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Young’s modulus DNA sGAG COL ELN Ear R 0.040 -0.302 0.080 0.096 p 0.913 0.396 0.826 0.838 n 10 10 10 7 Ala nasi R -0.427 0.327 -0.549 -0.217 p 0.219 0.357 0.100 0.641 n 10 10 10 7 Septum R 0.405 0.105 0.408 -0.951 ● p 0.246 0.774 0.242 0.049 n 10 10 10 7 Table 1. Pearson coefficients ( R ) observed between the measured Young’s modulus and biochemical parameters (DNA, sGAG, COL and ELN) for ear, ala nasi and nasoseptal cartilage samples. ● Indicates correlation is significant at a 0.05 level (2-tailed). Figure 4. Multi-photon laser scanning microscopy. Experiments were performed with cartilage donor samples 3 and 5 (S3 and S5). Green = Elastin ; Red = Collagen. The fibrous structures in the ear cartilage are clearly discernible compared to the diffuse green background signal in the nasal cartilage samples. 52 CHAPTER 3