bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endocannabinoid signalling in innate and adaptive immunity
Authors: Chiurchiù Valerio , Battistini Luca , Maccarrone Mauro
Published: January 2015

The immune system can be modulated and regulated not only by foreign antigens but also by other humoral factors and metabolic products, which are able to affect several quantitative and qualitative aspects of immunity. Among these, endocannabinoids are a group of bioactive lipids that might serve as secondary modulators, which when mobilized coincident with or shortly after first‐line immune modulators, increase or decrease many immune functions. Most immune cells express these bioactive lipids, together with their set of receptors and of enzymes regulating their synthesis and degradation. In this review, a synopsis of the manifold immunomodulatory effects of endocannabinoids and their signalling in the different cell populations of innate and adaptive immunity is appointed, with a particular distinction between mice and human immune system compartments.
Chronic ischaemia does not appear to hinder healing with Integra®: implementation at a tibial artery bypass site
Authors: Michot Audrey , Chaput Benoit , Gobel Fabienne , Menez Tiphaine , de Bonnecaze Guillaume , Pelissier Philippe
Published: January 2015

Wounds with exposed vessels, especially in artery bypass procedures, can pose a barrier to adequate skin healing. Skin grafts or flaps are sometimes difficult to perform in the face of the ischaemia that is often present in such cases. We report a case of a 73‐year‐old man who presented with grade IV peripheral arterial disease necessitating salvage of the lower limb using artery bypass surgery. Immediate exposure of femorotibial artery secondary to skin necrosis following the bypass led us to propose an innovative means of wound coverage using Integra®, a well‐known dermal regeneration template.

The wound healed uneventfully with an appearance similar to that of the adjacent skin. Integra® seems to be less demanding in terms of the vascular wound bed and the degree of oxygenation than a conventional skin graft. This finding could support further indications for this dermal regeneration template.
Increased expression of endosomal members of toll‐like receptor family abrogates wound healing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Singh Kanhaiya , Agrawal Neeraj K , Gupta Sanjeev K , Mohan Gyanendra , Chaturvedi Sunanda , Singh Kiran
Published: January 2015

The inflammatory phase of wound healing cascade is an important determinant of the fate of the wound. Acute inflammation is necessary to initiate proper wound healing, while chronic inflammation abrogates wound healing. Different endosomal members of toll‐like receptor (TLR) family initiate inflammatory signalling via a range of different inflammatory mediators such as interferons, internal tissue damaged‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and hyperactive effector T cells. Sustained signalling of TLR9 and TLR7 contributes to chronic inflammation by activating the plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Diabetic wounds are also characterised by sustained inflammatory phase. The objective of this study was to analyse the differential expression of endosomal TLRs in human diabetic wounds compared with control wounds. We analysed the differential expression of TLR7 and TLR9 both at transcriptional and translational levels in wounds of 84 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 6 control subjects without diabetes using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), western blot and immunohistochemistry. TLR7 and TLR9 were significantly up‐regulated in wounds of the patients with T2DM compared with the controls and were dependent on the infection status of the diabetic wounds, and wounds with microbial infection exhibited lower expression levels of endosomal TLRs. Altered endosomal TLR expression in T2DM subjects might be associated with wound healing impairment.
Nursing handovers as resilient points of care: linking handover strategies to treatment errors in the patient care in the following shift
Authors: Drach‐Zahavy Anat , Hadid Nadim
Published: January 2015

Aim

To examine the relation between the strategies the nurses employ during handover and the number and types of treatment errors in patient care in the following shift.

Background

Patient handover has repeatedly been declared an area of considerable vulnerability to patient safety. This study examined factors that affect treatment errors in patient care, including the use of handover strategies from high reliability organizations.

Design

Prospective study.

Method

Data were collected in 2012–2013 from 200 randomly selected handovers in five internal wards. Handover strategies previously adopted from High Reliability Organizations were assessed via observations; treatment errors – dosage discrepancy, order postponed, no documentation – captured from the patient's files and demographical data were collected via questionnaires.

Findings

On average, in nearly one‐fifth of the patient's files, medication dosage given was inaccurate; in nearly one‐third a care order was fulfilled late; and in nearly half, documentation was partially missing. Rate of use of handover strategies previously adopted from high reliability organizations varied substantially. Results of negative binomial regression analysis revealed that face‐to‐face verbal update with interactive questioning, update from practitioners other than the outgoing, topics initiated by incoming and outgoing team, including the latter's stance on care plans and writing a summary prior to handover, were significantly and negatively linked to number of treatment errors (P < 0·05).

