Experimental studies have shown that solutes diffuse more slowly into degenerated intervertebral ... more Experimental studies have shown that solutes diffuse more slowly into degenerated intervertebral disks than into normal disks. A noninvasive clinical study of diffusion in intervertebral disks is not generally available. Our purpose was to evaluate contrast-enhanced MR images to study diffusion in normal and degenerated lumbar intervertebral disks. The change in signal intensity (as a proportion of baseline signal intensity) was calculated in lumbar intervertebral disks on MR images obtained before and after injection of intravenous contrast medium in 15 patients with low back pain. The intervertebral disks were classified as normal or degenerated on the basis of the MR appearance. Postoperative disks and degenerative intervertebral disks with a "high-intensity zone" were excluded. The changes in signal intensity as a proportion of baseline signal intensity were compared in degenerated disks and normal disks and the differences tested for statistical significance. After intravenous administration of a gadolinium complex, signal intensity in normal intervertebral disks increased an average of 36% of baseline. In intervertebral disks with signs of degeneration, it increased an average of 21% of baseline. The difference was significant. The study shows that diffusion into normal human lumbar intervertebral disks can be evaluated with MR imaging combined with intravenous contrast medium. With suitable MR techniques, the relationship between diffusion and disk degeneration, and the effect of trauma, drugs, and nutrition on disk degeneration can be studied noninvasively.
This research work focuses on optimal design of a disc-type magneto-rheological (MR) brake that c... more This research work focuses on optimal design of a disc-type magneto-rheological (MR) brake that can replace a conventional hydraulic brake (CHB) of middle-sized motorcycles. Firstly, a MR brake configuration is proposed considering the available space and the simplicity to replace a CHB by the proposed MR brake. An optimal design of the proposed MR brake is then performed considering the required braking torque, operating temperature, mass and size of the brake. In order to perform the optimization of the brake, the braking torque of the brake is analyzed based on Herschel-Bulkley rheological model of MR fluid. The constrain on operating temperature of the MR brake is determined by considering the steady temperature of the brake when the motorcycle is cruising and the temperature increase during a braking process. An optimization procedure based on finite element analysis integrated with an optimization tool is employed to obtain optimal geometric dimensions of the MR brake. Optimal solution of the MR brake is then presented and simulated performance of the optimized brake is shown with remarkable discussions.
Structural, magnetic, magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance (MR) studies on La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.95Cu0.05... more Structural, magnetic, magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance (MR) studies on La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.95Cu0.05O3 (No. 1) and La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.9Cu0.1O3 (No. 2) perovskites are reported. The crystal structure of the samples is rhombohedral with a change of the lattice constants depending on the Cu content. FC and ZFC thermomagnetic measurements for both compositions at low field indicate that a spin-glass-like state (or cluster glass) occurs at low temperatures and a very sharp change of magnetization around the phase-transition point. The Curie temperature, TC, does almost not depend on the content of Cu substitution. A maximum magnetic-entropy change, ΔSmax, of 1.96 and 2.07J/kgK at 13.5kOe and 350K is observed for sample No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Therefore, they can be considered as active magnetic refrigerant materials for room-temperature applications. Electrical-resistance measurements show that both samples are metallic conductor for T<TC and semiconductor for T>TC moreover, the MR is maximal around TC.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Biochemical studies of seizures in patients and laboratory animals have m... more BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Biochemical studies of seizures in patients and laboratory animals have monitored postictal perturbations in cerebral metabolism with either invasive techniques or with such noninvasive techniques as nuclear medicine, MR imaging, in vivo phosphorus MR spectroscopy (MRS), and in vivo proton MRS at field strengths of 1.5 T or above. We investigated postictal metabolic changes in a generalized seizure model with in vivo proton MRS at 0.5 T, in which the combination of glutamate and glutamine resonances (denoted glx) can be modeled as a singlet. METHODS: Five adult mongrel dogs underwent control and postictal experiments in which single-voxel proton MR spectra were obtained from the right frontal lobe cortex with a pointresolved spectroscopy technique approximately every 20 minutes for 3 hours. N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glx, and creatine (Cr) were quantified in absolute millimolar units with a cerebral water-referenced algorithm. Inter-and intrasubject differences in mean metabolite concentrations collected throughout the 3-hour period were compared using an unpaired, two-tailed Student's t test at a .05 level of significance. RESULTS: We found a significant increase (15.4%) in the postictal intersubject mean glx concentration, as well as a 23.7% postictal decrease in the intersubject mean Cr concentration. A trend toward a subtle decrease in postictal intersubject mean NAA concentration was not statistically significant. We also observed a substantial qualitative increase in the combination of postictal lactate and free fatty acid peaks. CONCLUSIONS: The glx, NAA, lactate, and free fatty acid results are in general agreement with previous studies of postictal perturbations in cerebral metabolism measured with invasive biochemical or noninvasive high-field-strength in vivo MRS detection assays. Given a high sensitivity for glx at 0.5 T relative to 1.5 T, further studies of postictal mesial temporal lobe structures are warranted in chronic animal preparations that model temporal lobe epilepsy.
