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PubMed1999

Sources of artifact and systematic error in quantitative snapshot of FLASH imaging and methods for their elimination.

Snapshot FLASH preceded by a preparation sequence is used to measure NMR parameters. Some preparation information is lost during snapshot FLASH acquisition as the magnetization evolves towards the steady state. This problem is often addressed by assuming that image intensity is proportional to the central k-space line, which may be sampled immediately after preparation using a centric-reordered scheme. Although some limitations of this assumption have been discussed, they are often ignored in parameter measurement. In this study, magnetization evolution effects in snapshot FLASH were investigated by computer simulation and phantom experiments in the context of T2 measurement. It was found that the standard analysis may lead to significant error in parameter measurement. Some improvement may be obtained using a more sophisticated analysis to take account of magnetization evolution. However, at the expense of a 50% reduction in signal intensity, accurate values may be obtained by a novel method that uses crusher gradients to eliminate evolved magnetization.

Artifacts↗
PubMed1999

Coronary artery imaging in a 0.5-Tesla scanner: implementation of real-time, navigator echo-controlled segmented k-space FLASH and interleaved-spiral sequences.

Coronary angiography techniques have been implemented on a 0.5-Tesla scanner with a view to performing coronary artery imaging. Slice-followed, segmented k-space FLASH sequences and interleaved-spiral sequences have been employed with acquisitions under real-time navigator echo control with patient feed back, enabling poor signal-to-noise levels to be overcome by averaging data acquired over multiple, variable-length, reproducible breath holds. Good-quality, millimetre-resolution coronary images were obtained in ten normal subjects with both techniques. The mean percent of data segments or interleaves acquired with the navigator echo within the 5-mm diaphragm acceptance window was 57% [standard deviation (S.D.), 11%; range, 38-85%], and the average image-acquisition times were 123+/-22 sec and 71+/-14 sec for segmented FLASH and interleaved-spiral imaging, respectively. In addition to shorter acquisition times, the interleaved-spiral sequence has superior temporal resolution, allowing the acquisition of limited, multislice data sets. However, the sequence is particularly sensitive to the off-resonance effects of residual epicardial fat surrounding the artery and to field nonuniformities, both of which lead to image blurring and, unlike segmented FLASH acquisitions (which are very robust), the spiral data sets generally require postprocessing.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

C-O-bond cleavage of esters with a naphthyl group in the higher triplet excited state during two-color two-laser flash photolysis.

A C-O-bond cleavage of esters having a naphthyl group, NpCO-OR and RCO-ONp (Np=alpha- and beta-naphthyl ((alpha)Np and (beta)Np, respectively), R=Ph and Me), was found during the two-color two-laser flash photolysis in acetonitrile. The C-O-bond cleavage occurred when NpCO-OR and RCO-ONp were excited to the singlet excited states (S1). On the other hand, no reaction occurred from the lowest triplet excited states (T1). When NpCO-OR(T1) and RCO-ONp(T1) were excited to the higher triplet excited states (Tn) using the second laser during the two-color two-laser flash photolysis, the C-O-bond cleavage occurred. The C-O-bond cleavage quantum yield (Phi) was estimated from the plots of the T1-state esters disappeared within a laser flash versus the second laser intensities. The C-O-bond cleavage in (beta)NpCO-OPh(Tn) occurred more efficiently than in (alpha)NpCO-OPh(Tn) and that in PhCO-O(beta)Np(Tn) occurred more efficiently than in PhCO-O(alpha)Np(Tn). The Phi value for ester with Ph and beta-Np groups was larger than that for ester with Ph and alpha-Np groups. The Phi value for MeCO-O(alpha)Np(Tn) was similar to those for PhCO-ONp(Tn), while that for MeCO-O(beta)Np(Tn) was much smaller than those for PhCO-ONp(Tn) and MeCO-O(alpha)Np(Tn). On the other hand, no C-O-bond cleavage was observed in NpCO-OMe(Tn). The Phi value depended on the characters of the groups (Np, Ph, and Me) on the ester. Whether R is Ph or Me with or without pi electron, respectively, is important for the C-O-bond cleavage. In other words, electronic delocalization of the T(n) state including Np and ester groups is necessary for the occurrence of the C-O-bond cleavage in NpCO-OR(Tn) and RCO-ONp(Tn).

