bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Roles of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Transducer OASIS in Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
Authors: Chen Yu , Yang Haisong , Miao Jinhao , Liu Xiaowei , Wang Xinwei , Chen Deyu
Published: April 2013

Study Design:

In vitro molecular research on the posterior longitudinal ligament fibroblasts.

Objective:

To investigate different expression of old astrocyte specifically induced substance (OASIS) between spinal ligament fibroblasts from the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and from non-OPLL patients and demonstrate knockdown of OASIS protein expression by RNA interference inhibiting expression of type I collagen (COL I) in OPLL cells.

Summary of Background Data:

OPLL is characterized by ectopic bone formation in spinal ligaments. Some evidence indicates that ligament fibroblasts from OPLL patients have osteogenic characteristics. However, the relevant intracellular signaling pathways remain unclear.

Methods:

Spinal ligament cells were cultured using tissue fragment cell culture and identified by immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence. The mRNA expression of osteoblast-specific genes of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and COL I were detected in OPLL and non-OPLL cells by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of OASIS was detected by Western blotting. And then, after 72 hours, when RNA interference against OASIS was performed in OPLL cells, expression of the osteoblast-specific genes was compared again between the transfection group and the nontransfection group.

Results:

Spinal ligament fibroblasts were observed 7 to 10 days after cell culture. Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence exhibited positive results of vimentin staining. The mRNA expressions of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and COL I and protein expressions of OASIS from OPLL cells were significantly greater than those from non-OPLL cells. In addition, knockdown of OASIS protein expression inhibited the mRNA expressions of COL I remarkably in the transfection group compared with the nontransfection group, at 72 hours after RNA interference targeting OASIS was performed in OPLL cells.

Conclusions:

The cultured fibroblasts from OPLL patients exhibited osteogenic characteristics, and OASIS expression plays an important role in the development of OPLL through the expression of COL I.
Imaging Evaluation and Relative Significance in Cases of Cervical Disk Allografting
Authors: Ding Yu , Ruan Di-Ke , He Qing , Hou Li Sheng , Lin Jian Ning , Cui Hong Peng
Published: April 2013

Study Design:

The clinical and radiologic data of total disk allografting (TDA) cases were collected and analyzed to explore the correlation between neurological function improvements and imaging changes.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to assess the medium-term and long-term outcome and radiographic character after TDA, and, furthermore, to explore the significance of the changes of imaging signs after the transplantation.

Summary of Background Data:

Spinal fusion may result in the adjacent segment degeneration. The anxiousness urged the necessity for the development of TDA to reduce the risk of adjacent segment degeneration. Both animal studies and recent clinical trials have shown promising results to support the use of intervertebral disk allograft as a natural mobile disk replacement.

Methods:

The conditions of 13 cases that underwent TDA after cervical discectomy were recorded in detail. Axial symptoms and neurological function in various periods were assessed, and, meanwhile, radiologic examination was performed for the comprehensive evaluation of the relevant indicators before and after surgery.

Results:

(1) There was significant improvement in the neurological function after TDA. Postoperatively, the Visual Analog Score of axial symptoms did not increase significantly. (2) Both the entire and local segment maintained a satisfactory curve after allografting. There was no obvious correlation between the neurological function recovery and the cervical curve. Besides, the motion of the cervical spine did not change postoperatively. (3) Postoperatively, the spinal cord area at the index level increased significantly, whereas the signal value of the transplanted disk decreased sharply.

Conclusions:

(1) Disk allografting is one of the effective and safe methods in treating the diseases of cervical disk herniation. (2) Although some degeneration occurs in the transplanted disk, the allograft can still be alive and can successfully maintain and improve the biological characters of the cervical spine in both radiologic and practical aspects.
Pollinators, mates and Allee effects: the importance of self‐pollination for fecundity in an invasive lily
Authors: Rodger James G. , van Kleunen Mark , Johnson Steven D.
Published: April 2013

Ability to self‐fertilize is correlated with invasiveness in several introduced floras, and this has been attributed to its mitigating effect on fecundity when pollinator visitation and mate availability are inadequate. Cross‐pollination opportunities are expected to be most limited in isolated individuals and small populations, both typical of the leading edge of an invasion. Thus, self‐pollination may promote invasion in part by mitigating pollen‐limitation Allee effects.

We used emasculation and pollen supplementation experiments to test whether the importance of self‐pollination for fecundity increased as plant abundance decreased and isolation increased, in the hawkmoth‐pollinated and autonomously self‐pollinating invasive lilyLilium formosanum, in its introduced range in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. As inbreeding depression is negligible in these populations, seed production through selfing is likely to be demographically important.

In naturalized populations ofL. formosanum, varying in size and degree of isolation, emasculation reduced seed production by two‐thirds, indicating strong reliance on self‐fertilization for fecundity due to inadequate pollinator visitation. However, this was not related to population size and was only greater for more isolated populations in one of the 3 years in which the experiment was carried out. Pollen supplementation experiments showed that pollen limitation was low – 12% on average – and significant in only one of 3 years, demonstrating that autonomous self‐pollination was highly effective.

