bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of a constant‐rate infusion of dexmedetomidine on the minimal alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in ponies
Authors: GOZALO‐MARCILLA M. , HOPSTER K. , GASTHUYS F. , HATZ L. , KRAJEWSKI A. E. , SCHAUVLIEGE S. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryReasons for performing study:Dexmedetomidine has been administered in the equine as a constant‐rate infusion (CRI) during inhalation anaesthesia, preserving optimal cardiopulmonary function with calm and coordinated recoveries. Inhalant anaesthetic sparing effects have been demonstrated in other species, but not in horses.Objectives:To determine the effects of a CRI of dexmedetomidine on the minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane in ponies.Methods:Six healthy adult ponies were involved in this prospective, randomised, crossover, blinded, experimental study. Each pony was anaesthetised twice (3 weeks washout period). After induction with sevoflurane in oxygen (via nasotracheal tube), the ponies were positioned on a surgical table (T0), and anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (expired sevoflurane fraction 2.5%) in 55% oxygen. The ponies were randomly allocated to treatment D (dexmedetomidine 3.5 µg/kg bwt i.v. [T10–T15] followed by a CRI of dexmedetomidine at 1.75 µg/kg bwt/h) or treatment S (bolus and CRI of saline at the same volume and rate as treatment D). After T60, MAC determination, using a classic bracketing technique, was initiated. Stimuli consisted of constant‐current electrical stimuli at the skin of the lateral pastern region. Triplicate MAC estimations were obtained and averaged in each pony. Monitoring included pulse oximetry, electrocardiography, anaesthetic gas monitoring, arterial blood pressure measurement and arterial blood gases. Normocapnia was maintained by mechanical ventilation. Analysis of variance (treatment and period as fixed factors) was used to detect differences between treatments (α= 0.05).Results:An intravenous (i.v.) dexmedetomidine CRI decreased mean ± s.d. sevoflurane MAC from 2.42 ± 0.55 to 1.07 ± 0.21% (mean MAC reduction 53 ± 15%).Conclusions and potential relevance:A dexmedetomidine CRI at the reported dose significantly reduces the MAC of sevoflurane.
In vivo targeted delivery of large payloads with an ultrasound clinical scanner
Authors: Couture Olivier , Urban Alan , Bretagne Alice , Martinez Lucie , Tanter Mickael , Tabeling Patrick 
Published: August 2012

Purpose:Performing drug‐delivery with an ultrasonic imaging scannerin situ could drastically simplify treatment and improve its specificity. Our objective is to deliver large amounts of an encapsulated agent in vivo using a clinical ultrasound scanner with a millimetric resolution. This study describes the encapsulation of fluorescein within ultrasound‐inducible composite droplets and its targeted release in predefined zones in the liver of rats.Methods:An aqueous solution of fluorescein was encapsulated within perfluorocarbon liquid in 4μm monodisperse droplets using a microfluidic system. The agent was then injected within the femoral vein of 12 rats. After exploratory ultrasound imaging, the sonographer defined five zones in the liver and a release sequence was initiated on the same apparatus. The surface of the liver was observed under fluorescence macroscopy and intraoperative fluorescence camera in vivo, before liver samples were sliced for pathology.Results:Following the conversion of the droplets, a 25 dB increase in contrast was observed in the zones selected by the sonographer. These hyperechoic regions were colocalized with the bright fluorescent spots observed on the surface of the liver. A minimum peak‐negative pressure of 2.6 MPa, which is within regulations for imaging pulses, was required for the delivery of the content of the droplets. The tissue and cellular structures were not affected by the exposure to the release sequence.Conclusions:Since composite droplets can carry various therapeutic and imaging agents, they could deliver such agents specifically in any organ accessible to ultrasound.
Uncertainty incorporated beam angle optimization for IMPT treatment planning
Authors: Cao Wenhua , Lim Gino J. , Lee Andrew , Li Yupeng , Liu Wei , Ronald Zhu X. , Zhang Xiaodong 
Published: August 2012

