MRI studies of flow and dislocation of model NAPL in saturated and unsaturated sediments

In this article, we explore the possibilities of studying transport phenomena that involve non‐aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a paramagnetic contrast agent. We studied n‐octanol as a model NAPL, especially in alcohol flooding in a water‐saturated sediment, and flood‐drainage‐cycles in a temporally unsaturated sediment column. While the ‘natural’ relaxation time contrast between water and n‐octanol often allows a distinction of the two liquids in a quartz‐sand sediment, the use of Mn²⁺‐ions dissolved in the water phase as a ‘biphasic’ contrast agent allows much better discrimination between the different liquid phases and also considerably faster imaging. Using a 3D FLASH sequence, a NAPL‐saturated region can be visualized against a background of water‐saturated sediment in 11 s with a resolution of 1.9 × 1.9 × 3.2 mm³.     

Dynamic MRI and thermal simulation to interpret deformation and water transfer in meat during heating

Understanding and controlling structural and physical changes in meat during cooking is of prime importance. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive, nondestructive tool that can be used to characterize certain properties and structures both locally and dynamically. Here we show the possibilities offered by MRI for the in situ dynamic imaging of the connective network during the cooking of meat to monitor deformations between 20 and 75 °C. A novel device was used to heat the sample in an MR imager. An MRI sequence was developed to contrast the connective tissue and the muscle fibers during heating. The temperature distribution in the sample was numerically simulated to link structural modifications and water transfer to temperature values. The contraction of myofibrillar and collagen networks was observed at 42 °C, and water began to migrate toward the interfascicular space at 40 °C. These observations are consistent with literature results obtained using destructive and/or nonlocalized methods. This new approach allows the simultaneous monitoring of local deformation and water transfer, changes in muscle structure and thermal history.     

磁共振成像技术在郁金香花芽分化活体监测上的应用研究

应用磁共振成像（MRI）技术在活体情况下观察郁金香花芽形态建成过程,比较不同MRI序列图像即纵向弛豫时间加权像（longitudinal relaxation,简写为T1WI）、横向弛豫时间加权像（transverse relaxation time weighted imaging,简写为T2WI）、质子密度加权像（proton density weighted imaging,简写为PDWI）对郁金香花芽形态建成过程显示的准确性,探求郁金香种球及郁金香花芽发生过程的MRI图像技术。结果显示,在对郁金香种球形态以及花芽形成与建成过程的显示上,T1加权像与大体切片的结果完全一致,质子密度加权像与T1加权像具有较高的图像质量,在图像信噪比以及花芽发生的显示上明显优于T2WI（P<0.05）。本研究表明,磁共振成像技术是无创伤、活体监测与显示郁金香花芽形成及分化过程的实用技术手段。     

Dynamic manganese-enhanced MRI signal intensity processing based on nonlinear mixed modeling to study changes in neuronal activity

We analyze data on the impact of testosterone on the dynamics of Mn²⁺ accumulation measured by magnetic resonance imaging in three songbird brain areas: the nucleus robustus arcopallii (RA), area X, and the high vocal center (HVC). Birds with and without testosterone were included in the experiment, and repeated measurements were available in both a preand post-drug administration period. We formulate a nonlinear modeling strategy, allowing for the incorporation of (1) within-bird correlation, (2) the nonlinearity of the profiles, and (3) the effect of treatment. For two of the outcomes (RA and area X), biological theory suggests a parametric form, but for HVC this is not the case. Because the HVC outcome bears some resemblance with the two-compartment model known from pharmacokinetics, this model was considered a sensible choice. We use a different model, based on fractional polynomials, as a sensitivity analysis for the latter. All methods used provide good fits to the data, confirm results from previous, simple analyses undertaken in the literature, but were able to detect additional effects of treatment that had so far gone undetected. The fractional polynomial and two-compartment models provide similar substantive conclusions; the two together can be seen as a form of sensitivity analysis.     

用低场核磁研究烫漂对甜玉米水分布和状态影响

该文旨在用低场核磁（NMR）及其成像技术（MRI）研究甜玉米粒中的水分布和水状态,为探讨烫漂后甜玉米失重和热特性参数变化的原因提供理论依据。试验通过T2加权成像技术,观察到烫漂后的甜玉米粒出现新的水信号分布区;通过研究烫漂时间和温度对甜玉米粒横向弛豫信号的影响,发现弛豫时间为450～750 ms和50～70 ms的结合水的百分比例明显变化,并具有一定规律,这种变化是由于淀粉糊化造成的。研究表明,烫漂改变了甜玉米中水的分布和结合状态;低场核磁技术揭示了甜玉米水状态的变化规律,为食品加工过程中物性参数的研究提供了一种有效方法。     

