High resolution 0.5mm isotropic T1-weighted and diffusion tensor templates of the brain of non-demented older adults in a common space for the MIITRA atlas.

High quality, high resolution T1-weighted (T1w) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) brain templates located in a common space can enhance the sensitivity and precision of template-based neuroimaging studies. However, such multimodal templates have not been constructed for the older adult brain. The purpose of this work which is part of the MIITRA atlas project was twofold: (A) to develop 0.5 mm isotropic resolution T1w and DTI templates that are representative of the brain of non-demented older adults and are located in the same space, using advanced multimodal template construction techniques and principles of super resolution on data from a large, diverse, community cohort of 400 non-demented older adults, and (B) to systematically compare the new templates to other standardized templates. It was demonstrated that the new MIITRA-0.5mm T1w and DTI templates are well-matched in space, exhibit good definition of brain structures, including fine structures, exhibit higher image sharpness than other standardized templates, and are free of artifacts. The MIITRA-0.5mm T1w and DTI templates allowed higher intra-modality inter-subject spatial normalization precision as well as higher inter-modality intra-subject spatial matching of older adult T1w and DTI data compared to other available templates. Consequently, MIITRA-0.5mm templates allowed detection of smaller inter-group differences for older adult data compared to other templates. The MIITRA-0.5mm templates were also shown to be most representative of the brain of non-demented older adults compared to other templates with submillimeter resolution. The new templates constructed in this work constitute two of the final products of the MIITRA atlas project and are anticipated to have important implications for the sensitivity and precision of studies on older adults.

Development and evaluation of a high resolution 0.5mm isotropic T1-weighted template of the older adult brain.

Investigating the structure of the older adult brain at high spatial resolution is of high significance, and a dedicated older adult structural brain template with sub-millimeter resolution is currently lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this work was twofold: (A) to develop a 0.5mm isotropic resolution standardized T1-weighted template of the older adult brain by applying principles of super resolution to high quality MRI data from 222 older adults (65-95 years of age), and (B) to systematically compare the new template to other standardized and study-specific templates in terms of image quality and performance when used as a reference for alignment of older adult data. The new template exhibited higher spatial resolution and improved visualization of fine structural details of the older adult brain compared to a template constructed using a conventional template building approach and the same data. In addition, the new template exhibited higher image sharpness and did not contain image artifacts observed in some of the other templates considered in this work. Due to the above enhancements, the new template provided higher inter-subject spatial normalization precision for older adult data compared to the other templates, and consequently enabled detection of smaller inter-group morphometric differences in older adult data. Finally, the new template was among those that were most representative of older adult brain data. Overall, the new template constructed here is an important resource for studies of aging, and the findings of the present work have important implications in template selection for investigations on older adults.

Development of high quality T1-weighted and diffusion tensor templates of the older adult brain in a common space.

High-quality T1-weighted (T1w) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) brain templates that are representative of the individuals under study enhance the accuracy of template-based neuroimaging investigations, and when they are also located in a common space they facilitate optimal integration of information on brain morphometry and diffusion characteristics. However, such multimodal templates have not been constructed for the brain of older adults. The purpose of this work was threefold: (A) to introduce an iterative method for construction of multimodal T1w and DTI templates that aims at maximizing the quality of each template separately as well as the spatial matching between templates, (B) to use this method to develop T1w and DTI templates of the older adult brain in a common space, and (C) to evaluate the performance of the method across iterations and compare it to the performance of state-of-the-art approaches based on multichannel registration. It was demonstrated that more iterations of the proposed method enhanced the characteristics and spatial matching of the resulting T1w and DTI templates. The templates of the older adult brain generated by the final iteration of the proposed method provided better delineation of brain structures, higher discriminability between tissues, and higher image sharpness near the cortex compared to templates generated with approaches employing multichannel registration. In addition, the spatial matching between the T1w and DTI templates constructed by the proposed method approximated the template alignment achieved with methods employing multichannel registration. Finally, when using the templates generated by the proposed method as references for spatial normalization of older adult T1w and DTI data, both the intra-modality inter-subject normalization precision and the inter-modality spatial matching were higher in most metrics than those achieved with templates constructed with other methods. Overall, the present work brought new insights into multimodal template construction, generated much-needed high quality T1w and DTI templates of the older adult brain in a common space, and conducted a thorough, quantitative evaluation of available multimodal template construction methods.

