Implementing verifiable oncological imaging by quality assurance and optimization (i‑Violin) : Protocol for a European multicenter study.

Background: Advanced imaging techniques play a pivotal role in oncology. A large variety of computed tomography (CT) scanners, scan protocols, and acquisition techniques have led to a wide range in image quality and radiation exposure. This study aims at implementing verifiable oncological imaging by quality assurance and optimization (i-Violin) through harmonizing image quality and radiation dose across Europe.

Highly pure DNA-encoded chemical libraries by dual-linker solid-phase synthesis.

The first drugs discovered using DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL) screens have entered late-stage clinical development. However, DEL technology as a whole still suffers from poor chemical purity resulting in suboptimal performance. In this work, we report a technique to overcome this issue through self-purifying release of the DEL after magnetic bead-based synthesis.

Advancing small-molecule drug discovery by encoded dual-display technologies.

DNA-encoded chemical library technology (DECL or DEL) has become an important pillar for small-molecule drug discovery. The technology rapidly identifies small-molecule hits for relevant target proteins at low cost and with a high success rate, including ligands for targeted protein degradation (TPD). More recently, the setup of DNA- or peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-encoded chemical libraries based on the simultaneous display of ligand pairs, termed dual-display, allows for more sophisticated applications which will be reviewed herein.

Unbiased and biased chemometric analysis of LC-MS data from human urine following coffee intake.

We carried out a human volunteer study with 14 participants, eight of whom were asked to consume one cup of coffee at four different time points. Urine samples were collected at eight time points and analyzed by HPLC-MS analysis. The LC-MS data were subjected to unsupervised multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis) followed by supervised multivariate analysis (linear discriminant analysis).

Technical note: Realization and uncertainty analysis for an adjustable 3D structured breast phantom in digital breast tomosynthesis.

Background: Projection imaging phantoms are often optimized for 2-dimensional image characteristics in homogeneous backgrounds. Therefore, evaluation of image quality in tomosynthesis (DBT) lacks accepted and established phantoms.

Purpose: We describe a 3D breast phantom with a structured, variable background.

Investigating the magnetic and magnetocaloric behaviors of LiSm(PO).

We report a detailed study on the magnetic behaviors and magnetocaloric (MC) effect of a single crystal of lithium samarium tetraphosphate, LiSm(PO). The analyses of temperature-dependent magnetization data have revealed magnetic ordering established with decreasing temperature below , where is the minimum of a d/d curve and varies as a linear function of the applied field . The Curie temperature has been extrapolated from () data, as → 0, to be about 0.

Opportunities and Challenges to Profile mRNA Modifications in Escherichia coli.

mRNA methylation is an important regulator of many physiological processes in eukaryotes but has not been studied in depth in prokaryotes. Working with bacterial mRNA is challenging because it lacks a poly(A)-tail. However, methods for detecting RNA modifications, both sequencing and mass spectrometry, rely on efficient preparation of mRNA.

LC-MS based metabolomic approach for the efficient identification and relative quantification of bioavailable cocoa phenolics in human urine.

This study was designed to investigate the rate and extent of urinary excretion of cocoa phenolic metabolites after human intake using metabolomics approach. In this context, a feeding trial was conducted where urine samples were collected at different time points over 48-h period. Several biomarkers were highlighted in LC-MS based chemometrics using principal component (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), which revealed the presence of both epicatechin and gut microbial phenyl-γ-valerolactones (PVLs) conjugated analogues.

On the relevance of modulation transfer function measurements in digital mammography quality control.

The relevance of presampling modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements in digital mammography (DM) quality control (QC) is examined. Two studies are presented: a case study on the impact of a reduction in MTF on the technical image quality score and analysis of the robustness of routine QC MTF measurements. In the first study, two needle computed radiography (CR) plates with identical sensitivities were used with differences in the 50% point of the MTF ( ) larger than the limiting value in the European guidelines ( change between successive measurements).

Elongation factor P is required for EII translation in Corynebacterium glutamicum due to an essential polyproline motif.

Translating ribosomes require elongation factor P (EF-P) to incorporate consecutive prolines (XPPX) into nascent peptide chains. The proteome of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 contains a total of 1,468 XPPX motifs, many of which are found in proteins involved in primary and secondary metabolism. We show here that synthesis of EII , the glucose-specific permease of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP): sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) encoded by ptsG, is strongly dependent on EF-P, as an efp deletion mutant grows poorly on glucose as sole carbon source.

LC-MS/MS based molecular networking approach for the identification of cocoa phenolic metabolites in human urine.

Dietary phenolic compounds are often transformed by gut microbiota prior to absorption. This transformation may modify their structures, producing novel gut flora metabolites associated with numerous health benefits. Traditional mass spectrometry (MS) based approaches for assessing dietary exposure of cocotea (cocoa, coffee and tea) products provided very little information about the modification and fate of dietary phenolics after ingestion, mainly due to limitation of complex sample nature and their data analyses.

NAIL-MS reveals the repair of 2-methylthiocytidine by AlkB in E. coli.

RNAs contain post-transcriptional modifications, which fulfill a variety of functions in translation, secondary structure stabilization and cellular stress survival. Here, 2-methylthiocytidine (msC) is identified in tRNA of E. coli and P.