MR properties of water in saturated soils and resulting loss of MRI signal in water content detection at 2 tesla

This paper reports a systematic MRI study at 2 tesla of 23 soils, each separately saturated with a known amount of water. The percentage of that water which could be detected using various MR methods was determined by comparison with a liquid reference sample. A pulse-acquire sequence gave a bulk detection of between 47 and 94% of the known water content of saturated soil. Also for bulk measurements, the inversion-recovery sequence used for determining T₁ values detected a range of 0.7–75% of the existing soil water. The CPMG sequence with an echo time (TE) of 1 ms used for determining the bulk T₂ values gave lower values, in the range of 0.4–66% overall. A spin-echo MRI sequence with a TE of 2.9 ms gave an even lower bulk detection, ranging from 0.2 to 57%. These low values for the detectable water content of bulk saturated soil water reflect the loss of water magnetization which occurs even during short echo time MR sequence at 2 tesla field strength. The source of the above findings was investigated by measurements of the longitudinal (T₁) and transverse (T₂) relaxation times and spectral linewidths of the soil-water protons, and by conventional analysis of soil properties. The MR parameters of critical importance to water quantification are T₂ and T₂^*, shorter values of which lead to a progressively greater loss of signal intensity for all MR protocols. Those parameters are affected by the following soil chemical and physical features: soil magnetic susceptibility, and the content of free iron oxides, clay, sand, exchangeable cations (K, Na and Ca), and organic matter. The implication of this work is that the only soil water which can be detected quantitatively at 2 tesla using a conventional spin-echo MRI protocol with echo times of 3 ms or longer is that located in the relatively large soil pores. Using the protocols investigated in this work, water in smaller pores will only be detected accurately for soils which have relatively low paramagnetic-metal impurities and/or have low clay content. Future MR studies of soil water should consider the use of other MRI protocols (e.g. for solid state), and measurement at low magnetic fields.     

Effect of water migration between arabinoxylans and gluten on baking quality of whole wheat bread detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A new method, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique characterized by T(2) relaxation time, was developed to study the water migration mechanism between arabinoxylan (AX) gels and gluten matrix in a whole wheat dough (WWD) system prepared from whole wheat flour (WWF) of different particle sizes. The water sequestration of AX gels in wheat bran was verified by the bran fortification test. The evaluations of baking quality of whole wheat bread (WWB) made from WWF with different particle sizes were performed by using SEM, FT-IR, and RP-HPLC techniques. Results showed that the WWB made from WWF of average particle size of 96.99 μm had better baking quality than those of the breads made from WWF of two other particle sizes, 50.21 and 235.40 μm. T(2) relaxation time testing indicated that the decreased particle size of WWF increased the water absorption of AX gels, which led to water migration from the gluten network to the AX gels and resulted in inferior baking quality of WWB.     

基于NIR-SVM对鸭梨褐变病果的识别

本文针对水果内部品质评定分类存在主观性强和一致性差的特点,提出了一种新的鸭梨褐变识别分类方法,该方法是利用近红外光谱仪获取正常鸭梨和褐变鸭梨近红外光谱并对其进行分析的基础上,应用支持向量机(SVM)算法的识别原理建立正常鸭梨和褐变鸭梨的分类识别模型。在多项式核函数下对试验样品的识别准确率为95%。研究结果表明NIR-SVM用于对于鸭梨褐变病果的无损检测识别是可行的。     

Rice bran fermented with saccharomyces boulardii generates novel metabolite profiles with bioactivity

Emerging evidence supporting chronic disease fighting properties of rice bran has advanced the development of stabilized rice bran for human use as a functional food and dietary supplement. A global and targeted metabolomic investigation of stabilized rice bran fermented with Saccharomyces boulardii was performed in three rice varieties. Metabolites from S. boulardii-fermented rice bran were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and assessed for bioactivity compared to nonfermented rice bran in normal and malignant lymphocytes. Global metabolite profiling revealed significant differences in the metabolome that led to discovery of candidate compounds modulated by S. boulardii fermentation. Fermented rice bran extracts from three rice varieties reduced growth of human B lymphomas compared to each variety's nonfermented control and revealed that fermentation differentially altered bioactive compounds. These data support that integration of global and targeted metabolite analysis can be utilized for assessing health properties of rice bran phytochemicals that are enhanced by yeast fermentation and that differ across rice varieties.     

Biological response of rats fed with tofu treated with high hydrostatic pressure

Emerging technologies for food preservation have arisen in recent years, such as high-pressure (HP) hydrostatic treatment, and the biological response for this kind of food preservation is not well-known. Forty female rats (six weeks old) were used in the experiment to evaluate the biological effects of HP treatment of tofu. The animals were divided into groups that were fed with tofu (untreated), tofu treated with HP, and conventional food (as control) for 28 days. The glucose level, mineral content (calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium), shinbone maximum shear force, weight of the body, and weight of organs (heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys) were analyzed. The biological response for the rats was that significant differences were found in the calcium amount determined on the serum of the rats fed with untreated tofu and those fed with tofu treated with HP, and the calcium amount was lower on the rats fed with tofu treated with HP. Also, there were significant differences in the weight of the liver, and it was lower in the rats fed with tofu treated with HP. It was quite remarkable how the weight of the body and organs were smaller in the rats fed with tofu in comparison to the weight of the control rats. In the other components assayed no significant differences were found. HP produces a potential effect on tofu as it is observed in the rats response to the tofu treated with HP.     

Growers problems with hydroponics

Growers problems with production of vegetables in soilless cultural systems are primarily caused by nutrient deficiencies or toxicities that may not necessarily be due to improper preparation of the nutrient solution. Pythium fungus disease on the roots has caused crop failures of tomatoes and cucumbers in NFT during warm weather.     

遥感监测介电常数与土壤含水率关系模型

为了获取大范围地表土壤水分时空分布信息,该文开展了微波辐射计/散射计监测介电常数与土壤体积含水率之间的关系研究。微波观测的信号与目标的介电常数密切相关,而土壤含水率是决定土壤介电常数的决定性因素,这是利用微波遥感监测土壤水分的物理基础。该研究针对土壤介电常数到土壤水分之间的转换问题,利用Dobson半经验模型建立模拟数据库,用建立的模拟数据库对Hallikainen关系式进行最小二乘回归法标定,建立了适用于微波辐射计SMOS(频率1.4GHz)、AMSR-E(频率6.9GHz)和微波散射计ERS-WCS/METOP-ASCAT(频率5.3GHz)监测的介电常数到土壤体积含水率转换的简化模型。利用模拟数据和实测数据的联合验证结果表明,简化模型具有良好的精度和实用性。     

Dealing with contaminated soils

Abstract. Although there is a need to protect soils against future pollution, many sites are already badly contaminated by past activity. The paper describes some of the contaminants which affect soils, and the policies for acceptable levels adopted by national governments. Various appropriate clean-up policies are discussed.     

Pentachlorophenol interactions with soil

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) adsorption and desorption equilibrium was studied with two Menfro silt loam soils — upper horizon and lower horizon. For the adsorption studies the variables were: temperature (10 and 30 °C) and the amount of organic matter. The variables for the desorption studies were: temperature (10 and 30 °C), pH and the presence of an anionic and a cationic surfactant. The results from these studies confirmed the importance of soil organic matter for adsorption of PCP on the soils. The adsorption data at different temperatures indicated the physical nature of the adsorption process. The desorption data produced non-singularity and some PCP was irreversibly adsorbed onto the soil despite repeated washings. Increased pH increased the desorption of PCP from the soil. The anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDS) was able to desorb significant amounts of PCP from the soil at doses equal to critical micelle concentration (CMC). But, the nonionic surfactant, surfactant, Triton X-405 required a much higher dose (twice the CMC) to cause a significant desorption of PCP from the soil.     

Nitrate Dynamic in a Tropical Mollisol Amended with Organic Manures,Planted with Sweet Corn,and Monitored with SPAD Readings

Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of relative chlorophyll content (RCC) in sweet corn leaves as an indicator of nitrate concentration in soil. Study objectives were (1) to evaluate the effect of manure types (chicken and dairy), rates (0, 168, 336, and 672 kg ha^?1 equivalent N), and application frequency (one and two applications) of organic amendments on (a) nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentration within and below the crop root zone and (b) the RCC of sweet corn leaves and (2) to quantify the relationship between RCC and NO₃-N concentrations. The results showed a significant increase in NO₃-N concentrations within and below the root zone and plant leaf RCC under chicken manure treatments. Manure application rates and frequency had a significant effect on both NO₃-N concentration within and below the root zone and leaf RCC. It appears that leaf RCC can be used as an indicator of NO₃-N availability for sweet corn cultivated under the study conditions.     

利用雨水对半干旱地区覆膜春小麦有限灌溉的研究

在宁夏南部山区对春小麦集雨补充灌溉研究表明,春小麦全生育期覆膜栽培能有效地抑制土壤蒸发,大幅度增加产量,提高水分利用率。在覆膜春小麦拨节期灌水30mm产量可增加371.1kg/hm²,水分利用率提高11.2%,拨节期是地膜春小麦集雨节灌最佳补水时期。地膜春小麦拨节期1次供水30、60、90和120mm,与不灌水相比,小麦籽粒产量均有大幅度增加,增幅分别为23.4%、68.7%、105.5%和98.3%。分析认为,覆膜春小麦1次补灌水量以60mm为宜