Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
High Contrast (high + contrast)
Terms modified by High Contrast Selected Abstracts4D retrospective black blood trueFISP imaging of mouse heartMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 5 2009Sylvain Miraux Abstract The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of steady-state True fast imaging with steady precession (TrueFISP) four-dimensional imaging of mouse heart at high resolution and its efficiency for cardiac volumetry. Three-dimensional cine-imaging of control and hypoxic mice was carried out at 4.7 T without magnetization preparation or ECG-triggering. The k -space lines were acquired with the TrueFISP sequence (pulse repetition time/echo time = 4/2 ms) in a repeated sequential manner. Retrospective reordering of raw data allowed the reconstruction of 10 three-dimensional images per cardiac cycle. The acquisition scheme used an alternating radiofrequency phase and sum-of-square reconstruction method. Black-blood three-dimensional images at around 200 ,m resolution were produced without banding artifact throughout the cardiac cycle. High contrast to noise made it possible to estimate cavity volumes during diastole and systole. Right and left ventricular stroke volume was significantly higher in hypoxic mice vs controls (20.2 ± 2 vs 15.1 ± 2; P < 0.05, 24.9 ± 2 vs 20.4 ± 2; P < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, four-dimensional black-blood TrueFISP imaging in living mice is a method of choice to investigate cardiac abnormalities in mouse models. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The contrast sensitivity function for detection and resolution of blue-on-yellow gratings in foveal and peripheral visionOPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 5 2002R. S. Anderson Abstract Previous studies using polychromatic gratings have shown that the peripheral grating contrast sensitivity function is significantly different when the task is resolution rather than detection. Specifically, in the middle frequency range, while resolution acuity drops suddenly to zero, detection performance continues up to much higher frequencies, accompanied by observations of aliasing. We wanted to determine if the same holds true for blue-cone isolating gratings in either foveal or peripheral vision. Contrast sensitivity function (CSFs) were measured at the fovea and 20 degrees eccentricity in the temporal retina under conditions of short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS)-cone pathway isolation using a two-alternative forced choice paradigm. The detection and resolution CSF were identical at the low frequency end but at higher frequencies resolution sensitivity falls abruptly while contrast detection remained possible till higher frequencies [cut-off frequencies: fovea detection 6.0 cycles (degree),1, resolution 4.6 cycles (degree),1; periphery detection 1.6 cycles (degree),1, resolution 1.05 cycles (degree),1]. Aliasing was observable when spatial frequency exceeded the resolution limit. Medium/high contrast blue-cone-mediated resolution acuity is sampling limited in both the fovea and periphery. Previous studies of blue-cone contrast sensitivity which employed a detection task do not reflect the true resolution limit. [source] A Molecular Brush Approach to Enhance Quantum Yield and Suppress Nonspecific Interactions of Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Targeted Far-Red/Near-Infrared Fluorescence Cell ImagingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2010Kan-Yi Pu Abstract A red-fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE, P2) is grafted with dense poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains via click chemistry and subsequently modified with folic acid to form a molecular brush based cellular probe (P4). P4 self-assembles into a core,shell nanostructure in aqueous medium with an average size of 130 nm measured by laser light scattering. As compared to P2, P4 possesses not only a substantially higher quantum yield (11%), but also reduced nonspecific interactions with biomolecules in aqueous medium due to the shielding effect of PEG. In conjunction with its high photostability and low cytotoxicity, utilization of P4 as a far-red/near-infrared cellular probe allows for effective visualization and discrimination of MCF-7 cancer cells from NIH-3T3 normal cells in a high contrast, selective, and nonviral manner. This study thus demonstrates a flexible molecular brush approach to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of CPEs for advanced bioimaging applications. [source] A Molecular Brush Approach to Enhance Quantum Yield and Suppress Nonspecific Interactions of Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Targeted Far-Red/Near-Infrared Fluorescence Cell ImagingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2010Kan-Yi Pu Abstract A red-fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE, P2) is grafted with dense poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains via click chemistry and subsequently modified with folic acid to form a molecular brush based cellular probe (P4). P4 self-assembles into a core,shell nanostructure in aqueous medium with an average size of 130 nm measured by laser light scattering. As compared to P2, P4 possesses