Methods of dendritic spine detection: from Golgi to high-resolution optical imaging

Dendritic spines, the bulbous protrusions that form the postsynaptic half of excitatory synapses, are one of the most prominent features of neurons and have been imaged and studied for over a century. In that time, changes in the number and morphology of dendritic spines have been correlated to the developmental process as well as the pathophysiology of a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the sheer scale of synaptic connectivity in the brain, work to date has merely scratched the surface in the study of normal spine function and pathology. This review will highlight traditional approaches to the imaging of dendritic spines and newer approaches made possible by advances in microscopy, protein engineering, and image analysis. The review will also describe recent work that is leading researchers toward the possibility of a systematic and comprehensive study of spine anatomy throughout the brain.

Spin-parity analysis of pp¯ mass threshold structure in J/ψ and ψ(3686) radiative decays

A partial wave analysis of the pp¯ mass-threshold enhancement in the reaction J/ψ→γpp¯ is used to determine its J(PC) quantum numbers to be 0(-+), its peak mass to be below threshold at M=1832(-5)(+19)(stat)(-17)(+18)(syst)±19(model) MeV/c(2), and its total width to be Γ<76 MeV/c(2) at the 90% C.L. The product of branching ratios is measured to be BR[J/ψ→γX(pp¯)]BR[X(pp¯)→pp¯]=[9.0(-1.1)(+0.4)(stat)(-5.0)(+1.5)(syst)±2.3(model)]×10(-5). A similar analysis performed on ψ(3686)→γpp¯ decays shows, for the first time, the presence of a corresponding enhancement with a production rate relative to that for J/ψ decays of R=[5.08(-0.45)(+0.71)(stat)(-3.58)(+0.67)(syst)±0.12(model)]%.

Objective Assessment of Multiresolution Image Fusion Algorithms for Context Enhancement in Night Vision: A Comparative Study

Comparison of image processing techniques is critically important in deciding which algorithm, method, or metric to use for enhanced image assessment. Image fusion is a popular choice for various image enhancement applications such as overlay of two image products, refinement of image resolutions for alignment, and image combination for feature extraction and target recognition. Since image fusion is used in many geospatial and night vision applications, it is important to understand these techniques and provide a comparative study of the methods. In this paper, we conduct a comparative study on 12 selected image fusion metrics over six multiresolution image fusion algorithms for two different fusion schemes and input images with distortion. The analysis can be applied to different image combination algorithms, image processing methods, and over a different choice of metrics that are of use to an image processing expert. The paper relates the results to an image quality measurement based on power spectrum and correlation analysis and serves as a summary of many contemporary techniques for objective assessment of image fusion algorithms.

ηπ+ π- resonant structure around 1.8 GeV/c(2) and η(1405) in J/ψ → ωηπ+ π-

We present results of a study of the decay J/ψ → ωηπ+ π- using a sample of (225.2 ± 2.8) × 10(6) J/ψ events collected by the BESIII detector, and report the observation of a new process J/ψ → ωX(1870) with a statistical significance of 7.2σ, in which X(1870) decays to a(0)(±)(980)π±. Fitting to ηπ+ π- mass spectrum yields a mass M = 1877.3 ± 6.3(stat)(-7.4)(+3.4)(syst) MeV/c(2), a width Γ = 57 ± 12(stat)(-4)(+19)(syst) MeV/c(2), and a product branching fraction B(J/ψ → ωX) × B(X→a(0)(±)(980)π±) × B(a(0) (±)(980) → ηπ±) = [1.50 ± 0.26(stat)(-0.36)(+0.72) (syst)] × 10(-4). Signals for J/ψ → ωf(1)(1285) and J/ψ → ω η(1405) are also clearly observed and measured.

Observation of χ(c1) decays into vector meson pairs φφ, ωω, and ωφ

Using (106±4)×10⁻⁶ ψ(3686) events accumulated with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e⁺e⁻ collider, we present the first measurement of decays of χ(c1) to vector meson pairs φφ, ωω, and ωφ. The branching fractions are measured to be (4.4±0.3±0.5)×10⁻⁴, (6.0±0.3±0.7)×10⁻⁴, and (2.2±0.6±0.2)×10⁻⁵, for χ(c1)→φφ, ωω, and ωφ, respectively, which indicates that the hadron helicity selection rule is significantly violated in χ(cJ) decays. In addition, the measurement of χ(cJ)→ωφ provides the first indication of the rate of doubly OZI-suppressed χ(cJ) decay. Finally, we present improved measurements for the branching fractions of χ(c0) and χ(c2) to vector meson pairs.

Chronic continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces airway reactivity in vivo in an allergen-induced rabbit model of asthma

Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic mechanical strain produced by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces in vivo airway reactivity in rabbits and ferrets. For CPAP to potentially have a therapeutic benefit for asthmatic subjects, the reduction in airway responsiveness would need to persist for 12-24 h after its discontinuation, require application for only part of the day, and be effective in the presence of atopic airway inflammation. In the present study, airway responsiveness to acetylcholine or methacholine was measured during mechanical ventilation following three different protocols in which active, nonanesthetized, tracheotomized rabbits were treated with High vs. Low CPAP (6 vs. 0 cmH(2)O). 1) High CPAP was applied continuously for 4 days followed by 1 day of Low CPAP; 2) High CPAP was applied at night and Low CPAP during the daytime for 4 days, and 3) High CPAP was applied for 4 days in animals following ovalbumin (Ova) sensitization and challenge. For all three protocols, treatment with High CPAP resulted in significantly reduced airway responsiveness compared with treatment with Low CPAP. Cumulatively, our in vivo results in rabbits suggest that high CPAP, even when applied only at night, produces a persistent reduction of airway responsiveness. In addition, CPAP reduces airway responsiveness even in the presence of atopic airway inflammation.

