Pixel-by-pixel analysis of DCE MRI curve patterns and an illustration of its application to the imaging of the musculoskeletal system

Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI is a widespread method that has found broad application in the imaging of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. A common way of analyzing DCE MRI images is to look at the shape of the time-intensity curve (TIC) in pixels selected after drawing an ROI in a highly enhanced area. Although often applied to a number of MSK affections, shape analysis has so far not led to a unanimous correlation between these TIC patterns and pathology. We hypothesize that this might be a result of the subjective ROI approach. To overcome the shortcomings of the ROI approach (sampling error and interuser variability, among others), we created a method for a fast and simple classification of DCE MRI where time-curve enhancement shapes are classified pixel by pixel according to their shape. The result of the analysis is rendered in multislice, 2D color-coded images. With this approach, we show not only that differences on a short distance range of the TIC patterns are significant and cannot be appreciated with a conventional ROI analysis but also that the information that shape maps and conventional standard DCE MRI parameter maps convey are substantially different.     

Thermodynamic and shape memory properties of TPI/HDPE hybrid shape memory polymer

The traditional processing technology of shape memory polymer composites is complex and the cost of high performance filler is high. Therefore, low-cost high density polyethylene (HDPE) was introduced into trans-1,4-polyisoprene (TPI) matrix as reinforcing phase, and a novel shape memory polymer was prepared by mechanical melt blending, which fully exerted the excellent properties of plastic and rubber. Because of the difference in molecular chain distribution between different blend ratios of TPI/HDPE hybrid SMPCs specimens, the change of the blend ratio of the two components affects the thermodynamic and shape memory properties of the SMPCs. A series experimental results show that the TPI/HDPE hybrid SMPCs with the blend ratio of 80/20 has excellent thermodynamic and shape memory properties. And we believe that the relevant conclusions of this study can provide valuable design reference for the development of high-performance TPI SMPCs.     

Preparation of body-temperature-triggered shape-memory polyurethane with biocompatibility using isosorbide and castor oil

Shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs) have attracted much attention in the biomedical field because they can easily control the transition temperature (T_trans) to shape memory and are biocompatible. In this study, a shape memory polyurethane with both biocompatibility and a T_trans close to the body temperature was synthesized by using natural derivatives of isosorbide and castor oil in place of petroleum-based materials. Isosorbide and castor oil were used to form net points, and polycaprolactone diol (PCL diol) acted as the switching segment. The synthesized four polyurethane (PCL diol/isosorbide/castor oil, PICU-1, 2, 3, 4) with different isosorbide contents exhibited desired thermal and mechanical properties. In the thermo-cyclic shape memory testing experiment, the PICU series demonstrated good shape memory property, with more than 95% shape recovery ratio (R_r) and more than 90% shape fixity ratio (R_f), and PICU-3 recovered its shape within 20 s in a 37 °C water bath. In addition, the PICU series proved to be safe materials with excellent biocompatibility, as indicated by the observed C2C12 cells viability and proliferation. The stent made with the PICU-3 film showed near complete magnetization at 37 °C within 18 s and proved to be a suitable self-expanding stent.     

Solvent-Triggered Self-Folding of Hydrogel Sheets

Intense investigations have been attracted to the development of materials which can reconfigure into 3D structures in response to external stimuli. Herein we report on the design and self-folding behaviors of hydrogels composed of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO\begin{document}$_{2}$\end{document}MA). Upon immersion into a variety of solvents at room temperature, the resulting P(MEO\begin{document}$_{2}$\end{document}MA-co-OEGMA) hydrogel sheets self-fold into 3D morphologies, and the observed transformation in shape is reversible. We further show that composition of the gel, gaseous environment, and preparation procedure play important roles in the self-folding behavior of the resulting hydrogels. This work provides a facile approach for fabricating self-folding hydrogels.     

