bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epicardial Origin of Resident Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Adult Mammalian Heart
Authors: Asli Naisana , Xaymardan Munira , Harvey Richard
Published: April 2014

The discovery of stem and progenitor cells in the adult mammalian heart has added a vital dimension to the field of cardiac regeneration. Cardiac-resident stem cells are likely sequestered as reserve cells within myocardial niches during the course of embryonic cardiogenesis, although they may also be recruited from external sources, such as bone marrow. As we begin to understand the nature of cardiac-resident stem and progenitor cells using a variety of approaches, it is evident that they possess an identity embedded within their gene regulatory networks that favours cardiovascular lineage potential. In addition to contributing lineage descendants, cardiac stem cells may also be stress sensors, offering trophic cues to other cell types, including cardiomyocytes and vasculature cells, and likely other stem cells and immune cells, during adaptation and repair. This presents numerous possibilities for endogenous cardiac stem and progenitor cells to be used in cell therapies or as targets in heart rejuvenation. In this review, we focus on the epicardium as an endogenous source of multi-potential mesenchymal progenitor cells in development and as a latent source of such progenitors in the adult. We track the origin and plasticity of the epicardium in embryos and adults in both homeostasis and disease. In this context, we ask whether directed activation of epicardium-derived progenitor cells might have therapeutic application.
Limits of ZnO Electrodeposition in Mesoporous Tin Doped Indium Oxide Films in View of Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Dunkel Christian , Von Graberg Till , Smarsly Bernd , Oekermann Torsten , Wark Michael
Published: April 2014

Well-ordered 3D mesoporous indium tin oxide (ITO) films obtained by a templated sol-gel route are discussed as conductive porous current collectors. This paper explores the use of such films modified by electrochemical deposition of zinc oxide (ZnO) on the pore walls to improve the electron transport in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Mesoporous ITO film were dip-coated with pore sizes of 20–25 nm and 40–45 nm employing novel poly(isobutylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers as structure-directors. After electrochemical deposition of ZnO and sensitization with the indoline dye D149 the films were tested as photoanodes in DSSCs. Short ZnO deposition times led to strong back reaction of photogenerated electrons from non-covered ITO to the electrolyte. ITO films with larger pores enabled longer ZnO deposition times before pore blocking occurred, resulting in higher efficiencies, which could be further increased by using thicker ITO films consisting of five layers, but were still lower compared to nanoporous ZnO films electrodeposited on flat ITO. The major factors that currently limit the application are the still low thickness of the mesoporous ITO films, too small pore sizes and non-ideal geometries that do not allow obtaining full coverage of the ITO surface with ZnO before pore blocking occurs.
Distributional Fate of Elements during the Synthesis of Zeolites from South African Coal Fly Ash
Authors: Du Plessis Pieter , Ojumu Tunde , Fatoba Ojo , Akinyeye Richard , Petrik Leslie
Published: April 2014

The synthesis of zeolites from South African coal fly ash has been deemed a viable solution to the growing economical strain caused by the disposal of ash in the country. Two synthesis routes have been studied thus far namely the 2-step method and the fusion assisted process. Fly ash contains several elements originating from coal which is incorporated in the ash during combustion. It is vital to determine the final destination of these elements in order to unveil optimization opportunities for scale-up purposes. The aim of this study was to perform a material balance study on both synthesis routes to determine the distributional fate of these elements during the synthesis of zeolites. Zeolites were first synthesized by means of the two synthesis routes. The composition of all raw materials and products were determined after which an overall and elemental balance were performed. Results indicated that in the 2-step method almost all elements were concentrated in the solid zeolite product while during the fusion assisted route the elements mostly report to the solid waste. Toxic elements such as Pb, Hg, Al, As and Nb were found in both the supernatant waste and washing water resulting from each synthesis route. It has also been seen that large quantities of Si and Al are wasted in the supernatant waste. It is highly recommended that the opportunity to recycle this liquid waste be investigated for scale-up purposes. Results also indicate that efficiency whereby Si and Al are extracted from fused ash is exceptionally poor and should be optimized.
The Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction of Diarylheptanoids — Quantum Chemical Calculation of Structural Features Favoring the Formation of Phenylphenalenones
Authors: Monakhova Yulia , Schneider Bernd
Published: April 2014

