Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging of the kidney: alterations in diffusion and perfusion in patients with renal dysfunction

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and parameters calculated using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging of the kidneys.

Materials and Methods

We studied 365 patients, divided into 4 groups based on eGFR levels (mL/min/1.73 m²): group 1, eGFR ≥ 80(n = 80); group 2, eGFR 60–80 (n = 156); group 3, eGFR 30–60 (n = 114); and group 4 ,eGFR < 30 (n = 15). IVIM imaging was used to acquire diffusion-weighted images at 12 b values. The diffusion coefficient of pure molecular diffusion (D), the diffusion coefficient of microcirculation or perfusion (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) were compared among the groups using group 1 as control.

Results

In the renal cortex, D* values were significantly lower in groups 2, 3, and 4 than in group 1. The D value of renal cortex was significantly low in only group 3. In the renal medulla, the D* and D values were significantly lower only in groups 2 and 3, respectively.

Conclusion

As renal dysfunction progresses, renal perfusion might be reduced earlier and affected more than molecular diffusion in the renal cortex. These changes are effectively detected by IVIM MR imaging.     

Studies on vocal fold injection and changes in pitch associated with alcohol intake

The current study was carried out with particular emphasis on the association between phonetic function tests and alterations in the appearance of the hypopharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa, such as capillary dilatation, edema, and vocal fold injection after alcohol intake. The results demonstrated the occurrence of previously unrecognized pathophysiological changes associated with synchronous phonetic functions in the vocal pathway after alcohol intake. Serum ethanol and aldehyde concentration levels were evaluated hourly for 2.5 h after ingestion of alcohol. When an electronystagmogram showed the typical pattern of alcohol intake, the study was initiated. Occasionally, rhinography was performed on subjects complaining of a stuffy nose after alcohol intake.     

在粗糙表面上用液晶空间光调制器进行振动测量

为实现在一段时间内连续实时观测振动物体的全息干涉图形,采用覆盖铝箔的喇叭作为振动物体,利用铝箔原有未经特殊处理表面反射的漫反射光成像,并用光寻址液晶空间光调制器(Liquid crystal-sparial lightmodulator,LC-SLM)作为全息记录载体,来实现振动测量。实验中采用时间平均干涉测量法,得到了不同振动频率下物体的干涉图形。同时在连续改变振动物体的振动频率时,可以清晰地观察到物体振动全息干涉图形的变化过程,即近实时的全息干涉图形。     

Relatively heavy Higgs boson in more generic gauge mediation

We discuss gauge mediation models where the doublet messengers and Higgs doublets are allowed to mix through a “charged” coupling. The charged coupling replaces messenger parity as a means of suppressing flavor changing neutral currents without introducing any unwanted CP violation. As a result of this mixing between the Higgs doublets and the messengers, relatively large A-terms are generated at the messenger scale. These large A-terms produce a distinct weak scale mass spectrum. Particularly, we show that the lightest Higgs boson mass is enhanced and can be as heavy as 125 GeV for a gluino mass as light as 2 TeV. We also show that the stops are heavier than that predicted by conventional gauge mediation models. It is also shown that these models have a peculiar slepton mass spectrum.     

Structure and mechanical properties of nylon 6.12 prepared by temperature slope crystallization. I. Crystallization of oriented spherulitic textures

Oriented spherulitic textures of a rod-shaped nylon 6.12 sample were crystallized by the temperature slope method. Crystallization conditions were compared by changing temperatures and growth rates. Three types of textures (negative spherulites, positive spherulites, and spherulitic aggregates) were observed by this method. The negative textures appeared when the growth rate was less than 0.1 mm/h. Crystalline orientation and mechanical properties of the textures were investigated by x-ray diffraction and micro-hardness measurements, respectively. The hydrogen-bonded (010) planes were perpendicular to the growth direction in the negative spherulite, while they were parallel to the growth direction in the positive spherulite. In the spherulitic aggregates, the b axis was parallel to the growth direction, while the (010) planes formed roughly an angle of 45° with the growth direction. Due to the orientation of the hydrogen-boned planes, the negative texture exhibited an anisotropy, with hardness values of 106 MPa and 137 Mpa when measured perpendicular or parallel to the growth direction, respectively.     

