bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A set of 4D pediatric XCAT reference phantoms for multimodality research
Authors: Norris Hannah , Zhang Yakun , Bond Jason , Sturgeon Gregory M. , Minhas Anum , Tward Daniel J. , Ratnanather J. T. , Miller M. I. , Frush D. , Samei E. , Segars W. P.
Published: February 2014

Purpose:

The authors previously developed an adult population of 4D extended cardiac‐torso (XCAT) phantoms for multimodality imaging research. In this work, the authors develop a reference set of 4D pediatric XCAT phantoms consisting of male and female anatomies at ages of newborn, 1, 5, 10, and 15 years. These models will serve as the foundation from which the authors will create a vast population of pediatric phantoms for optimizing pediatric CT imaging protocols.

Methods:

Each phantom was based on a unique set of CT data from a normal patient obtained from the Duke University database. The datasets were selected to best match the reference values for height and weight for the different ages and genders according to ICRP Publication 89. The major organs and structures were segmented from the CT data and used to create an initial pediatric model defined using nonuniform rational B‐spline surfaces. The CT data covered the entire torso and part of the head. To complete the body, the authors manually added on the top of the head and the arms and legs using scaled versions of the XCAT adult models or additional models created from cadaver data. A multichannel large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping algorithm was then used to calculate the transform from a template XCAT phantom (male or female 50th percentile adult) to the target pediatric model. The transform was applied to the template XCAT to fill in any unsegmented structures within the target phantom and to implement the 4D cardiac and respiratory models in the new anatomy. The masses of the organs in each phantom were matched to the reference values given in ICRP Publication 89. The new reference models were checked for anatomical accuracy via visual inspection.

Results:

The authors created a set of ten pediatric reference phantoms that have the same level of detail and functionality as the original XCAT phantom adults. Each consists of thousands of anatomical structures and includes parameterized models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. Based on patient data, the phantoms capture the anatomic variations of childhood, such as the development of bone in the skull, pelvis, and long bones, and the growth of the vertebrae and organs. The phantoms can be combined with existing simulation packages to generate realistic pediatric imaging data from different modalities.

Conclusions:

The development of patient‐derived pediatric computational phantoms is useful in providing variable anatomies for simulation. Future work will expand this ten‐phantom base to a host of pediatric phantoms representative of the public at large. This can provide a means to evaluate and improve pediatric imaging devices and to optimize CT protocols in terms of image quality and radiation dose.
Geometric and dosimetric accuracy of dynamic tumor‐tracking conformal arc irradiation with a gimbaled x‐ray head
Authors: Ono Tomohiro , Miyabe Yuki , Yamada Masahiro , Shiinoki Takehiro , Sawada Akira , Kaneko Shuji , Monzen Hajime , Mizowaki Takashi , Kokubo Masaki , Hiraoka Masahiro
Published: February 2014

Purpose:

The Vero4DRT system has the capability for dynamic tumor‐tracking (DTT) stereotactic irradiation using a unique gimbaled x‐ray head. The purposes of this study were to develop DTT conformal arc irradiation and to estimate its geometric and dosimetric accuracy.

Methods:

The gimbaled x‐ray head, supported on an O‐ring gantry, was moved in the pan and tilt directions during O‐ring gantry rotation. To evaluate the mechanical accuracy, the gimbaled x‐ray head was moved during the gantry rotating according to input command signals without a target tracking, and a machine log analysis was performed. The difference between a command and a measured position was calculated as mechanical error. To evaluate beam‐positioning accuracy, a moving phantom, which had a steel ball fixed at the center, was driven based on a sinusoidal wave (amplitude [A]: 20 mm, time period [T]: 4 s), a patient breathing motion with a regular pattern (A: 16 mm, average T: 4.5 s), and an irregular pattern (A: 7.2–23.0 mm, T: 2.3–10.0 s), and irradiated with DTT during gantry rotation. The beam‐positioning error was evaluated as the difference between the centroid position of the irradiated field and the steel ball on images from an electronic portal imaging device. For dosimetric accuracy, dose distributions in static and moving targets were evaluated with DTT conformal arc irradiation.

Results:

The root mean squares (RMSs) of the mechanical error were up to 0.11 mm for pan motion and up to 0.14 mm for tilt motion. The RMSs of the beam‐positioning error were within 0.23 mm for each pattern. The dose distribution in a moving phantom with tracking arc irradiation was in good agreement with that in static conditions.

Conclusions:

The gimbal positional accuracy was not degraded by gantry motion. As in the case of a fixed port, the Vero4DRT system showed adequate accuracy of DTT conformal arc irradiation.
Generic method for automatic bladder segmentation on cone beam CT using a patient‐specific bladder shape model
Authors: van de Schoot A. J. A. J. , Schooneveldt G. , Wognum S. , Hoogeman M. S. , Chai X. , Stalpers L. J. A. , Rasch C. R. N. , Bel A.
Published: February 2014

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to develop and validate a generic method for automatic bladder segmentation on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), independent of gender and treatment position (prone or supine), using only pretreatment imaging data.

