bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of key enzymes for nitrogen assimilation in grapevine rootstock in response to N‐form and timing
Authors: Lang Carina Paola , Bárdos Gyöngyi , Merkt Nikolaus , Zörb Christian 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackground and Aims: Rootstocks play an essential role in grapevine scion growth and development. They influence water and nutrient uptake and affect biomass allocation of the scion and the grape berry composition connected with wine quality. Nitrogen (N) can be taken up by the roots in various forms such as nitrate, ammonium or urea. These N‐forms and their possible differential assimilation directly and indirectly influence grapevine vegetative and generative growth. N assimilation is driven by N acquiring enzymes such as nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR) and glutamine synthetase (GS). This assimilation physiology can be influenced by factors such as light conditions or substrate availability.Methods: Hydroponically grown grapevine rootstocks were fertilized with various N‐forms, namely calcium nitrate (CaN), ammonium (AM), urea (UR), and glutamine (Gln). The transcript expression of the enzymes NR, NiR and GS and the enzymatic nitrate reductase activity (eNRA) were examined at various time points (0 h, 3 h, and 6 h) after N application.Results and Conclusion: The data suggest that the grapevine rootstock SO4 has the ability to assimilate the amino acid Gln. Furthermore, AM, UR, and in some organs Gln, can regulate the co‐enzymes NR and NiR, both of which function as activators of the assimilation process. The eNRA is clearly defined by the plant organ.
Synthesis and characterization of phosphocholine chloride‐based three‐component deep eutectic solvent: application in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for determination of organothiophosphate pesticides
Authors: Mokhtari Nasser , Torbati Mohammadali , Farajzadeh Mir Ali , Afshar Mogaddam Mohammad Reza 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDA new type of deep eutectic solvent based on three components using phosphate salts has been synthesized, characterized, and applied in the extraction of eight organothiophosphate pesticides from honey samples. In this study, the deep eutectic solvent was prepared from phosphocholine choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and dichloroacetic acid and decanoic acid as hydrogen bond donors. The method consisted of two steps in which initially the analytes were extracted from the samples into a water‐miscible organic solvent. In the second step, the extracted phase was mixed with the prepared deep eutectic solvent and the mixture was used in the following dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method.RESULTSThe method was validated under optimal conditions, and it was found that it has low limits of detection (0.05–0.10 ng g−1) and quantification (0.19–0.36 ng g−1), good linearity (r2 ≥ 0.994), broad linearity (0.36–1000 ng g−1), and satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviation ≤10% for intra‐ (n = 6) and inter‐day (n = 4) precisions at a concentration of 2 ng g−1 of each analyte).CONCLUSIONThe proposed method was applied in different honey samples, and malathion was found at a concentration of 29 ng g−1 in one sample. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Extremity free fillet flap for reconstruction of massive oncologic resection—Surgical technique and outcomes
Authors: Kreutz‐Rodrigues Lucas , Mohan Anita T. , Moran Steven L. , Carlsen Brian T. , Mardini Samir , Houdek Matthew T. , Rose Peter S. , Bakri Karim 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to present our experience using free fillet flaps to reconstruct massive oncologic defects of the upper and lower extremity.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed to include patients who underwent oncologic resection followed by reconstruction using free fillet flaps from July 2001 to October 2018. Patient demographics, clinical and surgical characteristics, and postoperative complications were reviewed.ResultsIn total, 12 patients were identified and included in this study. Mean age was 48.9 years old. Five patients had extended forequarter amputations and seven patients had external hemipelvectomies, all for locally advanced tumors. Mean tumor size was 15 ± SD 6.4 cm, and negative tumor margins were achieved in all the patients. Mean flap size was 1028 ± SD 869 cm2. The mean follow‐up was 13 months. There were no partial or total flap losses in the postoperative period. Two patients had flap‐related postoperative complications, including flap bleeding and wound dehiscence. Median survival was 18 months.ConclusionThe free fillet flap is a safe, reliable, and valuable approach for reconstructing oncological defects. It offers the advantage of avoiding donor site morbidity, while providing extensive soft‐tissue coverage as a one‐step solution for massive oncologic defects.
