bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some properties of celery yellow vein, a virus serologically related to tomato black ring virus
Authors: HOLLINGS M.
Published: March 2008

A virus consistently isolated from celery plants showing conspicuous yellow vein symptoms readily infected healthy celery plants by sap inoculation, grafting or planting in infested field soil, but failed to induce the field symptoms. This virus, which was named celery yellow vein (CYVV), was cultured in Nicotiana clevelandii and assayed in Gomphrena globosa or Chenopodium amaranticolor. It infected sixty‐seven of 119 plant species tested, but was eliminated from tobacco plants grown at 37°C. for 3–5 weeks.

In N. clevelandii sap, CYVV was still infective after dilution to 1/5000, heating to 62·5°C. for 10 min., or storage at c. 18°C. for 14 days. CYVV was best purified and concentrated by differential centrifugation of extracts from infected N. clevelandii using butanol + phosphate buffer. Such preparations contained 'spherical' particles c. 29 mμ diameter, produced specific zones in density‐gradient centrifugation, reacted specifically in serological tests, and contained major and minor components with sedimentation coefficients of 125S and 96S respectively.

Comparison of host range, properties in vitro, protection tests in plants, and serological relationships showed that CYVV was a serotype of tomato black ring virus, but was more closely related to the lettuce ringspot than to either the tomato black ring or beet ringspot strains.
On the use of gut characters to determine the origin of migrating aphids
Authors: EDWARDS J. S.
Published: March 2008

A survey of plant metabolites recoverable from aphids indicated that amino acids, sugars, and phenolic compounds do not provide criteria for associating aphids with their original host plant.

An insoluble polysaccharide accumulates in the crop of aphids fed on members of the family Chenopodiaceae, and distinguishes Myzus persicae alatae reared on chenopods from those reared on other host plants. The polysaccharide causes swelling of the crop in alate and apterous aphids transferred to beet from cabbage and persists in the crops of these aphids after subsequent transfer from beet to non‐chenopod hosts, or in aphids removed from beet and starved to death.

Migrants from chenopods can be recognized by the intensely positive periodic acid‐Schiff reaction of the crop contents, and the increased cross‐sectional area of the crop, caused by the accumulation of polysaccharide.
Novel copulatory structures and reproductive functions in Amphiboloidea (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Pulmonata)
Authors: Golding Rosemary E. , Byrne Maria , Ponder Winston F.
Published: March 2008

Abstract. Two new families of amphiboloid gastropods were recently erected, largely due to the very distinct structural and functional configurations of their distal reproductive systems. The spermovipositors in monaulic Salinator spp. (Amphibolidae) are functionally unique in Gastropoda, and it is suggested that they perform both oviposition and sperm transfer/receipt during non‐reciprocal copulation. In contrast, the remarkably complex penises in syntremous diaulic Phallomedusa spp. (Phallomedusidae) are used exclusively for sperm transfer during reciprocal copulation. The phallomedusid penis is structurally unique among gastropods because it is protruded by pivoting around a fixed point rather than extending by eversion, and bears elaborate appendages to improve traction during copulation. The complex and functionally ambiguous distal reproductive structures of Maningrida (Maningrididae) differ from other amphibolids in the arrangement and structure of their prostate and copulatory structures. Genital armature of varying complexity occurs in all amphiboloidean families. There may be a correlation between the absence of a long‐term sperm storage structure (spermatheca) and the evolutionary diversification of copulatory structures in these gastropods.
Microscopic anatomy of the thin‐walled vessels leaving the heart of the lobsterHomarus americanus: anterior median artery
Authors: Cavey Michael J. , Chan Kincaid S. , Wilkens Jerrel L.
Published: March 2008

Abstract.The anterior median artery is an unpaired vessel that leaves the anterior end of the lobster (Homarus americanus) heart and supplies hemolymph to the brain, the antennae, and the eyestalks. This vessel has a trilaminar organization, consisting of a tunica interna with elastic fibrils, a tunica intermedia represented by a bilayered cell mass, and a tunica externa with collagen fibrils. The exposed ends of the medial cells in the tunica intermedia exhibit small, diffuse bundles of microfilaments that are penetrated by microtubules. These bundles have a circumferential or a slightly oblique orientation relative to the lumen of the vessel. The precise role of the microfilaments is unresolved. If the irregularly shaped bundles are static structures, they might contribute to the non‐linear elasticity of the artery. Alternatively, if they generate force, a coordinated contraction of the medial cells might reduce the luminal diameter of the artery and, thus, retard hemolymph flow. Microfilaments of the medial cells anchor to subplasmalemmal filamentous mats, some of which are integral to intermediate junctions and some of which are associated with unbounded cell membranes (hemi‐intermediate junctions). Contraction of the microfilament‐bearing cells would have to occur without the benefit of nervous innervation or the participation of communicating (gap) junctions. If cell contractility is confirmed, a reclassification of the anterior median artery, from capacitance vessel to resistance vessel, is in order, and the bilayered cell mass in the tunica intermedia would likely qualify as the first unstriated muscle found in crustaceans.
Behavior of Meiotic Chromosomes in Pinus wallichiana, P. strobus and Their Hybrid and nrDNA Localization in Pollen Mother Cells of the Hybrid by Using FISH
Authors: Deng Hui‐Sheng , Zhang Da‐Ming , Fu Cheng‐Xin , Hong De‐Yuan
Published: March 2008

