Thickness Of Superficial Layer Research Articles

Capsular attachment on the anterosuperior femoral head-neck junction: A hypothesis about femoroacetabular impingement.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), characterized by a pathological contact between the proximal femur and acetabulum, is a common precursor of hip osteoarthritis. Cam morphology is a bony prominence that causes FAI and frequently forms on the anterosuperior femoral head-neck junction. Despite anatomical consensus regarding the femoral head-neck junction as a boundary area covered by the articular cartilage and joint capsule, it remains unclear whether the joint capsule is continuous with the anterosuperior articular cartilage. For the anatomical consideration of cam morphology formation, this study aimed to investigate the histological characteristics of the capsular attachment on the anterosuperior femoral head-neck junction, particularly focusing on the presence or absence of continuity of the joint capsule to the articular cartilage. A total of 21 anterosuperior regions (seven hips each for the 12:00, 1:30, and 3:00 positions) from seven hips (three males and four females; mean age at death, 68.7 years) were histologically analyzed in this study for quantitative evaluation of the capsular thickness using histological sections stained with Masson's trichrome, as well as qualitative evaluation of the capsular attachment. The present study showed that the joint capsule, which folded proximally to the femoral head-neck junction from the recess, exhibited a blend of the fibrous and synovial regions. Notably, it not only continued with the superficial layer of the articular cartilage, but also attached to the articular cartilage via the fibrocartilage. This continuous region was relatively fibrous with dense connective tissue running in the longitudinal direction. The capsular thickness at the recess point (mean, 1.7 ± 0.9 mm) and those at the distal end of the articular cartilage (0.35 ± 0.16 mm) were significantly greater than the control value for the most superficial layer thickness of the articular cartilage (0.019 ± 0.003 mm) (Dunnett's T3, both p-value <0.001). Based on the fibrous continuity between the joint capsule and articular cartilage and its thickness, this study suggests the anatomical possibility that some mechanical stress can be transmitted from the joint capsule to the articular cartilage at the frequent sites of cam morphology.

Two-layered blood-lipid phantom and method to determine absorption and oxygenation employing changes in moments of DTOFs.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an established technique for measuring tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), which is of high clinical value. For tissues that have layered structures, it is challenging but clinically relevant to obtain StO2 of the different layers, e.g. brain and scalp. For this aim, we present a new method of data analysis for time-domain NIRS (TD-NIRS) and a new two-layered blood-lipid phantom. The new analysis method enables accurate determination of even large changes of the absorption coefficient (Δµa) in multiple layers. By adding Δµa to the baseline µa, this method provides absolute µa and hence StO2 in multiple layers. The method utilizes (i) changes in statistical moments of the distributions of times of flight of photons (DTOFs), (ii) an analytical solution of the diffusion equation for an N-layered medium, (iii) and the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (LMA) to determine Δµa in multiple layers from the changes in moments. The method is suitable for NIRS tissue oximetry (relying on µa) as well as functional NIRS (fNIRS) applications (relying on Δµa). Experiments were conducted on a new phantom, which enabled us to simulate dynamic StO2 changes in two layers for the first time. Two separate compartments, which mimic superficial and deep layers, hold blood-lipid mixtures that can be deoxygenated (using yeast) and oxygenated (by bubbling oxygen) independently. Simultaneous NIRS measurements can be performed on the two-layered medium (variable superficial layer thickness, L), the deep (homogeneous), and/or the superficial (homogeneous). In two experiments involving ink, we increased the nominal µa in one of two compartments from 0.05 to 0.25 cm-1, L set to 14.5 mm. In three experiments involving blood (L set to 12, 15, or 17 mm), we used a protocol consisting of six deoxygenation cycles. A state-of-the-art multi-wavelength TD-NIRS system measured simultaneously on the two-layered medium, as well as on the deep compartment for a reference. The new method accurately determined µa (and hence StO2) in both compartments. The method is a significant progress in overcoming the contamination from the superficial layer, which is beneficial for NIRS and fNIRS applications, and may improve the determination of StO2 in the brain from measurements on the head. The advanced phantom may assist in the ongoing effort towards more realistic standardized performance tests in NIRS tissue oximetry. Data and MATLAB codes used in this study were made publicly available.

Cerebral cortex layer segmentation using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in vivo with applications to laminar connections and working memory analysis.

Understanding the laminar brain structure is of great help in further developing our knowledge of the functions of the brain. However, since most layer segmentation methods are invasive, it is difficult to apply them to the human brain in vivo. To systematically explore the human brain's laminar structure noninvasively, the K-means clustering algorithm was used to automatically segment the left hemisphere into two layers, the superficial and deep layers, using a 7 Tesla (T) diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI)open dataset. The obtained layer thickness was then compared with the layer thickness of the BigBrain reference dataset, which segmented the neocortex into six layers based on the von Economo atlas. The results show a significant correlation not only between our automatically segmented superficial layer thickness and the thickness of layers 1-3 from the reference histological data, but also between our automatically segmented deep layer thickness and the thickness of layers 4-6 from the reference histological data. Second, we constructed the laminar connections between two pairs of unidirectional connected regions, which is consistent with prior research. Finally, we conducted the laminar analysis of the working memory, which was challenging to do in the past, and explained the conclusions of the functional analysis. Our work successfully demonstrates that it is possible to segment the human cortex noninvasively into layers using dMRI data and further explores the mechanisms of the human brain.

MORPHOLOGICAL, MICRO-MECHANICAL, CORROSION AND IN VITRO BIOACTIVITY INVESTIGATION OF SUPERFICIAL LAYER FORMATION DURING WIRE ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING OF Ti-6Al-4V ALLOY FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION

In this work, the experimental investigation of the surface integrity and biomechanical properties of the superficial layer obtained by wire electrical discharge machining (W-EDM) of Ti-6Al-4V alloy for biomedical application has been carried out. The surface morphology and elemental composition of the superficial layer have been investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. The micro-mechanical behavior in terms of compressive strength and surface hardness was studied using the micro-pillar and nano-indentation technique. The corrosion resistance and in vitro bioactivity have been investigated using electrochemical and immersion test. Morphological analysis showed that surface morphology and superficial layer thickness were affected by peak current, pulse-duration and pulse-interval. The niobium (Nb)-rich layer was developed in superficial layer zone. The low peak current (3–6[Formula: see text]A), low pulse-duration (5–10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s) and high pulse-interval ([Formula: see text]s) have been recommended for better surface morphology and thin superficial layer (ranging from 4–6[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m) free from surface defects. The micro-pillar and nano-indentation results showed that the superficial layer comprised of a brittle structure that improved the mechanical properties of the layer and the compressive strength was measured to be 1198 MPa. The corrosion resistance analysis revealed that the Nb-rich layer in the superficial layer improved the corrosion resistance and bioactivity. Excellent apatite growth has been found in the W-EDM-processed zone. The W-EDM can be used for the biomedical industry as a potential surface engineering technique.

Prediction of electrical contact endurance subject to micro-slip wear using friction energy dissipation approach

Fretting wear is a common cause of failure of an electrical contact (EC). In this study, we analyzed in detail the failure of EC induced especially by sliding using the representative electrical terminals. Furthermore, combining the friction energy dissipation theory, we proposed a prediction model to evaluate the electrical connector endurance (ECE) based on the contact stress and geometrical changes during the wear process obtained from a numerical model. The study helps establish that the friction energy dissipation theory is a powerful tool to analyze a contact failure due to wear. The proposed model proves to be effective in predicting the ECE for all considered cases such as micro-slip amplitude, contact force, overturning angle, superficial layer thickness, and friction/wear coefficients.

Location-specific mechanical response and morphology of facial soft tissues.

The facial tissue of 9 healthy volunteers (m/f; age: 23-60y) is characterized at three different locations using a procedure combining suction measurements and 18MHz ultrasound imaging. The time-dependent and multilayered nature of skin is accounted for by adopting multiple loading protocols which differ with respect to suction probe opening size and rate of tissue deformation. Over 700 suction measurements were conducted and analyzed according to location-specific mechanical and morphological characteristics. All corresponding data are reported and made available for facial tissue analysis and biomechanical modeling. Higher skin stiffness is measured at the forehead in comparison to jaw and parotid; these two regions are further characterized by lower creep deformation. Thicker tissue regions display a tendency towards a more compliant and less dissipative response. Comparison of superficial layer thickness and corresponding mechanical measurements suggests that connective tissue density determines the resistance to deformation in suction experiments.

