Diffusion-direction-dependent imaging: a novel MRI approach for peripheral nerve imaging

A novel magnetic resonance imaging approach, called diffusion-direction-dependent imaging (DDI), is introduced. Due to inherent anisotropic diffusion properties, peripheral nerves can be visualized on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The largest signal attenuation on DTI correlates with the direction of a nerve fiber, and the least signal attenuation correlates with the direction perpendicular to the nerve fiber. Since low signal-to-noise ratio is a concern in peripheral nerve DTI, we explored a new approach focusing on the perpendicular diffusion direction. A 36-gradient diffusion direction scheme was used. A mean expected curve specific for peripheral nerves was calculated based on the sciatic nerve and its division into the common peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve in three healthy volunteers. By a simple postprocessing method, a comparison of the mean expected curve and the measured curve was made voxel by voxel, and the sciatic nerve and its division were reconstructed, excluding other tissues. More studies are needed to investigate whether other postprocessing methods or other diffusion direction schemes are more suited for peripheral nerve imaging with DDI. Further studies may also be of interest to investigate whether DDI can be a complementary method to conventional T(1)-weighted and T(2)-weighted sequences in the imaging of peripheral nerve pathology or even in the visualization of other tissues, possibly with different diffusion direction schemes.     

综放工作面顶煤承载能力和支架工作阻力的探讨

支架工作阻力计算是综放开采研究的主要问题之一.在对顶煤力学性质进行了实验室试验的基础上,总结出顶煤破坏时的强度满足主应力表示的莫尔-库仑强度准则.根据综放工作面顶煤体的受力特点,运用损伤力学应变等效原理,建立了综放工作面控顶距内顶煤体受力力学模型.从顶煤体承载能力的角度,研究综放面支架-顶煤体之间相互作用关系,推出了支架工作阻力的理论计算公式.该模型较好地解释了综放工作面支架工作阻力随顶煤强度的提高而增加的矿山压力显现.研究结论对综放面支架工作阻力计算具有一定的理论指导意义.     

Electron-induced Ti-rich surface segregation on SrTiO3 nanoparticles

Atomic surface structures of nanoparticles are of interest in catalysis and other fields. Aberration-corrected HREM facilitates direct imaging of the surfaces of nanoparticles. A remaining concern of surface imaging arises from beam damage. It is important to identify the intrinsic surface structures and the ones created by electron beam irradiation in TEM. In this study, we performed aberration-corrected HREM and EELS to demonstrate that TiO and bcc type Ti islands form due to intense electron irradiation. The formation of Ti-rich islands is in agreement with previous high temperature annealing experiments on the surfaces of SrTiO₃ single crystals.     

Zeolites are no longer a challenge: Atomic resolution data by Aberration-corrected STEM

Transmission electron microscopy is undoubtedly an indispensable tool for materials characterization, which can currently reach sub-angstrom resolution down to the elemental building blocks of matter, isolated single atoms of most elements. In addition to the phenomenal image resolution, if the material is strong enough, it can be accompanied with chemical information, converting electron microscopy into a unique method for the analysis of a great variety of materials. Unfortunately, extracting all this valuable information is not simple as most materials in one way or another are affected by the strong and localized electron beam. Radiolysis is one kind of reaction between electrons and matter than can cause irreversible structural transformations in our materials. This effect is the predominant factor in zeolites, zeotypes and the majority of molecular sieves. In the present work some results, taken at high voltage (300 kV) and minimizing the exposure to the beam, are presented proving the feasibility of the technique to obtain unprecedented atomic resolution information of different zeolites and microporous solids.     

Quantitative analysis of oxidative DNA damage induced by high-voltage pulsed discharge with cavitation

Pulsed discharge is used for sterilization and disinfection, but the details of the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Since pulsed discharge generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), we analyzed the oxidative DNA damages after pulsed discharge treatment to consider the involvement of ROS in the damaging process. We applied pulsed discharge with cavitation to plasmid DNA molecules and estimated the yields of the damages by agarose gel electrophoresis. The treated DNA contained various oxidative DNA damages, including single and double strand breaks and base lesions. The yields of the damages increased in response to the energy used for pulsed discharge. We also measured the yield of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-G), one of the major oxidative base lesions, in the treated plasmid DNA by mass spectrometry quantitatively and found that the yield of the oxidative base lesion corresponded to the increment of the applied energy. In addition, we observed the involvement of mutM gene, which is responsible for repair of 8-OH-G, in the increased sensitivity of Escherichia coli to pulsed discharge. Therefore, ROS seem to mediate the sterilization ability of pulsed discharge.     

ECONOMICALLY OPTIMAL MARINE RESERVES WITHOUT SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY IN A SIMPLE TWO‐PATCH MODEL

Bioeconomic analyses of spatial fishery models have established that marine reserves can be economically optimal (i.e., maximize sustainable profit) when there is some type of spatial heterogeneity in the system. Analyses of spatially continuous models and models with more than two discrete patches have also demonstrated that marine reserves can be economically optimal even when the system is spatially homogeneous. In this note we analyze a spatially homogeneous two‐patch model and show that marine reserves can be economically optimal in this case as well. The model we study includes the possibility that fishing can damage habitat. In this model, marine reserves are necessary to maximize sustainable profit when dispersal between the patches is sufficiently high and habitat is especially vulnerable to damage.     

超光滑加工精磨过程中损伤层与余量匹配的研究

对超光滑加工散粒研磨工序中采用的三级精磨法,进行了实验研究,通过改进差分化学刻蚀实验测出各级损伤层的厚度,利用损伤层厚度对加工余量匹配进行了优化。研究表明损伤层厚度与砂粒的粒径和压载之积成线性关系,与研磨时长无关;实验测得W28、W10、W5号磨料在实验条件下研磨加工产生的损伤层厚度分别为12.4μm、8.2μm、5.8μm;并根据损伤层厚度提出了加工余量的匹配建议方案。损伤层的相关研究为超光滑加工中提高生产效率以及减少麻点产生几率的研究提供了参考。     

Molecular Characterization of DNA Double Strand Breaks with Tip‐Enhanced Raman Scattering

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are deadly lesions that can lead to genetic defects and cell apoptosis. Techniques that directly detect DNA DSBs include scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and fluorescence based approaches. While these techniques can be used to identify DSBs they provide no information on the molecular events occurring at the break. Tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) can provide molecular information from DNA at the nanoscale and in combination with AFM provides a new way to visualize and characterize the molecular structure of DSBs. DSBs result from cleavage at the 3’‐ and 5’‐bonds of deoxyribose upon exposure to UVC radiation based on the observation of P? O? H and methyl/methylene deformation modes enhanced in the TERS spectra. It is hypothesized that strand fragments are hydrogen‐terminated at the lesion, indicating the action of free radicals during photon exposure.