Three-dimensional susceptibility-weighted imaging at 3 T using various image analysis methods in the estimation of grading intracranial gliomas

Object

Although three-dimensional (3D), high-spatial resolution susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) appears to be valuable in the evaluation of central nervous system gliomas, several evaluation methods are proposed in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of 3D SWI for grading intracranial gliomas with various analysis methods.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-three patients suspected of having gliomas participated in this study. SWI was performed in addition to conventional MR sequences. In 15 cases, post-gadolinium enhanced SWI was also obtained. Imaging evaluation criteria were conventional grade, hypointensity ratio in the tumor-dominant structure of hypointensity on SWI (hemorrhage or vascular structure) and presence of abnormal enhancement surrounding the tumor.

Results

Mean grading scores of conventional grade showed no statistically significant difference among WHO grades. Mean grading scores of hypointensity ratios in the tumor were higher for WHO Grades 3 and 4 than for lower grade tumors (P=.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Hemorrhagic foci were more frequently seen in the higher grade tumor. Post-contrast susceptibility-weighted images of five of 11 WHO Grade 3 and 4 cases showed bright enhancement surrounding the tumor, suggesting a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier.

Conclusions

SWI at 3 T may be a useful method to analyze the structural characteristics of gliomas and to evaluate pathology in vivo. Assessment of hypointensity ratios in the glioma was the most preferable method in grading glioma. However, more studies, specifically concerning a suitable method for image analysis, are needed to establish SWI at 3 T as a useful tool in clinical routine.     

Preparation of Y2O3:Eu thin films by excimer-laser-assisted metal organic deposition

Europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃:Eu) thin films were successfully deposited on quartz and ITO/glass substrates by excimer-laser-assisted metal organic deposition (ELAMOD) at low temperatures. The effects of laser wavelength and thermal temperature on the films’ crystallinity and photoluminescence properties were investigated. Films irradiated by an ArF laser at 80 mJ/cm² and 400–500°C were highly crystallized compared with those prepared by thermal MOD. In contrast, when the film was irradiated by a KrF laser at 500°C, no crystalline Y₂O₃:Eu was formed. The Y₂O₃:Eu film irradiated by the ArF laser at 80 mJ/cm² and 500°C showed typical PL spectra of Eu³⁺ ions with cubic symmetry and a ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition at ∼612 nm. The PL intensity at 612 nm was much higher for the film prepared with ELAMOD than for that prepared by the thermal-assisted process, and the photoemission intensity of the film prepared with ELAMOD strongly depended on the substrate material.     

Monatomic rarefied gas as a singular limit of polyatomic gas in extended thermodynamics

We show that, in the theory of extended thermodynamics, rarefied monatomic gases can be identified as a singular limit of rarefied polyatomic gases. Under naturally conditioned initial data we prove that the system of 14 field equations for polyatomic gases in the limit has the same solutions as those of the system of 13 field equations for monatomic gases where there exists no dynamic pressure. We study two illustrative examples in the process of the limit, that is, the linear waves and the shock waves in order to grasp the asymptotic behavior of the physical quantities, in particular, of the dynamic pressure.     

Chemical Interactions of Cryptic Actinomycete Metabolite 5‐Alkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines through Aggregate Formation

Organisms often produce secondary metabolites as a mixture of biosynthetically related congeners. However, why are metabolites with minor chemical variations produced simultaneously? 5‐Alkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines (5aTHQs) are small, lipophilic metabolites produced by Streptomyces nigrescens HEK616 when cultured with Tsukamurella pulmonis TP‐B0596. A mixture of 5aTHQs forms aggregates that show enhanced membrane affinity and biological activity. The ability to form aggregates and membrane‐binding activity is regulated by the length of the alkyl chains. Aggregates with long alkyl chains were too stable to fuse with lipid membranes. However, if inactive 5aTHQ congener was mixed with active congener, the mixture showed increased membrane affinity, enabling cellular entry and biological activity. Therefore, it is shown that sloppiness in a biosynthetic pathway, by which minor structural variations can be produced, is functionally rational, as the metabolites show synergistic action.     

Preparation of ZrO2 ultrathin films as gate dielectrics by limited reaction sputtering—On growth delay time at initial growth stage

ZrO₂ thin films were produced by limited reaction sputtering process varying the deposition parameters. An interesting growth phenomenon was observed in the initial growth stage of amorphous samples, appearing to suppress film growth for the first several minutes. The structures of such ultrathin ZrO₂ films were investigated by high-resolution Rutherford backscattering (HR-RBS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results suggest that the existence of interfacial suboxides due to the adsorption-induced surface reaction and diffusion-induced internal reaction, lead to the deteriorated interfacial performance. The mechanism and effects of the growth delay time on the interfacial characteristics are discussed in detail.     

Preparation and ionic conductivity of transparent glass−ceramics containing a large quantity of lithium−mica

In order to crystallize a large quantity of the lithium?mica in glass?ceramics, 5.1 mass% MgF₂ was added to the starting materials of the parent glasses having chemical compositions of Li_(1+x)Mg₃AlSi_3(1+x)O_10+6.5xF₂ (x = 0.5 and 1.0). Transparent glass?ceramics, in which a large quantity of lithium?mica with particle size of <50 nm was separated, could be prepared from the MgF₂-added parent glass with x = 0.5. While the parent glass, which had a binodal phase separation structure, did not exhibit electrical conductivity, the transparent glass–ceramic was given conductivity by the formation of an interlocking structure of mica. As the separated mica formed a tighter interlocking structure, the conductivity increased and reached a value of 2.0 × 10^?3 S/cm at 600 °C. The MgF₂-added parent glass with x = 1.0 was not transparent because of coarse spinodal phase separation. The conductivity was 4.3 × 10^?4 S/cm at 600 °C but was significantly decreased by the separation of mica.     

Photophysical Properties and Efficient,Stable, Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Donor–Acceptor Molecules Exhibiting Thermal Spin Upconversion

The photophysical properties and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of three donor–acceptor molecules composed of dicyanobenzene and methyl‐, tert‐butyl‐, and phenyl‐substituted carbazolyl groups, 1,2,3,5‐tetrakis(3,6‐disubstituted‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐4,6‐dicyanobenzene (4CzIPN‐Me, 4CzIPN‐tBu, and 4CzIPN‐Ph, respectively) are described. These molecules show delayed fluorescence as a result of thermal spin upconversion from the lowest triplet state to the lowest singlet state at room temperature. The three molecules showed yellow to yellowish–red ECL. Remarkably, the ECL efficiencies of 4CzIPN‐tBu in dichloromethane reached almost 40 %. Moreover, stable ECL was emitted from 4CzIPN‐tBu and 4CzIPN‐Ph. In case of 4CzIPN‐Me, the ECL intensity decreased during voltage cycles because of polymerization. Quantum chemical calculations revealed that polymerization was inhibited by the steric hindrance of the bulky tert‐butyl and phenyl groups on the carbazolyl moieties and lowered the spin density on the carbazolyl groups through electron conjugation for 4CzIPN‐Ph.