Superparamagnetic iron oxide particles and positive enhancement for myocardial perfusion studies assessed by subsecond T1-weighted MRI

Superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIOs) are usually referred to as T₂ MR contrast agents, reducing signal intensity (SI) on T₂-weighted MR images (negative enhancement). This study reports the original use of SPIOs as T₁-enhancing contrast agents, primarily assessed in vitro, and then applied to an in vivo investigation of a myocardial perfusion defect. Using a strongly T₁-weighted subsecond MR sequence with SPIOs intravenous (IV) bolus injection, MR imaging of myocardial vascularization after reperfusion was performed, on a dog model of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion. Immediately after the intravenous bolus injection of 20 μmol/kg of SPIOs, a positive signal intensity enhancement was observed respectively, in the right and left ventricular cavity and in the nonischemic left myocardium. Moreover, compared to normal myocardium, the remaining ischemic myocardial region (anterior wall of the left ventricle) appeared as a lower and delayed SI enhancing area (cold spot). Mean peak SIE in the nonischemic myocardium (posterior wall) was significantly higher than in the ischemic myocardium (anterior wall) (110 ± 23% vs. 74 ± 22%, Mann-Whitney test < 1%, n₁ = 6, n₂ − n₁ = 0, U > 2). In conclusion, the T₁ effect of SPIOs at low dose, during their first intravascular distribution, suggests their potential use as positive markers to investigate the regional myocardial blood flow and some perfusion defects such as the “no-reflow phenomenon”.     

Response of bare 1-3 piezocomposite array to localized electrical excitation

The theoretical response of a 1-3 piezocomposite plate submitted to localized electrical excitation was studied with the theory of guided waves. The theoretical modeling was based on the global matrix method, and the piezocomposite material was considered as a homogeneous medium. To validate the theoretical results, experimental displacement measurements were performed with an interferometric probe on two piezocomposite plates, one with a single element and one with an array of electrodes. The measured response on the single-element plate was mainly supported by the S0 and S3 modes of the plate. Homogenization limits of the composite in terms of frequency and wave number are defined on the basis of data from this sample. Within these limits, the piezocomposite material operates as a homogeneous medium, and comparison between theoretical and experimental results allows the equivalent electroacoustic parameters to be evaluated. A second sample was measured to study the effects of the electrode array on the electroacoustic response of the plate. Two kinds of electrical excitation were studied.     

Characterization of the surface of positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries using 7Li MAS NMR

The growth and evolution of the interphase, due to contact with the ambient atmosphere or electrolyte, are followed using ⁷Li magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) in the case of two materials amongst the most promising candidates for positive electrodes for lithium batteries: LiFePO₄ and LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂. The use of appropriate experimental conditions to acquire the NMR signal allows observing only the «diamagnetic» lithium species at the surface of the grains of active material. The reaction of LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂ with the ambient atmosphere or LiPF₆ (1 M in Ethylene Carbonated/DiMéthyl Carbonate (EC/DMC)) electrolyte is extremely fast and leads to an important amount of lithium-containing diamagnetic species compared to what can be observed in the case of LiFePO₄. The two studied materials display a completely different surface chemistry in terms of reactivity and/or kinetics of the surface towards electrolyte. Moreover, these results show that MAS NMR is a very promising tool to monitor phenomena taking place at the interface between electrode and electrolyte.     

Polarization control in spun and telecommunication optical fibers

We consider the counterpropagating interaction of a signal and a pump beam in a spun fiber and in a randomly birefringent fiber, the latter being relevant to optical telecommunication systems. On the basis of a geometrical analysis of the Hamiltonian singularities of the system, we provide a complete understanding of the phenomenon of polarization attraction in these two systems, which allows to achieve a control of the polarization state of the signal beam by adjusting the polarization of the pump. In spun fibers, all polarization states of the signal beam are attracted toward a specific line of polarization states on the Poincaré sphere, whose characteristics are determined by the polarization state of the injected backward pump. In randomly birefringent telecommunication fibers, we show that an unpolarized signal beam can be repolarized into any particular polarization state, without loss of energy.     

Structural characteristics of olivine Li(Mg0.5Ni0.5)PO4 via TEM analysis

The structural characteristics of olivine-type lithium orthophosphate Li(Mg_0.5Ni_0.5)PO₄ synthesized via solid-state reaction have been studied using X-ray diffraction, ion beam technique, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The parent LiNiPO₄ compound can be synthesized in olivine structure without any evidence of secondary phases as impurities. The structural quality of the parent LiNiPO₄ in the absence of secondary component phases resulted in the formation of hexagonal closed packed structure. The olivine analogue compound containing mixed M (M?=?Mg, Ni) cations, Li(Mg_0.5Ni_0.5)PO₄ contained Li₃PO₄ as a second phase upon synthesis, however a carbothermal reduction method produced a single-phase compound. The redox behaviour of carbon-coated Li(Mg_0.5Ni_0.5)PO₄ cathode in aqueous lithium hydroxide as the electrolyte showed reversible lithium intercalation.     

Three-dimensional through-bond homonuclear-heteronuclear correlation experiments for quadrupolar nuclei in solid-state NMR applied to (27)Al-O-(31)P-O-(27)Al networks

We present here the first 3D homonuclear/heteronuclear correlation experiment applied to quadrupolar nuclei and making use of the sole scalar J-coupling. This experiment, based on the 2D-Homonuclear-Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation (H-HSQC) experiment, uses a relayed transfer from the (27)Al central transition to neighbouring (31)P spins and to the central transition of a second (27)Al. It confirms the correlation map characterizing the two (27)Al and the (31)P NMR signatures of (27)Al-O-(31)P-O-(27)Al chemically bonded molecular motifs.     

Nanoscale deformation of a liquid surface

We study the interaction between a solid particle and a liquid interface. A semianalytical solution of the nonlinear equation that describes the interface deformation points out the existence of a bifurcation behavior for the apex deformation as a function of the distance. We show that the apex curvature obeys a simple power-law dependency on the deformation. Relationships between physical parameters disclose the threshold distance at which the particle can approach the liquid before capillarity provokes a "jump to contact." A prediction of the interface original position before deformation takes place, as well as the attraction force measured by an approaching probe, are produced. The results of our analysis agree with the force curves obtained from atomic force microscopy experiments over a liquid puddle.     

Studies on pyrrolidones. Reactivity of β-enaminoesters derived from pyroglutamic acid. Synthesis of methyl cyano[l-methyl-5-(5-methyl[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidin-2-ylidene]acetate

The 5-methoxycarbonyl group of β-enaminoesters derived from methyl pyroglutamate was transformed into acids, amides and 1,3,4-oxadiazole.