Reducing ghosting due to k-space discontinuities in fast spin echo (FSE) imaging by a new combination of k-space ordering and parallel imaging

In multi-echo imaging sequences like fast spin echo (FSE), the point spread function (PSF) in the phase encoding direction contains significant secondary peaks (sidebands). This is due to discontinuities in adjacent k-space data obtained at different echo times caused by T₂ decay, and leads to ghosting and hence reduced image quality. Recently, utilising multiple coils for signal reception has become the standard configuration for MR systems due to the additional flexibility that parallel imaging (PI) methods can provide. PI methods generally obtain more data than is required to reconstruct an image. Here, this redundancy in information is exploited to reduce discontinuity-related ghosting in FSE imaging. Adjacent phase encoded k-space lines are acquired at different echo times alternately in the regions of discontinuity (called ‘feathering’). This moves the resulting ghost artefacts to the edges of the field of view. This property of the ghost then makes them amenable to removal using PI methods. With ‘feathered’ array coil data it is possible to reconstruct data over the region of the discontinuity from both echo times. By combining this data, a significant reduction in ghosting can be achieved. We show this approach to be effective through simulated and acquired MRI data.     

Efficient thermal field computation in phase-field models

We solve the phase-field equations in two dimensions to simulate crystal growth in the low undercooling regime. The novelty is the use of a fast solver for the free space heat equation to compute the thermal field. This solver is based on the efficient direct evaluation of the integral representation of the solution to the constant coefficient, free space heat equation with a smooth source term. The computational cost and memory requirements of the new solver are reasonable and no artificial boundary conditions are needed. This allows one to solve for the thermal field in a computational domain whose size depends only on the size of the growing crystal and not on the extent of the thermal field, which can result in significant computational savings in the low undercooling regime.     

Subpicosecond laser ablation of copper and fused silica: Initiation threshold and plasma expansion

We investigated the subpicosecond laser ablation of copper and fused silica under 100 fs laser irradiation at 800 nm in vacuum by means of fast plume imaging and time- and space-resolved optical emission spectroscopy. We found that, to the difference of copper ablation, the laser-generated plasma from a fused silica target exhibited one “main” component only. The “slow” plasma component, observed during copper ablation and usually assigned to optical emission from nanoparticles was not detected by either plasma fast imaging or optical emission spectroscopy even when fused silica targets were submitted to the highest incident fluences used in our experiments. The characteristic expansion velocity of this unique component was about three times larger than the velocity of the fast plume component observed during copper ablation. The dependence of laser fluence on both plasma expansion and ablation rate was investigated and discussed in terms of ablation efficiency and initiation mechanisms.     

Fast and selective Cu2O nanorod growth into anodic alumina templates via electrodeposition

The fast and selective growth of cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanorods into anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates is achieved under optimized alkaline conditions via electrochemical deposition. The growth rate of Cu₂O nanorods at room temperature reached 360 nm/min, the fastest rate reported to date. The synthesis of Cu₂O nanorods by applying a constant current by using Cu₂O nanotubes as a transition state is extensively discussed; a Pt pottery-shaped layer played a key role as a seed layer for the fast Cu₂O growth. We report here the existence of regions of nanostructured Cu₂O based on our studies and previous relevant works, which include potential-pH curves for Cu²⁺-lactate solutions.     

脉冲序列控制电流断续模式Buck变换器的动力学建模与边界碰撞分岔

通过建立一个开关周期内输出电容电荷变化量对应的输出电压变化量, 建立了工作于电感电流断续模式(discontinuous conduction mode, DCM)的脉冲序列(pulse train, PT)控制Buck变换器的近似离散时间模型, 研究了负载电阻及输入电压变化时PT控制DCM Buck变换器的边界碰撞分岔行为. 通过构造相应的迭代映射曲线, 分别分析了不同负载电阻时PT控制DCM Buck变换器的周期1、周期2和周期3运行轨迹的不动点稳定性, 揭示了PT控制DCM Buck变换器在不同周期态时的边界碰撞分岔的形成机理. 研究结果表明, 随参数变化, PT控制DCM Buck变换器始终运行在不同的周期态, 各周期态的切换由边界碰撞分岔引起, 李雅谱诺夫指数始终小于零. 利用PSIM电路仿真软件, 给出了不同负载电阻时的时域波形和相轨图. 实验结果验证了理论分析和仿真结果的正确性, 同时说明了本文动力学建模的可行性.     

Phase behaviour,structural properties and intermolecular interactions of systems based on substituted thiacalix[4]arene and nonionic surfactants

Supramolecular organised materials were prepared from nonionic surfactants and the following macrocyclic ionic liquids: n-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes containing quaternary ammonium fragments with amino acid substituents. Tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether and decadiethylene glycol monododecyl ether were used as nonionic surfactants. They form lamellar and hexagonal mesophases in aqueous media, respectively. Liquid crystal and structural properties of these systems were studied. Intermolecular interactions of system components leading to formation of lyomesophases were estimated. Molecular structure of thiacalixarene contributes to the formation of a hydrogen bonding with surfactants. This process, in turn, initiates formation of a denser packed hexagonal structure.     

混合表面活性剂对某些吡啶偶氮试剂显色反应的作用

本文研究了表面活性剂对不同电子结构的三种金属离子(Zn~(2+),Cu~(2+),Pd~(2+))与两种分子结构类似但反应官能团不同的吡啶偶氮染料(PAR和5-Cl-PADAB)间的显色反应的作用。试验证明:(1)表面活性剂对显色反应增敏作用的产生,最根本的是由于金属离子的电子结构和试剂的反应官能团的不同,以及由此引起所成显色络合物的结构的不同。(2)表面活性剂对显色络合物的增敏效应,与单个表面活性剂分子对有色络合物的作用有关,更重要的是形成胶束,改变反应微环境。(3)离子型-非离子型混合表面活性剂对显色反应是否产生协同增敏效应和协同增敏效应的大小,决定于两者形成混合胶束的难易。如果显色络合物的结构有利于此两种表面活性剂同时对它起协同作用,则协同增敏效应可进一步提高。     

Protein environmental effects on iron‐sulfur clusters: A set of rules for constructing computational models for inner and outer coordination spheres

The structural properties and reactivity of iron‐sulfur proteins are greatly affected by interactions between the prosthetic groups and the surrounding amino acid residues. Thus, quantum chemical investigations of the structure and properties of protein‐bound iron‐sulfur clusters can be severely limited by truncation of computational models. The aim of this study was to identify, a priori, significant interactions that must be included in a quantum chemical model. Using the [2Fe‐2S] accessory cluster of the FeFe‐hydrogenase as a demonstrative example with rich electronic structural features, the electrostatic and covalent effects of the surrounding side chains, charged groups, and backbone moieties were systematically mapped through density functional theoretical calculations. Electron affinities, spin density differences, and delocalization indexes from the quantum theory of atoms in molecules were used to evaluate the importance of each interaction. Case studies for hydrogen bonding and charged side‐chain interactions were used to develop selection rules regarding the significance of a given protein environmental effect. A set of general rules is proposed for constructing quantum chemical models for iron‐sulfur active sites that capture all significant interactions from the protein environment. This methodology was applied to our previously used models in galactose oxidase and the 6Fe‐cluster of FeFe‐hydrogenase. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.