Topographic Picture Research Articles

AFM, Nano − indentation and TEM characterization study of HFCVD diamond on tantalum and diamond seeded cemented carbide inserts

This research describes an enhanced characterization technique for studying diamond production by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) on cemented carbide (WC − Co) SPUN inserts. The characteristics of diamond (Dia.) and tantalum (Ta) seeded powders used as seeding materials were determined using a variety of microscopic characterizations. Topographic and cross-sectional pictures obtained using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively, demonstrate that the Ta-seeded substrate had a higher nucleation density, whereas the Dia.-seeded substrate had thicker coatings. Findings from atomic force microscopy (AFM) show that Ta-seeded substrates' mechanical strength is expectedly higher due to the smaller grains and higher apparent density. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, the Dia. − seeded substrate displayed a lower dislocation density, strain, and Burgers' vector magnitude. The highly crystalline structure of the Ta-seeded sample appeared in the Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images. However, the multi-gradient sample structure of the Dia.-seeded Sample obtained increased its ductility property. The nanoindentation results demonstrated that the Ta-seeded substrate had a higher hardness while the Dia.-seeded substrate had a higher Stiffness and Youngs' modulus value. The findings are crucial for present-day CVD applications since Ta powders offer an alternative option to diamond powders.

Pulsed Current Vs. Organic Additives on Electrodeposition from Zincate Bath

Among the various zinc electroplating baths, alkaline zincate solution has gained a wider range of applications thanks to its simple bath composition, good dispersion and efficient coverage ability. Nevertheless, alkaline zincate solution cannot be used as such and it is necessary to introduce additives to control the process performances [1]. Otherwise, efficiency is extremely low, and the properties of the coatings are disappointing. Additives can modify the crystal growth and therefore the structural and mechanical properties, the corrosion resistance, and the appearance of coatings [2]. In the absence of additives, the main problem is low efficiency, resulting from the competition between dihydrogen production and the reduction of the metallic species present in the bath.Therefore, pulsed currents constitute an attractive way to eliminate the need for organic additives by significantly improving the Faradic yield. In this study, the influence of various pulsed current sequences versus the addition of organic additives is observed in the characteristics of the coatings as well as in the process execution. A key point in the determination of the pulse sequence is the study of the transient curves with a zincate bath. This allows for the identification of the most influential parameters on dihydrogen production, with direct consequences on the process mechanisms.By knowing the τD i.e. diffusion time preceding hydrogen reduction, it is possible to design pulse sequences with limited gas production. This is confirmed by mass spectrometry measurements which quantify the total dihydrogen production for each pulse sequence. Fig 1.The coating’s characterization consists in SEM analysis topographic pictures and preferential orientations and grain sizes determined through XRD. Results confirm the interest of pulsed currents versus organic additives for zincate baths.[1] J. L. Ortiz-Aparicio, Y. Meas, G. Trejo, R. Ortega, T. W. Chapman, et E. Chainet, « Effects of organic additives on zinc electrodeposition from alkaline electrolytes », J Appl Electrochem, vol. 43, no 3, p. 289-300, mars 2013, doi: 10.1007/s10800-012-0518-x.[2] L. Yuan, Z. Ding, S. Liu, W. Shu, et Y. He, « Effects of additives on zinc electrodeposition from alkaline zincate solution », Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, vol. 27, no 7, p. 1656-1664, juill. 2017, doi: 10.1016/S1003-6326(17)60188-2. Figure 1

Keratoconus Screening Based on Deep Learning Approach of Corneal Topography.

PurposeTo develop and compare deep learning (DL) algorithms to detect keratoconus on the basis of corneal topography and validate with visualization methods.MethodsWe retrospectively collected corneal topographies of the study group with clinically manifested keratoconus and the control group with regular astigmatism. All images were divided into training and test datasets. We adopted three convolutional neural network (CNN) models for learning. The test dataset was applied to analyze the performance of the three models. In addition, for better discrimination and understanding, we displayed the pixel-wise discriminative features and class-discriminative heat map of diopter images for visualization.ResultsOverall, 170 keratoconus, 28 subclinical keratoconus and 156 normal topographic pictures were collected. The convergence of accuracy and loss for the training and test datasets after training revealed no overfitting in all three CNN models. The sensitivity and specificity of all CNN models were over 0.90, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve reached 0.995 in the ResNet152 model. The pixel-wise discriminative features and the heat map of the prediction layer in the VGG16 model both revealed it focused on the largest gradient difference of topographic maps, which was corresponding to the diagnostic clues of ophthalmologists. The subclinical keratoconus was positively predicted with our model and also correlated with topographic indexes.ConclusionsThe DL models had fair accuracy for keratoconus screening based on corneal topographic images. The visualization mentioned in the current study revealed that the model focused on the appropriate region for diagnosis and rendered clinical explainability of deep learning more acceptable.Translational RelevanceThese high accuracy CNN models can aid ophthalmologists in keratoconus screening with color-coded corneal topography maps.

The method of topographic tensoalgometry for assessing biomechanical characteristics of soft tissues

Introduction. The search for a reliable method for determining the characteristics of superficial soft tissues, which would not only evaluate the biomechanical indices of a particular local zone, but also identify existing changes in the entire area subject to therapeutic manipulation and, moreover, offer recommendations for choosing specific massage techniques, is relevant.The goal of research — to investigate the possibility of using the method of topographic tensoalgometry for assessing the biomechanical characteristics of soft tissues, as a new tool for objective evaluation of methods of manual impact on the patient′s body, taking into account the complete topographic picture of the studied area of patients′ soft tissues.Materials and methods. The study included 43 volunteers aged 18 to 49 years, 24 male and 19 female, with various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, mainly with a diagnosis of lower back pain (ICD-10 code M54.5), who were prescribed a course using classic massage techniques, conducted daily for 5 days. Before and after the massage course, all volunteers underwent topographic tensoalgometry.Results. The advantages of the proposed new method for objectifying the characteristics of surface soft tissues, its practical feasibility and clinical usefulness were shown.Conclusion. Obtained by topographic tensoalgometric diagnostic′s method the data of a holistic topographic picture of the studied area of the soft tissues of patients allow us to give recommendations on the choice of specific groups of massage techniques and to control the dynamics of changes in the data of strain and algometry.

Making the High Street: Walking Tours and Street Views in the 1830s

Directories and town guides provide rather different representations of the town: typically, the former offer a kind of socio-commercial quantification through lists of tradesmen and private residents; the latter unfold qualitative descriptions of key historical and cultural locations and create a topographical picture for the visitor. Tallis’s London Street Views (1838–40) and William West’s History of Warwickshire (1830) both do something rather different. Tallis’s street views are well known: a unique visualization of commercial space; West is less familiar and forms the main focus of my paper. I explore the ways in which he drew on particular facets of Birmingham’s commerce and married this both spatially and architecturally with key cultural infrastructure to create a uniquely Birmingham high street and a particular view of the city as commercial and dynamic yet cultured. I then use this perspective to reconsider Tallis’s street views: to consider the spatial context of high street commercial retailing (the buildings and spaces between shops) and whether these were views of London or a series of different districts within London.

The medieval social topography of Szeged

As the name historical social topography implies it comprehends the ancient location and distribution of particular groups and layers of inhabitants in a settlement. It is important since ethnic, religious and occupational groups are able either to impose particular characters of settlement structure, or significantly influence their location and ground use. Several social data of a Christian tithe list made for the diocese of Bács in the year 1522, and a defter (i.e. a Turkish tax list) from 1546 were placed on the medieval map of Szeged previously reconstructed by the author - resulting in an extremely rich social topographic picture of a large medieval peasant market town. It can be observed that the well-heeled intelligentsia and the wealthy burgesses, - priests, judges, schoolmasters etc, and the craftsmen of privileged trades such as goldsmiths, and the vineyard owners - lived near the centres, mainly in the fortified Palánk or around the churches in Felsõváros and Alsóváros. It is obvious that those, whose trades were connected with agriculture or animal husbandry, lived on the outskirts, making use of good transportation and storage possibilities there. The fine manufacturers and the ones working with great value were clustering in certain areas, probably as a consequence of the guild system. The processed and mapped 411 data of 403 tax payers cover more than a quarter of the 1574 listed households.

Magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal muscle

Clinical investigations of neuromuscular diseases routinely involve genetic, neurophysiological, biochemical and histopathological methods. More recently, various magnetic resonance imaging techniques have become available and extended the differential diagnostic possibilities. Using magnetic resonance imaging it is now possible to quantify muscle volume in selected body regions and measure wasting and exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy. Evidence is forthcoming that many hereditary myopathies are characterized by distinct patterns of muscle degeneration and this helps in selecting other relevant genetic and biochemical investigations. With diffusion-weighted tensor imaging it is possible to identify the microstructure of normal and diseased muscles. Arterial spin labelling is an emerging non-invasive tool to assess blood-flow changes in individual muscles. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy now provides an exciting opportunity to visualize metabolic changes and the pathophysiologically relevant cellular perturbations in muscle channelopathies affecting the muscle-specific sodium-channel isoform Na(v)1.4. Magnetic resonance imaging supplements investigations for the differential diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases. An advantage over routine neurophysiological or histopathological methods is that they are operator-independent, non-invasive and painless. Magnetic resonance imaging also has the advantage of providing a lasting detailed topographical picture of regional variations and allows robust measurements of muscle volume and various functional parameters.

SOLVATION EFFECTS ON FREE ENERGY SURFACE OF POLYALANINE

We have simulated 10-residue polyalanine chain by multicanonical method to visualize the 3D topographic picture of the free energy landscape over the whole range of temperatures, hence to show the funnel along the folding pathway exhaustively. We have simulated and compared the system in vacuo and in solvent, and examined the changes in the free energy landscape due to the solvent effects, which are taken into account by commonly used model Accessible Surface Area.

Characterization of niobium, tantalum and chromium sputtered coatings on steel using eddy currents

A method that uses induced eddy current for characterization of niobium, tantalum and chromium sputtered coating on steel is presented in this paper. The objective of this work is to find the correlation between the sputtering conditions and resistivity of coatings and to develop a system for fast inspection of coatings as a coating quality control tool during production as well as in the field for determining coating degradation levels. A two-probe differential system having higher sensitivity and less noise than a one-probe system with 2D scanning ability was developed. A computer program that controls an XY table and performs fast data acquisition was written. Resistivity maps of the niobium, tantalum and chromium coated samples were constructed and are shown in the paper. For niobium coatings, the relationship between sputtering pressure and resistivity of coatings is examined, as well as the relationship between impurity level of process gas and resistivity of coatings. For tantalum coatings, the relationship between beta-Ta fraction and resistivity is analyzed. For chromium coatings, the relationship between micro-crack density and resistivity of coatings is analyzed. The topographic picture and destructive analysis of the samples show very good correlation with eddy currents measurements.

Imaging of peripheral nerve lesions.

Clinical investigations of peripheral nerve lesions routinely involve nerve conduction studies and electromyography. Imaging studies are often used to exclude focal mass lesions or external compression and to visualize muscle atrophy. More recently, it has been recognized that magnetic resonance imaging can identify changes in peripheral nerves and secondary neurogenic alterations in skeletal muscle, which may significantly enhance its use in the differential diagnosis of peripheral nerve disease. Acute axonal nerve lesions cause a hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images at and distal to the lesion site, which correlates with Wallerian degeneration and nerve oedema. Superparamagnetic iron oxide particles provide an exciting new tool to detect the invasion of macrophages into the degenerating nerve distal to an axonal lesion. Prolongation of the T2 relaxation time and gadolinium enhancement of denervated muscle develop in parallel to the development of spontaneous activity on electromyography, and are probably the consequence of capillary enlargement and increased muscular blood volume. Magnetic resonance imaging supplements the differential diagnosis of peripheral nerve disease. An advantage over clinical neurophysiological investigations is that it is operator independent and painless. It can identify axonal damage and may thus help to identify a lesion site precisely, where fractionated nerve conduction studies are not applicable. Novel contrast media may potentially be used to detect pathophysiologically relevant mechanisms such as infiltration of the nerve by macrophages. Magnetic resonance imaging also has the advantage of providing a lasting detailed topographical picture of regional variations and avoids localization errors of muscles in electromyography.