Development and evaluation of a high performance T1-weighted brain template for use in studies on older adults.

Τhe accuracy of template-based neuroimaging investigations depends on the template's image quality and representativeness of the individuals under study. Yet a thorough, quantitative investigation of how available standardized and study-specific T1-weighted templates perform in studies on older adults has not been conducted. The purpose of this work was to construct a high-quality standardized T1-weighted template specifically designed for the older adult brain, and systematically compare the new template to several other standardized and study-specific templates in terms of image quality, performance in spatial normalization of older adult data and detection of small inter-group morphometric differences, and representativeness of the older adult brain. The new template was constructed with state-of-the-art spatial normalization of high-quality data from 222 older adults. It was shown that the new template (a) exhibited high image sharpness, (b) provided higher inter-subject spatial normalization accuracy and (c) allowed detection of smaller inter-group morphometric differences compared to other standardized templates, (d) had similar performance to that of study-specific templates constructed with the same methodology, and (e) was highly representative of the older adult brain.

The combination therapy with EpCAM/CD3 BsAb and MUC-1/CD3 BsAb elicited antitumor immunity by T-cell adoptive immunotherapy in lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains a global challenge due to high morbidity and mortality rates and poor response to treatment, and there are still no effective strategies to solve it. The bispecific antibody (BsAb) is a novel antibody, which can target two different antigens and mediate specific killing effects by selectively redirecting effector cells to the target cells. In this study, we combined two BsAbs to achieve a dual-target therapy strategy of EpCAM+ and MUC-1+ with high affinity and specificity. The results showed that the combination of two BsAbs against EpCAM and MUC-1 could inhibit the growth of lung cancer more effectively in cell lines and primary tumors. The superior antitumor effect of two BsAbs could be attributable to enhanced CTL and increased production of type I IFNs. At the same time, the combination of EpCAM/CD3 BsAb and MUC-1/CD3 BsAb significantly regulated T population in the TDLNs. Therefore, we have found a potential immunotherapeutic strategy, which was the combination therapy with EpCAM/CD3 BsAb and MUC-1/CD3 BsAb for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Trace determination of fifteen free amino acids in drinking source water via solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Amino acids (AAs) are important nitrogen-containing organics in water, and a large number of reports have proven that they were the precursors of many nitrogen-containing disinfection by-products, some of which have cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity. However, little has been done on their occurrence in drinking source water. Therefore, a trace determination method via solid-phase extraction coupled with ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for 15 free AAs (FAAs) was developed, which was successfully applied for drinking source water samples. For sample preparation, strong cation-exchange stationary solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge showed better extraction performance to that of reverse phase stationary oasis HLB SPE cartridge. The optimal water pH was determined to be 2.8 before extraction. Strong matrix effects for most FAAs were observed in this work; thus, sample extraction with SPE was recommended to eliminate the matrix effects. The developed method showed excellent linearity (R2 > 0.991), low limits of detection (LODs, 0.01-0.27 nmol/L), and good recoveries of 69.8-117.9% in drinking source water with low relative standard deviations (RSDs, 0.3-13.2%). The developed method was finally applied to eight drinking source water samples, and the top five FAAs were found to be serine, glycine, leucine, alanine, and isoleucine.

[Study of symbolic element in roasting slag of pyrite by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry].