The complete process of meiosis was investigated in Pinus wallichiana, P. strobus and their artificial hybrid (F1) using microsporocytes. It is revealed that there were slightly lower chiasma frequency, lower ring bivalent frequency, lower meiotic index and distinctly higher frequency of aberrance (chromosomal bridges, fragments or micronuclei) in pollen mother cells (PMCs) of the hybrid (F1) than those of the parental species, which showed a certain degree of differentiation between homologous chromosomes of the two parents. However, relatively higher frequency of ring bivalents and higher meiotic index in all the three entities indicate the great stability of genomes of parental species, and the differentiation of genomes between the two parents must have been slight. Total nineteen signal loci of 18S rDNA were observed in nine bivalents of the hybrid (F1), among which one bivalent bears two loci, while the others have only one. It is suggested that distinct differentiation at genetic level existed in homologous chromosomes of the two parental species, whereas only slight differentiation at karyotypic and genomic levels take place between the parent species.
Growth and Wood/Bark Properties of Abies faxoniana Seedlings as Affected by Elevated CO2
Authors: Qiao Yun‐Zhou , Zhang Yuan‐Bin , Wang Kai‐Yun , Wang Qian , Tian Qi‐Zhuo
Published: March 2008

Growth and wood and bark properties of Abies faxoniana seedlings after one year's exposure to elevated CO2 concentration (ambient + 350 (± 25) μmol/mol) under two planting densities (28 or 84 plants/m2) were investigated in closed‐top chambers. Tree height, stem diameter and cross‐sectional area, and total biomass were enhanced under elevated CO2 concentration, and reduced under high planting density. Most traits of stem bark were improved under elevated CO2 concentration and reduced under high planting density. Stem wood production was significantly increased in volume under elevated CO2 concentration under both densities, and the stem wood density decreased under elevated CO2 concentration and increased under high planting density. These results suggest that the response of stem wood and bark to elevated CO2 concentration is density dependent. This may be of great importance in a future CO2 enriched world in natural forests where plant density varies considerably. The results also show that the bark/wood ratio in diameter, stem cross‐sectional area and dry weight are not proportionally affected by elevated CO2 concentration under the two contrasting planting densities. This indicates that the response magnitude of stem bark and stem wood to elevated CO2 concentration are different but their response directions are the same.
Screening Landraces for Additional Sources of Field Resistance to Cassava Mosaic Disease and Green Mite for Integration into the Cassava Improvement Program
Authors: Raji Adebola , Ladeinde Oluseyi , Dixon Alfred
Published: March 2008

Twelve cassava landraces were evaluated for sources of resistance genes to diseases and pests of major economic importance in Africa. The objective was to assess their levels of field resistance to mosaic disease (ACMD), bacterial blight (CBB), anthracnose (CAD), and green mite (CGM), compared to TMS30572, an elite cultivar widely adopted in Africa. Considerable genotypic variation was observed among cultivars for resistance to ACMD and CGM but not for CBB and CAD. The lowest mean incidence of 12% and severity of 1.8 on a scale of 1–5 for ACMD was recorded for Atu, a landrace with farmer acceptable qualities. In comparison, the improved cultivar, TMS 30572, had a mean disease incidence of 72% and a severity score of 2.8. Another landrace, MS‐20 had the lowest CGM damage score (2.1) while TMS 30572 emerged as one of the susceptible cultivars with a damage score of 3. Additional sources of resistance to ACMD and CGM that may possibly be better than the popular improved cultivar, TMS 30572, were identified in this study. These could serve as novel sources of additional genes to complement existing resources for elite cassava breeding in Africa.
Growing Season Ecosystem Respirations and Associated Component Fluxes in Two Alpine Meadows on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Hu Qi‐Wu , Wu Qin , Cao Guang‐Min , Li Dong , Long Rui‐Jun , Wang Yue‐Si
Published: March 2008

From 30 June to 24 September in 2003 ecosystem respiration (Re) in two alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau were measured using static chamber‐ and gas chromatography‐ (GC) based techniques. Simultaneously, plant removal treatments were set to partition Re into plant autotrophic respiration (Ra) and microbial heterotrophic respiration (Rh). Results indicated that Re had clear diurnal and seasonal variation patterns in both of the meadows. The seasonal variability of Re at both meadow sites was caused mainly by changes in Ra, rather than Rh. Moreover, at the Kobresia humilis meadow site (K_site), Ra and Rh accounted for 54% and 46% of Re, respectively. While at the Potentilla fruticosa scrub meadow (P_site), the counterparts accounted for 61% and 39%, respectively. T test showed that there was significant difference in Re rates between the two meadows (t = 2.387, P = 0.022). However, no significant difference was found in Rh rates, whereas a significant difference was observed in Ra rates between the two meadows. Thus, the difference in Re rate between the two meadows was mainly attributed to plant autotrophic respirations. During the growing season, the two meadows showed relatively low Q10 values, suggesting that Re, especially Rh was not sensitive to temperature variation in the growing season. Additionally, Re and Rh at the K_site, as well as Rh at the P_site was negatively correlated with soil moisture, indicating that soil moisture would also play an important role in respirations.
In vitro Transient Expression System of Latex C‐serum was used for Analysis of Hevein Promoter in Response to Abscisic Acid in Hevea brasiliensis
Authors: Fei Xiao‐Wen , Deng Xiao‐Dong
Published: March 2008

