MRI: Acquisition of a High Resolution Computed Tomography System for Research and Education

MRI：获取用于研究和教育的高分辨率计算机断层扫描系统

• 批准号: 1338044
• 负责人: Daniel Wescott
• 金额: $ 70.54万
• 依托单位: Texas State University - San Marcos
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1338044&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Resolution; Computed; Tomography

Micro-computed tomography (µCT) is state-of-the-art high resolution imaging technology that is increasingly employed in the study of bones, fossils, and archaeological artifacts. It allows researchers to nondestructively explore the three-dimensional external and internal structure of bone, fossilized remains, and irreplaceable archaeological artifacts. With Major Research Instrumentation support, Texas State University, an Emerging Research and Hispanic serving institution in Central Texas, will purchase a µCT system that will be housed in the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State (FACTS). The system will help support the missions of the university and FACTS by promoting scientific discovery as well as providing teaching, training, and learning opportunities. FACTS is a scientific research, educational training, and service center within the Department of Anthropology. FACTS faculty conduct research and train students in skeletal biology, and provide service to law enforcement by analyzing skeletal remains in a medicolegal context. FACTS also houses a rapidly growing documented human skeletal collection. The combination of a large documented human skeletal collection in the same laboratory with a µCT system will allow faculty and students to conduct scientific investigations into how habitual physical activities, age, and body weight affect the microstructure of bones and to develop methods for determining whether trauma to a skeleton occurred at the time of or after death. This research will greatly advance scientific knowledge of bone functional adaptation and trauma. The µCT system will also provide a method of conducting virtual autopsies on skeletal remains. FACTS faculty will be able to accurately analyze and document injuries in skeletal remains and build virtual three-dimensional reconstructions of the implement used to cause sharp and blunt force trauma, which will greatly benefit legal investigations.The µCT system will be a shared instrument used by intramural and extramural researchers for a variety of collaborative interdisciplinary scientific investigations. The Center for Archaeological Studies will use the µCT system to aid in the documentation, interpretation, and conservation of artifacts from ancient human occupation sites and shipwrecks. The Paleobotany Laboratory will analyze and identify fossilized plants that can be used to reconstruct past climates instrumental in understanding climate change. In addition, the µCT images will provide a method for building virtual museums and sharing detailed information about bone microstructure, prehistoric artifacts, and rare fossils with researchers around the globe.The µCT system will also be used to promote learning, and students will be involved in research using the µCT system. This will create greater excitement for scientific discovery and help with retention. Teachers can enhance learning in the classroom by facilitating the viewing of structures such the vascular system of plants and the microstructure of bone that are difficult for students to conceptualize. Students trained in advanced imaging methods will have unique skills and research opportunities that will significantly affect their career options, and can be applied to problems in a variety of fields. This knowledge will be especially valuable for the large portion of female, rural, and Hispanic students at Texas State University that often seek employment outside of academia in applied fields. In general, the shared instrument will serve to increase faculty and student scholarship, attract outside researchers, promote collaboration, help attract and retain diverse and exceptional faculty and students, and enhance teaching and learning.

微计算机断层扫描（µCT）是最先进的高分辨率成像技术，在骨骼，化石和考古文物的研究中越来越多地使用。它使研究人员可以非毁灭性地探索骨骼的三维外部和内部结构，化石保留以及不可替代的考古文物。在主要的研究仪器支持下，得克萨斯州立大学是德克萨斯州中部的一项新兴研究和西班牙裔服务机构，将购买一个将安置在得克萨斯州法医人类学中心（FACTS）的µCT系统。该系统将通过促进科学发现以及提供教学，培训和学习机会来帮助大学的任务和事实。事实是人类学系内的科学研究，教育培训和服务中心。事实教师进行研究和培训骨骼生物学的学生，并通过中间分析骨骼遗体为执法服务提供服务。事实还设有一个迅速增长的人类骨骼收集。在同一实验室中与µCT系统的大型人类骨骼收集的结合将使教师和学生能够对习惯性的体育活动，年龄和体重进行科学研究如何影响骨骼的微观结构，并开发出在死亡或死后确定骨骼的创伤的方法。这项研究将大大提高骨功能适应和创伤的科学知识。 µCT系统还将提供一种在骨骼残留时进行虚拟尸检的方法。事实教师将能够准确地分析和记录骨骼残留中的伤害，并建立用于造成急剧和钝器创伤的实施的虚拟三维重建，这将极大地使法律投资受益。µCT系统将是室内和外部研究人员用于各种协作跨学科科学的共享工具。考古研究中心将使用µCT系统来帮助对古代人类职业地点和沉船的文档进行文档，解释和保护。古植物实验室将分析和鉴定化石植物，可用于重建过去的气候，以了解气候变化。此外，µCT图像将提供一种建造虚拟博物馆的方法，并共享有关骨微结构，史前文物以及与全球研究人员的稀有化石的详细信息。µCT系统还将用于促进学习，学生将使用µCT系统参与研究。这将为科学发现和保留提供更多的兴奋。教师可以通过支持诸如植物血管系统和骨骼的微观结构等结构的观察来增强课堂学习，而这些结构很难使学生概念化。接受高级成像方法培训的学生将拥有独特的技能和研究机会，这将极大地影响他们的职业选择，并可以应用于各个领域的问题。这些知识对于德克萨斯州立大学的大部分女性，粗糙和西班牙裔学生特别有价值，这些知识经常在应用领域的学术界以外寻求就业。通常，共享工具将有助于增加教师和学生奖学金，吸引外部研究人员，促进合作，帮助吸引和留住潜水员，卓越的教职员工和学生，并增强教学和学习。