Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of the normal breast

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate diffusion anisotropy of the breast parenchyma and assess the range and repeatability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters in normal breast tissue.

Materials and Methods

The study was approved by our institutional review board and included 12 healthy females (median age, 36 years). Diffusion tensor imaging was performed at 1.5 T using a diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging sequence. Diffusion tensor imaging parameters including tensor eigenvalues (λ₁, λ₂, λ₃), fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured for anterior, central and posterior breast regions.

Results

Mean normal breast DTI measures were λ₁=2.51×10⁻³ mm²/s, λ₂=1.89×10⁻³ mm²/s, λ₃=1.39×10⁻³ mm²/s, ADC=1.95±0.24×10⁻³ mm²/s and FA=0.29±0.05 for b=600 s/mm². Significant regional differences were observed for both FA and ADC (P<.05), with higher ADC in the central breast and higher FA in the posterior breast. Comparison of DTI values calculated using b=0, 600 s/mm² vs. b=0, 1000 s/mm², showed significant differences in ADC (P<.001), but not FA. Repeatability assessment produced within-subject coefficient of variations of 4.5% for ADC and 11.4% for FA measures.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates anisotropy of water diffusion in normal breast tissue and establishes a normative range of breast FA values. Attention to the influence of breast region and b value on breast DTI measurements may be important for clinical interpretation and standardization of techniques.     

Modeling phase transition for compressible two-phase flows applied to metastable liquids

The seven-equation model for two-phase flows is a full non-equilibrium model, each phase has its own pressure, velocity, temperature, etc. A single value for each property, an equilibrium value, can be achieved by relaxation methods. This model has better features than other reduced models of equilibrium pressure for the numerical approximations in the presence of non-conservative terms. In this paper we modify this model to include the heat and mass transfer. We insert the heat and mass transfer through temperature and Gibbs free energy relaxation effects. New relaxation terms are modeled and new procedures for the instantaneous temperature and Gibbs free energy relaxation toward equilibrium is proposed. For modeling such relaxation terms, our idea is to make use of the assumptions that the mechanical properties, the pressure and the velocity, relax much faster than the thermal properties, the temperature and the Gibbs free energy, and the ratio of the Gibbs free energy relaxation time to the temperature relaxation time is extremely high. All relaxation processes are assumed to be instantaneous, i.e. the relaxation times are very close to zero. The temperature and the Gibbs free energy relaxation are used only at the interfaces. By these modifications we get a new model which is able to deal with transition fronts, evaporation fronts, where heat and mass transfer occur. These fronts appear as extra waves in the system. We use the same test problems on metastable liquids as in Saurel et al. [R. Saurel, F. Petitpas, R. Abgrall, Modeling phase transition in metastable liquids: application to cavitating and flashing flows, J. Fluid Mech. 607 (2008) 313–350]. We have almost similar results. Computed results are compared to the experimental ones of Simões-Moreira and Shepherd [J.R. Simões-Moreira, J.E. Shepherd, Evaporation waves in superheated dodecane, J. Fluid Mech. 382 (1999) 63–86]. A reasonable agreement is achieved. In addition we consider the six-equation model with a single velocity which is obtained from the seven-equation model in the asymptotic limit of zero velocity relaxation time. The same procedure for the heat and mass transfer is used with the six-equation model and a comparison is made between the results of this model with the results of the seven-equation model.     

Efficient coupling and relaxed alignment tolerances in pigtailing of a laser diode using dual ball lenses

In this paper, we report an efficient coupling scheme with relaxed misalignment tolerances. The proposed coupling scheme consists of two ball lenses of same diameter (1 mm) and different refractive indices. The second ball lens which is facing the fiber tip has a higher refractive index (1.833), whereas the first one which faces the laser diode has a refractive index of 1.5. Employing Gaussian and ABCD ray tracing optics, the theoretically obtained coupling efficiency can reach a unity with relaxed working distance (separation of the coupling system from the fiber tip) in the range between 1 and 4 mm at some optimum positions of the coupling lenses with regard to each other and to the facet of the laser diode. It has been found that if the distance between the first ball lens and the laser diode (d₁) is fixed at 1.1 mm, which is twice its focal length, the coupling efficiency and the working distance as well as the misalignment tolerances are greatly affected by variation of the separation between the two ball lenses (s), and for this proposed coupling scheme the highest coupling efficiency and largest working distance are obtained when s is in the range of 0.3-0.35 mm. Above and below this range there is a significant reduction in the values of the above-mentioned parameters. Experimentally, the Nd:YAG laser welding system has been used for the alignment and welding of the coupling components in a butterfly configuration; the experimentally obtained coupling efficiency of the proposed coupling system was around 75% with relaxed working distance. From the effect of lateral and angular offsets on coupling efficiency, it is clearly noticed that the mode field of laser diode is transformed from elliptical into circular and hence effectively matched with that of the single-mode fiber.     