Diarylheptanoids have been reported as biosynthetic precursors of phenylphenalenones in plants. Quantum chemical calculations of molecular geometry and orbitals were used to elaborate which structural features are required to determine if diarylheptanoids can undergo an intramolecular Diel-Alder reaction to form phenylphenalenones. The computational data showed that an ortho-quinone- or a hydoxyketone-bearing ring A, containing the dienophile moiety, and a heptadiene chain with conjugated cisoid double bonds at C-4/C-6 and a saturated segment consisting of two sp3-carbon atoms, are required. Only four diarylheptanoids out of eighteen studied compounds proved to be suitable candidates. Among them are two 3,5-dideoxy compounds and two other compounds oxygenated only at C-3, suggesting that lachnanthocarpone, a representative of the 6-oxygenated phenylphenalenones, and anigorufone, a representative of the 6-deoxy phenylphenalenones, are not connected via a precursor-product relationship (“late reduction at C-6”) but formed through partially separate pathways.
Integrated Computational Tools for Identification of CCR5 Antagonists as Potential HIV-1 Entry Inhibitors: Homology Modeling, Virtual Screening, Molecular Dynamics Simulations and 3D QSAR Analysis
Authors: Moonsamy Suri , Dash Radha , Soliman Mahmoud
Published: April 2014

Using integrated in-silico computational techniques, including homology modeling, structure-based and pharmacophore-based virtual screening, molecular dynamic simulations, per-residue energy decomposition analysis and atom-based 3D-QSAR analysis, we proposed ten novel compounds as potential CCR5-dependent HIV-1 entry inhibitors. Via validated docking calculations, binding free energies revealed that novel leads demonstrated better binding affinities with CCR5 compared to maraviroc, an FDA-approved HIV-1 entry inhibitor and in clinical use. Per-residue interaction energy decomposition analysis on the averaged MD structure showed that hydrophobic active residues Trp86, Tyr89 and Tyr108 contributed the most to inhibitor binding. The validated 3D-QSAR model showed a high cross-validated rcv2 value of 0.84 using three principal components and non-cross-validated r2 value of 0.941. It was also revealed that almost all compounds in the test set and training set yielded a good predicted value. Information gained from this study could shed light on the activity of a new series of lead compounds as potential HIV entry inhibitors and serve as a powerful tool in the drug design and development machinery.
Immunostimulatory Effects of Polysaccharides Isolated from Makgeolli (Traditional Korean Rice Wine)
Authors: Cho Chang-Won , Han Chun-ji , Rhee Young , Lee Young-Chul , Shin Kwang-Soon , Hong Hee-Do
Published: April 2014

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine, reported to have various biological functions. In this study, the immunostimulatory activity of a polysaccharide from makgeolli (PSM) was investigated. The polysaccharide fraction was isolated from makgeolli by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, dialysis, and lyophilization. The major constituents in PSM were neutral sugars (87.3%). PSM was composed of five different sugars, glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose. In normal mice, PSM treatment increased the spleen index (p < 0.05) as well as splenocyte proliferation (p < 0.05) in combination with concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. The immunostimulatory activities of PSM were also examined in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Mice treated with PSM exhibited increased splenocyte proliferation (p < 0.05), natural killer cell activity, and white blood cell counts (p < 0.01) compared with immunosuppressed mice. These results indicate that PSM can enhance immune function in normal mice and CY-induced immunosuppressed mice.
Mouse Models of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Comprising Host-Virus Immunologic Interactions
Authors: Inuzuka Tadashi , Takahashi Ken , Chiba Tsutomu , Marusawa Hiroyuki
Published: April 2014

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases associated with various human liver diseases, including acute, fulminant and chronic hepatitis; liver cirrhosis; and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the availability of an HBV vaccine and the development of antiviral therapies, there are still more than 350 million chronically infected people worldwide, approximately 5% of the world population. To understand the virus biology and pathogenesis in HBV-infected patients, several animal models have been developed to mimic hepatic HBV infection and the immune response against HBV, but the narrow host range of HBV infection and lack of a full immune response spectrum in animal models remain significant limitations. Accumulating evidence obtained from studies using a variety of mouse models that recapitulate hepatic HBV infection provides several clues for understanding host-virus immunologic interactions during HBV infection, whereas the determinants of the immune response required for HBV clearance are poorly defined. Therefore, adequate mouse models are urgently needed to elucidate the mechanism of HBV elimination and identify novel targets for antiviral therapies.
Using Massive Vehicle Positioning Data to Improve Control and Planning of Public Road Transport
Authors: Padrón Gabino , García Carmelo , Quesada-Arencibia A. , Alayón Francisco , Pérez Ricardo
Published: April 2014

This study describes a system for the automatic recording of positioning data for public transport vehicles used on roads. With the data provided by this system, transportation-regulatory authorities can control, verify and improve the routes that vehicles use, while also providing new data to improve the representation of the transportation network and providing new services in the context of intelligent metropolitan areas. The system is executed autonomously in the vehicles, by recording their massive positioning data and transferring them to remote data banks for subsequent processing. To illustrate the utility of the system, we present a case of application that consists of identifying the points at which vehicles stop systematically, which may be points of scheduled stops or points at which traffic signals or road topology force the vehicle to stop. This identification is performed using pattern recognition techniques. The system has been applied under real operating conditions, providing the results discussed in the present study.
Development of a Sweetness Sensor for Aspartame, a Positively Charged High-Potency Sweetener
Authors: Yasuura Masato , Tahara Yusuke , Ikezaki Hidekazu , Toko Kiyoshi
Published: April 2014

