bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Will General Practitioners be adequately prepared to meet the complexities of enhanced dementia screening for people with learning disabilities and Down syndrome: key considerations
Authors: Rowe Michelle
Published: September 2014

Accessible summary

General Practitioners (GPs) will offer dementia screening for people with learning disabilities and Down syndrome.

Dementia screening will require GPs to invest time and get to know the person with learning disabilities.

The benefits and harms of dementia screening in the health setting are not fully known.

This article provides a timely response in regard to the Department of Health's current initiative to financially reward GPs to prioritise and undertake dementia screening for people with learning disabilities over the age of 50 years and for people with Down syndrome over the age of 40 years. Whilst GPs are becoming increasingly aware of their responsibility to care for the complex needs of people with learning disabilities, the implementation of dementia screening poses a multitude of challenges. Research has continued to suggest how difficult it is to detect the early and often ambiguous signs of dementia for someone who has pre‐existing cognitive impairments and may present with atypical symptomology. And it continues to be a difficult process even for those who specialise within this area. However, GPs who choose to opt into this financially incentivised scheme will now be offering dementia screening. This article outlines the main GP aims within the dementia screening process and the difficulties that may be encountered, with specific focus upon

Offering a dementia screen

Obtaining consent

Undertaking screening within the most appropriate setting

Choosing a dementia screening tool and developing a baseline

Detecting early dementia signs
REGULATION OF POLLUTION IN THE LABORATORY: RANDOM INSPECTIONS, AMBIENT INSPECTIONS, AND COMMITMENT PROBLEMS
Authors: Cochard François , Le Gallo Julie , Franckx Laurent
Published: September 2014

We compare experimentally a traditional random inspection policy and a variant where the agency may carry out a preliminary inspection of the level of ambient pollution before implementing any individual inspection. Since the agency may have an incentive to announce high inspection probabilities and then secretly renege on its announcement to avoid implementing costly inspections, we are also interested in the agency's commitment power. We find that overall, ambient inspections increase efficiency but the effect is weaker than expected when the agency has no commitment power; and polluters' reactions to the lack of commitment power of the agency vary depending on whether the agency uses ambient inspections or not.
Biofilm Eradication Kinetics of the Ultrashort Lipopeptide C12‐OOWW‐NH2 Utilizing a Modified MBEC Assay™
Authors: Laverty Garry , Gorman Sean P. , Gilmore Brendan F.
Published: September 2014

In this study, we report the antimicrobial planktonic and biofilm kill kinetics of ultrashort cationic lipopeptides previously demonstrated by our group to have a minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) in the microgram per mL (μg/mL) range against clinically relevant biofilm‐forming micro‐organisms. We compare the rate of kill for the most potent of these lipopeptides, dodecanoic (lauric) acid‐conjugated C12‐Orn‐Orn‐Trp‐Trp‐NH2 against the tetrapeptide amide H‐Orn‐Orn‐Trp‐Trp‐NH2 motif and the amphibian peptide Maximin‐4 via a modification of the MBEC Assay™ for Physiology & Genetics (P&G). Improved antimicrobial activity is achieved upon N‐terminal lipidation of the tetrapeptide amide. Increased antimicrobial potency was demonstrated against both planktonic and biofilm forms of Gram‐positive micro‐organisms. We hypothesize rapid kill to be achieved by targeting of microbial membranes. Complete kill against established 24‐h Gram‐positive biofilms occurred within 4 h of exposure to C12‐OOWW‐NH2 at MBEC values [methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 35984): 15.63 μg/mL] close to the values for the planktonic minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) [methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 35984): 1.95 μg/mL]. Such rapid kill, especially against sessile biofilm forms, is indicative of a reduction in the likelihood of resistant strains developing with the potential for quicker resolution of pathogenic infection. Ultrashort antimicrobial lipopeptides have high potential as antimicrobial therapy.
Microvenular hemangioma: a clinicopathologic review of 13 cases
Authors: Napekoski Karl M. , Fernandez Anthony P. , Billings Steven D.
Published: September 2014

Background

Microvenular hemangioma is an uncommon benign vascular tumor that can potentially be mistaken for malignancy.

Methods

We reviewed the histopathologic and clinical features of 13 microvenular hemangiomas, which represents the largest series reported to date.

Results

The patients [female (F) = 8 and male (M) = 5] had a mean age of 39 years (range: 16 months–69 years). All presented with a similar history of a new, asymptomatic, stable or slow‐growing, red to purple plaque or nodule. The lesions were located on the extremities, chest, back or abdomen. Two patients had multiple lesions. In six, a vascular tumor was not suspected clinically. Histologically, all were composed of a dermal proliferation of thin‐walled, often branching, vascular channels dissecting through collagen fibers. The vessels were surrounded by a conspicuous layer of pericytes. Immunohistochemistry showed that all were positive for a vascular marker. Stains for WT‐1 were positive in 9 of 10. None of the lesions tested (0/12) were positive for podoplanin or human herpesvirus‐8 (HHV‐8) (0/9). Follow‐up available on six patients showed no recurrences.