Methods:

Data of 20 patients, treated for tumors in the pelvic region with the entire bladder visible on CT and CBCT, were divided into four equally sized groups based on gender and treatment position. The full and empty bladder contour, that can be acquired with pretreatment CT imaging, were used to generate a patient‐specific bladder shape model. This model was used to guide the segmentation process on CBCT. To obtain the bladder segmentation, the reference bladder contour was deformed iteratively by maximizing the cross‐correlation between directional grey value gradients over the reference and CBCT bladder edge. To overcome incorrect segmentations caused by CBCT image artifacts, automatic adaptations were implemented. Moreover, locally incorrect segmentations could be adapted manually. After each adapted segmentation, the bladder shape model was expanded and new shape patterns were calculated for following segmentations. All available CBCTs were used to validate the segmentation algorithm. The bladder segmentations were validated by comparison with the manual delineations and the segmentation performance was quantified using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), surface distance error (SDE) and SD of contour‐to‐contour distances. Also, bladder volumes obtained by manual delineations and segmentations were compared using a Bland‐Altman error analysis.

Results:

The mean DSC, mean SDE, and mean SD of contour‐to‐contour distances between segmentations and manual delineations were 0.87, 0.27 cm and 0.22 cm (female, prone), 0.85, 0.28 cm and 0.22 cm (female, supine), 0.89, 0.21 cm and 0.17 cm (male, supine) and 0.88, 0.23 cm and 0.17 cm (male, prone), respectively. Manual local adaptations improved the segmentation results significantly (p < 0.01) based on DSC (6.72%) and SD of contour‐to‐contour distances (0.08 cm) and decreased the 95% confidence intervals of the bladder volume differences. Moreover, expanding the shape model improved the segmentation results significantly (p < 0.01) based on DSC and SD of contour‐to‐contour distances.

Conclusions:

This patient‐specific shape model based automatic bladder segmentation method on CBCT is accurate and generic. Our segmentation method only needs two pretreatment imaging data sets as prior knowledge, is independent of patient gender and patient treatment position and has the possibility to manually adapt the segmentation locally.
Physics in Nuclear Medicine.
Authors: Zanzonico Pat
Published: February 2014

Physics in Nuclear Medicine. Cherry S. R., Sorenson J. A., Phelps M. E., Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, PA, 2012. (Hardcover) 544 pp. Price: US $118.00. ISBN: 978‐1‐4160‐5198‐5.
Two Demonstrations with a New Data-Acquisition System
Authors: Kraftmakher Yaakov
Published: February 2014

Nowadays, the use of data-acquisition systems in undergraduate laboratories is routine. Many computer-assisted experiments became possible with the PASCO scientific data-acquisition system based on the 750 Interface and DataStudio software.1 A new data-acquisition system developed by PASCO includes the 850 Universal Interface and Capstone software. The new interface is much more powerful than previous ones from PASCO, while the new software provides many additional options for processing experimental data.2 The two demonstrations described below use the sweep frequency option, which is now available. By specifying the initial and final frequencies and the sweep time, this option makes possible the determination of the frequency response of any frequency-dependent device. The first demonstration shows the electromagnetic screening by metals and can serve as an introduction to studies of the eddy currents and skin effect in conductors. The second demonstration shows the resonance curves of an LCR circuit.
Index of Refraction Measurements Using a Laser Distance Meter
Authors: Ochoa Romulo , Fiorillo Richard , Ochoa Cris
Published: February 2014

We present a simple method to determine the refractive indices of transparent media using a laser distance meter. Indices of refraction have been obtained by measuring the speed of light in materials.1–6 Some speed of light techniques use time-of-flight measurements in which pulses are emitted by lasers and the time interval is measured for the pulse to travel from the laser to a detector. These experiments are relatively costly and use sophisticated equipment not always available in an educational institution. Our method uses a laser distance meter that can be purchased for under $80. The meter uses the accepted value of the speed of light in vacuum to determine distances based on a measured time of flight. The output is distance in meters or feet.
Friction and the Intuition-Outcome Disparity
Authors: Kalajian Peter , Makarova Maria
Published: February 2014

Humans have evolved to follow their intuition, but as any high school physics teacher knows, relying on intuition often leads students to predict outcomes that are at odds with evidence. Over the years, we have attempted to make this intuition-outcome disparity a central theme running throughout our physics classes, with limited success. Part of the problem is making a very clear and direct link between intuition and evidence. Typically, we ask students to make predictions before they make measurements, but often the predictions are little more than non-intuitive guesses. What we needed was an investigation where students actually do have an intuitive prediction based on their life experience. This year, we think we have finally found a way to drive home the intuition-outcome disparity through an investigation into the factors that affect frictional force.
The geometry of Snell's law
Authors: Metz James
Published: February 2014

Light refracts as it travels from one medium to another. The angle of incidence i and the angle of refraction r are related by Snell's law, sinisinr=k, where k is a constant. The diagram in Fig. 1 shows a geometric representation of the formula for light passing from air into water.
Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread
Authors: Haines Carter S. , Lima Márcio D. , Li Na , Spinks Geoffrey M. , Foroughi Javad , Madden John D. W. , Kim Shi Hyeong , Fang Shaoli , Jung de Andrade Mônica , Göktepe Fatma , Göktepe Özer , Mirvakili Seyed M. , Naficy Sina , Lepró Xavier , Oh Jiyoung , Kozlov Mikhail E. , Kim Seon Jeong , Xu Xiuru , Swedlove Benjamin J. , Wallace Gordon G. , Baughman Ray H.
Published: February 2014

Toward an Artificial Muscle

In designing materials for artificial muscles, the goals are to find those that will combine high strokes, high efficiency, long cycle life, low hysteresis, and low cost. Now,

Haines
et al.

