Julia Behnsen

University of Liverpool | UoL · School of Engineering

Background Following recent advances in bioimaging, high-resolution 3D models of biological structures are now generated rapidly and at low-cost. To use this data to address evolutionary and ecological questions, an array of tools has been developed to conduct shape analysis and quantify topographic complexity. Here we focus particularly on shape t...

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can provide unrivalled high-resolution images of specific features and volumes of interest. However, the regions interrogated are typically very small, and sample preparation is both time-consuming and destructive. Here we consider how prior X-ray micro-computed tomograph...

Glaucoma is linked to raised intraocular pressure (IOP). The trabecular meshwork (TM) plays a major role in regulating IOP by enabling outflow of aqueous humor from the eye through its complex 3D structure. A lack of therapies targeting the dysfunctional TM highlights the need to develop biomimetic scaffolds that provide 3D in vitro models for glau...

Particle size and morphology analysis is a problem common to a wide range of applications, including additive manufacturing, geological and agricultural materials’ characterisation, food manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Here, we review the use of microfocus X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) for particle analysis. We give an overview of differe...

The uniformity of the powder bed in Binder Jet Printing can impact the final properties of additively manufactured components. Granular flow phenomena, such as particle size segregation can influence the uniformity of the powder bed. Due to the 3D nature of the powder bed and the standard requirement for sintering parts following printing, direct e...

Modern regenerative medicine approaches can rely on the fabrication of personalised medical devices and implants; however, many of these can fail due to infections, requiring antibiotics and revision surgeries. Given the rise in multidrug resistant bacteria, developing implants with antimicrobial activity without the use of traditional antibiotics...

Human trabecular meshwork is a sieve-like tissue with large pores, which plays a vital role in aqueous humor outflow. Dysfunction of this tissue can occur, which leads to glaucoma and permanent vision loss. Replacement of trabecular meshwork with a tissue-engineered device is the ultimate objective. This study aimed to create a biomimetic structure...

Background and Objective: Intraocular pressure (IOP) is maintained via a dynamic balance between the production of aqueous humor and its drainage through the trabecular meshwork (TM), juxtacanalicular connective tissue (JCT), and Schlemm's canal (SC) endothelium of the conventional outflow pathway. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is often associ...

Understanding the role of power quality in aging of HVDC cable systems is critical to the reliable connection of offshore renewable energy sources, and hence global ambitions to reduce carbon emissions. This work investigates electrical treeing with a needle-plane geometry in low density polyethylene under a high negative DC voltage superimposed wi...

Pore network is regarded as one of the most important aspects of FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) catalysts for delivering reactants to active sites and transporting out products, and the structure of which can significantly influence the process efficiency. In this work, six characterization methods complementing each other were employed to study th...

The olfactory epithelium of the sea catfish, Ariopsis felis, is found on a pinnate array of lamellae (the olfactory rosette) housed within a nasal chamber. The nasal anatomy of A. felis suggests an ability to capture external water currents. We prepared models from X-ray micro-computed tomography scans of two preserved specimens of A. felis. We the...

Liquid polyurethane (PU) resins are used to form anti-slip surface coatings. In this work, we reinforce PU resin films with few-layer graphene (FLG) nanoparticles incorporated by high-shear mixing. This process gives excellent dispersion as evidenced by optical and X-ray tomography. The FLG does not appreciably change the tensile strength or Shore...

The baculum is an enigmatic bone within the mammalian glans penis, and the driving forces behind its often bizarre shape have captivated evolutionary biologists for over a century. Hypotheses for the function of the baculum include aiding in intromission, stimulating females and assisting with prolonged mating. Previous attempts to test these hypot...

Vascular calcification describes the formation of mineralized tissue within the blood vessel wall, and it is highly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. In this article, we briefly review different rodent models used to study vascular calcification i...

Arterial medial calcification is an independent risk factor for mortality in chronic kidney disease. We previously reported that knock-down of PKCα expression increases high phosphate-induced mineral deposition by vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. This new study tests the hypothesis that PKCα regulates uremia-induced medial calcification in vi...

Olfactory flow in fishes is a little-explored area of fundamental and applied importance. We investigated olfactory flow in the pike, Esox lucius, because it has an apparently simple and rigid nasal region. We characterised olfactory flow by dye visualisation and computational fluid dynamics, using models derived from X-ray micro-computed tomograph...

Fluid dynamics plays an important part in olfaction. Using the complementary techniques of dye visualisation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), we investigated the hydrodynamics of the nasal region of the sturgeon Huso dauricus. H. dauricus offers several experimental advantages, including a well-developed, well-supported, radial array (rosett...

Intimal calcification is the formation of mineralised tissue within atherosclerotic lesions and can lead to an increased risk of plaque rupture and mortality in man. Even though experimental data are sparse, it had been suggested that inhibiting protein kinase Cα (PKCα) may be of therapeutic benefit in atherosclerosis. However, we recently discover...

