Application of digital infrared thermography for carpal tunnel syndrome evaluation

We investigated the thermographic findings of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We enrolled 304 hands with electrodiagnostically identified CTS and 88 control hands. CTS hands were assigned to duration groups (D1, < 3 months; D2, 3‒6 months; D3, 6‒12 months; D4, ≥ 12 months) and severity groups (S1, very mild; S2, mild; S3, moderate; S4, severe). The temperature difference between the median and ulnar nerve territories (ΔM-U territories) decreased as CTS duration and severity increased. Significant differences in ΔM-U territories between the D1 and D3, D1 and D4, D2 and D4, and S1 and S4 groups (P = 0.003, 0.001, 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively) were observed. Thermal anisometry increased as CTS duration and severity increased. Significant differences in thermal anisometry between the D1 and D4 as well as the D2 and D4 groups (P = 0.005 and 0.04, respectively) were noted. Thermal anisometry was higher in the S4 group than in the S1, S2, and S3 groups (P = 0.009, < 0.001, and 0.003, respectively). As CTS progresses, skin temperature tends to decrease and thermal variation tends to increase in the median nerve-innervated area. Thermographic findings reflect the physiological changes of the entrapped median nerve.

Particle-Size Fractionation and Thermal Variation of Oil Shales in the Songliao Basin, NE China: Implication for Hydrocarbon-Generated Process

The synchronous variation and association of organic matter (OM) and minerals in the hydrocarbon-generated process of oil shales are poorly understood. The goal of the paper is to investigate OM occurrence and thermal variation so as to reveal the hydrocarbon generation potential of oil shales. Based on detailed analyses of particle, organic, mineral, and thermal data from lacustrine oil shales in the Songliao Basin, we observed three layers of shale particles after settling in the water column characterized by a distinct color, degree of consolidation, and particle size. The particle sizes are divided into three ranges of fine grain (<1 μm), medium grain (1–20 μm), and coarse grain (>20 μm) via laser particle analysis. The particle-size distribution indicates the presence of OM polymerization and dominant contribution of the associated mineral surface and bioclastic OMs to the OM abundance of oil shale. Various OM occurrences are influenced by OM sources and redox conditions, whereas the degree of biodecomposition and particle sizes affect the placement of OM occurrences. Based on multiple thermal analyses, a synchronous response of OM and minerals to thermal variation dominates at 300–550 °C. The I/S and chlorite minerals are characterized by an entire illitization, while solid/absorbed OMs and hydrocarbon-generated water were expelled in large quantities. This contributes to major loss weights of oil shales during heating. The peak hydrocarbon-generated rate occurred at 457 °C for oil shales, corresponding to around 1.3% vitrinite reflectance value. These results are suggested to improve the understanding of OM occurrences and the thermal degradation constraint on the hydrocarbon-generated process, and contribute to the interpretation of the hydrocarbon generation potential and in-situ exploitation of oil shales.

Rheological Characteristics of Tire Rubber-Modified Asphalt following Thermal Variation

In recent years, due to the development of the automobile industry, there are more and more waste car tires, and the reuse of waste tires has become an urgent problem to be solved. In this study, the crushed rubber of waste automobile tires is used to modify asphalt to prepare rubber-modified asphalt, which can not only solve the problem of using waste tires but also effectively improve the performance of asphalt pavement. This study defines four modified asphalts with different rubber powder content, which are defined as 1#, 2#, 3#, and 4#, respectively. The performance difference between the four modified asphalts and the base asphalt was compared through experiments to illustrate the advantages of rubber-modified asphalt. The four selected rubber asphalts and base asphalt are subjected to the viscous toughness test, apparent viscosity test, DSR test, and BBR test to determine the high- and low-temperature characteristics of rubber asphalt. The analysis of experimental data shows that rubber-modified asphalt can effectively improve the low-temperature performance of the asphalt, make the asphalt have better toughness, and also improve the high-temperature shear resistance of the asphalt. Finally, it is determined that adding 10% rubber powder to the base asphalt has the best effect.

Análise termográfica da ação do jato de plasma no tratamento de rugas faciais

Individual's senescence process takes place slowly and continuously beyond generates several changes including skin aging, since the decline in cellular activities. Countless resources have been created over the years, with the goal of stopping and / or reversing the unsightly aspects of the skin caused by this process. Thus, plasma jet, a new therapeutic resource has been used in order to promote rejuvenation through the reduction of wrinkles and expression lines. Objective: To evaluate the pattern of thermal variation of the tissue treated with a plasma jet, using infrared thermography. Methodology: This was a series of clinical cases involving 5 female patients over the age of 40 who had facial wrinkles. Patients were previously evaluated and anesthetized. Then, plasma jet therapy was performed in the supra-orbital region. Patients were evaluated for thermal imaging before and after anesthesia and post-therapy. Result: It was found through thermographic analysis, a significant variation in the temperature coefficient of the skin where the anesthetic was applied and then the plasma jet (ΔT > 0.4 °C). Conclusion: The present study proved through the use of thermography that the plasma jet was able to generate an increase in local temperature. The authors suggest that such thermal variation may be the result of a process of vasodilation in the treated region.