Hevein has been found to be an essential element in coagulation of rubber particles in latex of rubber trees. In a previous study, we cloned a 1 241‐bp fragment of a 5′ upstream region of the hevein gene by genome walking. This fragment was analyzed by a 5′ end nested deletion method in the present study, fused with a uidA (gus) gene to produce a series of tested constructs, which were transferred into C‐serum of latex and the Gus activities were detected. Results showed that the fragment from −749 to −292 was sufficient for expression of gus gene in latex, and the fragment from −292 to −168 was crucial in response to abscisic acid inducement. In a transient transgenic test of rubber leaf with particle bombardment, construct Hev749 conferred gus‐specific expression in veins, in which the latex tubes mainly distributed. This implies that the fragment from −749 to −292 was laticiferous‐specific.
Different progenitors of short hard gamma-ray bursts
Authors: Troja E. , King A. R. , O'Brien P. T. , Lyons N. , Cusumano G.
Published: March 2008

We consider the spatial offsets of short hard gamma-ray bursts (SHBs) from their host galaxies. We show that all SHBs with extended-duration soft emission components lie very close to their hosts. We suggest that neutron star–black hole binary mergers offer a natural explanation for the properties of this extended-duration/low-offset group. SHBs with large offsets have no observed extended emission components and are less likely to have an optically detected afterglow, properties consistent with neutron star–neutron star binary mergers occurring in low-density environments.
Patenting Human DNA: What Flexibilities Does the TRIPS Agreement Allow?
Authors: Correa Carlos M.
Published: March 2008

The Agreement on Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) requires World Trade Organization (WTO) members to grant patents in all fields of technology. A large number of patents covering genes, including of human origin, have been issued in developed countries. In some cases, patents granted cover any possible use of the gene, even if not disclosed in the application. However, WTO members enjoy a significant flexibility to determine their policy regarding gene patents. The TRIPS Agreement does not define what an “invention” is; it does not determine either how the novelty and other patentability requirements are to be applied. Hence, national laws may exclude genes, even if claimed as isolated, altogether from patent protection. If gene patents were issued, they may nonetheless apply limitations to the scope of claims, such as circumscribing protection to the uses specifically claimed by the applicant. An exception based on moral considerations is also viable, particularly in the case of human genes. In view of this flexibility, countries may adopt the policies on this subject that best suit their cultural and moral values and their technological or industrial policies.
“Hindu” Bioethics?
Authors: Sarma Deepak
Published: March 2008

Not much work has been done on Hindu bioethics other than by a select few scholars and medical doctors. Professor Cromwell Crawford, author ofDilemmas of Life and Death: Hindu Ethics in a North American Context and Hindu Ethics for the Twenty-first Century, for example, is well known in the field of Hindu bioethics. Others scholars include Dr. Uma Mysorekar, who is a gynecologist as well as the president of the board of trustees of the Ganesha Temple of Flushing New York. She has published several short pieces on Hindu bioethics, and has even been interviewed by PBS for their “Religion and Ethics” program. Dr. H. L. Trivedi, director of the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center at the Civil Hospital Campus in Ahmedabad, India, is also prominent. His pithy paragraph in Transplant Proceedings on Hinduism and organ transplantation is cited with enormous frequency on the Internet and elsewhere. These thinkers, however, are unequivocally wrong in their position that Hinduism supports organ transplantation, and, more importantly, that it offers any coherent or systematic bioethics whatsoever.
The Current State of Medical School Education in Bioethics, Health Law, and Health Economics
Authors: Persad Govind C. , Elder Linden , Sedig Laura , Flores Leonardo , Emanuel Ezekiel J.
Published: March 2008

The standards for medical education in the United States now go above and beyond traditional basic science and clinical subjects. Bioethics, health law, and health economics are recognized as important parts of translating physicians’ technical competence in medicine into effective research, administration, and medical care for patients. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which establishes certification requirements for medical schools, requires all medical schools to include bioethics in their curricula. Furthermore, issues such as the growth of genetic testing, end-of-life decision making for a burgeoning elderly population, confidentiality in the era of electronic medical records, and allocation of scarce medical resources make bioethics training clearly necessary for physicians. Although 16 percent of the United States GDP is devoted to health care, the LCME does not currently mandate training in health law or health economics. Furthermore, as the Schiavo case and HIPAA remind us, legal directives influence medical practice in areas such as billing, confidentiality, and end-of-life care.
WhatIsMedical Ethics Consultation?
Authors: Scofield Giles R.
Published: March 2008

As everybody knows, advances in medicine and medical technology have brought enormous benefits to, and created vexing choices for, us all – choices that can, and occasionally do, test the very limits of thinking itself. As everyone also knows, we live in the age of consultants, i.e., of professional experts who are ready, willing, and able to give us advice on any and every conceivable question. One such consultant is the medical ethics consultant, or the medical ethicist who consults.

