bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial pathogen phytosensing in transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants
Authors: Liu Wusheng , Mazarei Mitra , Rudis Mary R. , Fethe Michael H. , Peng Yanhui , Millwood Reginald J. , Schoene Gisele , Burris Jason N. , Stewart C. Neal
Published: November 2012

Plants are subject to attack by a wide range of phytopathogens. Current pathogen detection methods and technologies are largely constrained to those occurring post‐symptomatically. Recent efforts were made to generate plant sentinels (phytosensors) that can be used for sensing and reporting pathogen contamination in crops. Engineered phytosensors indicating the presence of plant pathogens as early‐warning sentinels potentially have tremendous utility as wide‐area detectors. We previously showed that synthetic promoters containing pathogen and/or defence signalling inducible cis‐acting regulatory elements (RE) fused to a fluorescent protein (FP) reporter could detect phytopathogenic bacteria in a transient phytosensing system. Here, we further advanced this phytosensing system by developing stable transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants containing candidate constructs. The inducibility of each synthetic promoter was examined in response to biotic (bacterial pathogens) or chemical (plant signal molecules salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate) treatments using stably transgenic plants. The treated plants were visualized using epifluorescence microscopy and quantified using spectrofluorometry for FP synthesis upon induction. Time‐course analyses of FP synthesis showed that both transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants were capable to respond in predictable ways to pathogen and chemical treatments. These results provide insights into the potential applications of transgenic plants as phytosensors and the implementation of emerging technologies for monitoring plant disease outbreaks in agricultural fields.
Wittgenstein on the Place of the Concept “Noticing an Aspect”
Authors: Dinishak Janette
Published: November 2012

Seeing aspects is a dominant theme inWittgenstein's 1940s writings on philosophy of psychology. Interpreters disagree about whatWittgenstein was trying to do in these discussions.Iargue that interpretingWittgenstein's observations about the interrelations between “noticing an aspect” and other psychological concepts as a systematic theory of aspect‐seeing diminishes key lessons ofWittgenstein's explorations: these interrelations are enormously complicated and “noticing an aspect” resists neat classification. Further,Wittgenstein invites us to engage in his “placing activity,” and by doing so we are building a skill that is valuable for enabling us to helpourselveswhen we encounter conceptual difficulties.
The Continence of Virtue
Authors: Scarre Geoffrey
Published: November 2012

Many recent writers in the virtue ethics tradition have followed Aristotle in arguing for a distinction between virtue and continence, where the latter is conceived as an inferior moral condition. In this paper I contend that rather than seeking to identify a sharp categorical difference between virtue and continence, we should see the contrast as rather one of degree, where virtue is a continence that has matured with practice and habit, becoming more stable, effective and self‐aware.
Malignant melanoma arising in a plaque‐type blue nevus
Authors: Sanada Sakiko , Higaki Koichi , Torii Yoshikuni , Higashi Takaya , Yamaguchi Rin , Nakamura Yasuhiro , Yano Hirohisa
Published: November 2012

Blue nevus is a type of dermal melanocytosis and has a variety of clinicopathological characteristics. A few particular variants are generally accepted as discrete clinicopathological entities. Plaque‐type blue nevus (PTBN) is one of the variants of blue nevus. PTBN presents at birth or arises in early childhood, and shows a combination of features found in common blue nevus and cellular blue nevus. In this report, we describe a malignant melanoma arising in association with a PTBN in a 65‐year‐old male. The tumor appeared as a well circumscribed but partially infiltrative upper‐abdominal mass, and was heavily pigmented and consisted of a spindle or epithelioid highly cellular component with mitotic figures and tumor necroses. In the skin around the tumor, multiple pigmented lesions were scattered around the trunk, and these had been recognized since childhood. Histologically, skin lesions showed sparse and wide distribution of the dendritic melanocytes with dense melanin pigments and melanophages between the collagen bundles from the reticular dermis to the abdominal skeletal muscle. We also discuss the histological features and clinical course in our patient in context with previous related literature.
Expression of EZH2 in renal cell carcinoma as a novel prognostic marker
Authors: Lee Hye Won , Choe Misun
Published: November 2012

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a member of the Polycomb group proteins and a part of Polycomb repressive complex 2. EZH2 is important for transcriptional regulation through nucleosome modification and interaction with other transcription factors. Particularly, aberration of EZH2 has been implicated in oncogenesis and progression of various neoplasms. The objective of this study was to evaluate EZH2 expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), especially clear cell RCC (CRCC) and correlate the expression with prognostic factors. EZH2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining with additional Western blotting. High expression of EZH2 was significantly correlated with higher pT stage or more frequent distant metastases (P= 0.001 and 0.024, respectively). Survival analyses displayed that patients with high EZH2 expression had a significantly shorter disease‐free survival than those with low expression (P= 0.019). High expression of EZH2 tended to reduce the overall survival, however, differences did not reach statistical significance (P= 0.066). From our results, we propose that EZH2 is a useful prognostic marker for aggressive behavior of CRCC and may be applicable as a therapeutic target molecule.
Plasmablastic lymphoma of the stomach in an HIV‐negative patient
Authors: Hashimoto Mitsuyoshi , Inaguma Shingo , Kasai Kenji , Kuwabara Kyoko , Noda Nobuhiko , Hayakawa Masaya , Fujino Masahiko , Ito Masafumi , Ikeda Hiroshi
Published: November 2012