Model and human observer reproducibility for detection of microcalcification clusters in digital breast tomosynthesis images of three-dimensionally structured test object.

We compare the reproducibility of the human observers and a channelized Hotelling observer (CHO), when reading digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images of a physical phantom containing a breast simulating structured background and calcification clusters at three dose levels. The phantom is scanned 217 times on a Siemens Inspiration DBT system. Volumes of interest, with and without the calcification targets, are extracted and the human observers' percentage of correct (PC) scores is evaluated using a four-alternative forced choice method.

Systematic approach to a channelized Hotelling model observer implementation for a physical phantom containing mass-like lesions: Application to digital breast tomosynthesis.

Purpose: to develop a channelized model observer (CHO) that matches human reader (HR) scoring of a physical phantom containing breast simulating structure and mass lesion-like targets for use in quality control of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) imaging systems.

Methods: A total of 108 DBT scans of the phantom was acquired using a Siemens Inspiration DBT system. The detectability of mass-like targets was evaluated by human readers using a 4-alternative forced choice (4-AFC) method.

Inter-laboratory comparison of channelized hotelling observer computation.

Purpose: The task-based assessment of image quality using model observers is increasingly used for the assessment of different imaging modalities. However, the performance computation of model observers needs standardization as well as a well-established trust in its implementation methodology and uncertainty estimation. The purpose of this work was to determine the degree of equivalence of the channelized Hotelling observer performance and uncertainty estimation using an intercomparison exercise.

Environment of the Eu Ion within Nanocrystalline Eu-Doped BaAlO: Correlation of X-ray Diffraction, Mössbauer Spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence Investigations.

Powder samples of pure BaAlO and doped with 4.9 atom % Eu in relation to Ba were prepared by a hydrothermal route. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy, synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ba L- and Eu L-edges, and photoluminescence measurements.

Lattice Enthalpies of Lanthanide Orthoferrites LnFeO3.

Lattice enthalpies Δ(L)H(θ) of lanthanide orthoferrites, LnFeO(3) have been determined by the Born-Haber cycle and compared with those calculated by an empirical equation. Enthalpies of formation of LnFeO(3) from two different sources have been employed: from oxides (Ln(2)O(3), Fe(2)O(3)), for 12 LnFeO(3), and from elements, for 8 LnFeO(3), but the differences in Δ(L)H(θ) are very small. The Born-Haber cycle in both routes results in close values of Δ(L)H(θ) to those obtained by the empirical equation of Glasser and Jenkins.

Transcription of malP is subject to phosphotransferase system-dependent regulation in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

The Gram-positive Corynebacterium glutamicum co-metabolizes most carbon sources such as the phosphotransferase system (PTS) sugar glucose and the non-PTS sugar maltose. Maltose is taken up via the ABC-transporter MusEFGK2I, and is further metabolized to glucose phosphate by amylomaltase MalQ, maltodextrin phosphorylase MalP, glucokinase Glk and phosophoglucomutase Pgm. Surprisingly, growth of C.

Nephelauxetic effect and 〈r(k)〉₄f radial integrals of Tm³⁺ in crystals.

Bonding and covalency parameters have been evaluated from the nephelauxetic ratios βk=Fk (crystal)/Fk (free ion), with k=2, 4, 6, for 24 halide and chalcogenide crystals containing Tm(3+) ions. The radial expectation values for 4f electrons 〈r(k)〉4f of Tm(3+) ion in certain complex oxides, fluorides, and a sulfide have been determined by means of experimental Slater parameter shifts ΔFk relative to the Fk values for the free ion Tm IV. The 〈r(k)〉1f values derived in the dielectric screening model have been compared with those computed by different types of 4f wave functions as well as with other estimates.

Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity of NiOx and NiOx/ZrO2 for oxidation of phenol in aqueous solution.

In the present study bulk NiO(x) and supported NiO(x)/ZrO(2) catalysts have been prepared. The bulk NiO(x) was synthesized using the precipitation-oxidation method with reverse order of precipitation while deposition-precipitation technique was used for the preparation of zirconia supported catalyst. The as-prepared samples were characterized by means of XRD, HRTEM, SAED, IR-spectroscopy, and chemical analyses.

Lattice enthalpies, polarizabilities and shear moduli of lanthanide orthophosphates LnPO4.

Lattice energies ΔLHθ of lanthanide orthophosphates, LnPO4 (Ln=Ce-Lu, excluding Pm) have been determined from the Born-Haber cycle and compared with those calculated by other methods. The Born-Haber cycle results in close values of ΔLHθ to those obtained after an empirical equation proposed by Glasser and Jenkins. It has been found that: (i) the partial derivative of the lattice enthalpies to the molar volumes corresponds by dimension and magnitude to the shear moduli of these crystals; (ii) these moduli differ for the monazite- and xenotime-type structures of LnPO4.

Phosphotransferase system-mediated glucose uptake is repressed in phosphoglucoisomerase-deficient Corynebacterium glutamicum strains.

Corynebacterium glutamicum is particularly known for its industrial application in the production of amino acids. Amino acid overproduction comes along with a high NADPH demand, which is covered mainly by the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). In previous studies, the complete redirection of the carbon flux toward the PPP by chromosomal inactivation of the pgi gene, encoding the phosphoglucoisomerase, has been applied for the improvement of C.