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We aim to improve contact lens fitting by using an innovative and simple photogrammetry imaging system to find the sagittal height (SAG) of soft contact lenses. Eleven different types of commercially available soft contact lenses were measured, and five different lenses per package of each lens type were evaluated. The lenses were inserted in a polymethyl methacrylate cell with parallel faces containing a solution of saline and fluorescein to improve the contrast against the background. For every lens, two photographs from the top view and five photographs from the side view were taken. Using homothetic transformations, we calculated the sagittal height. The SAG of all lenses ranged from 3450 to 3907 μm. Differences can be appreciated between SAG of different materials. Performing an ANOVA test, we confirm that the intra-packaging sagitta is reliable for every lens. Comparing the measured SAG with the calculated spherical one, we confirm that the majority of lenses, eight out of eleven, have a spherical geometry for the internal side. Finally, we are able to group the type of lenses that present similar SAG apart from the data reported on the blister. Optical coherence tomography measurement of the eye sagitta over a given chord helped finding the first lens to fit, because matching contact lens sagitta and ocular sagitta is the key for a good fitting. In our work, we found that the majority of brands use single sphere geometry for internal surface of disposable soft contact lenses.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantitatively characterize the micromorphology of contact lens (CL) surfaces using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and multifractal analysis.Materials and Methods: AFM and multifractal analysis were used to characterize the topography of new and worn siloxane-hydrogel CLs made of Filcon V (I FDA group). CL surface roughness was studied by AFM in intermittent-contact mode, in air, on square areas of 25 and 100 μm2, by using a Nanoscope V MultiMode (Bruker). Detailed surface characterization of the surface topography was obtained using statistical parameters of 3-D (three-dimensional) surface roughness, in accordance with ISO 25178-2: 2012.Results: Before wear, the surface was found to be characterized by out-of-plane and sharp structures, whilst after a wear of 8 h, two typical morphologies were observed. One morphology (sharp type) has a similar aspect as the unworn CLs and the other morphology (smooth type) is characterized by troughs and bumpy structures. The analysis of the AFM images revealed a multifractal geometry. The generalized dimension Dq and the singularity spectrum f(α) provided quantitative values that characterize the local scale properties of CL surface geometry at nanometer scale.Conclusions: Surface statistical parameters deduced by multifractal analysis can be used to assess the CL micromorphology and can be used by manufacturers in developing CLs with improved surface characteristics. These parameters can also be used in understanding the tribological interactions of the back surface of the CL with the corneal surface and the front surface of the CL with the under-surface of the eyelid (friction, wear, and micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication at a nanometer scale).

This article firstly analyzes a practical exercise of re-staging iconic violent images through actors and discusses the bodily reactions to being exposed to violent images. The article then presents a theoretical framework to understand the notion of the body as symbolic sacrifice. The text brings together these two notions (effects of violent images and symbolic sacrifice) and discusses the violence inherent in advertising images. Lastly, it claim that the clothing and perfume advertising industry, through the display of violence, attempts to commodify the sacrificed body., The Journal of Somaesthetics, Vol. 5 Núm. 1 (2019): BODY FIRST: Somaesthetics and Popular Culture

