Feasibility of similarity coefficient map in improving morphological evaluation of T2* weighted MRI for renal cancer

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of similarity coefficient map (SCM) in improving morphological evaluation of T₂^* weighted (T₂^*W) magnatic resonance imaging (MRI) for renal cancer. Simulation studies and in vivo 12-echo T₂^*W experiments for renal cancers were performed for this purpose. The results of the first simulation study suggest that SCM can reveal small structures which are hard to be distinguished from the background tissue in T₂^*W images and the corresponding T₂^* map. The capability of improving morphological evaluation is likely due to the improvement in signal to noise ratio (SNR) and carrier to noise ratio (CNR) by SCM technique. Compared with T₂^*W images, SCM can improve SNR by a factor ranging from 1.87 to 2.47. Compared with T₂^* maps, SCM can improve SNR by a factor ranging from 3.85 to 33.31. Compared with T₂^*W images, SCM can improve CNR by a factor raging from 2.09 to 2.43. Compared with T₂^* maps SCM can improve CNR by a factor raging from 1.94 to 8.14. For a given noise level, the improvements of SNR and CNR depend mainly on the original SNRs and CNRs in T₂^*W images, respectively. In vivo experiments confirmed the results of the first simulation study. The results of the second simulation study suggest that more echoes are used to generate SCM, and higher SNR and CNR can be achieved in SCM. In conclusion, SCM can provide improved morphological evaluation of T₂^*W MR images for renal cancer by unveiling fine structures which are ambiguous or invisible in the corresponding T₂^*W MR images and T₂^* maps. What is more, in practical application, for a fixed total sampling time, one should increase the number of echoes as much as possible to achieve SCMs with better SNR and CNR.     

Detection of T2 changes in an early mouse brain tumor

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of early tumor growth on T₂ relaxation times in an experimental glioma model. A 9.4-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system was used for the investigations. An animal model (n=12) of glioma was established using an intracranial inoculation of U87MGdEGFRvIII cells. The imaging studies were performed from Day 10 through Day 13 following tumor inoculation. Tumor blood vessel density was determined using quantitative immunochemistry. Tumor volume was measured daily using MR images. T₂ values of the tumor were measured in five areas across the tumor and calculated using a single exponential fitting of the echo train. The measurements on Days 10 and 13 after tumor inoculation showed a 20% increase in T₂. The changes in T₂ correlated with the size of the tumor. Statistically significant differences in T₂ values were observed between the edge of the tumor and the brain tissue on Days 11, 12 and 13 (P=.014, .008, .001, respectively), but not on Day 10 (P=.364). The results show that T₂-weighted MRI may not detect glioma during an early phase of growth. T₂ increases in growing glioma and varies heterogenously across the tumor.     

Ar-H2(D2, T2)碰撞体系的振转相互作用势及散射截面的理论计算

用量子力学从头算的耦合族CCSD(T)方法, 使用相关一致基组aug-cc-pV5Z并加3s3p2d1f1g高斯键函数计算了Ar原子与H₂分子的振转相互作用和电荷分布, 采用Boys和Bernardi提出的均衡法消除了基组重叠误差(BSSE). 然后用Tang-Toennies势能函数拟合得到Ar-H₂体系相互作用势的解析表达式. 在该相互作用势下, 用密耦方法计算了Ar原子入射能量为83 meV时, Ar-H₂(D₂, T₂)碰撞体系的散射截面. 计算Ar-D₂体系的微分截面与实验值比较符合很好. 计算结果及分析表明, 在长程吸引势的散射中, 色散能起主要作用; 在短程排斥势的散射中, 交换能起重要作用. 当碰撞参数在0.27 nm至0.47 nm的范围时, Ar-H₂(D₂, T₂)碰撞体系的径向偶极发生两次转向.     

油井样品NMR T2谱的影响因素及T2截止值的确定方法

T₂ 谱是核磁共振（NMR）测、录井技术应用与解释、评价的基础. 岩样T₂ 谱受仪器测量参数、样品性质（岩性、颗粒大小、样品粒度、样品干湿状态、孔隙流体含量及性质、磁化率、润湿性）及地层水矿化度等因素的影响. T₂ 截止值是T₂ 谱中最重要的参数之一,选取的科学性与准确性直接影响到核磁共振测量结果. 通过文献查询,对T2 谱的影响因素及T₂ 截止值的确定方法进行了分析.     