Several studies have been undertaken to validate quantitative methods of evaluating cervical spin... more Several studies have been undertaken to validate quantitative methods of evaluating cervical spinal stenosis. This study was performed to assess the degree of interobserver and intraobserver agreement in the qualitative evaluation of cervical spinal stenosis on CT myelograms and MR images.
The Cu2MnAl alloy was prepared by rapidly quenched (suction-casting and melt-spinning) methods wi... more The Cu2MnAl alloy was prepared by rapidly quenched (suction-casting and melt-spinning) methods with various thicknesses of 20, 40 and 1000 μm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the fabricated samples show a single phase of Cu2MnAl. All the samples reveal soft magnetic behavior with coercivity below 1.6 kA/m and Curie temperature of about 600 K. Resistance of the alloy behaves as a linear function of applied magnetic field. Magnetoresistance (MR) ratio depends on the thickness of the samples and achieves ˜0.8% at the field of 240 kA/m for the sample with thickness of 20 μm. The variation of the properties of the alloy can be interpreted by the difference of energy band structure caused by defects in the alloy.
This work presents an optimal solution of a new type of motorcycle brake featuring different smar... more This work presents an optimal solution of a new type of motorcycle brake featuring different smart magnetorheological (MR) fluids. In this study, typical types of commercial MR fluid are considered there for the design of a motorcycle MR brake; MRF-122-2ED (low yield stress), MRF-132-DG (medium yield stress) and MRF-140-CG (high yield stress). As a first step, a new configuration featuring a T-shaped drum MR brake is introduced and a hybrid concept of magnetic circuit (using both axial and radial magnetic flux) to generate braking force is analyzed based on the finite element method. An optimal design of the MR brake considering the required braking torque, the temperature due to friction of the MR fluid, the mass of the brake system and all significant geometric dimensions is then performed. For the optimization, the finite element analysis (FEA) is used to achieve principal geometric dimensions of the MR brake. In addition, the size, mass and power consumption of three different MR motorcycle brakes are quantitatively analyzed and compared.
We report an unexpected difference in behavior of the CPP-MRs of double exchange-biased spin-valv... more We report an unexpected difference in behavior of the CPP-MRs of double exchange-biased spin-valves, involving Permalloy (Py), Co, and Cu, when the Co layer is thin (t Co 20 nm) or thick (t Co 50 nm). Following Hehn et al., we attribute this difference to a change in direction of magnetization of the Co with increasing t Co , with the magnetization lying in-plane for thin Co layers (t Co 20 nm), but tilting partially out of plane for thick Co layers (t Co 50 nm) by adopting a multidomain structure containing equal areas of "up" and "down" domains. If our attribution is correct, this is the first example of a qualitative change in giant magnetoresistance due to a change in Co structure from mainly fcc to mainly hcp.
Spin valve Ni0.85Co0.15O/Co85Fe15/Cu/Co85Fe15 was manufactured by a RF magnetron sputtering syste... more Spin valve Ni0.85Co0.15O/Co85Fe15/Cu/Co85Fe15 was manufactured by a RF magnetron sputtering system. M(H) and R(H) characteristics of the spin valve were measured in CIP configuration at room temperature has a magnetoresistance ratio of about 8% and a high exchange bias at room temperature. The current density and angle between the applied magnetic field and injection current were changed in an aim to observe their effects on MR and exchange bias of the spin valve. The current density and angle strongly affect MR and exchange bias. Both MR and exchange bias clearly decrease in dependence of the current density and direction of the magnetic field. It is supposed to be related with a current-induced spin torque in device.
