Spin-lattice relaxation times of bound water—Its determination and implications for tissue discrimination

Measurements were made of T1 of bound water (T1b) and bound water fraction () for gelatin solutions and human tissues (sera, brain tumor, cerebral white matter). Bound water fraction in each sample was measured by means of thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry: DSC). T1 values were measured by FONAR QED 80-. T1b values were calculated by an equation derived from the fast-exchange two-state model. In the study of gelatin solutions, the relationship between T1 and water content differed depending on the sort of solutions. This was considered to be due to differences in T1b values. In each biological tissue the values of T1b and had different distributions. These results indicate that values of T1b and for biological tissues may be altered in correspondence to the changes in pathophysiological states in those tissues.     

Generalized phase-shifting algorithm for dynamic phase measurement in electron-wave interferometry

A generalized phase-shifting algorithm is implemented in the electron-wave interferometry with a transmission electron microscope, based on simultaneous measurement of the initial phases of the interferograms. The initial phase of each interferogram that has inherent linear carrier fringes is calculated using the Fourier co-efiicients of the interferogram itself corresponding to the carrier-frequency. Taking advantage of this phase-shifting method in both spatial resolution and precision, the phase distribution of a biological weak phase object is successfully measured. This promises to be one of the most spectacular application fields for this new technology.     

Tissue gadolinium deposition in renally impaired rats exposed to different gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents: Evaluation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

ObjectivesTo quantify tissue gadolinium (Gd) deposition in renally impaired rats exposed to Gd-EOB-DTPA and other Gd-based MRI contrast agents by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and to compare the differences in distribution among major organs as possible triggers for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF).MethodsA total of 15 renally impaired rats were injected with Gd-EOB-DTPA, Gd-DTPA-BMA and Gd-HP-DO3A. Gd contents of skin, liver, kidney, lung, heart, spleen, diaphragm and femoral muscle were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Histological assessment was also conducted.ResultsTissue Gd deposition in all organs was significantly higher (P = 0.005 ~ 0.009) in the Gd-DTPA-BMA group than in the Gd-HP-DO3A and Gd-EOB-DTPA groups. In the Gd-DTPA-BMA group, Gd was predominantly deposited in kidney (1306 ± 605.7 μg/g), followed by skin, liver, lung, spleen, femoral muscle, diaphragm and heart. Comparing Gd-HP-DO3A and Gd-EOB-DTPA groups, Gd depositions in the kidney, liver and lung were significantly lower (P = 0.009 ~ 0.011) in the Gd-EOB-DTPA group than in the Gd-HP-DO3A group although no significant differences were seen for any other organs.ConclusionsGd-EOB-DTPA is a stable and safe Gd-based contrast agent (GBCA) showing lower Gd deposition in major organs in renally impaired rats, compared with other GBCAs. This fact suggests that the risk of NSF onset would be low in the use of Gd-EOB-DTPA.     

Distribution of selected monaural acoustical parameters in concert halls

Acoustical parameters calculated from impulse responses are often used to evaluate the characteristics of concert halls. Representative parameters are listed in the Annex of ISO 3382 and the methods of calculation and the minimum number of measurement positions are explained in detail. However, a method for selecting measurement positions is not discussed clearly, because there are wide variations in the characteristics of sound fields. This report provides basic data to solve this problem using spatial distribution characteristics of parameters in halls. Three large-scale measurement campaigns were conducted in which impulse responses were measured at 1427, 180, and 511 locations. Relatively large differences in the obtained parameters compared with well-known difference limens suggest that determining the distributions of parameter values is important. Contour maps are therefore used to display the distributions along with mean values.     

Effect of high pressure treatment on sarcoplasmic reticulum

Abstract

This paper describes the changes in biochemical activities of sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) and Ca²⁺ release from SR in the rabbit skeletal muscle subjected to a high pressure treatment(100∽300 MPa) to investigate the mechanism for pressure-induced meat tenderization and acceleration of meat conditioning. Pressure-dependent changes were observed in the both extra and basal ATPase activities of SR prepared from the muscles exposed to high pressure. Ca²⁺ uptaking ability of SR vesicles measured by fluorescent chelating reagent, indo-1, decreased with increasing pressure applied to the muscle. Ultrastructural studies revealed that Ca²⁺ which was mainly localized in the SR region of the untreated fiber bundles was translocated into myofibrils in the pressurized muscle. Obtained results in this report may be one of the causes for meat tenderization and acceleration of meat conditioning induced by high pressure treatment.     

