High spatial and angular resolution diffusion-weighted imaging reveals forniceal damage related to memory impairment

Introduction

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly those measures associated with a specific white matter pathway, have consistently shown correlations with function. This study sought to investigate correlations between DTI measures in the fornix and common cognitive deficits in MS patients, including episodic memory, working memory and attention.

Materials and Methods

Patients with MS and group age- and sex-matched controls underwent high-resolution diffusion scanning (1-mm isotropic voxels) and cognitive testing. Manually drawn forniceal regions of interest were applied to individual maps of tensor-derived measures, and mean values of transverse diffusivity (TD), mean diffusivity (MD), longitudinal diffusivity (LD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated.

Results

In 40 patients with MS [mean age±S.D.= 42.55±9.1 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)=2.0±1.2; Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) score=0.38±0.46] and 20 healthy controls (mean age±S.D.= 41.35±9.7 years; EDSS=0.0±0; MSFC score=0.74±0.24), we found that FA, MD and TD values in the fornix were significantly different between groups (P< .03), and patient performance on the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) was correlated with DTI measures (P< .03).

Discussion

These results are consistent with findings of axonal degeneration in MS and support the use of DTI as an indicator of disease progression.     

An order-by-disorder process in the cyclic phase of spin-2 condensate with a weak magnetic field

We present in this paper a model study on the “order-by-disorder” process in the cyclic phase of spin-2 condensate, which forms a family of incommensurable, spiral degenerate ground states. On the basis of the ordering mechanism of entropic splitting, it is demonstrated that the energy corrections resulting from quantum fluctuations of disorder lift the accidental degeneracy of the cyclic configurations and thus lead to an eventual spiral order called the cyclic order. The order-by-disorder phenomenon is then realized even if the magnetic field exists. Finally, we show that our theoretic observations can be verified experimentally by direct detection of the cyclic order in the ⁸⁷Rb condensate of a spin-2 manifold with a weak magnetic field.     

Self-Assembled Microfibers of Simple Amphiphilic Molecules Through a Facile Precipitation Route

One-dimensional (1D) fiber structures of simple amphiphilic molecules were prepared through a facile precipitation route. The self-assembly process was studied by ultraviolet-visible absorption and Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, which indicated that hydrogen bonding interactions played a role in the1D growth along the axis of the fiber. The water content, self-assembling temperature, and concentration of 1,5-bis-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)thiocarbonohydrazide molecules in the solution had obvious effects on the size and morphology of the self-assembled products. The formation of1D superstructures is not only of a hot subject in the process of nanoscience but also opens a new venue for conveniently controlling self-assembled structures of similar organic molecules.     

Effect of Temperature and Comonomer Content on Thermal Behavior and Crystallization Property of the Propylene–Ethylene Random Copolymers

The effects of ethylene units content and crystallization temperature on the conformations, and the thermal and crystallization behavior were investigated by a combination of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The characterization of FTIR spectroscopy proves that the longer helical conformation sequences of the propylene–ethylene random (PER) samples decrease, whereas the shorter helical conformation sequences increase with the increase in ethylene units content. The increase of the shorter helical conformation sequences is favorable for the formation of the γ-phase in the crystals. A group of broad endothermic peaks can be seen clearly in the DSC curves of PER copolymers, which may be associated with the melting of mixtures of the α- and γ-forms in the crystals. The melting point, crystallization temperature, and crystallinity degree of the PER copolymers decrease with the increase in ethylene units contents. Three typical melting peaks of the PER copolymers crystallized isothermally between 80°C and 130°C were observed. The two higher melting peaks result from melting of the α- and γ-phase in the crystals, whereas the materials crystallized on quenching give the lowest peak. The WAXD results confirm that the PER copolymers crystallize from the melt, as mixtures of α and γ forms, in a wide temperature range. The critical number ζ_lim of the crystallizable units for the α-form increases with the increase in crystallization temperature for PER copolymers, which is favorable for the formation of the γ phases. The amount of γ-form increases with the increase in crystallization temperature at the expense of its α component, then reaches a maximum value at the crystallization temperature of 115°C, and finally decreases with further increase in the crystallization temperature.     