Experimental studies have shown that solutes diffuse more slowly into degenerated intervertebral ... more Experimental studies have shown that solutes diffuse more slowly into degenerated intervertebral disks than into normal disks. A noninvasive clinical study of diffusion in intervertebral disks is not generally available. Our purpose was to evaluate contrast-enhanced MR images to study diffusion in normal and degenerated lumbar intervertebral disks. The change in signal intensity (as a proportion of baseline signal intensity) was calculated in lumbar intervertebral disks on MR images obtained before and after injection of intravenous contrast medium in 15 patients with low back pain. The intervertebral disks were classified as normal or degenerated on the basis of the MR appearance. Postoperative disks and degenerative intervertebral disks with a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;high-intensity zone&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; were excluded. The changes in signal intensity as a proportion of baseline signal intensity were compared in degenerated disks and normal disks and the differences tested for statistical significance. After intravenous administration of a gadolinium complex, signal intensity in normal intervertebral disks increased an average of 36% of baseline. In intervertebral disks with signs of degeneration, it increased an average of 21% of baseline. The difference was significant. The study shows that diffusion into normal human lumbar intervertebral disks can be evaluated with MR imaging combined with intravenous contrast medium. With suitable MR techniques, the relationship between diffusion and disk degeneration, and the effect of trauma, drugs, and nutrition on disk degeneration can be studied noninvasively.
This research work focuses on optimal design of a disc-type magneto-rheological (MR) brake that c... more This research work focuses on optimal design of a disc-type magneto-rheological (MR) brake that can replace a conventional hydraulic brake (CHB) of middle-sized motorcycles. Firstly, a MR brake configuration is proposed considering the available space and the simplicity to replace a CHB by the proposed MR brake. An optimal design of the proposed MR brake is then performed considering the required braking torque, operating temperature, mass and size of the brake. In order to perform the optimization of the brake, the braking torque of the brake is analyzed based on Herschel-Bulkley rheological model of MR fluid. The constrain on operating temperature of the MR brake is determined by considering the steady temperature of the brake when the motorcycle is cruising and the temperature increase during a braking process. An optimization procedure based on finite element analysis integrated with an optimization tool is employed to obtain optimal geometric dimensions of the MR brake. Optimal solution of the MR brake is then presented and simulated performance of the optimized brake is shown with remarkable discussions.
Structural, magnetic, magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance (MR) studies on La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.95Cu0.05... more Structural, magnetic, magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance (MR) studies on La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.95Cu0.05O3 (No. 1) and La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.9Cu0.1O3 (No. 2) perovskites are reported. The crystal structure of the samples is rhombohedral with a change of the lattice constants depending on the Cu content. FC and ZFC thermomagnetic measurements for both compositions at low field indicate that a spin-glass-like state (or cluster glass) occurs at low temperatures and a very sharp change of magnetization around the phase-transition point. The Curie temperature, TC, does almost not depend on the content of Cu substitution. A maximum magnetic-entropy change, ΔSmax, of 1.96 and 2.07J/kgK at 13.5kOe and 350K is observed for sample No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Therefore, they can be considered as active magnetic refrigerant materials for room-temperature applications. Electrical-resistance measurements show that both samples are metallic conductor for T<TC and semiconductor for T>TC moreover, the MR is maximal around TC.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Biochemical studies of seizures in patients and laboratory animals have m... more BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Biochemical studies of seizures in patients and laboratory animals have monitored postictal perturbations in cerebral metabolism with either invasive techniques or with such noninvasive techniques as nuclear medicine, MR imaging, in vivo phosphorus MR spectroscopy (MRS), and in vivo proton MRS at field strengths of 1.5 T or above. We investigated postictal metabolic changes in a generalized seizure model with in vivo proton MRS at 0.5 T, in which the combination of glutamate and glutamine resonances (denoted glx) can be modeled as a singlet. METHODS: Five adult mongrel dogs underwent control and postictal experiments in which single-voxel proton MR spectra were obtained from the right frontal lobe cortex with a pointresolved spectroscopy technique approximately every 20 minutes for 3 hours. N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glx, and creatine (Cr) were quantified in absolute millimolar units with a cerebral water-referenced algorithm. Inter-and intrasubject differences in mean metabolite concentrations collected throughout the 3-hour period were compared using an unpaired, two-tailed Student's t test at a .05 level of significance. RESULTS: We found a significant increase (15.4%) in the postictal intersubject mean glx concentration, as well as a 23.7% postictal decrease in the intersubject mean Cr concentration. A trend toward a subtle decrease in postictal intersubject mean NAA concentration was not statistically significant. We also observed a substantial qualitative increase in the combination of postictal lactate and free fatty acid peaks. CONCLUSIONS: The glx, NAA, lactate, and free fatty acid results are in general agreement with previous studies of postictal perturbations in cerebral metabolism measured with invasive biochemical or noninvasive high-field-strength in vivo MRS detection assays. Given a high sensitivity for glx at 0.5 T relative to 1.5 T, further studies of postictal mesial temporal lobe structures are warranted in chronic animal preparations that model temporal lobe epilepsy.
