Diffusion tensor imaging of oral carcinoma: Clinical evaluation and comparison with histopathological findings

PurposeThis study aims to assess the usefulness of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as a noninvasive method for the evaluation of histological grade and lymph node metastasis in patients with oral carcinoma (OC).Materials and methodsThirty-six consecutive patients with histologically confirmed OC underwent examination by 3-T MRI. DTI was performed using a single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence with b values of 0 and 1000 s/mm² and motion-probing gradients in 12 noncollinear directions. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) maps were compared with histopathological findings. The DTI parameters were correlated with the histological grade of the OCs based on the World Health Organization grading criteria and the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis.ResultsThe FA values (0.275 ± 0.058) of OC were significantly lower than those of normal tongue, muscle, and parotid glands (P < 0.001 for all), and the MD, AD, and RD values (1.220 ± 0.149, 1.434 ± 0.172, and 1.019 ± 0.165 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, respectively) were significantly higher than their respective normal values (P < 0.001 for all). Significant inverse correlations with histological grades were shown for FA, MD, AD, and RD values in OC patients (r = −0.862, r = −0.797, r = −0.747, and r = −0.844, respectively; P < 0.001 for all). In addition, there was a significant difference in the FA values of metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes (0.186 vs. 0.276), MD (0.923 vs. 1.242 × 10⁻³ mm²/s), AD (1.246 vs. 1.621 × 10⁻³ mm²/s), and RD (0.792 vs. 1.100 × 10⁻³ mm²/s; P < 0.001 for all).ConclusionsDTI may be clinically useful for the noninvasive evaluation of histological grade and lymph node metastasis in OC patients.     

Type III - Type I transition and strain-effect in Hg1−xCdxTeCdTe and Hg1−xZnxTeCdTe superlattices

In this paper, the results of Hg_1−xZn_xTeCdTe strained layer superlattices grown by MBE are reported, and compared to Hg_1−xCd_xTeCdTe superlattices. Both Type III and Type I Hg_1−xZn_xTeCdTe superlattices with different strain have been grown on CdTe(111)B/GaAs(100) and CdTe(100)/GaAs(100) substrates and characterized by electron, X-ray diffraction, infrared transmission and Hall measurements. The values of hole mobility between 5×10³ up to 2×10⁴cm²v⁻¹s⁻¹ at T = 23K along (111)B growth orientation and up to 4.9×10⁴cm²v⁻¹s⁻¹ at T = 5K along (100) growth orientation are obtained for Type III superlattices whereas in Type I superlattices, the hole mobility is between 200–300cm²v⁻¹s⁻¹. This drastic change in the hole mobility between Type III and Type I superlattices along with the role of the strain are discussed in this paper.     

A Boubaker polynomials expansion scheme (BPES)-related protocol for measuring sprayed thin films thermal characteristics

Measurements of In₂S₃ and ZnIn₂S₄ sprayed thin films thermal characteristics have been carried out using the photodetection technique. The thermal conductivity k and diffusivity D were obtained using a new protocol based on photothermal signal parameters analysis. Measured values of k and D were respectively, (15.2 ± 0.85) W m⁻¹K⁻¹ and (69.8 ± 7.1) × 10⁻⁶ m²s⁻¹ for In₂S₃, (7.2 ± 0.7) W m⁻¹K⁻¹ and (32.7 ± 4.3) × 10⁻⁶ m²s⁻¹ for ZnIn₂S₄. These values are extremely important since similar compounds are more and more proposed as Cd-free alternative materials for solar cells buffer layers.     

Measurement of the D0, D+ and Ds+ meson lifetimes at √s = 10.58 GeV

We have measured the lifetimes of the D⁰, D⁺ and D_s⁺ mesons with data from the CLEO detector. We find τ_D⁰ = (5.0 ± 0.7 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹³s, τ_D⁺ = (11.4 ± 1.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹³s and τ_Ds⁺ = (4.7 ± 2.2 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹³s, giving lifetime ratios τ_D⁺/τ_D⁰ = 2.3 ± 0.5 and τ_Ds⁺/τ_D⁰ = 0.9 ± 0.5.     

Interference of Electromagnetic and Weak Interactions at High Energies and Neutral-Current μe Universality

A review is given on three types of experiments which recently detected the interference of electromagnetic and weak interactions at high energies in the reactions eD₂ → eX (SLAC, 1979), e⁺e⁻ → μ⁺μ⁻ (PETRA/PEP, 1981–83) and μ±C→μ±X (BCDMS, 1982). Asymmetry formulae are explicitely derived using the quark-parton model and the SU(2) × U(1) standard theory. With particular emphasis on the deep inelastic muon scattering experiment, the corresponding experiments are described and their results summarized. Combined fits to the 1983 asymmetry and νe data verify completely the muon-electron universality of the weak neutral current interaction giving for the vector and axial-vector coupling constants v_e = 0.02 ± 0.06, a_e = −0.54 ± 0.03 (electrons) and v_μ = −0.05 ± 0.16, a_μ = −0.51 ± 0.05 (muons).     

High-resolution spectroscopy of the v2 = 2 a ← v2 = 1 s band of 15NH3

Twenty-four transitions of the v₂ = 2 a ← v₂ = 1 s hot band of ¹⁵NH₃ have been observed by an infrared microwave sideband laser spectrometer. In addition, 149 transitions of the band have been obtained by a Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 0.02 cm⁻¹. A weighted least-squares analysis has been carried out and the rms deviation of the fit is 0.00097 cm⁻¹. It was necessary to include the Δ(K − l) = ±3 interaction between the v₂ = 2 a and the v₄ = a states in the analysis.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of the v2 = 2 a ← v2 = 1 s band of 14NH3

Twenty-one transitions of the v₂ = 2 a ← v₂ = 1 s hot band of ¹⁴NH₃ have been observed by an infrared microwave sideband laser spectrometer with an absolute accuracy of 0.00002 cm⁻¹. One hundred and seventeen transitions of the band have been obtained by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer at a resolution of 0.005 cm⁻¹. A weighted least-squares analysis of these data has been carried out to yield 17 molecular parameters for the v₂ = 2 a state. These parameters reproduce the experimental frequencies with a root mean square deviation of 0.000123 cm⁻¹. To calculate the frequencies to this accuracy it was necessary to take into account the Δ(K − l) = ±3 interaction between the v₂ = 2 a and v₄ = 1 a states.     

Determination of the kinetic parameters of the isomerization reaction of ethyl isocyanide using HeI photoelectron spectroscopy

The use of HeI photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) for the kinetic study of chemical reactions was introduced previously by us. As another example of the determination of the kinetic parameters of a chemical reaction using the PES method, the isomerization reaction of ethyl isocyanide CH₃CH₂NC → CH₃CH₂CN is investigated. It is found to be first order and the kinetic equations at 193.6, 200.0 and 210.3°C can be expressed as ln R_{466.6 K} = − (7.600 ± 0.026) × 10⁻⁵t − 0.4350; ln R_{473.0 K} = − (1.329 ± 0.032) × 10⁻⁴ − 0.4375 and ln R_{483.3 K} = − (3.170 ± 0.052) × 10⁻⁴ − 0.4354, respectively. The rate constants of the reactions at 193.6, 200.0 reactions at 193.6, 200.0 and 210.3°C are respectively (7.600 ± 0.026) × 10⁻⁵, (1.329 ± 0.032) × 10⁻⁴ and (3.170 ± 0.052) × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. The calculated activation energy (E_a) of this isomerization reaction is 38.36 ± 0.32 kcal mol⁻¹. These results are also in excellent agreement with the results obtained by a traditional method. This means that PES is a valuable method for determining the kinetic parameters of chemical reactions. The value of the intercept in the kinetic equations is related to the logarithm of the ratio of the photoionization cross-section of the bands used. This also means that the relative photoionization cross-sections of the bands used for the sample studied are obtained in the kinetic study of a chemical reaction using the PES method.     

Low temperature decomposition of ethylene over Ni(100): Evidence for vinyl formation

Thermal programmed desorption (TPD), high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and time-resolved laser-induced desorption (LID) have been used to study the chemisorption and decomposition of ethylene over Ni(100). Ethylene adsorbs molecularly on this surface at temperatures below 150 K. The molecule is π bonded in this state, showing very little rehybridization. At coverages below half saturation, decomposition to vinyl plus a hydrogen atom occurs unimolecularly with a rate constant of (8.0 ± 2.0) × 10⁻² s⁻¹ at 170 K. A strong kinetic isotope effect was observed; vinyl formation from C₂D₄ does not occur until about 200 K. The proposal of vinyl as the intermediate is supported by studies with C₂H₄, 1,1− and 1,2−C₂D₂H₂, and C₂D₄. The reaction is slower at saturation coverages, where molecular desorption is still seen above 200 K. Vinyl decomposes further at 230 K to form an acetylenic fragment.     

Measurementof the transition probability in calcium

We have measured the ratio between the transition probabilities of two forbidden lines in Ca: the intercombination line at 657.3 nm and the E 2 line at 457.5 nm. The value we obtained for this ratio is (54.1±2.4). Combined with the most accurate value available in literature for the lifetime of the ³ P ₁ level, our measurement gives a value of (54.4±4.0) s^-1 for the ¹ S ₀ ↦ ¹ D ₂ transition probability, significantly more accurate than the previous determinations. Received 17 June 2002 / Received in final form 9 December 2002 Published online 4 March 2003     

The strong interaction shift and width of the ground state of pionic hydrogen

The 3p-1s transition in pionic hydrogen was investigated with a high-resolution crystal spectrometer system. From the precisely measured transition energy, together with the (calculated) electromagnetic energy, the strong interaction shift of the 1s state was obtained as ϵ_1s = −7.127 ± 0.028(stat.)± 0.036(syst.) eV (attractive). From the natural line width, measured for the first time, we determine the decaywidth of the 1s state: Γ_1s^(decay) = 0.97 ± 0.10(stat.)± 0.05(syst.) eV. With the recently calculated electromagnetic corrections the s-wave scattering lengths of an isospin symmetric strong interaction are deduced. The scattering length for elastic scattering of a negative pion on a proton is a_{π⁻p→π⁻p}^h = 0.0885±0.00003(stat.)±0.0006(syst.)m_π⁻¹. The scattering lengthe for single charge exchange is found to be a_{π⁻p→π⁰n}^h = −0.136 ± 0.007(stat.) ± 0.003(syst.)m_π⁻¹.The experiment was performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland. A focussing crystal spectrometer with an array of bent crystals, the cyclotron trap (a magnetic system designed to increase the particle stop density) and a CCD (charge-coupled device) detector system were employed. The results from the pionic hydrogen experiment — together with those from the pionic deuterium experiment — were used to test the isospin symmetry of the strong interaction. The present data are still consistent with isospin sysmmetry.     

Excess low frequency conduction noise in a granular composite

Granular composites consisting of 25% nickel as 8 nm diameter particles dispersed in an aluminium oxide matrix display excess conduction noise. Co-deposited films with resistance per square about 10⁵ ohms and negative temperature coefficient show a noise power spectral density $\text{S}{}_{\mathrm{v}}\text{(?) =}\text{S}{}_{\mathrm{v}}\text{(1)}\text{?}{}^{\mathrm{\alpha }}$ where α ? 1.10 ± 0.03 over the accessible spectral range of 0.1 Hz ? ? ? 5000 Hz. The amplitude 3 × 10^?15 ? S_v(1) ? 5 × 10^?12 V²Hz^?1, appears to increase approximately quadratically as the applied voltage V_s up to V_s ? 2.5 V and as the first power of V_s for 2.5 ? V_s < 35 V.     

Intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging analysis for diagnosis of placenta accrete spectrum disorders: A pilot feasibility study

BackgroundPlacenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders occur when the placenta adheres abnormally to the uterine myometrium and can have devastating effects on maternal health due to risks of massive postpartum hemorrhage and possible need for emergency hysterectomy. PAS can be difficult to diagnose using routine clinical imaging with ultrasound and structural MRI.ObjectiveTo determine feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis in the diagnosis of the placenta accreta spectrum disorders in pregnant women.MethodsA total of 49 pregnant women were recruited including 14 with pathologically confirmed cases of PAS and 35 health controls without prior cesarean delivery and no suspected PAS by ultrasound. All women underwent diffusion-weighted imaging with an 8 b-value scanning sequence. A semi-automated method for image processing was used, creating a 3D object map, which was then fit to a biexponential signal decay curve for IVIM modeling to determine slow diffusion (D_s), fast diffusion (D_f), and perfusion fraction (P_f).ResultsOur results demonstrated a high degree of model fitting (R² ≥ 0.98), with P_f significantly higher in those with PAS compared to healthy controls (0.451 ± 0.019 versus 0.341 ± 0.022, p = 0.002). By contrast, no statistical difference in the D_f (1.70 × 10⁻² ± 0.38 × 10⁻² versus 1.48 × 10⁻² ± 0.08 × 10⁻² mm²/s, p = 0.211) or D_s (1.34 × 10⁻³ ± 0.10 × 10⁻³ versus 1.45 × 10⁻³ ± 0.007 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, p = 0.215) was found between subjects with PAS and healthy controls.ConclusionsThe use of MRI, and IVIM modeling in particular, may have potential in aiding in the diagnosis of PAS when other imaging modalities are equivocal. However, the widespread use of these techniques will require generation of large normative data sets, consistent sequencing protocols, and streamlined analysis techniques.     

Oxygen diffusion and surface exchange studies on (La0.75Sr0.25)0.95Cr0.5Mn0.5O3−δ

Oxygen tracer diffusion coefficient (D^⁎) and surface exchange coefficient (k^⁎) have been measured for (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.95Cr_0.5Mn_0.5O_3−δ using isotopic exchange and depth profiling by secondary ion mass spectrometry technique as a function of temperature (700–1000 °C) in dry oxygen and in a water vapour-forming gas mixture. The typical values of D^⁎ under oxidising and reducing conditions at ∼ 1000 °C are 4 × 10^− 10 cm² s^− 1 and 3 × 10^− 8 cm² s^− 1 respectively, whereas the values of k^⁎ under oxidising and reducing conditions at ∼ 1000 °C are 5 × 10^− 8 cm s^− 1 and 4 × 10^− 8 cm s^− 1 respectively. The apparent activation energies for D^⁎ in oxidising and reducing conditions are 0.8 eV and 1.9 eV respectively.     

Observations of the collision-induced dipole transitions and of a quadrupole transition for barium in krypton

For Ba perturbed by Kr, collision-induced dipole transitions 6s²¹S₀ – 6snd¹D₂ (8?n?10) have been observed. The effective oscillator strength per unit Kr density was found to be 1.8–1.0 x 10^-23 cm³. For the electric-quadrupole transition 6s²¹S₀ -6s6d¹D₂, the oscillator strength is (2.0±0.4) x 10^-6.     

Determination of A0 for CH3D from perturbation-allowed transitions

Ground state combination differences obtained from normally allowed and perturbation-allowed transition in the 2ν₆ band of ¹²CH₃D have been fitted to obtain the following values for rotational constants: A₀ = 5.2508231 ± 0.0000043 cm⁻¹, and D₀^K = (−7.869 ± 0.23) × 10⁻⁵cm⁻¹.     

Two-photon resonant four-wave mixing processes in atomic barium

By means of a N₂-laser pumped dye-laser (P _L ≈20kW, Δv _L < 10 GHZ) different two-photon resonant four-wave coupling processes in Ba vapour (n _Ba≈10¹⁶ cm⁻³) using the Ba states 6s8s ¹ S _o and 7s5d ¹ D ₂ were investigated. Coherent line radiation with conversion rates up to 10⁻³ was generated within the range of λ=190–200 nm by sumfrequency mixingv _UV=2v ₁+v ₂ of 3 laser photons and within the range of λ=250–380 nm by couplingv _UV=2v ₁±v _IR of 2 laser photons with one photonv _IR stimulated emitted in laser-induced Ba transitions. For the second coupling type the various nonlinear processes contributing to the formation of the coupling components are discussed. The power of the UV-component as function of inensity and resonance detuning of the laser as well as on the phase-mismatch was calculated on the basis of the small signal theory and compared to the experimental data.     