Impact of initial imaging with gallium‐68 dotatate PET/CT on diagnosis and management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Crown Angelena , Rocha Flavio G. , Raghu Preethi , Lin Bruce , Funk Gayle , Alseidi Adnan , Hubka Misho , Rosales Joseph , Lee Marie , Kennecke Hagen 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundSomatostatin analog functional imaging with gallium‐68 (Ga‐68) dotatate positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has demonstrated superiority in lesion detection in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The clinical impact of this imaging modality on US surgical and medical oncology practices has not been established.MethodsConsecutive patients with NET at our institution who received an initial Ga‐68 dotatate PET/CT between July 2017 and September 2018 were included. Ga‐68 dotatate PET/CT was compared with prior imaging.ResultsAmong 101 eligible patients, 51 of 50 were female/male, site of origin was gastroenteropancreatic (75%), unknown primary (13%), lung (8%), thymus (2%), and other (2%). All NETs were histologically well/moderately differentiated. Ga‐68 dotatate imaging findings altered management in 36 (35.6%) patients: documentation of progression led to the initiation of systemic therapy in 14 patients, obviated the need for biopsy in four patients, and altered surgical plans in 7 of 14 (50%) patients referred for surgery. In 11 patients, decisions regarding peptide receptor radionucleotide therapy and somatostatin analogs were altered.ConclusionsIn this series, Ga‐68 dotatate PET/CT altered diagnosis and management in one‐third of patients and changed operative plans in half of the patients who were referred for surgical evaluation. These results support the routine use of this imaging in the care of patients with early‐stage and advanced NETs.
Spatial distribution of type II collagen gene expression in the mouse intervertebral disc
Authors: Wei Yulong , Tower Robert J. , Tian Zuozhen , Mohanraj Bhavana , Mauck Robert L. , Qin Ling , Zhang Yejia 
Published: December 2019

AbstractGenetic tools such as the Cre‐Lox reporter system are powerful aids for tissue‐specific cell tracking. For example, it would be useful in examining intervertebral disc (IVD) cell populations in normal and diseased states. A Cre recombinase and its recognition site, loxP have been adapted from the bacteriophage for use in genetic manipulation. The reporter mice used here express the red fluorescent protein, tdTomato with flanking LoxP sites (Rosa26 TdTomato mice). We compared two different Collagen type II (Col2) promoter constructs that drive Cre‐recombinase expression in mice: (a) Col2‐Cre, which allows constitutive Cre‐recombinase expression under the control of the Col2 promoter/enhancer and (b) Col2‐CreER, which contains a shorter promoter/enhancer region than Col2‐Cre, but has human estrogen binding elements that bind tamoxifen, resulting in Cre‐recombinase expression. The goal of the study is to characterize Cre‐recombinase distribution pattern in Col2‐Cre and Col2‐CreER mice using tdTomato as reporter in the spine. The expression patterns of these two mice were further compared with Col2 gene expression in the native mouse NP and AF tissues by real‐time PCR. We crossed Col2‐Cre mice or Col2‐CreER mice with the tdTomato reporter mice, and compared the tdTomato expression patterns. Col2‐CreER/tdTomato mice were injected with tamoxifen at postnatal day 7 to activate the Cre‐recombinase. TdTomato in the constitutively active Col2‐Cre mice was detected in the nucleus pulposus (NP), the entire annulus fibrosus (AF), and in cartilaginous endplate and growth plate cells in the lower lumbar and coccygeal spine. In contrast, when Col2‐CreER activity was induced by tamoxifen at P7, tdTomato was limited to the inner AF, and was absent from the NP. We have described the differences in Col2 reporter gene expression, in Col2‐Cre/tdTomato and Col2‐Cre‐ER/tdTomato mouse IVD. The information provided here will help to guide future investigations of IVD biology.
Value of Grayscale and Power Doppler High‐Resolution Ultrasound in Assessment of Patients with Clinically Suspected Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Gamil Amr Mohamed , Shalaby Mennatallah Hatem , Shehata Khaled Ali , El Deeb Ahmed Mohamed 
Published: December 2019

ObjectivesTo determine the value of grayscale and power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) in the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in clinically suspected patients.MethodsEighty‐seven wrists of 61 patients with clinically suspected CTS and 57 wrists of 30 healthy control participants were included in our study. Median nerve (MN) cross‐sectional area (CSA) measurements were performed at the tunnel inlet level (wCSA) and proximal pronator quadratus muscle level (fCSA). Two parameters were calculated: CSA absolute difference (ΔCSA), which was the difference between the two measurements; and CSA ratio (RCSA), calculated by dividing wCSA over fCSA. The MN at the wrist level was evaluated for hypervascularity with PDUS.ResultsThe mean wCSA, R‐CSA, and ΔCSA values were significantly higher in patients (17 mm2, 2.45, and 9.9 mm2, respectively) than in control participants (8 mm2, 1.29, and 1.65 mm2; (P < .0001). At their corresponding cutoff values, the wCSA yielded higher sensitivity (95%) and lower specificity (88%) compared to the RCSA and ΔCSA (89% and 93% sensitivity and 93% and 89% specificity). Power Doppler US was the most specific US parameter (100%) but the least sensitive (76%). A multivariate logistic regression model including the wCSA, RCSA, and PDUS yielded 97% diagnostic accuracy at their optimal cutoffs, which increased to 99% after eliminating age and body mass index confounding effects.ConclusionsThe combination of MN swelling measurements and PDUS increases the diagnostic accuracy of US in patients with clinically suspected CTS.