Several studies have been undertaken to validate quantitative methods of evaluating cervical spin... more Several studies have been undertaken to validate quantitative methods of evaluating cervical spinal stenosis. This study was performed to assess the degree of interobserver and intraobserver agreement in the qualitative evaluation of cervical spinal stenosis on CT myelograms and MR images.
The Cu2MnAl alloy was prepared by rapidly quenched (suction-casting and melt-spinning) methods wi... more The Cu2MnAl alloy was prepared by rapidly quenched (suction-casting and melt-spinning) methods with various thicknesses of 20, 40 and 1000 μm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the fabricated samples show a single phase of Cu2MnAl. All the samples reveal soft magnetic behavior with coercivity below 1.6 kA/m and Curie temperature of about 600 K. Resistance of the alloy behaves as a linear function of applied magnetic field. Magnetoresistance (MR) ratio depends on the thickness of the samples and achieves ˜0.8% at the field of 240 kA/m for the sample with thickness of 20 μm. The variation of the properties of the alloy can be interpreted by the difference of energy band structure caused by defects in the alloy.
This work presents an optimal solution of a new type of motorcycle brake featuring different smar... more This work presents an optimal solution of a new type of motorcycle brake featuring different smart magnetorheological (MR) fluids. In this study, typical types of commercial MR fluid are considered there for the design of a motorcycle MR brake; MRF-122-2ED (low yield stress), MRF-132-DG (medium yield stress) and MRF-140-CG (high yield stress). As a first step, a new configuration featuring a T-shaped drum MR brake is introduced and a hybrid concept of magnetic circuit (using both axial and radial magnetic flux) to generate braking force is analyzed based on the finite element method. An optimal design of the MR brake considering the required braking torque, the temperature due to friction of the MR fluid, the mass of the brake system and all significant geometric dimensions is then performed. For the optimization, the finite element analysis (FEA) is used to achieve principal geometric dimensions of the MR brake. In addition, the size, mass and power consumption of three different MR motorcycle brakes are quantitatively analyzed and compared.
We report an unexpected difference in behavior of the CPP-MRs of double exchange-biased spin-valv... more We report an unexpected difference in behavior of the CPP-MRs of double exchange-biased spin-valves, involving Permalloy (Py), Co, and Cu, when the Co layer is thin (t Co 20 nm) or thick (t Co 50 nm). Following Hehn et al., we attribute this difference to a change in direction of magnetization of the Co with increasing t Co , with the magnetization lying in-plane for thin Co layers (t Co 20 nm), but tilting partially out of plane for thick Co layers (t Co 50 nm) by adopting a multidomain structure containing equal areas of "up" and "down" domains. If our attribution is correct, this is the first example of a qualitative change in giant magnetoresistance due to a change in Co structure from mainly fcc to mainly hcp.
Spin valve Ni0.85Co0.15O/Co85Fe15/Cu/Co85Fe15 was manufactured by a RF magnetron sputtering syste... more Spin valve Ni0.85Co0.15O/Co85Fe15/Cu/Co85Fe15 was manufactured by a RF magnetron sputtering system. M(H) and R(H) characteristics of the spin valve were measured in CIP configuration at room temperature has a magnetoresistance ratio of about 8% and a high exchange bias at room temperature. The current density and angle between the applied magnetic field and injection current were changed in an aim to observe their effects on MR and exchange bias of the spin valve. The current density and angle strongly affect MR and exchange bias. Both MR and exchange bias clearly decrease in dependence of the current density and direction of the magnetic field. It is supposed to be related with a current-induced spin torque in device.
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