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Background: There is increased interest in in vivo dosimetry for 192Ir brachytherapy (BT) treatments using high atomic number (Z) inorganic scintillators. Their high light output enables construction of small detectors with negligible stem effect and simple readout electronics. Experimental determination of absorbed‐dose energy dependence of detectors relative to water is prevalent, but it can be prone to high detector positioning uncertainties and does not allow for decoupling of absorbed‐dose energy dependence from other factors affecting detector response. Purpose: To investigate which measurement conditions and detector properties could affect their absorbed‐dose energy dependence in BT in vivo dosimetry. Methods: We used a general‐purpose Monte Carlo (MC) code PENELOPE for the characterization of high‐Z inorganic scintillators with the focus on ZnSe (Z¯=32$\bar{Z}=32$) Z. Two other promising media CsI (Z¯=54$\bar{Z}=54$) and Al2O3 (Z¯=11$\bar{Z}=11$) were included for comparison in selected scenarios. We determined absorbed‐dose energy dependence of crystals relative to water under different scatter conditions (calibration phantom 12 × 12 × 30 cm3, characterization phantoms 20 × 20 × 20 cm3, 30 × 30 × 30 cm3, 40 × 40 × 40 cm3, and patient‐like elliptic phantom 40 × 30 × 25 cm3). To mimic irradiation conditions during prostate treatments, we evaluated whether the presence of pelvic bones and calcifications affect ZnSe response. ZnSe detector design influence was also investigated. Results: In contrast to low‐Z organic and medium‐Z inorganic scintillators, ZnSe and CsI media have substantially greater absorbed‐dose energy dependence relative to water. The response was phantom‐size dependent and changed by 11% between limited‐ and full‐scatter conditions for ZnSe, but not for Al2O3. For a given phantom size, a part of the absorbed‐dose energy dependence of ZnSe is caused not due to in‐phantom scatter but due to source anisotropy. Thus, the absorbed‐dose energy dependence of high‐Z scintillators is a function of not only the radial distance but also the polar angle. Pelvic bones did not affect ZnSe response, whereas large and intermediate size calcifications reduced it by 9% and 5%, respectively, when placed midway between the source and the detector. Conclusions: Unlike currently prevalent low‐ and medium‐Z scintillators, high‐Z crystals are sensitive to characterization and in vivo measurement conditions. However, good agreement between MC data for ZnSe in the present study and experimental data for ZnSe:O by Jørgensen et al. (2021) suggests that detector signal is proportional to the average absorbed dose to the detector cavity. This enables an easy correction for non‐TG43‐like scenarios (e.g., patient sizes and calcifications) through MC simulations. Such information should be provided to the clinic by the detector vendors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3D dose reconstruction based on in vivo dosimetry was performed for high-dose-rate prostate BT. • Maximum relative deviation in the clinical target volume D 90% was 5%. • In one fraction a 18% increase in bladder D 2cm 3 was observed and a maximum deviation of 15% in urethra dose. • 3D dose reconstruction can aid in determining the dosimetric impact of geometric variations in BT. In vivo dosimetry (IVD) can be used for source tracking (ST), i.e., estimating source positions, during brachytherapy. The aim of this study was to exploit IVD-based ST to perform 3D dose reconstruction for high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy and to evaluate the robustness of the treatments against observed geometric variations. Twenty-three fractions of high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy were analysed. The treatment planning was based on MRI. Time-resolved IVD was performed using a fibre-coupled scintillator. ST was retrospectively performed using the IVD measurements. The ST identified 2D positional shifts of each treatment catheter and thereby inferred updated source positions. For each fraction, the dose was recalculated based on the source-tracked catheter positions and compared with the original plan dose using differences in dose volume histogram indices. Of 352 treatment catheters, 344 had shifts of less than 5 mm. Shifts between 5 and 10 mm were observed for 3 catheters, and shifts greater than 10 mm for 2 catheters. The ST failed for 3 catheters. The maximum relative difference in clinical target volume (prostate + 3 mm isotropic margin) D 90% was 5%. In one fraction, the bladder D 2cm 3 dose increased by 18% (1.4 Gy) due to a single source position being inside the bladder rather than nearby as planned. The max increase in urethra dose was 1.5 Gy (15%). IVD-based 3D dose reconstruction for high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy is feasible. The dosimetric impact of the observed catheter shifts was limited. Dose reconstruction can therefore aid in determining the dosimetric impact of geometric variations and errors in brachytherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: High‐dose rate (HDR) and pulsed‐dose rate (PDR) brachytherapy would benefit from an independent treatment verification system to monitor treatment delivery and to detect errors in real time. This paper characterizes and provides an uncertainty budget for a detector based on a fiber‐coupled high‐Z inorganic scintillator capable of performing time‐resolved in vivo dosimetry during HDR and PDR brachytherapy. Method: The detector was composed of a detector probe and an optical reader. The detector probe consisted of either a 0.5 × 0.4 × 0.4 mm3 (HDR) or a 1.0 × 0.4 × 0.4 mm3 (PDR) cuboid ZnSe:O crystal glued onto an optical‐fiber cable. The outer diameter of the detector probes was 1 mm, and fit inside standard brachytherapy catheters. The signal from the detector probe was read out at 20 Hz by a photodiode and a data acquisition device inside the optical reader. In order to construct an uncertainty budget for the detector, six characteristics were determined: (1) temperature dependence of the detector probe, (2) energy dependence as a function of the probe‐to‐source position in 2D (determined with 2 mm resolution using a robotic arm), (3) the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), (4) short‐term stability over 8 h, and (5) long‐term stability of three optical readers and four probes used for in vivo monitoring in HDR and PDR treatments over 21 months (196 treatments and 189 detector calibrations, and (6) dose‐rate dependence. Results: The total uncertainty of the detector at a 20 mm probe‐to‐source distance was < 5.1% and < 5.8% for the HDR and PDR versions, respectively. Regarding the above characteristics, (1) the sensitivity of the detector decreased by an average of 1.4%/°C for detector probe temperatures varying from 22 to 37°C; (2) the energy dependence of the detector was nonlinear and depended on both probe‐to‐source distance and the angle between the probe and the brachytherapy source; (3) the median SNRs were 187 and 34 at a 20 mm probe‐to‐source distance for the HDR and PDR versions, respectively (corresponding median source activities of 4.8 and 0.56 Ci, respectively); (4) the detector response varied by 0.6% in 11 identical irradiations over 8 h; (5) the sensitivity of the four detector probes decreased systematically by 0–1.2%/100 Gy of dose delivered to the probes, and random fluctuations of 4.8% in the sensitivity were observed for the three probes used in PDR and 1.9% for the probe used in HDR; and (6) the detector response was linear with dose rate. Conclusion: ZnSe:O detectors can be used effectively for in vivo dosimetry and with high accuracy for HDR and PDR brachytherapy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the Fischer-Tropsch experiment with H 2 /CO = 2.13 at 210 °C with changes in CO conversion and water addition. [Display omitted] • Co-based catalyst developed WGS activity at low H 2 /CO ratio. • Water has a positive effect on C 5+ selectivity for all H 2 /CO ratios. • Re-oxidation of cobalt is proposed as the main deactivation mechanism caused by water. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been investigated over a commercial type cobalt-based catalyst (20 %Co/0.5 %Re/γ-Al 2 O 3) by varying the H 2 /CO ratio (2.55–1.12), CO conversion (15–75 %), reaction temperature (210 °C, 230 °C), and by adding water to the syngas. The experiments were conducted in a fixed bed reactor with the main purpose of obtaining experimental data to be used in the development and fitting of a mechanistic model. A positive effect of water on the catalyst activity was found for experiments with a H 2 /CO ratio higher than 1.7. Water was found to always increase the C 5+ selectivity regardless of the H 2 /CO ratio. Increasing conversion led to increased C 5+ selectivity. The selectivity to CO 2 was significantly enhanced at higher conversions (high water partial pressure), particularly with the lowest H 2 /CO = 1.12, interpreted as the emergence of water-gas shift activity. Re-oxidation of cobalt, probably limited to small cobalt particles, is proposed as the main deactivation mechanism caused by water while a steeper deactivation curve was found for higher temperature, indicating that sintering also may play a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report on the accuracy of an in vivo dosimetry (IVD)‐based source tracking (ST) method for high dose rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy (BT). Methods: The ST was performed on a needle‐by‐needle basis. A least square fit of the expected to the measured dose rate was performed using the active dwell positions in the given needle. Two fitting parameters were used to determine the position of each needle relative to the IVD detector: radial (away or toward the detector) and longitudinal (along the axis of the treatment needle). The accuracy of the ST was assessed in a phantom where the geometries of five HDR prostate BT treatments previously treated at our clinic were reproduced. For each of the five treatment geometries, one irradiation was performed with the detector placed in the middle of the implant. Furthermore, four additional irradiations were performed for one of the geometries where the detector was retracted caudally in four steps of 10–15 mm and up to 12 mm inferior of the most inferior active dwell position, which represented the prostate apex. The time resolved dose measurements were retrieved at a rate of 20 Hz using a detector based on an Al2O3:C radioluminescence crystal, which was placed inside a standard BT needle. Individual calibrations of the detector were performed prior to each of the nine irradiations. Results: Source tracking could be applied in all needles across all nine irradiations. For irradiations with the detector located in the middle region of the implant (a total of 89 needles), the mean ± standard deviation (SD, k = 1) accuracy was −0.01 mm ± 0.38 mm and 0.30 mm ± 0.38 mm in the radial and longitudinal directions, respectively. Caudal retraction of the detector did not lead to reduced accuracy as long as the detector was located superior to the most inferior active dwell positions in all needles. However, reduced accuracy was observed for detector positions inferior to the most inferior active dwell positions which corresponded to detector positions in and inferior to the prostate apex region. Detector positions in the prostate apex and 12 mm inferior to the prostate resulted in mean ± SD (k = 1) ST accuracy of 0.7 mm ± 1 mm and 2.8 mm ± 1.6 mm, respectively, in radial direction, and −1.7 mm ± 1 mm and −2.1 mm ± 1.1 mm, respectively, in longitudinal direction. The largest deviations for the configurations with those detector positions were 2.6 and 5.4 mm, respectively, in the radial direction and −3.5 and −3.8 mm, respectively, in the longitudinal direction. Conclusion: This phantom study demonstrates that ST based on IVD during prostate BT is adequately accurate for clinical use. The ST yields submillimeter accuracy on needle positions as long as the IVD detector is positioned superior to at least one active dwell position in all needles. Locations of the detector inferior to the prostate apex result in decreased ST accuracy while detector locations in the apex region and above are advantageous for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To use quantities measurable during in vivo dosimetry to build unique channel identifiers, that enable detection of brachytherapy errors. Treatment plan of 360 patients with prostate cancer who underwent high-dose-rate brachytherapy (range, 16–25 catheters; mean, 17) were used. A single point virtual dosimeter was placed at multiple positions within the treatment geometry, and the source-dosimeter distance and dwell time were determined for each dwell position in each catheter. These values were compared across all catheters, dwell position by dwell position, simulating a treatment delivery. A catheter was considered uniquely identified if, for a given dwell position, no other catheters had the same measured values. The minimum number of dwell positions needed to identify a specific catheter and the optimal dosimeter location uniquely were determined. The radial (r) and vertical (z) dimensions of the source-dosimeter distance were also examined for their utility in discriminating catheters. Using a virtual dosimeter with no uncertainties, all catheters were identified in 359 of the 360 cases with 9 dwell position measurements. When only the dwell time were measured, all catheters were uniquely identified after 1 dwell position. With a 2-mm spatial accuracy (r,z), all catheters were identified in 94% of the plans. Simultaneous measurement of source-dosimeter distance and dwell time ensured full catheter identification in all plans ranging from 2 to 6 dwell positions. The number of dwell positions needed to uniquely identify all catheters was lower when the distance from the implant center was higher. The most efficient fingerprinting approach involved combining source-dosimeter distance (i.e., source tracking) and dwell time. The further the dosimeter is placed from the center of the implant the better it can uniquely identify catheters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of using computer vision to estimate the weight of pigs has been demonstrated in several studies. In this paper, we propose a Vision Analysis and Prediction (VAP) system, which consisted of two main parts: (1) computer vision – a vision algorithm was developed to segment the pigs and identify which pig area could be used to estimate the corresponding weight; (2) statistical analysis – a statistical method for predicting pig weight using the area was presented, including BLUP model and linear regression as well as a prediction function. The results showed that our approach has successfully estimated the weight of growing pigs (approximate ranges from 20 to 105 kg) with an accuracy of weight estimation of 97.76% on average for the predicted mean weight at pen level. The proposed system does not require modifications to the building and shows a strong potential to be utilized in pig weight estimation in slaughter pens. • A VAP system has great potential for pig weight estimation in slaughter pens. • The VAP includes two parts: a computer vision algorithm and a predicting model. • The VAP can accurately predict pig weights from 20 to 105 kg in a slaughter pen. • The VAP can help for optimal decision making to improve animal productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this project was to exemplify the use of Evolutionary Operation (EVOP) technique at herd level to test the effect of change in the herd's normal management procedure. As pigs are day active animals, it is assumed that an increase in the activity level during the night will indicate that the pigs are forced to change their normal diurnal rhythm to adapt to the conditions. Thus change in the diurnal pattern of drinking was used as a potential indicator of stress/resource limitations in the pen. A three way factorial experiment with 714 crossbred pigs (34.3±4.1 kg) was carried out. The variables were: stocking density (14 or 18 pigs per pen), number of straw allocations (one allocation of 140 g straw per pig/day or four daily allocations of 35 g straw per pig) and allocation of pigs to pens (randomly or by size). The pigs were fed a libitum. Water consumption and temperature at pen level were continually measured during the experimental period (29 days). The day was divided into two 12-h periods: “day” (from 0700 h to 1859 h) and “night” (from 1900 h to 0659 h), and the proportion of the water consumption during the night of the total water consumption was calculated at pen level. Data were analysed using a linear mixed effect model. The average daily water consumption was 4.52±0.24 l per pig per day. On average, 26.0% of the total amount of water was consumed during the night. An increasing stocking density increased the proportion of water consumed during the night by 2.0 percentage points ( P =0.01). A random distribution of the pigs instead of sorting them by size at pen level reduced the proportion of water consumed