Taste evaluation technology has been developed by several methods, such as sensory tests, electronic tongues and a taste sensor based on lipid/polymer membranes. In particular, the taste sensor can individually quantify five basic tastes without multivariate analysis. However, it has proven difficult to develop a sweetness sensor, because sweeteners are classified into three types according to the electric charges in an aqueous solution; that is, no charge, negative charge and positive charge. Using membrane potential measurements, the taste-sensing system needs three types of sensor membrane for each electric charge type of sweetener. Since the commercially available sweetness sensor was only intended for uncharged sweeteners, a sweetness sensor for positively charged high-potency sweeteners such as aspartame was developed in this study. Using a lipid and plasticizers, we fabricated various lipid/polymer membranes for the sweetness sensor to identify the suitable components of the sensor membranes. As a result, one of the developed sensors showed responses of more than 20 mV to 10 mM aspartame and less than 5 mV to any other taste. The responses of the sensor depended on the concentration of aspartame. These results suggested that the developed sweetness sensor had high sensitivity to and high selectivity for aspartame.
Calibration-Free Pulse Oximetry Based on Two Wavelengths in the Infrared — A Preliminary Study
Authors: Nitzan Meir , Noach Salman , Tobal Elias , Adar Yair , Miller Yaacov , Shalom Eran , Engelberg Shlomo
Published: April 2014

The assessment of oxygen saturation in arterial blood by pulse oximetry (SpO2) is based on the different light absorption spectra for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin and the analysis of photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals acquired at two wavelengths. Commercial pulse oximeters use two wavelengths in the red and infrared regions which have different pathlengths and the relationship between the PPG-derived parameters and oxygen saturation in arterial blood is determined by means of an empirical calibration. This calibration results in an inherent error, and pulse oximetry thus has an error of about 4%, which is too high for some clinical problems. We present calibration-free pulse oximetry for measurement of SpO2, based on PPG pulses of two nearby wavelengths in the infrared. By neglecting the difference between the path-lengths of the two nearby wavelengths, SpO2 can be derived from the PPG parameters with no need for calibration. In the current study we used three laser diodes of wavelengths 780, 785 and 808 nm, with narrow spectral line-width. SaO2 was calculated by using each pair of PPG signals selected from the three wavelengths. In measurements on healthy subjects, SpO2 values, obtained by the 780–808 nm wavelength pair were found to be in the normal range. The measurement of SpO2 by two nearby wavelengths in the infrared with narrow line-width enables the assessment of SpO2 without calibration.
Development of Web-Based RECESS Model for Estimating Baseflow Using SWAT
Authors: Lee Gwanjae , Shin Yongchul , Jung Younghun
Published: April 2014

Groundwater has received increasing attention as an important strategic water resource for adaptation to climate change. In this regard, the separation of baseflow from streamflow and the analysis of recession curves make a significant contribution to integrated river basin management. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) RECESS model adopting the master-recession curve (MRC) method can enhance the accuracy with which baseflow may be separated from streamflow, compared to other baseflow-separation schemes that are more limited in their ability to reflect various watershed/aquifer characteristics. The RECESS model has been widely used for the analysis of hydrographs, but the applications using RECESS were only available through Microsoft-Disk Operating System (MS-DOS). Thus, this study aims to develop a web-based RECESS model for easy separation of baseflow from streamflow, with easy applications for ungauged regions. RECESS on the web derived the alpha factor, which is a baseflow recession constant in the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and this variable was provided to SWAT as the input. The results showed that the alpha factor estimated from the web-based RECESS model improved the predictions of streamflow and recession. Furthermore, these findings showed that the baseflow characteristics of the ungauged watersheds were influenced by the land use and slope angle of watersheds, as well as by precipitation and streamflow.
Supramolecular Chirality in Porphyrin Chemistry
Authors: Borovkov Victor
Published: April 2014

Supramolecular chirality, being an intelligent combination of supramolecular chemistry and chiral science, plays a decisive role in the functioning of various natural assemblies and has attracted much attention from the scientific community, due to different applications in modern technologies, medicine, pharmacology, catalysis and biomimetic research. Porphyrin molecules are of particular interest to study this phenomenon owing to their unique spectral, physico-chemical and synthetic properties. This review highlights the most important types of chiral porphyrin structures by using the best-suited representative examples, which are frequently used in the area of supramolecular chirality.
Dynamical Relation between Quantum Squeezing and Entanglement in Coupled Harmonic Oscillator System
Authors: Chew Lock , Chung Ning
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we investigate into the numerical and analytical relationship between the dynamically generated quadrature squeezing and entanglement within a coupled harmonic oscillator system. The dynamical relation between these two quantum features is observed to vary monotically, such that an enhancement in entanglement is attained at a fixed squeezing for a larger coupling constant. Surprisingly, the maximum attainable values of these two quantum entities are found to consistently equal to the squeezing and entanglement of the system ground state. In addition, we demonstrate that the inclusion of a small anharmonic perturbation has the effect of modifying the squeezing versus entanglement relation into a nonunique form and also extending the maximum squeezing to a value beyond the system ground state.
Sur les trois caféiers endémiques de l'archipel des Mascareignes
Authors: Leroy Jean-François
Published: April 2014

