A 128-channel receive array with enhanced SNR performance for 10.5 tesla brain imaging.

Purpose: To develop and characterize the performance of a 128-channel head array for brain imaging at 10.5 tesla and evaluate the potential of brain imaging at this unique, >10 tesla magnetic field.

Methods: The coil is composed of a 16-channel self-decoupled loop transmit/receive array with a 112-loop receive-only (Rx) insert.

A 32-Channel Sleeve Antenna Receiver Array for Human Head MRI Applications at 10.5 T.

For human brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), high channel count ( ≥ 32 ) radiofrequency receiver coil arrays are utilized to achieve maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and to accelerate parallel imaging techniques. With ultra-high field (UHF) MRI at 7 tesla (T) and higher, dipole antenna arrays have been shown to generate high SNR in the deep regions of the brain, however the array elements exhibit increased electromagnetic coupling with one another, making array construction more difficult with the increasing number of elements. Compared to a classical dipole antenna array, a sleeve antenna array incorporates the coaxial ground into the feed-point, resulting in a modified asymmetric antenna structure with improved intra-element decoupling.

A Monopole and Dipole Hybrid Antenna Array for Human Brain Imaging at 10.5 Tesla.

In this letter, we evaluate antenna designs for ultra-high frequency and field (UHF) human brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 10.5 tesla (T). Although MRI at such UHF is expected to provide major signal-to-noise gains, the frequency of interest, 447 MHz, presents us with challenges regarding improved B efficiency, image homogeneity, specific absorption rate (SAR), and antenna element decoupling for array configurations.

A nine-channel transmit/receive array for spine imaging at 10.5 T: Introduction to a nonuniform dielectric substrate antenna.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to introduce a new antenna element with improved transmit performance, named the nonuniform dielectric substrate (NODES) antenna, for building transmit arrays at ultrahigh-field.

Methods: We optimized a dipole antenna at 10.5 Tesla by maximizing the -SAR efficiency in a phantom for a human spine target.

Evaluation of 8-Channel Radiative Antenna Arrays for Human Head Imaging at 10.5 Tesla.

For human head magnetic resonance imaging at 10.5 tesla (T), we built an 8-channel transceiver dipole antenna array and evaluated the influence of coaxial feed cables. The influence of coaxial feed cables was evaluated in simulation and compared against a physically constructed array in terms of transmit magnetic field (B) and specific absorption rate (SAR) efficiency.

A self-decoupled 32-channel receive array for human-brain MRI at 10.5 T.

Purpose: Receive array layout, noise mitigation, and B field strength are crucial contributors to SNR and parallel-imaging performance. Here, we investigate SNR and parallel-imaging gains at 10.5 T compared with 7 T using 32-channel receive arrays at both fields.

Design of an Intraoral Dipole Antenna for Dental Applications.

Objective: In dental MRI, intraoral coils provide higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than coils placed outside the mouth. This study aims to design an intraoral dipole antenna and demonstrates the feasibility of combining it with an extraoral coil.

Methods: Dipole antenna design was chosen over loop design, as it is open toward the distal; therefore, it does not restrain tongue movement.

Improving radiofrequency power and specific absorption rate management with bumped transmit elements in ultra-high field MRI.

Purpose: In this study, we investigate a strategy to reduce the local specific absorption rate (SAR) while keeping constant inside the region of interest (ROI) at the ultra-high field (B ≥ 7T) MRI.

Methods: Locally raising the resonance structure under the discontinuity (i.e.

The impact of feeding diets of high or low energy concentration on carcass measurements and the weight of primal and subprimal lean cuts.

Pigs from four sire lines were allocated to a series of low energy (LE, 3.15 to 3.21 Mcal ME/kg) corn-soybean meal-based diets with 16% wheat midds or high energy diets (HE, 3.

Daily feed intake, energy intake, growth rate and measures of dietary energy efficiency of pigs from four sire lines fed diets with high or low metabolizable and net energy concentrations.

i) evaluate the BW growth, energy intakes and energetic efficiency of pigs fed high and low density diets from 27 to 141 kg BW, ii) evaluate sire line and sex differences when fed both diets, and iii) to compare ME to NE as predictor of pig performance. The experiment had a replicated factorial arrangement of treatments including four sire lines, two sexes (2,192 barrows and 2,280 gilts), two dietary energy densities and a light or heavy target BW, 118 and 131.5 kg in replicates 1 to 6 and 127 and 140.

Impact of lactation length and piglet weaning weight on long-term growth and viability of progeny.

A total of 1,034 pigs produced by breeding PIC sows to 2 different PIC terminal sires were used to create 3 distinct weaning weight populations so that postweaning growth to 125 kg could be studied. The rearing strategies resulted in BW that ranged from 4.1 to 11.

Selection for lean growth efficiency in Duroc pigs influences pork quality.

