bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of forage type, body condition and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the bovine cytochrome P450 regulatory region on cow productivity*
Authors: Sales M. A. , Murphy K. Y. , Reiter S. T. , Brown A. H. , Brown M. A. , Looper M. L. , Rosenkrans C. F
Published: November 2011

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the coding sequence of cytochrome p450 (CYP3A28) have been associated with milk yield and composition, and calving traits in cows. In this study, we aimed to determine whether (i) the CYP3A28 regulatory region was polymorphic and (ii) SNP genotype, forage type, body condition and their interactions affect cow productivity. Primers for CYP3A28 promoter were designed to amplify a 483‐bp segment by PCR. Amplicon sequences revealed seven SNP (T‐318C, T‐113A, C‐189T, T‐78G, A6G, G17A and T21C) in Brahman (38 cows), Brahman x Angus reciprocal crosses (47 cows) and crossbreds (98 cows). Angus cows (n = 41) appeared to be fixed at those SNP locations. Genotype and forage {endophyte‐infected tall fescue [KY+; Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S. J. Darbyshire] vs. bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]} effects on lifetime (8‐years) calving rate, and calf weaning weights and heights were determined in Herd 1 (126 cows); genotype and BC (low vs. moderate) effects on calving date and calving percent were determined in Herd 2 (98 cows). Four SNP (T‐318C, T‐113A, A06G and T21C) appeared to be related to cattle productivity, CC cows at T‐318C having a lower (p < 0.05) lifetime calving rate than TC or TT cows (65%, 85% and 81% respectively). Cows that grazed KY+ and were TT at T‐318C produced calves that tended (p < 0.07) to weigh less than their contemporaries. Moreover, calves of TT cows were shorter (p < 0.05) at weaning than calves of CC or TC cows. In Herd 2, moderate‐BC cows that were TT or AA at T‐318C, T‐113A, T‐78G, A6G and T21C had greater (p < 0.05) calving rates (74–80%) than heterozygous cows (46–60%), and low‐BC cows that were AA at G17A calved at least 6 days earlier (p < 0.05) than heterozygous cows. Our findings suggest that SNP in the CYP3A28 regulatory region of Brahman‐influenced cows are associated with cattle productivity.
Can sharing experiences in groups reduce the burden of living with diabetes, regardless of glycaemic control?
Authors: Due‐Christensen M. , Zoffmann V. , Hommel E. , Lau M.
Published: November 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 251–256 (2012)

Aims  To test whether patients with Type 1 diabetes would join support groups and benefit by improving psychosocial functioning, regardless of their HbA1c levels.

Methods  A pre‐post test with follow‐up after 6 and 12 months was conducted as a concurrent mixed‐method study. The convenience sample included patients with Type 1 diabetes aged ≥ 21 years, having been diagnosed ≥ 1 year earlier. Primary outcome was diabetes‐related distress (using the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale). Secondary outcomes were psychological distress and depressive symptoms (Symptom Check List ‐90‐R/Global Severity Index and depression subscale), well‐being (World Health Organization 5) and HbA1c.

Results  Equal numbers of patients with HbA1c above and below 64 mmol/mol (8%) joined the support groups (n = 54). Focus group interviews revealed that major benefits were feeling less alone and being intuitively understood among peers. The patients perceived the support groups as a safe environment for sharing experiences. Problem Areas in Diabetes, Global Severity Index and depression subscale scores were significantly reduced post‐intervention and maintained at 1‐year follow‐up. Well‐being increased insignificantly. HbA1c was unchanged.

Conclusions  Support groups are able to reduce diabetes‐related and psychological distress 1 year after the intervention for patients with both good and poor glycaemic control displaying high levels of distress. Although patients with severely high levels of diabetes‐related distress might need more extensive therapeutic interventions to further reduce their level of distress. Further, interventions that target specific self‐management problems are needed for patients with poor glycaemic control to help them accomplish lower levels of HbA1c. Moreover, healthcare providers must be aware that patients with good glycaemic control might have an unacknowledged psychosocial burden of living with the illness.
RISK PERCEPTION AND EQUITY RETURNS: EVIDENCE FROM THE SPX AND VIX
Authors: Gang Jianhua , Li Xiang
Published: November 2011

We use the semi‐nonparametric (SNP) model to study the relationship between the innovation of the Volatility Index (VIX) and the expected S&P 500 Index (SPX) returns. We estimate the one‐step‐ahead contemporaneous relation subject to leverage GARCH effect. Results agree with a body of newly established literature arguing non‐linearity, and asymmetries. In addition, the risk‐return behaviour depends on the signs as well as magnitudes of the perceived risk. We conclude that influence of fear or exuberance on the conditional market return is non‐monotonic and hump‐shaped. Very deep fear does not necessarily mean huge losses, instead, the loss may not be as bad as fears of normal levels. Results pass the robustness tests.
REASSESSING SEGMENTATION IN THE LABOUR MARKET: AN APPLICATION FOR ITALY 1995–2004
Authors: Battisti Michele
Published: November 2011

