maillere Bernard , Holden Matthew , Altmann Daniel , Boyton Rosemary
Published: April 2015

There is an urgent need for a better understanding of adaptive immunity to Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis that is frequently associated with sepsis or death in patients in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. The imperative to identify vaccine targets is driven both by the public health agenda in these regions and biological threat concerns. In several intracellular bacterial pathogens, alkyl hydroperoxidase reductases are upregulated as part of the response to host oxidative stress, and they can stimulate strong adaptive immunity. We show that alkyl hydroperoxidase reductase (AhpC) of B. pseudomallei is strongly immunogenic for T cells of ‘humanized’ HLA transgenic mice and seropositive human donors. Some T cell epitopes, such as p6, are able to bind diverse HLA class II heterodimers and stimulate strong T cell immunity in mice and humans. Importantly, patients with acute melioidosis who survive infection show stronger T cell responses to AhpC relative to those who do not. Although the sequence of AhpC is virtually invariant among global B. pseudomallei clinical isolates, a Cambodian isolate varies only in C-terminal truncation of the p6 T cell epitope, raising the possibility of selection by host immunity. This variant peptide is virtually unable to stimulate T cell immunity. For an infection in which there has been debate about centrality of T cell immunity in defense, these observations support a role for T cell immunity to AhpC in disease protection.
Towards the Jacquet conjecture on the Local Converse Problem for $p$-adic $\mathrm {GL}_n$
Authors: Jiang Dihua , Nien Chufeng , Stevens Shaun
Published: April 2015

The Local Converse Problem is to determine how the family of the local gamma factors

\gamma(s,\pi\times\tau,\psi)

characterizes the isomorphism class of an irreducible admissible generic representation

\pi

of

\mathrm {GL}_n(F)

, with

F

a non-archimedean local field, where

\tau

runs through all irreducible supercuspidal representations of

\mathrm {GL}_r(F)

and

r

runs through positive integers. The Jacquet conjecture asserts that it is enough to take

r=1,2,\ldots,\left[\frac{n}{2}\right]

. Based on arguments in the work of Henniart and of Chen giving preliminary steps towards the Jacquet conjecture, we formulate a general approach to prove the Jacquet conjecture. With this approach, the Jacquet conjecture is proved under an assumption which is then verified in several cases, including the case of level zero representations.
Calculus of variations with differential forms
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Saugata , Dacorogna Bernard , Sil Swarnendu
Published: April 2015

We study integrals of the form

\int_{\Omega}f\left( d\omega\right)

, where

1\leq k\leq n

,

f:\Lambda^{k}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}

is continuous and

\omega

is a

\left(k-1\right)

-form. We introduce the appropriate notions of convexity, namely ext. one convexity, ext. quasiconvexity and ext. polyconvexity. We study their relations, give several examples and counterexamples. We finally conclude with an application to a minimization problem.
La mutation organisationnelle de la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec : analyse du discours éditorial sous l’ère H.-P. Rousseau (2002-2008)
Authors: Gauthier Marc-André
Published: April 2015

Les pertes historiques de 40 milliards de dollars qu’a connues la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) en 2008 se sont produites dans le contexte de changements constitutifs pour ce symbole de la Révolution tranquille. Cet article soutient que ces changements s’inscrivent dans un processus de mutation organisationnelle qui découle de l’application des principes de la nouvelle gestion publique (NGP) et de la marginalisation du rôle de la CDPQ dans le développement économique du Québec. Notre analyse révèle que le discours éditorialiste a adhéré aux principes de la législation actuelle et à la nouvelle vision organisationnelle qui y est associée. La mutation organisationnelle de la CDPQ et son mandat actuel reçurent ainsi une approbation de principe du discours éditorial au cours de la période de la présidence d’Henri-Paul Rousseau (2002-2008).
A magma‐hydrothermal system beneath Hakone volcano, central Japan, revealed by highly resolved velocity structures
Authors: Yukutake Yohei , Honda Ryou , Harada Masatake , Arai Ryuta , Matsubara Makoto
Published: April 2015