In artificial arrays, consisting of plants placed inside naturalized populations or in pairs isolated (3–702 m) from populations, the effect of emasculation on fecundity was greater in isolated plants than those inside the population in one of two populations. Isolation reduced fecundity when emasculated plants were placed next to a second emasculated plant, but not when emasculated plants were partnered with an intact plant, from which they could receive pollen.

We conclude that self‐fertilization inL. formosanumcompensates for inadequate pollinator visitation across all levels of population size and for a pollen‐limitation Allee effect due to decreased mate availability in isolated plants, and may thus play an important role in invasion.
Future Nonaudit Service Fees and Audit Quality
Authors: Causholli Monika , Chambers Dennis J. , Payne Jeff L.
Published: April 2013

Prior to the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, audit partners experienced economic pressure to grow revenue from the sale of nonaudit services to their audit clients. To an auditor who is highly rewarded for revenue generation and growth, nonaudit services may represent a particularly strengthened economic bond with the client. Prior research shows that, in general, nonaudit service fees received in the current period do not impair audit quality. We examine a different setting. We propose that auditor independence can become impaired, and audit quality compromised, when clients that currently purchase relatively low amounts of nonaudit services, increase their purchases of nonaudit services from the auditor in the subsequent period. We test our prediction in the context of earnings management as a proxy for audit quality, measured by (a) performance‐adjusted discretionary accruals and (b) classification shifting of core expenses. Our results indicate that prior to the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act, rewards to the auditor in the form offutureadditional nonaudit service fees from current‐year high fee‐growth‐opportunity clients adversely affects audit quality. This effect is particularly strong among companies with powerful incentives to manage earnings. Our findings indicate that regulators should consider the multiperiod nature of the client–auditor relationship when contemplating policies that restrict nonaudit services, as well as the overall environment in which audit partners operate. This might include partner compensation arrangements that put pressure on audit partners to focus on increasing revenue at the expense of audit quality.
Two faces of interdependence: Harmony seeking and rejection avoidance
Authors: Hashimoto Hirofumi , Yamagishi Toshio
Published: April 2013

We argue that the current concept of interdependent self‐construal as ‘harmony seeking’ has overlooked a strategic aspect of interdependence, which we term ‘rejection avoidance’. Using newly constructed scales of interdependent self‐construal, one for harmony seeking and one for rejection avoidance, we find that Japanese respondents showed lower independence and higher rejection avoidance than Americans, while no cultural difference was found in harmony seeking. These findings explain why past efforts to demonstrate cultural differences in interdependent self‐construal using self‐report measures exclusively focusing on the harmony seeking aspect have failed.
Emerging geography of technological innovation in China's ICT industry: Region, inter‐firm linkages and innovative performance in a transitional economy
Authors: Wang Cassandra C. , Lin George C.S.
Published: April 2013

This study critically evaluates the relevance of the existing theory of technological innovation to the case of China's information and communications technology industry. Based on a large‐scale questionnaire survey conducted in China's three most important city‐regions, namely, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, where the core of China's information and communications technology industry is located, this study reveals a significant regional variation in technological innovation in a political economy undergoing marketisation and globalisation. This research has found no significant relationship between the innovative performance of firms and the extent of production linkages; nor was there a significant knowledge exchange among firms. A further analysis has identified the significant role played by government purchases, research and development capital input and export propensity in the process of technological innovation. The findings of this research cast doubts over the prevailing theory of ‘new economic geography’ in which soft and unbounded relational assets have been overemphasised at the expense of some solid and bounded actors and agents that are pivotal to technological innovation in a developing economy.
Portrait of replication stress viewed from telomeres
Authors: Ishikawa Fuyuki
Published: April 2013

Genetic instability is the driving force of the malignant progression of cancer cells. Recently, replication stress has attracted much attention as a source of genetic instability that gives rise to an accumulation of mutations during the lifespan of individuals. However, the molecular details of the process are not fully understood. Here, recent progress in understanding how genetic alterations accumulate at telomeres will be reviewed. In particular, two aspects of telomere replication will be discussed in this context, covering conventional semi‐conservative replication, and DNA synthesis by telomerase plus the C‐strand fill‐in reactions. Although these processes are seemingly telomere‐specific, I will emphasize the possibility that the molecular understanding of the telomere events may shed light on genetic instability at other genetic loci in general.
Long‐term effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gross motor function in ambulant children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy, compared with reference centiles
Authors: Bolster Eline AM , van Schie Petra EM , Becher Jules G , van Ouwerkerk Willem JR , Strijers Rob LM , Vermeulen R Jeroen
Published: April 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) on the gross motor function of ambulant children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy (CP), compared with reference centiles.

Method

The study used a prospective cohort design and participants comprised 29 children classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in level I (n=7), II (n=4), or III (n=18; 18 males, 11 females; median age at time of surgery 6y 4mo; range 2y 10mo–12y 1mo), who were examined 5 years and 10 years after SDR. We used individual centiles based on Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM‐66) scores and age, corresponding to the GMFCS levels. Individual improvement or deterioration was defined as a change of more than 20 centiles. Side effects experienced and additional treatment received after SDR were also recorded.

