bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NRG Oncology/RTOG 0921: A phase 2 study of postoperative intensity‐modulated radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin and bevacizumab followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel for patients with endometrial cancer
Authors: Viswanathan Akila N. , Moughan Jennifer , Miller Brigitte E. , Xiao Ying , Jhingran Anuja , Portelance Lorraine , Bosch Walter R. , Matulonis Ursula A. , Horowitz Neil S. , Mannel Robert S. , Souhami Luis , Erickson Beth A. , Winter Kathryn A. , Small William , Gaffney David K.
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to assess acute and late adverse events (AEs), overall survival (OS), pelvic failure, regional failure, distant failure, and disease‐free survival in a prospective phase 2 clinical trial of bevacizumab and pelvic intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with chemotherapy in patients with high‐risk endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Patients underwent a hysterectomy and lymph node removal, and had ≥1 of the following high‐risk factors: grade 3 carcinoma with >50% myometrial invasion, grade 2 or 3 disease with any cervical stromal invasion, or known extrauterine extension confined to the pelvis. Treatment included pelvic IMRT and concurrent cisplatin on days 1 and 29 of radiation and bevacizumab (at a dose of 5 mg/kg on days 1, 15, and 29 of radiation) followed by adjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel for 4 cycles. The primary endpoint was grade ≥3 AEs occurring within the first 90 days (toxicity was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 4.0]).

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients were accrued from November 2009 through December 2011, 30 of whom were eligible and received study treatment. Seven of 30 patients (23.3%; 1‐sided 95% confidence interval, 10.6%‐36.0%) developed grade ≥3 treatment‐related nonhematologic toxicities within 90 days; an additional 6 patients experienced grade ≥3 toxicities between 90 and 365 days after treatment. The 2‐year OS rate was 96.7% and the disease‐free survival rate was 79.1%. No patient developed a within‐field pelvic failure and no patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I to IIIA disease developed disease recurrence after a median follow‐up of 26 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative bevacizumab added to chemotherapy and pelvic IMRT appears to be well tolerated and results in high OS rates at 2 years for patients with high‐risk endometrial carcinoma. Cancer 2015;121:2156–2163. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Evolving characteristics and outcome of secondary acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL): A prospective analysis by the French‐Belgian‐Swiss APL group
Authors: Braun Thorsten , Cereja Sophie , Chevret Sylvie , Raffoux Emmanuel , Beaumont Marie , Detourmignies Laurence , Pigneux Arnaud , Thomas Xavier , Bordessoule Dominique , Guerci Agnès , Lamy Thierry , Recher Christian , Poiré Xavier , Tournilhac Olivier , Spertini Olivier , Chomienne Christine , Degos Laurent , Dombret Hervé , Adès Lionel , Fenaux Pierre ,   the French‐Belgian‐Swiss APL Group
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

Reports of patients with secondary acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have increased in recent years, particularly for those who received treatment with mitoxantrone, and retrospective studies have suggested that their characteristics and outcomes were similar to those of patients with de novo APL.

METHODS

The authors investigated patients with de novo and secondary APL who were included in the ongoing APL‐2006 trial. Patients with secondary APL who were included in that trial also were compared with a previous retrospective cohort of patients with secondary APL.

RESULTS

In the APL‐2006 trial, 42 of 280 patients (15%) had secondary APL. Compared with the retrospective cohort, patients with secondary APL in the APL‐2006 trial had a lower incidence of prior breast carcinoma (35.7% vs 57%; P = .03) and a higher incidence of prior prostate carcinoma (26.2% vs 4.7%; P < .001). Treatment of the primary tumor in the APL‐2006 trial less frequently included combined radiochemotherapy (28.6% vs 47.2%; P = .044) and no mitoxantrone (0% vs 46.7%; P = .016) but more frequently included anthracyclines (53.3% vs 38.3%; P = .015). In the APL‐2006 trial, patients who had secondary APL, compared with those who had de novo APL, were older (mean, 60.2 years vs 48.7 years, respectively; P < .0001) but had a similar complete response rate (97.6% vs 90.3%, respectively), cumulative incidence of relapse (0% vs 1.8%, respectively), and overall survival (92.3% vs 90.9%, respectively) at 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of secondary APL appears to be stable over time, evolving strategies for the treatment of primary cancers have reduced its occurrence among breast cancer patients but have increased its incidence among patients with prostate cancer. The current results confirm prospectively that patients with secondary APL have characteristics and outcomes similar to those of patients with de novo APL. Cancer 2015;121:2393–2399. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Green optical backbone networks: virtual topology adaptation using a page rank‐based rating system
Authors: Melidis Panagiotis , Nicopolitidis Petros , Papadimitriou Georgios , Varvarigos Emmanouel
Published: April 2015

