Three-dimensional T1, T2 and proton density mapping with inversion recovery balanced SSFP

By combining a balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout with an initial inversion pulse, all three contrast parameters, T₁, T₂ and proton density (M₀), may be rapidly calculated from the signal progression in time. However, here it is shown that this technique is quite sensitive to variation in the applied transmit RF (B₁) field, leading to pronounced errors in calculated values. Two-dimensional (2D) acquisitions are taxed to accurately quantify the relaxation, as the short RF pulses required by SSFP's rapid TR contain a broad spectrum of excitation angles. A 3D excitation using a large diameter excitation coil was able to correctly quantify the parameters. While the extreme B₁ sensitivity was previously problematic and has precluded use of IR-bSSFP for relaxometry, in this work these obstacles were significantly reduced, allowing the rapid quantification of T₁, T₂ and M₀. The results may further be used to simulate image contrast from common sequences, such as a T₁-weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) examination.     

Measurement and correction of stimulated echo contamination in T2-based iron quantification

The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of stimulated echo contamination on MR-based iron measurement derived from quantitative T₂ images and develop a method for retrospective correction. Two multiple spin-echo (MSE) pulse sequences were implemented with different amounts of stimulated echo contamination. Agarose-based phantoms were constructed that simulate the relaxation and susceptibility properties of tissue with different concentrations of dispersed (ferritin-like) and aggregated (hemosiderin-like) iron. Additionally, myocardial iron was assessed in nine human subjects with transfusion iron overload. These data were used to determine the influence of stimulated echoes on iron measurements made by an MR-based iron quantification model that can separately measure dispersed and aggregated iron. The study found that stimulated echo contamination caused an underestimation of dispersed (ferritin-like) iron and an overestimation of aggregated (hemosiderin-like) iron when applying this model. The relationship between the measurements made with and without stimulated echo appears to be linear. The findings suggest that while it is important to use MSE sequences with minimal stimulated echo in T₂-based iron quantification, it appears that data acquired with sub-optimal sequences can be retrospectively corrected using the methodology described here.     

Assessment of interstitial water content of articular cartilage with T1 relaxation

The interstitial water content typically increases in the early degeneration of articular cartilage. Previously, T₂ relaxation has been related to water content, yet it is known to be strongly affected by the collagen orientation. Articular cartilage plugs from the bovine patella, femur and tibia (N=20) were mapped for T₁ and T₂ at 9.4 T to test the ability of T₁ relaxation to reflect cartilage water content. As a reference, water and proteoglycan (PG) contents were determined. Significant (P<.01) linear associations were demonstrated between the relaxation rates and tissue water content (R₁: r=−.81, R₂: r=−.60) and PG content (R₁: r=.75). After adjustment for the tissue water content, partial correlation analysis did not show significant associations between the relaxation rates and tissue PG content. After the effect of PGs was removed, significant (P<.05) linear correlation between the relaxation rates and tissue water content (R₁: r=−.48, R₂: r=−.50) was observed. Thus, the spin-lattice relaxation rate is proposed to provide a biomarker for water content in articular cartilage.     

A statistical fMRI model for differential T2* contrast incorporating T1 and T2* of gray matter

Relaxation parameter estimation and brain activation detection are two main areas of study in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Relaxation parameters can be used to distinguish voxels containing different types of tissue whereas activation determines voxels that are associated with neuronal activity. In fMRI, the standard practice has been to discard the first scans to avoid magnetic saturation effects. However, these first images have important information on the MR relaxivities for the type of tissue contained in voxels, which could provide pathological tissue discrimination. It is also well-known that the voxels located in gray matter (GM) contain neurons that are to be active while the subject is performing a task. As such, GM MR relaxivities can be incorporated into a statistical model in order to better detect brain activation. Moreover, although the MR magnetization physically depends on tissue and imaging parameters in a nonlinear fashion, a linear model is what is conventionally used in fMRI activation studies. In this study, we develop a statistical fMRI model for Differential T₂^? ConTrast Incorporating T₁ and T₂^? of GM, so-called DeTeCT-ING Model, that considers the physical magnetization equation to model MR magnetization; uses complex-valued time courses to estimate T₁ and T₂^? for each voxel; then incorporates gray matter MR relaxivities into the statistical model in order to better detect brain activation, all from a single pulse sequence by utilizing the first scans.     