Results

Five years after SDR, 10 out of 28 children showed improvement, and 10 years after SDR 6 out of 20 children had improved. Spinal side effects were noted in two children and hip subluxation in three. Additional treatments included subtalar arthrodesis (n=13), endorotational osteotomy of the tibia (n=5), and botulinum toxin treatment (n=13).

Interpretation

None of the children showed deterioration of gross motor function based on centile ranking. Five and 10 years after SDR, gross motor function in some children had improved more than would have been expected according to the reference centiles. This suggests, taking the limitations of this study into account, that the applied criteria for selection were adequate. However, the children still required additional treatment after SDR.
New genus, Lepidozonates Park, gen. nov. (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) with description of three new species
Authors: Park Kyu‐Tek , Heppner John B. , Lee Sangmi
Published: April 2013

Lepidozonates gen. nov. is described, with description of three new species: L. viciniolus Park, sp. nov. from Thailand, L. tenebrosellus Park, sp. nov. from Taiwan and L. prominens Park, sp. nov. from Cambodia and Thailand. The new genus is characterized by having the specialized plumose corematal scales developed on the pleural membrane of the abdominal segments IV–VI in the male, and the venation of both wings also differs from those of the allied genera, e.g., Deltoplastis Meyrick, Torodora Meyrick or Thubana Walker of the subfamily Torodorinae.
Venture Capital Backing and Overvaluation: Evidence from the High‐Tech Bubble
Authors: Wang Lanfang , Wang Susheng , Zhang Jin
Published: April 2013

We investigate the association between venture capital (VC) backing and the likelihood of firm overvaluation in the high‐tech bubble period. We find strong evidence that a VC‐backed firm is more likely than a non‐VC‐backed firm to be overvalued during the bubble period. A further investigation suggests that such an association exists only for VC‐backed firms that have gone public recently and VC‐backed firms over which venture capitalists (VCs) have high ownership or control. But outside the bubble period, all the differences in overvaluation between VC‐backed and non‐VC‐backed firms disappear. Our findings provide additional evidence supporting VC opportunism in boom periods.
International Cross‐Listings and Subsequent Security‐Market Choices: Evidence from ADRs
Authors: Boubakri Narjess , Cosset Jean‐Claude , Samet Anis
Published: April 2013

We study the link between the attributes of American depositary receipt (ADR)‐listed firms and their post‐listing security‐market choices. We find that developed market firms are more likely to issue equity and debt than their emerging market counterparts. Furthermore, we find that large firms are more likely to issue debt and less likely to issue equity. When we examine locations where ADR firms raise their capital, we find that firms originating from countries where the protection of minority shareholders is weak are more likely to issue debt on their home markets and less likely to issue debt on international markets (excluding U.S. markets). Furthermore, ADR firms originating from developed (emerging market) countries are more (less) likely to issue their equity on their domestic markets and less (more) likely to issue equity on international markets (excluding U.S. markets).
Headache Currents Commentary
Authors: Frishberg Benjamin
Published: April 2013

Neuro‐ophthalmology is a field that interfaces intimately with headache medicine. Examples include common and uncommon visual disturbances related to migraine, painful loss of vision, eye pain, photophobia, pupillary disorders, and painful ophthalmoplegia. There are often articles relevant to headache specialists that are published in the ophthalmic literature. This commentary highlights 2 interesting clinical articles. All neurologists and headache medicine specialists should read the review on photophobia by Digre and Brennan as it is relevant, clinical, and comprehensive. The literature review on topiramate‐related acute angle‐closure glaucoma provides us with useful information about the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this rare but potentially vision‐threatening condition that may occur with the most widely used of migraine preventives.
An analysis of the factors affecting the transition period to professional roles for newly graduated nurses inTurkey
Authors: Tastan S. , Unver V. , Hatipoglu S.
Published: April 2013

Background

For the majority of newly graduated nurses, the transition to professional roles in their lives may be stressful. Common reasons for this include feelings of insufficiency with regard to clinical skills, fears of making mistakes, increased responsibilities and insufficient guidance.

Aim

To identify the factors affecting the transition period of newly graduated nurses.

Methods

This study was designed and carried out as a descriptive and a cross‐sectional study of three cohorts of newly graduated students. The study was implemented at a military education and research hospital inAnkara,Turkey. The population consisted of 234 (89%) of newly graduated nurses. For evaluating data, theSPSS15.0 program was used. The paired samplest‐test and theMann–WhitneyU‐test were employed to compare the participants’ perceptions about the transition period based on certain variables.

Results

It is found that 54.7% of nurses surveyed have the intent to quit the profession. More than half of the participants stated that their expectations were met through working with a preceptor nurse (58.73%). Furthermore, almost half of the newly graduated nurses experienced and expressed disappointment in the first year of their professional lives.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that newly graduated nurses experience some difficulty during this period of transition, but assistance from experienced nurses facilitates the transition period.