Background Telemedicine has changed over the last years, becoming an integrated service used in various clinical settings such as stroke units or radiological departments, but also as an important tool for home rehabilitation. Assessment of usefulness and efficiency of performing teleconsultations to manage stroke from acute care hospital to tertiary care rehabilitation hospital has not been referred by scientific literature. Aim This article analyzes the process of discharging stroke patients from acute care to intensive rehabilitation, based on the comparison between conventional bedside patient evaluations and teleconsultation patient evaluations, to assess efficiency and efficacy of two different discharging workflows. Design Retrospective study. Setting Consultations were carried out between the Acute Care Stroke Unit and the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit of Valduce Hospital System. Population The study included 257 stroke patients who underwent physiatric consultation during 2 years considered in this study and 101 patients were considered eligible for intensive rehabilitation treatment after a physiatric consultation. Methods We compared the efficiency and efficacy of the dismission workflow of bedside medical consultation and teleconsultation over a 12 months period. We considered the following outcome measures: time elapsed between consultation and Rehabilitation Unit admission, number of re-admissions to acute care hospital, complications occurred during rehabilitation, length of stay in the rehabilitation hospital and clinical outcomes of rehabilitation process. Results We observed a significant reduction in waiting time from the acute event to the admission in rehabilitation department, an improvement in efficiency of the admission process itself in the Rehabilitation Unit and a reduction of clinical complications occurred during rehabilitation period, without changes in rehabilitative outcomes. Conclusions It has been highlighted that the use of telemedicine to perform medical consultation as a tool to evaluate patients eligible for tertiary care rehabilitation hospital admission from Stroke Care Unit is feasible and more efficient when compared with conventional bedside consultations. Clinical rehabilitation impact This study reveals teleconsultations as a useful tool to improve efficiency of the stroke management workflow.

The gradient index (GRIN) model is the most accurate way to represent the eye lens which, because of its growth mode, is a lamellar, shell-like structure. The GRIN is thought to provide optical properties that counteract age-related changes in curvature that would otherwise create an increasingly myopic eye: the so-called lens paradox. This article investigates how fine-tuning the refractive index and the internal curvatures of the lenticular indicial contours may prevent the ageing eye from becoming myopic. A system matrix approach is applied for analysis of a shell model with 200 shells to obtain the paraxial characteristics of the eye model.

BACKGROUND Recovery of therapeutic or functional ambulatory capacity in post-stroke patients is a primary goal of rehabilitation. Wearable powered exoskeletons allow patients with gait dysfunctions to perform over-ground gait training, even immediately after the acute event. AIM To investigate the feasibility and the clinical effects of an over-ground walking training with a wearable powered exoskeleton in sub-acute and chronic stroke patients. DESIGN Prospective, pilot pre-post, open label, non-randomized experimental study. SETTING A single neurological rehabilitation center for inpatients and outpatients. POPULATION Twenty-three post-stroke patients were enrolled: 12 sub-acute (mean age: 43.8±13.3 years, 5 male and 7 female, 7 right hemiparesis and 5 left hemiparesis) and 11 chronic (mean age: 55.5±15.9 years, 7 male and 4 female, 4 right hemiparesis and 7 left hemiparesis) patients. METHODS Patients underwent 12 sessions (60 min/session, 3 times/week) of walking rehabilitation training using Ekso™, a wearable bionic suit that enables individuals with lower extremity disabilities and minimal forearm strength to stand up, sit down and walk over a flat hard surface with a full weight-bearing reciprocal gait. Clinical evaluations were performed at the beginning of the training period (t0), after 6 sessions (t1) and after 12 sessions (t2) and were based on the Ashworth scale, Motricity Index, Trunk Control Test, Functional Ambulation Scale, 10-Meter Walking Test, 6-Minute Walking Test, and Walking Handicap Scale. Wilcoxon's test (P

The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the micromorphology of surfaces of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses (CLs) using atomic force microscopy (AFM) followed by fractal analysis.In order to characterize in a quantitative manner the micromorphology of surfaces of new and unworn RGP CLs made of twelve different materials, AFM was taken and then analyzed using fractal methods. Surface topography was sampled in an intermittent-contact mode in air, on square areas of 5 × 5 µmThe surface texture turned out to have complex 3-D nanoscale geometry. For quantitative characterization of the properties of surface geometry at nanometer level of CL on the global scale, a series of fractal parameters was used.Statistical and fractal parameters of 3-D surfaces can be used by manufacturers to assess the micromorphology of CLs in order to improve their 3-D surface texture characteristics. These parameters can also be used in an elastic-plastic finite element model with contact elements to simulate the friction, wear and micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication at a nanometer scale between the CL with the corneal surface.

The structural complexity of the 3-D surface of poly(methylmethacrylate) films with immobilized europium β-diketonates was studied by atomic force microscopy and fractal analysis. Fractal analysis of surface roughness revealed that the 3-D surface has fractal geometry at the nanometer scale. Poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) as immobilization matrix is dense and uniform, and a tendency for formation of chain structures was observed. Fractal analysis can quantify key elements of 3-D surface roughness such as the fractal dimensions D f determined by the morphological envelopes method of the Eu(DBM)3 and Eu(DBM)3 · dpp nanostructures, which are not taken into account by traditional surface statistical parameters.

The aim of this work was to define three-dimensional (3D) non-rotational aspherical parametric models for the human cornea and lens using computational geometry and CAD representations. The hyperbolic cosine based function is used for the cornea and a parametric model is used for lens modeling. Data analysis and visualization of 3D non-rotational models were made using the Rhinoceros CAD software and MATLAB software was used for numeric computation. We combined, implemented, and evaluated these models with a 3D ray-tracing in order to fully analyze the human eye model. It was found that 3D non-rotational aspherical models for the human eye could be more accurately modeled and rendered for analysis with finite element method. The objective of this study is to present and analyze mathematical models of the cornea and lens and to highlight the potential of optical applications of the eye models containing astigmatic surfaces, which are more close to the real eye than spherosymmetric eye models.

Accurate mathematical descriptions of the human crystalline lens surface shape are required to properly understand the nature of functional adaptations that occur when the lens shape alters to changes in refractive power. Using least squares method, the total mean normal distance, smoothness, rate of change of the transverse and sagittal radii of curvatures and continuity at the lens equator between eight mathematical functions: conic, figuring conicoid, generalized conic, Hermans conic patch, Urs polynomial, Urs 10th order Fourier series, Chien, and Giovanzana, and 17 human crystalline lenses were evaluated. The mean differences of the fits of all the equations to the whole lens and to the central 8 mm of the lens surfaces were >24 μm with comparable standard deviations. When considering fit smoothness and continuity at the equator, the Giovanzana and Chien functions are most representative of the lens surface.

Background Robotic rehabilitation is promising to promote function in stroke patients. The assist as needed training paradigm has shown to stimulate neuroplasticity but often cannot be used because stroke patients are too impaired to actively control the robot against gravity. Aim To verify whether a rehabilitation intervention based on robot fully assisted reaching against gravity (RCH) and hand-to-mouth (HTM) can promote upper-limb function in chronic stroke. Design Cohort study. Setting Chronic stroke outpatients referring to the robotic rehabilitation lab of a rehabilitation centre. Population Ten chronic stroke patients with mild to moderate upper-limb hemiparesis. Methods Patients underwent 12 sessions (3 per week) of robotic treatment using an end-effector robot Every session consisted of 20 minutes each of RCH and HtM; movements were fully assisted, but patients were asked to try to actively participate. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was the primary outcome measure; Medical Research Council and Modified Ashworth Scale were the secondary outcome measures. Results All patients, but one, show functional improvements (FMA section A-D, mean increment 7.2±3.9 points, P Conclusions This preliminary study shows that a robotic intervention based on functional movements, fully assisted, can be effective in promoting function in chronic stroke patients. These results are promising considering the short time of the intervention (1 month) and the time from the stroke event, which was large (27±20 months). A larger study, comprehensive of objective instrumental measures, is necessary to confirm the results. Clinical rehabilitation impact This intervention could be extended even to subacute stroke and other neurological disorders.

This paper describes the implementation of a Multimodal Guidance System (MGS) for upper limb rehabilitation through vision, haptic and sound. The system consists of a haptic device that physically renders virtual path of 2D shapes through the point-based approach, while sound technology provides audio feedback inputs about patient’s actions while performing a manual task as for example: starting and/or finishing an sketch; different sounds related to the hand’s velocity while sketching. The goal of this sonification approach is to strengthen the patient’s understanding of the virtual shape which is used in the rehabilitation process, and to inform the patient about some attributes that could otherwise remain unseen. Our results provide conclusive evidence that the effect of using the sound as additional feedback increases the accuracy in the tasks operations.