形状记忆聚氨酯研究进展

对形状记忆聚合物(主要以聚氨酯为例)的总体研究概况、合成方法、表征手段、数学模型等方面进行了综述。     

Modeling of pair distribution functions for XAFS in disordered systems

A commonly used expression for modeling the XAFS of highly disordered systems is shown to generate substantial systematic errors in the coordination number in many cases of practical interest. This expression is corrected and generalized. Further, a simpler and more flexible model distribution is proposed, and the corresponding XAFS expression is derived. Comparison with experimental and simulated data show that the new expressions are useful in cases of high disorder for which the cumulant expansion loses its utility, and they explicitly account for the k-dependence of the mean free path.     

丝氨酸异构体的电子-分子形状共振态及其解离动力学理论研究

Shape resonances of electron-molecule system formed in the low-energy electron attachment to four low-lying conformers of serine (serine 1, serine 2, serine 3, and serine 4) in gas phase are investigated using the quantum scattering method with the non-empirical model potentials in single-center expansion. In the attachment energy range of 0-10 eV, three shape resonances for serine 1, serine 2, and serine 4 and four shape resonances for serine 3 are predicted. The one-dimensional potential energy curves of the temporary negative ions of electron-serine are calculated to explore the correlations between the shape resonance and the bond cleavage. The bond-cleavage selectivity of the different resonant states for a certain conformer is demonstrated, and the recent experimental results about the dissociative electron attachment to serine are interpreted on the basis of present calculations.     

Surface tension-driven shape-recovery of micro/nanometer-scale surface features in a Pt57.5Ni5.3Cu14.7P22.5 metallic glass in the supercooled liquid region: A numerical modeling capability

Recent experiments in the literature show that micro/nano-scale features imprinted in a Pt-based metallic glass, Pt_57.5Ni_5.3Cu_14.7P_22.5, using thermoplastic forming at a temperature above its glass transition temperature, may be erased by subsequent annealing at a slightly higher temperature in the supercooled liquid region (Kumar and Schroers, 2008). The mechanism of shape-recovery is believed to be surface tension-driven viscous flow of the metallic glass. We have developed an elastic-viscoplastic constitutive theory for metallic glasses in the supercooled liquid temperature range at low strain rates, and we have used existing experimental data in the literature for Pt_57.5Ni_5.3Cu_14.7P_22.5 (Harmon et al., 2007) to estimate the material parameters appearing in our constitutive equations. We have implemented our constitutive model for the bulk response of the glass in a finite element program, and we have also developed a numerical scheme for calculating surface curvatures and incorporating surface tension effects in finite element simulations. By carrying out full three-dimensional finite-element simulations of the shape-recovery experiments of Kumar and Schroers (2008), and using the independently determined material parameters for the bulk glass, we estimate the surface tension of Pt_57.5Ni_5.3Cu_14.7P_22.5 at the temperature at which the shape-recovery experiments were conducted. Finally, with the material parameters for the underlying elastic-viscoplastic bulk response as well as a value for the surface tension of the Pt-based metallic glass fixed, we validate our simulation capability by comparing predictions from our numerical simulations of shape-recovery experiments of Berkovich nanoindents, against corresponding recent experimental results of Packard et al. (2009) who reported shape-recovery data of nanoindents on the same Pt-based metallic glass.     

Laser welding of thin foil nickel-titanium shape memory alloy

In this study, two L27 Taguchi experiments were carried out to study the effect of fibre laser welding parameters and their interactions upon the weld bead aspect ratio of nickel-titanium thin foil. The optimum parameters to produce full penetrated weld with the largest aspect ratio and desirable microstructure were successfully obtained by the Taguchi experimental design. The corrosion property of the optimized NiTi weld in Hank’s solution at 37.5 °C was studied and compared with the as-received NiTi. To improve the corrosion properties of the weld, the effect of post-weld-heat-treatments ranging from 573 to 1173 K was investigated. The corrosion properties, surface morphology, microstructure and Ti/Ni ratio of the heat-treated NiTi weld were analysed. It was found that a post-weld heat treatment at 573 K for 1 h provided the best pitting corrosion resistance at the weld zone.