II existe au moins trois espèces spontanées de Caféiers aux Mascareignes, dont deux endémiques à Maurice : C. macrocarpa, C. Bojeriana. La troisième, C. mauritiana, qui croît à Maurice et à la Réunion, serait endémique de cette dernière île et seulement subspontanée à Maurice (Pierre). En tout cas, c'est sur la base d'une détermination erronée, je l'ai montré, que l'aire du C. macrocarpa se trouvait étendue à la Réunion. Par ailleurs, en l'absence du type en fruit du C. macrocarpa, actuellement égaré, j'ai eu la chance de découvrir, déterminés comme Chasalia, et classés comme tels, une série de cinq spécimens en fruits récoltés par Commerson et du Petit Thouars ; cette trouvaille m'a permis d'établir les diagnoses différentielles des deux espèces propres à Maurice confondues jusqu'à présent en une seule. De plus, elle montre que le véritable découvreur du C. macrocarpa est P. Commerson et non pas Chapelier.

Les trois espèces ici en cause, quoique sûrement bien distinctes, n'en sont pas moins étroitement apparentées. Elles forment un bel ensemble naturel qu'il sera d'un extrême intérêt biologique d'étudier. Dès maintenant, et malgré le caractère d'ébauche des recherches, on peut considérer comme insatisfaisante la classification du mauritiana et du macrocarpa en deux séries distinctes proposée par Chevalier ; on ne saurait légitimement dissocier les trois espèces des Mascareignes les unes des autres : elles appartiennent à un même phylum (dont font aussi partie, semble-t-il, le C. Humblotiana de l'Archipel des Comores, et le C. nossikoumbaensis de l'île Nossi Koumba).
A Prior Diagnosis of Breast Cancer is a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer in Brca1 and Brca2 Carriers
Authors: Narod S.A. , Tung N. , Lubinski J. , Huzarski T. , Robson M. , Lynch H.T. , Neuhausen S.L. , Ghadirian P. , Kim–Sing C. , Sun P. , Foulkes W.D.
Published: April 2014

Background: The risk of breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is influenced by factors other than the genetic mutation itself. Modifying factors include a woman’s reproductive history and family history of cancer. Risk factors are more likely to be present in women with breast cancer than in women without breast cancer, and therefore the risk of cancer in the two breasts should not be independent. It is not clear to what extent modifying factors influence the risk of a first primary or a contralateral breast cancer in BRCA carriers. Methods: We conducted a matched case–control study of breast cancer among 3920 BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. We asked whether a past history of breast cancer in the contralateral breast was a risk factor for breast cancer. Results: After adjustment for age, country of residence, and cancer treatment, a previous cancer of the right breast was found to be a significant risk factor for cancer of the left breast among BRCA1 or BRCA2 carriers (relative risk: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.4 to 3.0; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In a woman with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who is diagnosed with breast cancer, the risk of cancer in the contralateral breast depends on the first diagnosis. That observation supports the hypothesis that there are important genetic or non-genetic modifiers of cancer risk in BRCA carriers. Discovering risk modifiers might lead to greater personalization of risk assessment and management recommendations for BRCA-positive patients.
Potential Drug Interactions in Patients with a History of Cancer
Authors: Chen L. , Cheung W.Y.
Published: April 2014

Background: Cancer survivors (css) are frequently exposed to polypharmacy, which might increase their risk of drug interactions. Our study aimed to determine the relative prevalence of potential drug interactions (pdis) among css compared with non-cancer respondents (ncrs). Methods: Self-reported prescription data from 4975 patients were extracted from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and screened for pdis using iFacts: Drug Interaction Facts (Facts and Comparisons, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.). The clinical significance of each pdi was graded on a 5-point scale based on the severity of the interaction and the level of evidence documenting the interaction. Summary statistics and logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of cancer history on the risk of pdis. Results: Of patients eligible for the analyses, the css (n = 302) indicated using 4.4 ± 0.22 prescriptions on average, and the ncrs (n = 908), 3.8 ± 0.09. Nearly half of both cohorts (40% of css, 43% of ncrs) had at least 1 pdi. In both cohorts, 12% were at risk for fatal or permanently debilitating effects. In multivariate analyses, css were significantly less likely than ncrs to be at risk for any pdis (odds ratio: 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.46 to 0.92; p = 0.02). Advanced age and low household income were associated with pdis among css. Medications most commonly prescribed to css with a pdi included metoprolol (15.6%), levothyroxine (13.6%), and furosemide (11.9%). Conclusions: Although css appear to be less susceptible than ncrs to pdis, the prevalence of pdis among css remains suboptimal. Specific subgroups of css may be particularly prone to pdis, underscoring the importance of increased vigilance.
Publication Rates of Abstracts Presented at the 2007 and 2010 Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology Meetings
Authors: Meissner A. , Delouya G. , Marcovitch D. , Donath D. , Taussky D.
Published: April 2014

