A systematic review on the use of quantitative imaging to detect cancer therapy adverse effects in normal-appearing brain tissue

Cancer therapy for both central nervous system (CNS) and non-CNS tumors has been previously associated with transient and long-term cognitive deterioration, commonly referred to as ‘chemo fog’. This therapy-related damage to otherwise normal-appearing brain tissue is reported using post-mortem neuropathological analysis. Although the literature on monitoring therapy effects on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well established, such macroscopic structural changes appear relatively late and irreversible. Early quantitative MRI biomarkers of therapy-induced damage would potentially permit taking these treatment side effects into account, paving the way towards a more personalized treatment planning.

This systematic review (PROSPERO number 224196) provides an overview of quantitative tomographic imaging methods, potentially identifying the adverse side effects of cancer therapy in normal-appearing brain tissue. Seventy studies were obtained from the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases. Studies reporting changes in normal-appearing brain tissue using MRI, PET, or SPECT quantitative biomarkers, related to radio-, chemo-, immuno-, or hormone therapy for any kind of solid, cystic, or liquid tumor were included. The main findings of the reviewed studies were summarized, providing also the risk of bias of each study assessed using a modified QUADAS-2 tool. For each imaging method, this review provides the methodological background, and the benefits and shortcomings of each method from the imaging perspective. Finally, a set of recommendations is proposed to support future research.

     

Synthese und Eigenschaften neuartiger Alkalimetall-Alkoxo- und -Aroxocobaltate(II)

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Alkali Metal Alkoxo- and Aroxocobaltates(II) . By reaction of CoBr₂ or CoBr₂ · 2THF with 4–5 moles of MOR in THF, M  Li, Na, K, R = iso-propyl (iPr), phenyl (Ph), 2-naphthyl (2-Naph), the following novel alkali metal alkoxo- and aroxocobaltates(II) have been prepared. Li₂Co(OiPr)₄ · LiBr · 3THF ( 1 ), Na₂Co(OiPr)₄ · THF ( 2 ), KCo(OiPr)₃ · THF ( 3 ), Li₂Co(OPh)₄ · 4THF ( 4 ), Na₂Co(OPh)₄ · 5THF ( 5 ), K₂Co(OPh)₄·0,75THF ( 6 ), Li₂Co(O-2-Naph)₄ · 4THF ( 7 ), Na₂Co(O-2-Naph)₄ · 5THF ( 8 ), K₂Co(O-2-Naph)₄ · 2THF ( 9 ), and K₃Co(O-2-Naph)₅ · 2THF ( 10 ). The blue and violet, crystalline and very air-sensitive (i.e. protolytically sensitive) compounds, some with good solubilities in organic solvents, eliminate THF in vacuo at temperatures between 50 and 100°C to yield the corresponding THF-free compounds ( 1a ) to ( 10a ). Electronic spectra (VIS/NIR) and the results of magnetic measurements at 293 K point to preferred (but not exclusive) tetrahedral coordination of cobalt(II).     

The Communication between Ocular Surface and Nasal Epithelia in 3D Cell Culture Technology for Translational Research: A Narrative Review

There is a lack of knowledge regarding the connection between the ocular and nasal epithelia. This narrative review focuses on conjunctival, corneal, ultrastructural corneal stroma, and nasal epithelia as well as an introduction into their interconnections. We describe in detail the morphology and physiology of the ocular surface, the nasolacrimal ducts, and the nasal cavity. This knowledge provides a basis for functional studies and the development of relevant cell culture models that can be used to investigate the pathogenesis of diseases related to these complex structures. Moreover, we also provide a state-of-the-art overview regarding the development of 3D culture models, which allow for addressing research questions in models resembling the in vivo situation. In particular, we give an overview of the current developments of corneal 3D and organoid models, as well as 3D cell culture models of epithelia with goblet cells (conjunctiva and nasal cavity). The benefits and shortcomings of these cell culture models are discussed. As examples for pathogens related to ocular and nasal epithelia, we discuss infections caused by adenovirus and measles virus. In addition to pathogens, also external triggers such as allergens can cause rhinoconjunctivitis. These diseases exemplify the interconnections between the ocular surface and nasal epithelia in a molecular and clinical context. With a final translational section on optical coherence tomography (OCT), we provide an overview about the applicability of this technique in basic research and clinical ophthalmology. The techniques presented herein will be instrumental in further elucidating the functional interrelations and crosstalk between ocular and nasal epithelia.     

Structure integrated adaptronical systems for machine tools

The performance of a machine tool is primarily determined by its static and dynamic behavior. During a cutting process, high static and dynamic forces may occur, which cause instabilities in the cutting process. The structure integrated adaptronical compensation modules introduce a new approach to compensate static and dynamic deformations of structure components of a machine tool and help in achieving a significant improvement of the process behavior. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Membrane technology for gas-water separations in space: Applications and concepts

On Earth, the separation of mixtures of gas and water is usually very easy: gravity and the large difference in density ensure that, after sufficient time, all water collects at the bottom of a vessel while the gas rises to the top. Such gravity assistance does not exist in space and therefore special devices must be applied for phase separation. Membrane technology offers great potential in microgravity. A two-membrane filter, which is used in medicine, was recently tested on a parabolic flight and it is expected that its development for space purposes will continue.     

Evaluating and improving environmental performance of HC's recovery system: A case study of distillation unit

Waste solvents/valuable products in the effluent stream are one of the major environmental problems in the chemical industry if not properly controlled. Separation processes are vital for the recovery of waste solvent/valuable product from the effluent stream to reduce the pollution along with improvement in economic performance. Among the various separation processes, distillation is most widely used. A number of environmental indicators, each satisfying researchers own need, and methodologies such as life cycle assessment (LCA), minimum environmental impact assessment (MEIM), waste reduction algorithm (WAR) and environmental fate and risk assessment (EFRAT) are available for evaluation of environmental performance of chemical processes. In this article, a systematic procedure, introducing an environmental performance index (EPI) based on potential environmental impact (computed from waste reduction algorithm (WAR)), energy consumption, resource conservation and fugitive emission, for evaluating environmental performance is presented. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used at two levels for the determination of weighting of individual categories. The procedure is applied for the study of environmental performance of distillation column (steam stripping column) from a real chemical plant for the recovery of acetone and HC's from the off gases of the distillation fraction (DF) plant. Alternatives are compared using environmental performance index and best alternative is selected.     

Spirituosen und Essig

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Analysis of local strain in aluminium interconnects by energy filtered CBED

Energy filtered convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) was used to investigate localised strain in aluminium interconnects. The quantitative analysis of the experimental patterns is based on a multi-step evaluation procedure which is the main subject of the present paper. The improvements which were made to the analysis method aim at increasing both the automation and the accuracy. The detection of the higher order Laue zone (HOLZ) line positions is performed by means of the Hough transform. The required sub-pixel resolution can be achieved routinely and the achievable accuracy is only limited by the line width and the amount of noise in the patterns. The determination of the strain state is performed via a refinement algorithm which is based on varying the strain state in the sample coordinate system and simulating the patterns for the individual grains until a best fit with the experiment is obtained. For the simulation we have developed a new correction scheme in which the dynamical effects are treated separately for each individual HOLZ line. The results show that the main source of the observed strains is the difference in thermal expansion coefficients. The strain is substantially reduced underneath a hillock in the interconnect. Asymmetries in the strain distribution around the hillock show that the unidirectional diffusion during electromigration tests causes peak strains in areas next to the hillock which may be possible failure sites.