bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enantiomeric separation by microchip electrophoresis using bovine serum albumin conjugated magnetic core‐shell Fe3O4@Au nanocomposites as stationary phase
Authors: Liang Ru‐Ping , Wang Xiao‐Ni , Wang Li , Qiu Jian‐Ding
Published: July 2014

In this work, a novel enantioselective MCE was developed employing BSA‐conjugated Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Au NPs) as stationary phase. Fe3O4@Au NPs with high magnetic responsively, excellent solubility, and high dispersibility in water were prepared through a sonochemical synthesis strategy. BSA was then immobilized onto the Fe3O4@Au NPs surfaces through the well‐developed interaction between Au NPs and amine groups of BSA to form Fe3O4@Au NPs‐BSA conjugates, which were then locally packed into PDMS microchannels with the help of magnets. The resultant Fe3O4@Au NPs‐BSA conjugates not only have the magnetism of Fe3O4 NPs that make them easily manipulated by an external magnetic field, but also have the larger surface and excellent biocompatibility of Au shell, which can incorporate much more biomolecules and well maintain their biological activity. In addition, the successful BSA decorations endowed Fe3O4@Au NPs‐BSA conjugates with pH‐tunable water solubility related to the pI of BSA (pI 4.7) and led to enhanced stability against high ionic strength. Compared with the native PDMS microchannel, the modified surfaces exhibited more stable and suppressed electroosmotic mobility, and less nonspecific adsorption toward analytes. Successful separation of chiral amino acids (tryptophan and threonine) and ofloxacin enantiomers demonstrate that the constructed MCE columns own ideal enantioselectivity. The results are expected to open up a new possibility for high‐throughput screening of enantiomers with protein targets as well as a new application of magnetic NPs.
DNA damage following pulmonary exposure by instillation to low doses of carbon black (Printex 90) nanoparticles in mice
Authors: Kyjovska Zdenka O. , Jacobsen Nicklas R. , Saber Anne T. , Bengtson Stefan , Jackson Petra , Wallin Håkan , Vogel Ulla
Published: July 2014

We previously observed genotoxic effects of carbon black nanoparticles at low doses relative to the Danish Occupational Exposure Limit (3.5 mg/m3). Furthermore, DNA damage occurred in broncho‐alveolar lavage (BAL) cells in the absence of inflammation, indicating that inflammation is not required for the genotoxic effects of carbon black. In this study, we investigated inflammatory and acute phase response in addition to genotoxic effects occurring following exposure to nanoparticulate carbon black (NPCB) at even lower doses. C57BL/6JBomTac mice were examined 1, 3, and 28 days after a single instillation of 0.67, 2, 6, and 162 µg Printex 90 NPCB and vehicle. Cellular composition and protein concentration was evaluated in BAL fluid as markers of inflammatory response and cell damage. DNA strand breaks in BAL cells, lung, and liver tissue were assessed using the alkaline comet assay. The pulmonary acute phase response was analyzed by Saa3 mRNA real‐time quantitative PCR. Instillation of the low doses of NPCB induced a slight neutrophil influx one day after exposure. Pulmonary exposure to small doses of NPCB caused an increase in DNA strand breaks in BAL cells and lung tissue measured using the comet assay. We interpret the increased DNA strand breaks occurring following these low exposure doses of NPCB as DNA damage caused by primary genotoxicity in the absence of substantial inflammation, cell damage, and acute phase response. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:41–49, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society
ZFP36‐FOSB fusion defines a subset of epithelioid hemangioma with atypical features
Authors: Antonescu Cristina R , Chen Hsiao‐Wei , Zhang Lei , Sung Yun‐Shao , Panicek David , Agaram Narasimhan P , Dickson Brendan C , Krausz Thomas , Fletcher Christopher D
Published: July 2014

Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) is a benign neoplasm with distinctive vasoformative features, which occasionally shows increased cellularity, cytologic atypia, and/or loco‐regional aggressive growth, resulting in challenging differential diagnosis from malignant vascular neoplasms. Based on two intraosseous EH index cases with worrisome histologic features, such as the presence of necrosis, RNA sequencing was applied for possible fusion gene discovery and potential subclassification of a novel atypical EH subset. A ZFP36‐FOSB fusion was detected in one case, while a WWTR1‐FOSB chimeric transcript in the other, both were further validated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). These abnormalities were then screened by FISH in 44 EH from different locations with seven additional EH revealing FOSB gene rearrangements, all except one being fused to ZFP36. Interestingly, 4/6 penile EH studied showed FOSB abnormalities. Although certain atypical histologic features were observed in the FOSB‐rearranged EH, including solid growth, increased cellularity, mild to moderate nuclear pleomorphism, and necrosis in 3/9 cases, no overt sarcomatous areas were discerned to objectively separate the lesions from the fusion‐negative EH. No patient has developed recurrence to date, but the follow‐up was relatively limited and short to draw definitive conclusions regarding behavior. Although FOSB‐rearranged EH do not show significant morphologic overlap with SERPINE1‐FOSB fusion‐positive pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma, FOSB oncogenic activation is emerging as an important event in these benign and intermediate groups of vascular tumors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional requirement of dicer1 and miR‐17‐5p in reactive astrocyte proliferation after spinal cord injury in the mouse
Authors: Hong Peiwei , Jiang Mei , Li Hedong
Published: July 2014

