Ad hoc instrumentation methods in ecological studies produce highly biased temperature measurements

In light of global climate change, ecological studies increasingly address effects of temperature on organisms and ecosystems. To measure air temperature at biologically relevant scales in the field, ecologists often use small, portable temperature sensors. Sensors must be shielded from solar radiation to provide accurate temperature measurements, but our review of 18 years of ecological literature indicates that shielding practices vary across studies (when reported at all), and that ecologists often invent and construct ad hoc radiation shields without testing their efficacy. We performed two field experiments to examine the accuracy of temperature observations from three commonly used portable data loggers (HOBO Pro, HOBO Pendant, and iButton hygrochron) housed in manufactured Gill shields or ad hoc, custom‐fabricated shields constructed from everyday materials such as plastic cups. We installed this sensor array (five replicates of 11 sensor‐shield combinations) at weather stations located in open and forested sites. HOBO Pro sensors with Gill shields were the most accurate devices, with a mean absolute error of 0.2°C relative to weather stations at each site. Error in ad hoc shield treatments ranged from 0.8 to 3.0°C, with the largest errors at the open site. We then deployed one replicate of each sensor‐shield combination at five sites that varied in the amount of urban impervious surface cover, which presents a further shielding challenge. Bias in sensors paired with ad hoc shields increased by up to 0.7°C for every 10% increase in impervious surface. Our results indicate that, due to variable shielding practices, the ecological literature likely includes highly biased temperature data that cannot be compared directly across studies. If left unaddressed, these errors will hinder efforts to predict biological responses to climate change. We call for greater standardization in how temperature data are recorded in the field, handled in analyses, and reported in publications.     

The characteristics of aromatase deficient hairless mice indicate important roles of extragonadal estrogen in the skin

The roles of extragonadal estrogen in the skin are poorly understood, due to the lack of proper animal models. We examined the skin phenotypes of aromatase-knockout hairless (ArKO) mice and wild-type hairless (WT) mice, both of which were obtained through crossbreeding of Ar+/- mice and hairless mice. Differences in the skins of ArKO and WT mice were compared with those of ovariectomized (OVX) and control (Sham) mice. A difference was observed in the skin tone of ArKO mice, which is pale white and differs from the pinkish tone of all other mice. However, both ArKO and OVX mice similarly exhibited deteriorations of skin properties as compared to their respective controls. Furthermore, all the deteriorations were similarly amplified by chronic UVB irradiation in both ArKO and OVX mice as compared to their respective controls. The unique skin phenotype of ArKO mice was observed in sunburn reactions. Specifically, skins of ArKO mice showed no reaction after an acute UVB irradiation at dose intensities caused sunburn in others. However, follow-up observation found delayed reactions associated with brownish skin color and swelling only in ArKO mice, thereby suggesting that the role of extragonadal estrogen may be connected with the protective reactions of skin.     

Late functional and biochemical changes in mouse lung after irradiation: differential effects of WR-2721

The radioprotective effect of WR-2721 on late damage after whole thorax irradiation has been studied after split doses of radiation using the standard death and breathing rate assays at monthly intervals between 3 and 15 months after irradiation, as well as two biochemical measurements of injury at 15 months, hydroxyproline (HP), an indicator of tissue fibrosis, and DNA content, an indicator of tissue cellularity. A comparison of HP/lung and breaths per minute (BPM) in each dose group in the WR-2721 and non-WR-2721-treated mice 15 months after irradiation showed that the relationship between these two assays of late lung injury was not the same. There were large dose-related increases in breathing rate corresponding to relatively small changes in HP in the lungs of mice given radiation alone. In contrast, the mice given WR-2721 before irradiation showed large dose-related increases in HP/lung, but BPM remained relatively constant independent of dose. These data suggest then that changes in breathing rate and deaths later than 9 months after whole lung irradiation may not be due to collagen accumulation in the lung. WR-2721 did protect better against late lung functional changes (protection factors (PF) = 1.6) and late deaths (PF = 1.51) than against earlier changes in these same assays (PF = 1.4 and 1.28, respectively). Although the earlier-appearing injury after whole thoracic irradiation is most likely related to lung damage with deaths and increases in breathing rate resulting from pneumonitis, the cause of the late-appearing functional injury in the lung after radiation is not clear. Thus protection of late lung damage measured from either lethality or breathing rate is not related to the prevention of lung fibrosis.     

