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Significance: A non-destructive technique for accurately characterizing the spatial distribution of optical properties of soft tissue membranes may give improved outcomes in many tissue engineering applications. Aim: This study aimed to develop a non-destructive macroscopic imaging technique that is sensitive to optical anisotropy, typical of fibrous components in soft tissue membranes, and can address some of the difficulties caused by the complex turbid nature of these tissues. Approach: A near-infrared Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter employing logarithm decomposition was developed and used to conduct transmission measurements of all the polarization properties across the full thickness of bovine pericardium tissue. Results: The full Mueller matrix was measured across a 70 mm×70 mm sample of calf bovine pericardium and revealed significant retardance (linear and circular) and depolarization in this tissue. Regions with a uniform axis of optical anisotropy were identified. Mueller matrix imaging demonstrated that the exhibited circular retardance was sufficient to lead to possible misinterpretation of apparent fiber orientation when using conventional polarization imaging techniques for such tissues. Conclusions: Mueller matrix imaging can identify regional distributions of optical anisotropy in calf bovine pericardium. This new capability is a promising development in non-destructive imaging for tissue selection.

Significance: Morphological collagen signatures are important for tissue function, particularly in the tumor microenvironment. A single algorithmic framework with quantitative, multiscale morphological collagen feature extraction may further the use of collagen signatures in understanding fundamental tumor progression. Aim: A modification of the 2D wavelet transform modulus maxima (WTMM) anisotropy method was applied to both digitally simulated collagen fibers and second-harmonic-generation imaged collagen fibers of mouse skin to calculate a multiscale anisotropy factor to detect collagen fiber organization. Approach: The modified 2D WTMM anisotropy method was initially validated on synthetic calibration images to establish the robustness and sensitivity of the multiscale fiber organization tool. Upon validation, the algorithm was applied to collagen fiber organization in normal wild-type skin, melanoma stimulated skin, and integrin α10KO skin. Results: Normal wild-type skin collagen fibers have an increased anisotropy factor at all sizes scales. Interestingly, the multiscale anisotropy differences highlight important dissimilarities between collagen fiber organization in normal wild-type skin, melanoma stimulated, and integrin α10KO skin. At small scales (∼2 to 3 μm), the integrin α10KO skin was vastly different than normal skin (p-value ∼ 10 − 8), whereas the melanoma stimulated skin was vastly different than normal at large scales (∼30 to 40 μm, p-value ∼ 10 − 15). Conclusions: This objective computational collagen fiber organization algorithm is sensitive to collagen fiber organization across multiple scales for effective exploration of collagen morphological alterations associated with melanoma and the lack of α10 integrin binding.

Significance: Fluorescence polarization (FP) and fluorescence anisotropy (FA) microscopy are powerful imaging techniques that allow to translate the common FP assay capabilities into the in vitro and in vivo cellular domain. As a result, they have found potential for mapping drug–protein or protein–protein interactions. Unfortunately, these imaging modalities are ratiometric in nature and as such they suffer from excessive noise even under regular imaging conditions, preventing accurate image-feature analysis of fluorescent molecules behaviors. Aim: We present a high dynamic range (HDR)-based FA imaging modality for improving image quality in FA microscopy. Approach: The method exploits ad hoc acquisition schemes to extend the dynamic range of individual FP channels, allowing to obtain FA images with increased signal-to-noise ratio. Results: A direct comparison between FA images obtained with our method and the standard, clearly indicates how an HDR-based FA imaging approach allows to obtain high-quality images, with the ability to correctly resolve image features at different values of FA and over a substantially higher range of fluorescence intensities. Conclusion: The method presented is shown to outperform standard FA imaging microscopy narrowing the spread of the propagated error and yielding higher quality images. The method can be effectively and routinely used on any commercial imaging system and could be also translated to other microscopy ratiometric imaging modalities.

Stacks of superconducting tapes can trap much higher magnetic fields than conventional magnets. This makes them very promising for motors and generators. However, ripple magnetic fields in these machines present a cross-field component that demagnetizes the stacks. At present, there is no quantitative agreement between measurements and modeling of cross-field demagnetization, mainly due to the need of a 3D model that takes the end effects and real micron-thick superconducting layer into account. This article presents 3D modeling and measurements of cross-field demagnetization in stacks of up to 5 tapes and initial magnetization modeling of stacks of up to 15 tapes. 3D modeling of the cross-field demagnetization explicitly shows that the critical current density, $J_c$, in the direction perpendicular to the tape surface does not play a role in cross-field demagnetization. When taking the measured anisotropic magnetic field dependence of $J_c$ into account, 3D calculations agree with measurements with less than 4 % deviation, while the error of 2D modeling is much higher. Then, our 3D numerical methods can realistically predict cross-field demagnetization. Due to the force-free configuration of part of the current density, J, in the stack, better agreement with experiments will probably require measuring the Jc anisotropy for the whole solid angle range, including $J$ parallel to the magnetic field., Comment: 36 pages, 20 figures

