Accelerated aortic 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance using compressed sensing: applicability, validation and clinical integration

Background Three-dimensional time-resolved phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (4D flow CMR) enables the quantification and visualisation of blood flow, but its clinical applicability remains hampered by its long scan time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of compressed sensing (CS) with on-line reconstruction to accelerate the acquisition and reconstruction of 4D flow CMR of the thoracic aorta. Methods 4D flow CMR of the thoracic aorta was acquired in 20 healthy subjects using CS with acceleration factors ranging from 4 to 10. As a reference, conventional parallel imaging (SENSE) with acceleration factor 2 was used. Flow curves, net flows, peak flows and peak velocities were extracted from six contours along the aorta. To measure internal data consistency, a quantitative particle trace analysis was performed. Additionally, scan-rescan, inter- and intraobserver reproducibility were assessed. Subsequently, 4D flow CMR with CS factor 6 was acquired in 3 patients with differing aortopathies. The flow patterns resulting from particle trace visualisation were qualitatively analysed. Results All collected data were successfully acquired and reconstructed on-line. The average acquisition time including respiratory navigator efficiency with CS factor 6 was 5:02 ± 2:23 min while reconstruction took approximately 9 min. For CS factors of 8 or less, mean differences in net flow, peak flow and peak velocity as compared to SENSE were below 2.2 ± 7.8 ml/cycle, 4.6 ± 25.2 ml/s and − 7.9 ± 13.0 cm/s, respectively. For a CS factor of 10 differences reached 5.4 ± 8.0 ml/cycle, 14.4 ± 28.3 ml/s and − 4.0 ± 12.2 cm/s. Scan-rescan analysis yielded mean differences in net flow of − 0.7 ± 4.9 ml/cycle for SENSE and − 0.2 ± 8.5 ml/cycle for CS factor of 6. Conclusions A six- to eightfold acceleration of 4D flow CMR using CS is feasible. Up to a CS acceleration rate of 6, no statistically significant differences in measured flow parameters could be observed with respect to the reference technique. Acquisitions in patients with aortopathies confirm the potential to integrate the proposed method in a clinical routine setting, whereby its main benefits are scan-time savings and direct on-line reconstruction.

Numerical Computation and Analysis of Particle Trace Based on Aerodynamic in Heavy Medium Cyclone

The theory, model and algorithm of three products heavy medium cyclone flow field were researched, and the heavy medium cyclone flow field was simulated based on aerodynamic. Through the researches, the numerical discrete algorithm of heavy medium cyclone flow field was deduced, the calculation algorithms of heavy medium cyclone flow field were given, the washed coal particle trace, intermediate coal particle trace, gangue particle trace in three products heavy medium cyclone, and the separation rules based on aerodynamic and flow field characteristics of three products heavy medium cyclone were obtained.

Identifying unstable rock blocks by measuring micro-tremors and vibration on cliffs

It is important to identify unstable rock blocks and take countermeasures to prevent sudden rock fall disasters. However, identifying such blocks visually is extremely difficult, so an identification method using peculiar features of unstable blocks must be developed. The method reported here uses a vibrometer, which is inexpensive and easy to operate. In order to assess the feasibility of the method, a field experiment was carried out on rock cliffs in three regions of Japan where unstable blocks are likely to exist. Vibrometers were set up on the cliffs to capture two types of vibration waves in three dimensions, i.e., micro-tremor and reactive vibration. The former type naturally exists all the time, while the latter is generated only by applying stimulation waves. At least one of the vibrometers was installed on stable baserock to compare the results with the wave patterns of unstable rock blocks. In addition to conventional items (amplitude, frequency spectrum, vibration particle trace), trace accumulation length, that is the accumulation of the trace length of a vibrating particle for ten seconds, was introduced to analyze the patterns for both types of wave. As a result, unstable rock blocks were found to generate higher amplitudes of vibration waves than stable rock blocks, and different patterns of frequency spectrum, direction of vibration particle trace, and trace accumulation length. Hence, vibrators were shown to be useful for identifying unstable rock blocks. In particular, by using trace accumulation length as an indicator, the stability of a block can be evaluated without generating stimulative waves, providing a direction for developing a cost-effective simple method for identifying unstable blocks in future.