Association of genetic markers in angiogenesis- or exposure-related genes with overall survival in pazopanib (P) treated patients (Pts) with advanced renal cell carcinoma

303

Background: Pazopanib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR, PDGFR and c-Kit, has been approved for the treatment of advanced renal cell cancer (RCC). Interindividual variability in response and survival is observed among advanced RCC pts treated with P. Our previous analyses showed that germline variants in angiogenesis (IL8, HIF1A, VEGFA)- and exposure (NR1IR)-related genes may predict progression free survival and/or response rate to P monotherapy (ASCO 2010 abstract 4520). This study sought to test the hypothesis that differences in overall survival (OS) can be explained, at least in part, by germline genetic variants in angiogenesis- and/or exposure-related genes.

Methods: Twenty-seven functional polymorphisms within 13 genes were evaluated in 241 P treated pts with advanced RCC from a phase III study (ESMO 2010 abstract LBA22) and a single arm Phase II study. Genetic association with OS was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: Six polymorphisms in IL8, FGFR2, VEGFA, FLT4, and NR1I2 showed nominally significant association with OS (p≤0.05). A median OS of 29.6 months was observed in pts carrying wild-type IL8 2767 AA genotype (n=68, 31%), compared to 14.8 months in those with the TT variant genotype (n=36, 16%) (HR (95%CI) = 2.3 (1.4, 3.9) for TT vs. AA, p=0.002]. The median OS for pts who were heterozygous for this IL8 polymorphism was 23.9 months (n=119, 53%). The FGFR2 IVS2 + 906C>T variant TT genotype was associated with inferior OS compared with the wild-type CC genotype (median OS, 21.4 vs. 28.0 months, HR (95%CI) = 2.0 (1.2, 3.2), p=0.009). Similarly, shorter OS was observed for the VEGFA −1154G>A variant AA genotype compared with the wild-type GG genotype [median OS, 16.7 vs. 25.3 months, HR (95%CI) = 2.2 (1.3, 3.6), p=0.004]. The variant genotypes of the NR1IR (−25385C>T) and FLT4 (1480A>G) polymorphisms were also associated with reduced OS (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Germline variants in angiogenesis- and exposure-related genes may be associated with survival outcome for P monotherapy in pts with advanced RCC. These associations are considered exploratory and require confirmation in an independent dataset.

[Table: see text]

Confirmation of the X(1835) and observation of the resonances X(2120) and X(2370) in J/ψ→γπ+π-η'

With a sample of (225.2±2.8)×10(6) J/ψ events registered in the BESIII detector, J/ψ→γπ(+)π(-)η(') is studied using two η(') decay modes: η(')→π(+)π(-)η and η(')→γρ(0). The X(1835), which was previously observed by BESII, is confirmed with a statistical significance that is larger than 20σ. In addition, in the π(+)π(-)η(') invariant-mass spectrum, the X(2120) and the X(2370), are observed with statistical significances larger than 7.2σ and 6.4σ, respectively. For the X(1835), the angular distribution of the radiative photon is consistent with expectations for a pseudoscalar.

Evidence for ψ' decays into γπ0 and γη

The decays ψ'→γπ(0), γη and γη' are studied using data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e(+)e(-) collider. The processes ψ'→γπ(0) and ψ'→γη are observed for the first time with signal significances of 4.6σ and 4.3σ, respectively. The branching fractions are determined to be B(ψ'→γπ(0))=(1.58±0.40±0.13)×10(-6), B(ψ'→γη)=(1.38±0.48±0.09)×10(-6), and B(ψ'→γη')=(126±3±8)×10(-6), where the first errors are statistical and the second ones systematic.

Measurements of h(c)(1P(1)) in psi' decays

We present measurements of the charmonium state h(c)(1P(1)) made with 106x10(6) psi' events collected by BESIII at BEPCII. Clear signals are observed for psi'-->pi0 h(c) with and without the subsequent radiative decay h(c)-->gamma eta(c). First measurements of the absolute branching ratios B(psi'-->pi0 h(c)) = (8.4+/-1.3+/-1.0) x 10(-4) and B(h(c)-->gamma eta(c)) = (54.3+/-6.7+/-5.2)% are presented. A statistics-limited determination of the previously unmeasured h(c) width leads to an upper limit Gamma(h(c))<1.44 MeV (90% confidence). Measurements of M(h(c)) = 3525.40+/-0.13+/-0.18 MeV/c2 and B(psi'-->pi0 h(c)) x B(h(c)-->gamma eta(c)) = (4.58+/-0.40+/-0.50) x 10(-4) are consistent with previous results.

Segmenting lung fields in serial chest radiographs using both population-based and patient-specific shape statistics

This paper presents a new deformable model using both population-based and patient-specific shape statistics to segment lung fields from serial chest radiographs. There are two novelties in the proposed deformable model. First, a modified scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) local descriptor, which is more distinctive than the general intensity and gradient features, is used to characterize the image features in the vicinity of each pixel. Second, the deformable contour is constrained by both population-based and patient-specific shape statistics, and it yields more robust and accurate segmentation of lung fields for serial chest radiographs. In particular, for segmenting the initial time-point images, the population-based shape statistics is used to constrain the deformable contour; as more subsequent images of the same patient are acquired, the patient-specific shape statistics online collected from the previous segmentation results gradually takes more roles. Thus, this patient-specific shape statistics is updated each time when a new segmentation result is obtained, and it is further used to refine the segmentation results of all the available time-point images. Experimental results show that the proposed method is more robust and accurate than other active shape models in segmenting the lung fields from serial chest radiographs.