On the issue of innervation of dorsal longitudinal musculature of Lymnaea stagnalis with inferior cervical nerve

Using the method of the anterograde dextran tetramethylrhodamin transport, there is obtained the topographic picture of branching of inferior cervical nerve axons on fibers of the dorsal longitudinal muscle in Lymnaea stagnalis (L.). Using the retrograde staining, the neuronal bodies sending their processes into this nerve are marked. Manifestations of asymmetry in distribution of neurons stained through the right and left nerves are described. The electron microscopic studies have shown that the main number of the inferior cervical nerve axons is represented by thin fibers presumably belonging to the sensory cells. A part of the nerve fibers and their endings show imunoreactivity to serotonin and acetylcholine. The serotoninergic fibers predominate quantitatively over the cholinergic ones and account for a half of the fibers stained with dextran. A possible functional role of the serotoninergic and cholinergic innervation of the dorsal longitudinal muscle in Lymnaea stagnalis is discussed.

STRUCTURE OF ENERGY LANDSCAPE OF SHORT PEPTIDES

We have simulated, as a showcase, the pentapeptide Met-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) to visualize the energy landscape and to investigate the conformational coverage by the multicanonical method. We obtained a three-dimensional topographic picture of the whole energy landscape by plotting the histogram with respect to energy (temperature) and the order parameter, which gives the degree of resemblance of any created conformation with the global energy minimum.

X-ray diffraction on Si single crystal with a W-shaped longitudinal groove

The measurement of the sagittal deviation of an X-ray beam diffracted on the inclined surface of an Si(111) single crystal was performed on beamline BM5 at the ESRF, with lambda = 0.1 nm and an inclination angle, beta, of 70 degrees . The measured value agrees with the theory developed in previous papers. The topographic picture of the longitudinal edge shows a structure that can be explained in terms of the properties of inclined diffraction.

Ceramica dal monastero della Theotokos nel Wadi ‘Ayn al-Kanisah – Monte Nebo

This study presents the pottery recovered during excavations conducted in 1995 in and around the large central courtyard E and the sector towards the south of the church, with the aim of completing the topographical picture of the complex and identifying its various stages of development. Special attention is paid to the collection of pottery unearthed by two specimen soundings effected below the mosaic of courtyard E near the northern entrance gate of the monastery (specimen I) and just outside the gate (specimen II), originating from a lone closed stratigraphic context, useful in the dating of the courtyard and, as a result, also of its surroundings. The thick red colour of the mixture and the shape and decorations of the pottery point to VI-VII century, fully agreeing with the period suggested on stylistic basis of the first mosaic of the chapel. Thus the mosaic courtyard and the surrounding wall belong to the same period of the chapel itself. Levels of habitation inherent to this period are identified in section E4. The fragment belonging to the last occupation point to the second half of the VIIIth century. Furthermore, this dating coincides with some coins recovered in a fireplace in E4. It confirms a precise end post quem to the date of restoration of the mosaic in the church (762 AD).

Initial clinical experiences with the Dresden 3D display in conjunction with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT)

For years the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph has been an established method to diagnose early glaucomatous damages at the optic nerve head. The major difficulty consists in defining the outlayer of the optic nerve head in a 2-dimensional reflective or topographic picture. A 3-dimensional presentation of the ocular fundus could ease the defining very much. The Dresden 3D-display tested provides a true 3-dimensional presentation of the HRT-values measured. For the study 5 groups of prediagnosed follow-up examinations were formed, which in their course showed various progression. The examination firstly was carried out by manual defining of the papilla contour on the Dresden 3D-display and secondly by the new automatic contour-finding of the 3D-software. Through the 3-dimensional presentation a more correct position of the contour can be found when drawn manually. As a result some diagnoses of the 2-dimensional HRT-pictures had to be revised. The results proved considerable differences between the automatic outlayer-finding and the probably real position of the papilla borders. The 3-dimensional presentation of the HRT-pictures represents an subjective improvement regarding the accuracy of manual contour definition. In particular, the fact that it is feasible to make the pictures rotate around the axes offers completely new insights to the morphology of the disc.

A study of motoneuron groups and motor columns of the human spinal cord.