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.     

On the measurement of multi-component T2 relaxation in cartilage by MR spectroscopy and imaging

The multicomponent T₂ relaxation in bovine nasal cartilage (BNC) was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence and microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (μMRI) method using a CPMG-SE imaging sequence. All experimental data were analyzed by the non-negative least square (NNLS) procedure. Only one T₂ component was found in BNC by both experimental methods (about 113 and 170 ms before and after being enzymatically digested by trypsin). Several experimental and specimen-related factors were investigated in this study, and it was found that some of them could produce artificial multi-component T₂, including the use of the standard MSME imaging sequence at certain imaging gradients.     

MSE-MRI sequence optimisation for measurement of bi- and tri-exponential T2 relaxation in a phantom and fruit

The transverse relaxation signal from vegetal cells can be described by multi-exponential behaviour, reflecting different water compartments. This multi-exponential relaxation is rarely measured by conventional MRI imaging protocols; mono-exponential relaxation times are measured instead, thus limiting information about of the microstructure and water status in vegetal cells. In this study, an optimised multiple spin echo (MSE) MRI sequence was evaluated for assessment of multi-exponential transverse relaxation in fruit tissues. The sequence was designed for the acquisition of a maximum of 512 echoes. Non-selective refocusing RF pulses were used in combination with balanced crusher gradients for elimination of spurious echoes. The study was performed on a bi-compartmental phantom with known T₂ values and on apple and tomato fruit. T₂ decays measured in the phantom and fruit were analysed using bi- and tri-exponential fits, respectively. The MRI results were compared with low field non-spatially resolved NMR measurements performed on the same samples.     

Enhancement of positive temperature coefficient resistance effect of BaTiO3-based semiconducting ceramics caused by B2O3 vapor dopants

The positive temperature coefficient resistivity (PTCR) effect of semiconducting BaTiO₃ ceramics can be remarkably influenced by both dopants and ceramic processing. The behavior of B₂O₃ as vapor dopants was studied in this paper. It was found that the PTCR effect was enhanced distinctly, while the room temperature resistance also increased.     

高温无铅BaTiO_3-(Bi_(1/2)Na_(1/2))TiO_3正温度系数电阻陶瓷阻抗和介电谱分析

采用固相反应法制备了Y2O3施主掺杂的92 mol%BaTiO3-8 mol%(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3(BBNT8)高温无铅正温度系数电阻(positive temperature coe?cient resistivity,PTCR)陶瓷.利用透射电镜观察材料的显微结构,发现陶瓷的显微结构主要包括晶粒和晶界两部分,观察不到明显的壳层结构.进一步利用交流阻抗谱研究了陶瓷的宏观电学性能,发现陶瓷的总电阻是晶粒和晶界两部分的贡献,而晶粒电阻很小,在居里温度以上变化不大,材料的PTCR效应主要是晶界部分的贡献.当温度高于居里温度时,随着温度的升高,晶界介电常数逐渐减小,导致势垒增加,晶界电阻增大,从而产生正温度系数效应.最后,通过测试材料的介电频谱特性,研究计算了陶瓷的室温电阻率.     

Study of the fluid flow characteristics in a porous medium for CO2 geological storage using MRI

The objective of this study was to understand fluid flow in porous media. Understanding of fluid flow process in porous media is important for the geological storage of CO₂. The high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was used to measure fluid flow in a porous medium (glass beads BZ-02). First, the permeability was obtained from velocity images. Next, CO₂–water immiscible displacement experiments using different flow rates were investigated. Three stages were obtained from the MR intensity plot. With increasing CO₂ flow rate, a relatively uniform CO₂ distribution and a uniform CO₂ front were observed. Subsequently, the final water saturation decreased. Using core analysis methods, the CO₂ velocities were obtained during the CO₂–water immiscible displacement process, which were applied to evaluate the capillary dispersion rate, viscous dominated fractional flow, and gravity flow function. The capillary dispersion rate dominated the effects of capillary, which was largest at water saturations of 0.5 and 0.6. The viscous-dominant fractional flow function varied with the saturation of water. The gravity fractional flow reached peak values at the saturation of 0.6. The gravity forces played a positive role in the downward displacements because they thus tended to stabilize the displacement process, thereby producing increased breakthrough times and correspondingly high recoveries. Finally, the relative permeability was also reconstructed. The study provides useful data regarding the transport processes in the geological storage of CO₂.     

