Dynamic MR imaging of a minipig’s knee using a high-density multi-channel receive array and a movement device

Object

To construct an optimised, high-density receive array and a movement device to achieve dynamic imaging of the knee in orthopedic large animal models (e.g., minipigs) at 1.5 T.

Materials and methods

A 13-channel RF receive array was constructed, and the crucial choice of the array element size (based on considerations like region of interest, geometry of the minipig’s knee, achievable signal-to-noise ratio, applicability of parallel imaging, etc.) was determined using the Q factors of loops with different sizes. A special movement device was constructed to guide and produce a reproducible motion of the minipig’s knee during acquisition.

Results

The constructed array was electrically characterised and the reproducibility of the cyclic motion was validated. Snapshots of dynamic in vivo images taken at a temporal resolution (308 ms) are presented. Some of the fine internal structures within the minipig’s knee, like cruciate ligaments, are traced in the snapshots.

Conclusion

This study is a step towards making dynamic imaging which can give additional information about joint injuries when static MRI is not able to give sufficient information, a routine clinical application. There, the combination of a high-density receive array and a movement device will be highly helpful in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of knee injuries in the future.     

Assessment of myocardial viability with MR—the Cologne perspective

4. Conclusion Despite the evaluation of different parameters of myocardial viability by PET, TEE and MRI, their positive and negative predictive accuracies are fairly comparable. Therefore, the choice of the method to date mainly depends on expertise and available resources. An accepted reference standard to assess the diagnostic accuracy of imaging techniques is the post-revascularization recovery of regional LV function. In this respect, dobutamine-MRI proved to be a reliable and clinically feasible approach in a head to head comparison with FDG-PET and dobutamine-TEE. However, there is still limited information with respect to the potential benefit of revascularization procedures in the clinically important subset of patients with viable myocardium, markedly reduced LV function and congestive heart failure. In this patient population, the advantageous features of MRI including high spatial and temporal resolution, three-dimensional capability with unlimited field of view and the capability to measure perfusion may increase the clinical impact of MRI compared to established imaging techniques. Moreover, improvement of global LV ejection fraction, alleviation of symptoms and survival are fundamental clinical end points to additionally evaluate the predictive value of MR-studies for clinical decision making in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and persisting viable myocardial tissue.     

Introduction to the scientific——achievements of construction machinery for thermal power and T■D projects

The Construction Machinery Division (CMD) in the Re-search Institute of Electric Power Construction (EPCRI) isa R&D organization specialized on construction machinery andtechnology for thermal power station and transmission & distributionprojects.It was established in 1964.There are now 45 scientific re-     

An advanced description of oxide traps in MOS transistors and its relation to DFT

Recently, an advanced model for defects in the insulating regions of semiconductor devices has been suggested, which can explain the removable component of the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and recoverable random telegraph/flicker noise. We give a brief introduction to the atomic scale physics behind the model and show how model parameters can be extracted from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The central link between DFT calculations and device simulation is the carrier energy dependent part of the capture cross section, the line shape function. Calculations of the line shape functions of model defect structures using a simple harmonic approximation are presented. The calculations show a considerable shift in the oscillator frequency upon charge state transitions for the defects investigated.     

Diffusion-weighted echo planar MR imaging of the neck at 3 T using integrated shimming: comparison of MR sequence techniques for reducing artifacts caused by magnetic-field inhomogeneities

Objective

Our objective was to compare available techniques reducing artifacts in echo planar imaging (EPI)-based diffusion-weighed magnetic resonance imaging MRI (DWI) of the neck at 3 Tesla caused by B0-field inhomogeneities.

Materials and methods

A cylindrical fat–water phantom was equipped with a Maxwell coil allowing for additional linear B0-field variations in z-direction. The effect of increasing strength of this superimposed gradient on image quality was observed using a standard single-shot EPI-based DWI sequence (sEPI), a zoomed single-shot EPI sequence (zEPI), a readout-segmented EPI sequence (rsEPI), and an sEPI sequence with integrated dynamic shimming (intEPI) on a 3-Tesla system. Additionally, ten volunteers were examined over the neck region using these techniques. Image quality was assessed by two radiologists. Scan durations were recorded.

Results

With increasing strength of the external gradient, marked distortions, signal loss, and failure of fat suppression were observed using sEPI, zEPI, and rsEPI. These artifacts were markedly reduced using intEPI. Significantly better in vivo image quality was also observed using intEPI compared with the other techniques. Scan time of intEPI was similar to sEPI and zEPI and shorter than rsEPI.

Conclusion

The use of integrated 2D shim and frequency adjustment for EPI-based DWI results in a significant improvement in image quality of the head/neck region at 3 Tesla. Combining integrated shimming with rsEPI or zEPI can be expected to provide additional improvements.

     

Monitoring and correcting spatio-temporal variations of the MR scanner’s static magnetic field

The homogeneity and stability of the static magnetic field are of paramount importance to the accuracy of MR procedures that are sensitive to phase errors and magnetic field inhomogeneity. It is shown that intense gradient utilization in clinical horizontal-bore superconducting MR scanners of three different vendors results in main magnetic fields that vary on a long time scale both spatially and temporally by amounts of order 0.8–2.5 ppm. The observed spatial changes have linear and quadratic variations that are strongest along the z direction. It is shown that the effect of such variations is of sufficient magnitude to completely obfuscate thermal phase shifts measured by proton-resonance frequency-shift MR thermometry and certainly affect accuracy. In addition, field variations cause signal loss and line-broadening in MR spectroscopy, as exemplified by a fourfold line-broadening of metabolites over the course of a 45 min human brain study. The field variations are consistent with resistive heating of the magnet structures. It is concluded that correction strategies are required to compensate for these spatial and temporal field drifts for phase-sensitive MR protocols. It is demonstrated that serial field mapping and phased difference imaging correction protocols can substantially compensate for the drift effects observed in the MR thermometry and spectroscopy experiments.     

Defect structure of oxide ferroelectrics—valence state,site of incorporation,mechanisms of charge compensation and internal bias fields

The defect structure of aliovalent transition-metal and rare-earth functional centers in ferroelectric perovskite oxides is characterized by means of multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, assisted by density-functional theory calculations. The review is mainly focused on lead zirconate titanate (Pb[Zr _x Ti_1−x ]O₃, PZT) compounds. However, where available also results on ferroelectric ’lead-free’ compounds are discussed. The results include the formation of charged defect dipoles, causing internal bias fields, multivalence manganese centers, acceptor-type copper functional centers creating isolated oxygen vacancies that promote ionic conductivity, as well as donor-type centers. Moreover, the impact of the defect structure on macroscopic material properties is discussed.     

Tapping Electric Energy Resources the Southwest to Promote Coordinated Development of the East and W

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Reproducibility and regional variations of an improved gagCEST protocol for the in vivo evaluation of knee cartilage at 7 T

Objective

The objective was to establish a gagCEST protocol that would enable robust and reproducible assessment of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in knee cartilage at 7 T within a clinically feasible measurement time.

Materials and methods

Ten young healthy volunteers (mean age 26 years, range 24–28, five males, five females) were examined on a 7 T MR system. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants prior to enrollment into the study. Each volunteer was measured twice for reproducibility assessment. The examined knee was immobilized using a custom-made fixation device. For the gagCEST measurement, a prototype segmented 3-D RF-spoiled gradient-echo sequence with an improved saturation scheme employing adiabatic pulses was used in a scan time of 19 min. The asymmetry of the Z-spectra (MTR_asym) in selected regions of interest in knee cartilage was calculated. Differences in MTR_asym between different regions were evaluated using ANOVA and the Bonferroni corrected post hoc test.

Results

The improvement of the saturation scheme reduced the influence of field inhomogeneities, resulted in more uniform saturation, and allowed for good reproducibility in a reasonable measurement time (19 min), as demonstrated by an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.77. Improved fixation helped to reduce motion artifacts. Whereas similar MTR_asym values were found for weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing femoral cartilage, lower values were observed in the trochlear groove (p = 0.028), patellar (p = 0.015) and tibial cartilage (p < 0.001) when compared to non-weight-bearing femoral cartilage.

Conclusion

Reasonable reproducibility and sensitivity to regional differences in GAG content suggests that the improved gagCEST protocol might be useful for assessing the biochemical changes in articular cartilage that are associated with early stages of cartilage degeneration.

     

A Brief Introduction to the Key National Disciplines of College of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Huazhong University of Science and Technology

The electrical engineering discipline of HUST is amongthe first batch of disciplines approved by the Academic DegreeEvaluating Committee of the State Council of China as entitledto confer the mastership and the doctorate (1981), the firstbatch of postdoctoral programs (1985), and the first batch ofdisciplines entitled to award the doctorate in top level discipline(1996). The electrical machinery and electrical apparatus discipline,and the power system and its automation discipline were elected asthe key national disciplines January 2002. Also, the electrical amchinery discipline is one of the original two key nationaldisciplines, and its Electrical Machinery State SpecializedLaboratory is the only state key laboratory in this field.     

The key player or just a paper tiger? The effectiveness of ACER in the creation and functioning of the EU’s internal energy market

Our research, which aims to present the effectiveness of the European Union’s internal energy market, shows the results of a recent survey conducted among representatives of national energy regulators and exchanges from eleven EU Member States. Due to the choice of the research method based on the SOFIA concept, the results constitute a new original contribution to the existing treasury of knowledge in the field of the European energy market. In the concrete case of sociological analysis, we checked how successful the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is in establishing and ensuring the functioning of the internal energy market in the EU. The survey examines the performance of ACER, which became operational in March 2011 and is intended to contribute to the establishment and functioning of the EU’s internal energy market from the perspective of ACER, national energy regulators and energy exchanges in EU Member States. ACER’s basic mission is to ensure the successful functioning of the energy market, which, as a result (of successful operation), will lead to the full integration of the internal market, and consumers will receive energy uninterruptedly from all parts of the Union. Our research also showed that ACER is crucial for the functioning of the internal market. Most representatives of national regulators and energy exchanges agree that the EU already has a functioning internal energy market and that ACER is crucial for the functioning of the internal energy market.     

