Inversion recovery ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging: A method for simultaneous direct detection of myelin and high signal demonstration of iron deposition in the brain – A feasibility study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes demyelinating lesions in the white matter and increased iron deposition in the subcortical gray matter. Myelin protons have an extremely short T2* (< 1 ms) and are not directly detected with conventional clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. Iron deposition also reduces T2*, leading to reduced signal on clinical sequences. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the inversion recovery ultrashort echo time (IR-UTE) pulse sequence can directly and simultaneously image myelin and iron deposition using a clinical 3 T scanner. The technique was first validated on a synthetic myelin phantom (myelin powder in D₂O) and a Feridex iron phantom. This was followed by studies of cadaveric MS specimens, healthy volunteers and MS patients. UTE imaging of the synthetic myelin phantom showed an excellent bi-component signal decay with two populations of protons, one with a T2* of 1.2 ms (residual water protons) and the other with a T2* of 290 μs (myelin protons). IR-UTE imaging shows sensitivity to a wide range of iron concentrations from 0.5 to ~ 30 mM. The IR-UTE signal from white matter of the brain of healthy volunteers shows a rapid signal decay with a short T2* of ~ 300 μs, consistent with the T2* values of myelin protons in the synthetic myelin phantom. IR-UTE imaging in MS brain specimens and patients showed multiple white matter lesions as well as areas of high signal in subcortical gray matter. This in specimens corresponded in position to Perl's diaminobenzide staining results, consistent with increased iron deposition. IR-UTE imaging simultaneously detects lesions with myelin loss in the white matter and iron deposition in the gray matter.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy study of interfaces for spintronics

The submonolayer sensitivity and element-specificity of conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, combined with the use of ⁵⁷Fe enriched tracer layers, enable to carefully investigate thin films and interfaces at the atomic-scale. This paper reports on the main achievements we obtained so far in the study of structural, chemical, and magnetic properties of a variety of interfaces between oxides and Fe-based films having potential interest in the field of spintronics.     

Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the fibrocartilage disc of the temporomandibular joint – a feasibility study

Objective

To 1) test the feasibility of delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cartilage (dGEMRIC) at 3 T in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and 2) to determine the optimal delay for measurements of the TMJ disc after i.v. contrast agent (CA) administration.

Design

MRI of the right and left TMJ of six asymptomatic volunteers was performed at 3 T using a dedicated coil. 2D inversion recovery (2D-IR) sequences were performed at 4 time points covering 120 minutes and 3D gradient-echo (3D GRE) dual flip-angle sequences were performed at 14 time points covering 130 minutes after the administration of 0.2 mmol/kg of Gd-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid ion (Gd-DTPA)^2-, i.e., 0.4 mL of Magnevist™ per kg body weight. Pair-wise tests were used to assess differences between pre-and post-contrast T1 values.

Results

2D-IR sequences showed a statistically significant drop (p < 0.001) in T1 values after i.v. CA administration. The T1 drop of 50% was reached 60 minutes after bolus injection in the TMJ disc. The 3D GRE dual flip-angle sequences confirmed these results and show plateau of T1 after 60 minutes.

Conclusions

T1(Gd) maps calculated from dGEMRIC data allow in vivo assessment of the fibrocartilage disc of the TMJ. The recommended measurement time for dGEMRIC in the TMJ after i.v. CA administration is from 60 to 120 minutes.     

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman study of avidin–dye interactions: A model for chromophore-containing proteins

Resonance Raman (RR) and surface-enhanced resonance Raman (SERR) spectroscopy were used to study the behavior of 2-(4′-hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid (HABA) at different pH values (2.7–11.8) in solution and bound to avidin. Major changes in the RR spectrum of the dye are observed near pH 8.0 and 3.0. These pH values are close to the pK_a values for the phenolic and carboxylic acid functional groups of HABA and reflect deprotonation of these groups. In addition, however, tautomeric forms of the dye are possible within each pH range and these can be identified from the characteristic vibrational modes of the azo and hydrazone forms of HABA. Similar changes in the SERR spectrum of HABA were also observed as a function of pH. However, a comparison of the RR and SERR spectra has shown that the tautomeric equilbrium is shifted toward the hydrazone form on the Ag surface compared with the effect in solution. The RR and SERR spectra of the HABA-avidin complex are nearly identical and indicative of the hydrazone form of the dye. Hence the complex is not dissociated on the Ag surface. This finding is encouraging with regard to the application of SERR techniques to the study of native proteins containing chromophores.     

