bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depth‐dependent concentrations of hematopoietic stem cells in the adult skeleton: Implications for active marrow dosimetry
Authors: Geyer Amy M. , Schwarz Bryan C. , O'Reilly Shannon E. , Hobbs Robert F. , Sgouros George , Bolch Wesley E.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The hematopoietically active (or red) bone marrow is the target tissue assigned in skeletal dosimetry models for assessment of stochastic effects (leukemia induction) as well as tissue reactions (marrow toxicity). Active marrow, however, is in reality a surrogate tissue region for specific cell populations, namely the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Present models of active marrow dosimetry implicitly assume that these cells are uniformly localized throughout the marrow spaces of trabecular spongiosa. Data from Watchman et al. and Bourke et al., however, clearly indicate that there is a substantial spatial concentration gradient of these cells with the highest concentrations localized near the bone trabeculae surfaces. The purpose of the present study was thus to explore the dosimetric implications of these spatial gradients on active marrow dosimetry.

Methods

Images of several bone sites from a 45‐yr female were retagged to group active marrow voxels into 50 μm increments of marrow depth, after which electron and alpha‐particle depth‐dependent specific absorbed fractions were computed for four source tissues — active marrow, inactive marrow, bone trabeculae volumes, and bone trabeculae surfaces. Corresponding depth‐dependent S values (dose to a target tissue per decay in a source tissue) were computed and further weighted by the relative target cell concentration. These depth‐weighted radionuclide S values were systematically compared to the more traditional volume‐averaged radionuclide S values of the MIRD schema for both individual bones of the skeleton and their skeletal‐averaged quantities.

Results

For both beta‐emitters and alpha‐emitters localized in the active and inactive marrow, depth‐weighted S values were shown to differ from volume‐averaged S values by only a few percent, as dose gradients across the marrow tissues are nonexistent. For bone volume and bone surface sources of alpha‐emitters and lower energy beta‐emitters, when marrow dose gradients are expected, explicit consideration of target cell spatial concentration gradients are shown to significantly impact marrow dosimetry.

Conclusions

For medical isotopes currently utilized for treatment of skeletal metastases, namely 153Sm and 223Ra, accounting for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell concentration gradients resulted in maximum percent differences to reference skeletal‐averaged S values of ~21% and 55%, respectively.
Development of an autonomous treatment planning strategy for radiation therapy with effective use of population‐based prior data
Authors: Wang Huan , Dong Peng , Liu Hongcheng , Xing Lei
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Current treatment planning remains a costly and labor intensive procedure and requires multiple trial‐and‐error adjustments of system parameters such as the weighting factors and prescriptions. The purpose of this work is to develop an autonomous treatment planning strategy with effective use of prior knowledge and in a clinically realistic treatment planning platform to facilitate radiation therapy workflow.

Method

Our technique consists of three major components: (i) a clinical treatment planning system (TPS); (ii) a formulation of decision‐function constructed using an assemble of prior treatment plans; (iii) a plan evaluator or decision‐function and an outer‐loop optimization independent of the clinical TPS to assess the TPS‐generated plan and to drive the search toward a solution optimizing the decision‐function. Microsoft (MS) Visual Studio Coded UI is applied to record some common planner‐TPS interactions as subroutines for querying and interacting with the TPS. These subroutines are called back in the outer‐loop optimization program to navigate the plan selection process through the solution space iteratively. The utility of the approach is demonstrated by using clinical prostate and head‐and‐neck cases.

Results

An autonomous treatment planning technique with effective use of an assemble of prior treatment plans is developed to automatically maneuver the clinical treatment planning process in the platform of a commercial TPS. The process mimics the decision‐making process of a human planner and provides a clinically sensible treatment plan automatically, thus reducing/eliminating the tedious manual trial‐and‐errors of treatment planning. It is found that the prostate and head‐and‐neck treatment plans generated using the approach compare favorably with that used for the patients’ actual treatments.

Conclusions

Clinical inverse treatment planning process can be automated effectively with the guidance of an assemble of prior treatment plans. The approach has the potential to significantly improve the radiation therapy workflow.
Plasmon‐Enhanced Spectroscopies with Shell‐Isolated Nanoparticles
Authors: Li Chao‐Yu , Yang Zhen‐Wei , Dong Jin‐Chao , Ganguly Tapan , Li Jian‐Feng
Published: December 2016

Shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), due to its versatility, has been able to break the long‐term limitations of the material‐ and substrate‐specific generalities in the traditional field of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. With a shell‐isolated work principle, this method provides an opportunity to investigate successfully in surface, biological systems, energetic materials, and environmental sciences. Both the shell material and core morphology are being improved continuously to meet the requirements in diverse systems, such as the electrochemical studies at single crystal electrode surfaces, in situ monitoring of photoinduced reaction processes, practical applications in energy conversion and storage, inspections in food safety, and the surface‐enhanced fluorescence. Predictably, the concept of shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhancement could be expanded to the wider range for the performance of plasmon‐enhanced spectral modifications.
Regulation and stabilization by ice storage air‐conditioning and battery energy storage system in microgrids
Authors: Yang Lian , Tai Nengling , Fan Chunju
Published: December 2016

