Knee MRI under varying flexion angles utilizing a flexible flat cable antenna.

The aim of this study is to fabricate and test a novel flexible flat cable antenna (FFCA) for MRI of the knee at different flexion angles. The FFCA was made of a flat cable, a tuning/matching circuit and a signal transmission line. To test its feasibility and validity, in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out on a 3.0 T MR scanner. The in vitro experiment suggested that the proposed FFCA could achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 336, while the SNR of an eight-channel knee coil was 291, and phantom images from the FFCA are homogeneously distributed. In the in vivo experiment, the FFCA had a higher SNR of 169 in the region of interest and more than 48.5 cm of longitudinal coverage, while the corresponding values for the commercial coil were 153 and 22.5 cm. Finally, five sagittal knee images at different flexion angles were acquired. The FFCA could acquire satisfactory knee images at different flexion angles, with the advantages of simplicity, low cost, large field of view and high SNR. It may therefore be further used to improve MR image quality of the knee joint.

Bridging papermaking and hydrogel production: Nanoparticle-loaded cellulosic hollow fibers with pitted walls as skeleton materials for multifunctional electromagnetic hydrogels.

Electromagnetic hydrogels have attracted significant attention due to their vast potential in soft robotics, biomedical engineering, and energy harvesting. To facilitate future commercialization via large-scale industrial processes, we present a facile concept that utilizes the specialized knowledge of papermaking to fabricate hydrogels with multifunctional electromagnetic properties. The principles of papermaking wet end chemistry, which involves the handling of interactions among cellulosic fibers, fines, polymeric additives, and other components in aqueous systems, serves as a key foundation for this concept. Notably, based on these principles, the versatile use of chemical additives in combination with cellulosic materials enables the tailored design of various products. Our methodology exploits the unique hierarchically pitted and hollow tube-like structures of papermaking grade cellulosic fibers with discernible pits, enabling the incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles through lumen loading. By combining microscale softwood-derived cellulosic fibers with additives, we achieve dynamic covalent interactions that transform the cellulosic fiber slurry into an impressive hydrogel. The cellulosic fibers act as a skeleton, providing structural support within the hydrogel framework and facilitating the dispersion of nanoparticles. In accordance with our concept, the typical hydrogel exhibits combined attributes, including electrical conductivity, self-healing properties, pH responsiveness, and dynamic rheologic behavior. Our approach not only yields hydrogels with interesting properties but also aligns with the forefront of advanced cellulosic material applications. These materials hold the promise in remote strain sensing devices, electromagnetic navigation systems, contactless toys, and flexible electronic devices. The concept and findings of the current work may shed light on materials innovation based on traditional pulp and paper processes. Furthermore, the facile processes involved in hydrogel formation can serve as valuable tools for chemistry and materials education, providing easy demonstrations of principles for university students at different levels.

Optimization of High-Density Fermentation Conditions for Saccharomycopsis fibuligera Y1402 through Response Surface Analysis.

Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, which produces enzymes like amylase and protease as well as flavor substances like ß-phenyl ethanol and phenyl acetate, plays a crucial role in traditional fermented foods. However, this strain still lacks a high-density fermentation culture, which has had an impact on the strain's industrial application process. Therefore, this study investigated the optimization of medium ingredients and fermentation conditions for high-density fermentation of S. fibuligera Y1402 through single-factor design, Plackett-Burman design, steepest ascent test, and response surface analysis. The study found that glucose at 360.61 g/L, peptone at 50 g/L, yeast extract at 14.65 g/L, KH2PO4 at 5.49 g/L, MgSO4 at 0.40 g/L, and CuSO4 at 0.01 g/L were the best medium ingredients for S. fibuligera Y1402. Under these conditions, after three days of fermentation, the total colony count reached 1.79 × 108 CFU/mL. The optimal fermentation conditions were determined to be an initial pH of 6.0, an inoculum size of 1.10%, a liquid volume of 12.5 mL/250 mL, a rotation speed of 120 r/min, a fermentation temperature of 21 °C and a fermentation time of 53.50 h. When fermentation was conducted using the optimized medium and conditions, the total colony count achieved a remarkable value of 5.50 × 109 CFU/mL, exhibiting a substantial increase of nearly 31 times the original value in the optimal culture medium. This significant advancement offers valuable insights and a reference for the industrial-scale production of S. fibuligera.