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Toxicity detection from EILATox-Oregon Workshop samples by using kinetic photobacteria measurement: the Flash method.

The Flash test, which can be used to measure the toxicity from clear, turbid and coloured samples with identical protocol, was used in the EILATox-Oregon Workshop. During the workshop, 17 synthetic samples and three environmental samples were tested. In the Flash method the photobacteria Vibrio fischeri are initially dispensed on top of the sample and the light output of the bioluminescence reaction is recorded at a rate of several readings per second. The change in the light production was measured at two points: 30 s and 30 min after exposure at room temperature. Toxicity calculations were done by using either the peak height of the sample or the peak height of the control sample (maximum signal at 0-2 s). When the peak height of the sample is used as a reference, the colour and turbidity effect of solid particles are taken into account throughout the whole measurement period. In the EILATox-Oregon Workshop toxicity was seen in samples 1 (chlordimeform), 4 (phosdrin), 5 (HgCl(2)), 6 (sodium arsenite), 8 (metham sodium), 12 (p-chlorophenol), 14 (sodium selenite) and 17 (MNNG). Only samples 1, 4 and 12 showed different ec(50) values between different calculations of toxicity. The ec(50) values were calculated and compared with the ec(50) values of Microtox derived from the literature. The Flash test will not replace the standardized photobacteria test, but is the advanced version of it and is needed when the sample matrix is complex and when speed and low costs are required.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed1993

Nightly increase in visual sensitivity correlated with bioluminescent flashing activity in the firefly Photuris versicolor (Coleoptera:Lampyridae).

Changes in visual sensitivity as a function of time-of-day were studied in the firefly Photuris versicolor. The electroretinograms (ERGs) elicited by photic stimuli of constant intensity and duration were recorded over long periods (18-52 h) while the insect was in constant darkness. The amplitudes of the ERGs elicited by the standard flash were small and remained constant during the daytime hours and increased on average sixfold during the evening hours, reaching a maximum at the onset of darkness and remaining at that high level until the morning hours. The amplitude of the standard response again was reduced in the morning hours to a daytime low value which again persisted until the following evening (Fig. 1). In addition, a series of flashes of varying intensity were administered periodically and logV/logI curves as a function of time-of-day were obtained. Compared to the daytime logV/logI curves, the nighttime curves were shifted about 4 log units towards the left on the intensity axis (Fig. 2). This period of high visual sensitivity was correlated with the species' flashing activity period, which occurs during the night hours (Fig. 1).

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of spiral and FLASH phase velocity mapping, with and without breath-holding, for the assessment of left and right coronary artery blood flow velocity.

PURPOSE: To develop high temporal resolution coronary artery spiral phase velocity mapping sequences and to compare the results obtained with those from FLASH sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Velocity curves were obtained in eight left and eight right coronary arteries using breath-hold interleaved spiral (BH_SP), free-breathing interleaved spiral (FB_SP), breath-hold segmented FLASH (BH_FL), and free-breathing FLASH (FB_FL) sequences. Spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and acquisition durations (cardiac cycles) were as follows-BH_SP: 0.9 mm x 0.9 mm, 30 msec, 20 cycles; FB_SP: 0.9 mm x 0.9 mm, 42 msec, 100 cycles; BH_FL: 0.9 mm x 1.8 mm, 70 msec (effective), 20 cycles; FB_FL: 0.9 mm x 1.8 mm, 30 msec, 480 cycles. Peak systolic, peak diastolic, and mean velocities were compared between sequences. RESULTS: For left and right arteries, the FB_SP velocity profiles closely followed those from the FB_FL sequence. By comparison, the BH_FL sequence failed to resolve the sharp peaks in the temporal velocity profiles of the right coronary artery, significantly underestimating the peak systolic (88 mm/second vs. 252 mm/second, P < 0.001), peak diastolic (114 mm/second vs. 153 mm/second, P < 0.01), and mean (56 mm/second vs. 93 mm/second, P < 0.001) velocities. For the less mobile left artery, the peak systolic, peak diastolic, and mean velocities were also underestimated by the BH_FL sequence, although this only reached statistical significance for the systolic peak (80 mm/second vs. 135 mm/second, P < 0.01), 142 mm/second vs. 168 mm/second, (P = ns), and 87 mm/second vs. 101 mm/second, (P = ns) respectively. CONCLUSION: We have shown that the FB_SP sequence developed agrees well with the FB_FL sequence, while the study duration is reduced by a factor of 10 for the same spatial resolution. By comparison, the BH_FL sequence underestimates flow velocities, particularly in the more mobile right coronary artery.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Scan time reduction in snapshot FLASH MRI.

We describe the speeding up of snapshot FLASH MRI by placing a slice selection experiment before the whole imaging sequence. In conventional snapshot FLASH slice selection is made in every projection, thus consuming a great deal of experimental time. This problem can be overcome by applying only one slice-selective procedure before starting the imaging. The idea is to make a selective saturation of the outer volume and to interrogate the unaffected slice by a train of rapid, hard, low-angle pulses. By this new method the measuring times of snapshot FLASH can be further reduced.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

T1 snapshot FLASH measurement of rat brain glioma: kinetics of the tumor-enhancing contrast agent manganese (III) tetraphenylporphine sulfonate.

The ultrafast inversion recovery snapshot FLASH technique was used to determine the kinetics of the contrast agent manganese (III) tetraphenylporphine sulfonate (MnTPPS) in experimental brain tumors in rats. In the first part of the investigation this technique was validated with the conventional inversion recovery spin-echo method by comparing in vivo T1 data of a normal rat brain. Agreement between T1 values obtained from both techniques was complete, as tested for a large number of pixels in identical coronal slices. In the second part the fast IR snapshot FLASH method was applied to study the effect of the NMR contrast agent MnTPPS on the T1 relaxation time of experimental gliomas in rat brains. T1 of normal brain tissue (1024-1035 ms), tumor (1217 ms), and edema (1199 ms) was determined with the inversion recovery version of the snapshot FLASH imaging technique. After intraperitoneal injection of MnTPPS (0.25 mmol/kg body wt) T1 decreased exponentially to 56% of control in tumor and to 62% in muscle. In normal and edematous brain tissue no significant changes in T1 were observed up to 5 h after injection of the contrast agent. Once the T1 contrast between tumor and peritumoral brain tissue had reached a saturation, the enhancement persisted for several hours to days. Therefore application of this contrast agent resulted in a sharp demarcation between glioma and peri-tumoral edema.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Inherent insensitivity to RF inhomogeneity in FLASH imaging.

Radiofrequency (RF) field inhomogeneity is an unavoidable problem in MRI, and it becomes severe at high magnetic fields due to the dependence of B1 on the sample. It leads to nonuniformities in image intensity and contrast, causing difficulties in quantitative interpretation and image segmentation. In this work, it is observed that with the fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence, which is often used for anatomic imaging and morphometric studies, sensitivity to RF inhomogeneity can be substantially reduced when the same coil is used for both transmission and reception, and an appropriate nominal flip angle is employed. This observation can help us understand the signal behavior of FLASH in the presence of RF inhomogeneity, and provide a guide for selecting parameters in FLASH imaging.

Brain Mapping↗
PubMed1996

EPR and laser flash photolysis studies of the reaction of nitric oxide with water soluble NO trap Fe(II)-proline-dithiocarbamate complex.

Diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DETC) chelating ferrous iron is used during EPR detection of nitric oxide (.NO) as a precursor of spin traps for the quantification of released .NO both in vitro and in vivo. This method is based on the high affinity of water insoluble iron-dithiocarbamate complexes towards .NO. The nitrosyl-iron-dithiocarbamate complex NOFe(DETC)2 is formed with characteristic triplet EPR spectrum. In the present paper we have studied the reaction of water soluble Fe(II)-proline-dithiocarbamate complex, Fe(PDTC)2, with nitric oxide using both EPR spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis. It has been found that the treatment of the Fe(PDTC)2 complex either by authentic .NO dissolved in aqua buffer solutions or by different .NO donors results in the quantitative appearance of an EPR signal of a stable mononitrosyl complex NOFe(PDTC)2 with a g-factor giso = 2.04 and a hyperfine splitting constant aN = 12.5 G. The laser flash photolysis method has been used to study the kinetics of .NO trapping by Fe(PDTC)2. Nitric oxide release from a light sensitive .NO donor, piridazinofuroxan, was induced by a short flash of UV light generated by a XeCl eximer laser. The rate constant of the reaction of .NO with Fe(PDTC)2 was found to be (1.1 +/- 0.3).10(8) M-1s-1, manifesting a high efficiency of .NO trapping by Fe(PDTC)2.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed1986

Effect of pupillary dilatation in flash VER testing.