Implications for Nursing Practice and Research

In order to increase work quality and satisfaction levels of new graduates, support programs must be initialized and their effectiveness must be evaluated regularly by clinical administrators and educators.
Shifts in δ15N signature following the onset of exogenous feeding in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: importance of combining length and age data
Authors: Liberoff A. L. , Riva Rossi C. M. , Fogel M. L. , Ciancio J. E. , Pascual M. A.
Published: April 2013

The δ15N isotopic change of recently emerged rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss due to diet shift from yolk sac to exogenous feeding was evaluated in a field study. The fit of a general model including both fish length and age in days as co‐variables indicates that the specific δ15N of individual fish at any given time along the ontogeny is determined by its growth trajectory. The results suggest that estimations based on fish size alone could bias data interpretation and maternal origin determinations in partially migratory salmonids.
Granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor‐producing cervical cancers treated with carbon‐ion irradiation
Authors: Ohkubo Yu , Kato Shingo , Kiyohara Hiroki , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Nakano Takashi , Kamada Tadashi
Published: April 2013

Granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF)‐producing tumor is a rare condition. It has an aggressive nature and shows resistance to conventional treatments. We report two cases of G‐CSF‐producing uterine cervical cancer who were successfully treated with carbon‐ion radiotherapy (C‐ion RT). The first case was a 76‐year‐old woman with stage IIIB uterine cervical cancer, and the second was a 75‐year‐old woman with bulky stage IIB disease. Prior to treatment, both patients presented severe granulocytosis and elevated serum G‐CSF concentrations. After C‐ion RT, their cervical tumors completely disappeared, and their granulocytosis and elevated serum G‐CSF levels improved as well. C‐ion RT has been reported to be effective for various aggressive tumors, and it may be a good treatment option for this rare aggressive tumor.
Back to Baseline: Erectile Function Recovery After Radical Prostatectomy from the Patients' Perspective
Authors: Nelson Christian J. , Scardino Peter T. , Eastham James A. , Mulhall John P.
Published: April 2013

Introduction

A variety of erectile function recovery (EFR) rates are reported post-radical prostatectomy (RP), with some suggesting EFR rates over 90% [1]. Clinical experience suggests that patients view EFR as getting back to their baseline (BTB) erectile functioning (EF) without the use of medication.

Aim

This study explores EFR defined as BTB.

Method

Men pre-RP and 24 months post-RP completed the Erectile Function Domain (EFD) of the International Index of Erectile Function and one question on phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) use. Men using a PDE5i at baseline were excluded.

Main Outcome Measures

At 24 m, “back to baseline” was defined as achieving the baseline EFD score (within 1 point or higher). Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression.

Results

One hundred eighty men had an average age at RP of 59 (SD = 7) years. When including men who were using a PDE5i at 24 months, 43% (N = 78, 95% CI: 36–51%) returned BTB. When considering BTB without the use of a PDE5i, 22% (N = 39, 95% CI: 16% to 28%) returned BTB. When focusing on a subset of men with baseline EFD ≥ 24 (N = 132), 36% (N = 47, 95% CI: 28% to 44%) returned BTB at 24 months using a PDE5i and 16% (N = 21, 95% CI: 11% to 23%) without the use of a PDE5i. For this group, there was a significant difference by age (<60 years, 23% vs. ≥60 years, 4%, P < 0.001), which remained a significant predictor (OR = 6.25, 95% CI: 1.88 to 50, P < 0.001) in multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

Twenty-two percent of the entire sample and 16% of the men with functional (EFD ≥ 24) baseline erections returned to BTB EF without the use of medication. Only 4% of men who were ≥60 years old with functional erections pre-surgery achieved BTB EF. Although gaining partial EF is also important, men pre-RP should be educated on EFR and the chance of “back to baseline” EF.
Effects of Intensification of the Amazon River Prawn, Macrobrachium amazonicum, Grow‐out on Effluent Quality
Authors: Kimpara Janaina Mitsue , Moraes‐Valenti Patricia , Queiroz Julio F. , New Michael Bernard
Published: April 2013

Studies to determine suitable levels of intensification are essential for developing sustainable aquaculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of effluents discharged from ponds stocked with 10 (D10), 20 (D20), 40 (D40), and 80 (D80) postlarvae of Macrobrachium amazonicum/m2. Intake and effluent water samples were taken throughout a 5.5‐mo grow‐out cycle. In that study, twelve 0.01‐ha earthen ponds were stocked postlarvae with 0.01 g. Average water exchange rate was 15%/d; water was discharged from the bottom of the ponds. Prawns were fed a commercial feed with 38% crude protein according to their biomass (3–10%) and the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO). In our research, temperature, turbidity, total suspended solids, conductivity, DO, pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), N‐ammonia, N‐nitrite, N‐nitrate, N‐Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, and soluble orthophosphate were measured every 15 d throughout the experiment in the early morning (0630 to 0730 h). Turbidity was lower in D10 than in D20 and D40 and total phosphorus was higher in D80 than in D10 and D20. An analysis of principal components comparing treatments and intake water showed three groups: intake, D10 and a cluster of D20, D40, and D80. On the basis of the water characteristics found in our study it appears that the farming of M. amazonicum is likely to have a low environmental impact, at least up to a stocking density of 80 prawns/m2.
The Complete Analysis of the Distribution Kinetics of the Oxytetracycline Antibiotic in the Exoskeleton of Farmed Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Faroongsarng Damrongsak , Chiayvareesajja Sommai , Theapparat Yongyuth
Published: April 2013

