LASER ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL DECAY IN LIMESTONE CAUSED BY FREEZETHAW CYCLES

In this article, an innovative new method of non-destructive testing for estimating the sensitivity of limestone is presented. An advantage of the laser ultrasonic structuroscopy method is the time and the quality, due to which less tests are necessary for an analysis of rock properties. Limestone is measured with an innovative structural control method, which shows a good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the basic structural analysis

Basilar tip fenestration giving rise to Percheron’s and mesencephalic arteries

The basilar bifurcation region is a common site for intracranial aneurysms, as well as it gives rise to a group of perforating arteries that supply the mesencephalon and the thalamus. Complex vascular microanatomy poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and neurologists. In this paper, we present a previously unreported case of basilar tip fenestration that gave rise to five perforating arteries: the artery of Percheron and four mesencephalic arteries. Due to invaluable clinical significance, the possibility of such a variant must be considered during performing various neurovascular procedures, since e.g., embolization of the fenestration misdiagnosed as an aneurysm would inevitably lead to severe neurological complications (consciousness disturbances, quadriplegia, and sensory loss). Comprehensive knowledge of the neuroanatomy and neuroembryology is crucial to safe execution of intracranial interventions

The applications of infrared thermography in surgical removal of retained teeth effects assessment

during filling cavities, laser treatment and inflammation of periodontal tissues. The biggest problem in thermal imaging was limiting access and rapid change of humidity when the mouth opens during measurements. However, nowadays thermal map of body surface is correlated with inflammatory state changing inner mouth. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of thermal imaging to localize the inflammation and monitor treatment effects after surgical removal of third retained molar teeth. The cohort consisted of 27 patients with referral for the surgical extraction of the third retained molar. Thermal imaging of the sagittal face was performed before and after the procedure and on the first, fourth and seventh day after the extraction. Obtained thermal maps are correlated with the third molar teeth inflammation location. Moreover, the changes of temperature in the area of both the tooth and the cheek correspond to the mechanisms of wound healing described in the literature. Obtained results were not only qualitative but also quantitative what was confirmed by statistically significant difference. It seems that thermal imaging, which is a noninvasive method, can be used to monitor treatment processes after surgical procedures, as well as on the location of inflammation

Thermal effects of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in hard-to-heal wounds - a pilot study

Clinical studies have been performed to evaluate the thermal response of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (THBOT) in patients suffering from hard-to-heal wounds diagnosed as venous leg ulcers located on their lower extremities. It was found that this therapy leads to a temperature decrease in areas around the wound. Moreover, a minor temperature differentiation between all areas was seen in the third period of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (THBOT) that may suggest that microcirculation and thermoregulation improvement start the healing process. On the other hand, the results of the conducted studies seem to prove that thermal imaging may provide a safe and effective method of analyzing wound healing of hard-to-heal wounds being treated with THBOT. This is the first study that tries to show the possibilities of a very new method by evaluating treatment of hard-to-heal wounds using thermal imaging, similar to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy effects evaluated by thermal imaging and described previously. However, the first clinical results showed a decrease in temperature due to the THBOT session and some qualitative similarities in the decrease in temperature differentiation between the studied areas and the temperature effects obtained due to hyperbaric oxygen therapy

A quantitative thermal analysis of cyclists’ thermo-active base layers

It is well known that clothes used in sporting activity are a barrier for heat exchange between the environment and athlete, which should help in thermoregulation improvement. However, it is difficult to evaluate which top is best for each athlete according to the characteristics of the sport. Researchers have tried to measure the athlete’s temperature distribution during exercise at the base layers of tops with different approaches. The aim of this case study was to investigate the use of thermography for thermo-active base layer evaluation. Six new base layers were measured on one cyclist volunteer during a progressive training on a cycloergometer. As a control condition, the skin temperature of the same volunteer was registered without any layer with the same training. A training protocol was selected approximate to cycling race, which started from the warm-up stage, next the progressive effort until the race finished and at the end ‘‘cool-down’’ stage was over. In order to show which layer provided the strongest and weakest barrier for heat exchange in comparison with environment, the temperature parameters were taken into consideration. The most important parameter in the studies was the temperature difference between the body and the layers, which was changing during the test time. The studies showed a correlation between the ergometer power parameter and the body temperature changes, which has a strong and significant value. Moreover, the mass of every layer was checked before and after the training to evaluate the mass of the sweat exuded during the test. From this data, the layer mass difference parameter was calculated and taken into consideration as a parameter, which may correspond with the mean heart rate value from each training. A high and positive correlation coefficient was obtained between the average heart rate and the mass difference for the base layers. Thermal analysis seems to have a new potential application in the objective assessment of sports clothing and may help in choosing the proper clothes, which could support heat transfer during exercising and protect the body from overheating