The aim of this paper is to test for the presence of dualism in a standard wage regression. The disparity in wages between primary and secondary workers, according to labour market segmentation theory, is not provided by worker characteristics, but rather by job characteristics. A standard way to assess this situation is by looking at the estimated coefficients in a standard regression for comparable workers across different labour market segments. In an attempt to avoid arbitrary modelling choices, we deploy mixture regression methods which allow for endogenous determination of the number of existing labour market segments. Using Italian data, our modelling strategy outlines stark differences in returns to human capital between homogeneous workers in different markets. Thus, future policies should consider these findings when implementing labour market measures.
Governing Health Risk by Buying Behaviour
Authors: Harman Sophie
Published: November 2011

This article considers the role of conditional cash transfers as a mechanism of governing health risk by buying behaviour change in sexual practice. Conditional cash transfers have come to be identified as a potential solution to the problem of HIV prevention, and as such look likely to be applied throughout countries with high prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The article considers the implications of two pilot studies in Tanzania and Malawi for governing the risk of HIV infection. It outlines the problem of behaviour change and individual rationality, the potential of conditional cash transfers as a relatively inexpensive programme with high outcomes, and some of the limitations and implications of these initiatives for individual bodies, rationality and global health governance. The article makes the argument that conditional cash transfers should be met with caution and that governing health risk by buying behaviour represents the intersection of bio-political control with neo-liberal forms of economic incentive through financial gain. The balancing of long-term health needs with short-term financial gain induces will to change behaviour, the problem being the sustainability of such change in the absence of financial gain and the long-term consequences of constructing behaviour.
α‐Synuclein oligomers oppose long‐term potentiation and impair memory through a calcineurin‐dependent mechanism: relevance to human synucleopathic diseases
Authors: Martin Zane S. , Neugebauer Volker , Dineley Kelly T. , Kayed Rakez , Zhang Wenru , Reese Lindsay C. , Taglialatela Giulio
Published: November 2011

J. Neurochem.(2012)120, 440–452.

Intracellular deposition of fibrillar aggregates of α‐synuclein (αSyn) characterizes neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies. However, recent evidence indicates that small αSyn oligomeric aggregates that precede fibril formation may be the most neurotoxic species and can be found extracellularly. This new evidence has changed the view of pathological αSyn aggregation from a self‐contained cellular phenomenon to an extracellular event and prompted investigation of the putative effects of extracellular αSyn oligomers. In this study, we report that extracellular application of αSyn oligomers detrimentally impacts neuronal welfare and memory function. We found that oligomeric αSyn increased intracellular Ca2+levels, induced calcineurin (CaN) activity, decreased cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) transcriptional activity and resulted in calcineurin‐dependent death of human neuroblastoma cells. Similarly, CaN induction and CREB inhibition were observed when αSyn oligomers were applied to organotypic brain slices, which opposed hippocampal long‐term potentiation. Furthermore, αSyn oligomers induced CaN, inhibited CREB and evoked memory impairments in mice that received acute intracerebroventricular injections. Notably, all these events were reversed by pharmacological inhibition of CaN. Moreover, we found decreased active CaN and reduced levels of phosphorylated CREB in autopsy brain tissue from patients affected by dementia with Lewy bodies, which is characterized by deposition of αSyn aggregates and progressive cognitive decline. These results indicate that exogenously applied αSyn oligomers impact neuronal function and produce memory deficits through mechanisms that involve CaN activation.
Neuronal differentiation alters the ratio of Sp transcription factors recruited to the CYP46A1 promoter
Authors: Milagre Inês , Nunes Maria João , Castro‐Caldas Margarida , Moutinho Miguel , Gama Maria João , Rodrigues Elsa
Published: November 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 220–229.

CYP46A1 is a neuron‐specific cytochrome P450 that plays a pivotal role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in the CNS. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying human CYP46A1 expression are still poorly understood, partly because of the lack of a cellular model that expresses high levels of CYP46A1. Our previous studies demonstrated that specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors control CYP46A1 expression, and are probably responsible for cell‐type specificity. Herein, we have differentiated Ntera2/cloneD1 cells into post‐mitotic neurons and identified for the first time a human cell model that expresses high levels of CYP46A1 mRNA. Our results show a decrease in Sp1 protein levels, concomitant with the increase in CYP46A1 mRNA levels. This decrease was correlated with changes in the ratio of Sp proteins associated to the CYP46A1 proximal promoter. To examine if the increase in (Sp3 + Sp4)/Sp1 ratio was observed in other Sp‐regulated promoters, we have selected four genes ‐ reelin, glutamate receptor subunit zeta‐1, glutamate receptor subunit epsilon‐1 and μ‐opioid receptor ‐ known to be expressed in the human brain and analyzed the Sp proteins binding pattern to the promoter of these genes, in undifferentiated and differentiated Ntera2/cloneD1. Our data indicate that the dissociation of Sp1 from promoter regions is a common feature amongst Sp‐regulated genes that are up‐regulated after neuronal differentiation.
Fine‐scale bird monitoring from light unmanned aircraft systems
Authors: SARDÀ‐PALOMERA FRANCESC , BOTA GERARD , VIÑOLO CARLOS , PALLARÉS ORIOL , SAZATORNIL VÍCTOR , BROTONS LLUÍS , GOMÁRIZ SPARTACUS , SARDÀ FRANCESC
Published: November 2011