Significance: Ultrasound-assisted optical imaging techniques, such as ultrasound-modulated optical tomography, allow for imaging deep inside scattering media. In these modalities, a fraction of the photons passing through the ultrasound beam is modulated. The efficiency by which the photons are converted is typically referred to as the ultrasound modulation’s “tagging efficiency.” Interestingly, this efficiency has been defined in varied and discrepant fashion throughout the scientific literature. Aim: The aim of this study is the ultrasound tagging efficiency in a manner consistent with its definition and experimentally verify the contributive (or noncontributive) relationship between the mechanisms involved in the ultrasound optical modulation process. Approach: We adopt a general description of the tagging efficiency as the fraction of photons traversing an ultrasound beam that is frequency shifted (inclusion of all frequency-shifted components). We then systematically studied the impact of ultrasound pressure and frequency on the tagging efficiency through a balanced detection measurement system that measured the power of each order of the ultrasound tagged light, as well as the power of the unmodulated light component. Results: Through our experiments, we showed that the tagging efficiency can reach 70% in a scattering phantom with a scattering anisotropy of 0.9 and a scattering coefficient of 4 mm⁻¹ for a 1-MHz ultrasound with a relatively low (and biomedically acceptable) peak pressure of 0.47 MPa. Furthermore, we experimentally confirmed that the two ultrasound-induced light modulation mechanisms, particle displacement and refractive index change, act in opposition to each other. Conclusion: Tagging efficiency was quantified via simulation and experiments. These findings reveal avenues of investigation that may help improve ultrasound-assisted optical imaging techniques.

In bone tissue engineering (BTE), most of the currently developed scaffolds still lack the ability to demonstrate high porosity and high mechanical strength simultaneously or the ability to maintain bioactivity and sustained release of loaded biofactors. In this work, we constructed an anisotropic triple-pass tubular framework within a lyophilized porous GEL scaffold using FP, which was prepared by coating DEX-covered Whatman paper (WP) using the silk fibroin (SF) membrane with β-sheet conformation. This novel structural design endowed the functionalized paper frame (FPF)/scaffold implant high porosity, high mechanical strength, and sustained DEX delivery capability. Specifically, its porosity was as high as 88.2%, approximating that of human cancellous bone. The pore diameters of the implant ranged from 50 to 350 μm with an average pore diameter of 127.7 μm, indicating proper pore sizes for successful diffusion of essential nutrients/oxygen and bone tissue-ingrowth. Owing to the construction of double-network-like structure, the FPF/scaffold implant demonstrated excellent mechanical properties both in dry (174.7 MPa in elastic modulus and 14.9 MPa in compressive modulus) and wet states (59.0 MPa in elastic modulus and 3.3 MPa in compressive modulus), indicating its feasibility for in vivo implantation. Besides, the FPF/scaffold implant exhibited long-term DEX releasing behavior (over 50 days) with constant release rate in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Murine osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 cultured in the porous FPF/scaffold implant had excellent viability. Furthermore, the cells cocultured with the FPF/scaffold implant showed positive proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and calcium deposition. Twenty-eight days after implantation, extensive osteogenesis was observed in the rats treated with the FPF/scaffold implants. The anisotropic triple-pass tubular framework of the FPF/scaffold implant demonstrates structural similarities to the long bone. Therefore, this novel FPF/scaffold implant could be a better alternative for long bone defect repair.

The development of highly sensitive and selective methods for the detection of microRNA (miRNA) has attracted tremendous attention because of its importance in fundamental biological studies and diagnostic applications. In this work, we develop DNA-encoded Raman-active anisotropic nanoparticles modified origami paper analytical devices (oPADs) for rapid, highly sensitive, and specific miRNA detection. The Raman-active anisotropic nanoparticles were prepared using 10-mer oligo-A, -T, -C, and -G to mediate the growth of Ag cubic seeds into Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different morphologies. The resulting AgNPs were further encoded with DNA probes to serve as effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes. The analytical device was then fabricated on a single piece of SERS probes loaded paper-based substrate and assembled based on the principles of origami. The addition of the target analyte amplifies the Raman signals on DNA-encoded AgNPs through a target-dependent, sequence specific DNA hybridization assembly. This simple and low-cost analytical device is generic and applicable to a variety of miRNAs, allowing detection sensitivity down to 1 pM and assay time within 15 min, and therefore holds promising applications in point-of-care diagnostics.

