bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
VMAT and IMRT plan‐specific correction factors for linac‐based ionization chamber dosimetry
Authors: Desai Vimal K. , Labby Zacariah E. , Hyun Megan A. , DeWerd Larry A. , Culberson Wesley S. 
Published: November 2018

PurposeThe determination of absorbed dose to water from external beam radiotherapy using radiation detectors is currently rooted in calibration protocols that do not account for modulations encountered in patient‐specific deliveries. Detector response in composite clinical fields has not been extensively studied due to the time and effort required to determine these corrections on a case‐by‐case basis. To help bridge this gap in knowledge, corrections for the Exradin A1SL scanning chamber were determined in a large number of composite clinical fields using Monte Carlo methods. The chamber‐specific perturbations that contribute the most to the overall correction factor were also determined.MethodsA total of 131 patient deliveries comprised of 834 beams from a Varian C‐arm linear accelerator were converted to EGSnrc Monte Carlo inputs. A validated BEAMnrc 21EX linear accelerator model was used as a particle source throughout the EGSnrc simulations. Composite field dose distributions were compared against a commercial treatment planning system for validation. The simulation geometry consisted of a cylindrically symmetric water‐equivalent phantom with the Exradin A1SL scanning chamber embedded inside. Various chamber perturbation factors were investigated in the egs_chamber user code of EGSnrc and were compared to reference field conditions to determine the plan‐specific correction factor.ResultsThe simulation results indicated that the Exradin A1SL scanning chamber is suitable to use as an absolute dosimeter within a high‐dose and low‐gradient target region in most nonstandard composite fields; however, there are still individual cases that require larger delivery‐specific corrections. The volume averaging and replacement perturbations showed the largest impact on the overall plan‐specific correction factor for the Exradin A1SL scanning chamber, and both volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and step‐and‐shoot beams demonstrated similar correction factor magnitudes among the data investigated. Total correction magnitudes greater than 2% were required by 9.1% of step‐and‐shoot beams and 14.5% of VMAT beams. When examining full composite plan deliveries as opposed to individual beams, 0.0% of composite step‐and‐shoot plans and 2.6% of composite VMAT plans required correction magnitudes greater than 2%.ConclusionsThe A1SL scanning chamber was found to be suitable to use for absolute dosimetry in high‐dose and low‐gradient dose regions of composite IMRT plans but even if a composite dose distribution is large compared to the detector used, a correction‐free absorbed dose‐to‐water measurement is not guaranteed.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Ligand‐Free Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction of Aryl Fluorosulfates and Various Arylboron Compounds
Authors: Li Xinmin , Zhang Hang , Feng Fangfang , Hu Qinghong , Yuan Zeli 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA practical and efficient protocol for the synthesis of biaryl products in good yields by a ligand‐free palladium catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl fluorosulfates and various arylboron compounds has been developed. Moreover, we report a one‐pot tandem method for conversion of phenol derivatives to aryl fluorosulfates, and subsequent cross‐coupling to form biaryls.
Tunable P‐Stereogenic P,N‐Phosphine Ligands Design: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry to Palladium
Authors: Lemouzy Sébastien , Jean Marion , Deplante Fabien , Albalat Muriel , Hérault Damien , Buono Gérard 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe synthesis of P,N heterobidentate phosphine / palladium complexes has been realized from P‐stereogenic enantiopure ligands. Five, six or seven membered ring complexes have been fully characterized, notably by X‐ray diffraction, allowing the study of the chelation to a “palladium (II) dichloride” unit. The nature of nitrogen coordination site as well as the size of the ring modify the bite‐angle at the solid state.
The Enhanced Catalytic Performance and Stability of Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Supported Nano‐Gold with High Structural Integrity for Glycerol Oxidation
Authors: Murthy Palle R. , Selvam Parasuraman 
Published: November 2018

AbstractOrdered mesoporous carbon (OMC) supported gold nanoparticles of size 3–4 nm having uniform dispersion were synthesized by sol‐immobilization method. OMCs such as CMK‐3 and NCCR‐56 with high surface area and uniform pore size were obtained, respectively, using ordered mesoporous silicas such as SBA‐15 and IITM‐56 as hard templates, respectively. The resulting OMC supported monodispersed nano‐gold, i. e., Au/CMK‐3 and Au/NCCR‐56, exhibited excellent performance as mild‐oxidizing catalysts for oxidation of glycerol with high hydrothermal stability. Further, unlike activated carbon supported nano‐gold catalysts (Au/AC), the OMC supported nano‐gold catalysts, i. e., Au/CMK‐3 and Au/NCCR‐56, show no aggregation of active species even after recycling. Thus, in the case of Au/CMK‐3 and Au/NCCR‐56, both the fresh and regenerated catalysts showed excellent performane for the chosen reaction owing to an enhanced textural integrity of the catalysts and that with remarkable selectivity towards glyceric acid. The significance of the OMC supports in maintaining the dispersion of gold nanoparticles is explicit from this study, and that the activity of Au/AC catalyst is considerably decreased (∼50 %) upon recycling as a result of agglomeration of the active gold nanoparticles over the disordered amorphous carbon matrix.
Echogenicity of puborectalis muscle, cervix and vastus lateralis muscle in pregnancy in relation to mode of delivery
Authors: Van de Waarsenburg M. K. , Withagen M. I. J. , van den Noort F. , Schagen van Leeuwen J. H. , van der Vaart C. H. 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo confirm our previous observation that levator hiatal dimensions and mean echogenicity of the puborectalis muscle (MEP) are significantly different at 12 weeks' gestation in women who delivered by Cesarean section due to failure to progress compared with those who delivered vaginally. The secondary objective was to assess the association between the echogenicity of the cervix and vastus lateralis muscle and mode of delivery.MethodsIn this prospective multicenter study, 306 nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy underwent ultrasound assessments of the pelvic floor at rest, on maximum pelvic floor muscle contraction and on maximum Valsalva maneuver, of the cervix and of the vastus lateralis muscle at 12 weeks' gestation. Dimensions of the levator hiatus, MEP and mean echogenicity of the cervix and vastus lateralis muscle were measured and compared according to mode of delivery.ResultsTwo hundred and forty‐nine women were included in the analyses. We were unable to confirm our previous finding that MEP and levator hiatal transverse diameter and area at 12 weeks' gestation are associated significantly with mode of delivery. In addition, we could not demonstrate a significant association between echogenicity of the cervix or vastus lateralis muscle and mode of delivery. Overall, MEP was a mean of 20 points lower in women in the new database as compared with the previous study, despite the use of the same ultrasound equipment.ConclusionIn a second, independent multicenter dataset, we were unable to confirm our previous finding that levator hiatal dimensions and MEP on pelvic floor muscle contraction are associated significantly with mode of delivery. We also found no association between echogenicity of the cervix or vastus lateralis and mode of delivery. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Why Women from the West are Joining ISIS
Authors: Perešin Anita 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMore than 550 Western women have moved to Syria and Iraq to join the “Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria” (ISIS), showing a success of ISIS in attracting women from the West that no
other jihadist group had before. To explain the reasons for such success, it is important to
understand how ISIS lures women from the West, why ISIS persuasion tools are so successful,
what motivates women to join such a notorious terrorist group, famous for its brutal
violence, mistreatment and enslavement of women and what role women expected to play in the
“Islamic State.” Understanding the motives why ISIS Western female migrants left their
Western countries of residence and moved to ISIS-controlled territories is crucial to find
appropriate measures to prevent and stop the radicalization of women, to cut the support
that ISIS receives from its female sympathizers, to properly treat female returnees and to
prepare appropriate measures against women ready to plot against their countries of
residence in the name of ISIS goals.
Influence of follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations on the integrity and development of bovine follicles cultured in vitro
Authors: Bizarro-Silva C. , Santos M.M. , Gerez J.R. , González S.M. , Lisboa L.A. , Seneda M.M. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThis study investigated the in vitro culture of bovine follicles included in ovarian tissue for 2 or 6 days (D2 or D6), with the addition of different concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (0, 10, 50, 100 or 200 ng/ml). Data were compared for follicular development, morphological integrity and diameter of follicles and oocytes. Ovaries (n = 10) from Nelore cows (n = 5) were divided into fragments (n = 11 per ovary) and were immediately fixed in Bouin’s solution (D0) or were individually cultured for 2 or 6 days in one of the described concentrations of FSH and then processed for histology. Compared with the rates of follicular development at D2 for minimal essential medium (MEM) (75.0%) and 50 ng/ml of FSH (71.1%), the best rates of follicular development at D2 were obtained with 10 (84.7%), 100 (87.5%) and 200 ng/ml of FSH (85.0%; P<0.05). After 6 days of cultivation, there were no differences among treatments regarding follicular growth. The morphological integrity of preantral follicles was better maintained by 100 ng/ml FSH for 2 and 6 days of cultivation (51.2 and 40.4%, respectively; P<0.05) than that for MEM (D2: 30.9%, D6: 20.8%), 10 (D2: 39.2%, D6: 22.8%), 50 (D2: 30.4%, D6: 28.8%) and 200 ng/ml FSH (D2: 45.2%, D6: 36.8%). FSH at 100 ng/ml provided the highest mean diameter averages: 34.5±10.8 µm at D2 and 33.2±12.5 µm at D6 (P<0.05). We concluded that the medium supplemented with 100 ng/ml FSH during in vitro culture provided appropriate conditions for the development and morphological integrity of preantral follicles in cattle.
Systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of the efficacy, safety, and biological effects of psychostimulants and atomoxetine in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Authors: Solmi Marco , Fornaro Michele , Toyoshima Kuniyoshi , Carvalho Andrè F. , Köhler Cristiano A. , Veronese Nicola , Stubbs Brendon , de Bartolomeis Andrea , Correll Christoph U. 
Published: November 2018

ObjectiveOur aim was to summarize the efficacy and safety of atomoxetine, amphetamines, and methylphenidate in schizophrenia.MethodsWe undertook a systematic review, searching PubMed/Scopus/Clinicaltrials.gov for double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies of psychostimulants or atomoxetine in schizophrenia published up to 1 January 2017. A meta-analysis of outcomes reported in two or more studies is presented.ResultsWe included 22 studies investigating therapeutic effects of stimulants (k=14) or measuring symptomatic worsening/relapse prediction after stimulant challenge (k=6). Six studies of these two groups plus one additional study investigated biological effects of psychostimulants or atomoxetine. No effect resulted from interventional studies on weight loss (k=1), smoking cessation (k=1), and positive symptoms (k=12), and no improvement was reported with atomoxetine (k=3) for negative symptoms, with equivocal findings for negative (k=6) and mood symptoms (k=2) with amphetamines. Attention, processing speed, working memory, problem solving, and executive functions, among others, showed from no to some improvement with atomoxetine (k=3) or amphetamines (k=6). Meta-analysis did not confirm any effect of stimulants in any symptom domain, including negative symptoms, apart from atomoxetine improving problem solving (k=2, standardized mean difference (SMD)=0.73, 95% CI=0.10–1.36,p=0.02, I2=0%), and trending toward significant improvement in executive functions with amphetamines (k=2, SMD=0.80, 95% CI=−1.68 to +0.08,p=0.08, I2=66%). In challenge studies, amphetamines (k=1) did not worsen symptoms, and methylphenidate (k=5) consistently worsened or predicted relapse. Biological effects of atomoxetine (k=1) and amphetamines (k=1) were cortical activation, without change in β-endorphin (k=1), improved response to antipsychotics after amphetamine challenge (k=2), and an increase of growth hormone–mediated psychosis with methylphenidate (k=2). No major side effects were reported (k=6).ConclusionsNo efficacy for stimulants or atomoxetine on negative symptoms is proven. Atomoxetine or amphetamines may improve cognitive symptoms, while methylphenidate should be avoided in patients with schizophrenia. Insufficient evidence is available to draw firm conclusions.
Production Effect in Adults With ADHD With and Without Methylphenidate (MPH): Vocalization Improves Verbal Learning
Authors: Mama Yaniv , Icht Michal 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectives: Reading aloud (vocal production) enhances memory relative to reading silently, the Production Effect (PE) in memory. Thus, vocalization has been suggested as a mnemonic device. The current study tested the PE in a sample of adults with ADHD and in a control sample, evaluating verbal learning. Methods: Twenty adults with ADHD and 21 controls learned a list of words, half by reading aloud and half by reading silently. Free recall test followed. The participants with ADHD performed the task twice (in two different sessions in a counterbalanced order), before self-administration of a single dose of methylphenidate (MPH) and 60-min after dosage. Results: PEs were found for all groups. Memory was better for the controls than for the ADHD group (with or without MPH). In the ADHD group, recall rates and the PE were higher with than without MPH. Conclusions: These results suggest that vocalization yields a larger memory gain with MPH. Possibly, MPH enables the ADHD participants to better shift their attention to the aloud words, enhancing their retrieval rates. Theoretically, these findings stress the role of attention in the PE. (JINS, 2019, 25, 230–235)
Universal Principle of Right: Metaphysics, Politics, and Conflict Resolutions
Authors: Baiasu Sorin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn spite of its dominance, there are well-known problems with Rawls’s method of reflective equilibrium (MRE), as a method of justification in meta-ethics. One issue in particular has preoccupied commentators, namely, the capacity of this method to provide a convincing account of the objectivity of our moral beliefs. Call this the Lack-of-Objectivity Charge. One aim of this article is to examine the charge within the context of Rawls’s later philosophy, and I claim that the lack-of-objectivity charge remains unanswered. A second aim of this article is to examine the extent to which, despite Rawls’s express intention to avoid reliance on Kant’s moral philosophy, supplementing Rawls’s political constructivism with some Kantian elements, in particular Kant’s idea of a universal principle of right, not only addresses some of the issues raised by the lack-of-objectivity charge, but also does so without compromising the ability of the Rawlsian account to accommodate the pluralism of conceptions of the good, which he takes to be a fact of modern democracies. I argue for a revised justificatory methodology, which combines Rawls’s MRE and Kant’s Critical Method.
EST-SSR development for Digitaria exilis and its relatives D. iburua and D. longiflora from transcriptome sequences
Authors: Olodo Katina F. , Gueye Mame C. , Calatayud Caroline , Diop Baye M. , Kane Ndjido A. , Ngom Ablaye , Ntui Valentine O. , Barreto Marie-Madeleine S. , Uyoh Edak A. , Abraham Salomon , Vigouroux Yves , Billot Claire , Barnaud Adeline 
Published: November 2018

AbstractDigitaria exilis is an important indigenous cereal in West Africa. The first fonio reference transcriptome was released and became a key tool for developing new molecular markers contributing to a better understanding of its genetic diversity. A total of 126 new putative primer pairs were successfully designed in 37,327 unigenes from the D. exilis transcriptome. Thirty-seven primer pairs were randomly selected and tested for their ability to cross-amplify to related species. Clear amplification patterns were observed on 24 primer pairs. Of these, 71, 74 and 35% showed polymorphism in three species: D. exilis, D. longiflora and D. iburua. The transferability from D. exilis was 96% to D. longiflora and 71% to D. iburua. The new SSR markers confirmed the close genetic proximity of D. exilis with D. longiflora and its stronger genetic difference of D. exilis from D. iburua. These markers will be valuable for completing future knowledge on Digitaria evolutionary history, and for testing gene flows between related species.
Design, fabrication, and test of a novel broadband dual-polarized microstrip antenna for WLAN applications
Authors: Karimipour Majid , Aryanian Iman 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA dual-polarized dual-layer wideband microstrip antenna is presented. Dual orthogonal linear polarization and enhanced isolation between two ports are achieved by employing two radiating patches perpendicular to each other and printed on two separate substrates. Broadband behavior of the antenna is realized by using two wideband double-sided printed strip dipole and angular ring as radiating patches along with wideband baluns as feeding system. The patches are connected to baluns with two separate twin-lead transmission lines. Moreover, to improve the impedance bandwidth of the strip dipole significantly, a diamond-shape parasitic patch is artily incorporated into the top side of the upper layer of the antenna. The proposed antenna can easily be employed in large-scale arrays thanks to the feeding system of the patches. A prototype is fabricated to verify the simulation results where the measurement results show the −10 dB impedance bandwidths of 40% (4.3–6.5 GHz) and 43% (4.2–6.5 GHz) at port #1 and port #2, respectively. Besides, the isolation between two ports and the radiation gain are obtained around 35 dB and 9 dBi, respectively, which are useful for WLAN applications.
Clonality and non-linearity drive facultative-cooperation allele diversity
Authors: Ben-Zion Ishay , Pollak Shaul , Eldar Avigdor 
Published: November 2018

Abstract
Kin discrimination describes the differential interaction of organisms with kin versus non-kin. In microorganisms, many genetic loci act as effective kin-discrimination systems, such as kin-directed help and non-kin-directed harm. Another important example is facultative cooperation, where cooperators increase their investment in group-directed cooperation with the abundance of their kin in the group. Many of these kin-discrimination loci are highly diversified, yet it remains unclear what evolutionary mechanisms maintain this diversity, and how it is affected by population structure. Here, we demonstrate the unique dependence of kin-discriminative interactions on population structure, and how this could explain facultative-cooperation allele-diversity. We show mathematically that low relatedness between microbes in non-clonal social groups is needed to maintain the diversity of facultative-cooperation alleles, while high clonality is needed to stabilize this diversity against cheating. Interestingly, we demonstrate with simulations that such population structure occurs naturally in expanding microbial colonies. Finally, analysis of experimental data of quorum-sensing mediated facultative cooperation, in Bacillus subtilis, demonstrates the relevance of our results to realistic microbial interactions, due to their intrinsic non-linear frequency dependence. Our analysis therefore stresses the impact of clonality on the interplay between exploitation and kin discrimination and portrays a way for the evolution of facultative cooperation.
Survival of midbrain dopamine neurons depends on the Bcl2 factor Mcl1
Authors: Robinson Edward J. , Aguiar Sebastian P. , Kouwenhoven Willemieke M. , Starmans Dorinde S. , von Oerthel Lars , Smidt Marten P. , van der Heide Lars P. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMitochondria-dependent apoptosis plays an important role in the embryonic development of the midbrain dopaminergic system as well as in Parkinson’s disease. Central to mitochondria-dependent apoptosis is the Bcl2 family of apoptosis-regulating proteins. However, it was unclear which Bcl2 proteins are important for the survival of dopaminergic neurons. Here, we identify Mcl1 as a critical Bcl2 pro-survival factor in midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Using a chemical biology approach to inhibit various components of the apoptotic machinery in the dopaminergic MN9D cell line or the control neuroblastoma N2A cell line, we find that functional inhibition of Mcl1 with the high affinity small molecule inhibitor UMI-77 results in a rapid and dose-dependent loss of viability, selectively in dopaminergic cells. In-depth analysis of the apoptotic signaling pathway reveals that chemical inhibition of Mcl1 results in the activation of Bax, activation of cleaved caspase-3 and finally cell death. The dependence of mouse dopaminergic midbrain neurons on Mcl1 was confirmed using ex vivo slice cultures from Pitx3GFP/+ and wildtype mice. In mouse dopaminergic midbrain neurons positive for the midbrain dopaminergic marker Pitx3, or tyrosine hydroxylase, UMI-77 treatment caused a dramatic increase in cleaved caspase 3, indicating that Mcl1 activity is required for basal neuronal survival. Overall, our results suggest that Mcl1 is of critical importance to dopaminergic neurons and is a weak link in the chain controlling cellular survival. Boosting the pro-survival function of Mcl1 should be pursued as a therapeutic approach to augment the resilience of midbrain dopaminergic neurons to apoptotic stress in Parkinson’s disease.
Self–other recognition impairments in individuals with schizophrenia: a new experimental paradigm using a double mirror
Authors: Keromnes Gaelle , Motillon Tom , Coulon Nathalie , Berthoz Alain , Du Boisgueheneuc Foucaud , Wehrmann Moritz , Martin Brice , Thirioux Bérangère , Bonnot Olivier , Ridereau Romain , Bellissant Eric , Drapier Dominique , Levoyer David , Jaafari Nemat , Tordjman Sylvie 
Published: November 2018

AbstractClinical observations suggest early self-consciousness disturbances in schizophrenia. A double mirror combining the images of two individuals sitting on each side of the mirror was used to study self–other differentiation in 12 individuals with early onset schizophrenia (EOS) and 15 individuals with adult onset schizophrenia (AOS) compared to 27 typically developing controls (TDC) matched on age and sex. The effects of intermodal sensory perception (visual–tactile and visual–kinesthetic) on self–other recognition were also studied. The results showed that EOS and AOS individuals, independently of age and schizophrenia severity, were centered on their own image compared to TDC, with both significant earlier self-recognition and delayed other-recognition during the visual recognition task. In addition, there was no significant effect of intermodal sensory stimulation on self–other recognition in EOS and AOS patients, whereas self-centered functioning was significantly increased by visual–tactile stimulation and decreased by visual–kinesthetic stimulation in TDC. The findings suggest that self–other recognition impairments might be a possible endophenotypic trait of schizophrenia.