Conclusion

The histomorphology of microvenular hemangioma frequently raises concern for a malignant vascular lesion, especially Kaposi sarcoma. Identification of characteristic features, particularly the pericyte layer in routinely stained sections or with an SMA immunostain, allows an accurate diagnosis.
Targeted vertebrate surveys enhance the faunal importance and improve explanatory models within the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya and Tanzania
Authors: Rovero Francesco , Menegon Michele , Fjeldså Jon , Collett Leah , Doggart Nike , Leonard Charles , Norton Guy , Owen Nisha , Perkin Andrew , Spitale Daniel , Ahrends Antje , Burgess Neil D.
Published: September 2014

Aim

Detailed knowledge of species distributions, endemism patterns and threats is critical to site prioritization and conservation planning. However, data from biodiversity inventories are still limited, especially for tropical forests, and even well recognized hotspots remain understudied. We provide an example of how updated knowledge on species occurrence from strategically directed biodiversity surveys can change knowledge on perceived biodiversity importance, and facilitate understanding diversity patterns and the delivery of conservation recommendations.

Location

Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM), Kenya and Tanzania.

Methods

We surveyed amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals during 2005–2009, targeting mountain blocks that had been poorly surveyed or unsurveyed by the early Noughties. We combined new and old data to produce a database of species presence by mountain block spanning four decades of research. Species richness is regressed against survey effort, funding, ecological and human disturbance factors to analyse the best predictors of vertebrate richness across mountain blocks. Similarity among species assemblages among blocks is analysed using dissimilarity analysis.

Results

New surveys raised the number of endemic and regional endemic vertebrates by 24% (from 170 to 211 species), including 27 new species of which 23 are amphibians and reptiles. Vertebrate richness is best explained by forest area, but rainfall is also important, especially for amphibians and reptiles. Forest elevational range is important for mammals and for block‐endemic birds. Funding explains 19% of the variation in total species richness, while survey effort generally explains < 10% of variance. Cluster analysis shows that species assemblages are partitioned by geographical proximity among mountain blocks.

Main conclusions

The biological value of the EAM has been underestimated, and strategic surveys are important even in well‐recognized hotspots. The exceptional and global importance of these mountains for endemic vertebrates is highlighted, supporting the development of a network of Nature Reserves and the proposed inclusion within UNESCO's natural World Heritage Sites.
Epidemiology and prognostic factors of candidemia in elderly patients
Authors: Tang Hung‐Jen , Liu Wei‐Lun , Lin Hsin‐Lan , Lai Chih‐Cheng
Published: September 2014

Aim

The present retrospective study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and the prognostic factors of candidemia among elderly patients.

Methods

From 2009 to 2012, elderly patients with candidemia were identified at the Chi Mei medical center, a 900‐bed regional hospital in southern Taiwan, and their medical records retrospectively reviewed.

Results

During the 4‐year period, a total of 175 episodes of candidemia among elderly patients were identified. The patients ranged in age from 65 to 98 years (mean 76.4 years) and the mean (±standard deviation) Charlson Comorbidity Index score was 7.6 (±2.7). Cancer was the most common underlying disease (n = 127, 72.6%), followed by diabetes mellitus (n = 69, 39.4%). Candida albicans (n = 96, 54.9%) was the most common pathogen, followed by C. tropicalis (n = 39, 22.3%), C. parapsilosis (n = 24, 13.7%), C. glabrata (n = 22, 12.6%), C. guilliermondii (n = 2, 1.1%) and Candida species (n = 3, 1.7%). The ratio of C. albicans causing candidemia was significantly higher in young‐old than old‐old patients (64.1% vs 47.4%, P = 0.027). The overall in‐hospital mortality was 50.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that the in‐hospital mortality was only significantly associated with jaundice (P = 0.004), no use of antifungal agent (P = 0.021) and intensive care unit admission (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Candidemia can develop in elderly patients, especially patients with cancer or other risk factors. C. albicans is the most common Candida species causing candidemia among elderly patients, followed by C. tropicalis. The mortality of candidemia among elderly patients remains high. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 688–693.
Clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of elderly patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: A retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Korkmaz Serdal , Dal Mehmet Sinan , Berber Ilhami , Sahin Deniz Goren , Dogu Mehmet Hilmi , Ayyildiz Orhan , Nizam Ilknur , Albayrak Murat , Esen Ramazan , Namdaroglu Sinem , Sencan Mehmet , Akay Olga Meltem , Hacioglu Sibel , Yildirim Rahsan , Eser Ali , Tombak Anil , Pala Cigdem , Ilhan Osman
Published: September 2014

Aims

We aimed to investigate whether older age leads to limitations in the starting dose of imatinib in daily treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, and to determine the compliance of elderly patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) therapy.

Methods

Data including the clinical characteristics, therapeutic outcomes and compliance with TKI therapy of elderly patients with chronic myeloid leukemia aged >65 years were collected from 13 institutions in Turkey, retrospectively.