Conclusions

Nursing handover is an opportunity for nurses to prevent errors and unsafe practice by implementing more risk‐aware handover strategies. Implications for facilitating the use of such strategies are discussed.
Role of the Cytosolic Heat Shock Protein 70 Ssa5 in the Ciliate Protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Fukuda Yasuhiro , Akematsu Takahiko , Attiq Rizwan , Tada Chika , Nakai Yutaka , Pearlman Ronald E.
Published: January 2015

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a member of a family of conserved chaperone proteins whose function is well investigated in many model organisms. Here we focus on an Hsp70 called Ssa5 in the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila, and reveal that its translation is heat inducible as for general Hsps. Moreover, the protein is abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm during sexual reproduction (conjugation) as well as in response to heat‐stress. Knocking out of SSA5 (ΔSSA5) does not affect the survival of the cell under heat‐stress, likely due to other Hsp70 paralogs compensating for the defect. During conjugation, ΔSSA5 leads to a fertilization defect in which the two pronuclei are in close proximity but never fuse. The unfertilized pronuclei differentiate, resulting in a heterokaryon with developed haploid germline and somatic nuclei. In addition, degeneration of the parental somatic nucleus is not affected. These results suggest a specific involvement of Ssa5 in pronuclear fusion and fertilization.
Stories of the Accused: A Phenomenological Inquiry of MFTs and Accusations of Unprofessional Conduct
Authors: Coy Jacey S. , Lambert Jessica E. , Miller Marianne M.
Published: January 2015

Interviews were conducted with 10 MFTs (six females and four males) who had received a formal accusation of unprofessional conduct and went before state licensure boards in three different states. Accusations included dual relationships, financial fraud/errors, receiving DUIs, sexual misconduct, and emotionally harming a client. Utilizing Moustakas’ (1994, Phenomenological research methods, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage) transcendental phenomenology, five essential themes emerged: (a) The experience of being formally accused of unprofessional conduct is life‐changing, (b) state MFT licensing boards are more punitive than rehabilitative, (c) obtaining support is vital, (d) making accusations creates stigma, (e) therapists were unprepared to handle accusations of unprofessional conduct. Clinical implications include the importance of supervision, personal therapy, and strategies for prevention and rehabilitation with this population.
Brain ischemia, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and astroglial activation: new insights
Authors: Gulyaeva Natalia V.
Published: January 2015

Read the full article ‘Deletion of Atf6α impairs astroglial activation and enhances neuronal death following brain ischemia in mice’ on page 342.
Families Under the Microscope: Repeated Sampling of Perceptions, Experiences, Biology, and Behavior
Authors: Repetti Rena L. , Reynolds Bridget M. , Sears Meredith S.
Published: January 2015

Families are not frozen dioramas; they are alive, active, and changing. Models of real‐life marital and family processes require many moving pieces. An intensive repeated measures approach reaches beyond static representations of the family toward more dynamic models that depict “life as it is lived.” The appearance of studies that use diaries and biological sampling in everyday life has burgeoned in the family research literature. These methods are part of a larger class of naturalistic methods that assess families in action and that includes direct video and audio recordings of families in their everyday environments. This article summarizes research that uses diaries, observations, and biological data collected over time in natural settings to study families. It provides an overview of the major research questions, designs, methods of data collection, and statistical models used in those literatures. Theoretical contributions and next steps in naturalistic research on families are discussed.
Estimates and Meanings of Marital Separation
Authors: Tumin Dmitry , Han Siqi , Qian Zhenchao
Published: January 2015

Marital separation is an informal transition that may precede or substitute for divorce. Various surveys collect data on marital separation, but the data have produced mixed estimates. The authors used data from the 1995 and 2006 waves of the National Survey of Family Growth (N = 2,216) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort (NLSY79; N = 1,990) to examine separations among women born between 1961 and 1965. In the National Survey of Family Growth, separations were typically short and followed by divorce. In the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort, separations were longer and less likely to end in divorce. The authors relate these discrepancies to differences in study design, question universe, and question wording between the 2 surveys and show that different measures of separation lead to different conclusions about educational and racial/ethnic inequalities in the trajectories of marital disruption.
Challenges and Opportunities for Research on Same‐Sex Relationships
Authors: Umberson Debra , Thomeer Mieke Beth , Kroeger Rhiannon A. , Lodge Amy C. , Xu Minle
Published: January 2015

Research on same‐sex relationships has informed policy debates and legal decisions that greatly affect American families, yet the data and methods available to scholars studying same‐sex relationships have been limited. In this article the authors review current approaches to studying same‐sex relationships and significant challenges for this research. After exploring how researchers have dealt with these challenges in prior studies, the authors discuss promising strategies and methods to advance future research on same‐sex relationships, with particular attention given to gendered contexts and dyadic research designs, quasi‐experimental designs, and a relationship biography approach. Innovation and advances in the study of same‐sex relationships will further theoretical and empirical knowledge in family studies more broadly and increase understanding of different‐sex as well as same‐sex relationships.
Investigating Family Shared Realities With Factor Mixture Modeling
Authors: Dyer W. Justin , Day Randal D.
Published: January 2015

