High-resolution spectroscopic imaging of the human skin

High-resolution water, fat and chemical shift artefact-free images of different areas of the skin were obtained on a whole-body MR unit (1.5 T) with commercial receiver surface coil with a diameter of 25 mm and high-power gradients (23 mT/m). Sufficient signal-to-noise ratio was achieved by lowering receiver bandwidth to +/-10 kHz or lower and shortening the echo time to 11 (13) ms. Spectroscopic image data sets were acquired with resolution 0.102 x 0.133 mm in plane and slice thickness 0.5 mm. The results demonstrate that it is possible to produce high-quality water and fat micro-images of the skin layers using only a few chemical shift encoding steps in a clinically reasonable time (approximately 2 minutes per slice).     

Design and development of the 6–18 MeV electron beam system for medical and other applications

A system for the electron and photon therapy has been designed and developed at SAMEER, IITB, Mumbai. All the components of the system such as the 270° beam bending electromagnet, trim coils, magnet chamber, electron scattering foil, slits, applicators, etc., were designed and fabricated indigenously. The electrons of 6, 8, 9, 12, 15 and 18?MeV energies were provided by a linear accelerator, indigenously designed and made at SAMEER, IITB campus, Mumbai. The electron beam from the LINAC enters the magnet chamber horizontally, and after deflection and focusing in the 270° bending magnet, comes out of the exit port, and travels a straight path vertically down. After passing through the beryllium and tantalum scattering foils, the electron beam gets scattered and turns into a solid cone shape such that the diameter increases with the travel distance. The simulation results indicate that at the exit port of the 270° beam bending magnet, the electron beam has a divergence angle of ≤ 3?mrad and diameter ～2–3?mm, and remains constant over 6–18?MeV. Normally, 6–18?MeV electrons are used for the electron therapy of skin and malignant cancer near the skin surface. On a plane at a distance of 100?cm from the scattering foils, the size of the electron beam could be varied from 10?cm?×?10?cm to 25?cm?×?25?cm using suitable applicators and slits. Different types of applicators were therefore designed and fabricated to provide required beam profile and dose of electrons to a patient. The 6?MeV cyclic electron accelerator called Race-Track Microtron of S. P. Pune University, Pune, was extensively used for studying the performances of the scattering foils, electron beam uniformity and radiation dose measurement. Different types of thermoluminescent dosimetry dosimeters were developed to measure dose in the range of 1–10kGy.     

Depth profiling of porcine adipose tissue by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was applied on a depth profile of porcine adipose tissue (from skin to meat) with the purpose of (1) discriminating between fat layers and (2) estimating the variation in fatty acid composition as a function of fat depth and fat layer: total degree of unsaturation (iodine value), fractions of saturated, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The thickness and composition of the outer layer of porcine adipose tissue influences the final quality of backfat. A too‐thick outer layer is associated with problems such as oily appearance, rancidity development, and difficulties in separating muscle and adipose tissue when cutting. From principal component analysis on standard normal variate preprocessed Raman spectra (1800–800 cm^–1), it was possible to discriminate between the outer and the inner backfat layer. Principal component analysis loadings showed that the separation of layer was mainly explained by variation in the bands originating from vibration of double bond C = C stretching plus = C–H twisting and rocking. In the prediction of iodine value a three‐component partial least squares regression model based on full range Raman spectra showed a root mean square error of cross validation of 2.00 and R² = 0.69. Applying Cauchy–Lorentz band fitting proved that information regarding fat unsaturation was found not only in band intensity, but also in band parameters such as location and width. The results suggest Raman spectroscopy as a potential measurement technique for rapid grading of pork carcasses. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectroscopic studies of sodium nitrate plasma produced by nanosecond laser ablation

We present the optical emission characteristics of the sodium plasma produced at the surface of sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) also known as Chile saltpeter. We used a Q-switched Nd:YAG (Quantel Brilliant) pulsed laser having a pulse duration of 5?ns and 10?Hz repetition rate which is capable of delivering 400?mJ at 1064?nm and 200?mJ at 532?nm. The target material was placed in front of laser beam in air (atmospheric pressure). The experimentally observed line profiles of neutral sodium have been used to extract the electron temperature using the Boltzmann plot method, whereas the electron number density has been determined from the Stark broadening. The electron temperature is calculated by varying the distance from the target surface along the line of propagation of the plasma plume and also by varying the laser irradiance. Besides, we have studied the variation of number density as a function of laser irradiance as well as its variation with the distance from the target surface. It is observed that electron temperature and electron number density increase as the laser irradiance is increased.     