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare B‐cell neoplasm with an aggressive clinical behavior that predominantly occurs in the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients. However, it has recently been recognized that PBLs can also affect individuals without HIV infection, and suggested that these neoplasms show different clinicopathological characteristics between HIV‐positive and ‐negative patients. Herein we describe a case of gastric PBL in a female HIV‐negative patient. The tumor was composed of a diffuse and cohesive proliferation of large neoplastic cells, which resembled immunoblasts or plasmablasts with a starry sky appearance. Immunophenotypically, the neoplastic cells were diffusely positive for CD138, MUM1, IgM, and BOB‐1, and negative for CK, LCA, CD3, CD20, CD79a, Pax5, kappa, lambda, CD30, ALK, S‐100, HMB‐45, MPO, and HHV‐8. The MIB‐1 index was nearly 100%. Epstein‐Barr virus‐encoded RNA in situ hybridization was negative. A monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was detected in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and heteroduplex analyses. A combination of PCR‐based analysis of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and immunohistochemistry can be useful to substantiate the diagnosis by utilizing routine paraffin‐embedded tissue sections, because PBL in the setting of extra‐oral localization and immunocompetence is a diagnostic challenge, given its rarity, morphology, and absence of CD20 expression.
Expression of ERG oncoprotein is associated with a less aggressive tumor phenotype in Japanese prostate cancer patients
Authors: Kimura Takahiro , Furusato Bungo , Miki Jun , Yamamoto Toshihiro , Hayashi Norihiro , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Kamata Yuko , van Leenders Geert J. H. L. , Visakorpi Tapio , Egawa Shin
Published: November 2012

To investigate and characterize ERG oncoprotein expression in Japanese patients with prostate cancer (PCa), we evaluated 92 index tumors from Japanese patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy for PCa, using an antibody‐based detection method to determine ERG expression. Expression status was compared with clinicopathological findings including patient age, body mass index and preoperative prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels, specimen Gleason score, pathological stage, positive surgical margin, size of index tumor, prostatic volume, zonal origin of index tumor and biochemical failure. Overall, ERG protein was expressed in 16.3% (15/92) of the index tumors, but not in benign glands. Younger patient age, lower Gleason score and negative surgical margins were found to be independently associated with its expression in the multivariate analysis (P= 0.015, 0.003 and 0.038, respectively). ERG expression was not associated with biochemical failure. Though not statistically significant, ERG expression was more frequently observed in peripheral zone than in transition zone cancers (28.2% vs 10%, respectively). In conclusion, ERG protein was less frequently expressed in this Japanese PCa cohort compared with Western reports. ERG expression was associated with a less aggressive tumor phenotype, and its biological significance needs to be further investigated.
A large coronary aneurysm and its probable precursor lesions in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: An implication for the process of aneurysmogenesis
Authors: Ohara Kentaro , Kimura Tokuhiro , Karasawa Takaaki , Tokuyama Hirobumi , Wakino Shu , Hayashi Koichi , Itoh Hiroshi , Okada Yasunori
Published: November 2012

Coronary artery aneurysms are rare complications of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and their pathogenesis remains poorly understood. We report an autopsy case of a 64‐year‐old ADPKD patient with an asymptomatic, large (4 cm in diameter) saccular aneurysm arising from the left circumflex (LCX) branch of the coronary artery with only mild atherosclerotic changes. Autopsy also revealed small, focal defects of media with or without microaneurysm formation in the LCX, mesenteric and renal arteries, and a fibromuscular dysplasia‐like lesion with microaneurysm in the common iliac artery. Since polycystin‐1 and ‐2 are expressed in arterial smooth‐muscle cells, these findings imply that abnormal polycystin expression in ADPKD initially causes the focal medial defects, some of which might later progress to microaneurysms and then overt aneurysms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the pathologic findings of an ADPKD‐associated coronary aneurysm and its probable precursor lesions in arteries.
Molecular characterization and functional analysis of two new β‐1,4‐endoglucanase genes (Ha‐eng‐2,Ha‐eng‐3) from the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae
Authors: Long H. , Peng D. , Huang W. , Peng H. , Wang G.
Published: November 2012

