bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐touch tables and collaborative learning
Authors: Higgins Steve , Mercier Emma , Burd Liz , Joyce‐Gibbons Andrew
Published: November 2011

The development of multi‐touch tables, an emerging technology for classroom learning, offers valuable opportunities to explore how its features can be designed to support effective collaboration in schools. In this study, small groups of 10‐ to 11‐year‐old children undertook a history task where they had to connect various pieces of information about a mining accident to reach a consensus about who had been responsible. Their interaction using traditional resources was compared with their interaction when using a multi‐touch table. Analysis suggests that the design and capabilities of the multi‐touch technology offers some key features that supported the collaboration and interaction of the participants, particularly in the early stages of the task. Some of these features appear to provide new opportunities for collaboration and interaction, which were different from the interactions observed in the paper‐based groups. These features of the multi‐touch surface therefore appear to support effective interaction between the pupils.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Research suggests that collaborative interaction supports learning.

Features such as the nature of the task and the social interaction influence these outcomes.

What this paper adds

This paper looks specifically at the possibilities when a large multi‐touch table is used to support collaboration.

It compares paper‐based and multi‐touch versions of the same activity involving school pupils.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Multi‐touch surfaces can support collaborative interaction.

The initial stages of the task were significantly different.

Pupils should be encouraged to reach a consensus about what they have to do and how they are going to do it as well as encouraged to produce a joint solution.
Productivity and Producer Welfare in the Presence of Production Risk
Authors: Orea Luis , Wall Alan
Published: November 2011

Production risk is an inherent characteristic of agriculture and changes in production risk will affect the welfare of risk‐averse producers. Using standard concepts from the literature on uncertainty, we introduce a welfare measure which comprises total factor productivity (TFP), production risk and farmer risk preferences, and which reflects the impact on producer welfare of changes in production technology. An empirical application is carried out using data from a sample of Spanish dairy farms which shows how the positive impact of increases in TFP on welfare can be offset by increases in the risk premium (‘cost of risk’) to the point where welfare may decrease.
The Polyketide Pks1 Contributes to Biofilm Formation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Pang Jennifer M. , Layre Emilie , Sweet Lindsay , Sherrid Ashley , Moody D. Branch , Ojha Anil , Sherman David R.
Published: November 2011

Infections caused by biofilms are abundant and highly persistent, displaying phenotypic resistance to high concentrations of antimicrobials and modulating host immune systems. Tuberculosis (TB), caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, shares these qualities with biofilm infections. To identify genetic determinants of biofilm formation in
M. tuberculosis
, we performed a small-scale transposon screen using an
in vitro
pellicle biofilm assay. We identified five
M. tuberculosis
mutants that were reproducibly attenuated for biofilm production relative to that of the parent strain H37Rv. One of the most attenuated mutants is interrupted in
pks1
, a polyketide synthase gene. When fused with
pks15
, as in some
M. tuberculosis
isolates,
pks1
contributes to synthesis of the immunomodulatory phenolic glycolipids (PGLs). However, in strains such as H37Rv with split
pks15
and
pks1
loci, PGL is not produced and
pks1
has no previously defined role. We showed that
pks1
complementation restores biofilm production independently of the known role of
pks1
in PGL synthesis. We also assessed the relationship among biofilm formation, the
pks15/1
genotype, and
M. tuberculosis
phylogeography. A global survey of
M. tuberculosis
clinical isolates revealed surprising sequence variability in the
pks15/1
locus and substantial variation in biofilm phenotypes. Our studies identify novel
M. tuberculosis
genes that contribute to biofilm production, including
pks1
. In addition, we find that the ability to make pellicle biofilms is common among
M. tuberculosis
isolates from throughout the world, suggesting that this trait is relevant to TB propagation or persistence.
A randomised controlled pilot study of standardised counselling and cost-free pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among stroke and TIA patients
Authors: Papadakis Sophia , Aitken Debbie , Gocan Sophia , Riley Dana , Laplante Mary Ann , Bhatnagar-Bost Abha , Cousineau Donna , Simpson Danielle , Edjoc Rojiemiahd , Pipe Andrew L , Sharma Mukul , Reid Robert D
Published: November 2011

Background

Tobacco use is a major risk factor for recurrent stroke. The provision of cost-free quit smoking medications has been shown to be efficacious in increasing smoking abstinence in the general population.

Objective

The objective of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of providing cost-free quit smoking pharmacotherapy and counselling to smokers identified in a stroke prevention clinic.

Trial design

Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Methods

All patients seen at the Ottawa Hospital Stroke Prevention Clinic who smoked more five or more cigarettes per day, were ready to quit smoking in the next 30 days, and were willing to use pharmacotherapy were invited to participate in the study. All participants were advised to quit smoking and treated using a standardised protocol including counselling and pharmacotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to either a prescription only usual care group or an experimental group who received a 4-week supply of cost-free quit smoking medications and a prescription for medication renewal. All patients received follow-up counselling. The primary outcome was biochemically validated quit rates at 26 weeks. The research coordinator conducting outcome assessment was blind to group allocation.

