bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vivo quantification of delayed gadolinium enhancement in the nucleus pulposus of human intervertebral disc
Authors: Niinimäki Jaakko L. , Parviainen Outi , Ruohonen Jyrki , Ojala Risto O. , Kurunlahti Mauno , Karppinen Jaro , Tervonen Osmo , Nieminen Miika T. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractPurposeTo quantify the delayed contrast agent enhancement in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc by means by T1 relaxation time measurements, and to correlate the enhancement with visual grading of disc degeneration. Diffusion of nutrients through the endplate is a key factor in tissue viability in the intervertebral disc. It can be simulated in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by measuring delayed gadolinium (Gd) enhancement of the disc.Materials and MethodsTwenty male volunteers underwent a lumbar spine examination at 1.5T. T2‐weighted sagittal images were used to score disc degeneration. T1 relaxation times were measured before and 90 minutes after intravenous administration of Gd‐DTPA‐BMA by applying a series of sagittal single‐slice inversion‐recovery fast spin‐echo (IR‐FSE) scans.ResultsA total of 93 discs were analyzed. A statistically significant decrease in the T1 relaxation time of the nucleus pulposus was observed as a result of contrast‐agent intake. The percentage change in the T1 relaxation rate for individual discs was up to 126%. A positive trend was observed between the change in the T1 relaxation rate and the grading of disc degeneration.ConclusionQuantification of delayed enhancement of the intervertebral disc may provide a new means of studying alterations in degenerative disc disease (DDD) that explain the variation in diffusion into the intervertebral disc. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006;. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The fast automatic algorithm for correction of MR bias field
Authors: Milchenko Mikhail V. , Pianykh Oleg S. , Tyler John M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractPurposeTo develop a method for efficient automatic correction of slow‐varying nonuniformity in MR images.Materials and MethodsThe original MR image is represented by a piecewise constant function, and the bias (nonuniformity) field of an MR image is modeled as multiplicative and slow varying, which permits to approximate it with a low‐order polynomial basis in a “log‐domain.” The basis coefficients are determined by comparing partial derivatives of the modeled bias field with the original image.ResultsWe tested the resulting algorithm named derivative surface fitting (dsf) on simulated images and phantom and real data. A single iteration was sufficient in most cases to produce a significant improvement to the MR image's visual quality.dsfdoes not require prior knowledge of intensity distribution and was successfully used on brain and chest images. Due to its design,dsfcan be applied to images of any modality that can be approximated as piecewise constant with a multiplicative bias field.ConclusionThe resulting algorithm appears to be an efficient method for fast correction of slow varying nonuniformity in MR images. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006;. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterizing coronary motion and its effect on MR coronary angiography—Initial experience
Authors: Al‐Kwifi Osama , Stainsby Jeffrey , Foltz Warren D. , Sussman Marshall S. , Huang Yuexi , Wright Graham A. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractPurposeTo characterize coronary artery motion as a prescan procedure to select the optimum scan setting that will produce high‐resolution images.Materials and MethodsA 2D real‐time scan was used to image the major coronary arteries during breath‐holding and free‐breathing conditions. With the use of the 2D images, motion displacement of each artery was measured along three axes. Motion data obtained from a computer simulation were used to estimate point‐spread functions (PSFs) associated with different high‐resolution spiral acquisition strategies, including real‐time, cardiac‐gated, and respiratory‐gated acquisitions. The simulation output determined the optimum acquisition and scan parameters that would produce the highest‐spatial‐resolution images of the coronary arteries. The effects of heart rate (HR), extended breath‐holding, and number of slices per heart cycle were also investigated.ResultsSubstantial variations in coronary motion occur among individuals, which directly influences the optimum parameters for a high‐resolution scan. Lower HRs and longer breath‐holds yield substantially increased spatial resolution. The maximum number of slices per heart cycle can also be determined to minimize slice‐to‐slice distortion.ConclusionThe results suggest that to obtain high‐resolution coronary images, one should perform a prescan coronary‐motion characterization for each individual so that the scan parameters can be optimized before data acquisition. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comprehensive analysis of glycated human serum albumin tryptic peptides by off‐line liquid chromatography followed by MALDI analysis on a time‐of‐flight/curved field reflectron tandem mass spectrometer