The objective of this paper is to present an analysis of mathematical models of the human crystalline lens. Seven existing models presented in the literature were investigated: conic, figuring conicoid, generalized conic, Hermans conic patch, Kasprzak hyperbolic cosine, Urs 10th-order Fourier series and Giovanzana parametric models. The analyzed models describe the shape for a data set of human crystalline lenses with ages from 6 to 82 years. The results highlight the difficulty and complexity of the task of choosing the most appropriate model for the crystalline lens shape.

The aim of this study is to characterize the surface topography of aluminum nitride (AlN) epilayers prepared by magnetron sputtering using the surface statistical parameters, according to ISO 25178-2:2012. To understand the effect of temperature on the epilayer structure, the surface topography was investigated through atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM data and analysis of surface statistical parameters indicated the dependence of morphology of the epilayers on their growth conditions. The surface statistical parameters provide important information about surface texture and are useful for manufacturers in developing AlN thin films with improved surface characteristics. These results are also important for understanding the nanoscale phenomena at the contacts between rough surfaces, such as the area of contact, the interfacial separation, and the adhesive and frictional properties. Cílem této studie je charakterizovat topografii povrchu AlN epivrstev připravených pomocí magnetronového napařování. K tomu využíváme statistické parametry povrchu dle normy ISO 25178-2:2012. Abychom pochopili vliv teploty, byla topografie povrchu provedena pomocí AFM mikroskopu. Data z AFM mikroskopu a analýza statistických parametrů povrchu ukazují závislost morfologie epivrstev na podmínkách jejich růstu. Statistické parametry poskytují důležité informace o textuře povrchu a jsou významné pro výrobu tenkých vrstev AlN se zlepšenými charakteristikami povrchu. Tyto výsledky jsou také důležité pro pochopení jevů v nanoměřítku v kontaktních bodech drsných povrchů - oblasti kontaktu, separace rozhraní a o adhesivních a frikčních vlastnostech.

To describe in detail the questions and deliberations leading to the development of a methodologically rigorous protocol to test the effectiveness of acupuncture on painful shoulder.Randomized controlled trial using three groups, including one control group.A hospital in the north of Italy treating at least 8-10 painful shoulders a day, with physician/acupuncturists, physiotherapists, and assessors available to participate in the study.Sixty patients with monolateral painful shoulder. A list of exclusion criteria is given.Acupuncture + mobilization; mobilization alone (control); ear acupuncture + mobilization.Severity of pain, scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and on the McGill Pain Questionnaire and restriction of range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint. Voluntary use of pain medication, Tenoxicam 20 mg, was added to the protocol.The research team developed a protocol and methodology that avoids the common flaws and difficulties of previous clinical trials on acupuncture.Physicians and acupuncture specialists will benefit from the advice and support of a project group consisting of experienced clinicians, researchers, and statisticians when designing and preparing clinical trials on acupuncture and other complementary and alternative therapies.

The three-phase catalytic hydrogenation of an unsaturated ketone using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent was studied in order to simulate the performance of a semi-industrial trickle-bed reactor. High pressure kinetic experiments were carried out in a modified internal recycle reactor of Berty type. An industrial Pd on alumina supported catalyst was used, in form of egg-shell pellets. Data were collected over the whole conversion range, allowing for a thorough inspection of the reaction rate composition dependencies. It is shown that supercritical CO 2 strongly increases the reaction rate. Experimental data sets were fit using both simple homogeneous power-law kinetics and complex heterogeneous Langmuir–Hinshelwood models: here, the estimation of liquid concentrations was performed through vapor–liquid equilibrium calculations based on an equation-of-state approach.