bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MotionMeerkat: integrating motion video detection and ecological monitoring
Authors: Weinstein Ben G.
Published: December 2014

Human observation is expensive and limits the breadth of data collection. For this reason, remotely placed video cameras are increasingly used to monitor animals. One drawback of field‐based video recordings is extensive review time. Computer vision can mitigate this cost and enhance data collection by extracting biological information from images with minimal time investment.

MotionMeerkat is a new standalone program that identifies motion events from a video stream. After running a video, the user reviews a folder of candidate motion frames for the target organism. This tool reduces the time needed to review videos and accommodates a variety of inputs.

I tested MotionMeerkat using hummingbird–plant videos recorded in a tropical montane forest. To validate the optimal parameter set for finding motion events, I counted hummingbirds observed from direct video review compared to events found in images returned from MotionMeerkat. To show the generality of the approach, MotionMeerkat was tested on a set of terrestrial and underwater videos. To assess the performance of the background subtraction for further image analysis, I hand counted the number of frames with target organisms and compared them to the MotionMeerkat output.

MotionMeerkat was highly successful in finding motion events and often reduced the number of frames needed to capture hummingbird visitation by over 90%. Both background approaches effectively found a variety of organisms in ecological videos. I provide general recommendations for parameter settings and extending this approach in the future.
The pathophysiology and consequences of red blood cell storage
Authors: Orlov D. , Karkouti K.
Published: December 2014

Red cell transfusion therapy is a common treatment modality in contemporary medical practice. Although blood collection and administration is safer and more efficient than ever before, red cells undergo multiple metabolic and structural changes during storage that may compromise their functionality and viability following transfusion. The clinical relevance of these changes is a hotly debated topic that continues to be a matter of intense investigation. In the current review, we begin with an in‐depth overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying red cell storage, with a focus on altered metabolism, oxidative stress and red cell membrane damage. We proceed to review the current state of evidence on the clinical relevance and consequences of the red cell storage lesion, while discussing the strengths and limitations of clinical studies.
Evidence and triggers for the transfusion of blood and blood products
Authors: Shah A. , Stanworth S. J. , McKechnie S.
Published: December 2014

Allogeneic red cell transfusion is a commonly used treatment to improve the oxygen carrying capacity of blood during the peri‐operative period. Increasing arterial oxygen content by increasing haemoglobin does not necessarily increase tissue oxygen delivery or uptake. Although the evidence‐base for red cell transfusion practice is incomplete, randomised studies across a range of clinical settings, including surgery, consistently support the restrictive use of red cells, with no evidence of benefit for maintaining patients at higher haemoglobin thresholds (liberal strategy). A recent meta‐analysis of 7593 patients concluded that a restrictive transfusion strategy was associated with a reduced risk of healthcare‐associated infections (pneumonia, mediastinitis, wound infection, sepsis) when compared with a liberal transfusion strategy. The degree to which the optimal haemoglobin concentration or transfusion trigger should be modified for patients with additional specific risk factors (e.g. ischaemic heart disease), remains less clear and requires further research. Although most clinical practice guidelines recommend restrictive use of red cells, and many blood transfusion services have seen marked falls in overall usage of red cells, the use of other blood components such as fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate has risen. In clinical practice, administration of fresh frozen plasma is usually guided by laboratory tests of coagulation, mainly prothrombin time, international normalised ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time, but the predictive value of these tests to predict bleeding is poor.
The current place of aprotinin in the management of bleeding
Authors: Royston D.
Published: December 2014

There is a considerable difference between the mechanism of action of the lysine analogues, tranexamic acid and epsilon‐aminocaproic acid, and the serine protease inhibitor aprotinin. Aprotinin acts to inactivate free plasmin, but with little effect on bound plasmin, whereas the lysine analogues are designed to prevent excessive plasmin formation by fitting into plasminogen's lysine‐binding site to prevent the binding of plasminogen to fibrin. Aprotinin is associated with a reduction in bleeding and transfusion requirements following major surgery, and has a dose‐response profile, compared with no dose‐response effect in the one study investigating tranexamic acid in cardiac surgical patients. Following its withdrawal in 2007, which is explained in detail in this review, the regulators have now licensed aprotinin for myocardial revascularisation only, which is relatively low‐risk for bleeding.
Pre‐operative anaemia
Authors: Clevenger B. , Richards T.
Published: December 2014