during the night by 2.3 percentage points ( P =0.03), while no significant effect of the number of straw distributions ( P =0.36) or interactions was found. Looking at the daily water consumption, no effect of stocking density ( P =0.32), straw allocation ( P =0.85) or sorting the pigs (Randomly versus sorted by size, P =0.11) was found. Groups with small pigs had a lower water intake compared with groups with large or randomly sorted pigs ( P <0.01). The results show that the use of an EVOP design at herd level using change in the diurnal rhythm as response variable can be used to give a fast indication of the optimal combination of production factors within the herd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term prognosis of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) aged 45 years or younger and differences according to gender have not been well characterized. Methods We included 16,685 consecutive STEMI patients from 2003 to 2012 (67,992 patient-years follow-up) from the Eastern Danish Heart Registry and the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry who were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Results We identified 1026 (6.2%) patients up to 45 years of age (mean age: 40.7 vs. 66.3 years, P < 0.001). Patients in the young group were predominantly men (79.7% vs. 71.9%) and smokers (71.2% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.001) but with a lower prevalence of hypertension (17.3% vs. 39.3%), hyperlipidemia (18.0% vs. 23.8%), diabetes (9.0% vs. 12.4%) and previous myocardial infarction (6.9% vs. 12.2%, all P < 0.001) compared with older patients. Young patients had a 0.8% annual mortality. During the follow-up period 6.3% of young patients died vs. 28.5% of older patients ( P < 0.001). Both 30-day-mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12–0.54, P < 0.001) and mortality after 30 days and onwards (HR = 0.25, CI: 0.17–0.37, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the young group. There was no difference in short-term (HR = 0.78, CI: 0.32–1.90, P = 0.59) or long-term (HR = 0.62, CI: 0.33–1.91, P = 0.59) mortality between women and men in the young group (HR = 0.79, CI: 0.21–1.80, P = 0.39). Conclusions STEMI patients, aged 45 years or younger, have an excellent prognosis after treatment with primary PCI. Long-term annual survival is more than 99% in these patients. Young women with STEMI do not have a worse long-term prognosis than young men with STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT An alternative parameter-free adaptive approach for the grouping of the basis function patterns in the multilevel fast multipole method is presented, yielding significant memory savings compared to the traditional Octree grouping for most discretizations, particularly when using higher-order basis functions. Results from both a uniformly and nonuniformly meshed scatterer are presented, showing how the technique is worthwhile even for regular meshes, and demonstrating that there is no loss of accuracy in spite of the large reduction in memory requirements and the relatively low computational cost. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2451-2456, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new tool for simultaneous optimisation of decisions on multiple time scales is presented. The tool combines the dynamic properties of Markov decision processes with the flexible and compact state space representation of LImited Memory Influence Diagrams ( Limids). A temporal version of Limids, TemLimids, is defined by adding time-related functions to utility nodes. As a result, expected discounted utility, as well as expected relative utility might be used as optimisation criteria in TemLimids. Optimisation proceeds as in ordinary Limids. A sequence of such TemLimids can be used to model a Markov Limid Process, where each TemLimid represents a macro action. Algorithms are presented to find optimal plans for a sequence of such macro actions. Use of algorithms is illustrated based on an extended version of an example from pig production originally used to introduce the Limid concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been investigated in trials aiming to promote recovery of myocardial function after myocardial infarction. Long-term safety-data have never been reported. A few studies indicated an increased risk of in-stent re-stenosis. We aimed to investigate clinical events 5 years after inclusion into a randomized trial of G-CSF versus placebo. Methods. Seventy-eight patients were randomized, from 2003-2005, to G-CSF or placebo after myocardial infarction. Four patients withdrew consent prior to study treatment and were excluded leaving 36 and 38 in the placebo- and G-CSF groups. Information about all hospital admittances of included patients until 2010 was extracted from a national register. The only censoring event was immigration. The events were combined into four prespecified endpoints: Time to (1) first hospital admittance (all cause), (2) first cardiovascular-related hospital admittance, (3) first major cardiovascular event, and (4) death. Results. One patient (1%) was lost to follow-up. Four patients (4%) died in the follow-up period, three in the G-CSF group and one in the placebo group ( p = 0.4). Hazard ratio for all cause hospital admittance was 0.7 (95% CI 0.38-1.29). The incidence of both new myocardial infarction ( p = 1.0) and revascularization procedures ( p = 0.4) were similar in the two groups. Survival analyses showed no differences in the occurrence of any of the four prespecified composite endpoints between the two groups ( p = 0.6; 0.5; 0.8; 0.3). Conclusions. We found no indication of increased risk of adverse events up to 5 years after G-CSF treatment. These results support the continued investigation of G-CSF for cardiac therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agriculture Markov decision processes (MDPs) with finite state and action space are often used to model sequential decision making over time. For instance, states in the process represent possible levels of traits of the animal and transition probabilities are based on biological models estimated from data collected from the animal or herd. State space models (SSMs) are a general tool for modeling repeated measurements over time where the model parameters can evolve dynamically. In this paper we consider methods for embedding an SSM into an MDP with finite state and action space. Different ways of discretizing an SSM are discussed and methods for reducing the state space of the MDP are presented. An example from dairy production is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized pluripotent cells from the bone marrow are proposed to have a regenerative potential. Though, a report of excessive instent restenosis, in patients treated with G-CSF before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) warrants caution. Methods: Patients (n =59) enrolled in the STEMMI trial, a randomized and double blind study, comparing G-CSF and placebo after large ST-elevation myocardial infarctions, had an intracoronary ultrasound imaging at 6 months follow-up with a quantitative analysis of instent neointimal hyperplasia. Results: During G-CSF treatment leukocyte counts, and CD34+ and CD45−/CD34− cell fractions in peripheral blood increased markedly ( p <0.0001 vs. placebo). At follow-up, there were no differences in intracoronary late lumen loss, expressed as neointima volume per mm of stent (1.6 mm3 ±1.2 [G-CSF group] vs. 1.9 mm3 ±1.3 [placebo group]; p =0.38), and in minimal instent lumen area (5.4 mm2 ±2.4 vs. 5.3 mm2 ±2.6, p =0.90). In the placebo group, plasma concentration of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) increased significantly after STEMI. This SDF-1 response was completely suppressed during G-CSF treatment. A rebound increase of SDF-1 was observed after withdrawal of G-CSF ( p =0.001). Plasma concentration of SDF-1 at the time of stent implantation correlated positively to neointimal hyperplasia ( p =0.025). Conclusions: G-CSF treatment, initiated after PCI, does not lead to excessive instent neointimal hyperplasia or restenosis in patients with STEMI. The timing of G-CSF, in relation to the PCI, might be important, as G-CSF influences SDF-1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To test the hypothesis that mutations in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene are associated with plasma concentration of VEGF and subsequently the ability to influence coronary collateral arteries in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: Blood samples from patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (n=53) and acute coronary syndrome (n=61) were analysed. Coronary collaterals were scored from diagnostic biplane coronary angiograms. Results: The plasma concentration of VEGF was increased in patients with acute compared to chronic CHD (p=0.01). The genotype frequencies differed significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in three of 15 examined loci. Four new mutations in addition to the already described were identified. The VEGF haplotype did not seem to predict plasma VEGF concentration (p=0.5). There was an association between the genotype in locus VEGF-1154 and coronary collateral size (p=0.03) and a significant association between the VEGF plasma concentration and the collateral size (p=0.03). Conclusion: VEGF plasma concentration seems related to coronary collateral function in patients with CHD. The results did not support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the untranslated region of the VEGF gene were associated with the concentration of circulating VEGF. Increased understanding of VEGF in the regulation of myocardial collateral flow may lead to new therapies in CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two decades there has been growing public and political awareness of the consequences of eutrophication in Denmark. By the mid-1980s, the environmental status of inland and coastal waters had deteriorated due to high nutrient loads. Consequently, a number of different Action Plans against water pollution were introduced. In the agricultural sector, focus has been on reductions in nitrogen leaching obtained by the introduction of various measures: a maximum limit to the density of livestock, 9 months’ storage capacity for manure, catch crops for at least 6% of the land, enhanced utilization (up to 75%) of nitrogen in manure, etc. The agricultural sector in Denmark has implemented all of these measures, and as a result of the effort, the target for reductions in nitrogen leaching will be reached. Currently, the total loss of nitrogen from farmland is likely to be reduced by approximately 50% compared to the level in the mid-1980s. Some of the measures have been fair and based on sound arguments, and have been implemented with only minor difficulties, whereas others have proved troublesome and in our opinion disproportionately expensive. Today, further general regulation with equal restrictions toward all farmers regardless of differences in environmental impacts is no longer an acceptable path to follow. In the future, it will be necessary to pinpoint new measures in the most sensitive areas, where the potential for further reductions in nutrient loads is large. Danish Agriculture calls for specific actions—and consequently a shift in environmental management and policy making. Such a revised management strategy is the only path to follow in order to obtain further improvements in environmental conditions. Meanwhile, future development in the agricultural sector will be possible and a win–win situation can be reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Angiographic late lumen loss measured 6 to 9 month after bare metal stent implantation in the coronary arteries is a validated restenosis parameter. Design. We performed a second angiographic follow-up after 4 years in event free survivors from the DANSTENT trial cohort. Results. Quantitative comparison of paired coronary angiograms at 6 months and 4 years showed a reduction of late loss from 0.68±0.52mm to 0.42 (±0.52) (mean difference 0.26 (0.17 to 0.36), p<0.0001). Minimal instent lumen diameter had increased from 2.39±0.62mm to 2.64±0.56mm (mean difference: -0.24mm, 95% confidence interval: -0.34mm to -0.14mm, p<0.0001). Instent diameter stenosis decreased from 24.8±14.2% to 18.6±9.3% (mean difference 6.16%, 95% confidence interval: 2.82 to 9.48%, p=0.0006). This observed spontaneous decrease of instent restenosis corresponds to a 19% increase of minimal cross-sectional vessel area and a 39% reduction of the binary restenosis rate over time. Conclusions. Instent late lumen loss in bare metal stents decreases spontaneously over time. Maturation of early hyperplastic tissue reaction after stent implantation with subsequent thinning of fibrotic tissue might explain this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the ear skin temperature and the behaviour of pigs. Fifty-four pigs weighing 75±5kg were used in three replications (18 pigs per replication) and housed in pens (six pigs per pen) in a controlled climate facility. The room temperature was changed by 2°C from 18°C down to 10°C and up again to 22°C. The ear skin temperature (EST) was continuously recorded and the activity, lying posture, location and contact with pen mates were scored by 12min scan sampling for 24h at the set point temperatures 18°C, 10°C and 22°C. A diurnal rhythm in the EST, the posture and the lying behaviour was found. The EST was highest at night and lowest in the afternoon. During night the pigs had more physical contact to pen mates than during day time. For all three set point temperatures the predominant lying position during the night was the fully recumbent position. The room temperature affected the lying behaviour and the EST. With decreasing room temperature the pigs increased their contact to pen mates and fewer pigs were observed lying in the fully recumbent position. The EST decreased with decreasing room temperature, and the range in the EST''s at the three set point temperatures was larger during day than night (4°C versus 2°C). The results indicate that pigs adjust their behaviour to a higher EST when resting than when they are active, and they use behavioural adjustment (e.g. increased/decreased contact to pen mates) to bring their skin temperature into a preferred interval. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The influence of treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the development of in-stent intimal hyperplasia is not known. We aimed to study this phenomenon in patients who had stents implanted in the course of an acute ST-elevation infarction and successively were treated with G-CSF. Method: We performed angiography and intracoronary ultrasound follow-up after 5 months in 41 consecutive patients in the STEMMI trial, which is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study on the effect of G-CSF injections on the myocardial function following acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary stent implantation. The intracoronary ultrasound images were analyzed by a blinded and independent core laboratory. Results: There were no differences in in-stent neo-intimal hyperplasia determined by intracoronary ultrasound between patients treated with G-CSF compared to patients treated with placebo. Neo-intimal hyperplasia per mm of stent was 1.87 (±1.41) and 1.89 (±1.39), respectively (p =0.97). Angiographic in-segment restenosis (>50% diameter stenosis) was found in 28% of patients (24% in the G-CSF group and 33% in the placebo group; p =0.55). Conclusion: G-CSF treatment following coronary stent implantation in primary PCI treated AMI patients does not increase in-stent restenosis excessively and it does not seem warranted to limit further study of effects of G-CSF for that reason. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to identify characteristics of sow behaviour and parturition related to early piglet mortality in loose-housed farrowing sows. Data from 152 farrowings that originated from three different herds with loose-housed sows during parturition were used. Graphical chain models were used to model the relationships between perinatal behaviour, periparturient individual conditions (time of day of parturition, rectal temperature 1–3 days postpartum) and causes of early piglet mortality. Modelling was based on the correlation between variables within herd and farrowing batch. The analysis showed that different causes of mortality were linked to different behavioural variables during the periparturient period and that they grouped into three independent categories. The first category was associated with stillbirth and death due to other causes. Stillbirth was positively related to the variation of the inter-birth interval and negatively related to the percentage of piglets that suckled during the first 8h after birth of first piglet (BFP). Death due to other causes was negatively related to the suckling activity during the post-partal period (9–24h after BFP). The second category was associated with piglet crushing, which was positively related to much lateral lying the last 4h before