Authors: Brancia Francesco L. , Bereszczak Jessica Z. , Lapolla Annunziata , Fedele Domenico , Baccarin Lorenzo , Seraglia Roberta , Traldi Pietro 
Published: August 2006

AbstractGlycated peptides arising from in vivo digestion of glycated proteins, usually called advanced glycation end (AGE) product peptides, are biologically relevant compounds due to their reactivity towards circulating and tissue proteins. To investigate their structures, in vitro glycation of human serum albumin (HSA) has been performed and followed by enzymatic digestion. Using different MALDI based approaches the digestion products obtained have been compared with those arising from enzymatic digestion of the protein. Results obtained using 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) indicate this as the most effective matrix, leading to an increase in the coverage of the glycated protein. Off‐line microbore liquid chromatography prior to MALDI analysis reveals that 63% of the free amino groups amenable to glycation are modified. In addition, the same approach shows the co‐presence of underivatised peptides. This indicates that, regardless of the high glucose concentration employed for HSA incubation, glycation does not go to completion. Tandem mass spectrometric data suggest that the collision induced dissociation of singly charged glycated peptides leads to specific fragmentation pathways related to the condensed glucose molecule. The specific neutral losses derived from the activated glycated peptides can be used as signature for establishing the occurrence of glycation processes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fragmentation studies of synthetic 2‐acylamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinones by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Vessecchi Ricardo , Nascimento Paulo G. B. D. , Lopes José N. C. , Lopes Norberto P. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractWe report here the fragmentation mechanism for five 2‐acylamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone derivatives using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS). Analyses were performed on a low‐resolution, triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer. Fragmentation pathways for protonated molecular derivatives 2‐acylamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone [M + H]+ are proposed on the basis of theoretical calculations. There is evidence that the nitrogen atom is the protonation site, based on the nucleophilic atomic indices. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of human sapovirus by real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Oka Tomoichiro , Katayama Kazuhiko , Hansman Grant S. , Kageyama Tsutomu , Ogawa Satoko , Wu Fang‐Tzy , White Peter A. , Takeda Naokazu 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSapovirus (SaV) is an agent of gastroenteritis for humans and swine, and is divided into five distinct genogroups (GI–GV) based on its capsid gene sequences. Typical methods of SaV detection include electron microscopy (EM), enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). A novel TaqMan‐based real‐time RT‐PCR assay was developed that is sensitive and has the ability to detect the broad range of genetically diverse human SaV strains. A nucleotide alignment of 10 full‐length SaV genome sequences was subjected to similarity plot analysis, which indicated that the most conserved site was the polymerase‐capsid junction in open reading frame 1 (ORF1). Based on multiple alignments of the 27 available sequences encoding this junction, we designed sets of primers and TaqMan MGB probes that detect human SaV GI, GII, GIV, and GV sequences in a single tube. The reactivity was confirmed with SaV GI, GII, GIV, and GV control plasmids, and the efficiency ranged from 2.5 × 107to 2.5 × 101copies per tube. Analysis using clinical stool specimens revealed that the present system was capable of detecting SaV GI, GII, GIV, and GV sequences, and no cross‐reactivity was observed against other enteric viruses, including norovirus (NoV), rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus. This is the first real‐time RT‐PCR system that could detect all genogroups of human sapoviruses. J. Med. Virol. 78:1347–1353, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rainfall variability in suriname and its relationship with the tropical Pacific ENSO SST anomalies and the Atlantic SST anomalies