Pre‐operative anaemia is a relatively common finding, affecting a third of patients undergoing elective surgery. Traditionally associated with chronic disease, management has historically focused on the use of blood transfusion as a solution for anaemia in the peri‐operative period. Data from large series now suggest that anaemia is an independent risk associated with poor outcome in both cardiac and non‐cardiac surgery. Furthermore, blood transfusion does not appear to ameliorate this risk, and in fact may increase the risk of postoperative complications and hospital length of stay. Consequently, there is a need to identify, diagnose and manage pre‐operative anaemia to reduce surgical risk. Discoveries in the pathways of iron metabolism have found that chronic disease can cause a state of functional iron deficiency leading to anaemia. The key iron regulatory protein hepcidin, activated in response to inflammation, inhibits absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract and further reduces bioavailability of iron stores for red cell production. Consequently, although iron stores (predominantly ferritin) may be normal, the transport of iron either from the gastrointestinal tract or iron stores to the bone marrow is inhibited, leading to a state of ‘functional’ iron deficiency and subsequent anaemia. Since absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is blocked, increasing oral iron intake is ineffective, and studies are now looking at the role of intravenous iron to treat anaemia in the surgical setting. In this article, we review the incidence and impact of anaemia on the pre‐operative patient. We explain how anaemia may be caused by functional iron deficiency, and how iron deficiency anaemia may be diagnosed and treated.
Cesium radioactivity in peripheral blood is linearly correlated to that in skeletal muscle: Analyses of cattle within the evacuation zone of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Fukuda Tomokazu , Kino Yasushi , Abe Yasuyuki , Yamashiro Hideaki , Kobayashi Jin , Shimizu Yoshinaka , Takahashi Atsushi , Suzuki Toshihiko , Chiba Mirei , Takahashi Shintaro , Inoue Kazuya , Kuwahara Yoshikazu , Morimoto Motoko , Shinoda Hisashi , Hiji Masahiro , Sekine Tsutomu , Fukumoto Manabu , Isogai Emiko
Published: December 2014

The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) released a large amount of radioactive substances into the environment. Furthermore, beef contaminated with radioactive cesium above the 500 Bq/kg safety standard was circulated in the food chain in 2011. Japanese consumers remain concerned about the safety of radioactively contaminated food. In our previous study, we detected a linear correlation between radioactive cesium (137Cs) activity in blood and muscle around 500 to 2500 Bq/kg in cattle. However, it was unclear whether the correlation was maintained at a lower radioactivity close to the current safety standard of 100 Bq/kg. In this study, we evaluated 17 cattle in the FNPP evacuation zone that had a 137Cs blood level less than 10 Bq/kg. The results showed a linear correlation between blood 137Cs and muscle 137Cs (Y = 28.0X, R2 = 0.590) at low radioactivity concentration, indicating that cesium radioactivity in the muscle can be estimated from blood radioactivity. This technique would be useful in detecting high‐risk cattle before they enter the market, and will contribute to food safety.
Using electrical signals of microbial fuel cells to detect copper stress on soil microorganisms
Authors: Deng H. , Jiang Y. B. , Zhou Y. W. , Shen K. , Zhong W. H.
Published: December 2014

A method based on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was used to evaluate the effects of copper (Cu2+) on soil microorganisms. Soil spiked with 50–400 mg kg−1 of Cu2+ as CuCl2 was incubated for 24 hours before being packed into the MFC anode chambers and assayed for dehydrogenase activity (DHA), substrate‐induced respiration (SIR) and microbial biomass carbon (Cmic). Soil was amended with 5% (w/w) glucose to accelerate ‘start‐up’ and improve power generation, followed by 150 hours of operation. Anode biofilm and soil was extracted to recover total nucleic acids and the 16S rRNA gene was subjected to PCR‐DGGE, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results showed that increases in soil Cu2+ concentrations reduced voltage and postponed start‐up. The quantity of generated electrons within 48 hours was 32.5 coulomb (C) in the without‐Cu control and decreased with increasing Cu2+ concentrations (11.7, 7.7, 2.0 and 1.3 C under 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg−1 Cu2+, respectively). Cyclic voltammetry identified decreased soil electrochemical activity with increasing Cu2+ concentrations. The results indicate that Cu2+ reduced electrical signals by inhibiting the electrochemical activity, metabolic activity and biomass of microorganisms. The 16S sequences of recovered anodic bacteria were assigned to Firmicutes, including Bacillaceae, Acetobacteraceae, Clostridium, Bacillus and Sporolactobacillus. In general, the DGGE band intensity of anodic bacteria decreased with increasing Cu2+ concentrations, except for bands assigned to Firmicutes and Bacillus, which increased with increasing Cu2+ concentrations. We suggest that the short‐term electrical signals generated from MFCs with contaminated soil can be used to assess the toxic effect of heavy metal pollutants on soil microorganisms.
Detection of bacteria and analyses of Chlamydia trachomatis viability in patients with postvenereal reactive arthritis
Authors: Strelić N. , Bojović J. , Pavlica L. , Cikota‐Aleksić B. , Miličić B. , Magić Z.
Published: December 2014

Postvenereal reactive arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that commonly develops after urogenital infection, predominantly in human leucocyte antigen‐B27‐positive men in the third decade of life. In our hospital, patients underwent synovectomy before a 4‐month course of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and roxithromicin). The clinical remission was achieved in approximately 70% patients. At molecular level, the remission was associated with the negative polymerase chain reaction findings of bacteria.
Advances in endovascular treatment of acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Asadi H. , Dowling R. , Yan B. , Wong S. , Mitchell P.
Published: December 2014

