Automatic segmentation of cerebral white matter hyperintensities using only 3D FLAIR images

Magnetic Resonance (MR) white matter hyperintensities have been shown to predict an increased risk of developing cognitive decline. However, their actual role in the conversion to dementia is still not fully understood. Automatic segmentation methods can help in the screening and monitoring of Mild Cognitive Impairment patients who take part in large population-based studies. Most existing segmentation approaches use multimodal MR images. However, multiple acquisitions represent a limitation in terms of both patient comfort and computational complexity of the algorithms. In this work, we propose an automatic lesion segmentation method that uses only three-dimensional fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. We use a modified context-sensitive Gaussian mixture model to determine voxel class probabilities, followed by correction of FLAIR artifacts. We evaluate the method against the manual segmentation performed by an experienced neuroradiologist and compare the results with other unimodal segmentation approaches. Finally, we apply our method to the segmentation of multiple sclerosis lesions by using a publicly available benchmark dataset. Results show a similar performance to other state-of-the-art multimodal methods, as well as to the human rater.     

Magnetic resonance image reconstruction using trained geometric directions in 2D redundant wavelets domain and non-convex optimization

Reducing scanning time is significantly important for MRI. Compressed sensing has shown promising results by undersampling the k-space data to speed up imaging. Sparsity of an image plays an important role in compressed sensing MRI to reduce the image artifacts. Recently, the method of patch-based directional wavelets (PBDW) which trains geometric directions from undersampled data has been proposed. It has better performance in preserving image edges than conventional sparsifying transforms. However, obvious artifacts are presented in the smooth region when the data are highly undersampled. In addition, the original PBDW-based method does not hold obvious improvement for radial and fully 2D random sampling patterns. In this paper, the PBDW-based MRI reconstruction is improved from two aspects: 1) An efficient non-convex minimization algorithm is modified to enhance image quality; 2) PBDW are extended into shift-invariant discrete wavelet domain to enhance the ability of transform on sparsifying piecewise smooth image features. Numerical simulation results on vivo magnetic resonance images demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the original PBDW in terms of removing artifacts and preserving edges.     

Examination of the Degreasing of Metal Surfaces by the Use of a Plasma Torch

Metal surfaces can be degreased via a combustion reaction upon the metal surface by the use of a plasma torch jet. The required energy and the reaction rate of the combustion reaction are examined here. It turns out that the reaction rate can limit the cleaning performance. In such case, the cleaning performance is not improved at higher powers. It is suggested to increase the temperature at which combustion takes place such that the cleaning performance can improve again at higher powers. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nano‐Ruby: A Promising Fluorescent Probe for Background‐Free Cellular Imaging

Bioprobes based on fluorescent ruby nanoparticles, which are suitable for ultrasensitive imaging, are reported. A stable aqueous/buffer colloid, permitting facile conjugation to proteins, is produced by femtosecond laser ablation of ruby and the nanoparticles (mean size 17 nm) are photostable, with long lifetime (1–4 ms) 694 nm emission. With time‐gating complete (>20 dB) suppression of cell autofluorescence and suppression of exogenous fluorophores is observed. Nanoparticles are imaged in as‐grown cells and those immunolabeled with quantum dots. Immunoassay binding to target biomolecules is also demonstrated.     

PEGylated Luminescent Gold Nanoclusters: Synthesis,Characterization, Bioconjugation,and Application to One‐ and Two‐Photon Cellular Imaging

