Multiparametric analysis for pharynx SCC

Purpose : To predict local control / failure by a multiparametric approach using magnetic resonance (MR)-derived tumor morphological and functional parameters in pharynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. Materials and Methods : Twenty-eight patients with oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal SCCs were included in this study. Quantitative morphological parameters and intratumoral characteristics on T2-weighted images, tumor blood flow from pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling, and tumor diffusion parameters of three diffusion models from multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging as well as patients’ characteristics were analyzed. The patients were divided into local control / failure groups. Univariate and multiparametric analysis were performed for the patient group division. Results : The value of morphological parameter of ‘sphericity’ and intratumoral characteristic of ‘homogeneity’ was revealed respectively significant for the prediction of the local control status in univariate analysis. Higher diagnostic performance was obtained with the sensitivity of 0.8, specificity of 0.75, positive predictive value of 0.89, negative predictive value of 0.6 and accuracy of 0.79 by multiparametric diagnostic model compared to results in the univariate analysis. Conclusion : A multiparametric analysis with MR-derived quantitative parameters may be useful to predict local control in pharynx SCC patients

Functional Brain Organization in Space and Time

The brain is a network functionally organized at many spatial and temporal scales. To understand how the brain processes information, controls behavior and dynamically adapts to an ever-changing environment, it is critical to have a comprehensive description of the constituent elements of this network and how relationships between these elements may change over time. Decades of lesion studies, anatomical tract-tracing, and electrophysiological recording have given insight into this functional organization. Recently, however, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has emerged as a powerful tool for whole-brain non-invasive measurement of spontaneous neural activity in humans, giving ready access to macroscopic scales of functional organization previously much more difficult to obtain. This thesis aims to harness the unique combination of spatial and temporal resolution provided by functional MRI to explore the spatial and temporal properties of the functional organization of the brain. First, we establish an approach for defining cortical areas using transitions in correlated patterns of spontaneous BOLD activity (Chapter 2). We then propose and apply measures of internal and external validity to evaluate the credibility of the areal parcellation generated by this technique (Chapter 3). In chapter 4, we extend the study of functional brain organization to a highly sampled individual. We describe the idiosyncratic areal and systems-level organization of the individual relative to a standard group-average description. Further, we develop a model describing the reliability of BOLD correlation estimates across days that accounts for relevant sources of variability. Finally, in Chapter 5, we examine whether BOLD correlations meaningfully vary over the course of single resting-state scans

STOCHASTIC MODELING OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Práce je věnována generování náhodných struktur dvousložkových vláknových kompozitních materiálů a statistickým metodám analýzy náhodnosti těchto struktur. Byly vyvinuty čtyři algoritmy a vygenerované struktury byly statisticky porovnány s reálnými daty.The dissertation is devoted to generating of random structures of two-component fibre composite materials and to statistical methods for analysis of randomness of these structures. Four algorithms were developed and obtained samples were statistically compared with real dates.

Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

The study of neuroanatomy using imaging enables key insights into how our brains function, are shaped by genes and environment, and change with development, aging, and disease. Developments in MRI acquisition, image processing, and data modelling have been key to these advances. However, MRI provides an indirect measurement of the biological signals we aim to investigate. Thus, artifacts and key questions of correct interpretation can confound the readouts provided by anatomical MRI. In this review we provide an overview of the methods for measuring macro- and mesoscopic structure and inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artefacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, though methods need to improve and caution is required in its interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tissue Microvasculature and Microstructure in Selected Clinical Applications

This thesis is based on four papers and aims to establish perfusion and diffusion measurements with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in selected clinical applications. While structural imaging provides invaluable geometric and anatomical information, new disease relevant information can be obtained from measures of physiological processes inferred from advanced modelling. This study is motivated by clinical questions pertaining to diagnosis and treatment effects in particular patient groups where inflammatory processes are involved in the disease. Paper 1 investigates acquisition parameters in dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with possible involvement of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. High level elastic motion correction should be applied to DCE data from the TMJ, and the DCE data should be acquired with a sample rate of at least 4 s. Paper 2 investigates choices of arterial input functions (AIFs) in dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)-MRI in brain metastases. AIF shapes differed across patients. Relative cerebral blood volume estimates differentiated better between perfusion in white matter and grey matter when scan-specific AIFs were used than when patient-specific AIFs and population-based AIFs were used. Paper 3 investigates DSC-MRI perfusion parameters in relation to outcome after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in brain metastases. Low perfusion prior to SRS may be related to unfavourable outcome. Paper 4 applies free water (FW) corrected diffusion MRI to characterise glioma. Fractional anisotropy maps of the tumour region were significantly impacted by FW correction. The estimated FW maps may also contribute to a better description of the tumour. Although there are challenges related to post-processing of MRI data, it was shown that the advanced MRI methods applied can add to a more accurate description of the TMJ and of brain lesions.Doktorgradsavhandlin