Radiation protection from external exposure to radionuclides: A Monte Carlo data handbook

The availability of a resource collecting dose factors for the evaluation of the absorbed doses from external exposure during the manipulation of radioactive substances is fundamental for radiological protection purposes. Monte Carlo simulations are useful for the accurate calculation of dose distributions in complex geometries, particularly in presence of extended spectra of multi-radiation sources. We considered, as possible irradiation scenarios, a point source, a uniform planar source resembling a contaminated surface, several source volumes contained in plastic or glass receptacles, and the direct skin contamination case, implementing the corresponding Monte Carlo simulations in GAMOS (GEANT4-based Architecture for Medicine-Oriented Simulations). A set of 50 radionuclides was studied, focusing the attention on those ones mainly used in nuclear medicine, both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, in nuclear physics laboratories and for instrument calibration. Skin dose equivalents at 70 μm of depth and deep dose equivalents at 10 mm of depth are reported for different configurations and organized in easy-to-read tables.     

Repeated invasive lung function measurements in intubated mice: an approach for longitudinal lung research

Invasive lung function measurements are useful tools to describe respiratory disease models in mice but only result in one time-point measurements because of tracheostomy. We explored if intubation may overcome the need for tracheostomy thereby allowing invasive lung function monitoring of individual mice over time. Repeated invasive lung function measurements with Scireq(?) - FlexiVent or Buxco(?) - Forced Pulmonary Maneuvers(?) were performed three times in BALB/c mice with intervals of 10 days. Each lung function assessment following intubation was compared with a similar measurement in age-matched tracheostomized mice, the golden standard in lung function measurements. Tracheostomy and intubation gave similar results for resistance, elastance and compliance of the whole respiratory system as assessed by Flexivent. Likewise, Forced Pulmonary Maneuvers used to measure lung volumes such as total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, forced expiratory volume in 0.1 s and forced vital capacity, resulted in identical outcomes for both airway approaches. No interaction was found between the procedures for any of the pulmonary function variables. The observed changes over time were rather related to animal growth than to repetitive intubation. Eighty percent of the animals survived three consecutive intubations, which were hampered by transient breathing difficulties, weight loss and neutrophilic bronchoalveolar lavage immediately postextubation. Repetitive invasive lung function measurements by intubation are feasible and reproducible in healthy mice and results are comparable to the standard method. This may open new perspectives for longitudinal research in animal models of respiratory diseases.     

Skin temperature changes induced by strong static magnetic field exposure

High intensity static magnetic fields, when applied to the whole body of the anesthetized rat, have previously been reported to decrease skin temperature. The hypothesis of the present study was that in diamagnetic water, molecules in the air play significant roles in the mechanism of skin temperature decrease. We used a horizontal cylindrical superconducting magnet. The magnet produced 8 T at its center. A thermistor probe was inserted in a subcutaneous pocket of the anesthetized rats to measure skin temperature. Animals (n=10) were placed in an open plastic holder in which the ambient air was free to move in any direction (group I). Animals (n=10) were placed in a closed holder in which the air circulation toward the direction of weak magnetic field was restricted (group II). Each holder was connected to a hydrometer to measure humidity around the animal in the holder. The data acquisition phase consisted of a 5 min baseline interval, followed by inserting the animal together with the holder into the center of the magnet bore for a 5 min exposure and a 5 min postexposure period outside the bore. In group I, skin temperature and humidity around the animal significantly decreased during exposure, followed by recovery after exposure. In group II, skin temperature and humidity did not decrease during the measurement. The skin temperature decrease was closely related to the decrease in humidity around the body of the animal in the holder, and the changes were completely blocked by restricting the air circulation in the direction of the bore entrance. Possible mechanisms responsible for the decrease in skin temperature may be associated with magnetically induced movement of water vapor at the skin surface, leading to skin temperature decrease.     

基于体素模型的中子外照射小鼠器官剂量分布

获得外照射条件下动物的器官剂量,为生物效应评价、剂量-效应关系研究提供准确的剂量信息和依据,是近年来辐射生物效应研究的热点.本文基于建立的一个质量为26.9g的小鼠体素模型（体素精度为0.2mm×0.2mm×0.2mm,体素数量为9424000）,利用蒙特卡罗方法计算了5种照射几何条件（左侧向、右侧向、腹背向、背腹向和各向同性）下,中子能量为10-9～20MeV共37个能量点的小鼠器官剂量转换系数,基于此套数据,在照射条件已知情况下,可以获得小鼠的器官剂量;分析讨论了照射几何条件、中子能量及器官的位置对小鼠器官剂量的影响.     

