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Background: Modern radiotherapeutic techniques, such as intensity‐modulated radiation therapy or stereotactic body radiotherapy, require high‐dose delivery precision. However, the precise localization of tumors during patient respiration remains a challenge. Therefore, it is essential to investigate effective methods for monitoring respiration to minimize potential complications. Despite several systems currently in clinical use, there are drawbacks, including the complexity of the setup, the discomfort to the patient, and the high cost. Purpose: This study investigated the feasibility of using a novel pressure sensor array (PSA) as a tool to monitor respiration during radiotherapy treatments. The PSA was positioned between the treatment couch and the back of the patient lying on it and was intended to overcome some limitations of current methods. The main objectives included assessing the PSA's capability in monitoring respiratory behavior and to investigate prospective applications that extend beyond respiratory monitoring. Methods: A PSA with 31 pressure‐sensing elements was used in 12 volunteers. The participants were instructed to breathe naturally while lying on a couch without any audio or visual guidance. The performance of the PSA was compared to that of a camera‐based respiratory monitoring system (RPM, Varian, USA), which served as a reference. Several metrics, including pressure distribution, weight sensitivity, and correlations between PSA and RPM signals, were analyzed. The PSA's capacity to provide information on potential applications related to patient stability was also investigated. Results: The linear relationship between the weight applied to the PSA and its output was demonstrated in this study, confirming its sensitivity to pressure changes. A comparison of PSA and RPM curves revealed a high correlation coefficient of 0.9391 on average, indicating consistent respiratory cycles. The PSA also effectively measured the weight distribution at the volunteer's back in real‐time, which allows for monitoring the patient's movements during the radiotherapy. Conclusion: PSA is a promising candidate for effective respiratory monitoring during radiotherapy treatments. Its performance is comparable to the established RPM system, and its additional capabilities suggest its multifaceted utility. This paper shows the potential use of PSA for patient monitoring in radiotherapy and suggests possibilities for further research, including performance comparisons with other existing systems and real‐patient applications with respiratory training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

58-year-old male presented with knee extension contracture (25°) with iatrogenic fixed anterior tibial subluxation. Consecutive arthroscopic arthrolysis, manipulation under anesthesia, and quadriceps-Z-plasty during one surgery failed to restore flexion. Therefore, shortened posterior cruciate ligament was released, which eliminated subluxation and allowed 115° flexion. Despite physiotherapy, flexion progressively decreased to 70° postoperatively. Revision quadricepsplasty by transverse incisions restored 120° of flexion maintained at 31-months follow-up. International Knee Documentation Committee increased 4/87- > 50/87, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome 7/100- > 68/100 at follow-up. Posterior cruciate ligament release and repeated quadricepsplasty could be a viable salvage option in severe extension contracture with fixed anterior tibial subluxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: This study aimed to compare the dosimetric consequences of respiratory movement in volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D‐CRT) during postmastectomy radiation therapy, including internal mammary nodes (IMNs). Materials and methods: Respiratory motion was implemented to a phantom using a dynamic device. The plans were delivered during cranial‐caudal and ventral‐dorsal movement in 5‐mm (R05) and 10‐mm (R10) amplitudes. Results: At the IMN, the dose errors were –2.8% (R05) and –6.2% (R10) for 3D‐CRT and –4.9% (R05) and –8.5% (R10) for VMAT. The dose errors in chest wall were –.5% (R05) and –6.0% (R10) for 3D‐CRT and –1.9% (R05) and –5.3% (R10) for VMAT. The left anterior descending doses showed significantly small absolute values. The gamma pass rates of VMAT were higher than those of 3D‐CRT. Conclusions: The benefit of VMAT technique in dose distribution was maintained, except in occasional instances of large breathing motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: There is a scarcity of information regarding the role of prothrombin kringle‐2 (pKr‐2), which can be generated by active thrombin, in hippocampal neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Experimental Approach To assess the role of pKr‐2 in association with the neurotoxic symptoms of AD, we determined pKr‐2 protein levels in post‐mortem hippocampal tissues of patients with AD and the hippocampi of five familial AD (5XFAD) mice compared with those of age‐matched controls and wild‐type (WT) mice, respectively. In addition, we investigated whether the hippocampal neurodegeneration and object memory impairments shown in 5XFAD mice were mediated by changes to pKr‐2 up‐regulation. Key Results: Our results demonstrated that pKr‐2 was up‐regulated in the hippocampi of patients with AD and 5XFAD mice, but was not associated with amyloid‐β aggregation in 5XFAD mice. The up‐regulation of pKr‐2 expression was inhibited by preservation of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) via addition of caffeine to their water supply or by treatment with rivaroxaban, an inhibitor of factor Xa that is associated with thrombin production. Moreover, the prevention of up‐regulation of pKr‐2 expression reduced neurotoxic symptoms, such as hippocampal neurodegeneration and object recognition