Authors: Nurmohamed Riad , Naipal Sieuwnath , Becker Cor 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSpatial correlations in the annual rainfall anomalies are analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Cross correlation analysis and composites are used to measure the influence of sea‐surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the tropical Atlantic (TA) and the tropical Pacific Ocean on the seasonal rainfall in Suriname. It is shown that the spatial and time variability in rainfall is mainly determined by the meridional movement of the inter‐tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The rainfall anomalies are fairly uniform over the whole country. The strongest correlation in the December–January rainfall (short wet season) at station Cultuurtuin is found to occur with the SSTAs in the Pacific region and is about ckNino1 + 2 = 0.59 at lag 1 month. In the March–May rainfall (beginning of the long wet season), there is a lagged correlation with the SSTAs in the Pacific region (clag3Nino1 + 2 = 0.59). The June–August rainfall (end of the long wet season) shows the highest correlation with SSTAs in the TSA region and is about c = −0.52 for lag 0. In the September–November long dry season there is also a lagged correlation with the TSA SSTAs of about clag3 = 0.66. These different correlations and predictors can be used for seasonal rainfall predictions. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society
Episodic Quaternary volcanism in France and Germany
Authors: Nowell David A. G. , Jones M. Chris , Pyle David M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIntra‐plate volcanism in western Europe shows statistically significant episodicity during the Quaternary period. By comparing the known ages for eruptions in France and Germany, which are compiled here, with a composite oxygen isotope record, we have investigated the link between this episodic volcanism and the climate record over the last two million years. We show that increased volcanism between 415–400 ka and 17–5 ka correlates with warming phases at the end of the last Weichselian (Devensian) and earlier Elsterian (Anglian) glacial stages. The three significant caldera explosions in the eastern Eifel, Germany, are all associated with warming phases at the onset of interglacials. The growth and decay of nearby ice sheets suggest that surface changes in continental mass distribution during glacial Milankovich cycles could provide a mechanism for this correlation by means of the distal effects of flexural loading on the lithosphere. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 100 000‐year record of annual and seasonal rainfall and temperature for northwestern Australia based on a pollen record obtained offshore
Authors: van der Kaars Sander , De Deckker Patrick , Gingele Franz X. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractPollen recovered from core tops of deep‐sea cores from offshore northwestern Western Australia were used to build climatic transfer functions applied to sediment samples from major rivers bordering the ocean in the same region and a deep‐sea core offshore Northwest Cape. Results show for the last 100 000 years, with a gap in the record spanning the 64 000 to 46 000 years interval, that from about 100 000 to 82 000 yr BP, climatic conditions represented by rainfall, temperature and number of humid months, were significantly higher than today's values. For the entire record, the coldest period occurred about 43 000 to 39 000 yr BP but it was wetter than today, whereas the Last Glacial Maximum saw a significant reduction in summer rainfall, interpreted as a result of the absence of monsoonal activity in the region. The Holocene can be divided into two distinct phases: one peaking around 6000 cal. yr BP with highest rainfall and summer temperatures; the second one commencing at 5000 cal. yr BP and showing a progressive decrease in summer rainfall in contrast to an increase in winter rainfall, paralleled by a progressive decrease in temperatures. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Methodology for the determination of biological antioxidant capacity in vitro: a review
Authors: MacDonald‐Wicks Lesley K , Wood Lisa G , Garg Manohar L 
Published: August 2006

AbstractOne of the effective means of adding value to agricultural produce is the development of functional foods or dietary supplements enriched with antioxidants. This process involves extraction of antioxidant rich fractions from their sources and then testing for antioxidant activity prior to adding these back to the foods or packing into pills or capsules. Ideally, the antioxidant activity should be tested using both in vitro and in vivo techniques but due to the high cost of conducting animal and human feeding trials, many products undergo only in vitro testing. This review describes popular methods commonly used for testing antioxidant activity in vitro, with particular reference to their reliability, efficiency, accessibility and biological relevance. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of micronisation on the characteristics and physicochemical properties of insoluble fibres
Authors: Chau Chi‐Fai , Wen Yu‐Ling , Wang Yi‐Ting 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe effects of micronisation on the characteristics and physicochemical properties of (a) an insoluble fibre‐rich fraction (IFRF) prepared from orange peel and (b) cellulose were studied and compared. The results showed that micronisation techniques such as ball milling, jet milling and high‐pressure micronisation could effectively (P < 0.05) reduce particle sizes to microscale, decrease the bulk density and improve the physicochemical properties (water‐holding capacity, swelling capacity, oil‐holding capacity, cation exchange capacity and glucose adsorption capacity) of IFRF and cellulose to different extents (up to 25‐fold). After micronisation the inhibitory effects of these insoluble fibres towards α‐amylase and pancreatic lipase were significantly increased (up to 5.8‐ and 7.8‐fold respectively) and a redistribution of some fibre components from insoluble to soluble fractions was observed. It was concluded that these micronisation treatments, especially high‐pressure micronisation, could effectively improve the functionalities of IFRF and cellulose, which might then be used as potential fibre‐rich ingredients in functional food applications. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Radiosurgery versus carbon dioxide laser for dermatochalasis correction in Asians