Vibration analysis of an axially functionally graded material non-prismatic beam under axial thermal variation in humid environment

The vibration analysis of an axially functionally graded material non-prismatic Timoshenko beam under axial thermal variation in humid environment is carried out using the harmonic differential quadrature method. In this modeling, the length and width of the beam remains constant whereas thickness of the beam is linearly varied along the axis of the beam. The material properties are temperature dependent and are assumed to be varied continuously along the axial direction according to power law distribution. Three types of temperature variations are considered in this study, that is, uniform temperature rise, linear temperature rise, and non-linear temperature rise. The temperature of the beam remains constant under uniform temperature rise condition and it is varied linearly and nonlinearly along the length of beam for rest of the conditions. The beam is subjected to uniform moisture concentration to impose humidity. Hamiltonian’s approach is used to derive the governing equations of motion. The resultant governing equations are then solved using the harmonic differential quadrature method to obtain the natural frequencies of the axially functionally graded material non-prismatic beam. The results obtained using the harmonic differential quadrature method are compared with results obtained for special cases. The effects of thermal variation, humidity, non-homogeneity parameter, and end conditions on natural frequencies of the non-prismatic beam are reported.

Working Model of Rocker Bogie Mechanism (Earth Rover)

The Paper work "Rocker Bogie mechanism Geo-survey Rover" deals with attempt of improving the rover from its previous designs. The Geo-survey rover has got to operate rough and harsh environments that it had been designed but several factors restrict its operational capabilities, therefore the focus of our research is to overcome restrictions or to decrease it to within an acceptable range for its smooth performance.. The rover has been completely made from PVC to increase its capability to withstand shocks, vibrations and mechanical failures caused by the tough environment where it's operated on. NASA made and developed this mechanism to use it on Space missions. Whereas these bogies are also preferred by many earthly situations where human interference is needs to be neglected. Usual mobility designs are complicate, using many wheels or legs. It is a multi-wheeled rover capable of travel through rough terrain using an effective higher degree of mobility. Drive train simplicity is the effective mechanical feature of the rocker bogie design, which is accomplished by using only six motors for mobility. All motors are located inside the body where thermal variation is kept to a minimum which increases reliability and efficiency. Six wheels are used because there are few obstacles on natural terrain that need both front wheels of the rover to climb simultaneously. A series of mobility experiments within the agriculture land, rough roads, inclined, stairs and obstacles surfaces concluded that rocker bogie can achieve a long way traverses on field.

Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption Spectra of Icy C2H4 at 13–60 K

The thermal variation of absorption spectra of icy ethene in wavelength range 105–220 nm was measured from 13 to 100 K using a synchrotron as light source. Sublimation of icy ethene began above 62 K, resulting in decreasing absorption. The absorption of icy ethene increased at wavelengths less than about 150 nm with increasing temperature from 13 to 60 K, but decreased beyond above 150 nm. According to detailed examination, the absorption spectra of icy ethene intersected at isosbestic point 147.0 nm from 13 to 17 K, whereas those varied absorption profiles crossed at another point, 150.6 nm, from 23 to 60 K. These results indicate that ethene ices might exhibit three structures within temperature range 13–60 K. This work enhances our understanding of the spectra of icy ethene at low temperatures and our knowledge of its astrochemistry and astrophysics in cold astro-environments.

Local adaptation in thermal tolerance for a tropical butterfly across ecotone and rainforest habitats

ABSTRACTThermal adaptation to habitat variability can determine species vulnerability to environmental change. For example, physiological tolerance to naturally low thermal variation in tropical forests species may alter their vulnerability to climate change impacts, compared with open habitat species. However, the extent to which habitat-specific differences in tolerance derive from within-generation versus across-generation ecological or evolutionary processes are not well characterized. Here we studied thermal tolerance limits of a Central African butterfly (Bicyclus dorothea) across two habitats in Cameroon: a thermally stable tropical forest and the more variable ecotone between rainforest and savanna. Second generation individuals originating from the ecotone, reared under conditions common to both populations, exhibited higher upper thermal limits (CTmax) than individuals originating from forest (∼3°C greater). Lower thermal limits (CTmin) were also slightly lower for the ecotone populations (∼1°C). Our results are suggestive of local adaptation driving habitat-specific differences in thermal tolerance (especially CTmax) that hold across generations. Such habitat-specific thermal limits may be widespread for tropical ectotherms and could affect species vulnerability to environmental change. However, microclimate and within-generation developmental processes (e.g. plasticity) will mediate these differences, and determining the fitness consequences of thermal variation for ecotone and rainforest species will require continued study of both within-generation and across-generation eco-evolutionary processes.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.