A Magnetic resonance study of La1−x SrxMnO3 manganites

Single crystals of La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃ and La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ manganites are examined using magnetic resonance in the temperature range 80–370 K. It is found that magnetostatic oscillations arise near the Curie temperature. The possible reasons for the appearance of additional lines in the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectrum are considered, and the anisotropy field and the type of crystalline magnetic anisotropy in the La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ compound are determined. It is shown that the crystalline magnetic anisotropy in the La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃ compound exhibits specific features associated with its type of crystal structure.     

Superposition model in electron magnetic resonance spectroscopy – a primer for experimentalists with illustrative applications and literature database

We review applications of the superposition model (SPM) in EMR area, which enables semi-empirical modeling of zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters (ZFSPs) for transition ions in crystals by separation of geometrical and physical information. Nomenclature used for ZFS and crystal field (CF) Hamiltonians is presented to expose common framework underlying two independent implementations: SPM/ZFS and SPM/CF, which require distinct model parameters. SPM/ZFSP applications in EMR area for S-state 3d⁵ (4f⁷) ions and 3d^N ions with orbital singlet ground state are reviewed. SPM/ZFS methodology for ML_n complexes [central metal (M) ion surrounded by n ligands (L)] with specific symmetry is presented. SPM-related computer packages combined with other methods, role of axis systems in SPM analysis, and structural models for several ion-host systems, are discussed. Extensive survey of SPM/ZFS applications is provided to elucidate usefulness of SPM modeling for interpretation of ZFSPs. This review is geared for EMR practitioners interested in practical utilization of SPM/ZFS (or SPM/CFP) analysis. Database of SPM/ZFS references is compiled for studies of single molecule magnets and single ion magnets based on transition ions. Due to its comprehensiveness, suitable sets of model parameters required for practical utilization SPM/ZFS may be easily located using source references as pointers.     

Evaluation of the brain pH using a phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique – a comparison of women and men

The aim of this study was to determine the reference value of pH in healthy women and men using the phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique. The brains of 65 young volunteers were examined. The intracellular pH was calculated in the group of women and the group of men. In both groups, the average pH was slightly alkaline (respectively 7.10?±?0.08 and 7.08?±?0.12). No statistically significant sex difference in brain pH was found. Thus, in case if this method is used to estimate possible brain pathology in the young population, it is not needed to take the gender factor into consideration.     

A Mössbauer spectroscopy study of the conformational dynamics of native membrane proteins

In a Mössbauer study of non-dehydrated membrane proteins from thermophilic green-blue algae we observed the behavior of the “narrow” and “broad” lines of their Mössbauer spectra during the heating from 80 to 270 K and found that the behavior of the full area S_F under the spectrum resembles that of the Debye-Waller factor and that quadrupole splitting decreases drastically, from Δ = 0.7 mm/s to Δ ≈ 0, as the temperature is increased from 220 to 270 K. The mathematical treatment of the spectra and decomposition into three components corresponding to thermal, diffusional and conformational motions enabled us to explain the temperature-dependent changes in the spectra.     

A novel algorithm for automatic localization of human eyes

Based on geometrical facial features and image segmentation, we present a novel algorithm for automatic localization of human eyes in grayscale or color still images with complex background. Firstly, a determination criterion of eye location is established by the prior knowledge of geometrical facial features. Secondly, a range of threshold values that would separate eye blocks from others in a segmented face image (i.e., a binary image) are estimated. Thirdly, with the progressive increase of the threshold by an appropriate step in that range, once two eye blocks appear from the segmented image, they will be detected by the determination criterion of eye location. Finally, the 2D correlation coefficient is used as a symmetry similarity measure to check the factuality of the two detected eyes. To avoid the background interference, skin color segmentation can be applied in order to enhance the accuracy of eye detection. The experimental results demonstrate the high efficiency of the algorithm and correct     