Purpose: We present a phase-contrast x-ray tomography study of wild type C57BL/6 mouse hearts as a nondestructive approach to the microanatomy on the scale of the entire excised organ. Based on the partial coherence at a home-built phase-contrast μ - CT setup installed at a liquid metal jet source, we exploit phase retrieval and hence achieve superior image quality for heart tissue, almost comparable to previous synchrotron data on the whole organ scale. Approach: In our work, different embedding methods and heavy metal-based stains have been explored. From the tomographic reconstructions, quantitative structural parameters describing the three-dimensional (3-D) architecture have been derived by two different fiber tracking algorithms. The first algorithm is based on the local gradient of the reconstructed electron density. By performing a principal component analysis on the local structure-tensor of small subvolumes, the dominant direction inside the volume can be determined. In addition to this approach, which is already well established for heart tissue, we have implemented and tested an algorithm that is based on a local 3-D Fourier transform. Results: We showed that the choice of sample preparation influences the 3-D structure of the tissue, not only in terms of contrast but also with respect to the structural preservation. A heart prepared with the evaporation-of-solvent method was used to compare both algorithms. The results of structural orientation were very similar for both approaches. In addition to the determination of the fiber orientation, the degree of filament alignment and local thickness of single muscle fiber bundles were obtained using the Fourier-based approach. Conclusions: Phase-contrast x-ray tomography allows for investigating the structure of heart tissue with an isotropic resolution below 10 μ m . The fact that this is possible with compact laboratory instrumentation opens up new opportunities for screening samples and optimizing sample preparation, also prior to synchrotron beamtimes. Further, results from the structural analysis can help in understanding cardiovascular diseases or can be used to improve computational models of the heart.

Calibration, quantification, and standardization of the polarimetric instrumentation, as well as interpretation and understanding of the obtained data, require the development and use of well-calibrated phantoms and standards. We reviewed the status of tissue phantoms for a variety of applications in polarimetry; more than 500 papers are considered. We divided the phantoms into five groups according to their origin (biological/nonbiological) and fundamental polarimetric properties of retardation, depolarization, and diattenuation. We found that, while biological media are generally depolarizing, retarding, and diattenuating, only one of all the phantoms reviewed incorporated all these properties, and few considered at least combined retardation and depolarization. Samples derived from biological tissue, such as tendon and muscle, remain extremely popular to quickly ascertain a polarimetric system, but do not provide quantifiable results aside from relative direction of their principal optical axis. Microspheres suspensions are the most utilized phantoms for depolarization, and combined with theoretical models can offer true quantification of depolarization or degree of polarization. There is a real paucity of birefringent phantoms despite the retardance being one of the most interesting parameters measurable with polarization techniques. Therefore, future work should be directed at generating truly reliable and repeatable phantoms for this metric determination. Diattenuating phantoms are rare and application-specific. Given that diattenuation is considered to be low in most biological tissues, the lack of such phantoms is seen as less problematic. The heterogeneity of the phantoms reviewed points to a critical need for standardization in this field. Ultimately, all research groups involved in polarimetric studies and instruments development would benefit from sharing a limited set of standardized polarimetric phantoms, as is done earlier in the round robin investigations in ellipsometry.

Significance: Biological tissues are typically characterized by high anisotropic scattering and may also exhibit linear form birefringence. Both scattering and birefringence bias the phase shift between transverse electric field components of polarized light. These phase alterations are associated with particular structural malformations in the tissue. In fact, the majority of polarization-based techniques are unable to distinguish the nature of the phase shift induced by birefringence or scattering of light. Aim: We explore the distinct contributions of scattering and birefringence in the phase retardation of circularly polarized light propagated in turbid tissue-like scattering medium. Approach: The circularly polarized light in frame of Stokes polarimetry approach is used for the screening of biotissue phantoms and chicken skin samples. The change of optical properties in chicken skin is accomplished by optical clearing, which reduces scattering, and mechanical stretch, which induces birefringence. The change of optical properties of skin tissue is confirmed by spectrophotometric measurements and second-harmonic generation imaging. Results: The contributions of scattering and birefringence in the phase retardation of circularly polarized light propagated in biological tissues are distinguished by the locus of the Stokes vector mapped on the Poincaré sphere. The phase retardation of circularly polarized light due to scattering alterations is assessed. The value of birefringence in chicken skin is estimated as 0.3 × 10− 3, which agrees with alternative studies. The change of birefringence of skin tissue due to mechanical stretch in the order of 10− 6 is detected. Conclusions: While the polarimetric parameters on their own do not allow distinguishing the contributions of scattering and birefringence, the resultant Stokes vector trajectory on the Poincaré sphere reveals the role of scattering and birefringence in the total phase retardation. The described approach, applied independently or in combination with Mueller polarimetry, can be beneficial for the advanced characterization of various types of malformations within biological tissues.