BFP. Finally, the third category was associated with death due to lack of colostrums ingestion of colostrum, which was linked to the time of parturition and sow rectal temperature on days 1 and 2 after farrowing. Sows that gave birth during the morning compared to evening/night had more dead piglets due to lack of colostrums ingestion. Death due to lack of colostrums ingestion was also higher in sows with high rectal temperature on the day after BFP. The results further showed that litter size not only influenced mortality but also behavioural variables. High litter size was related to high nest building activity before BFP, low but more variable inter-birth intervals, and much lateral lying after BFP. The study points towards several areas of interest for further research that can help understand early piglet mortality. These include causes of variation in the progress of parturition, causes of individual differences in sow activity and responsiveness to piglets, and early management of farrowing. In addition, the study suggests possible indicators of problematic farrowings rendering liveborn piglets at risk. These include prepartum lateral lying in the sow, low suckling activity and rate of stillbirth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: In the Euroinject One phase II randomized double-blind trial, therapeutic angiogenesis of percutaneous intramyocardial plasmid gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor (phVEGF-A165) on myocardial perfusion, left ventricular function, and clinical symptoms was assessed. Background: Evidence for safety and treatment efficacy have been presented in phase I therapeutic angiogenesis trials. Methods: Eighty “no-option” patients with severe stable ischemic heart disease, Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class 3 to 4, were assigned randomly to receive, via the NOGA-MyoStar system (Cordis Corp., Miami Lakes, Florida), either 0.5 mg of phVEGF-A165 (n = 40) or placebo plasmid (n = 40) in the myocardial region showing stress-induced myocardial perfusion defects on 99mTc sestamibi/tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography. Results: No differences among the groups were recorded at baseline with respect to clinical, perfusion, and wall motion characteristics. After three months, myocardial stress perfusion defects did not differ significantly between the VEGF gene transfer and placebo groups (38 ± 3% and 44 ± 2%, respectively). Similarly, semiquantitative analysis of the change in perfusion in the treated region of interest did not differ significantly between the two groups. Compared with placebo, VEGF gene transfer improved the local wall motion disturbances, assessed both by NOGA (p = 0.04) and contrast ventriculography (p = 0.03). Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class classification of angina pectoris improved significantly in both groups but without difference between the groups. No phVEGF-A165-related adverse events were observed; however, NOGA procedure-related adverse events occurred in five patients. Conclusions: The VEGF gene transfer did not significantly improve stress-induced myocardial perfusion abnormalities compared with placebo; however, improved regional wall motion, as assessed both by NOGA and by ventriculography, may indicate a favorable anti-ischemic effect. This result should encourage more studies within the field. Transient VEGF overexpression seems to be safe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Latent class analysis to assess the sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test can be carried out under different assumptions. An often applied set of assumptions is known as the Hui–Walter paradigm, which essentially states that: (i) the population is divided into two or more populations in which two or more tests are evaluated under assumption that (ii) sensitivity and specificity of the tests are the same in all populations; and (iii) the tests are conditionally independent given the disease status. This study explores the implications of these assumptions. Through simulation studies, it is shown how the size of the difference between disease prevalences within the populations influences the precision of the estimates. It is also illustrated by a simulation study how a difference in a test sensitivity between populations may result in estimates that are biased towards the sensitivity of the test in the population with highest disease prevalence, since that population estimate is supported by most of the data. It is shown that the assumption of conditional independence between tests in general cannot be ignored in latent class models. Failure to impose conditional independence will result in a model that lacks identifiability in a way that cannot be handled by adding more tests or dividing the sample into more populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a new hierarchical basis of arbitrary order for integral equations solved with the method of moments (MoM). The basis is derived from orthogonal Legendre polynomials which are modified to impose continuity of vector quantities between neighboring elements while maintaining most of their desirable features. Expressions are presented for wire, surface, and volume elements but emphasis is given to the surface elements. In this case, the new hierarchical basis leads to a near-orthogonal expansion of the unknown surface current and implicitly an orthogonal expansion of the surface charge. In addition, all higher order terms in the expansion have two vanishing moments. In contrast to existing formulations, these properties allow the use of very high-order basis functions without introducing ill-conditioning of the resulting MoM matrix. Numerical results confirm that the condition number of the MoM matrix obtained with this new basis is much lower than existing higher order interpolatory and hierarchical basis functions. As a consequence of the excellent condition numbers, we demonstrate that even very high-order MoM systems, e.g., tenth order, can be solved efficiently with an iterative solver in relatively few iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of clinical observations was estimated using Bayesian latent-class models with two or more independent tests. Four veterinarians carried out systematic independent clinical examinations on 155 pigs in three herds. Based on the results of binary recordings of clinical observations on dullness, poor body condition (PBC), skin lesions, lameness, respiratory disease, and diarrhea, a latent disease state for each clinical disease was estimated using Gibbs sampling.The accuracy of the clinical observations differed for the four observers and for different clinical signs. Population parameters were estimated from a Bayesian hierarchical model, and the accuracy of a random observer was calculated. We concluded that the accuracy of the veterinarians in this study substantiated the need to pursue more-precise definitions of the clinical findings and that larger sample sizes would be needed to provide reasonable variance estimates. Finally, we concluded that the uncertainty in the clinical decision-making process (starting with the clinical examination) needs to be represented fully. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The estimation of farm specific parameters is often ignored in studies of decision support systems such as, e.g., sow replacement problems. This study concerns the specification and estimation of farm specific parameters in a model for litter size required by a replacement problem considering culling based on productive performance. This implies a joint distribution of the litter size at the parities under consideration. A non-linear parametric mean curve is used to model the expected litter size at different parities for sows within the same herd. The covariance matrix is modeled using variance components of random effects, serial correlation and measurement error. Data from a total of 43 herds are used to devise a likelihood based inference, using maximum likelihood to obtain initial estimates for maximum posterior estimation of farm specific parameters. The maximum posterior approach is required to obtain reasonable estimates in the cases where on-farm registrations are inadequate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the therapeutic angiogenesis of vascular growth factors in patients with ischemic coronary artery disease in Scandinavia. Prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic vascular heart disease; Causes of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries; Methods for gene therapy.