The high-resolution spectrum of the ν1 (A1) band of 12CD3F

The spectrum of the ν₁ (A₁) band of ¹²CD₃F has been recorded with a resolution of 0.010 cm⁻¹ and deconvolved to 0.005 cm⁻¹. Over 1050 transitions have been assigned with K ≤ 16 and J ≤ 42. The spectrum is highly perturbed, exhibiting avoided crossings in most of the observed sub-bands. The origin of most of the local and global resonances has been determined and the coupling constants estimated. Due to the complexity of the spectrum resulting from the 24 potential interacting states in the region, the assigned frequencies were fitted in a restricted manner (K ≤ 3, J ≤ 15), to obtain the following effective constants for the band: ν₀ = 2090.8118(20) cm⁻¹, α^A = 1.19743 × 10⁻² cm⁻¹, and α^B = −1.8489 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹. From an unrestricted least-squares analysis, fixing the above parameters the β's (D_v^x = D₀^x − β_v^x) were calculated to be β^J = 1.7776 × 10⁻⁷ cm⁻¹, β^JK = 8.3406 × 10⁻⁷ cm⁻¹, and β^K = −6.3829 × 10⁻⁷ cm⁻¹. These constants serve as good starting parameters for the global analysis necessary to fully analyze the 5-μm region of the ¹²CD₃F spectrum.     

Phase transitions in SbSI

In ferroelectric SbSI the phase transitions are studied by means of precise birefringence measurement. It is observed that the transition from D^162h phase to C⁹_2v phase occurs at 15.70°C. At ? 36.61°C, the second order transition from C⁹_2v phase to C¹_s or C²_s phase is observed. From the behavior of birefringence near the second order transition point, the mechanism of the phase transition in SbSI is considered.     

Tissue-tracking in the assessment of late gadolinium enhancement in myocarditis and myocardial infarction

PurposeTo test the diagnostic performance of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) tissue-tracking (TT) to detect the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in patients with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) or myocarditis (MYO), preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and no visual regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA).MethodsWe selected consecutive CMR studies of 50 MI, 50 MYO and 96 controls. Receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve and net reclassification index (NRI) analyses were used to assess the predictive ability and the incremental diagnostic yield of 2D and 3D TT-derived strain parameters for the detection of LGE and to measure the best cut-off values of strain parameters.ResultsOverall, cases showed significantly reduced 2D global longitudinal strain (2D-GLS) values compared with controls (−20.1 ± 3.1% vs −21.6 ± 2.7%; p = 0.0008). 2D-GLS was also significantly reduced in MYO patients compared with healthy controls (−19.7 ± 2.9% vs −21.9 ± 2.4%; p = 0.0001). 3D global radial strain (3D-GRS) was significantly reduced in MI patients compared with controls with risk factors (34.3 ± 11.8% vs 40.3 ± 12.5%, p = 0.024) Overall, 2D-GLS yielded good diagnostic accuracy for the detection of LGE in the MYO subgroup (AUROC 0.79; NRI (95% CI) = 0.6 (0.3, 1.02) p = 0.0004), with incremental predictive value beyond risk factors and LV function parameters (p for AUROC difference = 0.048). In the MI subgroup, 2D-GRS (AUROC 0.81; NRI (95% CI) = 0.56 (0.17, 0.95) p = 0.004), 3D-GRS (AUROC 0.82; NRI (95% CI) = 0.57 (0.17, 0.97) p = 0.006) and 3D global circumferential strain (3D-GCS) (AUROC 0.81; NRI (95% CI) = 0.62 (0.22, 1.01) p = 0.002) emerged as potential markers of disease. The best cut-off for 2D-GLS was −21.1%, for 2D- and 3D-GRS were 39.1% and 37.7%, respectively, and for 3D-GCS was −16.4%.ConclusionsAt CMR-tissue tracking analysis, 2D-GLS was a significant predictor of LGE in patients with myocarditis but preserved LVEF and no visual RWMA. Both 2D- and 3D-GRS and 2D-GCS yielded good diagnostic accuracy for LGE detection in patients with previous MI but preserved LVEF and no visual RWMA.