Yes / Objectives: To assess the test-retest variability of both diffusion parameters and fat fraction (FF) estimates in normal muscle, and to assess differences in normal values between muscles in the thigh. Methods: 29 healthy volunteers (mean age 37 years, range 20-60 years, 17/29 males) completed the study. Magnetic resonance images of the mid-thigh were acquired using a stimulated echo acquisition mode-echoplanar imaging (STEAM-EPI) imaging sequence, to assess diffusion, and 2-point Dixon imaging, to assess FF. Imaging was repeated in 19 participants after a 30 min interval in order to assess test-retest variability of the measurements. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for test-retest variability were 0.99 [95% confidence interval, (CI): 0.98, 1] for FF, 0.94 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.97) for mean diffusivity and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.96) for fractional anisotropy (FA). FF was higher in the hamstrings than the quadriceps by a mean difference of 1.81% (95% CI:1.63, 2.00)%, p < 0.001. Mean diffusivity was significantly lower in the hamstrings than the quadriceps (0.26 (0.13, 0.39) x10-3 mm2s-1, p < 0.001) whereas fractional anisotropy was significantly higher in the hamstrings relative to the quadriceps with a mean difference of 0.063 (0.05, 0.07), p < 0.001. Conclusions: This study has shown excellent test-retest, variability in MR-based FF and diffusion measurements and demonstrated significant differences in these measures between hamstrings and quadriceps in the healthy thigh. Advances in knowledge: Test-retest variability is excellent for STEAM-EPI diffusion and 2-point Dixon-based FF measurements in the healthy muscle. Inter- and intraobserver variability were excellent for region of interest placement for STEAM-EPI diffusion and 2-point Dixon-based FF measurements in the healthy muscle. There are significant differences in FF and diffusion measurements between the hamstrings and quadriceps in the normal muscle. / ICA-CL-2016-02-017/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom; NIHR

This contribution will report on further challenges if STEMSI is used for the acquisition of water transport in a heterogeneous root phantom and around the roots of a life plant system. While a 3D MRI image of the root system with sufficient spatial resolution is necessary it is also important to obtain the full 3D information of the velocity vector for the water movement in the vicinity of the plant roots. These requirements need to be balanced against the necessary acquisition time for this 6D data set since the plant is growing and therefore changing its root system over time. To meet this requirement the concepts for Stimulated Echo Acquisition Mode (STEAM) [4] have been fully incorporated into the STEMSI method, thus enabling rapid multi-slice acquisition while retaining sufficient signal to noise ratios.

<p>The thesis deals partly with methodology including construction</p><p>of hardware and new pulse sequences in the field of electrophoretic</p><p>NMR, and partly with practical use of ENMR and</p><p>diffusion NMR in the investigation of charged colloidal systems.</p><p>Several sources of artefacts are investigated, including gas production</p><p>at the electrodes, electroosmosis and Joule heating</p><p>effects that can cause convection. The electrophoretic double</p><p>stimulated-echo pulse sequence is introduced to suppress these</p><p>artefacts and to increase the feasible measuring range to higher</p><p>electric fields and conductivities.</p><p>The interaction between the non-ionic polymer poly(ethylene</p><p>oxide) PEO and differently charged surfactants is investigated</p><p>using the above mentioned methods. The investigated surfactants</p><p>are the anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and</p><p>potassium laurate (KC12), the cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium</p><p>bromide (CTAB) and the non-ionic octyl β-D-glucoside.</p><p>ENMR is also used to investigate two different mixed micelle</p><p>systems, with SDS as the charged surfactant component and</p><p>dodecyl malono-bis-N-methylglucamide (C12BNMG) respectively</p><p>tetra(ethylene oxide) dodecyl ether (C12EO4) as the nonionic</p><p>surfactant component. A method to calculate the degree</p><p>of counter-ion dissociation, αdissociation, as a function of composition</p><p>is demonstrated.</p><p>Finally diffusion NMR is used to compare transport dynamics</p><p>in gel electrolyte systems based on two differently grafted polymers;</p><p>one amphiphilic system containing polymethacrylate</p><p>grafted partly with polyethylene oxide and partly with fluorocarbons</p><p>and the corresponding nonamphiphilic system grafted</p><p>with only polyethylene oxide. Both systems contain the electrolyte</p><p>lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide salt dissolved in</p><p>γ-butyrolactone. The results show that the system based on the</p><p>amphiphilic polymer has better transport dynamics and therefore</p><p>is more suited as material for battery</p>

The thesis deals partly with methodology including construction of hardware and new pulse sequences in the field of electrophoretic NMR, and partly with practical use of ENMR and diffusion NMR in the investigation of charged colloidal systems. Several sources of artefacts are investigated, including gas production at the electrodes, electroosmosis and Joule heating effects that can cause convection. The electrophoretic double stimulated-echo pulse sequence is introduced to suppress these artefacts and to increase the feasible measuring range to higher electric fields and conductivities. The interaction between the non-ionic polymer poly(ethylene oxide) PEO and differently charged surfactants is investigated using the above mentioned methods. The investigated surfactants are the anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and potassium laurate (KC12), the cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the non-ionic octyl β-D-glucoside. ENMR is also used to investigate two different mixed micelle systems, with SDS as the charged surfactant component and dodecyl malono-bis-N-methylglucamide (C12BNMG) respectively tetra(ethylene oxide) dodecyl ether (C12EO4) as the nonionic surfactant component. A method to calculate the degree of counter-ion dissociation, αdissociation, as a function of composition is demonstrated. Finally diffusion NMR is used to compare transport dynamics in gel electrolyte systems based on two differently grafted polymers; one amphiphilic system containing polymethacrylate grafted partly with polyethylene oxide and partly with fluorocarbons and the corresponding nonamphiphilic system grafted with only polyethylene oxide. Both systems contain the electrolyte lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide salt dissolved in γ-butyrolactone. The results show that the system based on the amphiphilic polymer has better transport dynamics and therefore is more suited as material for battery

No description available.

No description available.