An interleaved sampling strategy for MR spectroscopy in vivo: applications on human calf musculature

Assessment of relaxation times, magnetization transfer rates, or apparent diffusion coefficients by volume selective (1)H MR spectroscopy requires data from several single spectra with variable sequence parameters. Unintentional movements during the examination lead to inaccuracies, especially if the spatial distribution of concentrations is inhomogeneous. Improved comparability of the single spectra in a series recorded in vivo were obtained using a modified spectroscopic technique with INTerleaved ACquisiTion of multiple SPECtra (INTACTSPEC). INTACTSPEC series of spectra from the tibialis anterior muscle (m. tib. ant.), soleus muscle (m. soleus), and tibial bone marrow of 20 healthy volunteers were analyzed. Transverse relaxation times T(2) of methylene signals in muscular lipid stores ranged from 77 ms (intramyocellular methylene component in m. tib. ant.) to 88 ms (intramyocellular methylene component in m. soleus) and were similar to those from yellow tibial bone marrow (T(2) = 84 ms). Echo time-dependent signal intensities of choline and creatine deviated markedly from a monoexponential behavior in m. tib. ant., but were nearly exponential in m. soleus. Results from water diffusion measurements parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the lower leg showed significant differences between m. tib. ant. and m. soleus, probably due to the spatial orientation of the muscle fibers. Apparent diffusion coefficients along the leg axis were found to be higher in m. tib. ant. (2.10 +/- 0.08 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) compared to m. soleus (1.78 +/- 0.11 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s), but m. soleus showed less restricted diffusion in perpendicular orientation (1.59 +/- 0.19 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s versus 1.20 +/- 0.08 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s in m. tib. ant.). Magnetization transfer experiments with various RF preparation pulse amplitudes led to very similar results for m. tib. ant. and m. soleus.     

Inhibition of hydrogen chemisorption on uranium surfaces by traces of water vapor

Traces of about 2% water vapor are sufficient to inhibit hydrogen dissociation and chemisorption on uranium surfaces, under low pressure exposures, at room temperature. The efficiency of the inhibition increases with temperature in the range of 200 - 400 K. The inhibition effect is also influenced by the extent of residual strain of the sample, with increasing inhibition efficiencies exhibited by a less strained surface. O₂, in contrast to H₂O, is not an inhibitor to surface adsorption and dissociation of hydrogen. Three types of mechanisms are discussed in order to account for the above inhibition effect of water. It is concluded that the most probable mechanism involves the reversible adsorption of water molecules on hydrogen dissociation sites causing their “blocking”.     

Obtaining the bidirectional transmittance distribution function of isotropically scattering materials using an integrating sphere

This paper demonstrates a method to determine the bidirectional transmittance distribution function (BTDF) using an integrating sphere. Information about the sample’s angle-dependent scattering is obtained by making transmittance measurements with the sample at different distances from the integrating sphere. Knowledge about the illuminated area of the sample and the geometry of the sphere port in combination with the measured data combines to a system of equations that includes the angle-dependent transmittance.The resulting system of equations is an ill-posed problem which rarely gives a physical solution. A solvable system is obtained by using Tikhonov regularization on the ill-posed problem. The solution to this system can then be used to obtain the BTDF.Four bulk-scattering samples were characterised using two goniophotometers and the described method to verify the validity of the new method. The agreement shown is excellent for the more diffuse samples. The solution to the low-scattering samples contains unphysical oscillations, but still gives the correct shape of the solution. The origin of the oscillations and why they are more prominent in low-scattering samples are discussed.     

