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Characterization and evolution of three-dimensional microstructure of Malan loess

Loess is an aeolian, nonstratified deposit. Loess collapsibility is considered to be closely related to its microstructure. The three-dimensional (3D) microstructure of loess specimens was established based on serial X-ray computed tomography (CT) images with a voxel size of 1 μm3. The loess microstructure and parameters, including the particle size, sphericity, and orientation and pore size distribution were characterized qualitatively and quantitatively in 3D space. In addition, the microstructural evolution during collapse based on the 3D microstructure was also analyzed to interpret the mechanism of loess collapse combined with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results. The results highlight that loess collapsibility originates from both microstructural and compositional characteristics. The studied loess has an open structure with widely distributed spaced pores and inter-particle or inter-aggregate pores. Brick-shaped and subangular particles with tilted orientations and point-to-point contacts maintain a vulnerable, metastable structure. Carbonate and clay aggregations between particles endow the loess with a high strength in the natural state. Under loading and wetting, the swelling and dispersion of clay aggregation, particularly the degraded illite and interstratified illite - montmorillonite, and the loss of high suction initiate structural failure. During collapse, particles primarily move down in a vertical or tilted direction with little rotation. Pores are most sensitive to loading and wetting; during collapse, the distributions of the pore number and volume percentage become more unimodal. The pore connectivity becomes weaker. Pores larger than 23 μm decrease in pore number under wetting, and pores larger than 26 μm decrease in volume percentage.

Association between cerebral atrophy and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

PurposeOsteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) have a serious impact on people’s health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to analyze brain volume in patients with osteoporosis using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to investigate the relationship with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Materials and methodsWe included 246 patients with osteoporosis who underwent thoracolumbar radiographs and brain MRI at our hospital. Clinical data on age, sex, bone mineral density, height, weight, osteoporosis medication, hypertension, diabetes, alcohol drinking, and smoking were collected. Intracranial cavity, brain parenchyma, and lateral ventricles volumes were measured using brain MRI with a semiautomated tool.ResultsWe founded an independent correlation between age and volume percentages of the brain parenchyma and lateral ventricles. We observed a statistically significant decrease in volume percentage of the brain parenchyma and an increase in volume percentage of the lateral ventricles with increasing age. In addition, we confirmed that patients with OVCF showed a significantly lower volume percentage of brain parenchyma than patients without OVCF.ConclusionWe observed a significant association between OVCF and volume percentage of brain parenchyma. Degeneration of the brain may lead to a high incidence of falls, and OVCF may occur more frequently in patients with osteoporosis.

Effects of phosphorus fertilizer on starch granule size distribution in corn kernels

Phosphorus is one of the main management factors affecting yield and quality in crops. Starch granule size distribution is an important characteristic that may affect the functionality of corn products. Two corn cultivars were used to investigate the starch granule size distribution in kernels. The results showed the volume percentages of 18 μm granules decreased markedly with phosphorus rates from 60 to 180 kg ha−1 in low and normal nitrogen conditions. It has been suggested that phosphorus is favorable for the formation of small and midsize granules. Phosphorus had little influence on the number percentages of > 18 μm and 18 µm granules. The amylose content was negatively correlated with volume percentages of 3–18 µm granules, but was positively correlated with volume percentages of > 18 µm granules. The results suggested that the kernels with more small and midsize starch granules are higher in protein content and lower in amylose content. And a decrease in volume percentage of large granules reduced the amylose content in corn kernels induced by phosphorus. Correlation analysis showed that the peak and final viscosities were negatively correlated with volume percentages of 3–18 µm granules, but were positively correlated with > 18 µm granules. It indicates that the large granules have higher peak and final viscosities compared with small and midsize granules in corn kernels. Phosphorus can reduce the proportion of large starch granules and then reduce the peak and the final viscosity in corn kernels.

Extralobar pulmonary sequestration in neonates: The natural course and predictive factors associated with spontaneous regression.

To describe the natural course of extralobar pulmonary sequestration (EPS) and identify factors associated with spontaneous regression of EPS. We retrospectively searched for patients diagnosed with EPS on initial contrast CT scan within 1month after birth and had a follow-up CT scan without treatment. Spontaneous regression of EPS was assessed by percentage decrease in volume (PDV) and percentage decrease in sum of the diameter of systemic feeding arteries (PDD) by comparing initial and follow-up CT scans. Clinical and CT features were analysed to determine factors associated with PDV and PDD rates. Fifty-one neonates were included. The cumulative proportions of patients reaching PDV > 50% and PDD > 50% were 93.0% and 73.3% at 4years, respectively. Tissue attenuation was significantly associated with PDV rate (B = -21.78, P < .001). The tissue attenuation (B = -22.62, P = .001) and diameter of the largest systemic feeding arteries (B = -48.31, P = .011) were significant factors associated with PDD rate. The volume and diameter of systemic feeding arteries of EPS spontaneously decreased within 4years without treatment. EPSs showing a low tissue attenuation and small diameter of the largest systemic feeding arteries on initial contrast-enhanced CT scans were likely to regress spontaneously. • Extralobar pulmonary sequestration (EPS) could show spontaneous regression. • Initial CT features may predict spontaneous regression of EPS. • The tissue attenuation and diameter of systemic feeding artery are important factors.

Deformation texture and magnetic properties of dual-phase Fe–Co–V alloys

The texture development and magnetic properties of dual phase Fe–48.8Co–1.96V alloys has been studied after various degrees of cold rolling and different heat treatment conditions. The alloy consist of 36% γ-phase and 64% α-phase in annealed state. The γ-phase was mechanically unstable and transformed to the α-phase after 50 pct cold rolling. The γ-phase produced the ideal Cube orientations {0 0 1}〈0 1 0〉 in an annealed state. The orientation density of cube texture {0 0 1}〈0 1 0〉 decreases as a function of cold rolling which is attributed to the decrease in volume percentage of the γ-phase in the alloy. The α-phase shows Cube orientations {0 0 1}〈1 1 0〉 and Goss orientations {1 1 1}〈1 1 0〉 in an annealed state and their orientation densities increases with the degree of cold rolling and become strong after 85% cold deformation. Magnetic studies revealed that aging treatment of textured samples led to improve the magnetic properties of the alloy. Magnetic properties of the alloy are sensitive to the heat treatment conditions (i.e. temperature, holding time, and cooling rate) and improper conditions may lead to affect the magnetic properties abruptly. The best magnetic properties obtained in the textured Fe–48.8Co–1.96 alloys are as coercive force, H c = 0.5 Oe (39.78 A/m), remanence, B r = 8 kG (0.8T), saturation magnetization, B s = 22.02 kG (2.2T) and maximum permeability, μ max = 10,530.

Erratum: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: early response prediction with quantitative MR imaging and spectroscopy

A prospective study was undertaken in women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer in order to determine the ability of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton spectroscopy (MRS) to predict ultimate tumour response (percentage decrease in volume) or to detect early response. Magnetic resonance imaging and MRS were carried out before treatment and after the second of six treatment cycles. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured, and tissue water:fat peak area ratios and water T2 were measured using unsuppressed one-dimensional proton spectroscopic imaging (30 and 135 ms echo times). Pharmacokinetic parameters and ADC did not detect early response; however, early changes in water:fat ratios and water T2 (after cycle two) demonstrated substantial prognostic efficacy. Larger decreases in water T2 accurately predicted final volume response in 69% of cases (11/16) while maintaining 100% specificity and positive predictive value. Small/absent decreases in water:fat ratios accurately predicted final volume non-response in 50% of cases (3/6) while maintaining 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value. This level of accuracy might permit clinical application where early, accurate prediction of non-response would permit an early change to second-line treatment, thus sparing patients unnecessary toxicity, psychological morbidity and delay of initiation of effective treatment.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: early response prediction with quantitative MR imaging and spectroscopy