Over the past decade, there have been rapid advancements in ischaemic stroke reperfusion treatments. However, clear clinical benefit is yet to be shown in large clinical trials. In this review, the major studies in different types of endovascular treatments including intra‐arterial thrombolysis, aspiration devices, mechanical clot retrievers and the new stent retrievers are discussed. First‐generation mechanical thrombectomy devices such as the MERCI Retriever (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) and Penumbra aspiration device (Penumbra Inc., Alameda, CA, USA) demonstrated safety and higher rates of recanalisation in the MERCI and Penumbra Pivotal Stroke Trial; however, there was no significant improvement in clinical outcome. Second‐generation endovascular stent retrieval devices Solitaire (ev3 Neurovascular, Irvine, CA, USA) and Trevo (Stryker) have shown promising results. In preliminary trials, SOLITAIRE with the Intention for Thrombectomy (SWIFT) and Thrombectomy Revascularization of Large Vessel Occlusions (TREVO), both showed rates of recanalisation close to 90% and significantly improved clinical outcomes compared with the MERCI study, but the recent landmark studies for endovascular treatment (Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS III), Mechanical Retrieval and Recanalisation of Stroke Clots Using Embolectomy (MR‐RESCUE) and SYNTHESIS) did not show any clinical benefit from endovascular treatment compared with standard intravenous therapy. However, moving forward, the recent Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischaemic Stroke in the Netherlands (MR‐CLEAN) study results have shown marked improvements in recanalisation, reperfusion and functional outcome in patients receiving endovascular treatment (97% using stent retrievers) within 6 h in addition to standard medical care. Overall, although evidence regarding the efficacy of endovascular treatment in acute stroke has been equivocal, recent publications of large multicentre randomised controlled trials indicate benefit of intra‐arterial stent retriever reperfusion in patients selected by appropriate imaging and treated early by experienced operators, and it will likely remain an important adjunct to established medical treatment with intravenous tPA.
Checkpoint immunotherapy for cancer: superior survival, unaccustomed toxicities
Authors: Gedye C. , van der Westhuizen A. , John T.
Published: December 2014

Novel cancer immunotherapy antibodies are moving from clinical trials into routine practice, delivering sustained benefits and prolonged survival to patients with melanoma, lung, kidney and other cancers. These immunostimulatory antibodies non‐specifically activate the patient's own immune system by inhibiting immune system checkpoint proteins. This mechanism of action is entirely different to traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. While there are virtually no immediate toxicities, serious life‐threatening autoimmune side‐effects such as colitis, dermatitis, hypophysitis, pneumonitis and hepatitis can occur, sometimes starting long after the treatment has been given. Recognition, referral and prompt treatment with immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids can control these immune‐related side‐effects without compromising efficacy. This exciting new class of drugs is defining a new paradigm in cancer therapy.
Playing with Data
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: December 2014

This is Metrico – a game about infographics. Brian Tarran talks to designer Geert “Gene” Nellen
A Groaning Demographic
Authors: Zelterman Daniel
Published: December 2014

What if zombies were real? And what if, rather than wiping out humanity, we found a way to coexist, to manage the problem? We would need data, of course information about the undead horde – to help develop an appropriate civil response. And we would need people like Daniel Zelterman, professor of biostatistics at Yale University, to compile and analyse that data. In this extract from the new book, Mathematical Modelling of Zombies – billed as a maths-based survival guide – Zelterman explores the distribution of the US zombie population in the days, weeks and months that followed the night of the living dead
Effect of Nitrogen on Properties of Na2O–CaO–SrO–ZnO–SiO2 Glasses
Authors: Bachar Ahmed , Mercier Cyrille , Tricoteaux Arnaud , Hornez Jean‐Christophe , Leriche Anne , Follet Claudine , Revel Bertrand , Hampshire Stuart , Towler Mark R.
Published: December 2014

Glasses in the Na2O–CaO–SrO–ZnO–SiO2 system have previously been investigated for suitability as a reagent in Al‐free glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs). These materials have many properties that offer potential in orthopedics. However, their applicability has been limited, to date, because of their poor strength. This study was undertaken with the aim of increasing the mechanical properties of a series of these Zn‐based GPC glasses by doping with nitrogen to give overall compositions of: 10Na2O–10CaO–20SrO–20ZnO–(40−3x)SiO2–xSi3N4 (x is the no. of moles of Si3N4). The density, glass‐transition temperature, hardness, and elastic modulus of each glass were found to increase fairly linearly with nitrogen content. Indentation fracture resistance also increases with nitrogen content according to a power law relationship. These increases are consistent with the incorporation of N into the glass structure in threefold coordination with silicon resulting in extra cross‐linking of the glass network. This was confirmed using 29Si MAS‐NMR which showed that an increasing number of Q2 units and some Q3 units with extra bridging anions are formed as nitrogen content increases at the expense of Q1 units. A small proportion of Zn ions are found to be in tetrahedral coordination in the base oxide glass and the proportion of these increases with the presence of nitrogen.
Regional metacommunities in two coastal systems: spatial structure and drivers of plant assemblages
Authors: Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Marcenò Corrado , Guarino Riccardo , Chytrý Milan
Published: December 2014

Aim

Biogeographical patterns in metacommunities are still poorly understood, and different processes are expected to occur in different habitats. We analysed the regional plant metacommunities of coastal habitats to test whether (1) the influence of space and climate differs between two habitats differentiated along the seashore–inland gradient, and (2) regional variation in species composition of these habitats can be ascribed to different metacommunity paradigms.