The authors introduce factor mixture modeling (FMM) and its implications for assessing varying degrees of shared reality in families. FMM extends the typical factor analytic model that uses a set of observed indicators to identify an unobservable factor and its structure. FMM examines the possibility a sample is a mixture of “classes,” each with unique factor structures. To demonstrate, varying factor structures of father involvement are identified using father, mother, and child reports as observed indicators. Three classes were identified and relate to varying degrees of shared reality regarding the father. Predictors and outcomes of these classes are modeled. The class in which the child's view most overlapped with his or her parents' view was predicted by higher child agreeableness and higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms. As hypothesized, membership in this class predicted lower levels of parental conflict and fewer parental attempts to involve their children in their conflicts.
Regression in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Williams Katrina , Brignell Amanda , Prior Margot , Bartak Lawrence , Roberts Jacqueline
Published: January 2015

Since the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health was first published, there has been substantial change in the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with an exponential increase in the amount of funded and published research. In this paper, we focus on regression in children with ASD, a phenomenon that remains poorly understood. We discuss the implications of what we know about regression in ASD for the way we think about ASD more broadly and for paediatric practice.
Historical aspects of rheumatic fever
Authors: Steer Andrew C
Published: January 2015

Few diseases have experienced such a remarkable change in their epidemiology over the past century, without the influence of a vaccine, than rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever has all but disappeared from industrialised countries after being a frequent problem in the 1940s and 1950s. That the disease still occurs at high incidence in resource limited settings and in Indigenous populations in industrialised countries, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, is an indication of the profound effect of socio‐economic factors on the disease. Although there have been major changes in the epidemiology of rheumatic fever, diagnosis remains reliant on careful clinical judgement and management is remarkably similar to that 50 years ago. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been given to rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease as public health issues, including in Australia and particularly in New Zealand, as well as in selected low and middle income countries. Perhaps the greatest hope for public health control of rheumatic fever is the development of a vaccine against Streptococcus pyogenes, and there are encouraging initiatives in this area. However, an effective vaccine is some time away and in the meantime public health efforts need to focus on effective translation of the known evidence around primary and secondary prophylaxis into policy and practice.
In the beginning, there was general paediatrics …
Authors: Gunasekera Hasantha , Kilham Henry
Published: January 2015

In this article, we address how general paediatrics has evolved and adapted to change over the past 50 years and speculate on its future directions. We compare the state of general paediatrics with that of general adult medicine. We argue that general paediatrics must continue to have a strong role both in paediatric teaching hospitals and the community.
Visits to primary care physicians among persons who inject drugs at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection: room for improvement
Authors: Artenie A. A. , Jutras‐Aswad D. , Roy É. , Zang G. , Bamvita J.‐M. , Lévesque A. , Bruneau J.
Published: January 2015

The role of primary care physicians (PCP) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevention is increasingly emphasized. Yet, little is known about the patterns of contacts with PCP among persons who inject drugs (PWID). We sought to assess the 6‐month prevalence of PCP visiting among PWID at risk of HCV infection and to explore the associated factors. Baseline data were collected from HCV‐seronegative PWID recruited in HEPCO, an observational Hepatitis Cohort study (2004–2011) in Montreal, Canada. An interviewer‐administered questionnaire elicited information on socio‐demographic factors, drug use patterns and healthcare services utilization. Blood samples were tested for HCV antibodies. Using the Gelberg‐Andersen Behavioral Model, hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predisposing, need and enabling factors associated with PCP visiting. Of the 349 participants (mean age = 34; 80.8% male), 32.1% reported visiting a PCP. In the multivariate model, among predisposing factors, male gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.45 (0.25–0.83)], chronic homelessness [AOR = 0.08 (0.01–0.67)], cocaine injection [AOR = 0.46 (0.28–0.76)] and reporting greater illegal or semi‐legal income [AOR = 0.48 (0.27–0.85)] were negatively associated with PCP visits. Markers of need were not associated with the outcome. Among enabling factors, contact with street nurses [AOR = 3.86 (1.49–9.90)] and food banks [AOR = 2.01 (1.20–3.37)] was positively associated with PCP visiting. Only one third of participating PWID reported a recent visit to a PCP. While a host of predisposing factors seems to hamper timely contacts with PCP among high‐risk PWID, community‐based support services may play an important role in initiating dialogue with primary healthcare services in this population.
Explaining within‐community variation in plant biomass allocation: a balance between organ biomass and morphology above vs below ground?
Authors: Freschet Grégoire T. , Kichenin Emilie , Wardle David A.
Published: January 2015

Questions

It remains unresolved why, despite the obvious functional importance of leaves and roots, co‐existing plant species can display highly contrasting biomass distributions of these organs. Building on the ‘functional equilibrium’ hypothesis, we hypothesize that co‐existing species can each achieve balanced resource acquisition above vs below ground by trading off the biomass vs morphology of structures responsible for resource acquisition, i.e. leaves and fine roots.

Methods

We tested this hypothesis in a natural field setting by measuring plant above‐ and below‐ground biomass and morphological traits associated with resource uptake – specific leaf area (SLA) and specific root length (SRL) – of 18 dominant angiosperm species from a sub‐alpine plant community.

Location

New Zealand South Island.