Theoretical calculations of spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structures for Cu2+ in trigonally-distorted tetrahedral sites of ZnO and GaN crystals

The spin-Hamiltonian (SH) parameters (g factors g _//, g ⊥ and hyperfine structure constants ⁶³ A _//, ⁶³ A ⊥, ⁶⁵ A _//, ⁶⁵ A ⊥) for Cu²⁺ ions in the trigonally-distorted tetrahedral sites of ZnO and GaN crystals are calculated from a complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) based on a two spin-orbit parameter model for d ⁹ ions in trigonal symmetry. In the method, the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms are added to the Hamiltonian in the conventional CDM. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental values. The calculated SH parameters are also compared with those using the traditional diagonalization method or perturbation method only within the ² T ₂ term. It appears that, for exact calculations of SH parameters of d ⁹ ions in trigonal tetrahedral clusters in crystals, the present CDM is preferable to the traditional diagonalization method or perturbation method within the ² T ₂ term. The local structures of Cu²⁺ centers (which differ from the corresponding structure in the host crystal) in ZnO : Cu²⁺ and GaN : Cu²⁺ are obtained from the calculations. The results are discussed.     

Preparation and characterization of vinyltriethoxysilane based inorganic–organic gel glasses dispersed 4′-n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl nematic liquid crystal

Vinyltriethoxysilane based inorganic–organic glasses dispersed with 4′-n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl nematic liquid crystal are designed to fabricate a new type of gel glass dispersed with liquid crystal. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the nematic liquid crystal phase, occupying the interconnected cavities, is continuously embedded in the inorganic–organic matrixes. The effect of the nematic liquid crystal weight concentration on the morphology is investigated. The differential scanning calorimetry shows that the nematic-isotropic transition temperature depends on the nematic liquid crystal weight concentration. The Raman spectra show that there are no obvious Raman frequency shifts, compared with pure nematic liquid crystal. The in situ diffuse reflectance FTIR spectra show that the integral intensity of bands of hydroxyls has not varied.     

浅海内波与声场起伏

本文对存在于尖锐负跃层浅海中的内波,及其引起的声场起伏进行了初步的实验研究,在3.6公里上测得的声场振幅起伏与内波活动有明显的关联性,但其统计特性不完全一致,所测内波温度谱接近于ω^-3而振幅起伏谱接近于ω^-2,对引起振幅起伏之机制我们倾向于Desaubies的看法。     

用楔形柱面光纤微透镜耦合的1.3μm SOA组件

运用激光模式耦合理论分析了半导体光放大器(SOA)与单模通信光纤的连接损耗,并设计制作了楔形柱面光纤微透镜用来实现两者的模斑匹配,有效地降低了器件的光耦合损耗.本文介绍了楔形柱面光纤微透镜耦合的1.3 μm半导体光放大器(SOA)组件及其制作方法.该组件的最大增益不小于14 dB,其偏振灵敏度小于1 dB,增益波动不大于0.5 dB.     

基于模糊PID算法的烘箱控制仿真分析

模糊算法能解决传统方法难以解决模型的不确定性、非线性、复杂等问题的任务,PID算法在定模型下控制稳态性能好,能消除静差等特点．结合这2种方法,提出模糊PID算法,应用于通用烘箱的温度控制,通过仿真分析,表明：对不同烘箱、不同环境下,用该算法控制,有高精度、超调量小,无需调节PID参数,具有智能控制等功能．     

Allyl phthalazinone synthesis,polymerization and polymer properties

A phthalazinone monomer with an allyl group, i.e. 4-（3-allyl-4-hydroxyphenyl）phthalazin-1（2H）-one, was synthesized and then copolymerized with 4-（4-hydroxylphenyl）（2H）-phthalazin-1-one and 2,6- diflurobenzonitrile by means of aromatic nucleophilic polycondensation to provide a series of crosslinkable poly（aryl ether nitrile）s. The virgin copolymers exhibited good solubility in polar organic solvents with relative high molecular weights （Mw： 45,130-58,403, inherent viscosities： 0.58-0.75 dL/ g）. After cross-linking, the thermal stability and solvent resistance of the polymer increased.