Results

Of 219 smokers screened, 73 were eligible, 28 consented and were randomised, and 25 completed the 26-week follow-up assessment. All 28 patients randomised were included in the analysis. The biochemically validated 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate in the experimental group compared to the usual care group was 26.6% vs 15.4% (adjusted OR 2.00, 95% CI 0.33 to 13.26; p=0.20).

Conclusions

It would be feasible to definitively evaluate this intervention in a large multi-site trial.

Trial registration number

http://ClinicalTrials.gov# UOHI2010-1.
Cell-surface receptors on macrophages and dendritic cells for attachment and entry of influenza virus
Authors: Londrigan Sarah L , Tate Michelle D , Brooks Andrew G , Reading Patrick C
Published: November 2011

Review of interactions between influenza A virus and C-type lectin receptors on macrophages and dendritic cells that may result in virus entry and infection.

Airway MΦ and DCs are important components of innate host defense and can play a critical role in limiting the severity of influenza virus infection. Although it has been well established that cell-surface SA acts as a primary attachment receptor for IAV, the particular receptor(s) or coreceptor(s) that mediate IAV entry into any cell, including MΦ and DC, have not been clearly defined. Identifying which receptors are involved in attachment and entry of IAV into immune cells may have important implications in regard to understanding IAV tropism and pathogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that specialized receptors on MΦ and DCs, namely CLRs, can act as capture and/or entry receptors for many viral pathogens, including IAV. Herein, we review the early stages of infection of MΦ and DC by IAV. Specifically, we examine the potential role of CLRs expressed on MΦ and DC to act as attachment and/or entry receptors for IAV.
The Development of the Job Stressor Appraisal Scale as Part of the Job Stress Battery
Authors: Türetgen Ilknur Özalp , Berk Özlem Sertel , Basbug Gokce , Unsal Pinar
Published: November 2011

This study introduces the psychometric qualities of the Job Stressor Appraisal Scale (JSAS), a part of the Job Stress Battery, which comprehensively measures job stress in terms of job stressors, moderators, and strains. The JSAS measures employees’ appraisals of job stressors by considering both their frequency and intensity. To test its psychometric qualities, we administered the JSAS to a sample of 1,069 employees in Turkey. Factor analysis revealed a 5-factor structure, with 43 items explaining 46.1% of the variance. Cronbach’s α coefficients of the factors and the total scale varied between .66 and .93. In terms of construct and convergent validities, results generally showed significant correlations in the expected directions. These findings obtained on the validity and reliability of the scale imply good psychometric qualities.
Interplay between histone deacetylases and autophagy ‐ from cancer therapy to neurodegeneration
Authors: Trüe Oliver , Matthias Patrick
Published: November 2011

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are chromatin modifiers that alter gene expression but also exert a broad range of functions outside the nucleus by deacetylating non‐histone target proteins. They gained growing attention for their implications in disease treatment, mainly through research using HDAC‐inhibiting compounds. Understanding the effects of HDAC function and deregulation has therefore become an important focus for both basic and applied research. One of the described effects of HDAC inhibition is induction of autophagy. Autophagy is a ubiquitous process of recycling cellular components in response to starvation or stress and therefore crucial for cell homeostasis. Because of its role in managing anomalous protein overloads, autophagy is of great interest for neurodegenerative disease research. However, autophagy can also promote cell death, which puts it in the focus of cancer research. This review provides an overview of what we know of the impact of HDACs on the autophagy pathway and describes the fields where promising progress has been achieved, although one has to state that the work to illuminate the connections has just begun. Therefore, one focus is the effect of HDAC inhibition on autophagy in several types and models of cancer, which aims to find combinations of treatments that circumvent the ability of cancer cells to escape from cell death. Another recently emerged aspect is the direct involvement of the cytosolic deacetylase HDAC6 in autophagy progression, which is of great potential for revealing disease mechanisms in neurodegeneration.
Destabilization of serially connected spin-torque oscillators via non-Adlerian dynamics
Authors: Iacocca Ezio , Åkerman Johan
Published: November 2011

The transient dynamics of phase-locking in serially connected nanopillar spin-torque oscillators (STOs) is studied both analytically and numerically. A variety of transient behaviors are observed stemming from the high oscillator nonlinearity and the interplay between the damping to coupling strength ratio and the phase delay of the coupling. Non-Adlerian (ringing) dynamics is found to be the main regime of synchronization where the synchronization time depends strongly on the phase delay. Somewhat nonintuitively, sufficiently strong coupling can also destabilize the system, destroying the synchronized regime even for identical STOs. This transient behavior is also found to dominate when the STOs have different frequencies. These results highlight fundamental issues that must be considered in the design of serially synchronized STOs.
Phase transition sequence in sodium bismuth titanate observed using high-resolution x-ray diffraction
Authors: Aksel Elena , Forrester Jennifer S. , Kowalski Benjamin , Jones Jacob L. , Thomas Pam A.
Published: November 2011

High resolution powder x-ray diffraction patterns of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 at selected temperatures were examined to compare structural changes with observed piezoelectric thermal depoling temperatures. The depoling temperatures do not correlate with discrete phase transition temperatures, and therefore, a structural transition is not the origin of thermal depoling. Rather, a correlation is made with an increase in volume fraction of material which does not obey the long-range Cc space group. The origin of the thermal depoling behavior may be the loss of long-range ferroelectric order by a decreasing proportion of the Cc phase or the associated percolation of disordered nano-scale platelets.
Degradable Dextran Particles for Gene Delivery Applications
Authors: Wich Peter R. , Fréchet Jean M. J.
Published: November 2011

Successful gene therapy depends both on the effective transport and the stable expression of therapeutic genes to produce and regulate disease related proteins. In this context, non-viral gene delivery vehicles are regarded as one of the most promising approaches for the efficient and safe transport of genetic material to and into the target cells. This short review describes the development of novel particulate delivery vehicles based on the biopolymer dextran. This multifunctional platform was designed to safely transport genetic material across cell membranes, followed by an acid triggered release that causes overall high transfection efficiency. The biocompatibility and its unique tunability differentiate this new carrier system from previous particle systems, showing high potential for the treatment of several disease models in RNA interference related applications.
Assessment of Minimally Invasive Device That Provides Simultaneous Adjustable Cardiac Support and Active Synchronous Assist in an Acute Heart Failure Model
Authors: Moreno Michael R. , Biswas Saurabh , Harrison Lewis D. , Pernelle Guilluame , Miller Matthew W. , Fossum Theresa W. , Nelson David A. , Criscione John C.
Published: November 2011

One of the major maladaptive changes after a major heart attack or cardiac event is an initial decline in pumping capacity of the heart leading to activation of a variety of compensatory mechanisms, and subsequently a phenomenon known as cardiac or left ventricular remodeling, i.e., a geometrical change in the architecture of the left ventricle. Evidence suggests that the local mechanical environment governs remodeling processes. Thus, in order to control two important mechanical parameters, cardiac size and cardiac output, we have developed a minimally invasive direct cardiac contact device capable of providing two actions simultaneously: (1) adjustable cardiac support to modulate cardiac size and (2) synchronous active assist to modulate cardiac output. As a means of enabling experiments to determine the role of these mechanical parameters in reverse remodeling or ventricular recovery, the device was further designed to (1) be deployed via minimally invasive surgical procedures, (2) allow uninhibited motion of the heart, (3) remain in place about the heart via an intrinsic pneumatic attachment, and (4) provide direct cardiac compression without aberrantly inverting the curvature of the heart. These actions and features are mapped to particular design solutions and assessed in an acute implantation in an ovine model of acute heart failure (esmolol overdose). The passive support component was used to effectively shift the EDPVR leftward, i.e., counter to the effects of disease. The active assist component was used to effectively decompress the constrained heart and restore lost cardiac output and stroke work in the esmolol failure model. It is expected that such a device will provide better control of the mechanical environment and thereby provide cardiac surgeons a broader range of therapeutic options and unique intervention possibilities.
Disinfection of Natural Water by Solar Photocatalysis Using Immobilized TiO2 Devices: Efficiency in Eliminating Indicator Bacteria and Operating Life of the System
Authors: Acevedo Asunción , Carpio Edward A. , Rodríguez Juan , Manzano Manuel A.
Published: November 2011

Natural water has been disinfected using TiO2 as the fixed catalyst incorporated in a homemade photoreactor, in which the dimensions and the design parameters are representative of devices that are currently employed at larger scale. The catalyst was immobilized on the external surface of a cylinder of frosted glass situated in the longitudinal axis of a tubular glass reactor. Two alternative methods of immobilizing the catalyst on glass were studied: in the first, a commercial titanium oxide powder (Aeroxide® TiO2 P25) was mounted on a polymeric support; and in the second, it was applied by sol-gel deposition. Illumination was effected by installing the glass reactor in the irradiation chamber of a solar simulator. Under laboratory conditions, groundwater contaminated with cultured and wild bacteria was treated photocatalytically, and the influence of the photolysis, the pumping, and the catalysts was studied. The results obtained have demonstrated that the catalyst immobilized in the interior of the photoreactor presents similar results, in the disinfection of E. coli, as 0.5 g/l of TiO2 P25; and that, in 1.5 h approximately of simulated solar illumination (167 kWUVA s/m2) on the sol-gel deposit of TiO2, it is possible to eliminate 100% of the bacteria covered by international regulations in respect of water for human consumption. With regard to the aging assay of the system, it was observed at 250 h of operation a reduction in the effectiveness of the disinfection process. At 0 and 250 h of operation, the percentages of elimination of E. coli after 50 min of illumination were 100% and 99.5%, respectively. This reduction in the effectiveness of the process was due to the formation of a film of calcium carbonate adhering to the internal glass wall of the photoreactor, which is in contact with the liquid being treated, and to the presence of calcium carbonate precipitates on catalyst surface.
Effect of pedestal height and internal transport barriers on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor target steady state simulations
Authors: Rafiq T. , Kritz A. H. , Bateman G. , Kessel C. , McCune D. C. , Budny R. V.
Published: November 2011