Parasitism genes encoding secretory proteins expressed in the pharyngeal glands of plant‐parasitic nematodes play a crucial role in nematode parasitism of plants. Two new β‐1,4‐endoglucanase genes (Ha‐eng‐2 and Ha‐eng‐3) expressed in the pharyngeal glands of the sedentary cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae, were cloned. Both of the predicted proteins have a putative signal peptide for secretion and a catalytic domain. Neither peptide linkers nor cellulose binding domains were present. In situ hybridization showed that the transcripts of Ha‐eng‐2 and Ha‐eng‐3 accumulated specifically in the two subventral gland cells of H. avenae. RT‐PCR analysis confirmed that their transcriptions were strong in the preparasitic and early parasitic second‐stage juveniles, and were undetectable at the late parasitic stages of the nematode. Cellulase activities of the recombinant proteins HA‐ENG‐2 and HA‐ENG‐3 were confirmed in vitro. Knocking down Ha‐eng‐2 using RNA interference reduced nematode infectivity by 40%. The results indicate that these β‐1,4‐endoglucanases can be secreted into plant tissues and play an important role in the wall degradation of plant cells during penetration and the migration of second‐stage juveniles in host roots.
Roles of peroxidases and NADPH oxidases in the oxidative response of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to brown rust (Puccinia triticina) infection
Authors: Dmochowska‐Boguta M. , Nadolska‐Orczyk A. , Orczyk W.
Published: November 2012

The goal of this work was to establish which enzymes – peroxidases or NADPH oxidases – play the most important role in the resistance‐related oxidative burst response of wheat to infection by brown rust (Puccinia triticina). The expression of four peroxidases and two NADPH oxidases was analysed in the susceptible wheat cv. Thatcher and isogenic lines with different Lr resistance genes after pathogen inoculation. Of the peroxidases, TaPrx118 and TaPrx112 were induced several times more strongly than TaPrx103 and TaPrx107. The induction of peroxidases was more pronounced than that of NADPH oxidases. The patterns of peroxidase expression clearly differentiated moderately resistant from highly resistant lines and corresponded to oxidative response profiles. The possible involvement of peroxidases or NADPH oxidases was verified with enzyme‐specific inhibitors. The oxidative burst in the susceptible cv. Thatcher and in the lines TcLr24, TcLr25, TcLr9 was peroxidase‐dependent, while the response in line TcLr26 was NADPH‐oxidase‐dependent. It is postulated that class III peroxidases play a leading role in the formation of reactive oxygen species molecules during the response of wheat to pathogen infection. The results suggest a high level of redundancy of some peroxidase genes induced in biotic stress. The role of both enzyme systems in wheat response/resistance to brown rust is discussed in relation to the oxidative response, the efficiency of resistance, and the presence and origin of particular Lr resistance genes.
Why was the enforcement pyramid so influential? And what price was paid?
Authors: Mascini Peter
Published: November 2012

Although responsive regulation includes much more than the enforcement pyramid, it is the pyramid that has received most attention from academics and practitioners. This is despite the fact that the implementation of the strategy of gradual escalation has proved challenging in many respects. Why has the enforcement pyramid been so attractive? Apart from its scholarly and policy usefulness, this paper suggests that it appeals to practitioners because it provides a theoretical endorsement of the professional autonomy to which practitioners aspire. It was, and is, still appealing to scholars because it provides a practical means to improve regulation, which is congruent with the dominant neoliberal reflex to depoliticize the regulation of capitalist economies. All in all, because responsive regulation has very largely been reduced to the enforcement pyramid, the literature has neglected the normative issues surrounding the regulation of capitalist economies that were central to Ayres and Braithwaite.
Differential distribution of lymphatic clearance between upper and lower regions of the lung
Authors: EGASHIRA RYOKO , TANAKA TOMONORI , IMAIZUMI TAKESHI , SENDA KAZUTAKA , DOKI YOSHINORI , KUDO SHO , FUKUOKA JUNYA
Published: November 2012

Background and objective

Many lung diseases arise as the consequence of inhalational injury. When pathogenic materials are inhaled, it is possible that their clearance routes become the main focus of injury in the lung. Lymphatic clearance is important in the removal from the lung of small inhaled particles. The leak of toxic agents from the lymphatic flow potentially explains the topographic distribution of diffuse lung diseases triggered by inhaled materials, for example asbestosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in lymphatic distribution across various craniocaudal levels of the lung by using carbon dust deposition (CDD) as a tracing marker.

Methods

We evaluated 61 HE‐stained slides of the normal lung area from 61 lobectomy specimens. The intensity of CDD was scored into five degrees (0–4) in bronchiolovascular (BV) areas and subpleural/septal (SP) areas per slide. The distribution was highlighted by subtraction scores of SP areas from those of bronchiolovascular areas.

Results

The subtraction scores of the upper lung area were significantly greater than those in the lower area, whereas there was no significant difference in scores by pulmonary lobes.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that the main lymphatic clearance routes vary according to the craniocaudal levels, and are predominant in BV areas of the upper areas and in SP areas of the lower areas of the lung. This may explain the histological variations in anatomical distribution observed in the biopsy specimens of some diffuse lung diseases.
Body maps do not facilitate older children’s report of touch
Authors: MORGAN KIRSTIE , DORGAN KATHRYN , HAYNE HARLENE
Published: November 2012

Morgan, K., Dorgan, K. & Hayne, H. (2013). Body maps do not facilitate older children’s report of touch. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 54, 51–55.