(p.
868
; see the Perspective by

Yuan and Poulin

) show that this is possible. Twisting high-strength, readily available polymer fibers, such as those used for fishing lines or sewing thread, to the point where they coil up, allowed construction of highly efficient actuators that could be triggered by a number of stimuli.
“Nonswellable” Hydrogel Without Mechanical Hysteresis
Authors: Kamata Hiroyuki , Akagi Yuki , Kayasuga-Kariya Yuko , Chung Ung-il , Sakai Takamasa
Published: February 2014

Optimizing Injectable Hydrogels

Injectable hydrogels are showing promise as scaffolds in regenerative medicine because they can be injected in liquid form and transform in situ into the gel state. However, when exposed to ionic solutions, such as those found in the body, hydrogels can increase in volume by a factor of 2, which can weaken the material.

Kamata
et al.

(p.
873
) added a thermoresponsive component to a hydrogel so that the thermoresponsive component would tend to collapse in shape when heated and counteract the hydrogel's tendency to swell. Indeed, the resulting gel retained its unswollen volume following immersion in a physiological solution and retained its mechanical strength during repeated stretching or compression.
Breathing Life into Oxygen
Oxygen
A Four Billion Year History

by Donald E. Canfield

Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2014. 222 pp. $27.95, £19.95. ISBN 9780691145020.
Authors: Fischer Woodward W.
Published: February 2014

Canfield intertwines accounts of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere through time and the means by which researchers have charted this history.
Charting the Islands of Memory
Authors: Blair H. T.
Published: February 2014

A newly discovered population of neurons called island cells may be important signaling hubs within neural microcircuits for memory.

[Also see Reports by

Ray
et al.

and

Kitamura
et al.

]
Eavesdropping on Ecosystems
Authors: Servick Kelly
Published: February 2014

Researchers are collecting terabytes of recordings, from bird chirps to chainsaw roars. The emerging field of soundscape ecology has a lot to offer … and a lot to prove.
Antigenic and Genetic Evolution of Low-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses of Subtype H7N3 following Heterologous Vaccination
Authors: Beato Maria Serena , Xu Yifei , Long Li-Ping , Capua Ilaria , Wan Xiu-Feng
Published: February 2014

Outbreaks of low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses of the H7N3 subtype were first detected in Italy in October 2002, and the virus continued to circulate between 2002 and 2004 in a densely populated poultry area in the northeast portion of that country. This virus circulated in unvaccinated and vaccinated poultry farms, and the infection was controlled in August 2003 by culling, control of movements, improved biosecurity, and heterologous vaccination. In 2004, H7N3 reoccurred in vaccinated poultry farms in which infection had been successfully controlled by the vaccination program. To shed light on this occurrence and the temporal pattern and genetic basis of antigenic drift for avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in the absence and presence of heterologous vaccination, a collection of H7N3 viruses isolated in 2002 and 2004 were characterized genetically and antigenically. Molecular analysis showed that viruses isolated in the 2004 outbreaks after the implementation of vaccination had acquired specific amino acid signatures, most of which were located at reported antibody binding sites of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. Antigenic characterization of these 2004 isolates showed that they were antigenically different from those isolated prior to the implementation of vaccination. This is the first report on antigenic and genetic evolution of H7 LPAI viruses following the application of heterologous vaccination in poultry. These findings may have an impact on control strategies to combat AI infections in poultry based on vaccination.
Comparison of a Transplant Multiplex Viral Panel on the ICEPlex System with Real-Time PCR for Detection of Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and BK Virus in Clinical Specimens
Authors: Khare Reeti , Espy Mark J. , Mandrekar Jayawant N. , Binnicker Matthew J.
Published: February 2014

We compared a multiplex viral transplant panel on the ICEPlex system to real-time PCR for the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and BK virus (BKV). The sensitivities of the ICEPlex were 83.3%, 95.5%, and 65.5% for the detection of CMV, EBV, and BKV, respectively. Interestingly, the multiplex assay detected dual infections in 16/280 (5.7%) samples tested.
Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus Isolate with the TR34/L98H Mutation in Both a Fungicide-Sprayed Field and the Lung of a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipient with Invasive Aspergillosis
Authors: Rocchi Steffi , Daguindau Etienne , Grenouillet Frédéric , Deconinck Eric , Bellanger Anne-Pauline , Garcia-Hermoso Dea , Bretagne Stéphane , Reboux Gabriel , Millon Laurence
Published: February 2014