CyberEye: New Eye-Tracking Interfaces for Assessment and Modulation of Cognitive Functions beyond the Brain

The emergence of innovative neurotechnologies in global brain projects has accelerated research and clinical applications of BCIs beyond sensory and motor functions. Both invasive and noninvasive sensors are developed to interface with cognitive functions engaged in thinking, communication, or remembering. The detection of eye movements by a camera offers a particularly attractive external sensor for computer interfaces to monitor, assess, and control these higher brain functions without acquiring signals from the brain. Features of gaze position and pupil dilation can be effectively used to track our attention in healthy mental processes, to enable interaction in disorders of consciousness, or to even predict memory performance in various brain diseases. In this perspective article, we propose the term ‘CyberEye’ to encompass emerging cognitive applications of eye-tracking interfaces for neuroscience research, clinical practice, and the biomedical industry. As CyberEye technologies continue to develop, we expect BCIs to become less dependent on brain activities, to be less invasive, and to thus be more applicable

Study of rock fracture under blast loading

A study of dolomite rock material failure using a simple small-scale blast setup is presented. Laboratory tests were conducted using disc specimens drilled with a borehole in the center. A detonation cord and a blasting cap were fitted inside the borehole to induce cracking and fracturing of the specimens. The specimens were inserted between two steel plates, which were compressed against the specimen using bolt screws. Prior to testing, the most suitable screw torque for constraining the vertical displacement of the specimen surfaces without compressing the specimen was selected based on numerical simulations. Then, the experimental tests with the blasting cap were simulated using the Johnson–Holmquist II (JH-2) material model, and the properties of the blasting cap were determined and verified in two special tests with a lead specimen. Possessing the validated model, the influence of specimen thickness on the cracking patterns was finally analyzed. This paper presents a relatively easy method for studying rock material behavior under blast loading and for validating the numerical and constitutive models used for rock simulations

The applications of thermal imaging in dental implant – pilot study

Termografia z roku na rok staje się coraz bardziej popularnym narzędziem diagnostycznym w medycynie i biologii. Poprzez analizę obrazów termicznych ciała możliwa jest ocena metabolizmu tkanek podpowierzchniowych. Pozwala to na lokalizację występowania stanów zapalnych oraz weryfikację procesów gojenia się tkanek poddanych zabiegom na podstawie zmian temperatury. Celem niniejszej pracy była próba zastosowania obrazowania termicznego w ocenie stanu zapalnego wywołanego założeniem śruby gojącej w trakcie zabiegu implantacji zęba. Obrazowanie termiczne wykonano przed i po zabiegu oraz w 2 i 12 dobie po zabiegu, oceniając zmiany temperatury w obszarze zabiegu (tzw. obszar zęba), w obszarze policzka po stronie zabiegu (tzw. obszar policzka) oraz w obszarze policzka zdrowego (tj. obszar kontrolny). Badania przeprowadzono na grupie 6 pacjentów, a otrzymane wyniki wskazują na wystąpienie stanu zapalnego po zabiegu, co wydaje się być efektem spodziewanym ze względu na procedury wiercenia i wkręcania śruby. Podwyższona temperatura w 2 dobie po zabiegu wskazuje na utrzymywanie się stanu zapalnego, a jej wyraźny spadek obserwowany jest w 12 dobie, co wskazuje na zakończenie fazy regeneracji i gojenia się tkanek. Wstępne pomiary mogą wskazywać na przydatność metody obrazowania termicznego w implantacji zębów.From year to year thermal imaging is becoming more and more popular diagnostic tool in medicine and biology. The metabolism of subsurface tissues is possible due to the thermal images analysis. Moreover, the inflammation location and tissue healing processes may be verified based on the temperature changes. The aim of study was to try to use thermal imaging in the inflammation assessment, which was caused by healing abutment of a dental implant location. Thermal imaging was done before and after treatment and in 2nd and 12th day after procedure. The assessment of temperature changes was done in procedure location ROI (so-called the tooth area), the cheek on the side of procedure ROI (so-called the cheek area) and the health cheek ROI (so-called the control side). The study included six patients, and the results indicate that inflammation appeared directly after the procedure. In fact, this was expected due to drilling and placing the healing abutment of a dental implant. The increased temperature in 2nd day after procedure may suggest that inflammation is maintained till 12th day, when the healing processes are ending. The preliminary results may indicate the usefulness of thermal imaging in dental implants monitoring