Medical ethics consultants involve themselves in just about every aspect of health care decision making. They help legislators and judges determine law, hospitals formulate policies, medical schools develop curricula, etc. In addition to educating physicians, nurses, and lawyers, amongst others, including medical, nursing, and law students, they participate in clinical decision making at the bedside.
LabCorp v. Metabolite Laboratories:The Supreme Court Listens, but Declines to Speak
Authors: Klein Roger D. , Mahoney Maurice J.
Published: March 2008

Molecular genetic testing has increasingly been incorporated into clinical medicine, and this trend is likely to accelerate in the future. The introduction of genetic testing into medical practice is beginning to collide head on with patents that claim ownership of correlations between human genetic variants and predisposition to disease, response to therapeutic drugs, and susceptibility to pharmacologic side effects. Patent holders or licensees of genes, genetic variants, and their genotype-phenotype correlations are already using the threat of litigation to monopolize genetic tests for important well-known syndromes like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and inherited breast and ovarian cancer, in addition to a host of less commonly discussed conditions.
Currents in Contemporary Ethics
Authors: Rothstein Mark A.
Published: March 2008

It has been pending in Congress for twelve years, despite the support of the last two presidential Administrations and the National Institutes of Health. It has been the subject of extensive affirmative lobbying by academic medical centers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, genetic disease advocacy groups, and civil rights organizations. It has overcome vehement objections by employers and insurers. Its final passage, however, has been thwarted by a few Congressional leaders, who have prevented enactment despite overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses of Congress.

Based on this legislative history, one could not help but assume that the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is a revolutionary piece of legislation that, if finally enacted, would provide extensive, effective, and comprehensive protection against genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment Unfortunately, such an assessment would be incorrect. Indeed, GINA may be a case of too much ado about too little.
Public Health Legal Preparedness: A Framework for Action
Authors: Benjamin Georges C. , Moulton Anthony D.
Published: March 2008

Public health emergencies have occurred throughout history, encompassing such events as plagues and famines arising from natural causes, disease pandemics interrelated with wars (such as the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919), and industrial accidents such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, among others. Law and legal tools have played an important role in addressing such emergencies. Three prime U.S. examples are Congressional authorization of quarantine as early as 1796, legally mandated smallpox vaccination upheld in a landmark 1905 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and the President's 2003 executive order adding SARS to the federal government's list of “quarantinable communicable diseases.”

The public health emergencies of the present — both actual and potential — pose equally serious threats but do so in the context of greatly magnified expectations that stem directly from the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the immediately following anthrax attacks.
Assessing Information and Best Practices for Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness
Authors: Rees Clifford M. , O'Brien Daniel , Briss Peter A. , Miles Joan , Namkung Poki , Libbey Patrick M.
Published: March 2008

Information is the fourth core element of public health legal preparedness and of legal preparedness for public health emergencies specifically. Clearly, the creation, transmittal, and application of information are vital to all public health endeavors. The critical significance of information grows exponentially as the complexity and scale of public threats increase.

Only a small body of organized information on public health law existed before the 21st century: a series of landmark books published beginning in 1926 by Tobey, Grad (1965), and Wing (1974); model public health laws published as early as 1907; systematic reviews of original research studies published in the 1990s; and a small but growing number of articles published in public health journals and law reviews.

With the new century came new public health law programs and activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in public health professional associations, and in numerous non-profit and academic organizations.
Improving Information and Best Practices for Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness
Authors: O’Brien Daniel , Rees Clifford M. , Abbott Ernest , Belmont Elisabeth , Eiden Amy , Libbey Patrick M. , Chavez Gilberto , des Vignes-Kendrick Mary
Published: March 2008

This is one of four interrelated action agenda papers resulting from the National Summit on Public Health Legal Preparedness convened in June 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and nineteen multi-disciplinary partner organizations. Each of the action agenda papers deals with one of the four core elements of public health legal preparedness: laws and legal authorities; competency in using those laws; coordination of law-based public health actions; and information. Options presented in this paper are for consideration by policymakers and practitioners — in all jurisdictions and all relevant sectors and disciplines — with responsibilities for all-hazards emergency preparedness.

