Bio-heat transfer analysis during short pulse laser irradiation of tissues

The objective of this paper is to analyze the temperature distributions and heat affected zone in skin tissue medium when irradiated with either a collimated or a focused laser beam from a short pulse laser source. Experiments are performed on multi-layer tissue phantoms simulating skin tissue with embedded inhomogeneities simulating subsurface tumors and as well as on freshly excised mouse skin tissue samples. Two types of lasers have been used in this study – namely a Q-switched pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG short pulse laser having a pulse width of 200 ns and a 1552 nm diode short pulsed laser having a pulse width of 1.3 ps. Experimental measurements of axial and radial temperature distribution in the tissue medium are compared with the numerical modeling results. For numerical modeling, the transient radiative transport equation is first solved using a discrete ordinates method for obtaining the intensity distribution and radiative heat flux inside the tissue medium. Then the temperature distribution is obtained by coupling the bio-heat transfer equation with either hyperbolic non-Fourier or parabolic Fourier heat conduction model. The hyperbolic heat conduction equation is solved using MacCormack’s scheme with error terms correction. It is observed that experimentally measured temperature distribution is in good agreement with that predicted by hyperbolic heat conduction model. The experimental measurements demonstrate that converging laser beam focused directly at the subsurface location can produce desired high temperature at that location compared to that produced by collimated laser beam for the same laser parameters. Finally the ablated tissue removal is characterized using histological studies as a function of laser parameters.     

Development and comparison of models for light-pulse transport through scattering-absorbing media

We examine the transport of short light pulses through scattering-absorbing media through different approximate mathematical models. It is demonstrated that the predicted optical signal characteristics are significantly influenced by the various models considered, such as P(N) expansion, two-flux, and discrete ordinates. The effective propagation speed of the scattered radiation, the predicted magnitudes of the transmitted and backscattered fluxes, and the temporal shape and spread of the optical signals are functions of the models used to represent the intensity distributions. A computationally intensive direct numerical integration scheme that does not utilize approximations is also implemented for comparison. Results of some of the models asymptotically approach those of direct numerical simulation if the order of approximation is increased. In this study therefore we identify the importance of model selection in analyzing short-pulse laser applications such as optical tomography and remote sensing and highlight the parameters, such as wave speed, that must be examined before a model is adopted for analysis.     

Effect of ash on maximum thickness of plastic layer of coals

A study of the effect of ash yield on the maximum thickness of the plastic layer (MTPL) of some coking coals (as measured by the Sapozhnikov plastometer) has revealed that with an increase in the former the latter in general decre?es. A rectilinear relation approximately exists between the ash percentage (dry basis) and log MTPL values of coals. For the samples studied, a multiple correlation incorporating the rank factor was found to be unnecessary. Higher Fe₂O₃ and SO₃ contents from the coal were found to be associated with higher MTPL values.     

Apparent solubility of drugs in partially crystalline systems

Using several griseofulvin samples, representing different solid-state structures, the solubility behavior of drugs in both one-state (totally ordered, semiordered or disordered) and two-state systems was studied. Special attention was directed towards the surface structure of the particles. The partially crystalline samples were obtained by milling the raw material (crystalline standard) or storing the quenched sample (amorphous standard). The solid-state structure of the materials was studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The saturation concentration of the materials was studied in suspensions containing different dispersion concentrations of drug after centrifugation and filtration, using spectrophotometry. In all cases these dispersion concentrations exceeded the solubility of the drug. The solubilities were plotted vs. dispersion concentrations for each sample. Several solubility plateaus were found. The lowest and highest solubility plateaus corresponded to the solubilities of crystalline and amorphous standards. These plateaus were reached at 8 and 44 µg/mL for crystalline and amorphous griseofulvin standards, respectively. An intermediate plateau served as an indication of the existence of a totally semiordered structure. This was reached at 19 µg/mL for griseofulvin. Any deviation from these plateaus was suggested to be indicative of the existence of heterogeneity on the surface structure, which in most cases could be described as a two state system. In such cases, the apparent solubility was a function of dispersion concentration, until at very high dispersion concentrations (4000-20,000 µg/mL) the saturation concentration of the totally disordered (44 µg/mL) or semiordered (19 µg/mL) one-state phase was reached. No reduction in these values was observed during storage for 50 days. It is thus concluded that, in partially crystalline systems, the saturation concentration is an interfacial phenomenon, which depends on the amount, reactivity, and solid-state structure of the exposed solid surfaces in equilibrium with the solution. A simplified solubility model is proposed to qualitatively describe the relationship between established apparent solubilities (saturation concentrations) and different combinations of solid-state structures.     

The design of low noise digital filters with controlled dynamic range

A novel digital filter structure, that allows proper positioning of the zeros of the noise transfer functions to reduce the output roundoff noise, is introduced. Relations between zero locations, roundoff noise and dynamic range are derived and are then utilized in an heuristic optimization method for synthesizing a low noise scaled digital filter structure. Illustrative examples supporting the proposed approach are included.