Asphaltenes have traditionally been viewed as being extremely complex, thus very hard to characterize. In addition, certain fundamental properties of asphaltenes have pre viously been inaccessible to study by traditional macroscopic methods, further limiting understanding of asphaltenes. These limitations inhibited development of descriptions regarding the microscopic structure and solution dynamics of asphaltenes. However, a variety ofmore recent studies have implied that asphaltenes share many chemical properties with the smaller, more tractable components of crude oils. Recent measurements have indicated that asphaltene molecular weights are not as arge as previously thought, perhaps in the range of 600 to I 000 amu. In addition, new experimental methods applied to asphaltene chemical structures have been quite revealing, yielding a broad understanding. Conse quently, the ability to relate chemical structure with physical and chemical properties can be developed and extended to the understanding of important commercial properties of asphal tenes. This book treats significant new developments in the fundamentals and applications of asphaltenes. In the first section ofthe book, new experimental methods are described that characterize asphaltene structures from the molecular to colloidallength scale. The colloidal properties are understandable in terms of asphaltene chemical structures, especially with regard to the heteroatom impact on bonding. However, quantitative measurements of the of asphaltene self-association still need to be determined. In the second section of enthalpy this book, the fundamental understanding of asphaltenes is related riirectly to asphaltene utilization."

Asphaltenes have traditionally been viewed as being extremely complex, thus very hard to characterize. In addition, certain fundamental properties of asphaltenes have pre viously been inaccessible to study by traditional macroscopic methods, further limiting understanding of asphaltenes. These limitations inhibited development of descriptions regarding the microscopic structure and solution dynamics of asphaltenes. However, a variety ofmore recent studies have implied that asphaltenes share many chemical properties with the smaller, more tractable components of crude oils. Recent measurements have indicated that asphaltene molecular weights are not as arge as previously thought, perhaps in the range of 600 to I 000 amu. In addition, new experimental methods applied to asphaltene chemical structures have been quite revealing, yielding a broad understanding. Conse quently, the ability to relate chemical structure with physical and chemical properties can be developed and extended to the understanding of important commercial properties of asphal tenes. This book treats significant new developments in the fundamentals and applications of asphaltenes. In the first section ofthe book, new experimental methods are described that characterize asphaltene structures from the molecular to colloidallength scale. The colloidal properties are understandable in terms of asphaltene chemical structures, especially with regard to the heteroatom impact on bonding. However, quantitative measurements of the of asphaltene self-association still need to be determined. In the second section of enthalpy this book, the fundamental understanding of asphaltenes is related riirectly to asphaltene utilization."

Glossary 4 Chapter 1: Basics of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and 6 Normal Views 1. 1 Definition and Physical Basics 6 a. Definition and historical background 6 b. Physical basics 6 1. 2 Technical Modalities 10 a. Spin echo 12 b. Gradient echo 12 c. Fast gradient echo 13 d. Specialized techniques 13 e. Techniques under clinical investigation 13 1. 3 Study Methodology: Normal Anatomy 13 a. Technical equipment 13 b. Medical personnel 13 c. Preparation of the patient 13 d. Normal MRI anatomy 17 References 17 Chapter 2: Ventricular Morphology and Function: Study of 26 Cardiomyopathies 2. 1 Morphological Study of Heart Chambers 26 a. Left ventricle 26 b. Right ventricle 31 2. 2 Ventricular Function 31 a. Left ventricular function 31 b. Right ventricular function 33 2. 3 Cardiomyopathies 33 a. Dilated cardiomyopathy 33 b. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 33 c. Restrictive cardiomyopathy 35 d. Arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle 35 References 35 (f) Chapter 3: Acquired Diseases of the Aorta 38 I c 3. 1 Technical Aspects of the Aortic Study by MRI: Imaging the Normal Aorta 38 3. 2 Aortic Aneurysm 43 3. 3 Aortic Dissection and Related Entities OJ 43 a. Strategy for the study of aortic dissection by MRI 43 I b. Differential diagnosis of aortic dissection by MRI 47 References 49 c o U . ;jj Chapter 4: Study of Valvular Heart Disease 54 4. 1 Introduction 54 4. 2 Velocity Calculation and Flow Quantitation 54 4.