Mobile shielding evaluation on the fetal dose during a breast radiotherapy using Monte Carlo simulation

PurposeEvaluation of the out-of-field dose is an important aspect in radiotherapy. Due to the fetus radiosensitivity, this evaluation becomes even more conclusive when the patient is pregnant. In this work, a linear accelerator Varian Clinac 2100c operating at 6 MV, a pregnant anthropomorphic phantom (Maria), and different shields added above the abdominal region of the phantom were used for the analysis based on MCNPX. Methods: The simulations were performed for the medial and lateral projections, using either an open field collimation (10×16 cm²) or a multileaf collimator. The added shields (M1 and M2) were designed based on models proposed by Stovall et al. [1], intending to reduce the deposited dose on the fetus and related structures. Results: The presence of the shields showed to be effective in reducing the doses on the fetus, amniotic sac, and placenta, for example. A reduction of about 43% was found in the dose on the fetus when M2 was added, using the open field collimation, in comparison with the situation with no shield, being the lateral projection the main responsible for the dose. The use of MLC significatively reduced the doses in different structures, including on the fetus and amniotic sac, for example, in comparison to the open field situation. A slight increment on the dose in organs such as the eyes, thyroid and brain was found in both collimation systems, due to the presence of the shields. The contribution of the leakage radiation from the tube head of the linear accelerator was found to be in the order of µGy, being reduced by the presence of the M2 shield. Conclusion: Using the shields showed to be an essential feature in order to reduce the dose not only on the fetus, but also in important structures responsible to its development.     

Protection by interleukin 1 against lung toxicity caused by cyclophosphamide and irradiation

Interleukin 1 has been shown to provide protection against the toxic effects of cyclophosphamide given in combination with localized irradiation of the lung. A single dose of 15 micrograms/kg interleukin 1 was given 24 h before cyclophosphamide (25-125 mg/kg) which was followed 1 day later by five daily exposures of 4.5 or 5.0 Gy, localized to the lung. Interleukin 1 significantly reduced early measurements of breathing rate for mice treated with high cyclophosphamide doses and irradiation, and at cyclophosphamide doses above 50 mg/kg, there was a significant reduction in the lethality from the combined treatment. At lower levels of cyclophosphamide, however, there seemed to be no effect.     

Dose to the skin in helical tomotherapy: Results of in vivo measurements with radiochromic films

PurposeThe aim of this study is to report results of measurements of dose to the skin in vivo with radiochromic EBT films in treatments with helical tomotherapy.Methods and materialsIn vivo measurements were performed by applying pieces of radiochromic films to the skin or to the inner side of thermoplastic mask before the treatment. The sites of treatment included scalp, brain, head and neck, cranio-spinal axis and lower limbs. Skin dosimetry was performed in a patient who experienced grade 3–4 acute side effects to the skin shortly after the first treatment sessions. For each patient we measured the setup errors using the daily MVCT acquired for image guidance of the treatment. EBT films were read with a flatbed Epson Expression scanner and images were processed with an in-house written routine.ResultsA total of 96 measurements of dose to the skin performed on 14 patients. The mean difference and standard error of the mean difference between measured and TPS-calculated dose was ?9.2% ± 2.6% for all treatments, ?6.6% ± 2.6% for head and neck treatments. These differences were statistically significant at the 0.05 significance level (t-Student test). Planned dose and dose range in the region of measurements were not correlated with dose discrepancy.ConclusionsRadiochromic EBT films are suitable detectors for surface dose measurements in tomotherapy treatments. Results show that TPS overestimates dose to the skin measured with EBT radiochromic films. In vivo skin measurements with EBT films are a useful tool for quality assurance of tomotherapy treatments, as the treatment planning system may not give accurate dose values at the surface.     

Uptake of carbon monoxide by C3H mice following X irradiation of lung only or total-body irradiation with 60Co

Carbon monoxide uptake (Vco) and ventilation rate (VR) of C3H mice were determined at 14 weeks following either X irradiation of lungs only or total-body irradiation with 60Co at different dose rates. Following localized X irradiation of lung at 97 cGy/min there was a reduction in Vco, which was inversely related to radiation dose, with a small reduction below control levels being detected at 7 Gy, the lowest dose tested. An increase in VR could be detected only at doses of 11 Gy, or more. Another group of animals received 11.5 Gy total-body irradiation at either 26.2 or 4.85 cGy/min followed by transplantation with syngeneic bone marrow. Following total-body irradiation, Vco was significantly reduced by about 37% at the higher dose rate and 23% at the lower dose rate. In contrast, a trend toward elevated VR was detected only at the higher dose rate. The results indicate that Vco is a sensitive indicator of radiation-induced lung injury and that under the experimental conditions used Vco is a more sensitive indicator of radiation-induced lung injury in C3H mice than VR.     