拉曼光谱法测定天然脂肪球脂质成分

天然脂肪球主要由甘油三酯构成,以不同大小的球状形式分泌而得。不同大小的脂肪球的球体和膜组成成分不同,从而影响了脂肪在乳中的存在形式和最终的乳品功能特性。然而,不同大小的脂肪球成分的差异尚未完全阐明。利用拉曼光谱测定特定大小脂肪球及膜的脂质和脂肪酸组成。拉曼光谱能够从单个脂肪球获得特定拉曼信号,并且在不破坏天然脂肪球构型的情况下进行测定。结果显示,小脂肪球在2 885/2 850 cm-1处条带信号较高,表明小脂肪球趋于形成结晶态的脂肪球膜包裹流动态的甘油三酯内核的结构。此外,小脂肪球与大脂肪球相比,1 655/1 443 cm-1的条带信号较低,表明小脂肪球的脂肪酸不饱和程度较高。总之,从本实验结果可以推断,用特定的小脂肪球分离而得的稀奶油在熔化时较大脂肪球难熔化,搅拌耗时更多,但能形成更柔软的黄油。     

High strain rate deformation and fracture of the magnesium alloy Ma2-1 under shock wave loading

This paper presents the results of measurements of the dynamic elastic limit and spall strength under shock wave loading of specimens of the magnesium alloy Ma2-1 with a thickness ranging from 0.25 to 10 mm at normal and elevated (to 550°C) temperatures. From the results of measurements of the decay of the elastic precursor of a shock compression wave, it has been found that the plastic strain rate behind the front of the elastic precursor decreases from 2 × 10⁵ s^?1 at a distance of 0.25 mm to 10³ s^?1 at a distance of 10 mm. The plastic strain rate in a shock wave is one order of magnitude higher than that in the elastic precursor at the same value of the shear stress. The spall strength of the alloy decreases as the solidus temperature is approached.     

Temporal mismatch between pain behaviour, skin Nerve Growth Factor and intra-epidermal nerve fibre density in trigeminal neuropathic pain

Background

The neurotrophin Nerve Growth factor (NGF) is known to influence the phenotype of mature nociceptors, for example by altering synthesis of neuropeptides, and changes in NGF levels have been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic pain conditions such as neuropathic pain. We have tested the hypothesis that after partial nerve injury, NGF accumulates within the skin and causes ‘pro-nociceptive’ phenotypic changes in the remaining population of sensory nerve fibres, which could underpin the development of neuropathic pain.

Results

Eleven days after chronic constriction injury of the rat mental nerve the intra-epidermal nerve fibre density of the chin skin from had reduced from 11.6?±?4.9 fibres/mm to 1.0?±?0.4 fibres/mm; this slowly recovered to 2.4?±?2.0 fibres/mm on day 14 and 4.0?±?0.8 fibres/mm on day 21. Cold hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral lower lip was detectable 11 days after chronic constriction injury, although at this time skin [NGF] did not differ between sides. At 14 days post-injury, there was a significantly greater [NGF] ipsilaterally compared to contralaterally (ipsilateral?=?111?±?23 pg/mg, contralateral?=?69?±?13 pg/mg), but there was no behavioural evidence of neuropathic pain at this time-point. By 21 days post-injury, skin [NGF] was elevated bilaterally and there was a significant increase in the proportion of TrkA-positive (the high-affinity NGF receptor) intra-epidermal nerve fibres that were immunolabelled for the neuropeptide Calcitonin Gene-related peptide.

Conclusions

The temporal mismatch in behaviour, skin [NGF] and phenotypic changes in sensory nerve fibres indicate that increased [NGF] does not cause hyperalgesia after partial mental nerve injury, although it may contribute to the altered neurochemistry of cutaneous nerve fibres.     

