bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assesing multileaf collimator effect on the build-up region using Monte Carlo method
Authors: Moreno M. , Teixeira N. , Jesus A. , Mora G. 
Published: April 2009

Assesing multileaf collimator effect on the build-up region using Monte Carlo method
Previous Monte Carlo studies have investigated the multileaf collimator (MLC) contribution to the build-up region for fields in which the MLC leaves were fully blocking the openings defined by the collimation jaws. In the present work, we investigate the same effect but for symmetric and asymmetric MLC defined field sizes (2×2, 4×4, 10×10 and 3×7 cm2). A Varian 2100C/D accelerator with 120-leaf MLC is accurately modeled for a 6MV photon beam using the BEAMnrc/EGSnrc code.
Our results indicate that particles scattered from accelerator head and MLC are responsible for the increase of about 7% on the surface dose when comparing 2×2 and 10×10 cm2 fields. We found that the MLC contribution to the total build-up dose is about 2% for the 2×2 cm2 field and less than 1% for the largest fields.
Optimal assignment of workers to supporting services in a hospital
Authors: Sawik Bartosz , Mikulik Jerzy 
Published: April 2009

Optimal assignment of workers to supporting services in a hospital
Supporting services play an important role in health care institutions such as hospitals. This paper presents an application of operations research model for optimal allocation of workers among supporting services in a public hospital. The services include logistics, inventory management, financial management, operations management, medical analysis, etc. The optimality criterion of the problem is to minimize operations costs of supporting services subject to some specific constraints. The constraints represent specific conditions for resource allocation in a hospital. The overall problem is formulated as an integer program in the literature known as the assignment problem, where the decision variables represent the assignment of people to various jobs. The results of some computational experiments modeled on a real data from a selected Polish hospital are reported.
National protocol for quality assurance in DXA-bone densitometry
Authors: Slavchev A. , Avramova-Cholakova S. , Vassileva J. 
Published: April 2009

National protocol for quality assurance in DXA-bone densitometry
Osteoporosis becomes largely one of the most important socially significant and costly diseases. Modern techniques (DXA, US) are applied for bone densitometry. The paper presents a protocol for quality assurance especially of DXA-bone densitometers including quality control made in compliance with international standards (ISCD, IOF). The methodology has been tested in practice by measurements on site-functional assessment, entrance dose, radiation protection, calibration, in-vitro precision. It is expected to raise the quality of the diagnostic process in concert with the EU Medical Directive 97/43 particularly for population screening and sensitive groups. The protocol is an essential part of the National Program for constraining osteoporosis which has been elaborated at the Ministry of Health and at present under implementation throughout the country. It aims at reducing the risk, factors spreading, at diminishing the fracture risk the morbidity and the mortality from osteoporosis. An integral multidisciplinary approach to the problem solving is applied as well as training on three levels — doctors, patients, population, which effectively will contribute for obtaining real results in preventing osteoporosis.
Skin dosimetry of patients during interventional cardiology procedures in the Czech Republic
Authors: Sukupova Lucie , Novak Leos 
Published: April 2009

Skin dosimetry of patients during interventional cardiology procedures in the Czech Republic
The aim of the study is to determine distribution of air kerma-area product, fluoro time and number of frames values for the two most frequent procedures in the interventional cardiology, to reconstruct skin dose distributions for some patients undergoing coronarography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures. Patient dose data were obtained from X-ray unit dose monitoring software report from one hospital and the reconstructions were performed in MATLAB. Dependence of maximum skin dose on air kerma-area product, fluoro time and number of frames was determined to assess trigger levels of these quantities, which can indicate possible exceeding of the 2 Gy skin dose threshold.
