A first thermodynamic interpretation of the technology transfer activities

In the last years new interdisciplinary approaches to economics and social science have been developed. A Thermodynamic approach to socio-economics has brought to a new interdisciplinary scientific field called econophysics. Why thermodynamic? Thermodynamic is a statistical theory for large atomic system under constraints of energy[1] and the economy can be considered a large system governed by complex rules. The present job proposes a new application, starting from econophysic, passing throughout the thermodynamic laws to interpret and to described the Technology Transfer (TT) activities. Using the definition of economy (i.e. economy[dictionary def.] = the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought in a country or region) the TT can be considered an important sub-domain of the economy and a transversal new area of the scientific research. The TT is the process of transferring knowledge, that uses the results from the research to produce innovation and to ensure that scientific and technological developments could become accessible to a wider range of users. Starting from important Universities (MIT, Stanford, Oxford, etc) nowadays the TT is assuming a central role. It is called the third mission, together with education and research. The importance to provide new theories and tools to describe the TT activities and their behavior, has been retained fundamental to support the social rapid evolution that is involving the TT offices. The presented work uses the thermodynamic theories applying them to Technology Transfer and starting from the concept of entropy, exergy and anergy. The output analysis should become an help to make decision to improve the TT activities and a better resources employment

Fluid flow-based description of the geometrical features in fluidic channels using the Shannon’s information theory: an exploratory study

Inspired by Nature, where storing information is an intrinsic ability of natural systems, here we investigate the capability of interacting systems to transport/store the information generated/exchanged in the interaction process in the form of energy or matter, preserving it over time. In detail, here we test the possibility to consider a fluid as a carrier of information, speculating about how to use such information. The aim of this work is to propose that information theory can be used to enlighten physical observations, even in those cases where the equations describing the phenomenon under investigation are intractable, are affected by a budget of uncertainty that makes their solution not affordable or may not even be known. In this exploratory work, an information theory-based approach is applied to microfluidic data. In detail, the classical study of the fluid flow in a microchannel with obstacles of different geometry is faced by integrating fluid mechanics theory with Shannon’s theory of information, interpreted in terms of thermodynamics. Technically, computational fluid dynamics simulations at Reynolds’ numbers (Re) equal to 1 and 50 were carried out in fluidic channels presenting obstacles with rectangular and semicircular shape, and on the simulated flow fields, the Shannon’s information theory was applied evaluating the fluid dynamics information entropy content. It emerged that the Shannon Entropy (SE) evaluated at the outflow section of the flow channel depends upon the geometric features (i.e., position, shape, aspect ratio) of the obstacles. This suggests an interpretation of the fluid dynamics establishing in a flow channel presenting obstacles in terms of information theory, that can be used to identify a posteriori the geometric features of the obstacles the fluid interacts with. The proposed approach can be applied to flow data at the boundaries of fluid domains of interest to extract information on the process occurring inside a system, without making any appeal to the governing equations of the phenomenon under observation or intrusive measurements

Testing a novel device for accurate ultrasound delivery during crystalline lens phacoemulsification surgery

Purpose: To assess whether the use of a patented, novel feedback device intended to accurately control phacoemulsification tip elongation is effective under varying machine settings and material resistance. Methods: Sculpt mode phaco (550-mm Hg Venturi pump; elongations, 35 and 70 μm) and quadrant settings (550-mm Hg Venturi pump; elongations, 15, 30, and 60 μm) were used in agar gel of incremental density (1%, 2%, 3%, and 6% in demineralized water). Dispersed lens fragments were also simulated with 6% agar gel spherules (2–5 mm in diameter; 550-mm Hg vacuum, and 60-μm elongation). Actual phaco tip elongation was measured on voltage readings from the piezoelectric crystals and compared to nominal elongation with feedback control off and on. Results: Mismatch between nominal and actual elongation when feedback control was off in sculpt mode varied between –13.51 μm and –23.07 μm of nominal elongation; in quadrant mode, mismatch varied between –2.79 μm and –20.41 μm. When the feedback control system was switched on, mismatch varied between –0.02 μm and +0.43 μm (P < 0.001 for all matchings). When the feedback system was off, the elongation mismatch among the 1%, 3%, and 6% agar was also statistically significant (P < 0.001). Elongation was 44.72 ± 4.16 μm with feedback control off and 60.02 ± 1.63 μm with it on (nominal elongation 60 μm; P < 0.001) when emulsifying agar 6% gel fragments. Dispersion of elongation data was also significantly wider when feedback control was turned off. Conclusions: A novel feedback control system effectively controls elongation accuracy regardless of the resistance offered by incremental agar gel concentrations. Translational Relevance: Implementing feedback control in phaco handpieces dramatically improves surgical accuracy. The translational value of this research relies on its immediate applicability to routine cataract surgery, resulting in a more appropriate use of ultrasound energy