Analyses of thermal conductivity from mineral composition and analyses by use of Thermal Conductivity Scanner : a study of thermal properties of Scanian rock types

With an increase in demand for green energy the interest has grown in Geoenergy. The bedrock may function both as energy source and as energy storage, which makes it suitable for both heating and cooling. The thermal properties of the bedrock are essential when effectively planning and designing a geothermal energy well. This thesis focuses on research and study of the thermal properties of the Scanian bedrock, and on existing mineralogical data and samples accessible through Geological Survey of Sweden. Samples were chosen on the basis of the rock type and geographic location. Those rock units and areas that were not represented were sampled, if possible, during the summer of 2012. Sample preparation involved cutting them along several axes. Upon review of the results, they were then compared against the calculated values. The calculated values deviated slightly, but are considered representative for the thermal properties. The results show a grouping into 5 groups, 3 sedimentary and 2 crystalline. The amount of quartz content in the crystalline rock types defines the 2 different groups. High quartz content gives a conductivity of 3.0 W/mK, whereas the crystalline rock units that have a low quartz content, have a slightly lower thermal conductivity (2.5 W/m•k). The sedimentary rocks are divided by type and age. The youngest is limestone with a low thermal conductivity, 1 W/m•k. Following in age is a large span of rock types which have a midrange thermal conductivity around 3.0 W/m•k. The highest thermal conductivity, 6 W/m•k, are recorded in Cambrian quartzite and sandstone. With the database related to this project, makes it possible to develop an prognosis map of the thermal conductivity of Scanian rocks.I ett ökat behov av grön energi, ökar även användadet av geoenergi. Berggrunden kan fungera som både energikälla och som energilager, vilket gör den passande för både värme- och kylanläggningar. Berggrundens termiska egenskaper är en av de viktigaste parametrarna vid planering av borrdjup och brunnsutformning för en optimal geotermisk anläggning. Detta mastersarbete innefattar en metodstudie och undersökning av olika bergarters termiska egenskaper. Arbetet utgår från befintliga mineralogiska data och prover från Skånes berggrund som finns tillgänglig via databaser vid Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning. Prover från databasen valdes efter typ och geografiskt läge. Kompletterande fältprovtagning genomfördes under sommaren 2012. Inför de termiska analyserna sågades proverna, beroende på lagring, skiktning etc. för att få plana ytor i olika riktningar. Resultaten av TCS analysen jämfördes mot beräknade teoretiska värden från mineralogiska analyser. Jämförelsen visade att de beräknade värdena är tillförlitliga vad avser värmeledningsförmågan på de skånska bergarterna. Resultaten visar på 5 olika värmeledningsgrupper, där 3 av dem är sedimentära och 2 kristallina. Kvartshalten i proven från de kristallina bergarterna påverkar tydligt värmeledningsförmågan. Hög kvartshalt ger en högre värmeledningsförmåga (3.0 W/m•K). De mindre kvartsrika ligger runt 2.5 W/m•K. Bland de sedimentära finns det tre grupper, en låg, 1 W/m•K, en mellan, 2.5 W/m•K, och en hög 6 W/m•K. Dessa grupper relaterar till ålder och bergart, där de mesozoiska och paleogena kalkstenarna har generellt låga värden, medan kambriska sandstenar och kvartsiter har de högsta värdena. Arbetet har resulterat i en stor mängd analysvärden och kunskap om den Skånska berggrundens värmeledande egenskaper som kan användas för att skapa prognoskartor över bergarternas värme-ledande egenskaper

Microfabrication and development of multi-scaled metallic surfaces using direct laser interference patterning