not only a substantially higher quantum yield (11%), but also reduced nonspecific interactions with biomolecules in aqueous medium due to the shielding effect of PEG. In conjunction with its high photostability and low cytotoxicity, utilization of P4 as a far-red/near-infrared cellular probe allows for effective visualization and discrimination of MCF-7 cancer cells from NIH-3T3 normal cells in a high contrast, selective, and nonviral manner. This study thus demonstrates a flexible molecular brush approach to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of CPEs for advanced bioimaging applications. [source] Combined Optical and MR Bioimaging Using Rare Earth Ion Doped NaYF4 NanocrystalsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 6 2009Rajiv Kumar Abstract Here, novel nanoprobes for combined optical and magnetic resonance (MR) bioimaging are reported. Fluoride (NaYF4) nanocrystals (20,30,nm size) co-doped with the rare earth ions Gd3+ and Er3+/Yb3+/Eu3+ are synthesized and dispersed in water. An efficient up- and downconverted photoluminescence from the rare-earth ions (Er3+ and Yb3+ or Eu3+) doped into fluoride nanomatrix allows optical imaging modality for the nanoprobes. Upconversion nanophosphors (UCNPs) show nearly quadratic dependence of the photoluminescence intensity on the excitation light power, confirming a two-photon induced process and allowing two-photon imaging with UCNPs with low power continuous wave laser diodes due to the sequential nature of the two-photon process. Furthermore, both UCNPs and downconversion nanophosphors (DCNPs) are modified with biorecognition biomolecules such as anti-claudin-4 and anti-mesothelin, and show in vitro targeted delivery to cancer cells using confocal microscopy. The possibility of using nanoprobes for optical imaging in vivo is also demonstrated. It is also shown that Gd3+ co-doped within the nanophosphors imparts strong T1 (Spin-lattice relaxation time) and T2 (spin-spin relaxation time) for high contrast MR imaging. Thus, nanoprobes based on fluoride nanophosphors doped with rare earth ions are shown to provide the dual modality of optical and magnetic resonance imaging. [source] Change of Excitability in Brainstem and Cortical Visual Processing in Migraine Exhibiting AllodyniaHEADACHE, Issue 10 2006Koichi Shibata MD Background.,Clinical and neurophysiological manifestations of information processing associated with central sensitization are little known. Allodynic migraine (AM) can be caused by the sensitization of trigeminal neuron, but no study has reported on AM between attacks using blink reflex (BR) and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEPs). Objective.,We explored the characteristics of AM between attacks associated with central sensitization using BR and PVEP. Methods.,We recruited 13 patients with interictal AM and 15 patients with nonallodynic migraine (NA), and 30 healthy subjects (HS). BRs were obtained using paired pulses delivered at the interstimulus interval (ISI) of 150, 300, and 500 ms. The ratio of the area in the R2 of the second to R2 of the first shock was measured for each ISI. PVEP were recorded with 2 spatial frequencies (0.5 and 4.0 cpd) and 2 low and high contrasts (29% and 98%, respectively). Amplitudes of P100 were measured. Results.,For BR, there were no significant differences in the ratio of the area of the R2 between the sides of stimulation, and the sides of headache. AM patients had less suppression of the R2 at the ISI of 150 and 300 ms when compared with the NA patients and HS. For PVEP, at 0.5, there were significant differences of amplitude between AM patients and HS, and between NA patients and HS in low and high contrast. At 4.0 cpd, there were significant differences of amplitude between AM patients and HS in low contrast, and between AM patients and HS, and NA patients and HS in high contrast. In AM patients, there was a significant difference of amplitude ratio between 0.5 and 4.0 cpd. Conclusions.,Our BR and PVEP study showed that migraine patients exhibiting allodynia may show central sensitization of brainstem trigeminal neuron and have contrast modulating dysfunction during the cortical visual processing of striate and extrastriate on visual cortex in-between attacks. [source] Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Harnessed Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane as Light-Up Hybrid Nanodot for Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging of Cellular NucleusADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 37 2010Kan-Yi Pu A water-soluble organic/inorganic hybrid nanodot based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and conjugated oligoelectrolyte is designed and synthesized for two-photon fluorescence imaging of cellular nucleus, which takes advantage of its small size (,3.3 nm) that imparts nucleus permeability and substantial DNA-enhanced two-photon excited fluorescence that allows illuminating the nucleus with a high contrast. [source] Fast-Switching Electrochromic Films: Fast-Switching Electrochromic Films of Zinc Polyiminofluorene-Terpyridine Prepared Upon Coordinative Supramolecular Assembly (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 9 20099/2009) Bernd Tieke and co-workers (p. 959) have created incredibly thin films that change