Results

A total of 69 patients (27 [39%] men, 42 [61%] women) were evaluated retrospectively. The median age of the patients was 71 years (range 66–85 years). Of the patients, 66 (96%) were in the chronic phase and three (4.3%) were in the accelerated phase when diagnosed. A total of 63 (91.3%) patients were receiving imatinib as the first‐line therapy. The initial dose of imatinib was 400 mg/day in 59 patients (93.6%). Imatinib treatment induced 57 (90.5%) complete hematological responses at 3 months, 29 (46%) complete cytogenetic responses at 6 months and 49 (77.7%) major molecular responses at 12 months. As a result, nilotinib and dasatinib were used in 14 patients as second‐line therapy. Second‐line TKI induced nine complete hematological responses (64.3%) at 3 months, four complete cytogenetic responses (28.6%) at 12 months and seven major molecular responses (50%) at 18 months. A total of 56 of the patients (81.2%) are still alive. The median overall survival and progression‐free survival rates were 35 months (range 1–95 months) and 17 months (range 0.8–95 months), respectively.

Conclusion

Elderly patients should receive TKI according to the same guidelines that apply to younger patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 729–735.
Prevalence of medication adherence and its associated factors among community‐dwelling Chinese older adults in Hong Kong
Authors: Leung Doris YP , Bai Xue , Leung Angela YM , Liu Ben CP , Chi Iris
Published: September 2014

Aim

The aim of present study was to describe the prevalence of medication adherence, and to examine its risk factors among Chinese community‐dwelling older adults with chronic diseases.

Methods

Secondary analysis was carried out on the data collected from 3167 Hong Kong adults aged ≥60 years who lived in their private home, had at least one type of chronic disease and had completed a screening instrument for long‐term care services for the first time in 2006. The outcome variable was the self‐ or caregiver‐reported medication adherence.

Results

Among the respondents, 90.8% reported having good medication adherence in the past 7 days. More dependence on activities of daily living (P < 0.001), stroke (P = 0.003) or diabetes (P = 0.036), had medication review by physicians (P < 0.001) and received more informal care support (P = 0.005) were positively associated with medication adherence, whereas more cognitive impaired (P = 0.008), more negative mood (P = 0.071) and perceived poor health (P < 0.001) were negatively associated with medication adherence.

Conclusions

The prevalence of self‐reported medication adherence was high in Hong Kong Chinese community‐dwelling older adults. A number of modifiable factors associated with medication adherence were identified, which provides specific targets for interventions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 789–796.
Use of the Barthel index, activities of daily living, in dermatologic surgery in patients aged 80 years and older
Authors: Pascual José C. , Belinchón Isabel , Ramos José M.
Published: September 2014

Background

Dermatologists often attend elderly patients with non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). There is a lack of information regarding the optimum treatment for elderly patients with NMSC.

Methods

The objective of this study was to describe changes in the Barthel Index (BI) after dermatologic surgery for NMSC in patients aged 80 years and older. A prospective observational study was carried out in patients aged 80 years and older diagnosed with NMSC and treated with conventional dermatologic surgery. BI was performed by direct interview with the patients and/or their caregiver before the surgery, seven and 30 days after the surgery.

Results

A total of 180 dermatologic surgeries were performed in 144 patients. The average age of the patients was 84.2 years. There were 84 men (58.3%) and 60 women (41.7%). Mean BI score was 85.9 at baseline, 85.3 on day 7 after surgery, and 85.6 on day 30, showing minimal changes after dermatologic surgery. Changes in the BI occurred mainly in dressing, toilet use, transfers, mobility (on level surfaces) and walking stairs.

Conclusions

Activities of daily living were not significantly affected in patients aged 80 years and older, after dermatologic surgery for NMSC.
Ethyl carbamate formation regulated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae ZJU in the processing of Chinese yellow rice wine
Authors: Fang Ruo‐Si , Dong Ya‐Chen , Li Hong‐Ji , Chen Qi‐He
Published: September 2014

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a probable carcinogen existing in most fermented foods. Throughout traditional fermentation processes, the Chinese fermentation starter plays an important role, but it contains varieties of microorganisms which make inhibiting EC efficiently become a challenge. Therefore, the traditional fermentation starter is substituted with a single yeast strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ZJU) to regulate EC catabolism. In this work, S. cerevisiae ZJU can reduce EC formation and the data of EC concentration show that there is 85.6% reduction of EC at most using S. cerevisiae ZJU instead of the traditional fermentation starter. Extracellular urea and citrulline were the leading precursors of EC. The content of amino acids and volatile flavour compounds in the experimental group has no significant influence compared to the natural fermentation. The findings in this work suggest that EC can be regulated by means of the fermentation starters variation.
The affective dimension of early‐onset psychosis and its relationship with suicide
Authors: Sanchez‐Gistau Vanessa , Baeza Inmaculada , Arango Celso , González‐Pinto Ana , de la Serna Elena , Parellada Mara , Graell Montserrat , Paya Beatriz , Llorente Cloe , Castro‐Fornieles Josefina
Published: September 2014

Background

The affective dimension has scarcely been studied in early‐onset psychosis. Our aims were to investigate the prevalence and type of affective symptoms in the prodromal and acute phases of early‐onset psychosis and to examine their relationship with suicide. We also sought to establish whether the presence of premorbid antecedents or the presence of affective symptoms during the prodromal and acute phase might predict a later diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BP) or schizophrenia (SZ).