This paper focuses on the fourth core element: information that can be used in shaping and applying law as a public health tool, specifically in the context of public health emergencies.
The Degree of Polymerization of Inulin‐Like Fructans Affects Cecal Mucin and Immunoglobulin A in Rats
Authors: Ito H. , Wada T. , Ohguchi M. , Sugiyama K. , Kiriyama S. , Morita T.
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT:  Cecal amounts of mucin and immunoglobulin A (IgA) were examined through the cecal fermentation pattern in Wistar (WS) or Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats fed inulin‐type fructans differing in their degree of polymerization (DP). The animals were fed a control diet or a diet containing one of the fructans with an average DP of 4, 8, 16, or 23, at 60 g/kg diet for 10 d. Cecal fermentation products substantially differed between WS and SD rats fed DP8 fructan, with short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as the major organic acids in the former but lactate predominating in the latter. Cecal fermentability of fructans in both strains generally decreased with increasing DP of fructans, and this was especially manifest in reduction of the amounts of lactate in DP16 and 23. In WS rats, cecal mucin and IgA were greater in all fructan groups than in the control group. In SD rats, cecal mucin was greater only in the DP8, 16, and 23 groups as compared to the control group, while IgA was greater in the DP4 and 8 groups. In both strains, cecal mucin correlated with the sum of cecal SCFAs, but not with lactate, succinate, or total organic acids. In contrast, only cecal lactate correlated with cecal IgA in both strains. The present study shows that the different fermentation patterns of fructans affect cecal mucin and IgA; mucin is likely to respond to cecal SCFA production, whereas IgA increases when fermentation occurs rapidly and lactate is a major fermentation product.
Effect of Lactulose on Biotransformation of Isoflavone Glycosides to Aglycones in Soymilk by Lactobacilli
Authors: Pham T.T. , Shah N.P.
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT:  Lactobacillus acidophilus 4461, L. acidophilus 4962, L. casei 290, and L. casei 2607 were used to hydrolyze isoflavone glycosides (IG) to biologically active forms—isoflavone aglycones (IA)—in soymilk (SM) prepared from soy protein isolate (SPI) and soymilk supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) of lactulose (SML). L. acidophilus 4461 utilized the highest level of lactulose (3.01 mg/mL) and L. acidophilus 4962 utilized the least (0.86 mg/mL) at 24 h of incubation. The pH values decreased to 4.00 to 5.00 in SML, while they remained relatively high (6.15 to 6.36) in SM. Supplementation with lactulose significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the viable counts of all the 4 Lactobacillus strains. At the end of incubation, the viable counts of Lactobacillus ranged from 8.08 to 8.25 log CFU/mL in SML compared to 6.99 to 7.11 log CFU/mL in SM. Supplementation with lactulose increased the biotransformation of IG to IA after 6 h of incubation. The presence of lactulose in the medium enhanced the biotransformation level of IG to IA by Lactobacillus up to 21.9%. The hydrolysis level of malonyl genistin and acetyl genistin in SML was much higher than in SM by all the 4 probiotic organisms. The biotransformation of IG to IA occurred rapidly during the 1st 12 h of incubation in both SML and SM. Among the 4 Lactobacillus strains, L. acidophilus 4461 biotransformed the highest level (88.8%) of IG to IA in SML compared to 68.2% in SM after 24 h of incubation.
Carbon‐Centered Radicals in Isolated Soy Proteins
Authors: Boatright W.L. , Jahan M.S. , Walters B.M. , Miller A.F. , Cui D. , Hustedt E.J. , Lei Q.
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT:  Solid‐state electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of commercial samples of isolated soy proteins (ISP) revealed a symmetrical free‐radical signal typical of carbon‐centered radicals (g= 2.005) ranging from 2.96 × 1014 to 6.42 × 1014 spins/g. The level of free radicals in ISP was 14 times greater than similar radicals in sodium caseinate, 29 times greater than egg albumin, and about 100 times greater levels than casein. Nine soy protein powdered drink mixes contained similar types of free radicals up to 4.10 × 1015 spins/g of drink mix, or up to 6.4 times greater than the highest free‐radical content found in commercial ISP. ISP samples prepared in the laboratory contained trapped radicals similar to the levels in commercial ISP samples. When ISP was hydrated in 2.3 mM sodium erythorbate or 8.3 mM L‐cysteine, frozen and dried, the level of trapped free radicals increased by about 17‐ and 19‐fold, respectively. The ESR spectrum of defatted soybean flakes contained overlapping signals from the primary free‐radical peak (g= 2.005) and a sextet pattern typical of manganese‐II. The manganese signal was reduced in the laboratory ISP and very weak in the commercial ISP.
Actinomyces infection in a dog with pulmonary carcinoma
Authors: DAVIES DR , LUCAS J
Published: March 2008

Thoracic actinomycosis was diagnosed by bacterial isolation in a dog with a history of chronic productive cough, weight loss, pyrexia and a pulmonary mass lesion on radiography. Therapy with amoxycillin and clindamycin did not significantly improve the patient's condition and euthanasia was performed during exploratory thoracotomy. Histological examination of the affected lung lobes revealed the presence of peribronchiolar adenocarcinoma. Actinomycosis has been reported to co‐exist with pulmonary neoplasia in humans and may mask the presence of malignancy.
Results of surgical treatment of colic in miniature breed horses: 11 cases
Authors: HUGHES KJ , DOWLING BA , MATTHEWS SA , AJ DART
Published: March 2008

ObjectiveTo report on the outcome of surgical treatment of acute abdominal crises in miniature breed horses.

DesignRetrospective case series of miniature horses presented to the University Veterinary Centre, Camden with an acute abdominal crisis.

