monitoring of mechanochemical MOF formation by NMR relaxation time correlation.

In this paper, we present a new approach to monitoring mechanochemical transformations, based on a magnetic resonance (MR) method in which relaxation time correlation maps are used to track the formation of the popular metal-organic framework (MOF) materials Zn-MOF-74 and ZIF-8. The two-dimensional (2D) relaxation correlation measurement employed yields a spectrum which visually and analytically identifies different H environments in the sample of interest. The measurement is well-suited to analyzing solid mixtures, and liquids, in complex systems.

The Global Characterisation of a Drug-Dendrimer Conjugate - PEGylated poly-lysine Dendrimer.

The recent emergence of drug-dendrimer conjugates within pharmaceutical industry research and development introduces a range of challenges for analytical and measurement science. These molecules are very high molecular weight (100-200kDa) with a significant degree of structural complexity. The characteristics and quality attributes that require understanding and definition, and impact efficacy and safety, are diverse.

Magnetic resonance T-T* and T-T* relaxation correlation measurements in solid-like materials with non-exponential decays.

Magnetic resonance T-T* relaxation correlation is a newly emerging and powerful tool to study the structure and dynamics of materials. However, the T-T* of solid-like materials may consist of a linear combination of exponential decays and non-exponential decays, and the traditional methods for processing T-T data would be not applicable. In this paper, a method of processing T-T* data with non-exponential decays was proposed.

T-T* relaxation correlation measurements.

The majority of low field Magnetic Resonance (MR) analyses rely on T lifetime measurements. Modification of the T measurement to include a T dimension has made the T-T measurement a very powerful analytical technique. The T-T measurement is uniquely well suited to characterization of different spin populations in porous materials, such as fluid bearing reservoir rocks, and in soft biopolymer materials, for example foods.

A parallel-plate RF probe and battery cartridge for Li ion battery studies.

A new parallel-plate resonator for Li ion cell studies is introduced along with a removable cartridge-like electrochemical cell for lithium ion battery studies. This geometry separates the RF probe from the electrochemical cell permitting charge/discharge of the cell outside the magnet and introduces the possibility of multiplexing samples under test. The new cell has a geometry that is similar to that of a real battery, unlike the majority of cells employed for MR/MRI studies to this point.

MRI monitoring of sea spray freezing.

Sea spray icing is a common hazard for vessels and offshore structures in cold climates. In this paper, quantitative 3D MRI and T - T mapping of the formation of sea spray ice were performed. Three different freezing regimes were employed.

Controlling susceptibility mismatch effects, signal lifetimes, and SNR through variation of B in MRI of rock core plugs.

H relaxometry measurements of petroleum core plugs are commonly performed on low field magnets (<0.5 Tesla) to reduce the influence of magnetic susceptibility mismatch on measurements of the spin-spin relaxation time, T. The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the MR signal, however, generally decreases with lower magnetic fields.

Hysterectomy in Ontario: A Population-Based Study of Outcomes and Complications in Minimally Invasive Compared with Abdominal Approaches.

Objective: As quality-based procedures (QBPs) are being established across the province of Ontario, it is important to identify reliable quality indicators (QIs) to ensure that compensation coincides with quality. Hysterectomy is the most commonly performed gynaecologic procedure and as such is a care process for which a QBP is being developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technicity index (TI) as a QI for hysterectomy by defining it in the context of specific surgical outcomes and complications.

Association between method of pelvic organ prolapse repair involving the vaginal apex and re-operation: a population-based, retrospective cohort study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Vaginal apical suspension is essential for the surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We aim to evaluate whether the method of apical repair is associated with different re-operation rates for POP recurrence or surgical complications.

Methods: Population-based, retrospective cohort study of all Ontario women receiving primary apical POP repairs from 2003 to 2015.

Local T-T distribution measurements in porous media.

A novel slice-selective T-T measurement is proposed to measure spatially resolved T-T distributions. An adiabatic inversion pulse is employed for slice-selection. The slice-selective pulse is able to select a quasi-rectangular slice, on the order of 1 mm, at an arbitrary position within the sample.

Local diffusion and diffusion-T distribution measurements in porous media.

Slice-selective pulsed field gradient (PFG) and PFG-T measurements are developed to measure spatially-resolved molecular diffusion and diffusion-T distributions. A spatially selective adiabatic inversion pulse was employed for slice-selection. The slice-selective pulse is able to select a coarse slice, on the order of 1cm, at an arbitrary position in the sample.

Mapping three-dimensional oil distribution with π-EPI MRI measurements at low magnetic field.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a robust tool to image oil saturation distribution in rock cores during oil displacement processes. However, a lengthy measurement time for 3D measurements at low magnetic field can hinder monitoring the displacement. 1D and 2D MRI measurements are instead often undertaken to monitor the oil displacement since they are faster.