Location

The entire coast of the Iberian Peninsula, south‐western Europe.

Methods

We collected data on the plant species composition of coastal sites on sand dunes across 3000 km of coastline. The sites were classified into two habitats corresponding to shifting and stable sand dunes, and divided into three distinct geographical regions: Cantabrian, Atlantic and Mediterranean. We assessed the geographical structure of the species composition using ordination, estimates of species turnover and spatial autocorrelation. We then used multivariate models and variation partitioning to test the influence of climatic and spatial effects. Analyses were conducted for the whole data set and the geographical subsets.

Results

Metacommunities from shifting and stable dunes showed similar spatial patterns, with the highest species turnover occurring in the Mediterranean region. Similarities between communities that were nearer each other (typically < 100 km) were weaker in shifting than in stable dunes, although the distance decay for sites that were further apart was similar in both habitats. Variation in species composition in shifting dunes was mainly explained by distance and climate, while in stable dunes the effect of climate was clearly dominant. The observed differences were relatively consistent across geographical regions.

Main conclusions

Distinct processes structure the metacommunities in two dune habitats differentiated along the seashore–inland gradient. Communities of shifting dunes seem to be structured by an interplay of neutral or patch‐dynamic processes and to a lesser degree by species sorting. In contrast, communities of stable dunes are mainly governed by species sorting in response to climatic gradients. These results highlight the importance of differentiating habitats according to local ecological factors when analysing regional patterns in metacommunities.
Pre‐synaptic localization of the γ‐secretase‐inhibiting protein p24α2 in the mammalian brain
Authors: Liu Lei , Fujino Kazunori , Nishimura Masaki
Published: December 2014

Dysregulated metabolism and consequent extracellular accumulation of amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptides in the brain underlie the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Extracellular Aβ in the brain parenchyma is mainly secreted from the pre‐synaptic terminals of neuronal cells in a synaptic activity‐dependent manner. The p24 family member p24α2 reportedly attenuates Aβ generation by inhibiting γ‐secretase processing of amyloid precursor protein; however, the pattern of expression and localization of p24α2 in the brain remains unknown. We performed immunohistochemical staining and subcellular fractionation for p24α2 in the mouse brain. Immunostaining showed that p24α2 is broadly distributed in the gray matter of the central nervous system and is predominantly localized to synapses. Subcellular fractionation revealed prominent localization of p24α2 in the pre‐synaptic terminals. Immunoisolation of synaptic vesicles (SV) indicated that p24α2 is condensed at active zone‐docked SV. During development, p24α2 expression is highest in the post‐natal period and gradually decreases with age. We also confirmed that amyloid precursor protein and γ‐secretase components are localized at active zone‐docked SV. Our results suggest a novel functional role for p24α2 in the regulation of synaptic transmission and synaptogenesis, and provide evidence for the participation of p24α2 in the regulation of Aβ generation and secretion in the brain.

image

The p24 family member p24α2 attenuates amyloid‐β (Aβ) generation by inhibiting the γ‐secretase processing. We report that p24α2 is condensed at active zone‐docked synaptic vesicles in the brain. p24α2 expression is highest in the post‐natal period and gradually decreases with age. Our results suggest a novel function for p24α2 at the synapse, including the regulation of brain Aβ generation.
Reconstructing the demographic history of orang‐utans using Approximate Bayesian Computation
Authors: Nater Alexander , Greminger Maja P. , Arora Natasha , van Schaik Carel P. , Goossens Benoit , Singleton Ian , Verschoor Ernst J. , Warren Kristin S. , Krützen Michael
Published: December 2014

Investigating how different evolutionary forces have shaped patterns of DNA variation within and among species requires detailed knowledge of their demographic history. Orang‐utans, whose distribution is currently restricted to the South‐East Asian islands of Borneo (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatra (Pongo abelii), have likely experienced a complex demographic history, influenced by recurrent changes in climate and sea levels, volcanic activities and anthropogenic pressures. Using the most extensive sample set of wild orang‐utans to date, we employed an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) approach to test the fit of 12 different demographic scenarios to the observed patterns of variation in autosomal, X‐chromosomal, mitochondrial and Y‐chromosomal markers. In the best‐fitting model, Sumatran orang‐utans exhibit a deep split of populations north and south of Lake Toba, probably caused by multiple eruptions of the Toba volcano. In addition, we found signals for a strong decline in all Sumatran populations ~24 ka, probably associated with hunting by human colonizers. In contrast, Bornean orang‐utans experienced a severe bottleneck ~135 ka, followed by a population expansion and substructuring starting ~82 ka, which we link to an expansion from a glacial refugium. We showed that orang‐utans went through drastic changes in population size and connectedness, caused by recurrent contraction and expansion of rainforest habitat during Pleistocene glaciations and probably hunting by early humans. Our findings emphasize the fact that important aspects of the evolutionary past of species with complex demographic histories might remain obscured when applying overly simplified models.
Norm Bounds and A Homographic Approximation for the Wage–Profit Curve
Authors: Mariolis Theodore
Published: December 2014