Silicone Oil Tamponade Removal: Which Technique Is More Effective? An X-Ray Photoemission Spectroscopy Study

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of two surgical techniques used to remove silicone oil (SiO) emulsion tamponade after pars plana vitrectomy: triple air–fluid exchange (AFX) and balanced salt solution lavage (BSSL). Methods: X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measured silicon content of the dry residue of fluid samples taken during AFX and BSSL. Ten patients underwent AFX and five BSSL. Three fluid samples were taken per patient, and the dry residue of 10 drops per sample were analyzed. A fluid sample from a patient who never received SiO tamponade was also analyzed to set a “blank” reference sample. Results: Patients’ demographics showed no significant difference. Sample 1 of the two groups contained comparable silicon content while samples 2 and 3 of the AFX group contained significantly more silicon than that of the BSSL group (15.0 ± 0.1 and 12.0 ± 0.9 for the AFX group vs. 10.7 ± 1.4 and 5.2 ± 0.6 for the BSSL group, respectively; P < 0.05). The cumulative amount of silicon in the three successive samples was also significantly higher for the AFX group (42.3 ± 1.6 vs. 32 ± 2; P < 0.0001). The average silicon content ratio of consecutive samples was significantly higher for the AFX group compared to the BSSL group (0.90 ± 0.01 vs. 0.58 ± 0.06; P = 0.006). Conclusions: Triple AFX removed more silicon than triple lavage. The eye wall actively interacts with silicon emulsion retaining silicon content rather than behaving as a neutral container. Translational Relevance: Triple air–fluid exchange removed more silicon than BSS lavage. Neither technique behaved as a well-mixed box dilution, suggesting the eye walls actively retain emulsion and a dynamic equilibrium is established between silicon dispersion and the eye wall surface

Human Vitreous Collagen Fragments Dimension As a Function of Vitrectomy Cut Rate

Purpose: To study the dimensions and distribution of human vitreous collagen type II fragments collected after vitrectomy performed at varying cut rates and to evaluate if increasing the cut rate produces smaller collagen fragments, thus reducing retinal traction and/or viscosity. Methods: Fluid was collected during core vitrectomies performed for macular surgery at cut rates from 1000 to 16,000 cuts per minute (CPM) and immediately refrigerated. Protein fractions were separated by molecular weight (MW; >100 kDa, 50–100 kDa, 50– 30 kDa, 30–10 kDa, and <10 kDa) through centrifugal filters. The Human Collagen II ELISA Kit colorimetric assay was then used to measure the COL2A1 in unfiltered and filtered samples. Results: Vitreous samples collected after vitrectomy performed at 16,000 CPM contained a higher concentration of protein with MW over 100 kDa than at any other cutting frequency (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in fractions collected with a MW between 50 and 100 kDa. Collagen type II fragments over 100 kDa were significantly more represented than smaller fragments at each cut rate. The proportion of smaller (50–100 kDa) collagen fragments compared with those over 100 kDa was higher at 2000 CPM than at higher cut rates. Conclusions: Vitreous samples collected at different cut rates do not contain a significantly different proportion of collagen type II fragments of the tested MW. The extreme variability of vitreous flowthrough the cutter port may explain the uncertain predictability of collagen fragment MWs. Translational Relevance: Increasing the cut rate does not produce vitreous fragments of proportionally smaller dimension. It is necessary to achieve an invariant instantaneous flow through the cutter port in order to decrease retinal traction during vitrectomy

Phacoemulsification Tip Elongation Under Standardized Resistance: An Objective Measure of Human Crystalline Lens Hardness

Purpose: To establish a correlation between phacoemulsification tip normalized driving voltage (NDV) and crystalline lens hardness and use it as an objective measure of lens hardness. The study used a phaco tip equipped with previously validated elongation control adjusting the driving voltage (DV) to produce invariant elongation regardless of resistance. Methods: The laboratory study measured the mean and maximum DV of the phaco tip immersed in glycerol–balanced salt solution and correlated the DV with the kinematic viscosity at 25, 50, and 75 μm tip elongation. The NDV were obtained by dividing the DV in glycerol by the DV in the balanced salt solution. The clinical arm of the study recorded DV of 20 consecutive cataract surgeries. The correlation of mean and maximum NDV to Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III classification, patient’s age and effective phaco time were evaluated. Results: The mean and maximum NDV correlated with the kinematic viscosity of the glycerol solution (P < 0.001 in all cases). Mean and maximum NDV during cataract surgery correlated with patients’ age, effective phaco time, LOCS III nuclear color, and nuclear opalescence (P < 0.001 in all cases). Conclusions: When a feedback algorithm is running, DV variation strictly correlates with encountered resistance in glycerol solutions and real-life surgery. NDV significantly correlates with the LOCS classification. Future developments might include sensing tips that react to lens hardness in real time. Translational Relevance: The study correlates for the first time phaco tip DV and crystalline lens mechanical properties, establishing an objective and reliable measure of lens hardness. This may lead to smart phaco tips reacting to cataract hardness change in real time and sparing ultrasound dispersion

Computational fluid dynamics of intraocular silicone oil tamponade

Purpose: To investigate the behavior of silicone oil (SiO) at the steady equilibrium and during saccades and calculate SiO-retina contact, shear stress (SS), and shear rate (SR). Methods: A 24mmphakic eye mesh model underwent 50°/0.137s saccade. The vitreous chamber compartment was divided into superior and inferior 180° sectors: Lens, preequator, postequator, and macula. SiO-retina contact was evaluated as a function of fill percentages between 80% and 90% for a standing patient, 45° upward gaze, and supine. SS and SR for 1000mPa-s (SiO1000) and 5000mPa-s (SiO5000) silicon oilwere calculated. Results: SiO fill between 80% to 90% allowed 55% to 78% retinal contact. The superior retina always kept better contact with SiO, regardless of the fill percentage (P < 0.01). SiO interface thoroughly contacted the macula only in standing position. SS followed a bimodal behavior and was always significantly higher for SiO5000 compared to SiO1000 (P < 0.01) throughout the saccade. The macula suffered the highest mean SS in standing position, while throughout the saccade the average SS was maximum at the SiO-aqueous interface. SR was significantly higher for SiO1000 compared to SiO5000 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: SS on the retinal surface may instantaneously exceed reported retinal adhesiveness values especially at the SiO-aqueous interface and possibly favor redetachment. Despite 90% SiO fill the inferior retina remains extremely difficult to tamponade. Translational Relevance: Accurate assessment of retina-tamponade interaction may explain recurrent inferior retinal redetachment, silicone oil emulsification, and help to develop better vitreous substitutes

Influence of anterior capsulorhexis shape, centration, size, and location on intraocular lens position: Finite element model

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of anterior capsulorhexis shape, dimension, and eccentricity on intraocular lens (IOL) position. SETTING: Laboratory investigation. DESIGN: Computational model. METHODS: A finite element model of the human crystalline lens capsule and zonule was created and the anterior capsule opened to simulate centered and decentered circular and elliptic rhexis. The model calculated capsular bag stress, IOL rotation, tilt, decentration, and vaulting, related to both capsular landmarks (absolute) and a reference IOL position defined as that obtained with a 5.0 mm circular and centered rhexis. RESULTS: Mean von Mises stress along the IOL major z-axis was significantly higher than that along the perpendicular x-axis in all cases (P < .001), both at the equator and at the rhexis edge. Stress at the equator was always greater than that at the rhexis edge (P < .001) regardless of the rhexis shape and position. As rhexis eccentricity increased, the stress difference between the z- and x-axes increased. Absolute IOL tilt (range 10(−1) to 10(−7) degrees), decentration (10(−3) to 10(−7) mm), rotation (10(−2) to 10(-3) degrees), and vaulting (10(−1) mm) were negligible from an optical standpoint, but all of them were significantly greater for decentered rhexis (both round and elliptic) compared with centered (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior capsulorhexis irregularity and/or eccentricity increase IOL tilt, decentration, rotation, and vaulting in a numerically significant but optically negligible way. Von Mises stress is much greater at the capsular bag equator compared with the rhexis edge and highly asymmetrically distributed in all cases. Stress asymmetry may influence postoperative biologic processes of capsular bag shrinking and further IOL tilting or decentration