High‐resolution images of subsurface structures are necessary to understand the transport processes of crustal fluids from deep magma sources and their relationship to earthquake swarms in active volcanic regions. Based on a seismic tomography approach, we have developed a new model for the magma‐hydrothermal system beneath Hakone volcano, central Japan, where shallow earthquake swarms and crustal deformation associated with inflation of an open‐crack source are often observed. By applying travel‐time data for local earthquakes to a tomographic inversion, we obtained highly resolved seismic velocity structures that show a region of low P‐wave velocity (Vp), low S‐wave velocity (Vs), and high Vp/Vs ratios at depths of 10–20 km beneath the volcano, corresponding to the location of the open‐crack source. We suggest that the high Vp/Vs ratios represent a deep magma chamber with a high concentration of melt and/or fluids. Deep low‐frequency earthquakes, located just beneath this high Vp/Vs zone, may indicate that magmatic fluids are supplied from below. Above the high Vp/Vs zone, a region of low Vp, low Vs, and low Vp/Vs ratios exists at depths of 3–10 km, suggesting the presence of crack‐filled water or CO2 supplied from the inferred deep magma chamber. Many earthquake swarms occur in this low Vp/Vs zone, indicating that crustal fluids play an important role in generating the swarms. Similar relationships between magma reservoirs, overlying hydrothermal systems, and swarm activity have been reported from other volcanic areas and thus may be a ubiquitous feature beneath active volcanoes.
Crustal subsidence observed by GRACE after the 2013 Okhotsk deep‐focus earthquake
Authors: Tanaka Yusaku , Heki Kosuke , Matsuo Koji , Shestakov Nikolay V.
Published: April 2015

Coseismic gravity changes stem from (1) vertical deformation of layer boundaries with density contrast (i.e., surface and Moho) and (2) density changes of rocks at depth. They have been observed in earthquakes with Mw exceeding ~8.5 by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, but those of M8 class earthquakes have never been detected clearly. Here we report coseismic gravity change of the 24 May 2013 Okhotsk deep earthquake (Mw8.3), smaller than the detection threshold. In shallow thrust faulting, factor (2) is dominant, while factor (1) remains secondary due to poor spatial resolution of GRACE. In the 2013 Okhotsk earthquake, however, factor (2) is insignificant because they occur at depth exceeding 600 km. On the other hand, factor (1) becomes dominant because the centers of uplift and subsidence are well separated and GRACE can resolve them. This enables GRACE to map vertical ground movements of deep earthquakes over both land and ocean.
When a Tree House No Longer Says ‘House’, Are We Virtually There?
Authors: Suzuki Akira
Published: April 2015

In the spring of 2013, Akira Suzuki, the Japanese architectural critic, editor and Professor of Architecture at Musashino Art University, issued an invitation to three architects to design and self‐build a tree house for HC Andersen Park in the suburbs of Tokyo. He observes how the resulting ephemeral structures, built out of the trees themselves, invited interaction with visitors and, and were ‘less material buildings with solid roofs and walls than “conditions” or “happenings”’. He discerns that the widespread adoption of social media in Japan has resulted in a paradigm shift. This has moved creativity away from the folly, as an object of contemplation, scale‐less and position‐less on the landscape's horizon and solitary in the mind. In its place, the solitary browsing of networks is causing people to meet in actual space, which resists the easy flows of internet connectivity without imposing walls or rooms.
Raw material movement and past Tasmanian Aboriginal interaction: implications for understanding isolated human population dynamics
Authors: Cosgrove Richard
Published: April 2015

The study of stone artefact raw material distribution from point sources to archaeological sites has been important in understanding patterns of long‐term human interaction. Proximity to raw material sources has been emphasised in many studies, particularly the distance over which items travel and the nature of the social interactions reflected in such patterns. Tasmania provides an example where the ethnohistorical documents have played an important role in characterising Aboriginal society and tribal relationships. Although glimpses of societal structure and interaction have been gained through the works of Brian Plomley, Rhys Jones and Lyndall Ryan, the archaeology of such organisation has been elusive. The aim of this paper is to discuss the evidence for raw material movement as a proxy for the patterns of past interaction between Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
Innovation and change in northern Australian Aboriginal spear technologies: the case for reed spears
Authors: Allen Harry , Akerman Kim
Published: April 2015

Unlike the majority of spears used by Australian Aboriginal people, reed spears were a lightweight form that made optimal use of spearthrower technology. In the Kimberleys, reed spears were mounted with small pressure‐flaked stone projectile points. Small projectile points occur in the archaeological record of both the Kimberleys and western Arnhem Land. Outside the Kimberleys, however, there is no record of how these were mounted and used. This paper reviews the evidence for reed spears and small projectile points across the Northern Territory and north‐western Western Australia, concluding that they represent associated technologies the primary role of which lay in feuding and conflicts.
Automated analysis of filamentous microbial morphology with AnaMorf
Authors: Barry David J. , Williams Gwilym A. , Chan Cecilia
Published: April 2015