Results

We found a significant negative relationship between the species leaf mass to fine root mass ratio and the SLA to SRL ratio when we considered eudicot species only. The SLA to SRL ratio and plant size explained 31% and 34% of the total variation in the species leaf to fine root mass ratio respectively, and 45% when used in combination (P < 0.05 in all cases). Within a given plant size, 90% of the variation among species in total leaf area was due to differences in SLA, whereas variation in the fine root mass fraction was responsible for 71% of the variation among species in fine root length.

Conclusions

In support of our hypothesis, part of the difference between co‐occurring species in leaf and fine root biomass distribution could be explained by the variable morphologies of these organs as well as variation in plant size, independent of the plant economic strategy. We expect that this outcome may result from environmental and evolutionary constraints on plant species‐average traits, as well as plastic responses to local environmental conditions. These findings help explain why a diversity of strategies for achieving balanced resource acquisition can co‐exist within a single plant community.
The small regulatory RNA FasX enhances group A Streptococcus virulence and inhibits pilus expression via serotype‐specific targets
Authors: Danger Jessica L. , Cao Tram N. , Cao Tran H. , Sarkar Poulomee , Treviño Jeanette , Pflughoeft Kathryn J. , Sumby Paul
Published: January 2015

Bacterial pathogens commonly show intra‐species variation in virulence factor expression and often this correlates with pathogenic potential. The group A Streptococcus (GAS) produces a small regulatory RNA (sRNA), FasX, which regulates the expression of pili and the thrombolytic agent streptokinase. As GAS serotypes are polymorphic regarding (a) FasX abundance, (b) the fibronectin, collagen, T‐antigen (FCT) region of the genome, which contains the pilus genes (nine different FCT‐types), and (c) the streptokinase‐encoding gene (ska) sequence (two different alleles), we sought to test whether FasX regulates pilus and streptokinase expression in a serotype‐specific manner. Parental, fasX mutant and complemented derivatives of serotype M1 (ska‐2, FCT‐2), M2 (ska‐1, FCT‐6), M6 (ska‐2, FCT‐1) and M28 (ska‐1, FCT‐4) isolates were compared. While FasX reduced pilus expression in each serotype, the molecular basis differed, as FasX bound, and inhibited the translation of, different FCT‐region mRNAs. FasX enhanced streptokinase expression in each serotype, although the degree of regulation varied. Finally, we established that the regulation afforded by FasX enhances GAS virulence, assessed by a model of bacteremia using human plasminogen‐expressing mice. Our data are the first to identify and characterize serotype‐specific regulation by an sRNA in GAS, and to show an sRNA directly contributes to GAS virulence.
Macrophage recruitment in obese adipose tissue
Authors: Bai Y. , Sun Q.
Published: January 2015

Obesity is characterized as a chronic state of low‐grade inflammation with progressive immune cell infiltration into adipose tissues. Adipose tissue macrophages play critical roles in the establishment of the chronic inflammatory state and metabolic dysfunctions. The novel discovery that pro‐inflammatory macrophages are recruited to obese adipose tissue prompted an increased interest in the interplay between immune cells and metabolism. Since this discovery, many works have been published investigating the factors that lead to macrophage recruitment, the phenotypic change of adipose tissue macrophages, and metabolic dysfunctions. Adipokines and chemokines are key mediators that play crucial roles in crosstalk between adipocytes and macrophages and in regulating the adipose tissue inflammation. In the present review, we discuss the obesity‐mediated adipose tissue remodelling, and particularly, the role of adipokines/chemokines in macrophage recruitment to obese adipose tissue. This review provides new insights into the physiological role of these factors and identifies a potential therapeutic target for obesity and associated disorders.
Modeling of Microstructure Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of Ultrafine-Grained Nickels Processed by Severe Plastic Deformation by Crystal Plasticity Finite Element Model
Authors: Nguyen Thê-Duong , Phan Van-Tung , Bui Quang-Hien
Published: January 2015

In this study, a crystal plasticity finite element model (CPFEM) has been revisited to study the microstructure effects on macroscopic mechanical behavior of ultrafine-grained (UFG) nickels processed by severe plastic deformation (SPD). The microstructure characteristics such as grain size and dislocation density show a strong influence on the mechanical behavior of SPD-processed materials. We used a modified Hall–Petch relationship at grain level to study both grain size and dislocation density dependences of mechanical behavior of SPD-processed nickel materials. Within the framework of small strain hypothesis, it is quite well shown that the CPFEM predicts the mechanical behavior of unimodal nickels processed by SPD methods. Moreover, a comparison between the proposed model and the self-consistent approach will be shown and discussed.
Commanded Motion Optimization to Reduce Residual Vibration
Authors: Borboni Alberto , Lancini Matteo
Published: January 2015

Residual vibrations affect machines at the end of commanded motion and can cause a lengthening of the work cycle. The proposed work addresses to the reduction of this undesired phenomenon with an optimization approach based on the Fourier transformation of the motion profile suppressing a band of exciting frequencies around the natural frequencies of the system. Experimental results confirmed a significant improvement, in terms of residual vibrations, with respect to the state of the art of motion profiles specifically designed for residual vibrations reduction.
Thermal field forming of Spindt cathode arrays
Authors: Spindt Capp , Holland Christopher , Schwoebel P. R.
Published: January 2015