An energy‐aware virtual topology rating system is proposed in this work, which can be utilized as a tool during the virtual topology reconfiguration procedure in an optical backbone network in order to reduce its energy consumption. It is well known that maintaining a static virtual topology in Internet Protocol (IP)‐over‐Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks is not energy‐efficient. To that end, virtual topology adaptation algorithms have been developed to adjust the virtual topology to the constantly fluctuating traffic load. While these algorithms achieve significant energy savings, further reduction on the total network energy consumption can be achieved through the proposed rating system. The proposed rating system is a modified version of the page rank algorithm, which ranks websites in the Internet based on their importance. The proposed rating system attributes ratings to lightpaths, which indicate the relative significance of a lightpath in the virtual topology in terms of energy consumption. The rating can be used during the routing procedure as an energy efficiency indicator, in order to increase the number of lightpaths that are deactivated from the reconfiguration mechanism and increase the utilization per lightpath. The proposed reconfiguration scheme (page rank‐based virtual topology reconfiguration) achieves up to 12% additional energy savings in comparison to an existing virtual topology reconfiguration algorithm at the cost of slightly increased average hop distance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biodistribution of the Multidentate Hydroxypyridinonate Ligand [14C]‐3,4,3‐LI(1,2‐HOPO), a Potent Actinide Decorporation Agent
Authors: Choi Taylor A. , Endsley Aaron N. , Bunin Deborah I. , Colas Christophe , An Dahlia D. , Morales‐Rivera Joel A. , Villalobos Jonathan A. , Shinn Walter M. , Dabbs Jack E. , Chang Polly Y. , Abergel Rebecca J.
Published: April 2015

Preclinical Research

The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of the 14C‐labeled actinide decorporation agent 3,4,3‐LI(1,2‐HOPO) were investigated in young adult Swiss Webster mice and Sprague Dawley rats, after intravenous, intraperitoneal, and oral dose administration. In all routes investigated, the radiolabeled compound was rapidly distributed to various tissues and organs of the body. In mice, the 24 h fecal elimination profiles suggested that the biliary route is the predominant route of elimination. In contrast, lower fecal excretion levels were observed in rats. Tissue uptake and retention of the compound did not differ significantly between sexes although some differences were observed in the excretion patterns over time. The male mice eliminated a greater percentage of 14C through the renal pathway than the female mice after receiving an intravenous or intraperitoneal dose, while the opposite trend was seen in rats that received an intravenous dose. Metabolite profiling performed on selected rat samples demonstrated that a putative major metabolite of [14C]‐3,4,3‐LI(1,2‐HOPO) is formed, accounting for approximately 10% of an administered oral dose. Finally, to improve its oral bioavailability, 3,4,3‐LI(1,2‐HOPO) was coformulated with a proprietary permeability enhancer, leading to a notable increase in oral bioavailability of the compound. Drug Dev Res 73 : 107–122, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quality losses in virgin olive oil due to washing and short‐term storage before olive milling
Authors: Vichi Stefania , Boynuegri Pınar , Caixach Josep , Romero Agustí
Published: April 2015

To identify critical points during olive mill pre‐processing operations, the effect of the closed circuit washing stage on olive microbiological contamination, and the influence of the successive short‐term storage on olives and virgin olive oil (VOO) quality were evaluated. Microbiological, physical, and chemical parameters were assessed in olives and oils at three mill pre‐processing stages: reception, washing, and short‐term storage. Olive washing in closed loop systems was shown to be a critical control point at the olive mill due to microbiological cross‐contamination and fruit physical damage. Moreover, when the olives were short‐term stored before oil extraction, positive VOO sensory attributes decreased by as much as one point of intensity, as justified by the changes observed in phenolic and lipoxygenase derived volatile compounds. These results confirm the high risk of fruit cross‐contamination due to the poor hygiene of the water used in olives mills to wash olives, and point out the effect on VOO quality of a common practice such as short term silo storage of olives.

Practical applications: The identification of new critical control points within pre‐processing operations in ordinary usage, and commonly accepted as good production practices, will contribute to enhance virgin olive oil quality. Preventive actions can be undertaken on the basis of the reported results, such as the control of water hygiene and short term storage conditions.

The figure shows the microbiological contamination of olives during washing with recycled water and during short‐term silo storage, and the loss of sensory quality in the correspondent virgin olive oils.
Geochemical characterization of Archaean amphibolites from the eastern part of Anshan–Benxi iron producing area, northeastern China: implication for tectonic setting of BIFs
Authors: Wang En‐De , Han Chang‐Ik , Xia Jian‐Ming , Fu Jian‐Fei , Li Guang‐Su , Jia San‐Shi , Men Ye‐Kai
Published: March 2015

The Anshan–Benxi iron producing area, which is located at the northeastern margin of the North China Craton, is the main distribution area of Archaean BIFs in China. In their eastern part, including the Gongchangling and Waitoushan deposits, BIFs mainly are hosted in the Archaean middle Anshan Group. Amphibolites are widely distributed in the iron‐bearing rock series, reflecting the tectonic setting of BIFs. Amphibolites not only have MORB‐like compositional characteristics, but also have island arc‐like ones, and they are consistent with back‐arc basin basalts (BABB). In the study area, the protolith of amphibolites belongs to Okinawa‐type BABB; it indicates that tectonic setting of BIFs is the intra‐continental back‐arc basin. In the study area, the formation of sedimentary basins for BIFs had been associated with oceanic plate subduction. Amphibolites from Gongchangling deposit are characterized by relative enrichments in LILE and LREE, and depletions in HFSE. This indicates that they had a relatively large influence of subduction in their formation. Amphibolites from Waitoushan deposit are characterized by relative enrichments in LILE without conspicuous depletions in HFSE, indicating relatively low subduction rates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Attachment Style, Representations of Psychotherapy, and Clinical Interventions With Insecurely Attached Clients
Authors: Geller Jesse D. , Farber Barry A.
Published: March 2015

The primary aim of this article was to demonstrate the clinical utility of an empirically grounded perspective on the complex interplay between patients’ attachment style and their ability to create, remember, and use benignly influential representations of their experiences with their therapists. We focused on 2 interrelated questions: Are there significant attachment‐related differences in the thematic content of the remembrances and fantasies that patients have about therapy? And, if so, what are the implications for practice? Results of a study of individuals currently in therapy (N = 176) indicated that although all the patients with different insecure attachment styles struggled to evoke positively valenced therapist representations, the specific nature of their representational patterns varied as a function of specific attachment styles. We offer several clinical strategies that may increase insecure patients’ abilities to form adaptive representations of their therapist and therapy. We illustrate our recommendations by presenting case material from the psychotherapy of a compulsively self‐reliant man.
Identifying the Poorest People and Groups: Strategies Using the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index
Authors: Alkire Sabina , Roche Jose Manuel , Seth Suman , Sumner Andrew
Published: April 2015

If development is about poverty reduction, then where the poorest live is an important question. This paper seeks to answer this question using an internationally comparable multidimensional poverty index (MPI) to identify the poor using household surveys across more than a hundred countries. We compare three criteria to identifying the bottom billion: (i) the billion living in the poorest countries; (ii) the billion living in the poorest subnational regions and (iii) the poorest billion according to the intensity of their deprivations. Although there are commonalities across the results based on these three criteria, they produce notably different findings that are relevant to the discussions of sustainable development goals.
Beyond the Millenium Development Goals: A Southern Perspective on a Global New Deal
Authors: Ghosh Jayati
Published: April 2015

The persistence of poverty and food insecurity, inadequate generation of good quality employment, growing inequality, environmental degradation and climate change are all big questions, which require changing economic strategies rather than tinkering with minor outcomes. For developing countries, this means moving away from export‐driven models to strategies based on wage and employment growth, fair access to resources and equitable distribution of resource rents of nature, just and effective tax systems and control over financial markets. These in turn require an enabling global economic system, for which genuine international co‐operation is necessary. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differentiation of focal nodular hyperplasia from hepatocellular adenoma: Role of the quantitative analysis of gadobenate dimeglumine‐enhanced hepatobiliary phase MRI
Authors: Roux Marion , Pigneur Frederic , Calderaro Julien , Baranes Laurence , Chiaradia Mélanie , Tselikas Lambros , Decaens Thomas , Costentin Charlotte , Laurent Alexis , Azoulay Daniel , Mallat Ariane , Zafrani Elie‐Serge , Rahmouni Alain , Luciani Alain
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To determine the value of quantitative analysis of the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) in gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd‐BOPTA)‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) from hepatocellular adenoma (HCA).

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐eight patients bearing 67 lesions (40 FNH; 27 HCA) were retrospectively included in this Institutional Review Board‐approved study. The same volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination (VIBE) T1‐weighted sequences were performed before and after contrast injection on a 1.5T MRI, with HBP images acquired with a mean delay of 80 minutes (range 60–120 min). After a visual assessment of lesions enhancement (qualitative HBP analysis), the HBP signal intensity ratio (SIR) and the lesion‐to‐liver contrast enhancement ratio (LLCER) were calculated for each lesion by two observers (Mann‐Whitney test). The sensitivities, specificities (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve analysis) and interobserver correlation (intraclass coefficient, ICC) of quantitative HBP analysis were determined.

Results

All FNH and 44.4% of HCA appeared hyper‐ or isointense relative to the adjacent liver on qualitative HBP analysis. The mean SIR (P < 0.01) and LLCER (P < 0.0001) of FNH were significantly higher than that of HCA. The area under the ROC curve for the differentiation of FNH from HCA with LLCER was 0.98 for both observers. With a cutoff value of −0.3%‐observer 1 with highest experience‐ LLCER assessment provided respective sensitivity and specificity values of 100% and 96.2% for the differentiation of FNH from HCA. The ICC was 0.7 for SIR measurements and 0.8 for LLCER measurements.

