A complex and challenging problem in flow study is to obtain quantitative flow information in opaque systems, for example, blood flow in biological systems and flow channels in chemical reactors. In this regard, MRI is superior to the conventional optical flow imaging or ultrasonic Doppler imaging. However, for high speed flows, complex flow behaviors and turbulences make it difficult to image and analyze the flows. In MR flow imaging, MR tagging technique has demonstrated its ability to simultaneously visualize motion in a sequence of images. Moreover, a quantification method, namely HARmonic Phase (HARP) analysis, can extract a dense velocity field from tagged MR image sequence with minimal manual intervention. In this work, we developed and validated two new MRI methods for quantification of very rapid flows. First, HARP was integrated with a fast MRI imaging method called SEA (Single Echo Acquisition) to image and analyze high velocity flows. Second, an improved HARP method was developed to deal with tag fading and data noise in the raw MRI data. Specifically, a regularization method that incorporates the law of flow dynamics in the HARP analysis was developed. Finally, the methods were validated using results from the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the conventional optimal flow imaging based on particle image velocimetry (PIV). The results demonstrated the improvement from the quantification using solely the conventional HARP method.

No description available.

Este trabalho de tese apresenta novas evidências experimentais que ajudam no conhecimento atual das propriedades de transporte em semicondutores orgânicos, aprofundando o conhecimento dos processos de condução dependentes de spin em dispositivos eletrônicos baseados nestes materiais. O trabalho apresentado pode ser dividido em dois temas principais, o primeiro relacionado ao aumento das qualidades espectroscópicas da técnica de ressonância magnética detectada eletricamente (RMDE) por meio de um estudo da dependência do sinal vetorial de RMDE em função da freqüência do campo magnético de modulação. O segundo tema, encontrase relacionado aos efeitos de campos magnéticos externos na condutividade de semicondutores orgânicos. Através de uma análise de fase cuidadosa do sinal vetorial de RMDE foi demonstrado que o espectro de RMDE de diodos orgânicos emissores de luz (OLEDs) baseados em alumínio (III) 8-hidroxiquinolina (\'Alq IND. 3\') pôde ser separado em dois sinais componentes com fatores-g de: \'g IND. h\'= 2,007 e \'g IND. e\'= 2,0035. O espectro de RMDE de OLEDs baseados em \'Alq IND. 3\' foi atribuído ao processo de formação de éxcitons, e os sinais componentes foram atribuídos ao par precursor do éxciton, um à ressonância em ânions de \'Alq IND. 3\', enquanto que o outro a estados catiônicos no \'Alq IND. 3\'. Foi demonstrado que a utilização de diferentes freqüências de modulação de campo magnético aumenta a resolução temporal do sistema de detecção de RMDE, não influenciando os valores dos parâmetros espectroscópicos dos sinais. Desta forma, foi observado que os sistemas ou processos dependentes de spin diferentes que dão origem ao sinal de RMDE de OLEDs baseados em \'Alq IND. 3\', têm uma diferença entre os tempos de resposta menor que 6.0 x \'10 POT. -7\'s. Neste trabalho se propõe um modelo de circuito para simular a origem do sinal de RMDE de OLEDs baseados em \'Alq IND. 3\'. Os resultados deste modelo têm uma grande concordância com os resultados experimentais, observando-se que os dois sistemas ou processos de spin diferentes que dão origem ao sinal, podem ser representados por uma combinação paralela de capacitâncias e \"resistores\" que tomam a forma de funções gaussianas em condições de ressonância magnética. A generalidade deste modelo indica que ele poderia ser utilizado em outros problemas de transporte dependentes de spin de outros dispositivos eletrônicos orgânicos, inorgânicos ou híbridos (inorgânico-orgânico). Resultados de estudos de RMDE de OLEDs baseados em \'Alq IND. 3\', dopados e não dopados, em baixas temperaturas (até 100 K), mostraram que no OLED dopado com rubreno pode existir um mecanismo de formação de éxcitons similar ao já observado para o OLED dopado com DCM-TPA, indicando que o mecanismo de formação de éxcitons no OLED dopado com rubreno seria uma reação direta entre um elétron no \'Alq IND. 3\' com um buraco aprisionado no dopante. Foram observados efeitos do campomagnético na condutividade de dispositivos