decline due to neurotoxic inflammatory responses in 5XFAD mice. Conclusion and Implications: We identified a novel pathological mechanism of AD mediated by abnormal accumulation of pKr‐2, which functions as an important pathogenic factor in the adult brain via blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. Thus, pKr‐2 represents a novel target for AD therapeutic strategies and those for related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the 2017 St. Gallen International Expert Consensus Conference on the Primary Therapy for Early Breast Cancer, the consensus panel recognized "partial breast irradiation as an option for women meeting the low‐risk criteria put forward by the American Society for Radiation Oncology/European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ASTRO/ESTRO) guideline," although acknowledging that there was less evidence for this approach. Partial breast irradiation is defined as irradiation localized to the surgical resection cavity only as opposed to the entire breast. Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) involves intensive treatment in a short time period. The methods vary, and three available APBI options are brachytherapy, external beam and intra‐operative irradiation. The long‐term follow‐up results from two large‐scale, well‐designed phase III randomized clinical trials have been released. However, further discussion of the optimal treatment candidates and delivery method is needed before the clinical application of APBI as a mainstream breast conservation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: We recently reported that AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction could protect hippocampal neurons through the induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the rat hippocampus in vivo. It is still unclear how neuronal BDNF produced by AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction induces neuroprotective effects in the hippocampus and whether its up-regulation contributes to the enhance of a neuroprotective system in the adult brain.Experimental Approach: To determine the presence of a neuroprotective system in the hippocampus of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), we examined the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, BDNF and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and their receptors, tropomyocin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and CNTF receptor α(CNTFRα), in the hippocampus of AD patients. We also determined whether AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction stimulates astroglial activation and whether reactive astrocytes contribute to neuroprotection in models of hippocampal neurotoxicity in vivo and in vitro.Key Results: AD patients may have a potential neuroprotective system, demonstrated by increased levels of full-length TrkB and CNTFRα in the hippocampus. Further AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction induced sustained increases in the levels of full-length TrkB and CNTFRα in reactive astrocytes and hippocampal neurons. Moreover, neuronal BDNF produced by Rheb(S16H) transduction of hippocampal neurons induced reactive astrocytes, resulting in CNTF production through the activation of astrocytic TrkB and the up-regulation of neuronal BDNF and astrocytic CNTF which had synergistic effects on the survival of hippocampal neurons in vivo.Conclusions and Implications: The results demonstrated that Rheb(S16H) transduction of hippocampal neurons could strengthen the neuroprotective system and this intensified system may have a therapeutic value against neurodegeneration in the adult brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Si content of steel melts containing 1.5% Al as well as alloying sequence of Si and Al on the evolution of inclusions are investigated. The SiO2 inclusion is primarily formed when Si (=0.5–3.0 wt%) is added to the melts at 1873 K, and the area fraction (AF) of the inclusions decreases over time. The subsequent addition of 1.5% Al to the Si‐alloyed steel (i.e., 3.0Si→1.5Al) increases the AF of inclusions due to the formation of Al2O3. The population density function (PDF) analysis for the preferential Si alloying shows a fractal distribution, indicating that the inclusions grow by a collision mechanism. PDF analysis shows a lognormal distribution because Al2O3 inclusion is formed and grows after subsequent Al alloying. Alternatively, when 1.5% Al is preferentially added to steel, Al2O3 clusters are formed. The AF of Al2O3 cluster decreases over time. When 3.0% Si is subsequently added to the Al‐alloyed steel (i.e., 1.5Al→3.0Si), singular Al2O3 particles are mainly observed. Because the Al alloying results in the formation of Al2O3 regardless of the alloying sequence and Si content, it is important to float up and separate Al2O3 cluster to improve the cleanliness of high‐Si‐Al‐alloyed steels such as electrical steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among sex hormones, estrogen is particularly well known to act as neuroprotective agent. Unlike estrogen, testosterone has not been well investigated in regard to its effects on the brain, especially under psychological stress. To investigate the role of testosterone in oxidative brain injuries under psychological stress, we adapted an orchiectomy and restraint stress model. BALB/c mice were subjected to either an orchiectomy or sham operation. After allowing 15 days for recovery, mice were re-divided into four groups according to exposure of restraint stress: sham, sham plus stress, orchiectomy, and orchiectomy plus stress. Serum testosterone was undetectable in orchiectomized groups and restraint-induced stress significantly reduced testosterone levels in sham plus stress group. The serum levels of corticosterone and adrenaline were notably elevated by restraint stress, and these elevated hormones were markedly augmented