color in response to an electric current. The electrochromic films were self-assembled with zinc ions and polytopic polyiminofluorene-tpy ligands and can be switched between yellow, red, and blue; they exhibit switching times of 450 ms, and display high contrast and high stability. The cover shows the process of coordinative self-assembly and electrochromic switching, the background indicates the film surface. [source] Fast-Switching Electrochromic Films of Zinc Polyiminofluorene-Terpyridine Prepared Upon Coordinative Supramolecular AssemblyADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 9 2009Anna Maier Coordinative self-assembly of zinc(II) ions and polytopic polyiminofluorene-tpy ligands is used to prepare electrochromic films with thickness in the nanometer range. The films can be switched between yellow, red, and blue, and exhibit switching times of 500,ms, high contrast, and high stability. [source] A study of the human hair structure with a Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscopeJOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 2 2007HWA SHIK YOUN Summary We have observed the internal structure of human hair shafts with a transmission Zernike phase contrast hard X-ray microscope. Due to the high spatial resolution and the high contrast of the microscope, we could image scales, macrofibrils, medulla and melanin without staining. The structure of a black hair shaft is compared with that of a white one. [source] Quantification of red myotomal muscle volume and geometry in the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) using T1 -weighted magnetic resonance imagingJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Cameron N. Perry Abstract T1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in conjunction with image and segmentation analysis (i.e., the process of digitally partitioning tissues based on specified MR image characteristics) was evaluated as a noninvasive alternative for differentiating muscle fiber types and quantifying the amounts of slow, red aerobic muscle in the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and the salmon shark (Lamna ditropis). MRI-determinations of red muscle quantity and position made for the mid-body sections of three mako sharks (73.5,110 cm fork length, FL) are in close agreement (within the 95% confidence intervals) with data obtained for the same sections by the conventional dissection method involving serial cross-sectioning and volumetric analyses, and with previously reported findings for this species. The overall distribution of salmon shark red muscle as a function of body fork length was also found to be consistent with previously acquired serial dissection data for this species; however, MR imaging revealed an anterior shift in peak red muscle cross-sectional area corresponding to an increase in body mass. Moreover, MRI facilitated visualization of the intact and anatomically correct relationship of tendon linking the red muscle and the caudal peduncle. This study thus demonstrates that MRI is effective in acquiring high-resolution three-dimensional digital data with high contrast between different fish tissue types. Relative to serial dissection, MRI allows more precise quantification of the position, volume, and other details about the types of muscle within the fish myotome, while conserving specimen structural integrity. J. Morphol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Delirium due to Brain Microembolism: Diagnostic Value of Diffusion-Weighted MRIJOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 2 2007Pablo Irimia MD ABSTRACT Delirum is a common complication in hospitalized patients and it is characterized by acute disturbances of consciousness, attention, cognition, and perception. Despite the frequency with which it is observed, ischemic stroke is generally considered as an unusual cause of delirium. A subtype of brain embolism is characterized by multiple small emboli in different vascular territories, a condition known as "brain microembolism." Given the high contrast of acute ischemic lesions in diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) this technique is particularly helpful to detect these small infarctions. We present here a patient with pulmonary metastases who was treated with bronchial artery embolization and who subsequently developed delirium due to brain microembolism. The embolic material crossed through pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas, producing multiple areas of cerebral ischemia. The ischemic lesions could be visualized only on DWI, and they affected the periventricular region, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and cerebellum. [source] Very high contrast integral field spectroscopy of AB Doradus C: 9-mag contrast at 0.2 arcsec without a coronagraph using spectral deconvolution,MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007Niranjan Thatte ABSTRACT We present an extension of the spectral deconvolution (SD) method to achieve very high contrast at small inner working radii. We apply the method to the specific case of ground-based adaptive optics fed integral field spectroscopy (without a coronagraph). Utilizing the wavelength dependence of the Airy and speckle patterns, we make an accurate estimate of the point spread function that can