bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of light emitting diode‐red light on human skin: Two randomized controlled trials
Authors: Jagdeo Jared , Nguyen Julie K. , Ho Derek , Wang Erica B. , Austin Evan , Mamalis Andrew , Kaur Ramanjot , Kraeva Ekaterina , Schulman Joshua M. , Li Chin‐Shang , Hwang Samuel T. , Wun Ted , Maverakis Emanual , Isseroff R. Rivkah
Published: September 2019

Therapeutic applications of light emitting diode‐red light (LED‐RL) are expanding, yet data on its clinical effects are lacking. Our goal was to evaluate the safety of high fluence LED‐RL (≥160 J/cm2). In two phase I, single‐blind, dose escalation, randomized controlled trials, healthy subjects received LED‐RL or mock irradiation to the forearm thrice weekly for 3 weeks at fluences of 160‐640 J/cm2 for all skin types (STARS 1, n = 60) and at 480‐640 J/cm2 for non‐Hispanic Caucasians (STARS 2, n = 55). The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events (AEs). The maximum tolerated dose was the highest fluence that did not elicit predefined AEs. Dose‐limiting AEs, including blistering and prolonged erythema, occurred at 480 J/cm2 in STARS 1 (n = 1) and 640 J/cm2 in STARS 2 (n = 2). AEs of transient erythema and hyperpigmentation were mild. No serious AEs occurred. We determined that LED‐RL is safe up to 320 J/cm2 for skin of color and 480 J/cm2 for non‐Hispanic Caucasian individuals. LED‐RL may exert differential cutaneous effects depending on race and ethnicity, with darker skin being more photosensitive. These findings may guide future studies to evaluate the efficacy of LED‐RL for the treatment of various diseases.
Microeconomic Determinants of Household Savings in Nigeria
Authors: Nwosu Emmanuel O. , Anumudu Charles N. , Nnamchi Chioma E.
Published: September 2019

This study investigates the determinants of saving in Nigeria from the microeconomic perspective. The study particularly focuses on the importance of household socio‐economic characteristics in determining the level of household savings. The study uses the Nigeria Household Survey data to carry out the analysis within the framework of perceived household utility theory. Two‐stage least squares and ordinary least squares methods were employed in the estimations. The results show that household ownership of land, household size, occupation, location and age are significant determinants of household saving in Nigeria. Other determinants are the household living conditions, marital status and availability of infrastructure such as electricity. The results show that household socio‐economic characteristics, locational and zonal factors are important determinants of household saving accumulation in Nigeria and thus should not be ignored by policymakers in formulating capital accumulation policies. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
re: Interobserver Agreement of PI‐RADS v. 2 Lexicon Among Radiologists With Different Levels of Experience
Authors: Afshari Mirak Sohrab , Raman Steven S.
Published: September 2019

Level of Evidence: 5

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2
Species‐dependent effect of cover cropping on trace elements and nutrients in vineyard soil and Vitis
Authors: Vystavna Yuliya , Schmidt Susanne I. , Klimenko Olga E. , Plugatar Yury V. , Klimenko Nikolay I. , Klimenko Nina N.
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

The research focused on the evaluation of the impact of cover cropping on trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co and Cd) and nutrients in vineyard soils and Vitis vinifera L. For this purpose, two types of cover crops (Lolium perenne L. and Medicago sativa L.) and their mixture were planted between vine rows of Muscat white in the vineyard in South Crimea. Trace elements, nutrients and other parameters were analyzed in the soil layers, leaves and grapevines of control and cover cropped plots.

RESULTS

The effect of cover cropping was dependent on applied plant species. Ryegrass (L. perenne L.) seems to compete with V. vinifera L. for nutrients – these were lower in the soil and vines of the treated plot. In parallel, lead (Pb) bioconcentration in grapevines was reduced. In contrast, under lucerne (M. sativa L.), nitrogen in the soil and vines, and trace metal bioconcentration (Fe, Pb and Co) were higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that cover cropping can influence the chemical composition of soil and vines. This should be considered when selecting cover crops. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous determination of three major flavonoids and their glucuronidated metabolites in rats after oral administration of Artemisia annua L. extract at a therapeutic ultra‐low dose
Authors: Wang Shuqi , Cai Tianyu , Liu Huixiang , Yang Aijuan , Xing Jie
Published: September 2019

The traditional antimalarial herb Artemisia annua L., from which artemisinin is isolated, is widely used in endemic regions. It has been suggested that artemisinin activity can be enhanced by flavonoids in A. annua; however, how fast and how long the flavonoids are present in the body remains unknown. In the present study, a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of three major flavonoids components, i.e. chrysosplenol D, chrysoplenetin, and artemetin and their glucuronidated metabolites in rats after oral administrations of A. annua extracts at a therapeutic ultra‐low dose. The concentration of the intact form was determined directly, and the concentration of the glucuronidated form was assayed in the form of flavonoids aglycones, after treatment with β‐glucuronidase/sulfatase. The method was linear in the range of 0.5–300.0 ng/mL for chrysoplenetin and artemetin, and 2–600 ng/mL for chrysosplenol D. All the validation data conformed to the acceptance requirements. The study revealed a significantly higher exposure of the flavonoid constituents in conjugated forms in rats, with only trace intact from. Multiple oral doses of A. annua extracts led to a decreased plasma concentration levels for three flavonoids.
The association between glycated albumin, glycohemoglobin, and glycated albumin to glycohemoglobin ratio in diabetic retinopathy of prediabetes
Authors: Lee Mei‐Yueh , Hsu Wei‐Hao , Lai Chia‐Wei , Chen Szu‐Chia , Liang Ching‐Chao
Published: September 2019

