TY - JOUR A1 - Ferrein, Alexander T1 - Robot controllers for highly dynamic environments with real-time constraints JF - Künstliche Intelligenz : KI N2 - In this extended abstract we describe the robot programming and planning language READYLOG, a GOLOG dialect which was developed to support the decision making of robots acting in dynamic real-time domains like robotic soccer. The formal framework of READYLOG, which is based on the situation calculus, features imperative control structures like loops and procedures, allows for decision-theoretic planning, and accounts for a continuously changing world. We developed high-level controllers in READYLOG for our soccer robots in RoboCup’s Middle-size league, but also for service robots and for autonomous agents in interactive computer games. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s13218-010-0041-3 SN - 1610-1987 VL - 24 IS - 2 SP - 175 EP - 178 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ferrein, Alexander T1 - golog.lua: Towards a Non-Prolog Implementation of Golog for Embedded Systems Y1 - 2010 SP - 20 EP - 28 PB - AAAI CY - Menlo Park ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hagemann, Hans-Jürgen A1 - Bachmann, Peter K. A1 - Lade, H. A1 - Leers, D. T1 - Diamond chemical vapor deposition: gas compositions and film properties / Bachmann, P.K.; Hagemann, H.-J.; Lade, H; Leers, D.; Picht, F.; Wiechert, D.U.; Wilson, H. JF - Diamond, SiC and nitride wide bandgap semiconductors : symposium held April 4 - 8, 1994, San Francisco, California, U.S.A. / ed.: Calvin H. Carter, Jr. ... Y1 - 1994 SN - 1-55899-239-1 N1 - Materials Research Society symposium proceedings ; 339 SP - 267 EP - 277 CY - Pittsburgh, Penn. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ferrein, Alexander A1 - Siebel, Nils T. A1 - Steinbauer, Gerald T1 - Hybrid control for autonomous systems — Integrating learning, deliberation and reactive control JF - Robotics and Autonomous Systems Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2010.06.003 SN - 0921-8890 VL - 58 IS - 9 SP - 1037 EP - 1038 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Martin, Conrad A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Özerdem, Celal A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Development and evaluation of a small and mobile Magneto Alert Sensor (MALSE) to support safety requirements for magnetic resonance imaging JF - European Radiology N2 - Objective The purpose of this study is to (i) design a small and mobile Magnetic field ALert SEnsor (MALSE), (ii) to carefully evaluate its sensors to their consistency of activation/deactivation and sensitivity to magnetic fields, and (iii) to demonstrate the applicability of MALSE in 1.5 T, 3.0 T and 7.0 T MR fringe field environments. Methods MALSE comprises a set of reed sensors, which activate in response to their exposure to a magnetic field. The activation/deactivation of reed sensors was examined by moving them in/out of the fringe field generated by 7TMR. Results The consistency with which individual reed sensors would activate at the same field strength was found to be 100% for the setup used. All of the reed switches investigated required a substantial drop in ambient magnetic field strength before they deactivated. Conclusions MALSE is a simple concept for alerting MRI staff to a ferromagnetic object being brought into fringe magnetic fields which exceeds MALSEs activation magnetic field. MALSE can easily be attached to ferromagnetic objects within the vicinity of a scanner, thus creating a barrier for hazardous situations induced by ferromagnetic parts which should not enter the vicinity of an MR-system to occur. KW - MRI KW - MR safety KW - Magneto alert sensor KW - High field MRI KW - Uktrahigh field MRI Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2153-z SN - 1432-1084 VL - 21 SP - 2187 EP - 2192 PB - Springer CY - Berlin, Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Fuchs, Katharina A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Özerdem, Celal A1 - Patel, Nishan A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Greiser, Andreas A1 - Elgeti, Thomas A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Detailing the use of magnetohydrodynamic effects for synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle: A feasibility study JF - Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging N2 - Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects for synchronization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the cardiac cycle. Materials and Methods: The MHD effect was scrutinized using a pulsatile flow phantom at B0 = 7.0 T. MHD effects were examined in vivo in healthy volunteers (n = 10) for B0 ranging from 0.05–7.0 T. Noncontrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the carotids was performed