Accelerated multi-contrast high isotropic resolution 3D intracranial vessel wall MRI using a tailored k-space undersampling and partially parallel reconstruction strategy

Objective

To develop a 3D multi-contrast IVW protocol with 0.5-mm isotropic resolution and a scan time of 5 min per sequence.

Materials and methods

Pre-contrast T1w VISTA, DANTE prepared PDw VISTA, SNAP, and post-contrast T1w VISTA were accelerated using cartesian undersampling with target ordering method (CUSTOM) and self-supporting tailored k-space estimation for parallel imaging reconstruction (STEP). CUSTOM + STEP IVW was compared to full-sample IVW, SENSE-accelerated IVW, and CUSTOM + zero-filled Fourier reconstruction in normal volunteers and subjects with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). Image quality, vessel delineation, CSF suppression, and blood suppression were compared.

Results

CUSTOM + STEP vessel wall delineation was comparable to full-sample IVW and better than SENSE IVW for vessel wall delineation on T1w VISTA and luminal contrast on SNAP. Average image quality and wall depiction were significantly improved using STEP reconstruction compared with zero-filled Fourier reconstruction, with no significant difference in CSF or blood suppression.

Conclusions

CUSTOM + STEP allowed multi-contrast 3D 0.5-mm isotropic IVW within 30 min. Although some quantitative and qualitative scores for CUSTOM − STEP were lower than fully sampled IVW, CUSTOM + STEP provided comparable vessel wall delineation as full-sample IVW and was superior to SENSE. CUSTOM + STEP IVW was well tolerated by patients and showed good delineation of ICAD plaque.

     

Tough hyperbranched epoxy/poly(amido‐amine) modified bentonite thermosetting nanocomposites

A tough and highly flexible hyperbranched epoxy and poly(amido‐amine) modified bentonite based thermosetting nanocomposite was demonstrated. The FTIR, XRD, and TGA analyses confirmed the modification of bentonite. The formation of partially exfoliated structure of the nanocomposite with good physicochemical interactions among the hyperbranched epoxy, poly(amido‐amine) hardener and modified clay was investigated by the FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses. Significant improvements of 750% toughness, 300% elongation at break, 50% tensile strength, 300% modulus, and 250% adhesive strength of the pristine epoxy were achieved by the formation of nanocomposites with 3 wt % of modified clay. The experimental modulus values of the nanocomposites were compared with three theoretical models to account the interactions between filler and matrix. Thus, the studied epoxy nanocomposite has great potential to be used as an advanced epoxy thermoset. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40327.     

Biobased hyperbranched shape‐memory polyurethanes: Effect of different vegetable oils

Hyperbranched polyurethanes were synthesized from poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol as a macroglycol, butanediol as a chain extender, a monoglyceride of a vegetable oil (Mesua ferrea, castor, and sunflower oils separately) as a biobased chain extender, triethanolamine as a multifunctional moiety, and toluene diisocyanate by a prepolymerization technique with the A₂ + B₃ approach. The structure of the synthesized hyperbranched polyurethanes was characterized by ¹H‐NMR and X‐ray diffraction studies. M. ferrea L. seed‐oil‐based polyurethane showed the highest thermal stability, whereas the castor‐oil‐based one showed the lowest. However, the castor‐oil‐based polyurethane exhibited the highest tensile strength compared to the other vegetable‐oil‐based polyurethanes. All of the vegetable‐oil‐based polyurethanes showed good shape fixity, although the castor‐oil‐based polyurethane showed the highest shape recovery. Thus, the characteristics of the vegetable oil had a prominent role in the control of the ultimate properties, including the shape‐memory behaviors, of the hyperbranched polyurethanes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39579.     

Angular absorptance and thermal degradation analysis of TiB2/Ti(B,N)/SiON/SiO2 multilayer solar absorber coating

Multilayer solar selective absorber coatings have been developed in the last few decades. The thermal stability in terms of microstructure gives an insightful understanding of the optical properties of such coatings. In this context, we extensively utilized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis to establish the thermal stability of TiB₂/Ti(B,N)/SiON/SiO₂ coating, under thermal cycling/continuous heating to 500°C in vacuum for 250 h. In particular, this work reports the variation in the solar absorptance of TiB₂/Ti(B,N)/SiON/SiO₂ coating with different angles of incidence of the solar radiation. Extensive analysis using the TEM technique reveals the presence of oxide interlayers that act as diffusion barrier layers to enhance the thermal stability of the coating. Computational simulation using SCOUT software validates the measured reflectance spectrum of the developed multilayer coating. The minor changes in absorptance and emissivity after heat treatment in vacuum at 500°C, together with high solar absorptance over a broad angular variation, establish the potential application of TiB₂/Ti(B,N)/SiON/SiO₂ as a selective coating in concentrated solar power systems.     

Experimental investigation into tool aging effect in ball end magnetorheological finishing

The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology - Magnetorheological (MR) finishing is a smart finishing processes applied to a variety of applications. In the present work, an...     

Evaluation of layout and atmospheric stability effects in wind farms using large‐eddy simulation

Large‐eddy simulation (LES) has been used previously to study the effect of either configuration or atmospheric stability on the power generated by large wind farms. This is the first study to consider both stability and wind farm configuration simultaneously and methodically with LES. Two prevailing wind directions, two layouts (turbines aligned versus staggered with respect to the wind) and three stabilities (neutral and moderately unstable and stable) were evaluated. Compared with neutral conditions, unstable conditions led to reduced wake losses in one configuration, to enhanced wake losses in two and to unchanged wake losses in one configuration. Conversely, stable conditions led to increased wake losses in one, decreased wake losses in two and unchanged wake losses in one configuration. Three competing effects, namely, rates of wake recovery due to vertical mixing, horizontal spread of wakes and localized regions of acceleration caused by multiple upstream wakes, were identified as being responsible for the observed trends in wake losses. The detailed flow features responsible for these non‐linear interactions could only be resolved by the LES. Existing analytical models ignore stability and non‐linear configuration effects, which therefore need to be incorporated. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

H2S sensors based on SnO2 films: RGTO verses RF sputtering

Gas sensing characteristics of SnO₂ thin films prepared by RF sputtering have been investigated and compared to that of RGTO (Rheotaxially Grown and Thermally Oxidized) films. Both the sensor films exhibited a highly selective response towards H₂S with RF sputtered film showing better response characteristics. RF sputtered and RGTO films exhibited a maximum response of 54 and 15 towards 10 ppm of H₂S at an optimum operating temperature of 150 and 250 °C, respectively. Sputtered films exhibited a linear response in the wide concentration range from 500 ppb to 500 ppm while RGTO films were found to saturate for concentrations above 100 ppm. XPS investigations revealed that the RGTO films are more sub–stoichiometric or oxygen deficient than the sputtered films. Raman studies further indicates that the surface of sputtered and RGTO films are characterized by the presence of oxygen deficiency attributed to the “bridging-type” and deeper “in-plane/sub-bridging” oxygen vacancies, respectively. The improved response kinetics of the RF sputtered films is attributed to the presence of bridging type oxygen vacancies that facilitates the charge transfer between the sensor surface and H₂S molecules.