MR phase imaging to quantify bone volume fraction: computer simulations and in vivo measurements

Magnetic resonance phase images can be used to assess trabecular bone by measuring the standard deviation of the phases in a region of interest. The standard deviation of regional phase measurements reflects the degree of magnetic field inhomogeneity caused by susceptibility differences between bone and marrow. A 3D computer model of trabecular bone was developed and then used to explore the influence of bone volume fraction and imaging parameters such as pixel size and slice width on the standard deviation of regional phase measurements. The results from these tests show that with appropriate selection of these parameters, phase spread strongly reflects variations in trabecular bone density (a correlation of R(2) = 0.98 with bone volume fraction between 0 and 10%). The technique was then applied in vivo on the radius of 25 patients who already had a bone density scan with peripheral quantitative tomography and a correlation between phase standard deviation and trabecular bone density was found (R(2) = 0.46).     

Quantitative analysis of proton imaging measurements of laser-induced plasmas

A method for obtaining quantitative information about electric field and charge distributions from proton imaging measurements of laser-induced plasmas is presented. A parameterised charge distribution is used as target plasma. The deflection of a proton beam by the electric field of such a plasma is simulated numerically as well as the resulting proton density, which will be obtained on a screen behind the plasma according to the proton imaging technique. The parameters of the specific charge distributions are delivered by a combination of linear regression and nonlinear fitting of the calculated proton density distribution to the measured optical density of a radiochromic film screen changed by proton exposure. It is shown that superpositions of spherical Gaussian charge distributions as target plasma are sufficient to simulate various structures in proton imaging measurements, which makes this method very flexible.     

Experimental evaluation of a surface charge method for computing the induced magnetic field in trabecular bone.

The magnetic field induced in the pores of trabecular bone as a result of the susceptibility difference between bone and bone marrow was computed with the aid of magnetic surface charge models generated from images of trabecular bone specimens acquired at 78 and 63 microm resolution. The predicted field was compared with the values derived from 2D and 3D field maps obtained by echo-offset imaging techniques and excellent agreement was found between the two methods. Finally, from the slopes of regression between the experimental and computed fields, the absolute susceptibility of bone was nondestructively determined as -11.0 x 10(-6) (MKS), which is in close agreement with a reported value of -11.3 x 10(-6) obtained with powdered bone by means of a spectroscopic susceptibility matching technique (J. A. Hopkins and F. W. Wehrli, Magn. Reson. Med. 37, 494-500 (1997)).     

Passive interferometric 3-D imaging and incoherence gating

This paper proposes interferometric 3-D imaging based on retrieving the space variant cross-spectral density. The cross-spectral density across an arbitrary transverse plane can be retrieved by using the propagation law described in the Fourier domain. The 3-D intensity distribution is reconstructed from a series of the cross-spectral densities across planes within the slab geometry considered. Results of an experiment conducted by incorporating two point sources are also reported. The point spread function of the proposed interferometric imaging system, and its similarity to an ordinary imaging system are discussed. To detect spatially incoherent sources, we also propose an incoherence gating method based on the present interferometric imaging technique. The second-order differential of the series of retrieved cross-spectral densities with respect to a two-point separation enable us to estimate field correlations over the 3-D field, and locations of primary sources are clearly determined.     

基于差分吸收光谱技术的大气痕量气体二维观测方法

基于差分吸收光谱技术, 对大气痕量气体二维观测方法进行研究. 对常规多轴差分吸收光谱系统进行改进, 使望远镜可指向不同方位角, 获取测量点各方位角上的痕量气体信息, 从而更直观地了解测量点四周污染气体分布及其演变情况. 主要对NO₂浓度分布进行了研究, 同时获取了不同方位角上的O₄斜柱浓度; 采用辐射传输模型模拟计算O₄斜柱浓度并与实测数据对比, 结果表明二者具有高度相关性, 验证了大气中O₄分布的稳定性; 基于实测O₄数据提取光路信息, 结合辐射传输模型对NO₂和O₄因廓线不同造成的散射路径差异进行修正, 将NO₂斜柱浓度进一步转化为体积混合比, 获得了不同方位角上NO₂ 浓度分布图. 将计算结果与长光程差分吸收光谱技术数据进行对比, 结果表明二者具有较好的一致性.     

R'2 measured in trabecular bone in vitro: relationship to trabecular separation.