The Tokamak simulation code (TSC) is used to provide initial conditions for predictive TRANSPort and integrated modeling code (PTRANSP) simulations of ITER target steady state scenarios. The PTRANSP simulations are carried out using the new multi-mode (MMM7.1) and the gyro-Landau-fluid (GLF23) transport models. It is found that there are circumstances under which the total fusion power decreases with increasing pedestal temperature height. When the total current (from magnetic axis to plasma edge) is fixed, an increased fraction of the current is concentrated in the pedestal region as the pedestal height is increased. As a consequence of the fixed total current, this results a smaller fraction of the current in the core plasma and, consequently, lower energy confinement. In previous simulations of ITER, in which the fusion power increased with increasing pedestal temperature height, the plasma current from the top of the pedestal to the magnetic axis was held fixed independent of the pedestal temperature. Simulations presented in this paper also indicate that improvement in fusion power production occurs when the lower hybrid current drive is replaced with electron cyclotron current drive. Again, the improvement results from the redistribution of plasma current since the lower hybrid power generally drives current closer to the plasma edge than does the electron cyclotron power. ITER simulation results obtained using the MMM7.1 transport model are compared with those using the GLF23 model. It is found that, in simulations of target steady state scenarios, momentum transport and flow-shear suppression features of the new MMM7.1 model can lead to predictions of internal transport barriers in temperature and rotation frequency.
Comparison and assessment of procedures for calculating the R(12) line strength of the ν1+ 2 ν2 + ν3 band of CO2
Authors: Wübbeler Gerd , Víquez Gerardo J. Padilla , Jousten Karl , Werhahn Olav , Elster Clemens
Published: November 2011

Recently, results for the CO2 R(12) line strength parameter have been reported, which differ significantly and are inconsistent with respect to quoted uncertainties. We investigate to what extent this inconsistency might be caused by the chosen data analysis methods. To this end, we assess and compare a parametric fitting procedure and a non-parametric approach. We apply the methods to simulated and measured line spectra, and we specify the conditions required for the safe application of the two procedures. For our present data, the corresponding conditions are satisfied for both methods, and consistent results are obtained. However, the simulations reveal that the fitting procedure can show shortcomings when the uncertainty in the wavenumber is large.
Breast arterial calcification and hypertension associated with vertebral fracture
Authors: Wada Hiroshi , Hirano Fuminori , Kuroda Tatsuhiko , Shiraki Masataka
Published: November 2011

Aim:  Arterial calcification and osteoporosis commonly accompany one another in postmenopausal women. Hypertension is a known contributing factor to arterial calcification. Thus, we aimed to investigate any associations between hypertension, arterial calcification and vertebral fractures in a cross‐sectional study in Japanese postmenopausal women.

Methods:  The medical histories of 421 postmenopausal Japanese women diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia were investigated. Bodyweight, body height and ultradistal bone mineral density (BMD) were measured. The prevalent vertebral fractures were diagnosed by a semiquantitative method, and the number of breast arterial calcifications (BAC) was investigated by mammography screening.

Results:  Patients with vertebral fractures were of a significantly higher age, lower height, lower ultradistal BMD and had a higher number of BAC compared with those without vertebral fractures. Furthermore, a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension was observed in the patients with vertebral fractures as compared with those without. A multivariate stepwise regression analysis using these variables for vertebral fractures showed that the significant odds ratios (OR) of age (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.11–2.77, P = 0.016), the prevalence of BAC (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.62–3.93, P < 0.001) and the presence of hypertension (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.11–2.80, P = 0.017) were found as significant independent risk factors for vertebral fractures.

Conclusion:  This is the first report of the relevance of BAC or hypertension to vertebral fractures in Japanese women. The results suggest that hypertension, BAC and osteoporotic fractures share a common metabolic pathway in their pathogenesis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 330–335.
Potential for Cogeneration Through Solar Energy in the Tissue Industry: Technical and Economic Aspects
Authors: Gabbrielli Roberto , Zammori Francesco
Published: November 2011

This paper investigates the feasibility of a solar cogeneration system, as a solution to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in a tissue mill, located in the industrial district of Lucca (North Italy). Although the paper sector has a high theoretical potential for the use of solar energy, the implementation of a solar thermal plant may not be economically sustainable, due to the expensive investment of such a system and to the uncertainty of future benefits. These issues are even more relevant in a moderate climate, where the high variability of the direct normal irradiance can prevent the technical feasibility of the plant. To demonstrate the possible use of solar energy in paper mills, a concentrating solar power plant with thermal storage, based on parabolic trough technology, has been chosen as a feasible solution for combined heat and power generation and its technical and economical performances have been evaluated through an extensive simulation analysis. The results obtained prove the feasibility of the proposed system and assure a good economic profitability. Results also show how the possibility of benefiting from economic incentives for renewable electric power generation is fundamental to reduce the payback period and to assure the profitability of the investment.
Fast magnetic reconnection driven by ponderomotive force in two-beam laser-solid interactions
Authors: Liu San-Qiu , Yang Xiao-Song , Li Xiao-Qing
Published: November 2011