Prediabetes increased risk of diabetes and diabetes‐related macrovascular and microvascular complication. Glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) is clinically used as the gold standard for glycemic control of diabetes. Glycated albumin (GA) is an early Amadori‐type glycation protein between glucose and serum albumin, which changes in a shorter period of time than HbA1c and is superior to HbA1c in reflecting fluctuations in blood glucose. In this study, we aim to assess the predictive value of GA and glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) on a progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in prediabetic patients in Taiwan. This study was conducted at the outpatient department of a regional hospital in Southern Taiwan, and recruited 291 patients with prediabetes from January 2016 to February 2017. Blood and urine samples were obtained from all patients after fasting for 12 hours within 1 month of enrollment. The mean age is 62.5 ± 13.0 years and there are 161 males and 130 females. A total of 24.1% of patients have DR. The average value of GA and HbA1c are 14.6% ± 2.8% and 6.0% ± 0.4%, respectively. Old age, male, high systolic blood pressure, high HbA1C, and low total cholesterol are significantly associated with DR in patients with pre‐DM. Therefore, in the prediabetic populations, high HbA1C, but not GA nor GA/HbA1C ratio, is significantly associated with DR.
Hydrological regime responses to Holocene East Asian summer monsoon circulation in marshes of the Sanjiang Plain, NE China
Authors: Zhang Zhenqing , Yao Qiang , Liu Kam‐biu , Xu Qinghai , Wang Guoping
Published: September 2019

In this paper, grain‐size records of 128 surface samples and six sediment cores retrieved from freshwater marshes across the Sanjiang Plain were employed to reconstruct the marshes' hydrological variation during the Holocene and to discuss its links to the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) variation. The grain‐size hydrological significance for the marshes' deposits was first interpreted by quantitative analyses of 128 modern samples. The results indicate that the sand fraction exhibits a higher level significance to modern water‐level conditions than other grain‐size parameters. Thus, the sand accumulation rates of the six cores were calculated and employed to reconstruct the Holocene hydrological regime of the marshes on the plain. Based on the cluster analysis, it can be identified that three higher water‐level stages occurred during 6.2–5.6 thousand  yr BP, 5.6–4.5 thousand  yr BP, and 2.8–2.4 thousand  yr BP, whereas four lower water‐level stages occurred during ~8.0–6.2 thousand  yr BP, 4.5–2.8 thousand  yr BP, 2.4–0.7 thousand  yr BP, and 0.7–0 thousand  yr BP, respectively. Considering the prevalent monsoon climate on the modern Sanjiang Plain, it is reasonable to believe that the local water‐level fluctuations were mainly regulated by the EASM variation rather than local factors including flooding, waterway modification, depression infilling, and human activities. The higher water‐level stages were linked to a stronger EASM and vice versa. This study provides essential background datasets for understanding the potential controls on the marsh development and degradation on the Sanjiang Plain.
Thulium Laser‐Assisted Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for the Small Renal Mass
Authors: Wang Yubin , Shao Jinkai , Lü Yongan , Li Xiaodong
Published: September 2019

Background and Objectives

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) has gained acceptance as a minimally invasive treatment option for small renal masses (SRMs). Laser‐assisted LPN (LLPN) provided a bloodless tumor excision without renal artery clamping owing to the excellent coagulative and hemostatic properties of the lasers. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the technical feasibility and outcomes of 2‐μm continuous thulium LLPN and conventional LPN (CLPN) in the treatment of patients with SRMs.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed for the medical charts of 312 patients with SRMs who underwent minimally invasive nephron‐sparing surgery in our institution between January 2013 and December 2017. All 36 LLPN patients were matched with 36 CLPN patients. Surgical data, complications, pathological variables, oncological, functional, and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes were reviewed.

Results

The two groups were similar in demographic characteristics. The renal vessels were not clamped in the LLPN group. Compared with the CLPN group, patients in the LLPN group had shorter warm ischemia time (WIT) (0 vs. 12.4 minutes, P = 0.000), longer tumor resection time (9.5 vs. 2.2 minutes; P = 0.000), and decreased operative time (84.1 vs. 95.5 minutes, p = 0.029). There were no open conversions and no transfusion in both groups. Median follow‐ups for LLPN and CLPN were 56.2 and 48.6 months, respectively. The complication rate, renal functional outcomes, local recurrence rates, recurrence‐free survival rates, and SF‐36 questionnaire score were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Although this matched pair study showed CLPN had a longer WIT and higher operative time, the oncological and functional outcomes of LLPN and CLPN were similar. Both LLPN and CLPN are viable treatment options for select patients with SRMs. Lasers Surg Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A study on preparation and corrosion behavior of nano rare earth oxide‐modified chromized coatings
Authors: Wang Qin‐Ying , Tang Yi‐Rong , Pei Rui , Xi Yu‐Chen , Wan Shanhong
Published: September 2019