Authors: Yu Carol S. , Chan Henry H.L. , Tse Raymond K.K. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesCarbon dioxide (CO2) laser and radiosurgery are techniques commonly employed in oculoplastic surgery. However, there is no literature comparing their results in blepharoplasty.Study Design/Materials and MethodsTwenty Chinese patients with dermatochalasis underwent radiosurgery in one upper eyelid and CO2 laser in the contralateral eyelid. Intraoperative time, hemorrhage, and pain control were assessed. Subjects were evaluated at postoperative 1 hour, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months for hemorrhage and wound healing by a masked assessor.ResultsAll patients reported minimal pain with either technique. A significantly shorter operative time was achieved with CO2 laser, with better intraoperative hemostasis. There was no significant difference in postoperative hemorrhage and wound swelling between radiosurgery and CO2 laser. No significant intraoperative complications were noted.ConclusionsBoth radiosurgery and CO2 laser are equally safe and effective for upper lid blepharoplasty. CO2 laser achieves shorter operative time with superior intraoperative hemostasis. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:176–179, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Photoacoustic imaging of valves in superficial veins
Authors: Kolkman Roy G.M. , Bosschaart Nienke , Kok Ben , van Leeuwen Ton G. , Steenbergen Wiendelt 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIn intravenous access to veins there is a risk of puncturing venous valves or blocking of the catheter by the valves. Therefore, we have investigated whether and how photoacoustic imaging (PAI), which visualizes the lumen of blood vessels, can be used to detect these valves.Study Design/Materials and MethodsVenous valves in superficial veins on the dorsal side of the hand of human volunteers were located by palpation and visual inspection. Next, this location was imaged using PAI.ResultsIn 16 of 21 human volunteers venous valves that were found by palpation could be observed by PAI as local discontinuities in the imaged vessel. From these images, four characteristic features by which venous valves can be recognized in photoacoustic images were identified.ConclusionsPAI has the potential to be applied in the detection of venous valves. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:740–744, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Safe and effective carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing of the neck
Authors: Kilmer Suzanne L. , Chotzen Vera A. , Silva Susan K. , McClaren Marla L. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractCO2 laser skin resurfacing remains the gold standard for treatment of photoaged facial skin. It can be used onto the neck to further blend in the treated area with non‐treated, adjacent photodamaged skin as well as improve the superficial textural quality of the neck skin. This article provides an overview of laser skin resurfacing of the neck, including pre‐operative evaluation, patient education and selection, laser settings and technique used, post‐operative care, and identification and treatment of possible complications. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:653–657, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermal, Optical and Electrochemical Properties of Side‐Chain Azopyridine Polymers Complexed with Metalloporphyrins
Authors: Dahmane Smail , Lasia Andrzej , Zhao Yue 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSummary: New multifunctional supramolecular polymers were obtained by complexing a side‐chain azopyridine polymer with ZnTPP and CoTPP via axial coordination between the pyridyl group and the transition metals of the metalloporphyrins. Thermal, optical and electrochemical properties of the complexes in the solid state at various molar ratios of metal/pyridine were characterized by means of DSC, TGA, UV‐vis spectroscopy and CV. On one hand, the results show that linking ZnTPP or CoTPP to the azopyridine polymer results in significant changes of its properties, such as an increase in the glass transition temperature and the thermal stability of the polymer, and a decrease in the trans‐cis photoisomerization of azopyridine moieties. On the other hand, both ZnTPP and CoTPP complexed with the polymer exhibit changes in their redox behaviors.Complexation via axial coordination between PAzPy and ZnTPP or CoTPP.magnified imageComplexation via axial coordination between PAzPy and ZnTPP or CoTPP.