Conclusion

Quantitative LLCER assessment allows an accurate differentiation of FNH from HCA, even in hyper‐ or isointense HCA on HBP images. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;42:1249–1258.
Global epidemiology of Familial Mediterranean fever mutations using population exome sequences
Authors: Fujikura Kohei
Published: April 2015

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of fever accompanied by sterile peritonitis, arthritis, and pleuritis. Many mutations in the MEFV gene have been identified as causing FMF. However, accompanying epidemiological information remains quite scarce except in some Mediterranean countries, and the degree of penetrance has been a subject of controversy. Here, I established a genetic epidemiology of full FMF mutations using two population exome studies. Of 57 mutations associated with FMF, 22 were detected in a total of 9007 individuals from two exome sequences. Exome‐based epidemiology revealed the carrier rates of FMF in 28 populations in 19 countries by individual mutation and showed strong population specificity for the MEFV mutations. Unexpectedly high carrier rates suggested that some mutations are benign variants with no pathological significance and highlighted the need for caution in analyzing MEFV mutations. Similar approach could be used to uncover the incomplete or no penetrance of mutations in most inherited disorders.
Efficient reliability method for implicit limit state surface with correlated non‐Gaussian variables
Authors: Ji Jian , Kodikara Jayantha K.
Published: April 2015

In contrast to the traditional approach that computes the reliability index in the uncorrelated standard normal space (u‐space), the reliability analysis that is simply realized in the original space (x‐space, non‐Gaussian type) would be more efficient for practical use, for example, with the Low and Tang's constrained optimization approach. On the other hand, a variant of Hasofer, Lind, Rackwits and Fiessler algorithm for first‐order reliability method is derived in this paper. Also, the new algorithm is simply formulated in x‐space and requires neither transformation of the random variables nor optimization tools. The algorithm is particularly useful for reliability analysis involving correlated non‐Gaussian random variables subjected to implicit limit state function. The algorithm is first verified using a simple example with closed‐form solution. With the aid of numerical differentiation analysis in x‐space, it is then illustrated for a strut with complex support and for an earth slope with multiple failure modes, both cases involving implicit limit state surfaces. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanostructured vanadium carbide thin films produced by RF magnetron sputtering
Authors: Pat Suat , Korkmaz Şadan
Published: March 2015

In this paper, nanostructured vanadium carbide thin films were deposited on glass substrates and their optical and surface properties were analyzed. All produced samples were transparent in the optical region. Refractive index values were calculated using the Drude model. According to contact angle measurements of the coated surfaces, the samples show high wettability. The surface free energies of the samples were found to be very similar. The influence of the nitrogen content in the buffer gas mixture was determined; it was concluded that the microstructure, refractive index, surface morphology, surface free energy, and thickness of thin films can change in response to the nitrogen concentration of the radio frequency (RF) buffer gas. SCANNING 37:197–203, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predicting cumulative risk of disease onset by redistributing weights
Authors: Chen Tianle , Ma Yanyuan , Wang Yuanjia
Published: April 2015

We propose a simple approach predicting the cumulative risk of disease accommodating predictors with time‐varying effects and outcomes subject to censoring. We use a nonparametric function for the coefficient of the time‐varying effect and handle censoring through self‐consistency equations that redistribute the probability mass of censored outcomes to the right. The computational procedure is extremely convenient and can be implemented by standard software. We prove large sample properties of the proposed estimator and evaluate its finite sample performance through simulation studies. We apply the method to estimate the cumulative risk of developing Huntington's disease (HD) from subjects with huntingtin gene mutation using a large collaborative HD study data and illustrate an inverse relationship between the cumulative risk of HD and the length of cytosine–adenine–guanine repeats in the huntingtin gene. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolving Paradigm in Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Digit from Ray Resection to Wide Local Excision and Flap Coverage
Authors: Doermann Alex J. , Jakowatz James G , Jones Neil F
Published: April 2015

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine neoplasm that typically presents on the head and neck. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the digits is rare, and thus limited treatment options have been presented.

Methods

In contrast to the current treatment recommendation of ray resection of the affected digit, two patients were treated by sentinel node biopsy, wide local excision, and flap coverage of the defect.

Results

No local recurrences or metastases have been seen 24 months postoperatively.

Conclusion

We suggest that the paradigm of ray amputation of a digit affected by MCC should evolve to initial treatment with a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with subsequent local excision with wide margins and local flap coverage.
Parenting and social competence in school: The role of preadolescents' personality traits☆
Authors: Lianos Panayiotis G.
Published: March 2015

In a study of 230 preadolescent students (mean age 11.3 years) from the wider area of Athens, Greece, the role of Big Five personality traits (i.e. Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Extraversion) in the relation between parenting dimensions (overprotection, emotional warmth, rejection, anxious rearing) and social competence in school was examined. Multiple sets of regression analyses were performed. Main effects of Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience were identified. Limited evidence for moderation and some support of gender‐specific parenting was found. Agreeableness and Extraversion interacted with paternal overprotection, whereas Neuroticism interacted with maternal and paternal rejection in predicting social competence. Mean differences in gender and educational grade were reported. The relationship between environmental effects (such as parenting during early adolescence) and social adjustment in school is discussed in terms of the plasticity and malleability of the preadolescents' personality characteristics.
Change in insulin resistance according to virological response during antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Tseng Cheng‐Hao , Hsu Yao‐Chun , Chang Chi‐Yang , Lin Chih‐Wen , Lin Jaw‐Town , Mo Lein‐Ray
Published: March 2015