Optogenetics has become an integral tool for studying and dissecting the neural circuitries of the brain using optical control. Recently, it has also begun to be used in the investigation of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. However, information on these regions' optical properties is sparse. Moreover, there is a lack of data on the dependence of light propagation with respect to neural tissue organization and orientation. This information is important for effective simulations and optogenetic planning, particularly in the spinal cord where the myelinated axons are highly organized. To this end, we report experimental measurements for the scattering coefficient, validated with three different methods in both the longitudinal and radial directions of multiple mammalian spinal cords. In our analysis, we find that there is indeed a directional dependence of photon propagation when interacting with organized myelinated axons. Specifically, light propagating perpendicular to myelinated axons in the white matter of the spinal cord produced a measured reduced scattering coefficient ( μ s ' ) of 3.52 ± 0.1 mm - 1 , and light that was propagated along the myelinated axons in the white matter produced a measured μ s ' of 1.57 ± 0.03 mm - 1 , across the various species considered. This 50% decrease in scattering power along the myelinated axons is observed with three different measurement strategies (integrating spheres, observed transmittance, and punch-through method). Furthermore, this directional dependence in scattering power and overall light attenuation did not occur in the gray matter regions where the myelin organization is nearly random. The acquired information will be integral in preparing future light-transport simulations and in overall optogenetic planning in both the spinal cord and the brain.

Working memory (WM) skills are closely associated with learning progress in key areas such as reading and mathematics across childhood. As yet, however, little is known about how the brain systems underpinning WM develop over this critical developmental period. The current study investigated whether and how structural brain correlates of components of the working memory system change over development. Verbal and visuospatial short‐term and working memory were assessed in 153 children between 5.58 and 15.92 years, and latent components of the working memory system were derived. Fractional anisotropy and cortical thickness maps were derived from T1‐weighted and diffusion‐weighted MRI and processed using eigenanatomy decomposition. There was a greater involvement of the corpus callosum and posterior temporal white matter in younger children for performance associated with the executive part of the working memory system. For older children, this was more closely linked with the thickness of the occipitotemporal cortex. These findings suggest that increasing specialization leads to shifts in the contribution of neural substrates over childhood, moving from an early dependence on a distributed system supported by long‐range connections to later reliance on specialized local circuitry. Our findings demonstrate that despite the component factor structure being stable across childhood, the underlying brain systems supporting working memory change. Taking the age of the child into account, and not just their overall score, is likely to be critical for understanding the nature of the limitations on their working memory capacity.

The response of paper to humidity variations is a complex, inherently multi-scale problem. The hygroscopic swelling of individual fibres and their interactions within the fibrous network govern the macroscopic, sheet-level response. At this scale, moisture induced instabilities and out-of-plane deformations may occur, which are critical for a number of industrial applications. This work specifically focuses on several aspects of this important issue. A macroscopic phenomenological hygro-mechanical model is first proposed, which aims at predicting moisture induced out-of-plane deformations in paper sheets. The constitutive model is based on the relation between these deformations and typical irreversible phenomena associated to the history of paper manufacturing, i.e. the release of dried-in strains. The model is used to describe bending induced by moisture gradients through the thickness of the sheet as well as buckling due to moisture variation in the presence of mechanical constraints. The results of the model show that the anisotropic sheet-level hygro-expansion has a strong influence on the instability phenomena. Moreover, a comparison with experiments provides adequate semi-quantitative estimates. An additional step is made towards the multi-scale understanding of paper hygro-mechanics. The fundamental physical mechanisms governing the macroscopic moisture induced response are investigated on the basis of the underlying fibrous network. To this aim, a meso-structural model is developed which consists of a network of fibres randomly positioned in a planar region according to an orientation probability density function. A series of network simulations reveals that upon moisture content variations the expansion of the inter-fibre bonding regions essentially drives the overall deformation. Particularly in the case of anisotropic fibre orientation, this explains the origin of the macro-scale anisotropic hygro-expansion, which is essential for the observed sheet-level instability phenomena.

