Vortex dynamics under pulsatile flow in axisymmetric constricted tubes

An improved understanding of how vortices develop and propagate under pulsatile flow can shed important light on the mixing and transport processes including the transition to turbulent regime occurring in such systems. For example, the characterization of pulsatile flows in obstructed artery models serves to encourage research into flow-induced phenomena associated with changes in morphology, blood viscosity, wall elasticity and flow rate. In this work, an axisymmetric rigid model was used to study the behaviour of the flow pattern with varying constriction degree ($d_0$), mean Reynolds number ($\bar{Re}$) and Womersley number ($\alpha$). Velocity fields were acquired experimentally using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry and generated numerically. For the acquisition of data, $\bar{Re}$ was varied from 385 to 2044, $d_0$ was 1.0 cm and 1.6 cm, and $\alpha$ was varied from 17 to 33 in the experiments and from 24 to 50 in the numerical simulations. Results for the considered Reynolds number, showed that the flow pattern consisted of two main structures: a central jet around the tube axis and a recirculation zone adjacent to the inner wall of the tube, where vortices shed. Using the vorticity fields, the trajectory of vortices was tracked and their displacement over their lifetime calculated. The analysis led to a scaling law equation for the maximum vortex displacement as a function of a dimensionless variable dependent on the system parameters Re and $\alpha$

Shear wave elastography based on noise correlation and time reversal

Shear wave elastography (SWE) relies on the generation and tracking of coherent shear waves to image the tissue's shear elasticity. Recent technological developments have allowed SWE to be implemented in commercial ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging systems, quickly becoming a new imaging modality in medicine and biology. However, coherent shear wave tracking sets a limitation to SWE because it either requires ultrafast frame rates (of up to 20 kHz), or alternatively, a phase-lock synchronization between shear wave-source and imaging device. Moreover, there are many applications where coherent shear wave tracking is not possible because scattered waves from tissue’s inhomogeneities, waves coming from muscular activity, heart beating or external vibrations interfere with the coherent shear wave. To overcome these limitations, several authors developed an alternative approach to extract the shear elasticity of tissues from a complex elastic wavefield. To control the wavefield, this approach relies on the analogy between time reversal and seismic noise cross-correlation. By cross-correlating the elastic field at different positions, which can be interpreted as a time reversal experiment performed in the computer, shear waves are virtually focused on any point of the imaging plane. Then, different independent methods can be used to image the shear elasticity, for example, tracking the coherent shear wave as it focuses, measuring the focus size or simply evaluating the amplitude at the focusing point. The main advantage of this approach is its compatibility with low imaging rates modalities, which has led to innovative developments and new challenges in the field of multi-modality elastography. The goal of this short review is to cover the major developments in wave-physics involving shear elasticity imaging using a complex elastic wavefield and its latest applications including slow imaging rate modalities and passive shear elasticity imaging based on physiological noise correlation

Lagrangian mixing of pulsatile flows in constricted tubes

In this work several lagrangian methods were used to analyze the mixing processes in an experimental model of a constricted artery under a pulsatile flow. Upstream Reynolds number $Re$ was changed between 1187 and 1999, while the pulsatile period $T$ was kept fixed at 0.96s. Velocity fields were acquired using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) for a region of interest (ROI) located downstream of the constriction. The flow is composed of a central jet and a recirculation region near the wall where vortex forms and sheds. To study the mixing processes, finite time Lyapunov exponents (FTLE) fields and concentration maps were computed. Two lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) responsible for mixing and transporting fluid were found from FTLE ridges. A first LCS delimits the trailing edge of the vortex, separating the flow that enters the ROI between successive periods. A second LCS delimits the leading edge of the vortex. This LCS concentrates the highest particle agglomeration, as verified by the concentration maps. Moreover, from the particle residence time maps (RT) the probability for a fluid particle of leaving the ROI before one cycle was measured. As $Re$ increases, the probability of leaving the ROI increases from 0.6 to 0.95. Final position maps $r{_f}$ were introduced to evaluate the flow mixing between different subregions of the ROI. These maps allowed us to compute an exchange index between subregions, $\bar{\mathrm{EI}}$, which shows the main region responsible for the mixing increase with $Re$. Finally by integrating the results of the different lagrangian methods (FTLE, Concentration maps, RT and $r_f$ maps), a comprehensive description of the mixing and transport of the flow was provided