Atomic-potential parameters for H2 and D2: quantum corrections in the calculation of second-virial coefficients

First-order quantum corrections were introduced into the computation of the second-virial coefficients of H₂ and D₂. The quantum effects, for the studied two light molecules, are considerable even at the room temperature and become prominent at low temperatures. Atomic potentials, incorporating the quadrupole interactions, were employed in the calculations. Optimum atomic-potential parameters ε_H, σ_H, ε_D and σ_D were obtained from the nonlinear least-squares fit of the experimental second-virial coefficients. The fitted virial coefficients cover the temperature ranges of 173-423 and 153- for H₂ and D₂, respectively.     

SiC/SiO2 coating for improving the oxidation resistive property of carbon nanofiber

The SiC/SiO₂ deposition was performed to improve the oxidation resistive properties of carbon nanofiber (CNF) from electrospinning at elevated temperatures through sol-gel process. The stabilized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were coated with SiO₂ followed by heat treatment up to 1000 and 1400 °C in an inert argon atmosphere. The chemical compositions of the CNFs surface heat-treated were characterized as C, Si and O existing as SiC and SiO₂ compounds on the surface. The uniform and continuous coating improved the oxidation resistance of the carbon nanofibers. The residual weight of the composite was 70-80% and mixture of SiC, SiO₂ and some residual carbon after exposure to air at 1000 °C.     

Magnetic and bioactivity evaluation of ferrimagnetic ZnFe2O4 containing glass ceramics for the hyperthermia treatment of cancer

Glass ceramics of the composition xZnO·25Fe₂O₃·(40−x)SiO₂·25CaO·7P₂O₅·3Na₂O were prepared by the melt-quench method using oxy-acetylene flame. Glass-powder compacts were sintered at 1100 °C for 3 h and then rapidly cooled at −10 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed 3 prominent crystalline phases: ZnFe₂O₄, CaSiO₃ and Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) data at 10 KOe and 500 Oe showed that saturation magnetization, coercivity and hence hysteresis area increased with the increase in ZnO content. Nano-sized ZnFe₂O₄ crystallites were of pseudo-single domain structure and thus coercivity increased with the increase in crystallite size. ZnFe₂O₄ exhibited ferrimagnetism due to the random distribution of Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ cations at tetrahedral A sites and octahedral B sites. This inversion/random distribution of cations was probably due to the surface effects of nano-ZnFe₂O₄ and rapid cooling of the material from 1100 °C (thus preserving the high temperature state of the random distribution of cations). Calorimetric measurements were carried out using magnetic induction furnace at 500 Oe magnetic field and 400 KHz frequency. The data showed that maximum specific power loss and temperature increase after 2 min were 26 W/g and 37 °C, respectively for the sample containing 10% ZnO. The samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 3 weeks. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and XRD results confirmed the growth of precipitated hydroxyapatite phase after immersion in SBF, suggesting that the ferrimagnetic glass ceramics were bioactive and could bond to the living tissues in physiological environment.     

A New Two-Dimensional Pulse Sequence for T2* Measurements of Protons in C Isotopomers

A new two-dimensional pulse sequence for T₂* measurement of protons directly coupled to ¹³C spins is proposed. The sequence measures the tranverse relaxation time of heteronuclear proton single-quantum coherence under conditions of free precession and is therefore well suited to evaluate relaxation losses of proton magnetization during preparation delays of heteronuclear pulse experiments in analytical NMR. The relevant part of the pulse sequence can be inserted as a “building block” into any direct or inverse detecting H,C correlation pulse sequence if proton spin–spin relaxation is to be investigated. In this contribution, the building block is inserted into a HETCOR as well as into a HMQC pulse sequence. Experimental results for the HETCOR-based sequence are given.