MethodsHospital records of all miniature horses that underwent ventral midline laparotomy for acute abdominal crisis between 1997 and 2001 were reviewed. The signalment, history, clinical signs, results of ancillary diagnostic procedures, location and type of intestinal lesion, treatment and outcome were retrieved from each case record. Long term survival was determined by telephone interview of owners.

ResultsEleven miniature horses including five females and six males underwent ventral midline laparotomies for acute abdominal crisis during the study period. Ages ranged between 1 month and 19 years. Surgical findings included faecalith obstruction (seven horses), enterolith (one horse), strangulating lipoma of the descending colon (one horse), jejunal infarction (one horse), and caecal infarction (one horse). Long term survival rate (minimum 12 months post surgery) was 55%. Six of eight horses with simple intraluminal obstructions survived, while the three horses with gastrointestinal lesions associated with vascular compromise were euthanased either at surgery (caecal infarction), or postoperatively, due to complications (strangulating lipoma of the descending colon, jejunal infarction). Postoperative complications in this study included impaction of the descending colon (two horses), diarrhoea (two horses), peritonitis (one horse), hyperlipaemia (two horses), incisional infection (two horses) and abdominal adhesions (one horse). Hyperlipidaemia was present in five of seven horses in which serum triglycerides were measured at presentation.

ConclusionsSimple intraluminal obstructions of the large intestine were frequently encountered during exploratory laparotomy in miniature horses presented for acute abdominal crises, and their surgical treatment was associated with a good prognosis. In contrast, this study suggested that abdominal pain associated with vascular compromise of gastrointestinal tissues in miniature horses was associated with a poorer prognosis, consistent with reports in other horse breeds. Possible contributing factors to faecalith formation, including poor quality roughage, dental disease, and inadequate water consumption, should be recognised and avoided in miniature horses. Serum triglyceride concentrations should be measured in miniature horses presented for acute abdominal pain. If elevated, nutritional supplementation should be provided.
Quantification of termite attack on lying dead wood by a line intersection method in the Kabili‐Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: BERGE LENE , BIGNELL DAVID E. , RAHMAN HOMATHEVI , BURSLEM DAVID F. R. P.
Published: March 2008

Abstract. 

A line intersection method was used to estimate abundance (technically linear abundance: m1 m−2), biovolume (m3 ha−1) and size class distribution (defined by diameter) of lying dead wood in tropical forest. Additional semi‐quantitative protocols assessed decay state (4 classes), termite attack (5 classes) and live termite occupancy (3 classes).

Three forest types (kerangas, alluvial and sandstone) were sampled in the Kabili‐Sepilok Forest Reserve of Eastern Sabah, using plots of 30 × 30 m. Approximately 50 man‐hours were required per site, at a replication of three plots per site and three well‐separated sites per forest type.

Mean biovolume of lying dead wood exceeded 8 × 103 m3 ha−1in kerangas (= heath) forest, with lower values in other types. Large items (> 19 cm diameter) were less than 10% of total abundance, but represented the largest biovolume, exceeding (alluvial) or equalling (kerangas) the total biovolumes of smaller categories combined. Most items (not less than 75%) were present as small wood (< 10 cm diameter). Items in the highest decay class had the highest biovolume.

Termite attack was greater in the kerangas, where nearly 90% of items showed evidence of consumption, compared with 58% in the alluvial and 40% in the sandstone forests. Over 40% of items in the kerangas contained live termites compared with 25% in the alluvial and 15% in the sandstone. Items in the highest attack class (= almost total internal destruction) represented about one‐half of the total biovolume available in the alluvial and kerangas forest types, and about one‐third in the sandstone.
THE USE OF INTRADIALYTIC PARENTERAL NUTRITION IN ACUTELY ILL HAEMODIALYSED PATIENTS
Authors: Korzets Asher , Azoulay Odile , Ori Yaacov , Zevin Dina , Boaz Mona , Herman Michal , Chagnac Avri , Gafter Uzi
Published: March 2008

Background: Protein/caloric malnutrition is a problem in chronically haemodialysed patients, and is an independent risk factor for increased mortality in these patients. Objectives: To assess the safety and efficiency of intradialytic parenteral nutritional (IDPN) as nutritional support in acutely ill haemodialysis patients. Methods: Twenty‐two haemodialysis patients received IDPN after either major surgical or medical illnesses. Parameters measured included possible complications of IDPN, dialysis adequacy, patients' weight, protein catabolic rate (PCR) and serum levels of albumin, pre‐albumin, creatinine, cholesterol, c‐reactive protein (c‐RP) and haemoglobin. After the end of the study all patients were followed‐up for a further 6 months.