This paper provides lower and upper norm bounds for the wage–profit curve in linear single‐product systems. Thus, it also constructs an algebraically simple (i.e. homographic) and empirically powerful approximation to that curve. The results finally suggest that actual economies tend to behave as ‘corn‐tractor’ systems with respect to the shape of the wage–profit curve and, at the same time, behave as three‐industry systems with respect to the shape of the production price–profit rate curves.
POLITICAL CONTROL, BUREAUCRATIC DISCRETION, AND PUBLIC COMMENTING ON AGENCY REGULATIONS
Authors: BALLA STEVEN J.
Published: December 2014

In recent years, the accessibility and transparency of administrative procedures have attracted the attention of researchers and policymakers in the United States. This article investigates the accessibility and transparency of a particularly important administrative procedure, the notice and comment process. The article presents a theoretical account of the operation of political control and bureaucratic discretion in two aspects of the notice and comment process – the duration of comment periods and timeliness of the circulation of comments. The results of the analysis of original data demonstrate that both external constraints and agency need for policy information affect the duration of comment periods and circulation of comments. These results, which are unexpected from the perspective that the notice and comment process is procedurally neutral, imply that normative values such as accessibility and transparency cannot be meaningfully separated from the politics of political control and bureaucratic discretion.
The stability and nuclear localization of the transcription factor RAP2.12 are dynamically regulated by oxygen concentration
Authors: KOSMACZ MONIKA , PARLANTI SANDRO , SCHWARZLÄNDER MARKUS , KRAGLER FRIEDRICH , LICAUSI FRANCESCO , VAN DONGEN JOOST T.
Published: December 2014

Plants often experience low oxygen conditions as the consequence of reduced oxygen availability in their environment or due to a high activity of respiratory metabolism. Recently, an oxygen sensing pathway was described in Arabidopsis thaliana which involves the migration of an ERF transcription factor (RAP2.12) from the plasma membrane to the nucleus upon hypoxia. Moreover, RAP2.12 protein level is controlled through an oxygen‐dependent branch of the N‐end rule pathway for proteasomal degradation. Inside the nucleus, RAP2.12 induces the expression of genes involved in the adaptation to reduced oxygen availability. In the present study, we describe the oxygen concentration and time‐resolved characterization of RAP2.12 activity. A reduction of the oxygen availability to half the concentration in normal air is sufficient to trigger RAP2.12 relocalization into the nucleus, while nuclear accumulation correlates with the first induction of the molecular response to hypoxia. Nuclear presence of RAP2.12 may not only depend on relocalization of existing protein, but involves de novo synthesis of the transcription factor as well. After re‐oxygenation of the tissue, degradation of RAP2.12 in the nucleus was observed within 3 h, concomitant with reduction in hypoxia responsive gene transcripts to normoxic levels.
Risk factors for cisplatin‐induced long‐term nephrotoxicity in pediatric cancer survivors
Authors: Arga Mustafa , Oguz Aynur , Pinarli Faruk Guclu , Karadeniz Ceyda , Citak Elvan Caglar , Emeksiz Hamdi Cihan , Akdeniz Duran Esra , Soylemezoglu Oguz
Published: December 2014

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the nephrotoxicity risk of cisplatin (CPL) and ifosfamide (IFO) combination treatment (CT) with that of CPL alone and to evaluate the prevalence of CPL‐induced long‐term nephrotoxicity in pediatric cancer survivors (CS).

Methods

A total of 33 patients with pediatric solid tumors who have been cured of their disease were included in the study. They were divided into two groups based on the type of chemotherapeutics, either CPL (n = 21) or CT (n = 12), given during cancer treatment and were evaluated for glomerular and tubular function using the Skinner grading system.

Results

Nephrotoxicity was found in 15 CS (45.4%): seven (21.3%) of those had moderate, six (18.2%) had mild, and two (6.1%) had severe nephrotoxicity. Neither the rates of overall nephrotoxicity, glomerular toxicity and tubular toxicity, nor the mean overall, glomerular and tubular toxicity scores differed significantly among the CPL and CT groups (P > 0.05 for all parameters). Cumulative IFO dose and age at treatment were found to be independent risk factors for both development and severity of CPL‐induced nephrotoxicity (P = 0.025 and P = 0.036 for development of nephrotoxicity; P = 0.004 and P = 0.050 for severity of nephrotoxicity, respectively).