Reactive astrogliosis after spinal cord injury (SCI) contributes to glial scar formation that impedes axonal regeneration. The mechanisms underlying reactive astrocyte proliferation upon injury remain partially understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as a major class of post‐transcriptional gene expression regulators that participate in many biological processes. However, miRNA function during reactive astrogliosis, particularly in injury‐induced astrocyte proliferation, has not been carefully examined. In this study, we conditionally deleted Dicer1 gene encoding an enzyme that is required for mature miRNA generation, and examined the proliferative behavior of Dicer1‐null reactive astrocytes in the transected mouse spinal cord. We found that injury‐induced proliferation is blocked in Dicer1‐null astrocytes. Previous reports indicate that miR‐17‐5p family members are upregulated during SCI. We therefore tested functional contribution of miR‐17‐5p to the proliferation of reactive astrocytes in vitro. Our results showed that a synthetic miR‐17‐5p mimic is able to rescue the proliferation defect of Dicer1‐null astrocytes, while an antisense inhibitor of miR‐17‐5p blocked lipopolysaccharide‐induced astrocytic proliferation. Similar results are also observed in leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)‐treated astroglial cultures suggesting that miR‐17‐5p particularly modulates reactive astrocyte proliferation initiated by LIF presumably via the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, overexpression of miR‐17‐5p leads to decrease of several cell cycle regulators in cultured astroglia and astrocytoma cell line C6. Our conclusion is that miRNAs are indispensable to the injury‐induced reactive astrocyte proliferation, and that miR‐17‐5p may be a major player regulating this pathological process by affecting cell cycle machinery. GLIA 2014
Zwitterionic Phosphirenium Borates Derived from Bis(alkynyl)mesityl Phosphanes and Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane
Authors: Möbus Juri , Malessa Kira , Frisch Hendrik , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Fröhlich Roland , Kehr Gerald , Erker Gerhard
Published: July 2014

From a series of bis(alkynyl)mesityl phosphanes 5, we prepared phosphirenium borate compounds 6 in high yields by reaction with B(C6F5)3 at room temperature. The zwitterionic compounds 6 are conveniently accessible and can be obtained with unique substitution patterns by this route. For two examples, we show the conversion of 6 to the respective 3‐borylated phosphole derivatives 7 through multiple 1,1‐carboboration reactions. In a useful one‐pot methodology, the phosphirenium borates 6 are converted to air‐stable 3‐arylated phospholes 8 by a sequential 1,1‐carboboration/ Suzuki–Miyaura type cross‐coupling reaction.
Tobacco Control Policies and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Developed Nations
Authors: King Christian , Markowitz Sara , Ross Hana
Published: July 2014

This paper estimates the effects of higher cigarette prices and smoke‐free policies on the prevalence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Using a panel of developed countries over a 20 year period, we find that higher cigarette prices are associated with reductions in the prevalence of SIDS. However, we find no evidence that smoke‐free policies are associated with declines in SIDS.
Objects and landmarks: Hippocampal place cells respond differently to manipulations of visual cues depending on size, perspective, and experience
Authors: Scaplen Kristin M. , Gulati Arune A. , Heimer‐McGinn Victoria L. , Burwell Rebecca D.
Published: July 2014

Human navigation studies show that landmarks are used for orientation, whereas objects contribute to the contextual representation of an environment. What constitutes a landmark? Classic rodent studies show that hippocampal place fields are controlled by distal, polarizing cues. Place fields, however, are also influenced by local cues. One difficulty in examining mechanisms by which distal and local cues influence the activity of hippocampal cells is that distant cues are necessarily processed visually, whereas local cues are generally multimodal. Here, we compared the effects of 90° rotations under different cue conditions in which cues were restricted to the visual modality. Three two‐dimensional visual cue conditions were presented in a square open field: a large vertical cue on one wall, a large floor cue in a corner abutting two walls, and a smaller complex floor cue in a corner adjacent to two walls. We show that rotations of large distal cues, whether on the wall or floor, were equally effective in controlling place fields. Rotations of the smaller floor cues were significantly more likely to result in remapping, whether or not animals were also exposed to the distal polarizing cues. Responses of distal and local cues were affected differently by extended experience. Our data provide evidence that hippocampal place cell responses to visual cues are influenced by perspective, salience of the cue, and prior experience. The hippocampus processes visual cues either as stable landmarks useful for orientation and navigation or as nonstationary objects or features of the local environment available for associative learning or binding items in context. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of low‐permeability fault zones on groundwater flow in a compartmentalized system. Experimental evidence from a carbonate aquifer (Southern Italy)
Authors: Petrella Emma , Aquino Durante , Fiorillo Francesco , Celico Fulvio
Published: July 2014

The hydrogeological behaviour of fault zones in carbonate aquifers is often neglected in conceptual and numerical models. Furthermore, no information is available regarding the relationships between piezometric levels when significant compartmentalization occurs due to the occurrence of low‐flow fault zones. The aim of this study was to refine the conceptualization of subsurface flow in faulted carbonate aquifers and to analyse relationships between sub‐basins within a compartmentalized aquifer system in Southern Italy. The interactions between compartments that straddle low‐flow faults were investigated over four hydrologic years using a statistical approach to compare (i) the hydraulic heads within two wells located up‐ and down‐gradient of tectonic discontinuities as well as (ii) the rainfall and piezometric levels.

The results of this study suggest that a set of barriers exists between the wells, and, therefore, the total head loss observed between the wells (approximately 80 m) should be distributed across several aquitards, with one aquitard exhibiting a relatively high permeability or low degree of integrity. Due to slight differences in permeability, transient conditions in aquitards can occur over relatively short periods, which is in agreement with the results of the statistical data analysis. Consequently, rather than being caused by pure aquitards, aquifer system compartmentalization likely results from slight differences in the permeability between lower‐permeability fault zones and adjacent higher‐permeability protoliths. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EUROGIN 2014 roadmap: Differences in human papillomavirus infection natural history, transmission and human papillomavirus‐related cancer incidence by gender and anatomic site of infection
Authors: Giuliano Anna R. , Nyitray Alan G. , Kreimer Aimée R. , Pierce Campbell Christine M. , Goodman Marc T. , Sudenga Staci L. , Monsonego Joseph , Franceschi Silvia
Published: July 2014

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause cancer at multiple anatomic sites in men and women, including cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, vulvar and vaginal cancers in women and oropharyngeal, anal and penile cancers in men. In this EUROGIN 2014 roadmap, differences in HPV‐related cancer and infection burden by gender and anatomic site are reviewed. The proportion of cancers attributable to HPV varies by anatomic site, with nearly 100% of cervical, 88% of anal and <50% of lower genital tract and oropharyngeal cancers attributable to HPV, depending on world region and prevalence of tobacco use. Often, mirroring cancer incidence rates, HPV prevalence and infection natural history varies by gender and anatomic site of infection. Oral HPV infection is rare and significantly differs by gender; yet, HPV‐related cancer incidence at this site is several‐fold higher than at either the anal canal or the penile epithelium. HPV seroprevalence is significantly higher among women compared to men, likely explaining the differences in age‐specific HPV prevalence and incidence patterns observed by gender. Correspondingly, among heterosexual partners, HPV transmission appears higher from women to men. More research is needed to characterize HPV natural history at each anatomic site where HPV causes cancer in men and women, information that is critical to inform the basic science of HPV natural history and the development of future infection and cancer prevention efforts.
Animal models are reliably mimicking human diseases? A morphological study that compares animal with human NAFLD
Authors: Solinas Paola , Isola Michela , Lilliu Maria Alberta , Conti Gabriele , Civolani Alberto , Demelia Luigi , Loy Francesco , Isola Raffaella
Published: July 2014

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinical‐pathological syndrome that includes a wide spectrum of morphological alterations. In research, animal models are crucial in evaluating not only the pathogenesis of NAFLD and its progression, but also the therapeutic effects of various agents. Investigations on the ultrastructural features of NAFLD in humans are not copious, due to the difficulty to obtain human samples and to the long time of NAFLD to evolve. Translational comparative studies on the reliability of animal models in representing the histopathologic picture as seen in humans are missing. To overcome this lack of investigations, we compared the ultrastructural NAFLD features of an animal model versus human. Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed with a high fat diet (HFD) for 1–4 weeks, while control rats were fed with a standard diet. Human specimens were collected from patients with diagnosed fatty liver disease, undergoing liver biopsies or surgery. Rat and human samples were examined by light microscopy and by transmission and high resolution scanning electron microscopy. The present work demonstrated that NAFLD in animal model and in human, share overlapping ultrastructural features. In conclusion, animal HFD represent an appropriate tool in studying the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:790–796, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ex vivo gene delivery to synovium using foamy viral vectors
Authors: Armbruster Nicole , Weber Conrad , Wictorowicz Tatiana , Rethwilm Axel , Scheller Carsten , Steinert Andre F.
Published: July 2014

Background

Gene transfer technologies have the potential to fundamentally improve current therapies for arthritic conditions, although this is essentially dependent on safe and efficient vector systems. The foamy virus (FV)‐based vectors have many safety features that favour their use in the treatment of arthritis. In the present study, we investigated the use of safe prototype foamy viral vectors (FVV) for indirect gene delivery to articular tissues.

Methods

We generated recombinant FVV encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist protein (IL1RA) cDNA under the control of the spleen focus forming virus U3 promoter and explored their transgene expression profile following ex vivo gene delivery to knee joints of Wistar and athymic nude rats.