In a single experiment, we assessed the effect of body maps on reports of touch by 5‐ and 6‐year‐olds, 9‐ and 10‐year‐olds, and adults. Children and adults participated in a staged event in which they were touched four times. Immediately following the event, children and adults were asked to either show using a body map or show using their own body where they had been touched. Consistent with prior research, body maps were ineffective with 5‐ and 6‐year‐olds. Furthermore, although older children and adults reported more touches and were more accurate than younger children, body maps did not enhance the quality of their reports. We conclude that the provision of a body map does not facilitate reports of touch by any age group, raising serious questions about their use in forensic contexts.
15‐month‐olds’ transfer of learning between touch screen and real‐world displays: language cues and cognitive loads
Authors: ZACK ELIZABETH , GERHARDSTEIN PETER , MELTZOFF ANDREW N. , BARR RACHEL
Published: November 2012

Zack, E., Gerhardstein, P., Meltzoff, A. N. & Barr, R. (2013). 15‐month‐olds’ transfer of learning between touch screen and real‐world displays: language cues and cognitive loads. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 54, 20–25.

Infants have difficulty transferring information between 2D and 3D sources. The current study extends Zack, Barr, Gerhardstein, Dickerson & Meltzoff’s (2009) touch screen imitation task to examine whether the addition of specific language cues significantly facilitates 15‐month‐olds’ transfer of learning between touch screens and real‐world 3D objects. The addition of two kinds of linguistic cues (object label plus verb or nonsense name) did not elevate action imitation significantly above levels observed when such language cues were not used. Language cues hindered infants’ performance in the 3D→2D direction of transfer, but only for the object label plus verb condition. The lack of a facilitative effect of language is discussed in terms of competing cognitive loads imposed by conjointly transferring information across dimensions and processing linguistic cues in an action imitation task at this age.
Avian Schistosomes and Human Cercarial Dermatitis in a Wildlife Refuge in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran
Authors: Gohardehi S. , Fakhar M. , Madjidaei M.
Published: November 2012

Each year, hundreds of aquatic migratory birds migrate from northern hemisphere to the Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Little information is available on prevalence and density of schistosomes in water birds in Iran and around the world. The objectives of this study were to determine definitive and intermediate hosts of avian schistosomes as well as to assess human cercarial dermatitis (HCD) in a wildlife refuge in Mazandaran Province. Of 1106 examined people, 589 (53.2%) had maculopapular rashes mainly on feet but also on hand. The majority of cases were adults and local residents. Of 260 ducks, 41 (15.8%) were found to be infected with Trichobilharzia spp. eggs or adult worms. Prevalence was highest in Anas clypeata and Anas platyrhynchos, 79% and 18.9%, respectively. A total of 1.2% snails, examined by both shedding and crushing methods, were infected with furcocercariae belonging to avian schistosomes. The most frequently infected snail was Lymnaea gedrosiana (5.9%). Our results showed that cercarial dermatitis and avian schistosomiasis is a common and yet neglected disease in this area. Anas clypeata played the most important role in exposing snails to miracidia in ponds and paddy fields. Moreover, because of the high prevalence in ducks and high prevalence of HCD in the region, it is considered as a new endemic focus in Iran.
High‐resolution echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac physiology and disease in preclinical models
Authors: Moran Carmel M. , Thomson Adrian J. W. , Rog‐Zielinska Eva , Gray Gillian A.
Published: November 2012

Key Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This review describes the use of high spatial and temporal resolution ultrasound imaging for the evalution of cardiovascular function.

What advances does it highlight?

This short reveiw succintly highlights the advances in the use of high‐resolution ultrasound in the assessment of rodent cardiac function, with emphasis on the differences between human and rodent echocardiography and on the main principles involved in completing a successful echocardiographic study in preclinical models.

The high temporal and spatial resolution of echocardiography makes it a powerful and reliable tool for the non‐invasive study of cardiac phenotype and disease in both adult and embryonic preclinical models. This overview of the use of high‐resolution ultrasound for echocardiography highlights the present and potential applications of the technique.
Statistical and Theoretical Models of Ingestion Through Turbine Rim Seals
Authors: Zhou Kunyuan , Wood Simon N. , Owen J. Michael
Published: November 2012

