7Li NMR of Normal Human Erythrocytes

Lithium has been known to be an effective medication for people with bipolar disorder. The mechanisms of action of lithium in the brain is not very well understood. NMR spectroscopy and imaging are effective both in determining lithium levels in tissue and brain. We have monitored lithium levels in red blood cells. We have been able to separate intra- and extracellular compartments of lithium using shift reagents, thereby obtaining T^1 \u27s of both the compartments. Lithium uptake as a function of hematocrit was monitored weekly over a 3 week period. The time constant of 50 mM lithium uptake at 25°C and 85% hematocrit was found to be 16.5 hrs. The time constant of 1.8 mM lithium uptake at 37 °C and 45% hematocrit was found to be 11.6 hrs. Experiments on the visibility of the quadrupolar nuclei indicate that it is only 74-90% visible and the visibility decreased with decreasing concentrations

Semiconductor device apparatus having multiple current-voltage curves and zero-bias memory

Heterostructure barrier quantum well device with a super-lattice structure of alternating lightly doped and heavily doped spacer layers having multiple, stable current-voltage curves extending continuously through zero bias at ambient temperature. The device can be repetitively switched between the multiple current-voltage curves. Once placed on a particular curve, the device retains memory of the curve it has been set on, even if held at zero bias for extended periods of time. The device can be switched between current-voltage curve settings at higher positive or negative voltages and can be read at lower voltages. Switching between current-voltage curve settings can also be effected by additional terminal connection(s) to the spacer layer(s).Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Simulation of electron transport in quantum well devices

Double barrier resonant tunneling diodes (DBRTD) have received much attention as possible terahertz devices. Despite impressive experimental results, the specifics of the device physics (i.e., how the electrons propagate through the structure) are only qualitatively understood. Therefore, better transport models are warranted if this technology is to mature. In this paper, the Lattice Wigner function is used to explain the important transport issues associated with DBRTD device behavior

Double Tuned Cosine Coil for NMR Imaging/Microscopy

The fabrication of a cosine coil having unevenly distributed struts is detailed. Placing the struts in such a manner enables a standing wave at the desired frequency and, hence, only one resonance frequency is obtained. This study details the fabrication of a cosine coil tuned to the LJ-7 frequency (77.76 MHz) and then double-tuned to the H-1 frequency (200.1 MHz) when operated at 4.7 Tesla. Double-tuning is attained by placing an LC trap in series with a capacitor used to single-tune the coil. Also, a method is suggested by which a cosine coil can be broadbanded in the lower frequency range simply by replacing a fixed capacitor

Principles and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Resonance

A review is presented which covers the basic theory of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with regard to angular momentum, magnetic moments, and the classical mechanical description of the NMR experiment. Longitudinal (T,) and Transverse (T2) relaxation times are defined as well as the basic pulse sequences used for their measurement. In particular, the 180°-t-90° and the Hahn Spin Echo pulse sequences are described in detail. Basic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) theory is discussed with regard to slice selection, frequency encoding, and phase encoding to define the imaged volume element. The equations defining the amount of Tt , T2 , and proton density which contribute to the images are discussed. Common MRI pulsing sequences are described in detail as well as the imaging time equation. Recent in-vivo magnetic resonance studies involving the use of contrast agents, and the use of localized spectroscopy, specifically 13C, 19F, MNa and 39K, are discussed

Sex differences in the cerebral BOLD signal response to painful heat stimuli

There are limited data addressing the question of sex differences in pain-related cerebral processing. This study examined whether pain-related blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal change measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) demonstrated sex differences, under conditions of equivalent pain perception. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (17 women, 11 men) were subject to a fMRI scan while noxious heat stimuli were applied to the dorsum of the left foot. Significant BOLD signal modulation was observed in several nociceptive processing regions of interest (ROIs) in all subjects. There were no sex differences in the spatial extent of BOLD signal change for any ROI, but the signal amplitude was lower for women in most ROIs and significantly so for the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), the midanterior cingulate cortex, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The BOLD signal response could be positive or negative, and frequently, both polarities were observed within a single ROI. In most ROIs, women show proportionately more voxels with negative signal change than men, and this difference was statistically significant for the S1 and the DLPFC. The time course of the negative signal change was very similar to that of the positive signal change, suggesting that the latter was not “driving” the former. The location of negative and positive clusters formed distinct patterns in several of the ROIs, and these patterns suggest something other than a local “steal” phenomenon as an explanation for the negative signal changes. Sex differences in baseline cerebral blood flow may contribute to the BOLD signal differences observed in this study

Phase Image Texture Analysis for Motion Detection in Diffusion MRI (PITA-MDD)

Purpose Pronounced spin phase artifacts appear in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with only minor subject motion. While DWI data corruption is often identified as signal drop out in diffusion-weighted (DW) magnitude images, DW phase images may have higher sensitivity for detecting subtle subject motion. Methods This article describes a novel method to return a metric of subject motion, computed using an image texture analysis of the DW phase image. This Phase Image Texture Analysis for Motion Detection in dMRI (PITA-MDD) method is computationally fast and reliably detects subject motion from diffusion-weighted images. A threshold of the motion metric was identified to remove motion-corrupted slices, and the effect of removing corrupted slices was assessed on the reconstructed FA maps and fiber tracts. Results Using a motion-metric threshold to remove the motion-corrupted slices results in superior fiber tracts and fractional anisotropy maps. When further compared to a state-of-the-art magnitude-based motion correction method, PITA-MDD was able to detect comparable corrupted slices in a more computationally efficient manner. Conclusion In this study, we evaluated the use of DW phase images to detect motion corruption. The proposed method can be a robust and fast alternative for automatic motion detection in the brain with multiple applications to inform prospective motion correction or as real-time feedback for data quality control during scanning, as well as after data is already acquired