Biocompatible, near‐infrared luminescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are synthesized directly in water using poly(ethylene glycol)‐dithiolane ligands terminating in either a carboxyl, amine, azide, or methoxy group. The ≈1.5 nm diameter AuNCs fluoresce at ≈820 nm with quantum yields that range from 4–8%, depending on the terminal functional group present, and display average luminescence lifetimes approaching 1.5 μs. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section and two‐photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) properties are also measured. Long‐term testing shows the poly(ethylene glycol) stabilized AuNCs maintain colloidal stability in a variety of media ranging from saline to tissue culture growth medium along with tolerating storage of up to 2 years. DNA and dye‐conjugation reactions confirm that the carboxyl, amine, and azide groups can be utilized on the AuNCs for carbodiimide, succinimidyl ester, and Cu^I‐assisted cycloaddition chemistry, respectively. High signal‐to‐noise one‐ and two‐photon cellular imaging is demonstrated. The AuNCs exhibit outstanding photophysical stability during continuous‐extended imaging. Concomitant cellular viability testing shows that the AuNCs also elicit minimal cytotoxicity. Further biological applications for these luminescent nanoclustered materials are discussed.     

Predicting future duration from present age: A critical assessment

Using a temporal version of the Copernican principle, Gott has proposed a statistical predictor of future longevity based on present age (Gott III, J. R., 1993, Nature, 363, 315) and applied the predictor to a variety of examples, including the longevity of the human species. Although Gott's proposal contains a grain of truth, it does not have the universal predictive power that he attributes to it.     

Effect of Temperature and Comonomer Content on Thermal Behavior and Crystallization Property of the Propylene–Ethylene Random Copolymers

The effects of ethylene units content and crystallization temperature on the conformations, and the thermal and crystallization behavior were investigated by a combination of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The characterization of FTIR spectroscopy proves that the longer helical conformation sequences of the propylene–ethylene random (PER) samples decrease, whereas the shorter helical conformation sequences increase with the increase in ethylene units content. The increase of the shorter helical conformation sequences is favorable for the formation of the γ-phase in the crystals. A group of broad endothermic peaks can be seen clearly in the DSC curves of PER copolymers, which may be associated with the melting of mixtures of the α- and γ-forms in the crystals. The melting point, crystallization temperature, and crystallinity degree of the PER copolymers decrease with the increase in ethylene units contents. Three typical melting peaks of the PER copolymers crystallized isothermally between 80°C and 130°C were observed. The two higher melting peaks result from melting of the α- and γ-phase in the crystals, whereas the materials crystallized on quenching give the lowest peak. The WAXD results confirm that the PER copolymers crystallize from the melt, as mixtures of α and γ forms, in a wide temperature range. The critical number ζ_lim of the crystallizable units for the α-form increases with the increase in crystallization temperature for PER copolymers, which is favorable for the formation of the γ phases. The amount of γ-form increases with the increase in crystallization temperature at the expense of its α component, then reaches a maximum value at the crystallization temperature of 115°C, and finally decreases with further increase in the crystallization temperature.     

Preparation and Properties of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)/Near Infrared Reflective Pigment (NIR) Composites

A near infrared reflective (NIR, nickel antimony titanium yellow rutile) pigment filler was incorporated into a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) matrix via a melt blending approach to increase the infrared reflection of PET and limit the thermal heat accumulation in light of environmental and energy conservation concerns. Two different types of surface modifiers, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were used to modify the NIR surface, as NIR–PEG and NIR–CTAB fillers, to investigate the surface modification effect. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a Zetasizer, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) results suggested a successful adsorption of the organic modifiers onto the NIR surface. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated a higher adsorption degree for the CTAB modifier than the PEG modifier due to the electronic interaction between CTAB and NIR. The thermal crystallization temperature (T_c) for neat NIR-filled samples decreased with increasing NIR content within the PET matrix at first, up to 9°C, but then tended to increase again up to a measurable difference of 6°C with respect to pure PEG, indicating the promotion of the crystallization kinetics of the neat NIR within the PET matrix. On the other hand, a decrease in T_c for all NIR-CTAB or NIR-PEG loadings was found, with the depression close to 10°C for all NIR-CTAB samples regardless of the loading. CTAB modified NIR gave the highest improvement in tensile strength and strain at break in comparison with NIR and NIR-PEG filled samples. The near infrared reflection values of modified PET were higher than those of neat PET. The reflection values appeared to be the highest for some concentrations of the NIR-CTAB filled samples, but were of similar orders of magnitude with those for NIR or NIR-PEG filled samples.