The corrosion resistance of carbon steel in a harsh environment was improved by preparing a chromized coating on the surface through the method of pack cementation. Nano rare earth‐oxides (NREOs), Y2O3, CeO2, and La2O3 were added to the pack and to further enhance the performance of the chromized coatings. Morphological results showed that NREO refined the microstructure of chromized coatings by retarding the growth of grains. The Mott–Schottky plots demonstrated that coating Cr–La2O3 displayed fewer defects than the other two composite coatings, which was beneficial to reduce the corrosion tendency. In addition, the potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy analysis showed that the order of the corrosion rates of the achieved coatings was pure Cr > Cr–Y2O3 > Cr–CeO2 > Cr–La2O3, which revealed that the corrosion resistance increased accordingly.
The complete genome sequence of the thermophilic bacterium Laceyella sacchari FBKL4.010 reveals the basis for tetramethylpyrazine biosynthesis in Moutai‐flavor Daqu
Authors: Li Dounan , Huang Wei , Wang Chunxiao , Qiu Shuyi
Published: September 2019

The genus Laceyella consists of a thermophilic filamentous bacteria. The pure isolate of Laceyella sacchari FBKL4.010 was isolated from Moutai‐flavor Daqu, Guizhou Province, China. In this study, the whole genome was sequenced and analyzed. The complete genome consists of one 3,374,379‐bp circular chromosome with 3,145 coding sequences (CDSs), seven clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) regions of 12 CRISPRs. Moreover, we identified that the genome contains genes encoding key enzymes such as proteases, peptidases, and acetolactate synthase (ALS) of the tetramethylpyrazine metabolic pathway. Metabolic pathways relevant to tetramethylpyrazine synthesis were also reconstructed based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) PATHWAY database. Annotation and syntenic analyses using antiSMASH 4.0 also revealed the presence of two gene clusters in this strain that differ from known tetramethylpyrazine synthesis clusters, with one encoding amino acid dehydrogenase (ADH) and the other encoding transaminase in tetramethylpyrazine metabolism. The results of this study provide flavor and genomic references for further research on the flavor‐producing functions of strain FBKL4.010 in the Moutai liquor‐making process.
Pallidal low‐frequency activity in dystonia after cessation of long‐term deep brain stimulation
Authors: Scheller Ute , Lofredi Roxanne , van Wijk Bernadette C.M. , Saryyeva Assel , Krauss Joachim K. , Schneider Gerd‐Helge , Kroneberg Daniel , Krause Patricia , Neumann Wolf‐Julian , Kühn Andrea A.
Published: September 2019

Objective

This study investigates the association between pallidal low‐frequency activity and motor sign severity in dystonia after chronic deep brain stimulation for several months.

Methods

Local field potentials were recorded in 9 dystonia patients at 5 timepoints (T1–T5) during an OFF‐stimulation period of 5 to 7 hours in parallel with clinical assessment using Burke‐Fahn‐Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale. A linear mixed effects model was used to investigate the potential association of motor signs with local field potential activity in the low frequency (3–12 Hz) and beta range (13–30 Hz).

Results

A significant association of Burke‐Fahn‐Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale scores with low‐frequency activity (3–12 Hz; b = 4.4; standard error = 1.5, degrees of freedom = 43, P = 0.006, 95% confidence interval, 1.3–7.5), but not beta activity (13–30 Hz) was revealed within participants across timepoints.

Conclusion

Low‐frequency activity is associated with dystonic motor sign severity, even months after chronic deep brain stimulation. Our findings corroborate the pathophysiological role of low‐frequency activity in dystonia and highlight the potential utility as a biomarker for adaptive neuromodulation. © 2019 Charité. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson andMovement Disorder Society
Comprehensive assessment of 12 soft computing approaches for modelling reference evapotranspiration in humid locations
Authors: Shiri Jalal , Zounemat‐Kermani Mohammad , Kisi Ozgur , Mohsenzadeh Karimi Sahar
Published: September 2019

Owing to the lack of lysimetric data in many regions, the standard Penman–Monteith equation‐adopted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO56‐PM model) is usually used to calculate the reference evapotranspiration (ETo). However, as this model needs many meteorological parameters that cannot be easily obtained in many regions, other simple models along with the soft computing models are used to obtain ETo values. The paper presents a comprehensive comparison of 12 soft computing models: gene expression programming (GEP), neuro‐fuzzy with grid partitioning (NF‐GP), neuro‐fuzzy with sub‐clustering (NF‐SC), multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), boosted regression tree (BT), random forest (RF), model tree (MT), support vector machine (SVM), SVM‐firefly algorithm (SVM‐FA), extreme learning machine (ELM), neural network‐particle swarm optimization (NN‐PSO) and neural network‐differential evolution (NN‐DE), to estimate daily ETo values in humid regions. Therefore, daily meteorological data from two weather stations (during a 12 year period) were used to assess the models. The obtained results revealed that very good efficiency was obtained from all the applied methods. The temperature‐based SVM‐FA (root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.324 mm, Nash–Sutcliffe co‐efficient (NS) = 0.960) and NF‐GP (RMSE = 0.272 mm, NS = 0.974) models generally provided the best accuracy when estimating the ETo of Sari and Bablosar, two humid stations in northern Iran, respectively. The accuracy ranks of the other models (from best to worst) were found to be: NN‐PSO, NF‐SC, ELM, NN‐DE, MARS, GEP, RF, SVM, BT and MT. Among the radiation‐based models, the NF‐GP provided the best accuracy at estimating the ETo of both stations. The other models were ranked as: ELM, SVM‐FA, NN‐DE, NN‐PSO, MARS, RF, BT, NF‐SC, SVM and MT, respectively.
CASQ2 variants in Chinese children with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Li Qirui , Guo Ruolan , Gao Lu , Cui Lang , Zhao Zhihui , Yu Xia , Yuan Yue , Xu Xiwei
Published: September 2019