International audience; Imaging methods permitting real-time, wide-field, and quantitative optical mapping of biological tissue properties offer an unprecedented range of applications for clinical use. Following the development of spatial frequency domain imaging, we introduce a real-time demodulation method called single snapshot of optical properties (SSOPs). However, since this method uses only a single image to generate absorption and reduced scattering maps, it was limited by a degraded image quality resulting in artifacts that diminished its potential for clinical use. We present filtering strategies for improving the image quality of optical properties maps obtained using SSOPs. We investigate the effect of anisotropic two-dimensional filtering strategies for spatial frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 mm −1 directly onto N ¼ 10 hands. Both accuracy and image quality of the optical properties are quantified in comparison with standard, multiple image acquisitions in the spatial frequency domain. Overall, using optimized filters, mean errors in predicting optical properties using SSOP remain under 8.8% in absorption and 7.5% in reduced scattering, while significantly improving image quality. Overall this work contributes to advance real-time, wide-field, and quantitative diffuse optical imaging toward clinical evaluation.

This paper presents a multi-scale approach to predict the effective hygro-mechanical behaviour of paper sheets based on the properties of the underlying fibrous network. Despite the vast amount of literature on paper hygro-expansion, the functional dependence of the effective material properties on the micro-structural features remains yet unclear. In this work, a micro-structural model of the paper fibrous network is first developed by random deposition of the fibres within a planar region according to an orientation probability density function. Asymptotic homogenization is used to determine its effective properties numerically. Alternatively, two much more idealized micro-structural models are considered, one based on a periodic lattice structure with a regular network of perpendicular fibres and one based on the Voigt average. Despite their simplicity, they reproduce representative micro-structural features, such as the orientation anisotropy and network level hygro-elastic properties. These alternative models can be solved analytically, providing closed-form expressions that explicitly reveal the influence of the individual micro-scale parameters on the effective hygro-mechanical response. The trend predicted by the random network model is captured reasonably well by the two idealized models. The resulting hygro-mechanical properties are finally compared with experimental data reported in the literature, revealing an adequate quantitative agreement.

In this paper a simplified network model for mechano-sorptive creep is presented, which is a further development of an earlier paper [Strömbro, J., Gudmundson, P., 2008. Mechano-sorptive creep under compressive loading – a micromechanical model. International Journal of Solids and Structures 45 (9), 2420–2450.]. It is assumed that the anisotropic hygroexpansion of the fibres leads to large stresses at the fibre bonds when the moisture content changes. The resulting stress state will accelerate creep if the fibre material obeys a constitutive law that is non-linear. Fibre kinks are included in order to capture experimental observations of larger mechano-sorptive effects in compression than in tension. Moisture dependent material parameters and anisotropy in the fibre distribution have been introduced. Theoretical predictions based on the model are compared to experimental results for an anisotropic paper both under tensile and compressive loading at varying moisture content and it is found that the important features in the experiments are captured by the model. Different kinds of drying conditions have also been examined.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder that is associated with marked cerebrovascular disease. Conventional MRI shows an extensive load of white matter lesions (WMLs) already at an early stage in FD. Objective: Investigator independent and sensitive quantification of brain structural changes in clinically affected men and women with FD. Methods: The authors performed a voxel-based analysis of diffusion tensor images (DTI) in 25 FD patients and 20 age-matched normal controls. Results: DTI revealed significant increases of cerebral white matter diffusivity (MD) in FD patients that were pronounced in the periventricular white matter. Even the subgroup of patients without significant WMLs-load (n = 18) showed increased diffusivity in the cerebral white matter. In gray matter areas MD elevation could only be detected in the posterior part of the thalamus, independently from visible pulvinar alterations on the T1-weighted images. Voxel-based anisotropy (FA) measurements did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the clinical feasibility of voxel-based analysis of DTI as a sensitive tool to quantify brain tissue alterations in FD. The pattern of increased brain tissue diffusivity is probably due to microangiopathic alterations mainly affecting the long perforating arteries.