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are remote‐controlled devices capable of collecting information from difficult‐to‐access places while minimizing disturbance. Although UAS are increasingly used in many research disciplines, their application to wildlife research remains to be explored in depth. Here, we report on the use of a small UAS to monitor temporal changes in breeding population size in a Black‐headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus colony. This method makes it possible to obtain georeferenced data on nest locations without causing colony disturbance, which would not otherwise be possible via direct ground observations.
The importance of traditional farmland areas for steppe birds: a case study of migrant female Great Bustards Otis tarda in Spain
Authors: PALACÍN CARLOS , ALONSO JUAN C. , MARTÍN CARLOS A. , ALONSO JAVIER A.
Published: November 2011

A detailed knowledge of the habitat requirements of steppe birds living in farmland habitats is necessary to identify agricultural practices compatible with their conservation. The globally threatened Great Bustard Otis tarda is a partial migrant in central Iberia, but factors affecting its winter habitat use have not been identified. We assessed habitat differences between breeding and wintering areas and winter habitat selection of radiotagged migrant female Great Bustards in central Spain. Of 68 tagged females, 35% moved to wintering areas located 64.3 ± 24.0 km south of their breeding areas, and 80% wintered in a single area of c. 236 km2. A census of the population in this area identified it as one of the most important wintering areas of this species in the world, holding c. 1500 individuals. There were significant differences between breeding and wintering habitats of individually marked migrant females. Compared with breeding areas, wintering areas of migrant females were located further from roads and urban nuclei, had lower human population densities and area of urban developments, and a higher diversity of land‐use types, with less cover of cereals and more vineyards and olive groves. Within this area, radiotracked migrant females preferred sites with more vineyards and a lower land‐use diversity. Our results highlight the importance of traditional Mediterranean dry farmland mosaics, and suggest that different conservation strategies are needed for migrant and resident populations in winter to secure the conservation of suitable wintering habitat for Great Bustards in the Iberian Peninsula.
Hope for the Future? Understanding Self‐Sacrifice Among Young Citizens of the World in the Face of Global Warming
Authors: Liu James H. , Sibley Chris G.
Published: November 2011

The failure of the 2009 Copenhagen Summit to produce a greenhouse gas emissions accord highlights the fact that consensus and expertise regarding the physical science of climate change exceeds the political science of changing human factors. We examined whether national differences in economic factors shape the extent to which perceptions of global warming are linked to self‐reported intentions to make self‐sacrifices to help protect the environment (N = 6,651 university students) in developing and developed nations (N = 34 nations). Perceptions of the importance of global warming predicted self‐reported willingness to make sacrifices to help protect the environment, and this association was more pronounced in nations with a higher Human Development Index (HDI). There may be hope for the future, to the extent that young people in developed countries are prepared to match their convictions and intentions to sacrifice for the environment with action.
Estimation of Copper In‐use Stocks in Nanjing, China
Authors: Zhang Ling , Yuan Zengwei , Bi Jun
Published: November 2011

Copper (Cu) is an essential but supply‐restricted resource in China. Characterization of in‐use stocks can provide useful instruction for the future recycling of copper. This article attempts to estimate copper in‐use stocks in a Chinese city. To this purpose, an extensive bottom‐up estimate of copper stocks in use in Nanjing in the year 2009 was conducted. The results are a total stock estimate of 295 gigagrams (Gg) of copper or 46.9 kilograms (kg) of copper per capita for 2009. Infrastructure, equipment, and buildings contain 42.0%, 26.1%, and 28.1% of the total stock, respectively, indicating that these three categories are principal potential reservoirs of a secondary copper resource. The copper in transportation amounts to only about 3.7% of the total amount. The per capita stock was compared with similar studies carried out in other regions of the world, and the results show that the Nanjing level is significantly lower than developed countries. On the whole, our results show that electric power transmission and distribution systems, buildings, household durables, and industrial equipment are the four largest potential reservoirs of copper scrap.
Ablation Catheter Entrapment by Chordae Tendineae in the Mitral Valve During Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
Authors: KIM KI‐HUN , CHOI KEE‐JOON , KIM SUNG‐HWAN , NAM GI‐BYOUNG , KIM YOU‐HO
Published: November 2011

Ablation Catheter Entrapment by Chordae Tendineae. We report on the entrapment of an ablation catheter by chordae tendineae in the mitral valve during radiofrequency (RF) ablation of ventricular tachycardia. The entrapped tip had to be removed via open surgery. Great care must be taken when performing radiofrequency ablation around the mitral valve apparatus. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 218‐220, February 2012)
Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Hematodinium perezi (Dinophyceae: Syndiniales), a Dinoflagellate Parasite of the Harbour Crab, Liocarcinus depurator
Authors: Small Hamish J. , Shields Jeffrey D. , Reece Kimberly S. , Bateman Kelly , Stentiford Grant D.
Published: November 2011

Hematodinium perezi Chatton and Poisson 1931 (Dinophyceae: Syndiniales) is reported from one of its type hosts, Liocarcinus depurator, from Rye Bay in the English Channel, a site in a similar geographical location to that of the type description. The histology and ultrastructure of vegetative trophont stages, and rDNA sequences of the parasite infecting this host are reported for the first time. Ultrastructurally, H. perezi was confirmed by the presence of condensed chromatin profiles, trichocysts, an alveolar membrane, and micropores. The pathology of H. perezi was similar to other Hematodinium descriptions with large numbers of parasites present within the haemolymph and host tissues. No host responses against the parasite were observed. Molecular analysis of the ITS rRNA regions from H. perezi infecting L. depurator suggests that Callinectes sapidus from the United States, and Portunus trituberculatus and Scylla serrata from China are infected with different genotypes of H. perezi. The morphological and molecular characterization of H. perezi in one of the type hosts from Europe will allow for a better understanding of the phylogeny of these pathogens of commercially important Crustacea.
Inhibition mechanism of human galectin‐7 by a novel galactose‐benzylphosphate inhibitor
Authors: Masuyer Geoffrey , Jabeen Talat , Öberg Christopher T. , Leffler Hakon , Nilsson Ulf J. , Acharya K. Ravi
Published: November 2011

Galectins are involved in many cellular processes due to their ability to bind carbohydrates. Understanding their functions has shown the necessity for potent and specific galectin inhibitors. Human galectin‐7 (hGal‐7), in particular, has been highlighted as an important marker in many types of cancer by either inhibiting or promoting tumour growth. Producing ligands able to selectively target hGal‐7 will offer promising tools for deciphering cancer processes in which hGal‐7 is involved as well as present potential solutions for future therapeutics. Here we report the high resolution crystal structure of hGal‐7 in complex with a synthetic 2‐O‐benzylphosphate‐galactoside inhibitor (which is > 60‐fold more potent than its parent galactoside). The high resolution crystallographic analysis highlights the validity of using saccharide derivatives, conserving properties of the galactose binding, while enhanced affinity and specificity is provided by the added phosphate group. This structural information will allow the design of further inhibitors with improved potency and specificity.

Database
 The atomic coordinates for the complex of human galectin‐7 as well as for the free structure have been deposited with the Protein Data Bank (accession numbers 3ZXE and 3ZXF respectively)

Structured digital abstract

 hGal‐7 and hGal‐7 bind by X‐raycrystallography (Viewinteraction)
Identification of interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase 1 as a critical component that induces post‐transcriptional activation of IκB‐ζ
Authors: Ohba Tomoyuki , Ariga Yujiro , Maruyama Takashi , Truong Nha K. , Inoue Jun‐ichiro , Muta Tatsushi
Published: November 2011

IκB‐ζ, an essential inflammatory regulator, is specifically induced by Toll‐like receptor ligands or interleukin (IL)‐1β by post‐transcriptional activation mediated via a 165‐nucleotide element in IκB‐ζ mRNA. Here, we analyzed the Toll‐like receptor–IL‐1 receptor signaling components involved in the post‐transcriptional regulation of IκB‐ζ with mutated estrogen receptor [ER(T2)] fusion proteins. Upon 4‐hydroxytamoxifen treatment, the ER(T2) fusion proteins with IL‐1 receptor‐associated kinase (IRAK)1 and IRAK4 elicited specific activation of a reporter gene for the post‐transcriptional regulation of IκB‐ζ. The tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor (TRAF)6–ER(T2) protein activated nuclear factor‐κB, but not post‐transcriptional regulation, indicating that activation of IRAK1/4, but not of TRAF6, is sufficient to activate the 165‐nucleotide element‐mediated post‐transcriptional mechanism. Interestingly, the post‐transcriptional mechanism was not activated in TRAF6‐deficient cells, indicating an essential role for TRAF6. Thus, the signaling pathway leading to nuclear factor‐κB activation and the post‐transcriptional activation bifurcates at IRAK1, suggesting a new pathway activated by IRAK1.
Effect of Sibutramine on 5‐Hydroxyindole Acetic Acid Levels and Selected Oxidative Biomarkers on Brain Regions of Female Rats in the Presence of Zinc
Authors: Guzmán David C. , García Ernestina H. , Mejía Gerardo B. , Olguín Hugo J. , Jiménez Francisca T. , Soto Erick B. , del Angel Daniel S. , Aparicio Liliana C.
Published: November 2011

Abstract: A number of drugs, like sibutramine, which are used clinically in weight control, act on serotonergic metabolism. However, their relation with zinc and free radical (FR) production in central nervous system remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sibutramine and zinc on FR production. Female Wistar rats (about 250 g) were used in this study. The animals received 400 μg/kg of zinc and 10 mg/kg of sibutramine intraperitoneally every 36 hr for 15 days. At the end of the study, the rats were killed and their brains used for the measurement of lipid peroxidation thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), calcium and 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid (5‐HIAA) levels, all by means of validated methods. Corporal weight and food consumption were found to be decreased in the zinc/sibutramine group. TBARS decreased in cortex, hemispheres and medulla oblongata. GSH decreased in cortex, hemispheres and cerebellum in the sibutramine group. Zinc given alone and in combination with sibutramine decreased H2O2concentration in cortex, hemispheres and cerebellum but increased calcium and 5‐HIAA concentration in all brain regions. Our results suggest that sibutramine and zinc are associated with weight loss, an effect that was more pronounced in the group treated with both drugs. Reduction in oxidative stress may be involved in these effects.
Photoluminescent Properties of Novel Rare Earth Organic–Inorganic Nanocomposite with TiO2 Modified Silica via Double Crosslinking Units
Authors: Zhao Yan , Yan Bing
Published: November 2011