Background

Biallelic variants of the CASQ2 are known to cause the autosomal recessive form of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), an inherited disease that predisposes young individuals to syncope and sudden cardiac death. To date, only about 24 CASQ2 variants have been reported in association with CPVT pathogenesis; furthermore, studies in Asians, especially in the Chinese population, are relatively rare. The aim of this study was to detect CASQ2 variants in Chinese patients with CPVT.

Methods

We used targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) to identify CASQ2 variants in Chinese patients with CPVT. A screening process was performed to prioritize rare variants of potential functional significance. Sanger sequencing was conducted to conform the candidate variants and determine the parental origin.

Results

We identified seven different CASQ2 variants, of which three (c.1074_1075delinsC, c.1175_1178delACAG, and c.838+1G>A) have not been previously reported. The variants exhibited autosomal recessive inheritance, and were detected in four unrelated Chinese families with CPVT. They included a nonsense variant c.97C>T (p.R33*) and a missense variant c.748C>T (p.R250C) in Family 1 with three CPVT patients; two heterozygous frameshift variants, c.1074_1075delinsC (p.G359Afs*12) and c.1175_1178delACAG (p.D392Vfs*84), in Family 2 with one CPVT patient; one pathogenic homozygous variant c.98G>A (p.R33Q) of CASQ2 in the CPVT patient of Family 3; and two heterozygous splicing variants, (c.532+1G>A) and (c.838+1G>A), in Family 4 with one CPVT patient.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study of Chinese children with CASQ2 variants. Our work further expands the genetic spectrum of CASQ2‐associated CPVT.
Global regularity criterion for the Navier‐Stokes equations based on the direction of vorticity
Authors: Zhang Zujin , Wang Weihua , Zhou Yong
Published: September 2019

We study the regularity criterion for the Navier‐Stokes equations and show that the (β1,β2,β3)‐Hölder continuity assumption in (x1,x2,x3) on the direction of the vorticity ensures the regularity of the solution. This may be viewed as an extension of many previous results, since some of the βi can be arbitrarily small.
Galerkin‐Legendre spectral method for the nonlinear Ginzburg‐Landau equation with the Riesz fractional derivative
Authors: Fei Mingfa , Huang Chengming , Wang Nan , Zhang Guoyu
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we first construct a linearized Galerkin‐Legendre spectral method for the one‐dimensional nonlinear fractional Ginzburg‐Landau equation, where a three‐level linearized Crank‐Nicolson scheme is used for time discretization. The unique solvability and boundedness properties of the fully discrete scheme are analyzed. It is shown that the method is unconditionally convergent in the maximum norm with second‐order accuracy in time and spectral accuracy in space. Then, two‐dimensional problems are considered and a split‐step alternating direction implicit Galerkin‐Legendre spectral method is introduced without theoretical analysis. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the two proposed schemes.
Long‐Chain n‐3 PUFA Content and n‐6/n‐3 PUFA Ratio in Mammal, Poultry, and Fish Muscles Largely Explain Differential Protein and Lipid Oxidation Profiles Following In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion
Authors: Van Hecke Thomas , Goethals Sophie , Vossen Els , De Smet Stefaan
Published: September 2019

Scope

Muscle food characteristics (fatty acid profile, heme‐Fe, intrinsic antioxidants) that relate to the formation of (patho)physiological oxidation products during gastrointestinal digestion are investigated.

Methods and Results

Muscles (n = 33) from 18 mammal, poultry, and fish species, of which some are mixed with lard to standardize their fatty acid profile, are digested in vitro. Lipid oxidation is assessed by thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), n‐3 PUFA derivative 4‐hydroxy‐2‐hexenal and propanal, n‐6 PUFA derivative 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal and hexanal, and protein oxidation by carbonylation. Digests of n‐3 PUFA‐rich fish demonstrated the highest n‐3 PUFA oxidation, whereas digests of various poultry and rabbit muscles showed highest n‐6 PUFA oxidation, which correlated significantly with the n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio. Without lard addition, lipid oxidation is significantly higher in chicken and pork loin digests versus beef and deer digests, whereas the opposite occurred when these muscles are mixed with lard. Protein carbonylation correlates significantly with levels of TBARS and the sum of hydroxy‐alkenals in digests. The n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio correlates well with the 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal/4‐hydroxy‐2‐hexenal ratio in digests.