The magnetic reconnection phenomenon has been repeatedly observed in laser plasmas. A fast magnetic-reconnection model driven by the ponderomotive force was developed to explain the phenomenon in two-beam laser-solid interactions. Properties of the magnetic-reconnection process, such as the reconnection time scale and jet velocity, are obtained with classical values of the Spitzer resistivity. Our results are consistent with experimental measurements.
Stark Width Regularities within Beryllium Spectral Series
Authors: Dojčinović I. P. , Tapalaga I. , Purić J.
Published: November 2011

The dependences of Stark width on the upper-level ionization potential within different series of the neutral beryllium spectral lines have been studied. The dependences previously observed for electron impact contribution to the Stark widths were also obtained for the proton impact contribution. The emphasis is on the fine structure influence on the studied Stark parameter dependences. The influence of temperature on the dependences of Stark width parameters has been demonstrated. The relations found can be used in both cases for prediction of new Stark broadening data, thus avoiding much more complicated procedures.
Synthesis and Degradation of the Major Allergens in Developing and Germinating Soybean Seed
Authors: Wu Yong‐Mei , Guan Rong‐Xia , Liu Zhang‐Xiong , Li Run‐Zhi , Chang Ru‐Zhen , Qiu Li‐Juan
Published: November 2011

Gly m Bd 28K, Gly m Bd 30K and Gly m Bd 60K are the major soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) allergens limiting the consumption of a good protein source for sensitive individuals. However, little is known about their temporal‐spatial expression during seed development and upon germination. The present data shows that soy allergens accumulated in both the embryonic axes and cotyledon, but expression patterns differed depending on the specific allergen. Allergens accumulated sooner and to a greater level in cotyledons than in embryonic axes. Gly m Bd 28 began at 14 d after flowering, 7 to 14 d earlier than Gly m Bd 30K and Gly m Bd 60K. Comparatively, their degradation was faster and more profound in embryonic axes than in cotyledons. Gly m Bd 60K began to decline at 36 h after imbibition and remained detectable up to 108 h in cotyledons. In contrast, the Glym Bd 60K protein was reduced at 24 h, and eventually disappeared at 96 h . In cotyledons Gly m Bd 28K first declined at 24 h, then increased from 36 h to 48 h, followed by its large reduction at 72 h after seed germination. These findings provide useful information on soy allergen biosynthesis and will help move forward towards developing a hypoallergenic soybean for safer food.
Use of a Shroud and Baffle to Improve Natural Convection to Immersed Heat Exchangers
Authors: Boetcher Sandra K. S. , Kulacki F. A. , Davidson Jane H.
Published: November 2011

Optimizing heat transfer during the charge and discharge of thermal stores is crucial for high performance of solar thermal systems for domestic and commercial applications. This study models a sensible water storage tank for which discharge is accomplished using a heat exchanger immersed in the storage fluid. The heat exchanger is a two-dimensional isothermal cylinder in an adiabatic enclosure with no initial stratification. An adiabatic shroud and baffle whose geometry is parametrically varied is placed around and below the cylinder. Transient numerical simulations of the discharge process are obtained for 105 < RaD < 107, and estimates of the time needed to discharge a given fraction of the initial stored energy are obtained. We find that a short baffle is least effective in increasing heat transfer rates. The performance benefit is greatest early in the transient discharge period when the buoyant flow in the store is strongest. As with all flow control devices, the benefit decreases as energy is extracted from the tank and the temperature difference driving the flow decreases. The use of a shroud increases the transient Nusselt number by as much as twentyfold.
Spectral Characterization of PSI’s High-Flux Solar Simulator
Authors: Alxneit Ivo , Schmit Henri
Published: November 2011

In this publication, the detailed spectral characterization of the concentrated radiation of PSI’s 50 kW xenon arc lamp based solar simulator (HFSS) is reported. Spectra are presented for the range of 350–1600 nm recorded at different radial distances from the position of maximum concentration, i.e., from the center of the spot. The analysis shows that the relative intensity of the short wavelength region decreases with increasing radial distance from the center of the spot. At the same time, the relative contribution of the xenon emission lines increases. All spectra can be decomposed into a broad background described by a blackbody spectrum with a temperature of T = 6000 ± 200 K and the characteristic line spectrum of xenon.
Development of a novel quality assurance system based on rolled‐up and rolled‐out radiochromic films in volumetric modulated arc therapy
Authors: Park Ji‐Yeon , Lee Jeong‐Woo , Choi Kyoung‐Sik , Lee Jung Seok , Kim You‐Hyun , Hong Semie , Suh Tae‐Suk
Published: November 2011

Purpose:

To develop a cylindrical phantom with rolled‐up radiochromic films and dose analysis software in the rolled‐out plane for quality assurance (QA) in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

Methods:

The phantom consists of an acrylic cylindrical body wrapped with radiochromic film inserted into an outer cylindrical shell of 5 cm thickness. The rolled‐up films with high spatial resolution enable detection of specific dose errors along the arc trajectory of continuously irradiated and modulated beams in VMAT. The developed dose analysis software facilitates dosimetric evaluation in the rolled‐up and rolled‐out planes of the film; the calculated doses on the corresponding points where the rolled‐up film was placed were reconstructed into a rectangular dose matrix equivalent to that of the rolled‐out plane of the film. The VMAT QA system was implemented in 3 clinical cases of prostate, nasopharynx, and pelvic metastasis. Each calculated dose on the rolled‐out plane was compared with measurement values by modified gamma evaluation. Detected positions of dose disagreement on the rolled‐out plane were also distinguished in cylindrical coordinates. The frequency of error occurrence and error distribution were summarized in a histogram and in an axial view of rolled‐up plane to intuitively identify the corresponding positions of detected errors according to the gantry angle.

