Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:. SparseCT partially blocks the x-ray beam with a multi-slit collimator (MSC) to perform a multidimensional undersampling along the view and detector row dimensions. SparseCT undersamples the projection data within each view and moves the MSC along the z direction during gantry rotation to change the undersampling pattern. It enables reconstruction of images from undersampled data using compressed sensing algorithms. The purpose of this work is to design the spacing and width of the MSC slits and the MSC motion patterns based on beam separation, undersampling efficiency, and image quality. The development and testing of a SparseCT prototype with the designed MSC will be described in a following paper. METHODS:We chose a few initial MSC designs based on the guidance from two metrics: beam separation and undersampling efficiency. Both beam separation and undersampling efficiency were measured from numerically simulated photon distribution with MSC taken into consideration. Beam separation measures the separation between x-ray beams from consecutive slits, taking into account penumbra effects on both sides of each slit. Undersampling efficiency measures the dose-weighted similarity between penumbra undersampling and binary undersampling, in other words, the effective contribution of the incident dose to the SNR of the projection data. We then compared the initially chosen MSC designs in terms of their reconstruction image quality. SparseCT projections were simulated from fully-sampled patient projection data according to the MSC design and motion pattern, reconstructed iteratively using a sparsity-enforcing penalized weighted least squares cost function with ordered subsets/momentum algorithm, and compared visually and quantitatively. RESULTS:Simulated photon distributions indicate that the size of the penumbra is dominated by the size of the focal spot. Therefore, a wider MSC slit and a smaller focal spot lead to increased beam separation and undersampling efficiency. For 4-fold undersampling with a 1.2 mm focal spot, a minimum MSC slit width of 3 detector rows (projected to the detector surface) is needed for beam separation; for 3-fold undersampling, a minimum slit width of 4 detector rows is needed. Simulations of SparseCT projection and reconstruction indicate that the motion pattern of the MSC does not have a visible impact on image quality. An MSC slit width of 3 or 4 detector rows yields similar image quality. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The MSC is the key component of the SparseCT method. Simulations of MSC designs incorporating x-ray beam penumbra effects showed that for 3-fold and 4-fold dose reductions, an MSC slit width of 4 detector rows provided reasonable beam separation, undersampling efficiency, and image quality.

Presynaptic boutons support neurotransmitter release with nanoscale precision at sub-millisecond timescales. Studies over the past two decades have revealed a rich tapestry of molecular players governing synaptic vesicle fusion at highly specialized release sites in the active zone (AZ). However, the spatiotemporal organization of release at active synapses remains elusive, in part owing to the extremely small size of the AZ and the limited resolution of conventional approaches. Recent advances in fluorescence nanoscopy have revolutionized direct investigation of presynaptic release organization and dynamics. We discuss here recent nanoscopy-based studies of the molecular architecture, the spatial organization and dynamic regulation of release sites, and the mechanisms of release site replenishment. These findings have uncovered previously unknown levels of structural and functional organization at central synapses, with important implications for synaptic transmission and plasticity.

Neonatal brain lesions cause deficits in structure and function of the cerebral cortex that sometimes are not fully expressed until adolescence. To better understand the onset and persistence of changes caused by postnatal day 7 (P7) ethanol treatment, we examined neocortical cell numbers, volume, surface area and thickness from neonatal to post-adolescent ages. In control mice, total neuron number decreased from P8 to reach approximately stable levels at about P30, as expected from normal programmed cell death. Cortical thickness reached adult levels by P14, but cortical volume and surface area continued to increase from juvenile (P20-30) to post-adolescent (P54-93) ages. P7 ethanol caused a reduction of total neurons by P14, but this deficit was transient, with later ages having only small and non-significant reductions. Previous studies also reported transient neuron loss after neonatal lesions that might be partially explained by an acute acceleration of normally occurring programmed cell death. GABAergic neurons expressing parvalbumin, calretinin, or somatostatin were reduced by P14, but unlike total neurons the reductions persisted or increased in later ages. Cortical volume, surface area and thickness were also reduced by P7 ethanol. Cortical volume showed evidence of a transient reduction at P14, and then was reduced again in post-adolescent ages. The results show a developmental sequence of neonatal ethanol effects. By juvenile ages the cortex overcomes the P14 deficit of total neurons, whereas P14 GABA cell deficits persist. Cortical volume reductions were present at P14, and again in post-adolescent ages.

Background and Purpose: An emerging role is beginning to be appreciated for the abnormal regulation of transcriptional programs in regulating alcohol use disorders (AUD) associated behaviors. We speculate that one such transcriptional regulator, AUTS2 plays a role in AUD-associated behaviors given links between Auts2/AUTS2 brain expression and SNPs with ethanol (EtOH) consumption in mice and human, respectively. Therefore, these studies sought to understand whether Auts2 contributes to AUD-associated behaviors and if so, what brain regions and chromatin dynamics are important in mitigating these behaviors Methods: Our studies relied on mice with a floxed Auts2 locus crossed to Cre-driver lines producing whole brain (Nestin-Cre), forebrain (EMX1-cre) or purkinje cell (PCP2-Cre) specific knockout of AUTS2 (AUTS2 cKO), respectively. All comparisons weremade between wild-type (WT) and heterozygous Auts2 cKO littermates (HET) on EtOH consumption behaviors (two-bottle choice, lickometer) and accelerating rotarod following EtOH challenge. Neural tissue was also harvested from select subgroups of cKO and subject to RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to determine the brain-region specific consequences of AUTS2 deletion on the transcriptome.
Result(s): A critical finding of these studies was that AUTS2 affects EtOH preference in a brain region specific manner. Specifically, whole brain and forebrain AUTS2 cKO led to elevated EtOH preference relative to WTlittermates, while purkinje AUTS2 cKO had negligible effect on EtOH preference. In contrast, only the purkinje-AUTS2 cKO impacted performance on an accelerating rotarod following EtOH challenge whereas forebrain specific AUTS2 cKO did not. RNA-seq on the developing cortex and cerebellum further suggest unique transcriptional programs associated with AUTS2 cKO in those brain regions.
Conclusion(s): This work suggests that AUTS2 may play a key role in the propensity to consume EtOH as well as sensitivity to the locomotor properties of EtOH. Furthermore, the effects of AUTS2 on locomotor behavior appear to be rooted in the cerebellum while the consummatory behaviors may rely more on cortical circuits. The precise behavioral substrates, neural networks as well as the mechanisms by which AUTS2 drives transcriptional networks in discrete brain regions are continued areas of study. Together, the present studies suggest that AUTS2 may be key in regulating transcriptional programs that give rise to select AUD phenotypes

Identify correlates of nicotine dependence [lifetime (l) and ongoing (o)] in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood. We conducted a 33-year prospective follow-up of boys (mean age 8) with combined type ADHD (n = 135/207, 65% original sample). Correlates of nicotine dependence in adulthood were selected from characteristics obtained in childhood and adolescence. Among selected childhood features, only immature behavior was significantly related to nicotine dependence (OR(o) = 0.29, p = 0.02), indexing decreased risk. In contrast, several adolescent variables significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with nicotine dependence at mean age 41, including alcohol substance use disorder (SUD, OR(l) = 4.97), non-alcohol SUD (OR(o) = 4.33/OR(l) = 10.93), parental antisocial personality disorder (OR(l) = 4.42), parental SUD (OR(l) = 3.58), dropped out of school (OR(l) = 2.29), impulsivity (OR(o) = 1.53/OR(l) = 1.59), hyperactivity (OR(o) = 1.38), and number of antisocial behaviors (OR(o) = 1.10/OR(l) = 1.14). Results highlight the role of adolescent psychopathology in the development of nicotine dependence, motivating prospective longitudinal efforts to better define the developmental trajectories of risk and protection.

Due its unique structure and its reported potent antifungal activity, the marine polyketide hippolachnin A (1) has attracted much attention in the synthetic community. Herein, we describe the development of a concise, diversifiable and scalable synthesis of the racemic natural product, which serves as a platform for the generation of bioactive analogues. Biological testing of our synthetic material did not confirm the reported antifungal activity of hippolachnin A but unraveled moderate activity against nematodes and microbes.

BACKGROUND:Multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and targeted gene sequencing have identified common variants in SCN10A in cases of PR and QRS duration abnormalities, atrial fibrillation and Brugada syndrome. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has now also identified five SCN10A variants of uncertain significance in six separate cases within a cohort of 330 sudden unexplained death events. The gene product of SCN10A is the Nav1.8 sodium channel. The purpose of this study was to characterize effects of these variants on Nav1.8 channel function to provide better information for the reclassification of these variants. METHODS AND RESULTS/RESULTS:Patch clamp studies were performed to assess effects of the variants on whole-cell Nav1.8 currents. We also performed RNA-seq analysis and immunofluorescence confocal microcopy to determine Nav1.8 expression in heart. We show that four of the five rare 'variants of unknown significance' (L388M, L867F, P1102S and V1518I) are associated with altered functional phenotypes. The R756W variant behaved similar to wild-type under our experimental conditions. We failed to detect Nav1.8 protein expression in immunofluorescence microscopy in rat heart. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis failed to detect full-length SCN10A mRNA transcripts in human ventricle or mouse specialized cardiac conduction system, suggesting that the effect of Nav1.8 on cardiac function is likely to be extra-cardiac in origin. CONCLUSIONS:We have demonstrated that four of five SCN10A variants of uncertain significance, identified in unexplained death, have deleterious effects on channel function. These data extend the genetic testing of SUD cases, but significantly more clinical evidence is needed to satisfy the criteria needed to associate these variants with the onset of SUD.