A series of novel organic/inorganic rare earth (europium, terbium) hybrid materials through the coordination bond and covalent bond are synthesized and form an inorganic Si–O–Si by the sol‐gel process. Mercapto‐functionalized 4‐mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA‐Si) is obtained by using MBA and 3‐(triethoxysilyl)‐propyl isocyanate (TESPIC) as an organic bridge molecule, and then the carboxyl group of the precursor MBA‐Si is used to modify the titanium dioxide, so as to sensitize the luminescence of rare earth ions. CdS‐TiO2 is added to observe the influence of photoluminescence. 3‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) is also used to modify the CdS quantum dot and obtain MPS functionalized MPS‐CdS nanocomposite. These multicomponent hybrids with double cross‐linking siloxane (MBA‐Si) covalently bonding MPS‐CdS are characterized. Subsequently, 1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen) and 2,2,‐bipyridyl (Bipy) as the assistant ligands together with water molecules are introduced into the rare earth hybrid system. The FT‐IR, X‐ray diffraction, UV–Vis, thermogravimetry and especially the photoluminescence properties of them are studied in detail.
Management of acute, severe ulcerative colitis
Authors: SACHAR David B
Published: November 2011

When a patient is hospitalized with acute, severe ulcerative colitis, the primary decision is whether or not to proceed directly to surgery. Absolute indications for an immediate colectomy include exsanguinating hemorrhage, perforation and cancer. If medical therapy is undertaken, however, the decision for urgent surgery or non‐operative salvage therapy will still be required in 15–50% of the patients in which there is a failure to respond within 3–5 days to a standard regimen of i.v. steroids, antibiotics, decompressive maneuvers, fluid and electrolyte replacement and other supportive measures. The options for medical salvage therapy are usually cyclosporine or infliximab. There are theoretical and practical arguments on each side; the current GETAID and CONSTRUCT trials will probably provide support for either. The choice between colectomy or medical salvage therapy, however, must not be delayed under any circumstances. Before choosing salvage therapy, one must first be certain that there is the luxury of time, that there is a post‐hospital strategy for the maintenance of remission and that the colon is worth saving. The priority is not so much saving colons as it is saving lives.
Genetic erosion impedes adaptive responses to stressful environments
Authors: Bijlsma R. , Loeschcke Volker
Published: November 2011

Biodiversity is increasingly subjected to human‐induced changes of the environment. To persist, populations continually have to adapt to these often stressful changes including pollution and climate change. Genetic erosion in small populations, owing to fragmentation of natural habitats, is expected to obstruct such adaptive responses: (i) genetic drift will cause a decrease in the level of adaptive genetic variation, thereby limiting evolutionary responses; (ii) inbreeding and the concomitant inbreeding depression will reduce individual fitness and, consequently, the tolerance of populations to environmental stress. Importantly, inbreeding generally increases the sensitivity of a population to stress, thereby increasing the amount of inbreeding depression. As adaptation to stress is most often accompanied by increased mortality (cost of selection), the increase in the ‘cost of inbreeding’ under stress is expected to severely hamper evolutionary adaptive processes. Inbreeding thus plays a pivotal role in this process and is expected to limit the probability of genetically eroded populations to successfully adapt to stressful environmental conditions. Consequently, the dynamics of small fragmented populations may differ considerably from large nonfragmented populations. The resilience of fragmented populations to changing and deteriorating environments is expected to be greatly decreased. Alleviating inbreeding depression, therefore, is crucial to ensure population persistence.
Evolutionary and ecological feedbacks of the survival cost of reproduction
Authors: Kuparinen Anna , Hardie David C. , Hutchings Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2011

Arguably the most fundamental of trade‐offs in life‐history evolution is the increase in natural mortality resulting from sexual maturity and reproduction. Despite its central importance, this increase in mortality, a survival cost, garners surprisingly little attention in fish and fisheries modeling studies. We undertook an exploratory analysis to evaluate the consequences of this omission for life‐history projections. To this end, we developed a simulation approach that integrates quantitative genetics into the ecological dynamics of a fish population and parameterized the model for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua, L.). When compared to simulations in which the mortality of immature and mature individuals is equal, the inclusion of a survival cost results in larger asymptotic body size, older age at maturity, and larger size at maturity. We also find that measures of population productivity (spawning stock biomass, recruits‐per‐spawner) are overestimated if the survival cost is excluded. This sensitivity of key metrics of population growth rate and reproductive capacity to the magnitude of the survival cost of reproduction underscores the need to explicitly account for this trade‐off in projections of fish population responses to natural and anthropogenic environmental change, including fisheries.
Modeling intraspecific adaptation ofAbies sachalinensisto local altitude and responses to global warming, based on a 36‐year reciprocal transplant experiment
Authors: Ishizuka Wataru , Goto Susumu
Published: November 2011