A study on the best irradiation dose of X-ray for Hep-2 cells by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to study the human epidermis larynx car- cinoma cell lines (Hep-2) which were irradiated by different doses of X-ray.The results show that (1) the irradiation of X-ray damages the structure of the CH_3 groups of the thymine in DNA,which restrains the reproduction of Hep-2 cells effectively,(2) the 8 Gy dose of X-ray irradiation changes the framework and the relative contents of some proteins,lipids and the nucleic acid molecules intercellular in the greatest degree,and (3) the 8 Gy dose of X-ray irradiation is the best irradiation dose for lowering the degree of the cancerization of Hep-2 cells according to the criteria for the degree of the cancerization reported recently.Meanwhile,the apoptosis of these cells were detected by using flow cytometry (FCM) primarily. It shows that the apoptotic ratio of the Hep-2 cells depends on the irradiation dose to some extent,but is not linearly.And the apoptotic ratio of the 12 Gy dose group is the maximum (20.36%),but the apoptotic ratios of the 2 to 8 Gy dose groups change little.     

A Mössbauer spectroscopy study of polyol synthesized tavorite LiFeSO4F

The tavorite polymorph of LiFeSO₄F has attracted considerable attention as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries due to interesting structural and electrochemical characteristics. For the analysis of such iron-based electrode materials, Mössbauer spectroscopy has become an important and highly useful tool. In this work, we perform a detailed Mössbauer study of pristine tavorite LiFeSO₄F prepared by an optimized synthesis in tetraethylene glycol as reaction media. In contrast to many reported results, we demonstrate the use of an asymmetric fitting model for the inner doublet of the spectrum, which is coupled to the structural properties of the compound. Moreover, we discuss a new approach of ascribing the Fe^2?+?-doublets to the two distinct crystallographic iron sites of tavorite LiFeSO₄F by comparing the Mössbauer signal intensities with the expected f-factors for the corresponding iron atom.     

A study of computations for acoustic velocities of arbitrarily dipping layers

Through deriving expressions relating the dip-angle((?)_m)ofthe lower boundary of a layer to the acoustic velocity (v_m) of the layerand other pre-determinable parameters,v_m and (?)_m can be taken assimultaneously iterative variables while solving Shah‘s equations.Consequently the previous method of computing v_m and (?)_m presented byZHANG S.is improved,and the accuracy of solutions increasedgreatly.     

Sterical effects of encapsulation on some cobalt complexes built up in zeolite Y – A Mössbauer emission spectroscopy study

Mössbauer emission spectroscopy revealed effects of encapsulation on 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenantroline complexes of ⁵⁷Co²⁺ synthesized in the supercages of zeolite Y. The tris coordinated phenantroline complex, unexpectedly, did not form in the supercage due to the blocking effect of the cage walls. The spectra of the tris bipyridine complex did not show the high spin state of the nucleogenic iron(II) complex. This is attributed to the very short lifetime of this state destabilized by the misfit to the volume of the zeolite cage. The relaxation rate was estimated and compared with lifetimes measured on the complex embedded in other matrices.     

Design of ring resonator based all optical switch for logic and arithmetic operations – A theoretical study

In this paper, a general analysis for non-linear micro-ring resonator as all optical switch is discussed in a vertically coupled GaAs–AlGaAs micro-ring resonator by carrier injection. The ring resonator is optically pumped, which results in temporal shift of resonant wavelength by refractive index change due to carrier injection. A green laser as optical pump beam is used to shift resonant wavelength 1.5 nm of the ring resonator. Simulation, analysis and overall transfer function of single ring as well as cascaded micro-ring resonator (MRR) is studied. A single circuit, consisting of three MRRs, capable to perform all the two input sixteen logic operations is studied and reported. The same circuit can also act as half adder/subtractor and single bit data comparator.     