The toxicity of the most efficient fire retardant additives is a major problem for polymeric materials. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/clay nanocomposites, with unique brick-and-mortar structure and prepared by simple filtration, are characterized from the morphological point of view by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. These nanocomposites have superior fire protection properties to other clay nanocomposites and fiber composites. The corresponding mechanisms are evaluated in terms of flammability (reaction to a flame) and cone calorimetry (exposure to heat flux). These two tests provide a wide spectrum characterization of fire protection properties in CNF/montmorrilonite (MTM) materials. The morphology of the collected residues after flammability testing is investigated. In addition, thermal and thermo-oxidative stability are evaluated by thermogravimetric analyses performed in inert (nitrogen) and oxidative (air) atmospheres. Physical and chemical mechanisms are identified and related to the unique nanostructure and its low thermal conductivity, high gas barrier properties and CNF/MTM interactions for char formation.

Background: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) shows promise in the early detection of microstructural pathophysiological changes in the brain. Objectives: To measure microstructural differences in the brains of participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared with an age-matched control group using an optimised DTI technique with fully automated image analysis tools and to investigate the correlation between diffusivity measurements and neuropsychological performance scores across groups. Methods: 34 participants (17 participants with MCI, 17 healthy elderly adults) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based DTI. To control for the effects of anatomical variation, diffusion images of all participants were registered to standard anatomical space. Significant statistical differences in diffusivity measurements between the two groups were determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis using gaussian random field theory. Results: Significantly raised mean diffusivity measurements (p

Objectives: Our purpose was to investigate whether differences exist in the values and temporal evolution of mean diffusivity ( ) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of grey and white matter after human ischaemic stroke. Methods: Thirty two patients with lesions affecting both grey and white matter underwent serial diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) within 24 hours, and at 4–7 days, 10–14 days, 1 month, and 3 months after stroke. Multiple small circular regions of interest (ROI) were placed in the grey and white matter within the lesion and in the contralateral hemisphere. Values of {grey}, {white}, FA{grey} and FA{white} were measured in these ROI at each time point and the ratios of ischaemic to normal contralateral values ( R and FAR) calculated. Results: and FA showed different patterns of evolution after stroke. After an initial decline, the rate of increase of {grey} was faster than {white} from 4–7 to 10–14 days. FA{white} decreased more rapidly than FA{grey} during the first week, thereafter for both tissue types the FA decreased gradually. However, FA{white} was still higher than FA{grey} at three months indicating that some organised axonal structure remained. This effect was more marked in some patients than in others. R{grey} was significantly higher than R{white} within 24 hours and at 10–14 days (p

Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcome measures such as T2 lesion load correlate poorly with disability in multiple sclerosis. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the brain can provide unique information regarding the orientation and integrity of white matter tracts in vivo.To use this information to map the pyramidal tracts of patients with multiple sclerosis, investigate the relation between burden of disease in the tracts and disability, and compare this with more global magnetic resonance estimates of disease burden.25 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 17 healthy volunteers were studied with DTI. An algorithm was used that automatically produced anatomically plausible maps of white matter tracts. The integrity of the pyramidal tracts was assessed using relative anisotropy and a novel measure (L(t)) derived from the compounded relative anisotropy along the tracts. The methods were compared with both traditional and more recent techniques for measuring disease burden in multiple sclerosis (T2 lesion load and "whole brain" diffusion histograms).Relative anisotropy and L(t) were significantly lower in patients than controls (p0.05). Pyramidal tract L(t) in the patients correlated significantly with both expanded disability status scale (r = -0.48, p0.05), and to a greater degree, the pyramidal Kurtzke functional system score (KFS-p) (r = -0.75, p0.0001). T2 lesion load and diffusion histogram parameters did not correlate with disability.Tract mapping using DTI is feasible and may increase the specificity of MRI in multiple sclerosis by matching appropriate tracts with specific clinical scoring systems. These techniques may be applicable to a wide range of neurological conditions.

We consider illumination systems and mathematical algorithms for determination of the anisotropy and topographical features of an illuminated surface from its reflection images. As a particular example we study determination of the fiber orientation of paper surface. We also consider illumination systems with multiple light sources, and introduce optimization algorithms that exploit different spectral bands of these light sources. We show that a system of three light sources, e.g., a blue, green and red LED placed in a regular triangular form, efficiently prevents distortion of the above features. It is also easy to implement in applications, e.g., of the paper industry. We furthermore show that a pentagonal illumination system would be even better. However, in this case a five-colour photographic system and the corresponding light sources would be needed.