Examines a number of "non-conclusive" verbs which will be subjected to a fairly close scrutiny with regard to their possible use in the progressive, and with regard to a possible "change of meaning" in this connection. Love's usage is predominantly women's language; Remember, like, understand, misunderstand; More.

Discusses the actual behavior of the verb 'used to' plus an infinitive in contemporary English. Trends in the use of the verb; Difficulty arising from the treatment of the verb as a full verb and as an anomalous verb in all relevant syntactical functions; Non-existence of a present tense form of the verb.

Discusses the semantic distinction between the phrases 'to amuse oneself' and 'to enjoy oneself.' Room in practice for some semantic overlapping of the two phrases; Indication that 'to amuse oneself' may sometimes come to express the same notion as 'to enjoy oneself'; Connection between the verbal phrase and the prepositional phrase.

Discusses syntactical and semantic peculiarities which attach to the use of the phrases in which 'charge' constitutes the crucial element. Active function of the phrase in the contemporary English language; Common synonymous construction of 'to have charge of'; Rarity of inchoative versions of '(to be) in charge of.'

Reports on the adherence of linguists to distinctions of reciprocal pronouns, each other and one another. Establishment of semantic distinctions; Reference of infinitive phrase to injunctions; Consideration for ingenuity in the reciprocal activity.

The variation in Skeletonema cells grown at 3 klux continuous illumination and 20°C is reported. Four different types of lamps gave no difference in the photosynthetic characteristics. The average diameter of the cells decreased from 8-3.5 μ during their six months vegetative period. The ratio between the pigment content in the largest and the smallest cells was about 2:1. A good correlation between cell volume and chlorophyll a content was found for this species. The content of chlorophyll c generally varied between 4 and 17 per cent of the chlorophyll a content -- A distinct correlation between the chlorophyll a content and the rate of photosynthesis per unit of cells at low light intensity was found. The rate of photosynthesis, in mg C per mg chlorophyll a and hour at 1 klux, varied between 0.40 and 0.70 for all 60 experiments with an average value of 0.56. The corresponding value for cells deficient in phosphorus was 0.19 and for cells deficient in nitrogen 0.09. -- The material also showed a good correlation between the rate of photosynthesis per cell at 1 klux and the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis. Ik varied between 7 and 13 klux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on Frits Stuurman's article in the journal 'English Studies' about a distinction between the reciprocal pronouns 'each other' and 'one another.' Ways in which 'each other' expresses a chain relation; Argument that 'one another' expresses a true reciprocal relation; Rehabilitation of deductive approaches to the problem.

Aims: The study assessed 4-year outcomes of intramyocardial injections of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in patients with ischaemic heart failure.Methods and Results: The MSC-HF trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized 2:1 to intramyocardial injections of MSCs or placebo. The primary endpoint was change in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), measured by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. Sixty patients aged 30-80 years with ischaemic heart failure, New York Heart Association class II-III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45% and no further treatment options were randomized. Patients were followed clinically for 12 months and in addition 4-year data of hospitalizations and survival were retrieved. After 12 months, LVESV was significantly reduced in the MSC group and not in the placebo group, with difference between groups of 17.0 ± 16.2 mL (95% confidence interval 8.3-25.7, P = 0.0002). There were also significant improvements in LVEF of 6.2% (P < 0.0001), stroke volume of 16.1 mL (P < 0.0001) and myocardial mass (P = 0.009) between groups. A significant dose-response effect was also observed. Moreover, a significant reduction in the amount of scar tissue and quality of life score in the MSC group but not in the placebo group was observed. After 4 years, there were significantly fewer hospitalizations for angina in the MSC group and otherwise no differences in hospitalizations or survival. No side effects were identified.Conclusions: Intramyocardial injections of autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs improved myocardial function and myocardial mass in patients with ischaemic heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. While regenerative stem cell therapy for ischemic heart disease has moved into phase 3 studies, little is still known about retention and migration of cell posttransplantation. In human studies, the ability to track transplanted cells has been limited to labeling with radioisotopes and tracking using nuclear imaging. This method is limited by low resolution and short half-lives of available radioisotopes. Longitudinal tracking using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of myocardial injected cells labeled with iron oxide nanoparticles has shown promising results in numerous preclinical studies but has yet to be evaluated in human studies. We aimed to evaluate MRI tracking of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) labeled with ultrasmall paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles after intramyocardial transplantation in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods. Five no-option patients with chronic symptomatic IHD underwent NOGA-guided intramyocardial transplantation of USPIO-labeled MSCs. Serial MRI scans were performed to track labeled cells both visually and using semiautomated T2∗ relaxation time analysis. For safety, we followed symptoms, quality of life, and myocardial function for 6 months. Results. USPIO-labeled MSCs were tracked for up to 14 days after transplantation at injection sites both visually and using semiautomated regional T2∗ relaxation time analysis. Labeling of MSCs did not impair long-term safety of treatment. Conclusion. This was a first-in-man clinical experience aimed at evaluating the utility of MRI tracking of USPIO-labeled bone marrow-derived autologous MSCs after intramyocardial injection in patients with chronic IHD. The treatment was safe, and cells were detectable at injection sites up to 14 days after transplantation. Further studies are needed to clarify if MSCs migrate out of the injection area into other areas of the myocardium or if injected cells are washed out into the peripheral circulation. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03651791. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: To investigate the efficacy of implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in the ostium of coronary arteries. Methods: We assigned 96 patients with lesions located in ostias of the coronary circulation to receive a SES or a bare-metal stent (BMS). Results: At follow-up the late lumen loss was 0.07mm in the SES versus 1.06mm in the BMS group (p <0.001); −0.04mm versus 0.11mm (p =0.12) in the neighbour ostium. The rate of target lesion revascularisation was 2% with SES and 39% with BMS (p <0.001), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) 6% versus 41% (p =0.001). Conclusions: In patients with ostial coronary lesions the angiographic outcome is improved and the long-term MACE rate is low after SES compared with BMS implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the use of for + (pro)noun as an adjective complement. Examples of sentences that use the adjective complement; Prepositions used in prepositional phrases serving as adjective complements.