The energy consumption statistics of buildings shows that cooling takes up a considerable portion of the energy demand. The peak–valley characteristics of cooling demand coincides with that of the electrical load in the microgrid. Thus the management of the cooling demand side can regulate the peak–valley demand and stabilize power fluctuations. This paper proposes a new energy management strategy that reduces the investment and loss of the battery energy storage system (BESS) by applying ice storage air‐conditioning (ISAC) to the microgrid. Based on the load characteristics and BESS investment, the capacities of the chillers and the ice tank are analyzed. Penalty functions of ISAC and BESS are designed, according to which the stabilization command is dispatched. Finally, an actual case is analyzed by the proposed strategy, and the results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the energy management strategy. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Impact analysis of static voltage assessment based on three‐phase probabilistic load flow with correlated wind power
Authors: Ran Xiaohong , Bai Zhan
Published: December 2016

Impact analysis based on the three‐phase probabilistic load flow (PLF) algorithm is proposed in this paper to evaluate the effect on static voltage of an unbalanced power system. Correlations between adjacent wind power resources are considered. An improved cumulants method with correlated variables is proposed and applied to the unbalanced system. Cornish–Fisher expansion is used to obtain the cumulative distribution function of bus voltage and line flow. The impacts for wind turbines , which include rated capacity, power factor, and correlation on PLF, are studied, and the relations of the means and standard deviations between three‐phase unbalanced and balanced systems are analyzed. A 25‐bus and a 33‐bus system are studied as examples to show the effectiveness of proposed method, and results of cumulants method are compared with those of Monte Carlo simulations. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Development of a DC −1 MV insulating transformer for neutral beam injectors
Authors: Watanabe Kazuhiro , Yamanaka Haruhiko , Maejima Tetsuya , Kashiwagi Mieko , Tobari Hiroyuki , Inoue Takashi , Hanada Masaya , Tanaka Shigeru , Yamaguchi Kohei , Kadowaki Makoto
Published: December 2016

A DC −1 MV insulating transformer has been developed for the power supply of the neutral beam injector (NBI) at ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) . A DC long‐pulse −1 MV insulation structure between the primary and secondary windings, considering potential variation in the insulator for DC long pulse, has been designed. Simultaneous development of a compound bushing, which consists of an AC 500 kV condenser bushing inside a cylindrical fiber‐reinforced plastic tube, has been carried out. The DC −1 MV insulation design has been verified by high‐voltage insulation tests of AC 50 Hz 1300 kV peak for 1 min, DC −1200 kV for 1 h, and a long‐duration test of DC −1060 kV for 5 h. The results showed that the insulating transformer satisfies the power supply requirements for the ITER NBI. Copyright © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nonhyperbolic step skew-products: Ergodic approximation
Authors: Díaz L.J. , Gelfert K. , Rams M.
Published: December 2016

We study transitive step skew-product maps modeled over a complete shift of
k
,

k \geq 2

, symbols whose fiber maps are defined on the circle and have intermingled contracting and expanding regions. These dynamics are genuinely nonhyperbolic and exhibit simultaneously ergodic measures with positive, negative, and zero exponents.

We introduce a set of axioms for the fiber maps and study the dynamics of the resulting skew-product. These axioms turn out to capture the key mechanisms of the dynamics of nonhyperbolic robustly transitive maps with compact central leaves.

Focusing on the nonhyperbolic ergodic measures (with zero fiber exponent) of these systems, we prove that such measures are approximated in the

\text{weak}⁎

topology and in entropy by hyperbolic ones. We also prove that they are in the intersection of the convex hulls of the measures with positive fiber exponent and with negative fiber exponent. Our methods also allow us to perturb hyperbolic measures. We can perturb a measure with negative exponent directly to a measure with positive exponent (and vice-versa), however we lose some amount of entropy in this process. The loss of entropy is determined by the difference between the Lyapunov exponents of the measures.
Antipsychotic treatment effects on cardiovascular, cancer, infection, and intentional self-harm as cause of death in patients with Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: Nielsen R.-E. , Lolk A. , Rodrigo-Domingo M. , Valentin J.-B. , Andersen K.
Published: December 2016

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common disease causing dementia, is linked to increased mortality. However, the effect of antipsychotic use on specific causes of mortality has not yet been investigated thoroughly.

Methods

Utilizing the Danish nationwide registers, we defined a cohort of patients diagnosed with AD. Utilizing separate Cox regressions for specific causes of mortality, we investigated the effects of cumulative antipsychotic dosage after diagnosis and current antipsychotic exposure in the time period 2000–2011.

Results

In total, 45,894 patients were followed for 3,803,996 person-years. A total of 6129 cardiovascular related deaths, 2088 cancer related deaths, 1620 infection related deaths, and 28 intentional self-harm related deaths are presented. Current antipsychotic exposure increased mortality rate with HR between 1.92 and 2.31 for cardiovascular, cancer, and infection related death. Cumulative antipsychotic dosages were most commonly associated with increased rates of mortality for cardiovascular and infection as cause of death, whereas the associations were less clear with cancer and intentional self-harm as cause of death.