RLS adaptive filtering for physiological interference reduction in NIRS brain activity measurement: a Monte Carlo study

The non-invasive measurement of cerebral functional haemodynamics using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instruments is often affected by physiological interference. The suppression of this interference is crucial for reliable recovery of brain activity measurements because it can significantly affect the signal quality. In this study, we present a recursive least-squares (RLS) algorithm for adaptive filtering to reduce the magnitude of the physiological interference component. To evaluate it, we implemented Monte Carlo simulations based on a five-layer slab model of a human adult head with a multidistance source–detector arrangement, of a short pair and a long pair, for NIRS measurement. We derived measurements by adopting different interoptode distances, which is relevant to the process of optimizing the NIRS probe configuration. Both RLS and least mean squares (LMS) algorithms were used to attempt the removal of physiological interference. The results suggest that the RLS algorithm is more capable of minimizing the effect of physiological interference due to its advantages of faster convergence and smaller mean squared error (MSE). The influence of superficial layer thickness on the performance of the RLS algorithm was also investigated. We found that the near-detector position is an important variable in minimizing the MSE and a short source–detector separation less than 9 mm is robust to superficial layer thickness variation.

Biodegradable nanoparticles made from polylactide-grafted dextran copolymers

Polysaccharide-covered polyester nanoparticles were prepared using the emulsion/solvent evaporation process. The core of the nanoparticles was made either of PLA or of a blend of polylactide and polylactide-grafted dextran copolymer in various proportions. The surface of the nanoparticles was covered by dextran chains via the use of water-soluble polylactide-grafted dextrans as polymeric stabilizers during the emulsification step. The characteristics of the nanoparticles (size, surface coverage, thickness of superficial layer, colloidal stability) were correlated to the structural parameters (length and number of polylactide grafts) of the copolymers as well as to their surface active properties. The complete biodegradability of the nanoparticles was evaluated by considering the rate of hydrolysis of polylactide grafts in phosphate buffer and the rate of enzymatic degradation of dextran backbone by dextranase.

Calculation of Air Kerma to Average Glandular Tissue Dose Conversion Factors for Mammography

Among the quantities used for dose specification in mammography the average absorbed dose in glandular tissue is most appropriate for risk assessments. Generally, average absorbed dose in glandular tissue is derived from measurement of air kerma free-in-air combined with conversion factors obtained from radiation transport calculations in mathematical breast models. Air kerma to glandular tissue dose conversion factors are published by various authors as a function of half-value layer (HVL) for simple breast phantoms. Calculations by different authors differ in radiation transport codes, photon interaction data, photon spectra, composition and thickness of superficial layer (representing skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue), presence of compression plate, and are not performed with the tissue compositions recommended by the ICRU. Protocols for dosimetry in mammography in different European countries (UK, Netherlands, Sweden) use results from different authors. To study the influence of the parameters indicated, air kerma to glandular tissue dose conversion factors, g, are calculated using the MCNP radiation transport code. Use of different spectra can cause differences in g values up to about 7%. The use of a compression plate results in a 4.5±1.5% smaller g value for the same HVL. The use of MCPLIB cross sections results in 10% higher g values compared to the use of XCOM data. The influence of the backscatter material (composition and thickness) on the g value is marginal (<1%). The different superficial layers used result in differences in g values of up to 19%. When the breast thickness is changed from 2 cm to 8 cm, g values decrease by a factor of about 4. Employing Hammerstein's tissue compositions compared to those from the ICRU results in differences in g values up to about 14%.

Electron beam induced current study of thin silicon layers on insulator substrate

If a thickness of a semiconductor is smaller than the penetration depth of the electron beam, e.g. in silicon on insulator (SOI) structures, only a small portion of incident electrons energy , which is lost in a superficial silicon layer separated by the oxide from the substrate, contributes to the electron beam induced current (EBIC). Because the energy loss distribution of primary beam is not uniform and varies with beam energy, it is not straightforward to predict the optimum conditions for using this technique. Moreover, the energy losses in an ohmic or Schottky contact complicate this prediction. None of the existing theories, which are based on an assumption of a point-like region of electron beam generation, can be used satisfactorily on SOI structures. We have used a Monte Carlo technique which provide a simulation of the electron beam interactions with thin multilayer structures. The EBIC current was calculated using a simple one dimensional geometry, i.e. depletion layer separating electron- hole pairs spreads out to infinity in x- and y-direction. A point-type generation function with location being an actual location of an incident electron energy loss event has been assumed. A collection efficiency of electron-hole pairs was assumed to be 100% for carriers generated within the depletion layer, and inversely proportional to the exponential function of depth with the effective diffusion length as a parameter outside this layer. A series of simulations were performed for various thicknesses of superficial silicon layer. The geometries used for simulations were chosen to match the "real" samples used in the experimental part of this work. The theoretical data presented in Fig. 1 show how significandy the gain decreases with a decrease in superficial layer thickness in comparison with bulk material. Moreover, there is an optimum beam energy at which the gain reaches its maximum value for particular silicon thickness.