Method

Participants were 95 youths, aged 9–17 years, experiencing a first episode of a psychotic disorder (FEP) according to DSM‐IV criteria. Prodromal affective symptoms in the year prior to the onset of full‐blown psychosis were assessed by means of the K‐SADS. Affective symptoms during the acute episode were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale. Suicidality was assessed during the acute episode and at 6 and 12 months.

Results

Half of the patients experienced affective symptoms during the prodrome, with depressive symptoms being the most frequently reported. During the acute episode, 23.2% presented depressive, 41.4% mixed and 18.9% manic symptoms. After logistic regression analysis, only the presence of depressive symptoms was significantly associated with suicidality during the 12 months following the FEP. Neither early premorbid antecedents nor the prevalence or type of affective symptoms during the FEP predicted a diagnosis of BP or SZ at 12 months. However, both depressive and manic prodromal symptoms were associated with a later diagnosis of BP.

Conclusions

The FEP of both SZ and BP is preceded by an identifiable prodromal phase. Early detection programs should target young people at clinical risk for the extended psychosis phenotype. The high prevalence of affective symptoms during the early phases of psychosis may encourage clinicians to identify and treat them in order to prevent suicide behaviour.
Porokeratotic adnexal ostial naevus: review on the entity and therapeutic approach
Authors: Llamas‐Velasco M. , Hilty N. , Kempf W.
Published: September 2014

Background

Porokeratotic adnexal ostial nevus (PAON) is a term that encompass porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct naevus and porokeratotic eccrine and hair follicle naevus. PAON is a rare adnexal hamartoma characterized by the presence of a cornoid lamella exclusively overlying eccrine acrosyringia or over both, eccrine acrosyringia and hair follicles.

Objectives

Most of the articles on PAON report its clinical or histopathological characteristics but literature review offer scarce data on the evolution or treatment. We have reviewed it.

Case report

We report an 8‐year‐old boy with presence of bilateral asymtomatic verrucous lesions mostly in left side of the body without other added abnormalities through the twelve‐year follow‐up. As our case presented cornoid lamella overlying eccrine acrosyringia and hair follicles we diagnosed PEHFN. He received treatment with CO2 ablation in 2004 and in 2012 with marked improvement.

Results

Review of the previous reported cases of PAON show that it is mostly unilateral and that some patients have coexisting problems like seizures, left hemiparesis, scoliosis, deafness, developmental delay, palmoplantar keratoderma, psoriasis, hyperthyroidism, polinerupathy, breast hipoplasia and KID.

Conclusion

PAON responded with tazaroten gel, dithranol short‐contact treatment and topical photodynamic therapy but laser treatments appear to be more efficient in most patients.
Not all fish are equal: functional biodiversity of cartilaginous fishes (Elasmobranchii and Holocephali) in Chile
Authors: Bustamante C. , Vargas‐Caro C. , Bennett M. B.
Published: September 2014

A review of the primary literature on the cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras), together with new information suggests that 106 species occur in Chilean waters, comprising 58 sharks, 30 skates, 13 rays and five chimaeras. The presence of 93 species was confirmed, although 30 species were encountered rarely, through validated catch records and sightings made in artisanal and commercial fisheries and on specific research cruises. Overall, only 63 species appear to have a range distribution that normally includes Chilean waters. Actual reliable records of occurrence are lacking for 13 species. Chile has a cartilaginous fish fauna that is relatively impoverished compared with the global species inventory, but conservative compared with countries in South America with warm‐temperate waters. The region of highest species richness occurs in the mid‐Chilean latitudes of c. 30–40° S. This region represents a transition zone with a mix of species related to both the warm‐temperate Peruvian province to the north and cold‐temperate Magellan province to the south. This study provides clarification of species occurrence and the functional biodiversity of Chile's cartilaginous fish fauna.
Comparison of steroidogenic pathways among normoandrogenic and hyperandrogenic polycystic ovary syndrome patients and normal cycling women
Authors: de Medeiros Sebastião Freitas , Barbosa Jacklyne Silva , Yamamoto Márcia Marly Winck
Published: September 2014

Aim

To compare the corticosteroidogenic enzyme activities between normal cycling non‐polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and normoandrogenic PCOS (NA‐PCOS) and hyperandrogenic PCOS (HA‐PCOS) patients.

Methods

This cohort study was conducted at Julio Muller University Hospital and Tropical Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Menopause, and enrolled 114 non‐PCOS women and 355 PCOS patients. The steroidogenic enzyme activities were measured using the serum steroid product/precursor molar ratio.

