scholarly journals The dot-compartment revealed? Diffusion MRI with ultra-strong gradients and spherical tensor encoding in the living human brain

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal M.W. Tax ◽  
Filip Szczepankiewicz ◽  
Markus Nilsson ◽  
Derek K. Jones

AbstractThe so-called “dot-compartment” is conjectured in diffusion MRI to represent small spherical spaces, such as cell bodies, in which the diffusion is restricted in all directions. Previous investigations inferred its existence from data acquired with directional diffusion encoding which does not permit a straightforward separation of signals from ‘sticks’ (axons) and signals from ‘dots’. Here we combine isotropic diffusion encoding with ultra-strong diffusion gradients (240 mT/m) to achieve high diffusion-weightings with high signal to noise ratio, while suppressing signal arising from anisotropic water compartments with significant mobility along at least one axis (e.g., axons). A dot-compartment, defined to have apparent diffusion coefficient equal to zero and no exchange, would result in a non-decaying signal at very high b-values (b ≳ 7000 s/mm2). With this unique experimental setup, a residual yet slowly decaying, signal above the noise floor for b-values as high as 15000 s/mm2was seen clearly in the cerebellar grey matter (GM), and in several white matter (WM) regions to some extent. Upper limits of the dot-signal-fraction were estimated to be ~2% in cerebellar GM and ~0.2% in WM. By relaxing the assumption of zero diffusivity, the signal at high b-values in cerebellar GM could be represented more accurately by an isotropic water pool with a low apparent diffusivity of 0.11 µm2/ms and a substantial signal fraction of ~7-16%. This remaining signal at high b-values has potential to serve as a novel and simple marker for isotropically-restricted water compartments in cerebellar GM.

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Lochhaas ◽  
Smita Mathur ◽  
Stephan Frank ◽  
Debopam Som ◽  
Yair Krongold ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT High signal-to-noise spectra towards background quasars are crucial for uncovering weak absorption in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of intervening galaxies, such as the diagnostic lines of N v that provide insight to the ionization process of warm gas but typically have low equivalent widths. We present a new spectrum from the Hubble Space Telescope with a signal-to-noise ratio of ∼20–35 towards the quasar SDSS J1009+0713 and analyse absorption systems in the CGM of two L⋆ galaxies close to the line of sight. We identify additional absorption in the CGM of these galaxies that was not reported by the previous lower signal-to-noise spectrum, as well as Milky Way absorbers and quasar outflows from J1009+0713. We measure log (NN v/NO vi) ∼ −1.1 for two CGM absorbers, inconsistent with gas in collisional ionization equilibrium and consistent with a radiatively cooling bulk flow of ∼50–150 km s−1, which could be produced by galactic winds. These column density ratios are also consistent with those found for other L⋆ galaxies and for some gas in the Milky Way’s halo. We place upper limits of log (NN v/NO vi) < −1.8 to −1.2 for other O vi absorbers in the same haloes, which suggests that O vi is produced by different processes in different parts of the CGM, even within the same galactic halo. Together with the kinematically different structure of high- and low-ionization lines, these results indicate there are many components to a single galaxy’s gaseous halo. We find the redshift number density of Ly α forest absorbers and broad Ly α absorbers are consistent with expectations at this redshift.


2007 ◽  
Vol 556-557 ◽  
pp. 917-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Moscatelli ◽  
Andrea Scorzoni ◽  
Antonella Poggi ◽  
Mara Passini ◽  
Giulio Pizzocchero ◽  
...  

In this work we analyzed the radiation hardness of SiC p+n diodes after very high 1 MeV neutron fluence. The diode structure is based on a p+ emitter ion implanted in n-type epilayer with thickness equal to 5 %m and donor doping ND = 3×1015 cm-3. Before irradiation, the average leakage current density at 100 V reverse bias was of the order of 3 nA/cm2. These devices were irradiated at four different fluence values, logarithmically distributed in the range 1014-1016 (1 MeV) neutrons/cm2. After irradiation the epilayer material became more resistive, as indicated by the reduction of the forward and reverse current density at a given voltage. In particular, after a neutron fluence of 1×1014 n/cm2 the epilayer active doping concentration decreased to 1.5×1015 cm-3. After irradiation at 1016 n/cm2, i.e. the highest fluence value, the average leakage current density at 100 V reverse bias decreased to values of the order of 0.1 nA/cm2. This very low noise even after very high fluence is very important to obtain a high signal to noise ratio even at room temperature.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 7907-7932 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.-F. Coheur ◽  
H. Herbin ◽  
C. Clerbaux ◽  
D. Hurtmans ◽  
C. Wespes ◽  
...  