Purpose:Beam angle optimization (BAO) by far remains an important and challenging problem in external beam radiation therapy treatment planning. Conventional BAO algorithms discussed in previous studies all focused on photon‐based therapies. Impact of BAO on proton therapy is important while proton therapy increasingly receives great interests. This study focuses on potential benefits of BAO on intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT) that recently began available to clinical cancer treatment.Methods:The authors have developed a novel uncertainty incorporated BAO algorithm for IMPT treatment planning in that IMPT plan quality is highly sensitive to uncertainties such as proton range and setup errors. A linear programming was used to optimize robust intensity maps to scenario‐based uncertainties for an incident beam angle configuration. Unlike conventional intensity‐modulated radiation therapy with photons (IMXT), the search space for IMPT treatment beam angles may be relatively small but optimizing an IMPT plan may require higher computational costs due to larger data size. Therefore, a deterministic local neighborhood search algorithm that only needs a very limited number of plan objective evaluations was used to optimize beam angles in IMPT treatment planning.Results:Three prostate cancer cases and two skull base chordoma cases were studied to demonstrate the dosimetric advantages and robustness of optimized beam angles from the proposed BAO algorithm. Two‐ to four‐beam plans were optimized for prostate cases, and two‐ and three‐beam plans were optimized for skull base cases. By comparing plans with conventional two parallel‐opposed angles, all plans with optimized angles consistently improved sparing at organs at risks, i.e., rectum and femoral heads for prostate, brainstem for skull base, in either nominal dose distribution or uncertainty‐based dose distributions. The efficiency of the BAO algorithm was demonstrated by comparing it with alternative methods including simulated annealing and genetic algorithm. The numbers of IMPT plan objective evaluations required were reduced by up to a factor of 5 while the same optimal angle plans were converged in selected comparisons.Conclusions:Uncertainty incorporated BAO may introduce pronounced improvement of IMPT plan quality including dosimetric benefits and robustness over uncertainties, based on the five clinical studies in this paper. In addition, local search algorithms may be more efficient in finding optimal beam angles than global optimization approaches for IMPT BAO.
Emergence of Fatal Avian Influenza in New England Harbor Seals
Authors: Anthony S. J. , St. Leger J. A. , Pugliares K. , Ip H. S. , Chan J. M. , Carpenter Z. W. , Navarrete-Macias I. , Sanchez-Leon M. , Saliki J. T. , Pedersen J. , Karesh W. , Daszak P. , Rabadan R. , Rowles T. , Lipkin W. I. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
From September to December 2011, 162 New England harbor seals died in an outbreak of pneumonia. Sequence analysis of postmortem samples revealed the presence of an avian H3N8 influenza A virus, similar to a virus circulating in North American waterfowl since at least 2002 but with mutations that indicate recent adaption to mammalian hosts. These include a D701N mutation in the viral PB2 protein, previously reported in highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses infecting people. Lectin staining and agglutination assays indicated the presence of the avian-preferred SAα-2,3 and mammalian SAα-2,6 receptors in seal respiratory tract, and the ability of the virus to agglutinate erythrocytes bearing either the SAα-2,3 or the SAα-2,6 receptor. The emergence of this A/harbor seal/Massachusetts/1/2011 virus may herald the appearance of an H3N8 influenza clade with potential for persistence and cross-species transmission.