Results

FVV efficiently transduced primary rat synovial fibroblasts using the EGFP and the IL1RA transgene in vitro. FVV‐mediated IL1RA expression was functional in blocking IL1 effects in vitro. After the transplantation of FVV transduced synovial fibroblasts, the intra‐articular transgene expression in Wistar rats was initially high and declined after approximately 3 weeks for both transgenes. By contrast, FVV‐mediated expression of EGFP and IL1RA persisted for at least 12 weeks at high levels in immunocompromised nude rats. FVV‐meditated gene delivery was well tolerated by all animals without extra‐articular transgene expression, arguing for the safety of this approach.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that FVV are capable of efficient ex vivo gene transfer to synovium and merit further investigation as a means to provide long‐term intra‐articular transgene expression for arthritis treatment. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design, Synthesis, and Herbicidal Evaluation of Novel Uracil Derivatives Containing 1,3,4‐Thiadiazolyl Moiety
Authors: He Lei‐En , Wu Ying‐Ying , Zhang Han‐Yun , Liu Man‐Yun , Shi De‐Qing
Published: July 2014

Uracil derivatives, such as commercial herbicides butafenacil and benzfendizone, have been identified as inhibitors of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox, EC 1.3.3.4), one of the most important action targets of herbicides. In order to search for novel Protox inhibitors with high efficacy, broad‐spectrum activity, and safety to crops, commercially herbicide butafenacil was used as lead compound for further optimization; a series of title compounds 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8h, 8i, 8j, 8k, 8l, 8m, 8n were designed and synthesized by introducing 1,3,4‐thiadiazole moiety into the uracil skeleton. The preliminary bioassays (in vitro) indicated that most of the target compounds displayed better inhibition against Echinochloa crus‐galli than Brassica campestris. The greenhouse bioassay results indicated that most of the compounds tested exhibited good‐to‐excellent herbicidal activities against B. campestris, A. retroflexus, E. crusgalli, and D. sanguinalis in pre‐emergence treatment at a dose of 1500 g/ha, for example, compound 8d showed 100% inhibition against the four plants tested in pre‐emergence treatment at a dose of 1500 g/ha. So, these types of skeletons can be used as valuable lead compounds for the development of a pre‐emergent herbicide.
Chiral Phase Transfer Catalysts for the Synthesis of Chiral N‐Heterocycles viaAsymmetric Cascade Reactions
Authors: Tiso Silvia , Massa Antonio
Published: July 2014

The effectiveness of a series of chiral phase transfer catalysts in cascade reactions of active methylene compounds with 2‐cyanobenzaldehyde leading to chiral 3‐substituted isoindolinones and fused benzoindolizidinones has been investigated. High yields and moderate enantiomeric excesses (e.e.s) were achieved employing a chiral phase‐transfer catalyst derived from bifunctional urea–quinine. Moreover, an efficient process of heterochiral crystallization, performed on moderately enantioenriched compounds, led to an impressive increase of the enantiopurity up to 93% e.e.s.
Analysis of the Impact of Creative Technique on the Motivation of Physical Education Students in Dance Content: Gender Differences
Authors: Amado Diana , Del Villar Fernando , Sánchez‐Miguel Pedro Antonio , Leo Francisco Miguel , García‐Calvo Tomás
Published: July 2014

The aim of this study was to learn about the effectiveness of two dance teaching techniques, the creative examination technique and the direct instruction technique, on the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, the level of self‐determination, the perception of usefulness, enjoyment and effort of physical education students. Likewise, it purports to analyze the gender difference in the psychological variables addressed in agreement with the teaching technique used, to guide and personalize the treatment of these contents in physical education. A quasi‐experimental design was carried out with four natural groups from two school centers. The direct instruction technique was applied with two groups and the creative examination technique with the other two, in a total of 12 sessions. An initial and final measurement was taken in both groups, and the results revealed the complexity to motivate students after 12 sessions. However, the gender‐dependent analyses offer methodological guidelines, as the creative technique causes adaptative consequences on the male gender and disadaptative consequences on the female gender. By way of conclusion, we can highlight the need to devote more sessions to dance teaching and to apply different treatments depending on the gender.
Investigations of Nitrile Rubber Composites Containing Imidazolium Ionic Liquids
Authors: Laskowska Anna , Marzec Anna , Boiteux Gisele , Zaborski Marian , Gain Olivier , Serghei Anatoli
Published: July 2014

This work aimed to investigate the impact of hydrophobic imidazolium ionic liquids with alkyl chains of varying length attached to the cation imidazolium ring on the rheometric data, the mechanical, morphological, thermal and conductive properties of acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) composites. The presence of ionic liquids not only increased the conductivity (AC) of the composites but also influenced their curing behaviour and mechanical properties. A maximum conductivity of 8.9  ·  10−8 S · cm−1 was achieved at room temperature in the NBR sample containing 15 phr (parts per hundred rubber) of 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane‐ sulfone)imide (HMIM TFSI). Moreover, the presence of HMIM TFSI at 15 phr loading in the NBR composite contributed most significantly to the downward shift in the glass transition temperature (Tg) from ‐30 to −33 °C, indicating a plasticizing effect
Altered corticomotor‐cerebellar integrity in young ataxia telangiectasia patients
Authors: Sahama Ishani , Sinclair Kate , Fiori Simona , Pannek Kerstin , Lavin Martin , Rose Stephen
Published: July 2014