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to increased insulin resistance, but the dynamics of insulin resistance in HCV‐infected patients receiving pegylated interferon plus ribavirin remain elusive.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled HCV‐infected patients who received pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Patients were classified according to the attainment of sustained virological response (SVR). Insulin resistance was measured using homeostatic model assessment‐insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR). The change in HOMA‐IR at baseline, the end of treatment, and 24 weeks after the end of treatment was compared in patients who achieved SVR and those who did not.

Results

A total of 65 patients participated in this study, of which 46 (71%) achieved SVR. Overall, The HOMA‐IR changed significantly during antiviral therapy, with the median values [interquartile range (IQR)] of 3.7 (1.6–10.0) prior to the treatment, 1.5 (0.8–2.9) at the end, and 1.6 (0.9–3.1) at 24 weeks after completion of therapy. However, only patients who achieved SVR had significant off‐therapy reduction of HOMA‐IR, with median values of 1.3 (IQR, 0.7–2.6) at 24 weeks off therapy and 3.6 (IQR, 1.5–9.9) at baseline (p < 0.0001). In those without SVR, the HOMA‐IR measured 24 weeks after treatment completion (median, 2.2; IQR, 1.9–4.7) did not differ from baseline values (median, 3.9; IQR, 2.2–10.0; p = 0.5).

Conclusion

Dual therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin ameliorated IR in HCV‐infected patients, but the off‐therapy improvement of IR was limited to those who attained SVR.
HSF1 transcriptional activity is modulated by IER5 and PP2A/B55
Authors: Ishikawa Yukio , Kawabata Shotaro , Sakurai Hiroshi
Published: April 2015

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is the master transcriptional regulator of chaperone genes. HSF1 regulates the expression of the immediate‐early response gene IER5, which encodes a protein that has roles in the stress response and cell proliferation. Here, we have shown that IER5 interacts with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and its B55 regulatory subunits. Expression of IER5 and B55 in cells leads to HSF1 dephosphorylation and activation of HSF1 target genes. The B55 subunits directly bind to HSF1. These results suggest that IER5 functions as a positive feedback regulator of HSF1 and that this process involves PP2A/B55 and HSF1 dephosphorylation.
Advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging techniques applied to brain development and animal models of perinatal injury
Authors: van de Looij Yohan , Dean Justin M. , Gunn Alistair J. , Hüppi Petra S. , Sizonenko Stéphane V.
Published: April 2015

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely used in the field of brain development and perinatal brain injury. Due to technical progress the magnetic field strength (B0) of MR systems has continuously increased, favoring1H‐MRS with quantification of up to 18 metabolites in the brain and short echo time (TE) MRI sequences including phase and susceptibility imaging. For longer TE techniques including diffusion imaging modalities, the benefits of higher B0have not been clearly established. Nevertheless, progress has also been made in new advanced diffusion models that have been developed to enhance the accuracy and specificity of the derived diffusion parameters. In this review, we will describe the latest developments in MRS and MRI techniques, including high‐field1H‐MRS, phase and susceptibility imaging, and diffusion imaging, and discuss their application in the study of cerebral development and perinatal brain injury.
The Masters of Sustainable Practice: A Review of a Program for Working Professionals
Authors: Edirisinghe Ruwini , Fraser Kym
Published: March 2015

This study sought to distil recommendations and curriculum design principles that could underpin the re-imagination of the RMIT University coursework Masters of Sustainable Practice (MSP). The aim of the study was to redesign the program to better meet the expectations of contemporary working professionals. Four data sources were used to develop 12 program recommendations: postgraduate sustainability education literature, postgraduate coursework literature, publicly available information for contemporary coursework Masters sustainability programs both in Australia and overseas, and interview data from current and graduate students from the RMIT University Masters of Sustainable Practice. The study proposes a novel curriculum (re)design model comprised of six curriculum design principles that the authors argue are essential for the development of curricula for contemporary working professionals. Sustainable practice coursework Masters programs need to: offer choice, flexibility and authentic work-based assessment opportunities; provide significant guidance to achieve individual aspirations and to customise the program for each student; recognise learning through current workplace roles and through continuing professional development opportunities; use integrative assessments to achieve the Australian Qualification Framework knowledge and skills application requirements; incorporate short credit-bearing courses, in particular for the development of employability skills; and support students to transition to professional practice.
Machine-based method for multiplex in situ molecular characterization of tissues by immunofluorescence detection
Authors: Yarilin Dmitry , Xu Ke , Turkekul Mesruh , Fan Ning , Romin Yevgeniy , Fijisawa Sho , Barlas Afsar , Manova-Todorova Katia
Published: March 2015