Elastographie et retournement temporel des ondes de cisaillement (application à l'imagerie des solides mous)

L'interaction onde-matière a toujours été un sujet d'étude en Physique, c est le cas de la propagation des ondes élastiques dans le corps humain qu a conduit à plusieurs modalités d'imagerie. En particulier, les techniques d'elastographie reposent sur l'utilisation des ondes de cisaillement pour obtenir une image élastique des tissus mous. Dans ce contexte, cette thèse présente une étude des différentes techniques d'élastographie, en prêtant particulier attention aux aspects plus fondamentaux comme à ces potentielles applications.Tout d'abord, cette thèse montre que l'élastographie impulsionnelle unidimensionnelle (1D) peut être utilisée pour évaluer l'élasticité des couches de tissue d'épaisseur inférieure à la longueur d'onde utilisée. A cet effet, des simulations et des expériences ont été réalisées avec différents fantômes formés par une couche mince immergée dans un milieu d'élasticité différente. La concordance entre expériences et simulations, ainsi que le valeur de l'élasticité obtenue par élastographie 1D et le valeur de l'élasticité intrinsèque de la couche permettent de valider cette technique. Au même temps ces résultats ont été comparés avec ceux obtenus par la technique de Supersonic Shear Imaging (SSI), où l'onde est guidée le long de la plaque. On ajustant la courbe de dispersion expérimentale obtenue par SSI avec un modèle de Lamb, l'élasticité intrinsèque de chaque plaque est estimée. Les résultats obtenus par élastographie 1D et SSI montrent un bon accord entre eux. Le principal avantage de l'élastographie 1D est qu il n'est pas nécessaire d'utiliser un modèle pour estimer l'élasticité de la plaque. Deuxièmement, deux nouvelles modalités d'imagerie quantitative pour l'extraction de élasticité des tissus mou à partir d'un champ élastique complexe sont approfondies: l'Elastographie par Retournement Temporel et le filtre inverse passif. Le but de ces deux techniques est d'estimer localement l'élasticité des tissus, par la mesure de la taille de la tâche focale dans une expérience virtuelle de retournement temporel avec des ondes de cisaillement. A partir de l'étude du processus de retournement temporel dans les solides mous, la faisabilité de ces deux techniques est démontrée in vitro dans des échantillons "bi-couche" et in vivo dans le foie et les muscles, en utilisant le bruit physiologique naturel crée par l'activité cardiaque et musculaire. L'efficacité de l'élastographie par retournement temporel diminue dans le cas d'un champ diffus non isotrope. L'emploie du filtre inverse adaptée à une configuration de source de bruit, permet de rétablir l'isotropie du champ et d'améliorer la résolution pour la détection de petites inclusions. Le filtre inverse passif permet, de surcroît, de contrôler la fréquence qui domine le champ de retournement temporel. Ceci est exploité, dans la dernière partie du manuscrit, pour mener la première expérience de spectroscopie passive en volume. Deux situations sont envisagées: la dispersion due à la propagation d'ondes guidées dans des plaques minces et la dispersion des ondes due à la viscosité.The interaction between wave and matter has long been studied in Physics. In particular, regarding medical applications, wave propagation through the human body resulted in several imaging modalities, each of which uses a specific type of wave linked to a given physical property. The elasticity of soft biological tissues is directly linked to its shear wave speed. Thus, in Elastography, shear waves are tracked for non-invasive assessment of the mechanical properties of soft tissues. In this context, this thesis proposes a study of different elastography techniques from a basic point of view, as well as from its potential applications. Firstly, in this manuscript, the use of 1D transient elastography for the quantitative elasticity assessment of thin layered soft tissues is proposed. Experiments on three phantoms with different elasticities and plate thicknesses were performed. Experimental shear wave speed estimations inside the plate were obtained and validated with finite difference simulation. In addition, the Supersonic Shear Imaging (SSI) technique was performed. For the SSI technique, the propagating wave inside the plate is guided as a Lamb wave. Experimental SSI dispersion curves were fitted using a generalized Lamb model to retrieve the plate bulk shear wave speed. Finally both techniques resulted in similar shear wave speed estimations. The main advantage of 1D transient elastography is that the bulk shear wave speed can be directly retrieved from a time of flight measurement without requiring a dispersion model. Secondly, throughout this thesis, two novel quantitative imaging modalities for extracting the soft tissue's elasticity from a complex reverberated diffuse elastic field are deepen: Time Reversal Elastography (TRE) and the passive inverse filter. The goal of both techniques is to locally estimate the tissue's elasticity, by measuring the focal spot size in a virtual time reversal experiment involving shear waves. By studying the Physics of a time reversal process in soft solids, the feasibility of both techniques as a quantitative imaging techniques is demonstrated in vitro in bi-layer phantoms and in vivo in the liver-belly muscle, by using the physiological noise due to heartbeats and muscular activity. The efficiency of TRE decreases in the presence of a non-isotropic diffuse field. The use of the inverse filter adapted to a passive source configuration, restores the isotropy of the field. As a consequence, the resolution of the elasticity images is improved, leading to a better detection of small inclusions. In addition, the passive inverse filter allows to control the frequency dominating the time reversed field. This is exploited in the last part of the manuscript to conduct the first passive wave spectroscopy experiment in the volume of a soft solid. Two situations are considered: dispersion due to guided wave propagation in thin plates and wave dispersion due to viscosity effects.SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Elastografía por ultrasonido: revisión de aspectos técnicos y aplicaciones clínicas. Parte 2