Medial calcification is the formation of mineralised tissue within the smooth muscle layer of the vessel wall, and frequently occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease. Calcification within the medial layer of the vessel wall can reduce aortic and arterial elasticity, which impairs cardiovascular haemodynamics and results in a significantly el...

Whilst x-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) machines have developed into a popular laboratory tool for non-destructive 3D imaging of materials, they are not well-suited for scanning flat objects, for which there is an increasing demand. Computed laminography (CL) techniques have been developed for imaging planar samples such as fossils, paintings,...

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries operate via electrochemical reactions between positive and negative electrodes, formed by complex porous microstructures. An improved understanding of these materials can lead to a greater insight into the link between microscopic electrode morphology and macroscopic performance. The practice of calendering electrodes...

Background. Following recent advances in bioimaging, high-resolution 3D models of biological structures are now generated rapidly and at low-cost. To utilise this data to address evolutionary and ecological questions, an array of tools has been developed to conduct 3D shape analysis and quantify topographic complexity. Here we focus particularly on...

Background. Following recent advances in bioimaging, high-resolution 3D models of biological structures are now generated rapidly and at low-cost. To utilise this data to address evolutionary and ecological questions, an array of tools has been developed to conduct 3D shape analysis and quantify topographic complexity. Here we focus particularly on...

Pentalogy of Cantrell (PC) is a rare multi-organ congenital anomaly that impedes ventral body wall closure and results in diaphragmatic hernia, intra- and pericardial defects. The underlying cellular and molecular changes that lead to these severe developmental defects have remained unknown largely due to the lack of representative animal models. H...

X-ray micro-computed tomography ( μ CT) is a technique which can obtain three-dimensional images of a sample, including its internal structure, without the need for destructive sectioning. Here, we review the capability of the technique and examine its potential to provide novel insights into the lifestyles of parasites embedded within host tissue....

We carried out a residual stress distribution analysis in a APS TBC throughout the depth of the coatings. The samples were heat treated at 1150 °C for 190 h and the data analysis used image based modelling based on the real 3D images measured by Computed Tomography (CT). The stress distribution in several 2D slices from the 3D model is included in...

Residual stresses are considered to be the driving forces for the in-service failure of TBCs. The residual stress distribution through an APS TBC has been experimentally measured by high energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) showing two distinct features. Firstly a discontinuity or ‘jump’ in the residual stress trend at a depth of approximatel...

Trichuriasis is a tropical disease that affects an estimated 500 million people worldwide, especially children in tropical regions. It is caused by a parasitic nematode, Trichuris trichiura (whipworm). Current drugs lack efficacy, and there is no vaccine. Adult worms live partially buried in the mucosal epithelium of the intestine of the host, whic...

Solenopora jurassica is a fossil calcareous alga that functioned as an important reef-building organism during the Palaeozoic. It is of significant palaeobiological interest due to its distinctive but poorly understood pink and white banding. Though widely accepted as an alga there is still debate over its taxonomic affinity, with recent work argui...

Correctly identifying crack and microcrack networks in natural rocks by X-ray CT can be challenging, due to the small size of the features and the multi-phase background material. We use a local percolation method to detect crack-like features in cores of Westerly granite that have been damaged by thermal fracturing.

[1] Smectites, such as montmorillonite, are abundant throughout the upper crust and are commonly found in fault gouge. They are known for their weak frictional strength and low permeability. Smectites are swellable clays in which the interlayer cation can easily be exchanged. In this study, we measure permeability and frictional strength of montmor...

Phyllosilicates are common constituents of upper crustal faults and subduction forearcs. We studied the effect of mineralogy and controlled effective normal stress (between 5 MPa and 100 MPa) on frictional strength. Although the effect of mineralogy on frictional strength of single-phase phyllosilicate gouges has been previously studied, the influe...

Phyllosilicates, such as clays and micas, are abundant throughout the upper crust. They are commonly found in upper crustal faults and constitute a large percentage of the sediments that make up accretionary wedges. Phyllosilicate-rich rocks are known to have low permeability, but the influence of the mineralogy on the permeability is poorly charac...

Phyllosilicates are abundant throughout the upper crust. They are commonly found in upper crustal faults. Influence of the mineralogy on the low permeability of phyllosilicate-rich rocks is poorly characterized. We measured water and argon permeability of eight phyllosilicate powders at room temperature (talc, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, illite, montm...

Subduction zone earthquakes can propagate to the surface causing large seafloor displacements resulting in tsunamis. This requires the earthquake to rupture through clay-rich sediments of the accretionary wedge, which are largely aseismic. As found previously, the frictional properties of a range of wet clays at low slip velocity are velocity stren...

The selectivity of organoclays for different anions is not well understood. It is of particular importance when potentially hazardous anions from nuclear waste matrixes or contaminated ground water are in competition with each other, or with other naturally occurring anions. This study focuses on the adsorption of I−, , , Br−, - and to hexadecylpyr...