A French farmer developed invasive aspergillosis with azole-resistant
Aspergillus fumigatus
with the TR34/L98H mutation following a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He had worked in fungicide-sprayed fields where a non-genetically related
A. fumigatus
TR34/L98H isolate was collected. If azole resistance detection increases, voriconazole as first-line therapy might be questioned in agricultural areas.
Recombinant Protein- and Synthetic Peptide-Based Immunoblot Test for Diagnosis of Neurocysticercosis
Authors: Noh John , Rodriguez Silvia , Lee Yeuk-Mui , Handali Sukwan , Gonzalez Armando E. , Gilman Robert H. , Tsang Victor C. W. , Garcia Hector H. , Wilkins Patricia P.
Published: February 2014

One of the most well-characterized tests for diagnosing neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay developed at the CDC, which uses lentil lectin-bound glycoproteins (LLGP) extracted from
Taenia solium
cysticerci. Although the test is very reliable, the purification process for the LLGP antigens has been difficult to transfer to other laboratories because of the need for expensive equipment and technical expertise. To develop a simpler assay, we previously purified and cloned the diagnostic glycoproteins in the LLGP fraction. In this study, we evaluated three representative recombinant or synthetic antigens from the LLGP fraction, individually and in different combinations, using an immunoblot assay (recombinant EITB). Using a panel of 249 confirmed NCC-positive and 401 negative blood serum samples, the sensitivity of the recombinant EITB assay was determined to be 99% and the specificity was 99% for diagnosing NCC. We also tested a panel of 239 confirmed NCC-positive serum samples in Lima, Peru, and found similar results. Overall, our data show that the performance characteristics of the recombinant EITB assay are comparable to those of the LLGP-EITB assay. This new recombinant- and synthetic antigen-based assay is sustainable and can be easily transferred to other laboratories in the United States and throughout the world.
Spread of CTX-M-15 Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates through Household Contact and Plasmid Transfer
Authors: Kojima Yasuko , Harada Sohei , Aoki Kotaro , Ishii Yoshikazu , Sawa Tomoka , Hasegawa Kei , Saji Tsutomu , Yamaguchi Keizo , Tateda Kazuhiro
Published: February 2014

We document the household spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing
Escherichia coli
. One isolate belonged to sequence type 1193 and caused urinary tract infection in a 4-month-old female, and the other isolate belonged to sequence type 131 and colonized three family members, including the index patient. These isolates carried similar Inc-I1-Iγ plasmids, harboring
bla
CTX-M-15
.
Development and Validation of an In-House Database for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry-Based Yeast Identification Using a Fast Protein Extraction Procedure
Authors: De Carolis Elena , Vella Antonietta , Vaccaro Luisa , Torelli Riccardo , Posteraro Patrizia , Ricciardi Walter , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Posteraro Brunella
Published: February 2014

In recent studies evaluating the usefulness of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based identification of yeasts for the routine diagnosis of fungal infections, preanalytical sample processing has emerged as a critical step for reliable MALDI-TOF MS outcomes, especially when the Bruker Daltonics Biotyper software was used. In addition, inadequate results often occurred due to discrepancies between the methods used for clinical testing and database construction. Therefore, we created an in-house MALDI-TOF MS library using the spectra from 156 reference and clinical yeast isolates (48 species in 11 genera), which were generated with a fast sample preparation procedure. After a retrospective validation study, our database was evaluated on 4,232 yeasts routinely isolated during a 6-month period and fast prepared for MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Thus, 4,209 (99.5%) of the isolates were successfully identified to the species level (with scores of ≥2.0), with 1,676 (39.6%) having scores of >2.3. For the remaining 23 (0.5%) isolates, no reliable identification (with scores of <1.7) was obtained. Interestingly, these isolates were almost always from species uniquely represented or not included in the database. As the MALDI-TOF MS results were, except for 23 isolates, validated without additional phenotypic or molecular tests, our proposed strategy can enhance the rapidity and accuracy of MALDI-TOF MS in identifying medically important yeast species. However, while continuous updating of our database will be necessary to enrich it with more strains/species of new and emerging yeasts, the present in-house MALDI-TOF MS library can be made publicly available for future multicenter studies.
Effect of Preanalytical Processing of ThinPrep Specimens on Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus by the Aptima HPV Assay
Authors: Munson Erik , Schroeder Elizabeth R. , Ross Kevin C. , Yauck Connie , Bieganski Theresa , Amrhein Robert D. , Napierala Maureen , Harkins April L.
Published: February 2014