baseados em semicondutores orgânicos demonstrando a ocorrência do fenômeno de magneto-resistência (MR) em dispositivos orgânicos e híbridos (orgânico-inorgânico). Estes estudos mostraram que a melhor forma de detecção destes efeitos é através do monitoramento da resistência em função do tempo sob a aplicação de campos magnéticos externos. Para os dispositivos baseados em \'Alq IND. 3\', OLEDs dopados e não dopados e um dispositivo e-only, foi observada somente MR negativa, enquanto que para um dispositivo h-only foi observado um novo efeito quase constante e positivo. Para campos magnéticos aplicados de até 1 T, os dispositivos unipolares mostraram baixos efeitos de campo magnético na condutividade alcançando MR de até 0,08%, enquanto que os OLEDs mostraram efeitos maiores alcançando MR de até 3,2%. Apesar do mecanismo exato que origina os efeitos de campo magnético na condutividade de semicondutores orgânicos ainda permanecer desconhecido, os resultados apresentados neste trabalho indicam que este fenômeno não está relacionado com a formação de éxcitons. / This thesis presents new experimental evidences that can improve the current knowledge of the transport properties in organic semiconductors, particularly the spin dependent conduction processes in electronic devices based in those materials. This work can be divided in two main subjects, the first one related to the increasing in the spectroscopic qualities of the electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) technique and the second one related to the external magnetic field effects in the conductivity of the organic semiconductors. Using a careful phase analysis of the vectorial EDMR signal it was demonstrated that the aluminium (III) 9-hydroxyquinoline (\'Alq IND. 3\')-based organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) spectrum cam be separated in two component signais with different g-factors: \"G IND. h\'= 2,007 and \'g IND. e\'= 2,0035. The EDMR spectrum of \'Alq IND. 3\'-based OLEDs was attributed to the exciton formation process and the component signals were attributed to the resonance in \'Alq IND. 3\' anions (electrons) and in cationic states (holes) into \'Alq IND. 3\'. It was demonstrated that the use of different magnetic field modulations frequencies (MFMF) improves the temporal resolution of the EDMR system detection. It observed that the difference in the lifetime of the two EDMR signal components is smaller than 6.0x\'10 POT -7\'s. We proposed a novel circuit model to explain the observed EDMR signals. Results from this model are in agreement with the experimentalresults showing that the EDMR signal of \'Alq IND. 3\'-based OLEDS comes fromtwo different spin systems that can be represented by a parallel combination of capacitance and resistances which acquires a Gaussian form is magnetic resonance conditions. The simplest circuit model indicates that it can be used in other spin-dependent transport problems of different electronic devices (organic, inorganic or hybrid) studied by EDMR experiments. Results from a EDMR investigation of the effects of dye doping on spin dependent exciton formation in \'Alq IND. 3\'-based OLEDs at low temperatures (up to 100 K) showed that the Rubrene dye doped \'Alq IND. 3\'-based OLEDs presents a similar mechanism for exciton formation that the DCM--TPA doped OLED indicating that the recombination occurs by a direct reaction between an electron in the \'Alq IND. 3\' and a hole into the dopant. Magnetic field effects in the conductivity of organic semiconductors based devices were observed, showing the existence of the magnetoresistance (MR) phenomena in both organic and hybrids (organic-inorganic) devices. The studies showed that the best way to detect this effects is by monitoring the resistance as a function of time under the application of different magnetic field pulses. Only negative magnetoresistance was observed for the \'Alq IND. 3\'-based devices: undoped and dye doped OLEDs and an electron only device. A very small, positive and almost constant MR was observedin the hole-only device. For the unipolar devices were observed small magnetic field effects in the conductivity reaching a MR= 0.08%. The OLEDs showed bigger effects reaching a MR= 3.2%. Despite the exact mechanism that origins the magnetic field effects in the conductivity of organic semiconductors remains unknown the results presented in this thesis indicates that this phenomena is not related to the exciton formation.