This paper describes changes observed in the emission from a 100-tip Spindt cathode array operated at emission levels that produced tip self-heating and resulting temperatures sufficient to cause surface self-diffusion. This is the well-known thermal-field-forming effect that can produce smoothing and blunting—or buildup and sharpening—of the emitter tips, depending on whether the surface energy or the electrostatic field energy dominates. Although a greater than 50% decrease in emission current for a set voltage was observed, Fowler/Nordheim analysis of the emission data produced the unexpected result that the field-voltage proportionality factor had increased and the emitting area had decreased.
Enhancement of Raman signals from low-k dielectrics with angle-resolved light scattering on nanostructure patterned Cu/low-k interconnects of IC devices
Authors: Huang Maggie Y. M. , Liu Bo , Tan Pik Kee , Lam Jeffrey C. K. , Mai Zhihong
Published: January 2015

This letter reports the enhancement of Raman signals from low-k dielectric materials in the Cu/low-k interconnects of nanoscale integrated circuit (IC) devices. The Cu nanostructure pattern of the IC device acted as an active substrate for light scattering by the surface plasmon effect, enhancing the Raman signals observed from the low-k dielectric material of the device. The enhancement of the Raman signal of the low-k material was found to be strongly dependent on the incident angle of the incident laser light. A maximally enhanced Raman intensity was achieved when this angle was approximately 45° relative to the surface normal. Our findings are significant to the characterization of low-k materials and the monitoring of low-k reliability in leading edge semiconductor technologies with nanometer-scale structures.
A simulation technique for 3D MR‐guided acoustic radiation force imaging
Authors: Payne Allison , de Bever Josh , Farrer Alexis , Coats Brittany , Parker Dennis L. , Christensen Douglas A.
Published: January 2015

Purpose:

In magnetic resonance‐guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) therapies, the in situ characterization of the focal spot location and quality is critical. MR acoustic radiation force imaging (MR‐ARFI) is a technique that measures the tissue displacement caused by the radiation force exerted by the ultrasound beam. This work presents a new technique to model the displacements caused by the radiation force of an ultrasound beam in a homogeneous tissue model.

Methods:

When a steady‐state point‐source force acts internally in an infinite homogeneous medium, the displacement of the material in all directions is given by the Somigliana elastostatic tensor. The radiation force field, which is caused by absorption and reflection of the incident ultrasound intensity pattern, will be spatially distributed, and the tensor formulation takes the form of a convolution of a 3D Green's function with the force field. The dynamic accumulation of MR phase during the ultrasound pulse can be theoretically accounted for through a time‐of‐arrival weighting of the Green's function. This theoretical model was evaluated experimentally in gelatin phantoms of varied stiffness (125‐, 175‐, and 250‐bloom). The acoustic and mechanical properties of the phantoms used as parameters of the model were measured using independent techniques. Displacements at focal depths of 30‐ and 45‐mm in the phantoms were measured by a 3D spin echo MR‐ARFI segmented‐EPI sequence.

Results:

The simulated displacements agreed with the MR‐ARFI measured displacements for all bloom values and focal depths with a normalized RMS difference of 0.055 (range 0.028–0.12). The displacement magnitude decreased and the displacement pattern broadened with increased bloom value for both focal depths, as predicted by the theory.

Conclusions:

A new technique that models the displacements caused by the radiation force of an ultrasound beam in a homogeneous tissue model theory has been rigorously validated through comparison with experimentally obtained 3D displacement data in homogeneous gelatin phantoms using a 3D MR‐ARFI sequence. The agreement of the experimentally measured and simulated results demonstrates the potential to use MR‐ARFI displacement data in MRgFUS therapies.
Dosimetric evaluation of new approaches in GRID therapy using nonconventional radiation sources
Authors: Martínez‐Rovira I. , Fois G. , Prezado Y.
Published: January 2015

Purpose:

Spatial fractionation of the dose has proven to be a promising approach to increase the tolerance of healthy tissue, which is the main limitation of radiotherapy. A good example of that is GRID therapy, which has been successfully used in the management of large tumors with low toxicity. The aim of this work is to explore new avenues using nonconventional sources: GRID therapy by using kilovoltage (synchrotron) x‐rays, the use of very high‐energy electrons, and proton GRID therapy. They share in common the use of the smallest possible grid sizes in order to exploit the dose–volume effects.

Methods:

Monte Carlo simulations (penelope/peneasy and geant4/GATE codes) were used as a method to study dose distributions resulting from irradiations in different configurations of the three proposed techniques. As figure of merit, percentage (peak and valley) depth dose curves, penumbras, and central peak‐to‐valley dose ratios (PVDR) were evaluated. As shown in previous biological experiments, high PVDR values are requested for healthy tissue sparing. A superior tumor control may benefit from a lower PVDR.