by orchiectomy. Two oxidative stressors and biomarkers for lipid and protein peroxidation were significantly increased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus by restraint stress, while the reverse pattern was observed in antioxidant enzymes. These results were supported by histopathological findings, with 4-hydroxynonenal staining for oxidative injury and Fluoro-Jade B staining showing the degenerating neurons. The aforementioned patterns of oxidative injury were accelerated by orchiectomy. These findings strongly suggest the conclusion that testosterone exerts a protective effect against oxidative brain damage, especially under stressed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dizziness and vertigo frequently occur after cochlear implantation (CI) surgery, particularly during the early stages. It could recover over time but some of the patients suffered from delayed or sustained vestibular symptoms after CI. This study used rat animal models to investigate the effect of unilateral cochleostomy on the vestibular organs over time. Twenty-seven Sprague Dawley rats underwent cochleostomy to evaluate the postoperative changes in hearing threshold, gain and symmetry of the vestibular ocular response, overall balance function, number of hair cells in the crista, and the c-Fos activity in the brainstem vestibular nucleus. Loss of vestibular function was observed during the early stages, but function recovered partially over time. Histopathological findings demonstrated a mild decrease in vestibular hair cells numbers. Increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the vestibular nucleus, observed in the early stages after cochleostomy, decreased over time. Cochleostomy is a risk factor for peripheral vestibular organ damage that can cause functional impairment in the peripheral vestibular organs. Altered vestibular nucleus activity may be associated with vestibular compensation and plasticity after unilateral cochleostomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, many reports revealed that there are close correlations between antioxidant and anticancer activities of compounds. In this study, we designed 4-hydroxy-3′,4′-dihydroxychalcone ( 2) as a ring-opened analog of luteolin, which has been known to possess both antioxidant and anticancer activities, and then introduced aminoethyl moieties to this chalcone structure to increase water solubility by transforming into HCl salts. Synthesized aminoalkyl-substituted chalcones 3a-3d showed potent antioxidant activities in three different assay systems and anticancer activities against four tumor cell lines tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis: The scaffold protein IQGAP1 is a ubiquitously expressed 190 kDa protein that participates in protein-protein interactions, integrating diverse signaling pathways. In this study, we examined the expression of IQGAP1 in sinonasal inverted papillomas (IP) and sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), which include IP with SCC (IPcSCC) and SCC alone. We also tried to elucidate whether the amount of IQGAP1 expression is related with any clinicopathologic features of sinonasal SCCs. Study Design: This was a retrospective study. Methods: The expression of IQGAP1 was analyzed by means of immunohistochemistry. The degrees of IQGAP1 expression and subcellular localization (rim formation) were analyzed with respect to the following clinicopathologic variables: age, gender, T stage, histologic differentiation, local recurrence, and distant metastasis. Results: The expression of IQGAP1 was significantly higher in patients with IPcSCC (3.62 ± 0.14), and SCC (2.93 ± 0.34) compared with IP (1.43 ± 0.26). The rim formation scale was significantly higher in IPcSCC (2.39 ± 0.24) compared with IP (1.68 ± 0.15). Distant metastasis in patients with SCC significantly correlated with an increased IQGAP1 rim formation ( p = 0.011). Histologic differentiation was also significantly correlated with a positive staining scale for IQGAP1 in IPcSCCs ( p = 0.038). Conclusion: These results indicated that IQGAP1 expression is associated with both the histologic differentiation of IPcSCCs and is present in SCC cases where distant metastasis has occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several types of chalcones containing 2 H-chromen group were synthesized. Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 2 H-chromen-3-carbaldehydes (I) with methoxy substituted acetophenones afforded ( E)-3-(2 H-chromen-3-yl)-1-(methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ones (chromenylchalcones, 1-7). Other types of chromenylchalcone, ( E)-1-(6-methoxy-2 H-chromen-3-yl)-3-(methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ones (8-13) were also obtained between reaction of methoxy substituted benzaldehydes and 1-(6-methoxy-2 H-chromen-3-yl)ethanone (II). Dichromenylchalcones (14-16) were also synthesized through the same reaction between aldehydes (I) and ketone (II). Their complete 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR assignments are reported here and more polysubstituted chromenylchalcones synthesized or isolated from the natural sources in the future can be identified on the basis of the NMR data reported here. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three late-lactation Holstein cows were used to determine the effects of environmental temperature on performance and energy partitioning. Each cow was housed in a respiratory chamber for 30 consecutive days and exposed to three different conditions of environmental temperature: (i) 20°C and 20°C (20°C), (ii) 25°C and 20°C (25°C), (iii) 30°C and 25°C (30°C) during the day and night, respectively. The temperature was switched in an interval of 10 days. Humidity in the chamber was maintained at 55–65% through the entire experimental period. The daily mean as well as morning and evening rectal temperatures of Holstein cows increased linearly ( P < 0.05) as chamber temperature increased. There was a significant linear reduction in dry matter (DM) intake ( P < 0.05) and an increase in DM digestibility ( P < 0.05). The response in milk yield, however, was not affected by heat stress. There were no significant differences among treatments for intake energy, heat production, net energy for lactation and net energy for gain. This results of this study disagreed with the assumption that late lactation cows gave priority to increasing body tissue at the expense of milk production under thermal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cellular cardiomyoplasty (CCM) is considered to be a novel therapeutic approach for post-myocardial infarction (MI) heart failure. In this study, the functional effects of cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation and the associated histopathologic changes were evaluated in a rat model of MI.Methods: Rats were subjected to 5 h of coronary ligation followed by reperfusion and, 10 days after MI, animals were randomized into either the MSCs transplantation (MI-MSC, n=8) group or the control (n=8) group. Allogeneic MSCs (3x10(6) cells) or media were epicardially injected into the center and the border area of the infarct scar.Results: Four weeks after the MSCs transplantation, the echocardiogram showed preserved anterior regional wall motion and increases in fractional shortening in the MI-MSC heart relative to the control heart. Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure was smaller in the MI-MSC than in the control group. Implanted MSCs formed islands of cell clusters on the border of the infarct scar, and the cells were positively immunostained by sarcomeric alpha-actinin and cardiac troponin T. In addition, the number of microvessels on the border area of the infarct scar was greater in the MI-MSC than in the control group.Conclusion: Allogeneic MSCs transplanted into the MI scar formed clusters of cell grafts on the border of the infarct, expressed cardiac muscle proteins, increased microvessel formation, and improved regional and global LV function. Our data indicate that CCM using MSCs may have a significant role in the treatment of post-MI heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses how a dominant entrepreneur of the Korean chaebol is able to exercise control, despite having a tiny shareholding, through strategic interlocking ownership. The entrepreneur organises his intimate group, consisting of three clusters of in-house shareholders, and they together have controlling interests in only a few subsidiaries, mainly public companies. These central subsidiaries, as quasi-holding companies, control most other member companies. The resultant ownership structure resembles a grid, in which individual subsidiaries’ ownership structures are intermingled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The calcineurin-mediated signaling pathway has been implicated as one of the crucial pathways in cardiac hypertrophy. However, the role of calcineurin pathway on cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) has not been well defined. Methods: Infarcted rats (n=45) were randomized into calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CsA) or vehicle groups, 3 days after MI and treated for 2 weeks (early post-MI cardiac remodeling stage), or randomized 17 days after MI and treated for 2 weeks (late remodeling stage). Results: Calcineurin pathway inhibition during the early cardiac remodeling stage attenuated the myocardial hypertrophy after MI (P<0.05). However, left ventricular dimensions were further increased and fractional shortening deteriorated with calcineurin inhibition during this stage (P<0.05, each). During late remodeling stage, CsA treatment did not affect myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac dilation following MI. Conclusion: Our results strongly support the hypothesis that calcineurin pathway mediates compensatory myocardial hypertrophy during the early remodeling stage after MI. However, the calcineurin pathway does not seem to affect the late remodeling after MI. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An abstract of the article "An efficient and practical enantiospecific synthesis of methyl chromanone- and chroman-2-carboxylates," by D.W. Kim and colleagues is presented.

To develop an optimal attractant for M onochamus saltuarius ( Gebler) ( Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), the synergistic effects of a few potential attractants (ethanol and α-pinene as host-plant volatiles, and ipsenol and ipsdienol as bark beetle pheromones) were tested in a pine forest combined with 2-(1-undecyloxy)-1-ethanol (monochamol), the aggregation pheromone of M onochamus species, for two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. Total number of catches was 65 and 33 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Ethanol or ethanol + monochamol (a base blend) were not attractive to M . saltuarius with no difference from the control. Addition of α-pinene and ipsdienol to the base blend did not significantly increase catches. However, ipsenol was significantly synergistic to the base blend in attracting M . saltuarius in 2014, and the blend (ipsenol + base blend) attracted meaningfully higher numbers of M . saltuarius in 2015. Our study illustrates the potential for monochamol and ipsenol baits for monitoring and trapping of M . saltuarius in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an index to articles of volume 11, 2003 issue of the 'Corporate Governance' journal. 'Audit Committee Independence and Disclosure,' by Joseph Carcello and Terry Neal; 'Will Executive Pay Globalise Along American Lines?,' by Brian Cheffins; 'Effective Corporate Governance,' by Peggy Chiu and John Monin; 'Ownership Patterns and Control in Turkish Listed Companies,' by Istemi Demirag and Mehmet Serter.