Results

In the Δ5 pathway the 17,20 lyase activity was equally low in the NA‐PCOS and HA‐PCOS women compared with the non‐PCOS women (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the Δ4 pathway, the 17,20 lyase activity was higher only in the HA‐PCOS group (P < 0.001). The 17‐hydroxylase activity was the same in PCOS and non‐PCOS subjects (P > 0.05). The 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase II (3β‐HSDII) activity was higher in the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone into androstenedione in the HA‐PCOS than in the NA‐PCOS (P < 0.05) and the non‐PCOS patients (P < 0.01). The aromatase activity was lower in the HA‐PCOS than in the NA‐PCOS (P < 0.05) patients and non‐PCOS subjects (P < 0.01). In HA‐PCOS subjects, the 17,20 lyase activity was related to insulin, estradiol, total testosterone concentrations and free androgen index in the Δ5 pathway. 3β‐HSDII showed weak correlation with estradiol in the HA‐PCOS group. Anthropometric parameters had little impact, if any, on the steroidogenic enzyme activities.

Conclusion

The NA‐PCOS and HA‐PCOS patients demonstrated different enzyme activities, and the results provided new directions for future studies including PCOS patients with different phenotypes.
Towards understanding wild boar Sus scrofa movement: a synthetic movement ecology approach
Authors: Morelle Kevin , Podgórski Tomasz , Prévot Céline , Keuling Oliver , Lehaire François , Lejeune Philippe
Published: September 2014

In recent decades, the wild boar Sus scrofa has simultaneously increased its population size and colonized new habitats, causing more ecological and socio‐economic concern than perhaps any other ungulate species. However, the drivers and mechanisms of the species' spatial ecology remain poorly understood. Thanks to a recently developed framework, the movement ecology of any organism can now be tackled within a consistent and unified theoretical approach.

Based on this framework, we reviewed the literature on wild boar movement ecology to assess current knowledge and to identify important gaps.

By using important navigational (e.g. olfactory sense) and cognitive (e.g. spatial memory, learning from conspecifics) abilities, wild boar have developed complex movement strategies to cope with external factors. However, there is a lack of detailed information on the role played by the internal state (motivation) and motion capacity in shaping the spatial ability of the species.

Specific aspects of the movement ecology of the wild boar, together with its high diet plasticity and its high prolificacy, are probably the most important causes of the rapid spread of wild boar worldwide.

We hope our review will inspire other scientists to apply their biological models to the movement ecology paradigms. Furthermore, we suggest that future researchers dealing with the movement ecology of any species should explicitly state the components and interactions of the framework investigated to facilitate further understanding and comparison among studies.
Genome scans and elusive candidate genes: detecting the variation that matters for speciation
Authors: Sætre Glenn‐Peter
Published: September 2014

Next‐generation sequencing is providing us with vast amounts of genetic data, yet we are currently struggling in our attempts to make sense of them. In particular, it has proven difficult to link phenotypic divergence and speciation to genome level divergence. In the current issue of Molecular Ecology, Ruegg et al. () present new empirical results from two closely related bird taxa. They use a promising approach combining genome scan and candidate gene analysis. Their results suggest that we may have been looking in vain for candidate speciation genes by focusing only on genes found within genomic islands of divergence. This is because genes important in divergence and speciation may not be detected by genome scans and because features of the genomic architecture per se may have a large effect on the pattern of genome divergence.
Patristic Exegetical Theory and Practice in De Lubac and Congar
Authors: Wright William M.
Published: September 2014

This article examines the retrieval of patristic exegesis in two major figure in Catholic Ressourcement theology: Henri de Lubac and Yves Congar. Henri de Lubac's driving concern in his biblical writings is not so much to chronicle the history of interpretation as it is to explicate the great theological synthesis, which underlies the doctrine of the fourfold sense of Scripture. For de Lubac, this synthesis, wherein the totality of Christian doctrine and practice is centered in Christ and grounded in the reading of Scripture, is an essential component of Christianity. De Lubac encourages the integration of this theological vision with modern biblical studies, but he does not offer much as to what such an integration might look like in practice. Congar, building upon de Lubac's work, goes beyond de Lubac in making concrete efforts to integrate some of the theory and practice of patristic interpretation with modern exegesis. Important here is Congar's notion of “typological tradition” whereby the divine mystery concealed and revealed in the realities presented by the biblical text, unfold in the tradition, doctrine, and practice of the Church.
A hybrid approach for forecasting of oil prices volatility
Authors: Komijani Akbar , Naderi Esmaeil , Gandali Alikhani Nadiya
Published: September 2014

This study aims to introduce an ideal model for forecasting crude oil price volatility. For this purpose, the ‘predictability’ hypothesis was tested using the variance ratio test, BDS test and the chaos analysis. Structural analyses were also carried out to identify possible non‐linear patterns in this series. On this basis, Lyapunov exponents confirmed that the return series of crude oil price is chaotic. Moreover, according to the findings, the rate of return series has the long memory property rejecting the efficient market hypothesis and affirming the fractal markets hypothesis. The results of the Geweke and Porter‐Hudak test verified that both the rate of return and volatility series of crude oil price have the long memory property. Besides, according to both mean square error (MSE) and root mean square error (RMSE) criteria, wavelet‐decomposed data improve the performance of the model significantly. Therefore, a hybrid model was introduced based on the long memory property which uses wavelet decomposed data as the most relevant model.
Genetic variation and structure in the Mediterranean shrubs Myrtus communis and Pistacia lentiscus in different landscape contexts
Authors: Nora S. , Albaladejo R. G. , Aparicio A.
Published: September 2014