Results:

High PVDR values were obtained in the healthy tissue for the three cases studied. When low energy photons are used, the treatment of deep‐seated tumors can still be performed with submillimetric grid sizes. Superior PVDR values were reached with the other two approaches in the first centimeters along the beam path. The use of protons has the advantage of delivering a uniform dose distribution in the tumor, while healthy tissue benefits from the spatial fractionation of the dose. In the three evaluated techniques, there is a net reduction in penumbra with respect to radiosurgery.

Conclusions:

The high PVDR values in the healthy tissue and the use of small grid sizes in the three presented approaches might constitute a promising alternative to treat tumors with such spatially fractionated radiotherapy techniques. The dosimetric results presented here support the interest of performing radiobiology experiments in order to evaluate these new avenues.
High sensitivity phase retrieval method in grating‐based x‐ray phase contrast imaging
Authors: Wu Zhao , Gao Kun , Chen Jian , Wang Dajiang , Wang Shenghao , Chen Heng , Bao Yuan , Shao Qigang , Wang Zhili , Zhang Kai , Zhu Peiping , Wu Ziyu
Published: January 2015

Purpose:

Grating‐based x‐ray phase contrast imaging is considered as one of the most promising techniques for future medical imaging. Many different methods have been developed to retrieve phase signal, among which the phase stepping (PS) method is widely used. However, further practical implementations are hindered, due to its complex scanning mode and high radiation dose. In contrast, the reverse projection (RP) method is a novel fast and low dose extraction approach. In this contribution, the authors present a quantitative analysis of the noise properties of the refraction signals retrieved by the two methods and compare their sensitivities.

Methods:

Using the error propagation formula, the authors analyze theoretically the signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) of the refraction images retrieved by the two methods. Then, the sensitivities of the two extraction methods are compared under an identical exposure dose. Numerical experiments are performed to validate the theoretical results and provide some quantitative insight.

Results:

The SNRs of the two methods are both dependent on the system parameters, but in different ways. Comparison between their sensitivities reveals that for the refraction signal, the RP method possesses a higher sensitivity, especially in the case of high visibility and/or at the edge of the object.

Conclusions:

Compared with the PS method, the RP method has a superior sensitivity and provides refraction images with a higher SNR. Therefore, one can obtain highly sensitive refraction images in grating‐based phase contrast imaging. This is very important for future preclinical and clinical implementations.
An unusual parotid mass
Authors: Kanzara Todd , Virk Jagdeep Singh , Al-Okati Dhafir , Owa Tony
Published: January 2015

A 70-year-old Caucasian man with multiple comorbidities presented with a painless lump over the right parotid gland which was gradually increasing in size over the preceding 12 months. There were no systemic symptoms or facial weakness. Imaging indicated a benign tumour of the right parotid. Superficial parotidectomy was performed and the histology revealed a sialolipoma.
Mutation detection in formalin-fixed prostate cancer biopsies taken at the time of diagnosis using next-generation DNA sequencing
Authors: Manson-Bahr David , Ball Richard , Gundem Gunes , Sethia Krishna , Mills Robert , Rochester Mark , Goody Victoria , Anderson Elizabeth , O'Meara Sarah , Flather Marcus , Keeling Matthew , Yazbek-Hanna Marcelino , Hurst Rachel , Curley Helen , Clark Jeremy , Brewer Daniel S , McDermott Ultan , Cooper Colin
Published: January 2015

Aims

Assessing whether next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) can be used to screen prostate cancer for multiple gene alterations in men routinely diagnosed with this disease and/or who are entered into clinical trials. Previous studies are limited and have reported only low success rates.

Methods

We marked areas of cancer on H&E-stained sections from formalin-fixed needle biopsies, and used these as templates to dissect cancer-rich tissue from adjacent unstained sections. DNA was prepared using a Qiagen protocol modified to maximise DNA yield. The DNA was screened simultaneously for mutations in 365 cancer-related genes using an Illumina HiSeq 2000 NGS platform.

Results

From 63 prostate cancers examined, 59 (94%) of the samples yielded at least 30 ng of DNA, the minimum amount of DNA considered suitable for NGS analysis. Patients in the D'Amico high-risk group yielded an average of 1033 ng, intermediate-risk patients 401 ng, and low-risk patients 97 ng. NGS of eight samples selected from high-risk and intermediate-risk groups gave a median exon read depth of 962 and detectedTMPRRS2-ERGfusions, as well as a variety of mutations including those in theSPOP,TP53,ATM,MEN1,NBPF10,NCOR2,PIK3CBandMAP2K5 (MEK5)genes.

