Crystal orientation mapping via ion channeling: An alternative to EBSD.

A new method, which we name ion CHanneling ORientation Determination (iCHORD), is proposed to obtain orientation maps on polycrystals via ion channeling. The iChord method exploits the dependence between grain orientation and ion beam induced secondary electron image contrast. At each position of the region of interest, intensity profiles are obtained from a series of images acquired with different orientations with respect to the ion beam. The profiles are then compared to a database of theoretical profiles of known orientation. The Euler triplet associated to the most similar theoretical profile gives the orientation at that position. The proof-of-concept is obtained on a titanium nitride sample. The potentialities of iCHORD as an alternative to EBSD are then discussed.

Buprenorphine provides better anaesthetic conditions than butorphanol for field castration in ponies: results of a randomised clinical trial.

A prospective, randomised, blinded, clinical trial in 47 ponies compared butorphanol and buprenorphine administered intravenously with detomidine prior to castration under anaesthesia. Detomidine 12 µg/kg intravenously was followed by butorphanol 25 µg/kg (BUT) or buprenorphine 5 µg/kg (BUP) before induction of anaesthesia with intravenous ketamine and diazepam. Quality of sedation, induction and recovery from anaesthesia, response to tactile stimulation, and surgical conditions were scored. If anaesthesia was inadequate 'rescue' was given with intravenous ketamine (maximum three doses) followed by intravenous thiopental and detomidine. Time from induction to first rescue, total ketamine dose and number of rescues were recorded. Postoperative locomotor activity was scored and abnormal behaviour noted. Simple descriptive scales were used for all scoring. Data were analysed using two-way analysis of variance, t tests, Mann-Whitney or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate; P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Cryptorchid animals did not undergo surgery, but castration was successfully completed in 18 BUT and 20 BUP. More incremental ketamine (P=0.0310) and more rescue drugs (P=0.0165) were required in BUT and more postoperative locomotor activity occurred in BUP (P=0.0001). There were no other differences between groups. Both opioids were suitable for premedication prior to castration but buprenorphine appeared to provide better intraoperative analgesia.

Quantitative analysis of neutral body posture in prolonged microgravity.

The experiment was performed during a 6-month space flight and focused on the quantitative three-dimensional description of the Neutral Body Posture (NBP) and of subjects' spine anthropometry in Erect Posture (EP). The NBP joint angles' configuration is described along the long-term microgravity exposure and compared with respect to previous in-flight collected data. Observed spinal length modification during EP in-flight is related to on-ground investigations focused on circadian anthropometrical fluctuations. The flattening of the spinal lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis is also described. Even though only two subjects were studied, this analysis points out the maturity of the opto-electronic technology for the quantitative analysis of posture in microgravity and confirms the need of enriching the anthropometrical database of human postures in weightlessness for the design optimization of permanently inhabited space modules.

Surface scanning: an application to mammary surgery.

The possibility of mathematically describing the body surface represents a useful tool for several medical sectors, such as prosthetics or plastic surgery, and could improve diagnosis and objective evaluation of deformities and the follow-up of progressive diseases. The approach presented is based on the acquisition of a surface scanned by a laser beam. The 3-D coordinates of the spot generated on the surface by the laser beam are computed by an automatic image analyzer (ELITE system). Using at least two different views of the subject, the 3-D coordinates are obtained by stereophotogrammetry. A software package for graphic representation and extraction of linear superficial and volumetric features from the acquired surface has been developed and some preliminary results with mammary reconstruction are presented. A good mammary reconstruction after mastectomy must achieve two results. First, the reconstruction should follow the patients' wishes and second, the reconstructed breast should be as similar as possible to the contralateral one (symmetry is the most important aesthetic parameter to be considered). To achieve these goals, a knowledge of breast volume, area, and shape features are essential for the surgeon. In such a context, this system could be a valuable tool in improving breast reconstructive surgery. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.