Biomineral composites, consisting of intercrystalline organics and biogenic minerals, have evolved unique structural designs to fulfill mechanical and other biological functionalities. Aside from the intricate architectures at the composite level and 3D assemblies of the biomineral building blocks, the individual mineral blocks enclose intracrystalline structural features that contribute to the strengthening and toughening at the intrinsic material level. Therefore, the design strategies of biomineralized composites can be categorized into two structural levels, the individual building block level and the composite level, respectively. This dissertation aims at revealing the material design strategies at both levels for the bioinspired designs of advanced structural ceramics. At the building block level, there is a lack of comparative quantification of the mechanical properties between geological and biogenic minerals. Correspondingly, I first benchmark the mechanical property difference between biogenic and geological calcite through nanoindentation techniques. The selected biogenic calcite includes Atrina rigida prisms and Placuna placenta laths, corresponding to calcite {0001}, and {101 ̅8} planes. The natural cleavage plane {101 ̅4} of geological calcite was added to the comparative study. Under indentation load, geological calcite deforms plastically via twinning and slips under low loads, and shifts to cleavage fracture under high loads. In comparison, the P. placenta composites, composed of micro-sized single-crystal laths and extensive intercrystalline organic interfaces, exhibit better crack resistance. In contrast, the single-crystal A. rigida prisms show brittle fracture with no obvious plastic deformation. Secondly, how the internal microstructures and loading types affect the mechanical properties of individual building blocks is investigated. The prismatic building blocks are obtained from the bivalves A. rigida and Sinanodonta woodiana, where the former consists of single-crystal calcite and the latter consists of polycrystalline aragonite. The comparative investigation under different loading conditions is conducted through micro-bending and nanoindentation. The continuous mineral matrix in A. rigida prisms leads to comparable modulus under tensile and compressive loadings in the elastic regime, while the high-density intracrystalline nanoinclusions contribute to the conchoidal fracture behaviors (instead of brittle cleavage). In comparison, the interlocking grain boundaries in S. woodiana prisms correlate with easier tensile deformation (smaller tensile modulus) than compression, as well as the intergranular fracture morphologies. The third topic in the biomineral-level investigation focuses on how biomineral utilizes residual stress at the macroscopic scale. The selected model system is the spine from the sea urchin Heterocentrotus mamillatus, which has a bicontinuous porous structure and mesocrystalline texture. It is confirmed that the spine has a macroscopic stress field with residual tension in the central medulla and compression in the radiating layers. The multimodal characterizations on the spine conclude that the structural origins are not associated with the gradient distribution of the intracrystalline defects, including Mg substitution in the calcite matrix, intracrystalline organics, and amorphous calcium carbonates (ACC). It is hypothesized that the residual stress is generated due to the volume expansion during ACC crystallization at the compacted growth front. At the composite level, even though enhanced crack resistance is expected in biomineralized composites due to their hierarchical structures, the correlation between their 3D composite structures and damage/crack evolution is quite limited in the literature. I developed in-situ testing devices integrated with synchrotron-based X-ray tomography to capture the crack propagation in the materials, including the four-point bending and compression/indentation configurations. Two representative models are chosen to demonstrate the deformation of biomineralized composites under bending and compression, respectively, including the calcium carbonate-based gastropod shell (Melo diadema) and the hydroxyapatite-based fish teeth (Pogonias cromis). Also, the two composites are designed to achieve different functional requirements, i.e., enhanced fracture toughness vs. wear resistance. The comprehensive characterizations of these two composites revealed how biological structural composites are designed accordingly to their functional needs. For the crossed-lamellar M. diadema shell, directional dependence of the shell property was revealed, where the transversal direction (perpendicular to the growth line) represents both the stronger and tougher direction, but the longitudinal direction is more resistant to notches and defects. For the P. cromis teeth, the enhanced wear resistance of the near-surface enameloid originates from the intricate designs at the microscale, with c-axes of hydroxyapatite crystals and micro-sized enameloid rods coaligned with biting direction and F and Zn doping. In addition, the fracture morphologies of the fish teeth correlate with the microstructures; the enameloid exhibits corrugated fracture paths due to the interwoven fibrous building blocks, and the dentin exhibits clean planar fracture surfaces. / Doctor of Philosophy / Ceramic materials have wide applications in daily life and advanced technologies, and examples range from kitchenware (e.g., cups and plates) to spacecraft (e.g., thermal coating). These materials have indispensable applications due to their advantages of high strength and hardness, high heat and corrosion resistance, lightweight, chemical inertness, etc. Yet, intrinsic brittleness usually limits their applications. Typical ways to enhance the toughness of ceramics involve microstructure design (by refining the sizes and shapes of grains) and transformation toughening (phase transition) at the individual grain level, composite reinforcement (or ceramic matrix composites) at the composite level, and introducing residual stress to impede crack initiation and propagation. The engineering methods usually involve high energy input, chemical treatment, and usually significant waste and non-ecofriendly emissions. Therefore, learning the design strategies from biological ceramic solids constructed by organisms wound provide valuable insights into enhancing the performance of ceramics while reducing the harmful impact on the environment. In this dissertation, I investigated the mechanical design strategies from natural 3D biomineralized composites from two structural levels, i.e., building-block and composite levels, analogous to individual grains and composite reinforcement in engineering ceramics. For the building-block level research, the model systems include bivalve shells Atrina rigida, Placuna placenta, and Sinanodonta woodiana. The three bivalve shells contain different building blocks with intrinsic microstructures, corresponding to monolithic prisms with controlled nanoinclusions, diamond-shaped thin laths, and polycrystalline prisms with interlocking grains, respectively, presenting different structural designs of individual grains in ceramic materials. The sea urchin Heterocentrotus mamillatus spine represents a natural porous material with compressive residual stress on the surface, and the investigation of the structural origins aims to provide insights into the cost-effective synthesis of stressed ceramics with residual stress for engineering applications. In addition, the composite-level studies focus on the composite structures of the crossed-lamellar shell Melo diadema and the fish teeth from Pogonias cromis. These two model systems correspond to natural ceramic matrix composites with nano-scale fibrous building blocks arranged in 3D specialized for enhanced crack resistance and wear resistance, respectively. The comprehensive investigation of the deformation behaviors and mechanisms allows for a better understanding of the intricate strategies specialized for different functional requirements, which apply to bio-inspired designs in ceramic composites.

