Simultaneous detection of resolved glutamate, glutamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid at 4 T

A new approach is introduced to simultaneously detect resolved glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) using a standard STEAM localization pulse sequence with the optimized sequence timing parameters. This approach exploits the dependence of the STEAM spectra of the strongly coupled spin systems of Glu, Gln, and GABA on the echo time TE and the mixing time TM at 4 T to find an optimized sequence parameter set, i.e., {TE, TM}, where the outer-wings of the Glu C4 multiplet resonances around 2.35 ppm, the Gln C4 multiplet resonances around 2.45 ppm, and the GABA C2 multiplet resonance around 2.28 ppm are significantly suppressed and the three resonances become virtual singlets simultaneously and thus resolved. Spectral simulation and optimization were conducted to find the optimized sequence parameters, and phantom and in vivo experiments (on normal human brains, one patient with traumatic brain injury, and one patient with brain tumor) were carried out for verification. The results have demonstrated that the Gln, Glu, and GABA signals at 2.2-2.5 ppm can be well resolved using a standard STEAM sequence with the optimized sequence timing parameters around {82 ms,48 ms} at 4 T, while the other main metabolites, such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (tCho), and creatine (tCr), are still preserved in the same spectrum. The technique can be easily implemented and should prove to be a useful tool for the basic and clinical studies associated with metabolism of Glu, Gln, and/or GABA.     

Coaxial ZnO/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocables fabricated by thermal evaporation/oxidation

ZnO/SiO₂ coaxial nanocables have been synthesized on silicon substrates by simply evaporating zinc powder under an argon and argon/oxygen mixed atmosphere sequentially. The diameters of these nanocables vary from 50 to 100 nm and the lengths up to several millimeters. Electron microscopy and chemical composition investigations reveal that the nanocable consists of a crystalline ZnO core surrounded by an amorphous silica sheath. The electron diffraction pattern proves that the long-axis direction of ZnO cores grows along the [0001] direction. Silica nanotubes with wall structures have been obtained by the selective dissolution of the cores with hydrochloric acid. PACS 81.10.Bk; 81.05.Hd     

Characterization of Er3+-doped Na2O-WO3-TeO2 glass for ion-exchanged waveguide amplifiers and lasers

Er3+-doped Na2O-WO3-TeO2 glass consistent with standard ion-exchange technology has been fabricated and characterized. The measured absorption and emission spectra of the glass were analyzed by the JuddOfelt and McCumber theories. The intensity parameters are Ω2 = 7.01 × 10-20 cm2, Ω4 = 1.80 × 10-20 cm2, Ω6 = 1.03 × 10-20 cm2. The maximum emission cross-section is 0.91 × 10-20 cm2 at 1.533 μm, and a broad 1.5-μm emission spectrum of 65-nm full width at half-maximum (FWHM) is demonstrated. Glass transition temperature, crystallization onset temperature, density, refractive index are also reported for reference in the design and modelling of the ion-exchange process.     

Analysis of ferroelectric switching in sodium nitrite:poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films

The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and switching current response in sodium nitrite:poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films have been studied as a function of composition of NaNO₂. The switching current data fitted well to infinite-grain model (IGM) in the region t<t _s and to finite-grain model (FGM) in the region t≥t _s . The microscopic parameters like the dimensionality, the domain wall velocity, and the nucleation rate have been evaluated which provide more physical insight of the switching phenomena in the composite films. The polarization current and nucleation rate are optimum in 50 wt.% composite film and have been discussed in terms of grain size and strain variations with the composition. The effect of applied field and pulse width variation on the switching behavior of 50 wt.% composition has also been studied. The exponential field dependence of the domain wall velocity and the nucleation rate indicate that nucleation mechanism is responsible for switching phenomena in the composite films. The writing pulse width affects significantly on the switching behavior of the composite films.     

Polarization-dependent two-color dispersion wave generation and evolution in polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber

We investigate the effect of the polarization state of the input pulses on the visible emissions in the anomalous dispersion region of polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM-PCF), by using ～100 fs pump pulses whose central wavelength (1064 nm) is close to the second zero dispersion wavelength (1100 nm) of the fiber, where the soliton fission mechanisms play an important role. The experimental results show that the phase-matching two-color dispersive wave emission, one at 582 nm and the other at 600 nm, is polarization-dependent and frequency shift results from the different dispersion characteristics along the two orthogonal principal axes of PM-PCF. Furthermore, it is observed for the first time that the variation of the linear input polarization angles in 45° region almost has no influence on the output spectral profiles, and the break variation of the output spectrum exists when the angle between the polarization of the linear incident pulse and the fast-axis or the slow-axis of PM-PCF is 45°, which are attributed to the coupling between the two polarization modes in high birefringent PM-PCF.     

