PURPOSE To evaluate the role of short-inversion-time inversion-recovery (STIR) sequences in assessment of brain maturation. METHODS Twenty-seven infants and young children with normal neurologic development were examined by 1.5-T MR using a circularly polarized head coil. Axial T1-weighted and T2-weighted and spin-echo and STIR images were obtained. Signal intensity of different anatomic stru...

Euphorbia kansui is a Traditional Chinese Medicine widely used for the treatment of oedema, ascites and asthma. However, its serious hepatotoxicity hinders its safe clinical application. The process of stir-baking with vinegar is regularly used to reduce the toxicity of kansui. Up till now, the exact mechanism of the reduction in hepatotoxicity of kansui stir-baked with vinegar has been poorly ...

In order to directly monitor neutrophil aggregation, we have developed a simple particle counting technique using flow cytometry. Flow times were used to determine aggregation from changes in the total number of particles per unit volume (%PA(T)), while fluorescent signals emitted from glutaraldehyde-fixed neutrophils were used to measure changes in the total number of singlet neutrophils (%PA(...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Determining the diagnostic accuracy of different MR sequences is essential to design MR imaging protocols. The purpose of the study was to compare 3T sagittal FSE T2, STIR, and T1-weighted phase-sensitive inversion recovery in the detection of spinal cord lesions in patients with suspected or definite MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of 38...

This thesis presents a process planning methodology for a rapid injection mold tool manufacturing system that involves additive and subtractive techniques, whereby slabs are sequentially bonded and milled using layered tool paths. Mold tools are grown in a bottom up fashion, eliminating the need for multi-axis machining operations (beyond three axes) and allowing small features in deep cavities...

Previously, we reported a micro magnetic stir-bar mixer driven by an external rotating magnetic field and its rapid mixing performance in polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) channels. The PDMS piece with embedded fluid channels were manually aligned to a glass substrate and assembled. In this paper, we report the fabrication and testing results of a micro magnetic stir-bar monolithically integrated in...

The shear textures that develop in friction stir welds are reviewed and discussed. In all the materials examined, including face centred cubic (fcc), body centred cubic (bcc) and hexagonal close-packed (hcp) materials, friction stir welding produces a predominant shear texture with the close-packed directions aligned with the shear direction (SD) and the close-packed plane normal perpendicular ...

A novel stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) procedure termed sequential SBSE was developed. Compared to conventional SBSE, sequential SBSE provides more uniform enrichment over the entire polarity/volatility range for organic pollutants at ultra-trace levels in water. Sequential SBSE consists of a SBSE performed sequentially on a 5-mL sample fi rst without modifi er using one stir bar, then on ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The STIR sequence is routinely used to assess acute traumatic osseous injury. Because the composition of the odontoid in older individuals may be altered with osteopenia and decreased vascularity, the STIR sequence may not accurately depict the acuity of an odontoid fracture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the STIR sequence to differentiate a...

–Friction stir welding is a solid state welding technology used for welding low melting point metals, such as Al, Mg and its alloys. Later welding was conducted on dissimilar metals which also produced a better defect free joint. Tool design and welding parameters contributes a major role for producing a better weld. Material flow and friction heat are the factors that the internal factor for t...