On the Gray index conjecture for phantom maps

We study the Gray index, a numerical invariant for phantom maps. It has been conjectured that the only phantom map between finite-type spaces with infinite Gray index is the constant map. We disprove this conjecture by constructing a counter example. We also prove that this conjecture is valid if the target spaces of the phantom maps are restricted to being simply connected finite complexes.As a result of the counter example, we can show that SNT^∞(X) can be non-trivial for some space X of finite type.     

Use of capillaries in the construction of an MRI phantom for the assessment of diffusion tensor imaging: demonstration of performance

Although diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) shows great potential for the diagnosis of a variety of pathologies, no consensus for an appropriate assessment standard of DTI exists. This study examined the feasibility of using water-filled arrays of glass capillaries to construct a DTI phantom suitable for making repeated and reproducible measurements required in a quality assessment program. Three phantoms were constructed using arrays of capillaries with three inner diameters (23, 48, and 82 μm). Data were acquired using DTI protocols; the fractional anisotropy (FA), mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and principal eigenvectors of the diffusion tensors were calculated. This study demonstrated four results: (1) echo-planar images show that susceptibility within the capillary arrays does not lead to substantial differences in precessional frequency in regions containing the arrays and neither do the regions show noticeable image distortion; (2) principal eigenvectors of the diffusion tensors agree to within <10.3° of the array orientations; (3) mean FA values (0.18–0.50) and ADC values (1.40–1.93×10−³ mm²/s) within specified regions of interest are in general agreement with simulations after a simple noise correction; and (4) these array performance characteristics are observable using a typical clinical DTI protocol.     

Advantages of Catalysis in Self‐Assembled Molecular Capsules

Control over the local chemical environment of a molecule can be achieved by encapsulation in supramolecular host systems. In supramolecular catalysis, this control is used to gain advantages over classical homogeneous catalysis in bulk solution. Two of the main advantages concern influencing reactions in terms of substrate and product selectivity. Due to size and/or shape recognition, substrate selective conversion can be realized. Additionally, noncovalent interactions with the host environment facilitate alternative reaction pathways and can yield unusual products. This Concept article discusses and highlights literature examples utilizing self‐assembled molecular capsules to achieve catalytic transformations displaying a high degree of substrate and/or product selectivity. Furthermore, the advantage of supramolecular hosts in multicatalyst tandem reactions is covered.     

Computer-generated fMRI phantoms with motion-distortion interaction

As an extension of previous work on computer-generated phantoms, more accurate, realistic phantoms are generated by integrating image distortion and signal loss caused by susceptibility variations. With the addition of real motions and activations determined from actual functional MRI studies, these phantoms can be used by the fMRI community to assess with higher fidelity pre-processing algorithms such as motion correction, distortion correction and signal-loss compensation. These phantoms were validated by comparison to real echo-planar images. Specifically, studies have shown the effects of motion–distortion interactions on fMRI. We performed motion correction and activation analysis on these phantoms based on a block paradigm design using SPM2, and the results demonstrate that interactions between motion and distortion affect both motion correction and activation detection and thus represent a critical component of phantom generation.     

New approach for fabrication of folded-structure SiO2 using oyster shell

Inspired by the phenomenological differences of layers in oyster shell and the morphological mimicry of SiO₂ thin film, a folded-structure SiO₂ was created by simple spray deposition system. The folded-structure SiO₂ was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer and microindentation. At the molecular level, the chalky and the folia were assembled and determined through biomineralization based on the differences of soluble protein in layers. At the macro-scale, the granular SiO₂ particles deposited at the surface of shell layers or Ca(OH)₂ and grew into thin film, thus leading to mimic the morphology of substrate.     

Optimization of phantom backscatter thickness and lateral scatter volume for radiographic film dosimetry

The aim of this study is to determine the optimal backscatter thickness and lateral phantom dimension beyond the irradiated volume for the dosimetric verification with radiographic film when applying large field sizes. Polystyrene and Virtual Water™ phantoms were used to study the influence of the phantom backscatter thickness. EDR2 and XV films were used in 6 and 18 MV photon beams.The results show 11.4% and 6.4% over-response of the XV2 film when compared to the ion chamber for 6 MV 30×30 and 10×10 cm² field sizes, respectively, when the phantom backscatter thickness is 5 cm. For the same setup, measurements with EDR2 films indicate 8.5% and 1.7% over-response. The XV2 film response in the polystyrene phantom is about 2.0% higher than in the Virtual Water™ phantom for the 6 MV beam and 20 cm backscatter thickness. Similar results were obtained for EDR2 film.In the lateral scatter study, film response was nearly constant within 5 cm of lateral thickness and it increases when lateral thickness increases due to more multiple scatter of low energy photons. The backscatter thickness of the phantom should be kept below 7 cm for the accuracy of the film dosimetry. The lateral extension of the phantom should not be more than 5 cm from the field boundary in case of large irradiated volumes.     

基于拟态物理学的约束多目标共轭梯度混合算法

在拟态物理学优化算法APO的基础上,将一种基于序值的无约束多目标算法RMOAPO的思想引入到约束多目标优化领域中.提出一种基于拟态物理学的约束多目标共轭梯度混合算法CGRMOAPA.算法采取外点罚函数法作为约束问题处理技术,并借鉴聚集函数法的思想,将约束多目标优化问题转化为单目标无约束优化问题,最终利用共轭梯度法进行求解.通过与CRMOAPO、MOGA、NSGA-II的实验对比,表明了算法CGRMOAPA具有较好的分布性能,也为约束多目标优化问题的求解提供了一种新的思路.     

Matching organic libraries with protein-substructures

We present a general approach which allows automatic identification of sub-structures in proteins that resemble given three-dimensional templates. This paper documents its success with non-peptide templates such as -turn mimetics. We considered well-tested turn-mimetics such as the bicyclic turned dipeptide (BTD), spiro lactam (Spiro) and the 2,5-disubstituded tetrahydrofuran (THF), a new furan-derivative which was recently developed and characterized. The detected geometric similarity between the templates and the protein patches corresponds to r.m.s.-values of 0.3 Å for more than 80% of the constituting atoms, which is typical for active site comparisons of homologous proteins. This fast automatic procedure might be of biomedical value for finding special mimicking leads for particular protein sub-structures as well as for template-assembled synthetic protein (TASP) design.     

Phantom materials for single point imaging pulse sequences

The popularity of pure phase encode MRI techniques, including single point imaging (SPI), is steadily increasing, particularly in instances where the samples of interest are solid-like, or for other reasons possess short effective transverse relaxation times, T2*. As the interest in these techniques grows, so too does the need for a phantom material which is representative of this class of samples. The characteristics of such a phantom should include chemical and physical stability, straightforward preparation, high signal to noise ratio and relaxation times which are both easily manipulated and representative. To this end, we have developed a gelatin/sucrose-based gel which addresses the above criteria and behaves as a very flexible short T2* phantom. An order of magnitude variation in T1 and T2 can be achieved over a reasonable range of sucrose concentration. Even larger changes can be achieved with the addition of further doping agents.