Conclusions

We showed that cumulative antipsychotic drug dosages increased mortality rates for cardiovascular and infection as cause of death. These findings highlight the need for further investigations of long-term effects of treatment and of possible sub-groups who could benefit from treatment.
Inside directors, risk aversion, and firm performance
Authors: Upadhyay Arun D. , Bhargava Rahul , Faircloth Sheri , Zeng Hongchao
Published: December 2016

Prior literature provides mixed evidence on managerial risk aversion. Using a sample of 1737 large US firms from 1996 to 2005, we find a negative association between the insider ratio and firm risk. Upon further analysis, we show that firms with a greater insider ratio are also likely to have more conservative CEO compensation and investment policies. Analysis of CEO compensation policies indicates that firms with a greater insider ratio offer lower equity based compensation, lower vega and lower total compensation to their CEOs. Also, firms with a greater insider ratio tend to invest more in tangible assets such as plant and equipment and have lower intangible investments. Consistent with these boards instituting conservative policies, we find that firms with a greater insider ratio perform better when they operate in highly volatile environments. Overall, this study suggests that high‐insider boards are more conservative in policy initiation and that such boards are valuable in firms with greater operating uncertainties.
Seismic image enhancement of mud volcano bearing complex structure by the CDS method, a case study in SE of the Caspian Sea shoreline
Authors: Soleimani M.
Published: December 2016

Improving seismic image quality in complex geological structures remains a challenge in seismic imaging. In complex media, imaging of geological structures such as the boundary of salt diapirs, faults, folding systems, overthrust zones, and unconformities are controversial and challenging tasks. Therefore, new imaging methods such as full waveform inversion, path-integral seismic imaging, reverse time migration, and the optimized common reflection surface stack methods were introduced to face these challenges. The common reflection surface stack method was used frequently to resolve some of the problems in complex structure seismic imaging. However, besides its great advantage in enhancing the quality of seismic section, it faces a problem with conflicting dips. The common reflection surface stack operator is an approximation of the reflection response of a curved interface in an inhomogeneous medium. In this study, a new strategy in the common reflection surface stack is introduced, which completely resolves the problem of conflicting dips in complex structures. Compared to the common reflection surface stack, the new stacking operator is the approximation of diffraction response of a diffraction point in depth. The kinematic wavefield attributes are defined for that diffraction point, whereas curvature of the interface is not fully considered. In the introduced strategy, there would be a stacking operator for each diffraction ray from the diffractor to the surface. Thus, the new operator gathers more energy that might get lost in imaging due to simplified operator in the other methods. The new method was applied to seismic data from a complex geological mud volcano bearing structure from south east of the Caspian Sea shoreline. This area includes numerous mud volcanoes which act as indicators of gas reservoirs. As a natural phenomenon, mud absorbs the seismic energy and deteriorates the quality of the final seismic section. Therefore, obtaining accurate image of the subsurface structures here, in the boundary portion of the mud volcano, is questionable. To overcome this problem, the new method was used to obtain a stacked section with all the possible diffraction energies. Subsequently, the stacked section underwent post stack depth migration. The final depth image proves the advantage of the new stacking operator for imaging in complex structures. Finally it could be concluded that this method could be used for imaging structures with sharp reflector truncations such as faults, diapirs, and unconformities.
Petrogenesis of dunites of the Guli ultrabasic massif (northern Siberian Platform)
Authors: Simonov V.A. , Vasil’ev Yu. R. , Stupakov S.I. , Kotlyarov A.V. , Karmanov N.S.
Published: December 2016

New data on silicate melt inclusions in accessory Cr-spinel have given an insight into the physicochemical conditions of petrogenesis of dunites of the Guli massif (northern Siberian Platform). Studies of the inclusions demonstrate the contribution of high-Mg (16-22 wt.% MgO) alkali-picritic and picrobasaltic melts to the crystallization of these ultrabasic rocks. During the intrachamber crystallization of the Guli massif dunites, the composition of magmatic systems evolved from picrite–meimechite (with olivine forming at 1500–1380 °C and Cr-spinel forming at 1420–1360 °C) to picrobasalt. Comparison with well-known associations of ultrabasic igneous rocks has shown that melt inclusions in Cr-spinel from the Guli massif dunites are similar to inclusions in olivine phenocrysts from meimechites in the contents of most petrochemical components and in the distribution of indicator trace and rare-earth elements. In general, the new information on melt inclusions testifies that the Guli massif dunites formed with the participation of high-temperature high-Mg melts similar in composition to meimechite magmas.
Electron probe determination of trace elements in olivine: thermometry of depleted peridotites
Authors: Korolyuk V.N. , Pokhilenko L.N.
Published: December 2016