Measurement of key parameters of the microstructure of trabecular bone is critical to the study of osteoporosis and bone strength. Density based methods cannot provide this information, and give only the total amount of bone present, and not its arrangement. Magnetic resonance imaging has shown the potential to provide information related to the microarchitecture of the trabecular bone matrix. Twelve samples (8 x 8 x 8 mm3 bone cubes) were cut from sheep vertebrae such that the trabeculae ran either parallel or perpendicular to each face. Detailed measurements of the structure of these bone cubes were made by histomorphometry, and compared to R'2 and R*2 measured with a spin and gradient-echo sequence, Partially Refocused Interleaved Multiple Echo, at 1.5 Tesla. The precision of the R'2 measurement (% coefficient of variation) was 8.7+/-5.1, and 7.7+/-4.3 for R*2. Uncorrected values of R'2 and R*2 were significantly correlated to density measured by quantitative computed tomography (r = 0.87, p = 0.0005, and r = 0.90, p = 0.0002, respectively), and trabecular bone area measured by histomorphometry (r = 0.80, p = 0.002, and r = 0.83, p = 0.0008, respectively). Density correction was effected by imaging the same slice of bone in two orientations (90 degrees and 0 degrees ) to the main magnetic field. For both R'2 and R*2 there was a significant difference between measurements in the 90 degrees and 0 degrees orientations (p < 0.01). The difference between the two values was used, and termed R'2net or R*2net. The net parameters were independent of bone mass. R'2net and R*2net were significantly correlated to trabecular separation (p < 0.05) with r = -0.58 and r = -0.62, respectively. These results demonstrate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging to characterize a key measure of the trabecular microstucture. An increase in trabecular separation has important biomechanical consequences in osteoporosis. This result also strengthens the hypothesis that the sensitivity of R'2 to osteoporosis-related bone changes is due to magnetic susceptibility effects in which rapid transitions between bone and marrow create local magnetic field inhomogeneities that result in an increase in R'2 values.     

直接观测磁通密度分布和运动的磁光图像技术

阐述了应用法拉第磁光旋转效应将磁通密度分布转换为亮度分布的图像，介绍了用微机采集和处理这种磁光图像，直接观测和研究磁通密度分布和运动，研究超导体的磁通动力学和磁性材料的磁性结构，叙述了目前应用磁光图像技术研究高温超导体性质和实用高温超导带材方面的最新进展．     

Measuring the photon distribution with ON/OFF photodetectors

Reconstruction of photon statistics of optical states provides fundamental information on the nature of any optical field and helps with various relevant applications. Nevertheless, no detector that can reliably discriminate the number of incident photons is available. On the other hand, the alternative of reconstructing the density matrix by quantum tomography leads to various technical difficulties that are particularly severe in the pulsed regime (where mode matching between a signal and local oscillator is very challenging). Even if on/off detectors, as usual avalanche photodiodes operating in Geiger mode, seem useless as photo-counters, it was recently shown how reconstruction of photon statistics is possible by considering a variable quantum efficiency. Here we present experimental reconstructions of photon number distributions of both continuous-wave and pulsed light beams in a scheme based on on/off avalanche photodetection assisted by maximum-likelihood estimation. Reconstructions of the distribution for both semiclassical and quantum states of light (as single photon, coherent, pseudothermal, and multithermal states) are reported for single-mode and multimode beams. The stability and good accuracy obtained in the reconstruction of these states clearly demonstrate the interesting potentialities of this simple technique.     

In vivo multiple spin echoes imaging of trabecular bone on a clinical 1.5 T MR scanner

In vivo multiple spin echoes (MSE) images of bone marrow in trabecular bone were obtained for the first time on a clinical 1.5 T scanner. Despite of a reduced sensitivity of the MSE trabecular bone images with respect to the cerebral matter ones, it is possible to observe some features in the MSE trabecular bone images that may be useful in the diagnosis of osteopenic states. Two different CRAZED-type MSE imaging sequences based on spin-echo and EPI imaging modalities were applied in phantom and in vivo. Preliminary experimental results indicate that EPI imaging readout seems to conceal the MSE contrast correlated with pore dimension in porous media. However it is still possible to detect anisotropy effects related to the bone structure in MSE-EPI images. Some strategies are suggested to optimize the quality of MSE trabecular bone images.     

The status quo and prospect of ESR imaging applications to study on catalysts

ESR imaging technique supplies us with the possibility of spatial imaging of spin species, and has been widely accepted as a useful tool in many fields. ESR imaging can be applied to observing the spatial distribution of spin species and determining the diffusion processes. These applications will certainly interest chemists in catalyst field. In this paper, the characteristics and limitations of ESR imaging technique, and the status quo and prospect, of ESR imaging applications to catalyst study are discussed. With a current ESR apparatus, the sensitivity and spatial resolution are good enough for the most applications in catalyst studies. Although few works in this field have been reported, its prospect will be interesting. We suggestin situ observation of spatial distribution of paramagnetic species (such as reactants, products and intermediates) in a catalyst system, determination of diffusion in a catalyst pellet and characterization of poisoning in micro fixed-bed reactors with ESR imaging method. Not only paramagnetic species could be studied directly, but also antimagnetic species, which quench spin signals, could be studied indirectly with this method.     

小鼠小梁细胞与肌成纤维细胞的同步辐射红外显微光谱

原发性开角型青光眼是常见的致盲性眼部疾病。眼压升高是原发性开角型青光眼发生和发展最主要的危险因素,是由小梁网途径的房水外流排出系统发生病变、房水流出阻力增加所致。研究表明,房水中存在的转化生长因子-β能够使小梁细胞纤维化,诱导小梁细胞过度增殖,从而阻碍房水外流,导致原发性开角型青光眼的发生。原发性开角型青光眼发病隐蔽,病程进展缓慢,早期没有任何症状,往往到晚期视力视野有显著损害时,才会被发现,因此原发性开角型青光眼的早期诊断尤为重要。同步辐射红外显微成像结合高亮度、高分辨率的同步辐射源,同时配备傅里叶变换红外光谱仪与红外显微镜,可以实现细胞的检测。这对从分子层面获取细胞的变化信息,深入理解疾病的发病机制以及疾病的早期诊断具有非常重要的意义。虽然有很多红外光谱在生物医学领域的研究报道,但是应用红外光谱显微成像技术研究细胞等生物医学体系仍然是亟待发展的领域,并且目前未找到关于红外光谱用于小梁网细胞的检测报道。在体外用转化生长因子-β对老鼠小梁网细胞进行诱导,使其转化为肌成纤维细胞,模拟小梁细胞纤维化过程。对小梁网细胞以及经转化生长因子-β诱导形成的肌成纤维细胞进行同步辐射红外显微成像及光谱分析,并进一步探讨同步辐射用于早期诊断原发性开角型青光眼的可行性。研究表明肌成纤维细胞内的弹性蛋白明显高于小梁网细胞,而弹性蛋白中95%为非极性氨基酸,即氨基酸的侧链基团R基只有C和H两种元素。对比两种细胞的红外谱图,发现在2 934,2 900和2 845 cm-1,肌成纤维细胞的 CH₃,CH₂和CH的伸缩振动明显强于小梁网细胞,推测可能是由于转化生长因子-β诱导后细胞内弹性蛋白增加所致。在细胞层面检测了小梁网细胞的过度增殖,为将来可以直接获取细胞的红外光谱从而检测小梁网细胞的增殖程度,进而检测原发性开角型青光眼等疾病奠定了基础。得出同步辐射红外谱学与显微成像有望成为检测原发性开角型青光眼新手段的结论,也为将来便携式红外显微光谱仪临床实时检测青光眼等疾病提供了依据。     

骨小梁中超声背散射信号的频率分析及其微结构的估计

骨质疏松症是一种骨强度下降的全身性骨骼疾病,骨强度的下降是骨量减少和骨微结构退化的共同结果。相比于传统的超声透射方法,超声背散射法可提供更多的骨微结构信息,而对于松质骨结构的建模能有助于结构信息的获取。本文将骨小梁简化为单圆柱模型(圆柱状的单根骨小梁浸于骨髓中),并基于此模型对超声背散射与频率的关系进行分析。用铝线代替骨小梁做仿体实验,通过实验与理论结果的比较来验证单圆柱模型的可行性。     

Acoustoelasticity in soft solids: assessment of the nonlinear shear modulus with the acoustic radiation force

The assessment of viscoelastic properties of soft tissues is enjoying a growing interest in the field of medical imaging as pathologies are often correlated with a local change of stiffness. To date, advanced techniques in that field have been concentrating on the estimation of the second order elastic modulus (mu). In this paper, the nonlinear behavior of quasi-incompressible soft solids is investigated using the supersonic shear imaging technique based on the remote generation of polarized plane shear waves in tissues induced by the acoustic radiation force. Applying a theoretical approach of the strain energy in soft solid [Hamilton et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 41-44 (2004)], it is shown that the well-known acoustoelasticity experiment allowing the recovery of higher order elastic moduli can be greatly simplified. Experimentally, it requires measurements of the local speed of polarized plane shear waves in a statically and uniaxially stressed isotropic medium. These shear wave speed estimates are obtained by imaging the shear wave propagation in soft media with an ultrafast echographic scanner. In this situation, the uniaxial static stress induces anisotropy due to the nonlinear effects and results in a change of shear wave speed. Then the third order elastic modulus (A) is measured in agar-gelatin-based phantoms and polyvinyl alcohol based phantoms.     

