Completeness of the cubic and quartic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonians

The quartic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonian $H = (P_1^2+P_2^2)/2+(\Omega_1 Q_1^2+\Omega_2 Q_2^2)/2 +C Q_1^4+ B Q_1^2 Q_2^2 + A Q_2^4 +(1/2)(\alpha/Q_1^2+\beta/Q_2^2) - \gamma Q_1$ passes the Painlev\'e test for only four sets of values of the constants. Only one of these, identical to the traveling wave reduction of the Manakov system, has been explicitly integrated (Wojciechowski, 1985), while the three others are not yet integrated in the generic case $(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\not=(0,0,0)$. We integrate them by building a birational transformation to two fourth order first degree equations in the classification (Cosgrove, 2000) of such polynomial equations which possess the Painlev\'e property. This transformation involves the stationary reduction of various partial differential equations (PDEs). The result is the same as for the three cubic H\'enon-Heiles Hamiltonians, namely, in all four quartic cases, a general solution which is meromorphic and hyperelliptic with genus two. As a consequence, no additional autonomous term can be added to either the cubic or the quartic Hamiltonians without destroying the Painlev\'e integrability (completeness property).Comment: 10 pages, To appear, Theor.Math.Phys. Gallipoli, 34 June--3 July 200

Information seeking behavioural paths of physicians for diabetes mellitus care: a qualitative comparative analysis of information needs, sources, and barriers

This study addresses diabetes physicians’ information seeking behavioural paths (digital, conventional, interpersonal) which lead to information needs satisfaction and the barriers encountered in this process. The study was based on empirical evidence from a survey of 159 physicians. Theoretical analysis was informed by Wilson’s model of information seeking behaviour. The data were analysed using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method. The method was successful in identifying five behavioural paths leading to physicians’ information needs satisfaction (professional/health coaching) which demonstrate different relationships between information sources (conventional/interpersonal/digital) and information barriers (personal/digital illiteracy) and five behavioural paths that are not leading to satisfaction

Critical Race Theory and Education: racism and anti-racism in educational theory and praxis

What is Critical Race Theory (CRT) and what does it offer educational researchers and practitioners outside the US? This paper addresses these questions by examining the recent history of antiracist research and policy in the UK. In particular, the paper argues that conventional forms of antiracism have proven unable to keep pace with the development of increasingly racist and exclusionary education polices that operate beneath a veneer of professed tolerance and diversity. In particular, contemporary antiracism lacks clear statements of principle and theory that risk reinventing the wheel with each new study; it is increasingly reduced to a meaningless slogan; and it risks appropriation within a reformist “can do” perspective dominated by the de-politicized and managerialist language of school effectiveness and improvement. In contrast, CRT offers a genuinely radical and coherent set of approaches that could revitalize critical research in education across a range of inquiries, not only in self-consciously "multicultural" studies. The paper reviews the developing terrain of CRT in education, identifying its key defining elements and the conceptual tools that characterise the work. CRT in education is a fast changing and incomplete project but it can no longer be ignored by the academy beyond North America

Model-Based Selection for Proton Therapy in Breast Cancer:Development of the National Indication Protocol for Proton Therapy and First Clinical Experiences

Aims: Proton therapy is a radiation technique that yields less dose in normal tissues than photon therapy. In the Netherlands, proton therapy is reimbursed if the reduced dose to normal tissues is predicted to translate into a prespecified reduction in toxicity, based on nationally approved validated models. The aim of this paper is to present the development of a national indication protocol for proton therapy (NIPP) for model-based selection of breast cancer patients and to report on first clinical experiences. Materials and methods: A national proton therapy working group for breast cancer (PWG-BC) screened the literature for prognostic models able to estimate the individual risk of specific radiation-induced side-effects. After critical appraisal and selection of suitable models, a NIPP for breast cancer was written and subjected to comments by all stakeholders. The approved NIPP was subsequently introduced to select breast cancer patients who would benefit most from proton therapy. Results: The model of Darby et al. (N Engl J Med 2013; 368:987–82) was the only model fulfilling the criteria prespecified by the PWG-BC. The model estimates the relative risk of an acute coronary event (ACE) based on the mean heart dose. The absolute lifetime risk of ACE <80 years was calculated by applying this model to the Dutch absolute incidence of ACE for female and male patients, between 40 and 70 years at breast cancer radiotherapy, with/without cardiovascular risk factors. The NIPP was approved for reimbursement in January 2019. Based on a threshold value of a 2% absolute lower risk on ACE for proton therapy compared with photons, 268 breast cancer patients have been treated in the Netherlands with proton therapy between February 2019 and January 2021. Conclusion: The NIPP includes a model that allows the estimation of the absolute risk on ACE <80 years based on mean heart dose. In the first 2 years, 268 breast cancer patients have been treated with proton therapy in The Netherlands

