An open source pipeline for design of experiments for hyperelastic models of the skin with applications to keloids.

The aim of this work is to characterize the mechanical parameters governing the in-plane behavior of human skin and, in particular, of a keloid-scar. We consider 2D hyperelastic bi-material model of a keloid and the surrounding healthy skin. The problem of finding the optimal model parameters that minimize the misfit between the model observations and the in vivo experimental measurements is solved using our in-house developed inverse solver that is based on the FEniCS finite element computational platform. The paper focuses on the model parameter sensitivity quantification with respect to the experimental measurements, such as the displacement field and reaction force measurements. The developed tools quantify the significance of different measurements on different model parameters and, in turn, give insight into a given model's ability to capture experimental measurements. Finally, an a priori estimate for the model parameter sensitivity is proposed that is independent of the actual measurements and that is defined in the whole computational domain. This estimate is primarily useful for the design of experiments, specifically, in localizing the optimal displacement field measurement sites for the maximum impact on model parameter inference.

Effect of body condition score at calving on performance, some blood parameters, and milk fatty acid composition in dairy cows.

Effect of body condition score at calving and of change in body condition score on productive and reproductive performance, on lactation curve parameters, and on postpartum disease occurrence was investigated in 213 Italian Holstein-Friesian cows. Plasma FFA, glucose, and insulin concentrations and milk fatty acid composition were analyzed in 15 cows. The cows calving at highest body condition score lost more subcutaneous fat; condition score change did not exceed 1.05 units. Change in body condition score was positively associated with peak and total milk production. Occurrence of retained placenta was not related to the content of fat stores at calving. Glucose concentrations were relatively constant, FFA concentrations were highest, and insulin concentrations were lower in cows calving at the highest body condition score. Milk fatty acid composition reflected the different utilization of body fat stores.