Results:

The dose matrix reconstructed from the developed VMAT QA system was used to verify the measured dose distribution along the arc trajectory. Dose discrepancies were detected on the rolled‐out plane and visualized on the calculated dose matrix in cylindrical coordinates. The error histogram obtained by gamma evaluation enabled identification of the specific error frequency at each gantry angular position. The total dose error occurring on the cylindrical surface was in the range of 5%–8% for the 3 cases.

Conclusions:

The developed system provides a practical and reliable QA method to detect dosimetric errors according to the gantry angle. Film dosimetry based on rolled‐up and rolled‐out techniques leads to dose verification in the subspaces of the 3D dose volume. The system can be employed as an alternative tool to detect the pitfalls of planar dose verification.
Limited Model Antigen Expression by Transgenic Fungi Induces Disparate Fates during Differentiation of Adoptively Transferred T Cell Receptor Transgenic CD4
+
T Cells: Robust Activation and Proliferation with Weak Effector Function during Recall
Authors: Wüthrich Marcel , Ersland Karen , Pick-Jacobs John C. , Gern Benjamin H. , Frye Christopher A. , Sullivan Thomas D. , Brennan Meghan B. , Filutowicz Hanna I. , O'Brien Kevin , Korthauer Keegan D. , Schultz-Cherry Stacey , Klein Bruce S.
Published: November 2011

CD4
+
T cells are the key players of vaccine resistance to fungi. The generation of effective T cell-based vaccines requires an understanding of how to induce and maintain CD4
+
T cells and memory. The kinetics of fungal antigen (Ag)-specific CD4
+
T cell memory development has not been studied due to the lack of any known protective epitopes and clonally restricted T cell subsets with complementary T cell receptors (TCRs). Here, we investigated the expansion and function of CD4
+
T cell memory after vaccination with transgenic (Tg)
Blastomyces dermatitidis
yeasts that display a model Ag, Eα-mCherry (Eα-mCh). We report that Tg yeast led to Eα display on Ag-presenting cells and induced robust activation, proliferation, and expansion of adoptively transferred TEa cells in an Ag-specific manner. Despite robust priming by Eα-mCh yeast, antifungal TEa cells recruited and produced cytokines weakly during a recall response to the lung. The addition of exogenous Eα-red fluorescent protein (RFP) to the Eα-mCh yeast boosted the number of cytokine-producing TEa cells that migrated to the lung. Thus, model epitope expression on yeast enables the interrogation of Ag presentation to CD4
+
T cells and primes Ag-specific T cell activation, proliferation, and expansion. However, the limited availability of model Ag expressed by Tg fungi during T cell priming blunts the downstream generation of effector and memory T cells.
Scheduling Softball Series in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Authors: Saur Marjorie Cone , Starr Kaleigh , Husted Mark , Newman Alexandra M.
Published: November 2011

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a Division II National Collegiate Athletic Association conference that offers, inter alia, women's softball. Within the conference, four-game series are played against every other conference team according to a temporally constrained schedule. Manually generated schedules result in imbalances, such as breaks of multiple home or away series and away-series season openers and closers for the same team, and fail to mitigate weather-related series disruptions. Our integer-programming–based schedules eliminate these problems while ensuring that all requisite series are played. In this paper, we present a 40-game schedule; we do not present 36- and 44-game schedules, which are nearly equivalent. For its 2011 softball season, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference adopted the 40-game schedule from these three schedules.
Role of Reputation in Top Pediatric Specialties Rankings
Authors: Bush Ruth A. , Quigley Edward J. , Fox Lyman , Garcia-Bassets Ivan
Published: November 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Although the role of reputation in determining the relative standings in the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) annual rankings of the top 50 hospitals has received analytical attention, the role of reputation in the best children's hospitals pediatric specialty rankings has not been quantified. Our goal was to quantify the role of reputation in determining the relative standings of the top-ranked pediatric specialties and their associated hospitals in the 2008–2010 editions of the USNWR best children's hospital rankings.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study of USNWR data collected from the top 30 hospitals in each of 6 (and later 10) specialties was performed. The main outcome measures were rankings based on total USNWR scores and subjective reputation scores.

RESULTS:

On average, rankings based on reputation scores alone correlated with USNWR overall rankings; correlation coefficients ranged from 0.80 to 0.98 (Spearman Correlation; mean P < .001). This relationship was consistent over all 3 survey years.

