Quantitative T(1)(ρ) imaging using phase cycling for B0 and B1 field inhomogeneity compensation

T_1ρ imaging is useful in a number of clinical applications. T_1ρ preparation methods, however, are sensitive to non-uniformities of the B₀ magnetic field and the B₁ RF field. These common system imperfections can result in image artifacts and quantification errors in T_1ρ imaging. We report on a phase-cycling method which can eliminate B₁ RF inhomogeneity effects in T_1ρ imaging. This method does not only correct for image artifacts but also for T_2ρ contamination caused by B₁ RF inhomogeneity. The presence of B₀ magnetic field inhomogeneity can compromise the effectiveness of this method for B₁ RF inhomogeneity correction. We demonstrate that, by combining the spin-locking scheme reported by Dixon et al. (Myocardial suppression in vivo by spin locking with composite pulses. Magn Reson Med 1996; 36:90-94) with phase cycling, we can simultaneously correct B₀ magnetic field inhomogeneity effects and B₁ RF inhomogeneity effects in T_1ρ imaging. Phantom and in vivo data sets are used to demonstrate the proposed methods and to compare them with other existing T_1ρ preparation methods.     

Synthesis of Organosilyl-Functionalized Cage-Type Germanoxanes Containing Fluoride Ions

Eight corners of a double-four ring cage-type germanoxane, containing a fluoride ion, were successfully silylated by the combination of chlorosilanes and silazanes. Three different silyl groups, trimethylsilyl, dimethylsilyl, and dimethylvinylsilyl, were attached on the corners of germanoxane cage. The solubility and reactivity of the cage modified with dimethylvinylsilyl groups were significantly increased, allowing for further reaction. Hydrosilylation reaction between dimethylvinylsilylated cage geramanoxanes and dimethylsilylated cage siloxanes afforded porous solids. Functionalization of the corners of germanoxanes with silyl groups should provide valuable building blocks in various functional materials.     

Comparative study on the thermal behavior of structural concretes of sodium-cooled fast reactor

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Thermal behaviors of two different siliceous concretes used in a sodium-cooled fast reactor were comparatively investigated in a temperature range from...     

Stereo-dynamical ion-pair formation in collisions of highly-charged ions with argon dimers

Multiple ionization process of a rare gas dimer BC collided with a slow highly charged ion A^q+ is investigated with the three-center Coulombic over-barrier model previously developed by the present authors. To reveal stereodynamical effects, we calculate asymmetric ion-pair formation cross sections σ(Q_B,Q_C) as a function of the orientation angle. We introduce a pair of atomic impact parameters b_B and b_C with which we distinguish the near and far sites. Furthermore, we distinguish the forward and backward emitted ions produced as a result of Coulomb explosion. Partial screening effects are also considered.     

Biosynthesis of Indole Diterpene Lolitrems: Radical-Induced Cyclization of an Epoxyalcohol Affording a Characteristic Lolitremane Skeleton

Lolitrems are tremorgenic indole diterpenes that exhibit a unique 5/6 bicyclic system of the indole moiety. Although genetic analysis has indicated that the prenyltransferase LtmE and the cytochrome P450 LtmJ are involved in the construction of this unique structure, the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. Herein, we report the reconstitution of the biosynthetic pathway for lolitrems employing a recently established genome-editing technique for the expression host Aspergillus oryzae. Heterologous expression and bioconversion of the various intermediates revealed that LtmJ catalyzes multistep oxidation to furnish the lolitrem core. We also isolated the key reaction intermediate with an epoxyalcohol moiety. This observation allowed us to establish the mechanism of radical-induced cyclization, which was firmly supported by density functional theory calculations and a model experiment with a synthetic analogue.     

