Velocity vector reconstruction for real‐time phase‐contrast MRI with radial Maxwell correction

Purpose To develop an auto-calibrated image reconstruction for highly accelerated multi-directional phase-contrast (PC) MRI that compensates for (1) reconstruction instabilities occurring for phase differences near urn:x-wiley:07403194:media:mrm29108:mrm29108-math-0003 and (2) phase errors by concomitant magnetic fields that differ for individual radial spokes. Theory and Methods A model-based image reconstruction for real-time PC MRI based on nonlinear inversion is extended to multi-directional flow by exploiting multiple flow-encodings for the estimation of velocity vectors. An initial smoothing constraint during iterative optimization is introduced to resolve the ambiguity of the solution space by penalizing phase wraps. Maxwell terms are considered as part of the signal model on a line-by-line basis to address phase errors by concomitant magnetic fields. The reconstruction methods are evaluated using simulated data and cross-sectional imaging of a rotating-disc, as well as in vivo for the aortic arch and cervical spinal canal at 3T. Results Real-time three-directional velocity mapping in the aortic arch is achieved at 1.8 × 1.8 × 6 mm3 spatial and 60 ms temporal resolution. Artificial phase wraps are avoided in all cases using the smoothness constraint. Inter-spoke differences of concomitant magnetic fields are effectively compensated for by the model-based image reconstruction with integrated radial Maxwell correction. Conclusion Velocity vector reconstructions based on nonlinear inversion allow for high degrees of radial data undersampling paving the way for multi-directional PC MRI in real time. Whether a spoke-wise treatment of Maxwell terms is required or a computationally cheaper frame-wise approach depends on the individual application

Limb bone scaling in hopping diprotodonts and quadrupedal artiodactyls

Bone adaptation is modulated by the timing, direction, rate, and magnitude of mechanical loads. To investigate whether frequent slow, or infrequent fast, gaits could dominate bone adaptation to load, we compared scaling of the limb bones from two mammalian herbivore clades that use radically different high-speed gaits, bipedal hopping and quadrupedal galloping. Forelimb and hindlimb bones were collected from 20 artiodactyl and 15 diprotodont species (body mass M 1.05 - 1536 kg) and scanned in clinical computed tomography or X-ray microtomography. Second moment of area (Imax) and bone length (l) were measured. Scaling relations (y = axb) were calculated for l vs M for each bone and for Imax vs M and Imax vs l for every 5% of length. Imax vs M scaling relationships were broadly similar between clades despite the diprotodont forelimb being nearly unloaded, and the hindlimb highly loaded, during bipedal hopping. Imax vs l and l vs M scaling were related to locomotor and behavioural specialisations. Low-intensity loads may be sufficient to maintain bone mass across a wide range of species. Occasional high-intensity gaits might not break through the load sensitivity saturation engendered by frequent low-intensity gaits

Analysis of the environmental adequacy and management of dejections on swine buildings in farms in the west region of the State of Paran?, Southern Brazil

