Effective diffusion coefficient

Abstract: Molecular diffusion and microcirculation in the capillary network result in a distribution of phases in a single voxel in the presence of magnetic field gradients. This distribution produces a spin-echo attenuation. The authors have developed a magnetic resonance (MR) method to image such intravoxel incoherent motions (IVIMs) by using appropriate gradient pulses. Images were generated at 0.5 T in a high-resolution, multisection mode. Diffusion coefficients measured on images of water and acetone phantoms were consistent with published values. Images obtained in the neurologic area from healthy subjects and patients were analyzed in terms of an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) incorporating the effect of all IVIMs. Differences were found between various normal and pathologic tissues. The ADC of in vivo water differed from the diffusion coefficient of pure water. Results were assessed in relation to water compartmentation in biologic tissues (restricted diffusion) and tissue perfusion. Nonuniform slow flow of cerebrospinal fluid appeared as a useful feature on IVIM images. Observation of these motions may significantly extend the diagnostic capabilities of MR imaging.

Abstract: Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging is a method the authors developed to visualize microscopic motions of water. In biologic tissues, these motions include molecular diffusion and microcirculation of blood in the capillary network. IVIM images are quantified by an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), which integrates the effects of both diffusion and perfusion. The aim of this work was to demonstrate how much perfusion contributes to the ADC and to present a method for obtaining separate images of diffusion and perfusion. Images were obtained at 0.5 T with high-resolution multisection sequences and without the use of contrast material. Results in a phantom made of resin microspheres demonstrated the ability of the method to separately evaluate diffusion and perfusion. The method was then applied in patients with brain and bone tumors and brain ischemia. Clinical results showed significant promise of the method for tissue characterization by perfusion patterns and for functional studies in the eva...

Abstract: Below 1000°C the oxidation of nickel cannot be controlled by the diffusion of ions through the bulk crystal lattice of the pure oxide, because the measured oxidation rates are several orders of magnitude faster than would be predicted on this basis. Short-circuit diffusion through oxide grain boundaries or dislocations has usually been held responsible, but there has hitherto been no proper quantitative confirmation of this mechanism. We report measurements of the oxide scale thickness and oxide grain size as a function of time during the oxidation of high-purity nickel in the temperature range 500–800°C. All the oxidation experiments were carried out in pure oxygen at a pressure of one atmosphere. The measured parabolic oxidation rate constants have been compared with those calculated from grain boundary diffusion data obtained in our previous work, using a grain boundary diffusion model for the oxidation process. The quantitative agreement between measured and calculated oxidation rates shows c...

Abstract: The creep rate (ė) predicted by the boundary diffusion (Db) model is ė≃150σDbWΩ/(GS)3kT, where σ is the stress, W is the boundary width, (GS) is the average grain size, and Ω is vacancy volume. The stress dependence is the same as the lattice diffusion model, given by C. Herring, while the grain size dependence and the numerical constant are greater for boundary diffusion. Discussion of the mechanism of creep in polycrystalline alumina is based on the differences between the lattice and boundary diffusion models.