Point spreading is investigated using general radiative transfer theory. We find that the single scattering anisotropy plays a significant role for point spreading together with the medium mean free path, single scattering albedo and thickness. When forward scattering dominates, the light will on average undergo more scattering events to give a specific optical response in reflectance measurements. This will significantly increase point spreading if the medium is low absorbing with large mean free path. Any fundamental and generic model of point spreading must capture the dependence on all of these medium characteristics. PaperOpt Optics of Paper and Print - Continuous Models

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with severe cervical cord damage due to degeneration of the corticospinal tracts and loss of lower motor neurones. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT MRI) allows the measurement of quantities reflecting the size (such as mean diffusivity) and orientation (such as fractional anisotropy) of water-filled spaces in biological tissues.Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy histograms from the cervical cord of patients with ALS were obtained to: (1) quantify the extent of tissue damage in this critical central nervous system region; and (2) investigate the magnitude of the correlation of cervical cord DT MRI metrics with patients' disability and tissue damage along the brain portion of the corticospinal tracts. Cervical cord and brain DT MRI scans were obtained from 28 patients with ALS and 20 age-matched and sex-matched controls. Cord mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy histograms were produced and the cord cross-sectional area was measured. Average mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy along the brain portion of the corticospinal tracts were also measured.Compared with controls, patients with ALS had significantly lower mean fractional anisotropy (p = 0.002) and cord cross-sectional area (p0.001). Mean diffusivity histogram-derived metrics did not differ between the two groups. A strong correlation was found between mean cord fractional anisotropy and the ALS Functional Rating Score (r = 0.74, p0.001). Mean cord and brain fractional anisotropy values correlated moderately (r = 0.37, p = 0.05).Cervical cord DT MRI in patients with ALS allows the extent of cord damage to be graded. The conventional and DT MRI changes found are compatible with the presence of neuroaxonal loss and reactive gliosis, with a heterogeneous distribution of the pathological process between the brain and the cord. The correlation found between cord fractional anisotropy and disability suggests that DT MRI may be a useful adjunctive tool to monitor the evolution of ALS.

Background: Non-missile traumatic brain injury (nmTBI) without macroscopically detectable lesions often results in cognitive impairments that negatively affect daily life. Aim: To identify abnormal white matter projections in patients with nmTBI with cognitive impairments using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI). Methods: DTI scans of healthy controls were compared with those of 23 patients with nmTBI who manifested cognitive impairments but no obvious neuroradiological lesions. DTI was comprised of fractional anisotropy analysis, which included voxel-based analysis and confirmatory study using regions of interest (ROI) techniques, and magnetic resonance tractography of the corpus callosum and fornix. Results: A decline in fractional anisotropy around the genu, stem and splenium of the corpus callosum was shown by voxel-based analysis. Fractional anisotropy values of the genu (0.47), stem (0.48), and splenium of the corpus callosum (0.52), and the column of the fornix (0.51) were lower in patients with nmTBI than in healthy controls (0.58, 0.61, 0.62 and 0.61, respectively) according to the confirmatory study of ROIs. The white matter architecture in the corpus callosum and fornix of patients with nmTBI were seen to be coarser than in the controls in the individual magnetic resonance tractography. Conclusions: Disruption of the corpus callosum and fornix in patients with nmTBI without macroscopically detectable lesions is shown. DTI is sensitive enough to detect abnormal neural fibres related to cognitive dysfunction after nmTBI.

Työssä verrattiin perälaatikoilla 1 ja 2 valmistettujen papereiden rakenteellisia ominaisuuksia. Paperin rakenteessa formaatio oli tärkein ominaisuus ja sen jälkeen kuituorientaatio. Näytteiden valintaperusteena pidettiin sitä, että vertailtavilla näytteillä formaatio (pohja) oli paras kyseisellä perälaatikolla ja vetolujuussuhteet olivat samoja. Toinen valintatapa oli verrata samoissa virtausolosuhteissa valmistettuja papereita keskenään. Näytteiden formaatio mitattiin betaradiografilla. Forsforikuvalevystä skannattu kuva analysoitiin kuva-analyysillä. Mittauksen etuna oli suuri erottelukyky, joka mahdollisti monipuolisen tunnuslukujen laskennan. Näistä esimerkkeinä ovat keskihajonta, vinous ja huipukkuus. Lisäksi määritettiin flokkikokojakaumat sekä kone- että poikkisuuntaan. Kuituorientaation määrityksessä paperinäyte revittiin kerroksiin, kerrokset skannattiin ja kuvat analysoitiin kuvankäsittelyohjelmilla. Juova- ja kuituorientaatioanalyysissä määritettiin orientaatiokulma, max/min-arvo ja anisotropia. Viiva-analyysin tunnusluku oli pyörrekoko. Käytettäessä tunnuslukuna variaatiokerrointa formaatio oli parempi perälaatikolla 1 ali- ja yliperällä. Tasaperän läheisyydessä formaatio oli huonompi. Keskihajonta oli pienempi perälaatikolla 1, mutta erot perälaatikoiden välillä tasaantuivat lähellä tasaperää. Flokkikoko oli koko s/v-alueella hieman suurempi perälaatikolla 1. Virtaviiva-analyysin avulla saatiin selville, että perälaatikolla 1 valmistettujen papereiden paikallinen orientaatiovaihtelu ja pintojen toispuoleisuus oli lievempää kuin perälaatikolla 2.