Amid the Pointing and the Horror beyond the Clean Flame——On Quentin''''s Confession of Incest with His Sister Caddy in The Sound and the Fury

The connotation of "incest" in Quentin’s narration goes beyond what Faulkner would admit. It reflects not only the complex relationship between Quentin and his sister Caddy, but also the angst the protagonist feels in pursuit of inf initude.     

Research on Safety and Stability of Regional Power Grids to the Year 2020

The safety and stability study on Northeast, North, East, Northwest and Central China power grids had been carried out, which provided technical supports to planning design of regional power grids. By analyzing safety and stability under severe faults in regional power grids, revealed weaknesses on power grid configurations and measures for preventing from loss of stability were presented. In comparison of various schemes of power system safety and stability among parts of power grids, more than two recommended schemes can be chosen as reference in planning design for regional power grids. Considering the safety and stability control measures necessary for each power grids, it is believed the trunk networks of all power grids can fulfill the third criteria of Guideline for Power System Safety and Stability, while the weakness and predominated hydropower may deteriorate safety and stability of power grids. The power grid shall be regulated in line with the variation of boundary conditions.     

Practical application of the benchmarking technique to increase reliability and efficiency of power installations and main heat-mechaniс equipment of thermal power plants

Data on the comparative analysis variants of the quality of power installations (benchmarking) applied in the power industry is systematized. It is shown that the most efficient variant of implementation of the benchmarking technique is the analysis of statistical distributions of the indicators in the composed homogenous group of the uniform power installations. The benchmarking technique aimed at revealing the available reserves on improvement of the reliability and heat efficiency indicators of the power installations of the thermal power plants is developed in the furtherance of this approach. The technique provides a possibility of reliable comparison of the quality of the power installations in their homogenous group limited by the number and adoption of the adequate decision on improving some or other technical characteristics of this power installation. The technique provides structuring of the list of the comparison indicators and internal factors affecting them represented according to the requirements of the sectoral standards and taking into account the price formation characteristics in the Russian power industry. The mentioned structuring ensures traceability of the reasons of deviation of the internal influencing factors from the specified values. The starting point for further detail analysis of the delay of the certain power installation indicators from the best practice expressed in the specific money equivalent is positioning of this power installation on distribution of the key indicator being a convolution of the comparison indicators. The distribution of the key indicator is simulated by the Monte-Carlo method after receiving the actual distributions of the comparison indicators: specific lost profit due to the short supply of electric energy and short delivery of power, specific cost of losses due to the nonoptimal expenditures for repairs, and specific cost of excess fuel equivalent consumption. The quality loss indicators are developed facilitating the analysis of the benchmarking results permitting to represent the quality loss of this power installation in the form of the difference between the actual value of the key indicator or comparison indicator and the best quartile of the existing distribution. The uncertainty of the obtained values of the quality loss indicators was evaluated by transforming the standard uncertainties of the input values into the expanded uncertainties of the output values with the confidence level of 95%. The efficiency of the technique is demonstrated in terms of benchmarking of the main thermal and mechanical equipment of the extraction power-generating units T-250 and power installations of the thermal power plants with the main steam pressure 130 atm.     

Deuterium NMR study of the MP-2269: albumin interaction — a step forward to the dynamics of non-covalent binding

MP-2269, the Gd(III) complex of 4-pcntylbicyclo[2.2.2] octane-l-carboxyl-di-L-aspartyl-lysinc-derived-DTPA, is a small Gd-agent that binds non-covalently to scrum albumin in vivo to assume the enhanced relaxivities associated with macromolecular agents, (due in part to increased rotational correlation time, τ_R). To further explore the fundamental parameters that govern the dynamics of water proton relaxation enhancement by this prototypical albumin-binding agent, the rotational correlation time (τ_R) for the deuterated La(III) analog of MP-2269 has been independently measured in the presence and absence of 4% albumin using²H-NMR approaches. The diamagnetic La(III) analog of MP-2269 was deuterated at the α-position of the carbonyl groups.²H-NMR studies were conducted at 7.05T (46 MHz) and 310°K on a Bruker NMR spectrometer. Spectral deconvolution permitted calculation of transverse relaxation rates, 1/T₂, from the NMR linewidths and subsequently, τ_R. The results yielded a τ_R of the albumin bound complex of ∼ 8 ns. This value is intermediate between those earlier estimated by¹⁷O-NMR (∼ 1 ns) and¹H-NMRD (∼ 20–50 ns) and significantly shorter than that of albumin. The²H-NMR study results also indicate that the exchange between free and albumin-bound forms of the La(III) analog is slow (exchange lifetimes > 1 ms). This slow exchange does not affect the water residence lifetimes (τ_M 140-280 ns).     

Amid the Pointing and the Horror beyond the Clean Flame——On Quentin＇s Confession of Incest with His Sister Caddy in The Sound and the Fury

The connotation of＂incesf＇ in Quentin＇s narration goes beyond what Faulkner would admit. It reflects not only the complex relationship between Quentin and his sister Caddy, but also the angst the protagonist feels in pursuit of infinitude.