Studies concerning different habitat configurations can provide insights into the complex interactions between species’ life‐history traits and the environment and can help to predict patterns in population genetics. In this study, we compared patterns of genetic variation in two Mediterranean shrub species (Myrtus communis and Pistacia lentiscus) that co‐occur in populations within three contrasting landscape contexts: continuous, fragmented‐connected and fragmented‐isolated populations. Analysing variation at microsatellites loci, our results revealed weak responses to the landscape contexts. We rather found a population‐specific response in both study species. However, despite both study species sharing similar levels of genetic diversity, Myrtus displayed higher levels of homozygosity and genetic differentiation among populations, stronger patterns of within‐population spatial genetic structure, lower values of mutation‐scaled effective population size and stronger evidence for recent genetic bottlenecks than Pistacia. This result highlights the influence of past events (e.g. historical connectivity, fluctuations in population size) and local factors (e.g. microhabitat availability for recruitment, habitat quality, plant density, native fauna) and that the landscape configuration per se (i.e. fragment size and/or isolation) might not completely determine the species’ genetic patterns.
Religions Policies During the Allied Occupation of Japan, 1945–1952
Authors: Thomas Jolyon
Published: September 2014

Religion played a prominent role in the Allied Occupation of Japan (1945–1952) that followed the brutal Pacific War (1941–1945). Officially, the occupiers were to promulgate religious freedom, separate religion from the state, and encourage the Japanese people to develop a ‘desire for religious freedom’. Promulgating religious freedom was the easy part. Separating religion from the state without infringing on religious freedom was far more challenging, and the ambiguous objective of instilling a desire for religious freedom in the Japanese populace was nearly impossible to measure. This review article provides a brief overview of trends in Occupation research, traces historical changes and paradoxes in Occupation religions policy and examines the unexpected and frequently ironic outcomes of that policy. It provides a cursory look into the postwar efflorescence of ‘new religions’ and the politically fraught category of ‘State Shintō’. It closes with an overview of archives and records on the Occupation.

Video abstract (click to view)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyzjk8AaCP8
Can Property Values Capture Changes in Environmental Health Risks? Evidence from a Stated Preference Study in Italy and the United Kingdom
Authors: Guignet Dennis , Alberini Anna
Published: September 2014

Hedonic models are a common nonmarket valuation technique, but, in practice, results can be affected by omitted variables and whether homebuyers respond to the assumed environmental measure. We undertake an alternative stated preference approach that circumvents these issues. We examine how homeowners in the United Kingdom and Italy value mortality risk reductions by asking them to choose among hypothetical variants of their home that differ in terms of mortality risks from air pollution and price. We find that Italian homeowners hold a value of a statistical life (VSL) of €6.4 million, but U.K. homeowners hold a much lower VSL (€2.1 million). This may be because respondents in the United Kingdom do not perceive air pollution where they live to be as threatening, and actually live in cities with relatively low air pollution. Italian homeowners value a reduction in the risk of dying from cancer more than from other causes, but U.K. respondents do not hold such a premium. Lastly, respondents who face higher baseline risks, due to greater air pollution where they live, hold a higher VSL, particularly in the United Kingdom. In both countries, the VSL is twice as large among individuals who perceive air pollution where they live as high.
A Convex Pseudolikelihood Framework for High Dimensional Partial Correlation Estimation with Convergence Guarantees
Authors: Khare Kshitij , Oh Sang-Yun , Rajaratnam Bala
Published: September 2014

Sparse high dimensional graphical model selection is a topic of much interest in modern day statistics. A popular approach is to apply l  1-penalties to either parametric likelihoods, or regularized regression/pseudolikelihoods, with the latter having the distinct advantage that they do not explicitly assume Gaussianity. As none of the popular methods proposed for solving pseudolikelihood-based objective functions have provable convergence guarantees, it is not clear whether corresponding estimators exist or are even computable, or if they actually yield correct partial correlation graphs. We propose a new pseudolikelihood-based graphical model selection method that aims to overcome some of the shortcomings of current methods, but at the same time retain all their respective strengths. In particular, we introduce a novel framework that leads to a convex formulation of the partial covariance regression graph problem, resulting in an objective function comprised of quadratic forms. The objective is then optimized via a co-ordinatewise approach. The specific functional form of the objective function facilitates rigorous convergence analysis leading to convergence guarantees; an important property that cannot be established by using standard results, when the dimension is larger than the sample size, as is often the case in high dimensional applications. These convergence guarantees ensure that estimators are well defined under very general conditions and are always computable. In addition, the approach yields estimators that have good large sample properties and also respect symmetry. Furthermore, application to simulated and real data, timing comparisons and numerical convergence is demonstrated. We also present a novel unifying framework that places all graphical pseudolikelihood methods as special cases of a more general formulation, leading to important insights.
Germination ecology of Emex spinosa and Emex australis, invasive weeds of winter crops
Authors: Javaid M M , Tanveer A
Published: September 2014