[Feasibility of using intravascular loopless monopole antenna to image atherosclerotic plaque in a porcine model with 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of using intravascular loopless monopole antenna (ILMA) to image atherosclerosis plaque in a porcine model with 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Atherosclerosis model was established by feeding high fat diet combined with balloon catheter injury to the endothelium in 6 pigs. After 3 months, animals underwent MRI and ILMA examination. The ILMA was invasively inserted to the distal part of abdominal vein and bilateral common iliac veins. MR sequences including T1 weighted imaging (T1WI), T2WI were obtained. MR image data were transferred to post-processing station. Luminal border and external elastic membrane of the vessel were reconstructed based on the MR images. After co-register these images, vessel area, lumen area, vessel wall area and plaque burden in the same lesions imaged by different modality were calculated and compared. Finally, all animals were scarified and hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining was performed in the targeted vessels. Diagnostic accuracy of MR in delineating vessel wall and detecting plaque were analyzed and calculated by comparing with pathological results. RESULTS: The atherosclerotic model was successfully established in all 6 pigs. Good agreement of delineating vessel area, lumen area vessel, wall area and plaque burden were found between MRI and pathology with r value of 0.98, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with pathological findings, the plaque component in corresponding area imaged by MR was as follows: sensitivity and specificity of detecting lipid plaque were 77% and 69%, kappa value was 0.75 ± 0.19 (P < 0.01); sensitivity and specificity on detecting fibrotic plaque were 78% and 73%, Κ value was 0.78 ± 0.18 (P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of detecting calcified plaque were 100%. ILMA results showed that the average lumen area was 49.72 mm(2), average vessel area was 124.08 mm(2), and the average vessel wall area was 74.37 mm(2), ILMA slightly overestimated these indexes as compared with pathological results. CONCLUSION: The results showed that ILMA could be used to image deepened artery and atherosclerotic plaque. Detected plaque size, vessel area, lumen area vessel, wall area, and plaque burden were comparable to pathological findings. It may thus provide an alternative method for detecting atherosclerotic plaque in future research work.

Anti-Aging Effect of Agrocybe aegerita Polysaccharide through Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota.

Polysaccharides extracted from Agrocybe aegerita (AAPS) have various physiological effects. In this study, we used the naturally aging Drosophila melanogaster and D-galactose-induced aging mice as animal models to study the anti-aging effects of AAPS via the alleviation of oxidative stress and regulation of gut microbiota. Results showed that AAPS could significantly prolong lifespan and alleviate oxidative stress induced by H2O2 of Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, AAPS significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster and mice, and reduced the content of MDA. Furthermore, AAPS reshaped the disordered intestinal flora, increased the abundance ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus. Our results demonstrated that AAPS had good antioxidant and potential anti-aging effects in vivo.

An intravascular loopless monopole antenna for vessel wall MR imaging at 3.0 T.

The purpose of this study was to develop a novel intravascular loopless monopole antenna (ILMA) design specifically for imaging of small vessel walls. The ILMA consisted of an unshielded, low-friction guide wire and a tuning/matching box. The material of the guide wire was nitinol and it was coated with polyurethane. Because the guide wire was unshielded, it could be made thinner than the coaxial cable-based loopless intravascular antenna design. The material of the box was aluminum. In this study, the diameter of the guide wire was 0.5 mm and the length was 58.7 mm. The ILMA was used as a receiving antenna and body coil for transmission. To verify the feasibility of the ILMA, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed on a 3.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. In vitro tests using the ILMA indicated that the proposed design could be used to image target vessel walls with a spatial resolution of 313 µm at the frequency coding direction and more than 100 mm of longitudinal coverage. In vivo tests demonstrated that the images showed the vessel walls clearly by using the ILMA and also indicated that the ILMA could be used for small vessels. The proposed antenna may therefore be utilized to promote MR-based diagnoses and therapeutic solutions for cardiovascular atherosclerotic diseases.