Backgroud: We set out to determine the rate, time-trend, and defining factors associated with publication of abstracts presented at two annual scientific meetings of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (caro). Methods: All abstracts accepted for oral presentation in 2007 and 2010 were obtained from the caro program archives and searched using the PubMed database. Variables in the dataset included the year of presentation at caro and of publication in a scientific journal, time to publication (in months), publishing journal, impact factor of publishing journal, abstract research type (clinical, technical, or basic science) and disease site, country of origin, and university of the first author. Results: Overall, 88 of 172 abstracts from the 2007 (n = 102) and 2010 (n = 70) caro meetings were published in peer-reviewed journals (publication rate: 51.2%). Mean time to publication was 18.5 months. Among research types, clinical research (62.5%) and, among disease sites, prostate cancer (40.4%) were most likely to be published. Of all the abstracts, 50.1% were contributed by only 2 universities, a proportion that resembles the overall abstract publication rate of 51.2%. The conversion rate for those 2 universities (51.1%) is very similar to that for all abstracts presented at the two meetings. Conclusions: Half the abstracts presented at the 2007 and 2010 caro meetings were ultimately published in journals indexed in PubMed by about 1.5 years after presentation. Half the abstracts and publications came from just 2 universities; more must to be done to close the gap.
Screening for Distress in Patients with Cancer: Methodologic Considerations
Authors: Feldstain A. , Tomei C. , Bélanger M. , Lebel S.
Published: April 2014

Distress has been declared the 6th vital sign in Canadian cancer care. Accordingly, health care professionals in Canada are expected to screen for distress in patients with cancer, for which a toolkit has been developed. Identifying patients who may be in need of further resources has the potential to improve quality of care because those patients are more likely to have their existing distress identified and to be referred for appropriate follow-up services. The present article briefly reviews the background literature and the validation of the measures in the toolkit, and highlights future directions for methodologic validation of the toolkit for use according to the protocol.
Challenges and Outcomes of a Randomized Study of Early Nutrition Support during Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation
Authors: Kiss N. , Seymour J.F. , Prince H.M. , Dutu G.
Published: April 2014

Patients undergoing myeloablative conditioning regimens and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) are at high risk of malnutrition. This randomized study aimed to determine if early nutrition support (commenced when oral intake is less than 80% of estimated requirements) compared with usual care (commenced when oral intake is less than 50% of estimated requirements) reduces weight loss in wellnourished patients undergoing high-nutritional-risk conditioning chemotherapy and ASCT. In the 50 well-nourished patients who were randomized, the outcomes evaluated included changes in weight and lean body mass (mid-upper arm circumference), length of stay, time to hemopoietic engraftment, and quality of life (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale – Short Form). On secondary analysis, after exclusion of a single extreme outlier, both groups demonstrated significant weight loss over time (p = 0.0005). Weight loss was less in the early nutrition support group at time of discharge (mean: –0.4% ± 2.9% vs. –3.4% ± 2.6% in the usual care group, p = 0.001). This difference in weight was no longer observed at 6 months after discharge (mean: –1.0% ± 6.8% vs. 1.4% ± 6.1%, p = 0.29). In practice, an early start to nutrition support proved difficult because of patient resistance and physician preference, with 8 patients (33%) in the control group and 4 (15%) in the intervention group not commencing nutrition support when stipulated by the study protocol. No significant differences between the groups were found for other outcomes. In wellnourished patients receiving ASCT, early nutrition support maintained weight during admission, but did not affect other outcomes. Interpretation of results should take into consideration the difficulties encountered with intervention implementation.
Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Use of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Adults with Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive or Bcr-Abl–Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Canadian Consensus
Authors: Couban S. , Savoie L. , Mourad Y. Abou , Leber B. , Minden M. , Turner R. , Palada V. , Shehata N. , Christofides A. , Lachance S.
Published: April 2014

Adult Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) or BCR-ABL–positive (BCR-ABL+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an acute leukemia previously associated with a high relapse rate, short disease-free survival, and poor overall survival. In adults, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant in first remission remains the only proven curative strategy for transplant-eligible patients. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIS) in the treatment of patients with Ph+ or BCR-ABL+ ALL has significantly improved the depth and duration of complete remission, allowing more patients to proceed to transplantation. Although tkis are now considered a standard of care in this setting, few randomized trials have examined the optimal use of TKIS in patients with Ph+ ALL. Questions of major importance remain, including the best way to administer these medications, the choice of tki to administer, and the schedule and the duration to use. We present the results of a systematic review of the literature with consensus recommendations based on the available evidence.
Lack of Toxicity in a Patient with Germline Tp53 Mutation Treated with Radiotherapy
Authors: Wong P. , Han K.
Published: April 2014