In the present paper, the correlations between sixteen elements from the dry method roasted dust-slag of pyrite and sixteen elements from the soil layer near and far from the store area were studied by ICP-MS. Similar radio and outstanding different radio of the elements between the dust-slag and the soil were studied too. It was discovered that in the pollution soil layer Tl, Cd, Cs, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb and Ni were easy to be identified and had similar radio with the elements in the dust-slag. But only Tl, Cd, Zn and Ni are suitable for criterion of element similar properties. In dust-slag and soil, distinct composition element radios of Tl, Cs, Co, Mo, Zn, Cr, V, Sr, Sb, Pb, Rb, Mn and Ni had striking differentiation. Only Tl, V, Sb and Cu corresponded to both the uncorrelated elements analysis of surface layer and middle-base layer soil. Tl could be used as an inspection target of similar elements and outstanding different elements between the dust-slag and the soil in the meanwhile. So we suggested that Tl can be used as a symbolic element in the roasting dust-slag of pyrite to find the dust-slag of pyrite in dust-recognition and to differentiate the metallurgy dust of pyrite and soil dust.

Uranium re-adsorption on uranium mill tailings and environmental implications.

Uranium mill tailings (UMTs) are one critical source of environmental U pollution. Leaching test has been extensively used to reveal U release capacity and mechanism from UMTs, while little attention has been paid to the effects of re-adsorption process on U release. In this study, the role of U re-adsorption behaviors during leaching test with UMTs was comprehensively investigated. Through paired data on mineralogical composition and aqueous U speciation, the influence of environmentally relevant factors on U re-absorption capacity and mechanism on UMTs with different particle sizes was revealed. Significant amounts of U re-adsorption were observed and primarily attributed to the adsorption on chlorite, albite and muscovite as well as combined reduction-sequestration by muscovite. Uranium re-adsorption predominantly occurred via inner-sphere complexation and surface precipitation depending on leachant pH. Coexisting sulfate or phosphate could further enhance U re-adsorption. The enhanced re-adsorption from sulfate occurred when inner-sphere complexation governed the re-adsorption process. These findings suggest that the environmental hazards and ecological risks of the U containing (waste) solids might have been underestimated due to the ignorance of the re-adsorption process, since the re-adsorbed U could be easily re-mobilized. The insights from this study are also helpful in developing effective in-situ remediation strategies.

Study on oxidation of pyrite by in situ absorption spectroscopy.

Pyrite is one of the common natural mineral. It is easily oxidized and brings heavy metal contaminations, therefore it is the main source of acidity mine drainage. The study on the dynamics of pyrite is helpful to comprehending the mechanism of its pollution. In the present paper, an experimental method was designed that phenanthroline reacts with Fe2+ that is released from pyrite in solution, and produces stable orange-red complex compound. It can be detected by absorption spectroscopy. In-situ characterization of oxidation of pyrite can be achieved by this method. The results showed that the method is reliable and accurate, and it has high sensitivity and little interference; the reaction rate of oxidation increased linearly with time, corresponding to the characterization of zero-order reaction; oxidation of pyrite belongs to the surface reaction and the process of surface reaction is rate determining step.

Tumor Cell-associated Exosomes Robustly Elicit Anti-tumor Immune Responses through Modulating Dendritic Cell Vaccines in Lung Tumor.

DC vaccine-based immunotherapy is emerging as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, however, antitumor effect of DC vaccines based on tumor cell lysates (TCLs) remains unsatisfactory due to poor immunogenicity of tumor antigens. Although tumor-associated exosomes (TAEs) have been reported as a promising antigen for DC vaccines, it remains unclear how TAE-based DC vaccine induced antitumor immunity in lung cancer. Methods: In the present study, we extracted TAEs from the supernatant of tumor cell culture medium, and compared the effect of TAEs with TCLs on DCs. To further evaluate the therapeutic effect of DCTAE, we used immunofluorescence and flow cytometry to evaluate the apoptosis of tumor tissue, tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and Tregs in TDLNs and spleen. Then the levels of cytokines of IL-12, IFN-γ, L-10 and TGF-ß were quantified by ELISA assays. Results: Our data showed that TAEs were more potent than TCLs to promote DC maturation and enhance MHC cross presentation, which directly contributed to more robust tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. More importantly, TAEs reduced the expression of PD-L1 of DCs, thereby led to down-regulated population of Tregs in vitro. Moreover, DCTAE remarkably suppressed the tumor growth and prolonged survival rate in vivo, due to participance of CD8+ T cells and decreased Tregs in TDLNs and spleen. Conclusion: TAEs could serve to improve vaccine-elicited immunotherapy by triggering stronger DC-mediated immune responses and decreasing Tregs in the tumor microenvironment.