Retrieval and Mapping of Soil Texture Based on Land Surface Diurnal Temperature Range Data from MODIS.

Numerous studies have investigated the direct retrieval of soil properties, including soil texture, using remotely sensed images. However, few have considered how soil properties influence dynamic changes in remote images or how soil processes affect the characteristics of the spectrum. This study investigated a new method for mapping regional soil texture based on the hypothesis that the rate of change of land surface temperature is related to soil texture, given the assumption of similar starting soil moisture conditions.

The effect of pelvic factures on future stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic fractures in women significantly disrupt the pelvic floor, which may cause stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Our objective was to assess the incidence of operative treatment for SUI and POP after pelvic fracture.

Methods: We used administrative data from Ontario, Canada, to conduct a retrospective cohort study.

B(1) mapping with a pure phase encode approach: quantitative density profiling.

In MRI, it is frequently observed that naturally uniform samples do not have uniform image intensities. In many cases this non-uniform image intensity is due to an inhomogeneous B1 field. The 'principle of reciprocity' states that the received signal is proportional to the local magnitude of the applied B1 field per unit current.

Building capacity to reduce disparities in diabetes: training community health workers using an integrated distance learning model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether an innovative interactive distance training program is an effective modality to train community health workers (CHWs) to become members of the diabetes health care team. The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has developed a rigorous diabetes training program for CHWs involving both distance and hands-on learning as part of Project ECHO™ (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes).

Methods: Twenty-three diverse CHW participants from across New Mexico were enrolled in the first training session.

High pressure magnetic resonance imaging with metallic vessels.

High pressure measurements in most scientific fields rely on metal vessels given the superior tensile strength of metals. We introduce high pressure magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements with metallic vessels. The developed MRI compatible metallic pressure vessel concept is very general in application.

Spatial and temporal mapping of water content across Nafion membranes under wetting and drying conditions.

Water transport and water management are fundamental to polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell operation. Accurate measurements of water content within and across the Nafion layer are required to elucidate water transport behavior and validate existing numerical models. We report here a direct measurement of water content profiles across a Nafion layer under wetting and drying conditions, using a novel magnetic resonance imaging methodology developed for this purpose.

Quantitative discrimination of water and hydrocarbons in porous media by magnetization prepared centric-scan SPRITE.

MRI has considerable potential as a non-destructive probe of porous media, offering the possibility of rapid quantification of local oil and water content. This potential has not yet, however, been completely realized. In this paper, we explore a general magnetization preparation approach to the discrimination of water and oil in a model, representative, porous medium.

Shoulder muscle EMG activity during push up variations on and off a Swiss ball.

Background: Surface instability is a common addition to traditional rehabilitation and strength exercises with the aim of increasing muscle activity, increasing exercise difficulty and improving joint proprioception. The aim of the current study was to determine if performing upper body closed kinetic chain exercises on a labile surface (Swiss ball) influences myoelectric amplitude when compared with a stable surface.

Methods: Thirteen males were recruited from a convenience sample of college students.

Phantom materials for single point imaging pulse sequences.

The popularity of pure phase encode MRI techniques, including single point imaging (SPI), is steadily increasing, particularly in instances where the samples of interest are solid-like, or for other reasons possess short effective transverse relaxation times, T2*. As the interest in these techniques grows, so too does the need for a phantom material which is representative of this class of samples. The characteristics of such a phantom should include chemical and physical stability, straightforward preparation, high signal to noise ratio and relaxation times which are both easily manipulated and representative.

Direct detection of hydrocarbon displacement in a model porous soil with magnetic resonance imaging.

The direct detection of hydrocarbon fluid and the discrimination of water through carbon-13 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be a significant advance in many scientific fields including food, petrogeological, and environmental sciences. Carbon-13 MRI is a noninvasive analytical technique that has great potential for direct detection of hydrocarbons. However, the low natural abundance of carbon-13, low gyromagnetic ratio, and generically short transverse signal lifetimes in realistic porous media all conspire to hinder carbon-13 MRI.

Centric scan SPRITE magnetic resonance imaging: optimization of SNR, resolution, and relaxation time mapping.

Two strategies for the optimization of centric scan SPRITE (single point ramped imaging with T1 enhancement) magnetic resonance imaging techniques are presented. Point spread functions (PSF) for the centric scan SPRITE methodologies are numerically simulated, and the blurring manifested in a centric scan SPRITE image through PSF convolution is characterized. Optimal choices of imaging parameters and k-space sampling scheme are predicted to obtain maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while maintaining acceptable image resolution.