CONCLUSIONS:

The relative standings of the top 30 pediatric hospitals in each of 10 specialties are largely explained by the compelling correlation between subjective reputation scores and ranking scores.
Glomus Jugulare Tumor
Authors: Welsh Louis W. , Welsh John J. , Huck George F.
Published: November 2011

• We will describe a case of glomus jugulare tumor that illustrates the potential for multiple areas of metastasis throughout the central nervous system. Extension through the dura into the subarachnoid space allows seeding via the cerebrospinal fluid as far away as the cauda equina. We will review the usual clinical course of the tumor and will evaluate the symptoms relative to the location of extension. In this case, the symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure with brain stem compression, which progressed rapidly to cause the patient's death.
Synthesis of PANI and Study of Morphology in the Process of Polymerization
Authors: Zhang Lixia , Liang Lifang , Su Wei , Liu Shunzhen , Chen Jinhao
Published: November 2011

The polyaniline micro/nanostructure was prepared by a self‐assembly process with molybdic acid as dopants in the presence of ammonium persulfate as the oxidant. It was found that the morphology of PANI micro/nanostructure was affected by the concentration of the dopant, that is, the morphology of PANI changed from nanofibers to co‐existence of nanofibers and microspheres as the molar ratio of molybdic acid to aniline varied from 0.01 to 1.5. Under the same condition it was also found that the conductivity value of PANI enhanced from 4.58×10−3 S·cm−1 to 3.8×10−1 S·cm−1. The structure of PANI was characterized by FTIR and XRD which confirmed the presence of the molybdic acid in the PANI. The electrochemical characteristics of the PANI nanofibers were investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry. The morphology of PANI in the process of polymerization was characterized by SEM. It was found that when the molar ratio of molybdic acid to aniline was 0.3, the morphology of PANI was co‐existence of nanofibers and microspheres and the formation of microspheres was ahead of the nanofibers.
External Auditory Canal Stenosis
Authors: Lupin Alan J.
Published: November 2011

• Stenosis of the external auditory canal may occur from a variety of causes. The numerous surgical techniques illustrate that repair may be difficult. The problems were resolved in two cases with the use of a silicone-rubber insert that is made at the time of the surgical procedure and is used throughout the postoperative period.
A proposal of an extended method of IP trace‐back for distributed denial of service attacks using a dynamic marking scheme
Authors: Koga Katsuhiro , Okazaki Naonobu , Watanabe Akira , Park Mi rang
Published: November 2011

In recent years, DoS (Denial of Service) attacks and more powerful DDoS (Distributed DoS) attacks have posed security problems on the Internet. For countermeasure to these attacks, it is important to trace attackers and stop the attacks. However, since information about the attackers is “spoofed,” such attacks are difficult to trace. Therefore, a method of identifying attackers is required. Savage and colleagues proposed a method of tracing flooding attacks by using “marked” packets. This method, however, involves problems in gathering the attack packets through numerous hops. In this paper, we propose a method of resolving this problem by observing the features of the attack traffic and changing the “marking probability” in the routers. We implement algorithms of both our proposed method and the extended marking method to estimate their efficiency. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 94(12): 29–44, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10346
MAGNITUDE, FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF INSTREAM FLOWS TO STIMULATE AND FACILITATE CATADROMOUS FISH MIGRATIONS: AUSTRALIAN BASS (MACQUARIA NOVEMACULEATA PERCIFORMES, PERCICHTHYIDAE)
Authors: Reinfelds I. V. , Walsh C. T. , van der Meulen D. E. , Growns I. O. , Gray C. A.
Published: November 2011

The migratory response and behaviour of catadromous Australian bass with regard to hourly mean river flows and water temperatures was assessed over 15 months. Fish movement was assessed using a 75‐km passive acoustic telemetry array in the regulated Shoalhaven River below Tallowa Dam, NSW, Australia. The majority (62%) of downstream pre‐spawning migrations from freshwater to estuarine habitats were stimulated by a series of flow pulses from April to September, but a proportion of fish (38%) commenced downstream migrations under regulated baseflow conditions after a sustained decrease in water temperature to below 15°C in late autumn. Equal numbers of fish undertook post‐spawning upstream return migrations during flow pulses and during regulated baseflow conditions, with regulated baseflow migrants exhibiting a preference for dusk–dawn passage through freshwater pool–riffle sequences. The median magnitude of flow pulses at the time of commencement of downstream and upstream freshwater migrations by Australian bass was not large, equivalent to natural (in the absence of river regulation) flows equalled or exceeded for 56% and 48% of time, respectively. There was no evidence for increased numbers of migrants with increasing flow pulse magnitude, with individual fish ignoring some flow pulses but responding to subsequent events. In regulated rivers, the release of more frequent flow pulses with peak magnitudes approximating the natural 50th flow duration percentile may be more effective in stimulating greater numbers of Australian bass to undertake pre‐spawning and post‐spawning migrations between freshwater and estuarine habitats than the release of a single, larger event. The propensity of Australian bass to also undertake spawning migrations under regulated baseflow conditions emphasizes the need for provision of baseflow regimes in regulated rivers that can facilitate migrations by large bodied fishes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
α‐Synuclein modifies huntingtin aggregation in living cells
Authors: Herrera Federico , Outeiro Tiago Fleming
Published: November 2011