Changes in the cardiac muscle electric activity as a result of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft operation
Authors: Grajek Magdalena , Krzyminiewski Ryszard , Kalawski Ryszard , Kulczak Mariusz 
Published: April 2009

Changes in the cardiac muscle electric activity as a result of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft operation
Many bioelectric signals have a complex internal structure that can be a rich source of information on the tissue or cell processes. The structure of such signals can be analysed in detail by applying digital methods of signal processing. Therefore, of substantial use in diagnosis of the coronary arterial disease is the method of digital enhancement of increasing signal resolution ECG (NURSE-ECG), permitting detection of temporary changes in the electric potentials in the cardiac muscle in the process of depolarisation. Thanks to the application of NURSE-ECG it has become possible to detect relatively small changes in the electric activity of particular fragments of the cardiac muscle undetectable by the standard ECG method, caused by ischemia, the effect of a drug or infarct.
The aim of this study was to identify and analyse changes in the electric activity of the cardiac muscle as a result of the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) operation. In this study the method of NURSE-ECG has been applied in order to identify and analyse changes in the electric activity of the cardiac muscle as a result of the CABG operation. In the study performed in cooperation of the Institute of Physics Adam Mickiewicz University and the Strus Hospital, Cardiac Surgery Ward, 37 patients with advanced coronary arterial disease were asked to participate. The patients were examined prior to the operation, on the day after the operation and two months after the operation and a year after the operation. The ECG recordings were subjected to a numerical procedure of resolution enhancement by a NURSE-ECG program to reveal the tentative changes in the electric potential of the cardiac muscle on its depolarisation. Results of the study have shown that the NURSE ECG method can be applied to monitor changes in the electric activity of the cardiac muscle occurring as a result of CABG operation. One the second day after the operation in the majority of patients (70%) a rapid decrease of the total cardiac muscle activity was observed. The NURSE ECG seems to be a promising supplementary method in medical diagnosis. In particular it can be applied for qualification of patients for CABG operation and for verification of the operation effects.
Identification of Proteins with Increased Expression in Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Tissues
Authors: CHANG XIAOTIAN , CUI YAZHOU , ZONG MEIJUAN , ZHAO YAN , YAN XINFENG , CHEN YU , HAN JINXIANG 
Published: April 2009

Objective.A proteomic approach was applied to discover novel rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific proteins by comparing the expression profiles of synovial membranes from patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods.Synovial tissues were collected from patients with RA (n = 10), OA (n = 10), or AS (n = 6), and healthy controls matched for age and sex. Proteins were separated by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the proteins with significantly increased expression in the RA samples were subject to matrix-assisted laser adsorption-ionization time-of-flight spectrometry. Results were verified using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Levels of the candidate proteins were measured within plasma and synovial fluids from the RA patients (n = 30), who had disease duration of 3–7 years, using ELISA. Levels were also measured within plasma from unmedicated RA patients (n = 41), who had disease duration of 1–6 months.Results.Compared with the OA and AS tissue samples, the proteins Ig-kappa light-chain C region, PRDX4, SOD2, TPI, and TXNDC5 were found with increased expression in synovial tissues of RA patients. PRDX4, SOD2, TPI, and TXNDC5 had 2-fold or more increase in expression in some of the early RA plasma samples (58.55%, 31.7%, 26.8%, and 36.6%, respectively) as compared with the early OA samples and control samples. TXNDC5 had 2-fold or more increase in expression in 53.3% of blood samples and 73.3% of synovial fluid samples from patients with long disease duration of RA as compared with samples from OA and AS patients.Conclusion.Functional classification indicated that these identified proteins were related with cell differentiation, glycol metabolism, immunoactivation, and endogenous antioxidant reaction.