IMPORTANCE
The emergence of new strains of influenza virus is always of great public concern, especially when the infection of a new mammalian host has the potential to result in a widespread outbreak of disease. Here we report the emergence of an avian influenza virus (H3N8) in New England harbor seals which caused an outbreak of pneumonia and contributed to a U.S. federally recognized unusual mortality event (UME). This outbreak is particularly significant, not only because of the disease it caused in seals but also because the virus has naturally acquired mutations that are known to increase transmissibility and virulence in mammals. Monitoring the spillover and adaptation of avian viruses in mammalian species is critically important if we are to understand the factors that lead to both epizootic and zoonotic emergence.
Prevalence of anal incontinence among Norwegian women: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Rømmen Kathrine , Schei Berit , Rydning Astrid , H Sultan Abdul , Mørkved Siv 
Published: August 2012

ObjectiveAnal incontinence (AI) is a symptom associated with age, bowel symptoms and obstetric injuries. Primary aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of AI among women and secondarily to evaluate the impact on daily life and conditions associated with AI.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingParticipants attended research stations located in different parts of Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. Data were collected through interviews, questionnaires and clinical examinations.ParticipantsIn total, 40 955 community-dwelling women aged 30 years and older were invited. A total of 25 037 women participated, giving a participation rate of 61.1%.Primary and secondary outcome measuresFecal incontinence and flatal incontinence was defined as involuntary loss of feces and flatus weekly or more, respectively. AI was defined as the involuntary loss of feces and/or flatus weekly or more. Urgency was defined as the inability to defer defecation for 15 min. Statistical methods included prevalence estimates and logistic regression analysis.ResultsQuestions about AI were completed by 20 391 (82.4%) women. Among the 20 391 women, AI was reported by 19.1% (95% CI 18.6% to 19.7%) and fecal incontinence was reported by 3.0% (95% CI 2.8% to 3.2%). Urgency was experienced by 2586 women (12.7%, 95% CI 12.2 to 13.1). Impact on daily life was stated by 794 (26.0%, 95% CI 24.4 to 27.5) women with AI. In bivariate age-adjusted analysis of AI, OR and CI for urgency (OR 3.19, 95% CI 2.92 to 3.49) and diarrhoea (OR 3.81, 95% CI 3.32 to 4.38) revealed strongest associations with AI.ConclusionsAI affects one in five women older than 30 years. Strongest associated symptoms are urgency and diarrhoea.Trial registration numberThe study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (No. 2009/1214) and followed the Declaration of Helsinki.
Understanding spirituality: a synoptic view
Authors: Cobb Mark , Dowrick Christopher , Lloyd-Williams Mari 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundSpirituality is an important component of palliative care that is incorporated into practice and the subject of research. A literature review by the authors indicated that many studies into the spiritual needs of palliative care patients operationalised highly reductive constructs of spirituality and relied upon unexamined assumptions and concepts.MethodsWe examine the use of models as a strategy to explain how spirituality functions in the lives of patients and critically review examples of descriptive modelling and mathematical modelling. The explanatory and predictive potential of these techniques is considered along with methodological limitations in representing complex aspects of human nature in models.ProposalWe propose a realistic synoptic model to explain how spirituality is lived and experienced in the wider context of a mental, personal and social world. We describe the essential conceptual apparatus and mechanisms of lived spirituality including beliefs, behaviour and experience, and we suggest that spirituality is a feature and capacity of the system as a whole.ConclusionsThe synoptic model provides an explanation of how spirituality operates in the totality of patients' lives and aims to capture aspects of spirituality that remain neglected by researchers and practitioners. It is proposed as a corrective to reductionist approaches and supports the contribution of different disciplines and different ways of thinking about spirituality.
Performance evaluation of the Sysmex haematology XN modular system
Authors: Briggs Carol , Longair Ian , Kumar Punamar , Singh Deepak , Machin Samuel J 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundThe Sysmex XN haematology instrument performs automatic reflex testing, depending on sample results. A nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count is provided on all samples. The instrument has a smaller footprint (34%) than previous Sysmex XE analysers.MethodsAn evaluation comparing all results to the Sysmex XE-2100 and manual microscopic differential and morphology (n=390) was performed followed by a workflow study of 1000 samples to compare speed of operation and number of blood films reviews required from both systems.ResultsThe new features on the instrument are: (1) white cell and NRBC channel, all samples include the NRBC count; (2) white cell precursor channel: false positive flags for blasts, abnormal lymphocytes and atypical lymphocytes are reduced significantly without a statistical increase of false negatives; (3) low white cell count mode: suggested setting of <0.5×109/l. An extended count is more precise and provides an accurate differential. Fluorescent platelet count is performed in a dedicated channel. If the red cell or platelet size histograms are abnormal or if the platelet count is low, then a fluorescent platelet count is automatically performed. Good correlation with the XE-2100 and manual differential was found and the improved results compared to the reference flow cytometric analysis for platelet counts, especially below 30×109/l (XE-2100, R2=0.500; XN, R2=0.875).ConclusionThe XN showed reduced sample turnaround time of 10% and reduced number of blood films for examination, 49% less than the XE-2100 without loss of sensitivity with more precise and accurate results on low cell counts.
Interactions between deadwood and soil characteristics in a natural boreal trembling aspen – jack pine stand1This article is one of a selection of papers from the International Symposium on Dynamics and Ecological Services of Deadwood in Forest Ecosystems.
Authors: Brais Suzanne , Drouin Pascal 
Published: August 2012

