Magnetic resonance T1ρ imaging of osteoarthritis: a rabbit ACL transection model

Objective

The objective of this study was to develop quantitative T_1ρ-weighted magnetic resonance imaging methodology for the detection and characterization of cartilage degeneration in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection model.

Methods

The right knee ACLs of 18 adult female New Zealand white rabbits were transected. The left knee joint served as a sham control. The rabbits were euthanized at 3 (Group 1), 6 (Group 2) and 12 (Group 3) weeks postoperatively. High-resolution 3D fat-saturated spoiled gradient echo images and T_1ρ-weighted images were obtained in both the sagittal and axial planes at 3 T using a quadrature wrist coil. Following MR analysis, histological slides from the lateral femoral condyle cartilage were graded using the Mankin grading system.

Results

For all three groups, the average overall T_1ρ values were significantly higher in the ACL-transected knee compared to control knee, and the percentage differences in T_1ρ values between ACL-transected and control increased with the duration of time after transection. The average Mankin score for ACL-transected knees was higher than that for control for each time point, but this difference was statistically significant only for all groups combined.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using T_1ρ-weighted imaging as a useful tool in the detection and quantification of cartilage damage in all knee compartments in an ACL-transected rabbit model of cartilage degeneration.     

Self‐Assembly Behaviors of a Penta‐Phenylene Maltoside and Its Application for Membrane Protein Study

We prepared an amphiphile with a penta‐phenylene lipophilic group and a branched trimaltoside head group. This new agent, designated penta‐phenylene maltoside (PPM), showed a marked tendency to self‐assembly into micelles via strong aromatic–aromatic interactions in aqueous media, as evidenced by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and fluorescence studies. When utilized for membrane protein studies, this new agent was superior to DDM, a gold standard conventional detergent, in stabilizing multiple proteins long term. The ability of this agent to form aromatic–aromatic interactions is likely responsible for enhanced protein stabilization when associated with a target membrane protein.     

An improved hybrid continuum‐atomistic four‐way coupled model for electrokinetics in nanofluidics

In this study, an efficient hybrid continuum‐atomistic method is proposed to study electrokinetic transport of aqueous solutions in nanofluidics. The aqueous phase is considered as a continuous phase containing immersed ion particles. The behavior of the system is then simulated through utilization of an improved hybrid continuum‐atomistic four‐way coupled approach, including the MultiPhase Particle‐In‐Cell method for the short‐ranged interaction between the ion particles, the Brownian force for the collision between the aqueous phase molecules and the ion particles, and a wall force accounting for the short‐ranged interaction of ions and walls. The validation of the proposed model with the results of Molecular Dynamics simulations suggests that this model can be a promising approach for studying the electrokinetic phenomena in more complicated geometries where the Molecular Dynamics approach is computationally prohibitive. Finally, the effects of electrokinetic parameters, such as the height of the channel, the external electric field, and bulk ionic concentration, on the electroosmotic flow in a nanochannel are investigated and discussed.     

Mixed convection cooling of a heated circular cylinder by laminar upward-directed slot jet impingement

An experimental and numerical study has been carried out to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of a horizontal circular cylinder exposed to a slot jet impingement of air. A square-edged nozzle is mounted parallel with the cylinder axis and jet flow impinges on the bottom of the cylinder. The study is focused on low Reynolds numbers ranging from 120 to 1,210, Grashof numbers up to Gr = 10Re ² and slot-to-cylinder spacing from 2 to 8 of the slot width. The flow field is greatly influenced by the slot exit velocity and the buoyancy force due to density change. A Mach–Zehnder Interferometer is used for measurement of local Nusselt number around the cylinder at 10° interval. It is observed that the average Nusselt number decreases with increasing the jet spacing and increases with rising the Reynolds number. A finite volume method utilizing a curvilinear coordinate transformation is used for numerical modeling. The numerical results show good agreement with the experimental results. The flow and thermal field are seen to be stable and symmetric around the cylinder over the range of parameters studied.     