The presented thesis deals with the use of MR spectroscopy methods for the study of heart metabolism, namely the determination of the lipid content in the heart tissue. The aim of the thesis was the optimization of the examination protocol for the use in the routine examination of patients. The heart examination by means of MR spectroscopy is due to movements caused by the heart rhythm and breathing very challenging. We have, therefore, proposed the measurement protocol, when the measurement is controlled both by ECG signal and the signal monitoring breathing of the examined subject. To achieve sufficient quality of MR spectra we also proposed the use of an advanced method (GREshim) for the adjustment of the homogeneity of the static magnetic field. Using the optimized examination protocol we have examined a group of 14 healthy volunteers. An average content of lipids in the myocardium equal to 0,7 % as determined from the performed measurements is in agreement with published data.

No description available.

Parallel magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be used to increase either the throughput or the speed of the MR imaging experiment. As such, parallel imaging may be accomplished either through a "parallelization" of the MR experiment, or by the use of arrays of sensors. In parallelization, multiple MR scanners (or multiple sensors) are used to collect images from different samples simultaneously. This allows for an increase in the throughput, not the inherent speed, of the MR experiment. Parallel imaging with arrays of sensor coils, on the other hand, makes use of the spatial localization properties of the sensors in an imaging array to allow a reduction in the number of phase encodes required in acquiring an image. This reduced phase-encoding requirement permits an increase in the overall imaging speed by a factor up to the number of sensors in the imaging array. The focus of this dissertation has been the development of cost-effective instrumentation that would enable advances in the state of the art of parallel MR imaging. First, a low-cost desktop MR scanner was developed (< $13,000) for imaging small samples (2.54 cm fields-of view) at low magnetic field strengths (< 0.25 T). The performance of the prototype was verified through bench-top measurements and phantom imaging. The prototype transceiver has demonstrated an SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) comparable to that of a commercial MR system. This scanner could make parallelization of the MR experiment a practical reality, at least in the areas of small animal research and education. A 64-channel receiver for parallel MR imaging with arrays of sensors was also developed. The receiver prototype was characterized through both bench-top tests and phantom imaging. The parallel receiver is capable of simultaneous reception of up to sixty-four, 1 MHz bandwidth MR signals, at imaging frequencies from 63 to 200 MHz, with an SNR performance (on each channel) comparable to that of a single-channel commercial MR receiver. The prototype should enable investigation into the speed increases obtainable from imaging with large arrays of sensors and has already been used to develop a new parallel imaging technique known as single echo acquisition (SEA) imaging.

No description available.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) for the evaluation of in vivo cerebral metabolite ratios is a relatively new radiological modality, which permits the detection and evaluation of specific metabolites within the human body. As with all imaging modalities, the accuracy of the equipment to perform its given task is paramount and the effect of introduction of elements and/or contrast agents to a study, must be understood before a diagnosis or prognosis can be made with any degree of certainty. The following chapters describe the development and testing of a phantom, the development and testing of metabolite simulating solutions and the experiments conducted to determine the spatial localisation accuracy of a MRS imaging system. This thesis begins with a description of the steps undertaken to investigate a clinical MRS system's capacity to reliably produce spectra over both the long and short term. Validation of the phantom construction, metabolite simulating solutions and spatial localisation accuracy is presented in detail. The construction of the localisation phantom resulted in a two compartment perspex phantom and the development of the aqueous metabolite solutions produced two solutions with distinct and separate metabolite peaks with comparable peak amplitudes and sufficient line width separation to prevent possible metabolite resonance cross contamination but without illustrating any significant susceptibility artefacts. Development of the metabolite simulating solutions was a major part of the work conducted. Short and long term (1 year) reproducibility of the measured metabolite peak amplitudes were assessed for four different pulse sequences. Of these, the most reproducible results were obtained with a TE 270ms PRESS sequence (coefficient of variation < 0.6% (short term) and < 3% (long term)). The spatial localisation experiments illustrated a disturbing error in the placement of the user prescribed volume of interest (VOI) with respect to the actual VOI acquisition with a difference between the two volumes of interest of up to 3 mm or 15% of the VOI size in two axes. Possible effects of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, specifically Gd-DTPA were also investigated. Fifty patients were included in this study. The metabolic peak amplitudes were measured pre and post-administration of the contrast agent for each subject. A paired t-test demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the mean peak heights pre- and post- administration (0.07 < p < 0.9 for the various peak amplitudes measured).

Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--München.

Universiẗat, Diss., 1999--Dortmund. / Dateiformat: PDF.