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research in identifying altered brain structure and function in ataxia‐telangiectasia, an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder, is limited. Diffusion‐weighted MRI were obtained from 11 ataxia telangiectasia patients (age range, 7‐22 years; mean, 12 years) and 11 typically developing age‐matched participants (age range, 8‐23 years; mean, 13 years). Gray matter volume alterations in patients were compared with those of healthy controls using voxel‐based morphometry, whereas tract‐based spatial statistics was employed to elucidate white matter microstructure differences between groups. White matter microstructure was probed using quantitative fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity measures. Reduced gray matter volume in both cerebellar hemispheres and in the precentral‐postcentral gyrus in the left cerebral hemisphere was observed in ataxia telangiectasia patients compared with controls (P < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons). A significant reduction in fractional anisotropy in the cerebellar hemispheres, anterior/posterior horns of the medulla, cerebral peduncles, and internal capsule white matter, particularly in the left posterior limb of the internal capsule and corona radiata in the left cerebral hemisphere, was observed in patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). Mean diffusivity differences were observed within the left cerebellar hemisphere and the white matter of the superior lobule of the right cerebellar hemisphere (P < 0.05). Cerebellum‐localized gray matter changes are seen in young ataxia telangiectasia patients along with white matter tract degeneration projecting from the cerebellum into corticomotor regions. The lack of cortical involvement may reflect early‐stage white matter motor pathway degeneration within young patients. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM): Decoding MRI data for a tissue magnetic biomarker
Authors: Wang Yi , Liu Tian
Published: July 2014

In MRI, the main magnetic field polarizes the electron cloud of a molecule, generating a chemical shift for observer protons within the molecule and a magnetic susceptibility inhomogeneity field for observer protons outside the molecule. The number of water protons surrounding a molecule for detecting its magnetic susceptibility is vastly greater than the number of protons within the molecule for detecting its chemical shift. However, the study of tissue magnetic susceptibility has been hindered by poor molecular specificities of hitherto used methods based on MRI signal phase and T2* contrast, which depend convolutedly on surrounding susceptibility sources. Deconvolution of the MRI signal phase can determine tissue susceptibility but is challenged by the lack of MRI signal in the background and by the zeroes in the dipole kernel. Recently, physically meaningful regularizations, including the Bayesian approach, have been developed to enable accurate quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) for studying iron distribution, metabolic oxygen consumption, blood degradation, calcification, demyelination, and other pathophysiological susceptibility changes, as well as contrast agent biodistribution in MRI. This paper attempts to summarize the basic physical concepts and essential algorithmic steps in QSM, to describe clinical and technical issues under active development, and to provide references, codes, and testing data for readers interested in QSM. Magn Reson Med 73:82–101, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society of Medicine in Resonance. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Revealing signal from noisy19F MR images by chemical shift artifact correction
Authors: Meissner Mirko , Reisert Marco , Hugger Thimo , Hennig Jürgen , von Elverfeldt Dominik , Leupold Jochen
Published: July 2014

Purpose

The correction of chemical shift artifacts in MR images of fluorinated molecules with a multi‐resonance spectrum is investigated. The goal is to find a deconvolution method which is capable of correcting the artifact, thereby enhancing signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and revealing signal that vanishes in the noise in the original image.

Theory and Methods

Simulations for inspecting the influence of MRI acquisition parameters on the possibility to correct the artifact are performed. Artifact correction is studied on the spectrum of a perfluorocarbon compound by means of deconvolution of complex images with a measured or an optimized point spread function and by using lasso regularization.

Results

Distinct parameter settings for image acquisition are identified that should be avoided for successful deconvolution. With in vitro and in vivo images it is shown that the SNR of the corrected image can be increased significantly by 20–50% by a regularized deconvolution of the artifact image and19F signal can be revealed from noise.

Conclusion

By deconvolution, SNR can be enhanced as compared to an image which only exploits the strongest peak of the spectrum. Thus, the limit of detection of the19F signal can be lowered by exciting all resonances and by means of correcting the chemical shift artifact. Magn Reson Med 73:2225–2233, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intermolecular zero quantum coherences enable accurate temperature imaging in red bone marrow
Authors: Davis Ryan M. , Warren Warren S.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

Red bone marrow metastases are common in breast and prostate cancer patients, but those metastases are currently incurable. Recent developments show that hyperthermia could be a successful treatment for bone metastasis, but thermometry remains difficult or inaccurate in red marrow.

Method

The technique evaluated in this study measures the evolution frequency of intermolecular zero quantum coherences (iZQCs) between fat and water. The iZQC evolution frequency was mapped linearly to temperature. The temperature accuracy and coherence lifetime of the iZQC method were evaluated against other thermometry methods that are based on localized spectroscopy and multiple gradient echo imaging.

Results

The temperature coefficient (α) was 9.8 ± 0.7 ppb/°C with the iZQC method and 2 ± 7 ppb/°C with traditional localized spectroscopy.