Aims: The aim of the SCIENCE trial was to investigate whether a single treatment with direct intramyocardial injections of adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (CSCC_ASCs) was safe and improved cardiac function in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results: The study was a European multicentre, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase II trial using allogeneic CSCC_ASCs from healthy donors or placebo (2:1 randomization). Main inclusion criteria were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II–III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%, and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) levels >300 pg/ml. CSCC_ASCs or placebo (isotonic saline) were injected directly into viable myocardium. The primary endpoint was change in left ventricular end‐systolic volume (LVESV) at 6‐month follow‐up measured by echocardiography. A total of 133 symptomatic HFrEF patients were included. The treatment was safe without any drug‐related severe adverse events or difference in cardiac‐related adverse events during a 3‐year follow‐up period. There were no significant differences between groups during follow‐up in LVESV (0.3 ± 5.0 ml, p = 0.945), nor in secondary endpoints of left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (−2.0 ± 6.0 ml, p = 0.736) and LVEF (−1.6 ± 1.0%, p = 0.119). The NYHA class improved slightly within the first year in both groups without any difference between groups. There were no changes in 6‐min walk test, NT‐proBNP, C‐reactive protein or quality of life the first year in any groups. Conclusion: The SCIENCE trial demonstrated safety of intramyocardial allogeneic CSCC_ASC therapy in patients with chronic HFrEF. However, it was not possible to improve the pre‐defined endpoints and induce restoration of cardiac function or clinical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High piglet mortality is an issue in the pig production. Evidence indicates that if the time of farrowing can be predicted, the mortality can be reduced through planned supervision or improved climate regulation. The aim of the study was to improve the prediction of onset of farrowing by monitoring pre-parturient behaviour of sows using several sensors and by developing an automated system for the prediction of time to farrowing. The resulting prediction model, named as Hidden Phase-type Markov Model (HPMM), assumes that a sow passes through the behavioural states Before Nest-Building , Nest-Building and Resting before reaching the Farrowing state. Each state was further split into phases, to allow a more realistic distribution of sojourn times. As these phases and states are unobservable, HPMM was used to calculate the probability of a sow being in given phase using the automatic sensor measures. Thus time to farrowing could be predicted at each time point. The prediction algorithm was validated on a sensor data set for about 35 sows, each followed from day 105 (day-105) since mating until the farrowing. Sensors include sow activity measured by video recording as well as by a photo-cell grid, and water consumption. The algorithm was evaluated using heuristic warning strategies e.g. that a warning should be generated when the expected time to farrowing was less than 12 h (inspired by the regulation of floor heating systems). The performance of the sensors was evaluated. Different combinations of sensor types outperformed the use of a single sensor type. Using a combination of water and activity sensors the prediction algorithm gave a coherent warning period prior to farrowing (true warning) in 97% of the cases. The duration from start of the warning period to farrowing had a mean 11.5 (SD = 4.6) h. False warning periods ending before farrowing lasted on average only 0.7 h per sow. The use of HPMM thus allowed a direct prediction of the time to farrowing, handling more than one sensor and a compact representation of historical sensor information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The study assessed long-term safety and efficacy of intramyocardial injection of autologous bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs) in patients with severe stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and refractory angina. Methods: Thirty-one patients with severe stable CAD and refractory angina were included. Patients had reversible myocardial ischemia and no further revascularization options. Autologous BMMSCs were isolated, culture expanded and stimulated with vascular endothelial growth-factor to facilitate endothelial differentiation. BMMSCs were injected into an ischemic, viable region of the myocardium. Patients were followed for 3years. Results: We found significant clinical improvements in exercise time (p=0.0016), angina class (CCS) (p<0.0001), weekly number of angina attacks (p<0.0001) and use of nitroglycerine from (p=0.0017). In the Seattle Angina Questionnaire there were significant improvements in physical limitation score, angina stability score, angina frequency score and quality of life score (all p<0.0001). When comparing all hospital admissions from 3years before to 3years after treatment, we observed highly reduced admission rates for stable angina (p<0.0001), revascularization (p=0.003) and overall cardiovascular disease (p<0.0001). No early or late side-effects of the treatment were observed. Conclusions: The final 3-year follow-up data after intramyocardial injection of autologous BMMSCs, in patients with severe CAD and refractory angina, demonstrated sustained clinical effects, reduced hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease and excellent long-term safety. The results indicate that autotransplantation of BMMSCs to the heart does not only improve symptoms but also slows down disease progression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. YKL-40 is a glycoprotein secreted by macrophages and neutrophils in tissues with inflammation. Plasma YKL-40 is increased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, plasma YKL-40 seems related to the number of diseased main vessels in patients with stable CAD. The aim was to further study the relation between YKL-40 and stenosis degree, stenosis type and actual ischemia in stable CAD patients. Methods. Plasma YKL-40 and hsCRP levels were determined from 206 consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris admitted for coronary angiography. Plasma YKL-40 in 245 healthy subjects was used for comparison. In addition to one to three vessel stenosis scores, two new scores for evaluating coronary angiographies were established for discriminating between focal and diffuse CAD and the extent of myocardial ischemia. Results. YKL-40 levels in CAD patients (median: 52 μg/L and quartiles: 37-85 μg/L) were significantly increased ( p < 0.001) compared to the healthy controls. In univariate analyses plasma YKL-40 was significantly associated with ischemic myocardium score, age, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and serum creatinine levels. In multivariate analyses YKL-40 was related to hsCRP, peripheral artery disease, hypertension, and statin treatment. Conclusions. Plasma YKL-40 was increased in patients with CAD compared to controls. YKL-40 was related to the ischemic myocardium, but not to degree of CAD using different scoring systems. Therefore, YKL-40 is not related to the extent of CAD, but to some other pathophysiological mechanisms of importance for the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To investigate the mobilization of non-haematopoietic and haematopoietic cells from the bone marrow induced by intramyocardial VEGF gene therapy and G-CSF treatment alone or in combination in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (IHD). Secondly, we tested the hypothesis that the quantity of circulating stem cells correlated with improvement in symptoms. Design. We treated I) 16 patients with intramyocardial placebo injections, II) 16 patients with intramyocardial VEGF-A165 gene injections, III) 13 patients with low dose G-CSF, and IV) 16 patients with intramyocardial VEGF-A165 gene followed by high dose G-CSF. Results. Circulating CD34+ cells and CD45 - CD34 - cells increased by G-CSF in a dose-dependent manner, but did not increase with VEGF gene therapy. The CD45 - /CD34- cells subgroups increased in both G-CSF treated groups. No association was found between the concentration of mobilized stem cells in the circulation and improvement in symptoms. Conclusions. G-CSF mobilized both haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic cells from the bone marrow in a dose-dependent manner in patients with chronic IHD. However, even high levels of circulating stem cells did not improve symptoms of IHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Twenty-six sows housed in farrowing