Enhancement of Tg of Poly(l‐lactide) by Incorporation of Biobased Mandelic‐Acid‐Derived Phenyl Groups by Polymerization and Polymer Blending
Authors: Otsugu Satoshi , Kimura Yoshiharu , Nakajima Hajime , Loos Katja 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA high‐molecular‐weight polyester of poly(mandelate‐co‐lactate) (PML) is prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of stereo‐configuration controlled cyclic diester monomers of methyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,4‐dioxane‐2,5‐dione (MPDD) and lactide. The attained PML shows excellent glassy properties, although the original stereo‐configuration of MPDD is not preserved. The intrinsic high glass transition temperature (Tg) of PML is promising, and it is able to be further enhanced by thermal treatment to as high as 90 °C. Interestingly, the enhanced high Tg is attained by only 15 mol% of mandelate content in the polymer chain which is far lower than the ones suggested by theoretical calculation. The enhancement in Tg is also attained by polymer blending of PML and poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA). The Tg of the polymer blend also reaches 90 °C which is almost 20 °C higher than the ones suggested by theoretical calculations. These results indicate that the rigid mandelate unit consisting of phenyl groups in PML chain effectively interact with PLLA chains in amorphous domain to restrict their chain mobility. The thermal and glassy properties are sufficient to explore new applications in engineering fields.
A construction strategy for a baculovirus‐silkworm multigene expression system and its application for coexpression of type I and type II interferons
Authors: Liu Xingjian , Yang Xin , Mehboob Arslan , Hu Xiaoyuan , Yi Yongzhu , Li Yinü , Zhang Zhifang 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) baculovirus expression system (BES) is a eukaryotic expression system. It possesses great capability for post‐translation modification in expression of foreign proteins. With the counterselection cassette rpsL‐neo and phage λ‐Red recombinase, the defective‐rescue BmNPV BES reBmBac can be employed for efficient heterologous multigene coexpression at different gene sites in one baculovirus genome. In the present study, a recombinant baculovirus, reBm‐Cαγ, carrying two types of chicken interferon (IFN) genes (chIFN‐α and chIFN‐γ) was constructed using the reBmBac system. The chIFN‐α and chIFN‐γ genes were inserted into the same baculovirus genome at the polyhedron and p10 gene sites, respectively. The recombinant baculovirus was capable of coexpressing both chIFN‐α and chIFN‐γ. The expression levels of the two types of IFN in the coexpression product were exponentially high, at approximately 1.7 and 2.5 times higher, respectively, than those in the corresponding single‐expression products. The increase in expression level corresponds to replacement of the nonessential p10 gene in the reBm‐Cαγ recombinant baculovirus. This coexpression of recombinant chicken IFNs showed superior antiviral activity.
Feasibility of imaging 90Y microspheres at diagnostic activity levels for hepatic radioembolization treatment planning
Authors: Kunnen Britt , Dietze Martijn M. A. , Braat Arthur J. A. T. , Lam Marnix G. E. H. , Viergever Max A. , de Jong Hugo W. A. M. 