using a gated steady-state free-precession (SSFP) imaging technique in conjunction with electrocardiogram (ECG) and MHD synchronization. Results: The MHD potential correlates with flow velocities derived from phase contrast MRI. MHD voltages depend on the orientation between B0 and the flow of a conductive fluid. An increase in the interelectrode spacing along the flow increases the MHD potential. In vivo measurement of the MHD effect provides peak voltages of 1.5 mV for surface areas close to the common carotid artery at B0 = 7.0 T. Synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle using MHD triggering is feasible. MHD triggered MRA of the carotids at 3.0 T showed an overall image quality and richness of anatomic detail, which is comparable to ECG-triggered MRAs. Conclusion: This feasibility study demonstrates the use of MHD effects for synchronization of MR acquisitions with the cardiac cycle. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:364–372. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.23634 SN - 1522-2586 VL - 36 IS - 2 SP - 364 EP - 372 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - von Knobelsdorf-Brenkenhoff, Florian A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Prothmann, Marcel A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Kretschel, Kerstin A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette T1 - Cardiac chamber quantification using magnetic resonance imaging at 7 Tesla—a pilot study N2 - Objectives Interest in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 7 T is motivated by the expected increase in spatial and temporal resolution, but the method is technically challenging. We examined the feasibility of cardiac chamber quantification at 7 T. Methods A stack of short axes covering the left ventricle was obtained in nine healthy male volunteers. At 1.5 T, steady-state free precession (SSFP) and fast gradient echo (FGRE) cine imaging with 7 mm slice thickness (STH) were used. At 7 T, FGRE with 7 mm and 4 mm STH were applied. End-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction and mass were calculated. Results All 7 T examinations provided excellent blood/myocardium contrast for all slice directions. No significant difference was found regarding ejection fraction and cardiac volumes between SSFP at 1.5 T and FGRE at 7 T, while volumes obtained from FGRE at 1.5 T were underestimated. Cardiac mass derived from FGRE at 1.5 and 7 T was larger than obtained from SSFP at 1.5 T. Agreement of volumes and mass between SSFP at 1.5 T and FGRE improved for FGRE at 7 T when combined with an STH reduction to 4 mm. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrates that cardiac chamber quantification at 7 T using FGRE is feasible and agrees closely with SSFP at 1.5 T. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1888-2 SN - 0938-7994 VL - 20 SP - 2844 EP - 2852 PB - Springer CY - Berlin, Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gräßl, Andreas A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Winter, Lukas A1 - Özerdem, Celal A1 - Rieger, Jan A1 - Kellmann, Peter A1 - Santoro, Davide A1 - Lindel, Tomasz Dawid A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Pfeiffer, Harald A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Modular 32-channel transceiver coil array for cardiac MRI at 7.0T JF - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine N2 - Purpose To design and evaluate a modular transceiver coil array with 32 independent channels for cardiac MRI at 7.0T. Methods The modular coil array comprises eight independent building blocks, each containing four transceiver loop elements. Numerical simulations were used for B1+ field homogenization and radiofrequency (RF) safety validation. RF characteristics were examined in a phantom study. The array's suitability for accelerated high spatial resolution two-dimensional (2D) FLASH CINE imaging of the heart was examined in a volunteer study. Results Transmission field adjustments and RF characteristics were found to be suitable for the volunteer study. The signal-to-noise intrinsic to 7.0T together with the coil performance afforded a spatial resolution of 1.1 × 1.1 × 2.5 mm3 for 2D CINE FLASH MRI, which is by a factor of 6 superior to standardized CINE protocols used in clinical practice at 1.5T. The 32-channel transceiver array supports one-dimensional acceleration factors of up to R = 4 without impairing image quality significantly. Conclusion The modular 32-channel transceiver cardiac array supports accelerated and high spatial resolution cardiac MRI. The array is compatible with multichannel transmission and provides a technological basis for future clinical assessment of parallel transmission techniques at 7.0T. Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.24903 SN - 1522-2594 VL - 72 IS - 1 SP - 276 EP - 290 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - de Geyer d'Orth, Thibaut A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A1 - von Knobelsdorf-Brenkenhoff, Florian A1 - Prothmann, Marcel A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Acoustic cardiac triggering: a practical solution for synchronization and gating of cardiovascular magnetic resonance at 7 Tesla JF - Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance N2 - Background To demonstrate the applicability of acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT) for imaging of the heart at ultrahigh magnetic fields (7.0 T) by comparing phonocardiogram, conventional vector electrocardiogram (ECG) and traditional pulse oximetry (POX) triggered 2D CINE acquisitions together with (i) a qualitative image quality analysis, (ii) an assessment of the left ventricular function parameter and (iii) an examination of trigger reliability and trigger detection variance derived from the signal waveforms. Results ECG was susceptible to severe distortions at 7.0 T. POX and ACT provided waveforms free of interferences from electromagnetic fields or from magneto-hydrodynamic effects. Frequent R-wave mis-registration occurred in ECG-triggered acquisitions with a failure rate of up to 30% resulting in cardiac motion induced artifacts. ACT and POX triggering produced images free of cardiac motion artefacts. ECG showed a severe jitter in the R-wave detection. POX also showed a trigger jitter of approximately Δt = 72 ms which is equivalent to two cardiac phases. ACT showed a jitter of approximately Δt = 5 ms only. ECG waveforms revealed a standard deviation for the cardiac trigger offset larger than that observed for ACT or POX waveforms. Image quality assessment showed that ACT substantially improved image quality as compared to ECG (image quality score at end-diastole: ECG = 1.7 ± 0.5, ACT = 2.4 ± 0.5, p = 0.04) while the comparison between ECG vs. POX gated acquisitions showed no significant differences in image quality (image quality score: ECG = 1.7 ± 0.5, POX = 2.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.34). Conclusions The applicability of acoustic triggering for cardiac CINE imaging at 7.0 T was demonstrated. ACT's trigger reliability and fidelity are superior to that of ECG and POX. ACT promises to be beneficial for cardiovascular magnetic resonance at ultra-high field strengths including 7.0 T. KW - Interval Time Series KW - Image Quality Score KW - Image Quality Assessment KW - Sound Pressure Level KW - Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/1532-429X-12-67 SN - 1532-429X VL - 12 IS - 1 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grande, Marion A1 - Meffert, Elisabeth A1 - Schoenberger, Eva A1 - Jung, Stefanie A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Huber, Walter A1 - Hussmann, Katja A1 - Moormann, Mareike A1 - Heim, Stefan T1 - From a concept to a word in a syntactically complete sentence: An fMRI study on spontaneous language production in an overt picture description task JF - NeuroImage N2 - Spontaneous language has rarely been subjected to neuroimaging studies. This study therefore introduces a newly developed method for the analysis of linguistic phenomena observed in continuous language production during fMRI. Most neuroimaging studies investigating language have so far focussed on single word or — to a smaller extent — sentence processing, mostly due to methodological considerations. Natural language production, however, is far more than the mere combination of words to larger units. Therefore, the present study aimed at relating brain activation to linguistic phenomena like word-finding difficulties or syntactic completeness in a continuous language fMRI paradigm. A picture description task with special constraints was used to provoke hesitation phenomena and speech errors. The transcribed speech sample was segmented into events of one second and each event was assigned to one category of a complex schema especially developed for this purpose. The main results were: conceptual planning engages bilateral activation of the precuneus. Successful lexical retrieval is accompanied – particularly in comparison to unsolved word-finding difficulties – by the left middle and superior temporal gyrus. Syntactic completeness is reflected in activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) (area 44). In sum, the method has proven to be useful for investigating the neural correlates of lexical and syntactic phenomena in an overt picture description task. This opens up new prospects for the analysis of spontaneous language production during fMRI. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.03.087 SN - 1522-2586 VL - 61 IS - 3 SP - 702 EP - 714 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER -