Mechanical Deformation of Peripapillary Retina in Response to Acute Intraocular Pressure Elevation

Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) may cause mechanical injuries to the optic nerve head (ONH) and the peripapillary tissues in glaucoma. Previous studies have reported the mechanical deformation of the ONH and the peripapillary sclera (PPS) at elevated IOP. The deformation of the peripapillary retina (PPR) has not been well-characterized. Here we applied high-frequency ultrasound elastography to map and quantify PPR deformation, and compared PPR, PPS and ONH deformation in the same eye. Whole globe inflation was performed in ten human donor eyes. High-frequency ultrasound scans of the posterior eye were acquired while IOP was raised from 5 to 30 mmHg. A correlation-based ultrasound speckle tracking algorithm was used to compute pressure-induced displacements within the scanned tissue cross-sections. Radial, tangential, and shear strains were calculated for the PPR, PPS, and ONH regions. In PPR, shear was significantly larger in magnitude than radial and tangential strains. Strain maps showed localized high shear and high tangential strains in PPR. In comparison to PPS and ONH, PPR had greater shear and a similar level of tangential strain. Surprisingly, PPR radial compression was minimal and significantly smaller than that in PPS. These results provide new insights into PPR deformation in response of IOP elevation, suggesting that shear rather than compression was likely the primary mode of IOP-induced mechanical insult in PPR. High shear, especially localized high shear, may contribute to the mechanical damage of this tissue in glaucoma.

Battery-Free Shape Memory Alloy Antennas for Detection and Recording of Peak Temperature Activity

Economical sensing and recording of temperatures are important for monitoring the supply chain. Existing approaches measure the entire temperature profile over time using electronic devices running on a battery. This paper presents a simple, intelligent, battery-free solution for capturing key temperature events using the natural thermo-mechanical state of a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA). This approach utilizes the temperature-induced irreversible mechanical deformation of the SMA as a natural way to capture the temperature history without the need for electronic data logging. In this article, two-way SMA is used to record both high-temperature and low-temperature peak events. Precise thermo-mechanically trained SMA are employed as arms of the dipole antenna for Radio Frequency (RF) readout. The fabricated antenna sensor works at 1 GHz and achieves a sensitivity of 0.24 dB/°C and −0.16 dB/°C for recording temperature maxima and minima, respectively.

К модельному описанию электронного спектра графеноподобных Янус-структур

Model of C – AB – D Janus structure as the compound formed by the interacting through atoms А and В dimers А – С and В – D, where А and В atoms are in the sites of two-dimensional hexagonal lattice and C and D atoms are on the opposite sides from AB list is proposed. In the scope of tight-binding theory and Green’s function method general equation for the dispersion low is obtained. The particular cases of C – AА – D и А – AB – В compounds are considered and analytical expressions for their electronic spectra is fulfilled. The effect of the external mechanical deformation on the band parameters including effective masses is examined. Problem of the magnetic states in Janus compounds is discussed.

Magneto-mechanical deformation of \ch{Ni50Mn28Ga22} shape memory alloy

This study deals with pseudoplastic deformation of Ni50Mn28Ga22 alloy exhibiting mechanically and magnetically induced crystal reorientation. The new approach was introduced, taking into account crystals with single initial variant as well as nucleation of different orientation. Initially, observations from optical microscope and AFM (atomic force microscope) were correlated with the mechanical measurements from stress-strain machine to characterize boundaries between crystal variants. These observations were subsequently used to clarify the results of the mechanical deformation tests. By magnetizing samples in VSM (vibrating-sample magnetometer), analogous magnetic measurements to mechanical tests were conducted. The two types of measurements were then compared with respect to energy. The discrepancy found between the model and measurements is in agreement with previous studies. Some experimental factors and possible errors that may affect measurement have been discussed. Nevertheless, the observed differences remain an unresolved issue suggesting a need for a modification of the model.