Light flash transient visual evoked response (VER) testing is often a part of the perioperative evaluation of eyes with opaque media, and pupillary size in these patients may not be knowable or may be inadvisable to alter. We therefore evaluated transient light flash VER responses before and after pupillary dilation in normal controls and in patients with media opacities to evaluate the effects of pupil size on the amplitude and latency of the recorded VER. Monocular testing was performed bilaterally with a Grass PS-22 photostimulator at the S1 and S16 settings, with monopolar recordings 1 cm above the inion. One hundred twenty-eight 200-msec samplings were recorded and averaged on a Nicolet CA-1000 clinical averager. Latencies were often shorter with the stronger light stimulus, but pupillary dilation did not produce a clear trend toward shorter latencies. Overall, pupillary dilatation did not significantly increase recorded amplitudes, nor did iris color appear to be a factor. These results suggest that, under our testing conditions, pupillary dilatation is not necessary for obtaining reliable transient flash VER recordings.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Microtubule assembly and oscillations induced by flash photolysis of caged-GTP.

Microtubule assembly and oscillations have been induced using the rapid liberation of GTP by UV flash photolysis of caged-GTP and monitored by time-resolved X-ray scattering. The flash photolysis method of achieving assembly conditions is much faster than the temperature jump method used earlier (msec vs. s range). However, the structural transitions and their rates are similar to those described previously. This means that the rates of the transitions in microtubule assembly observed before are determined by the protein itself, and not by the rate at which assembly conditions are induced. The advantages and limitations of using the photolysis of caged-GTP in microtubule assembly studies are compared with temperature jump methods. Caged-GTP itself reduces the rate of microtubule assembly and oscillations at mM concentrations, consistent with a weak interaction between the nucleotide analogue and the protein. X-rays are capable of slowly liberating GTP and other breakdown products from caged-GTP, even in the absence of UV flash photolysis, thus causing an apparent "X-ray-induced" microtubule assembly. This effect depends on the X-ray dose but is independent of the caged-GTP concentrations used here (mM range), suggesting that the breakdown of caged-GTP is caused not by the direct absorption of X-rays by the compound but by another intermediate reaction such as the generation of radicals by the X-rays.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Pattern and flash visual evoked responses in multiple sclerosis.

In multiple sclerosis (MS), increase of delay may be important, but the earlier change is the behavior of the wave shape; amplitude is always lower even in MS patients without visual subjective symptomatology, provided not only flash but also pattern stimulation is performed. Normal amplitude with pattern stimulation does not necessarily mean normal with flash. Combining both stimulation methods, we obtained lowering of amplitude and change of wave shape in 100% of cases while latency was increased in only 77% of cases. Sectorial ischemic neuropathy, and open angle glaucoma patients show the same findings, which emphasizes that the method is not specific for demyelinating diseases, nor selective for papillomacular bundle involvement, but that VER, considering only its first components, reflects axonal damage somewhere in the visual pathway. Flash and pattern VER might be even more pathognomonic in MS than oligoclonal gammaglobulin fractionation on agar, positive in 75% of cases. It is suggested that subclinical MS cases should be submitted to full electro-ophthalmographic investigation.

Form Perception↗
PubMed1978

Flash photolysis of rhodopsin in rabbit.

Flash photolysis of rhodopsin in rabbit's retina has been analysed theoretically, and the results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results of Hagins (1957). We have also obtained the variation of relative concentrations of rhodopsin, lumirhodopsin, isorhodopsin and metarhodopsin I during the period of the flash corresponding to two different intensities of the flash. It has been found that the quantum efficiencies of conversion of lumirhodopsin into rhodopsin and isorhodopsin will lie in the range 0.24--0.45 and 0.20--0.44 respectively; quantum efficiency of conversion of metarhodopsin I into rhodopsin and isorhodopsin are found to have values greater than 0.52 and 0.45 respectively and the quantum efficiency of conversion of isorhodopsin into lumirhodopsin has been found to be approximately 0.865. Also the maximum value of the rate constant of the reaction metarhodopsin I leads to metarhodopsin II at 37 degrees C has been determined in decerebrated eye and it has been found that it is of the same order as found by Pugh (1975) in the case of human eye.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Relaxation rate of intact striated muscle fibres after flash photolysis of a caged calcium chelator (diazo-2).