Androgens and spermatogenesis: lessons from transgenic mouse models

Transgenic mouse models have contributed considerably to our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which androgens control spermatogenesis. Cell-selective ablation of the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells (SC) results in a complete block in meiosis and unambiguously identifies the SC as the main cellular mediator of the effects of androgens on spermatogenesis. This conclusion is corroborated by similar knockouts in other potential testicular target cells. Mutations resulting in diminished expression of the AR or in alleles with increased length of the CAG repeat mimick specific human forms of disturbed fertility that are not accompanied by defects in male sexual development. Transcriptional profiling studies in mice with cell-selective and general knockouts of the AR, searching for androgen-regulated genes relevant to the control of spermatogenesis, have identified many candidate target genes. However, with the exception of Rhox5, the identified subsets of genes show little overlap. Genes related to tubular restructuring, cell junction dynamics, the cytoskeleton, solute transportation and vitamin A metabolism are prominently present. Further research will be needed to decide which of these genes are physiologically relevant and to identify genes that can be used as diagnostic tools or targets to modulate the effects of androgens in spermatogenesis

The influence of using digital diagnostic information on orthodontic treatment planning - a pilot study

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess whether orthodontic treatment planning is reproducible when carried out using digital records compared with clinical examinations or using standard records. The study also assessed patients' opinion of face-to-face consultations and potential use of teleorthodontics. The study was designed as a prospective observational cross-sectional pilot study and carried out in a UK dental teaching hospital involving 27 subjects. Four consultant Orthodontists carried out treatment planning, firstly following a clinical examination, then using standard records, and then using digital records. Each subject completed a questionnaire. Cohen's kappa coefficient and Fleiss' kappa coefficient were used to assess intra-observer reproducibility and inter-observer reproducibility of treatment planning decisions, respectively. A change in the diagnostic information format affected treatment planning reproducibility for half of the observers. Inter-observer reproducibility was greater when using hard copy records in comparison to digital records. No subjects were unsatisfied with their face-to-face consultation

Transition Radiation Spectroscopy with Prototypes of the ALICE TRD

We present measurements of the transition radiation (TR) spectrum produced in an irregular radiator at different electron momenta. The data are compared to simulations of TR from a regular radiator.Comment: 4 pages, 5 Figures, Proceedings for "TRDs for the 3rd millennium" (Sept. 4-7, 2003, Bari, Italy

Transgenerational Effects of Stress Exposure on Offspring Phenotypes in Apomictic Dandelion

Heritable epigenetic modulation of gene expression is a candidate mechanism to explain parental environmental effects on offspring phenotypes, but current evidence for environment-induced epigenetic changes that persist in offspring generations is scarce. In apomictic dandelions, exposure to various stresses was previously shown to heritably alter DNA methylation patterns. In this study we explore whether these induced changes are accompanied by heritable effects on offspring phenotypes. We observed effects of parental jasmonic acid treatment on offspring specific leaf area and on offspring interaction with a generalist herbivore; and of parental nutrient stress on offspring root-shoot biomass ratio, tissue P-content and leaf morphology. Some of the effects appeared to enhance offspring ability to cope with the same stresses that their parents experienced. Effects differed between apomictic genotypes and were not always consistently observed between different experiments, especially in the case of parental nutrient stress. While this context-dependency of the effects remains to be further clarified, the total set of results provides evidence for the existence of transgenerational effects in apomictic dandelions. Zebularine treatment affected the within-generation response to nutrient stress, pointing at a role of DNA methylation in phenotypic plasticity to nutrient environments. This study shows that stress exposure in apomictic dandelions can cause transgenerational phenotypic effects, in addition to previously demonstrated transgenerational DNA methylation effects