Conclusions

Using the methods presented here, NGS technologies can be used to screen a high proportion of patients with prostate cancer for mutations in cancer-related genes in tissue samples opening up its general use in the context of clinical trials or routine diagnosis.
Impact of the removal of chocolate milk from school milk programs for children in Saskatoon, Canada
Authors: Henry Carol , Whiting Susan J. , Phillips Theodosia , Finch Sarah L. , Zello Gordon A. , Vatanparast Hassan
Published: January 2015

Studies in the United States report inclusion of flavoured milk in the diets of children and youth improves nutrient intakes. No research has investigated the contribution of flavoured milk to overall milk intake or the milk preferences of Canadian children. The objective of the study was to measure milk consumption (plain milk and flavoured milk) by children in an elementary school environment and investigate factors contributing to milk choice. A mixed-method research design was applied across 6 schools for 12 weeks. Milk waste was measured in grades 1–8 for 12 weeks. Weeks 1–4 (phase 1) and 9–12 (phase 3) provided both plain milk and flavoured milk as chocolate milk while weeks 5–8 (phase 2) provided plain milk only. Beverage Frequency Questionnaires were used in each phase (in grades 5–8 only) to assess usual beverage consumption. Statistical nutrient modelling was conducted to determine the effects of removing chocolate milk during phase 2 as a milk choice. Later, focus groups were conducted with students in grades 5–8 to determine what influences them to choose/not choose to drink milk. Total milk intake decreased by 12.3% when chocolate milk was removed from the schools (26.6% ± 5.2% to 14.31% ± 1.6%, p < 0.001). Milk choice was influenced by environmental factors as well as taste, cost, convenience, and variety. Total milk intake was associated with location (p = 0.035) and cost (p < 0.001), with rural students and/or those students receiving free milk drinking the greatest amount of milk. Nutrient modelling revealed chocolate milk is more cost-efficient and convenient at providing nutrients than alternative food/drink combinations.
The vortex tube effect without walls
Authors: Polihronov Jeliazko G. , Straatman Anthony G.
Published: January 2015

In a recent publication it was proposed that rotational cooling is due to angular propulsion. While this fact is obscured in a traditional shrouded vortex tube, it is clearly visible when the vortex tube effect is demonstrated without confining walls. It is thus established that the shrouded vortex tube behaves as a rotorless turboexpander, cogenerating both cold and hot gas. The physics of the turboexpander, the shrouded vortex tube, and the vortex without walls is shown to be governed by Eulers turbine equation. It is also concluded that propulsion generating vortices can exist without supporting or confining structures.
SIMULATIONS OF UNARY ONE-WAY MULTI-HEAD FINITE AUTOMATA
Authors: KUTRIB MARTIN , MALCHER ANDREAS , WENDLANDT MATTHIAS
Published: January 2015

We investigate the descriptional complexity of deterministic one-way multi-head finite automata accepting unary languages. It is known that in this case the languages accepted are regular. Thus, we study the increase of the number of states when an n-state k-head finite automaton is simulated by a classical (one-head) deterministic or nondeterministic finite automaton. In the former case upper and lower bounds that are tight in the order of magnitude are shown. For the latter case we obtain an upper bound of O(n2k) and a lower bound of Ω(nk) states. We investigate also the costs for the conversion of one-head nondeterministic finite automata to deterministic k-head finite automata, that is, we trade nondeterminism for heads. In addition, we study how the conversion costs vary in the special case of finite and, in particular, of singleton unary lanuages. Finally, as an application of the simulation results, we show that decidability problems for unary deterministic k-head finite automata such as emptiness or equivalence are LOGSPACE-complete.
DESCRIPTIONAL COMPLEXITY IN ENCODED BLUM STATIC COMPLEXITY SPACES
Authors: CÂMPEANU CEZAR
Published: January 2015

Algorithmic Information Theory is based on the notion of descriptional complexity known as Chaitin-Kolmogorov complexity, defined in the '60s in terms of minimal description length. Blum Static Complexity spaces defined using Blum axioms, and Encoded Function spaces defined using properties of the complexity function, were introduced in 2012 to generalize the concept of descriptional complexity. In formal language theory we also use the concept of descriptional complexity for the number of states, or the number of transitions in a minimal finite automaton accepting a regular language, and apparently, this number has no connection to the general case of descriptional complexity. In this paper we prove that all the definitions of descriptional complexity, including complexity of operations, can be defined within the framework of Encoded Blum Static Complexity spaces, which extend both Blum Static Complexity spaces and Encoded Function spaces.
EVALUATING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF IMPOUNDED RIVERS: AN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPROACH
Authors: HEARNSHAW EDWARD , TOMPKINS JEAN-MARIE , CULLEN ROSS
Published: January 2015

There has been increasing demand in Canterbury, New Zealand for the abstraction of water from rivers. This demand has led to the increased interest in dam projects. But, while river impoundment can result in significant benefits, it also can come at "cost", especially to river ecology. Given these benefits and costs, it is essential that impounded rivers are systematically evaluated for their sustainability. In this paper the ecosystem services approach is applied for the purposes of evaluating the sustainability of the Opihi River located in South Canterbury. Indicators are used to represent the set of ecosystem services provided by the river. Both the criteria of weak and strong sustainability are evaluated in a novel way. Weak and strong sustainability are operationalised through an ecosystem services index and the safe minimum standard concept, respectively. In applying these evaluation methods it is observed that since the construction of the Opuha Dam, the Opihi River has progressed towards weak and strong sustainability.
CONSIDERATION OF LIFE CYCLE ENERGY USE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING PROCESSES: EXAMPLES OF SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK AND THE NETHERLANDS
Authors: MILIUTENKO SOFIIA , KLUTS INGEBORG , LUNDBERG KRISTINA , TOLLER SUSANNA , BRATTEBØ HELGE , BIRGISDÓTTIR HARPA , POTTING JOSÉ
Published: January 2015

Energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with life cycle stages of road infrastructure are currently rarely assessed during road infrastructure planning. This study examines the road infrastructure planning process, with emphasis on its use of Environmental Assessments (EA), and identifies when and how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be integrated in the early planning stages for supporting decisions such as choice of road corridor. Road infrastructure planning processes are compared for four European countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands).