Conclusions

Although CPL‐induced long‐term nephrotoxicity was found in half of the pediatric CS of solid tumors, clinically significant nephrotoxicity was detected only in a minority of them. Both higher cumulative IFO dose and younger age at treatment were found to be independent risk factors for both development and severity of CPL‐induced nephrotoxicity.
The Costs of Thinking About Work and Family: Mental Labor, Work–Family Spillover, and Gender Inequality Among Parents in Dual‐Earner Families
Authors: Offer Shira
Published: December 2014

One of the aspects unaccounted for in previous assessments of employed parents ‘distribution of time is the mental dimension of tasks and demands. This aspect, referred to as mental labor, is conceptualized as the planning, organization, and management of everyday activities. Using the experience sampling method, a unique form of time diary, and survey data from the 500 Family Study (N = 402 mothers with 16,451 signals and 291 fathers with 11,322 signals), this study examined the prevalence, context, and emotional correlates of mental labor among parents in dual‐earner families. Results show that fathers reported thinking more frequently about job‐related matters than mothers but these concerns did not spill over into unpaid work. By contrast, mothers’ job‐related thoughts tended to spill over into unpaid work and free‐time activities. When engaging in mental labor, mothers and fathers were equally likely to think about family matters, but these thoughts were only detrimental to emotional well‐being in mothers. Among both mothers and fathers, paid work was relatively insulated from thoughts about family matters. Overall, findings highlight mothers’ double burden and suggest that mental labor may contribute to mothers’ emotional stress and gender inequality among dual‐earner families.
Beyond the Numbers: Institutional Influences on Experiences With Diversity on Elite College Campuses
Authors: Warikoo Natasha K. , Deckman Sherry L.
Published: December 2014

In this article we bring together the burgeoning qualitative literature on the socializing influence of residential colleges, the survey‐based literature on campus racial climate, and the literature on diversity work in organizations to analyze how two elite universities’ approaches to diversity shape students’ experiences with and feelings about diversity. We employ 77 in‐depth interviews with undergraduates at two elite universities. While the universities appear comparable on measures of student demographics and overall diversity infrastructure, they take different approaches. These varying approaches lead to important differences in student perspectives. At the university that takes a power analysis and minority support approach, students who participate in minority‐oriented activities develop a critical race theory perspective, while their white and nonparticipating minority peers frequently feel alienated from that programming. At the university that takes an integration and celebration approach, most students embrace a cosmopolitan perspective, celebrating diversity while paying less attention to power and resource differences between racial groups. The findings suggest that higher education institutions can influence the race frames of students as well as their approaches to multiculturalism, with implications for their views on a variety of important diversity‐related issues on campus and beyond.
AuCl3 chemical doping on defective graphene layer
Authors: Oh Sooyeoun , Yang Gwangseok , Kim Jihyun
Published: December 2014

This study investigated the effects of defects on chemical doping of graphene layer. Graphene grown by the chemical vapor deposition method on copper foil was subjected to ultraviolet treatments to introduce defects, including sp3 bonding and vacancies. The chemical doping process was performed using a gold chloride (AuCl3)/nitromethane solution at a concentration of 20 mM. Raman spectroscopy and four-point probe measurement were used to analyze the effects of AuCl3 doping on the electrical and optical properties of defective graphene. AuCl3 doping was effective for lowering sheet resistance even for the highly damaged graphene. Additionally, the 2D-peak of the defective graphene was partially recovered after AuCl3-based chemical doping. The authors believe that the defect engineering in graphene can enhance the electrical properties and the long-term stability of chemical doping.
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Goulden Sally
Published: December 2014

Sally Goulden spends two mornings a week working with swans at the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton, Surrey. She spends another three days a week in companion animal practice. When she is not working or looking after her husband and two teenage sons, she is at the gym, running in Windsor Great Park or being a churchwarden.
Riders on tour
Authors: Kidd Jessica
Published: December 2014

A raffle prize led to a unique CPD event and a chance to raise money for charity. Jessica Kidd and Derek Knottenbelt report
Avoiding misunderstandings in recruitment
Authors: Holborow Richard
Published: December 2014

Recruitment to practices can be a time‐consuming process, which can be frustrating for applicants and employers. Here, Richard Holborow, president‐elect of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons, discusses some of the reasons why problems can arise. On page ii, SPVS officers Gudrun Ravetz and James Yeates suggest ways in which they can be avoided
Moving on
Authors: Remnant John
Published: December 2014

John Remnant qualified three years ago and went into mixed practice in Cornwall. It was a practice he knew well, having done school work experience there and subsequently much of his EMS. After 18 months, he wanted to concentrate on large animal practice, and decided to move on
Fledgling vets get ready to fly
Authors:   BVA AWF
Published: December 2014

The BVA AWF Animal Welfare Forum takes place just before the annual Lancaster Final‐Year Student Seminar. It allows students to get to grips with animal welfare matters in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, before they go on the seminar itself, where they prepare for the transition from university to working life
Final‐year diary
Authors: Hall Jen
Published: December 2014

Jennifer Hall will (hopefully) be one of the first tranche of veterinary students to qualify from Nottingham this summer. She has agreed to share with Vet Record Careers the trials and tribulations of her last few months at vet school as well as her experiences as she secures her first job.
A recent graduate in industry
Authors: Randall Laura
Published: December 2014