Li–Fraumeni syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by germline TP53 mutation and increased susceptibility to cancer. Despite certain in vitro findings and a theoretical rationale for patients with TP53 mutation to be more radiosensitive and more prone to developing radiotherapy (RT)–induced secondary malignancies, corresponding clinical data remain elusive. Here, we report the case of a woman with TP53 mutation who was treated with adjuvant pelvic RT for stage ib uterine leiomyosarcoma in 2000, with radioactive iodine for papillary thyroid cancer in 2001, and with palliative RT to the humerus in 2010 for metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma. She has not developed any acute or late RT-related toxicity, nor any secondary malignancies, since her first RT treatment. The literature review describes the potential risks and benefits of using irradiation in patients with TP53 mutation.
Patient Perceptions of a Comprehensive Cancer Navigation Service
Authors: Hryniuk W. , Simpson R. , McGowan A. , Carter P.
Published: April 2014

(1) Objective: Our aim was to determine the extent to which comprehensive navigation augments the provincial health system for meeting the needs of newly-diagnosed cancer patients (clients). We also assessed reactions of attending physicians to comprehensive navigation. (2) Methods: Clients who completed navigation as an employee benefit or through membership in an insurance organization were polled to determine whether they needed help beyond that provided by the provincial health system and the extent to which that help was provided by navigation. Exit interviews were analyzed for perceptions of the clients about reactions by their attending physicians to navigation. (3) Results: Of eligible clients, 72% responded. They reported needing help beyond that which the provincial system could provide in 64%–98% of specified areas. Navigation provided help in more than 90% of those cases. Almost all respondents (98%) appreciated having a designated oncology nurse navigator. Family doctors were perceived to be positive or neutral about navigation in 100% of exit interviews. Oncologists were positive or neutral in 92% (p < 0.001 for difference from family doctors). (4) Conclusions: In many areas, cancer patients need additional help beyond that which the provincial health system can provide. Comprehensive cancer navigation provides that help to a considerable extent. Clients perceived the reactions of attending physicians to comprehensive navigation to be generally supportive or neutral.
Geographic Disparities in Surgery for Breast and Rectal Cancer in Canada
Authors: Forte T. , Porter G. , Rahal R. , DeCaria K. , Niu J. , Bryant H.
Published: April 2014

Equitable access to appropriate cancer treatment is fundamental for achieving universal, high-quality cancer care [...]
Proffered Papers and Posters Submitted to the Fifth International Symposium on Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, BRCA: Twenty Years of Advances
Authors: Rosenthal Eric , Moyes Kelsey , Arnell Christopher , Wenstrup Richard J.
Published: April 2014

Objectives: It is estimated that 1–2% of individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) ancestry carry one of three pathogenic founder mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Targeted testing for these mutations (BRCA1 187delAG and 5385insC, and BRCA2 6174delT) is therefore recommended for all AJ breast and ovarian cancer patients, regardless of age of diagnosis or family history. Comprehensive analysis of both genes is recommended for a subset of AJ patients in whom founder mutations are not identified, but estimates of the yield from comprehensive analysis in this population vary widely. Methods: We sought to establish the proportion of non-founder mutations in AJ patients undergoing clinical testing in our laboratory from January 2006 through August 2013. Analysis included AJ patients for whom: (1) comprehensive testing was ordered as the initial test, or (2) founder mutation testing was ordered with instructions to “reflex” to comprehensive analysis if negative. The latter group was limited to cases where the reflex testing was ordered on the original test request form, and not cancelled for any reason other than the detection of a founder mutation. Results: The percentage of non-founder mutations detected in these groups was 13% (104/802) and 7.2% (198/2769) respectively. We detected 189 unique non-founder mutations, 76 in BRCA1 and 113 in BRCA2. BRCA2 4075delGT was detected in 15 patients. The next most common mutations, found in 7 patients each, were BRCA1 5055delG, BRCA2 1982delA, and BRCA2 R3128X. Conclusions: Non-founder mutations make up between 13% and 7.2% of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in patients reporting AJ ancestry. These numbers may represent underestimates if some patients were ascertained for testing based on the identification of a founder mutation in a relative. These numbers suggest that the prevalence of non-founder mutations in AJ individuals may be comparable to the prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations in non-AJ individuals.
Calibration of quartz tuning fork spring constants for non-contact atomic force microscopy: direct mechanical measurements and simulations
Authors: Falter Jens , Stiefermann Marvin , Langewisch Gernot , Schurig Philipp , Hölscher Hendrik , Fuchs Harald , Schirmeisen André
Published: April 2014