pens were observed from 5 days prior to until 5 days after parturition. Pens consisted of a resting area with solid concrete floor and an activity area with drained concrete floor. The sows were randomly distributed between two pen types: Pens where the floor of the resting area was heated to 34°C (HEAT sows) and pens where the floor of the resting area was kept neutral (CONTROL sows). The average room temperature was 19.8±0.8°C. The lying position of the sows as well as posture of the sows were observed continuously and scan sampling was carried out every hour recording the position of the piglets. Thirteen sows chose to farrow in the resting area and 13 in the activity area with no significant difference between treatments. Sows that farrowed in the resting area were lying in the resting area for the majority of their lying time during the 5 days after the birth of the first piglet (BFP), whereas sows that farrowed in the activity area tended to lie more and more in the resting area in the days following parturition, the latter being significantly more pronounced for HEAT sows (F 10,177 =1.92, P =0.04). The number of postural changes was higher in CONTROL sows than in HEAT sows (F 1,20 =7.67, P =0.01), in particular on the day of parturition (day 0). In contrast, the duration of time the sows were active (standing/walking) did not differ significantly between HEAT and CONTROL sows on any days. The percentage of the litter resting without contact with the sow in the resting area increased over days for HEAT piglets whereas the percentage remained low for CONTROL piglets (F 4,79 =4.95, P =0.001). In conclusion, the percentage of sows that farrowed on the heated floor was unaffected by treatment. However, after parturition, both the sows and the piglets actively sought the heated floor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It has previously been shown that when sows lie down in the open there is a much greater risk of piglet crushing than when they lie down alongside a wall, probably because the wall provides support and/or a piglet escape zone. Therefore, walls in farrowing pens should be attractive to the sow, so that she chooses to use them when lying down. EU-regulations state that farrowing pens must be given “some means of protecting the piglets, such as farrowing rails”. Walls with farrowing rails may, however, not be the most appropriate option as they may be unattractive to the sows. We tested sow preferences for lying down alongside a plain wall, a sloping wall or a wall with a farrowing rail. Beforehand, we tested preferences for three sloping wall designs (plain, curved and multiple bars) in order to use the preferred one in the later choice experiment. In both experiments, 4×6 pregnant second–seventh parity individually housed sows were used over a 3-day training and a 4-day testing period. In both experiments, the three types of walls were balanced on position in the pen. In both tests, the sows predominantly lay down alongside the walls (on average, 80±4 and 86±3% of lying down events, respectively). In the test of the three sloping wall designs, the sows had no significant preferences for wall designs. For practical reasons the plain sloping wall was used in the subsequent test. Here, there was a significant effect of wall type (on average, 16±5% of lying down events alongside the wall with the farrowing rail, 48±8% alongside the plain wall and 36±8% alongside the plain sloping wall (P <0.025)). The sows lay down alongside the wall with the farrowing rail less than alongside the plain or the plain sloping wall (P <0.01), but the preference for the two latter wall types did not differ significantly. Irrespective of the wall type, the sows had a significant preference for the back wall of the pen (P <0.001 in both experiments). In conclusion, walls with farrowing rails appear to be less attractive to lie down against than other wall designs. Although farrowing rails provide piglets with escape zones they may not be optimal for piglet survival because they do not encourage the sow to lie down alongside a wall, rather than in the open. Moreover, they may not be optimal from a sow welfare perspective due to lack of support for the sow when lying down. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper analyzes the problem faced by managers of pig fattening units when the pigs are subject to common epidemic diseases, such as respiratory diseases or Swine Influenza. The problem is defined as a simultaneous optimization of the delivery policy and control strategies for disease control. As some disease controls, such as vaccination, are implemented at the batch level and last through the lifetime of the vaccinated pigs, the problem requires that decisions are addressed at multiple timescales. Using the framework of multi-level hierarchic Markov processes a general framework was defined. The elements defining the framework were the decisions at the tactical (batch) level and the operational (daily) level. Decisions at the strategic level, e.g., decisions lasting longer than the length of a batch, were considered as constraints to the lower levels of the decision problem and not optimized. The major components of the general framework were a stochastic growth model, an epidemic model to handle within-batch spread of disease, a transition model to handle the between-batch spread of disease, and link between the growth model and the disease model and a general set of control measures. The model was illustrated using an example with Swine Influenza in an all-in-all-out production system. Results show that the optimal delivery policy and control strategies for disease interact. This suggests that decision support must adopt an integrated approach to modelling the decision complex in pig production in order to represent the full complexity of the system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rooting behaviour appears to be an important part of the behavioural repertoire in pigs. It is suggested that it is in fact a behavioural need. The present study investigated whether nose-ringed gilts, which are unable to root, can satisfactorily substitute rooting with other exploratory activities. The behaviour of 24 gilts in groups of three, half of them nose-ringed, was studied on undisturbed days as well as on days of exposure to four different tests: (1) delayed feeding; (2) double feeding; (3) removal to an unknown area; (4) removal to an unknown area supplied with a trough with stones. The gilts’ posture and their behaviour were recorded by 1-min scan samplings, whereas pawing, aggression, and comfort behaviour were recorded by all occurrence sampling. Observations took place for 2.5 h in the morning and 2.5 h in the afternoon. On undisturbed days no significant differences were found between ringed and unringed gilts as regards the percentage of scans in which the gilts were active and foraging or exploring. However, the unringed gilts rooted significantly more than the ringed gilts (P<0.01). The kind of foraging and exploratory behaviours that the ringed gilts chose as substitutes for rooting depended on the replicate in question, maybe due to more or less nutrition in the grass. On an undisturbed day, there was no significant difference as regards the number of times ringed and unringed gilts were observed performing any behaviour that could be considered a sign of frustration. During delayed and double feeding, ringed and unringed gilts reacted similarly. When exposed to an unknown area, ringed gilts increased the levels of alertness and comfort behaviour, which might indicate frustration. We conclude that in a stable environment ringed gilts were able to substitute other exploratory behaviours for rooting in a satisfactory way. However, it was clear that the gilts that were able to root did so for a large part of their active time, indicating that the experience obtained by rooting was rewarding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An exact line integral representation is derived for the magnetic physical optics field scattered by a perfectly electrically conducting planar plate illuminated by electric or magnetic Hertzian dipoles. The positions of source and observation points can be almost arbitrary. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the exactness of the line integral representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines clinical impact of vascular growth factors and endothelial progenitor cells in the acute coronary syndrome. Vascular growth factors which are of clinical relevance; Categories of endothelium-specific vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF); Characteristics of fibroblast growth factor polypeptides; Role of VEGF in stimulating the development of collateral arteries in an ischemic area of the myocardium.