Immunofluorescent staining is an informative tool that is widely used in basic research. Automation of immunostaining improves reproducibility and quality of the results. Up to now, use of automation in immunofluorescent staining was mostly limited to one marker. Here we present tyramide signal amplification based method of multiple marker immunofluorescent detection, including detection of antibodies, raised in the same species, in tissue sections and cultured cells. This method can be beneficial for both basic and clinical research.
A critical review on in situ reduction of graphene oxide during preparation of conducting polymeric nanocomposites
Authors: Mural Prasanna Kumar S , Sharma Maya , Madras Giridhar , Bose Suryasarathi
Published: March 2015

In situ reduction of graphene oxide during preparation of conducting polymeric nanocomposites.
Two-wave regime of operation of the high-harmonic gyrotron
Authors: Savilov A. V. , Denisov G. G. , Kalynov Yu. K. , Osharin I. V.
Published: April 2015

The use of the two-wave co-generation is proposed as a way to decrease the effective Q-factor of the operating near-cutoff wave of the gyrotron. In this two-wave regime, the operating wave represents a “hot” wave mode formed by two partial “cold” modes (near-cutoff and far-from-cutoff ones) coupled on the electron beam. It is shown that the use of this regime can provide a significant decrease of the Ohmic losses in low-relativistic high-harmonic gyrotrons operating in the THz frequency range.
Vibrational properties of acoustic metamaterial multilayers
Authors: Terao Takamichi , Ohnishi Yoshikazu
Published: April 2015

The vibrational properties of acoustic metamaterial multilayers, which are made of a periodic arrangement of clusters of mass and mass-in-mass microstructure, were numerically studied. The dispersion relations of one-dimensional multilayers and two-dimensional periodic structures with square lattices were clarified. It was confirmed that flat modes appear in a sonic band gap, and that the number of such in-gap modes can be controlled by changing the structure of a multilayer. The physical origin of the flat modes is also discussed.
Building allied health workforce capacity: a strategic approach to workforce innovation
Authors: Somerville Lisa , Davis Annette , Elliott Andrea L. , Terrill Desiree , Austin Nicole , Philip Kathleen
Published: April 2015

Objective
The aim of the present study was to identify areas where allied health assistants (AHAs) are not working to their full scope of practice in order to improve the effectiveness of the allied health workforce.

Methods
Qualitative data collected via focus groups identified suitable AHA tasks and a quantitative survey with allied health professionals (AHPs) measured the magnitude of work the current AHP workforce spends undertaking these tasks.

Results
Quantification survey results indicate that Victoria’s AHP workforce spends up to 17% of time undertaking tasks that could be delegated to an AHA who has relevant training and adequate supervision. Over half this time is spent on clinical tasks.

Conclusions
The skills of AHAs are not being optimally utilised. Significant opportunity exists to reform the current allied health workforce. Such reform should result in increased capacity of the workforce to meet future demands.

What is known about the topic?
Increasing skill shortages across Australia’s health workforce necessitates that the capabilities of all healthcare team members should be used optimally. AHA roles are an important and growing response to current health workforce needs. Increasing workforce capacity will ensure the right health workers are matched to the right task by skill, experience and expertise.

What does this paper add?
This paper presents a model that assists services to identify tasks suitable for delegation to an AHA by an AHP. The model is unique because it describes a process that quantifies the need for AHAs and it has been successfully implemented in rural, regional and metropolitan health services in Victoria.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Working collaboratively, with executive support, will lead to a sustainable and integrated approach to support workforce capacity building. Altering the skill mix of healthcare teams through increasing the role of AHAs has benefits for AHPs, patients and the healthcare system.
Internet sex-seeking is inconsistently linked with sexual risk in men who have sex with men: systematic review of within-subjects comparisons
Authors: Melendez-Torres G. J. , Nye Elizabeth , Bonell Chris
Published: April 2015

Background
Internet sex-seeking has been associated at the person level with sexual risk. However, the most robust method of encounter-level inference to determine associations between internet sex-seeking and sexual risk is to compare encounters against each other. We systematically reviewed within-subjects comparisons of sexual encounters that tested associations between internet sex-seeking and sexual risk in men who have sex with men. Methods: We systematically searched databases on 9 July 2013, then screened records and full-text articles in duplicate and independently. Studies were synthesised narratively. Results: Four studies were included. Although studies were generally of high quality, the findings were inconsistent and did not show clear evidence of a relationship between internet sex-seeking and sexual risk. Conclusions: Further research in internet sex-seeking among men who have sex with men is required, particularly as internet-enabled sexual sociality continues to evolve. Internet-based health promotion may wish to target person-level features instead of encounter-specific characteristics.
A comparison of self-reported sexual risk behaviours between US civilian and active duty military women
Authors: Stahlman Shauna , Javanbakht Marjan , Cochran Susan , Shoptaw Steven , Hamilton Alison B. , Gorbach Pamina M.
Published: April 2015