Emex spinosa and Emex australis are invasive dicotyledonous weeds. The effects of various environmental factors on the germination of these weeds were investigated under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Germination response of both species was lower at warmer temperature, and maximum germination was recorded at 20/12°C (day/night). Light stimulated germination in both species, but considerable germination also occurred under darkness. More than 80% of E. spinosa seeds germinated at pH between 6 and 9, whereas E. australis seeds germination was considerably decreased at pH 9. Emex spinosa was fairly tolerant to salinity as compared with E. australis and germination (21%) of E. spinosa occurred even at 200 mm NaCl. Both species were sensitive to osmotic stress, but E. spinosa tolerated more osmotic stress than E. australis. Temperature above 20/12°C (day/night) and low osmotic potential increased time to start germination and mean germination time (MGT), as well as decreased germination index (GI) of both species. Darkness resulted in increased MGT and decreased GI in both species when compared with 10 h photoperiod. Salt stress strongly increased time to obtain 50% germination and reduced GI of both species. In both species, an increasing burial depth decreased emergence percentage and emergence index and increased time to start emergence, although some seed emerged even at 10 cm burial depth. It was concluded that both species can germinate over a wide range of environmental conditions. However, E. australis was more sensitive under adverse environmental conditions compared with E. spinosa. This information on germination ecology may aid in developing tools and strategies for management.
Misinterpretation of the mouse ECG: ‘musing the waves of Mus musculus’
Authors: Boukens Bastiaan J. , Rivaud Mathilde R. , Rentschler Stacey , Coronel Ruben
Published: September 2014

The ECG is a primary diagnostic tool in patients suffering from heart disease, underscoring the importance of understanding factors contributing to normal and abnormal electrical patterns. Over the past few decades, transgenic mouse models have been increasingly used to study pathophysiological mechanisms of human heart diseases. In order to allow extrapolation of insights gained from murine models to the human condition, knowledge of the similarities and differences between the mouse and human ECG is of crucial importance. In this review, we briefly discuss the physiological mechanisms underlying differences between the baseline ECG of humans and mice, and provide a framework for understanding how these inherent differences are relevant to the interpretation of the mouse ECG during pathology and to the translation of the results from the mouse to man.
Poster — Thur Eve — 16: 4DCT simulation with synchronized contrast injection of liver SBRT patients
Authors: Karotki A. , Milot L. , Chu W. , Korol R. , Erler D. , Chung H. T.
Published: September 2014

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has recently emerged as a valid option for treating liver metastases. SBRT delivers highly conformai dose over a small number of fractions. As such it is particularly sensitive to the accuracy of target volume delineation by the radiation oncologist. However, contouring liver metastases remains challenging for the following reasons. First, the liver usually undergoes significant motion due to respiration. Second, liver metastases are often nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding tissue when using computed tomography (CT) for imaging making it difficult to identify and delineate them. Both problems can be overcome by using four dimensional CT (4DCT) synchronized with intravenous contrast injection. We describe a novel CT simulation process which involves two 4DCT scans. The first scan captures the tumor and immediately surrounding tissue which in turn reduces the 4DCT scan time so that it can be optimally timed with intravenous contrast injection. The second 4DCT scan covers a larger volume and is used as the primary CT dataset for dose calculation, as well as patient setup verification on the treatment unit. The combination of two 4DCT scans, short and long, allows visualization of the liver metastases over all phases of breathing cycle while simultaneously acquiring long enough 4DCT dataset suitable for planning and patient setup verification.
Sci—Thur AM: YIS ‐ 01: Dosimetric Analysis of Respiratory Induced Cardiac Intrafraction Motion in Left‐sided Breast Cancer Radiotherapy
Authors: El‐Sherif O , Xhaferllari I , Patrick J , Yu E , Gaede S
Published: September 2014

Introduction:

Long‐term cardiac side effects in left‐sided breast cancer patients (BREL) after post‐operative radiotherapy has become one of the most debated issues in radiation oncology. Through breathing‐adapted radiotherapy the volume of the heart exposed to radiation can be significantly reduced by delivering the radiation only at the end of inspiration phase of the respiratory cycle, this is referred to as inspiration gating (IG).

The purpose of this study is to quantify the potential reduction in cardiac exposure during IG compared to conventional BREL radiotherapy and to assess the dosimetric impact of cardiac motion due to natural breathing.

Methods:

24 BREL patients treated with tangential parallel opposed photon beams were included in this study. All patients received a standard fast helical planning CT (FH‐CT) and a 4D‐CT. Treatment plans were created on the FH‐CT using a clinical treatment planning system. The original treatment plan was then superimposed onto the end of inspiration CT and all 10 phases of the 4D‐CT to quantify the dosimetric impact of respiratory motion and IG through 4D dose accumulation.