Desde la década de los 90 se han desarrollado un conjunto de técnicas cuyo objetivo es evaluar la elasticidad de tejidos blandos mediante ultrasonido; en ese escenario, la elastografía por ultrasonido ha aportado una nueva perspectiva a la ecografía proporcionando información para el diagnóstico de diferentes patologías. El Laboratorio de Acústica Ultrasonora del Instituto de Física de la Facultad de Ciencias trabaja desde el año 2000 en elastografía por ultrasonido, desarrollando numerosos trabajos experimentales, tesis de maestría y doctorado por lo que cuenta con una amplia experiencia en el tema. En nuestro medio se han incorporado en los últimos años ecógrafos con el módulo de elastografía. Específicamente, en el Departamento Clínico de Imagenología del Hospital de Clínicas se adquirieron dos ecógrafos que cuentan con elastografía en transductor convexo para aplicaciones abdominales. Por otro lado, a través de proyecto de investigación financiado por ANII se adquirió un ecógrafo con transductores lineales y elastografía para aplicaciones en el área musculoesquelética. En este contexto, se considera importante realizar una actualización y resumen de las distintas técnicas elastográficas, ventajas, limitaciones y aplicaciones clínicas. El objetivo de esta segunda parte de la revisión es realizar una revisión bibliográfica y presentar las aplicaciones clínicas de la elastografía en la patología musculoesquelética, tiroidea y prostática.ANII: FMV_1_2019_1_15552

el reconocimiento de la República Popular China

El Uruguay en 1985 era uno de los pocos países del mundo que no tenía relaciones con la República Popular China (RPC). Tras casi tres años de gestión diplomática, el 3 de febrero de 1988, la reconocía oficialmente como la única China y establecía relaciones diplomáticas con ella. Dicho reconocimiento fue el resultado de una serie de procesos políticos complejos, de carácter interno y externo.Este trabajo pretende reconstruir el laborioso camino por el cual se van, primero, creando las condiciones para construir un diálogo sustantivo con la RPC y, posteriormente, se generan las decisiones que conducen a un cambio trascendente en el posicionamiento del país en el ámbito internacional. Este cambio requirió instrumentar un proceso de neutralización de la política de Taiwan y de su "lobby", particularmente activo durante el régimen de facto en Uruguay desde 1973. El reconocimiento de la RPC puede catalogarse como un caso exitoso de negociación diplomática y es un buen ejemplo de definición y ejecución de la política exterior del Uruguay, asimismo hace de este acontecimiento un caso de estudio de particular interés y expresa claramente la capacidad de un país pequeño para llevar a cabo un complicado proceso diplomático en defensa de sus intereses políticos y comerciales. [Basado en resumen de los autores