Quartz tuning forks are being increasingly employed as sensors in non-contact atomic force microscopy especially in the “qPlus” design. In this study a new and easily applicable setup has been used to determine the static spring constant at several positions along the prong of the tuning fork. The results show a significant deviation from values calculated with the beam formula. In order to understand this discrepancy the complete sensor set-up has been digitally rebuilt and analyzed by using finite element method simulations. These simulations provide a detailed view of the strain/stress distribution inside the tuning fork. The simulations show quantitative agreement with the beam formula if the beam origin is shifted to the position of zero stress onset inside the tuning fork base and torsional effects are also included. We further found significant discrepancies between experimental calibration values and predictions from the shifted beam formula, which are related to a large variance in tip misalignment during the tuning fork assembling process.
The influence of intraannular templates on the liquid crystallinity of shape-persistent macrocycles
Authors: Vollmeyer Joscha , Baumeister Ute , Höger Sigurd
Published: April 2014

A series of shape-persistent phenylene–ethynylene–naphthylene–butadiynylene macrocycles with different extraannular alkyl groups and intraannular bridges is synthesized by oxidative Glaser-coupling of the appropriate precursors. The intraannular bridges serve in this case as templates that reduce the oligomerization even when the reaction is not performed under pseudo high-dilution conditions. The extraannular as well as the intraannular substituents have a strong influence on the thermal behavior of the compounds. With branched alkyl chains at the periphery, the macrocycles exhibit liquid crystalline (lc) phases when the interior is empty or when the length of the alkyl bridge is just right to cross the ring. With a longer alkyl or an oligoethylene oxide bridge no lc phase is observed, most probably because the mesogene is no longer planar.
Notes on the biology, distribution, biosecurity status and history in New Zealand of Macrotrachelia nigronitens (Stål, 1860) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)
Authors: Thorpe Stephen
Published: April 2014

Macrotrachelia nigronitens (Stål, 1860) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is permanently present in the wild in Auckland (AK), New Zealand. It should therefore be added to the New Zealand Organisms Register (NZOR). It is a specialised predator of thrips inside leaf-roll galls. It has been present in New Zealand since at least the 1980s. Aspects of its biology, distribution, biosecurity status and history in New Zealand are discussed. The first detailed specimen records from New Zealand are provided, and a biological association is noted for the first time with Teuchothrips disjunctus on Callistemon, probably its main association in New Zealand, where only two species of thrips cause leaf-roll galls. It has not been found associated with other thrips in New Zealand. M. nigronitens is not known to be present in Australia, but the poorly known Anthocoris austropiceus Gross, 1954 has been reported, in an easily overlooked publication, to be associated with Teuchothrips disjunctus on Callistemon in Canberra. This led to an early tentative identification, by the author, of New Zealand material of M. nigronitens as A. austropiceus, in collections. This likely misidentification can now be discounted, but further research in Australia is required to determine the true identity of both A. austropiceus, and whatever species of anthocorid was found in Canberra.
Short-Hops vs. Long-Hops
Authors: Kheireddine Mekkaoui , Abdellatif Rahmoun
Published: April 2014

Sensor networks are composed of miniaturized wireless sensor nodes with limited capacity and energy source. Generally, these sensor networks are used, in many applications, to monitor inaccessible environments (battlefields, volcano monitoring, animal tracking…), hence the impossibility to replace or to recharge the batteries. As sensors may be deployed in a large area, radio transceivers are the most energy consuming of sensor nodes, which means that their usage needs to be very efficient in order to maximize node life, which leads us to maximize the network's life. In wireless sensor networks and in order to transmit its data, a node can route its messages towards destination, generally the base station, either by using small or large hops, so optimizing the hop length can extend significantly the lifetime of the network. This chapter provides a simple way to verify, which makes the energy consumption minimal by choosing proper hop length.
HTTPV
Authors: Acharya Subrata
Published: April 2014

There is a need to be able to verify plaintext HTTP content transfers. Common sense dictates authentication and sensitive content should always be protected by SSL/HTTPS, but there is still great exploitation potential in the modification of static content in transit. Pre-computed signatures and client-side verification offers integrity protection of HTTP content in applications where SSL is not feasible. In this chapter, the authors demonstrate a mechanism by which a Web browser or other HTTP client can verify that content transmitted over an untrusted channel has not been modified. Verifiable HTTP is not intended to replace SSL. Rather, it is intended to be used in applications where SSL is not feasible, specifically, when serving high-volume static content and/or content from non-secure sources such as Content Distribution Networks. Finally, the authors find content verification is effective with server-side overhead similar to SSL. With future optimization such as native browser support, content verification could achieve comparable client-side efficiency.
Distinguishing Human Users from Bots
Authors: Shirali-Shahreza M. Hassan , Shirali-Shahreza Sajad
Published: April 2014