A method for calculation of the maximum permissible (for thermometry) error of analyte determination by trace elements is presented based on the example of the De Hoog–Gall Al-in-olivine thermometer. Analytical conditions ensuring an acceptable analytical error have been established, and the possibility to reach them has been estimated. A technique of JEOL JXA-8100 analysis of olivines for trace elements has been elaborated: Accelerating voltage is 20 kV, probe current is 400 nA, and counting time per line and background measurement is 10 s. The number of measurements per analysis is 25. Metrological characteristics of determination of Na2O, Al2O3, CaO, Cr2O3, and MnO have been calculated. Their detection limit (with confidence probability of 0.842) does not exceed 9 ppm. For an error of 10 rel.%, the quantitation limit of these oxides is within 45–100 ppm. Compositional peculiarities of olivines from depleted megacrystalline peridotites of the Udachnaya pipe have been revealed. The content of Mn significantly decreases with Mg# increase. The contents of Na, Al, Ca, and Cr show a strong mutual positive correlation. It is shown that electron probe microanalysis can provide an error sufficient for evaluating temperature by trace elements. The results of temperature determination by the Al-in-olivine thermometer agree with the thermometry data by H. O’Neil and B. Wood and differ considerably from the lower values estimated by D. Canil and C. Ryan with Ni thermometers.
VIRTUOUS INSIGHTFULNESS
Authors: Carter J. Adam
Published: December 2016

Insight often strikes us blind; when we aren't expecting it, we suddenly see a connection that previously eluded us – a kind of Aha! experience. People with a propensity to such experiences are regarded as insightful, and insightfulness is a paradigmatic intellectual virtue. What's not clear, however, is just what it is in virtue of which being such that these experiences tend to happen to one renders one intellectually virtuous. This paper draws from both virtue epistemology as well as empirical work on the psychology of problem solving and creativity to make some inroads in accounting for insightfulness as an intellectual virtue. Important to the view advanced is that virtuously insightful individuals manifest certain skills which both cultivate insight experiences (even if not by directly bringing them about) and enable such individuals to move in an epistemically responsible way from insight experience to epistemic endorsement.
Gabriele d’Annunzio and the self-fashioning of a national icon
Authors: Pieri Giuliana
Published: December 2016

This article charts the rise to fame of Gabriele D’Annunzio by focusing on a number of key moments in his life and the strategies he employed to shape his public image. The Roman years and the 1890s saw the writer’s first iconic transformation into Italy’s aesthete par excellence, a myth and related iconography that still shapes our view of the poet. The years in Florence, spent at the Villa Capponcina, coincided with the time in which d’Annunzio re-fashioned himself into a self-appointed national poet. The war years were central to the creation of an entirely new figure, the poeta soldato, whose military heroics and charismatic leadership provided novel and dubious models of engagement with contemporary politics and culture. Finally the years of the self-imposed exile at Gardone focus on the late, and as yet undocumented, use of photographs employed by d’Annunzio to keep the myth of the national poet-soldier alive under Fascism. These subsequent transformations resulted in a highly successful and thoroughly modern staging of his personality which turned him into a national icon.
Reconsidering the Role of Procedures for Decision Acceptance
Authors: Esaiasson Peter , Persson Mikael , Gilljam Mikael , Lindholm Torun
Published: December 2016

Procedural fairness theory posits that the way in which authoritative decisions are made strongly impacts people’s willingness to accept them. This article challenges this claim by contending that democratic governments can achieve little in terms of acceptance of policy decisions by the procedural means at their disposal. Instead, outcome favorability is the dominant determinant of decision acceptance. The article explicates that while central parts of procedural fairness theory are true, outcome favorability is still overwhelmingly the strongest determinant of individuals’ willingness to accept authoritative decisions. It improves on previous research by locating all key variables into one causal model and testing this model using appropriate data. Findings from a large number of experiments (both vignette and field) reproduce the expected relationships from previous research and support the additional predictions.
“Guerrilla Theater … in the Guise of Red, White, and Blue Bunting”: The People's Bicentennial Commission and the Politics of (Un-)Americanism
Authors: HALL SIMON
Published: December 2016

This article explores the battles over “Americanism” and “un-Americanism” that swirled around the People's Bicentennial Commission (PBC) – a radical, populist organization that sought to promote fundamental economic change during the mid-1970s. Although it was founded by 1960s veterans, the PBC was sharply critical of what it saw as the New Left's abandonment of Americanism. As the nation prepared to celebrate its two-hundredth birthday, the PBC sought to present itself, and its radical programme, as representing the “true” spirit of the American Revolution. For its conservative critics, though, the PBC's patriotism was little more than a ruse, designed to trick ordinary Americans into supporting what was, essentially, a dangerous (and un-American) force.
A multimodality approach to sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: a single institute experience
Authors: Bhasker S , Mallick S , Benson R , Bhanuprasad V , Sharma A , Thakar A
Published: December 2016

Background:

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma is a rare aggressive tumour arising from the Schneiderian epithelium lining the sinonasal tract. Although considered the cornerstone of therapy, surgical resection can only be performed in a limited number of patients. This report describes the experience of treating sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma with a multimodality approach.