In recent papers, orifice models have been developed to calculate the amount of ingestion, or ingress, that occurs through gas-turbine rim seals. These theoretical models can be used for externally induced (EI) ingress, where the pressure differences in the main gas path are dominant, and for rotationally induced (RI) ingress, where the effects of rotation in the wheel space are dominant. Explicit “effectiveness equations,” derived from the orifice models, are used to express the flow rate of sealing air in terms of the sealing effectiveness. These equations contain two unknown terms: Φmin, a sealing flow parameter, and Γc, the ratio of the discharge coefficients for ingress and egress. The two unknowns can be determined from concentration measurements in experimental rigs. In this paper, maximum likelihood estimation is used to fit the effectiveness equations to experimental data and to determine the optimum values of Φmin and Γc. The statistical model is validated numerically using noisy data generated from the effectiveness equations, and the simulated tests show the dangers of drawing conclusions from sparse data points. Using the statistical model, good agreement between the theoretical curves and several sets of previously published effectiveness data is achieved for both EI and RI ingress. The statistical and theoretical models have also been used to analyze previously unpublished experimental data, the results of which are included in separate papers. It is the ultimate aim of this research to apply the effectiveness data obtained at rig conditions to engine-operating conditions.
Improved Trench Film Cooling With Shaped Trench Outlets
Authors: Idowu Oguntade Habeeb , E. Andrews Gordon , Burns A. D. , B. Ingham Derek , Pourkashanian Mohammed
Published: November 2012

The influence of the shape of the downstream edge of trench film cooling hole outlets on film cooling effectiveness was investigated using CFD for flat plate film cooling. A 90 deg trench outlet wall with impinging 30 deg film cooling jets results in improved transverse film cooling effectiveness but produces a vertical slot jet into the cross flow, which is not the best aerodynamics for optimum film cooling. It was considered that improvements in the cooling effectiveness would occur if the trailing edge of the trench outlet produced a flow that was inclined in the direction of the crossflow. Beveled and filleted trench outlet shapes were investigated. The CFD predictions were shown to predict well the conventional sharp edged trench outlet experimental results for a flat plate geometry. The flat plate CFD predictions were also shown to predict the experimental results for trench cooling on the suction side of a turbine vane, where the local curvature was small relative to the trench width. The beveled and filleted trench outlets were predicted to suppress the vertical jet momentum and give a Coanda effect that allowed the cooling air to attach to the downstream wall surface. This produced an improved transverse spread of the coolant. Also, it was predicted that reducing the coolant mass flow per hole and increasing the number of rows of holes gave, for the same total coolant mass flow and the same surface area, a superior surface averaged cooling effectiveness.
Aerothermal Investigation of Backface Clearance Flow in Deeply Scalloped Radial Turbines
Authors: He Ping , Sun Zhigang , Guo Baoting , Chen Haisheng , Tan Chunqing
Published: November 2012

A numerical investigation of flow structure and heat transfer in the backface clearance of deeply scalloped radial turbines is conducted in this paper. It is found that the leakage flow is very strong in the upper radial region whereas in the lower radial region, the scraping flow dominates over the clearance and a recirculation zone is formed. Pressure distributions are given to explain the flow structure in the backface clearance, and it is found that due to the sharp reduction of radial velocity and Coriolis force, the pressure difference in the lower radial region is reduced drastically, which is the mechanism for the domination of the scraping flow and the corresponding recirculation zone. There are two high heat transfer coefficient zones on the backface surface. One is located in the upper radial region due to the reattachment of the leakage flow and the other is located in the lower radial region caused by the impingement of the scraping flow. Increase of the clearance height reduces the high heat transfer coefficient caused by the impingement of the scraping flow, although it increases the leakage loss. On the other hand, the high heat transfer coefficient in the upper radial region can be reduced remarkably by using the suction side squealer geometry.
Heat Transfer for the Film-Cooled Vane of a 1-1/2 Stage High-Pressure Transonic Turbine—Part I: Experimental Configuration and Data Review With Inlet Temperature Profile Effects
Authors: Kahveci Harika S. , Haldeman Charles W. , Mathison Randall M. , Dunn Michael G.
Published: November 2012

This paper investigates the vane airfoil and inner endwall heat transfer for a full-scale turbine stage operating at design corrected conditions under the influence of different vane inlet temperature profiles and vane cooling flow rates. The turbine stage is a modern 3D design consisting of a cooled high-pressure vane, an un-cooled high-pressure rotor, and a low-pressure vane. Inlet temperature profiles (uniform, radial, and hot streaks) are created by a passive heat exchanger and can be made circumferentially uniform to within ±5% of the bulk average inlet temperature when desired. The high-pressure vane has full cooling coverage on both the airfoil surface and the inner and outer endwalls. Two circuits supply coolant to the vane, and a third circuit supplies coolant to the rotor purge cavity. All of the cooling circuits are independently controlled. Measurements are performed using double-sided heat-flux gauges located at four spans of the vane airfoil surface and throughout the inner endwall region. Analysis of the heat transfer measured for the uncooled downstream blade row has been reported previously. Part I of this paper describes the operating conditions and data reduction techniques utilized in this analysis, including a novel application of a traditional statistical method to assign confidence limits to measurements in the absence of repeat runs. The impact of Stanton number definition is discussed while analyzing inlet temperature profile shape effects. Comparison of the present data (Build 2) to the data obtained for an uncooled vane (Build 1) clearly illustrates the impact of the cooling flow and its relative effects on both the endwall and airfoils. Measurements obtained for the cooled hardware without cooling applied agree well with the solid airfoil for the airfoil pressure surface but not for the suction surface. Differences on the suction surface are due to flow being ingested on the pressure surface and reinjected on the suction surface when coolant is not supplied for Build 2. Part II of the paper continues this discussion by describing the influence of overall cooling level variation and the influence of the vane trailing edge cooling on the vane heat transfer measurements.
Mechanisms and Key Parameters for Compressor Blade Stall Flutter
Authors: Zhang Xiaowei , Wang Yanrong , Xu Kening
Published: November 2012