Conclusion

Because the accuracy of thermometry is limited by the reproducibility of α between samples, iZQCs provide nearly a 10‐fold accuracy improvement in red marrow (0.7 ppb/°C for iZQCs versus 7 ppb/°C for localized spectroscopy.) The iZQC technique in this study will for the first time allow accurate and quantitative thermal imaging of red marrow. Magn Reson Med, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Magn Reson Med 74:63–70, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved SENSE imaging using accurate coil sensitivity maps generated by a global magnitude‐phase fitting method
Authors: Ma Ya‐Jun , Liu Wentao , Tang Xin , Gao Jia‐Hong
Published: July 2014

Purpose

To develop a novel coil sensitivity processing technique that is able to reduce or eliminate aliasing artifacts and noise amplification in image‐domain parallel imaging (i.e., SENSE).

Methods

Initial coil sensitivity maps were derived from the center k‐space lines by a common self‐calibration method. Then continuous trigonometric functions were used to fit both magnitude and phase maps of the self‐calibrated coil sensitivity profile globally. Further, the global fitted coil sensitivity maps were adopted for SENSE reconstruction. Numerical simulations, as well as experiments on phantoms and human subjects were performed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of this global magnitude‐phase fitting approach with traditional local fitting methods.

Results

Both simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the proposed novel global fitting method was able to obtain accurate coil sensitivity profiles without Gibbs oscillations. The resultant SENSE images were improved substantially in terms of aliasing imaging artifacts.

Conclusion

A global magnitude‐phase fitting method for better estimation of accurate coil sensitivity maps was developed, and it was successfully used in producing high‐quality parallel images. Magn Reson Med 74:217–224, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cross‐cultural validation of Cancer Communication Assessment Tool in Korea
Authors: Shin Dong Wook , Shin Jooyeon , Kim So Young , Park Boram , Yang Hyung‐Kook , Cho Juhee , Lee Eun Sook , Kim Jong Heun , Park Jong‐Hyock
Published: July 2014

Background

Communication between cancer patients and caregivers is often suboptimal. The Cancer Communication Assessment Tool for Patient and Families (CCAT‐PF) is a unique tool developed to measure congruence in patient–family caregiver communication employing a dyadic approach. We aimed to examine the cross‐cultural applicability of the CCAT in the Korean healthcare setting.

Methods

Linguistic validation of the CCAT‐PF was performed through a standard forward–backward translation process. Psychometric validation was performed with 990 patient–caregiver dyads recruited from 10 cancer centers.

Results

Mean scores of CCAT‐P and CCAT‐F were similar at 44.8 for both scales. Mean CCAT‐PF score was 23.7 (8.66). Concordance of each items between patients and caregivers was low (weighted kappa values <0.20 for all items and Spearman's rho <0.18 for scale scores). Scale scores did not differ significantly across a variety of cancer types and stages. The CCAT‐P or CCAT‐F score was weakly associated with mental health and quality of life outcomes. The CCAT‐PF was correlated weakly with both patient‐perceived and caregiver‐perceived family avoidance of cancer care scales.

Conclusion

The CCAT‐PF Korean version showed similar psychometric properties to the original English version in the assessment of communication congruence between cancer patient and family caregivers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contribution of each Trp residue toward the intrinsic fluorescence of the Giα1 protein
Authors: Najor Matthew S. , Olsen Kenneth W. , Graham Daniel J. , Mota de Freitas Duarte
Published: July 2014

Giα1 is the inhibitory G‐protein that, upon activation, reduces the activity of adenylyl cyclase. Comparison of the crystal structures of Giα1 bound to GDP•AMF or GTPγS with that of the inactive, GPD‐bound protein indicates that a conformational change occurs in the activation step centered on three switch regions. The contribution of each tryptophan residue (W211 in the switch II region, W131 in the α‐helical domain, and W258 in the GTPase domain) toward the intrinsic protein fluorescence was evaluated by using W211F, W131F, and W258F mutants. All three tryptophan residues contributed significantly toward the emission spectra regardless of the conformation. When activated by either GDP•AMF or GTPγS, the observed maximal‐fluorescence scaled according to the solvent accessibilities of the tryptophan residues, calculated from molecular dynamics simulations. In the GDP•AMF and GTPγS, but not in the GDP, conformations, the residues W211 and R208 are in close proximity and form a π‐cation interaction that results in a red shift in the emission spectra of WT, and W131F and W258F mutants, but a blue shift for the W211F mutant. The observed shifts did not show a relationship with the span of the W211‐R208 bridge, but rather with changes in the total interaction energies. Trypsin digestion of the active conformations only occurred for the W211F mutant indicating that the electrostatic π‐cation interaction blocks access to R208, which was consistent with the molecular dynamics simulations. We conclude that solvent accessibility and interaction energies account for the fluorescence features of Giα1.
A brief overview of amyloids and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Ow Sian‐Yang , Dunstan Dave E.
Published: July 2014

Amyloid fibrils are self‐assembled fibrous protein aggregates that are associated with a number of presently incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Millions of people worldwide suffer from amyloid diseases. This review summarizes the unique cross‐β structure of amyloid fibrils, morphological variations, the kinetics of amyloid fibril formation, and the cytotoxic effects of these fibrils and oligomers. Alzheimer's disease is also explored as an example of an amyloid disease to show the various approaches to treat these amyloid diseases. Finally, this review investigates the nanotechnological and biological applications of amyloid fibrils; as well as a summary of the typical biological pathways involved in the disposal of amyloid fibrils and their precursors.
Supersonic Molecular Beam Experiments on Surface Chemical Reactions
Authors: Okada Michio
Published: July 2014

The interaction of a molecule and a surface is important in various fields, and in particular in complex systems like biomaterials and their related chemistry. However, the detailed understanding of the elementary steps in the surface chemistry, for example, stereodynamics, is still insufficient even for simple model systems. In this Personal Account, I review our recent studies of chemical reactions on single‐crystalline Cu and Si surfaces induced by hyperthermal oxygen molecular beams and by oriented molecular beams, respectively. Studies of oxide formation on Cu induced by hyperthermal molecular beams demonstrate a significant role of the translational energy of the incident molecules. The use of hyperthermal molecular beams enables us to open up new chemical reaction paths specific for the hyperthermal energy region, and to develop new methods for the fabrication of thin films. On the other hand, oriented molecular beams also demonstrate the possibility of understanding surface chemical reactions in detail by varying the orientation of the incident molecules. The steric effects found on Si surfaces hint at new ways of material fabrication on Si surfaces. Controlling the initial conditions of incoming molecules is a powerful tool for finely monitoring the elementary step of the surface chemical reactions and creating new materials on surfaces.
Assessing Deaf Awareness Training: Knowledge and Attitudes of Recent Genetic Counseling Graduates
Authors: Nagakura Honey , Schneider Gretchen , Morris James , Lafferty Katherine A. , Palmer Christina G. S.
Published: July 2014

Research suggests that when healthcare providers lack cultural competence, minority groups, including the Deaf community, are adversely affected. Although most genetic counseling programs incorporate cultural competency training into their curricula, the extent and impact of Deaf awareness training is unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess Deaf awareness training of recent graduates and its impact on knowledge of deafness and Deaf culture, and attitudes toward deaf people. Genetic counselors who graduated within the past 5 years were invited to participate in an anonymous, online survey. Of the 135 respondents, 26 % reported no Deaf awareness training and 51 % reported limited training (1–2 h) conducted primarily by program instructors. Nearly one‐third felt their Deaf awareness training was insufficient. Respondents lacked knowledge regarding effects of cochlear implants on residual hearing, communication between deaf children and hearing parents, and working with sign language interpreters. However, scores on knowledge of deafness and Deaf culture items and scores on attitudes toward deaf people scale did not differ significantly between respondents who had Deaf awareness training and those who did not. These findings suggest that genetic counseling students may not receive adequate Deaf awareness training. Future efforts should focus on increasing Deaf awareness in genetic counseling students, and investigating whether this change improves genetic counseling experiences for Deaf individuals.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Nwawka O. Kenechi , Konin Gabrielle P. , Sneag Darryl B. , Gulotta Lawrence V. , Potter Hollis G.
Published: July 2014

Background

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging evaluation of the painful failed shoulder arthroplasty is a useful imaging modality due to advancements in metal artifact reduction techniques, which allow assessment of the integrity of the supporting soft-tissue envelope and the implant.

Questions/Purposes

The focus of this pictorial review is to illustrate the benefits of MR imaging, whether used alone or as an adjunct to other imaging modalities, in aiding the clinician in the complex decision making process.

Methods

A PubMed (MEDLINE) search focusing on the complications and imaging assessment of shoulder arthroplasty was performed. Articles were selected for review based on their pertinence to the aforementioned topics.

Results

We discuss the ability of MR imaging to identify why a patient's arthroplasty may have failed. Specific causes including component loosening and implant failure, rotator cuff and deltoid integrity, infection, subtle fractures, and nerve pathology are reviewed, with illustrative sample images.

Conclusion

MRI is a valuable tool in the assessment for pathology in the shoulder following arthroplasty.
Polymorphism of milk fat studied by differential scanning calorimetry and real‐time X‐ray powder diffraction
Authors: ten Grotenhuis E. , van Aken G. A. , van Malssen K. F. , Schenk H.
Published: July 2014

The crystallization behavior of milk fat was investigated by varying the cooling rate and by isothermal solidification at various temperatures while monitoring the formation of crystals by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD). Three different polymorphic crystal forms were observed in milk fat: γ, α, and β′. The β‐form, occasionally observed in previous studies, was not found. The kind of polymorph formed during crystallization of milk fat from its melted state was dependent on the cooling rate and the final temperature. Moreover, transitions between the different polymorphic forms were shown to occur upon storing or heating the milk fat. The characteristic DSC heating curve of milk fat is interpreted on the basis of the XRD measurements, and appears to be a combined effect of selective crystallization of triglycerides and polymorphism.
Training health professionals in conducting maternal death reviews
Authors: De Brouwere Vincent , Zinnen Véronique , Delvaux Thérèse , Nana Philip Njotang , Leke Robert
Published: July 2014

In countries where maternal death review (MDR) sessions are proposed as an intervention to improve quality of obstetric care, training focuses on the theory behind this method. However, experience shows that health staff lack confidence to apply the theory if they have not attended a practical training session. To address this problem, a training curriculum based on the new guidelines from the FIGO Leadership in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Impact and Change (LOGIC) Initiative for preparing and conducting MDR sessions was designed and tested in Cameroon. This curriculum is competency‐based and consists primarily of practical individual or group exercises.
Troubling the Path to Decolonization: Indian Residential School Case Law, Genocide, and Settler Illegitimacy1
Authors: Thielen-Wilson Leslie
Published: July 2014

In this paper, I argue that Indian Residential School (IRS) litigation, and the emphasis on “cultural loss” or genocide, threatened to expose the illegitimacy of Canada’s claim to sovereignty and the settler collective’s occupancy of Indigenous lands today. When settler illegitimacy is brought into view, settler collectives typically respond with violence. In IRS case law, this violence consists of the dehumanization of the Indigenous collective as property. I trace this violence on the part of Canada (government and law) in Blackwater v Plint (1996–2005). I suggest that Canada’s “disturbing defence strategy” in Blackwater likely contributed to Canada’s signing of the 2006–2007 IRS settlement agreement that brought Baxter v Canada to a close. I conclude that settler illegitimacy, genocide, and law’s racialized violence in the present ought to trouble the settler collective’s vision of both decolonization and the role of settler law in decolonization.
Reply to “Overall and Larmer on Miracles as Evidence for the Existence of God”
Authors: OVERALL CHRISTINE
Published: July 2014

In this reply to Frank Jankunis’s paper, “Overall and Larmer on Miracles as Evidence for the Existence of God,” I discuss the concept of miracle as a violation of natural law. I argue that, if a miracle were to occur, it would be an epistemic, ontic, and moral evil, and hence evidence against the existence of a perfect God.
Miracles as Evidence for the Existence of God: A Response to Frank Jankunis
Authors: LARMER ROBERT
Published: July 2014

In this article, I respond to Frank Jankunis’s criticisms of my arguments concerning the evidential weight events best explained as miracles provide for theism.
The Middle Eastern Shift and Provincializing Zionism
Authors: Bashkin Orit
Published: July 2014

Scholars working on Jewish communities in the Middle East are in the midst of an important historiographical moment, in which the major categories, historical narratives, and key assumptions within the field are undergoing radical changes. A cluster of books and articles written by scholars trained in history, anthropology, and area studies departments, and published in Middle East studies rather than Jewish studies book series and journals, suggests that the study of Middle Eastern Jewish communities in the American academy is undergoing a change which might be termed “the Middle Eastern turn.” For such scholars, the history of Jews in Muslim lands, as modern subjects and citizens, is typified by a multiplicity of categories related to their identities—Ottoman, Sephardi, Mizrahi, Arab-Jewish, and local-patriotic—which they explore by looking at the political organizations and social and cultural institutions that enabled the integration of modern Jews into new imperial and national frameworks. This new scholarly wave is transnational, as it illustrates the importance of Jewish networks and Jewish languages in the Middle East, and likewise seeks to draw comparisons between Jews and other transregional and religious minorities, such as Armenians and Greek Orthodox Christians. It is interdisciplinary, as it attempts to incorporate the insights of sociologists, anthropologists, and literary scholars. Finally, it is postcolonial, in its critiques of national elites, national narratives, and nationalist histories. These new accounts uncover how processes which affected the entire Middle East, like Ottoman and Egyptian reform politics and the rise of nation-states, shaped modern Jewish lives.
Longer defoliation interval ensures expression of the ‘high sugar’ trait in perennial ryegrass cultivars in cool temperate Tasmania, Australia
Authors: TURNER L. R. , DONAGHY D. J. , PEMBLETON K. G. , RAWNSLEY R. P.
Published: July 2014

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.) cultivars have been developed to express higher levels of leaf water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), but expression of this ‘high sugar’ trait varies between environments and is likely to be further influenced by the extent of plant re-growth. The herbage WSC concentration and the ratio of WSC to crude protein (WSC : CP) in high sugar cultivars AberMagic and SF Joule were therefore compared with a control cultivar, Arrow, under cool temperate Tasmanian conditions and two defoliation interval treatments. The irrigated cultivars were subjected to defoliation at either the 1·5-leaf or 3-leaf stage of re-growth, and additional components of nutritive value (fibre concentrations and metabolizable energy content) and dry matter (DM) yields were measured throughout a 12-month period (March 2011 to March 2012). The high sugar trait was consistently expressed in AberMagic, which under both the 1·5-leaf and 3-leaf stages defoliation intervals, displayed the highest WSC concentration (mean 194 and 247 mg/g DM, respectively, compared with 153 and 178 mg/g DM for Arrow) and highest WSC : CP ratio (mean 0·74 and 1·29, respectively, compared with 0·58 and 0·85 for Arrow). Defoliation at the 3-leaf stage of regrowth ensured greater expression of the high sugar trait in both AberMagic and SF Joule, as measured by the increase in WSC concentration and WSC : CP ratio as a result of increasing defoliation interval. The strength and consistency of trait expression in AberMagic under the 3-leaf stage defoliation interval warrants further research to investigate its effect on rumen nitrogen (N) partitioning and milk production in this environment.