As a student, Laura Randall used EMS to explore a variety of roles. Having qualified in 2006, she first went into practice, before joining Boehringer as a veterinary adviser for cattle health products
Training for a career in laboratory animal medicine
Authors: Morris Tim
Published: December 2014

Tim Morris, of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham discusses a doctoral programme to train veterinary surgeons for a career in laboratory animal medicine. In an article on pii, Paul Shroeder discusses his experiences of the course
Clinical research projects in practice
Authors: Mitchell Natasha
Published: December 2014

Natasha Mitchell recently completed a clinical research project while working in practice. Here, she discusses the benefits of embarking on practice‐based research, and some things to consider when deciding on a project
New graduate's diary
Authors: Hall Jennifer
Published: December 2014

Having graduated last week, newly qualified vet Jennifer Hall finds she has a new skill to learn before she starts her first job – unwinding.
Online learning for veterinary nurses
Authors: Referrals Fitzpatrick
Published: December 2014

A new online learning facility was launched last month at Fitzpatrick Referrals. Initially aimed at veterinary nurses, it has been designed to allow a flexible approach to CPD
Exemplary pass rate for equine diploma nurses
Authors:   British Equine Veterinary Association
Published: December 2014

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) reports that veterinary nurses who took the Level 3 Equine Pathway Diploma examination last year have achieved outstanding pass rates
New graduate's diary
Authors: Hall Jen
Published: December 2014

Jen Hall is no stranger to the BVA's Council having been an AVS rep as a student. She will join Council again as a young graduate rep in December but, in the meantime, was invited to its April meeting to contribute to a ‘for and against’ debate on veterinary education.
A man of many parts … working with falcons and wildlife
Authors: Bailey Tom
Published: December 2014

Tom Bailey is the head of aviculture and health at International Wildlife Consultants. He previously worked overseas, mainly in the Middle East, on a variety of projects working with wildlife, before spending nine years caring for falcons and wildlife at the Dubai Falcon Hospital in the United Arab Emirates
Damage Assessment in Structures Using Incomplete Modal Data and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Kourehli Seyed Sina
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a novel approach for structural damage detection and estimation using incomplete noisy modal data and artificial neural network (ANN). A feed-forward back propagation network is proposed for estimating the structural damage location and severity. Incomplete modal data is used in the dynamic analysis of damaged structures by the condensed finite element model and as input parameters to the neural network for damage identification. In all cases, the first two natural modes were used for the training process. The present method is applied to three examples consisting of a simply supported beam, three-story plane frame, and spring-mass system. Also, the effect of the discrepancy in mass and stiffness between the finite element model and the actual tested dynamic system has been investigated. The results demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method using incomplete modal data, which may be noisy or noise-free.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF HEMODYNAMICS IN PORTAL VEIN WITH THROMBOSIS BY COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
Authors: WANG XINKAI , LI GUOJIE , CHEN BIN , PU YANSONG , NIE PENG , LI XIAO , LI ZONGFANG , SU KAI
Published: December 2014

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an important complication that is associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension. The etiology is as yet unclear but could be closely related to the hemodynamics of the portal vein system. This paper investigated the hemodynamics in the portal vein model, both with and without thrombosis, as well as the effect of obstructions on the hemodynamics of the portal vein system using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. PVT can probably develop in the inlets of the portal vein as well as the left/right branches of the portal vein because the distribution of wall shear stress satisfies the conditions for PVT formation based upon the simulation of the hemodynamics in the normal portal vein model. According to the above results, geometric models for a portal vein with a thrombus were constructed and the influence of different degrees (26%, 39%, 53% and 64%) of obstructions was studied. In the model with the maximum obstruction (64% blocked), the maximum velocity of portal vein (PV) increased up to twice than in the model without thrombosis, and the maximum wall shear stress of PV in the model with thrombosis (64% blocked) increased up to 9.4 Pa, whereas it was only 1.9 Pa in the model without thrombosis (nearly one fifth of the maximum wall shear stress). Excessive wall shear stress may cause mechanical damage to the blood vessels and induce physiological changes.
Is quantum simulation of turbulence within reach?
Authors: Rasetti Mario
Published: December 2014

The possibility of approaching quantum simulation of "topological turbulence" is discussed. In the latter, the topological features of turbulent flow are ascribed to a purely group-theoretic and topological view through the group SDiff of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms and the Mapping Class Group for the 2D surfaces that foliate the 3D flow domain. A class of representations of the group of mapping classes for compact boundaryless surfaces is explicitly constructed in terms of the Witt–Virasoro Hopf-coalgebra and implemented in terms of su(1,1). This leads to a complex, nonlinear Hamiltonian naturally associated with the fluid diffeomorphisms that could lend itself to the quantum simulation of turbulence in Fock space.
Role Clarification Processes for Better Integration of Nurse Practitioners into Primary Healthcare Teams: A Multiple-Case Study
Authors: Brault Isabelle , Kilpatrick Kelley , D’Amour Danielle , Contandriopoulos Damien , Chouinard Véronique , Dubois Carl-Ardy , Perroux Mélanie , Beaulieu Marie-Dominique
Published: December 2014

