An update on computational anthropomorphic anatomical models

The prevalent availability of high-performance computing coupled with validated computerized simulation platforms as open-source packages have motivated progress in the development of realistic anthropomorphic computational models of the human anatomy. The main application of these advanced tools focused on imaging physics and computational internal/external radiation dosimetry research. This paper provides an updated review of state-of-the-art developments and recent advances in the design of sophisticated computational models of the human anatomy with a particular focus on their use in radiation dosimetry calculations. The consolidation of flexible and realistic computational models with biological data and accurate radiation transport modeling tools enables the capability to produce dosimetric data reflecting actual setup in clinical setting. These simulation methodologies and results are helpful resources for the medical physics and medical imaging communities and are expected to impact the fields of medical imaging and dosimetry calculations profoundly.</p

Modelling volume change and deformation in food products/processes: An overview

Volume change and large deformation occur in different solid and semi-solid foods during processing, e.g., shrinkage of fruits and vegetables during drying and of meat during cooking, swelling of grains during hydration, and expansion of dough during baking and of snacks during extrusion and puffing. In addition, food is broken down during oral processing. Such phenomena are the result of complex and dynamic relationships between composition and structure of foods, and driving forces established by processes and operating conditions. In particular, water plays a key role as plasticizer, strongly influencing the state of amorphous materials via the glass transition and, thus, their mechanical properties. Therefore, it is important to improve the understanding about these complex phenomena and to develop useful prediction tools. For this aim, different modelling approaches have been applied in the food engineering field. The objective of this article is to provide a general (non-systematic) review of recent (2005–2021) and relevant works regarding the modelling and simulation of volume change and large deformation in various food products/processes. Empirical-and physics-based models are considered, as well as different driving forces for deformation, in order to identify common bottlenecks and challenges in food engineering applications.Fil: Purlis, Emmanuel. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Cevoli, Chiara. Università di Bologna; ItaliaFil: Fabbri, Angelo. Università di Bologna; Itali

The dynamics of calcium transfer in man

An existing compartmental model of human calcium metabolism able to describe successfully the dynamics of stable and radioactive calcium administered both orally and intravenously, is extended to include the bone calcium and its protein matrix, collagen, the secretion and catabolism of the hormones calcitonin and parathyroid hormone, and the hormonal control of calcium excretion by the kidney. Data selected from a literature survey of the rates and calcium contents of the major intestinal secretions, and of sweat, are incorporated into the model. Allowance is made for the increased secretion of calcium into the intestine during meals. By means of a digital computer program (CAMET2) 15 simplified simulations are carried out, corresponding to a variety of real situations including calcium and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid infusions, the removal of the parathyroid glands, fasting, a low calcium diet and the intestinal absorption of radioactive calcium. The results emphasize the importance of renal calcium excretion in the overall control of calcium homeostasis. The roles of the skeleton, on which much emphasis has been placed in the past, and of the soft tissue calcium in buffering perturbations to the plasma calcium are considered. Common methods of calculating the total calcium secreted into the gut and of the endogenous faecal calcium are simulated and sources of error exposed. A meal subsequent to an oral tracer dose is shown to depress tracer absorption. The responses to a range of dietary calcium intake are considered