Die Kontrolle physikalischer Phänomene auf Oberflächen durch bestimmte Topographien ist eines der Ziele oberflächentechnischer Verfahren. Die Oberflächentopographie kann durch oberflächenmodifizierende Verfahren wie Direkte Laserinterferenzstrukturieren (DLIP) und das Direkte Laserschreiben (DLW) verändert werden. Dadurch können definierte und kontrollierte Mikro- und Nanostrukturen auf verschiedenen Materialien erzeugt werden. Darüber hinaus können spezifische Topographien entworfen und großflächig nachgebildet werden, welche die gleichen Oberflächeneigenschaft gewährleisten können. Diese Arbeit schlägt neue Ansätze zur Verbesserung der Mikro- und Nano-Oberflächenstrukturen vor, die durch DLIP auf Metalloberflächen erzeugt werden. DLIP Experimente werden in der Zweistrahlkonfiguration entweder mit infraroten Nano- oder Pikosekundenlasern durchgeführt. Damit werden die Möglichkeiten zur Verbesserung und Kontrolle von Oberflächeneigenschaften durch die Mikrofertigung mit Strukturperioden von 0,2 µm bis 7,2 µm erweitert. Anschließend wird die Homogenität der Oberflächentextur auf Basis der Pulsverteilung und der Laserparameter optimiert. Ein quantitatives Messschema der Homogenität, das auf etablierten Parametern wie mittlere Strukturhöhe, seiner Standardabweichung und Kurtosis basiert, wird vorgestellt. Darüber hinaus wird die Herstellung hierarchischer linien- und säulenartiger Mikrostrukturen mittels DLIP in Abhängigkeit von der Anzahl der Pulse und der Fluenz untersucht. Zusätzlich zu den Mikrostrukturen, die der Interferenzverteilung entsprechen, wurden gleichzeitig laserinduzierte periodische Oberflächenstrukturen (LIPSS) erzeugt, die zu hierarchischen Mikro- und Nanostrukturen führen. Überdies wird als weitere Technologie das DLW eingesetzt, um Mikrozellen im Bereich von 17 µm bis 50 µm zu generieren. Anschließen werden Mikro- und Nanostrukturen mittels DLIP auf den Mikrozellen hergestellt. Die finale Topographie besteht aus multiskaligen hierarchischen Mikro- und Nanostrukturen. Um den Durchsatz des DLIP-Verfahrens zu verbessern, wird ein Ablationsmodell entwickelt und mit experimentellen Daten verifiziert. Das Modell ermöglicht die Berechnung von Strukturtiefe in Abhängigkeit von optimalen Laserprozessparametern. Darüber hinaus wird die Benetzbarkeit auf den Mikrosäulen im Rahmen des Füllfaktors und der Kombination von hierarschischen und einskalen Strukturen ausgewertet. Dazu wird ein hydrophobes Lösungsmittel auf die hierarchischen Strukturen aufgetragen, um den Wasserkontaktwinkel auf bis zu 152 ° ± 2 ° und die Kontaktwinkelhysterese von 4 ° ± 2 ° zu erreichen. Mikrosäulen mit einer Periode von 5,20 µm werden auf einer Flugzeugtragfläche hergestellt. Auf diese Weise wird der mögliche Einfluss von Mikrostrukturen auf die Ermüdungseigenschaften untersucht. Schließlich werden Mikrosäulen mit ca. 40 % geringeren Reibungskoeffizienten als die Referenz in einem grenzflächengeschmierten Bereich getestet. Zusammenfassend kann ausgesagt werden, dass die durch DLIP erzeugten Mikrosäulen eine vielversprechende und gut realisierbare Struktur für die Oberflächenfunktionalisierung von Metallen darstellen.:Selbstständigkeitserklärung Abstract Kurzfassung Acknowledgments Symbols and abbreviations 1 Motivation 2 Theoretical background 2.1 Laser-matter interactions 2.2 Principle of interference 2.3 Wetting on solid surfaces 2.4 Introduction to friction 2.5 Introduction to fatigue 3 State of the art 3.1 Properties of natural surfaces 3.2 Texturing techniques for creating micro/nanoroughness 3.3 Surface microstructuring of metals using pulsed laser sources 3.3.1 Direct Laser Writing 3.3.2 Direct Laser Interference Patterning 3.3.3 Laser-Induce Periodic Surface Structures 3.3.4 Challenges for laser surface texturing methods 3.4 Surface properties affected by laser micro/nano texturing on metals 3.4.1 Impact of laser surface textures and chemistry on wettability 3.4.2 Control of the friction coefficient 3.4.3 Impact on fatigue performance 4 Materials and methods 4.1 Materials 4.2 Direct Laser Writing 4.3 Direct Laser Interference Patterning 4.4 Surface chemical treatment 4.5 Characterisation methods 4.5.1 Water Contact Angle 4.5.2 White Light Interferometry and Confocal Microscopy 4.5.3 Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy 4.5.4 Raman Spectroscopy 4.5.5 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy 4.5.6 Tribological test 4.5.7 Fatigue test 5 Results and discussion 5.1 Interference structuring of Ti6Al4V using nanosecond laser pulses 5.1.1 Strategy to fabricate homogeneous DLIP line-like structures 5.1.2 Development of topographical parameters for homogeneity quantification 5.1.3 Impact of process parameters on surface structure homogeneity 5.2 Interference structuring of stainless steel using picosecond laser pulses 5.2.1 Fabrication of hierarchical periodic micro/nanostructures 5.2.2 Control of nanostructure orientation 5.2.3 Fabrication of hierarchical pillar-like microstructures 5.2.4 Control of nanostructures on hierarchical periodic microstructures 5.3 Fabrication of multi-scale periodic structures by DLW and DLIP 5.3.1 Laser surface texturing of Ti6Al4V 5.3.2 Laser surface texturing of Al2024 5.4 Structuring of a large aircraft surface for a flight test 6. Development of an analytical ablation model for ps-DLIP 7. Surface properties of textured materials 7.1 Determination of wetting behaviour 7.1.1 Wetting transition on single and hierarchical microstructures 7.1.2 Surface chemistry influence on wetting 7.1.3 Wetting response after the chemical surface modification 7.2 Wetting on multi-scale periodic structures fabricated by DLW and DLIP 7.3 Tribological properties of laser treated surfaces 7.4 Influence of laser treated surfaces on fatigue 8. Conclusions and outlook References Curriculum Vitae List of publication