Oxytetracycline (OTC) in shrimp shells may be dispersed to the environment as shrimp shred old cuticle in growout ponds. The study aims to assess the kinetics of OTC accumulated in shrimp shell. Sub‐adult male Litopenaeus vannamei in the C–D0 molting stage, were force fed with medicated feeds at various accurate dose levels that included 50, 500 and 1000 mg/kg‐body weight (BW). In addition to hemolymph, hepatopancreas and muscle were serially collected for 50 mg/kg‐BW‐dose group while cuticle was sampled for higher dose levels. All were assayed for OTC by a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Mineral contents in shell samples of 500 mg/kg‐BW‐dose were also determined. The bioavailability markedly decreased with increasing dose due to incomplete dissolution and/or mild dysfunction in absorption. Administered doses, 2.69 and 2.25%, ended up in the shell after dosing with 500 and 1000 mg/kg‐BW, respectively. OTC data after a dose of 50 mg/kg‐BW was fitted into a three‐compartment model with an added shell compartment with r2 of 0.9920. The model was successfully extrapolated to predict OTC distribution in shell at higher doses. In addition, there was evidence that OTC may disturb the biomineralization process via complex formation with calcium and magnesium lowering the exoskeleton mineral contents.
Introduction
Authors: Floridi Luciano
Published: April 2013

This introduction presents the project of a one‐day meeting on the future of philosophical research, hosted by the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, on 13 January 2012. The meeting brought together several distinguished philosophers and scholars in their roles as journal editors and publishing experts, in order to clarify and discuss the future of philosophical research. This symposium in Metaphilosophy collects a selection of the papers presented at the meeting and some invited articles.
Philosophy of Science A Personal Peek into the Future
Authors: French Steven , Massimi Michela
Published: April 2013

In this opinion piece, the authors offer their personal and idiosyncratic views of the future of the philosophy of science, focusing on its relationship with the history of science and metaphysics, respectively. With regard to the former, they suggest that the Kantian tradition might be drawn upon both to render the history and philosophy of science more relevant to philosophy as a whole and to overcome the challenges posed by naturalism. When it comes to the latter, they suggest both that metaphysics has much to learn from the philosophy of science and that it offers an array of tools that philosophers of science can themselves appropriate.
Epidemiology and sites of involvement of invasive fungal infections in patients with haematological malignancies: a 20‐year autopsy study
Authors: Lewis Russell E. , Cahyame‐Zuniga Lizebeth , Leventakos Konstantinos , Chamilos Georgios , Ben‐Ami Ronen , Tamboli Pheroze , Tarrand Jeffrey , Bodey Gerald P. , Luna Mario , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P.
Published: April 2013

Autopsy studies remain an essential tool for understanding the patterns of fungal disease not detected ante mortem with current diagnostic approaches. We collected data concerning the microbiological trends, patient clinical characteristics and sites of involvement for invasive fungal infections (IFIs) identified at autopsy in a single large cancer treatment centre over a 20‐year period (1989–2008). The autopsy rate and IFI prevalence both declined significantly during the study period. The prevalence of Aspergillus spp. decreased significantly from the first 15 years of the study (from 0.12 to 0.14 cases per 100 autopsies to 0.07 in 2004–2008; P = 0.04), with only Mucorales accounting for a greater proportion of IFIs over the duration of the study period (0.06 to 0.2 cases per 100 autopsies, P = 0.04). After 2003, moulds accounted for the majority of infections identified at autopsy in the spleen, kidney, heart and gastrointestinal tract. Despite a trend of decreasing prevalence from 1989 to 2004, invasive candidiasis increased in prevalence during later periods 2004–2008 (0.02–0.05 per 100 autopsies) with decreasing kidney, heart and spleen involvement. Despite a declining autopsy rate, these data suggest a decreasing prevalence overall of IFIs with changing patterns of dissemination in patients with haematological malignancies.
Commissioning dose computation models for spot scanning proton beams in water for a commercially available treatment planning system
Authors: Zhu X. R. , Poenisch F. , Lii M. , Sawakuchi G. O. , Titt U. , Bues M. , Song X. , Zhang X. , Li Y. , Ciangaru G. , Li H. , Taylor M. B. , Suzuki K. , Mohan R. , Gillin M. T. , Sahoo N.
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

To present our method and experience in commissioning dose models in water for spot scanning proton therapy in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS).

