bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel strategy of radiofrequency hyperthermia (neothermia) in combination with preoperative chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of advanced rectal cancer: a pilot study
Authors: Shoji Hisanori , Motegi Masahiko , Osawa Kiyotaka , Okonogi Noriyuki , Okazaki Atsushi , Andou Yoshitaka , Asao Takayuki , Kuwano Hiroyuki , Takahashi Takeo , Ogoshi Kyoji
Published: February 2015

The safety of weekly regional hyperthermia performed with 8 MHz radiofrequency (RF) capacitive heating equipment has been established in rectal cancer. We aimed to standardize hyperthermia treatment for scientific evaluation and for assessing local tumor response to RF hyperthermia in rectal cancer. Forty‐nine patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. All patients received chemoradiation with intensity‐modulated radiation therapy 5 days/week (dose, 50 Gy/25 times) concomitant with 5 days/week for five times of capecitabine (1700 mg/m2 per day) and once a week for five times of 50 min irradiations by an 8 MHz RF capacitive heating device. Thirty‐three patients underwent surgery 8 weeks after treatment. Three patients did not undergo surgery because of progressive disease (PD) and 13 refused. Eight (16.3%) patients had a pathological complete response (ypCR) after surgery. Among patients without surgery, 3 (6.1%) had clinical complete response (CR) and 3 (6.1%) had local CR but distant PD (CRPD). Ninety percent of ypCR + CR patients were shown in 6.21 W min−1 m−2/treatment or higher group of average total accumulated irradiation output with 429°C min−1 m−2 or higher group of total accumulated thermal output. However, a patient with CRPD was in the higher total accumulated thermal output group. We propose a new quantitative parameter for the hyperthermia and demonstrated that patients can benefit from mild irradiation with mild temperature. Using these parameters, the exact output, optimal thermal treatment, and contraindications or indications of this modality could be determined in a multi‐institutional, future study.
Interactive digital graffiti canvas system
Authors: Kim Yong Sun , Kim Yongwan , Kim Ki‐Hong
Published: February 2015

This paper presents an interactive digital painting system that allows a user to draw graffiti on a virtual 3D canvas with a digital spray can. The system visualizes a stereoscopic representation of the canvas by tracking the user's head. It also emulates real‐time spray painting by tracking the spray can in the user's hand as well as sensing the button pressure of the spray device. After painting a 3D object, the user can interact with the object on the display and see it flying in the 3D environment through a tracked head‐mounted display. As demonstrated in the results of our evaluation, we verified that the system resembles real graffiti in regard to a natural and realistic graffiti experience. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pneumocystis jiroveci prophylaxis in patients undergoing Bendamustine treatment: the need for a standardized protocol
Authors: Abkur Tarig Mohammed , Saeed Mamoun , Ahmed Saad Zeinalabdin , McArthur Ryan , Leahy Maeve , O'Leary Hilary , O'Keeffe Denis
Published: February 2015

Key Clinical Message

The decision for PJP prophylaxis depends on a physician's evaluation of multiple variables. The high rate of PJP infection described in this article combined with the known impaired T‐cell function post Bendamustine treatment justifies considering all patients for PJP prophylaxis when they receive Bendamustine treatment.
Application of Minihydrocyclones in Methanol‐to‐Olefin Process Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Lv Wen‐Jie , Yang Qiang , Ma Liang , Liu Hong‐Lai , Wang Hua‐Lin
Published: February 2015

A significant amount of wastewater containing fine catalyst particles is produced in the methanol‐to‐olefin (MTO) process, which restricts the long‐period operation of the processing unit. To address this key problem, a minihydrocyclone was designed for MTO wastewater treatment and tested in the laboratory. Good separation performance and a small cut diameter were achieved under certain feed conditions. Furthermore, a group composed of 300 parallel‐arranged minihydrocyclones was applied to the industrial unit in the MTO quench water treatment. The obtained results indicated that the separation efficiency and precision of the minihydrocyclone can meet the requirements of fine catalyst particle separation, and the designed minihydrocyclone group with reasonable parallel configuration exerted an outstanding application effect on the treatment of MTO quench water.
Synthetic Method for 2,2'‐Disubstituted Fluorinated Binaphthyl Derivatives and Application as Chiral Source in Design of Chiral Mono‐Phosphoric Acid Catalyst
Authors: Momiyama Norie , Okamoto Hiroshi , Shimizu Masahiro , Terada Masahiro
Published: February 2015

A practical synthetic method for 2,2'‐disubstituted fluorinated binaphthyl derivatives was achieved using magnesium bis(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperamide) [Mg(TMP)2], prepared from LiTMP (2 equiv) and MgBr2 (1 equiv), which allows for access to a variety of fluorinated binaphthyl compounds. The utility of the fluorinated binaphthyl backbone was evaluated in F10BINOL derived chiral mono‐phosphoric acid (R)‐19 as the chiral Brønsted acid catalyst. The catalyst (R)‐19 performs exceptionally well in the catalytic enantioselective imino‐ene reaction, demonstrating the potential of a fluorinated binaphthyl framework. Chirality 27:464–475, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Entry length effects for momentum, heat and mass transfer in circular ducts with laminar flow
Authors: Hayes Robert E. , Donoso‐Bravo Andrés , Mmbaga Joseph P.
Published: February 2015

This paper shows the results of a computational study relating to the calculation of heat and mass transfer coefficients in the entry region of a circular duct. Laminar flow with temperature dependent physical properties is used. The results are compared with the classical results obtained for a fluid with constant physical properties. It is seen that a plot of the Nusselt number versus the inverse Graetz number does not yield a unique curve, but rather depends on the channel diameter, wall temperature or flux value, and the inlet fluid velocity. The deviation from the curve obtained with constant physical properties increases as the velocity decreases.
Embeddings of Riemannian Manifolds with Heat Kernels and Eigenfunctions
Authors: Portegies Jacobus W.
Published: February 2015

We show that any closed n‐dimensional Riemannian manifold can be embedded by a map constructed from heat kernels at a certain time from a finite number of points. Both this time and this number can be bounded in terms of the dimension, a lower bound on the Ricci curvature, the injectivity radius, and the volume. It follows that the manifold can be embedded by a finite number of eigenfunctions of the Laplace operator. Again, this number only depends on the geometric bounds and the dimension. In addition, both maps can be made arbitrarily close to an isometry. In the appendix, we derive quantitative estimates of the harmonic radius, so that the estimates on the number of eigenfunctions or heat kernels needed can be made quantitative as well. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of sampling method on foliar δ13C of Leymus chinensis at different scales
Authors: Liu Yanjie , Li Yan , Zhang Lirong , Xu Xingliang , Niu Haishan
Published: February 2015

Stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C) usually shows a negative relationship with precipitation at a large scale. We hypothesized that sampling method affects foliar δ13C and its response pattern to precipitation. We selected 11 sites along a precipitation gradient in Inner Mongolia and collected leaves of Leymus chinensis with five or six replications repeatedly in each site from 2009 to 2011. Additionally, we collected leaves of L. chinensis separately from two types of grassland (grazed and fenced) in 2011. Foliar δ13C values of all samples were measured. We compared the patterns that foliar δ13C to precipitation among different years or different sample sizes, the differences of foliar δ13C between grazed and fenced grassland. Whether actual annual precipitation (AAP) or mean annual precipitation (MAP), it was strongly correlated with foliar δ13C every year. Significant difference was found between the slopes of foliar δ13C to AAP and MAP every year, among the slopes of foliar δ13C to AAP from 2009 to 2011. The more samples used at each site the lower and convergent P‐values of the linear regression test between foliar δ13C and precipitation. Furthermore, there was significant lower foliar δ13C value in presence of grazed type than fenced type grassland. These findings provide evidence that there is significant effect of sampling method to foliar δ13C and its response pattern to precipitation of L. chinensis. Our results have valuable implications in methodology for future field sampling studies.
Why the molten salt fast reactor (MSFR) is the “best” Gen IV reactor
Authors: Siemer Darryl D.
Published: February 2015

A simultaneously “nuclear”, permanent, and in‐time solution to mankind's energy‐related problems would require the relatively rapid manufacture of 10,000–30,000 genuinely sustainable, full‐sized (~1 GWe) reactors. This “nuclear renaissance” would have to be implemented with breeder reactors because today's commercial nuclear fuel cycle is unsustainable and based upon a fuel (235U) that is intrinsically expensive and politically problematic. The purpose of this paper is to point out why a simple/cheap “minimal reprocessing” implementation of the European Union's (EU's) molten salt fast reactor (MSFR) concept represents the most promising way to implement that technical fix:

It would be relatively simple/cheap to both build and operate,

Its fuel cycle is genuinely sustainable (no fuel shortages “forever”),

Radwaste management would also be relatively simple and cheap,

Operation would neither generate nor require huge amounts of transuranic (TRU) elements,

The consequences of accidents (fuel spills, etc.) would be relatively benign,

When steady state is achieved, the world would no longer need its uranium enrichment facilities.

Its primary drawback is that it would require virtually everyone currently involved with managing, researching, implementing, regulating, or “helping” the USA's nuclear power industry to embrace a massive paradigm shift.
Hydraulic and geomorphic processes in an overbank flood along a meandering, gravel‐bed river: implications for chute formation
Authors: Harrison Lee R. , Dunne Thomas , Fisher G. Burch
Published: February 2015

Hydraulic interactions between rivers and floodplains produce off‐channel chutes, the presence of which influences the routing of water and sediment and thus the planform evolution of meandering rivers. Detailed studies of the hydrologic exchanges between channels and floodplains are usually conducted in laboratory facilities, and studies documenting chute development are generally limited to qualitative observations. In this study, we use a reconstructed, gravel‐bedded, meandering river as a field laboratory for studying these mechanisms at a realistic scale. Using an integrated field and modeling approach, we quantified the flow exchanges between the river channel and its floodplain during an overbank flood, and identified locations where flow had the capacity to erode floodplain chutes. Hydraulic measurements and modeling indicated high rates of flow exchange between the channel and floodplain, with flow rapidly decelerating as water was decanted from the channel onto the floodplain due to the frictional drag provided by substrate and vegetation. Peak shear stresses were greatest downstream of the maxima in bend curvature, along the concave bank, where terrestrial LiDAR scans indicate initial floodplain chute formation. A second chute has developed across the convex bank of a meander bend, in a location where sediment accretion, point bar development and plant colonization have created divergent flow paths between the main channel and floodplain. In both cases, the off‐channel chutes are evolving slowly during infrequent floods due to the coarse nature of the floodplain, though rapid chute formation would be more likely in finer‐grained floodplains. The controls on chute formation at these locations include the flood magnitude, river curvature, floodplain gradient, erodibility of the floodplain sediment, and the flow resistance provided by riparian vegetation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐order time integrators for front‐tracking finite‐element analysis of viscous free‐surface flows
Authors: Charlot L. , Etienne S. , Hay A. , Pelletier D. , Garon A.
Published: February 2015

This paper proposes implicit Runge–Kutta (IRK) time integrators to improve the accuracy of a front‐tracking finite‐element method for viscous free‐surface flow predictions. In the front‐tracking approach, the modeling equations must be solved on a moving domain, which is usually performed using an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) frame of reference. One of the main difficulties associated with the ALE formulation is related to the accuracy of the time integration procedure. Indeed, most formulations reported in the literature are limited to second‐order accurate time integrators at best. In this paper, we present a finite‐element ALE formulation in which a consistent evaluation of the mesh velocity and its divergence guarantees satisfaction of the discrete geometrical conservation law. More importantly, it also ensures that the high‐order fixed mesh temporal accuracy of time integrators is preserved on deforming grids. It is combined with the use of a family of L‐stable IRK time integrators for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations to yield high‐order time‐accurate free‐surface simulations. This is demonstrated in the paper using the method of manufactured solution in space and time as recommended in Verification and Validation. In particular, we report up to fifth‐order accuracy in time. The proposed free‐surface front‐tracking approach is then validated against cases of practical interest such as sloshing in a tank, solitary waves propagation, and coupled interaction between a wave and a submerged cylinder. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zircon U–Pb geochronology, geochemistry and Hf isotopes of the Late Cretaceous Hongshan intrusion, western Yunnan, SW China
Authors: Wang Peng , Dong Guo‐Chen , Santosh M. , He Wen‐Yan , Li Xue‐Feng , Dong Mei‐Ling
Published: February 2015

The Hongshan quartz monzonite porphyry is one of the Yanshanian intrusions in the southern part of the Yudun Arc. Detailed zircon U–Pb data of four samples yielded ages of 78.8–80.7 Ma, indicating that the Hongshan intrusion was emplaced during the late stage of Late Cretaceous. The Hongshan intrusion shows shoshonitic and high‐K calc‐alkaline, with A/CNK = 0.64–1.14. The rocks show an obvious fractionation between light and heavy rare‐earth elements (average [La/Yb]N = 38.85), with negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.60–0.87), enrichment in large‐ion lithophile elements (Rb, Th, U and K) and depletion in high field‐strength elements (Nb, Ta and P). Rocks have high Sr and low Y content which are characteristics of adakitic rocks, suggesting magma derivation from thickened lower crust. In order to evaluate the nature of the source region, Hf isotope data of zircons were acquired through LA‐MC‐ICPMS. The negative and variable εHf(t) values demonstrate that the Hongshan intrusion was derived from ancient crust, without mantle‐derived components and is significantly different from the Triassic intrusions in the southern part of the Yudun Arc. The three Yanshanian intrusions in Hongshan, Relin and Tongchangou are remarkably similar in terms of geochronology, geochemistry and Hf isotopes. We therefore infer that these intrusions had the same magmatic source and we correlate the tectonics with northward subduction of Tethys underneath the Asian continent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multimodal analysis of functional and structural disconnection in Alzheimer's disease using multiple kernel SVM
Authors: Dyrba Martin , Grothe Michel , Kirste Thomas , Teipel Stefan J.
Published: February 2015

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients exhibit alterations in the functional connectivity between spatially segregated brain regions which may be related to both local gray matter (GM) atrophy as well as a decline in the fiber integrity of the underlying white matter tracts. Machine learning algorithms are able to automatically detect the patterns of the disease in image data, and therefore, constitute a suitable basis for automated image diagnostic systems. The question of which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities are most useful in a clinical context is as yet unresolved. We examined multimodal MRI data acquired from 28 subjects with clinically probable AD and 25 healthy controls. Specifically, we used fiber tract integrity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), GM volume derived from structural MRI, and the graph‐theoretical measures ‘local clustering coefficient’ and ‘shortest path length’ derived from resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) to evaluate the utility of the three imaging methods in automated multimodal image diagnostics, to assess their individual performance, and the level of concordance between them. We ran the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm and validated the results using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation. For the single imaging modalities, we obtained an area under the curve (AUC) of 80% for rs‐fMRI, 87% for DTI, and 86% for GM volume. When it came to the multimodal SVM, we obtained an AUC of 82% using all three modalities, and 89% using only DTI measures and GM volume. Combined multimodal imaging data did not significantly improve classification accuracy compared to the best single measures alone. Hum Brain Mapp 36:2118–2131, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hyperemesis gravidarum and maternal cancer risk, a scandinavian nested case‐control study
Authors: Vandraas Kathrine F. , Grjibovski Andrej M. , Støer Nathalie C. , Troisi Rebecca , Stephansson Olof , Ording Anne Gulbech , Vangen Siri , Grotmol Tom , Vikanes Åse V.
Published: February 2015

Reproductive factors have been shown to influence cancer risk. Several pathological conditions during pregnancy have also been associated with subsequent altered cancer risk in the mother. Hyperemesis gravidarum (hyperemesis) is an early pregnancy condition characterized by severe nausea and vomiting resulting in weight loss and metabolic disturbances. Studies have reported associations between hyperemesis and cancer, but results are inconsistent. In this nested case‐control study we linked the population‐based medical birth registries and cancer registries in Norway, Sweden and Denmark in order to examine overall cancer risk and risk of specific cancer types in women with a history of hyperemesis, using conditional logistic regression. In total, 168,501 cases of cancer in addition to up to 10 cancer‐free controls per case were randomly sampled, matched on year of birth and birth registry (n = 1,721,626). Hyperemesis was defined through the International Classification of Diseases. Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders. Hyperemesis was inversely associated with overall cancer risk with adjusted relative risk (aRR) of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88–0.99), with cancer in the lungs (aRR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44–0.81), cervix (aRR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49–0.91) and rectum (aRR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.29–0.78). Thyroid cancer was positively associated with hyperemesis (aRR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.06–1.99) and risk increased with more than one hyperemetic pregnancy (aRR 1.80, 95% CI: 1.23–2.63). Hormonal factors, in particular human chorionic gonadotropin, are likely to be involved in mediating these effects. This study is the first to systematically address these associations and provides valuable knowledge on potential long‐term consequences of hyperemesis.
Intact and cleaved plasma soluble urokinase receptor in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin with or without cetuximab
Authors: Tarpgaard Line S. , Christensen Ib J. , Høyer‐Hansen Gunilla , Lund Ida K. , Guren Tormod K. , Glimelius Bengt , Sorbye Halfdan , Tveit Kjell M. , Nielsen Hans Jørgen , Moreira José M. A. , Pfeiffer Per , Brünner Nils
Published: February 2015

Circulating forms of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) are associated with prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. Preclinical studies have shown that uPAR can influence the state of phosphorylation and signalling activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a ligand‐independent manner. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether plasma soluble intact and cleaved uPAR(I‐III)+(II‐III) levels could identify a subpopulation of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) where treatment with cetuximab would have a beneficial effect. Plasma samples were available from 453 patients treated in the NORDIC VII study. Patients were randomized between FLOX and FLOX + cetuximab. The levels of uPAR(I‐III)+(II‐III) were determined by time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay. We demonstrated that higher baseline plasma uPAR(I‐III)+(II‐III) levels were significantly associated with shorter progression‐free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.30, 1.14–1.48, p = 0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.75, 1.52–2.02, p < 0.0001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that plasma uPAR(I‐III)+(II‐III) was an independent biomarker of short OS (HR = 1.45, 1.20–1.75, p = 0.0001). There were no significant interactions between plasma uPAR(I‐III)+(II‐III) levels, KRAS mutational status and treatment either PFS (p = 0.43) or OS (p = 0.095). However, further explorative analyses indicated that patients with low levels of circulating suPAR and a KRAS wild‐type tumor have improved effect from treatment with FLOX + cetuximab as compared to patients with KRAS wild‐type and high levels of suPAR. These results thus support the preclinical findings and should be further tested in an independent clinical data set.
Medical image enhancement algorithm based on NSCT and the improved fuzzy contrast
Authors: Wang Jing-jing , Jia Zhen‐hong , Kasabov Nikola
Published: February 2015

In order to solve the problem of noise amplification, low contrast and image distortion in the process of medical image enhancement, a new algorithm is proposed which combines NSCT (nonsubsampled contourlet transform) and improved fuzzy contrast. The image is decomposed by NSCT. Firstly, linear enhancement method is used in low frequency coefficients; secondly the improved adaptive threshold function is used to deal with the high frequency coefficients. Finally, the improved fuzzy contrast is used to enhance the global contrast and the Laplace operator is used to enhance the details of the medical images. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can improve the image visual effects, remove the noise and enhance the details of medical images. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 7–14, 2015
The design of composite adaptive morphological filter and applications to Rician noise reduction in MR images
Authors: Yang Shuo , Li Jianxun
Published: February 2015

Composite filters based on morphological operators are getting considerably attractive to medical image denoising. Most of such composite filters depend on classical morphological operators. In this article, an optimal composite adaptive morphological filter (FCAMF) is developed through a genetic programming (GP) training algorithm by using new nonlocal amoeba morphological operators. On one hand, we propose a novel method for formulating and implementing nonlocal amoeba structuring elements (SEs) for input‐adaptive morphological operators. The nonlocal amoeba SEs in the proposed strategy is divided into two parts: one is the patch distance based amoeba center, and another is the geodesic distance based amoeba boundary, by which the nonlocal patch distance and local geodesic distance are both taken into consideration. On the other hand, GP as a supervised learning algorithm is employed for building the FCAMF. In GP module, FCAMF is evolved through evaluating the fitness of several individuals over certain number of generations. The proposed method does not need any prior information about the Rician noise variance. Experimental results on both standard simulated and real MRI data sets show that the proposed filter produces excellent results and outperforms existing state‐of‐the‐art filters, especially for highly noisy image. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 15–23, 2015
Performance improvement of multi‐view video coding based on geometric prediction and human visual system
Authors: Li Mian‐Shiuan , Chen Mei‐Juan , Yeh Chia‐Hung , Tai Kuang‐Han
Published: February 2015

This article proposed an accurate disparity vector prediction (DVP) algorithm for multi‐view video coding. Differing from traditional DVP that uses the information of motion vectors of neighboring blocks, the geometry of the camera position is utilized to calculate the parallax of different viewpoints in this algorithm and this parallax is the foundation of DVP. We jointly applied the Just‐Noticeable‐Difference human visual model to the DVP. After filtered using Gaussian function, the geometric DVP was obtained. Experimental results showed that the proposed method achieved significant data reduction and subjective/objective quality enhancement. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 41–49, 2015
Evaluation of a power injection system in the 7‐Tesla MRI environment
Authors: Dula Adrienne N. , Shellock Frank G.
Published: February 2015

The injection of contrast media enables the visualization of various pathologies through X‐ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or other medical imaging modalities. Safety and functionality of power injector systems must be evaluated at high magnetic fields (7‐Tesla). The purpose of this study was to evaluate MRI issues for a power injection system (OptiStar Elite MR Contrast Delivery System, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Hazelwood, MO) at 7‐Tesla including magnetic field interaction and 31 injector performance tests. Additionally, effects of operation of the power injection system on MR images were evaluated through observation of image artifacts and signal to noise analysis. The components of the power injection system (powerhead, syringes) exhibited no translational attraction when close to 7‐Tesla MR system. Translational attraction was detected for the power supply, power control, and cables, therefore there is a requirement to maintain these components fixed outside of the 0.1000 Tesla line. 7‐Tesla MR scanning did not impact power injection performance. The power injection system produced no discernible image artifacts or degradation when the power controls and powerhead were positioned in the worst‐case position. The power injection system tested for MRI issues passed evaluation for safety and operation at 7‐Tesla and is labeled MR Conditional for use at 7‐T. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 50–55, 2015
Multiview cluster ensembles for multimodal MRI segmentation
Authors: Méndez C. Andrés , Summers Paul , Menegaz Gloria
Published: February 2015

It has been shown that the combination of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images can improve the discrimination of diseased tissue. The fusion of dissimilar imaging data for classification and segmentation purposes, however, is not a trivial task, as there is an inherent difference in information domains, dimensionality, and scales. This work proposed a multiview consensus clustering methodology for the integration of multimodal MR images into a unified segmentation aiming at heterogeneity assessment in tumoral lesions. Using a variety of metrics and distance functions this multiview imaging approach calculated multiple vectorial dissimilarity‐spaces for each MRI modality and it maked use of cluster ensembles to combine a set of unsupervised base segmentations into an unified partition of the voxel‐based data. The methodology was demonstrated with simulated data in application to dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and diffusion tensor imaging MR, for which a manifold learning step was implemented in order to account for the geometric constrains of the high dimensional diffusion information. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 56–67, 2015
Influence of the background water matrix on the hybrid ceramic MF/O3 system and correlation between pollutants rejection and membrane fouling
Authors: Szymanska Katarzyna , Zouboulis Anastasios I , Zamboulis Dimitrios
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

The aim of this work was the investigation of background water matrix impact on the effectiveness of a hybrid process, combining ceramic membrane microfiltration with oxidation processes for the treatment of surface water. The implementation of ozone‐based oxidation during membrane filtration is expected to improve the overall process effectiveness, to enhance the permeate quality and to mitigate membrane fouling.

RESULTS

The novel hybrid reactor consisted of a submerged ceramic membrane, while the gas‐containing ozone was introduced with the aid of ceramic gas spargers, producing fine bubbles. Total consumption of ozone during the experiments was achieved. Single ozonation experiments and ozonation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide were performed, as well as single microfiltration (MF). The novelty of this study is connected with the specific investigation of the carbonates and background ions influence on the effectiveness of various membrane hybrid treatment processes; the fouling process and mechanism during the application of membrane filtration was also examined. The connection between permeate quality and the extent of membrane fouling was also discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

In the absence of carbonates in the treated water the hybrid processes resulted in a TOC removal up to 75%, while membrane fouling was substantially reduced. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Studies on the collision‐induced dissociation of adipoR agonists after electrospray ionization and their implementation in sports drug testing
Authors: Dib Josef , Schlörer Nils , Schänzer Wilhelm , Thevis Mario
Published: February 2015

AdipoR agonists are small, orally active molecules capable of mimicking the protein adiponectin, which represents an adipokine with antidiabetic and antiatherogenic effects. Two adiponectin receptors were reported in the literature referred to as adipoR1 and adipoR2. Activation of these receptors stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and results in an improved oxidative metabolism (via adipoR1) and increased insulin sensitivity (via adipoR2). Hence, adipoR agonists are potentially performance enhancing substances and targets of proactive and preventive anti‐doping measures. In this study, two adipoR agonists termed AdipoRon and 112254 as well as two isotopically labeled internal standards (ISTDs) were synthesized in three‐step reactions. The products were fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and density functional theory (DFT) computation. Collision‐induced dissociation pathways following electrospray ionization were suggested based on the determined elemental compositions of product ions, comparison to product ions derived from labeled analogs (ISTDs), H/D‐exchange experiments and the results of DFT calculations. The most abundant product ions were found at m/z 174, tentatively assigned to protonated 1‐benzyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyridine for AdipoRon, and m/z 207, suggested as protonated 1‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)piperazine, for 112254. Notably, the loss of the heterocyclic ring (i.e. piperazine and piperidine, respectively) in a supposedly intramolecular elimination reaction was observed in both cases. A qualitative determination of both AdipoR agonists in human plasma was established and fully validated for doping control purposes. Validation items such as recovery (86–89%), specificity, linearity, lower limit of detection (1 ng/ml), intraday (3–18%) and interday (5–16%) precision as well as ion suppression or enhancement were determined. Based on these findings adipoR agonists can be implemented in sports drug testing procedures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular regulation of tendon cell fate during development
Authors: Huang Alice H. , Lu Helen H. , Schweitzer Ronen
Published: February 2015

Although there have been several advances identifying novel mediators of tendon induction, differentiation, and patterning, much of the basic landscape of tendon biology from developmental stages onward remain almost completely undefined. During the New Frontiers in Tendon Research meeting, a group of developmental biologists with expertise across musculoskeletal disciplines identified key challenges for the tendon development field. The tools generated and the molecular regulators identified in developmental research have enhanced mechanistic studies in tendon injury and repair, both by defining benchmarks for success, as well as informing regenerative strategies. To address the needs of the orthopedic research community, this review will therefore focus on three key areas in tendon development that may have critical implications for the fields of tendon repair/regeneration and tendon tissue engineering, including functional markers of tendon cell identity, signaling regulators of tendon induction and differentiation, and in vitro culture models for tendon cell differentiation. Our goal is to provide a useful list of the currently known molecular players and their function in tendon differentiation within the context of development. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:800–812, 2015.
Ultrasound assessment of the effectiveness of carpal tunnel release on median nerve deformation
Authors: Yoshii Yuichi , Ishii Tomoo , Tung Wen‐lin
Published: February 2015

To assess the biomechanical effect of carpal tunnel release (CTR), we evaluated the deformation and displacement patterns of the median nerve before and after CTR in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. Sixteen wrists of 14 idiopathic CTS patients who had open CTR and 26 wrists of 13 asymptomatic volunteers were evaluated by ultrasound. Cross‐sectional images of the carpal tunnel during motion from full finger extension to flexion were recorded. The area, perimeter, aspect ratio of a minimum enclosing rectangle, and circularity of the median nerve were measured in finger extension and flexion positions. Deformation indices, determined by the flexion–extension ratio for each parameter, were compared before and after CTR. After CTR, the deformation indices of perimeter and circularity became significantly larger and the aspect ratio became significantly smaller than those before CTR (p < 0.05). Those differences were more obvious when comparing the values between the patients before CTR and the controls. Since the deformation indices after CTR are similar to the patterns of normal subjects, the surrounding structures and environment of the median nerve may be normalized upon CTR. This may be a way to tell how the median nerves recover after CTR. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:726–730, 2015.
Biomechanical evaluation of flexor tendon graft with different repair techniques and graft surface modification
Authors: Wu Jingheng , Thoreson Andrew R. , Reisdorf Ramona L. , An Kai‐Nan , Moran Steven L. , Amadio Peter C. , Zhao Chunfeng
Published: February 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical properties of modified repair techniques for flexor tendon reconstruction and the effects of surface modification using carbodiimide‐derivatized synovial fluid plus gelatin (cd‐SF‐G), compared to the traditional repair techniques. The second and fifth digits from 16 canine forepaws were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) traditional graft repairs (TGR group) including distal Bunnell repair and proximal Pulvertaft weave repair; (2) modified graft repairs (MGR group) including distal graft bony attachment repair and proximal step‐cut repair; (3) group TGR coated with cd‐SF‐G (TGR‐C group); and (4) group MGR coated with cd‐SF‐G (MGR‐C group). Digit normalized work of flexion (nWOF), ultimate failure strength, and stiffness were measured. The nWOF in MGR group was significantly less than TGR group (p < 0.05). The nWOF in groups treated with cd‐SF‐G was significantly less than their untreated counterparts (p < 0.05). Ultimate load to failure of the MGR‐C group was significantly greater than the TGR‐C group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in stiffness was found between these two groups. The modified techniques cannot only improve tendon gliding abilities but can also improve breaking strength. Additionally, surface modification with cd‐SF‐G significantly decreased the work of flexion. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:731–737, 2015.
Tensile properties of craniofacial tendons in the mature and aged zebrafish
Authors: Shah Rishita R. , Nerurkar Nandan L. , Wang Calvin C. , Galloway Jenna L.
Published: February 2015

The zebrafishDanio reriois a powerful model for the study of development, regenerative biology, and human disease. However, the analysis of load‐bearing tissues such as tendons and ligaments has been limited in this system. This is largely due to technical limitations that preclude accurate measurement of their mechanical properties. Here, we present a custom tensile testing system that applies nano‐Newton scale forces to zebrafish tendons as small as 1 mm in length. Tendon properties were remarkably similar to mammalian tendons, including stress–strain nonlinearity and a linear modulus (515 ± 152 MPa) that aligned closely with mammalian data. Additionally, a simple exponential constitutive law used to describe tendon mechanics was successfully fit to zebrafish tendons; the associated material constants agreed with literature values for mammalian tendons. Finally, mature and aged zebrafish comparisons revealed a significant decline in mechanical function with age. Based on the exponential constitutive model, age‐related changes were primarily caused by a reduction in nonlinearity (e.g., changes in collagen crimp or fiber recruitment). These findings demonstrate the utility of zebrafish as a model to study tendon biomechanics in health and disease. Moreover, these findings suggest that tendon mechanical behavior is highly conserved across vertebrates. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:867–873, 2015.
Autonomous soil analysis by the Mars Micro‐beam Raman Spectrometer (MMRS) on‐board a rover in the Atacama Desert: a terrestrial test for planetary exploration
Authors: Wei Jie , Wang Alian , Lambert James L. , Wettergreen David , Cabrol Nathalie , Warren‐Rhodes Kimberley , Zacny Kris
Published: February 2015

Laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) has been proposed for in situ characterization of molecular species in planetary surface exploration, and three laser Raman spectrometers are included in the science payloads of two under‐development missions to Mars (ESA‐ExoMars2018 and NASA‐Mars2020). We report the first rover test of a laser Raman spectrometer developed for flight, the Mars Micro‐beam Raman Spectrometer (MMRS) in the Atacama Desert (Chile). The MMRS was integrated on the Zoë rover and analyzed subsurface samples brought up by a 1 m drill and delivered by a carousel. The MMRS demonstrated robust performance over 50‐km traverse on rugged terrains. From MMRS data, igneous minerals, carbonates, sulfates and carbonaceous materials were unambiguously identified. Quantified distributions of major minerals and carbonaceous materials are extracted from MMRS results, which can be used to imply the regional geological evolution, and potential bioactivities. MMRS in the field performed as well as an LRS laboratory instrument when MMRS was focused satisfactorily. The discovery of stable γ‐anhydrite, in large quantity (20% in a sample), in the Atacama soils raises an important question of its stability in the field in a natural environment that is worth further laboratory experimental investigation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of neuromuscular fatigue on electromechanical delay of the leg extensors and flexors in young men and women
Authors: Conchola Eric C. , Thiele Ryan M. , Palmer Ty B. , Smith Doug B. , Thompson Brennan J.
Published: February 2015

Introduction: We examined the effects of neuromuscular fatigue on volitional electromechanical delay (EMD) of leg extensors and flexors between genders. Methods: Twenty‐one men and 20 women performed 2 maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs), followed by intermittent isometric contractions of leg extensors and flexors using a 0.6 duty cycle (6‐s contraction, 4‐s relaxation) at 50% of MVC until volitional fatigue was achieved. MVCs were again performed at 0, 7, 15, and 30 min post‐fatigue. Results: EMD was greater compared with baseline at all post‐fatigue time phases for the leg flexors (P = 0.001–0.007), while EMD was greater at Post0, Post15 and Post30 (P = 0.001–0.023) for the leg extensors. EMD was also greater for leg extensors compared with leg flexors only at Post0. Conclusion: No differential gender‐related fatigue effects on EMD were shown. There were different fatigue‐induced responses between leg extensors and flexors, with leg extensors exhibiting higher EMD immediately post‐fatigue. Muscle Nerve 52: 844–851, 2015
Novel sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone)/silica coated carbon nanotubes high‐performance composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cell
Authors: Cui Li , Geng Qing , Gong Chunli , Liu Hai , Zheng Genwen , Wang Guangjin , Liu Qiming , Wen Sheng
Published: February 2015

The major risk of using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to modify proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in fuel cells is possible short‐circuiting due to the excellent electrical conductivity of CNTs. In this article, silica‐coated CNTs (SiO2@CNTs) were successfully prepared by a simple sol–gel process and then used as a new additive in the preparation of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK)‐based composite membranes. The insulated and hydrophilic silica coated on the surface of CNTs not only eliminated the risk of short‐circuiting, but also enhanced the interfacial interaction between CNTs and SPEEK, and hence promoted the homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in the SPEEK matrix. Moreover, compared to the methanol permeability of the pure SPEEK membrane (3.42 × 10−7 cm2 s−1), the SPEEK/SiO2@CNT composite membrane with a SiO2@CNT loading of 5 wt% exhibits almost one order of magnitude decrease of methanol crossover, while the proton conductivity still remained above 10−2 S cm−1 at room temperature. The obtained results expose the possibility of SPEEK/SiO2@CNT membranes to be served as high‐performance PEMs in direct methanol fuel cells. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BCR–JAK2 drives a myeloproliferative neoplasm in transplanted mice
Authors: Cuesta‐Domínguez Álvaro , León‐Rico Diego , Álvarez Lara , Díez Begoña , Bodega‐Mayor Irene , Baños Rocío , Martín‐Rey Miguel Ángel , Santos‐Roncero Matilde , Gaspar María Luisa , Martín‐Acosta Paloma , Almarza Elena , Bueren Juan A. , Río Paula , Fernández‐Ruiz Elena
Published: February 2015

BCR–JAK2 is an infrequent gene fusion found in chronic/acute, myeloid/lymphoid Philadelphia chromosome‐negative leukaemia. In this study, we demonstrated that in vivo expression of BCR–JAK2 in mice induces neoplasia, with fatal consequences. Transplantation of BCR–JAK2 bone marrow progenitors promoted splenomegaly, with megakaryocyte infiltration and elevated leukocytosis of myeloid origin. Analysis of peripheral blood revealed the presence of immature myeloid cells, platelet aggregates and ineffective erythropoiesis. A possible molecular mechanism for these observations involved inhibition of apoptosis by deregulated expression of the anti‐apoptotic mediator Bcl‐xL and the serine/threonine kinase Pim1. Together, these data provide a suitable in vivo molecular mechanism for leukaemia induction by BCR–JAK2 that validates the use of this model as a relevant preclinical tool for the design of new targeted therapies in Philadelphia chromosome‐negative leukaemia involving BCR–JAK2‐driven activation of the JAK2 pathway. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A monolithically integrated high‐efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 mini‐module structured solely by laser
Authors: Nishiwaki Shiro , Burn Andreas , Buecheler Stephan , Muralt Martin , Pilz Sönke , Romano Valerio , Witte Reiner , Krainer Lukas , Spühler Gabriel J. , Tiwari Ayodhya N.
Published: February 2015

Monolithically integrated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 mini‐modules were fabricated in order to reduce the width of patterning related dead area. The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 layers were prepared on soda‐lime glasses using the multistage process at low substrate temperature below 500 °C. A picosecond laser with a wavelength of 532 nm was used for all of the structuring processes (P1, P2, and P3) for the monolithic integration. A “lift‐off” type structuring was applied for P1 and P3, and an “ablation” type was for P2. The laser structuring was optimized to be minimizing the dead area width, and the width of about 70 µm was successfully achieved. A mini‐module, in which the optimized structuring processes were applied for the integration, demonstrated a certified efficiency of 16.6%. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Streaming visualisation of quantitative mass spectrometry data based on a novel raw signal decomposition method
Authors: Zhang Yan , Bhamber Ranjeet , Riba‐Garcia Isabel , Liao Hanqing , Unwin Richard D. , Dowsey Andrew W.
Published: February 2015

As data rates rise, there is a danger that informatics for high‐throughput LC‐MS becomes more opaque and inaccessible to practitioners. It is therefore critical that efficient visualisation tools are available to facilitate quality control, verification, validation, interpretation, and sharing of raw MS data and the results of MS analyses. Currently, MS data is stored as contiguous spectra. Recall of individual spectra is quick but panoramas, zooming and panning across whole datasets necessitates processing/memory overheads impractical for interactive use. Moreover, visualisation is challenging if significant quantification data is missing due to data‐dependent acquisition of MS/MS spectra. In order to tackle these issues, we leverage our seaMass technique for novel signal decomposition. LC‐MS data is modelled as a 2D surface through selection of a sparse set of weighted B‐spline basis functions from an over‐complete dictionary. By ordering and spatially partitioning the weights with an R‐tree data model, efficient streaming visualisations are achieved. In this paper, we describe the core MS1 visualisation engine and overlay of MS/MS annotations. This enables the mass spectrometrist to quickly inspect whole runs for ionisation/chromatographic issues, MS/MS precursors for coverage problems, or putative biomarkers for interferences, for example. The open‐source software is available from http://seamass.net/viz/.