This paper describes a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) numerical method in frequency domain to improve the overall understanding of the mechanisms of compressor blade stall flutter and to identify the key flutter parameters. The numerical method, whose accuracy is verified by comparing the numerical predicted stall flutter boundary with that measured through engine rig tests in a compressor rotor, is applied to investigate the effects of blade mode, reduced velocity, and interblade phase angle (IBPA) on flutter stability, and to reveal the flutter mechanisms directly related to shock wave properties and flow separation effects. It is found that the shock wave on the suction surface and the separation area behind it are important flutter inducements.
Machinability of AISI 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel With Cryogenically Treated M35 High-Speed Steel Twist Drills
Authors: Çiçek Adem , Uygur Ilyas , Kıvak Turgay , Altan Özbek Nursel
Published: November 2012

In this paper, machinability of AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel was investigated using cryogenically treated and untreated high-speed steel (HSS) twist drills. Machinability of AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel was evaluated in terms of thrust force, tool life, surface roughness, and hole quality of the drilled holes. Experimental results showed from 14% to 218% improvements for treated tool lives. Thrust force, surface roughness, and hole quality are better with treated drills when compared with untreated drills. These improvements were mainly attributed to formation of fine and homogeneous carbide particles and transformation of retained austenite to martensite. Microhardness and microstructure observations verified these formations.
Measurement of Transient Tool-Internal Temperature Fields During Hard Turning by Insert-Embedded Thin Film Sensors
Authors: Werschmoeller Dirk , Li Xiaochun , Ehmann Kornel
Published: November 2012

This paper presents a novel approach for obtaining thermal data from the close vicinity (70–700 μm) of the tool-workpiece interface while machining hardened steel. Arrays of microthin film C-type thermocouples with a junction size of 5 μm × 5 μm were fabricated by standard microfabrication methods and have been successfully embedded into polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) using a diffusion bonding technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were performed to examine material interactions at the bonding interface in order to determine optimal bonding parameters. Static and dynamic sensor performances have been characterized. The sensors exhibit excellent linearity up to 1300 °C, fast rise time of 150 ns, and sensitivity of ∼19 μV/ °C. The PCBN inserts instrumented with embedded thin film C-type thermocouples were successfully applied to measure internal tool temperatures as close as 70 μm to the cutting edge while machining hardened steel workpieces at industrially relevant cutting conditions. Correlations between temperature and cutting parameters have been established. The embedded microthin film sensor array provided unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution as well as high accuracy for microscale transient tool-internal temperature field measurements. Tool-internal temperature maps were generated from acquired data. In the frequency domain, obtained thermal data indicated the onset of regenerative machining chatter earlier and more effective than conventional force measurement by dynamometer.
Error Modeling of a Parallel Wedge Precision Positioning Stage
Authors: Zeng Qiang , Ehmann Kornel F.
Published: November 2012

The parallel wedge precision positioning stage (PW-PPS) presents a novel configuration of a parallel mechanism for precision positioning applications. Based on its specific parallel configuration, the corresponding inverse and forward kinematic models were developed and used to formulate the volumetric error model of the mechanism. The error model that considers the influence of manufacturing errors is built in two steps. In the first, the structural parameter-induced errors associated with the PW-PPS's structural parameters and input variables were considered, while in the second, the joint clearance-induced errors produced by joint clearances were taken into account. The structural parameter-induced errors were modeled based on complete differential-coefficient theory, while the joint clearance-induced errors due to joint clearances were modeled based on the virtual work and deterministic method. In the latter case, the kinetostatic model and joint error contact modes were analyzed to build a joint clearance-induced error model. The relationship between the different error sources and the output pose error of the mechanism's moving platform was obtained. Finally, considering practical values for the mechanism's parameters and errors, the error distribution in the PW-PPS's workspace was evaluated to determine the distributive rules of the various error components.
Water and tissue equivalence of a new PRESAGE® formulation for 3D proton beam dosimetry: A Monte Carlo study
Authors: Gorjiara Tina , Kuncic Zdenka , Doran Simon , Adamovics John , Baldock Clive
Published: November 2012

Purpose:

To evaluate the water and tissue equivalence of a new PRESAGE® 3D dosimeter for proton therapy.