Women in the US military report a high prevalence of sexual risk behaviours, such as binge drinking and new or multiple sexual partnerships. However, demographical differences pose challenges to making comparisons with civilians. Two public-use datasets were used to compare prevalence of sexual risk behaviours between sexually active military and civilian women, after adjusting for demographic factors. It was found that women in the military reported a higher prevalence of binge drinking and new/multiple sexual partners as compared with civilians, which suggests that military women are a high-risk group and the military environment may at least partially facilitate these risk behaviours.
Dimers and families of Cauchy-Riemann operators I
Authors: Dubédat Julien
Published: April 2015

In the dimer model, a configuration consists of a perfect matching of a fixed graph. If the underlying graph is planar and bipartite, such a configuration is associated to a height function. For appropriate “critical” (weighted) graphs, this height function is known to converge in the fine mesh limit to a Gaussian free field, following in particular Kenyon’s work.

In the present article, we study the asymptotics of smoothed and local field observables from the point of view of families of Cauchy-Riemann operators and their determinants. This allows one in particular to obtain a functional invariance principle for the field; characterise completely the limiting field on toroidal graphs as a compactified free field; analyze electric correlators; and settle the Fisher-Stephenson conjecture on monomer correlators.

The analysis is based on comparing the variation of determinants of families of (continuous) Cauchy-Riemann operators with that of their discrete (finite dimensional) approximations. This relies in turn on estimating precisely inverting kernels, in particular near singularities. In order to treat correlators of “singular” local operators, elements of (multiplicatively) multivalued discrete holomorphic functions are discussed.
Morphological Outcomes of Gynandromorphism in Lycaeides Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Authors: Jahner Joshua P. , Lucas Lauren K. , Wilson Joseph S. , Forister Matthew L.
Published: April 2015

The genitalia of male insects have been widely used in taxonomic identification and systematics and are potentially involved in maintaining reproductive isolation between species. Although sexual selection has been invoked to explain patterns of morphological variation in genitalia among populations and species, developmental plasticity in genitalia likely contributes to observed variation but has been rarely examined, particularly in wild populations. Bilateral gynandromorphs are individuals that are genetically male on one side of the midline and genetically female on the other, while mosaic gynandromorphs have only a portion of their body developing as the opposite sex. Gynandromorphs might offer unique insights into developmental plasticity because individuals experience abnormal cellular interactions at the genitalic midline. In this study, we compare the genitalia and wing patterns of gynandromorphic Anna and Melissa blue butterflies, Lycaeides anna (Edwards) (formerly L. idas anna ) and L. melissa (Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), to the morphology of normal individuals from the same populations. Gynandromorph wing markings all fell within the range of variation of normal butterflies; however, a number of genitalic measurements were outliers when compared with normal individuals. From these results, we conclude that the gynandromorphs’ genitalia, but not wing patterns, can be abnormal when compared with normal individuals and that the gynandromorphic genitalia do not deviate developmentally in a consistent pattern across individuals. Finally, genetic mechanisms are considered for the development of gynandromorphism in Lycaeides butterflies.
Intraspecific Diversity of Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa Populations from Blossoms and Fruit of Different Hosts in Greece
Authors: Papavasileiou A. , Karaoglanidis G. S. , Michailides T. J.
Published: April 2015

The genetic variation among 145 isolates of Monilinia fructicola and 156 isolates of M. laxa collected from two distinct regions of Greece (Imathia and Larissa) was analyzed using intersimple-sequence repeat markers. The Monilinia spp. isolates had been collected from infected fruit or blossoms of peach, apricot, sweet cherry, and plum. Calculation of Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon’s diversity indices showed that M. fructicola populations had higher genetic diversity compared with M. laxa populations in both regions sampled. The levels of genetic diversity were similar between populations obtained from diseased blossoms and fruit for each species and the main variances were all from within rather than between populations for the respective regions, hosts, and organ of origin. Genetic distance (Nei’s analysis) was lower between peach and apricot populations than between cherry and plum populations of M. fructicola. M. fructicola isolates from peach and apricot and from sweet cherry and plum were clustered together, while M. laxa isolates clustering based on the host of origin was not possible. The analysis of index of association showed the absence of sexual recombination for both species. The derived data support the hypothesis of a long presence of M. fructicola in Greece, and provide evidence of specialization of M. fructicola populations based on their host of origin.
Resurgence of Pseudoperonospora cubensis: The Causal Agent of Cucurbit Downy Mildew
Authors: Cohen Yigal , Van den Langenberg Kyle M. , Wehner Todd C. , Ojiambo Peter S. , Hausbeck Mary , Quesada-Ocampo Lina M. , Lebeda Aleš , Sierotzki Helge , Gisi Ulrich
Published: April 2015

