Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is inherently limited by SNR. Scanning at 7 T increases intrinsic SNR but 7 T MRI scans suffer from regions of signal dropout, especially in the temporal lobes and cerebellum. We applied dynamic parallel transmit (pTx) to allow whole-brain 7 T dMRI and compared with circularly polarized (CP) pulses in 6 subjects. Subject-specific 2-spoke dynamic pTx pulses were designed offline for 8 slabs covering the brain. We used vendor-provided B and B mapping. Spokes positions were set using the Fourier difference approach, and RF coefficients optimized with a Jacobi-matrix high-flip-angle optimizer. Diffusion data were analyzed with FSL. Comparing whole-brain averages for pTx against CP scans: mean flip angle error improved by 15% for excitation (2-spoke-VERSE 15.7° vs CP 18.4°, P = 0.012) and improved by 14% for refocusing (2-spoke-VERSE 39.7° vs CP 46.2°, P = 0.008). Computed spin-echo signal standard deviation improved by 14% (2-spoke-VERSE 0.185 vs 0.214 CP, P = 0.025). Temporal SNR increased by 5.4% (2-spoke-VERSE 8.47 vs CP 8.04, P = 0.004) especially in the inferior temporal lobes. Diffusion fitting uncertainty decreased by 6.2% for first fibers (2-spoke VERSE 0.0655 vs CP 0.0703, P < 0.001) and 1.3% for second fibers (2-spoke VERSE 0.139 vs CP 0.141, P = 0.01). In conclusion, dynamic parallel transmit improves the uniformity of 7 T diffusion-weighted imaging. In future, less restrictive SAR limits for parallel transmit scans are expected to allow further improvements.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2024.03.037 | DOI Listing |
Biol Reprod
January 2025
Department of Ob/Gyn and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Reproductive success requires accurately timed remodeling of the cervix to orchestrate the maintenance of pregnancy, the process of labor, and birth. Prior work in mice established that a combination of continuous turnover of fibrillar collagen and reduced formation of collagen cross-links allows for the gradual increase in tissue compliance and delivery of the fetus during labor. However, the mechanism for continuous collagen degradation to ensure turnover during cervical remodeling is still unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRSC Adv
January 2025
University of Split, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry R. Bošković 33 Split Croatia
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have served as essential antimicrobial agents for nearly a century due to their rapid membrane-disrupting action. However, the emergence of bacterial resistance and environmental concerns have driven interest in alternative designs, such as "soft QACs", which are designed for enhanced biodegradability and reduced resistance potential. In this study, we explored the antibacterial properties and mechanisms of action of our newly synthesized soft QACs containing a labile amide bond within a quinuclidine scaffold.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSyst Biol
January 2025
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
As lineages become separated in time, they are expected to accumulate mutational (or developmental-genetic) differences that influence the macroevolutionary trajectories of those lineages even under similar environmental conditions. Here, we compare the dynamics of phenotypic evolution in radiations of scincid lizards from Australia and Madagascar that are separated by more than 100 million years of independent evolution and show rampant phenotypic parallelism. We collected linear measurements of the skull, limbs, and limb girdles from micro-CT scans of 94 Australian and 29 Malagasy species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
School of Electronics Engineering (SENSE), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
In recent years, the utilization of motor imagery (MI) signals derived from electroencephalography (EEG) has shown promising applications in controlling various devices such as wheelchairs, assistive technologies, and driverless vehicles. However, decoding EEG signals poses significant challenges due to their complexity, dynamic nature, and low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Traditional EEG pattern recognition algorithms typically involve two key steps: feature extraction and feature classification, both crucial for accurate operation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetologia
January 2025
Internal Medicine Department, Endocrine Division (SEMPR), Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
Aims/hypothesis: COMBINE 2 assessed the efficacy and safety of once-weekly IcoSema (a combination therapy of basal insulin icodec and semaglutide) vs once-weekly semaglutide (a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue) 1.0 mg in individuals with type 2 diabetes inadequately managed with GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy, with or without additional oral glucose-lowering medications.
Methods: This 52 week, randomised, multicentre, open-label, parallel group, Phase IIIa trial was conducted across 121 sites in 13 countries/regions.
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