Method:

The treatment charts of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma patients treated at a tertiary care centre from 2004 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

A total of 16 sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma patients with a median age at diagnosis of 47.5 years (range 8–65 years) were included: 19 per cent had neck nodal metastasis at presentation. Four patients (25 per cent) underwent surgery: of these, two had post-operative radiotherapy, one had pre-operative radiotherapy and one had adjuvant chemotherapy alone. Six patients (38 per cent) received definitive radiotherapy: five had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce tumour size and help in radiotherapy planning, while four (25 per cent) received palliative radiotherapy. The median follow up was 10.4 months (range 1–42.5 months). The estimated median progression-free survival time was 29.3 months. One- and three-year progression-free survival rates were 77 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively.

Conclusion:

Surgery is the best treatment option for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, although most patients require post-operative radiotherapy for advanced disease and close tumour margins. Definitive radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy may be suitable for patients with inoperable locally advanced disease. Elective nodal irradiation to address the high nodal involvement rates should be considered to improve the survival rate.
High rates of infection by blood parasites during the nestling phase in UK Columbids with notes on ecological associations
Authors: DUNN JENNY C. , STOCKDALE JENNIFER E. , BRADFORD EMMA L. , MCCUBBIN ALEXANDRA , MORRIS ANTONY J. , GRICE PHILIP V. , GOODMAN SIMON J. , HAMER KEITH C.
Published: December 2016

Studies of blood parasite infection in nestling birds rarely find a high prevalence of infection. This is likely due to a combination of short nestling periods (limiting the age at which nestlings can be sampled) and long parasite prepatent periods before gametocytes can be detected in peripheral blood. Here we examine rates of blood parasite infection in nestlings from three Columbid species in the UK. We use this system to address two key hypotheses in the epidemiology of avian haemoparasites: first, that nestlings in open nests have a higher prevalence of infection; and second, that nestlings sampled at 14 days old have a higher apparent infection rate than those sampled at 7 days old. Open-nesting individuals had a 54% infection rate compared with 25% for box-nesters, probably due to an increased exposure of open-nesting species to dipteran vectors. Nestlings sampled at 14 days had a 68% infection rate compared with 32% in nestlings sampled at 7 days, suggesting that rates of infection in the nest are high. Further work should examine nestlings post-fledging to identify rates of successful parasite infection (as opposed to abortive development within a dead-end host) as well as impacts on host post-fledging survival and behaviour.
Molecular cloning, characterization and antigenicity ofBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) (Babesiacf.motasi) apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1)
Authors: NIU QINGLI , LIU ZHIJIE , YANG JIFEI , GUAN GUIQUAN , PAN YUPING , LUO JIANXUN , YIN HONG
Published: December 2016

Apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) has been described as a potential vaccine candidate in apicomplexan parasites. Here we characterize theama-1gene. The full-lengthama-1gene ofBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) (BLTAMA-1) is 1785 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 65-kDa protein of 594 amino acid residues; by definition, the 5′ UTR precedes the first methionine of the ORF. Phylogenetic analysis based on AMA-1 amino acid sequences clearly separated Piroplasmida from other Apicomplexa parasites. TheBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) AMA-1 sequence is most closely associated with that ofB. ovataandB. bigemina, with high bootstrap value. A recombinant protein encoding a conserved region and containing ectodomains I and II of BLTAMA-1 was constructed. BLTrAMA-1-DI/DII proteins were tested for reactivity with sera from sheep infected byBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan). In Western-blot analysis, nativeBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) AMA-1 proteins were recognized by antibodies raised in rabbits against BLTrAMA-1in vitro. The results of this study are discussed in terms of gene characterization, taxonomy and antigenicity.
Newsround
Authors: Smith David Michael
Published: December 2016

Returning for its third year, the Newsround section offers a platform for new data which do not appear within the specialist contributions of this year's Archaeological Reports, but which nevertheless warrant emphasis, either as a result of their particular characteristics or for the contribution they make to broader archaeological narratives.

This section is not intended to be exhaustive, but is designed, rather, to highlight recent discoveries in a way which complements digital content made available through AGOnline. The very varied nature of this material has meant that, for the most part, it has proven preferable to organize this section chronologically, although dedicated sections are provided for the inclusion of both marine archaeology and archaeological survey.
Votive gifts from Sicily and southern Italy in Olympia and other Greek sanctuaries
Authors: Baitinger Holger
Published: December 2016

Votive gifts from Sicily and southern Italy are most prominent among the objects discovered in Greek sanctuaries, especially Olympia, the most significant location for such material in Greece. Foreign objects from the west were an early focus of archaeologists working on Olympia (for example Karo 1937; Kunze 1951; Kilian 1977a; 1977b; von Hase 1979; 1997; Herrmann 1983; Moustaka 1985; Kyrieleis 1986; Söldner 1994; Strøm 2000; Naso 2000a; 2000b; 2006; 2011; 2012; Baitinger 2013; Aurigny 2016), in particular spectacular pieces with inscriptions, such as two bronze helmets of the central Italian Negau type (Fig. 84) (Egg 1986: 51–61, 198–99, nos 185–86, pls 108, 109a). The inscription confirms the dedication by Hiero I, the tyrant of Syracuse, following his victory over the Etruscans at the naval Battle of Cumae in 474 BC. As we know from Pindar's victory odes and from monuments dedicated at Olympia, the powerful tyrants of Sicily maintained strong links to the sanctuary (for example Philipp 1992; 1994; Giangiulio 1993; Di Vita 2005; Dreher 2013).
Habitation in the region of Mount Ossa during the Early Byzantine period
Authors: Sdrolia Stavroula
Published: December 2016

Archaeological works undertaken in the last decade – excavation, survey and conservation – prompted by major public works, combined with synthetic studies, have enhanced our knowledge of Thessaly in the Byzantine period. Key areas where our understanding has increased significantly include urban and rural fortifications, the Late Antique phases of occupation in Larisa and the harbour at Phthiotic Thebes (modern Nea Anchialos), religious and secular architecture, rural villas, industrial installations and the monastic community on Mount Ossa (‘Mountain of the Cells’).

This paper focuses on the region of Mount Ossa (later Kissavos), where the data resulting from recent investigations have revealed a vibrant Late Antique phase, characterized by dense habitation on the slopes of the mountain (Map 9).
A stochastic model for MRSA transmission within a hospital ward incorporating environmental contamination
Authors: LEE X. J. , FULFORD G. R. , PETTITT A. N. , RUGGERI F.
Published: December 2016

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission in hospital wards is associated with adverse outcomes for patients and increased costs for hospitals. The transmission process is inherently stochastic and the randomness emphasized by the small population sizes involved. As such, a stochastic model was proposed to describe the MRSA transmission process, taking into account the related contribution and modelling of the associated microbiological environmental contamination. The model was used to evaluate the performance of five common interventions and their combinations on six potential outcome measures of interest under two hypothetical disease burden settings. The model showed that the optimal intervention combination varied depending on the outcome measure and burden setting. In particular, it was found that certain outcomes only required a small subset of targeted interventions to control the outcome measure, while other outcomes still reported reduction in the outcome distribution with up to all five interventions included. This study describes a new stochastic model for MRSA transmission within a ward and highlights the use of the generalized Mann–Whitney statistic to compare the distribution of the outcome measures under different intervention combinations to assist in planning future interventions in hospital wards under different potential outcome measures and disease burden.
How do seed and seedling traits influence germination and emergence parameters in crop species? A comparative analysis
Authors: Gardarin Antoine , Coste Françoise , Wagner Marie-Hélène , Dürr Carolyne
Published: December 2016

Early plant establishment through seed germination and seedling emergence is a crucial process that determines seedling number, emergence time distribution and the early growth of seedlings, all of which are affected by soil climate and soil structure. In the current context of climate change, in which increasing the diversity of cultivated species is considered desirable, and new tillage practices are considerably modifying top-soil surface characteristics, we need to improve our ability to model the effects of the environment on plant establishment. Using a trait-based and model-based framework, we aimed to identify general relationships between seed and seedling traits (e.g. seed mass and lipid content, seedling diameter, base temperature) and germination and emergence model parameters (e.g. time to mid-germination, shoot elongation rate) measured for 18 genotypes belonging to 14 species. Relationships were also investigated among model parameters or traits. Germination rates were faster for species with a high base temperature and for species with seed reserves located principally in the embryo (rather than the endosperm or perisperm). During heterotrophic growth, maximal shoot length and elongation rate increased with seed dry mass. The sensitivity of seedlings to soil obstacles was negatively related to shoot diameter. Thus apart from the known effects of seed mass on seedling establishment, we found that seed reserve location, seedling shoot diameter and shape affected germination rate and emergence success. Such generic rules linking plant traits to germination and emergence parameters enhance our understanding of the determinants of environmental effects on plant establishment success.
Sleep disturbance: an emerging opportunity for Alzheimer's disease prevention?
Authors: Spira Adam P. , Gottesman Rebecca F.
Published: December 2016

As the older segment of our population grows, cognitive decline and dementia will increase in prevalence, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as the cause in most cases. Until a cure exists, prevention through the identification and manipulation of modifiable risk factors for dementia, in general, or AD, in particular, will be our only means of reducing dementia prevalence or delaying its onset. Furthermore, it is likely that eventual treatments for AD, when available, will depend on the ability to identify individuals at greatest risk for developing AD. Sleep disturbances are common in later life – roughly half of older adults experience regular insomnia (Ohayon, 2002) and about as many have some degree of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) (Ancoli-Israel et al., 1991) – and accumulating evidence suggests they may contribute to cognitive decline, at least in part, by promoting the development of AD pathology (Spira et al., 2014). Because they are treatable, sleep disturbances are an important potential target for ongoing study in AD prevention. Moreover, understanding the mechanisms underlying an effect of sleep on subsequent cognitive decline and AD would allow for better identification of opportunities and optimal timing for treatment of sleep disorders, and ultimately perhaps, AD prevention.
Hybrid stenting for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries
Authors: Rathgeber Steven L. , Gandhi Sanjiv K. , Harris Kevin C.
Published: December 2016