The results show that only Norway has a formalised way of using LCA during choice of road corridor. Only the Netherlands has a requirement for using LCA in the later procurement stage. It is concluded that during the early stages of planning, LCA could be integrated as part of an EA, as a separate process or as part of a Cost-Benefit Analysis.
Urinary proteins induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization and lysosomal dysfunction in renal tubular epithelial cells
Authors: Liu Wei Jing , Xu Bi-Hua , Ye Lin , Liang Dong , Wu Hong-Luan , Zheng Yuan-Yuan , Deng Jian Kun , Li Benyi , Liu Hua-feng
Published: January 2015

Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) has been shown to cause the release of cathepsins and other hydrolases from the lysosomal lumen to the cytosol and initiate a cell death pathway. Whether proteinuria triggers LMP in renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) to accelerate the progression of renal tubulointerstitial injury remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated TEC injury as well as changes in lysosomal number, volume, activity, and membrane integrity after urinary protein overload in vivo and in vitro. Our results revealed that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1 levels were significantly increased in the urine of patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and the culture supernatant of HK-2 cells treated by urinary proteins extracted from MCNS patients. Urinary protein overload also induced apoptotic cell death in HK-2 cells. Importantly, we found that lysosomal volume and number were markedly increased in TECs of patients with MCNS and HK-2 cells overloaded with urinary proteins. However, lysosome function, as assessed by proteolytic degradation of DQ-ovalbumin and cathepsin-B and cathepsin-L activities, was decreased in HK-2 cells overloaded with urinary proteins. Furthermore, urinary protein overload led to a diffuse cytoplasmic immunostaining pattern of cathepsin-B and irregular immunostaining of lysosome-associated membrane protein-1, accompanying a reduction in intracellular acidic components, which could be improved by pretreatment with antioxidant. Taken together, our results indicate that overloading of urinary proteins caused LMP and lysosomal dysfunction at least partly via oxidative stress in TECs.
The lateral septum as a regulator of hippocampal theta oscillations and defensive behavior in rats
Authors: Chee San-San A. , Menard Janet L. , Dringenberg Hans C.
Published: January 2015

Hippocampal theta oscillations are linked to various processes, including locomotion, learning and memory, and defense and affect. The lateral septum (LS) has been implicated in the generation of the hippocampal theta rhythm, but its precise role in this process is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effects of direct pharmacological inhibition or disinhibition of the dorsal LS (dLS) on the frequency of hippocampal theta activity elicited by stimulation of the reticular formation in urethane-anesthetized rats. We found that bilateral infusions of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol into the dLS significantly increased theta frequency. Strikingly, intra-dLS infusions of the GABAA receptor antagonist GABAzine largely abolished reticularly elicited theta activity. We also locally injected these same compounds into the medial septum (MS) to test for neuroanatomical specificity. In contrast to the effects seen in the dLS, intra-MS infusions of muscimol had no effect on theta frequency, whereas intra-MS infusions of GABAzine increased theta frequency. Given the hypothesized role of hippocampal theta in behavioral defense, we also examined the effects of intra-dLS application of muscimol in two models of anxiety, the elevated plus maze and the novelty-induced suppression of feeding paradigm; both tests revealed clear, anxiolytic-like effects following muscimol infusions. The fact that dLS-muscimol increased theta frequency while also reducing anxiety-like behaviors challenges the influential theta suppression model of anxiolysis, which predicts a slowing of theta with anxiolytic compounds. More importantly, the experiments reveal a novel role of the LS, especially its dorsal aspects, as an important gating mechanism for the expression of theta oscillations in the rodent hippocampus.
Networked Fault-Tolerant Control Allocation for Multiple Actuator Failures
Authors: Yang Inseok , Lee Dongik
Published: January 2015

This paper proposes intelligent fault-tolerant control technique using network. Not only control commands generated by a controller but also diagnostic data for tolerating failures can be transmitted through network. In this paper, fault-tolerant control allocation method (FTCA) is proposed to tolerate failures in more than one actuator. FTCA is based on a well-known actuator management technique called control allocation (CA). While the conventional CA is used to redistribute actuators optimally, FTCA redistributes actuators to compensate for the performance degradation due to actuator failure. To analyze the effects of faulty actuator, this paper proposes the general model of the faulty system firstly. And then the modified CA for tolerating the effect of failure is proposed. The performance of the proposed FTCA method is verified by the numerical simulations with application to F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV).