bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of New Simulation Software System to Evaluate Radiation Dose Rates in a Wide Radioactively Contaminated Area
Authors: Hashimoto Tomoharu , Kondo Masahiro , Tayama Ryuichi , Gamo Hideho 
Published: October 2013

The Japanese government plans to conduct decontamination tasks in radioactively contaminated areas. For such a situation, we developed a system that evaluates radiation dose rates in a wide radioactively contaminated area by utilizing our radiation dose evaluation technology. This system can not only generate present maps of radiation dose rate in the air based on the dose rate measured at the surface of the contaminated areas, but can also quickly calculate the reduction effect of dose rate due to decontamination tasks by entering decontamination factors. The system can then formulate decontamination plans and make it possible to plan measures to reduce radiation exposure for workers and local residents.
Radioactive nuclides that contribute to gamma-ray dose rate are mainly Cs-134 and Cs-137 in soil, on trees, buildings, and elsewhere. Shapes of such radiation sources are assumed to be 10m square or 100m square. If it is unsuitable that the radiation sources assume to squares, the radiation sources can assume to point. The relation between distance from the surface or point source and the radiation dose rate is calculated using MCNP5 code (A General Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code - Version 5), and approximated using four-parameter empirical formula proposed by Harima et al. In addition, the system can consider shielding such as soil, concrete, and iron. When setting such shielding, the skyshine dose rate is taken into account in dose rate calculation.
Condenser Refurbishment (Retube / Rebundle): Lost Opportunity
Authors: Tagliamonte Mark 
Published: October 2013

Condenser Refurbishment Projects (Re-tube / Re-bundle) focus on a tube for tube replacement with or without tube sheet replacements or a modular tube bundle replacement. These projects are large capital investments for the owner and most of the time the justification and planning efforts are focused on extending the operating life of the power plant with the goal of a 3 to 5 year return on investment. The project planning focus is typically on addressing the immediate needs of rapid return of the unit to service, copper removal, condenser performance improvement (new material selection), and or adding additional steam condensing capacity to support a plant uprate.
This paper addresses issues that are typically overlooked in the initial planning and budgeting for condenser refurbishment projects that can impact condenser performance, reliability, component maintainability, and schedule.
As with all aging equipment a detailed assessment of a condenser’s condition should be performed to evaluate not only the tubes and tube sheets, but also the general conditions of support plates, shell, penetrations, spargers (Figure12), dump valves, high energy drains, thermal sleeves (Figure 1 and Figure 2), extraction steam bellows, impingement shields, and the non condensable off gas system to name a few. Also discussed are examples of problems encountered during some refurbishment projects and the implemented solutions.
Highlights of Preliminary Level 1 PSA Results for a Research Reactor
Authors: Lee Yoon-Hwan , Jung Won-Dea , Park Su-Ki , Lee Jin-Hong 
Published: October 2013

This preliminary PSA (Probabilistic Safety Assessment) was undertaken to assess the level of safety for the design of a research reactor and to evaluate whether it is probabilistically safe to operate and reliable to use. The scope of the PSA reported here is a Level 1 PSA that addresses the risks associated with core damage. It includes an evaluation of the types of accidents that could lead to core damage, and an assessment of their frequencies. After reviewing the documents and the conceptual design, 8 typical initiating events are selected regarding internal events during the normal operation of the reactor.
Simple fault tree models for the PSA are developed instead of the detailed model at this conceptual design stage. The failures of the major components and dependencies between systems have been considered for the fault tree analysis. Normal operating trains were assumed to have a pump, a check valve and a manual valve. The failures of pumps and supporting systems such as the electrical power are modeled, and the failure of the check valve or manual valve is also modeled for the train. Of course, the Common Cause Failure (CCF) and operator error are modeled.
The criterion for inclusion was all sequences with a point estimate frequency greater than a truncation value of 1.0E−13/yr. LOCA-I is the dominant contribution to the total CDF by a single initiating event. The CDF from the internal events of the research reactor is estimated to be 7.38E−07/year. The CDF for the representative initiating events is less than 1.0E−6/year even though conservative assumptions are used in the reliability data. The conceptual design of the research reactor is designed to be sufficiently safe from the viewpoint of safety.
Microbiome Assembly across Multiple Body Sites in Low-Birthweight Infants
Authors: Costello Elizabeth K. , Carlisle Erica M. , Bik Elisabeth M. , Morowitz Michael J. , Relman David A. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the composition and richness of bacterial communities associated with low-birthweight (LBW) infants in relation to host body site, individual, and age. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes from saliva samples, skin swabs, and stool samples collected on postnatal days 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, and 21 from six LBW (five premature) infants were amplified, pyrosequenced, and analyzed within a comparative framework that included analogous data from normal-birthweight (NBW) infants and healthy adults. We found that body site was the primary determinant of bacterial community composition in the LBW infants. However, site specificity depended on postnatal age: saliva and stool compositions diverged over time but were not significantly different until the babies were 15 days old. This divergence was primarily driven by progressive temporal turnover in the distal gut, which proceeded at a rate similar to that of age-matched NBW infants. Neonatal skin was the most adult-like in microbiota composition, while saliva and stool remained the least so. Compositional variation among infants was marked and depended on body site and age. Only the smallest, most premature infant received antibiotics during the study period; this heralded a coexpansion of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and a novel
Mycoplasma
sp. in the oral cavity of this vaginally delivered, intubated patient. We conclude that concurrent molecular surveillance of multiple body sites in LBW neonates reveals a delayed compositional differentiation of the oral cavity and distal gut microbiota and, in the case of one infant, an abundant, uncultivated oral
Mycoplasma
sp., recently detected in human vaginal samples.

IMPORTANCE
Complications of premature birth are the most common cause of neonatal mortality. Colonization by the indigenous microbiota, which begins at delivery, may predispose some high-risk newborns to invasive infection or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and protect others, yet neonatal microbiome dynamics are poorly understood. Here, we present the first cultivation-independent time series tracking microbiota assembly across multiple body sites in a synchronous cohort of hospitalized low-birthweight (LBW) neonates. We take advantage of archived samples and publically available sequence data and compare our LBW infant findings to those from normal-birthweight (NBW) infants and healthy adults. Our results suggest potential windows of opportunity for the dispersal of microbes within and between hosts and support recent findings of substantial baseline spatiotemporal variation in microbiota composition among high-risk newborns.
Randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in sarcoidosis
Authors: Bolland Mark J , Wilsher Margaret L , Grey Andrew , Horne Anne M , Fenwick Sheryl , Gamble Greg D , Reid Ian R 
Published: October 2013

ObjectivesThe role vitamin D intake/production plays in sarcoidosis-associated hypercalcaemia is uncertain. However, authoritative reviews have recommended avoiding sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplements, which might lead to adverse skeletal outcomes from vitamin D insufficiency. We investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on surrogate measures of skeletal health in patients with sarcoidosis and vitamin D insufficiency.DesignRandomised, placebo-controlled trial.SettingClinical research centre.Participants27 normocalcaemic patients with sarcoidosis and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) <50 nmol/L.Intervention50 000 IU weekly cholecalciferol for 4 weeks, then 50 000 IU monthly for 11 months or placebo.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary endpoint was the change in serum calcium over 12 months, and secondary endpoints included measurements of calcitropic hormones, bone turnover markers and bone mineral density (BMD).ResultsThe mean age of participants was 57 years and 70% were women. The mean (SD) screening 25OHD was 35 (12) and 38 (9) nmol/L in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Vitamin D supplementation increased 25OHD to 94 nmol/L after 4 weeks, 84 nmol/L at 6 months and 78 nmol/L at 12 months, while levels remained stable in the control group. 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D levels were significantly different between the groups at 4 weeks, but not at 6 or 12 months. There were no between-groups differences in albumin-adjusted serum calcium, 24 h urine calcium, markers of bone turnover, parathyroid hormone or BMD over the trial. One participant developed significant hypercalcaemia after 6 weeks (total cholecalciferol dose 250 000 IU).ConclusionsIn patients with sarcoidosis and 25OHD <50 nmol/L, vitamin D supplements did not alter average serum calcium or urine calcium, but had no benefit on surrogate markers of skeletal health and caused one case of significant hypercalcaemia.Trial registrationThis trial is registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.anzctr.org.au). The registration number is ACTRN12607000364471, date of registration 5/7/2007.
PIASγ expression in relation to clinicopathological, tumour factors and survival in indigenous black breast cancer women
Authors: Agboola Ayodeji , Musa Adewale , Banjo Adekumbiola , Ayoade Babatunde , Deji-Agboola Mopelola , Nolan Christopher , Rakha Emad , Ellis Ian , Green Andrew 
Published: October 2013

AimIndigenous black women with breast cancer (BC) show a high frequency of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprising ER-, PR- and HER2- phenotypes and BRCA1 deficiency together with a high mortality rate, prompting speculation that risk factors could be genetic and the molecular portrait of these tumours may be different to those of Western women. Protein inhibitor of activated signal transducer (PIAS) γ implicated in the BRCA1 deficiency and triple negative BC was investigated to establish the relationship among the small ubiquitin-like modifier marker, pathological features, biomarkers expression and clinical outcome in the black women.Materials and methodsThis study investigated the immunoprofiles of PIASγ in 231 Nigerian BC prepared as tissue microarrays and correlated their protein expression with clinical outcome, pathological responses and the expression of 14 other relevant biomarkers.ResultsPIASγ protein expression showed a significant correlation with higher histological grade, basal-like biomarkers expression (CK14, CK5/6 and EGFR), BRCA1 regulator (MTA1), p53, PI3KCA, basal-like phenotype and TNBC. Also, an inverse correlation with steroid hormones (ER and PgR), p27, MDM4, mucin 1 and BRCA1 was observed with PIASγ expression. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses showed PIASγ expression was a predictor of poor outcome independent of tumour histological grade and ER expression.ConclusionsPIASγ appears to be important in breast cancer behaviour arising from Nigerian women. PIASγ may therefore be useful for the screening of basal-like and TNBC. Also, development of novel therapies towards targeting PIASγ functional pathways may enhance the BC management among this ethnic nationality.
Full blood count normal reference values for adults in France
Authors: Troussard Xavier , Vol Sylviane , Cornet Edouard , Bardet Valérie , Couaillac Jean-Paul , Fossat Chantal , Luce Jean-Charles , Maldonado Eric , Siguret Virginie , Tichet Jean , Lantieri Olivier , Corberand Joël ,   for the French-Speaking Cellular Hematology Group (Groupe Francophone d'Hématologie Cellulaire, GFHC)
Published: October 2013