Lightweighting demands have been achieved by third generation (3G) Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSSs) by a means of increased strength. The challenge faced in doing so, however, is in ensuring that ductility and crashworthiness is efficiently retained. Key methods in which automotive research has been invested to achieve this strength-ductility balance is by microalloying to promote grain refinement, the introduction of precipitates, and the effective use of plasticity enhancing mechanisms. Specifically, the ability to tailor the stability of retained austenite during deformation has been crucial in manipulating the strength-to-ductility ratio of 3G AHSSs using the Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) effect. On the other hand, dual phase (DP) (i.e: non-TRIP-assisted steels) continue to be most significantly manufactured due to their robust thermomechanical processing but are also compromised by their poor damage tolerance. Hence, considerable reports are available regarding the damage tolerance of DP steels, but the ability for the volume expansion associated with the austenite-to-martensite transformation to suppress damage evolution and enhance a steel’s local formability has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Nonetheless, the damage processes that lead to fracture in 3G AHSSs are complex. A full understanding of the underlying phenomena requires a careful assessment of the strain partitioning amongst phases, how the microstructure evolves with strain and how damage, in the form of voids and micro-cracks, nucleates and grows. This can only be accomplished by applying a range of methodologies, including microscopic Digital Image Correlation (µDIC), X-ray Computed Microtomography (µXCT), Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), all of which can be tracked as deformation proceeds. This PhD thesis uses a novel post µDIC data processing technique to prove that a reduction in strain gradient, linked to the evolution Geometrically Necessary Dislocations (GNDs), at dissimilar phase interfaces is attainable with vanadium-microalloying and with use of the TRIP effect. A local strain gradient post µDIC data processing technique was developed and first applied on 3G DP steels to show that the microcompatibility between ferrite and martensite directly at the interface is considerably improved with vanadium-microalloying. This in turn microscopically explains this DP steel’s increased local formability/damage tolerance with vanadium micro-additions. Moreover, when applying this novel µDIC technique on two other 3G experimental steels of interest, an ultrahigh strength Quench & Partition (Q&P) steel and a continuous galvanizing line (CGL)-compatible Medium-Mn (med-Mn) steel, an even slower evolution of microstrain gradients at dissimilar phase interfaces was observed. This indicates that, although vanadium-microalloying can improve the damage tolerance of a DP steel, its ability to achieve the ultrahigh strengths is a direct result of the severe inhibition of dislocation motion at dissimilar phase boundaries. Eventually, at high strains, these local strain gradients cannot be maintained and results in premature damage nucleation. By comparison, at such high strains, distinct evidence of damage nucleation was not apparent in the 3G TRIP-assisted steels which is the result of a slow strain gradient evolution delayed by the effective use of TRIP. This finding triggered a further investigation into isolating the impact the rate of TRIP exhaustion has on damage development. By intercritically annealing this prototype med-Mn steel (0.15C-5.8Mn-1.8Al-0.71Si) with a martensitic starting microstructure, within a narrow temperature interval (from 665 to 710°C), it was possible to make significant changes in the steel’s rate of TRIP exhaustion without making considerable changes to its physical microstructure. This steel exhibits the largest true strain at fracture (ɛf = 0.61), meets U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) mechanical targets (28,809 MPa%), and shows sustained monotonic work hardening when intercritically annealed at an intermediate IA temperature of 685°C for 120s. In addition, this IA condition showed optimal damage tolerance properties as an abundance of voids nucleated during its tensile deformation, but their growth was suppressed by prolonging TRIP over a large strain range. There is reason to believe that the heterogeneous distribution of austenite and Mn throughout this 685°C IA condition compared to the other two enabled its suppressed TRIP kinetics and in turn improved damage tolerance. The impact that changes in stress-state, from a stress triaxiality of 0.33-0.89, has on microstrain partitioning, TRIP kinetics and damage evolution was tested on this med-Mn at its 685°C IA condition. With the machining of notches on tensile specimens, it was seen that a high stress triaxiality (0.74-0.89) accelerated the rate of TRIP, whereas the introduction of shear, through a misaligned notched specimen design, delayed TRIP kinetics. The change in mean stress imposed by the notches was deemed to have played an active role in TRIP exhaustion during the material’s tensile deformation. A unique electropolishing micro-speckle patterning technique was applied to show that the amount of strain that can be accommodated by the steel’s the polygonal ferrite-tempered martensitic regions are considerably impacted by external modifications in stress-state. While damages studies using different such notched tensile geometries revealed that once a critical void size is reached in this med-Mn steel, coalescence proceeds at an increasing, exponential rate up to fracture. It continues to remain a challenge to quantify the effects microstrain partitioning, TRIP kinetics and damage evolution separately, opening new avenues for future experimental and modeling investigations. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy / A lot of research up to now has been invested in the automotive industry to create steels that are lightweight, strong and show improved crashworthiness. The means by which this has been achieved is with the use of innovative processing routes to manufacture and implement Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSSs) in a vehicle’s body-in-white. Nonetheless, the constant global pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has eventually driven research to a third-generation class of ultrahigh strength, lightweight AHSSs. These steels retain the weight savings of their second-generation counterparts but are more cost-effective to manufacture and can be adapted to current industrial line capabilities. Considerable work has been done to enable the manufacturing of 3G steels, yet the steel characteristics which underpin fracture, thereby affecting the crashworthiness of these steels, continues to be weakly understood. As such, at a microscopic scale, this thesis uses three different promising 3G AHSSs candidates to evaluate the impact their unique steel characteristics has on the ability to resist damage evolution and fracture.