14N Pulsed nuclear quadrupole resonance. 4. Two-pulse sequences for the determination of T1 and T2 relaxation times

A general theory, based on density matrix calculations, has been developed for the special case of a two-pulse sequence applied to spin 1 (¹⁴N) nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) of a powder sample. It is shown that the homolog of the NMR inversion-recovery experiment leads easily to the spin-lattice relaxation time T ₁ (associated with the diagonal elements of the density matrix) provided that an appropriate phase cycling is used. Conversely, in spite of two-step phase cycling schemes adapted to spin-spin relaxation measurements, the homolog of the NMR Hahn spin-echo sequence may pose some problems if the results are displayed in the magnitude mode. First, at short decay times, the echo may be corrupted by unwanted signals. Secondly, in that case, the amplitude of the resulting signal can evolve unexpectedly and differently as a function of the phase of the second pulse. Thirdly, at long decay times, the echo maximum occurs earlier than expected. All these problems in principle disappear with a complete four-step phase cycling scheme and the echo decay curve yields reliably the spin-spin relaxation time T ₂ (associated with off-diagonal elements). This theory allowed the exploitation of many test experiments performed at different frequencies on hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) and sodium nitrite.     

The analysing powers iT11, T20, T21 and T22 in deuteron-deuteron elastic scattering between 6 and 11.5 MeV

The angular distributions of the analysing powers iT₁₁(θ), T₂₀(θ), T₂₁(θ) and T₂₂(θ) of the elastic scattering of polarized deuterons on deuterons have been measured at deuteron energies of 6.0, 8.0, 10.0 and 11.5 MeV. The vector component has small but non-zero values which change sign between 6.0 and 10.0 MeV. The tensor components have increasing values with increasing energy. The results are discussed in respect of resonances in ⁴He and a term scheme is proposed for a complete phase-shift analysis.     

Calculations of the nuclear relaxation time T1 in a two-dimensional quasi-nematic system

Orientational fluctuations of the quasi-nematic order in a two-dimensional monomolecular layer contribute to the neclear relaxation time T₁. The correlation functions are predicted to decay non-exponentially, an effect which could be measured from the dependence of T₁ on the nuclear Larmor frequency.     

Global predictions of T2 symmetric deep level wavefunctions in semiconductors

Numerical results of T₂ symmetric SP₃ bonded deep level wavefunctions due to short range defect potentials in Si, Ge, GaAs and InP are presented. The general features of defect wavefunctions are insensitive to either the band structure of the host of defect energy level. The total occupation probability of wavefunction located on 0 . 1 . 2 shells around the defect center is about 60–85%. This part of wavefunction may be expressed in several simple symmetric combinations of SP³ hybrid orbitals. The rest part of the wavefunction extends diversely over a wide range of space.     

High field NMR microscopic imaging of cultivated strawberry fruit

The experimental conditions required for discrimination of various types of tissue in fruits of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa) at high fields (ca. 7 T) have been investigated. In marked contrast to soft fruits of other species, from which informative images have been derived at high fields using a variety of pulse sequences and acquisition parameters, appreciable image intensities from parenchymal and vascular tissues in healthy strawberry fruits were obtained only with a spin-echo imaging sequence using large sweep widths (ca. 100,000 Hz), and consequently small values for TE (<5 ms), indicating predominantly short T₂ values for these tissues. Damage caused by infection by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea is readily seen as a result of a large increase in T₂ in the infected tissue, whereas ripening processes appear to be characterized primarily by small variations in the T₂-weighted contrast and in the relative magnitudes of T₁ between vascular and parenchymal tissue. In addition, it was possible selectively to enhance the contributions to images from the achenes (“seeds”) by using very short relaxation delays, thereby enhancing T₁-dominated contrast mechanisms.     

Parametric multiecho proton spectroscopic imaging: Application to the rat brain in vivo

A parametric multiecho variant of proton spectroscopic imaging (SI) is presented using a multiecho SI sequence with uniform phase-encoding of all echoes within each echo train. The acquisition of SI data sets at different echo times (TE) increases the amount of information obtained within the same total measuring time as in standard SI measurements. The gain in information can be used: (a) to choose the most appropriate TE for each metabolite signal with respect to T₂, spin coupling, or problems caused by peak overlap; (b) to measure the relaxation time T₂ of metabolite signals with high spatial resolution; or (c) to improve the signal-to-noise ratio for metabolite signals with long T₂ values by adding spectra calculated from consecutive echoes. The method was tested in vivo on healthy rat brain and applied to study metabolic changes in rat brain lesions.     