Acoustic characteristics of an electrodynamic planar digital loudspeaker

In this paper, an electrodynamic planar loudspeaker driven by a digital signal is experimentally discussed. The digital loudspeaker consists of 22 voice coils, 11 permanent magnets, a diaphragm with streamlined sections molded in plastic, and a suspension made of handmade Japanese paper between the diaphragm and the frame. First, the acoustic responses are affected by the arrangement of the voice coils, so an asymmetric arrangement is studied. This asymmetric arrangement is designed to obtain as flat a frequency response to an analog signal as possible. This arrangement is compared with a symmetric one and results show that the flatness of the frequency response around 1 kHz and 4 kHz is improved and that the sound reproduction band is from 40 Hz to 10 kHz. Second, to evaluate the acoustic responses to a digital signal, the digital loudspeaker is driven with a pulse code modulation signal. Results show that the digital loudspeaker can reproduce pure sound with a total harmonic distortion of less than 5% from 40 Hz to 10 kHz, exceeding this value only in a narrow frequency band near 4 kHz. This digital loudspeaker was demonstrated to have good linearity over its dynamic range of 84 dB.     

Magnetic ordering of dangling bond networks on hydrogen-deposited Si(111) surfaces

Based on total-energy electronic-structure calculations within the density-functional theory, we find that a high spin state is realized for an ultimate dangling bond unit on an otherwise hydrogen-covered Si(111) surface. We further propose a systematic method of constructing nanometer-scale dangling bond networks that exhibit the ferrimagnetic spin ordering. The interplay between the electron-electron interaction and the surface reconstruction is elucidated.     

Chiral resolution of monosaccharides as 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone derivatives by ligand-exchange CE using borate anion as a central ion of the chiral selector

Six reducing monosaccharides (mannose, galactose, fucose, glucose, xylose, and arabinose) were derivatized with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) and chiral resolution of these racemic PMP-monosaccharides was studied by ligand-exchange CE using borate anion as a central ion of the chiral selector and (S)-3-amino-1,2-propanediol (SAP) as a chiral selector ligand. PMP-mannose, PMP-galactose and PMP-fucose were successfully enantioseparated. Lowering the capillary temperature increased the resolution of PMP-mannose system, but decreased that of PMP-galactose and PMP-fucose systems. Whereas the maximum resolution was obtained at pH 8.9 in the PMP-mannose system, resolution increased gradually with pH in the PMP-galactose and PMP-fucose systems. Expecting the formation of the ternary borate complexes with SAP and PMP-monosaccharide in the CE experiments, the optimized structures of the borate diastereomers were obtained by semiempirical molecular orbital calculations to discuss the structural difference of the diastereomers in connection with the enantioseparation behaviors.     

Stability analysis for double-stranded DNA oligomers and their noncovalent complexes with drugs by laser spray

Laser spray, which is a newly developed ionization technique, can characterize the stability of noncovalent complexes in the solution phase. By using this advantage, laser spray has been applied to probe the intrinsic stability of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sequences and their binding affinities with various drugs in the solution phase. Systematic experiments were carried out using six 16-mer and three 22-mer dsDNA oligomers, together with the complexes of the 16-mer dsDNA with minor groove binders: berenil, Hoechst 33342, DAPI, and netropsin. Dissociation curves for each dsDNA or each complex were plotted as a function of laser power. The laser power (E50%), where 50% of each dsDNA or each complex was dissociated, was compared with its melting temperature (Tm) determined by UV spectroscopy. Linear correlations between E50% and Tm were obtained not only for the dsDNA oligomers (correlation factor r = 0.9835) but also for the 16-mer dsDNA complexes with minor groove binders (r = 0.9966). In addition, laser spray has successfully clarified the binding affinities of a 16-mer dsDNA with two intercalators: daunomycin and nogalamycin. In the case of the dsDNA-daunomycin complex, by changing the molar ratio of dsDNA : drug from 1 : 1 to 1 : 5, the concentration-dependent stability of the complex was confirmed by laser spray. The present results demonstrate that laser spray mass spectrometry can be a powerful and convenient method to investigate the relative binding affinities of dsDNA-ligand complexes in the solution phase, which could be applied to the early stage of high-throughput screening of drugs targeting for dsDNA.