High-resolution micro computed tomography (micro-CT) offers 3D image resolution of 1 um for non-destructive evaluation of various samples. However, the micro-CT performance is limited by several factors. Primarily, scan time is extremely long, and sample dimension is restricted by the x-ray beam and the detector size. The latter is the cause for the well-known interior problem. Recent advancement in image reconstruction, spurred by the advent of compressed sensing (CS) theory in 2006 and interior tomography theory since 2007, offers great reduction in the number of views and an increment in the volume of samples, while maintaining reconstruction accuracy. Yet, for a number of reasons, traditional filtered back-projection based reconstruction methods remain the de facto standard on all manufactured scanners. This work demonstrates that CS based global and interior reconstruction methods can enhance the imaging capability of micro-CT scanners. First, CS based few-view reconstruction methods have been developed for use with data from a real micro-CT scanner. By achieving high quality few-view reconstruction, the new approach is able to reduce micro-CT scan time to up to 1/8th of the time required by the conventional protocol. Next, two new reconstruction techniques have been developed that allow accurate interior reconstruction using just a limited number of global scout views as additional information. The techniques represent a significant progress relative to the previous methods that assume a fully sampled global scan. Of the two methods, the second method uses CS techniques and does not place any restrictions on scanning geometry. Finally, analytic and iterative reconstruction methods have been developed for enlargement of the field of view for the interior scan with a small detector. The idea is that truncated projections are acquired in an offset detector geometry, and the reconstruction procedure is performed through the use of a weighting function / weighted iteration updates, and projection completion. The CS based reconstruction yields the highest image quality in the numerical simulation. Yet, some limitations of the CS based techniques are observed in case of real data with various imperfect properties. In all the studies, physical micro-CT phantoms have been designed and utilized for performance analysis. Also, important guidelines are suggested for future improvements. / Ph. D.

No / Summary We have produced paediatric reference data for forearm sites using the Stratec XCT-2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanner. These data are intended for clinical and research use and will assist in the interpretation of bone mineral density and bone geometric parameters at the distal and mid-shaft radius in children and young adults aged between 6–19 years. Introduction Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) provides measurements of bone mineral content (BMC), density (BMD) and bone geometry. There is a lack of reference data available for the interpretation of pQCT measurements in children and young adults. The aim of this study was to provide reference data at the distal and midshaft radius. Methods pQCT was used to measure the 4% and 50% sites of the non-dominant radius in a cohort of healthy white Caucasian children and young adults aged between 5 and 25 years. The lambda, mu, sigma (LMS) technique was used to produce gender-specific reference centile curves and LMS tables for calculating individual standard deviations scores. Results The study population consisted of 629 participants (380 males). Reference centile curves were produced; total and trabecular BMD for age (distal radius) and for age and height, bone area (distal and mid-shaft radius), cortical area, cortical thickness, BMC, axial moment of inertia, stress– strain index and muscle area (mid-shaft radius). Conclusions We present gender-specific databases for the assessment of the distal and mid-shaft radius by pQCT. These data can be used as control data for research studies and allow the clinical interpretation of pQCT measurements in children and young adults by age and height. / Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospital NHS Research Endowment Fund and the support of the National Osteoporosis Society (Camerton, Bath, UK), which awarded Rebecca Ashby a Linda Edwards Memorial Studentship in 2003 and funded the initial part of the study (1997–1998).