A prospective study was undertaken in women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer in order to determine the ability of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton spectroscopy (MRS) to predict ultimate tumour response (percentage decrease in volume) or to detect early response. Magnetic resonance imaging and MRS were carried out before treatment and after the second of six treatment cycles. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured, and tissue water : fat peak area ratios and water T2 were measured using unsuppressed one-dimensional proton spectroscopic imaging (30 and 135 ms echo times). Pharmacokinetic parameters and ADC did not detect early response; however, early changes in water : fat ratios and water T2 (after cycle two) demonstrated substantial prognostic efficacy. Larger decreases in water T2 accurately predicted final volume response in 69% of cases (11/16) while maintaining 100% specificity and positive predictive value. Small/absent decreases in water : fat ratios accurately predicted final volume non-response in 50% of cases (3/6) while maintaining 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value. This level of accuracy might permit clinical application where early, accurate prediction of non-response would permit an early change to second-line treatment, thus sparing patients unnecessary toxicity, psychological morbidity and delay of initiation of effective treatment.

An inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinase, stress‐induced p21Waf‐1/Cip‐1, mediates hepatocyte mito‐inhibition during the evolution of cirrhosis†

During the evolution of cirrhosis, there is a relative decrease in volume percentage of hepatocytes and a relative increase in biliary epithelial cells and myofibroblasts. This is recognized histopathologically as a ductular reaction and leads to gradual distortion of the normal hepatic architecture. The final or decompensated stage of cirrhosis is characterized by a further decline in hepatocyte proliferation and loss of functional liver mass that manifests clinically as ascites, encephalopathy, and other signs of liver failure. In this report, we tested the hypothesis that p21-mediated hepatocyte mito-inhibition accelerates the evolution of cirrhosis using an established mouse model of decompensated biliary cirrhosis, p21-deficient mice, and liver tissue from humans awaiting liver replacement. Despite the same insult of long-term (12-week) bile duct ligation, mice prone to decompensation showed significantly more oxidative stress and hepatocyte nuclear p21 expression, which resulted in less hepatocyte proliferation, an exaggerated ductular reaction, and more advanced disease compared with compensation-prone controls. Mice deficient in p21 were better able than wild-type controls to compensate for long-term bile duct ligation because of significantly greater hepatocyte proliferation, which led to a larger liver mass and less architectural distortion. Mito-inhibitory hepatocyte nuclear p21 expression in humans awaiting liver replacement directly correlated with pathological disease stage and model of end-stage liver disease scoring. In conclusion, stress-induced upregulation of hepatocyte p21 inhibits hepatocyte proliferation during the evolution of cirrhosis. These findings have implications for understanding the evolution of cirrhosis and associated carcinogenesis. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html).

Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for acoustic neuromas: preservation of function versus size

For larger acoustic neuromas the preservation of cranial nerve function following radiosurgery remains a challenge. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) for acoustic neuromas offers both higher total tumour dose (Gy) and potential sparing of the facial motor, sensory and auditory cranial nerves. Eighty consecutive patients (45 M, 35 F) (age 56.8±1.7 years) received FSR for AN and have a median follow up of 1.1 years. A prospective schedule permitted increased fractionation vs. size. For FSR 70 patients having AN <3.0 cm in diameter had 5 daily fractions of 5 Gy (25 Gy total) and 10 patients having AN ⩾3 cm had 10 daily fractions of 3 Gy (30 Gy total). All treatments were prescribed to the 80% isodose and given via the dedicated 10 MeV accelerator. For both the larger and smaller AN, the percentage decrease in volume was similar. No tumour increased in size, no patient developed facial weakness and hearing was preserved. Using size-dependent fractionation, FSR may result in both tumour control and preservation of normal cranial nerve functions for both large and small AN.