Eight normal human spinal cords were studied for motoneuron (Mn) groups and columns. Spinal segments (C1 to Coc.) were identified and embedded in paraffin wax. Serial cross sections were cut at 25 microm and stained by cresyl violet. Cross-sectional profiles of the spinal cord were traced for each segmental level and the outlines of the various Mn groups superimposed. These charts (maps) were used to examine intra and intersegmental changes in the relative positions of the columns. An attempt was made to provide topographical picture of Mn groups of individual segments. In the cervical region neuronal groups were more numerous but smaller and less distinct, while in the lumbosacral region they were fewer, larger and at many levels better circumscribed. The average number of Mn groups at any segmental level was 3-4 and never exceeded 5. C4, C5, C6, C7, L4, L5 and S1 contained numerous Mn groups. Maximum intrasegmental changes were noted at C3, C4, C7, T1, and S2, while at C5, C6, all thoracic, L1 L2 and L3, the pattern was constant throughout the segment. Eleven motor columns were traced in the human spinal cord. Column 1 belonged to the medial division and columns 2-11 to the lateral division of the ventral grey horn. Columns 1 and 2 were the most extensive as they were traceable from the lower medulla to S3 segment. Columns 3-8 were confined to cervical segments (including T1), while columns 9-11 were traced in lumbosacral segments. In general, motor columns followed a definite mode for their appearance and disappearance. Many of them showed rotation from a dorsal to a ventromedial direction.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy Studies of Powdery Palladium/Graphite Model Catalysts

Powdery Pd/graphite model catalysts were studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), with the later two techniques in air. In contrast to TEM images, STM/STS data are representative of the very surface and are therefore more relevant for an interpretation of the catalytic properties of these kind of catalysts. Besides spherical clusters and layered structures, also platelike and diffuse structures could be distinguished in the STM images. An assignment of the different objects to one of the main elementsgraphite and palladiumwas possible with STS. The I(V) curves on graphite are always much narrower on the V axis than those on palladium, and their slope dI/dV is, thus, larger. Utilizing this distinction, “chemical maps” were determined by taking I(V) data over a grid of surface points and assigning each point the value of the integral under its dI/dV curve. The comparison of such a chemical map with the topographic STM picture of the same area shows that only the spherical cluster structures consist of palladium, in accordance with the TEM pictures. The layered and platelike structures are identified as graphite, and the diffuse structures probably belong to impurities. In any case, the latter consist neither of graphite nor of palladium. A statistical analysis of the cluster morphology reveals that at low Pd loads the clusters are of spherical shape whereas the average width-to-height ratio increases at higher concentrations. The clusters at higher Pd concentrations exhibit a more elliptical shape.

The Nile Mosaic of Palestrina: Early Evidence of Egyptian Religion in Italy

The Nile Mosaic of Palestrina, ancient Praeneste in central Italy, dating to about 100BC, is one of the earliest large mosaics which have been preserved from the classical world. Interpretation of the mosaic is disputed, suggestions ranging from the exotic decoration to a topographical picture or a religious allegory. This study argues that the mosaic depicts rituals connected with Isis and Osiris and the yearly Nile flood. The presence of these Egyptian religious scenes at Praeneste can be explained by the assimilation of Isis and Fortuna, the tutelary goddess of Praeneste, and by the interpretation of the mosaic as a symbol of divine providence. This book should be of interest to classical archaeologists, art historians, Egyptologists, classical philologists, ancient historians and students of ancient religion.

The scanning tunneling microscope and surface characterization

Scanning tunneling microscopes (STMS), which are now available in several commercial versions, are well suited to produce topographic pictures of areas up to 100*100 mu m2 from electrical conducting surfaces. The authors present two examples of its use. Firstly, diamond turned platinum/10% iridium samples, which are machined as 1 kg mass prototypes; STM-pictures reveal features of the wear of the diamond tool. New hysteresis correction techniques are demonstrated and traceable calibration of the images is discussed. From the corrected images a number of roughness parameters are deduced. Secondly, a mono-molecular layer deposited on graphite is presented to demonstrate the extreme versatility of the instrument.

E31-16(P-77) 月・惑星表層の画像解析 (1)

E31-16(P-77) 月・惑星表層の画像解析 (1)