Integration of quantitative DCE-MRI and ADC mapping to monitor treatment response in human breast cancer: initial results

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess changes in the water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and in pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the fast-exchange regime (FXR) modeling of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with locally advanced breast cancer underwent MRI examination prior to and after chemotherapy but prior to surgery. A 1.5-T scanner was used to obtain T1, ADC and DCE-MRI data. DCE-MRI data were analyzed by the FXR model returning estimates of K(trans) (volume transfer constant), v(e) (extravascular extracellular volume fraction) and tau(i) (average intracellular water lifetime). Histogram and correlation analyses assessed parameter changes post-treatment. RESULTS: Significant (P < .05) changes or trends towards significance (P < .10) were seen in all parameters except tau(i), although there was qualitative reduction in tau(i) values post-treatment. In particular, there was reduction (P < .035) in voxels with K(trans) values in the range 0.2-0.5 min(-1) and a decrease (P < .05) in voxels with ADC values in the range 0.99 x 10(-3) to 1.35 x 10(-3) mm2/s. ADC and v(e) were negatively correlated (r = -.60, P < .02). Parameters sensitive to water distribution and geometry (T(1), v(e), tau(i) and ADC) correlated with a multivariable linear regression model. CONCLUSION: The analysis presented here is sensitive to longitudinal changes in breast tumor status; K(trans) and ADC are most sensitive to these changes. Relationships between parameters provide information on water distribution and geometry in the tumor environment.     

Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) echoic angular discrimination: effects of object separation and complexity

A bottlenose dolphin was tested on its ability to echoically discriminate horizontal angular differences between arrays of vertically oriented air-filled PVC rods. The blindfolded dolphin was required to station in a submerged hoop 2 radial m from the stimuli and indicate if an array with two rods (S+) was to the right or the left of a single rod (S-). The angular separation between the two rods (thetaw) was held constant within each experiment while the angle between the S+ and the S-stimuli (thetab) varied to produce angular differences (deltatheta= thetab-thetaw) ranging from 0.25 to 4 degrees. In experiment I, thetaw was maintained at 2 degrees and in experiment II, thetaw was maintained at 4 degrees. Resulting 75% correct thresholds (method of constant stimuli) were 1.5 and 0.7 degrees, respectively. The two main findings of this study are: (1) decreasing the number of targets does not aid in localization, and (2) increasing the space between the rods enhances localization. Taken as a whole, the experiments suggest dolphins have a well-developed ability to resolve spatial information through sonar.     

Widths and shifts of HF vibration-rotation absorption lines induced by pressure of rare gases

Widths and shifts of the HF vibration-rotation absorption spectrum, induced by the pressure of rare gases, have been calculated using the Kolb-Griem-Baranger theory, for the pure rotation, 0–1, and 0–2 bands. Agreement between the calculated and experimental widths is good in general, but the calculated shifts, though having a qualitatively correct m-dependence for the most part, exceed the experimental values by a factor of 1·3-2·0. Isotropic effects are included to all orders, leading to three major consequences: (1) a criticism is made regarding one of the assumption underlying Anderson's approximation number two, (2) a reason is provided for the differences in widths of R and P branch lines of the same ∣m∣ within a given band, and (3) the previously unexplained increase in widths with increasing ∣m∣ in the 0–2 band with xenon is explained.     

Precise positioning of carbon nanotubes by ac dielectrophoresis using floating posts

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been precisely aligned and positioned in device architectures using ac dielectrophoresis by patterning floating metal posts or strips within the electrode gaps. These structures perturb the electric field, causing local enhancements in the field intensity, as seen in simulation, that guide the nanotubes along a predictable path in given directions, in zigzag patterns, or as single or a sequence of tubes along a series of posts. This method enables the assembly of SWNTs in complex multi-electrode geometries, when specifying the electrode voltages is not sufficient to direct the desired assembly. The device characteristics of the dielectrophoretically-aligned SWNTs are discussed. PACS 61.46.Fg; 73.63.-b; 87.15.Tt     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Silicium-Schwefel-Verbindungen. XXIII. Die Hydrolysereaktion der Silanthiole

Contributions to the Chemistry of Silicon-Sulphur Compounds. XXIII. The Hydrolysis Reaction of Silanethiols The kinetics of the hydrolysis reaction of silanethiols (RO)₃SiSH and R₃SiSH in dioxane-water solutions were investigated and the rate constants and the activation parameters evaluated. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed. The relationship between the structure of silanethiols and their reactivity are evaluated.     

Determination of valepotriates

In this paper an overview is given of qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis used for valepotriates. Methods like spectophotometry, titrimetry, TLC, GC, HPLC, MS, CE as well as p-SFC have been applied. Today HPLC is the method of choice. The usefulness of the individual methods are discussed.