Decaying wood contribution to the heterogeneity of forest soils could depend on tree species and wood decay stage. The study was conducted in an 85-year-old trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) – jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forest in northwestern Quebec, Canada. Trees, snags, logs, and forest floor originating from wood buried within the forest floor (lignic FF) and from fine litter (alignic FF) were inventoried in fifteen 400 m2 plots (nine jack pine and six trembling aspen). Chemical properties of alignic and lignic FF and logs were measured and relative nutrient availability in the mineral soil assessed under logs and under lignic and alignic FF using PRS probes. No significant differences between forest covers were found for the proportion of C and nutrients contained in deadwood (snags, logs, and lignic FF) relative to tree biomass plus necromass (deadwood plus alignic FF) content. Lignic FF was characterized by a higher C/N ratio and exchangeable acidity than alignic FF and its nutrient concentrations were between those of alignic FF and logs. Differences in wood characteristics may explain some of the differences in forest floor properties observed between trembling aspen and jack pine. Nutrient availability in the mineral soil was affected by the overlaying materials and could reflect differences in the dynamics of individual nutrients.
Seedling establishment and survival on decaying logs in boreal mixedwood stands following a mast year1This article is one of a selection of papers from the International Symposium on Dynamics and Ecological Services of Deadwood in Forest Ecosystems.
Authors: Robert Emilie , Brais Suzanne , Harvey Brian D. , Greene David 
Published: August 2012

In the boreal forest, establishment of tree regeneration is tightly linked to both mast years and the availability of adequate germination beds for seedlings. We took advantage of a mast year (2006) in the eastern boreal mixedwood to compare seedling establishment in 2007 and seedling survival 2 and 4 years later on sections of fallen logs and equivalent areas of adjacent forest floor. Several factors that could explain establishment of seedlings on logs were measured, including wood resistance, density, moisture content, and C/N ratio. Our results show that small-seeded species, such as white birch ( Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), establish preferentially on logs whereas balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), a relatively large-seeded species, establishes more often on the forest floor. Using logistic regressions, we confirmed that the probability of seedling establishment on logs declines with wood resistance, while the survival probability is inversely proportional to stand deciduous basal area. Survival rate was similar for seedlings established on the forest floor and on logs. However, none of the white birch seedlings established on the forest floor in 2007 were alive by 2011. Even following an exceptional mast year, log occurrence in eastern mixedwood stands would not suffice to obtain adequate white spruce stocking levels.
Predicting litter and live herb fuel consumption during prescribed fires in native and old-field upland pine communities of the southeastern United States
Authors: Reid Angela M. , Robertson Kevin M. , Hmielowski Tracy L. 
Published: August 2012