Aggregation of Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) at cereal bait stations in the field
Authors: Vernon Robert S. , Kabaluk J. Todd , Behringer Anita M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractDusky wireworms, Agriotes obscurus (L.), aggregated in similar numbers at wheat [Triticum aestivum L. (Gramineae) ‘Max’], oat [Avena sativa L. (Gramineae) ‘Walderen’], barley [Hordeum vulgare L. (Gramineae) ‘Verdin’], and fall rye [Secale cereale L. (Gramineae) ‘Wheeler’ and ‘Prima’] cultivar bait stations containing 100 seeds planted 3 cm deep in 127-cm2 circular bait stations. Similar levels of aggregation also occurred at 11 varieties of wheat planted at 100 seeds/127 cm2. When wheat, oat, barley, and the fall rye cultivars were planted at increasing density (0–180 seeds per bait station), aggregation by A. obscurus increased initially, but reached a plateau at numbers and at seeding rates specific to each grain variety as determined using the asymptotic equation y = B0(1 – e–B1x). Except for barley, this equation predicted wireworm densities within 11% of the densities actually observed at bait stations with 100 seeds/127 cm2. It was concluded that any of the wheat, oat, barley, or fall rye varieties would be suitable for monitoring A. obscurus wireworm populations if planted in bait stations at 100 seeds/127 cm2, as well as for aggregating wireworms by means of a trap crop.
Prevalence and biology ofFuria gastropachae(Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) in populations of forest tent caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)
Authors: Filotas Melanie J. , Hajek Ann E. , Humber Richard A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractFuria gastropachaecomb. nov.(=Furia crustosaMacLeodetTyrrell) has long been associated with declines in populations of the forest tent caterpillar,Malacosoma disstriaHübner; however, its prevalence and impact on host populations have never been documented. We clarify the nomenclature for this species, which has previously been calledF. crustosa, and describe the morphology ofF. gastropachaeisolates from Maryland and New York. Epizootics ofF. gastropachaewere studied inM. disstriapopulations in New York and Maryland, United States of America. Prevalence (mean ± SE) ofF. gastropachaein late fifth instar larvae in New York was 25.6 ± 7.8% compared with 22.2 ± 11.3% infection by virus and 23.3 ± 8.4% parasitism. In Maryland,F. gastropachaewas not found in early instars and its incidence in fourth and fifth instars was 14.5 ± 7.3 and 21.6 ± 17.6%, respectively. Dipteran parasitoids were also important natural enemies with 38.3 ± 3.0 and 17.9 ± 1.4% parasitism in fourth and fifth instars, respectively. Virus was found in fewer than 5% of larvae collected.Furia gastropachaeshowed a marked tendency toward resting spore production in infected larvae, with 100% of larvae collected in New York and >80% of larvae collected in Maryland producing resting spores, either alone or in combination with conidia. The appearance of cadavers of larvae dying from fungal and viral infections was similar. Of 13 species of Lepidoptera exposed toF. gastropachaeconidia in host-range bioassays, only 3.3% ofDanaus plexippus(L.) (Lepidoptera: Danaidae), 5.6% ofPieris rapae(L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), and 3.7% ofManduca sexta(L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) were successfully infected by this fungus.
Revision of the Phyllophaga s.s. schizorhina species group (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Melolonthinae)
Authors: Morón Miguel-Angel 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe Phyllophaga schizorhina (Bates) species group is revised, and the following new species are described from specimens collected in Mexico, Guatamala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador: P. changuenasp. nov., P. onoreanasp. nov., P. solisianasp. nov., P. schizorhinoidessp. nov., P. borucasp. nov., P. izabalanasp. nov., P. canoanasp. nov., P. chortianasp. nov., P. zarcoanasp. nov., P. chiblacanasp. nov., P. javepacuanasp. nov., P. ocozocuanasp. nov., P. chimoxtilasp. nov., P. cholanasp. nov., P. tuxtlecasp. nov., P. zaragozanasp. nov., P. matacapanasp. nov., P. catemacoanasp. nov., P. atratoidessp. nov., P. humboldtianasp. nov., P. comaltepecanasp. nov., P. dsaimanasp. nov., P. quianasp. nov., P. yoloxanasp. nov., and P. pseudoatrasp. nov.Phyllophaga schizorhina and P. nigrita are recorded for first time from Costa Rica. A key is provided for males of the 38 species. Diagnostic structures of all species are illustrated and distribution maps are provided.
