Advances in pultiple-pulse radio-frequency-gradient imaging of solids

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the premier tool for the non-destructive evaluation of soft tissue in living systems [1]. Established liquid-state MRI strategies are generally found to be inappropriate for the imaging of rigid solids, because the linewidth for nuclear magnetic resonance in solids is orders-of-magnitude larger than in liquids. Methods currently under development for the NMR imaging of solids either involve the use of very large (fringe-field) magnetic field gradients to encode spatial information over very short periods of time [2], or employ multiple-pulse line-narrowing techniques that prolong a solid’s apparent transverse relaxation time [3–7]. In the latter methods, the magnetic field gradients may be much weaker, but must generally be pulsed synchronously with the line-narrowing sequence. The benefits of implementing this are improved sensitivity and spectroscopic resolution

ParaVR: A Virtual Reality Training Simulator for Paramedic Skills maintenance

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Paramedic Practice, copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://www.paramedicpractice.com/features/article/paravr-a-virtual-reality-training-simulator-for-paramedic-skills-maintenance.Background, Virtual Reality (VR) technology is emerging as a powerful educational tool which is used in medical training and has potential benefits for paramedic practice education. Aim The aim of this paper is to report development of ParaVR, which utilises VR to address skills maintenance for paramedics. Methods Computer scientists at the University of Chester and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) developed ParaVR in four stages: 1. Identifying requirements and specifications 2. Alpha version development, 3. Beta version development 4. Management: Development of software, further funding and commercialisation. Results Needle Cricothyrotomy and Needle Thoracostomy emerged as candidates for the prototype ParaVR. The Oculus Rift head mounted display (HMD) combined with Novint Falcon haptic device was used, and a virtual environment crafted using 3D modelling software, ported (a computing term meaning transfer (software) from one system or machine to another) onto Oculus Go and Google cardboard VR platform. Conclusion VR is an emerging educational tool with the potential to enhance paramedic skills development and maintenance. The ParaVR program is the first step in our development, testing, and scaling up of this technology

Revisiting Anisotropic Diffusion of Carbon Dioxide in the Metal-Organic Framework Zn2(dobpdc)

The diffusion of gases confined in nanoporous materials underpins membrane and adsorption-based gas separations, yet relatively few measurements of diffusion coefficients in the promising class of materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have been reported to date. Recently we reported self-diffusion coefficients for 13CO2 in the MOF Zn2(dobpdc) (dobpdc4- = 4,4′-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylate) which has one-dimensional channels with a diameter of approximately 2 nm [ Forse, A. C.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 1663-1673 ]. By analyzing the evolution of the residual 13C chemical shift anisotropy line shape at different gradient strengths, we obtained self-diffusion coefficients both along (D∥) and between (D⊥) the one-dimensional MOF channels. The observation of nonzero D⊥ was unexpected based on the single crystal X-ray diffraction structure and flexible lattice molecular dynamics simulations, and we proposed that structural defects may be responsible for self-diffusion between the MOF channels. Here we revisit this analysis and show that homogeneous line broadening must be taken into account to obtain accurate values for D⊥. In the presence of homogeneous line broadening, intensity at a particular NMR frequency represents signal from crystals with a range of orientations relative to the applied magnetic field and magnetic gradient field. To quantify these effects, we perform spectral simulations that take into account homogeneous broadening and allow improved D⊥ values to be obtained. Our new analysis best supports nonzero D⊥ at all studied dosing pressures and shows that our previous analysis overestimated D⊥

Use of Marginal Oscillator for Acoustic Monitoring of Curing of Epoxy Resin

The attenuation and velocity of ultrasound in epoxy resins have been shown to provide a reliable method of determining the degree of cure of the resin. Most authors have used broadband techniques for measuring velocity of a resin. While broadband measurements inherently provide more information than narrowband, difficulties in achieving sufficient bandwidth to clearly identify echoes of interest has led to the application of digital filters to separate the individual echoes. In this work, a measurement system is described which uses the resin as a narrowband acoustic resonator which is placed in the feedback loop of an amplifier. Using gain control, the system is allowed to marginally oscillate. The frequency of oscillation depends on the velocity of sound in the resin, while the gain necessary to maintain stable oscillations depends on the attenuation of the resin. The use of a narrowband resonant technique results in a measurement system which is accurate, stable, and may be produced at reasonable cost