Human Interactive Proof (HIP) systems have been introduced to distinguish between various groups of users. CAPTCHA methods are one of the important branches of HIP systems, which are used to distinguish between human users and computer programs automatically and block automated computer programs form abusing Web services. The goal of these systems is to ask questions, which human users can easily answer but current computer programs cannot. In this chapter, the authors collect different pioneering works, which are done on CAPTCHA systems and create a complete survey of them. They collect more than 100 published works and classify them into 3 categories. This chapter contains different works, which are done for creating CAPTCHA methods and assessing CAPTCHA methods from different aspects, including the attacks done against CAPTCHA methods. This chapter can be used by researchers in CAPTCHA domains to quickly find previous works.
Network Security
Authors: Meghanathan Natarajan
Published: April 2014

The focus of this chapter is two-fold: It first presents the classical network attacks (such as Session Hijacking, Man-in-the-Middle attack, DNS attacks, Distributed Denial of Service attacks, and other miscellaneous attacks), which have exploited the various vulnerabilities of computer networks in the past, and reviews the solutions that have been implemented since then to mitigate or reduce the chances of these attacks. The authors then present the different network security controls, including the protocols and standards (such as IPSec, Kerberos, Secure Shell, Transport Layer Security, Virtual Private Networks, Firewalls, and S/MIME) that have been adopted in modern day computer networks to control the incidence of attacks in modern day computer networks.
Formal Reliability Analysis of Engineering Systems
Authors: Abbasi Naeem , Hasan Osman , Tahar Sofiène
Published: April 2014

Reliability analysis of engineering systems has traditionally been done using computationally expensive computer simulations that cannot attain 100% accuracy due to their inherent limitations. The authors conduct a formal reliability analysis using higher-order-logic theorem proving, which is known to be sound, accurate, and exhaustive. For this purpose, they present the higher-order-logic formalization of independent multiple continuous random variables, their verified probabilistic properties, and generalized relations for commonly encountered reliability structures in engineering systems. To illustrate the usefulness of the approach, the authors present the formal reliability analysis of a single stage transmission of an automobile.
Innovation, Learning, Communities, and Actor-Networks of Practice
Authors: Fox Stephen , Vickers David
Published: April 2014

This chapter addresses the question: Is there a virtuous circle between situated learning within communities of practice and the corporate pursuit of innovation in large companies? The authors trace a succession of ways in which it has been formulated, reframed, and addressed across a range and sequence of qualitative studies. Overall, they argue for more ethnographic studies of organizational learning and innovation and recommend further use of actor-network theory, which has potential to add considerably to communities of practice theory. The authors illustrate this argument in the chapter through a discussion of Carlile's (2002) important paper and cite a number of other studies that use actor-network theory in combination with communities of practice theory.
Establishing Learning Places and Knowledge Flows to Stimulate Innovation
Authors: Beckett Ronald C.
Published: April 2014

Knowledge is seen as a source of competitive advantage, but how can it be mobilized to realize this advantage? Organization norms and routines both reflect what an organization “knows” and may stimulate or inhibit knowledge flows. Tools may help store and share explicit knowledge, but it is only through personal interaction that the wealth of continuously expanding tacit knowledge potentially available to an enterprise can be accessed. This chapter suggests that physical and virtual places for interaction combined with HRM practices can facilitate building and sharing stocks of knowledge to support the business of the enterprise. A case study example of interconnected learning spaces and strategically deployed people specifically established to support innovation is presented.
Innovative Approaches to Improving the Transfer and Sustainability of Learning
Authors: Leimbach Michael P.
Published: April 2014

The importance of learning transfer in ensuring that learning contributes to an organization's competitive advantage has been undermined in organizational practice. There are two major reasons for this: 1) few studies directly explore the relationship between transfer and performance improvement, and 2) most existing transfer models are too complex for practitioners to implement. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the link between learning transfer activities and performance outcomes, and to create a framework for implementing an effective learning transfer solution. A targeted literature review meta-analysis was used to explore the performance impact of training vs. training plus transfer activities. The authors compute “difference scores” representing the percentage of improvement from the transfer activities over training alone. Activities are categorized into a framework of eleven critical learning transfer actions. They then implement the elements of the Learning Transfer Framework in three demonstration projects. By incorporating findings from the literature review, meta-analysis, and the demonstration projects, the authors propose a new transfer framework that is effective and easy to implement. Implications and directions for future researchers are advanced.
Could Knowledge Gaps Drive Quality Improvement?
Authors: Mehrez Ahmed , Soliman Fawzy
Published: April 2014

Quality problems could constitute a major obstacle to improvement of products and/or services. The model for assessing the quality of quality management programs presented in this chapter focuses on the role of Strategic Gaps and Knowledge Gaps in driving the quality management programs. The chapter also identifies Strategic Gaps and Knowledge Gaps that could exist in some organisational quality management processes. Those gaps are shown to adversely affect expected outcomes from the implemented quality management programs. Furthermore, the chapter explores the relationship between the perception of the developers or implementers of quality management programs and other related organizational attributes in some software industries.