Multiparametric Imaging and MR Image Texture Analysis in Brain Tumors

Discrimination of tumor from radiation injured (RI) tissues and differentiation of tumor types using noninvasive imaging is essential for guiding surgical and radiotherapy treatments are some of the challenges that clinicians face in the course of treatment of brain tumors. The first objective in this thesis was to develop a method to discriminate between glioblastoma tumor recurrences and radiation injury using multiparametric characterization of the tissue incorporating conventional magnetic resonance imaging signal intensities and diffusion tensor imaging parameters. Our results show significant correlations in the RI that was missing in the tumor regions. These correlations may aid in differentiating between tumor recurrence and RI. The second objective of was to investigate whether texture based image analysis of routine MR images would provide quantitative information that could be used to differentiate between glioblastoma and metastasis. Our results demonstrate that first-order texture feature of standard deviation and second-order texture features of entropy, inertia, homogeneity, and energy show significant differences between the two groups. The third objective was to investigate whether quantitative measurements of tumor size and appearance on MRI scans acquired prior to helical tomotherapy (HT) type whole brain radiotherapy with simultaneous infield boost treatment could be used to differentiate responder and non-responder patient groups. Our results demonstrated that smaller size lesions may respond better to this type of radiation therapy. Measures of appearance provided limited added value over measures of size for response prediction. Quantitative measurements of rim enhancement and core necrosis performed separately did not provide additional predictive value

Stratal Architecture in a Prograding Shoreface Deposit, Eastern Shore, VA: Relationship to Grain Size, Permeability, and Facies Distribution

A fundamental concern of the stratigrapher is to develop predictive models of stratigraphic organization. In sedimentology one of the most significant problems that has yet to be resolved is the fact that there is a lack of quantitative information regarding the relationship between geometry of beds, thickness of beds, grain size and sedimentary structures in sandy environments, especially shallow marine deposits. Scientists have also realized the need to correlate quantitative permeability to sedimentary structures and scales of stratigraphic organization. The purpose of the study is to investigate the scales of stratigraphic organization that control the variation of grain size and permeability in shallow marine deposits. A model of stratal architecture is constructed in order to relate scales of stratigraphic organization to these properties. The hypothesis tested is that models of stratal architecture are more efficient predictors of grain size and permeability than are facies models in shallow marine sands. Several methods are used to test the hypothesis, including mapping of stratal geometry, measuring stratal characteristics, and the construction of facies distribution through measured sections. These techniques are used to erect the stratal architecture of strand plain deposits at Oyster, Virginia. ANOVA, Tukey-Kramer Means Comparisons tests and variograms are performed to test the statistical significance of mean grain size and permeability variability over multiple scales of stratigraphic organization. Results from this study demonstrate that multiple levels of stratigraphic organization are statistically significant with respect to the spatial variability of grain size and permeability, and that one-dimensional facies models are clearly unable to resolve these important stratigraphic scales. The study also revealed that a parabolic relationship exists between mean grain size and set thickness, and is thought to be the evolutionary consequence of the progressive sorting process