A holographic model of deconfinement and chiral symmetry restoration

We analyze the finite temperature behavior of the Sakai-Sugimoto model, which is a holographic dual of a theory which spontaneously breaks a U(N_f)_L × U(N_f)_R chiral flavor symmetry at zero temperature. The theory involved is a 4 + 1 dimensional supersymmetric SU(N_c) gauge theory compactified on a circle of radius R with anti-periodic boundary conditions for fermions, coupled to N_f left-handed quarks and N_f right-handed quarks which are localized at different points on the compact circle (separated by a distance L). In the supergravity limit which we analyze (corresponding in particular to the large N_c limit of the gauge theory), the theory undergoes a deconfinement phase transition at a temperature T_d = 1/2πR. For quark separations obeying L > L_c ? 0.97 ∗ R the chiral symmetry is restored at this temperature, but for L < L_c ? 0.97 ∗ R there is an intermediate phase which is deconfined with broken chiral symmetry, and the chiral symmetry is restored at T_χSB ? 0.154/L. All of these phase transitions are of first order.     

Ways of formulating wind speed in heat convection significantly influencing pavement temperature prediction

This paper investigates the influences of wind speed and of heat-convection coefficient on the temperature prediction of a slab. Numerical calculation of a slab temperature found that wind speed varies the slab temperature in a degree of 2–10 °C. More varying degrees occur at midday and in sunny day but less, at midnight and in a cloud day. These degrees also depend on the used heat-convection coefficients, which have different values in different models. Special emphases are paid to unearth the correlation between different heat convection coefficients and find the best alternative in the slab-temperature prediction.     

The development of an integrated platform to identify breast cancer glycoproteome changes in human serum

Protein glycosylation represents one of the major post-translational modifications and can have significant effects on protein function. Moreover, changes in the carbohydrate structure are increasingly being recognized as an important modification associated with cancer etiology. In this report, we describe the development of a proteomics approach to identify breast cancer related changes in either concentration and/or the carbohydrate structures of glycoprotein(s) present in blood samples. Diseased and healthy serum samples were processed by an optimized sample preparation protocol using multiple lectin affinity chromatography (M-LAC) that partitions serum proteins based on glycan characteristics. Subsequently, three separate procedures, 1D SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing and an antibody microarray, were applied to identify potential candidate markers for future study. The combination of these three platforms is illustrated in this report with the analysis of control and cancer glycoproteomic fractions. Firstly, a molecular weight based separation of glycoproteins by 1D SDS-PAGE was performed, followed by protein, glycoprotein staining, lectin blotting and LC–MS analysis. To refine or confirm the list of interesting glycoproteins, isoelectric focusing (targeting sialic acid changes) and an antibody microarray (used to detect neutral glycan shifts) were selected as the orthogonal methods. As a result, several glycoproteins including alpha-1B-glycoprotein, complement C3, alpha-1-antitrypsin and transferrin were identified as potential candidates for further study.     

Use of high-temperature differential scanning calorimetry to investigate the β–α transition in calcium pyrophosphate

High-temperature differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the thermodynamic parameters of the γ–β and β–α transitions in calcium pyrophosphate (Ca₂P₂O₇). The measured enthalpy of transition compared well with previous results when higher heating rates (≥20 K min^?1) were used. Recommendations for optimal use of HTDSC in high-temperature phase transition measurements are presented.     

Synthesis and characterization of tolbutamide–molybdenum complex by thermal,spectral and X-ray studies

Synthesis and characterization of molybdenum complex with tolbutamide (an oral antidiabetic drug) have been studied. The conductometric titration using monovariation method indicates that complex is non-ionic and of L₂M type. Analytical data agree with the molecular formula (C₁₂H₁₇N₂O₃S)₂Mo·2H₂O. Structure of the complex was assigned as octahedral in which ligand molecules lie horizontally joining the central molybdenum atom and one water molecule, each attached vertically with the metal. Infra-red spectral studies confirm the coordination of sulphonyl oxygen on one side and enolic oxygen attached from other side with the metal ion. IR and ¹H NMR studies support structure II proposed on the basis of analytical data. Magnetic susceptibility data suggested that the complex is diamagnetic. Thermal studies support the presence of ligand moieties and coordinated water. X-ray diffraction data also support the complex formation.