Pressure dependence of plasma parameters in medium-vacuum nitrogenarc discharge with the titanium cathode

The plasma properties of a medium-vacuum nitrogen arc discharge from a titanium cathode were studied. The arc chamber use was 400 mm in diameter and 600 mm in length. The cathode diameter and thickness were 64 and 25 mm, respectively. The experimental conditions are given as follows: pressure range=1×10^-3~2×10^-1 torr; N₂ gas flow rate=6 ml/min; arc current=50 A. Electric probe characteristics are measured as a function of pressure and distance from the cathode surface. The analytical results obtained show that the electron energy distribution takes 1-Mx at pressures above 1×10^-2 torr but 2-Mx at pressures under 4×10^-2 torr and that the electron density has a maximum value at a certain pressure. The Ti⁺, Ti⁺⁺, and N ⁺₂ ion spectral intensities are measured as a function of pressure and distance from the cathode surface. On comparison of these results and the electron density, the Ti⁺ spectral intensity turns out to be proportional to that of the electron density. This suggests that the major ion in the plasma volume is of the Ti⁺ species     

喷射等离子体触发气体开关导通特性

利用内嵌微孔火花放电产生喷射等离子体、作用于两电极开关,研究了间隙距离、气压、气体种类、开关工作系数和电压极性配合等因素对等离子体喷射控制开关导通特性的影响。实验结果表明,等离子体喷射触发开关可在工作系数为10%的条件下可靠快速导通,当开关采用0.5 MPa_N₂作为绝缘介质、间隙距离5 mm时,触发导通时延为11.7 μs,抖动为1.42 μs;当间隙距离增大到18 mm时,触发导通时延增大至19.7 μs,触发可靠性降低;当工作系数由10%增大到60%时,触发导通时延由11.7 μs降低至1.1 μs。在确保开关自击穿电压一致的前提下,短间隙、高气压、负触发脉冲电压、正工作电压更有利于减小开关触发导通时延。     

Diffusion characteristics of large molecules assessed by proton MRS on a whole-body MR system

Methods for examinations of diffusion of large molecules of the size of fatty acids or triglycerides were developed for whole body MR units. Samples of aliphatic molecules were examined to study the influence of chain length. Feasibility under in vivo conditions was tested on lard samples at 37 degrees C and on human subjects Three stimulated echo sequences with maximum b-values of 2000 s/mm(2), 20000 s/mm(2), and 80000 s/mm(2) were used to assess a wide range of mobility. Sequence timing was optimized to minimize relaxation losses of fatty tissue. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were determined from five spectra with different diffusion weighting. In-vitro experiments were performed on butanol, decanol, and oleic acid to study the influence of chain length. In vivo conditions were mimicked using lard at 37 degrees C representing a composition of substances of various chain lengths. Subcutaneous fat and tibial bone marrow were studied in three healthy volunteers. ADC of muscular lipids of the lower leg was determined in two subjects. ADC values of pure aliphatic substances were in the range between 3.2 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s for oleic acid and 37.8 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s for butanol. In vivo investigations revealed ADC values of 1.11-1.24 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s for tibial bone marrow and 1.21-2.05 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s for subcutaneous fat. Diffusion coefficients of extra- and intramyocellular lipids were 1.83-3.65 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s and 2.22-3.60 x 10(-5) mm(2)/s, respectively. The proposed technique enables determination of ADC values of relatively large molecules and of lipid tissue compartments under in vivo conditions. Diffusion properties in several human lipid compartments are reported for the first time. Incoherent voxel motion influences the in vivo results to an unknown degree because of high motion sensitivity. In vitro experiments revealed ADC values depending on the chain length of the substances, indicating a residual dependence of measured ADC's on sequence timing.     

Self-Lubricating Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Thin Films with Excellent Wear Resistance at Light Friction Loads on Glass and Silicon

Thin films of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were prepared on glass and silicon using a dip-coating technique, followed by removal of the decahydronaphthalene solvent at 140?°C for 20?hours and cooling in the oven in air. The wetting ability of the films was investigated by a contact angle method. The tribological behavior of the films was investigated using a ball-on-disk configuration in reciprocating mode. The reciprocating frequency of 4?Hz and single sliding distance of 5?mm used corresponded to a sliding speed of 40?mm/s. The counterface was a GCr15 steel ball with diameter of 3?mm and the normal frictional loads were 10–300?g. The worn surfaces on the films and wear scars on the steel ball were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the surface morphologies of the films on glass and silicon were different, which is ascribed to the difference in thermal conductivity of the glass and silicon. Evaporation of the solution caused micro-orifices in the films on glass. The water contacting angle of about 87° on the films on the two substrates was similar to that of bulk UHMWPE. Their friction coefficient of about 0.1–0.2 indicated the films were self-lubricating. The wear life of the films decreased quickly with the increase of friction load. At light friction loads, the films showed excellent wear resistance. Extrusion was believed to be the main wear mechanism of the films.     