[Determination of trace mercury in hair by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry].

A method for determination of trace mercury in hair by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry under normal or high temperature and high humidity condition was described. The ways of samples pretreatment, analysis and rapid clearing up bad memory were researched. The results showed: that the effect of instability of mercury can be cushioned under high temperature and high humidity condition by choosing much negative high pressure and control long the fluorescence intensity of standard blank. There weren't evident differences in the measure results of standard graph, standard and sample between normal and high temperature and high humidity conditions. When the reducer concentration was more than 2.5 percent or less than 1.5 percent the fluorescence signal was often overrun or disappeared. The sensitivity and stability of instrument weren't easily balanced. Due to sulfuric acid remainder, the fluorescence intensity of sample blank was higher than that of standard blank, especially under high temperature and high humidity, so in the proceed of sample pretreatment sulfuric acid was used scarcely. The bad memory effect can be cleared up rapidly by correction of negative high pressure and correction of of timized standard graph. The method was rapid and accurate. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was equal to or small than 1.1%. The detection limit of the method was 0.006 ng x mL(-1).

[Application of ICP-MS in evaluating element contamination in soils].

The Yunfu pyrite was the second biggest pyrite bed in the world. Plants using industrial ore of the Yunfu pyrite are distributed in many sections across the country. In the present paper, elements V, Cr, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, Sb, Rb and Cs in soil profiles in slag disposing area of a sulfuric acid plant using industrial ore of theYunfu pyrite were studied. A method for simultaneously determination of metals and some reference elements in soils by ICP-MS was developed. The correlations between the metals and their reference elements were fast found. Enrichment factors were applied for evaluating the degree of soil contamination, and the problem about choosing contamination elements background values was pointed out. The results indicated that element V showed apparent and serious pollution, The Co showed middle degree pollution, and there has been a trend of apparent pollution. The Cr, Mo and Cd showed pollution between light degree and middle degree. The Zn and Sb showed light degree pollution, and there was a latent trend of middle degree pollution. The Cu showed light degree pollution. The high enrichment points of the V and the Cr were observed in the upper part (4.0-10.5 cm) and deep part of soil profiles (44.0-75.5 cm). Those of Co and Mo were found in the surface of soil profiles (0-5.0 cm), middle-upper part (9.5-10.5 cm) and middle part (29.5-46.0 cm), while those of Cd and Cu occurred just in the middle of soil profiles (29.5-46.0 cm). The formation of highly enrichment points of contamination elements in the soil profiles was the result of leaching and accumulating effect of the metals released from slag and the residual metals of highly weathered red soils. Most of pollution of V in the soil was contributed by the V in soil bed. Part of the V pollution in the soil was supplied by leaching and accumulating effect of the V which came from catalyst with lost activity in sulfuric acid production volatilizing into slag.

Caring for dying patients and those facing death in an acute-care hospital in Singapore: a nurse's perspective.