A study of 3He-4He tunneling motion in solid 3He-4He mixtures by means of T1ϱ measurements

³He spin relaxation time in the rotating frame (T_1?) has been measured for 2% ³He in ⁴He solid samples of different molar volume at exchange plateau region (0.5 K). From the data, the characteristic frequency by which a ³He atom exchanges its position with a neighboring ⁴He atom is determined.     

Estimation of water content and water mobility in the nucleus and cytoplasm of Xenopus laevis oocytes by NMR microscopy

NMR microscopy is a noninvasive approach for studying cell structure and properties. Spatially resolved measurement of the relaxation times T₁ and T₂ provided information on the water proton spin density and water mobility in different parts of Xenopus laevis oocytes. The spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ was determined using a saturation-recovery sequence and the common spin-echo sequence with increasing repetition times, while the transverse relaxation time T₂ was measured by means of the spin-echo sequence with varying echo times. From the relaxation times, the mole fractions of possible reorientational correlation times τ_c for different types of intracellular water were calculated according to a simple two-phase model. The values for T₁, T₂, and proton spin density (i.e., water content) are: nucleus ⪢ animal cytoplasm > vegetal cytoplasm. Based on the estimation of τ_c, nearly 90% of the nuclear water and 74.4% of the water of the animal pole was considered as free mobile water, whereas 55.5% of the water of the vegetal pole appeared as bound water.     

NMR spectral densities and two dimensional diffusion in TiS2(NH3)1.0 and TaS2(NH3)x

NMR measurements of proton spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ and T_1? in the layered intercalation compounds TiS₂(NH₃)_1.0 and TaS₂(NH₃)_x (x = 0.8, 0.9, 1.0) are reported as functions of frequency and temperature (100 K – 300 K). These observations probe the spectral density of magnetic fluctuations due to motions of the intercalated molecules at frequencies accessible to the T₁ (4–90 MHz) and T_1? (1–100 kHz) measurements. Since the average molecular hopping time (τ) can be changed by varying temperature, different regions of the spectral density can be examined. For T > 200 K, both T^?1₁ and T^?1_1? vary logarithmically with frequency, reflecting the two dimensional character of the molecular diffusion. The temperature dependence of T₁ suggests that a more accurate picture of the short time dynamics is required. No dependence of relaxation rate on vacancy concentration is found.     

Optimized gradient spoiling of UTE VFA-AFI sequences for robust T1 estimation with B1-field correction

Quantifying T₁ relaxation times is a challenge because inhomogeneities of the B₁ field have to be corrected to obtain proper values. It is a particular challenge in tissues with short T₂^⁎ values, for which conventional MRI techniques do not provide sufficient signal. Recently, a B₁-field correction technique called AFI (Actual Flip angle Imaging) has been introduced that can be combined with UTE (ultra-short echo-time) sequences, which have much shorter echo times compared to conventional MRI techniques, allowing quantification of signal in short T₂^⁎ tissues. A disadvantage of AFI is that it requires very long relaxation delays between repetitions to minimize the influence of imperfect spoiling of transverse magnetization on signal behavior. In this work, we propose a novel spoiling scheme for the AFI sequence that efficiently provides accurate B₁ correction maps with strongly reduced acquisition time. We validated the method with both phantom and preliminary in vivo results.     

The Phosphorescence Excitation Spectrum of Jet-Cooled Xanthione in the Region of the T1←S0 and S1←S0 Absorption Transitions

The ³A₂(nπ*)→¹A₁X (T₁→S₀) phosphorescence excitation spectrum of jet-cooled xanthione was investigated in the region 14 920-17 600 cm⁻¹. The structure observed is shown to be due to the T₁←S₀ absorption and an assignment in terms of the vibronic structure of that band is proposed. A previous assignment of the S₁←S₀ origin is considered in detail and the transition involved is shown to be most probably due to absorption of a vibronic triplet state T_1z,ν7. An alternative but tentative assignment of the S_1,0←S_0,0 transition is suggested. Comparison is made with previous spectroscopic and theoretical work on the molecule and its congeners, 4H-pyran-4-thione and 4H-1-benzopyran-4-thione.     

