A method for automatic identification of water and fat images from a symmetrically sampled dual-echo Dixon technique

Sampling water and fat signals symmetrically (i.e., at 0° and 180° relative phase angles) in a dual-echo Dixon technique offers high intrinsic tolerance to phase fluctuations in postprocessing and maximum signal-to-noise performance for the separated water and fat images. However, identification of which image is water and which image is fat after their separation is not possible based on the phase information alone. In this work, we proposed a semiempirical automatic image identification method that is based on the intrinsic asymmetry between the water and fat chemical shift spectra. Specifically, the approximately bimodal feature of the fat spectra and the observation that most in vivo tissues are either predominantly water or predominantly fat are used to construct a spectrum-based algorithm. Additional refinement is accomplished by considering the spatial distribution of the tissues that may have a coexistence of water and fat. The final improved algorithm was tested on a total of 131 three-dimensional patient datasets collected from different scanners and found to yield correct water and fat identification in all datasets.     

Breakup modes of a laminar hollow water jet

Graphical Abstract  

     

Molality as a unit of measure for expressing 1H MRS brain metabolite concentrations in vivo

Absolute concentrations of cerebral metabolite in in vivo 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies (1H-MRS) are widely reported in molar units as moles per liter of tissue, or in molal units as moles per kilogram of tissue. Such measurements require external referencing or assumptions as to local water content. To reduce the scan time, avoid assumptions that may be invalid under specific pathologies, and provide a universally accessible referencing procedure, we suggest that metabolite concentrations from 1H-MRS measurements in vivo be reported in molal units as moles per kilogram of tissue water. Using internal water referencing, a two-compartment water model, a simulated brain spectrum for peak identification, and a spectroscopic bi-exponential spin-spin relaxation segmentation technique, we measured the absolute concentrations for the four common 1H brain metabolites: choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mIno), phosphocreatine + creatine (Cr), and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), in the hippocampal region (n = 26) and along the Sylvian fissure (n = 61) of 35 healthy adults. A stimulated echo localization method (20 ms echo time, 10 ms mixing time, 4 s repetition time) yielded metabolite concentrations, uncorrected for metabolite relaxation or contributions from macromolecule resonances, that were expectantly higher than with molar literature values. Along the Sylvian fissure the average concentrations (coefficient of variation (CV)) in mmoles/kg of tissue water were 17.6 (12%) for NAA, 14.2 (9%) for Cr, 3.6 (13%) for Cho, and 13.2 (15%) for mIno. Respective values for the hippocampal region were 15.7 (20%), 14.7 (16%), 4.6 (19%), and 17.7 (26%). The concentrations of the two regions were significantly different (p 相似文献   

Lattice dynamics of Eu<Subscript>1-x</Subscript>Y<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

A systematic and detailed study of Raman and infrared active lattice excitations in the orthorhombic multiferroic manganite Eu_1−xY_xMnO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) was carried out at room temperature. For the infrared active phonon modes the eigenfrequencies, damping constants and oscillator strengths were analyzed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in the far infrared frequency range. For the Raman active phonons the same analysis for eigenfrequencies and damping constants was carried out using Raman spectroscopy in the range from 200 cm⁻¹ to 700 cm⁻¹. Y doping leads to mode-dependent phonon frequency shifts up to 8%. These are interpreted in terms of the interplay between the decrease of the reduced ion masses and the axis-dependent change of bond lengths. The latter leads to a bond softening along the a-axis and a strengthening along the c-axis, for which the highest phonon frequency increase is observed. The application of both Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy gives us sensitivity not only to symmetry properties via the selection rules but also to the involvement of different ion types within the unit cell. It is clearly shown that the disorder induced effects are of minor impact on the lattice properties and solely detected on the rare earth sites. The MnO₆ octahedra remain unaffected and show the same behavior as in the stochiometric RMnO₃ making Eu_1−xY_xMnO₃ an excellent model system for a quasi-continuous fine-tuning of the lattice parameters relevant for the appearance of multiferroicity.     

Discrete and selective absorption in crystalline molecular nanofilms

Recent research in nano-optical engineering and in nanomedicine as well, seeks for methods of construction of various types of nano-markers, nano-carriers, and ways to deliver drugs to the exactly determined regions of body. In this process it is important to find methods of recognition of certain types of molecules. It is obvious that optical recognition would be the easiest and the most effective way to do it. Our research presents a model of a molecular ultrathin crystalline film and generated exciton system inside it and corresponding methodology of analysis of their optical characteristics. Properties of these spatially very restricted structures are very sensitive to their surrounding surfaces. Using the two-time Green’s functions adapted for crystalline structures with symmetry breaking, and graphical-numerical software, we have calculated the energy spectra and possible exciton states. We have shown that the appearance and the presence of localized states on the surfaces and in the boundary layers of the film depend on the thickness of the film and the film surroundings, presented through the perturbation of parameters on surfaces. Optical properties in these structures demonstrate discrete and very selective resonant absorption spectra, depending on the perturbation on their surfaces.     

Effect of copper impurity on the edge emission of ZnTe crystals

The results are given of studies on the edge emission of undoped and copperdoped ZnTe crystals in the temprature range 4.2–300K. The copper impurity has been found to increase the intensity of the principal edge emission band substantially. Analysis of the structure of this emission band indicated that a temprature below 160K the main role is played by the emission from excitons that are most probably bound in Cu_Zn and Li_Zn centers while at higher temperatures it is played by emission during the transition of free electrons to these centers. An appreciable role is played over the entire range of temperatures by emission from free electrons with an energy of 13 MeV. The luminescence quenching energy below 160 K has a value of 7 MeV (the binding energy of a bound exciton) and at higher temperatures it is 78 MeV.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 68–73, August, 1987.     

Synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes for NH3 gas detection

It has been recently demonstrated that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent a new type of chemical sensor capable of detecting a small concentration of molecules such as CO, NO₂, NH₃.In this work, CNTs were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on the SiO₂/Si substrate by decomposition of acetylene (C₂H₂) on sputtered Ni catalyst nanoparticles. Their structural properties are studied by atomic force microscopy, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The CNTs grown at 700 °C exhibit a low dispersion in size, are about 1 μm long and their average diameter varies in the range 25–60 nm as a function of the deposition time. We have shown that their diameter can be reduced either by annealing in oxygen environment or by growing at lower temperature (less than 600 °C).We developed a test device with interdigital Pt electrodes on an Al₂O₃ substrate in order to evaluate the CNTs-based gas sensor capabilities. We performed room temperature current–voltage measurements for various gas concentrations. The CNT films are found to exhibit a fast response and a high sensitivity to NH₃ gas.