Preparation of Block Copolymers with a Single Tg Based on Segments of Poly(oxy‐2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene) and Polycarbonate of Bisphenol A
Authors: Penco Maurizio , Sartore Luciana , Della Sciucca Stefania , Di Landro Luca , Mendichi Raniero , Samperi Filippo 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSummary: The synthesis and the properties of block copolymers based on PPO and PC segments are reported. Copolymers that have a multi‐block structure are synthesized by a polycondensation reaction that employs oligomeric PPO and PC diol terminated with phosgene or bischloroformate of bisphenol A. In the reaction scheme two steps are involved: first, the reaction of one of the oligomeric diols (PPO or PC) with the bischloroformate or phosgene; second, the oligomeric bischloroformate is reacted with the other diol. The molecular characteristics of the prepared samples are studied by SEC, 1H and 13C NMR, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The thermal and rheological properties and the thermal stability have also been investigated by means of DSC, rotational rheometry, and TGA, respectively. Polymers that have a single glass transition temperature are obtained if low‐molecular‐weight segments are used. From a rheological point of view, these materials show a remarkably lower melt viscosity compared with a PPO homopolymer that has a comparable average molecular weight.Rheometric curves of PPO‐b‐PC (3) compared with a commercial PPO.magnified imageRheometric curves of PPO‐b‐PC (3) compared with a commercial PPO.
Synthesis and Characterization of Defined Branched Poly(propylene)s with Different Microstructures by Copolymerization of Propylene and Linear Ethylene Oligomers (Cn = 26–28) with Metallocenes/MAO Catalysts
Authors: Rulhoff Sascha , Kaminsky Walter 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSummary: Copolymers of propylene and hexacosene (Cn = 26–28) were synthesized in the presence of three different metallocene catalysts activated by methylaluminoxane. The poly(propylene) copolymers were prepared with iso‐, syndio‐, and atactic backbone microstructures by using different symmetric metallocenes such as rac‐{Me2Si[2‐Me‐4‐(1‐Naph)Ind]2}ZrCl2 (1), [Ph2C(Cp)(Flu)]ZrCl2 (2), and [(H3C)2Si(9‐Flu)2]ZrCl2 (3) and up to 46.6 mol‐% comonomer content in the feed. The influence of the incorporated linear, ethylene‐based side chains into the poly(propylene) backbone were investigated by DSC, GPC, and 13C NMR. Generally, a decreasing content of comonomer in the feed enhances the activity of metallocene based catalysts. The determination of the branched microstructure by 13C NMR of the copolymers allows a smart identification of the amount of inserted hexacosene because of the separated backbone and side chain signals. Moreover, the relationship between the population of the side chains and the melting behavior of resulting copolymers were discussed. The melting point of the syndiotactic and isotactic poly(propylene) backbone decreases with increasing hexacosene content. When the inserted comonomer content exceeds 2 mol‐%, a second melting point of the crystallized ethylene based side chains can be observed which increases with an increasing amount of hexacosene.Thermal behavior of isospecific hexacosene/propylene copolymers in dependence on the incorporation of hexacosene.magnified imageThermal behavior of isospecific hexacosene/propylene copolymers in dependence on the incorporation of hexacosene.