Synthesis of 10 nm Ag nanoparticle polymer composite pastes for low temperature production of high conductivity films

The conversion of silver nanoparticle (NP) paste films into highly conductive films at low sintering temperature is an important requirement for the developing areas of additive fabrication and printed electronics. Ag NPs with a diameter of ∼10 nm were prepared via an improved chemical process to produce viscous paste with a high wt%. The paste consisted of as-prepared Ag NP and an organic vehicle of ethylcellulose that was deposited on glass and Si substrates using a contact lithographic technique. The morphology and conductivity of the imprinted paste film were measured as a function of sintering temperature, sintering time and the percentage ratio of Ag NP and ethylcellulose. The morphology and conductivity were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a two-point probe electrical conductivity measurement. The results show that the imprinted films were efficiently converted into conducting states when exposed to sintering temperature in the range of 200-240 °C, this temperature is lower than the previously reported values for Ag paste.     

Multichannel and omnidirectional transparency in periodic metamaterial layers

Multichannel and omnidirectional transmission can be realized in one-dimensional periodic metamaterial layers, where double-negative materials and single-negative materials are alternately stacked. The proposed structures can produce as many resonance transmission modes as desired by adjusting the number of the periods. Such transmission modes with perfect transmission are robust against incident angles and polarizations. The frequencies and frequency intervals of these modes can be tuned by changing the thicknesses of the metamaterial layers. Composite right/left-handed transmission lines with lumped elements (capacitors and inductors) were used to verify the characteristics of the considered system. Our findings provide an efficient way to select useful multiple channel signals from all directions, and it is useful in optoelectronic device applications.     

Oscillatory and anti-oscillatory motifs in genetic regulatory networks

Recently,self-sustained oscillatory genetic regulatory networks(GRNs) have attracted significant attention in the biological field.Given a GRN,it is important to anticipate whether the network could generate oscillation with proper parameters,and what the key ingredients for the oscillation are.In this paper the ranges of some function-related parameters which are favorable to sustained oscillations are considered.In particular,some oscillatory motifs appearing with high-frequency in most of the oscillatory GRNs are observed.Moreover,there are some anti-oscillatory motifs which have a strong oscillation repressing effect.Some conclusions analyzing these motif effects and constructing oscillatory GRNs are provided.     

Variations in T(2)* and fat content of murine brown and white adipose tissues by chemical-shift MRI

Purpose

The purpose was to compare T₂* relaxation times and proton density fat-fraction (PDFF) values between brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissue in lean and ob/ob mice.

Materials and Methods

A group of lean male mice (n=6) and two groups of ob/ob male mice placed on similar 4-week (n=6) and 8-week (n=8) ad libitum diets were utilized. The animals were imaged at 3 T using a T₂*-corrected chemical-shift-based water–fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method that provides simultaneous estimation of T₂* and PDFF on a voxel-wise basis. Regions of interest were drawn within the interscapular BAT and gonadal WAT depots on co-registered T₂* and PDFF maps. Measurements were assessed using analysis of variance, Bonferroni-adjusted t test for multigroup comparisons and the Tukey post hoc test.

Results

Significant differences (P<.01) in BAT T₂* and PDFF were observed between the lean and ob/ob groups. The ob/ob animals exhibited longer BAT T₂* and greater PDFF than lean animals. However, only BAT PDFF was significantly different (P<.01) between the two ob/ob groups. When comparing BAT to WAT within each group, T₂* and PDFF values were consistently lower in BAT than WAT (P<.01). The difference was most prominent in the lean animals. In both ob/ob groups, BAT exhibited very WAT-like appearances and properties on the MRI images.

Conclusion

T₂* and PDFF are lower in BAT than WAT. This is likely due to variations in tissue composition. The values were consistently lower in lean mice than in ob/ob mice, suggestive of the former's greater demand for BAT thermogenesis and reflective of leptin hormone deficiencies and diminished BAT metabolic activity in the latter.