Published: December 2019

PurposePrior to 90Y hepatic radioembolization, a dosage of 99mTc‐macroaggregated albumin (99mTc‐MAA) is administered to simulate the distribution of the 90Y‐loaded microspheres. This pretreatment procedure enables lung shunt estimation, detection of potential extrahepatic depositions, and estimation of the intrahepatic dose distribution. However, the predictive accuracy of the MAA particle distribution is often limited. Ideally, 90Y microspheres would also be used for the pretreatment procedure. Based on previous research, the pretreatment activity should be limited to the estimated safety threshold of 100 MBq, making imaging challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of intra‐ and extrahepatic imaging of 90Y‐based pretreatment positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and quantitative single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT scans, by means of phantom experiments and a patient study.MethodsAn anthropomorphic phantom with three extrahepatic depositions was filled with 90Y chloride to simulate a lung shunt fraction (LSF) of 5.3% and a tumor to nontumor ratio (T/N) of 7.9. PET /CT (Siemens Biograph mCT) and Bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT (Siemens Symbia T16) images were acquired at activities ranging from 1999 MBq down to 24 MBq, representing post‐ and pretreatment activities. PET/CT images were reconstructed with the clinical protocol and SPECT/CT images were reconstructed with a quantitative Monte Carlo‐based reconstruction protocol. Estimated LSF, T/N, contrast to noise ratio of all extrahepatic depositions, and liver parenchymal and tumor dose were compared with the phantom ground truth. A clinically reconstructed SPECT/CT of 150 MBq 99mTc represented the current clinical standard. In addition, a 90Y pretreatment scan was simulated for a patient by acquiring posttreatment PET/CT and SPECT/CT data with shortened acquisition times.ResultsAt an activity of 100 MBq 90Y, PET/CT overestimated LSF [+10 percentage point (pp)], underestimated liver parenchymal dose (−3 Gy/GBq), and could not detect the extrahepatic depositions. SPECT/CT more accurately estimated LSF (−0.7 pp), parenchymal dose (−0.3 Gy/GBq) and could detect all three extrahepatic depositions. 99mTc SPECT/CT showed similar accuracy as 90Y SPECT/CT (LSF: +0.2 pp, parenchymal dose: +0.4 Gy/GBq, all extrahepatic depositions visible), although the noise level in the liver compartment was considerably lower for 99mTc SPECT/CT compared to 90Y SPECT/CT. The patient’s SPECT/CT simulating a pretreatment 90Y procedure accurately represented the posttreatment 90Y microsphere distribution.ConclusionsQuantitative SPECT/CT of 100 MBq 90Y could accurately estimate LSF, T/N, parenchymal and tumor dose, and visualize extrahepatic depositions.
Submillimeter MR fingerprinting using deep learning–based tissue quantification
Authors: Fang Zhenghan , Chen Yong , Hung Sheng‐Che , Zhang Xiaoxia , Lin Weili , Shen Dinggang 
Published: December 2019

PurposeTo develop a rapid 2D MR fingerprinting technique with a submillimeter in‐plane resolution using a deep learning–based tissue quantification approach.MethodsA rapid and high‐resolution MR fingerprinting technique was developed for brain T1 and T2 quantification. The 2D acquisition was performed using a FISP‐based MR fingerprinting sequence and a spiral trajectory with 0.8‐mm in‐plane resolution. A deep learning–based method was used to replace the standard template matching method for improved tissue characterization. A novel network architecture (i.e., residual channel attention U‐Net) was proposed to improve high‐resolution details in the estimated tissue maps. Quantitative brain imaging was performed with 5 adults and 2 pediatric subjects, and the performance of the proposed approach was compared with several existing methods in the literature.ResultsIn vivo measurements with both adult and pediatric subjects show that high‐quality T1 and T2 mapping with 0.8‐mm in‐plane resolution can be achieved in 7.5 seconds per slice. The proposed deep learning method outperformed existing algorithms in tissue quantification with improved accuracy. Compared with the standard U‐Net, high‐resolution details in brain tissues were better preserved by the proposed residual channel attention U‐Net. Experiments on pediatric subjects further demonstrated the potential of the proposed technique for fast pediatric neuroimaging. Alongside reduced data acquisition time, a 5‐fold acceleration in tissue property mapping was also achieved with the proposed method.ConclusionA rapid and high‐resolution MR fingerprinting technique was developed, which enables high‐quality T1 and T2 quantification with 0.8‐mm in‐plane resolution in 7.5 seconds per slice.