The morphological quantification of filamentous microbes represents an important analytical technique in the optimization of bioprocesses involving such organisms, given the demonstrated links between morphology and metabolite yield. However, in many studies, much of this quantification has required some degree of manual intervention, if it has been conducted at all, burdening biotechnologists with a time‐consuming process and potentially introducing bias into analyses. Here, software for the automated quantification of filamentous microbes is presented, implemented as a plug‐in for the widely used, freely available image analysis package, ImageJ. The software, together with all related source code, documentation and test data, is freely available to the community via an online repository. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:849–852, 2015
Tailoring recombinant protein quality by rational media design
Authors: Brühlmann David , Jordan Martin , Hemberger Jürgen , Sauer Markus , Stettler Matthieu , Broly Hervé
Published: April 2015

Clinical efficacy and safety of recombinant proteins are closely associated with their structural characteristics. The major quality attributes comprise glycosylation, charge variants (oxidation, deamidation, and C‐ & N‐terminal modifications), aggregates, low‐molecular‐weight species (LMW), and misincorporation of amino acids in the protein backbone. Cell culture media design has a great potential to modulate these quality attributes due to the vital role of medium in mammalian cell culture. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the way both classical cell culture medium components and novel supplements affect the quality attributes of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed in mammalian hosts, allowing rational and high‐throughput optimization of mammalian cell culture media. A selection of specific and/or potent inhibitors and activators of oligosaccharide processing as well as components affecting multiple quality attributes are presented. Extensive research efforts in this field show the feasibility of quality engineering through media design, allowing to significantly modulate the protein function. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:615–629, 2015
The pathology and pathobiology of bicuspid aortic valve: State of the art and novel research perspectives
Authors: Mathieu Patrick , Bossé Yohan , Huggins Gordon S , Corte Alessandro Della , Pibarot Philippe , Michelena Hector I. , Limongelli Giuseppe , Boulanger Marie‐Chloé , Evangelista Arturo , Bédard Elisabeth , Citro Rodolfo , Body Simon C , Nemer Mona , Schoen Frederick J
Published: April 2015

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most prevalent cardiac valvular malformation. It is associated with a high rate of long‐term morbidity including development of calcific aortic valve disease, aortic regurgitation and concomitant thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Recently, basic and translational studies have identified some key processes involved in the development of bicuspid aortic valve and its morbidity. The development of aortic valve disease and thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection is the result of complex interactions between genotypes, environmental risk factors and specific haemodynamic conditions created by bicuspid aortic valve anatomy. Herein, we review the pathobiology of bicuspid aortic valve with a special emphasis on translational aspects of these basic findings. Important but unresolved problems in the pathology of bicuspid aortic valve and thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection are discussed, along with the molecular processes involved.
Drift during overground locomotion in newly hatched chicks varies with light exposure during embryogenesis
Authors: Porterfield Jay H. , Sindhurakar Anil , Finley James M. , Bradley Nina S.
Published: April 2015

In an earlier study of newly hatched chicks we reported that continuous bright light exposure throughout incubation accelerated locomotor development and continuous dark exposure delayed it, compared to less intense, intermittent light exposure. Commonly studied gait parameters indicated locomotor skill was similar across groups. However, dark incubated chicks walked with a greater step width, raising the possibility of differences in dynamic balance and control of forward progression. In this study, we established methods to retrospectively examine the previously published locomotor data for differences in lateral drift. We hypothesized that chicks incubated in darkness would exhibit more drift than chicks incubated in light. Analyses identified differences in forward progression between chicks incubated in the two extreme light conditions, supporting the study's hypothesis. We discuss the significance of our findings and potential design considerations for future studies of light‐accelerated motor development in precocial and nonprecocial animals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 57: 459–469, 2015.
Sweet sorghum ideotypes: genetic improvement of stress tolerance
Authors: Anami Sylvester Elikana , Zhang Li‐Min , Xia Yan , Zhang Yu‐Miao , Liu Zhi‐Quan , Jing Hai‐Chun
Published: April 2015