Results: Patients received IDPN for 1.5–48 months. Eighteen patients received IDPN < 6 months. IDPN was safe for all patients. Throughout this period dialysis remained adequate. Weight loss in all patients ceased after approximately 2 months of IDPN. PRC, serum albumin, pre‐albumin, cholesterol and creatinine levels all increased significantly. c‐RP dropped from 77 ± 86 mg/l to 9 ± 10 mg/l. Conclusions: IDPN can be safely used in haemodialysed patients who are acutely ill and are unable to meet daily nutritional requirements with an oral intake. All studied parameters of nutrition and inflammation improved significantly while patients were treated with IDPN.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver: report of a rare case and review of the literature
Authors: Arakawa Yusuke , Shimada Mitsuo , Ikegami Toru , Kubo Takayuki , Imura Satoru , Morine Yuji , Kanemura Hirofumi , Mori Hiroki
Published: March 2008

Although a mucoepidermoid carcinoma is sometimes seen as a neoplasm originating from the salivary glands, its origination from the liver is rare. A review of the medical literature in the English language disclosed only 16 cases originating from the hepatic system. The case explored here is that of an 81‐year‐old female, without any significant medical history, who was referred to our hospital for elevated liver function tests. Computed tomography (CT) showed a huge tumor, 10 cm in diameter, in the right lobe of the liver. The central part of the tumor was consistently un‐enhanced, suggesting a large necrotic area. The liver tumor was diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma by a percutaneous biopsy. Despite chemotherapy with radiation therapy, the tumor showed very aggressive malignancy, resulting in early mortality. We herein report on a rare case of primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver with pulmonary and lymph node metastasis, confirmed by autopsy, and review the literature.
Fractional Dynamics in Mechanical Manipulation
Authors: Lima Miguel F. M. , Machado J. A. Tenreiro , Crisóstomo Manuel
Published: March 2008

This paper analyzes the signals captured during the movement of a mechanical manipulator carrying a liquid container. In order to study the signals, an experimental setup is implemented. The system acquires data from the sensors, in real time, and, in a second phase, processes them through an analysis package. The analysis package runs offline and handles the recorded data. The results show that the Fourier spectrum of several signals presents a fractional behavior. The experimental study provides useful information that can assist in the design of a control system to be used in reducing or eliminating the effect of vibrations.
Microelectronic Implementations of Fractional-Order Integrodifferential Operators
Authors: Santamaría Guillermo E. , Valverde José V. , Pérez-Aloe Raquel , Vinagre Blas M.
Published: March 2008

For practical applications, the fractional-order integral and differential operators require to be approximated as stable, causal, minimum-phase integer-order systems, which usually leads, in both continuous and discrete domains, to high order transfer functions. Assuming that an approximation of good quality is available for the fractional operator, efficient implementations, in both cost and speed, are required. The fast development of the microelectronics gives us the opportunity of using cheap, accurate, programmable, and fast devices for implementing reconfigurable analog and digital circuits. Among these devices, field programmable gate arrays, switched capacitor circuits, and field programmable analog arrays are used in this paper for the implementation of a fractional-order integrator, previously approximated by recursive Oustaloup’s method. The fundamentals of the devices as well as the design procedures are given, and the implementations are compared considering their simulated frequency responses, the design efforts, and other important issues.
Antialiasing backprojection for helical MDCT
Authors: Mori I.
Published: March 2008

Helical CTs are well known to suffer from aliasing artifacts because of their finite longitudinal sampling pitch. The artifact pattern is typically strong streaks from bone edges in clinical images. Especially in the case of multidetector row CT, the artifact resulting from longitudinal aliasing is often called a windmill artifact because the visible streaks form a windmill pattern when the object is of a particular shape. The scan must be performed using a very thin slice thickness, i.e., fine sampling in the longitudinal direction, with a longer scan time to mitigate this aliasing artifact. Some elaborate longitudinal interpolation methods to remediate longitudinal aliasing have been proposed, but they have not been successful in practice despite their theoretical importance. A periodic swing of the focal spot in the longitudinal direction, a so‐called ‐flying focal spot, was introduced recently to achieve finer sampling. Although it is a useful technique, some important deficiencies exist: It is sufficiently effective only near the isocenter and is difficult to apply to a scan using a thick slice thickness, even though longitudinal aliasing is more serious at the thicker scan. In this paper, the author addresses the nature of interlaced (or unequally spaced) sampling and derives a new principle of data treatment that can suppress the aliased spectra selectively. According to this principle, the common practice of image reconstruction, which backprojects data along the original sampling ray path, is never the best choice. The author proposes a new scheme of backprojection, which involves the longitudinal shift of projection data. A proper choice of longitudinal shift for backprojection provides effective and selective suppression of aliased spectra, with retention of the original frequency spectrum depending on the level of focus swing. With this shifted backprojection, the swing of focus can be made much smaller than for a conventional ‐flying focal spot. The required amount of shift for backprojection is position dependent. Nevertheless, its implementation in the reconstruction process can be achieved simply by relocating the x‐ray source and detector assembly from positions of actual scanning. Through simulation, the combination of shifted backprojection and the small swing of focus is evaluated. Results confirm that the artifact attributable to longitudinal aliasing is well suppressed in the entire field of view, whereas the penalty on the slice sensitivity profile (or longitudinal resolution) can be kept minimal. Moreover, this method solves other deficiencies of ‐flying focus, such as inapplicability to scans with a thicker slice thickness.
A comparison of neural network approaches for on‐line prediction in IGRT
Authors: Goodband J. H. , Haas O. C. L. , Mills J. A.
Published: March 2008