Htt
and
alpha‐syn
physically interact by comigration in non‐denaturing gel electrophoresis (View interaction)
Anomalous structural transformation, spontaneous polarization, piezoelectric response, and band structure of semiconductor aluminum nitride under hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Duan Yifeng , Qin Lixia , Shi Liwei , Tang Gang , Shi Hongliang
Published: November 2011

Structural phase transition, spontaneous polarization, piezoelectric response, and band structure of aluminum nitride under hydrostatic pressure are systematically studied via first-principles calculations. The band structures are obtained from the HSE06 range-separated hybrid functional. Our calculated results exhibit interesting behaviors: (i) Just like the cases of uniaxial and in-plane strains, the material undergoes a structural transition from the equilibrium wurtzite phase to a pseudographitic h-MgO phase at large pressure. (ii) Although the new phase is nonpolar, the spontaneous polarization of wurtzite phase is greatly enhanced by pressure and reaches the maximum value at the phase transition. (iii) The appropriately applied pressure remarkably enhances the piezoelectric response for wurtzite phase, with the strongest behavior appearing at the phase transition. This is consistent, in that the wurtzite structure becomes markedly soft along the polar axis as pressure increases and similar to the structural transition of perovskites from ferroelectric to paraelectric phases. (iv) The wurtzite phase under pressure undergoes a direct-indirect bandgap transition, with the conduction band minimum (CBM) no longer at zone center Γ, but at the zone-edge K point and the valence band maximum (VBM) at Γ. In addition, the polar-nonpolar structural transformation simultaneously gives rise to another bandgap transition from indirect to indirect with the CBM shifting from K to M point, but the VBM still at Γ. This is remarkably different from the results of uniaxial and in-plane strains. The anomalous behaviors of the band structure originate from that the top valence and bottom conduction states at different reciprocal lattice points show the different dependence on hydrostatic pressure.
Effect of additives on titanium-hydrogen interaction under ball milling of Ti powder probed by hard x-ray emission spectroscopy
Authors: Shkvarin A. S. , Yarmoshenko Yu. M. , Zatsepin D. A. , Dolgikh V. E. , Kurmaev E. Z. , Nemnonov S. N. , Cherkashenko V. M. , Skorikov N. A. , Morozova O. S. , Borchers Ch.
Published: November 2011

Titanium is well known as a light-weight hydrogen storage material that is applied as a component of hydrogen storage composites together with Mg and other metals. Amorphous boron, boron nitride, and graphite were used as additives to improve Ti-H2 reactivity during ball-milling due to its anti-sticking and matrix-forming properties. The chemical state and local electronic structure of Ti atoms were studied by hard x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). We have measured fluorescent Ti Kβ5 (4p→1s transition) x-ray emission spectra, which are very sensitive to the local surroundings of exciting atoms, and found additional features coinciding in energy with spectra of reference samples TiB2, TiN, and TiC. Based on these measurements, it is concluded that atoms of additives form chemical bonding with Ti due to the occupation of interstitials in the host Ti-lattice.
Evaluation of a Japanese version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination in elderly persons
Authors: Ideno Yuki , Takayama Mitsuyo , Hayashi Kunihiko , Takagi Hirofumi , Sugai Yuichi
Published: November 2011

Aim:  This study aimed to examine the validity and item‐response characteristics of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), which is used for assessing cognitive function, in Japanese older adults.

Methods:  Factor analysis and item response analysis were carried out for MMSE responses (n = 1971) from older adults living in the community (n = 1339) or in a nursing home (n = 632), including Alzheimer‐type dementia (n = 330), vascular dementia (n = 36), frontotemporal dementia (n = 7), mixed Alzheimer‐type and frontotemporal type dementia (n = 27), and age‐related cognitive decline (n = 29). When choosing the cut‐off score of 23 points for the MMSE, sensitivity and specificity for each item were calculated.

Results:  A three‐factor solution was found to be most appropriate by factor analysis: complex processing, simple processing and working memory. The item characteristics curves showed unidimensionality with high reproducibility. We identified a simplified scale comprising 10 items in all participants: “naming”, “three‐step command”, “registration”, “repeat a sentence”, “write a complete sentence”, “copies drawing of two polygons”, “orientation to place”, “delayed recall”, “orientation to time” and “serial sevens” tasks. Sensitivity and specificity for both “year” task and “day” task were more than 90% (“year”: sensitivity 92.5%, specificity 96.3%; “day”: sensitivity 92.4%, specificity 91.7%). For the Alzheimer‐type dementia patients, the five‐factor solution was suggested by factor analysis and the MMSE also had unidimensionality in terms of level of difficulty.

Conclusions:  We found that the MMSE had multiple cognitive areas. We showed that the MMSE could be used as an essentially unidimensional measure of cognitive ability and the question about orientation to time might be useful in the simplest assessment to identify cognitive dysfunction. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 310–316.