AimsTo determine full blood count (FBC) normal reference values for adults.MethodsFBC normal values for healthy adults were defined, after establishing preanalytical conditions, in a population of 33 258 subjects, 19 612 men and 13 646 women. The values were established after excluding from this population all people having conditions liable to modify, directly or indirectly, FBC parameters.ResultsResults for values of standard parameters are provided in detail for each parameter, by sex and by age group from 16 to 69 years of age. In addition, we present FBC values from a population of 339 subjects aged over 69 years with no comorbidities.ConclusionsThese normal values are proposed for use in everyday practice. They make it possible to distinguish, without ambiguity, a normal situation from a pathological situation. Moreover, they might be used over all mainland France.
Cidofovir: A Novel Antitumor Agent for Glioblastoma
Authors: Hadaczek Piotr , Ozawa Tomoko , Soroceanu Liliana , Yoshida Yasuyuki , Matlaf Lisa , Singer Eric , Fiallos Estefania , James C. David , Cobbs Charles S. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Purpose: Cidofovir (CDV) is an U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nucleoside antiviral agent used to treat severe human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Until now, no clear therapeutic effects of CDV have been reported outside of the setting of viral infection, including a potential role for CDV as an antineoplastic agent for the treatment of brain tumors.
Experimental Design: We investigated the cytotoxicity of CDV against the glioblastoma cells, U87MG and primary SF7796, both in vitro and in vivo, using an intracranial xenograft model. Standard techniques for cell culturing, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time PCR were employed. The survival of athymic mice (n = 8–10 per group) bearing glioblastoma tumors, treated with CDV alone or in combination with radiation, was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated with a two-sided log-rank test.
Results: CDV possesses potent antineoplastic activity against HCMV-infected glioblastoma cells. This activity is associated with the inhibition of HCMV gene expression and with activation of cellular apoptosis. Surprisingly, we also determined that CDV induces glioblastoma cell death in the absence of HCMV infection. CDV is incorporated into tumor cell DNA, which promotes double-stranded DNA breaks and induces apoptosis. In the setting of ionizing radiotherapy, the standard of care for glioblastoma in humans, CDV augments radiation-induced DNA damage and, further, promotes tumor cell death. Combination therapy with CDV and radiotherapy significantly extended the survival of mice bearing intracranial glioblastoma tumors.
Conclusion: We have identified a novel antiglioma property of the FDA-approved drug CDV, which heightens the cytotoxic effect of radiotherapy, the standard of care therapy for glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res; 19(23); 6473–83. ©2013 AACR.
Multimodality Imaging Approach for Serial Assessment of Regional Changes in Lower Extremity Arteriogenesis and Tissue Perfusion in a Porcine Model of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Stacy Mitchel R. , Yu Da Yu , Maxfield Mark W. , Jaba Irina M. , Jozwik Bartosz P. , Zhuang Zhen W. , Lin Ben A. , Hawley Christi L. , Caracciolo Christopher M. , Pal Prasanta , Tirziu Daniela , Sampath Smita , Sinusas Albert J. 
Published: October 2013

Background—
A standard quantitative imaging approach to evaluate peripheral arterial disease does not exist. Quantitative tools for evaluating arteriogenesis in vivo are not readily available, and the feasibility of monitoring serial regional changes in lower extremity perfusion has not been examined.

Methods and Results—

Serial changes in lower extremity arteriogenesis and muscle perfusion were evaluated after femoral artery occlusion in a porcine model using single photon emission tomography (SPECT)/CT imaging with postmortem validation of in vivo findings using gamma counting, postmortem imaging, and histological analysis. Hybrid
201
Tl SPECT/CT imaging was performed in pigs (n=8) at baseline, immediately postocclusion, and at 1 and 4 weeks postocclusion. CT imaging was used to identify muscle regions of interest in the ischemic and nonischemic hindlimbs for quantification of regional changes in CT-defined arteriogenesis and quantification of
201
Tl perfusion. Four weeks postocclusion, postmortem tissue
201
Tl activity was measured by gamma counting, and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess capillary density. Relative
201
Tl retention (ischemic/nonischemic) was reduced immediately postocclusion in distal and proximal muscles and remained lower in calf and gluteus muscles 4 weeks later. Analysis of CT angiography revealed collateralization at 4 weeks within proximal muscles (
P
<0.05). SPECT perfusion correlated with tissue gamma counting at 4 weeks (
P
=0.01). Increased capillary density was seen within the ischemic calf at 4 weeks (
P
=0.004).

Conclusions—

201
Tl SPECT/CT imaging permits serial, regional quantification of arteriogenesis and resting tissue perfusion after limb ischemia. This approach may be effective for detection of disease and monitoring therapy in peripheral arterial disease.
Biomarkers in Relation to the Effects of Ticagrelor in Comparison With Clopidogrel in Non–ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Managed With or Without In-Hospital Revascularization
Authors: Wallentin Lars , Lindholm Daniel , Siegbahn Agneta , Wernroth Lisa , Becker Richard C. , Cannon Christopher P. , Cornel Jan H. , Himmelmann Anders , Giannitsis Evangelos , Harrington Robert A. , Held Claes , Husted Steen , Katus Hugo A. , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Steg Ph. Gabriel , Storey Robert F. , James Stefan K. 
Published: October 2013

Background—
Risk stratification and the use of specific biomarkers have been proposed for tailoring treatment in patients with non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). We investigated the prognostic importance of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in relation to randomized treatment (ticagrelor versus clopidogrel) and management strategy (with or without revascularization) in the NSTE-ACS subgroup of the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) trial.

Methods and Results—

Of 18 624 patients in the PLATO trial, 9946 had an entry diagnosis of NSTE-ACS and baseline blood samples available. During index hospitalization, 5357 were revascularized, and 4589 were managed without revascularization. Hs-TnT, NT-proBNP, and GDF-15 were determined and assessed according to predefined cutoff levels. Median follow-up was 9.1 months. Increasing levels of hs-TnT were associated with increasing risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in medically managed patients (
P
<0.001), but not in those managed invasively. NT-proBNP and GDF-15 levels were associated with the same events independent of management strategy. Ticagrelor versus clopidogrel reduced the rate of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with NSTE-ACS and hs-TnT ≥14.0 ng/L in both invasively and noninvasively managed patients; in patients with hs-TnT <14.0 ng/L, there was no difference between ticagrelor and clopidogrel in the noninvasive group

Conclusions—
Hs-TnT, NT-proBNP, and GDF-15 are predictors of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with NSTE-ACS managed noninvasively, and NT-proBNP and GDF-15 also in those managed invasively. Elevated hs-TnT predicts substantial benefit of ticagrelor over clopidogrel both in invasively and noninvasively managed patients, but no apparent benefit was seen at normal hs-TnT.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00391872.
Evaluation of Tropical Cyclones in the Canadian Global Modeling System: Sensitivity to Moist Process Parameterization
Authors: Zadra A. , McTaggart-Cowan R. , Vaillancourt P. A. , Roch M. , Bélair S. , Leduc A.-M. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Deep convection is one of various complex processes driving the evolution of tropical cyclones (TCs). The scales associated with deep convection are too small to be resolved by global NWP models. In the deep convection parameterization used by the Canadian Global Deterministic Prediction System (GDPS), the trigger function depends on various criteria, one of which is the adjustable “trigger velocity” parameter, a vertical velocity threshold used in the parcel stability test of the scheme. In this study, the sensitivity of the GDPS TC activity and precipitation distribution to convective triggering parameters is investigated by varying this threshold. Multiple basins are considered for three TC seasons, and the impacts of trigger velocity variations on TC statistics (forecast hits, bias, false alarms, and track and intensity errors) and on the model’s genesis potential index (GPI) are measured. It is shown that a reduction of the trigger velocity, from 0.05 to 0.01 m s−1, over the tropical oceans leads to increased convective stabilization of atmospheric columns, as well as an increase in convective precipitation amounts but a reduction in total (subgrid plus grid scale) precipitation accumulations. The trigger adjustment also yields a significant reduction of TC false alarm ratios, with no impact on forecast mean errors for true cyclones other than an expected deterioration of the intensity bias, and a systematic reduction of the average GPI over various basins at all lead times. A conceptual model is proposed to explain the relation between trigger adjustments and TC development.
How Do Peer Coaches Improve Diabetes Care for Low-Income Patients?
Authors: Goldman Matthew L. , Ghorob Amireh , Eyre Stephen L. , Bodenheimer Thomas 
Published: October 2013

Purpose The purpose of the study was to explore the perspectives and roles of peer coaches, who are patients with diabetes trained to provide diabetes self-management support (DSMS) to other patients. Methods A focus group and 17 qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with community-based peer coaches in San Francisco in order to better understand the process by which these coaches engaged with their patients. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using methods based on grounded theory to develop a theoretical model of peer coach roles. Results Peer coaches play 3 principal roles in providing DSMS: advisor, supporter, and role model. While working with patients, peer coaches had different approaches to setting emotional boundaries and to allocating responsibility for implementing health behavior changes. Peer coaches were more consistent in how they sought resources from providers. Peer coaches also became empowered to better manage their own diabetes. Conclusion Peer coaches are a highly motivated potential workforce uniquely positioned to teach and empower patients by building trust through shared experiences. The variability in coaching styles suggests an inherent diversity among peer coaches that must be accounted for in future strategies for design, recruitment, training, and oversight of peer coaching programs.