Two important preanalytical protocols performed on liquid-based cytological specimens, namely, automated cytology processing and glacial acetic acid (GAA) treatment, may occur prior to the arrival of specimens in a molecular diagnostics laboratory. Ninety-two ThinPrep vials previously positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) via the Cervista HPV HR test were preselected and alternated with 92 previously negative ThinPrep vials. The specimen set was processed in a consecutive fashion by an automated cytology processor without fastidious decontamination precautions. Carryover potential was subsequently assessed by performance of the Aptima HPV assay on aliquots from reprocessed ThinPrep vials. All previously negative ThinPrep vials yielded a negative result following routine automated cytology processing, despite close proximity to known-positive ThinPrep vials. In separate experiments, aliquots from 236 ThinPrep vials were forwarded for tandem analysis with and without GAA treatment. Data from GAA- and mock-treated specimens generated by Aptima HPV were compared to correlate data generated by Cervista. A 99.2% concordance of Aptima HPV results from GAA-treated and mock-treated specimens was noted. This result differed from the concordance result derived from Cervista (91.5%;
P
< 0.0002). Of the initially positive Cervista results, 21.9% reverted to negative following GAA treatment; the correlate value was 2.7% for Aptima HPV (
P
= 0.01). While deleterious effects of GAA treatment on genomic DNA were noted with Cervista (
P
= 0.0015), GAA treatment had no significant effects on Aptima HPV specimen signal/cutoff ratios or amplification of internal control RNA (
P
≥ 0.07). The validity of an Aptima HPV result is independent of GAA treatment and routine automated cytology processing.
Epstein-Barr Virus BALF3 Has Nuclease Activity and Mediates Mature Virion Production during the Lytic Cycle
Authors: Chiu Shih-Hsin , Wu Meng-Chuan , Wu Chung-Chun , Chen Yu-Ching , Lin Su-Fang , Hsu John T.-A. , Yang Chung-Shi , Tsai Ching-Hwa , Takada Kenzo , Chen Mei-Ru , Chen Jen-Yang
Published: February 2014

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic replication involves complex processes, including DNA synthesis, DNA cleavage and packaging, and virion egress. These processes require many different lytic gene products, but the mechanisms of their actions remain unclear, especially for DNA cleavage and packaging. According to sequence homology analysis, EBV BALF3, encoded by the third leftward open reading frame of the BamHI-A fragment in the viral genome, is a homologue of herpes simplex virus type 1 UL28. This gene product is believed to possess the properties of a terminase, such as nucleolytic activity on newly synthesized viral DNA and translocation of unit length viral genomes into procapsids. In order to characterize EBV BALF3, the protein was produced by and purified from recombinant baculoviruses and examined in an enzymatic reactionin vitro, which determined that EBV BALF3 acts as an endonuclease and its activity is modulated by Mg2+, Mn2+, and ATP. Moreover, in EBV-positive epithelial cells, BALF3 was expressed and transported from the cytoplasm into the nucleus following induction of the lytic cycle, and gene silencing of BALF3 caused a reduction of DNA packaging and virion release. Interestingly, suppression of BALF3 expression also decreased the efficiency of DNA synthesis. On the basis of these results, we suggest that EBV BALF3 is involved simultaneously in DNA synthesis and packaging and is required for the production of mature virions.

IMPORTANCEVirus lytic replication is essential to produce infectious virions, which is responsible for virus survival and spread. This work shows that an uncharacterized gene product of the human herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), BALF3, is expressed during the lytic cycle. In addition, BALF3 mediates an endonucleolytic reaction and is involved in viral DNA synthesis and packaging, leading to influence on the production of mature virions. According to sequence homology and physical properties, the lytic gene product BALF3 is considered a terminase in EBV. These findings identify a novel viral gene with an important role in contributing to a better understanding of the EBV life cycle.
VSV-GP: a Potent Viral Vaccine Vector That Boosts the Immune Response upon Repeated Applications
Authors: Tober Reinhard , Banki Zoltan , Egerer Lisa , Muik Alexander , Behmüller Sandra , Kreppel Florian , Greczmiel Ute , Oxenius Annette , von Laer Dorothee , Kimpel Janine
Published: February 2014

Antivector immunity limits the response to homologous boosting for viral vector vaccines. Here, we describe a new, potent vaccine vector based on replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotyped with the glycoprotein of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (VSV-GP), which we previously showed to be safe in mice. In mice, VSV and VSV-GP encoding ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen (VSV-OVA and VSV-GP-OVA) induced equal levels of OVA-specific humoral and cellular immune responses upon a single immunization. However, boosting with the same vector was possible only for VSV-GP-OVA as neutralizing antibodies to VSV limited the immunogenicity of the VSV-OVA boost. OVA-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses induced by VSV-GP-OVA were at least as potent as those induced by an adenoviral state-of-the-art vaccine vector and completely protected mice in a
Listeria monocytogenes
challenge model. VSV-GP is so far the only replication-competent vaccine vector that does not lose efficacy upon repeated application.

IMPORTANCE
Although there has been great progress in treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in the past several years, effective vaccines against some of the most serious infections, e.g., AIDS, malaria, hepatitis C, or tuberculosis, are urgently needed. Here, several approaches based on viral vector vaccines are under development. However, for all viral vaccine vectors currently in clinical testing, repeated application is limited by neutralizing antibodies to the vector itself. Here, we have exploited the potential of vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotyped with the glycoprotein of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (VSV-GP) as a vaccine platform. VSV-GP is the first replication-competent viral vector vaccine that does not induce vector-specific humoral immunity, i.e., neutralizing antibodies, and therefore can boost immune responses against a foreign antigen by repeated applications. The vector allows introduction of various antigens and therefore can serve as a platform technology for the development of novel vaccines against a broad spectrum of diseases.
Role of the Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-Based Activation Motif of Latent Membrane Protein 2A (LMP2A) in Epstein-Barr Virus LMP2A-Induced Cell Transformation
Authors: Fukuda Makoto , Kawaguchi Yasushi
Published: February 2014

Latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is widely expressed in EBV-associated malignancies. We demonstrate that LMP2A has a transformation ability. This study shows that LMP2A-induced transformation in several human nonhematopoietic cell lines was blocked in those cells expressing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) LMP2A mutant. The Syk inhibitor or Syk-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited LMP2A-induced transformation. These results indicate that the interaction of the LMP2A ITAM with Syk is a key step for LMP2A-mediated transformation.
Improving the safety of remote site emergency airway management
Authors: Wijesuriya Julian , Brand Jonathan
Published: February 2014

Airway management, particularly in non-theatre settings, is an area of anaesthesia and critical care associated with significant risk of morbidity & mortality, as highlighted during the 4th National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (NAP4). A survey of junior anaesthetists at our hospital highlighted a lack of confidence and perceived lack of safety in emergency airway management, especially in non-theatre settings.

We developed and implemented a multifaceted airway package designed to improve the safety of remote site airway management. A Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI) checklist was developed; this was combined with new advanced airway equipment and drugs bags. Additionally, new carbon dioxide detector filters were procured in order to comply with NAP4 monitoring recommendations.

The RSI checklists were placed in key locations throughout the hospital and the drugs and advanced airway equipment bags were centralised in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It was agreed with the senior nursing staff that an appropriately trained ICU nurse would attend all emergency situations with new airway resources upon request. Departmental guidelines were updated to include details of the new resources and the on-call anaesthetist’s responsibilities regarding checks and maintenance.

Following our intervention trainees reported higher confidence levels regarding remote site emergency airway management. Nine trusts within the Northern Region were surveyed and we found large variations in the provision of remote site airway management resources.

Complications in remote site airway management due lack of available appropriate drugs, equipment or trained staff are potentially life threatening and completely avoidable. Utilising the intervention package an anaesthetist would be able to safely plan and prepare for airway management in any setting. They would subsequently have the drugs, equipment, and trained assistance required to manage any difficulties or complications. We suggest that this should be the gold standard of airway resource provision and is in line with NAP4 recommendations.
Variations in specialist palliative care referrals: findings from a population-based patient cohort of acute myeloid leukaemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and myeloma
Authors: Howell D A , Wang H-I , Roman E , Smith A G , Patmore R , Johnson M J , Garry A C , Howard M R
Published: February 2014

Objective

To develop and implement a methodology for capturing complete haematological malignancy pathway data and use it to identify variations in specialist palliative care (SPC) referrals.

Methods

In our established UK population-based patient cohort, 323 patients were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or myeloma between May 2005 and April 2008, and died before April 2010. A day-by-day calendar approach was devised to collect pathway data, including SPC referrals, to supplement routinely collected information on clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, response, and date and place of death.

Results

155 (47.9%) of the 323 patients had at least one SPC referral. The likelihood of referral increased with survival (OR 6.58, 95% CIs 3.32 to 13.03 for patients surviving ≥1 year compared to ≤1 month from diagnosis), and varied with diagnosis (OR 1.96, CIs 1.15 to 3.35 for myeloma compared to acute myeloid leukaemia). Compared to patients dying in hospital, those who died at home or in a hospice were also more likely to have had an SPC referral (OR 3.07, CIs 1.59 to 5.93 and 4.74, CIs 1.51 to 14.81, respectively). No associations were found for age and sex.

Conclusions

Our novel approach efficiently captured pathway data and SPC referrals, revealing evidence of greater integration between haematology and SPC services than previously reported. The likelihood of referral was much higher among those dying outside hospital, and variations in practice were observed by diagnosis, emphasising the importance of examining diseases individually.
Public access defibrillation remains out of reach for most victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest
Authors: Deakin Charles D , Shewry Elizabeth , Gray Huon H
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Public access defibrillation (PAD) prior to ambulance arrival is a key determinant of survival from out-of-hospital (OOH) cardiac arrest. Implementation of PAD has been underway in the UK for the past 12 years, and its importance in strengthening the chain of survival has been recognised in the government's recent ‘Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy’. The extent of use of PAD in OOH cardiac arrests in the UK is unknown. We surveyed all OOH cardiac arrests in Hampshire over a 12-month period to ascertain the availability and effective use of PAD.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients with OOH cardiac arrest attended by South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) in Hampshire during a 1-year period (1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012) was undertaken. Emergency calls were reviewed to establish the known presence of a PAD. Additionally, a review of all known PAD locations in Hampshire was undertaken, together with a survey of public areas where a PAD may be expected to be located.

Results

The current population of Hampshire is estimated to be 1.76 million. During the study period, 673 known PADs were located in 278 Hampshire locations. Of all calls confirmed as cardiac arrest (n=1035), the caller reported access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) on 44 occasions (4.25%), successfully retrieving and using the AED before arrival of the ambulance on only 18 occasions (1.74%).