Results:

Through IG the mean dose to the heart, left ventricle, and left anterior descending artery (LAD) can be reduced in comparison to the clinical standard BREL treatment by as much as 8.39%, 10.11%, and 13.71% respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Failure to account for respiratory motion can lead to under or overestimation in the calculated DVH for the heart, and it's sub‐structures. IG can reduce cardiac exposure especially to the LAD during BREL radiotherapy.
Poster — Thur Eve — 32: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Peripheral Lung Lesion: Treatment Planning and Quality Assurance
Authors: Wan Shuying , Oliver Michael , Wang Xiaofang
Published: September 2014

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), due to its high precision for target localizing, has become widely used to treat tumours at various locations, including the lungs.

Lung SBRT program was started at our institution a year ago. Eighteen patients with peripheral lesions up to 3 cm diameter have been treated with 48 Gy in 4 fractions.

Based on four‐dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) simulation, internal target volume (ITV) was delineated to encompass the respiratory motion of the lesion. A margin of 5 mm was then added to create the planning target volume (PTV) for setup uncertainties. There was no expansion from gross tumour volume (GTV) to clinical target volume (CTV). Pinnacle 9.6 was used as the primary treatment planning system. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique, with one or two coplanar arcs, generally worked well. For quality assurance (QA), each plan was exported to Eclipse 10 and dose calculation was repeated. Dose volume histograms (DVHs) of the targets and organs at risk (OARs) were then compared between the two treatment planning systems.

Winston‐Lutz tests were carried out as routine machine QA. Patient‐specific QA included ArcCheck measurement with an insert, where an ionization chamber was placed at the centre to measure dose at the isocenter. For the first several patients, and subsequently for the plans with extremely strong modulation, Gafchromic film dosimetry was also employed.

For each patient, a mock setup was scheduled prior to treatments. Daily pre‐ and post‐CBCT were acquired for setup and assessment of intra‐fractional motion, respectively.
Poster — Thur Eve — 39: Feasibility of Commissioning HybridArc with the Delta 4 two plane diode phantom: comparisons with Gafchromic Film.
Authors: Bojechko C. , Ploquin N. , Hudson A. , Sayous Y.
Published: September 2014

HybridArc is a relatively novel radiation therapy technique which combines optimized dynamic conformai arcs (DCA) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). HybridArc has possible dosimetry and efficiency advantages over stand alone DCA and IMRT treatments and can be readily implemented on any linac capable of DCA and IMRT, giving strong motivation to commission the modality. The Delta4 phantom (Scandidos, Uppsala, Sweden) has been used for IMRT and VMAT clinical dosimetric verification making it a candidate for HybridArc commissioning. However the HybridArc modality makes use of several non co‐planar arcs which creates setup issues due to the geometry of the Delta4, resulting in possible phantom gantry collisions for plans with non‐zero couch angles. An analysis was done determining the feasibility of using the Delta4 fixed at 0° couch angle compared with results obtained using Gafchromic ETB2 film (Ashland, Covington Kentucky) in an anthropomorphic phantom at the planned couch angles. A gamma index analysis of the measured and planned dose distributions was done using Delta4 and DoseLab Pro (Mobius Medical Systems, Houston Texas) software. For both arc and IMRT sub‐fields there is reasonable correlation between the gamma index found from the Delta4 and Gafchromic film. All results show the feasibility of using the Delta4 for HybridArc commissioning.
Sci—Thur AM: YIS ‐ 08: Constructing an Attenuation map for a PET/MR Breast coil
Authors: Patrick John C. , So Aaron , Butler John , Faul David , Yartsev Slav , Thompson Terry , Prato Frank S. , Gaede Stewart
Published: September 2014

In 2013, around 23000 Canadian women and 200 Canadian men were diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 5100 women and 55 men died from the disease. Using the sensitivity of MRI with the selectivity of PET, PET/MRI combines anatomical and functional information within the same scan and could help with early detection in high‐risk patients. MRI requires radiofrequency coils for transmitting energy and receiving signal but the breast coil attenuates PET signal. To correct for this PET attenuation, a 3‐dimensional map of linear attenuation coefficients (μ‐map) of the breast coil must be created and incorporated into the PET reconstruction process. Several approaches have been proposed for building hardware μ‐maps, some of which include the use of conventional kVCT and Dual energy CT. These methods can produce high resolution images based on the electron densities of materials that can be converted into μ‐maps. However, imaging hardware containing metal components with photons in the kV range is susceptible to metal artifacts. These artifacts can compromise the accuracy of the resulting μ‐map and PET reconstruction; therefore high‐Z components should be removed. We propose a method for calculating μ‐maps without removing coil components, based on megavoltage (MV) imaging with a linear accelerator that has been detuned for imaging at 1.0MeV. Containers of known geometry with F18 were placed in the breast coil for imaging. A comparison between reconstructions based on the different μ‐map construction methods was made. PET reconstructions with our method show a maximum of 6% difference over the existing kVCT‐based reconstructions.