bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of Solid‐State Fermentation Using Spent Fungi‐Substrate in the Biodegradation of PAHs
Authors: Rosales Emilio , Pazos Marta , Ángeles Sanromán M.
Published: February 2013

The ability of Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus to grow on agroindustrial wastes, such as orange peels, and to degrade model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in solid‐state fermentation (SSF) was evaluated. Best results in laccase production were obtained with T. versicolor cultures (3000 U L−1), however, P. ostreatus (2700 U L−1) showed higher ability to degrade the tested PAHs phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR). Moreover, orange peels can be used as biofertilizer and the oxidative ability of the spent fungus and substrate obtained in SSF can be used in the remediation of polluted soil. The results obtained confirm this hypothesis. Thus, the decontamination achieved in soils polluted with PYR was around 43% (after 30 days) by addition of spent fungus and substrate from SSF.
Determination of cocaine, cocaine metabolites and cannabinoids in single hairs by MALDI Fourier transform mass spectrometry – preliminary results
Authors: Musshoff Frank , Arrey Tabiwang , Strupat Kerstin
Published: February 2013

In a preliminary test, four single hairs of a drug abuser were analyzed for the presence of drugs by MALDI Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI‐FTMS). Washed hair strains were directly fixed on a sample plate using pressure stable, double‐sided adhesive tape; α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid matrix was manually spotted onto the hair strains. FTMS full scans were obtained moving from the hair root region towards the hair tip.

Cocaine (accurate m/z ratio 304.15433) was identified mostly from the root of the hair and then later again towards the hair tip. This was confirmed by analysis of a second hair. Additionally cocaine metabolites with m/z ratio 290.13868 (benzoylecgonine), and m/z 318.16998 (cocaethylene) were detected for plausibility control. Using the MALDI technique, time‐related information was obtained concerning the behavioural pattern of the consumer with high resolution compared to conventional procedures. However, in two hairs of the same individual which were analyzed under the same conditions, negative results were achieved.

These preliminary results confirm the applicability of MALDI‐MS for the determination of drugs and pharmaceuticals in hair samples being useful in forensic toxicology. The high chronological resolution allows an enhanced interpretation concerning the periods of drug administration. However, the negative results with two negative hairs have also demonstrated that hair analysis of single hairs can lead to misinterpretation. Different growth rates have to be considered, and particularly the phenomenon of different growth phases (anagen, catagen, telogen) require attention. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Just how conserved is vertebrate sex determination?
Authors: Cutting Andrew , Chue Justin , Smith Craig A.
Published: February 2013

Background: Sex determination in vertebrate embryos has long been equated with gonadal differentiation into testes or ovaries. This view has been challenged over the years by reports of somatic sexual dimorphisms pre‐dating gonadal sex differentiation. The recent finding that sex determination in birds is likely to be partly cell autonomous has again called for a broader definition of sex determination. Inherent sexual differentiation in each and every cell may apply widely among vertebrates, and may involve more than one “master sex gene” on a sex chromosome. At the gonadal level, key genes required for proper sexual differentiation are conserved among vertebrates, but their relative positions in the ovarian and testicular cascades differ. Results: We illustrate these differences by comparing key sex genes in fishes versus birds and mammals, with emphasis on DM domain genes and the SOX9‐AMH pathway in the testis and the FOXL2‐Aromatase pathway in the ovary. Such comparisons facilitate the identification of ancient versus derived genes involved in gonadal sex determination. Conclusions: The data indicate that vertebrate sex‐determining cascades are not as conserved as once thought. Developmental Dynamics 242:380–387, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Asymmetric 1,4‐Michael Addition Reactions Catalyzed by a Cinchona Alkaloid Derived Primary Amine: A Theoretical Investigation of the Reaction Mechanism and Enantioselectivity
Authors: Su Zhishan , Lee Hai Whang , Kim Chan Kyung
Published: February 2013

The mechanism and enantioselectivity of the asymmetric 1,4‐Michael addition of malononitrile to unsaturated aryl ketones catalyzed by a cinchona alkaloid derived primary amine have been investigated by DFT and ONIOM methods. The calculations indicated that three continuous stages are involved in the overall reaction: 1) The formation of a (ket)iminium intermediate, 2) an addition reaction between the iminium and malononitrile, and 3 ) hydrolysis and regeneration of the catalyst. The proton from an acidic additive plays an important role in the formation of the key ketiminium ion intermediate in which the protonated tertiary amine of the alkaloid not only activates the carbonyl substrate through hydrogen bonding, but also facilitates the condensation of the primary amine catalyst by participating in the formation of water molecules. The calculations also indicated that steric interactions between the aromatic substituent, the quinoline ring, and the alkene moiety of the unsaturated ketone force the key ketiminium ion intermediate to adopt a preferred conformation to achieve more accessibleRe‐face attack of the substrate. These results are in good agreement with experimental observations.
The Fe‐Catalysed Phosphono‐Allylation of Activated Olefins
Authors: Rommel Susanne , Dieskau André P. , Plietker Bernd
Published: February 2013

Phosphonates are useful building blocks for organic synthesis, and are also bioactive compounds. Traditionally, they are prepared by nucleophilic substitution under thermal conditions. The preparation of more densely functionalized phosphonates is still a synthetic challenge. In this paper, we present a convenient one‐pot three‐component phosphono‐allylation of activated olefins to give phosphonates bearing a variety of functional groups.
Modeling and simulation of three‐dimensional extrusion swelling of viscoelastic fluids with PTT, Giesekus and FENE‐P constitutive models
Authors: Mu Yue , Zhao Guoqun , Chen Anbiao , Wu Xianghong
Published: February 2013

The investigation of the extrusion swelling mechanism of viscoelastic fluids has both scientific and industrial interest. However, it has been traditionally difficult to afford theoretical and experimental researches to this problem. The numerical methodology based on the penalty finite element method with a decoupled algorithm is presented in the study to simulate three‐dimensional extrusion swelling of viscoelastic fluids flowing through out of a circular die. The rheological responses of viscoelastic fluids are described by using three kinds of differential constitutive models including the Phan‐Thien Tanner model, the Giesekus model, and the finite extensible nonlinear elastic dumbbell with a Peterlin closure approximation model. A streamface‐streamline method is introduced to adjust the swelling free surface. The calculation stability is improved by using the discrete elastic‐viscous split stress algorithm with the inconsistent streamline‐upwind scheme. The essential flow characteristics of viscoelastic fluids are predicted by using the proposed numerical method, and the mechanism of swelling phenomenon is further discussed.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Io's volcanism controls Jupiter's radio emissions
Authors: Yoneda M. , Tsuchiya F. , Misawa H. , Bonfond B. , Tao C. , Kagitani M. , Okano S.
Published: February 2013

Jupiter's sodium nebula showed an enhancement in late May through the beginning of June 2007. This means Io's volcanic activity and the magnetosphere's plasma content increased during this period. On the other hand, Jupiter's radio emission called HOM became quiet after the sodium nebula enhancement. The HOM emission is considered to be related to the activity of aurorae on Jupiter. These observation results therefore suggest that the increase in plasma supply from Io into Jupiter's magnetosphere weakens its field‐aligned current, which generates the radio emissions and aurorae on Jupiter. By comparing our observation results to recent model and observation results, we add supporting evidence to the possibility that Io's volcanism controls Jupiter's magnetospheric activity.
Estimation of 2006 Northern Hemisphere contrail coverage using MODIS data
Authors: Duda David P. , Minnis Patrick , Khlopenkov Konstantin , Chee Thad L. , Boeke Robyn
Published: February 2013

A modified automated contrail detection algorithm (CDA) using five infrared channels available from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer onboard the Aqua satellite is used to determine linear contrail coverage over the Northern Hemisphere during 2006. Commercial aircraft flight data are employed to filter false contrail detections by the CDA. The Northern Hemisphere annual mean linear contrail coverage ranges from 0.07% to 0.40% for three different CDA sensitivities. Based on visual analyses, the medium sensitivity CDA provides the best estimate of linear contrail coverage, which averages 0.13%. If scaled to the Southern Hemisphere, the global mean coverage would be 0.07%. Coverage is greatest during winter and least during the summer with maximum coverage over the North Atlantic. Less coverage is observed over heavy European and American traffic areas, likely as a result of difficulties in detecting linear contrails that overlap with each other and with older contrail cirrus. These results are valuable for evaluating the representation of contrails and contrail cirrus within global climate models and for retrieving contrail optical properties and radiative forcing.
Spatial relationship between lightning narrow bipolar events and parent thunderstorms as revealed by phased array radar
Authors: Wu Ting , Takayanagi Yuji , Yoshida Satoru , Funaki Tsuyoshi , Ushio Tomoo , Kawasaki Zen
Published: February 2013

Phased array radar with unprecedented high temporal and spatial resolution is used for the first time to analyze structures of thunderstorms producing lightning narrow bipolar events (NBEs). Locations of NBEs generally correspond well with the deepest convection, but in some thunderstorms extending higher than 15 km, positive NBEs cluster around, rather than right at the center of the core of deep convection. Negative NBEs are generally higher than positive NBEs and are usually produced at the cloud top of the thunderstorm. Positive NBEs, on the other hand, are always located well inside the thundercloud. It seems that negative NBEs can only be produced in very vigorous thunderstorms with cloud tops higher than about 14 km. Numerous thunderstorms with lower height produce few negative NBEs, indicating a height threshold for NBE production. On the basis of these findings, it becomes very convenient and accurate to monitor severe thunderstorms with negative NBEs.
Puzzling over the dynamics of the Lofoten Basin ‐ a sub‐Arctic hot spot of ocean variability
Authors: Volkov Denis L. , Belonenko Tatyana V. , Foux Victor R.
Published: February 2013

A sub‐Arctic “hot spot” of intense synoptic‐scale variability is observed in the Lofoten Basin (LB) of the Norwegian Sea. Using ERS‐1/2 and Envisat satellite altimetry measurements, we discover a cyclonic propagation of the synoptic‐scale sea surface height anomalies around the center of the LB. Surface drifter trajectories do not reveal an associated coherent near‐surface cyclonic flow suggesting that the propagating signals have a wavelike nature. We identify a dipole and a quadrupole wave modes rotating around the center of the LB, obtain analytic dispersion relations for these modes, and demonstrate that the observed propagation is a manifestation of topographic Rossby waves. Most of the observed waves have a wavelength of about 500 km and phase speeds ranging from 2 to 10 km/day. We show that these waves are largely responsible for the localization and amplification of sea surface height variability in the center of the LB.
The Stroop Smartphone Application Is A Short And Valid Method To Screen for Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
Authors: Bajaj Jasmohan S. , Thacker Leroy R. , Heuman Douglas M. , Fuchs Michael , Sterling Richard K. , Sanyal Arun J. , Puri Puneet , Siddiqui Mohammad S. , Stravitz Richard T. , Bouneva Iliana , Luketic Velimir , Noble Nicole , White Melanie B. , Monteith Pamela , Unser Ariel , Wade James B.
Published: February 2013

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) detection is difficult because of the unavailability of short screening tools. Therefore, MHE patients can remain undiagnosed and untreated. The aim of this study was to use a Stroop smartphone application (app) (EncephalApp_Stroop) to screen for MHE. The app and standard psychometric tests (SPTs; 2 of 4 abnormal is MHE, gold standard), psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES), and inhibitory control tests (ICTs) were administered to patients with cirrhosis (with or without previous overt hepatic encephalopathy; OHE) and age-matched controls from two centers; a subset underwent retesting. A separate validation cohort was also recruited. Stroop has an “off” state with neutral stimuli and an “on” state with incongruent stimuli. Outcomes included time to complete five correct runs as well as number of trials needed in on (Ontime) and off (Offtime) states. Stroop results were compared between controls and patients with cirrhosis with or without OHE and those with or without MHE (using SPTs, ICTs, and PHES). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to diagnose MHE in patients with cirrhosis with or without previous OHE. One hundred and twenty-five patients with cirrhosis (43 previous OHE) and 134 controls were included in the original cohort. App times were correlated with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (Offtime: r = 0.57; Ontime: r = 0.61; P < 0.0001) and were worst in previous OHE patients, compared to the rest and controls. Stroop performance was also significantly impaired in those with MHE, compared to those without MHE, according to SPTs, ICTs, and PHES (all P < 0.0001). A cutoff of >274.9 seconds (Ontime plus Offtime) had an area under the curve of 0.89 in all patients and 0.84 in patients without previous OHE for MHE diagnosis using SPT as the gold standard. The validation cohort showed 78% sensitivity and 90% specificity with the >274.9-seconds Ontime plus Offtime cutoff. App result patterns were similar between the centers. Test-retest reliability in controls and those without previous OHE was good; a learning effect on Ontime in patients with cirrhosis without previous OHE was noted. Conclusion: The Stroop smartphone app is a short, valid, and reliable tool for screening of MHE. (Hepatology 2013;58:1122-1132)
Lateral entorhinal cortex is critical for novel object‐context recognition
Authors: Wilson David I.G. , Langston Rosamund F. , Schlesiger Magdalene I. , Wagner Monica , Watanabe Sakurako , Ainge James A.
Published: February 2013

Episodic memory incorporates information about specific events or occasions including spatial locations and the contextual features of the environment in which the event took place. It has been modeled in rats using spontaneous exploration of novel configurations of objects, their locations, and the contexts in which they are presented. While we have a detailed understanding of how spatial location is processed in the brain relatively little is known about where the nonspatial contextual components of episodic memory are processed. Initial experiments measured c‐fos expression during an object‐context recognition (OCR) task to examine which networks within the brain process contextual features of an event. Increased c‐fos expression was found in the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC; a major hippocampal afferent) during OCR relative to control conditions. In a subsequent experiment it was demonstrated that rats with lesions of LEC were unable to recognize object‐context associations yet showed normal object recognition and normal context recognition. These data suggest that contextual features of the environment are integrated with object identity in LEC and demonstrate that recognition of such object‐context associations requires the LEC. This is consistent with the suggestion that contextual features of an event are processed in LEC and that this information is combined with spatial information from medial entorhinal cortex to form episodic memory in the hippocampus. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
EpCAM‐associated claudin‐7 supports lymphatic spread and drug resistance in rat pancreatic cancer
Authors: Thuma Florian , Zöller Margot
Published: February 2013

Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis because of early metastatic spread, a suggested feature of cancer‐initiating cells (CIC). To control for a functional contribution of the pancreatic CIC‐marker EpCAM, we explored metastasis formation by a stable EpCAM‐knockdown (ASML‐EpCkd) of the rat pancreatic adenocarcinoma line BSp73ASML (ASMLwt). As EpCAM associates with claudin‐7, an ASML‐claudin‐7‐knockdown (ASML‐cld7kd) was included to differentiate between EpC‐ and EpC‐cld7‐mediated effects. The metastatic capacity of ASML‐EpCkd and more pronounced ASML‐cld7kd cells is strikingly reduced. EpC‐associated cld7 interferes with EpC‐mediated cell–cell adhesion and supports migration. This requires cld7 phosphorylation and formation of an EpC‐cld7‐tetraspanin‐alpha6beta4 complex in glycolipid‐enriched membrane domains (GEM), where cld7 associates via the tetraspanin‐alpha6beta4 complex with phosphorylated ezrin. The association of cld7 with alpha6beta4 and cytoskeleton strongly stimulates tumor cell migration. However, EpC does not actively contribute. Instead, GEM‐located cld7 associates with presenilin‐2, which facilitates EpC cleavage and thereby tumor cell proliferation. Finally, the EpC‐cld7 complex promotes drug resistance. Both EpC and cld7 support MAPK and JNK activation, such that in ASML‐EpCkd and ASML‐cld7kd cells an undue expansion of proapoptotic molecules is observed. Only cld7 promotes activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by a strong downregulation of Pten. Accordingly, cisplatin treatment prolongs the survival time of ASML‐cld7kd‐bearing rats. Taken together, cld7 supports tumorigenic features of EpC by provoking EpC cleavage and thereby its cotranscription factor activity. On the other hand, only cld7 is directly engaged in motility and apoptosis resistance. Thus, at least in concern of migrating CIC, it is cld7 that acts as a CIC biomarker.
Constructions of Nested Orthogonal Arrays
Authors: Wang Kun , Li Yang
Published: February 2013

A symmetric nested orthogonal array, denoted by NOA, is an OA which contains an OA as a subarray, where . Nested orthogonal arrays are useful in designing an experimental setup consisting of two experiments, the expensive one of higher accuracy being nested in a relatively less expensive one of lower accuracy. In this paper, some combinatorial constructions of nested orthogonal arrays are provided. By employing these constructions, the existence spectrum of NOA is completely determined.
Oncogenic cooperation between PI3K/Akt signaling and transcription factor Runx2 promotes the invasive properties of metastatic breast cancer cells
Authors: Pande Sandhya , Browne Gillian , Padmanabhan Srivatsan , Zaidi Sayyed K. , Lian Jane B. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Stein Janet L. , Stein Gary S.
Published: February 2013

The serine/threonine kinase Akt/PKB promotes cancer cell growth and invasion through several downstream targets. Identification of novel substrates may provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Our study shows that Akt phosphorylates the cancer‐related transcription factor Runx2 resulting in stimulated DNA binding of the purified recombinant protein in vitro. Pharmacological inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway in breast cancer cells reduces DNA‐binding activity of Runx2 with concomitant reduction in the expression of metastasis‐related Runx2 target genes. Akt phosphorylates Runx2 at three critical residues within the runt DNA‐binding domain to enhance its in vivo genomic interactions with a target gene promoter, MMP13. Mutation of these three phosphorylation sites reduces Runx2 DNA‐binding activity. However, Akt signaling does not appear to interefere with CBFβ‐Runx2 interactions. Consequently, expression of multiple metastasis‐related genes is decreased and Runx2‐mediated cell invasion is supressed. Thus, our work identifies Runx2 as a novel and important downstream mediator of the PI3K/Akt pathway that is linked to metastatic properties of breast cancer cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1784–1792, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Buried soil organic inclusions in non‐sorted circles fields in northern Sweden: Age and Paleoclimatic context
Authors: Becher Marina , Olid Carolina , Klaminder Jonatan
Published: February 2013

Although burial of surface organic soil horizons into deeper mineral soil layers helps drive the long‐term buildup of carbon in arctic soils, when and why buried horizons formed as result of cryoturbation in northern Sweden remain unclear. In this study, we used 14C and 210Pb dating to assess when organic matter was buried within non‐sorted circles fields near Abisko in northern Sweden. In addition, we used aerial photos from 1959 and 2008 to detect eventual trends in cryogenic activities during this period. We found that organic matter from former organic horizons (stratigraphically intact or partly fragmented) corresponds to three major periods: 0–100 A.D., 900–1250 A.D., and 1650–1950 A.D. The latter two periods were indicated by several dated samples, while the extent of the oldest period is more uncertainty (indicated by only one sample). The aerial photos suggest a net overgrowth by shrub vegetation of previously exposed mineral soil surfaces since 1959. This overgrowth trend was seen in most of the studied fields (92 out of 137 analyzed fields), indicating that the cryogenic activity has mainly decreased in studied non‐sorted circles fields since the 1950s. This latter interpretation is also supported by the absence of buried organic layers formed during the last decades. We suggest that the organic matter was buried during the transition from longer cold periods to warmer conditions. We believe these climatic shifts could have triggered regional scale burial of soil organic matter and thus affected how these soils sequestered carbon.
Subcompartmentalization of extracellular extravascular space (EES) into permeability and leaky space with local arterial input function (AIF) results in improved discrimination between high‐ and low‐grade glioma using dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI
Authors: Sahoo Prativa , Rathore Ram K.S. , Awasthi Rishi , Roy Bhaswati , Verma Sanjay , Rathore Divya , Behari Sanjay , Husain Mazhar , Husain Nuzhat , Pandey Chandra M. , Mohakud Sudipta , Gupta Rakesh K.
Published: February 2013

Purpose:

To modify the generalized tracer kinetic model (GTKM) by introducing an additional tissue uptake leakage compartment in extracellular extravascular space (LTKM). In addition, an implicit determination of voxel‐wise local arterial input function (AIF) Cp(t) was performed to see whether these changes help in better discrimination between low‐ and high‐grade glioma using dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods:

The modified model (LTKM) was explored and fitted to the concentration–time curve C(t) of each voxel, in which the local AIF Cp(t) could be estimated by a time invariant convolution approximation based on a separately measured global AIF Ca(t). A comparative study of tracer kinetic analysis was performed on 184 glioma patients using DCE‐MRI data on 1.5T and 3T MRI systems.

Results:

The LTKM analysis provided more accurate pharmacokinetic parameters as evidenced by their relative constancy with respect to the length of concentration–time curve used. In addition, LTKM with local AIF resulted in improved discrimination between low‐grade and high‐grade gliomas.

Conclusion:

LTKM with local AIF provides more accurate estimation of physiological parameters and improves discrimination between low‐grade and high‐grade gliomas as compared with GTKM. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:677–688. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Added value of diffusion‐weighted imaging to MR cholangiopancreatography with unenhanced mr imaging for predicting malignancy or invasiveness of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas
Authors: Kang Koung Mi , Lee Jeong Min , Shin Cheong‐Il , Baek Jee Hyun , Kim Seung Ho , Yoon Jeong Hee , Han Joon Koo , Choi Byung Ihn
Published: February 2013

Purpose:

To investigate the added value of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) to magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with unenhanced MR imaging for predicting the malignancy or invasiveness of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs).

Materials and Methods:

Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, this retrospective study included 52 patients with surgically resected IPMNs and who underwent MRCP, unenhanced MRI, and DWI. Three blinded radiologists evaluated the two image sets, ie, MRCP with unenhanced MR images vs. the combined set with MRCP, unenhanced MR images, and DWI, and scored their confidence for malignancy or for invasiveness of IPMNs. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of benign IPMNs and of intraductal mucinous carcinomas (IPMCs) were compared. The diagnostic accuracy was calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

esults:

The mean ADC of malignant IPMNs (2.05 ± 0.66 × 10−3mm2/sec) was significantly lower than that of benign IPMNs (2.95 ± 0.32 × 10−3mm2/sec, P < 0.0001). Invasive IPMCs (1.51 ± 0.32 × 10−3mm2/sec) showed significantly lower ADC than that of noninvasive IPMCs (2.67 ± 0.23 × 10−3mm2/sec, P = 0.0003). The area of diffusion restriction was more frequently seen in malignant IPMNs than in benign IPMNs (P < 0.00001). The addition of DWI to MRCP with unenhanced MRI did not show a significant improvement for predicting malignant IPMN (P> 0.05), but resulted in a tendency to improve the diagnostic accuracy for the prediction of invasive IPMN in two observers (P = 0.072, P = 0.085).

Conclusion:

The addition of DWI to MRCP with unenhanced MRI may improve the diagnosis of malignant IPMN and further increase the prediction of invasive IPMC. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:555–563. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High temporal resolution 3D gadolinium‐enhanced dynamic MR imaging of renal tumors with pharmacokinetic modeling: Preliminary observations
Authors: Chandarana Hersh , Amarosa Alana , Huang William C. , Kang Stella K. , Taneja Samir , Melamed Jonathan , Kim Sungheon
Published: February 2013

Purpose

To assess dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracer pharmacokinetic parameters obtained with Generalized Kinetic Model (GKM) and extended Shutter Speed Model (SSM2) in renal tumors stratified by histologic subtypes.

Materials and Methods

In all, 24 patients with renal tumors were imaged at 1.5 T utilizing DCE‐MRI with high temporal resolution (1.2 sec/temporal frame) prior to surgery. Tracer kinetic analysis was performed for the entire tumor using individualized aortic input function. GKM and SSM2 were employed to generate transfer constant (Ktrans), plasma volume, and interstitial volume. These parameters, and ΔKtrans (KtransSSM2 − KtransGKM) were compared between tumors stratified by histologic subtype.

Results

There were 25 renal tumors: 15 clear cell, 4 papillary, 3 chromophobe, and 3 oncocytoma/oncocytic subtype. KtransGKM was significantly higher in chromophobe compared to other subtypes (P < 0.01). Using KtransGKM > 1.0 min−1, chromophobe were diagnosed with 100% sensitivity and 90.9% specificity. KtransSSM2 was higher than KtransGKM for all renal tumors except for all chromophobe and two clear cell subtype. Using KtransGKM > 1.0 min−1 and Δ Ktrans < 0, chromophobe could be discriminated from other lesions with 100% accuracy.

Conclusion

Ktrans obtained with GKM and SSM2 analysis can potentially discriminate chromophobe from other renal lesions with high accuracy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:802–808. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Volumetric late gadolinium‐enhanced myocardial imaging with retrospective inversion time selection
Authors: Kecskemeti Steve , Johnson Kevin , François Christopher J. , Schiebler Mark L. , Unal Orhan
Published: February 2013

Purpose

To develop and validate a novel free‐breathing 3D radial late gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging technique (3D LGE‐MRI) with isotropic resolution and retrospective inversion time (TI) selection for myocardial viability imaging.

Materials and Methods

The 3D radial LGE‐MRI method featuring an interleaved and bit‐reversed radial k‐space trajectory was evaluated in 12 subjects that also had clinical breath‐hold Cartesian 2D LGE‐MRI. The 3D LGE‐MRI acquisition requires a predicted TI and a user‐controlled data acquisition window that determines the sampling width around the predicted TI. Sliding window reconstructions with update rates of 1× the repetition time (TR) allow for a user selectable TI to obtain the maximum nulling of the myocardium. The retrospective nature of the acquisition allows the user to choose from a range of possible TI times centered on the expected TI. Those projections most corrupted by respiratory motion, as determined by a respiratory bellows signal, were resampled according to the diminishing variance algorithm. The quality of the left ventricular myocardial nulling on the 3D LGE‐MRI and 2D LGE‐MRI was assessed using a 4‐point Likert scale by two experienced radiologists. Comparison of image quality scores for the two methods was performed using generalized estimating equations.

Results

All 3D LGE‐MRI cases produced similar nulling of myocardial signal as the 2D LGE‐MRI. The image quality of myocardial nulling was not significantly different between the two acquisitions (mean nulling of 3.4 for 2D vs. 3.1 for 3D, and P = 0.0645). The average absolute deviation from mean scores was also not determined to be statistically significant (1.8 for 2D and 0.4 for 3D and P = 0.1673). Total acquisition time was ∼9 minutes for 3D LGE‐MRI with voxel sizes ranging from 1.63 to 2.03 mm3. Conversely, the total imaging time was twice as long for the 2D DCE‐MRI (>17 minutes) with an eight times larger voxel size of 1.4 × 2.2 × 7.0 mm.

Conclusion

The 3D LGE‐MRI technique demonstrated in this study is a promising alternative for the assessment of myocardial viability in patients who have difficulty sustaining breath‐holds for the clinical standard 2D LGE‐MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:1276–1282. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MMP‐1 promoter polymorphism is associated with primary tendinopathy of the posterior tibial tendon
Authors: Godoy‐Santos Alexandre , Cunha Mirella V. , Ortiz Rafael Trevisan , Fernandes Túlio Diniz , Mattar Rames , dos Santos Maria Cristina L.G.
Published: February 2013

Posterior tibial tendon (PTT) dysfunction is recognized as an etiology leading to acquired flatfoot in adults, causing significant functional loss. Many risk factors and systemic conditions have been proposed in literature. However, many patients present PTT dysfunction without any of these characteristics. This suggests that there could be a genetic influence associated with posterior tibial tendinopathy. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association of the −1607 polymorphism in the promoter gene of MMP‐1 and posterior tibial tendinopathy. The test group included 50 women, who presented PTT dysfunction grade 2 or 3, and who were submitted to surgical treatment, with histopathological examination of the tendon and magnetic resonance image (MRI) confirming tendinopathy, while the control group was 100 asymptomatic women who presented intact PTT at MRI. The results were analyzed using the chi‐square test. The data showed a 75% incidence of the allele 1G and 62% of the genotype 1G/1G at the control group while, at the test group, they showed a 78% incidence of the allele 2G and 72% of the genotype 2G/2G (p < 0.001). The −1607 polymorphism of promoter gene of MMP‐1 is associated with the posterior tibial tendinopathy in the studied population. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1103–1107, 2013
Extraction, derivatization, and determination of metabolome in human macrophages
Authors: Cheng Jianhua , Che Nanying , Li Haijing , Ma Kunpeng , Wu Shengming , Fang Junjian , Gao Rong , Liu Jiexin , Yan Xianzhong , Li Chuanyou , Dong Fangting
Published: February 2013

A GC/TOF‐MS was applied to the determination of metabolites in human macrophages. The extraction conditions and quenching conditions were investigated and optimized. The results indicated that 0.9% w/v sodium chloride at 4°C was the most favorable condition to quench macrophage, 1 mL 50% ACN for 2 min in ice bath was the optimal condition to extract 5 × 106 cells. Two hundred six peaks could be detectable with peak area over 50 using this method. Among these peaks, 45 peaks with the similarity over 700 were identified using standard compounds for endogenous metabolites. Thirty‐seven out of 45 metabolites could be quantified directly by this method. Twenty metabolites were selected randomly, and 15 amino acids were used for method validation. The correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.9902 to 0.9977 were obtained for 15 amino acids in the range of 2.35–150.20 μg/mL. The intraday and interday precisions were lower than 19.90% for the randomly selected 20 endogenous metabolites. Using this development method and multivariate statistical technique, several potential biomarkers were found from human macrophages infected by different Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) strains. The results suggest that the method could be applied to the investigation of the pathogenicity of tuberculosis.
The genetics of Parkinson's disease: Progress and therapeutic implications
Authors: Singleton Andrew B. , Farrer Matthew J. , Bonifati Vincenzo
Published: February 2013

The past 15 years has witnessed tremendous progress in our understanding of the genetic basis for Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, whereas most mutations, such as those in SNCA, PINK1, PARK2, PARK7, PLA2G6, FBXO7, and ATP13A2, are a rare cause of disease, one particular mutation in LRRK2 has been found to be common in certain populations. There has been considerable progress in finding risk loci. To date, approximately 16 such loci exist; notably, some of these overlap with the genes known to contain disease‐causing mutations. The identification of risk alleles has relied mostly on the application of revolutionary technologies; likewise, second‐generation sequencing methods have facilitated the identification of new mutations in PD. These methods will continue to provide novel insights into PD. The utility of genetics in therapeutics relies primarily on leveraging findings to understand the pathogenesis of PD. Much of the investigation into the biology underlying PD has used these findings to define a pathway, or pathways, to pathogenesis by trying to fit disparate genetic defects onto the same network. This work has had some success, particularly in the context of monogenic disease, and is beginning to provide clues about potential therapeutic targets. Approaches toward therapies are also being provided more directly by genetics, notably by the reduction and clearance of alpha‐synuclein and inhibition of Lrrk2 kinase activity. We believe this has been an exciting, productive time for PD genetics and, furthermore, that genetics will continue to drive the etiologic understanding and etiology‐based therapeutic approaches in this disease. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society
Correction for the T1 effect incorporating flip angle estimated by Kalman filter in cardiac‐gated functional MRI
Authors: Shin Jaemin , Ahn Sinyeob , Hu Xiaoping
Published: February 2013

Purpose

To develop an improved and generalized technique for correcting T1‐related signal fluctuations (T1 effect) in cardiac‐gated functional magnetie resonance imaging (fMRI) data with flip angle estimation.

Theory and Methods

Spatial maps of flip angle and T1 are jointly estimated from cardiac‐gated time series using a Kalman filter. These maps are subsequently used for removing the T1 effect in the presence of B1 inhomogeneity. The new technique was compared with a prior technique that uses T1 only while assuming a homogeneous flip angle of 90°. The robustness of the new technique is demonstrated with simulated and experimental data.

Results

Simulation results revealed that the new method led to increased temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio across a large range of flip angles, T1s, and stimulus onset asynchrony means compared to the T1 only approach. With the experimental data, the new approach resulted in higher average gray matter temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio of seven subjects (84 vs. 48). The new approach also led to a higher statistical score of activation in the lateral geniculate nucleus (P < 0.002).

Conclusion

The new technique is able to remove the T1 effect robustly and is a promising tool for improving the ability to map activation in fMRI, especially in subcortical regions. Magn Reson Med 70:1626–1633, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pelvic floor muscle training included in a pregnancy exercise program is effective in primary prevention of urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pelaez Mireia , Gonzalez‐Cerron Silvia , Montejo Rocío , Barakat Rubén
Published: February 2013

Aims

To investigate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) taught in a general exercise class during pregnancy on the prevention of urinary incontinence (UI) in nulliparous continent pregnant women.

Methods

This was a unicenter two armed randomized controlled trial. One hundred sixty‐nine women were randomized by a central computer system to an exercise group (EG) (exercise class including PFMT) (n = 73) or a control group (CG) (n = 96). 10.1% loss to follow‐up: 10 from EG and 7 from CG. The intervention consisted of 70–75 sessions (22 weeks, three times per week, 55–60 min/session including 10 min of PFMT). The CG received usual care (which included follow up by midwifes including information about PFMT). Questions on prevalence and degree of UI were posed before (week 10–14) and after intervention (week 36–39) using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ‐UI SF).

Results

At the end of the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the EG. Reported frequency of UI [Never: CG: 54/60.7%, EG: 60/95.2% (P < 0.001)]. Amount of leakage [None: CG: 45/60.7%, EG: 60/95.2% (P < 0.001)]. There was also a statistically significant difference in ICIQ‐UI SF Score between groups after the intervention period [CG: 2.7 (SD 4.1), EG: 0.2 (SD 1.2) (P < 0.001)]. The estimated effect size was 0.8.

Conclusion

PFMT taught in a general exercise class three times per week for at least 22 weeks, without former assessment of ability to perform a correct contraction was effective in primary prevention of UI in primiparous pregnant women. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:67–71, 2014. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A mouse model of chronic prostatic inflammation using a human prostate cancer‐derived isolate of Propionibacterium acnes
Authors: Shinohara Debika Biswal , Vaghasia Ajay M. , Yu Shu‐Han , Mak Tim N. , Brüggemann Holger , Nelson William G. , De Marzo Angelo M. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Sfanos Karen S.
Published: February 2013

BACKGROUND

Prostatic inflammation has been linked to a number of prostatic diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis syndromes, and prostate cancer. Major unanswered questions include what pathogenic mechanisms, such as bacterial infections, may drive the accumulation of inflammatory infiltrates in the human prostate, and how inflammation might contribute to disease. To study this potential link in an in vivo system, we developed a mouse model of long‐term bacteria‐induced chronic inflammation of the prostate using a human prostatectomy‐derived strain of Propionibacterium acnes.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were inoculated, via urethral catheterization, with vehicle control or a prostatectomy‐derived strain of P. acnes (PA2). Animals were assessed at 2 days, 1, 2, or 8 weeks post‐inoculation via histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

PA2 inoculation resulted in severe acute and chronic inflammation confined to the dorsal lobe of the prostate. Chronic inflammation persisted for at least 8 weeks post‐inoculation. Inflammatory lesions were associated with an increase in the Ki‐67 proliferative index, and diminished Nkx3.1 and androgen receptor (AR) production. Interestingly, the observed response required live bacteria and both IHC and in situ hybridization assays for P. acnes indicated a potential intracellular presence of P. acnes in prostate epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first mouse model of long‐term prostatic inflammation induced by P. acnes, and more generally, any prostatectomy‐derived bacterial isolate. This model may serve as a valuable preclinical model of chronic prostatic inflammation that can be used to mechanistically study the link between inflammation and prostatic disease. Prostate 73: 1007–1015, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Temperature‐dependent emission shift and carrier dynamics in deep ultraviolet AlGaN/AlGaN quantum wells
Authors: Zeng Jianping , Li Wei , Yan Jianchang , Wang Junxi , Cong Peipei , Li Jinmin , Wang Weiying , Jin Peng , Wang Zhanguo
Published: February 2013

Radiative and nonradiative processes in deep ultraviolet (DUV) AlGaN/AlGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown by LP‐MOCVD have been studied by means of deep ultraviolet time‐integrated photoluminescence (PL) and time‐resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy. As the temperature is increased, the peak energy of DUV‐AlGaN/AlGaN MQWs PL emission (Ep) exhibits a similarly anti‐S‐shaped behavior (blueshift – accelerated redshift – decelerated redshift): Ep increases in the temperature range of 5.9–20 K and decreases for 20–300 K, involving an accelerated redshift for 20–150 K and an opposite decelerated redshift for 150–300 K with temperature increase. Especially at high temperature as 300 K, the slope of the Ep redshift tends towards zero. This temperature‐induced PL shift is strongly affected by the change in carrier dynamics with increasing temperature. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Resonance theory of catalytic action of transition‐metal complexes: Isomerization of quadricyclane to norbornadiene catalyzed by metal porphyrins
Authors: Tchougréeff Andrei L. , Tokmachev Andrei M. , Dronskowski Richard
Published: February 2013

The theory of catalytic activity of transition‐metal compounds is a fascinating problem especially if a comparison of different catalysts is necessary. The isomerization of quadricyclane (QC) to norbornadiene (NB) catalyzed by transition‐metal porphyrins is a challenge and incidentally a suitable benchmark for various theories of catalysis. We analyze this process in detail using a valence bond‐like scheme adjusted for the description of reaction centers containing transition‐metal atoms. A qualitative explanation of contrasting catalytic behavior of Mn‐phthalocyanine and Co‐tetraphenylporphyrin is obtained from the analysis of the spectra of local many electron states of free catalysts and their complexes with the reactant/product. This picture is supported by the numerical analysis of potential energy profiles for the QC to NB isomerization in the presence of a catalyst performed in the effective Hamiltonian approximation. This exemplary reaction is put in a more general perspective of theories of catalytic activity of transition‐metal complexes and in relation with oxygenation reactions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unpaired electrons at the second‐order reduced density matrix level: Covalent bonding, and coulomb and fermi correlations in closed shell systems
Authors: Karafiloglou Padeleimon , Kyriakidou Katerina
Published: February 2013

The usual one‐electron populations in atomic orbitals of closed shell systems are split into unpaired and paired at the (spin‐dependent) second‐order reduced density matrix level. The unpaired electron in an orbital is defined as the “simultaneous occurrence of an electron and an electron hole of opposite spins in the same spatial orbital,” which for simplicity is called “electropon.” The electropon population in a given orbital reveals whether and to what degree the Coulomb correlations, and hence, the chemical bonding between this orbital and the remaining orbitals of the system are globally favorable or unfavorable. The interaction of two electropons in two target orbitals reveals the quality (favorable or unfavorable) and the strength of the covalent bonding between these orbitals; this establish a bridge between the notion of “unpaired electrons” and the traditional covalent structure of valence‐bond (VB) theory. Favorable/unfavorable bonding between two orbitals is characterized by the positive/negative (Coulomb) correlation of two electropons of opposite spins, or alternatively, by the negative/positive (Fermi) correlation of two parallel spin electropons. A spin‐free index is defined, and the relationship between the electropon viewpoint for chemical bonding and the well‐known two‐electron Coulomb and Fermi correlations is established. Benchmark calculations are achieved for ethylene, hexatriene, benzene, pyrrole, methylamine, and ammonia molecules on the basis of physically meaningful natural orbitals. The results, obtained in the framework of both orthogonal and nonorthogonal population analysis methods, provide the same conceptual pictures, which are in very good agreement with elementary chemical knowledge and VB theory. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonvolatile Analog Memory Transistor Based on Carbon Nanotubes and C60 Molecules
Authors: Cho Byungjin , Kim Kyunghyun , Chen Chia‐Ling , Shen Alex Ming , Truong Quyen , Chen Yong
Published: February 2013

A nonvolatile analog memory transistor is demonstrated by integrating C60 molecules as charge storage molecules in the transistor gate, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the transistor channel. The currents through the CNT channel can be tuned quantitatively and reversibly to analog values by controlling the number of electrons trapped in the C60 molecules. After tuning, the electrons trapped in the C60 molecules in the gate, and the current through the CNT channel, can be preserved in a nonvolatile manner, indicating the characteristics of the nonvolatile analog memory.
Competitive Dissolution Mechanism of Sulfur in CaMnSilicate Melts: Structural View
Authors: Park Joo Hyun
Published: February 2013

The sulfide capacities of the CaOSiO2MnO(Al2O3MgO) slags were measured at 1873 K over a wide composition range using a gas‐slag equilibration method. The effects of MnO content and the MnO ↔ CaO substitution on the sulfide capacity of molten slag were also investigated based on the structural view of silicate melts. In the multicomponent silicate melts containing high MnO (up to about 50 wt%), the sulfide capacity mainly increased with increasing MnO content. Also, the sulfide capacity and the activity of MnO showed a linear relationship with a slope of unity, indicating that MnO is dominant component controlling the sulfur dissolution behavior into CaMnsilicate melts. The sulfide capacity increased as MnO substituted for CaO in the high silica melts (>30 (±5) wt% SiO2), whereas it decreased by increasing the MnO/CaO ratio in the low silica melts (<30(±5) wt% SiO2). This tendency of sulfide capacity resulted in the clock‐wisely rotating iso‐capacity contours from MnO‐free side to MnO‐rich corner in CaMnsilicate melts. The dissolution mechanism of sulfur in CaMnsilicate melts can be explained by the “Competitive dissolution mechanism.”