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（微CT）是最先进的高分辨率成像技术，越来越多地用于骨骼，化石和考古文物的研究。它使研究人员能够无损地探索骨骼、化石遗骸和不可替代的考古文物的三维外部和内部结构。在主要研究仪器的支持下，德克萨斯州立大学，一个新兴的研究和西班牙裔服务机构，将购买一个微CT系统，将被安置在德克萨斯州立法医人类学中心（FACTS）。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，帮助支持大学和事实的使命。FACTS是人类学系的科学研究、教育培训和服务中心。事实教师进行研究和骨骼生物学培训学生，并通过分析骨骼遗骸在医学法律背景下为执法提供服务。FACTS还收藏了快速增长的人类骨骼文献。将同一实验室中大量记录的人类骨骼收集与微CT系统相结合，将使教师和学生能够对习惯性体育活动、年龄和体重如何影响骨骼的微观结构进行科学调查，并开发出确定骨骼创伤是在死亡时还是在死亡后发生的方法。这项研究将极大地促进骨功能适应和创伤的科学认识。微CT系统还将提供一种对骨骼遗骸进行虚拟尸检的方法。FACTS教授将能够准确地分析和记录骨骼残骸中的损伤，并构建用于造成尖锐和钝力创伤的工具的虚拟三维重建，这将极大地有利于法律调查。微CT系统将成为校内外研究人员用于各种跨学科合作科学研究的共享仪器。考古研究中心将使用微CT系统来帮助记录、解释和保存古代人类占领地点和沉船上的文物。古植物学实验室将分析和识别化石植物，这些化石植物可以用来重建过去的气候，有助于了解气候变化。此外，微CT图像将为建立虚拟博物馆提供一种方法，并与全球研究人员分享有关骨骼微观结构，史前文物和稀有化石的详细信息。微CT系统还将用于促进学习，学生将利用微CT系统参与研究。这将为科学发现创造更大的兴奋感，并有助于留存。教师可以在课堂上通过促进观察植物的维管系统和骨骼的微观结构等学生难以概念化的结构来促进学习。接受先进成像方法培训的学生将拥有独特的技能和研究机会，这将对他们的职业选择产生重大影响，并可应用于各种领域的问题。这些知识对于德克萨斯州立大学的大部分女性、农村和西班牙裔学生来说尤其有价值，因为他们经常在应用领域以外的学术领域寻找工作。总的来说，共享仪器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，帮助吸引和留住多样化和优秀的教师和学生，并加强教与学。