A unique line of Duroc pigs was established by intensive selection for increased lean growth efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of this selection strategy on fresh pork quality traits. Two lines of Duroc pigs originating from the same foundation herd were evaluated.

ARPP-16 mRNA is up-regulated in the longissimus muscle of pigs possessing an elevated growth rate.

Selection for increased growth rate in farm and laboratory animals has been used to develop lines with increased body and muscle weights. However, very little is known about the underlying molecular pathways and how their constitutive genes influence this process. In this study, the differential display-reverse transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR) method was employed to identify longissimus muscle genes that are differentially expressed between a line of pigs selected for increased 200-d weight and a randomly selected control line.

Heterosis losses resulting from incorrect matings in a three-breed rotational crossbreeding system in pigs.

Losses in individual heterosis were estimated using performance records from 11,700 pigs, 959 litters, and 377 pens of pigs from a three-breed rotational crossbreeding system. Three types of rotational crossbred sows were produced using the Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds. Twenty-nine Duroc, 27 Landrace, and 25 Yorkshire boars were mated to 275 sows to produce pigs with theoretical levels of breed heterozygosity of 85.

Maternal treatment with somatotropin alters embryonic development and early postnatal growth of pigs.

A possible management strategy to alter fetal development and enhance sow productivity and progeny performance was examined by maternal administration of porcine somatotropin during early gestation. Eighteen crossbred gilts were bred naturally to boars of similar genetics, and pregnancy was confirmed between Days 21 and 24 of gestation by ultrasound. All animals were allowed ad libitum consumption of a 16% CP gestation diet through Day 21 of gestation and 3.

An experimental comparison of equivalent terminal and rotational crossbreeding systems in swine: pig performance.

Eleven thousand forty-nine pigs produced from 934 litters using 262 rotational and F1 crossbred sows were used to study differences in pig weights, survival rates and pen average daily gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion between pigs from equivalent three-breed rotational and three-breed terminal crossbreeding systems using Duroc, Yorkshire, and Landrace breeds. Pig weights at birth and 21 and 56 d and days to reach 100 kg did not differ (P > .10) between the terminal and rotational crossbreeding systems.

An experimental comparison of equivalent terminal and rotational crossbreeding systems in swine: sow and litter performance.

Two hundred sixty-two rotational and F1 sows were mated to Duroc, Yorkshire, or Landrace boars to study performance differences between equivalent three-breed rotational and three-breed terminal crossbreeding systems. Matings were made to maximize heterosis. The sows were fed either 1.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits to selection for 200-day weight in Landrace pigs.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits from a line of Landrace pigs selected for increased 200-d weight along with a randomly selected control line were studied in 195 litters (109 select, 86 control) and 285 pigs (132 select, 153 control). Reproductive and maternal traits studied included litter sizes born, born alive, and alive at 21 d and litter weights at birth and at 21 d. Carcass traits studied were carcass length, longissimus area, average backfat thickness, 10th-rib backfat thickness, specific gravity, weights of closely trimmed ham, loin, and shoulder, belly weight, subjective scoring of the longissimus muscle for color and marbling, estimated percentage of muscle, and lean growth.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits to selection for 200-day weight in Duroc swine.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits from a line of Duroc pigs selected for increased 200-d weight along with a randomly selected control line were studied in 189 litters (116 select, 73 control) and 191 pigs (106 select, 85 control), respectively. Reproductive and maternal traits studied included litter sizes born, born alive, and alive at 21 d and litter weight at birth and at 21 d. Carcass traits studied were carcass length, longissimus muscle area, average backfat thickness, 10th rib backfat thickness, specific gravity, weights of closely trimmed ham, loin, and shoulder, belly weight, subjective scoring of the longissimus muscle for color and marbling, estimated percentage of muscle and lean gain per day.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits to selection for 70-day weight in Landrace swine.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits were studied in 181 litters and 218 pigs from a line of Landrace pigs selected six generations for increased weight at 70 d of age and a contemporaneous, randomly selected control line. The reproductive and maternal traits studied included litter sizes born, born alive, and alive at 21 d and litter weight at birth and at 21 d. Carcass traits studied were carcass length, longissimus muscle area, average backfat thickness, 10th-rib backfat thickness, specific gravity, weights of closely trimmed ham, loin, and shoulder, belly weight, subjective scoring of the longissimus muscle for color and marbling, estimated percentage of muscle, and lean gain per day.

Effects of mass selection for increased weight at two ages on growth rate and carcass composition of Duroc-Landrace pigs.

Duroc boars from a line previously selected over five generations for 200-d weight and those from a randomly selected control line were mated to Landrace sows either from a line previously selected for increased 70-d weight or from a randomly selected pedigree control line. From these matings, 900 pigs were farrowed to examine the effects of crossing lines of pigs mass selected for weight at two ages on growth rate, survival, and carcass composition. A greater (P less than .