Integrated Calendar

Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) and Blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) are contrasts enabling investigation of cerebral haemodynamics. Multi-echo EPI-based techniques have been used to measure CBF and BOLD simultaneously at 3T. At 7T, however, the shorter T2* times call for the use of the more efficient k-space coverage of spiral trajectories: undersampled spiral-out spiral-in trajectory enables sufficient coverage with central k-space echo times fit for both contrasts, with reduced crosstalk. The difficulty of the ill-conditioned inverse problem is enhanced by the stronger field inhomogeneities at 7T, causing significant artifacts when using standard methods for image reconstruction. We introduce Minimal Linear Network (MLN), a learning-based technique with restricted, interpretable model closely following the MR signal model. MLN shows the ability to produce clear reconstructed images under these conditions, while preserving sensitivity to the minute signal changes of ASL. Using the suggested technique, perfusion maps and functional CBF- and BOLD- based activation maps are obtained, showing low BOLD contamination in the CBF measurement, and indicating the variable contribution of flow to the BOLD contrast in the motor and visual cortex.

Over the past decade, the field of topological states has boosted frontline research in condensed matter physics. It is witnessed that the prediction and discovery of topological materials have stimulated the rapid development of this field. In this talk, I will overview the general concepts of topological states. In combination with computational methods, chemistry insights are found to be rather helpful to discover topological materials, to realize the beautiful concepts and phenomena in physics. For example, the topological Weyl fermions were recently discovered in realistic materials with topological Fermi arcs on the surface and exotic transport phenomena in the bulk.

The heart is a fascinatingly efficient pump with intricate design criteria. While many aspects of heart function remain a mystery, investigations through the prism of mechanics, physics, and mathematics can provide invaluable insights – presented as three examples in this talk. First, we consider the problem of automatically characterizing cardiac tissue architecture over multiple length-scales. Through, the use of existing and creation of new order parameters, multiple discoveries were made such as the existence of consistently sized spontaneous patches of organization in isotropic cardiac tissues. Second, we explore the relationship between cell organization and tissue force generation. Through a tissue engineering trick, the global (~1mm) and local (~100 microns) architecture effects were separated, and it was discovered that the reduction in developed force due purely to changes in global tissue architecture can be predicted by an astonishingly simple physical model, while local changes trigger complex biological responses. Third, we investigate the relationship among genetic mutations to the nuclear lamina protein, Lamin A/C (LMNA), detrimental consequences to cellular architecture, and cardiac function. LMNA mutations can lead to a devastating early aging disease (progeria) or have a subtler effect with patients presenting only with heart disease symptoms. However, the mechanisms by which the LMNA mutation emerges in the heart muscle are unknown. Thus far we have uncovered a relationship between nuclear defects in patient-specific cells and the age at which these patients present with heart disease symptoms. Additionally, we have found that the pathology that takes decades to develop in patients can be recapitulated in a dish within a few weeks. Through all three of these examples, we will also explore newly generated mysteries that can again be elucidated in the future through the application of physical principles.