Laser Light and X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Oriented Isotactic Polypropylene (iPP) Prepared by Temperature Slope Crystallization

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) film was melt-crystallized in a temperature gradient. The iPP film showed well oriented α- and β-crystalline textures along the gradient. The crystalline structure, phase transition boundary and lamellar twisting were examined by X-ray diffraction and laser light diffraction (LLD). On the α-β boundary, LLD shows a sharp streak perpendicular to the boundary, where the a-axis of the β-crystal is oriented perpendicular to the temperature gradient. Apart from the boundary, the a-axis of the β-crystal becomes parallel to the gradient. The β-crystal shows lamellar twisting with a pitch of 200 μm at room temperature. When heated the β-crystal, the lamellar distance of 295Å at room temperature decreases to 285Å at 80–100°C and then increases to more than 300Å above 120°C. During the heating, the value of the twist period increases from 200 to 210 μm at 90–100°C, and then to above 224 μm at 140°C. The increase of the twist period is related to the increasing crystalline thickness of the β-lamellae.     

InGaAsP multiple quantum well edge-emitting light-emitting diode showing low coherence characteristics using selective-area metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

Low coherence multiple-quantum well edge-emitting light-emitting diodes were obtained using selective-area metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxial growth, which utilized growth rate enhancement on an open stripe region between mask stripes. An optical absorption region, which was controlled by selective-area growth, was introduced to suppress optical feedback. At a driving current of 100 mA and an ambient temperature of 25°C, a power of 55 μW was coupled into a single-mode fiber, and a broad spectrum without spectral ripple was observed. Low coherence characteristics and very small temperature dependence were obtained in the temperature range from -40°C to 85°C. The modulation bandwidth was 210 MHz at a bias current of 100 mA.     

Oblique-Incidence Characteristics of a Parallel-Aligned Nematic-Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

We have developed optically-addressed and electrically-addressed liquid crystal spatial phase-only light modulators having no pixelized structures. We obtained a large depth of phase-only modulation and high diffraction efficiency based on the electro-optical characteristics of a parallel-aligned nematic liquid crystal. These spatial light modulators (SLM) are of the reflection type, so there would be a loss of power in the readout light from the half mirror, which was set up so as to separate the incident and reflected lights. To optimize the characteristics of a reflection type spatial phase-only light modulator, we have proposed an oblique incident optical readout setup. We have examined the effect of conditions such as the polarization direction and the incidence angle of the readout light, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the SLM. High diffraction efficiency close to the theoretical maximum value was obtained by adjusting the above conditions. The simulation analysis can well explain the experimental results of phase modulation.     

Simultaneous observation of CO isotopomer absorption by broadband difference-frequency generation using a direct-bonded quasi-phase-matched LiNbO3 waveguide

Rovibration absorption lines both of 12CO and 13CO are observed simultaneously with the output of a 2 microm broadband difference frequency generated in a direct-bonded quasi-phase-matched LiNbO3 waveguide, which is a 50 mm device with a single quasi-phase-matching period that is operated at a constant temperature. The wavelength conversion efficiency and the difference-frequency generation bandwidth reach 100%/W and 100 nm, respectively. The idler output bandwidth in the 2 microm region is obtained by group-velocity matching or phase-mismatch minimization when a 0.94 microm pump laser diode and a 1.55 microm tunable signal source are used.     

Unequally spaced multiple mid-infrared wavelength generation using an engineered quasi-phase-matching device

We propose a novel quasi-phase-matched (QPM) device that can generate unequally spaced multiple wavelengths. Unequally spaced multiple QPM peaks can be obtained by employing the optimized phase modulation of a periodic domain structure. We fabricated a LiNbO3 waveguide device for 3.2-3.4 microm band difference frequency generation based on the design. Using the multiple mid-infrared outputs, we demonstrate the detection of multiple hydrocarbon gases, namely, methane, ethylene, and ethane.