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries is commonly associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We describe a case of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and previous surgical ventricular septal defect repair with recurrent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The patient underwent a hybrid procedure to stent the left ventricular outflow tract, which was successful with no re-intervention through 3 years of follow-up.
Inhibition and Switching in Healthy Aging: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Adólfsdóttir Steinunn , Wollschlaeger Daniel , Wehling Eike , Lundervold Astri J.
Published: December 2016

Objectives: Discrepant findings of age-related effects between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on executive function (EF) have been described across different studies. The aim of the present study was to examine longitudinal age effects on inhibition and switching, two key subfunctions of EF, calculated from results on the Color Word Interference Test (CWIT). Methods: One hundred twenty-three healthy aging individuals (average age 61.4 years; 67% women) performed the CWIT up to three times, over a period of more than 6 years. Measures of inhibition, switching, and combined inhibition and switching were analyzed. A longitudinal linear mixed effects models analysis was run including basic CWIT conditions, and measures of processing speed, retest effect, gender, education, and age as predictors. Results: After taking all predictors into account, age added significantly to the predictive value of the longitudinal models of (i) inhibition, (ii) switching, and (iii) combined inhibition and switching. The basic CWIT conditions and the processing speed measure added to the predictive value of the models, while retest effect, gender, and education did not. Conclusions: The present study on middle-aged to older individuals showed age-related decline in inhibition and switching abilities. This decline was retained even when basic CWIT conditions, processing speed, attrition, gender, and education were controlled. (JINS, 2017, 23, 90–97)
Verlauf exekutiver Funktionen bei Vorschulkindern mit Entwicklungsauffälligkeiten
Authors: Schuchardt Kirsten , Piekny Jeanette , Mähler Claudia
Published: December 2016

Zusammenfassung. Verschiedene Entwicklungsauffälligkeiten wie ADHS-Symptome, spezifische Sprachentwicklungsschwierigkeiten (SSES) oder auch niedrige Intelligenz (NI) gehen mit Schwierigkeiten in den exekutiven Funktionen und der Selbstregulation einher. In der vorliegenden längsschnittlichen Studie absolvierten 22 Kinder mit ADHS-Symptomen, 24 Kinder mit SSES und 24 Kinder mit NI sowie 35 unauffällige Kontrollkinder im Alter von 5 und 6 Jahren Aufgaben zu allen drei Komponenten exekutiver Funktionen nach dem Modell von Miyake et al. (2000) – Updating, Shifting, Inhibition. Die Ergebnisse belegen sowohl überlappende als auch spezifische Schwierigkeiten für die einzelnen Störungsbilder: Kinder mit ADHS-Symptomen zeigten Defizite in Shifting und Inhibition, Kinder mit SSES ebenfalls beim Shifting, Kinder mit NI insbesondere beim Updating. Im letzten Kindergartenjahr konnten Kinder mit NI und SSES ihre Leistungen in der Inhibition an das Niveau der Kontrollgruppe angleichen, Kinder mit ADHS-Symptomen blieben jedoch hinter den anderen Gruppen zurück. Die Befunde können Anlass sein, spezifische Interventionsmaßnahmen zu entwickeln.
Observation of spin Seebeck contribution to the transverse thermopower in Ni-Pt and MnBi-Au bulk nanocomposites
Authors: Boona Stephen R. , Vandaele Koen , Boona Isabel N. , McComb David W. , Heremans Joseph P.
Published: December 2016

Transverse thermoelectric devices produce electric fields perpendicular to an incident heat flux. Classically, this process is driven by the Nernst effect in bulk solids, wherein a magnetic field generates a Lorentz force on thermally excited electrons. The spin Seebeck effect also produces magnetization-dependent transverse electric fields. It is traditionally observed in thin metallic films deposited on electrically insulating ferromagnets, but the films’ high resistance limits thermoelectric conversion efficiency. Combining Nernst and spin Seebeck effect in bulk materials would enable devices with simultaneously large transverse thermopower and low electrical resistance. Here we demonstrate experimentally that this is possible in composites of conducting ferromagnets (Ni or MnBi) containing metallic nanoparticles with strong spin–orbit interactions (Pt or Au). These materials display positive shifts in transverse thermopower attributable to inverse spin Hall electric fields in the nanoparticles. This more than doubles the power output of the Ni-Pt materials, establishing proof of principle that the spin Seebeck effect persists in bulk nanocomposites.
Thermal imaging of spin Peltier effect
Authors: Daimon Shunsuke , Iguchi Ryo , Hioki Tomosato , Saitoh Eiji , Uchida Ken-ichi
Published: December 2016

The Peltier effect modulates the temperature of a junction comprising two different conductors in response to charge currents across the junction, which is used in solid-state heat pumps and temperature controllers in electronics. Recently, in spintronics, a spin counterpart of the Peltier effect was observed. The ‘spin Peltier effect’ modulates the temperature of a magnetic junction in response to spin currents. Here we report thermal imaging of the spin Peltier effect; using active thermography technique, we visualize the temperature modulation induced by spin currents injected into a magnetic insulator from an adjacent metal. The thermal images reveal characteristic distribution of spin-current-induced heat sources, resulting in the temperature change confined only in the vicinity of the metal/insulator interface. This finding allows us to estimate the actual magnitude of the temperature modulation induced by the spin Peltier effect, which is more than one order of magnitude greater than previously believed.
Effects of Exendin-4 on human adipose tissue inflammation and ECM remodelling
Authors: Pastel E , Joshi S , Knight B , Liversedge N , Ward R , Kos K
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:

Subjects with type-2 diabetes are typically obese with dysfunctional adipose tissue (AT). Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues are routinely used to improve glycaemia. Although, they also aid weight loss that improves AT function, their direct effect on AT function is unclear. To explore GLP-1 analogues’ influence on human AT’s cytokine and extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation, we therefore obtained and treated omental (OMAT) and subcutaneous (SCAT) AT samples with Exendin-4, an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R).

SUBJECTS/METHODS:

OMAT and abdominal SCAT samples obtained from women during elective surgery at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (UK) were treated with increasing doses of Exendin-4. Changes in RNA expression of adipokines, inflammatory cytokines, ECM components and their regulators were assessed and protein secretion analysed by ELISA. GLP-1R protein accumulation was compared in paired AT depot samples.

RESULTS:

Exendin-4 induced an increase in OMAT adiponectin (P=0.02) and decrease in elastin expression (P=0.03) in parallel with reduced elastin secretion (P=0.04). In contrast to OMAT, we did not observe an effect on SCAT. There was no change in the expression of inflammatory markers (CD14, TNFA, MCP-1), collagens, TGFB1 or CTGF. GLP-1R accumulation was higher in SCAT.

CONCLUSIONS:

Independently of weight loss, which may bias findings of in vivo studies, GLP-1 analogues modify human OMAT physiology favourably by increasing the insulin-sensitising cytokine adiponectin. However, the reduction of elastin and no apparent effect on AT’s inflammatory cytokines suggest that GLP-1 analogues may be less beneficial to AT function, especially if there is no associated weight loss.
Quantitative determination and toxicity evaluation of
2,4-dichlorophenol using poly(eosin Y)/hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes
modified electrode
Authors: Zhu Xiaolin , Zhang Kexin , Wang Chengzhi , Guan Jiunian , Yuan Xing , Li Baikun
Published: December 2016

This study aimed at developing simple, sensitive and rapid electrochemical
approach to quantitatively determine and assess the toxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenol
(2,4-DCP), a priority pollutant and has potential risk to public health through a
novel poly(eosin Y, EY)/hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite
modified electrode (PEY/MWNTs-OH/GCE). The distinct feature of this easy-fabricated
electrode was the synergistic coupling effect between EY and MWNTs-OH that enabled a
high electrocatalytic activity to 2,4-DCP. Under optimum conditions, the oxidation
peak current enhanced linearly with concentration increasing from 0.005 to 0.1 μM
and 0.2 to 40.0 μM, and revealed the detection limit of 1.5 nM. Moreover, the
PEY/MWNTs-OH/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity toward intracellular
electroactive species. Two sensitive electrochemical signals ascribed to
guanine/xanthine and adenine/hypoxanthine in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells were
detected simultaneously. The sensor was successfully applied to evaluate the
toxicity of 2,4-DCP to HepG2 cells. The IC50 values based on
the two electrochemical signals are 201.07 and 252.83 μM, respectively. This study
established a sensitive platform for the comprehensive evaluation of 2,4-DCP and
posed a great potential to simplify environmental toxicity monitoring.
Protective role for lipid modifications of Src-family kinases against chromosome missegregation
Authors: Honda Takuya , Soeda Shuhei , Tsuda Kunihiko , Yamaguchi Chihiro , Aoyama Kazumasa , Morinaga Takao , Yuki Ryuzaburo , Nakayama Yuji , Yamaguchi Noritaka , Yamaguchi Naoto
Published: December 2016

Src-family tyrosine kinases, which are expressed in various cell types, play critical roles in cell signalling at the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane through their lipid modifications. Src-family kinases are cotranslationally myristoylated and posttranslationally palmitoylated in the amino-terminal region. The Src-family member Lyn contains a myristoylation site at glycine-2 and a palmitoylation site at cysteine-3, whereas c-Src has a myristoylation site at glycine-2 but not any palmitoylation sites. However, little is known about the role for lipid modifications of Src-family kinases in cell division. Here, we show that non-lipid-modified Lyn and c-Src, Lyn(G2A/C3A) and c-Src(G2A), are delocalized from membranes to the cytoplasm and the nucleus, which gives rise to a significant increase in the rate of chromosome missegregation, such as chromosome lagging and anaphase chromosome bridging, in a tyrosine kinase activity-dependent manner. Treatment with the Src inhibitor PP2 shows that the kinase activity of non-lipid-modified, non-membrane-bound Src during M phase is critical for giving rise to chromosome missegregation. Given that only a fraction of Src-family kinases fails in lipid modifications during biosynthesis, these results suggest that Src’s membrane anchorage through their lipid modifications from prophase to anaphase plays a protective role against induction of chromosome missegregation.