Intraspecific adaptation inAbies sachalinensiswas examined using models based on long‐term monitoring data gathered during a reciprocal transplant experiment with eight seed source populations and six transplantation sites along an altitudinal gradient. The consequence of local adaptation was evaluated by testing the home‐site advantage for upslope and downslope transplants at five ages. The populations’ fitness‐linked trait was set as their productivity (tree height × survival rate) at each age. The effects of global warming were evaluated on the basis of the 36‐year performance of downslope transplants. Evidence was found for adaptive genetic variation affecting both height and survival from an early age. Increasing the distance between seed source and planting site significantly reduced productivity for both upslope and downslope transplantation, demonstrating the existence of a significant home‐site advantage. The decrease in productivity was most distinct for upslope transplantations, indicating strong local adaptation to high altitudes. Global warming is predicted to increase the productivity of high‐altitude populations. However, owing to their existing local adaptation, all tested populations exhibited lower productivity under warming than demes that were optimal for the new climate. These negative predictions should be considered when planning the management of locally adapted plant species such asA. sachalinensis.
OPTIMAL GRAZING MANAGEMENT RULES IN SEMI‐ARID RANGELANDS WITH UNCERTAIN RAINFALL
Authors: QUAAS MARTIN F. , BAUMGÄRTNER STEFAN
Published: November 2011

Abstract.  We study optimal adaptive grazing management under uncertain rainfall in a discrete‐time model. As in each year actual rainfall can be observed during the short rainy season, and grazing management can be adapted accordingly for the growing season; the closed‐loop solution of the stochastic optimal control problem does not only depend on the state variable, but also on the realization of the random rainfall. This distinguishes optimal grazing management from the optimal use of most other natural resources under uncertainty, where the closed‐loop solution of the stochastic optimal control problem depends only on the state variables. Solving this unusual stochastic optimization problem allows us to critically contribute to a long‐standing controversy over how to optimally manage semi‐arid rangelands by simple rules of thumb.
Traditional and proposed tests of slope homogeneity for non‐normal and heteroscedastic data
Authors: Moses Tim P. , Klockars Alan J.
Published: November 2011

The purpose of this study was to develop and compare tests of independent groups’ slopes for non‐normal distributions and heteroscedastic variances, including slope tests based on least squares, Theil–Sen, and trimmed estimation approaches. A slope test based on jackknife standard error estimates is proposed that can utilize each of the traditional estimation methods while also addressing problematic aspects of methods’ standard error estimates. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed jackknife‐based slope tests can improve standard error estimation, Type I error, and power relative to the traditional slope tests.
Novel Dynamic Rotor and Blade Deformation and Vibration Monitoring Technique
Authors: Pfister Thorsten , Günther Philipp , Dreier Florian , Czarske Jürgen
Published: November 2011

Monitoring rotor deformations and vibrations dynamically is an important task for improving both the safety and the lifetime as well as the energy efficiency of motors and turbo machines. However, due to the high rotor speed encountered in particular at turbo machines, this requires concurrently high measurement rate and high accuracy, which is hardly possible to achieve with currently available measurement techniques. To solve this problem, in this paper, we present a novel nonincremental interferometric optical sensor that measures simultaneously the in-plane velocity and the out-of-plane position of laterally moving objects with micrometer precision and concurrently with microsecond temporal resolution. It will be shown that this sensor exhibits the outstanding feature that its measurement uncertainty is generally independent of the object velocity, which enables precise deformation and vibration measurements also at high rotor speed. Moreover, this sensor does not require an in situ calibration and it allows a direct measurement of blade velocity variations in contrast to blade tip timing systems. For application under harsh environmental conditions such as high temperatures, a robust and miniaturized fiber-optic sensor setup was developed. To demonstrate the capability of this sensor, measurements of tip clearance changes and rotor blade vibrations at varying operating conditions of a transonic centrifugal compressor test rig at blade tip velocities up to 600 m/s are presented among others.
Application of Forecasting Methodologies to Predict Gas Turbine Behavior Over Time
Authors: Cavarzere Andrea , Venturini Mauro
Published: November 2011

The growing need to increase the competitiveness of industrial systems continuously requires a reduction of maintenance costs, without compromising safe plant operation. Therefore, forecasting the future behavior of a system allows planning maintenance actions and saving costs, because unexpected stops can be avoided. In this paper, four different methodologies are applied to predict gas turbine behavior over time: Linear and Nonlinear Regression, One Parameter Double Exponential Smoothing, Kalman Filter and Bayesian Forecasting Method. The four methodologies are used to provide a prediction of the time when a threshold value will be exceeded in the future, as a function of the current trend of the considered parameter. The application considers different scenarios which may be representative of the trend over time of some significant parameters for gas turbines. Moreover, the Bayesian Forecasting Method, which allows the detection of discontinuities in time series, is also tested for predicting system behavior after two consecutive trends. The results presented in this paper aim to select the most suitable methodology that allows both trending and forecasting as a function of data trend over time, in order to predict time evolution of gas turbine characteristic parameters and to provide an estimate of the occurrence of a failure.
Heat Transfer Enhancement in Ventilated Brake Disk Using Double Airfoil Vanes
Authors: Nejat A. , Aslani M. , Mirzakhalili E. , Najian Asl R.
Published: November 2011

