Correction of frequency and phase variations induced by eddy currents in localized spectroscopy with multiple echo times.

As a consequence of the time-varying magnetic field induced by eddy currents, frequency drifting occurs when the sampling window of localized spectroscopy continuously shifts. The frequency drifting and the concomitant phase variations can severely affect spectroscopy results when data are acquired with multiple echo times (TEs), such as in the measurement of glutamate (Glu) concentration using the TE-averaged method. Specifically, the averaged spectra are further broadened and distorted in the presence of residual eddy currents, and editing of the coupled spins of Glu C4 protons is affected, resulting in errors in the measured relative intensity ratio. Postacquisition correction using unsuppressed water as reference can effectively minimize this detrimental effect, as manifested by the significantly enhanced signal intensity. Also, it is demonstrated that the methyl signals of creatine (Cr) at 3.0 ppm and choline (Cho) at 3.2 ppm can be used as internal references in finding frequency and phase disparities between different TEs.     

"催眠态"与"气功态"脑运动皮质低频活动差异的初步研究

目的:研究催眠态和气功态下脑运动皮质的低频同步活动,探讨催眠态与气功态对脑功能皮质活动的不同效应。材料和方法:研究对象为1例28岁的健康女性志愿者,右利手。采用气功入静和催眠诱导分别进入气功态和催眠态。研究采用GEsigna VH/i3.0T磁共振扫描机,先后进行无任务(静息态、催眠态和气功态)和运动任务的BOLD序列扫描。图像的处理先以运动任务获得的运动皮质定位作为种子对三种状态的功能图像做交互相关分析,获得脑功能连接的激活图,然后对这些激活的体素采用功率谱分析,获得相应的优势频率和能量。结果:脑功能低频连接激活体素的数量在静息态、催眠态、气功态间没有明显差异,但通过功率谱分析,催眠态主要表现为优势频率能量的升高,而气功态则主要表现为优势频率的增加。结论:气功态和催眠态下脑运动皮质的低频活动存在一定的差异,提示两种状态有通过不同的途径产生效应,但其生理基础有待于进一步研究。     

Alternating repetition time balanced steady state free precession.

A novel balanced SSFP technique for the separation or suppression of different resonance frequencies (e.g., fat suppression) is presented. The method is based on applying two alternating and different repetition times, TR(1) and TR(2). This RF scheme manipulates the sensitivity of balanced SSFP to off-resonance effects by a modification of the frequency response profile. Starting from a general approach, an optimally broadened stopband within the frequency response function is designed. This is achieved with a TR(2) being one third of TR(1) and an RF-pulse phase increment of 90 degrees . With this approach TR(2) is too short ( approximately 1 ms) to switch imaging gradients and is only used to change the frequency sensitivity. Without a significant change of the spectral position of the stopband, TR(1) can be varied over a range of values ( approximately 2.5-4.5 ms) while TR(2) and phase cycling is kept constant. On-resonance spins show a magnetization behavior similar to balanced SSFP, but with maximal magnetization at flip angles about 10 degrees lower than in balanced SSFP. The total scan time is increased by about 30% compared to conventional balanced SSFP. The new technique was applied on phantoms and volunteers to produce rapid, fat suppressed images.     

应用HMM和加权距离判别法的真核基因识别程序研究

根据现代科学对基因的认识，应用了隐马尔科夫模型(HMM)的算法，以大量核酸序列为信息来源，通过计算机计算来寻找未知基因的大体位置；再通过基因的固有结构特征及密码子使用的偏向性，使用加权距离判别法来准确地定位基因，以图形及文本的形式输出，从而极大地方便了实验室的研究工作。考虑到基因的许多特征还不为人们所了解，而且不同物种之间基因结构又有一定的差异，所以还开发了程序自学习功能，不断地存储已知的基因，再据此改变一些已有固有数据，以便更好地适应和了解不同生物基因结构的特异性，更加准确地寻找未知基因的位置。     

Generalization of Frequency Discrimination Learning Across Frequencies and Ears: Implications for Underlying Neural Mechanisms in Humans