be scaled and subtracted from the data cube. The residual noise in the resulting spectra is very close to the photon noise from the starlight halo. We utilize the technique to extract a very high signal-to-noise ratio H - and K -band spectrum of AB Doradus (AB Dor) C, the low-mass companion to AB Dor A. By effectively eliminating all contamination from AB Dor A, the extracted spectrum retains both continuum and spectral features. The achieved 1, contrast is 9 mag at 0.2 arcsec, 11 mag at 0.5 arcsec, in 20 min exposure time, at an effective spectral bandwidth of 5.5 nm, proving that the method is applicable even in low-Strehl regimes. The SD method clearly demonstrates the efficacy of image slicer based integral field units in achieving very high contrast imaging spectroscopy at small angular separations, validating their use as high-contrast spectrographs/imagers for extreme adaptive optics systems. [source] Nanoparticle phagocytosis and cellular stress: involvement in cellular imaging and in gene therapy against gliomaNMR IN BIOMEDICINE, Issue 1 2010Anne-Karine Bouzier-Sore Abstract In gene therapy against glioma, targeting tumoral tissue is not an easy task. We used the tumor infiltrating property of microglia in this study. These cells are well adapted to this therapy since they can phagocyte nanoparticles and allow their visualization by MRI. Indeed, while many studies have used transfected microglia containing a suicide gene and other internalized nanoparticles to visualize microglia, none have combined both approaches during gene therapy. Microglia cells were transfected with the TK-GFP gene under the control of the HSP70 promoter. First, the possible cellular stress induced by nanoparticle internalization was checked to avoid a non-specific activation of the suicide gene. Then, MR images were obtained on tubes containing microglia loaded with superparamagnetic nanoparticles (VUSPIO) to characterize their MR properties, as well as their potential to track cells in vivo. VUSPIO were efficiently internalized by microglia, were found non-toxic and their internalization did not induce any cellular stress. VUSPIO relaxivity r2 was 224,mM,1.s,1. Such results could generate a very high contrast between loaded and unloaded cells on T2 -weighted images. The intracellular presence of VUSPIO does not prevent suicide gene activity, since TK is expressed in vitro and functional in vivo. It allows MRI detection of gene modified macrophages during cell therapy strategies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Evidence for shutter-speed variation in CR bolus-tracking studies of human pathologyNMR IN BIOMEDICINE, Issue 3 2005Thomas E. Yankeelov Abstract The standard pharmacokinetic model for the analysis of MRI contrast reagent (CR) bolus-tracking (B-T) data assumes that the mean intracellular water molecule lifetime (,i) is effectively zero. This assertion is inconsistent with a considerable body of physiological measurements. Furthermore, theory and simulation show the B-T time-course shape to be very sensitive to the ,i magnitude in the physiological range (hundreds of milliseconds to several seconds). Consequently, this standard model aspect can cause significant underestimations (factors of 2 or 3) of the two parameters usually determined: Ktrans, the vascular wall CR transfer rate constant, and ve, the CR distribution volume (the extracellular, extravascular space fraction). Analyses of animal model data confirmed two predicted behaviors indicative of this standard model inadequacy: (1) a specific temporal pattern for the mismatch between the best-fitted curve and data; and (2) an inverse dependence of the curve's Ktrans and ve magnitudes on the CR dose. These parameters should be CR dose-independent. The most parsimonious analysis allowing for realistic ,i values is the ,shutter-speed' model. Its application to the experimental animal data essentially eliminated the two standard model signature inadequacies. This paper reports the first survey for the extent of this ,shutter-speed effect' in human data. Retrospective analyses are made of clinical data chosen from a range of pathology (the active multiple sclerosis lesion, the invasive ductal carcinoma breast tumor, and osteosarcoma in the leg) that provides a wide variation, particularly of Ktrans. The signature temporal mismatch of the standard model is observed in all cases, and is essentially eliminated by use of the shutter-speed model. Pixel-by-pixel maps show that parameter values from the shutter-speed analysis are increased by more than a factor of 3 for some lesion regions. This endows the lesions with very high contrast, and reveals heterogeneities that are often not seen in the standard model maps. Normal muscle regions in the leg allow validation of the shutter-speed model Ktrans, ve, and ,i magnitudes, by comparison with results of previous careful rat leg studies not possible for human subjects. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Using aerial photography for identification of marine and coastal habitats under the EU's Habitats DirectiveAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 4 2003Jan Ekebom Abstract 1.Implementation of the E.U. Habitats Directive requires information on the distribution, abundance and area covered by the habitats listed in Annex I of the Directive. 