Two-dimensional multispecies imaging of a supersonic nozzle flow

Raman imaging is shown to be a very suitable technique for simultaneous density mapping of different species in dry air and N(2) supersonic nozzle flows. The salient features of Raman scattering are its molecular sensitivity and the fact that it can be spectrally separated from strong reflections and Mie scattering. We collected Raman images of both N(2) and O(2) concurrently by imaging the flow through an imaging spectrograph with a broad entrance slit onto a CCD camera. The main advantage of this method is that different species can be imaged under exactly the same flow conditions.     

声学回波统计的鱼群密度评估方法*

与传统的回波积分法相比，回波统计鱼群数量密度评估方法具有无需回波信号绝对量和鱼群中个体鱼的平均目标强度先验知识的优点。对该方法在鱼群数量密度评估上的应用问题进行了实验研究，并针对其中鱼群密度分布的不均匀性及统计样本量偏少导致评估结果偏差的问题，提出了一种基于能量阈值的鱼群回波数据预处理方法和统计样本的改进抽样方法，有效提高了该方法鱼群密度评估的精确度。与传统的回波积分法评估结果的对比分析表明，该评估方法适用于低密度鱼群的评估。     

An imaging Fourier transform spectroradiometer with a multi-element photodetector for the spectral range of 7–14 μm

The construction and principle of operation of a imaging Fourier transform infrared spectroradiometer (FTIR spectrometer) equipped with a cooled 32-area photodetector designed for spectral analysis of open atmospheric paths are considered. The main technical characteristics of the Fourier spectrometer are reported. The technique of visualization of the detected vapor cloud is described. The results of field experiments using the imaging FTIR spectrometer are shown. Based on these results, the dynamics of motion of the cloud of material has been investigated, its angular and linear velocities have been estimated, and data on propagation of the cloud of material and change in its angular sizes in air have been obtained. A technique for analyzing data provided by two FTIR spectrometers is given, based on which one can estimate the size of the cloud and the distance to it from each device. It is shown that the results of detection of the cloud of material by the imaging FTIR spectrometer can be used to predict the propagation of material under study in space.     

四光束剪切相干成像目标重构算法研究

针对传统剪切光束成像技术的准实时性问题,提出用口字形排布的四束光代替传统L形三束剪切光照射目标,研究了四光束剪切相干成像目标重构算法.只需单次测量就能同时重构出四幅目标图像,减少了用于降低散斑噪声、获取高质量图像所需的测量次数,同时大大减少了多组发射时的光束切换次数,提高了成像效率.在算法实现中,通过最小二乘法恢复出四组波前相位,利用散斑幅值的简单代数运算恢复波前幅值,从而重构出目标图像.仿真结果表明,与传统方法相比,在图像质量相同的前提下,本文方法所需的数据采集时间减少了至少1/2,不但提高了目标重构效率,还可为远程运动目标的成像识别提供更好的手段.     

Exploiting dynamical coherence: A geometric approach to parameter estimation in nonlinear models

Parameter estimation in nonlinear models is a common task, and one for which there is no general solution at present. In the case of linear models, the distribution of forecast errors provides a reliable guide to parameter estimation, but in nonlinear models the facts that predictability may vary with location in state space, and that the distribution of forecast errors is expected not to be Normal, means that parameter estimation based on least squares methods will result in systematic errors. A new approach to parameter estimation is presented which focuses on the geometry of trajectories of the model rather than the distribution of distances between model forecast and the observation at a given lead time. Specifically, we test a number of candidate trajectories to determine the duration for which they can shadow the observations, rather than evaluating a forecast error statistic at any specific lead time(s). This yields insights into both the parameters of the dynamical model and those of the observational noise model. The advances reported here are made possible by extracting more information from the dynamical equations, and thus improving the balance between information gleaned from the structural form of the equations and that from the observations. The technique is illustrated for both flows and maps, applied in 2-, 3-, and 8-dimensional dynamical systems, and shown to be effective in a case of incomplete observation where some components of the state are not observed at all. While the demonstration of effectiveness is strong, there remain fundamental challenges in the problem of estimating model parameters when the system that generated the observations is not a member of the model class. Parameter estimation appears ill defined in this case.     

自发喇曼成像法在线测量流场组分浓度（Ⅱ）

介绍了利用自发Raman散射光谱测量低压气流组分绝对浓度的方法，在流动状态下得到了不同压力的自发喇曼散射光谱，检测最低压力为133Pa；对于含N2氧气流在已知N2浓度时实时标定检测了O2的绝对浓度，测量误差小于8％。，