Conclusions

Despite several campaigns to raise public awareness and make PADs more available, many public areas have no recorded AED available, and in those where an AED was available it was only used in a minority of cases by members of the public before arrival of the ambulance. Overall, a PAD was only deployed successfully in 1.74% OOH cardiac arrests. This weak link in the chain of survival contributes to the poor survival rate from OOH cardiac arrest and needs strengthening.
A roadmap for innovation
Authors: Hodgetts Timothy J
Published: February 2014

Medicine has historically advanced during conflict, but military medical services have consistently regressed during peace. As over a decade of campaigning in Iraq and Afghanistan draws to a close, securing the legacy of hard won clinical lessons and retaining flexibility to adapt to new patterns of illness and injury during contingency is critical. Central to sustaining exceptional outcomes for future operations and to maintaining the current position of the Defence Medical Services as providers of clinical excellence is retaining the capability to innovate. This capability must extend across the spectrum of clinical innovation—concepts, guidelines, equipment (invention and adoption), curricula (design, assessment and refinement), research and Defence diplomacy. To achieve this requires a strategy, a ‘roadmap’, with a clear vision, end state and centres of gravity (core strengths that must be protected). The direction for innovation will be guided by emergent analysis of the future character of military medicine. Success will be determined by ensuring the conditions are met to protect and enhance the existing ‘winning culture’.
One Health and the food chain: maintaining safety in a globalised industry
Authors: Wall Patrick
Published: February 2014

In the second of Veterinary Record 's series of articles promoting One Health, Patrick Wall discusses how the health of food‐producing animals affects public health, the challenges of an increasingly complex food chain and the contribution that vets can make to improving the safety and quality of the food we eat.
The effect of maternal low-protein diet on the heart of adult offspring: role of mitochondria and oxidative stress
Authors: Nascimento Luciana , Freitas Cristiane M. , Silva-Filho Reginaldo , Leite Ana Catarina R. , Silva Alessandra B. , da Silva Aline Isabel , Ferreira Diorginis Soares , Pedroza Anderson Apolonio , Maia Maria Bernadete Souza , Fernandes Mariana P. , Lagranha Claudia
Published: February 2014

Protein restriction during perinatal and early postnatal development is associated with a greater incidence of disease in the adult, such arterial hypertension. The aim in the present study was to investigate the effect of maternal low-protein diet on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, antioxidant levels (enzymatic and nonenzymatic), and oxidative stress levels on the heart of the adult offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats received either 17% casein (normal protein, NP) or 8% casein (low protein, LP) throughout pregnancy and lactation. After weaning male progeny of these NP or LP fed rats, females were maintained on commercial chow (Labina-Purina). At 100 days post-birth, the male rats were sacrificed and heart tissue was harvested and stored at −80 °C. Our results show that restricting protein consumption in pregnant females induced decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity (51% reduction in ADP-stimulated oxygen consumption and 49.5% reduction in respiratory control ratio) in their progeny when compared with NP group. In addition, maternal low-protein diet induced a significant decrease in enzymatic antioxidant capacity (37.8% decrease in superoxide dismutase activity; 42% decrease in catalase activity; 44.8% decrease in glutathione-S-transferase activity; 47.9% decrease in glutathione reductase; 25.7% decrease in glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase) and glutathione level (34.8% decrease) when compared with control. From these findings, we hypothesize that an increased production of ROS and decrease in antioxidant activity levels induced by protein restriction during development could potentiate the progression of metabolic and cardiac diseases in adulthood.
Development of cost-effective PL-3 concrete bridge barrier reinforced with sand-coated glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars: vehicle crash test
Authors: Sennah K. , Khederzadeh H.R.
Published: February 2014

Corrosion of steel reinforcement due to environmental effects is a major cause of deterioration problems in bridge barriers. Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars, as a suitable alternative, addresses the corrosion-related problems of steel reinforcing bars. Recent research work conducted at Ryerson University on PL-3 bridge barrier proposed a cost-effective barrier configuration incorporating high-modulus GFRP bars with headed ends. To qualify the developed barrier configuration for use in bridge construction, a full-scale PL-3 barrier wall of 27.6 m length was constructed to perform vehicle crash testing. The crash test was performed in accordance with MASH Test Level 5 (TL-5). Evaluation criteria for full-scale vehicle crash testing were based on three appraisal areas namely: (i) structural adequacy; (ii) occupant risk; and (iii) vehicle trajectory after collision. Crash test results showed that the barrier contained and redirected the vehicle. The vehicle did not penetrate or override the parapet. No detached elements, fragments, or other debris from the barrier were present to penetrate or show potential for penetrating the occupant compartment, or to present undue hazard to others in the area. No occupant compartment deformation occurred. The test vehicle remained upright during and after the collision event. Estimates of the equivalent impact force and associated energy absorbed by the barrier wall due to vehicle impact were deduced.
Development of cost-effective PL-3 concrete bridge barrier reinforced with sand-coated glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars: static load tests
Authors: Khederzadeh H. , Sennah K.
Published: February 2014