Single twitch fibres from lumbrical muscles of Xenopus have been loaded with the photolysable calcium-chelator diazo-2 by incubation in Ringer solution containing the membrane permeable acetoxymethyl ester (AM) form of diazo-2. Incubation caused a progressive slowing of tetanus rise and relaxation which is ascribed to calcium-buffering by unphotolyzed diazo-2 (Kd = 2.2 microM). After incubation, exposure to a brief UV flash caused a three to four fold increase in the rate of tension fall. A flash given 16-18 ms after the last tetanic stimulus (at 22-24 degrees C) resulted in 10% increase in relaxation rate compared with the control before incubation. A much bigger effect was observed when a flash was given half-way into the slow phase, where an 1.8-1.9-fold increase in relaxation rate, above the preincubation slope, was observed. It is concluded that rapid lowering of [Ca]i, and hence more rapid removal of Ca2+ from troponin, speeds up relaxation, indicating that calcium translocation is the major determinant of the rate of tension fall during the isometric phase of relaxation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Disk-cathode flash X-ray tube driven by a repetitive two-stage Marx pulser.

Fundamental studies of a repetitive flash X-ray generator using a disk-cathode radiation tube are described. The high-voltage pulser employed a modified two-stage surge-Marx circuit. The two condensers in the pulser were charged from 40 to 60 kV, and the electric charges were discharged to the X-ray tube repetitively to generate flash X-rays. The total capacity during the main discharge was 425 pF, and the maximum output voltage from the pulser was about 1.9 times the charged voltage. The flash X-ray tube was of the demountable-diode type and was composed of a rod-shaped anode tip made of tungsten, a disk cathode made of graphite and a tube body made of polymethylmethacrylate. The peak tube voltage was primarily determined by the anode-cathode (A-C) space, and the peak tube current was less than 0.5 kA. Thus the maximum photon energy could be easily controlled by varying the A-C space, and the tube current roughly increased according to increases in the charged voltage. The pulse width ranged from 40 to 100 ns, and the X-ray intensity was less than 1.1 microC kg-1 at 0.5 m per pulse. The repetition rate was less than 50 Hz, and the effective focal spot size was equivalent to the anode diameter.

X-Ray Therapy↗
PubMed2005

Performance evaluation of acetone-butanol continuous flash extractive fermentation process.

A general mathematical model for performance evaluation of acetone-butanol continuous flash extractive fermentation system was formulated in the terms of productivity, energy requirement (energy utilization efficiency) and product purity. The simulation results based on experimental data showed that the most pronounced performance improvement could be achieved by using highly concentrated substrate as feed and the increase in solvent dilution rate could only improve the total productivity at the expense of energy utilization efficiency. A two-vessel partial flash system, with the first vessel of two to three plates and the second vessel as a complete flash vessel, is required to ensure high product purity. This method of mathematical formulation and analysis could be used and extended as a general tool to other bioprocesses equipped with multiple in situ recovery systems.

Acetone↗
PubMed2004

Online motion correction for diffusion-weighted segmented-EPI and FLASH imaging.

This paper explores the application of online motion correction using navigator echoes to the segmented-EPI and FLASH techniques. In segmented EPI this has the advantage over post-acquisition correction that the position in k-space of each segment is no longer subject to arbitrary shifts caused by rotation. In diffusion-weighted FLASH it has the advantage that the full magnetisation can be utilised in comparison to other methods of eliminating the sensitivity to bulk motion, in which the sensitivity is halved. Healthy subjects were investigated on a 3 T whole-body system in which the hardware has been modified so that navigator echoes can be recorded on a personal computer which generates the necessary magnetic field gradient correction pulses and shifts in the Larmor frequency within 800 micros. ECG triggering was used to avoid the period of non-rigid-body brain motion. Two orthogonal navigator echoes were employed. For segmented EPI it was found essential to minimise the T2* weighting of the navigator echoes to about 10 ms to obtain reliable results. High quality images were obtained for both methods examined. Online motion correction brings direct benefits to both the diffusion-weighted segmented-EPI and FLASH techniques.

Brain↗