The downy mildew pathogen, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, which infects plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, has undergone major changes during the last decade. Disease severity and epidemics are far more destructive than previously reported, and new genotypes, races, pathotypes, and mating types of the pathogen have been discovered in populations from around the globe as a result of the resurgence of the disease. Consequently, disease control through host plant resistance and fungicide applications has become more complex. This resurgence of P. cubensis offers challenges to scientists in many research areas including pathogen biology, epidemiology and dispersal, population structure and population genetics, host preference, host−pathogen interactions and gene expression, genetic host plant resistance, inheritance of host and fungicide resistance, and chemical disease control. This review serves to summarize the current status of this major pathogen and to guide future management and research efforts within this pathosystem.
Mapping of SrTm4, a Recessive Stem Rust Resistance Gene from Diploid Wheat Effective to Ug99
Authors: Briggs Jordan , Chen Shisheng , Zhang Wenjun , Nelson Sarah , Dubcovsky Jorge , Rouse Matthew N.
Published: April 2015

Race TTKSK (or Ug99) of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, the causal agent of wheat stem rust, is a serious threat to wheat production worldwide. Diploid wheat, Triticum monococcum (genome Am), has been utilized previously for the introgression of stem rust resistance genes Sr21, Sr22, and Sr35. Multipathotype seedling tests of biparental populations demonstrated that T. monococcum accession PI 306540 collected in Romania contains a recessive resistance gene effective to all P. graminis f. sp. tritici races screened, including race TTKSK. We will refer to this gene as SrTm4, which is the fourth stem rust resistance gene characterized from T. monococcum. Using two mapping populations derived from crosses of PI 272557 × PI 306540 and G3116 × PI 306540, we mapped SrTm4 on chromosome arm 2AmL within a 2.1 cM interval flanked by sequence-tagged markers BQ461276 and DR732348, which corresponds to a 240-kb region in Brachypodium chromosome 5. The eight microsatellite and nine sequence-tagged markers linked to SrTm4 will facilitate the introgression and accelerate the deployment of SrTm4-mediated Ug99 resistance in wheat breeding programs.
Margin Reflex Distance: Differences Based on Camera and Flash Positions
Authors: Choi Catherine J. , Chou Jonathan C. , Lefebvre Daniel R. , Yoon Michael K.
Published: April 2015

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of camera flash position on the measurement of photographic margin reflex distances (MRD).

Methods:

Subjects without any ophthalmic disease were prospectively enrolled after institutional review board approval. Clinical measurements of MRD1 and interpalpebral fissure were obtained. Photographs were then taken with a digital single lens reflex with built-in pop-up flash (dSLR-pop), a dSLR with lens-mounted ring flash (dSLR-ring), a point-and-shoot camera, and a smartphone, each in 4 positions: with the camera upright, rotated 90°, 180°, and 270°. The images were analyzed using ImageJ software to measure MRD1, interpalpebral fissure, horizontal white-to-white, and distance from nasal limbus to the corneal light reflex.

Results:

Thirty-two eyes of 16 subjects were included (ages 27–65). When using the dSLR-ring, point-and-shoot, and smartphone, the difference between clinical and photographic MRD1 did not reach statistical significance. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in the upright position with dSLR-pop (mean difference 0.703 mm, σ = 0.984 mm, p = 0.0008). For dSLR-pop, photographic MRD1 in upright versus inverted position differed significantly (mean difference -0.562 mm, σ =0.348 mm, p < 0.0001). Photographic MRD1 between dSLR-pop and dSLR-ring showed significant difference in upright position (mean difference -0.572 mm, σ = 0.701 mm, p = 0.0002). There were no statistically significant differences between clinical and photographic interpalpebral fissure, and among white-to-white and nasal limbus to light reflex measurements in any position in all 4 cameras.

Conclusions:

When using photographs for measurement of MRD1, cameras with a near-coaxial light source and aperture have values that are most similar to clinical measurements.
Actinoalloteichus hoggarensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from Saharan soil
Authors: Boudjelal Farida , Zitouni Abdelghani , Bouras Noureddine , Schumann Peter , Spröer Cathrin , Sabaou Nasserdine , Klenk Hans-Peter
Published: March 2015

A moderately halophilic actinomycete strain, designated AH97T, was isolated from Saharan soil in the Hoggar region (south Algeria) and was subjected to polyphasic taxonomic characterization. The morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the strain were consistent with those of the genus Actinoalloteichus. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain AH97T shared the highest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Actinoalloteichus hymeniacidonis DSM 45092T (99.3 %) and Actinoalloteichus nanshanensis DSM 45655T (98.7 %). However, DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed only 26.5 % relatedness with A. hymeniacidonis DSM 45092T and 28.0 % with A. nanshanensis DSM 45655T. The genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain AH97T represents a novel species of the genus Actinoalloteichus, for which the name Actinoalloteichus hoggarensis sp. nov. is proposed, with AH97T ( = DSM 45943T = CECT 8639T) as the type strain.