Flat inkjet-printed copper induction coils for magnetostrictive structural health monitoring: A comparison with bulk air coils and an anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor (AMR) sensor

Structural health monitoring (SHM) represents the next generation of carbon fiber-reinforced composite nondestructive testing. One challenge facing the application of magnetostrictive SHM is the lightweighting and ease of installation of actuators and sensors. Inkjet printing (IJP) technology is well suited to produce miniaturized electronic induction sensors that can be paired with magnetostrictive actuators to detect strain. These sensors have several advantages: their thicknesses can be minimized, the surface area can be maximized to increase sensitivity, and complex multifilar coil configurations can be fabricated. A parametric study of the efficacy of IJP induction coils with different parameters (number of coils, monofilar/bifilar, size) tested on a number of actuator-functionalized composite coupons (FeSiB ribbon and impregnated epoxy sensors) is conducted. The samples are characterized by measuring their inductance response through induced strains. Increased sensitivity and accuracy of the 10-turn monofilar IJP sensor are shown with respect to 1) 70-turn hand-wound coils, 2) a three-axis AMR sensor, and 3) other IJP actuators with <10 turns. This is attributed to increased contact area to the composite surface and the requirement of minimum sensitivity (i.e., the number of turns and surface area) for strain detection

Tonic pain alters functional connectivity of the descending pain modulatory network involving amygdala, periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus and anterior cingulate cortex

Introduction: Resting state functional connectivity (FC) is widely used to assess functional brain alterations in patients with chronic pain. However, reports of FC accompanying tonic pain in pain-free persons are rare. A network we term the Descending Pain Modulatory Network (DPMN) is implicated in healthy and pathologic pain modulation. Here, we evaluate the effect of tonic pain on FC of specific nodes of this network: anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala (AMYG), periaqueductal gray (PAG), and parabrachial nuclei (PBN). Methods: In 50 pain-free participants (30F), we induced tonic pain using a capsaicin-heat pain model. functional MRI measured resting BOLD signal during pain-free rest with a 32 °C thermode and then tonic pain where participants experienced a previously warm temperature combined with capsaicin. We evaluated FC from ACC, AMYG, PAG, and PBN with correlation of self-report pain intensity during both states. We hypothesized tonic pain would diminish FC dyads within the DPMN. Results: Of all hypothesized FC dyads, only PAG and subgenual ACC was weakly altered during pain (F = 3.34; p = 0.074; pain-free\u3epain d = 0.25). After pain induction sACC-PAG FC became positively correlated with pain intensity (R = 0.38; t = 2.81; p = 0.007). Right PBN-PAG FC during pain-free rest positively correlated with subsequently experienced pain (R = 0.44; t = 3.43; p = 0.001). During pain, this connection\u27s FC was diminished (paired t=-3.17; p = 0.0026). In whole-brain analyses, during pain-free rest, FC between left AMYG and right superior parietal lobule and caudate nucleus were positively correlated with subsequent pain. During pain, FC between left AMYG and right inferior temporal gyrus negatively correlated with pain. Subsequent pain positively correlated with right AMYG FC with right claustrum; right primary visual cortex and right temporo-occipitoparietal junction Conclusion: We demonstrate sACC-PAG tonic pain FC positively correlates with experienced pain and resting right PBN-PAG FC correlates with subsequent pain and is diminished during tonic pain. Finally, we reveal PAG- and right AMYG-anchored networks which correlate with subsequently experienced pain intensity. Our findings suggest specific connectivity patterns within the DPMN at rest are associated with subsequently experienced pain and modulated by tonic pain. These nodes and their functional modulation may reveal new therapeutic targets for neuromodulation or biomarkers to guide interventions

Outcome of pterygium surgery: analysis over 14 years

Aim: To report the outcome of pterygium surgery performed at a tertiary eye care centre in South India. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 920 patients (989 eyes) with primary and recurrent pterygia operated between January 1988 and December 2001. The demographic variables, surgical technique (bare sclera, primary closure, amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT), conjunctival autograft (CAG), conjunctival-limbal autograft (CLAG), or surgical adjuvants), recurrences and postoperative complications were analysed. Results: A total of 496 (53.9%) were male and 69 (7.5%) had bilateral pterygia. Bare sclera technique was performed in 267 (27.0%) eyes, primary conjunctival closure in 32 (3.2%), AMG in 123 (12.4%), CAG in 429 (43.4%), and CLAG in 70 (7.1%). Adjuvant mitomycin C was used in 44 (4.4%) cases. The mean duration of follow-up was 8.917.0 and 5.98.8 months for unilateral primary and recurrent pterygia, respectively. The overall recurrence rate was 178 (18.0%). Following primary and recurrent unilateral pterygium excision respectively, recurrences were noted in 46 (19.4%) and 1 (33.3%) eyes after bare sclera technique, five (16.7%) and 0 after primary closure, 28 (26.7%) and 0 with AMG, 42 (12.2%) and five (31.3%) with CAG, and nine (17.3%) and two (40%) with CLAG. Recurrences were significantly more in males with primary (23.3 vs10.7%, P&lt;0.0001) and recurrent (26.7 vs0%, P=0.034) pterygia, and in those below 40 years (25.2 vs14.8%, P=0.003). Conclusion: CAG appears to be an effective modality for primary and recurrent pterygia. Males and patients below 40 years face greater risk of recurrence. Bare sclera technique has an unacceptably high recurrence. Prospective studies comparing CAG, CLAG, and AMG for primary and recurrent pterygia are needed