Työssä verrattiin perälaatikoilla 1 ja 2 valmistettujen papereiden rakenteellisia ominaisuuksia. Paperin rakenteessa formaatio oli tärkein ominaisuus ja sen jälkeen kuituorientaatio. Näytteiden valintaperusteena pidettiin sitä, että vertailtavilla näytteillä formaatio (pohja) oli paras kyseisellä perälaatikolla ja vetolujuussuhteet olivat samoja. Toinen valintatapa oli verrata samoissa virtausolosuhteissa valmistettuja papereita keskenään. Näytteiden formaatio mitattiin betaradiografilla. Forsforikuvalevystä skannattu kuva analysoitiin kuva-analyysillä. Mittauksen etuna oli suuri erottelukyky, joka mahdollisti monipuolisen tunnuslukujen laskennan. Näistä esimerkkeinä ovat keskihajonta, vinous ja huipukkuus. Lisäksi määritettiin flokkikokojakaumat sekä kone- että poikkisuuntaan. Kuituorientaation määrityksessä paperinäyte revittiin kerroksiin, kerrokset skannattiin ja kuvat analysoitiin kuvankäsittelyohjelmilla. Juova- ja kuituorientaatioanalyysissä määritettiin orientaatiokulma, max/min-arvo ja anisotropia. Viiva-analyysin tunnusluku oli pyörrekoko. Käytettäessä tunnuslukuna variaatiokerrointa formaatio oli parempi perälaatikolla 1 ali- ja yliperällä. Tasaperän läheisyydessä formaatio oli huonompi. Keskihajonta oli pienempi perälaatikolla 1, mutta erot perälaatikoiden välillä tasaantuivat lähellä tasaperää. Flokkikoko oli koko s/v-alueella hieman suurempi perälaatikolla 1. Virtaviiva-analyysin avulla saatiin selville, että perälaatikolla 1 valmistettujen papereiden paikallinen orientaatiovaihtelu ja pintojen toispuoleisuus oli lievempää kuin perälaatikolla 2.

The rheological nature of paper or board is usually treated either as elasto-plastic or as viscoelastic depending on the studied paper making process or behavior in converting and end use. In this paper we study several stress–strain curve models and the determination of material parameters from an elasto-plastic point of view. Finally, a suitable approach for all stress–strain curves measured from 180 strips is constructed using a linear function for an elastic region and a nonlinear function for a strain hardening region. This model determines a proportional limit (elastic limit) and gives fairly elegant dependencies between material/fitting parameters and two important factors of mechanical properties of paper: dry solids content and anisotropy. In this paper the dependency of a plastic strain on dry solids content and anisotropy is estimated using the introduced stress–strain curve model. Correspondingly, the model can be used to estimate many other mechanical behaviors, for example, the tension differences arising from non-uniform moisture content of the paper web profile. However, the main target of this study is to produce competent parameters based on modeled stress–strain curves for further construction of a material model. This elasto-plastic material model will be utilized in out-of-plane deformation and fracture models.

An in-plane elasto-plastic material model and a hygroexpansivity-shrinkage model for paper and board are introduced in this paper. The input parameters for both models are fiber orientation anisotropy and dry solids content. These two models, based on experimental results, could be used in an analytical approach to estimate, for example, plastic strain and shrinkage in simple one-dimensional cases, but for studies of the combined and more complicated effects of hygro-elasto-plastic behavior, a numerical finite element model was constructed. The finite element approach also offered possibilities for studying different structural variations of an orthotropic sheet as well as buckling behavior and internal stress situations under local strain differences. A few examples are presented of the effect of the anisotropy and moisture streaks under stretching and drying conditions on strain differences and buckling. The internal stresses were studied through a case in which the drying of different layers occurred at different stages. Both the anisotropy and moisture streaks were capable of rendering the buckling of the sample visible. The permanency of these defects highly depends on several process stages and tension conditions of the sheet, as demonstrated in this paper. The application possibilities of the hygro-elasto-plastic model are diverse, including investigation into several phenomena and defects appearing in drying, converting and printing process conditions peerReviewed