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Maize (Zea mays L.) is used for human and animal consumption in diverse forms, from specialised foods in developed countries, to staple food in developing countries. Unfortunately, maize is prone to infection by different Fusarium species that can produce harmful mycotoxins. Fusarium verticillioides is capable of asymptomatic infection, where infected kernels show no sign of fungal growth, but are contaminated with mycotoxins. If fungal contamination is not detected early on, mycotoxins can enter the food chain. Rapid and accurate methods are required to detect, identify and distinguish between pathogens to enable swift decisions regarding the fate of a batch or consignment of cereal. Near infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging and multivariate image analysis (MIA) were evaluated to investigate the fungal development in maize kernels over time. When plotting principal component (PC) 4 against PC5, with percentages sum of squares (%SS) 0.49% and 0.34%, three distinct clusters were apparent in the score plot and this was associated with degree of infection. Prominent peaks at 1900 nm and 2136 nm confirmed that the source of variation was due to changes in starch and protein. Variable importance plots (VIP) confirmed the peaks observed in the PCA loading line plots. Early detection of fungal contamination and activity (20 h after inoculation) was possible before visual symptoms of infection appeared. Using NIR hyperspectral imaging and MIA it was possible to differentiate between species of Fusarium associated with maize. It was additionally applied to examine the fungal growth kinetics on culture media. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) prediction results showed that it was possible to discriminate between species, with F. verticillioides the least correctly predicted (between 16-47% pixels correctly predicted). For F. subglutinans 78-100% and for F. proliferatum 60-80% pixels were correctly predicted. Three prominent bands at 1166, 1380 and 1918 nm were considered to be responsible for the differences between the growth zones. Variations in the bands at 1166 and 1380 nm were correlated with the depletion of carbohydrates as the fungus grew while the band at 1918 nm was a possible indication of spore and new mycelial formation. By plotting the pixels from the individual growth zones as a function of time, it was possible to visualise the emergence and interaction of the growth zones as separate growth profiles. The microstructure of fungal infected maize kernels was studied over time using high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). The presence of voids and airspaces could be seen in two dimensional (2D) X-ray transmission images and in the three dimensional (3D) tomograms. Clear differences were detected between kernels imaged after 20 and 596 h of inoculation. This difference in voids as the fungus progressed showed the effect of fungal damage on the microstructure of the maize kernels. Imaging techniques are important for rapid, accurate and objective evaluation of products for quality and safety. NIR hyperspectral imaging offers rapid chemical evaluation of samples in 2D images while μCT offers 3D microstructural information. By combining these image techniques more value was added and this led to a comprehensive evaluation of Fusarium infection in maize. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mielies (Zea mays L.) word in verskeie vorms deur mens en dier verbruik, van gespesialiseerde voedsel in ontwikkelde lande, tot stapelvoedsel in ontwikkelende lande. Ongelukkig is mielies onderhewig aan besmetting deur verskeie Fusarium spesies wat skadelike mikotoksiene kan produseer. Fusarium verticilloioides is in staat tot asimptomatiese infeksie waar die besmette pit geen teken van fungusgroei toon nie, maar (reeds) met mikotoksiene besmet is. Indien fungusbesmetting nie vroegtydig opgespoor word nie, kan mikotoksiene die voedselketting betree. Vinnige en akkurate metodes word benodig om patogene op te spoor, te identifiseer en ook om onderskeid tussen patogene te tref om sodoende (effektiewe) besluite aangaande die gebruik van ‘n lot of besending graan te neem. Naby-infrarooi (NIR) hiperspektrale beelding en meerveranderlike beeld ontleding (MIA) is geëvalueer om fungusontwikkeling in mieliepitte oor tyd te ondersoek. Wanneer hoofkomponent (PC) 4 teenoor PC5 gestip word, met persentasies som van kwadrate (%SS) 0.49% en 0/34%, is drie afsonderlike groepein die telling grafiek waargeneem. Dit is geassosieer met die graad van besmetting. Prominente pieke by 1900 nm en 2136 nm het bevestig dat veranderinge in stysel en proteïene die bron van die variasie was. Veranderlike belangrikheidsgrafieke (VIP) het die pieke wat in die PCA beladingslyngrafieke waargeneem is, bevestig. Vroegtydige opsporing (bespeuring) van fungusbesmetting en aktiwiteit (20 h na inokulasie) was moontlik voor visuele besmettingsimptome verskyn het. Onderskeid tussen Fusarium spesies wat met mielies geassosieer word, was moontlik deur gebruik te maak van NIR hiperspektrale beelding en MIA. Dit is bykomend toegepas om fungusgroeikinetika op kwekingsmedia te bestudeer. Parsiële kleinste kwadrate diskriminantanalise (PLS-DA) voorspellingsresultate het getoon dat dit moontlik was om tussen spesies te onderskei, met F. verticillioides die minste korrek voorspel (tussen 19-47% beeldelemente korrek voorspel). Vir F. subglutinans is 78-100% en vir F. proliferatum is 60-80% beeldelemente korrek voorspel. Drie prominente bande by 1166, 1380 en 1918 nm is oorweeg as oorsaak vir die verskille tussen die groeisones. Variasies in die bande by 1166 en 1380 nm is gekorreleer met die vermindering van koolhidrate soos die fungus groei, terwyl die band by 1918 nm ‘n moontlike aanduiding van spoor en nuwe miseliale vorming is. Deur die beeldelemente van die individuele groeisones as ‘n funksie van tyd te stip, was dit moontlik om die verskyning en interaksie van die groeisones as aparte groeiprofiele te visualiseer. Hoë-resolusie X-straal mikro-berekende tomografie (μCT) is gebruik om die mikrostruktuur van fungusbesmette mieliepitte oor tyd te ondersoek. Die voorkoms van leemtes en lugruimtes kon in die twee-dimensionele (2D) X-straal transmissie beelde en in die drie-dimensionele (3D) tomogramme gesien word. Duidelike verskille is waargeneem tussen pitte wat na 20 en 596 h na inokulasie verbeeld is. Hierdie verskil in leemtes soos die fungus vorder, het die effek van fungusskade op die mikrostruktuur van mieliepitte getoon. Beeldingstegnieke is belangrik vir vinnige, akkurate en objektiewe evaluasie van produkte vir kwaliteit en veiligheid. NIR hiperspektrale beelding bied vinnige chemiese evaluering van monsters in 2D beelde, terwyl μCT 3D mikrostrukturele inligting gee. Meer waarde is toegevoeg deur hierdie beeldingstegnieke te kombineer en dit het gelei tot ‘n omvangryke evaluering van Fusarium besmetting in mielies.