Conclusions

Muscular fatty acid profiles largely explain type and extent of lipid and protein oxidation during gastrointestinal digestion. Red meat only stimulates oxidation when digested with specific fat sources.
A Metabolomic Study of Biomarkers of Habitual Coffee Intake in Four European Countries
Authors: Rothwell Joseph A. , Keski‐Rahkonen Pekka , Robinot Nivonirina , Assi Nada , Casagrande Corinne , Jenab Mazda , Ferrari Pietro , Boutron‐Ruault Marie‐Christine , Mahamat‐Saleh Yahya , Mancini Francesca Romana , Boeing Heiner , Katzke Verena , Kühn Tilman , Niforou Katerina , Trichopoulou Antonia , Valanou Elisavet , Krogh Vittorio , Mattiello Amalia , Palli Domenico , Sacerdote Carlotta , Tumino Rosario , Scalbert Augustin
Published: September 2019

Scope

The goal of this work is to identify circulating biomarkers of habitual coffee intake using a metabolomic approach, and to investigate their associations with coffee intake in four European countries.

Methods and results

Untargeted mass spectrometry‐based metabolic profiling is performed on serum samples from 451 participants of the European Prospective Investigation on Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) originating from France, Germany, Greece, and Italy. Eleven coffee metabolites are found to be associated with self‐reported habitual coffee intake, including eight more strongly correlated (r = 0.25–0.51, p < 10E−07). Trigonelline shows the highest correlation, followed by caffeine, two caffeine metabolites (paraxanthine and 5‐Acetylamino‐6‐amino‐3‐methyluracil), quinic acid, and three compounds derived from coffee roasting (cyclo(prolyl‐valyl), cyclo(isoleucyl‐prolyl), cyclo(leucyl‐prolyl), and pyrocatechol sulfate). Differences in the magnitude of correlations are observed between countries, with trigonelline most highly correlated with coffee intake in France and Germany, quinic acid in Greece, and cyclo(isoleucyl‐prolyl) in Italy.

Conclusion

Several biomarkers of habitual coffee intake are identified. No unique biomarker is found to be optimal for all tested populations. Instead, optimal biomarkers are shown to depend on the population and on the type of coffee consumed. These biomarkers should help to further explore the role of coffee in disease risk.
GutSelf: Interindividual Variability in the Processing of Dietary Compounds by the Human Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Walther Barbara , Lett Aaron M. , Bordoni Alessandra , Tomás‐Cobos Lidia , Nieto Juan Antonio , Dupont Didier , Danesi Francesca , Shahar Danit R. , Echaniz Ana , Re Roberta , Fernandez Aida Sainz , Deglaire Amélie , Gille Doreen , Schmid Alexandra , Vergères Guy
Published: September 2019

Nutritional research is currently entering the field of personalized nutrition, to a large extent driven by major technological breakthroughs in analytical sciences and biocomputing. An efficient launching of the personalized approach depends on the ability of researchers to comprehensively monitor and characterize interindividual variability in the activity of the human gastrointestinal tract. This information is currently not available in such a form. This review therefore aims at identifying and discussing published data, providing evidence on interindividual variability in the processing of the major nutrients, i.e., protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, along the gastrointestinal tract, including oral processing, intestinal digestion, and absorption. Although interindividual variability is not a primary endpoint of most studies identified, a significant number of publications provides a wealth of information on this topic for each category of nutrients. This knowledge remains fragmented, however, and understanding the clinical relevance of most of the interindividual responses to food ingestion described in this review remains unclear. In that regard, this review has identified a gap and sets the base for future research addressing the issue of the interindividual variability in the response of the human organism to the ingestion of foods.
A 32‐channel multi‐coil setup optimized for human brain shimming at 9.4T
Authors: Aghaeifar Ali , Zhou Jiazheng , Heule Rahel , Tabibian Behzad , Schölkopf Bernhard , Jia Feng , Zaitsev Maxim , Scheffler Klaus
Published: September 2019

Purpose

A multi‐coil shim setup is designed and optimized for human brain shimming. Here, the size and position of a set of square coils are optimized to improve the shim performance without increasing the number of local coils. Utilizing such a setup is especially beneficial at ultrahigh fields where B0 inhomogeneity in the human brain is more severe.

Methods

The optimization started with a symmetric arrangement of 32 independent coils. Three parameters per coil were optimized in parallel, including angular and axial positions on a cylinder surface and size of the coil, which were constrained by cylinder size, construction consideration, and amplifiers specifications. B0 maps were acquired at 9.4T in 8 healthy volunteers for use as training data. The global and dynamic shimming performance of the optimized multi‐coil were compared in simulations and measurements to a symmetric design and to the scanner's second‐order shim setup, respectively.

Results

The optimized multi‐coil performs better by 14.7% based on standard deviation (SD) improvement with constrained global shimming in comparison to the symmetric positioning of the coils. Global shimming performance was comparable with a symmetric 65‐channel multi‐coil and full fifth‐order spherical harmonic shim coils. On average, an SD of 48.4 and 31.9 Hz was achieved for in vivo measurements after global and dynamic slice‐wise shimming, respectively.

Conclusions

An optimized multi‐coil shim setup was designed and constructed for human whole‐brain shimming. Similar performance of the multi‐coils with many channels can be achieved with a fewer number of channels when the coils are optimally arranged around the target.
A deep learning method for image‐based subject‐specific local SAR assessment
Authors: Meliadò E.F. , Raaijmakers A.J.E , Sbrizzi A. , Steensma B.R. , Maspero M. , Savenije M.H.F. , Luijten P.R. , van den Berg C.A.T.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Local specific absorption rate (SAR) cannot be measured and is usually evaluated by offline numerical simulations using generic body models that of course will differ from the patient's anatomy. An additional safety margin is needed to include this intersubject variability. In this work, we present a deep learning–based method for image‐based subject‐specific local SAR assessment. We propose to train a convolutional neural network to learn a “surrogate SAR model” to map the relation between subject‐specific maps and the corresponding local SAR.

Method

Our database of 23 subject‐specific models with an 8–transmit channel body array for prostate imaging at 7 T was used to build 5750 training samples. These synthetic complex maps and local SAR distributions were used to train a conditional generative adversarial network. Extra penalization for local SAR underestimation errors was included in the loss function. In silico and in vivo validation were performed.

Results

In silico cross‐validation shows a good qualitative and quantitative match between predicted and ground‐truth local SAR distributions. The peak local SAR estimation error distribution shows a mean overestimation error of 15% with 13% probability of underestimation. The higher accuracy of the proposed method allows the use of less conservative safety factors compared with standard procedures. In vivo validation shows that the method is applicable with realistic measurement data with impressively good qualitative and quantitative agreement to simulations.

Conclusion

The proposed deep learning method allows online image‐based subject‐specific local SAR assessment. It greatly reduces the uncertainty in current state‐of‐the‐art SAR assessment methods, reducing the time in the examination protocol by almost 25%.
Quantification of whole‐brain oxygenation extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in adults with sickle cell anemia using individual T2‐based oxygenation calibrations
Authors: Li Wenbo , Xu Xiang , Liu Peiying , Strouse John J. , Casella James F. , Lu Hanzhang , van Zijl Peter C.M. , Qin Qin
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To evaluate different T2‐oxygenation calibrations for estimating venous oxygenation in people with sickle cell anemia (SCA).

Methods

Blood T2 values were measured at 3 T in the internal jugular veins of 12 healthy volunteers and 11 SCA participants with no history of stroke, recent transfusion, or renal impairment. T2‐oxygenation relationships of both sickled and normal blood samples were calibrated individually and compared with values generated from published models. After converting venous T2 values to venous oxygenation, whole‐brain oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were calculated.

Results

Sickle blood samples' oxygenation values calculated from our individual calibrations agreed well with measurements using a blood analyzer, whereas previous T2 calibrations based on normal blood samples showed 13%‐19% underestimation. Meanwhile, oxygenation values calculated from previous grouped T2 calibration for sickle blood agreed well with experimental measurement on averaged values, but showed up to 20% variation for several individual samples. Using individual T2 calibrations, the whole‐brain oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen of SCA participants were 0.38 ± 0.08 and 172 ± 42 µmol/min/100 g, respectively, which were comparable to those values measured on healthy volunteers.

Conclusion

Our results confirm that sickle blood T2 values not only depend on the hematocrit and oxygenation values, but also on other hematological factors. The individual T2 calibrations minimized the effect of heterogeneity of sickle blood between different SCA populations and improved the accuracy of T2‐based oximetry. The measured oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen of this group of SCA participants were found to not differ significantly from those of healthy individuals.
Influence of the cardiac cycle on velocity selective and acceleration selective arterial spin labeling
Authors: Franklin Suzanne L. , Schmid Sophie , Bos Clemens , van Osch Matthias J. P.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

In this study, the influence of the cardiac cycle on the amount of label produced by a velocity‐selective (VSASL) and acceleration‐selective arterial spin labeling (AccASL) module was investigated.

Methods

A short‐PLD sequence was developed where a single VSASL‐ or AccASL‐module was preceded by pCASL labeling to isolate the arterial blood pool. ASL subtraction was performed with label/control images with similar cardiac phase and time‐of‐measurement, followed by retrospective binning in 10 cardiac phase bins. ASL signal variation over the heart cycle was evaluated and tested for significance using a permutation test.

Results

VSASL and AccASL showed significant arterial signal fluctuations over the cardiac cycle of up to ~36% and ~64%, respectively, mainly in areas containing large arteries. pCASL also showed significant signal fluctuations, of up to ~25% in arteries. Raw label/control images confirmed that the observed signal fluctuations were caused by the amount of label produced during the cardiac cycle, rather than inflow‐effects, because the raw images did not all show equal cardiac phase dependence.

No significant effects of the cardiac cycle were found on the gray matter ASL‐signal.

Conclusion

Significant influence of the cardiac cycle on the generated label was found for spatially nonselective ASL‐sequences. Hence, to become independent of the cardiac cycle, sufficient averages need to be taken. Alternatively, these findings could be highly interesting for the purpose of quantifying pulsatility more distally in the vascular tree.
Changes in whole body pain intensity and widespreadness during urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome flares—Findings from one site of the MAPP study
Authors: Xu Tianlin , Lai H. Henry , Pakpahan Ratna , Vetter Joel , Andriole Gerald L. , Bradley Catherine , Naliboff Bruce D. , Colditz Graham A. , Sutcliffe Siobhan
Published: September 2019

Objective

To investigate changes in whole body pain during urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) flares.

Materials and Methods

UCPPS participants at one site of the multidisciplinary approach to the study of chronic pelvic pain research network reported their daily flare status and pain levels in 7 pelvic/genital and 42 extrapelvic body areas (scale = 0‐10) for 10 days at baseline and during their first flare. Linear mixed models and conditional logistic regression were used to investigate symptom changes during flares. Analyses were stratified by chronic overlapping pain condition (COPC) status.