Methods:

The input data required by the TPS included in‐air transverse profiles and integral depth doses (IDDs). All input data were obtained from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations that had been validated by measurements. MC‐generated IDDs were converted to units of Gy mm2/MU using the measured IDDs at a depth of 2 cm employing the largest commercially available parallel‐plate ionization chamber. The sensitive area of the chamber was insufficient to fully encompass the entire lateral dose deposited at depth by a pencil beam (spot). To correct for the detector size, correction factors as a function of proton energy were defined and determined using MC. The fluence of individual spots was initially modeled as a single Gaussian (SG) function and later as a double Gaussian (DG) function. The DG fluence model was introduced to account for the spot fluence due to contributions of large angle scattering from the devices within the scanning nozzle, especially from the spot profile monitor. To validate the DG fluence model, we compared calculations and measurements, including doses at the center of spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles, and depth doses for different widths of SOBP. Dose models were validated extensively with patient treatment field‐specific measurements.

Results:

We demonstrated that the DG fluence model is necessary for predicting the field size dependence of dose distributions. With this model, the calculated doses at the center of SOBPs as a function of nominal field size, range, and SOBP width, lateral dose profiles and depth doses for rectangular target volumes agreed well with respective measured values. With the DG fluence model for our scanning proton beam line, we successfully treated more than 500 patients from March 2010 through June 2012 with acceptable agreement between TPS calculated and measured dose distributions. However, the current dose model still has limitations in predicting field size dependence of doses at some intermediate depths of proton beams with high energies.

Conclusions:

We have commissioned a DG fluence model for clinical use. It is demonstrated that the DG fluence model is significantly more accurate than the SG fluence model. However, some deficiencies in modeling the low‐dose envelope in the current dose algorithm still exist. Further improvements to the current dose algorithm are needed. The method presented here should be useful for commissioning pencil beam dose algorithms in new versions of TPS in the future.
Binaural notched-noise masking and auditory-filter shape
Authors: Nitschmann Marc , Verhey Jesko L.
Published: April 2013

Thresholds for sinusoids interaurally in phase (S0) and antiphase (Sπ) were measured in the presence of a diotic notched-noise masker (N0) as a function of notch width. The signal frequency was 250, 500, 1000, or 2000 Hz. For all signal frequencies, the difference between N0S0 and N0Sπ thresholds (binaural masking-level difference, BMLD) decreased continuously as the notch width increased. Model simulations showed that this result cannot be accounted for by a model that only processes the output of the auditory filter centered at the signal frequency, even if the nonlinear behavior of the monaural frequency selectivity or interaural differences in the filter shape are considered. The data were predicted well if a detrimental across-channel process was included, either by an addition of portions of the output of adjacent filters to the output of the on-frequency filter or by a notch-width dependent adverse shift in interaural phase in the binaural stage. The strength of this detrimental across-channel process tends to decrease with increasing signal frequencies.
Breakup of finite thickness viscous shell microbubbles by ultrasound: A simplified zero-thickness shell model
Authors: Hsiao Chao-Tsung , Chahine Georges L.
Published: April 2013

A simplified three-dimensional (3-D) zero-thickness shell model was developed to recover the non-spherical response of thick-shelled encapsulated microbubbles subjected to ultrasound excitation. The model was validated by comparison with previously developed models and was then used to study the mechanism of bubble break-up during non-spherical deformations resulting from the presence of a nearby rigid boundary. The effects of the shell thickness and the bubble standoff distance from the solid wall on the bubble break-up were studied parametrically for a fixed insonification frequency and amplitude. A diagram of bubble shapes versus the normalized shell thickness and wall standoff was derived, and the potential bubble shapes at break-up from reentrant jets were categorized resulting in four distinct zones.
Sensitivity of bilateral cochlear implant users to fine-structure and envelope interaural time differences
Authors: Noel Victor A. , Eddington Donald K.
Published: April 2013

Bilateral cochlear implant users have poor sensitivity to interaural time differences (ITDs) of high-rate pulse trains, which precludes use of these stimuli to convey fine-structure ITD cues. However, previous reports of single-neuron recordings in cats demonstrated good ITD sensitivity to 1000 pulses-per-second (pps) pulses when the pulses were sinusoidally amplitude modulated. The ability of modulation to restore ITD sensitivity to high-rate pulses in humans was tested by measuring ITD thresholds for three conditions: ITD encoded in the modulated carrier pulses alone, in the envelope alone, and in the whole waveform. Five of six subjects were not sensitive to ITD in the 1000-pps carrier, even with modulation. One subject's 1000-pps carrier ITD sensitivity did significantly improve due to modulation. Sensitivity to ITD encoded in the envelope was also measured as a function of modulation frequency, including at frequencies from 4 to 16 Hz where much of the speech envelope's energy and information resides. Sensitivity was best at the modulation frequency of 100 Hz and degraded rapidly outside of a narrow range. These results provide little evidence to support encoding ITD in the carrier of current bilateral processors, and suggest envelope ITD sensitivity is poor for an important segment of the speech modulation spectrum.
Voicing produced by a constant velocity lung source
Authors: Howe M. S. , McGowan R. S.
Published: April 2013