Frequency discrimination thresholds (FDTs) at 750, 1500, 3000, and 6000 Hz were measured in 32 normal-hearing listeners before and after each listener practiced the task for 12 h at one of the above frequencies using a single ear. Marked improvements in thresholds taking place over several hours were observed during the frequency- and ear-specific training period. Comparisons between pre- and posttraining thresholds showed large improvements at the trained frequency, but also at other frequencies. The improvements were initially slightly—but significantly—larger at the trained frequency than at untrained frequencies. However, this trained-frequency advantage disappeared rapidly during the course of the two-hour multifrequency posttraining session, suggesting rapid relearning or learning generalization across frequencies. In contrast, no significant ear specificity was found, not even at early stages of the posttraining session. These findings add to earlier results suggesting that, in humans, frequency discrimination learning is only weakly frequency-specific, and they reveal that a complete generalization across frequencies can occur rapidly with little retraining at the initially untrained frequencies. Implications regarding underlying mechanisms are discussed.     

Five‐Year Follow‐up After Sacral Neuromodulation: Single Center Experience

Objective. We studied long‐term clinical efficacy of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) therapy in patients with refractory urgency incontinence (UI), urgency/frequency (UF) and voiding difficulty (VD), together with urodynamic data at baseline and six   months postimplant. Materials and Methods. Twenty‐two patients were implanted with a neurostimulator after a positive response to a percutaneous nerve evaluation test defined as a greater than 50% improvement in symptoms. Results. At five‐year follow‐up, the number of incontinent episodes and pad usage per day decreased significantly in 10 out of 15 UI patients. Two of five UF patients were successfully treated with SNM; the number of daily voids for all UF patients decreased from 25 to 19 and average voided volume increased from 98 to 212 mL. One of the two VD patients was able to void to completion. Mean first sensation of filling at the six‐month urodynamic investigation for the UI and UF patients increased from 78 to 241 mL and 141 to 232 mL, respectively, and the maximum bladder capacity increased from 292 to 352 mL and 223 to 318 mL, respectively. Five of 22 patients underwent device explant and one patient still has an inactive stimulator implanted. Conclusion. SNM is an effective treatment modality that offers sustained clinical benefit in the majority of patients with refractory UI, UF, and VD that do not respond to other, more conservative therapies.     

乳腺良恶性肿块的高频彩色多普勒超声分析

目的:探讨彩色多普勒多参数分析对乳腺良、恶性肿块鉴别诊断的价值。材料和方法:应用高频彩色多普勒对96例104个乳腺实质肿块进行扫查,观察肿块的彩色多普勒血流信号及多普勒血流频谱形态,与手术病理结果对照分析。结果:64.4%的良性肿块可检出血流信号,血流信号多为Ⅰ~Ⅱ级,良性肿块中血流频谱以低阻力搏动型及静脉型多见,91.1%的乳腺恶性肿块可检出血流信号,血流信号多为Ⅱ~Ⅲ级,恶性肿块的血流频谱形态较多样化,即同时有多种血流频谱,且以高阻力搏动型和湍流型为多见。结论:高频彩色多普勒超声多参数综合分析有助于临床对乳腺肿块的诊断及鉴别诊断。     

Fat and water separation in balanced steady-state free precession using the Dixon method.

In this work the feasibility of separating fat and water signals using the balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) technique is demonstrated. The technique is based on the observation (Scheffler and Hennig, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2003;49:395-397) that at the nominal values of TE = TR/2 in SSFP imaging, phase coherence can be achieved at essentially only two orientations (0 degrees and 180 degrees ) relative to the RF pulses in the rotating frame, under the assumption of TR < T2, and independently of the SSFP angle. This property allows in-phase and out-of-phase SSFP images to be obtained by proper choices of the center frequency offset, and thus allows the Dixon subtraction method to be utilized for effective fat-water separation. The TR and frequency offset for optimal fat-water separation are derived from theories. Experimental results from healthy subjects, using a 3.0 Tesla system, show that nearly complete fat suppression can be accomplished.     

Image processing in digital radiography

Image processing is a critical part of obtaining high-quality digital radiographs. Fortunately, the user of these systems does not need to understand image processing in detail, because the manufacturers provide good starting values. Because radiologists may have different preferences in image appearance, it is helpful to know that many aspects of image appearance can be changed by image processing, and a new preferred setting can be loaded into the computer and saved so that it can become the new standard processing method.Image processing allows one to change the overall optical density of an image and to change its contrast. Spatial frequency processing allows an image to be sharpened, improving its appearance. It also allows noise to be blurred so that it is less visible. Care is necessary to avoid the introduction of artifacts or the hiding of mediastinal tubes.