Electric-pulse breakdown and the breakage of granite

The breakage of granite during the action of an electric pulse is studied for a two-electrode system in the interelectrode distance range 10–300 mm and a power input of 3.6–100 J/mm per unit interelectrode length. Empirical dependences of the breakdown voltage, the breakage depth, the breakage output, and the specific energy consumption on the interelectrode distance are obtained.     

2.4/4.8/7.2 GHz三频段谐波雷达天线的研究与设计

研究设计了一种应用于手持式谐波雷达的三频段单极子天线。天线采用共面波导馈电,通过在单极子天线主辐射体加载L型辐射枝节、在接近主辐射体的接地平面开三角形切口的方法,使其谐振于2.4 GHz,4.8 GHz和7.2 GHz三个频段。同时,在距离天线10 mm处加载金属挡板,使天线辐射方向性增强,并能接收多个方向反射的电磁波。所实现的天线尺寸为54 mm×53 mm×1.6 mm,在三个工作频段上的带宽分别为0.51 GHz(2.35～2.86),1.39 GHz(4.17～5.56),1.46 GHz(6.17～7.63),能够有效覆盖谐波雷达全部的工作频段;由天线的峰值增益和辐射方向图可知,天线在工作频段内增益性能和整体辐射性能良好。     

Development of PDMS-based flexible dry type SEMG electrodes by micromachining technologies

The authors developed PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)-based dry type surface electromyography (SEMG) electrodes for myoelectric prosthetic hands. The SEMG electrodes were strongly recommended to be fabricated on a flexible substrate to be compatible with the surface of skin. In this study, the authors designed a bar-shaped dry-type flexible SEMG electrodes comprised of two input electrodes and a reference electrode on a flexible PDMS substrate to measure EMG signals. The space distance between each electrode with a size of 10 mm × 2 mm was chosen to 18 mm to get optimal result according to the simulation result with taking into consideration the conduction velocity and the median frequency of EMG signals. Raw EMG signals were measured from Brachioradialis, Biceps brachii, deltoideus, and pectoralis major muscles, to drive the application of the myoelectric hand prosthesis. Measured raw EMG signals were transformed to root mean square (RMS) EMG signals using Acqknowledge4.2. The experimental peak voltage values of RMS EMG signals from Brachioradialis, Biceps brachii, deltoideus, and pectoralis major muscles were 2.96 V, 4.45 V, 1.74 V, and 2.62 V, respectively. Values from the dry type flexible SEMG electrodes showed higher peak values than a commercially available wet type Ag–AgCl electrode. The study shows that the PDMS-based flexible electrode devised for measuring myoelectric signals from the surface of skin is more useful for prosthetic hands because of its greater sensitivity and flexibility.     

Removal of nanoparticles on silicon wafer using a self-channeled plasma filament

The effective removal of nanoparticles from a silicon wafer surface was demonstrated using the self-channeled plasma filament excited by a femtosecond (130?fs) Ti:sapphire laser (?? _p=790?nm). The photoinduced self-channeled plasma filament in air reached a length of approximately 110?C130?mm from the first focal spot with diameters ranging from 40 to 50???m at input intensities of more than 1.0×10¹⁴?W/cm². By the scan of wafer using the X?CY?CZ stage during self-channeled plasma filament, the removal variation of nanoparticles on surface was observed in situ before and after the plasma filament occurred. The cleaning efficiency was strongly dependent on the gap distance between the plasma filament and the surface. The removal efficiency of nanoparticles reached 96?% with no damage to the surface when the gap was 150???m.     

A Modified Version of the Grimm's Glow Discharge Lamp for Use as a Demountable Hollow Cathode Emission Source. III. Blackening as a Function of Discharge Parameters

Abstract

The influence of anode distance from hollow cathode on the blackening? of spectral lines excited by means of the modified Grimm's lamp was investigated for three representative cathodic materials, i.e. aluminium, copper and graphite using argon as the carrier gas. On the basis of the experimental results as well as voltage-current characteristic curves at distances of 7, 15, 20, 25 and 33 mm, it was possible to conclude that the optimal sets of discharge parameters for all the materials investigated are based on an electrode distance of 20-25 mm. In the case of copper a distance of 33 mm was also found to be highly suitable. An increase in the emission of copper lines at the largest anodic length with increasing pressure of the noble gas was also observed, in contrast with the behavior of the same element at shorter distances. A tentative interpretation of the phenomenon is given.     