Across‐vendor standardization of semi‐LASER for single‐voxel MRS at 3T
Authors: Deelchand Dinesh K. , Berrington Adam , Noeske Ralph , Joers James M. , Arani Arvin , Gillen Joseph , Schär Michael , Nielsen Jon‐Fredrik , Peltier Scott , Seraji‐Bozorgzad Navid , Landheer Karl , Juchem Christoph , Soher Brian J. , Noll Douglas C. , Kantarci Kejal , Ratai Eva M. , Mareci Thomas H. , Barker Peter B. , Öz Gülin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe semi‐adiabatic localization by adiabatic selective refocusing (sLASER) sequence provides single‐shot full intensity signal with clean localization and minimal chemical shift displacement error and was recommended by the international MRS Consensus Group as the preferred localization sequence at high‐ and ultra‐high fields. Across‐vendor standardization of the sLASER sequence at 3 tesla has been challenging due to the B1 requirements of the adiabatic inversion pulses and maximum B1 limitations on some platforms. The aims of this study were to design a short‐echo sLASER sequence that can be executed within a B1 limit of 15 μT by taking advantage of gradient‐modulated RF pulses, to implement it on three major platforms and to evaluate the between‐vendor reproducibility of its perfomance with phantoms and in vivo. In addition, voxel‐based first and second order B0 shimming and voxel‐based B1 adjustments of RF pulses were implemented on all platforms. Amongst the gradient‐modulated pulses considered (GOIA, FOCI and BASSI), GOIA‐WURST was identified as the optimal refocusing pulse that provides good voxel selection within a maximum B1 of 15 μT based on localization efficiency, contamination error and ripple artifacts of the inversion profile. An sLASER sequence (30 ms echo time) that incorporates VAPOR water suppression and 3D outer volume suppression was implemented with identical parameters (RF pulse type and duration, spoiler gradients and inter‐pulse delays) on GE, Philips and Siemens and generated identical spectra on the GE ‘Braino’ phantom between vendors. High‐quality spectra were consistently obtained in multiple regions (cerebellar white matter, hippocampus, pons, posterior cingulate cortex and putamen) in the human brain across vendors (5 subjects scanned per vendor per region; mean signal‐to‐noise ratio > 33; mean water linewidth between 6.5 Hz to 11.4 Hz). The harmonized sLASER protocol is expected to produce high reproducibility of MRS across sites thereby allowing large multi‐site studies with clinical cohorts.
A feature‐based convolutional neural network for reconstruction of interventional MRI
Authors: Zufiria Blanca , Qiu Suhao , Yan Kang , Zhao Ruiyang , Wang Runke , She Huajun , Zhang Chengcheng , Sun Bomin , Herman Pawel , Du Yiping , Feng Yuan 
Published: December 2019

Real‐time interventional MRI (I‐MRI) could help to visualize the position of the interventional feature, thus improving patient outcomes in MR‐guided neurosurgery. In particular, in deep brain stimulation, real‐time visualization of the intervention procedure using I‐MRI could improve the accuracy of the electrode placement. However, the requirements of a high undersampling rate and fast reconstruction speed for real‐time imaging pose a great challenge for reconstruction of the interventional images. Based on recent advances in deep learning (DL), we proposed a feature‐based convolutional neural network (FbCNN) for reconstructing interventional images from golden‐angle radially sampled data. The method was composed of two stages: (a) reconstruction of the interventional feature and (b) feature refinement and postprocessing. With only five radially sampled spokes, the interventional feature was reconstructed with a cascade CNN. The final interventional image was constructed with a refined feature and a fully sampled reference image. With a comparison of traditional reconstruction techniques and recent DL‐based methods, it was shown that only FbCNN could reconstruct the interventional feature and the final interventional image. With a reconstruction time of ~ 500 ms per frame and an acceleration factor of ~ 80, it was demonstrated that FbCNN had the potential for application in real‐time I‐MRI.
Hybrid‐Trefftz stress elements for plate bending
Authors: Teixeira de Freitas João António , Tiago Carlos 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThe hybrid‐Trefftz stress element is used to emulate conventional finite elements for analysis of Kirchhoff and Mindlin‐Reissner plate bending problems. The element is hybrid because it is based on the independent approximation of the stress‐resultant and boundary displacement fields. The Trefftz variant is consequent on the use of the formal solutions of the governing Lagrange equation to approximate the stress‐resultant field. In order to emulate conventional elements, nodal functions are used to approximate the displacements on the boundary of the element. Duality is used to set up the element solving system. The associated variational statements and conditions for existence and uniqueness of solutions are recovered. Triangular and quadrilateral elements are tested and characterized in terms of convergence, sensitivity to shear‐locking, and shape distortion. Their relative performance is assessed using assumed strain Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components (MITC) elements and recently proposed Trefftz‐based elements. This relative assessment is extended to a hypersingular problem to illustrate the effect of enriching the domain and boundary approximation bases.