Nurses are at the forefront of caring for dying patients in hospices, nursing homes, acute-care hospitals, and patients' homes. This study was conducted to explore the emotional and practical experience as well as attitudes of nurses caring for the dying and the deceased in an acute-care hospital in Singapore. The authors explored differences in opinion among the various ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, Indian, Filipino) that make up the nurse population in this particular hospital. A structured questionnaire was self-administered by the participants to explore nurses' views, opinions, and experiences in caring for dying patients from a quantitative aspect. It specifically addressed attitudinal, ethical, and communicational issues involved in caring for dying patients. Where applicable, a Likert scale ranging from Always to Never or from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree was used. One hundred and eighty of 246 questionnaires were returned (73%). Most respondents never or only occasionally felt uncomfortable caring for dying patients, and felt it reminded them of their own mortality, made them treasure life more, and made them ask questions about life and death. In this descriptive study, some difference in attitudes and views among the various ethnic groups was observed.

Trace element transformations and partitioning during the roasting of pyrite ores in the sulfuric acid industry.

Total concentrations combined with chemical partitioning of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Tl, and Zn) in raw pyrite ore and solid roasting wastes were investigated in order to elucidate their transformations and partitioning during the roasting of raw pyrite ores in sulfuric acid production. In order to better understand the behavior of these elements during roasting, mineral transformations accompanying roasting were also investigated by using microscopy. Results indicated that the mode of occurrence of trace elements in raw pyrite ore and the thermostability of trace element-bearing species formed during roasting played major roles in the transformations of the selected trace elements. Silicate- and amorphous iron (hydr)oxide-bound elements (Cr and Pb) were stable and mainly retained in their original phases. However, acid-exchangeable and sulfide-bound elements tended to transform into other forms via different pathways: elements that tend to form low thermostable species (Cd, Pb and Tl) were significantly vaporized, whereas elements that tend to form high thermostable species (Co, Mn and Ni) mainly reacted with iron oxides or silicates, which then remained in the solid residues. The volatility of trace elements during the roasting has a significant effect on their subsequent partitioning in roasting wastes. Nonvolatile element (Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni) partitioning was determined by settling of the particulate in which they are bound, whereas the partitioning of (semi)volatile elements (Cd, Pb, Tl, and Zn) was controlled by the adsorption of their gaseous species on the particulate.

Acute primary angle closure: configuration of the drainage angle in the first year after laser peripheral iridotomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in the configuration of the drainage angle in the first year after acute primary angle closure (APAC). DESIGN: Prospective observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four Asian subjects with APAC. METHODS: Acute primary angle closure cases were treated with medical therapy followed by laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Static and dynamic gonioscopies were performed in APAC-affected and fellow eyes before LPI (baseline) and then at 2 weeks, 4 months, and 12 months after presentation. The angles were graded in each quadrant according to the Shaffer scheme, and the number of clock hours of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) was recorded. Patients who underwent intraocular surgery at any point during follow-up were excluded from the study. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and medical treatment were documented at each visit, and gonioscopic changes were correlated with the development of elevation in IOP requiring medical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Average Shaffer grade and the number of clock hours of PAS. RESULTS: The majority of subjects were Chinese (84%) and female (64%), and the mean age was 60.2+/-10.7 years. At presentation, 73% of both affected and fellow eyes had very narrow angles (average Shaffer grade < or = 1), with affected eyes having more extensive PAS (P<0.001), a third of whom had > or =8 clock hours of PAS. In APAC eyes, there was a significant increase in angle width from baseline to 2 weeks after LPI (P = 0.045), but no change in angle width subsequently. Fellow eyes showed a widening of the angle between baseline and week 2 (P = 0.01) and from week 2 to month 4 (P = 0.001). There was no significant change in PAS in either affected or fellow eyes over the 12 months of follow-up. Of the 44 subjects, 19 (41.3%) subsequently developed IOP elevation during follow-up that required treatment. However, there was no difference in angle width or amount of PAS between eyes with and without a subsequent rise in IOP, and the angle configuration did not change significantly in either group over 1 year. CONCLUSION: In Asian eyes with APAC, the angle widened in the first 2 weeks after LPI, but did not change thereafter over 1 year, and the amount of PAS remained stable throughout. The results indicate the effectiveness of LPI in preventing progressive closure of the angle in the first year after APAC.