2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Development of a technique to noninvasively study the structure of in vivo vasculature in rodent brain using oscillating-gradient spin-echo diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
| Project/Area Number |
20K08150
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| Research Institution | National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
Jeffrey Kershaw 国立研究開発法人量子科学技術研究開発機構, 量子医科学研究所 分子イメージング診断治療研究部, 主任研究員 (50508801)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | OGSE / diffusion-weighted MRI / frequency domain / asymptotic behaviour / structural universality |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Most of our effort over the past year has been dedicated to preparing a second manuscript that extends our understanding of oscillating-gradient spin-echo diffusion-weighted MRI (OGSE-DWI) measurements. The article focuses on the asymptotic high- and low-frequency limits of the signal, which are predicted to obey a set of universality relations that are linked to the global organisation of the sample. As such, measurements in those limits have important potential applications in characterising the microstructure of complex media such as brain tissue. Our work clarifies the conditions necessary for observations and interpretation of the asymptotic signal.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The second manuscript was submitted to the Journal of Magnetic Resonance, the same journal as our previous paper, but, after an unusually long review process, it was unfortunately not accepted. The reasons given for that decision did not concern the quality or correctness of the work. It was instead felt that the technical level of the work may be too difficult for the readers of the journal and both reviewers suggested that the paper be resubmitted to a more suitable journal. One of the reviewers was kind enough to reveal their identity so that we might be able to discuss some technical issues within the work. After composing and sending off a lengthy letter to that reviewer, we are presently searching for a new journal while waiting for a reply from the reviewer.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The current plan is to generalise the results of our OGSE-DWI papers to any DWI sequence. Such a generalisation will be important for at least two reasons: (i) the OGSE-DWI sequence is not widely available for some imaging platforms, and (ii) it will enable the results of experiments with different sequences to be compared. This work has been underway for several months now and substantial progress on an accompanying manuscript has already been made.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have been unable to attend several conferences and the corresponding travel and registration fees have therefore accrued.
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