The aim of this research is to enhance the heat transfer of ventilated brake disks using modified vanes. The investigated braking scenario is a hold braking deceleration during a downhill drive. A simple model for computing the steady state vane’s temperature is presented. The heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of the brake disk’s ventilation is estimated by means of a verified CFD computation. A novel design for the vanes is proposed using an airfoil profile to improve the air pumping efficiency increasing the flow velocity between vanes. For further improving the ventilating capacity, a secondary airfoil vane is introduced to the primary airfoil vane design. The computed results estimate 17% to 29% improvement in HTC number for new vane design at different disk’s angular velocities.
Analysis of Coal by Static Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)
Authors: Pei Lei , Jiang Guilin , Baxter Larry L. , Linford Matthew R.
Published: November 2011

Coal remains a primary fuel for power generation. Herein we present time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectra (ToF-SIMS data) taken with a Ga primary ion beam from ca. 30 coal specimens. These commercially different coal specimens were obtained from coal mining companies and/or power plants. They represent all major coal types used in power generation (bituminous coals, subbituminous coals, and lignites), and include low-rank materials (lignites and subbituminous coals), which are represented as a minor portion of the data. Often, inorganic ions (Na+, Al+, Si+, and K+) are pronounced in the spectra, overshadowing peaks from organic moieties. This reflects the high sensitivity of SIMS under our analysis conditions for these inorganic species. These results, including a previous, published chemometrics analysis of this data (L. Pei, G. Jiang, B. J. Tyler, L. L. Baxter, and M. R. Linford, Energy & Fuels 2008, 22, 1059), suggest that ToF-SIMS can be a useful method for coal analysis.
SU‐C‐224‐06: Investigation of a Modified Backscatter‐Shielded EPID Dosimetry System for Improved IMRT Verification
Authors: King B , Morf D , Greer P
Published: November 2011

Purpose: To investigate the performance of a modified backscatter‐shielded Electronic Portal Imaging Device (BS‐EPID) system and to develop a model to convert the BS‐EPID images to water‐equivalent dose. Methods: Images were acquired with a modified Varian aS‐1000 BS‐EPID and compared to those from a comparable clinical EPID. The asymmetry of in‐plane profiles was examined as a measure of how well the system reduces the effect of the support arm backscatter. A new pixel‐sensitivity correction method was assessed by comparing BS‐EPID images of the same fields at different detector offset positions. A model was developed to determine the water equivalent dose from images acquired with the BS‐EPID. The model converts the BS‐EPID image to fluence using a deconvolution kernel, then to dose in water using a convolution kernel. The model was optimized based on experimental measurements and can be applied to construct dose in water at any depth. The validity of the model was tested using gamma analysis to compare 28 two‐dimensional dose maps of IMRT fields measured with the BS‐EPID at different depths to those predicted by the Eclipse TPS. Results: The BS‐EPID profiles gave reduced asymmetry (0.6% compared to 3.3%), showing that the backscatter shielding is effective. BS‐EPID images were consistent with different detector offsets within 0.4% on average. The IMRT dose maps measured with the BS‐EPID gave good agreement with those predicted by the TPS, with mean values of 94.6%, 91.8%, 94.0% and 95.3% of pixels meeting the gamma criteria of 2%, 2mm at depths of 1.5, 5, 10 and 20 cm respectively. Conclusions: The BS‐EPID performs effectively in reducing the effect of the backscatter from the support arm in Varian EPIDs. The BS‐EPID dosimetry system and model allows high‐resolution water equivalent doses to be measured with the BS‐EPID, streamlining IMRT quality assurance.

The authors have received support, in the form of equipment loans and technical information, from Varian Medical Systems iLab GmbH.
SU‐C‐BRB‐02: A Phase Resolved Fiducial Setup Scheme for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Authors: Xu Q , Grimm J , An L , Xue J , Asbell S , LaCouture T , Chen Y
Published: November 2011

Purpose: For CyberKnife based SBRT, CT scan of a single breathing phase is utilized for real‐time tumor tracking. However, x‐ray images for tracking are more often not in phase with the reference CT. Non‐rigid fiducial movement due to tumor deformation can induce significant uncertainties when matching images from different phases and this poses great difficulties for patient setup. A phase resolved fiducial setup scheme is developed that finds the best rigid transformation with tumor deformation corrected. Methods: Five cases (2 liver and 3 lung patients) were retrospectively analyzed in this study. For each patient, two sets of fiducials (at the ends of exhale (EOE) and inhale (EOI)) were first aligned by their centroids and linearly interpolated to generate fiducial sets for the phases in between. The fiducial set in 3D at each phase is iteratively registered to the fiducial set in x‐ray image until minimal residual error (RE) or mean distance between the projected fiducials and fiducials in the x‐ray image is reached. The phase with the smallest RE after registration of fiducial sets in 5 phases is determined as the phase of the x‐ray image. Results: For a liver case, 30 pairs of x‐ray images were registered to all 5 phases. The RE for registration with different phases was a smooth function with a distinct minimum. Fiducial matching for all the x‐ray images was also performed to the EOE phase. The REs resulted by our method were 4.2±0.58 mm, versus 5.3±1.48 mm with only EOE phase used for registration. The latter represented the RE currently achievable in current system. Similar results were also observed for the other 4 patients. Conclusions: In this study, a phase resolved fiducial setup scheme was developed and tested for 5 patients. It facilitates patient setup and tracking accuracy with reduced REs.
SU‐D‐214‐01: Development of an Independent, Real‐Time Software Algorithm to Ensure Patient Safety
Authors: Wijesooriya K , Read P W , Benedict S H , Larner J M
Published: November 2011