Os dejetos de su?nos s?o res?duos altamente poluidores, que prejudicam o meio ambiente, em especial a qualidade da ?gua e o desenvolvimento de peixes e outros organismos aqu?ticos. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o perfil da suinocultura, a an?lise da adequa??o das instala??es, os sistemas de manejo dos dejetos, bem como a adequa??o ? legisla??o ambiental das propriedades agr?colas localizadas na microbacia do C?rrego Ajuricaba, selecionada e localizada na bacia hidrogr?fica do Rio S?o Francisco Verdadeiro, na regi?o Oeste do Paran?. Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho referem-se a dez propriedades das 110 analisadas. O perfil da suinocultura ? de 80% dos suinocultores com sistema de cria??o em termina??o e 20% em ciclo completo; nenhuma das instala??es possui o sistema de l?mina d ?gua; todas as instala??es utilizam o sistema de limpeza por raspagem; a freq??ncia de limpeza das baias nas instala??es ? di?ria e, em 90% das instala??es, n?o foi observado desperd?cio de ra??o. O principal problema detectado nas constru??es foi o acesso das ?guas da chuva nas canaletas. No aspecto da legisla??o ambiental, constatou-se que todas as propriedades da microbacia analisada possuem problemas com a mata ciliar.Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecu?ria de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq)Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)The swine dejections are polluting residues that harm the environment, in special the water quality and the development of fish and other aquatic organisms. The objective of this work was to verify the profile of the swine raise, analysis of the adequacy of the installations, the systems of the dejection handling, as well as the adequacy to the environmental legislation of the agricultural properties located in the microatchment of Ajuricaba stream, selected and located in the hydrographical basin of the S?o Francisco Verdadeiro River, in the western region of Paran?. The results presented in this work mention ten properties of 110 analyzed. The profile of the swine raise is of 80% of the swine breeder with handling system in termination and 20% in complete cycle; none of the buildings have the thin layer water system; all the installations uses the system of scraping cleanness; the frequency of the cleanness of the bay in the installations is daily; wastefulness of ration in 90% of the evaluated installations was not observed; the main problem of the installations is the access of rain water in the narrow channels and all the properties of the microatchment of the Ajuricaba stream have problems with the clear forest

Nanostars Carrying Multifunctional Neurotrophic Dendrimers Protect Neurons in Preclinical In Vitro Models of Neurodegenerative Disorders

A challenge in neurology is the lack of efficient brain-penetrable neuroprotectants targeting multiple disease mechanisms. Plasmonic gold nanostars are promising candidates to deliver standard-of-care drugs inside the brain but have not been trialed as carriers for neuroprotectants. Here, we conjugated custom-made peptide dendrimers (termed H3/H6), encompassing motifs of the neurotrophic S100A4-protein, onto star-shaped and spherical gold nanostructures (H3/H6-AuNS/AuNP) and evaluated their potential as neuroprotectants and interaction with neurons. The H3/H6 nanostructures crossed a model blood-brain barrier, bound to plasma membranes, and induced neuritogenesis with the AuNS, showing higher potency/efficacy than the AuNP. The H3-AuNS/NP protected neurons against oxidative stress, the H3-AuNS being more potent, and against Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease (PD/AD)-related cytotoxicity. Unconjugated S100A4 motifs also decreased amyloid beta-induced neurodegeneration, introducing S100A4 as a player in AD. Using custom-made dendrimers coupled to star-shaped nanoparticles is a promising route to activate multiple neuroprotective pathways and increase drug potency to treat neurodegenerative disorders

Effect of particle properties of powders on the generation and transmission of raman scattering

Transmission Raman measurements of a 1 mm thick sulfur-containing disk were made at different positions as it was moved through 4 mm of aspirin (150-212 mu m) or microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) of different size ranges (<38, 53-106, and 150-212 mu m). The transmission Raman intensity of the sulfur interlayer at 218 cm(-1) was lower when the disk was placed at the top or bottom of the powder bed, compared to positions within the bed and the difference between the sulfur intensity at the outer and inner positions increased with Avicel particle size. Also, the positional intensity difference was smaller for needle-shaped aspirin than for granular Avicel of the same size. The attenuation coefficients for the propagation of the exciting laser and transmitted Raman photons through the individual powders were the same but decreased as the particle size of Avicel increased; also, the attenuation coefficients for propagation through 150-212 mu m aspirin were almost half of those through similar sized Avicel particles. The study has demonstrated that particulate size and type affect transmitted Raman intensities and, consequently, such factors need to be considered in the analysis of powders, especially if particle properties vary between the samples

3D Morphometric and Posture Study of Felid Scapulae Using Statistical Shape Modelling

We present a three dimensional (3D) morphometric modelling study of the scapulae of Felidae, with a focus on the correlations between forelimb postures and extracted scapular shape variations. Our shape modelling results indicate that the scapular infraspinous fossa becomes larger and relatively broader along the craniocaudal axis in larger felids. We infer that this enlargement of the scapular fossa may be a size-related specialization for postural support of the shoulder joint