Statistics in Medical Physics. The 28th European School of Medical Physics Experts.

One of the aims of EFOMP is to organise events for education, training and continuous professional development. For this reason, the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics has developed a series of schools, called the European School for Medical Physics Experts (ESMPE). These are designed for medical physicists working as Medical Physics Experts (MPE) or in training to become an MPE and the level of training is at EQF level 8.

Isolated autism is not an indication for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome biochemical testing.

Unlabelled: Several studies have demonstrated a high incidence of autistic spectrum features in individuals with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS). However, do these findings imply a converse relationship that has diagnostic utility? Is SLOS testing implicated when autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the only clinical indication?

Aim: To determine if there is any correlation with a clinical indication of ASD and a biochemical diagnosis of SLOS, based on historical test request and assay data.

Methods: Six years (2008-2013) of clinical test requests for 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) level were classified and summarised according to indication and final test result.

Generation and molecular marker and cytological characterization of wheat - subsp derivatives.

Cereal rye and its wild forms are important sources of genetic diversity for wheat breeding due to their resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses. subsp. (Boiss.

Development of RNA-seq-based molecular markers for characterizing and introgressions in wheat.

Sequence-based markers have added a new dimension in the efficiency of identifying alien introgressions in wheat. Expressed sequence tag-sequence tagged sites (EST-STS) markers have proved useful in tracing alien chromatin. In this study, we report the development of and -specific EST-STS markers and their application in tracing respective alien chromatin introgressions in wheat.

Comparative analysis of brain pathology in heparan sulphate storing mucopolysaccharidoses.

The cause of neurodegeneration in MPS mouse models is the focus of much debate and what the underlying cause of disease pathology in MPS mice is. The timing of development of pathology and when this can be reversed or impacted is the key to developing suitable therapies in MPS. This study is the first of its kind to correlate the biochemical changes with the functional outcome as assessed using non-invasive behaviour testing across multiple mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) mouse models.

Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) improves water use efficiency and yield of hexaploid bread wheat.

Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) is a potential source of new genetic diversity for the improvement of hexaploid bread wheat. Emmer wheat was crossed and backcrossed to bread wheat and 480 doubled haploids (DHs) were produced from BCF plants with hexaploid appearance derived from 19 crossses. These DHs were screened under well-watered conditions (E1) in 2013 to identify high-yielding materials with similar phenology.

A Synergistic Genetic Engineering Strategy Induced Triacylglycerol Accumulation in Potato () Leaf.

Potato is the 4th largest staple food in the world currently. As a high biomass crop, potato harbors excellent potential to produce energy-rich compounds such as triacylglycerol as a valuable co-product. We have previously reported that transgenic potato tubers overexpressing , , and genes produced considerable levels of triacylglycerol.

Development and molecular cytogenetic characterization of Thinopyrum bessarabicum introgression lines in hexaploid and tetraploid wheats.

A variety of Thinopyrum bessarabicum introgressions in both hexaploid and tetraploid wheats were generated and characterized by molecular cytogenetic analysis. Six wheat-J genome recombinants were identified with ND-FISH and GISH. Diploid wheatgrass, Thinopyrum bessarabicum (2n = 2x = 14, EE or JJ or JJ), is a well-known alien source of salinity tolerance and disease resistance for wheat improvement.

Upregulated Lipid Biosynthesis at the Expense of Starch Production in Potato () Vegetative Tissues Simultaneous Downregulation of and Expressions.

Triacylglycerol is a major component of vegetable oil in seeds and fruits of many plants, but its production in vegetative tissues is rather limited. It would be intriguing and important to explore any possibility to expand current oil production platforms, for example from the plant vegetative tissues. By expressing a suite of transgenes involved in the triacylglycerol biosynthesis, we have previously observed substantial accumulation of triacylglycerol in tobacco () leaf and potato () tuber.

A GDSL Esterase/Lipase Catalyzes the Esterification of Lutein in Bread Wheat.

Xanthophylls are a class of carotenoids that are important micronutrients for humans. They are often found esterified with fatty acids in fruits, vegetables, and certain grains, including bread wheat (). Esterification promotes the sequestration and accumulation of carotenoids, thereby enhancing stability, particularly in tissues such as in harvested wheat grain.

Bio-banding in academy football: player's perceptions of a maturity matched tournament.

Individual differences in biological maturation impact player selection and development in youth football. To evaluate players perceptions of competing in a football tournament where they were matched by maturity rather than chronological age. Participants included male junior footballers from three professional academies ( 115).

Effect of Creatine Supplementation on the Airways of Youth Elite Soccer Players.

Introduction: Owing to its well-established ergogenic potential, creatine is a highly popular food supplement in sports. As an oral supplement, creatine is considered safe and ethical. However, no data exist on the safety of creatine on lung function in athletes.

Molecular-Level Interpretation of Vibrational Spectra of Ordered Ice Phases.

We build on results from our previous investigation into ice I using a combination of classical many-body molecular dynamics (MB-MD) and normal mode (NM) calculations to obtain molecular-level information on the spectroscopic signatures in the OH stretching region for all seven of the known ordered crystalline ice phases. The classical MB-MD spectra are shown to capture the important spectral features by comparing with experimental Raman spectra. This motivates the use of the classical simulations in understanding the spectral features of the various ordered ice phases in molecular terms.

Quality Controls in Digital Mammography protocol of the EFOMP Mammo Working group.

This article aims to present the protocol on Quality Controls in Digital Mammography published online in 2015 by the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP) which was developed by a Task Force under the Mammo Working Group. The main objective of this protocol was to define a minimum set of easily implemented quality control tests on digital mammography systems that can be used to assure the performance of a system within a set and acceptable range. Detailed step-by-step instructions have been provided, limiting as much as possible any misinterpretations or variations by the person performing.

Gated metabolic myocardial imaging, a surrogate for dual perfusion-metabolism imaging by positron emission tomography.

Objective: Perfusion-metabolism mismatch pattern on positron emission tomography (PET) predicts hibernating myocardium. We assess the ECG-gated metabolic PET as a surrogate for the perfusion-metabolism mismatch pattern on PET imaging.

Methods: N-Ammonia (NH) and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) are respectively perfusion and metabolism PET tracers.

Protein interactions during flour mixing using wheat flour with altered starch.

Wheat grain proteins responses to mixing and thermal treatment were investigated using Mixolab-dough analysis systems with flour from two cultivars, Ventura-26 (normal amylose content) and Ventura-19 (reduced amylose content). Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) analysis revealed that, stress associated and metabolic proteins largely interacted with dough matrix of Ventura-26 after 26min (56°C); gliadins, avenin-like b proteins, LMW-GSs, and partial globulins showed stronger interactions within the dough matrix of Ventura-26 at 32min/C3 (80°C), thereafter, however, stronger protein interactions were observed within the dough matrix of Ventura-19 at 38min/C4 (85°C) and 43min (80°C). Thirty-seven proteins associated with changes in dough matrix due to reduced amylose content were identified by mass spectrometry and mainly annotated to the chromosome group 1, 4, and 6.

Automated extraction of single H atoms with STM: tip state dependency.

The atomistic structure of the tip apex plays a crucial role in performing reliable atomic-scale surface and adsorbate manipulation using scanning probe techniques. We have developed an automated extraction routine for controlled removal of single hydrogen atoms from the H:Si(100) surface. The set of atomic extraction protocols detect a variety of desorption events during scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-induced modification of the hydrogen-passivated surface.

N-butyldeoxynojirimycin treatment restores the innate fear response and improves learning in mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA mice.

Unlabelled: Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA is a heritable neurodegenerative disorder resulting from the dysfunction of the lysosomal hydrolase sulphamidase. This leads to the primary accumulation of the complex carbohydrate heparan sulphate in a wide range of tissues and the secondary neuronal storage of gangliosides GM2 and GM3 in the brain. GM2 storage is associated with CNS deterioration in the GM2 gangliosidosis group of lysosomal storage disorders and may also contribute to MPS CNS disease.

Genetic loci inherited from hens lacking maternal behaviour both inhibit and paradoxically promote this behaviour.

Background: A major step towards the success of chickens as a domesticated species was the separation between maternal care and reproduction. Artificial incubation replaced the natural maternal behaviour of incubation and, thus, in certain breeds, it became possible to breed chickens with persistent egg production and no incubation behaviour; a typical example is the White Leghorn strain. Conversely, some strains, such as the Silkie breed, are prized for their maternal behaviour and their willingness to incubate eggs.

The European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics Policy Statement no. 15: recommended guidelines on the role of the Medical Physicist within the hospital governance board.

This EFOMP Policy Statement presents an outline on hospital governance and encourages the participation of the Medical Physicist in the hospital governance. It also emphasises how essential it is for Medical Physicists to engage in their hospital's governing board's committees for the overall good of the patient.

Uncoupling clutch size, prolactin, and luteinizing hormone using experimental egg removal.

Clutch size is a key avian fitness and life history trait. A physiological model for clutch size determination (CSD), involving an anti-gonadal effect of prolactin (PRL) via suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH), was proposed over 20 years ago, but has received scant experimental attention since. The few studies looking at a PRL-based mechanistic hypothesis for CSD have been equivocal, but recent experiments utilizing a pharmacological agent to manipulate PRL in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) found no support for a role of this hormone in clutch size determination.

Identifying tips for intramolecular NC-AFM imaging via in situ fingerprinting.

A practical experimental strategy is proposed that could potentially enable greater control of the tip apex in non-contact atomic force microscopy experiments. It is based on a preparation of a structure of interest alongside a reference surface reconstruction on the same sample. Our proposed strategy is as follows.

TILLING for plant breeding.

TILLING is widely used in plant functional genomics. Mutagenesis and SNP detection is combined to allow for the isolation of mutations in genes of interest. It can also be used as a plant breeding tool, whereby variation in known or candidate genes of interest to breeding programs is generated.