Relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient and signal intensity in endometrial and other pelvic cysts

We evaluated whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value is more useful than signal intensity for differentiating endometrial cysts from other pelvic cysts. In an in vitro study, signal intensity and diffusion coefficients were measured in whole blood phantoms in which blood oxidation was gradually increased and concentration subsequently diluted. Although both signal intensity and diffusion value were largely affected by blood concentration, diffusion value was almost independent of blood oxidation and red blood cell lysis-related diminution of magnetic nonhomogeneity, both factors greatly affecting signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images. In an in vivo study, differentiation between endometrial and other pelvic cysts was attempted by means of ADC values and signal ratios of cysts to muscles on T1- and T2-weighted images (T1- and T2-ratios). Endometrial cysts tended to show lower T2-ratios, higher T1-ratios, and lower ADC values than other pelvic cysts (p < 0.001). However, ADC values were not correlated with T1- and T2-ratios (p < /0.15/). The ability of ADC value to discriminate between these two groups (discriminant rate, 91.4%) was higher than that of T2-ratio (71.4%) or T1-ratio (88.6%). If combined, ADC and T1-ratio (or T2-ratio) showed higher discriminant rate (94.3%) than the combination of T1- and T2 ratios (88.6%). ADC value might be useful for evaluating the blood concentration of a cystic lesion, because diffusion value is more closely related to blood concentration and almost independent of blood oxidation and red blood cell lysis that largely affect signal intensity.     

Recent developments of optical fiber sensors for automotive use

Optical fiber sensing technologies are expected to apply for many future electronic control systems in automobiles, because of their inherent outstanding features, such as high noise immunity, high heat resistance, and flexible light propagation paths which can be applied to measure the movements and directions of the mobiles. In this paper, two typical applications of fiber sensing technologies in automobiles are described in detail. The combustion flame detector is one of the typical applications of a fiber spectroscopic technology which utilizes the feature of high noise and heat resistibility and remote sensibility. Measurement of engine combustion conditions, such as the detonation, the combustion initiation, and the air-fuel ratio, have been demonstrated in an experimental fiber sensing method. Fiber interferometers, such as a fiber gyroscope, have great possibilities in future mobile applications because they are applicable to many kinds of measurements for movements and physical variables. An optical fiber gyroscope utilizing the single polarized optical fiber and other optical devices has been developed. Quite an accurate measurement of vehicle position was displayed on a prototype navigation system which installed the fiber gyroscope as a rotational speed sensor.     

Emulsion Combustion and Flame Spray Synthesis of Zinc Oxide/Silica Particles

Two flame spray methods, emulsion combustion method (ECM) and flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), were compared for synthesis of pure and mixed SiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles. The effect of silicon precursor was investigated using liquid hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) or SiO₂ sol, while for ZnO zinc acetate (ZA) was used. Gas phase reaction took place when using HMDSO as Si precursor, forming nanoparticles, whereas the SiO₂ sol used as Si source was not evaporated in the flame, creating large aggregates of the sol particles (e.g. 1 m). The FSP of ZA produced ZnO homogeneous nanoparticles. Lower flame temperatures in ECM than in FSP resulted in mixed gas and liquid phase reaction, forming ZnO particles with inhomogeneous sizes. The FSP of HMDSO and ZA led to intimate gas-phase mixing of Zn and Si, suppressing each other's particle growth, forming nanoparticles of 19 nm in BET-equivalent average primary particle diameter. Nucleation of ZnO and SiO₂ occurred independently by ECM of HMDSO and ZA as well as by FSP of the SiO₂ sol and ZA, creating a ZnO and SiO₂ mixture. The reaction of ZnO with SiO₂ was likely to be enhanced by ECM of the SiO₂ sol and ZA where both Zn and Si species were not evaporated completely, resulting in ZnO, -willemite and Zn_1.7SiO₄ mixed phase.     

On Weierstrass semigroups and sets: a review with new results

In this work we present a survey of the main results in the theory of Weierstrass semigroups at several points, with special attention to the determination of bounds for the cardinality of its set of gaps. We also review results on applications to the theory of error correcting codes. We then recall a generalization of the concept of Weierstrass semigroup, which is the Weierstrass set associated to a linear system and several points. We finish by presenting new results on this Weierstrass set, including some on the cardinality of its set of gaps.      

On the residue classes of integer sequences satisfying a linear three term recurrence formula

In this paper we investigate linear three-term recurrence formulae with sequences of integers (T(n))_n?0 and (U(n))_n?0, which are ultimately periodic modulo m, e.g.

     

Spectroscopy and photophysics of methylphenylsiloxaneand diphenylsiloxane-based molecules and polymers

Spectroscopy and photophysics of various types of methylphenylsiloxane- and diphenylsiloxane-based oligomers and polymers are reviewed. The molecules treated here include homopolymers such as poly(methylphenylsiloxane) and copolymers such as poly(dimethylsiloxane-codiphenylsiloxane) as well as related oligomers or molecules such as diphenyltetramethyldisiloxane. These polymers and oligomers normally exhibit monomer fluorescence in fluid solution at temperatures near room temperature, and the monomer fluorescence and phosphorescence in rigid matrices at 77 K. In addition to these emissions, the excimer fluorescence is often observed depending on the molecular structure of the siloxanes. These emission properties are rationalized based on the molecular structure and kinetics of the excimer formation processes as well as on the flexibility of the Si-O-Si bonds.     

The incorporation of carboxylate groups into temperature‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based hydrogels promotes rapid gel shrinking

Aqueous gel deswelling rates for copolymer hydrogels comprising N‐isopropylacrylamide (IPAAm) and 2‐carboxyisopropylacrylamide (CIPAAm) in response to increasing temperatures were investigated. Compared with pure IPAAm‐based gels, IPAAm–CIPAAm gels shrink very rapidly in response to small temperature increases across their lower critical solution temperature (their volume is reduced by five‐sixths within 60 s). Shrinking rates for these hydrogels increase with increasing CIPAAm content. In contrast, structurally analogous IPAAm–acrylic acid (AAc) copolymer gels lose their temperature sensitivity with the introduction of only a few mole percent of AAc. Additionally, deswelling rates of IPAAm–AAc gels decrease with increasing AAc content. These results indicate that IPAAm–CIPAAm copolymer gels behave distinctly from IPAAm–AAc systems even if both comonomers, CIPAAm and AAc, possess carboxylic acid groups. Thus, we propose that the sensitive deswelling behavior for IPAAm–CIPAAm gels results from strong hydrophobic chain aggregation maintained between network polymer chains due to the similar chemical structures of CIPAAm and IPAAm. This structural homology facilitates aggregation of chain isopropylamide groups for both IPAAm and CIPAAm sequences with increasing temperature. The incorporation of AAc, however, shows no structural homology to IPAAm, inhibiting chain aggregation and limiting collapse. A functionalized temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel containing carboxylic acid groups is possible with CIPAAm, producing rapid and large volume changes in response to smaller temperature changes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 335–342, 2001