Laser damage of silicon solar cells with different surface states

An experimental study of the damage of Si solar cells due to Q-switched ruby laser radiation has been made. Four kinds of specimen with different surface states were used in order to examine how the damage depends on the surface state: (a) chemically etched to a mirror finish, (b) mechanically polished by a 0.5 m Al₂O₃ powder, (c) chemically etched, but rough, (d) coated with SiO on the (c) surface. The threshold power densities, at which a change in the photo-current occurs, were for the specimens (a) to (d) respectively 60 MW cm^–2, 20 MW cm^–2, 30 MW cm^–2 and 9 MW cm^–2. Attenuations of the photo-current of the specimens, a, c and d were observed over the whole range of wavelength 500 to 1000 nm. For the b cell, however, increase of the photo-current was observed mainly in the short wavelength region.     

Oligosaccharide-Carrying Styrene-Type Macromers. Polymerization and Specific Interactions Between the Polymers and Liver Cells

Polystyrene derivatives with lactose, glucose, maltose, maltotriose, maltopentaose, and maltoheptaose on each benzene ring were prepared by the radical polymerization of a new class of macromers synthesized by coupling the corresponding oligosaccharide lactones with p-vinylbenzylamine. These polymers consisting of amphiphilic structural units were water-soluble, and organic solutes were bound to hydrophobic microenvironments of the polymers in water. α-D-Glucopyranose-carrying polymers were recognized and precipitated by concanavalin A. Cultivation of liver cells (hepatocytes) was attempted using culture dishes whose surface was coated with lactose-, glucose-, maltose-, and maltotriose-carrying polystyrenes. It has been found that a lactose-carrying polystyrene (PVLA) is a useful surface material for hepatocyte culture. 1) Highly specific adhesion of hepatocytes was attained for PVLA-coated dishes with or without serum supplement. 2) The cell adhesion was a threshold phenomenon with respect to the PVLA concentration on the dish. 3) The cell adhesion was effectively inhibited when hepatocytes were treated with PVLA molecules in the medium prior to culture. 4) The adhesion was not inhibited by albumin, an adhesion-inhibitory protein in serum. These findings suggest that pendent galactose residues of a PLVA molecule functioned as a strong recognition determinant for hepatocytes. We assume that multi-antennary, high-density galactose residues of PVLA are attributed to the specific adhesion of hepatocytes.     

Functions of Acyclic Poly(ethylene Oxide) Homologs: Acceleration of Nucleophilic Reactions and Selective Ion Transport through Membranes

The acceleration effect of poly(ethylene oxide) on nucleophilic reactions was investigated. The enhancement of the reaction rate was interpreted by the cooperative solvation of alkali metal ions with ethereal oxygens of PEO resulting in active nucleophilic anions. In relation to the complex formation of alkali metal ions with PEO, the oligo(ethylene oxide) derivatives were prepared as the synthetic ionophores, which were able to transport alkali metal ions selectively through a liquid membrane against the alkali metal ion concentration.     

An Attempt at the Preparation of Macrocyclic Polymer

Syntheses of cyclic oligomer and polymer were attempted with magnesiacyclohexane as the initiator in HMPA. The oligomer of α-methylstyrene, initiated by magnesiacyclohexane, was treated with dimethyldichlorosilane in order to obtain a stable cyclic oligomer. The products were investigated by GPC, IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. It was found that magnesia-cyclohexane could not be activated enough by HMPA, and that the magnesium-carbon bond was not stable in HMPA, and that the chain transfer reaction might occur repeatedly during the polymerization. Consequently, the yield of cyclic oligomer was so low that cyclic compounds could not be discriminated from the linear oligomer.     

Laser-diode pumped heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramic lasers

Laser performance of heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramics was investigated using a two-pass pumping miniature laser configuration. Slope efficiency of 52% and optical-to-optical efficiency of 48% have been achieved for 1-mm-thick YAG ceramic doped with 20 at.% ytterbium ions. Laser spectra of Yb:YAG ceramic and single-crystal lasers were addressed under different intracavity laser intensities. Heavy-doped Yb:YAG ceramic is more suitable for a thin disk laser than a single-crystal with the same Yb(3+)-ion lasants.