Evaluating health facility access using Bayesian spatial models and location analysis methods.

Background: Floating catchment methods have recently been applied to identify priority regions for Automated External Defibrillator (AED) deployment, to aid in improving Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) survival. This approach models access as a supply-to-demand ratio for each area, targeting areas with high demand and low supply for AED placement. These methods incorporate spatial covariates on OHCA occurrence, but do not provide precise AED locations, which are critical to the initial intent of such location analysis research.

Novel relocation methods for automatic external defibrillator improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest coverage under limited resources.

Background: Mathematical optimisation models have recently been applied to identify ideal Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) locations that maximise coverage of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA). However, these fixed location models cannot relocate existing AEDs in a flexible way, and have nearly exclusively been applied to urban regions. We developed a flexible location model for AEDs, compared its performance to existing fixed location and population models, and explored how these perform across urban and rural regions.

β-amylase-like proteins function as transcription factors in Arabidopsis, controlling shoot growth and development.

Plants contain β-amylase-like proteins (BAMs; enzymes usually associated with starch breakdown) present in the nucleus rather than targeted to the chloroplast. They possess BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 (BZR1)-type DNA binding domains--also found in transcription factors mediating brassinosteroid (BR) responses. The two Arabidopsis thaliana BZR1-BAM proteins (BAM7 and BAM8) bind a cis-regulatory element that both contains a G box and resembles a BR-responsive element.

Beta-AMYLASE4, a noncatalytic protein required for starch breakdown, acts upstream of three active beta-amylases in Arabidopsis chloroplasts.

This work investigated the roles of beta-amylases in the breakdown of leaf starch. Of the nine beta-amylase (BAM)-like proteins encoded in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome, at least four (BAM1, -2, -3, and -4) are chloroplastic. When expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli, BAM1, BAM2, and BAM3 had measurable beta-amylase activity but BAM4 did not.

Starch breakdown: recent discoveries suggest distinct pathways and novel mechanisms.

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of current models of starch breakdown in leaves. We summarise the results of our recent work focusing on Arabidopsis, relating them to other work in the field. Early biochemical studies of starch containing tissues identified numerous enzymes capable of participating in starch degradation.

A moderate elevation of blood glucose level increases the effectiveness of thermoradiotherapy in a rat tumor model II. Improved tumor control at clinically achievable temperatures.

Purpose: To assess the therapeutic gain (at the TCD(50) level) that can be obtained by boosting thermoradiotherapy with intravenous glucose infusion at different temperatures. This completes our series of studies to determine the optimal conditions and the effectiveness of glucose administration at clinically achievable glucose levels and treatment temperatures.

Methods And Materials: Subcutaneous rat rhabdomyosarcoma BA1112 was irradiated with graded single doses of 300-kV X-rays (dose range 0-60 Gy).

A moderate elevation of blood glucose level increases the effectiveness of thermoradiotherapy in a rat tumor model. I. Relative contributions of glucose and heating to tumor acidification.

Purpose: To establish dose-effect relationships for tumor acidification induced by heat and glucose as a basis for testing the value of adding glucose administration to combined heat and x-ray treatment at clinically achievable glucose and temperature levels.

Methods And Materials: Rhabdomyosarcoma BA1112 was grown s.c.

[A Belgian surgical team at the Battle of Normandie in 1944].

During the year 1992, the main episodes of the battle of Normandy (1944) were commemorated with solemnity and dignity. The workmen of the victory, in what was called the greatest Battle of History, were essentially the American, British and Canadian troops. But, units composed of men from some European countries, particularly Frenchmen, Poles, Dutchmen and Belgians were also involved.

Radiofrequency capacitive heating of deep-seated tumours using pre-cooling of the subcutaneous tissues: results on thermometry in Dutch patients.

The capacity of a radiofrequency, 13.56 MHz, capacitive hyperthermia system using extensive pre-cooling of the subcutaneous tissue to induce locoregional deep heating has been investigated in 11 patients. Tumour location was presacral in nine--and eccentric towards the lateral side of the pelvis in two patients.

Dose-effect relationships for glucose-induced tumour acidification and its erythrocyte flux.

Preclinical investigations were performed with glucose administration in WAG/Rij rats carrying the rhabdomyosarcoma BA1112 in two sites per animal: one in the subcutis of the flank (for pH measurements in the tumour tissue) and one in the transparent "sandwich" chamber for measuring the erythrocyte flux in the tumour tissue as an indication for changes in tumour blood flow. A glucose solution (20%) was slowly infused intravenously in a range of dose levels, similar to those reported for inducing long-term hyperglycaemia in man. The eventual aim of such investigations is to sensitise tumours for hyperthermic treatment.

A ring capacitor applicator in hyperthermia: energy distributions in a fat-muscle layered model for different ring electrode configurations.

The energy deposition pattern within a radially layered fat-muscle phantom, diameter 135 mm, heated by a novel ring capacitor applicator has been determined experimentally as well as theoretically. Good to excellent agreement is found between measured and predicted energy distributions. For the specific absorption rate in the muscle tissue the differences are in general smaller than 6%.

Measurement of tumor pH during microwave induced experimental and clinical hyperthermia with a fiber optic pH measurement system.

The influence of hyperthermia on tissue pH was investigated using a modified version of the fiber optic monitoring system. This newly developed system was tested for use in tissues and found to be suitable for pH measurement during microwave induced hyperthermia. The fiber optic pH probe (0.

Development of blood vessel-related radiation damage in the fimbria of the central nervous system.

The identification problem of the dose-limiting tissue component was investigated in the CNS of rats. Moderate single doses of radiation, ranging from 20 to 25 Gy were applied to the brain of adult female rats. The sequence of events was analyzed by scoring a series of morphological changes in one of the white matter structures that appears to represent a sensitive location, that is the fimbria hippocampi.

Differences in the response of the microcirculation to hyperthermia in five different tumours.

The response of the microcirculation in five different tumours, growing in 'sandwich' observation chambers in the back of the rat, to hyperthermia was investigated. The tumours investigated encompassed three human xenografted tumours, of which two were carcinomata of the colon and one of the lung, and two isologous rat tumours, the Rhabdomyosarcoma BA1112 and a rat mammary carcinoma. It was concluded (1) that the various tumours required significantly different exposure times for inducing 50% stoppage of the tumour microcirculation (ST50).

The relationship between the unmodified initial tissue pH of human tumours and the response to combined radiotherapy and local hyperthermia treatment.

The relationship between unmodified tumour pH before treatment and tumour response was investigated in patients receiving combined radiotherapy and local hyperthermia treatment. Tumour pH showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the response rate (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.31, n = 50, 2P less than 0.

Time- and dose-related changes in the white matter of the rat brain after single doses of X rays.

Following the local irradiation of the rat brain with single doses of 17.5-25 Gy of X rays, necrosis of the white matter was seen after a latent interval of greater than 26 weeks. At 39 weeks and 52 weeks after irradiation the incidence of necrosis was dose-related.