Purpose: To develop a software package that compares plan parameters to delivered parameters for each control point of any dynamic treatment with MLCs for VARIAN Linacs. When the resulting difference is above a pre‐set threshold, the Linac is prompted to shut‐off the beam. Methods: IMRT, RapidArc, and multi‐control point sample patient plans were created and delivered using a Trilogy unit. During beam delivery MLC leaf positions, gantry angles, and MU information are recorded into a dynalog file after every control point. A software package was developed to read in these log files for each control point and compare with the original plan parameters which were transmitted through an independent path to the verification computer. In the event of a discrepancy beyond pre‐set thresholds, a signal will be sent to the CLINAC to shut‐off the beam. The delivery data is used to create a single control point DICOM plan. This plan is uploaded to the treatment planning system, and dose for that control point recalculated. The planned and delivered 3D isodose maps for each control point in near real time are created and 3D dosimetric difference plots and 3D gamma analysis plots are generated. Results: We have validated the effectiveness of our package by detecting a 5 mm shift of a single MLC leaf for a single control point corresponding only to a 1 cGy change. We also demonstrated the capability of setting beam off thresholds at multiple stages; based on mechanical parameter differences between planed and delivered (in approx. 5 sec.), 3D dose differences, and dosimetric 3D gamma values (approx. 10 sec. later). Conclusions: We have developed a software package that ensures patient safety in Radiation therapy delivery. Real time tools are given at the treatment console to shut‐ off the beam in the event of a possible mistreatment.
SU‐D‐110‐04: Visual Biofeedback Combined with MRI for Respiratory‐Gated MR Imaging
Authors: Kim T , Yamamoto T , Keall P
Published: November 2011

Purpose: Irregular motion results in poor image quality, radiation targeting and tumor control. The aim of this study is to develop a novel respiratory motion control system using visual biofeedback combined with MRI and to demonstrate reduced respiratory motion artifacts and increase respiratory gating efficiency in MRI using the system. Methods: A visual biofeedback system has been combined with an MRI respiratory bellows belt at a 1.5T G.E. MRI system and at a 3T G.E. MRI system. The visual biofeedback system utilized (1) the external position information of the abdomen using an MR respiratory bellows belt to visually guide a patientˈs regular breathing within the magnet and (2) a respiratory gated Fast Spin Echo MR pulse sequence for MRI. The feasibility of respiratory motion control using the visual biofeedback within the MRI system has been tested in four volunteer studies without MRI scanning. Two MRI studies have been performed for image quality evaluation with/without the visual biofeedback system. All studies included a free breathing and a visual biofeedback breathing in a same day. Results: By using the visual biofeedback system with an MRI respiratory bellows belt, the respiratory motion reproducibility has been increased. Average RMSE (root mean square error) of breathing period has been reduced from 0.69s for free breathing to 0.38s for visual biofeedback breathing, while average RMSE of displacement changes insignificantly from 0.50cm of free breathing to 0.49cm of visual biofeedback breathing. In the obtained MR images, the image using visual biofeedback shows significant reduction of motion artefacts but respiratory gating efficiency improvement is insignificant with healthy volunteers. Conclusions: The study demonstrated the feasibility of respiratory motion control using visual biofeedback within the MRI system. This technique provides clinically applicable motion control in MRI scanning and improved MR image quality.
SU‐E‐I‐04: Texture Feature Based CAD for Breast Cancer Detection
Authors: Jambawalikar S , Li H , Shah S , Fisher P , Button T
Published: November 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Texture analysis is applied to extract features from this data and test the feasibility of using these texture features for creating a computer aided diagnostic system (CAD). Methods: Computation time for texture feature extraction for the entire 3D dataset precludes whole breast analysis. Reduction of data can be best accomplished through the generation of angiogenesis (parametric maps) based on contrast agent kinetics and the knowledge that malignancy exhibits rapid uptake and plateau or slow washout on the DCE curve. Breast image data that exhibits these high‐risk characteristics can be segmented into volumes‐of‐interest (VOIs). These volumes‐of‐interest can be projected on high resolution post contrast (T1) images using direction cosines information stored in the image header. The corresponding projected VOI on the high resolution, post contrast MR image can undergo feature extraction. Total 35 VOIs were extracted (16 benign + 19 malignant). In all 53 texture features such as grey level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM), second orientation pyramids (SOP), wavelets, gabor feature maps and 3 geometric features for each volume‐of‐interest was generated. Classification was performed using off the shelf classifiers and also with minimum enclosing ball (MEB) classifier designed by us. The efficacy of texture features to classify suspect VOIs as malignant or benign was evaluated.Results: Classification using the first 14 Fisher ranked coefficients using MEB classifier produces the best results with sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 83%, and accuracy of 86% Conclusions: Machine classification of breast cancer detection from DCE MRI is encouraging. Clearly additional work in this area is required. The hypothesis that feature extraction and machine learning alone has produced good sensitivity and specificity can be proven with 95% significance level only by the study of larger datasets.