Molecular markers for Peristenus spp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoids associated with Lygus spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae)
Authors: Erlandson M. , Braun L. , Baldwin D. , Soroka J. , Ashfaq M. , Hegedus D. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractMolecular markers for identifying Peristenus spp. parasitoids to species level and preliminary molecular markers to distinguish two groups of Lygus spp. common to the Canadian prairies were developed. Peristenus species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were developed based on DNA sequence data from a 1600-bp region of the internal transcribed spacer region between the 5.8S and 18S nuclear rRNA genes (ITS2). These primers were able to distinguish Peristenus digoneutis Loan, Peristenus stygicus Loan, and Peristenus pallipes (Curtis). Their ability to identify to species-level parasites dissected from field-collected Lygus spp. nymphs was examined by analysis of DNA from 100 parasite samples. Of those samples showing positive PCR amplification with both control (ITS2) and species-specific primers, all were positive for P. pallipes; none of the samples amplified appropriately sized products with P. digoneutis specific or P. stygicus specific primers. These findings were validated using restriction enzyme digests of amplified regions of the Peristenus spp. cytochrome oxidase 1 gene. Both methods were consistent with earlier studies that showed P. pallipes to be the only species of the genus Peristenus to be associated with Lygus spp. on the Canadian prairies. PCR primers based on DNA sequence data from a 550-bp region of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were designed to discriminate Lyguslineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) from Lygus borealis (Kelton), and Lygus elisus (Van Duzee). These PCR primers were used to identify field-collected nymphs, with most being identified as either L. borealis/L. elisus (72–82%) orL. lineolaris (14–18%). These estimates of species composition closely reflected those of subsequent adult population surveys from the same fields.
Revision of the NearcticSilusa(Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)
Authors: Klimaszewski Jan , Pohl Greg , Pelletier Georges 
Published: April 2009

AbstractA revision of the Canadian species of the genusSilusaErichson is presented. In this contribution, we treat six species recently discovered in Canada, one of which is a new species from Alberta,Silusa langoriKlimaszewskisp. nov.The distribution records for two species are greatly expanded.Silusa californicaBernhauer is now known from Alaska, Minnesota, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (previous records: British Columbia, California).Silusa vesperisCasey is now known from Washington and British Columbia (previous record: California). For two other species, there are first records for Canada and one new United States state record.Silusa alternansSachse is now known from Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and New Hampshire (previous records: Georgia, New York), andSilusa densaFenyes is now known from Alberta (previous record: California).Silusa valensCasey is here considered as a synonym ofS. alternans.Silusa rutilansCasey andS. modicaCasey are confirmed to belong toLeptusaKraatz, and both are here considered as new synonyms ofLeptusa canonicaCasey.Silusa gracilisSachse andS. nanulaCasey are also confirmed to belong to the genusLeptusa. The following lectotypes are newly designated for species described on the basis of syntypes:S. alternansSachse andS. californicaBernhauer. New data are provided on the systematics, relationships, bionomics, and distribution for all Nearctic species of America north of Mexico. Diagnoses and illustrations of external and genital features are provided for all species, and the distribution of each is discussed and shown on maps. A key to the species occurring in Canada is presented.
An Early Eocene bee (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Quilchena, British Columbia
Authors: Engel Michael S. , Archibald S. Bruce 
Published: April 2009

AbstractA fossil halictine bee from Early Eocene, Okanagan Highlands deposits of Quilchena, British Columbia, Canada, is described and figured.Halictus?savenyeisp.nov.is distinguished from other Tertiary halictines as well as modern bees. The specimen is the second oldest body fossil of a bee yet discovered and the first fossil bee from Canada. The antiquity of Halictidae and of bees in general is briefly commented upon.
A review of the pine-feeding Lithophane lepida species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with descriptions of two new species
Authors: Troubridge James T. , Lafontaine J. Donald 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe species of the Lithophanelepida Grote complex are reviewed and two new species of the genus Lithophane Hübner from western North America are described. Adults of all species are illustrated, as well as male and female genitalia (where known) and larva of L.lepida and Lithophane itata (Smith). A key to species of the L. lepida group is provided.