Weathering of copper-amine treated wood

In this study, the effect of ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation and water spray on color, contact angle and surface chemistry of treated wood was studied. Southern pine sapwood (Pinus Elliottii.Engelm.) treated with copper ethanolamine (Cu-MEA) was subjected to artificially accelerated weathering with a QUV Weathering Tester. The compositional changes and the surface properties of the weathered samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, color and contact angle measurements. FTIR indicated that MEA treatment was not found to slow down wood weathering. FTIR spectrum of MEA-treated sample was similar to that of the untreated SP. However, the Cu-MEA treatment retarded the surface lignin degradation during weathering. The main changes in FTIR spectrum of Cu-MEA treatment took place at 915, 1510, and 1595 cm⁻¹. The intensity of the bands at 1510 and 1595 cm⁻¹ increased with the Cu-MEA treatment. Both untreated and MEA-treated exhibited higher ΔE than the Cu-MEA treated samples, indicating that MEA treatment did not retard color changes. However, ΔE decreased with increasing copper concentration, suggesting a positive contribution of Cu-EA to wood color stability. The contact angle of untreated and MEA-treated samples changed rapidly, and dropped from 75 ± 5° to 0° after artificial weathering up to 600 h. Treatment with Cu-MEA slowed down the decreasing in contact angle. As the copper concentration increases, the rate of change in contact angle decreases.     

Second harmonic imaging of chloroplasts using the two-photon laser scanning microscope

BackgroundSecond harmonic information reveals information about the structure of spatially oriented structures with an asymmetry. We study the second harmonic images of the grana and intergranal parts of chloroplasts in the leaves of the shade moss Plagiomnium affine.ResultsA two-photon microscope with blocking filters to suppress fluorescence generated both forward and backward second harmonic illumination to be captured. In the starch free chloroplasts of the single cell layered laminae strong second harmonic generation (SHG) from the granal regions was emitted. Upon illumination the chloroplasts changed their orientation affecting the SHG signal. Chloroplast is reoriented upon illumination.ConclusionsSHG signals were successfully obtained from the grana without any possible confusion from SHG starch grains due to their absence.     

Discreteness of space from the generalized uncertainty principle

Various approaches to Quantum Gravity (such as String Theory and Doubly Special Relativity), as well as black hole physics predict a minimum measurable length, or a maximum observable momentum, and related modifications of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle to a so-called Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP). We propose a GUP consistent with String Theory, Doubly Special Relativity and black hole physics, and show that this modifies all quantum mechanical Hamiltonians. When applied to an elementary particle, it implies that the space which confines it must be quantized. This suggests that space itself is discrete, and that all measurable lengths are quantized in units of a fundamental length (which can be the Planck length). On the one hand, this signals the breakdown of the spacetime continuum picture near that scale, and on the other hand, it can predict an upper bound on the quantum gravity parameter in the GUP, from current observations. Furthermore, such fundamental discreteness of space may have observable consequences at length scales much larger than the Planck scale.     

Nandrolone decanoate increases the volume but not the length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the mouse kidney

Anabolic androgenic steroids are widely used by athletes for increasing their muscle mass. These drugs are also used by some patients with chronic renal disease. But the effect of these drugs on the renal structure has received less attention. To investigate which parts of the kidney are affected by these drugs, mice kidneys were studied stereologically after injection of nandrolone decanoate (ND), an anabolic androgenic steroid. The treated group received nandrolone decanoate intraperitoneally (solved in olive oil) in doses of 3mg/kg of body weight and administered in one, two and three doses, respectively, in the first, second and third week of treatment. The mice in the control group received an olive oil solution. One week after the last injection, the mice were anaesthetized and their kidney removed. The analysis of data revealed that the weight of kidney was increased approximately 30% (p < or = 0.006) and its volume increased approximately 25% (p < or = 0.02) in ND treated mice in comparison with the control group. The volume of the cortex increased in ND treated animals approximately 44% (p < or = 0.006). Proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and distal convoluted tubules (DCT) volume increased approximately 25% (p < or = 0.02) and approximately 68% (p < or = 0.02) in ND treated mice. The volume of glomeruli, other ducts, connective tissues, vessels and the length of PCT, DCT, collecting and Henle's ducts and vessels did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: ND can increase the volume of the renal cortex and its two main parts, i.e. PCT and DCT in mice.     

Proton NMR relaxation in albumin solutions doped with Mn(II)

The aim of this study is to obtain further information about the source of proton relaxation in the Mn(II)-human serum albumin complex. For this purpose, proton relaxation rates in albumin solutions 1/T ₁ and 1/T ₂ were measured versus increasing amounts of manganese [Mn_t]. The fractions of manganese bound to albumin [Mn_b] and free manganese [Mn_f] were then determined from proton relaxation rate enhancement data. Paramagnetic contributions of bound manganese to the observed relaxation rates (1/T _1p^*)_b and (1/T _2p^*)_b were also determined. Finally, the (1/T _2p^*)_b/(1/T _1p^*)_b ratio was used in a derived equation to estimate an effective correlation time τ. Mean τ value of the complex was found to be in the order of 3 ns, while the hydration number of bound manganese q was estimated to be about 4. The 1/τ was found to be the sum of the inverse values of rotational correlation time 1/τ _r, mean residence time of water in hydration spheres of the complex 1/τ _m, and longitudinal electronic relaxation time of manganese 1/τ _s in the complex. In conclusion, the relaxation mechanism in albumin solutions containing Mn(II) can be interpreted through dipolar and scalar interactions modulated by τ _r, τ _m and τ _s. This analysis enables one to get reasonable figures for the τ _r and q of Mn(II) in albumin solution.     

Quasi-diamagnetism and exchange anisotropy in Ni-Mn-In-Co Heusler alloys

The quasi-diamagnetism effect that manifests itself in the negative magnetic susceptibility observed in weak magnetic fields during cooling of samples below some critical temperature has been revealed in Ni₄₈Co₂Mn₃₅In₁₅ Heusler alloys. The effect has been attributed to a strong nonequilibrium of the system due to the presence of magnetic and structural disorders and exchange anisotropy.