Flame propagation and quenching in iron dust clouds

Laminar flames propagating in fuel-rich suspensions of iron dust in air were studied in a reduced-gravity environment provided by a parabolic flight aircraft. Experiments were performed with four different dusts having average particle sizes in the range 3–27 μm. Uniform dust suspensions were created inside glass tubes (ID = 48 mm, L = 70 cm) and then ignited at the open end via an electrically heated wire. Quenching distances were determined as the flames propagated through assemblies of equally spaced steel plates installed in the tubes. Flame propagation speeds in the open tubes and within the quenching plates were determined from video recordings, and emission spectra recorded by a spectrometer were used to determine flame temperature. Flame quenching distance was found to increase linearly with particle size from less than 2 mm quenching distance for the 3 μm-sized dust to 10 mm quenching distance for the 27 μm-sized dust. The flame speeds in the open tubes were found to be inversely proportional to the dust particle size, and the minimum speeds observed near quenching within the plate assemblies were found to be a factor of smaller than the flame speeds in the open tube. The experimental results were in good agreement with the predictions of a simple one-dimensional dust flame model with conductive heat loss that assumes the diffusive regime of particle combustion.     

可变焦距机器视觉镜头光学系统设计

在机器视觉系统中,镜头的主要作用是将目标成像在图像传感器的光敏面上。针对生产过程中机器视觉系统在保持工作距离不变的情况下需获得不同的放大倍数,采用机械补偿形式,利用Zemax软件设计了一款可用于机器视觉的可见光多焦点变焦物镜系统。该系统工作距离可以在290 mm～340 mm范围内变化,实现了焦距从10 mm～100 mm的10倍多焦点变焦。设计结果表明:该变焦物镜最大畸变小于1%,最大兼容0.84 cm(1/3英寸)CCD图像传感器。用调制传递函数对系统的成像性能进行评估,该系统在空间频率100 lp/mm处调制传递函数大于0.3,满足成像要求。     

变焦结构光成像系统的光学设计

为了实现快速低成本改变光学系统焦距,设计了基于液体透镜的变焦结构光三维成像镜头和微透镜阵列。系统采用7片球面玻璃镜片和1片液体透镜结构, F#为3.2,全视场大小为10 mm,总长180 mm,焦距变化范围54 mm~61 mm。结果表明:该系统能实现投影距离227 mm~256 mm调节,调焦过程中目标表面清晰,细节分辨率高,系统在整个变焦区域内,在40 lp/mm时,全视场MTF优于0.2,系统场曲小于0.2,畸变小于0.2%。柱面微透镜阵列整体尺寸为10 mm×10 mm,周期宽度为1 mm,厚度为1 mm。随着投影距离的增长,光学系统成像质量先上升后下降,在237 mm处成像质量最优,随着投影距离的增加,光学系统的放大倍率增大,光学系统整体相对照度不均匀性小于0.2。     

Design parameters for the separation of fat from natural whole milk in an ultrasonic litre-scale vessel

The separation of milk fat from natural whole milk has been achieved by applying ultrasonic standing waves (1 MHz and/or 2 MHz) in a litre-scale (5 L capacity) batch system. Various design parameters were tested such as power input level, process time, specific energy, transducer–reflector distance and the use of single and dual transducer set-ups. It was found that the efficacy of the treatment depended on the specific energy density input into the system. In this case, a plateau in fat concentration of ∼20% w/v was achieved in the creamed top layer after applying a minimum specific energy of 200 kJ/kg. In addition, the fat separation was enhanced by reducing the transducer reflector distance in the vessel, operating two transducers in a parallel set-up, or by increasing the duration of insonation, resulting in skimmed milk with a fat concentration as low as 1.7% (w/v) using raw milk after 20 min insonation. Dual mode operation with both transducers in parallel as close as 30 mm apart resulted in the fastest creaming and skimming in this study at ∼1.6 g fat/min.