Quantitative assessment of motion correction for high angular resolution diffusion imaging

Several methods have been proposed for motion correction of high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) data. There have been few comparisons of these methods, partly due to a lack of quantitative metrics of performance. We compare two motion correction strategies using two figures of merit: displacement introduced by the motion correction and the 95% confidence interval of the cone of uncertainty of voxels with prolate tensors. What follows is a general approach for assessing motion correction of HARDI data that may have broad application for quality assurance and optimization of postprocessing protocols. Our analysis demonstrates two important issues related to motion correction of HARDI data: (1) although neither method we tested was dramatically superior in performance, both were dramatically better than performing no motion correction, and (2) iteration of motion correction can improve the final results. Based on the results demonstrated here, iterative motion correction is strongly recommended for HARDI acquisitions.     

Flame Retardancy and Kinetic Behavior of Ammonium Polyphosphate–Treated Unsaturated Polyester/Phenolic Interpenetrating Polymer Network

In this study, the flammability and kinetic behavior of flame retardant unsaturated polyester (UP)/phenolic resin were investigated. The flame retardant ammonium polyphosphate (APP) was used in this research to improve the flame resistance of a UP/phenolic resin interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). The flame resistance of UP improved from none to V-0 classification by adding phenolic resin and APP. Kinetic behavior study of UP, UP/phenolic, and APP-filled UP/phenolic IPN was carried out by the Borchardt and Daniels method. The results indicated that modification of flammable UP resin markedly improved the total heat release volume of UP and the flame retardancy of the IPN network structure was also enhanced.     

Smectic A and smectic C materials: partially deuteriated chiral liquid crystals (S)-(-)-2-methylbuty 4-(4-(d13)-hexyloxyphenyl)benzoate and (S)-(-)-2-methylbutyl 4-(4-(d17)-octyloxyphenyl)benzoate

In order to study the difference in microscopic orientation of ferro- and antiferroelectric liquid crystalline molecules, we synthesized the partially deuteriated chiral compounds, (S)-(^-)-2-methylbutyl 4-(4-(d₁₃)-hexyloxy- and (S)-(^-)-2-methylbutyl 4-(4-(d₁₇)-octyloxy-phenyl)benzoates. Fundamental physical properties such as phase transition temperatures, spontaneous polarization and tilt angle were determined. Polarized FTIR measurements were also made to provide information on molecular structure and orientation.     

The Extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Atmospheric Particulate Matter Samples by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE)

Abstract

The Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of PAHs (23 2- to 6-ring species) spiked onto glass fibre filters (GFFs) was studied as a function of variable extraction solvents, pressure, temperature and extraction times. Acceptable recoveries (85% ± 15%) were obtained for certain combinations of conditions and a tentative method (1500 psi, 150°C, 70:30 hexane:acetone mixture, 7 min heat-up time, 5 min static extraction time, 60% flush volume, 2 static cycles was selected for further testing. However, this method did not prove as effective as the traditional Soxhlet method of extraction when these parameters were used to extract native PAHs from ambient atmospheric particulate matter collected on a GFF by Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) sampling protocols. The extraction recovery study for spiked GFFs was repeated using slightly different extraction conditions: 2000 psi, 100°C, 70:30 hexane:acetone, 5 min heat-up time, 5 min static extraction time, 150% flush volume, 3 static cycles. When this method was applied to the extraction of native PAHs from ambient atmospheric particulate matter collected on GFFs, the results showed equivalent or better recoveries to that of the Soxhlet method. The total time of extraction was 25 min requiring only 30 mL of solvent. This ASE method is presently used to quantitatively determine PAHs in IADN particle-phase samples.     

Production of Alkyl Aryl Sulfides from Aromatic Disulfides and Alkyl Carboxylates via a Disilathiane–Disulfide Interchange Reaction

The results of this study show that disilathiane is an effective mediator in the synthesis of alkyl aryl sulfides with disulfides and alkyl carboxylates. Mechanistic studies suggest that disilathiane promotes cleavage of the sulfur–sulfur bond of disulfides to generate thiosilane as a key intermediate. Diselenides were also applicable to this transformation to produce the corresponding selenides.     

Experimental demonstration of the induction synchrotron

We report an experimental demonstration of the induction synchrotron, the concept of which has been proposed as a future accelerator for the second generation of neutrino factory or hadron collider. The induction synchrotron supports a superbunch and a superbunch permits more charge to be accelerated while observing the constraints of the transverse space-charge limit. By using a newly developed induction acceleration system instead of radio-wave acceleration devices, a single proton bunch injected from the 500 MeV booster ring and captured by the barrier bucket created by the induction step voltages was accelerated to 6 GeV in the KEK proton synchrotron.     

4T split TEM volume head and knee coils for improved sensitivity and patient accessibility

Split RF coils offer improved patient access by eliminating the need for the coil to be slid over the region of interest. For unshielded birdcage coils, the presence of end ring currents necessitates a direct electrical connection between two halves of the coil. For high-field (>3T) shielded birdcage coils, both the shield and the coil must be split and reliably connected electrically. This problem can be circumvented by the use of split TEM volume coils. Since the elements of a TEM coil are coupled inductively, no direct electrical connection between the halves is necessary. In this work we demonstrate that the effects of splitting the shield for head and knee TEMs can be compensated for, and performance retained. For the knee, the improved access allowed the coil diameter to be reduced, enhancing the sensitivity by 15-20%.