Methods:

The GEANT4 software toolkit was used to calculate and compare total dose delivered by a proton beam with mean energy 62 MeV in a PRESAGE® dosimeter, water, and soft tissue. The dose delivered by primary protons and secondary particles was calculated. Depth‐dose profiles and isodose contours of deposited energy were compared for the materials of interest.

Results:

The proton beam range was found to be ≈27 mm for PRESAGE®, 29.9 mm for soft tissue, and 30.5 mm for water. This can be attributed to the lower collisional stopping power of water compared to soft tissue and PRESAGE®. The difference between total dose delivered in PRESAGE® and total dose delivered in water or tissue is less than 2% across the entire water/tissue equivalent range of the proton beam. The largest difference between total dose in PRESAGE® and total dose in water is 1.4%, while for soft tissue it is 1.8%. In both cases, this occurs at the distal end of the beam. Nevertheless, the authors find that PRESAGE® dosimeter is overall more tissue‐equivalent than water‐equivalent before the Bragg peak. After the Bragg peak, the differences in the depth doses are found to be due to differences in primary proton energy deposition; PRESAGE® and soft tissue stop protons more rapidly than water. The dose delivered by secondary electrons in the PRESAGE® differs by less than 1% from that in soft tissue and water. The contribution of secondary particles to the total dose is less than 4% for electrons and ≈1% for protons in all the materials of interest.

Conclusions:

These results demonstrate that the new PRESAGE® formula may be considered both a tissue‐ and water‐equivalent 3D dosimeter for a 62 MeV proton beam. The results further suggest that tissue‐equivalent thickness may provide better dosimetric and geometric accuracy than water‐equivalent thickness for 3D dosimetry of this proton beam.
Comparison of a multileaf collimator tracking system and a robotic treatment couch tracking system for organ motion compensation during radiotherapy
Authors: Menten Martin J. , Guckenberger Matthias , Herrmann Christian , Krauß Andreas , Nill Simeon , Oelfke Uwe , Wilbert Jürgen
Published: November 2012

Purpose:

One limitation of accurate dose delivery in radiotherapy is intrafractional movement of the tumor or the entire patient which may lead to an underdosage of the target tissue or an overdosage of adjacent organs at risk. In order to compensate for this movement, different techniques have been developed. In this study the tracking performances of a multileaf collimator (MLC) tracking system and a robotic treatment couch tracking system were compared under equal conditions.

Methods:

MLC tracking was performed using a tracking system based on the Siemens 160 MLC. A HexaPOD robotic treatment couch tracking system was also installed at the same linac. A programmable 4D motion stage was used to reproduce motion trajectories with different target phantoms. Motion localization of the target was provided by the 4D tracking system of Calypso Medical Inc. The gained positional data served as input signal for the control systems of the MLC and HexaPOD tracking systems attempting to compensate for the target motion. The geometric and dosimetric accuracy for the tracking of eight different respiratory motion trajectories was investigated for both systems. The dosimetric accuracy of both systems was also evaluated for the tracking of five prostate motion trajectories.

Results:

For the respiratory motion the average root mean square error of all trajectories iny direction was reduced from 4.1 to 2.0 mm for MLC tracking and to 2.2 mm for HexaPOD tracking. In x direction it was reduced from 1.9 to 0.9 mm (MLC) and to 1.0 mm (HexaPOD). The average 2%/2 mm gamma pass rate for the respiratory motion trajectories was increased from 76.4% for no tracking to 89.8% and 95.3% for the MLC and the HexaPOD tracking systems, respectively. For the prostate motion trajectories the average 2%/2 mm gamma pass rate was 60.1% when no tracking was applied and was improved to 85.0% for MLC tracking and 95.3% for the HexaPOD tracking system.

Conclusions:

Both systems clearly increased the geometric and dosimetric accuracy during tracking of respiratory motion trajectories. Thereby, the geometric accuracy was increased almost equally by both systems, whereas the dosimetric accuracy of the HexaPOD tracking system was slightly better for all considered respiratory motion trajectories. Substantial improvement of the dosimetric accuracy was also observed during tracking of prostate motion trajectories during an intensity‐modulated radiotherapy plan. Thereby, the HexaPOD tracking system showed better results than the MLC tracking.
Content-Specific Fronto-Parietal Synchronization During Visual Working Memory
Authors: Salazar R. F. , Dotson N. M. , Bressler S. L. , Gray C. M.
Published: November 2012

Synchronous Brain Activity

Synchronization of neuronal activity across different brain areas varies according to working memory load or the locus of attention. It is thought that synchronization serves as a general mechanism for increasing effective cross-area communication during memory and attention tasks. However, it is not known if synchronization carries specific content.

Salazar
et al.