Cage enrichment with paper tissue, but not plastic tunnels, increases variability in mouse model of asthma

Environmental enrichment, besides having a great impact on animal welfare, can also be a potential variable in experimental research. Thus, we investigated whether enrichment of cages with paper tissues or plastic tunnels affects scientific outcome in the well-described mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/cJ mice were introduced to paper tissues as nesting material, transparent plastic tunnels serving as shelters or kept in non-enriched cages. Afterwards, mice were sensitized to chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA) precipitated in aluminium sulphate and then intranasally challenged with OVA to induce allergic lung inflammation. Mice housed in cages enriched with paper tissues, but not with plastic tunnels, had increased total cell number, eosinophil number and IL-13 concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in comparison with the non-enriched control group. These results indicate that the effect of environmental enrichment on mice asthma models depends on the type of enrichment used. Therefore, it is important to consider the potential effects of any environmental enrichment on animal welfare and more importantly, on research results in order to standardize and obtain more accurate data from rodent studies.     

The gastrointestinal syndrome and mucosal clonogenic cells: relationships between target cell sensitivities, LD50 and cell survival, and their modification by antibiotics

The sensitivity of the target cells responsible for the gastrointestinal syndrome in mice was deduced from the steepness of the dose-survival curve for mice assessed on Day 7 after irradiation. The D0 value was 1.25 +/- 0.22 Gy, virtually identical to the value of 1.23 +/- 0.08 measured for microcolony-forming cells (clonogens) over about the same range of dose in concurrent experiments. The survival of clonogens was similar when assayed in mice surviving to Days 3, 4, or 5, but clonogenic sensitivity was lower when assessed on Day 7. This was shown at one dose to be due largely to a selection of mice with high colony counts with only a small contribution from crypt budding. The LD50 for mice corresponded to a surviving fraction of crypts of about 0.35. An injection of 5 mg streptomycin sulphate ip daily for 5 days after irradiation increased the latent period by about 1 day, increased the LD50 by about 1.4 Gy, but did not significantly change the survival of clonogens. These studies are the first to test and satisfy the interpretation of a dose-response curve for animal survival in terms of "target cell" survival, where measurements of both are made over a similar range of dose in concurrent experiments.     

Protective effect of total gaseous hypoxia on the development of remote pathology of the lungs in rats exposed to a one-time local irradiation

A comparative study was conducted on the development of a remote radiation pathology in rat lungs after single local irradiation with doses of 10, 14.3 and 20 Gy in the air, and 14.3 and 20 Gy in a gas hypoxic mixture containing 10 per cent of oxygen. From the morphological evaluation of the dynamics and the degree of pneumosclerosis manifestations at different times following irradiation the protective effect of gas hypoxic mixture was evident whose value, as estimated by the accretion of the connective tissue in the exposed lung, was a function of radiation dose.     

Total skin electron beam (TSEB) therapy in pediatric patients: A review of the literature

Aim

A literature review was undertaken to identify current TSEB therapy in pediatric patients.

Background

Total skin electron beam (TSEB) therapy is a method of irradiation with low energy electron beam dedicated to patients who have superficial skin lesions all over their body. Such skin malignancies are sparse among adults and even more uncommon with pediatric population.

Materials and methods

In this study, all reported case reports were summed up with a special emphasis on techniques used, doses prescribed and special shielding of critical organs. Moreover, potential problems that were encountered during TSEB irradiation of very young patients were depicted.

Results

The literature has described only seven case reports of children undergoing TSEB therapy. Most of them were infants; however, two adolescents were also treated. For all infants, general anesthesia was provided to allow safe and accurate TSEB irradiation. The prescribed dose varied from 16 Gy to 28 Gy depending on the irradiation schedule and patient condition. Usually, boost fields were applied to the scalp and perineum. Typical shields for fingernails, toenails and lenses were usually used.

Conclusion

This paper revealed that TSEB therapy may be considered as a palliative treatment for pediatric patients with leukemia cutis. However, its role is still unclear and should be further investigated.     