An investigation is made of the influence of subglottal boundary conditions on the prediction of voiced sounds. It is generally assumed in mathematical models of voicing that vibrations of the vocal folds are maintained by a constant subglottal mean pressure pI, whereas voicing is actually initiated by contraction of the chest cavity until the subglottal pressure becomes large enough to separate the vocal folds. The problem is reformulated to determine voicing characteristics in terms of a prescribed volumetric flow rate Qo of air from the lungs—the evolution of the resulting time-dependent subglottal mean pressure p¯_(t) is then governed by glottal mechanics, the aeroacoustics of the vocal tract, and the influence of continued contraction of the lungs. The new problem is analyzed in detail for an idealized mechanical vocal system that permits precise specification of all boundary conditions. Predictions of the glottal volume velocity pulse shape are found to be in good general agreement with the traditional constant-pI theory when pI is set equal to the time averaged value of p¯_(t). But, in all cases examined the constant-pI approximation yields values of the mean flow rates Qo and sound pressure levels that are smaller by as much as 10%.
Dynamical properties of piano soundboards
Authors: Chaigne Antoine , Cotté Benjamin , Viggiano Roberto
Published: April 2013

In pianos, the transfer of energy from strings to soundboard and the radiation of sound are highly dependent on the dynamical properties of the soundboard. In this paper, a numerical study is conducted for various rib configurations, showing that even slight irregularities in rib spacing can induce a strong localization of the soundboard velocity pattern. The effective vibrating area can be further reduced due to the spatial filtering effect of the bridge. Numerical predictions of modal shapes and operating deflection shapes are confirmed by series of measurements made on upright piano soundboards. Simulations of radiated pressure based on measured and calculated soundboard velocity fields show that localization tends to broaden the cone of directivity and to reduce the number of lobes.
Efficient finite element modeling of radiation forces on elastic particles of arbitrary size and geometry
Authors: Glynne-Jones Peter , Mishra Puja P. , Boltryk Rosemary J. , Hill Martyn
Published: April 2013

A finite element based method is presented for calculating the acoustic radiation force on arbitrarily shaped elastic and fluid particles. Importantly for future applications, this development will permit the modeling of acoustic forces on complex structures such as biological cells, and the interactions between them and other bodies. The model is based on a non-viscous approximation, allowing the results from an efficient, numerical, linear scattering model to provide the basis for the second-order forces. Simulation times are of the order of a few seconds for an axi-symmetric structure. The model is verified against a range of existing analytical solutions (typical accuracy better than 0.1%), including those for cylinders, elastic spheres that are of significant size compared to the acoustic wavelength, and spheroidal particles.
Evidence for a Symmetrical Fluoronium Ion in Solution
Authors: Struble Mark D. , Scerba Michael T. , Siegler Maxime , Lectka Thomas
Published: April 2013

Fluorine Learns to Share

Though halides typically coordinate to just one carbon center, their transient coordination to a second carbon (forming a positively charged bridge) explains the spatial dynamics of many reactions. However, unlike chlorine, bromine, and iodine—which can all form such halonium ions—fluorine does not appear to engage in carbon-bridging behavior, presumably because of its very high electronegativity.

Struble
et al.

(p.
57
, see the Perspective by

Hennecke

) synthesized a rigid molecule, particularly well-poised to manifest fluoride bridging, and provide evidence for a fluoronium intermediate in a displacement reaction.
Archaeal (Per)Chlorate Reduction at High Temperature: An Interplay of Biotic and Abiotic Reactions
Authors: Liebensteiner Martin G. , Pinkse Martijn W. H. , Schaap Peter J. , Stams Alfons J. M. , Lomans Bart P.
Published: April 2013

Archaea Powered by Rocket Fuel

Perchlorate is a ubiquitous chlorine-based compound that forms naturally in the atmosphere. It is only present in large deposits in a few locations, such as the Atacama Desert in Chile, which has been assumed to be because perchlorate-reducing bacteria normally degrade it into chloride and oxygen.

Liebensteiner
et al.

(p.
85
; see the Perspective by

Nerenberg

), however, found that an archeon,
Archaeoglobus fulgidus
, can also reduce perchlorate. The archaeal perchlorate reduction pathway shares limited similarity with bacterial perchlorate reduction: Instead of producing chloride and oxygen, enzymatically produced chlorite reacts with sulfide to produce oxidized sulfur compounds. Because hyperthermophilic anaerobic archaea similar to
A. fulgidus
are thought to have been among the first complex organisms to evolve on Earth, they may have started creating oxidized conditions in some habitats before the emergence of oxygen-generating photosynthesis.
Revealing the Positive Side of Fluorine
Authors: Hennecke Ulrich
Published: April 2013

An organic reaction creates an intermediate in which a fluorine atom, the most electronegative of the elements, formally bears a positive charge.

[Also see Report by

Struble
et al.

