A magnetic levitation based low-gravity simulator with an unprecedented large functional volume

Low-gravity environment can have a profound impact on the behaviors of biological systems, the dynamics of fluids, and the growth of materials. Systematic research on the effects of gravity is crucial for advancing our knowledge and for the success of space missions. Due to the high cost and the limitations in the payload size and mass in typical spaceflight missions, ground-based low-gravity simulators have become indispensable for preparing spaceflight experiments and for serving as stand-alone research platforms. Among various simulator systems, the magnetic levitation-based simulator (MLS) has received long-lasting interest due to its easily adjustable gravity and practically unlimited operation time. However, a recognized issue with MLSs is their highly non-uniform force field. For a solenoid MLS, the functional volume V1%, where the net force results in an acceleration <1% of the Earth’s gravity g, is typically a few microliters (μL) or less. In this work, we report an innovative MLS design that integrates a superconducting magnet with a gradient-field Maxwell coil. Through an optimization analysis, we show that an unprecedented V1% of over 4000 μL can be achieved in a compact coil with a diameter of 8 cm. We also discuss how such an MLS can be made using existing high-Tc-superconducting materials. When the current in this MLS is reduced to emulate the gravity on Mars (gM = 0.38g), a functional volume where the gravity varies within a few percent of gM can exceed 20,000 μL. Our design may break new ground for future low-gravity research.

Inflation instability in the lung: an analytical model of a thick-walled alveolus with wavy fibres under large deformations

Inflation of hollow elastic structures can become unstable and exhibit a runaway phenomenon if the tension in their walls does not rise rapidly enough with increasing volume. Biological systems avoid such inflation instability for reasons that remain poorly understood. This is best exemplified by the lung, which inflates over its functional volume range without instability. The goal of this study was to determine how the constituents of lung parenchyma determine tissue stresses that protect alveoli from instability-related overdistension during inflation. We present an analytical model of a thick-walled alveolus composed of wavy elastic fibres, and investigate its pressure–volume behaviour under large deformations. Using second-harmonic generation imaging, we found that collagen waviness follows a beta distribution. Using this distribution to fit human pressure–volume curves, we estimated collagen and elastin effective stiffnesses to be 1247 kPa and 18.3 kPa, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate that linearly elastic but wavy collagen fibres are sufficient to achieve inflation stability within the physiological pressure range if the alveolar thickness-to-radius ratio is greater than 0.05. Our model thus identifies the constraints on alveolar geometry and collagen waviness required for inflation stability and provides a multiscale link between alveolar pressure and stresses on fibres in healthy and diseased lungs.

Automated assessment of functional lung imaging with 68Ga-ventilation/perfusion PET/CT using iterative histogram analysis

Purpose Functional lung mapping from Ga68-ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) PET/CT, which has been shown to correlate with pulmonary function tests (PFTs), may be beneficial in a number of clinical applications where sparing regions of high lung function is of interest. Regions of clumping in the proximal airways in patients with airways disease can result in areas of focal intense activity and artefact in ventilation imaging. These artefacts may even shine through to subsequent perfusion images and create a challenge for quantitative analysis of PET imaging. We aimed to develop an automated algorithm that interprets the uptake histogram of PET images to calculate a peak uptake value more representative of the global lung volume. Methods Sixty-six patients recruited from a prospective clinical trial underwent both V/Q PET/CT imaging and PFT analysis before treatment. PET images were normalised using an iterative histogram analysis technique to account for tracer hotspots prior to the threshold-based delineation of varying values. Pearson’s correlation between fractional lung function and PFT score was calculated for ventilation, perfusion, and matched imaging volumes at varying threshold values. Results For all functional imaging thresholds, only FEV1/FVC PFT yielded reasonable correlations to image-based functional volume. For ventilation, a range of 10–30% of adapted peak uptake value provided a reasonable threshold to define a volume that correlated with FEV1/FVC (r = 0.54–0.61). For perfusion imaging, a similar correlation was observed (r = 0.51–0.56) in the range of 20–60% adapted peak threshold. Matched volumes were closely linked to ventilation with a threshold range of 15–35% yielding a similar correlation (r = 0.55–0.58). Conclusions Histogram normalisation may be implemented to determine the presence of tracer clumping hotspots in Ga-68 V/Q PET imaging allowing for automated delineation of functional lung and standardisation of functional volume reporting.