Results

Fifty‐five out of 60 participants completed the study, 27 of whom provided information on both nonflare (n = 281) and flare (n = 208) days. Pelvic/genital pain intensity (mean change = 3.20 of 10) and widespreadness (mean = 1.48) increased significantly during flares for all participants (all P interaction > .1), whereas extrapelvic pain intensity increased significantly only among participants with COPCs (mean = 2.09; P interaction < .0001). Pelvic/genital and extrapelvic pain also varied on nonflare days but symptom fluctuations were generally ≤1 point (80.0%‐100% of participants). Increases of ≥2 points in pelvic/genital pain intensity (odds ratio (OR) = 22.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.0‐118.6) and ≥1 point in urination‐related pain (OR = 9.10, 95% CI = 1.74‐47.7) were independently associated with flare onset for all participants.

Conclusion

Our observations of extrapelvic pain increases during flares for patients with COPCs and our independent associations between pelvic/genital/urination‐related pain intensity and flare onset may provide insight into mechanisms underlying flare development (eg, common biologic pathways between UCPPS phenotypes and flares), flare management (eg, local vs systemic therapies by COPC status), and patient flare definitions.
Combination therapy in overactive bladder‐untapped research opportunities: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Kasman Alex , Stave Christopher , Elliott Christopher S.
Published: September 2019

Aims

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects over 17% of the population and significantly effect the health‐related quality of life. The treatments for OAB include first line (lifestyle modification, pelvic floor muscle training), second line (anticholinergic or beta‐3 agonist medications), and third line therapies (intradetrusor botulinum toxin injection, sacral neurostimulation [SNM], or percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation [PTNS]). For those with urinary incontinence secondary to OAB, complete continence is the goal of therapy, though cure rates are only 5% to 40%. The use of combination therapies can be employed in refractory OAB, however, the efficacy of pooled modalities is relatively unknown. Our objective was to determine the volume of data supporting combination therapy in treating OAB.

Methods

We systematically reviewed PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for articles published before October 2018. Each was independently reviewed by two reviewers and examined in detail if they met inclusion criteria.

Results

A total of 32 studies met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Most large prospective studies evaluated combinations of medications with behavioral therapy or medications together. Combination therapy studies of third‐line treatments were rare and centered on medication with PTNS. No studies examined intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections in combination with another therapy and only one retrospective study briefly examined SNM therapy in combination with medication.

Conclusion

Combination therapy, with certain first, second, and third‐line OAB therapies, appears to be efficacious. There is a further need for carefully designed combination therapy studies, particularly those including third line modalities.
The effects of microenergy acoustic pulses on an animal model of obesity‐associated stress urinary incontinence. Part 1: Functional and histologic studies
Authors: Wang Bohan , Ruan Yajun , Zhou Tie , Wang Lin , Li Huixi , Peng Dongyi , Reed‐Maldonado Amanda B. , Sanford Melissa T , Lee Yung‐chin , Zhou Jun , Wang Hsun Shuan , Banie Lia , Wang Guifang , Liu Jihong , Lin Guiting , Lue Tom F.
Published: September 2019

Aim

Obesity is a strong independent risk factor for urinary incontinence. Effective therapeutic approaches for obesity‐associated stress urinary incontinence (OA‐SUI) are lacking as the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of our study is to explore the impacts of microenergy acoustic pulse (MAP) therapy on urethral and pelvic floor muscle structure and function in female lean and fatty rats.

Methods

A total 24 Zucker fatty (ZF) and 24 Zucker lean (ZL) female 24‐week‐old rats were grouped into four groups: ZL control, ZLMAP, ZF control, and ZFMAP. For MAP treatment, 500 pulses were delivered at an energy level of 0.033 mJ/mm
2 and a frequency of 3 Hz and were applied twice a week for 4 weeks. After a 1‐week washout, all rats underwent conscious cystometry and leak‐point pressure (LPP) measurements followed by ex vivo organ‐bath assay and histological study.

Results

ZF rats had lower LPP as compared to ZL rats, and MAP treatment significantly improved LPP in ZF rats (P < .05). Impaired muscle contractile activity (MCA) in organ‐bath study was noted in ZF rats. MAP treatment significantly increased MCA in ZF rats (P < .05) and also increased the thickness of the striated muscle layer and the number of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). In situ, MAP activated muscle satellite cells significantly (P < .05).

Conclusions

Obesity impairs the function of both the urethral sphincter and the pelvic floor and leads to atrophy and distortion of the striated muscle in obese female rats. These issues contribute to OA‐SUI. MAP improves continence by stimulating muscle regeneration and nerve innervation as well as by activating satellite cells.
Bi‐objective missile rescheduling for a naval task group with dynamic disruptions
Authors: Silav Ahmet , Karasakal Orhan , Karasakal Esra
Published: September 2019

This paper considers the rescheduling of surface‐to‐air missiles (SAMs) for a naval task group (TG), where a set of SAMs have already been scheduled to intercept a set of anti‐ship missiles (ASMs). In missile defense, the initial engagement schedule is developed according to the initial state of the defensive and attacking units. However, unforeseen events may arise during the engagement, creating a dynamic environment to be handled, and making the initial schedule infeasible or inefficient. In this study, the initial engagement schedule of a TG is assumed to be disrupted by the occurrence of a destroyed ASM, the breakdown of a SAM system, or an incoming new target ASM. To produce an updated schedule, a new biobjective mathematical model is formulated that maximizes the no‐leaker probability value for the TG and minimizes the total deviation from the initial schedule. With the problem shown to be NP‐hard, some special cases are presented that can be solved in polynomial time. We solve small size problems by the augmented ϵ‐constraint method and propose heuristic procedures to generate a set of nondominated solutions for larger problems. The results are presented for different size problems and the total effectiveness of the model is evaluated.
DIMENSION: Dynamic MR imaging with both k‐space and spatial prior knowledge obtained via multi‐supervised network training
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Ke Ziwen , Cheng Huitao , Jia Sen , Ying Leslie , Zheng Hairong , Liang Dong
Published: September 2019

Dynamic MR image reconstruction from incomplete k‐space data has generated great research interest due to its capability in reducing scan time. Nevertheless, the reconstruction problem is still challenging due to its ill‐posed nature. Most existing methods either suffer from long iterative reconstruction time or explore limited prior knowledge. This paper proposes a dynamic MR imaging method with both k‐space and spatial prior knowledge integrated via multi‐supervised network training, dubbed as DIMENSION. Specifically, the DIMENSION architecture consists of a frequential prior network for updating the k‐space with its network prediction and a spatial prior network for capturing image structures and details. Furthermore, a multi‐supervised network training technique is developed to constrain the frequency domain information and the spatial domain information. The comparisons with classical k‐t FOCUSS, k‐t SLR, L+S and the state‐of‐the‐art CNN‐based method on in vivo datasets show our method can achieve improved reconstruction results in shorter time.
Measurements of cerebral blood volume using quantitative susceptibility mapping, R2* relaxometry, and ferumoxytol‐enhanced MRI
Authors: Rivera‐Rivera Leonardo A. , Schubert Tilman , Johnson Kevin M.
Published: September 2019

Ferumoxytol‐enhanced MRI holds potential for the non‐invasive assessment of vascular architecture using estimates of cerebral blood volume (CBV). Ferumoxytol specifically enables steady‐state imaging with extended acquisition times, for substantial improvements in resolution and contrast‐to‐noise ratio. With such data, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can be used to obtain images of local tissue magnetic susceptibility and hence estimate the increase in blood susceptibility after administration of a contrast agent, which in turn can be correlated to tissue CBV. Here, we explore the use of QSM for CBV estimation and compare it with R2* (1/T2*)‐based results. Institutional review board approval was obtained, and all subjects provided written informed consent. For this prospective study, MR images were acquired on a 3.0 T scanner in 19 healthy subjects using a multiple‐echo T2*‐weighted sequence. Scanning was performed before and after the administration of two doses of ferumoxytol (1 mg FE/kg and 4 mg FE/kg). Different QSM approaches were tested on numerical phantom simulations. Results showed that the accuracy of magnetic susceptibility measurements improved with increasing image resolution and decreasing vascular density. In vivo changes in magnetic susceptibility were measured after the administration of ferumoxytol utilizing QSM, and significantly higher QSM‐based CBV was measured in gray matter compared with white matter. QSM‐ and R2*‐based CBV estimates correlated well, with similar average values, but a larger variance was found in QSM‐based estimates.
Physicochemical Compatibility of Dexmedetomidine With Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Campos‐Baeta Ylenia , Saavedra‐Mitjans Mar , Garin Noe , Cardenete Joana , Cardona Daniel , Riera Pau
Published: September 2019

Background

Dexmedetomidine is an α2‐agonist used as a sedative agent in the intensive care setting. Simultaneous administration of dexmedetomidine and parenteral nutrition (PN) may be required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical compatibility of dexmedetomidine Y‐site administered with PN.

Methods

Three PN and 3 dexmedetomidine solutions were compounded. The tested infusion rate for PN was 66 mL/h. For dexmedetomidine, we considered the initial and maximum infusion rates (0.7 and 1.4 µg/kg/h) detailed in the data sheet. Taking this into account and considering a weight range of 55–95 kg, we tested 2 dexmedetomidine infusion rates (10 and 36 mL/h). The samples obtained were examined visually against light. pH was analyzed with a pH meter. Mean fat droplet diameter was determined by dynamic light scattering. Quantification of dexmedetomidine concentration was carried out by ultraperformance liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry. For each PN‐dexmedetomidine admixture, tests were performed in triplicate.

Results

No alterations were observed by visual inspection. Average pH was 6.25 ± 0.01. Droplet diameter remained below 500 nm (298 ± 10 nm for 10‐mL/h rate and 303 ± 5 nm for 36‐mL/h rate). Dexmedetomidine concentrations at t = 0 were 519 ± 31 ng/mL and 1391 ± 90 ng/mL for 10‐ and 36‐mL/h infusion rates, respectively. At t = 24 hours, the concentrations obtained were 494 ± 22 and 1332 ± 102 ng/mL, which translates into ≥90% of the initial concentrations.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine is physicochemically compatible with PN during simulated Y‐site administration at the tested infusion rates.