]
What If Extinction Is Not Forever?
Authors: Sherkow Jacob S. , Greely Henry T.
Published: April 2013

Although new technologies may make it possible to bring extinct species back to life, there are ethical, legal, and social ramifications to be addressed
The Perfect Hypnotic?
Authors: Mignot Emmanuel
Published: April 2013

A compound that blocks a neurotransmitter receptor is the newest hope for getting a good night's sleep without the bad side effects.
New Coronavirus Reveals Some of Its Secrets
Authors: Enserink Martin
Published: April 2013

First successful animal model reveals a way to test candidate drugs and vaccines—but many questions remain.
Fluttering From the Ashes?
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: April 2013

A century after the last passenger pigeon died, scientists are embarking on a controversial effort to resurrect the bird's distinctive traits—if not the species itself.
Prevalence and Characteristics of the Epidemic Multiresistant Escherichia coli ST131 Clonal Group among Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing E. coli Isolates in Copenhagen, Denmark
Authors: Olesen Bente , Hansen Dennis S. , Nilsson Frida , Frimodt-Møller Jakob , Leihof Rikke Fleron , Struve Carsten , Scheutz Flemming , Johnston Brian , Krogfelt Karen A. , Johnson James R.
Published: April 2013

We report the characteristics of 115 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Escherichia coli
clinical isolates, from 115 unique Danish patients, over a 1-year study interval (1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009). Forty-four (38%) of the ESBL isolates represented sequence type 131 (ST13)1, from phylogenetic group B2. The remaining 71 isolates were from phylogenetic groups D (27%), A (22%), B1 (10%), and B2 (3%). Serogroup O25 ST131 isolates (
n
= 42; 95% of ST131) comprised 7 different K antigens, whereas two ST131 isolates were O16:K100:H5. Compared to non-ST131 isolates, ST131 isolates were associated positively with CTX-M-15 and negatively with CTX-M-1 and CTX-M-14. They also were associated positively with 11 virulence genes, including
afa
and
dra
(Dr family adhesins), the F10
papA
allele (P fimbria variant),
fimH
(type 1 fimbriae),
fyuA
(yersiniabactin receptor),
iha
(adhesin siderophore),
iutA
(aerobactin receptor),
kpsM
II (group 2 capsules),
malX
(pathogenicity island marker),
ompT
(outer membrane protease),
sat
(secreted autotransporter toxin), and
usp
(uropathogenicity-specific protein) and negatively with
hra
(heat-resistant agglutinin) and
iroN
(salmochelin receptor). The consensus virulence gene profile (>90% prevalence) of the ST131 isolates included
fimH
,
fyuA
,
malX
, and
usp
(100% each),
ompT
and the F10
papA
allele (95% each), and
kpsM
II and
iutA
(93% each). ST131 isolates were also positively associated with community acquisition, extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC) status, and the O25, K100, and H4 antigens. Thus, among ESBL
E. coli
isolates in Copenhagen, ST131 was the most prevalent clonal group, was community associated, and exhibited distinctive and comparatively extensive virulence profiles, plus a greater variety of capsular antigens than reported previously.
Comparison of Typing Methods with a New Procedure Based on Sequence Characterization for Salmonella Serovar Prediction
Authors: Ranieri Matthew L. , Shi Chunlei , Moreno Switt Andrea I. , den Bakker Henk C. , Wiedmann Martin
Published: April 2013

As the development of molecular serotyping approaches is critical for
Salmonella
spp., which include >2,600 serovars, we performed an initial evaluation of the ability to identify
Salmonella
serovars using (i) different molecular subtyping methods and (ii) a newly implemented combined PCR- and sequencing-based approach that directly targets O- and H-antigen-encoding genes. Initial testing was performed using 46 isolates that represent the top 40
Salmonella
serovars isolated from human and nonhuman sources, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was able to accurately predict the serovars for 42/46 isolates and showed the best ability to predict serovars among the subtyping methods tested. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), ribotyping, and repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) were able to accurately predict the serovars for 35/46, 34/46, and 30/46 isolates, respectively. Among the methods,
S. enterica
subsp.
enterica
serovars 4,5,12:i:−, Typhimurium, and Typhimurium var. 5− were frequently not classified correctly, which is consistent with their close phylogenetic relationship. To develop a PCR- and sequence-based serotyping approach, we integrated available data sources to implement a combination PCR-based O-antigen screening and sequencing of internal
fliC
and
fljB
fragments. This approach correctly identified the serovars for 42/46 isolates in the initial set representing the most common
Salmonella
serovars, as well as for 54/63 isolates representing less common
Salmonella
serovars. Our study not only indicates that different molecular approaches show the potential to allow for rapid serovar classification of
Salmonella
isolates, but it also provides data that can help with the selection of molecular serotyping methods to be used by different laboratories.
Serum Arginase, a Biomarker of Treatment Efficacy in Human African Trypanosomiasis
Authors: Nzoumbou-Boko Romaric , Dethoua Mariette , Gabriel Fréderic , Buguet Alain , Cespuglio Raymond , Courtois Pierrette , Daulouède Sylvie , Bouteille Bernard , Ngampo Stéphane , Mpandzou Ghislain , Semballa Silla , Vincendeau Philippe
Published: April 2013

Arginase serum levels were increased in human African trypanosomiasis patients and returned to control values after treatment. Arginase hydrolyzes
l
-arginine to
l
-ornithine, which is essential for parasite growth. Moreover,
l
-arginine depletion impairs immune functions. Arginase may be considered as a biomarker for treatment efficacy.