Stress tolerance is a prerequisite for the success of biofuel production, which normally requires the use of marginal lands and nonfood biofuel feedstocks. Sorghum is known for its ability to withstand stress conditions, however, terminal stresses threaten its growth and development negatively impacting yield and sugar accumulation. It is crucial, therefore, that research aimed at developing sorghum resistance to stress factors should be pursued to expand the range of its growth to marginal and barren soils to meet the needs of a growing population, changing diets, and biofuel production. In this context, the leaf architectural trait of stay‐green drought tolerance, in addition to salinity, cold, and aluminium toxicity and biotic stress tolerance and their genetic basis discussed in this review are expected to be available in future sweet sorghum ideotypes. Also highlighted is the key role of efficient management of farming systems, in particular the use of herbicides to control weeds, to ensure the sustainability of the sweet sorghum biomass productions.
Fast eQTL Analysis for Twin Studies
Authors: Yin Zhaoyu , Xia Kai , Chung Wonil , Sullivan Patrick F. , Zou Fei
Published: April 2015

Twin data are commonly used for studying complex psychiatric disorders, and mixed effects models are one of the most popular tools for modeling dependence structures between twin pairs. However, for eQTL (expression quantitative trait loci) data where associations between thousands of transcripts and millions of single nucleotide polymorphisms need to be tested, mixed effects models are computationally inefficient and often impractical. In this paper, we propose a fast eQTL analysis approach for twin eQTL data where we randomly split twin pairs into two groups, so that within each group the samples are unrelated, and we then apply a multiple linear regression analysis separately to each group. A score statistic that automatically adjusts the (hidden) correlation between the two groups is constructed for combining the results from the two groups. The proposed method has well‐controlled type I error. Compared to mixed effects models, the proposed method has similar power but drastically improved computational efficiency. We demonstrate the computational advantage of the proposed method via extensive simulations. The proposed method is also applied to a large twin eQTL data from the Netherlands Twin Register.
Irrigation Management Reform in Northern China: Case Studies in Shanxi Province
Authors: Li He , Perret Sylvain R.
Published: April 2015

Irrigation in northern China is exposed to declining groundwater resources and institutional issues. As a response, authorities have developed measures that include differentiated resource allocation and charging, collective and individual water rights, a block pricing system, prepaid access to water, and real‐time monitoring of resource and use. This paper analyses this alternative management model and its implications at the farm and system levels, using institutional, technical and economic analyses of case studies from Qingxu County, northern China.

The results show that the prepaid system helps solve cost‐recovery, free‐riding, agency and resource overuse problems. All water fees are prepaid, therefore fully collected. However, while most operation and maintenance costs are covered, personnel costs are covered in only one case, due to low water fees. The agency problem is also addressed by the continuous monitoring of water resources. Water use value is high compared to actual water fees, owing to high maize yields and reasonable use of supplemental irrigation. This indicates potential for a water price increase, if needed. This paper shows that the new management system at the county level epitomizes China's whole rural financial reform and the realignment of local water institutions with public administrative layers. It finally discusses achievements, pending questions and limitations for long‐term impacts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
c‐Fos is involved in inhibition of human bladder carcinoma T24 cells by Brazilin
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Fan Xinping , Song Lili , Ren Lu , Ma Enbo , Zhang Shengwan , Ren Liansheng , Zheng Yaowu , Jianzhen Zhang
Published: April 2015

Crude brazilin extract from Sappan wood has demonstrated strong anti tumor activity in the mouse model of human bladder carcinoma and clinical trial for intravesical therapy. Purified brazilin was confirmed the most active molecule in inhibition of bladder carcinoma T24 cells. Brazilin decreased proliferation and viability of T24 cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner, with a calculated LC50 of 32 µg/mL. More than 1,000 of genes were found upregulated and down regulated by brazilin treatment in digital gene expression profiling. Gene ontology analysis indicated that stress response, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulatory pathways were highly enriched. Among the regulated genes, c‐Fos was the most and specifically upregulated. Overexpression of c‐Fos in T24 cells resulted in tumor cell specific changes in cell morphology and viability. Over expression of stress‐responsive gene, HSP70, and other highly upregulated genes did not have any effect on cell growth. Brazilin may inhibit T24 cell growth and trigger cell death through a c‐Fos‐mediated and tumor cell specific signaling pathway. Further studies of its down stream mediators may help to identify better tumor cell type specific drug targets. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(3):175–181, 2015
Correlating RANK Ligand/RANK Binding Kinetics With Osteoclast Formation and Function
Authors: Warren Julia T. , Zou Wei , Decker Corinne E. , Rohatgi Nidhi , Nelson Christopher A. , Fremont Daved H. , Teitelbaum Steven L.
Published: April 2015