One of the main factors concerning durability and service life of steel-reinforced bridges is corrosion of steel bars especially when exposed to a harsh environment. The use of glass fibre reinforcing polymer (GFRP) bars as non-corrosive material has emerged as an innovative solution to corrosion related problems, reduce the maintenance cost, and increase the service life of bridge structures. A recent cost-effective design of PL-3 bridge barrier was developed at Ryerson University incorporating high-modulus GFRP bars with headed ends. This paper presents results of full-scale static tests to collapse performed on the developed PL-3 bridge barrier at interior and exterior locations to investigate the ultimate load carrying capacity to be compared with Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC). The experimental ultimate load carrying capacity of the barriers was observed to be far greater than CHBDC factored design transverse load. The failure pattern was initiated by a trapezoidal crack pattern at the front face of the barrier, followed by punching shear failure at the transverse load location. Based on the punching shear failure developed in the barrier wall and comparison with available punching shear equations in the literature, an empirical punching shear equation is proposed to determine the transverse load carrying capacity of PL-3 bridge barrier walls reinforced with GFRP bars.
Electrical properties of nanocrystalline media: Optical conductivity and non-Drude behavior in the terahertz frequency range
Authors: Shimakawa Koichi
Published: February 2014

It is known that deviation from the Drude law is dramatic in most electronically conductive nanomaterials. A brief review of this topic is given, and it is shown that a series sequence of transport involving grains and grain boundaries produces a type of Lorentz resonance (non-Drude behavior) in nanomaterials. The physical parameters deduced from this model are reasonably good.
OPTIMAL SPARSE APPROXIMATION WITH INTEGRATE AND FIRE NEURONS
Authors: SHAPERO SAMUEL , ZHU MENGCHEN , HASLER JENNIFER , ROZELL CHRISTOPHER
Published: February 2014

Sparse approximation is a hypothesized coding strategy where a population of sensory neurons (e.g. V1) encodes a stimulus using as few active neurons as possible. We present the Spiking LCA (locally competitive algorithm), a rate encoded Spiking Neural Network (SNN) of integrate and fire neurons that calculate sparse approximations. The Spiking LCA is designed to be equivalent to the nonspiking LCA, an analog dynamical system that converges on a ℓ1-norm sparse approximations exponentially. We show that the firing rate of the Spiking LCA converges on the same solution as the analog LCA, with an error inversely proportional to the sampling time. We simulate in NEURON a network of 128 neuron pairs that encode 8 × 8 pixel image patches, demonstrating that the network converges to nearly optimal encodings within 20 ms of biological time. We also show that when using more biophysically realistic parameters in the neurons, the gain function encourages additional ℓ0-norm sparsity in the encoding, relative both to ideal neurons and digital solvers.
Multiple Buckling and Codimension-Three Bifurcation Phenomena of a Nonlinear Oscillator
Authors: Cao Q. J. , Han Y. W. , Liang T. W. , Wiercigroch M. , Piskarev S.
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we investigate the global bifurcations and multiple bucklings of a nonlinear oscillator with a pair of strong irrational nonlinear restoring forces, proposed recently by Han et al. [2012]. The equilibrium stabilities of multiple snap-through buckling system under static loading are analyzed. It is found that complex bifurcations are exhibited of codimension-three with two parameters at the catastrophe point. The universal unfolding for the codimension-three bifurcation is also found to be equivalent to a nonlinear viscous damped system. The bifurcation diagrams and the corresponding codimension-three behaviors are obtained by employing subharmonic Melnikov functions for the existing singular closed orbits of homoclinic, tangent homoclinic, homo-heteroclinic and cuspidal heteroclinic, respectively.
Equivalence of the MTS Method and CMR Method for Differential Equations Associated with Semisimple Singularity
Authors: Yu Pei , Ding Yuting , Jiang Weihua
Published: February 2014

In this paper, the equivalence of the multiple time scales (MTS) method and the center manifold reduction (CMR) method is proved for computing the normal forms of ordinary differential equations and delay differential equations. The delay equations considered include general delay differential equations (DDE), neutral functional differential equations (NFDE) (or neutral delay differential equations (NDDE)), and partial functional differential equations (PFDE). The delays involved in these equations can be discrete or distributed. Particular attention is focused on dynamics associated with the semisimple singularity, and both the MTS and CMR methods are applied to compute the normal forms near the semisimple singular point. For the ordinary differential equations (ODE), we show that the two methods are equivalent up to any order in computing the normal forms; while for the differential equations with delays, we obtain the conditions under which the normal forms, derived by using the MTS and CMR methods, are identical up to third order. Different types of practical examples with delays are presented to demonstrate the application of the theoretical results, associated with Hopf, Hopf-zero and double-Hopf singularities.
Cycles of the Logistic Map
Authors: Zhang Cheng
Published: February 2014

The onset and bifurcation points of n-cycles of several polynomial maps are located through a characteristic equation connecting cyclic polynomials of the cycle points. The polynomials satisfied by the parameters of the logistic, Hénon, and cubic maps at the onset and bifurcation points are obtained for n up to 14, 9, and 9, respectively.
Uniform Exponential Attractor for Second Order Lattice System with Quasi-Periodic External Forces in Weighted Space
Authors: Zhou Shengfan , Zhao Min
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we study the existence of a uniform exponential attractor for second order lattice system with quasi-periodic external forces in weighted space of infinite sequences. We first prove that the system possesses a uniform attractor. Then we obtain the existence of a uniform exponential attractor for the system.