A região da articulação temporomandibular (ATM) possui uma limitação na obtenção de imagens pela radiografia convencional. A tomografia computadorizada é o exame mais indicado pela alta especificidade e sensibilidade, para o diagnóstico, planejamento cirúrgico e tratamento das lesões ósseas. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste na avaliação de lesões ósseas simuladas na cabeça da mandíbula pela tomografia computadorizada. Foram utilizadas 15 mandíbulas secas, onde foram criadas lesões esféricas, com o auxílio de brocas esféricas cirúrgicas de uso odontológico com tamanhos variados (nº 1, 3, 6) na cabeça da mandíbula. As lesões foram avaliadas por meio da TC multislice (64 canais), por 2 examinadores independentemente, em 02 ocasiões distintas, utilizando 2 protocolos: axial, coronal, sagital e imagens parassagitais para visualização dos pólos (anterior, lateral, posterior, medial, superior). Posteriormente, as imagens foram comparadas com as lesões presentes na mandíbula seca (Padrão Ouro) avaliando o grau de especificidade e sensibilidade da TC. Estatística de Kappa, teste de validade e teste do Qui-Quadrado foram utilizados como métodos estatísticos. Como resultados observaram a vantagem da associação dos cortes axial, coronal e sagital com cortes parassagitais para detecção de lesões na região de cabeça de mandíbula. Para determinada localização de lesões nos pólos, os tipos de protocolos não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação as porcentagens de concordância. Os protocolos para visualização da região de cabeça da mandíbula foram estabelecidos no intuito de melhorar a visualização da presença de alterações de cada pólo da cabeça da mandíbula. No que se refere aos pólos avaliados pelos cortes parassagitais houve melhor visualização no pólo anterior e posterior no sentido látero medial. Nos pólos superior, medial e lateral foram mais bem visualizados no sentido ântero-posterior. / There are limitations for image acquisition using conventional radiography of the temporomandibular joint (ATM) region. Computerized tomography (CT) scan is a better option due to its higher specificity and sensitivity for diagnosis, surgical planning and treatment of bone injuries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate simulated bone injuries of the head of the jaw by CT scan. Spherical lesions were created in the head of 15 dry jaws with dentist drills (sizes 1, 3, and 6). Lesions were evaluated using the CT multislice (64 bits) by 2 examiners independently, in 2 different occasions, using 2 protocols: axial, coronal, and sagittal and parasagittal images for head of the mandible visualization (anterior, lateral, posterior, medial, and superior). Images were compared with the dry jaw (gold standard) regarding the presence of injuries, evaluating the degree of specificity and sensitivity of the CT. Kappa statistics, validity tests, and chi-square tests were used as statistical methods. As a result, we observed the advantage of the association of axial, coronal and sagittal slices with parasagittal slices for detection of lesions in the region of mandibles head. For some lesions localized in polar regions, protocols did not show statistically significant differences regarding the proportion of agreement. Protocols for visualization were created to improve the visualization of lesions in each polar region of the jaws head. Regarding parassagittal slices, there was better lateromedial visualization of the anterior and posterior poles and better anteroposterior visualization of superior, medial, and lateral poles.

Introdução: A eficácia da litotripsia extracorpórea por ondas de choque (LECO) no tratamento de cálculos em cálice inferior do rim ainda é motivo de controvérsia. Variáveis que possam impactar nos resultados da LECO ainda não estão bem estabelecidos. Objetivo: Avaliar quais variáveis impactam na fragmentação e eliminação de cálculos em cálice inferior do rim após LECO. Material e Métodos: Avaliamos prospectivamente pacientes submetidos à LECO para tratamento de cálculos de cálice inferior de 5 a 20 mm. O índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e a circunferência abdominal foram medidos em cada caso. Um único radiologista, cego aos resultados da LECO, mensurou o tamanho, área e densidade dos cálculos, assim com a distância pele-cálculo, o comprimento, largura e altura infundibular, e o ângulo pielo-calicinal baseado na tomografia computadorizada (TC) realizada antes do procedimento. As taxas de fragmentação, sucesso (cálculos residuais <= 4 mm em pacientes assintomáticos) e eliminação completa foram avaliadas após uma única sessão de LECO, em uma segunda TC, realizada 12 semanas após o procedimento. Análises uni e multivariada foram realizadas. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em p<0,05. Resultados: Cem pacientes foram incluídos no estudo. A idade e IMC médios foram de 47,1 ± 12,5 anos e 28,0 ± 4,7 Kg/m2. O tamanho médio dos cálculos foi de 9,1 ± 3,0 mm. As taxas globais de fragmentação, sucesso e eliminação completa foram de 76%, 54% e 37%, respectivamente. Após a regressão logística múltipla, o IMC (p=0,004) e a densidade (p=0,005) do cálculo impactaram significativamente na fragmentação. O tamanho (p=0,039) e a densidade (p=0,012) do cálculo impactaram significativamente na taxa de sucesso, enquanto o tamanho do cálculo (p=0,029), sua densidade (p=0,046) e o comprimento infundibular (p=0,015) impactaram significativamente na taxa de eliminação completa. As maiores taxas de fragmentação, sucesso e eliminação completa foram encontradas em pacientes com IMC <= 30 Kg/m2, cálculo <=10 mm e <= 900 UH, e comprimento infundibular <= 25 mm. A coexistência das variáveis significantes de mau prognóstico proporcionou uma taxa de eliminação completa <20%. As taxas de doentes livres de cálculos foram menores em pacientes com medidas anatômicas