The interaction between Receptor Activator of NF‐κB Ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK is essential for the differentiation and bone resorbing capacity of the osteoclast. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble homodimer, acts as a decoy receptor for RANKL and thus inhibits osteoclastogenesis. An imbalance in the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis, with decreased OPG and/or increased RANKL, is associated with diseases that favor bone loss, including osteoporosis. Recently, we established a yeast surface display system and screened libraries of randomly mutated RANKL proteins to identify mutations that abolish binding to OPG while preserving recognition of RANK. These efforts yielded several RANKL variants possessing substantially higher affinity for RANK compared to their wild‐type (WT) counterpart. Using recombinant RANKL mutant proteins, we find those with increased affinity for RANK produce more robust signaling in osteoclast lineage cells and have greater osteoclastogenic potential. Our results are the first to document gain of function RANKL mutations. They indicate that the physiological RANKL/RANK interaction is not optimized for maximal signaling and function, perhaps reflecting the need to maintain receptor specificity within the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF). Instead, we find, a biphasic relationship exists between RANKL/RANK affinity and osteoclastogenic capacity. In our panel of RANKL variants, this relationship is driven entirely by manipulation of the kinetic off‐rate. Our structure‐based and yeast surface display‐derived insights into manipulating this critical signaling axis may aid in the design of novel anti‐resorptive therapies as well as provide a paradigm for design of other receptor‐specific TNF superfamily ligand variants. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2476–2483, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New 1,3,4‐Oxadiazinoisoquinoline Methine Cyanine Dyes: Synthesis, Photosensitivity and Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Eissa Fayez M. , Abdelghany A. R.
Published: April 2015

New heterocyclic ring system including 1,3,4‐oxadiazino[6,5‐c]isoquinoline was prepared and employed as a precursor for preparation of monomethine and trimethine cyanine dyes. The structure of the new compounds was characterized via elemental analysis and mass, 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. The photosensitivity (electronic transitions inside the dye molecule due to photon absorption) of the new methine cyanine dyes was investigated by studying their visible spectra in absolute ethanol and showed its maxima in the visible range of the spectrum with relatively strong absorption bands. The antibacterial activity of the newly synthesized compounds was evaluated against some bacterial strains, resulting in a promising antibacterial efficacy that recommend the tested compounds as new candidates for further pharmaceutical evaluations.
Assessment of tumor response to oxygen challenge using quantitative diffusion MRI in an animal model
Authors: Zhang Zhongwei , Yuan Qing , Zhou Heling , Zhao Dawen , Li Li , Gerberich Jenifer L. , Mason Ralph P.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To assess tumor response to oxygen challenge using quantitative diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods

A well‐characterized Dunning R3327‐AT1 rat prostate cancer line was implanted subcutaneously in the right thigh of male Copenhagen rats (n = 8). Diffusion‐weighted images (DWI) with multiple b values (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500, 1000, 1500 s/mm2) in three orthogonal directions were obtained using a multishot FSE‐based Stejskal‐Tanner DWI sequence (FSE‐DWI) at 4.7T, while rats breathed medical air (21% oxygen) and with 100% oxygen challenge. Stretched‐exponential and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) models were used to calculate and compare quantitative diffusion parameters: diffusion heterogeneity index (α), intravoxel distribution of diffusion coefficients (DDC), tissue diffusivity (Dt), pseudo‐diffusivity (Dp), and perfusion fraction (f) on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis.

Results

A significant increase of α (73.9 ± 4.7% in air vs. 78.1 ± 4.5% in oxygen, P = 0.0198) and a significant decrease of f (13.4 ± 3.7% in air vs. 10.4 ± 2.7% in oxygen, P = 0.0201) were observed to accompany oxygen challenge. Correlations between f and α during both air and oxygen breathing were found; the correlation coefficients (r) were −0.90 and −0.96, respectively. Positive correlations between Dt and DDC with oxygen breathing (r = 0.95, P = 0.0003), f and DDC with air breathing were also observed (r = 0.95, P = 0.0004).

Conclusion

Quantitative diffusion MRI demonstrated changes in tumor perfusion in response to oxygen challenge. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;42:1450–1457.