(p.
1097
, published online 1 November) recorded from multiple electrodes across parietal and prefrontal cortices of monkeys and found content-specific synchronization for both location and object identity in a working memory task. The findings suggest that the contents of working memory could be maintained through site-specific synchrony across brain areas.
Influence of Threonine Metabolism on
S
-Adenosylmethionine and Histone Methylation
Authors: Shyh-Chang Ng , Locasale Jason W. , Lyssiotis Costas A. , Zheng Yuxiang , Teo Ren Yi , Ratanasirintrawoot Sutheera , Zhang Jin , Onder Tamer , Unternaehrer Juli J. , Zhu Hao , Asara John M. , Daley George Q. , Cantley Lewis C.
Published: November 2012

SAM, Histones, and Stem Cells

Mouse embryonic stem cells require threonine for growth and express large amounts of the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in threonine metabolism. To find out what is so important about threonine in these cells,

Shyh-Change
et al.

(p.
222
, published online 1 November; see the Perspective by

Sassone-Corsi

) monitored changes in metabolism by mass spectrometry in induced pluripotent stem cells. Threonine was required to maintain cellular concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a substrate used for protein methylation. Restriction of threonine inhibited methylation of histones, which is characteristic of chromatin in embryonic stem cells. Thus, altered metabolism of threonine and methionine in stem cells may be linked to epigenetic changes that influence genetic reprogramming and decisions of stem cells to proliferate or differentiate.
Incorporating social network effects into cost-effectiveness analysis: a methodological contribution with application to obesity prevention
Authors: Konchak Chad , Prasad Kislaya
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To develop a methodology for integrating social networks into traditional cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) studies. This will facilitate the economic evaluation of treatment policies in settings where health outcomes are subject to social influence.

Design

This is a simulation study based on a Markov model. The lifetime health histories of a cohort are simulated, and health outcomes compared, under alternative treatment policies. Transition probabilities depend on the health of others with whom there are shared social ties.

Setting

The methodology developed is shown to be applicable in any healthcare setting where social ties affect health outcomes. The example of obesity prevention is used for illustration under the assumption that weight changes are subject to social influence.

Main outcome measures

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).

Results

When social influence increases, treatment policies become more cost effective (have lower ICERs). The policy of only treating individuals who span multiple networks can be more cost effective than the policy of treating everyone. This occurs when the network is more fragmented.

Conclusions

(1) When network effects are accounted for, they result in very different values of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). (2) Treatment policies can be devised to take network structure into account. The integration makes it feasible to conduct a cost-benefit evaluation of such policies.
A population-based study of nearly 15 000 observations among Swedish women and men during 1973–2003
Authors: Halford Christina , Welin Catharina , Bogefeldt Johan , Wallman Thorne , Rosengren Annika , Bardel Annika , Johansson Saga , Eriksson Henry , Svärdsudd Kurt
Published: November 2012

Objectives

Global self-rated health (SRH) has become extensively used as an outcome measure in population health surveillance. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of age and secular trend (year of investigation) on SRH.

Design

Prospective cohort study, using population-based data from eight ongoing cohort studies, with sampling performed between 1973 and 2003.

Setting

Sweden.

Participants

11 880 women and men, aged 25–99 years, providing 14 470 observations.

Primary outcome measure

Global SRH.

Results

In multiple ordinal logistic regression analyses, adjusted for the effects of covariates, there were independent effects of age (p<0.0001) and of year of investigation (p<0.0001) on SRH. In women the association was linear, showing lower levels of SRH with increased age, and more recent year of investigation. In men the association was curvilinear, and thus more complex. The final model explained 76.2% of the SRH variance in women and 74.5% of the variance in men.

Conclusions

SRH was strongly and inversely associated with age in both sexes, after adjustment for other outcome-affecting variables. There was a strongly significant effect of year of investigation indicating a change in SRH, in women towards lower levels over calendar time, in men with fluctuations across time.
Cardiovascular risk factor management of myocardial infarction patients with and without diabetes in the Netherlands between 2002 and 2006: a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data
Authors: Soedamah-Muthu Sabita S , Geleijnse Johanna M , Giltay Erik J , Kromhout Daan
Published: November 2012

Objective

We examined levels and trends in cardiovascular risk factors and drug treatment in myocardial infarction (MI) patients with and without diabetes.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of baseline Alpha Omega Trial data, a randomised controlled trial.

Setting

32 hospitals in the Netherlands.

Participants

In total, we had 1014 MI patients with diabetes (74% men) and 3823 without diabetes (79% men) aged 60–80 years, analysed over the period 2002–2006.

Results

Between 2002 and 2006, a significantly decreasing trend in the prevalence of obesity (−5%, ptrend=0.02) and in systolic blood pressure (BP) levels (−5 mm Hg, ptrend<0.0001) was demonstrated in non-diabetic patients, but not in diabetic patients. In 2006, obesity, mean systolic BP and serum triglyceride levels were significantly higher, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower in diabetic patients compared to those without. Prescription of antihypertensive drug (diabetic vs non-diabetic patients respectively, 95% vs 93%, p=0.08) and statin treatment were high (86% and 90%, p=0.11).

Conclusions

A high proportion of MI patients with and without diabetes was similarly treated with cardiovascular drugs. In spite of high drug treatment levels, more adverse risk factors were found in patients with diabetes.