Abstract. In the course of our study of the upper tropospheric composition with the infrared Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE–FTS), we found an occultation sequence that on 8 October 2005, sampled a remarkable plume near the east coast of Tanzania. Model simulations of the CO distribution in the Southern hemisphere are performed for this period and they demonstrate that the emissions for this event originated from a nearby forest fire, after which the plume was transported from the source region to the upper troposphere. Taking advantage of the very high signal-to-noise ratio of the ACE–FTS spectra over a wide wavenumber range (750–4400 cm−1), we present in-depth analyses of the chemical composition of this plume in the middle and upper troposphere, focusing on the measurements of weakly absorbing pollutants. For this specific biomass burning event, we report simultaneous observations of an unprecedented number of organic species. Measurements of C2H4 (ethene), C3H4 (propyne), H2CO (formaldehyde), C3H6O (acetone) and CH3COO2NO2 (peroxyacetylnitrate, abbreviated as PAN) are the first reported detections using infrared occultation spectroscopy from satellites. Based on the lifetime of the emitted species, we discuss the photochemical age of the plume and also report, whenever possible, the enhancement ratios relative to CO.


1990 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 279-288
Author(s):  
C. Fröhlich ◽  
T. Toutain ◽  
R.M. Bonnet ◽  
A.V. Bruns ◽  
J.P. Delaboudinière ◽  
...  

AbstractIPHIR (Interplanetary Helioseismology by IRradiance measurements) is a solar irradiance experiment on the USSR planetary mission PHOBOS to Mars and its satellite Phobos. The experiment was built by an international consortium including PMOD/WRC, LPSP, SSD/ESA, KrAO and CRIP. The sensor is a three channel sunphotometer (SPM) which measures the solar spectral irradiance at 335, 500 and 865 nm with a precision of better than 1 part-per-million (ppm). It is the first experiment dedicated to the investigation of solar oscillations from space. The results presented here are from a first evaluation of data gathered during 160 days of the cruise phase of PHOBOS II, launched on July, 12th 1988. The long uninterrupted observation produces a spectrum of the solar p-mode oscillations in the 5-minute range with a very high signal-to-noise ratio, which allows an accurate determination of frequencies and line shapes of these modes.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Christian Bates ◽  
Chakib Bouziane ◽  
Denise Nicholl ◽  
Reina Teelken ◽  
Mohammed Zuki Bin Bidi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam Andersson ◽  
Marco Pizzolato ◽  
Hans Martin Kjer ◽  
Katrine Forum Skodborg ◽  
Henrik Lundell ◽  
...  

Noninvasive estimation of axon diameter with diffusion MRI holds potential to investigate the dynamic properties of the brain network and pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent methods use powder averaging to account for complex white matter architectures, such as fibre crossing regions, but these have not been validated for real axonal geometries. Here, we present 120-313 μm long segmented axons from X-ray nano-holotomography volumes of a splenium and crossing fibre region of a vervet monkey brain. We show that the axons in the complex crossing fibre region, which contains callosal, association, and corticospinal connections, are larger and exhibit a wider distribution than those of the splenium region. To accurately estimate the axon diameter in these regions, therefore, sensitivity to a wide range of diameters is required. We demonstrate how the q-value, b-value, signal-to-noise ratio and the assumed intra-axonal parallel diffusivity influence the range of measurable diameters with powder average approaches. Furthermore, we show how Gaussian distributed noise results in a wider range of measurable diameter at high b-values than with Rician distributed noise, even at high signal-to-noise ratios of 100. The number of gradient directions is also shown to impose a lower bound on measurable diameter. Our results indicate that axon diameter estimation can be performed with only few b-shells, and that additional shells do not improve the accuracy of the estimate. Through Monte Carlo simulations of diffusion, we show that powder averaging techniques succeed in providing accurate estimates of axon diameter across a range of sequence parameters and diffusion times, even in complex white matter architectures. At sufficiently low b-values, the acquisition becomes sensitive to axonal microdispersion and the intra-axonal parallel diffusivity shows time dependency at both in vivo and ex vivo intrinsic diffusivities.


1987 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 387-390
Author(s):  
J.-P. Maillard ◽  
S.C. Foster ◽  
T. Amano ◽  
P.A. Feldman

We have used the Cassegrain-focus Fourier Transform Spectrometer of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope to record high-resolution (0.03 cm−1), high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of the extreme carbon stars IRC+10°216 and CIT6 in the 2850–3100 cm−1 region. Upper limits were obtained for the column densities of silicon nitride (2-0 band of the A-X system), ethylene (ν11 fundamental band at ν0 = 2988.7 cm−1), and ethane (ν7 fundamental band at ν0 = 2985.4 cm−1).


2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. A151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bensby ◽  
Karin Lind

Despite the recent availability of large samples of stars with high-precision Li abundances, there are many unanswered questions about the evolution of this unique element in the Galaxy and in the stars themselves. It is unclear which parameters and physical mechanisms govern Li depletion in late-type stars and if Galactic enrichment has proceeded differently in different stellar populations. With this study we aim to explore these questions further by mapping the evolution of Li with stellar mass, age, and effective temperature for Milky Way disk stars, linking the metal-poor and metal-rich regimes, and how Li differs in the thin and thick disks. We determine Li abundances for a well-studied sample of 714 F and G dwarf, turn-off, and subgiant stars in the solar neighbourhood. The analysis is based on line synthesis of the 7Li line at 6707 Å in high-resolution and high-signal-to-noise ratio echelle spectra, obtained with the MIKE, FEROS, SOFIN, UVES, and FIES spectrographs. The presented Li abundances are corrected for non-LTE effects. Out of the sample of 714 stars, we are able to determine Li abundances for 394 stars and upper limits on the Li abundance for another 121 stars. Out of 36 stars that are listed as exoplanet host stars, 18 have well-determined Li abundances and 6 have Li upper limits. Our main finding is that there are no signatures of Li production in stars associated with the thick disk. Instead the Li abundance trend is decreasing with metallicity for these thick disk stars. Significant Li production is however seen in the thin disk, with a steady increase towards super-solar metallicities. At the highest metallicities, however, around [Fe/H] ≈ +0.3, we tentatively confirm the recent discovery that the Li abundances level out. Our finding contradicts the other recent studies that found that Li is also produced in the thick disk. We find that this is likely due to the α-enhancement criteria which those studies used to define their thick disk samples. By using the more robust age criteria, we are able to define a thick disk stellar sample that is much less contaminated by thin disk stars. Furthermore, we also tentatively confirm the age-Li correlation for solar twin stars, and we find that there is no correlation between Li abundance and whether the stars have detected exoplanets or not. The major conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that no significant Li production relative to the primordial abundance took place during the first few billion years of the Milky Way, an era coinciding with the formation and evolution of the thick disk. Significant Li enrichment then took place once long-lived low-mass stars (acting on a timescale longer than SNIa) had had time to contribute to the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (20) ◽  
pp. 5437-5446 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.-F. Coheur ◽  
H. Herbin ◽  
C. Clerbaux ◽  
D. Hurtmans ◽  
C. Wespes ◽  
...  

Abstract. In the course of our study of the upper tropospheric composition with the infrared Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE–FTS), we found an occultation sequence that on 8 October 2005, sampled a remarkable plume near the east coast of Tanzania. Model simulations of the CO distribution in the Southern hemisphere are performed for this period and they suggest that the emissions for this event likely originated from a nearby forest fire, after which the plume was transported from the source region to the upper troposphere. Taking advantage of the very high signal-to-noise ratio of the ACE–FTS spectra over a wide wavenumber range (750–4400 cm−1), we present in-depth analyses of the chemical composition of this plume in the middle and upper troposphere, focusing on the measurements of weakly absorbing pollutants. For this specific biomass burning event, we report simultaneous observations of an unprecedented number of organic species. Measurements of C2H4 (ethene), C3H4 (propyne), H2CO (formaldehyde), C3H6O (acetone) and CH3COO2NO2 (peroxyacetylnitrate, abbreviated as PAN) are the first reported detections using infrared occultation spectroscopy from satellites. Based on the lifetime of the emitted species, we discuss the photochemical age of the plume and also report, whenever possible, the enhancement ratios relative to CO.


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