Role clarity is a crucial issue for effective interprofessional collaboration. Poorly defined roles can become a source of conflict in clinical teams and reduce the effectiveness of care and services delivered to the population. Our objective in this paper is to outline processes for clarifying professional roles when a new role is introduced into clinical teams, that of the primary healthcare nurse practitioner (PHCNP). To support our empirical analysis we used the Canadian National Interprofessional Competency Framework, which defines the essential components for role clarification among professionals. A qualitative multiple-case study was conducted on six cases in which the PHCNP role was introduced into primary care teams. Data collection included 34 semistructured interviews with key informants involved in the implementation of the PHCNP role. Our results revealed that the best performing primary care teams were those that used a variety of organizational and individual strategies to carry out role clarification processes. From this study, we conclude that role clarification is both an organizational process to be developed and a competency that each member of the primary care team must mobilize to ensure effective interprofessional collaboration.
Finitely Generated Modules over Group Rings of a Direct Product of Two Cyclic Groups
Authors: Najim Ahmed , Charkani Mohammed Elhassani
Published: December 2014

Let K be a commutative field of characteristic p>0 and let G=G1×G2, where G1 and G2 are two finite cyclic groups. We give some structure results of finitely generated K[G]-modules in the case where the order of G is divisible by p. Extensions of modules are also investigated. Based on these extensions and in the same previous case, we show that K[G]-modules satisfying some conditions have a fairly simple form.
Generalized Estimating Equations in Longitudinal Data Analysis: A Review and Recent Developments
Authors: Wang Ming
Published: December 2014

Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) is a marginal model popularly applied for longitudinal/clustered data analysis in clinical trials or biomedical studies. We provide a systematic review on GEE including basic concepts as well as several recent developments due to practical challenges in real applications. The topics including the selection of “working” correlation structure, sample size and power calculation, and the issue of informative cluster size are covered because these aspects play important roles in GEE utilization and its statistical inference. A brief summary and discussion of potential research interests regarding GEE are provided in the end.
Conspicuity of Peripheral Zone Prostate Cancer on Computed Diffusion-Weighted Imaging: Comparison of cDWI1500, cDWI2000, and cDWI3000
Authors: Vural Metin , Ertaş Gökhan , Onay Aslıhan , Acar Ömer , Esen Tarık , Sağlıcan Yeşim , Zengingönül Hale Pınar , Akpek Sergin
Published: December 2014

Introduction and Objective. Disadvantages associated with direct highb-value measurements may be avoided with use of computed diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI). The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic performance of cDWI image sets calculated for highb-values of 1500, 2000, and 3000 s/mm2.Materials and Methods. Twenty-eight patients who underwent multiparametric MRI of the prostate and radical prostatectomy consecutively were enrolled in this retrospective study. Using a software developed at our institute, cDWI1500, cDWI2000, and cDWI3000image sets were generated by fitting a monoexponential model. Index lesions on cDWI image sets were scored by two radiologists in consensus considering lesion conspicuity, suppression of background prostate tissue, distortion, image set preferability, and contrast ratio measurements were performed.Results. Lesion detection rates are the same for computedb-values of 2000 and 3000 s/mm2and are better thanb-values of 1500 s/mm2. Best lesion conspicuity and best background prostate tissue suppression are provided by cDWI3000image set. cDWI2000image set provides the best zonal anatomical delineation and less distortion and was chosen as the most preferred image set. Average contrast ratio measured on these image sets shows almost a linear relation with theb-values. Conclusion. cDWI2000image set with similar conspicuity and the same lesion detection rate, but better zonal anatomical delineation, and less distortion, was chosen as the preferable image set.
Multifunctional Effects of Mangosteen Pericarp on Cognition in C57BL/6J and Triple Transgenic Alzheimer’s Mice
Authors: Huang Hei-Jen , Chen Wei-Lin , Hsieh Rong-Hong , Hsieh-Li Hsiu Mei
Published: December 2014

Mangosteen‐ (Garcinia mangostana‐) based nutraceutical compounds have long been reported to possess multiple health‐promoting properties. The current study investigated whether mangosteen pericarp (MP) could attenuate cognitive dysfunction. First, we found that treatment with MP significantly reduced the cell death and increased the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in an organotypic hippocampal slice culture (OHSC). We then investigated the effects of age and MP diet on the cognitive function of male C57BL/6J (B6) mice. After 8‐month dietary supplementation, the MP diet (5000 ppm) significantly attenuated the cognitive impairment associated with anti‐inflammation, increasing BDNF level and decreasing p‐tau (phospho‐tau S202) in older B6 mice. We further applied MP dietary supplementation to triple transgenic Alzheimer’s disease (3×Tg‐AD) mice from 5 to 13 months old. The MP diet exerted neuroprotective, antioxidative, and anti‐inflammatory effects and reduced the Aβ deposition and p‐tau (S202/S262) levels in the hippocampus of 3×Tg‐AD mice, which might further attenuate the deficit in spatial memory retrieval. Thus, these results revealed that the multifunctional properties of MP might offer a promising supplementary diet to attenuate cognitive dysfunction in AD.