THE USE OF LIQUID PROBES BASED ON AN EUTECTIC SOLUTION FOR STUDYING THE CONDUCTING PROPERTIES OF THIN FILMS

Работа посвящена разработке модульной четрырехзондовой установки с использованием жидкого контакта на основе индий-галлиевого эвтектического раствора (EGaIn), с помощью которого можно создать прижимные жидкие контакты, не вносящие механические деформации в измеряемые структуры. Предлагается использовать данную установку для измерения вольт-амперных характеристик тонкопленочных образцов. Предполагается модульная схема измерений. Каждый зонд управляется четырьмя моторами для позиционирования и выдавливания капли из шприца для формирования нужного размера пятна контакта. Используется оптический контроль для подготовки зондов и измерения диаметра сформированных контактных областей. Подобраны параметры изготовления жидких зондов, а именно скорости выдавливания и перемещения зонда вдоль вертикальной оси для формирования капли конической формы . Управление установкой осуществляется в среде LabView. The work is devoted to development of a modular four-probe setup using a liquid contact based on an indium-gallium eutectic solution (EGaIn), which can be used to create clamping liquid contacts that do not introduce mechanical deformation into the measured structures. It is proposed to use this setup for measuring the current-voltage characteristics of thin-film samples. A modular measurement scheme is assumed. Each probe is driven by four motors to position and expel a drop from the syringe to form the desired contact area size. Optical control is used to prepare the probes and measure the diameter of the formed contact areas. The parameters for the manufacture of liquid probes are selected, namely, the speed of extrusion and movement of the probe along the vertical axis to form a conical droplet. The installation is controlled in the LabView environment.

On Modelling Approaches to the Influence of Mechanical Deformation on the Micromagnetic Activity in a Mild Steel

In this study an attempt is made to develop a theoretical modelling by which the influence of certain mechanical deformation factors on the micromagnetic emission behavior of a low-carbon steel can reasonably be described and estimated. This modelling consists of a simple kinetics – kinematics – aided approach of the pinning state – controlled domain wall motion by which appropriate specific parameters are introduced. In this aspect the basic notion of specific micromagnetic activity (s.m.a.) is introduced by which the energetic strength of the activity is reflected. In this way, the synergetic effect of the quantitative (count rate) and qualitative (voltage) the detected micromagnetic Barkhausen emission (MBE) is taken into consideration. Thus it is possible, theoretically, to give a prediction of the general trend of changes in the s.m.a. under the influence of the tensile elastic as well as plastic deformation. For instance, one can demonstrate that tensile elastic deformation cannot influence the s.m.a. whereas plastic one leads to an increase in this. Furthermore, one can also predict that increasing permanent (residual) plastic deformation, obtained after unloading from prior tensile loading, leads to an obvious decrease in the s.m.a. Similar decrease in the s.m.a. can also be predicted for increasing rolling deformation by means of the same modelling approach used for the permanent tensile plastic deformation. Owing to the good agreement with the experimental results and the simplicity of the proposed theoretical approaches that can be seen as a promising valuable tool for further similar studies.

Dynamic X-ray elastography using a pulsed photocathode source

X-ray absorption of breast cancers and surrounding healthy tissue can be very similar, a situation that sometimes leads to missed cancers or false-positive diagnoses. To increase the accuracy of mammography and breast tomosynthesis, we describe dynamic X-ray elastography using a novel pulsed X-ray source. This new imaging modality provides both absorption and mechanical properties of the imaged material. We use a small acoustic speaker to vibrate the sample while a synchronously pulsed cold cathode X-ray source images the mechanical deformation. Using these stroboscopic images, we derive two-dimensional stiffness maps of the sample in addition to the conventional X-ray image. In a breast phantom composed of ZrO2 powder embedded in gel, dynamic elastography derived stiffness maps were able to discriminate a hard inclusion from surrounding material with a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 4.5. The CNR on the corresponding absorption image was 1.1. This demonstrates the feasibility of dynamic X-ray elastography with a synchronously pulsed X-ray source.