Study on vacancy motion in Y2O3-doped CeO2 by 17O NMR technique

The ¹⁷O NMR measurement was made to elucidate the microscopic nature of vacancy motion in Y₂O₃-doped CeO₂. Spin-lattice relaxation rate, T^?1₁, spin-spin relaxation rate, T^?1₂, and resonance intensity were measured at v₀ = 8.13 MHz as a function of temperature [385 < T (K) < 1110] and composition [$\text{0.06 <}\text{Y}{}_2\text{O}{}_3\text{(}\text{m}\text{o}\text{) < 6}$]. The static electric field gradient associated with lattice defects resulted in the composition dependences of the line width and the intensity. In low dopant concentrations, doubly peaked temperature dependence of T^?1₁ was found, while a single and asymmetric peak was observed in high concentrations. T^?1₁ of 4.0 and 6.0 $\text{m}\text{o}$ doped samples were analyzed using a barrier height distribution model for the oxygen vacancy jump. The mean value of the activation energy was found to increase with the Y₂O₃ concentration.     

Numerical Determination of the Relaxation Parameters of NMR in Complex Heterogeneous Systems

The methods of mathematical processing of the envelopes of spin-echo signals have been considered within the framework of the multiphase relaxation theory. A mathematical model for separation of multiexponential relaxation curves into individual exponential components of spin-spin relaxation times T _2i and amplitudes I _i is described. The multiphase nature of the relaxation of protons in complex heterogeneous systems has been revealed, and the relaxation characteristics of individual components — spin-spin relaxation times and amplitudes — have been determined.     

Temperature and electric field dependences of conductivity in 1TTaS2

Systematic measurements are made on temperature and electric field dependences of conductivity for various samples of 1TTaS₂. Logarithmic dependences on both variables are observed in the region T ? 20 K for small E and E ? 40 V cm^?1 for small T. This behavior seems to be compatible with the recent scaling theory on the Anderson localization in two-dimensional system. On the other hand it is found that the values of the logarithmic slopes are obviously smaller than the theoretical value and show good correlation with the conductivity of each sample. These results suggest that 1TTaS₂ may be regarded as “quasi” two-dimensional electronic system.     

In vivo boron-11 MRI and MRS using (B24H22S2) in the rat

In vivo boron-11 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were performed on a rat that had been infused with a potential boron neutron capture therapy agent, Na₄B₂₄H₂₂S₂, using methods for detecting nuclei with a short T₂ relaxation time. MRI and MRS were also performed on a euthanized rat that had been similarly infused in vivo. Boron-11 spectral intensities decreased in the living rat over a 25-h period. The results demonstrate the capability of MRI and MRS to noninvasively monitor the distribution and excretion of boron agents in vivo.     

Ionic lithium conductivity in sulphur base glasses. 7Li NMR study of xLi2S−(1−x)GeS2 system

The lithium mobility in glasses of composition xLi₂S?(1?x)GeS₂ has been followed by c.w. (for x = 0.3; 0.4 and 0.5) and pulsed NMR (for x = 0.3 and 0.5) between ? 150 and + 280°C.The second moment of the resonance line of ⁷Li(0.89–1.51 G²) is proportional to the molar fraction of Li₂S, which may be correlated to an homogeneous Li nuclei distribution.The resonance line profiles and their thermal evolution seem to show that some Li⁺ ions do not participate in the conduction.Thermal variation of the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁, shows a strongly asymmetrical shape, if one considers In $\text{T}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}{}_1\text{= ?(T}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{)}$ on both sides of the observed maxima. This behaviour may be explained by a distribution of the Li correlation times τ corresponding to different jump distances between various possible sites. The Cole-Davidson model allows the best agreement between experimental and theoretical values of the correlation times.The activation energies deduced from this model are close to those obtained from conductivity measurements (0.43 eV by NMR, 0.56 eV by conductivity determinations for x = 0.50), they may be correlated to the longer Li⁺ jumps in the vitreous matrix.