Image‐guided radiation therapy aims to improve the accuracy of treatment delivery by tracking tumor position and compensating for observed movement. Due to system latency it is sometimes necessary to predict tumor trajectory evolution in order to facilitate changes in beam delivery. Neural networks (NNs) have previously been investigated for predicting future tumor position because of their ability to model non‐linear systems. However, no attempt has been made to optimize the NN training algorithms, and no mention has been made of potential errors which can be caused by using NNs for extrapolation purposes. In this work, after giving a brief explanation of NN theory, a comparison is made between 4 different adaptive algorithms for training time‐series prediction NNs. New error criteria are introduced which highlight error maxima. Results are obtained by training the NNs using previously published data. A hybrid algorithm combining Bayesian regularization with conjugate‐gradient backpropagation is demonstrated to give the best average prediction accuracy, whilst a generalized regression NN is shown to reduce the possibility of isolated large prediction errors.
Computerized analysis of prostate lesions in the peripheral zone using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI
Authors: Vos Pieter C. , Hambrock Thomas , Hulsbergen ‐ van de Kaa Christina A. , Fütterer Jurgen J. , Barentsz Jelle O. , Huisman Henkjan J.
Published: March 2008

A novel automated computerized scheme has been developed for determining a likelihood measure of malignancy for cancer suspicious regions in the prostate based on dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (DCE‐MRI) images. Our database consisted of 34 consecutive patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma in the peripheral zone of the prostate. Both carcinoma and non‐malignant tissue were annotated in consensus on MR images by a radiologist and a researcher using whole mount step‐section histopathology as standard of reference. The annotations were used as regions of interest (ROIs). A feature set comprising pharmacokinetic parameters and a T1 estimate was extracted from the ROIs to train a support vector machine as classifier. The output of the classifier was used as a measure of likelihood of malignancy. Diagnostic performance of the scheme was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve. The diagnostic accuracy obtained for differentiating prostate cancer from non‐malignant disorders in the peripheral zone was 0.83 (0.75–0.92). This suggests that it is feasible to develop a computer aided diagnosis system capable of characterizing prostate cancer in the peripheral zone based on DCE‐MRI.
Anniversary Paper: Role of medical physicists and the AAPM in improving geometric aspects of treatment accuracy and precision
Authors: Yorke Ellen D. , Keall Paul , Verhaegen Frank
Published: March 2008

The last 50 years have seen great advances in the accuracy of external beam radiation therapy. Geometrical uncertainties have been reduced from a centimeter or more in presimulation, skin‐mark guided days to 1–2 mm in today's image‐guided radiation therapy treatments. Medical physicists, with the support and guidance of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of research, development and clinical implementation in this area. This article reviews some of the major contributions of physicists to the improvement of treatment accuracy and precision, and speculates as to what the future may bring.
Extension of the biological effective dose to the MIRD schema and possible implications in radionuclide therapy dosimetry
Authors: Baechler Sébastien , Hobbs Robert F. , Prideaux Andrew R. , Wahl Richard L. , Sgouros George
Published: March 2008

In dosimetry‐based treatment planning protocols, patients with rapid clearance of the radiopharmaceutical require a larger amount of initial activity than those with slow clearance to match the absorbed dose to the critical organ. As a result, the dose‐rate to the critical organ is higher in patients with rapid clearance and may cause unexpected toxicity compared to patients with slow clearance. In order to account for the biological impact of different dose‐rates, radiobiological modeling is beginning to be applied to the analysis of radionuclide therapy patient data. To date, the formalism used for these analyses is based on kinetics derived from activity in a single organ, the target. This does not include the influence of other source organs to the dose and dose‐rate to the target organ. As a result, only self‐dose irradiation in the target organ contributes to the dose‐rate. In this work, the biological effective dose (BED) formalism has been extended to include the effect of multiple source organ contributions to the net dose‐rate in a target organ. The generalized BED derivation has been based on the Medical Internal Radionuclide Dose Committee (MIRD) schema assuming multiple source organs following exponential effective clearance of the radionuclide. A BED‐based approach to determine the largest safe dose to critical organs has also been developed. The extended BED formalism is applied to red marrow dosimetry, as well as kidney dosimetry considering the cortex and the medulla separately, since both those organs are commonly dose limiting in radionuclide therapy. The analysis shows that because the red marrow is an early responding tissue (high ), it is less susceptible to unexpected toxicity arising from rapid clearance of high levels of administered activity in the marrow or in the remainder of the body. In kidney dosimetry, the study demonstrates a complex interplay between clearance of activity in the cortex and the medulla, as well as the initial activity ratio and the value ratio between the two. In some scenarios, projected BED based on both the cortex and the medulla is a more appropriate constraint on the administered activity than the BED based on the cortex only. Furthermore, different fractionated regimens were considered to reduce renal toxicity. The MIRD‐based BED formalism is expected to be useful for patient‐specific adjustments of activity and to facilitate the investigation of dose‐toxicity correlations with respect to dose‐rate and tissue repair mechanism.