Aplicación de elastografía por retorno temporal a la evaluación de textura en quesos

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la aplicación de la técnica acústica Elastografía por Retorno Temporal (TRE) a la evaluación de la textura de distintos tipos de queso. Se evaluaron ocho muestras comerciales de diferente textura mediante las técnicas de TRE y Análisis de Perfi l de Textura (TPA). Ambas metodologías permitieron detectar diferencias en la textura de las muestras, aportando resultados concordantes. De acuerdo a la regresión de mínimos cuadrados parciales realizada (PLS), el ancho de focalización obtenido por TRE se correlacionó positivamente (R2=0.89) con los parámetros dureza y rigidez del TPA. Esto indica que la técnica de TRE sería un método adecuado para evaluar la textura de los quesos de forma no destructiva. Abstract The aim of this work was to study the application of the acoustic technique Time Reversal Elastography (TRE) for texture evaluation of different types of cheese. Eight commercial cheese samples were evaluated using TRE and Texture Profi le Analysis (TPA). Both methodologies were able to identify differences in the texture of the evaluated cheese samples, providing similar results. According to the partial least squares regression performed, the focalization width determined by TRE was positively correlated (R2=0.89) to hardness and stiffness. This indicates that TRE could be considered as an adequate method for the non destructive evaluation of cheese texture

Collaborative Construction of a Method that Contributes to Improve the Decision Making in Associative Ranches by Controlling the Grass Allowance in a Context of Climate Variability

Pasture management and the particular conditions of each year are responsible for productive results, farm income, and condition of the pasture. A simple and robust method that relates the available grass and the required grass was built in a participatory manner, and contributes to a critical reflection process among the group of decision-making, adapting to their context. In 17 farms from the Basalt region in Uruguay, grass and animals were monitored seasonally. A simple method was developed with farmers, and from de offer needed to meet production targets (KgMS/KgPV) the amount of grass requires was calculated. The grass height was measured with a ruler in order to obtain the available grass. From the relationship between the available grass and the necessary grass, a situation index (ISPC- Index on the food plate) was developed, and ranges were established with colors. Index less than 0.6 with Red color, between 0.6 and 0.8 Yellow, between 0.8 and 1.2 Green, and greater than 1,2 brown. Each group of ranchers analyzed their seasonal index together in workshops with other ranchers and guest technicians, who proposed alternatives to place the index whitin the optimum range. The host ranchers group selected and ordered the proposed alternatives by priority, and the resulting actions were described by using UML (Unified Modeling Lenguage) diagrams. Each rancher obtained one UML per season, with the right action to be taken in case of deficit or excess of grass. This process incorporated local, professional and academic knowledge, and by applying a simple method, measures were adapted according to the context of each rancher. The technician role was to facilitate the process by creating an environment that stimulated critical reflection, supported by real evidence. Participating ranchers achieved the ability to measure, relate, discuss an decide, and significantly improved their productive results by adopting participatory constructed methodology

In plane quantification of in vivo muscle elastic anisotropy factor by steered ultrasound pushing beams

Skeletal muscles are organized into distinct layers and exhibit anisotropic characteristics across various scales. Assessing the arrangement of skeletal muscles may provide valuable biomarkers for diagnosing muscle related pathologies and evaluating the efficacy of clinical interventions. In this study, we propose a novel ultrafast ultrasound sequence constituted of steered pushing beams was proposed for ultrasound elastography applications in transverse isotropic muscle. Based on the propagation of the shear wave vertical mode, it is possible to fit the experimental results to retrieve in the same imaging plane, the shear modulus parallel to fibers as well as the elastic anisotropy factor. The technique was demonstrated in vitro in phantoms and ex vivo in fusiform beef muscles. At last, the technique was applied in vivo on fusiform muscles (biceps braachi) and mono-penate muscles (gastrocnemius medialis) during stretching and contraction. This novel sequence provides access to new structural and mechanical biomarkers of muscle tissue, including the elastic anisotropy factor, within the same imaging plane. Additionally, it enables the investigation of multiples parameters during muscle active and passive length changes