Assessment of the Shear Strength of Pile-to-Soil Interfaces Based on Pile Surface Topography Using Laser Scanning

This article presents in situ research on the side surface of continuous flight auger (CFA) foundation piles using a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner (Leica ScanStation C10) in order to evaluate the morphology assessment of pile concrete surfaces in various geotechnical layers. Terrestrial laser scanning describes the 3D geometry of the construction with high spatial resolution and accuracy. A total of six areas were selected from the acquired point cloud for which a two-step approach for removing the form was applied. In the first step, the reference surface was fitted using the least squares method, and then, cylindrical projection of the surface was performed. In the second step, an operator of removal of the multi-plane form was applied. For each sample, height parameters (Sq, Ssk, Sku, Sp, Sv, Sz, Sa) and functional volume parameters (Vmp, Vmc, Vvc, Vvv) according to the standard ISO 25178-2:2012 were determined. Significant differences in the values of surface height and functional volume parameters were observed for each geotechnical layer where piles were formed. Because the piles remain embedded in the ground, in situ tests of the side surface of piles are rarely performed and taken into account in the assessment of pile bearing capacity. The study of surface topography is a crucial stage in the assessment of the shear strength at the interface between a concrete pile and the soil layer. The obtained concrete morphology assessments are applicable during the determination of the skin friction factor in the analytical or numerical estimation of pile shaft resistance. The proposed procedure of morphology evaluation may improve the fidelity of the assumed friction factor between the concrete and soil and increase the reliability of direct shear experiments.

Model-Based Design of Energy Accumulators for Control of Subsea Wells

Hydraulic accumulators are vessels charged with inert gas used to store pressurized fluid to actuate specific functions. In particular, they are widely used as controls for remote system such as in deep water drilling. In this application, they assume a fundamental importance because they are responsible of the actuation of the blowout preventer valves (BOP), which have to be intrinsically safe and reliable. A direct method (DM) for the design of the subsea rapid discharge accumulators is presented and compared with the API 16D Method C, which is the primary international standard concerning the accumulators sizing. The design must ensure that the entire functional volume required (FVRtot) by all the functions will be delivered at or above the minimum operating pressure (MOPi). The DM presented is based on a fully mathematical model of the charging and discharging phases, which evaluates the pressure inside the accumulators during all the actuations. The actuator design includes physical representation of the processes, the influence of the operating conditions, and the effect of thermal uncertainties. A specific “failure plane” has been demonstrated, in a sequence of three actuations, where failure at specific condition of subsea and surface temperatures may occur.

Preparation of 68Ga-PSMA-11 with a Synthesis Module for Micro PET-CT Imaging of PSMA Expression during Prostate Cancer Progression

Objective. To synthesize 68Ga-Glu-urea-Lys(Ahx)-HBED-CC (68Ga-PSMA-11) with a synthesis module and investigate PET-CT imaging to monitor PSMA expression during prostate cancer (PCa) progression and tumor growth in mice bearing subcutaneous PCa xenografts. Method. The radiochemical purity and stability of 68Ga-PSMA-11 were determined via radio-HPLC. The PCa cell lines of different PSMA expression levels (PC3, VCAP±, CWR22RV1+, and LNCaP++) were selected to mimic the PCa progression. 68Ga-PSMA-11 biodistribution was studied by dissection method and in vivo imaging with micro PET-CT. The expression levels of PSMA in tumor cells and tissues were analyzed by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and western blot. The correlation between PSMA expression and radio-uptake was also evaluated. 2-PMPA preadministration served as a block group. Results. The radiochemical purity of 68Ga-PSMA-11 was 99.6 ± 0.1% and stable in vitro for 2 h. The equilibrium binding constant (Kd) of 68Ga-PSMA-11 to LNCaP, CWR22Rv1, PC-3, and VCAP cells was 4.3 ± 0.8 nM, 16.4 ± 1.3 nM, 225.3 ± 20.8 nM, and 125.6 ± 13.1 nM, respectively. Results of tumor uptake (% ID and % ID/g or % ID/cm3) of 68Ga-PSMA-11 in biodistribution and micro PET imaging were LNCaP > CWR22RV1 > PC-3 and VCAP due to different PSMA expression levels. It was confirmed by flow cytometry, western blot, and immunofluorescence. Tumor uptake (% ID/cm3) of 68Ga-PSMA-11 increased with the tumor anatomical volume in quadratic polynomial fashion and reached the peak (when tumor volume was 0.5 cm3) earlier than tumor uptake (% ID). Tumor uptake (% ID/cm3) of 68Ga-PSMA-11 based on functional volume correlated well with the PSMA expression in a linear manner (y=9.35x+2.59, R2=0.8924, and p<0.0001); however, low dose 2-PMPA causes rapid renal clearance of increased tumor/kidney uptake of 68Ga-PSMA-11. Conclusions. The 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT imaging could invasively evaluate PSMA expression during PCa progression and tumor growth with % ID/cm3 (based on functional volume) as an important index. Low dose 2-PMPA preadministration might be a choice to decrease kidney uptake of 68Ga-PSMA-11.