The ability to predict fuel consumption during fires is essential for a wide range of applications, including estimation of fire effects and fire emissions. This project identified predictors of fuel consumption for the dominant fuel bed components (litter (<0.6-cm diameter dead material) and live herbs) during 217 prescribed fires in native longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) and old-field loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) – shortleaf pine ( Pinus echinata Mill.) communities in the southeastern United States. Additionally, these data were used to validate the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM) fuel consumption computer model using custom and default fuel loads. Regression models using empirical data suggested that litter and live herb fuel consumption can be predicted by prefire litter and live herb fuel loads, litter and live herb fuel moisture, litter fuel bed bulk density, season of burn, years since fire, days since last rain ≥0.64 cm, relative humidity, energy release component, community type, pine and hardwood basal areas, and the Keetch–Byram drought index. FOFEM’s prediction of fuel consumption for litter, live herbs, and duff combined using default fuel loads was 1.5 times the measured fuel consumption (where duff fuel load was zero). Refinement of FOFEM’s fuel load and consumption calculations in the studied community types using the newly collected data and suggestions for model improvement would provide more accurate air quality inventories and assist in guiding appropriate regulation of prescribed fire.
Effects of restoration thinning on spatial heterogeneity in mixed-conifer forest
Authors: Larson Andrew J. , Stover Kyle C. , Keyes Christopher R. 
Published: August 2012

Spatial pattern is an essential attribute of forest ecosystems and influences many ecological processes and functions. We hypothesized that restoration thinning conducted in fire-excluded ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex P. Lawson & C. Lawson) – western larch ( Larix occidentalis Nutt.) – mixed-conifer forest would restore spatial patterns characteristic of active fire regime old-growth. We evaluated effects of thinning on spatial patterns and also compared post-treatment patterns with reconstructions of pre-suppression patterns at nearby old-growth reference sites that developed in the historical mixed-severity fire regime. Restoration thinning reduced spatial aggregation and resulted in globally random tree patterns comprised of local tree clumps, openings, and widely spaced single trees, similar to reference conditions. Post-treatment spatial patterns in the replicate treatment units spanned the range of variability bounded by the reference sites. Our analyses indicate that, under certain circumstances, restoration of spatial heterogeneity in unlogged, fire-excluded forests can be achieved by retaining live legacy pre-suppression trees during thinning treatments. However, success is not assured. Restoration of spatial heterogeneity in forests where few live pre-suppression trees remain due to past mortality or harvest, a common condition of candidate restoration sites, presents a greater silvicultural challenge. Thus, we recommend that, as a general rule, managers deliberately address spatial pattern when crafting forest restoration treatment objectives and prescriptions.
Sexual segregation in goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)
Authors: Blank David A. , Ruckstuhl Kathreen E. , Yang Weikang 
Published: August 2012

Sexual segregation (by habitat or socially) is found in many species, and is especially well described for gregarious ruminants, particularly Cervinae and Caprinae, while less is known about Antilopinae. In this study, we investigated the degree of sexual segregation and social organization of goitered gazelles ( Gazella subgutturosa (Güldenstädt, 1780)), which have a quite distinctive (up to 30%) body size dimorphism between sexes. We used three indices for measuring the degree of sexual segregation: proportion of mixed-sex groups among all groups, proportion of adult females and males in mixed-sex compared with unisex groups, and Conradt’s segregation coefficient (SC). All these measures confirmed that goitered gazelles had very high levels of segregation all year: the proportion of mixed-sex groups was very low (4.6%) compared with unisex herds (95.4%); the proportion of adult males and females in mixed-sex groups was also low (<13%) compared with those in unisex groups; and the SC was very high (0.80–0.98), indicating that considerable segregation occurred. Although SC decreased to some extent during the rut (November–December), as expected, female groups stayed segregated from males (SC = 0.81–0.86) and formed mixed-sex herds only for very short time periods during mating. Surprisingly, the SC dropped to its lowest values during spring (April) and autumn (October) migration periods (0.71 and 0.67, respectively). Our results will contribute to better understanding the behavioural adaptations of goitered gazelle to the arid environment and help in the species conservation and management.