Phase gradient imaging for positive contrast generation to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-labeled targets in magnetic resonance imaging

Positive contrast imaging methods produce enhanced signal at large magnetic field gradient in magnetic resonance imaging. Several postprocessing algorithms, such as susceptibility gradient mapping and phase gradient mapping methods, have been applied for positive contrast generation to detect the cells targeted by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. In the phase gradient mapping methods, smoothness condition has to be satisfied to keep the phase gradient unwrapped. Moreover, there has been no discussion about the truncation artifact associated with the algorithm of differentiation that is performed in k-space by the multiplication with frequency value. In this work, phase gradient methods are discussed by considering the wrapping problem when the smoothness condition is not satisfied. A region-growing unwrapping algorithm is used in the phase gradient image to solve the problem. In order to reduce the truncation artifact, a cosine function is multiplied in the k-space to eliminate the abrupt change at the boundaries. Simulation, phantom and in vivo experimental results demonstrate that the modified phase gradient mapping methods may produce improved positive contrast effects by reducing truncation or wrapping artifacts.     

Area of paradoxical signal drop after the administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide on the T2-weighted image of a patient with lymphangitic metastasis of the liver

We report a geographic area of prominent hypointensity in T2-weighted images vs. normal adjacent liver parenchyma in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma and lymphangitic metastasis of the liver after superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) administration. The area showing this prominent signal drop showed Kupffer cell proliferation and lymphangitic metastasis during a pathologic examination.     

Geometry effect on the nonlinear magnetic response of YBa2Cu3O7−y

Results are presented for study of nonlinear magnetization of a sintered YBa₂Cu₃O_7−y pellet of different thickness of a sample subjected to very low magnetic field. On cooling the sample belowT _c in zero field a change, in the oscillatory structure of harmonics in increasing dc field is observed in very low ac magnetic field. The effect of finiteness of the sample on the oscillatory structure and on the hysteresis of harmonics is also studied. The results are explained qualitatively.     

Scaling of ac susceptibility and the nonlinear response function of high-temperature superconductors

The amplitude-dependent ac susceptibility of high-temperature superconductors is shown to obey some empirical scaling relations. We try to analyze this behavior by extending a dc nonlinear response function of mixed state to the ac cases. The derived equations for critical current and ac susceptibility X(T) agree with the scaling relations of experimental data.     

Kq, Scaling of ac susceptibility and the nonlinear response function of high-temperature superconductors

The amplitude-dependent ac susceptibility of high-temperature superconductors is shown to obey some empirical scaling relations. We try to analyze this behavior by extending a dc nonlinear response function of mixed state to the ac cases. The derived equations for critical current and ac susceptibility ξ(T) agree with the scaling relations of experimental data.     

Quantitative liver iron measurement by magnetic resonance imaging: in vitro and in vivo assessment of the liver to muscle signal intensity and the R2* methods

Purpose

To evaluate the liver-to-muscle signal intensity and R2* methods to gain a transferable, clinical application for liver iron measurement.

Materials and Methods

Sixteen liver phantoms and 33 human subjects were examined using three 1.5-T MRI scanners from two different vendors. Phantom-to-muscle and liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratios were analyzed to determine MRI estimated phantom and hepatic iron concentration (M-PIC and M-HIC, respectively). R2* was calculated for the phantoms and the liver of human subjects. Seven patients' biochemical hepatic iron concentration was obtained.

Results

M-PIC and R2* results of three scanners correlated linearly to phantom iron concentrations (r=0.984 to 0.989 and r=0.972 to 0.981, respectively), and no significant difference between the scanners was found (P=.482 and P=.846, respectively) in vitro. The patients' R2* correlated linearly to M-HIC of the standard scanner (r=0.981). M-HIC values did not differ from those obtained from the biopsy specimens (P=.230). The difference in M-HIC was significant, but the difference in R2* was not significant between the scanners (P<.0001 and P=.505, respectively) in vivo.

Conclusion

Both methods, M-HIC and R2*, are reliable iron concentration indicators with linear dependence on iron concentration in vivo and in vitro. The R2* method was found to be comparable among different scanners. Transferability testing is needed for the use of the methods at various scanners.     

A time convolution less density matrix approach to the nonlinear optical response of a coupled system-bath complex

Time convolution less density matrix theory (TCL) is a powerful and well established tool to investigate strong system-bath coupling for linear optical spectra. We show that TCL equations can be generalised to the nonlinear optical response up to a chosen order in the optical field. This goal is achieved via an time convolution less perturbation scheme for the reduced density matrices of the electronic system. In our approach, the most important results are the inclusion of a electron-phonon coupling non-diagonal in the electronic states and memory effects of the bath: First, the considered model system is introduced. Second, the time evolution of the statistical operator is expanded with respect to the external optical field. This expansion is the starting point to explain how a TCL theory can treat the response up to in a certain order in the external field. Third, new TCL equations, including bath memory effects, are derived and the problem of information loss in the reduced density matrix is analysed. For this purpose, new dimensions are added to the reduced statistical operator to compensate lack of information in comparison with the full statistical operator. The theory is benchmarked with a two level system and applied to a three level system including non-diagonal phonon coupling. In our analysis of pump-probe experiments, the bath memory is influenced by the system state occupied between pump and probe pulse. In particular, the memory of the bath influences the dephasing process of electronic coherences developing during the time interval between pump and probe pulses.