desfavoráveis em relação àqueles com medidas favoráveis, embora a diferença tenha sido significante apenas para o comprimento infundibular (14% vs. 43%, p=0,02). Conclusão: Pacientes com IMC > 30 kg/m2 apresentam uma menor taxa de fragmentação dos cálculos. Tamanho (> 10 mm) e densidade (>900 UH) do cálculo, assim com o comprimento infundibular (>25 mm) influenciam negativamente nos resultados da LECO / Introduction: The efficiency of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for treatment of lower pole stone is still controversial. Variables that could impact on SWL outcomes are not well established. Objective: To evaluate which variables impact fragmentation and clearance of lower pole calculi after SWL. Material and Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients undergoing SWL for solitary lower pole kidney stones ranging from 5-20mm. Patient\'s body mass index (BMI) and abdominal waist circumference were recorded. One radiologist, blinded to SWL outcomes, measured stone size, area and density, stone-skin distance, infundibular length, width and height, and infundibulopelvic angle based on baseline noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT). Fragmentation, success (residual fragments <= 4mm in asymptomatic patients) and stone-free rates were evaluated after one single SWL by NCCT 12 weeks post-operatively. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: One hundred patients were enrolled in this study. Mean age and BMI were 47.1 ± 12.5 years and 28.0 ± 4.7 Kg/m2. Mean stone size was 9.1 ± 3.0 mm. Overall fragmentation, success, and stone-free rates were 76%, 54%, and 37%, respectively. After multiple logistic regression, BMI (p=0.004) and stone density (p=0.005) impacted significantly on fragmentation. Stone size (p=0.039) and stone density (p=0.012) impacted significantly on success rate, whereas stone size (p=0.029), stone density (p=0.046), and infundibular length (p=0.015) impacted significantly on stone-free rate. The higher fragmentation, success and stone-free rates were found for patients with BMI <= 30 Kg/m2, stone <=10 mm and <=900 HU, and infundibular length <= 25 mm. The coexistence of unfavorable variables led to a stone-free rate <20%. Stone-free rates were lower for patients with unfavorable anatomic features compared to those with favorable measurements, although the difference was only significant for infundibular length (14% vs. 43%, p=0.02). Conclusion: Patients with BMI >30 Kg/m2 have a lower stone fragmentation rate. Stone size ( > 10 mm) and stone density (>900 UH), as well as infundibular length ( > 25 mm) impact negatively on SWL outcomes

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the buccal and lingual alveolar bone morphology and the periodontal clinical condition of impacted permanent maxillary central incisors at least 6 months after the orthodontic traction. Methods: This split mouth transversal study evaluated a sample of 11 patients a mean of 15.41 years after the orthodontic traction of unilateral impacted maxillary central incisor. The experimental group (TR) consisted of 11 impacted central incisors. The comparison group (NTR) consisted of 11 non-impacted contralateral teeth. High-resolution CBCT exams of central incisors were performed using Accuitomo (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan). Cross section imagens passing through the center of maxillary central incisors were used to measure buccal and lingual alveolar bone level. Presence of fenestration, root dilacerations, root coverage, and position of the root apex were also assessed in the same images. Clinical parameters included the periodontal probing depth, attachment level, gingival bleeding index, plaque index, degree of gingival recession, amount of gingival mucosa and evaluation of interproximal papilla and black triangle. Digital model analysis included an assessment of clinical crown height and width. Intergroup comparisons were performed using paired t tests, McNemar and Wilcoxon tests (p<0.05). Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to determine the relationship between the clinical and CBCT findings. Results: TR group showed a significantly thinner buccal bone plate thickness at the middle and apical root level compared to NTR group. A decreased buccal alveolar crest level was observed in TR group in comparison to NTR group. The TR group showed a greater frequency of buccal bone dehicences and root dilacerations than antimeres. Experimental group showed more gingival recession, a decreased amount of gingival mucosa and an increased clinical attachment level at the buccal aspect than the NTR group. Moderate inverse correlation was found between buccal bone plate thickness of central incisors and attachment level and moderate positive correlation was found between buccal alveolar crest height and attachment level Conclusions: The periodontal conditions of maxillary central incisors long-term after orthodontic traction are different compared to its antimere. A decreased thickness and height of buccal alveolar bone and gingival recessions were observed in central incisors 15 years after orthodontic traction. / Introdução: o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a morfologia óssea alveolar vestibular e lingual e a condição clínica periodontal de incisivos centrais superiores impactados há, pelo menos, 6 meses após o tracionamento ortodôntico. Material e Métodos: Este estudo transversal de boca dividida avaliou uma amostra de 11 pacientes com média de 15,41 anos após a mecânica de tração ortodôntica de incisivo central superior retido unilateral. O grupo experimental (TR) foi composto por 11 incisivos centrais retidos. O grupo controle (NTR) foi composto por 11 incisivos contralaterais irrompidos naturalmente. Exames de TCFC de alta resolução dos incisivos centrais foram realizados utilizando o Accuitomo (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japão). As imagens transversais que passaram pelo centro dos incisivos centrais superiores foram utilizadas para medir o nível ósseo alveolar vestibular e lingual. A presença de fenestração, dilaceração, recobrimento radicular e posição do ápice radicular também foram avaliados nas mesmas imagens. Os parâmetros clínicos incluíram profundidade de sondagem periodontal, nível de inserção clínico, índice de sangramento gengival, índice de placa, grau de recessão gengival, quantidade de mucosa queratinizada e avaliação da presença de triângulo negro na papila interproximal. A análise de modelo digital consistiu da avaliação da altura e largura da coroa clínica. As comparações intergrupos foram realizadas utilizando os testes de t pareado, McNemar e Wilcoxon (p<0,05). O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi calculado para determinar a relação entre os achados clínicos e TCFC. Resultados: o grupo TR apresentou uma espessura da tábua óssea vestibular significantemente mais fina em nível médio e apical da raiz, em comparação ao grupo NTR. Observou-se uma diminuição do nível da crista alveolar vestibular no grupo TR em comparação ao grupo NTR. O grupo TR mostrou uma maior frequência de deiscência óssea vestibular e dilaceração radicular quando comparado aos contralaterais. O grupo experimental revelou maior recessão gengival, diminuição da quantidade de mucosa gengival e maior do nível de inserção clínico na face vestibular, em comparação ao grupo NTR. Verificou-se uma correlação inversa entre a espessura da tábua óssea vestibular dos incisivos centrais e o nível de inserção clínico e uma positiva correlação entre a altura da crista alveolar vestibular e o nível de inserção, ambas moderadas. Conclusões: As condições periodontais dos incisivos centrais superiores em longo prazo após o tracionamento ortodôntico são diferentes em comparação aos contralaterais. Uma menor espessura e altura óssea alveolar vestibular, bem como presença de recessões gengivais foram observadas nos incisivos centrais 15 anos após o tracionamento ortodôntico.

Desde o seu desenvolvimento na década de 1970 a tomografia computadorizada (TC) passou por grandes mudanças tecnológicas, tornando-se uma importante ferramenta diagnóstica para a medicina. Consequentemente o papel da TC em diagnóstico por imagem expandiu-se rapidamente, principalmente devido a melhorias na qualidade da imagem e tempo de aquisição. A dose de radiação recebida por pacientes devido a tais procedimentos vem ganhando atenção, levando a comunidade científica e os fabricantes a trabalharem juntos em direção a determinação e otimização de doses. Nas últimas décadas muitas metodologias para dosimetria em pacientes têm sido propostas, baseadas especialmente em cálculos utilizando a técnica Monte Carlo ou medições experimentais com objetos simuladores e dosímetros. A possibilidade de medições in vivo também está sendo investigada. Atualmente as principais técnicas para a otimização da dose incluem redução e/ou modulação da corrente anódica. O presente trabalho propõe uma metodologia experimental para estimativa de doses absorvidas pelos pulmões devido a protocolos clínicos de TC, usando um objeto simulador antropomórfico adulto e dosímetros termoluminescentes de Fluoreto de Lítio (LiF). Sete protocolos clínicos diferentes foram selecionados, com base em sua relevância com respeito à otimização de dose e frequência na rotina clínica de dois hospitais de grande porte: Instituto de Radiologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InRad) e Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octávio Frias de Oliveira (ICESP). Quatro protocolos de otimização de dose foram analisados: Auto mA, Auto + Smart mA, Baixa Dose (BD) e Ultra Baixa Dose (UBD). Os dois primeiros protocolos supracitados buscam redução de dose por meio de modulação da corrente anódica, enquanto os protocolos BD e UBD propõem a redução do valor da corrente anódica, mantendo-a constante. Os protocolos BD e UBD proporcionaram redução de dose de 72,7(8) % e 91(1) %, respectivamente; 16,8(1,3) % e 35,0(1,2) % de redução de dose foram obtidas com os protocolos Auto mA e Auto + Smart mA, respectivamente. As estimativas de dose para os protocolos analisados neste estudo são compatíveis com estudos similares publicados na literatura, demonstrando a eficiência da metodologia para o cálculo de doses absorvidas no pulmão. Sua aplicabilidade pode ser estendida a diferentes órgãos, diferentes protocolos de CT e diferentes tipos de objetos simuladores antropomórficos (pediátricos, por exemplo). Por fim, a comparação entre os valores de doses estimadas para os pulmões e valores de estimativas de doses dependentes do tamanho (Size Specific Dose Estimates SSDE) demonstrou dependência linear entre as duas grandezas. Resultados de estudos similares exibiram comportamentos similares para doses no reto, sugerindo que doses absorvidas pelos uma órgãos podem ser linearmente dependente dos valores de SSDE, com coeficientes lineares específicos para cada órgão. Uma investigação mais aprofundada sobre doses em órgãos é necessária para avaliar essa hipótese. / Since its development in 1970s the computer tomography (CT) technique have gone through major technological advances, becoming an important diagnostic tool in medicine. Consequently the role of CT in diagnostic imaging expanded rapidly, mainly due to improvements in image quality and speed of acquisition. The radiation dose imparted in patients undergoing CT scans has gained attention, leading the radiology community (radiologists, medical physicists and manufacturers) to work together towards dose estimation and optimization. New methodologies for patients dosimetry have been proposed in the past decades, based specially on Monte Carlo calculations or experimental measurements with phantoms and