6X Acuros algorithm validation in the presence of inhomogeneities for VMAT treatment planning

AimTo validate the Acuros®XB (AXB) dose calculation algorithm for a 6 MV beam from the Varian TrueBeam treatment units.BackgroundCurrently Anisotropic Analytic Algorithm (AAA) is clinically used on authors’ department but AXB could replace it for VMAT treatments in regions where inhomogeneities and free air are present.Materials and methodsTwo steps are followed in the validation process of a new dose calculation algorithm. The first is to check the accuracy of algorithm for a homogenous phantom and regular fields. Multiple fields of increasing complexity have been acquired using a MapCheck diode array. The accuracy of the algorithm was evaluated using the gamma analysis method. The second is to validate the algorithm in the presence of heterogeneous media. Planar absolute dose was measured with GafChromic®EBT2 film and was compared with the dose calculated by AXB. Gamma analysis was performed between MapCheck measurements and AXB dose calculations, at a range of clinical source-surface distance.ResultsFor SSDs ranging from 80 to 100 cm, the results show a minimum pass rate of 95% between AXB and MapCheck acquisition. For open 6 MV photon beam interacting with a phantom with an air gap, the agreement after the air gap between AXB and GafChromic®EBT2 is less than 1% in the 3 × 3cm² field and less than 2% in the 10 × 10 cm² field.ConclusionsAXB has advanced modelling of lateral electron transport that enables a more accurate dose calculation in heterogeneous regions and, compared with AAA, improves accuracy between different density interfaces. This will be of particular benefit for head/neck treatments.     

红酵母固态发酵类胡萝卜素产物稳定性的研究

探讨了红酵母固态发酵类胡萝卜素产物的干燥及储存方法;比较了真空干燥和鼓风干燥2种方法对固态发酵产物稳定性的影响;考察了光照、空气、储藏温度对固态发酵产物稳定性的影响。结果表明:在相同温度下,真空干燥(5.67±0.58)h比鼓风干燥所需时间短(9.33±0.58)h、类胡萝卜素损失小,效果也较好;光照和空气对其储藏过程中色素稳定性影响很大,30 d后类胡萝卜素损失了53%;培养物烘干后用透明塑料袋真空避光储藏效果显著,6个月后类胡萝卜素只损失19%,不抽真空损失了46%;温度对培养产物中色素稳定性影响不显著;红酵母菌株固态发酵培养产物应选择真空避光室温储藏。     

Artifact-free CT images for electron beam therapy using a patient-specific non metallic shield

Patient’s CT images taken with metallic shields for radiotherapy suffer from artifacts. Furthermore, the treatment planning system (TPS) has a limitation on accurate dose calculations for high density materials. In this study, a Monte Carlo (MC)-based method was developed to accurately evaluate the dosimetric effect of the metallic shield. Two patients with a commercial tungsten shield of lens and two patients with a custom-made lead shield of lip were chosen to produce their non-metallic dummy shields using 3D scanner and printer. With these dummy shields, we generated artifact-free CT images. The maximum CT number allowed in TPS was assigned to metallic shields. MC simulations with real material information were carried out. In addition, clinically relevant dose-volumetric parameters were calculated for the comparison between MC and TPS. Relative dosimetry was performed using radiochromic films. The dose reductions below metallic structures were shown on MC dose distributions, but not evident on TPS dose distributions. The differences in dose-volumetric parameters of PTV between TPS and MC for eye shield cases were not clearly shown. However, the mean dose of lens from TPS and MC was different. The MC results were in superior agreement with measured data in relative dosimetry. The lens dose could be overestimated by TPS. The differences in dose-volumetric parameters of PTV between TPS and MC were generally larger in lip cases than in eye cases. The developed method is useful in predicting the realistic dose distributions around the organs blocked by the metallic shields.     

Phenotyping Mouse Pulmonary Function In Vivo with the Lung Diffusing Capacity

The mouse is now the primary animal used to model a variety of lung diseases. To study the mechanisms that underlie such pathologies, phenotypic methods are needed that can quantify the pathologic changes. Furthermore, to provide translational relevance to the mouse models, such measurements should be tests that can easily be done in both humans and mice. Unfortunately, in the present literature few phenotypic measurements of lung function have direct application to humans. One exception is the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, which is a measurement that is routinely done in humans. In the present report, we describe a means to quickly and simply measure this diffusing capacity in mice. The procedure involves brief lung inflation with tracer gases in an anesthetized mouse, followed by a 1 min gas analysis time. We have tested the ability of this method to detect several lung pathologies, including emphysema, fibrosis, acute lung injury, and influenza and fungal lung infections, as well as monitoring lung maturation in young pups. Results show significant decreases in all the lung pathologies, as well as an increase in the diffusing capacity with lung maturation. This measurement of lung diffusing capacity thus provides a pulmonary function test that has broad application with its ability to detect phenotypic structural changes with most of the existing pathologic lung models.