Effects of plant nutrition on the expression of abdominal discoloration in Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Bjørnson S. , Raworth D.A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe effect of plant nutrition on the expression of abdominal discoloration in Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was investigated. Phytoseiulus persimilis were fed spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), that were reared on bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae), plants treated with distilled water or one of three concentrations of 20–20–20 fertilizer (0.6, 2.4, and 3.8 g/L). Symptoms observed in P. persimilis included white stripes along the sides of the body in the region of the Malpighian tubules, white coloration of the rectum, or a combination of these symptoms. The proportion of observations of white symptoms in P. persimilis increased in an asymptotic curvilinear fashion as fertilizer concentration increased. There was no significant difference in life-history characteristics of P. persimilis from the four treatments, including total fecundity, mean daily oviposition, oviposition period, post-oviposition period, or adult survival. Peak oviposition for mites from all treatments (4.9 eggs per female per day) occurred 2–3 days following mating. Thereafter, mean fecundity was greater than 4 eggs per female per day until day 11, and greater than 3 eggs per female per day until day 15, followed by a sharp decline. Following death, individual mites were examined for microsporidia, but none were detected. Results suggest that the expression of white abdominal discoloration in P. persimilis is related, at least in part, to plant nutrition; symptoms are an expression of normal excretory function in P. persimilis; and white abdominal discoloration does not necessarily affect predator performance.
Review of the genus Cosmia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in North America, with description of a new species
Authors: Lafontaine J. Donald , Troubridge James T. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe North American species of the genus Cosmia Ochsenheimer are reviewed and four species are recognized: Cosmia calami (Harvey), C. praeacuta (Smith) comb. nov., C. epipaschia (Grote) comb. nov., and C. elisaesp. nov.Achytonix McDunnough syn. nov. is synonymized with Cosmia subgenus Calymnia Hübner. Namangana praeacuta nigramaculata Barnes et Benjamin and Namangana praeacuta orae Barnes et Benjamin are synonymized with Cosmia praeacuta. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are provided.
Reproduction and survival in Melanoplus sanguinipes (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in response to resource availability and population density: the role of exploitative competition
Authors: Branson David H. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe relative importance of exploitative competition for resources on grasshopper reproductive allocation has not been fully examined. Given the large fluctuations in grasshopper densities that periodically occur in western North America, an increased understanding of how grasshopper survival and reproduction vary in response to intraspecific densities and per capita resource availability is important. I examined if exploitative resource competition could explain variation in reproductive allocation in Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabricius) in response to resource availability and grasshopper population density. I also examined whether individual differences in competitive ability resulted in increased variance in egg production with low per capita resource availability. As expected with exploitative resource competition, per capita resource availability explained a significant amount of the variation in all reproductive characteristics examined. There was no effect of per capita resource availability on survival. Residuals of the regressions of egg production and vitellogenesis versus per capita resource availability did not differ for resource or density treatments, indicating that exploitative competition for resources played a more important role than interference competition in determining reproductive allocation in M. sanguinipes. Individual differences were evident, as variation around the mean of egg production increased with resource limitation. Exploitative competition for resources was important in determining both individual and population-level reproductive responses of grasshoppers to resource availability.
Aphidini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) living on Senecio (Asteraceae), with descriptions of a new genus and three new species
Authors: Durante M. Pilar Mier , Nafría Juan M. Nieto , Ortego Jaime 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe species of Aphidini living on Senecio L. in South America are reviewed. Pehuenchaphisgen. nov. is described; it is an Aphidina genus characterized mainly by the siphunculi on abdominal segment VI when present and by its radicicolous way of life. The type species of the genus Pehuenchaphis agilissimasp. nov. is described and the new combination Pehuenchaphis americana for Sene ciobium americana Mier Durante and Ortego is established. Aphis senecionicoides E.E. Blanchard is redescribed and its neotype is established. Aphis papillosasp. nov. with very large marginal papillae and Aphis malalhuinasp. nov. with short siphunculi are described and differentiated from the previously known Aphis intrusa Ortego and A. senecionicoides. A key for the apterous viviparous females of these seven species and Andinaphis paradoxa Mier Durante et al. is given.