Analysis of two stacked cylindrical dielectric resonators in a TE₁₀₂ microwave cavity for magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The frequency, field distributions and filling factors of a DR/TE??? probe, consisting of two cylindrical dielectric resonators (DR1 and DR2) in a rectangular TE??? cavity, are simulated and analyzed by finite element methods. The TE(+++) mode formed by the in-phase coupling of the TE??(δ)(DR1), TE??(δ)(DR2) and TE??? basic modes, is the most appropriate mode for X-band EPR experiments. The corresponding simulated B(+++) fields of the TE(+++) mode have significant amplitudes at DR1, DR2 and the cavity's iris resulting in efficient coupling between the DR/TE??? probe and the microwave bridge. At the experimental configuration, B(+++) in the vicinity of DR2 is much larger than that around DR1 indicating that DR1 mainly acts as a frequency tuner. In contrast to a simple microwave shield, the resonant cavity is an essential component of the probe that affects its frequency. The two dielectric resonators are always coupled and this is enhanced by the cavity. When DR1 and DR2 are close to the cavity walls, the TE(+++) frequency and B(+++) distribution are very similar to that of the empty TE??? cavity. When all the experimental details are taken into account, the agreement between the experimental and simulated TE(+++) frequencies is excellent. This confirms that the resonating mode of the spectrometer's DR/TE??? probe is the TE(+++) mode. Additional proof is obtained from B?(x), which is the calculated maximum x component of B(+++). It is predominantly due to DR2 and is approximately 4.4 G. The B?(x) maximum value of the DR/TE??? probe is found to be slightly larger than that for a single resonator in a cavity because DR1 further concentrates the cavity's magnetic field along its x axis. Even though DR1 slightly enhances the performance of the DR/TE??? probe its main benefit is to act as a frequency tuner. A waveguide iris can be used to over-couple the DR/TE??? probe and lower its Q to ≈150. Under these conditions, the probe has a short dead time and a large bandwidth. The DR/TE??? probe's calculated conversion factor is approximately three times that of a regular cavity making it a good candidate for pulsed EPR experiments.     

A Mössbauer spectroscopy study of the corrosion of nodular cast iron in mine waters

The corrosion of ductile cast iron in water containing different amounts of chloride ions was investigated under both static and dynamic conditions. Corrosion/time relationships were established for exposure times of up to 30 days. Post-corrosion investigations were performed, employing Mössbauer spectroscopy, optical microscopy and electrochemical techniques. It was found that the nature of the surface corrosion product formed under static conditions differed morphologically and chemically from that formed under dynamic conditions. The latter was a hard layer consisting of a mixture of - and -FeOOH (situated on an underlying cementite layer), whereas the static tests resulted in a soft, spongy corrosion product, identified as -FeOOH.     

A mössbauer spectroscopy study of superparamagnetic amorphous alloy particles in a ferrofluid

A ferrofluid prepared by thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)₅ has been studied by use of Mössbauer spectroscopy. From the magnetic field dependence of the spectra obtained above the superparamagnetic blocking temperature, we estimate a particle size of about 4.2 nm. At low temperatures the magnetic properties of the sample seem to be influenced by magnetic coupling among the particles. An upper limit for the magnetic anisotropy energy constant of about 0.6x10⁵ J m^-3 is estimated. This is considerably smaller than that of crystalline α-iron particles prepared on a support.     

A phase field crystal study of heterogeneous nucleation – application of the string method

We use the simplified string method in order to examine two dimensional heterogeneous nucleation at a wall and on a substrate. The material is described by a phase field crystal model and the influence of the wall or substrate is included by an external potential. Tuning the external potential we show that we can control the contact angle in equilibrium and misfit to a substrate. The nucleation barrier is reduced by a wall, but cannot be explained by classical nucleation theory due to non-classical nucleation paths. For small misfits a substrate also decreases the nucleation barrier, while large misfits increases the nucleation barrier.     

A structure study of copper oxide for monolayer dispersion of anatase supported

The monolayer dispersion of copper oxide on the surface of anatase and its effect on the properties have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and X-ray extended absorption fine structure(EXAFS).XPS results give an utmost dispersion capacity of 7.2mg/gTiO2.Strong interactions between copper oxide and anatase can be seen from EXAFS results.The structure of the supported CuO species is strongly dependent on the amount of CuO loading.When the content of CuO loading is below the utmost dispersion capacity,the surface of CuO/TiO2 is dominated by the highly dispersed CuO species having no-Cu-O-Cu-chains,The copper ion is located in an octahedral coordination environment,and the Cu－O-coordination distance is much longer than that in pure crystalline CuO,when CuO loading is exceeds the utmost dispersion capacity,crystalline CuO is formed on the surface of CuO/TiO2,From the result of the sturcture study,it is Cu-O octahedral Coordination and coordination distance change in comparation with pure crystalline Cuo on the surface CuO/TiO2 that have catalytic activity.