Rheological and morphological properties of PA6/ECO nanocomposites

Polyamide-6/poly(epichlorohydrin - co - ethylene oxide) (PA6/ECO) nanocomposites were prepared with 6 wt.% organoclay and different ECO content from 5 to 40 wt.%, via two-step melt blending process. The effects of organoclay and rubber content on the morphological and rheological properties of samples have been studied. Samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheometry in small amplitude oscillatory shear. XRD results indicate that the nanoclay platelets are partially exfoliated in both PA6 and ECO phases. The higher rubber content of nanocomposite samples results in higher exfoliation degree of the nanoclay layers. SEM photomicrographs of samples show that the size of rubber droplets increases by the introducing of nanoclay. Oscillatory shear measurements show that the storage modulus of nanocomposite samples significantly increases in comparison with unfilled blends. The formation of physical network is the prime cause of such increase. Moreover, presence of nanoclay dramatically increases melt yield stress of the samples. Palierne emulsion model has been applied to predict the rheological behavior of unfilled blends. A quantitative agreement between Palierne model and those of experimental data is found for low ECO content samples.     

PARAFAC and PLS applied to spectrophotometric determination of tetracycline in pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluids

A simple and rapid analytical procedure was proposed for determination of tetracycline in pharmaceutical formulation, urine and plasma based on chemometrics methods and spectrophotometric measurements. The calibration set was constructed with twenty solutions in concentration range 0.25-13.00 microg ml(-1) for tetracycline. The procedure was repeated at nine different pH values. Partial least squares (PLS) models were built at each pH and used to determinate a set of synthetic tetracycline solutions. The best model was obtained at pH 8.00 (PLS-PH8). Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model was applied to a three-way array constructed using all the pH data sets and enabled better results. The capabilities of the method for the analysis of real samples were evaluated by determination of tetracycline in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids with satisfactory results.     

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to predict the forced convection heat transfer from a v-shaped plate

This paper reports the application of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system to model the forced convection heat transfer from v-shaped plate internal surfaces exposed to an air impingement slot jet. The aim of the current study is to consider the effects of the angle of the v-shaped plate $ (\Upphi ) $ , slot-to-plate spacing ratio (Z/W) and the Reynolds number (Re) variation on the average heat transfer from the v-shaped plate.     

Bidirectional Teleportation of a Two-Qubit State by Using Eight-Qubit Entangled State as a Quantum Channel

In this paper, a new scheme of bidirectional quantum teleportation (BQT) making use of an eight-qubit entangled state as the quantum channel is presented. This scheme is the first protocol without controller by which the users can teleport an arbitrary two-qubit state to each other simultaneously. This protocol is based on the ControlledNOT operation, appropriate single-qubit unitary operations and single-qubit measurement in the Z-basis and X-basis.     

Screw dislocation-induced pyramidal crystallization of dendron-like macromolecules featuring asymmetric geometry

We report herein that dendron-shaped macromolecules AB_n crystallize into well-ordered pyramid-like structures from mixed solvents, instead of spherical motifs with curved structures, as found in the bulk. The design of the asymmetric molecular architecture and the choice of mixed solvents are applied as strategies to manipulate the crystallization process. In mixed solvents, the solvent selection for the Janus macromolecule and the existence of dominant crystalline clusters contribute to the formation of flat nanosheets. Whereas during solvent evaporation, the bulkiness of the asymmetric macromolecules easily creates defects within 2D nanosheets which lead to their spiral growth through screw dislocation. The size of the nanosheets and the growth into 2D nanosheets or 3D pyramidal structures can be regulated by the solvent ratio and solvent compositions. Moreover, macromolecules of higher asymmetry generate polycrystals of lower orderliness, probably due to higher localized stress.

The dendron-shaped macromolecules AB_n crystallize into well-ordered pyramid-like structures from mixed solvents, which is on the contrary to spherical motifs with curved structures in bulk.     

An atlas of selected beta-ray spectra and depth-dose distributions in lithium fluoride and soft tissue generated by a fast Monte Carlo-based sampling method

A method to generate depth-dose distributions due to beta radiation in LiF and soft tissue is proposed. In this method, the EGS4 Monte Carlo radiation transport code is initially used to generate a library of monoenergetic electron depth-dose distributions in the material for electron energies in the range of 10 keV to 5 MeV in 10 keV increments. A polynomial least-squares fit is applied to each distribution. In addition, a theoretical model is developed to generate beta-ray energy spectra of selected radionuclides. A standard Monte Carlo random sampling technique is then employed to sample the spectra and generate the depth-dose distributions in LiF and soft tissue. The proposed method has an advantage over more traditional methods in that the actual radiation transport in the media is performed only once for a set of monoenergetic cases and the beta depth-dose distributions are easily generated by sampling this previously-acquired database in a matter of minutes. This method therefore reduces the demand on computer resources and time. The method can be used to calculate depth-dose distribution due to any beta-emitting nuclide or combination of nuclides with up to ten beta components.