2.In Finland, 21 of these habitats occur in marine and coastal areas. The demand for spatial information of these habitats is increasing, so rapid and relatively inexpensive mapping methods are needed. 3.This study examines the identification of 15 habitats using high altitude black and white aerial photographs. Our goal was to find out how well these habitats could be identified using these types of photographs. We used a test group of 34 persons who were given only brief instructions on how to identify the habitats prior to the test. Their results were compared to a set of field data from an archipelago area at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland, in August 1999 and autumn 2000. 4.The test group identified sandy beaches, lagoons, submerged sandbanks and cliffs with an accuracy of 82%, 71%, 66% and 65%, respectively. The main reasons for these high accuracy percentages were apparently the high contrast and/or easy delineation of the habitat from the surrounding areas. 5.Reefs, wooded dunes and submerged reefs were identified with an accuracy of 39%, 44% and 45%, respectively. The remaining habitats were less precisely identified, apparently due to their small size or poor contrast to the surrounding areas. 6.High altitude aerial photographs are shown to be a useful tool for identifying several of these habitats and can be used as a complement to field mapping methods, GIS methods and other remote sensing techniques. The use of high altitude photographs for monitoring change is discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Change of Excitability in Brainstem and Cortical Visual Processing in Migraine Exhibiting AllodyniaHEADACHE, Issue 10 2006Koichi Shibata MD Background.,Clinical and neurophysiological manifestations of information processing associated with central sensitization are little known. Allodynic migraine (AM) can be caused by the sensitization of trigeminal neuron, but no study has reported on AM between attacks using blink reflex (BR) and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEPs). Objective.,We explored the characteristics of AM between attacks associated with central sensitization using BR and PVEP. Methods.,We recruited 13 patients with interictal AM and 15 patients with nonallodynic migraine (NA), and 30 healthy subjects (HS). BRs were obtained using paired pulses delivered at the interstimulus interval (ISI) of 150, 300, and 500 ms. The ratio of the area in the R2 of the second to R2 of the first shock was measured for each ISI. PVEP were recorded with 2 spatial frequencies (0.5 and 4.0 cpd) and 2 low and high contrasts (29% and 98%, respectively). Amplitudes of P100 were measured. Results.,For BR, there were no significant differences in the ratio of the area of the R2 between the sides of stimulation, and the sides of headache. AM patients had less suppression of the R2 at the ISI of 150 and 300 ms when compared with the NA patients and HS. For PVEP, at 0.5, there were significant differences of amplitude between AM patients and HS, and between NA patients and HS in low and high contrast. At 4.0 cpd, there were significant differences of amplitude between AM patients and HS in low contrast, and between AM patients and HS, and NA patients and HS in high contrast. In AM patients, there was a significant difference of amplitude ratio between 0.5 and 4.0 cpd. Conclusions.,Our BR and PVEP study showed that migraine patients exhibiting allodynia may show central sensitization of brainstem trigeminal neuron and have contrast modulating dysfunction during the cortical visual processing of striate and extrastriate on visual cortex in-between attacks. [source] Inclusion of biotic stress (consumer pressure) alters predictions from the stress gradient hypothesisJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Christian Smit Summary 1. ,The stress gradient hypothesis (SGH) predicts a shift from net negative interactions in benign environments towards net positive in harsh environments in ecological communities. While several studies found support for the SGH, others found evidence against it, leading to a debate on how nature and strength of species interactions change along stress gradients, and to calls for new empirical and theoretical work. 2. ,In the latest attempt in this journal, it is successfully argued how the SGH should be expanded by considering different life strategies of species (stress tolerance versus competitive ability) and characteristics of abiotic stress (resource versus non-resource based) over wider stress gradients (opposed to low,high contrasts), but the crucial role of biotic stress by consumers is largely ignored in this refinement. 3. ,We point out that consumers strongly alter the outcome of species interactions in benign and harsh environments, and show how inclusion of consumer-incurred biotic stress alters the predicted outcome of interactions along resource- and non-resource-based stress gradients for stress-tolerant and competitive benefactors and beneficiaries. 4. ,Synthesis. New studies should include stress gradients consisting of both abiotic and biotic components to disentangle their impacts, and to improve our understanding of how species interactions change along environmental gradients. [source] | ||||||||||||||||