dosimeters. In vivo methodologies are also under investigation. Current dose optimization strategies include mainly tube current reduction and/or tube current modulation. The present work proposes a methodology to experimentally estimate lung absorbed doses due to clinical CT protocols using an adult anthropomorphic phantom and Lithium Fluorite (LiF) thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD). Seven clinical protocols were selected for phantom irradiation, based on their relevance regarding dose optimization and frequency in two major hospitals routine: the Institute of Radiology from the Medical Faculty from the University of São Paulo (Instituto de Radiologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo InRad) and the Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo Octávio Frias de Oliveira (Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octávio Frias de Oliveira ICESP). Fours thorax protocols for dose optimization were analyzed: Auto mA, Auto + Smart mA, Low Dose (LD) and Ultra Low Dose (ULD) thorax. The first two aforementioned protocols seek dose reduction by tube current modulation, while the last two propose a decrease on the constant tube current value. Values of 72.9(8) % and 91(1) % of lung dose reduction were achieved with LD and ULD protocols, respectively. Auto mA and Auto + Smart mA provided 16.8(1.3) % and 35.0(1.2) % of lung dose reduction, respectively. The results from all analyzed protocols are compatible with similar studies published in literature, demonstrating the efficiency of the methodology to lung absorbed dose estimation. Its applicability could be extended to different organs, different clinical CT protocols and pediatric phantoms. Moreover, comparison of lung absorbed doses and Size Specific Dose Estimates (SSDE) for the studied protocols exhibited a tendency of linear dependency. Results from similar studies demonstrate a similar behavior between rectal doses and SSDE, suggesting that organ absorbed doses and SSDE values may be linearly dependent, with organ-specific linear coefficients. Further investigation in organ doses is necessary to evaluate this assumption.

Atualmente a implantodontia tem evoluído muito na intenção de substituir perdas dentárias, porém infelizmente nem sempre isto é capaz, uma vez que após a perda dentária, na grande maioria das vezes, o osso remanescente também é reabsorvido, dificultando ou impossibilitando a instalação de implantes osseointegrados. Esse tipo de perda óssea nos maxilares ou as perdas ósseas resultantes de ressecções cirúrgicas, constituem uma preocupação importante na atualidade, uma vez que os cirurgiões dentistas pesquisam um substituto ósseo que devolva a forma e o contorno dos ossos da face e dos maxilares, e/ou que permita a instalação de implantes osseointegrados. Dentre os biomateriais, a utilização do osso bovino liofilizado tem se popularizado e vem ganhando mercado uma vez que reduz a morbidade do paciente evitando a retirada de enxertos autógenos e tem apresentado uma boa previsibilidade de resultados. No presente estudo, foram criados defeitos ósseos na base da mandíbula de coelhos, onde foram enxertados blocos de osso bovino liofilizado com colágeno suíno nos grupos experimentais e deixados vazios nos grupos controle. Os animais foram sacrificados nos tempos 0 (imediatamente após a cirurgia), 3 e 6 meses após o procedimento cirúrgico. As mandíbulas foram coletadas e analisadas através de tomografias computadorizadas de feixe cônico, em que se analisou a capacidade do enxerto de auxiliar no reparo ósseo de defeitos de tamanho crítico criados na mandíbula de coelhos, bem como sua capacidade de manter o contorno e forma do osso. Através da análise tomográfica das áreas enxertadas foi possível concluir que de acordo com a metodologia proposta o enxerto de osso bovino com 10% de colágeno suíno não foi capaz de auxiliar em 100% no reparo ósseo dos defeitos de tamanho crítico criados na mandíbula dos coelhos, mostrando uma camada fina de tecido mole entre o enxerto e o leito Tendo sido eficiente no preenchimento do espaço do defeito e manutenção do contorno ósseo. / Currently implant dentistry has evolved tremendously in the intention of replacing missing teeth, but unfortunately this is not always able, since after tooth loss, in most cases, also the remaining bone is reabsorbed, making it difficult or impossible to install dental implants. This type of bone loss in the jaw or bone loss resulting from surgical resections, are a major concern at present, since the dentists researching bone substitute that restores the shape and contour of the bones of the face and jaws, and/or enabling installation of dental implants. Among the biomaterials, the use of lyophilized bovine bone has become popular and has been gaining ground as it reduces the morbidity of the patient avoiding the removal of autogenous grafts has shown a good and predictable results. In the present study, bone defects were created on the basis of mandible in rabbits, which were grafted blocks lyophilized bovine bone with swines collagen in the experimental groups and control groups left empty. The animals were sacrificed at 0 (immediately after surgery), 3 and 6 months after surgery. The jaws were collected and analyzed using cone beam computed tomography, which analyzed the ability of the graft to aid in bone repair of critical-size defects created in the mandible of rabbits as well as its ability to maintain the contour and shape of the bone. Through the analysis of the tomographic grafted areas was concluded that according to the methodology proposed bovine bone graft with 10% swines collagen was not able to assist in 100% of the bone repair critical size defects created in rabbit jaw, showing a thin layer of soft tissue between the graft and the bed having been efficient space filling of the defect and maintain the bone contour.