Agreement for Detecting Glaucoma Progression with the GDx Guided Progression Analysis, Automated Perimetry, and Optic Disc Photography

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of the GDx Variable Corneal Compensation (VCC) Guided Progression Analysis (GPA) software for detecting glaucomatous progression. Design: Observational cohort study. Participants: The study included 453 eyes from 252 individuals followed for an average of 46 +/- 14 months as part of the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study. At baseline, 29% of the eyes were classified as glaucomatous, 67% of the eyes were classified as suspects, and 5% of the eyes were classified as healthy. Methods: Images were obtained annually with the GDx VCC and analyzed for progression using the Fast Mode of the GDx GPA software. Progression using conventional methods was determined by the GPA software for standard automated achromatic perimetry (SAP) and by masked assessment of optic disc stereophotographs by expert graders. Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs) for detection of glaucoma progression using the GDx GPA were calculated with SAP and optic disc stereophotographs used as reference standards. Agreement among the different methods was reported using the AC(1) coefficient. Results: Thirty-four of the 431 glaucoma and glaucoma suspect eyes (8%) showed progression by SAP or optic disc stereophotographs. The GDx GPA detected 17 of these eyes for a sensitivity of 50%. Fourteen eyes showed progression only by the GDx GPA with a specificity of 96%. Positive and negative LRs were 12.5 and 0.5, respectively. None of the healthy eyes showed progression by the GDx GPA, with a specificity of 100% in this group. Inter-method agreement (AC1 coefficient and 95% confidence intervals) for non-progressing and progressing eyes was 0.96 (0.94-0.97) and 0.44 (0.28-0.61), respectively. Conclusions: The GDx GPA detected glaucoma progression in a significant number of cases showing progression by conventional methods, with high specificity and high positive LRs. Estimates of the accuracy for detecting progression suggest that the GDx GPA could be used to complement clinical evaluation in the detection of longitudinal change in glaucoma. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. Ophthalmology 2010; 117: 462-470 (C) 2010 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

3D face computational photography using PCA spaces

In this paper, we present a 3D face photography system based on a facial expression training dataset, composed of both facial range images (3D geometry) and facial texture (2D photography). The proposed system allows one to obtain a 3D geometry representation of a given face provided as a 2D photography, which undergoes a series of transformations through the texture and geometry spaces estimated. In the training phase of the system, the facial landmarks are obtained by an active shape model (ASM) extracted from the 2D gray-level photography. Principal components analysis (PCA) is then used to represent the face dataset, thus defining an orthonormal basis of texture and another of geometry. In the reconstruction phase, an input is given by a face image to which the ASM is matched. The extracted facial landmarks and the face image are fed to the PCA basis transform, and a 3D version of the 2D input image is built. Experimental tests using a new dataset of 70 facial expressions belonging to ten subjects as training set show rapid reconstructed 3D faces which maintain spatial coherence similar to the human perception, thus corroborating the efficiency and the applicability of the proposed system.

Anatomia foliar de Eugenia florida DC. (Myrtaceae)

Foi feito o estudo anat��mico da folha de Eugenia florida DC., esp��cie arb��rea da fam��lia Myrtaceae, coletada no Campus da Funda����o Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. A esp��cie apresenta importantes propriedades farmacol��gicas, incluindo-se atividade antiviral. O presente estudo teve como objetivo fornecer dados, revelados atrav��s da microscopia ��ptica e da microscopia eletr��nica de varredura, que possam contribuir para o conhecimento da esp��cie e, conseq��entemente, para a seguran��a em sua identifica����o. Anatomicamente, a folha �� hipostom��tica, com organiza����o dorsiventral do mesofilo. Apresenta tricomas simples apenas sobre a nervura mediana da face adaxial. As c��lulas epid��rmicas apresentam contorno sinuoso em vista frontal e cut��cula estriada. O par��nquima pali����dico destaca-se pela grande quantidade de cristais prism��ticos de oxalato de c��lcio. Em posi����o subepid��rmica ocorrem cavidades secretoras de ��leos essenciais, pouco numerosas, nas duas faces da l��mina foliar. As c��lulas epid��rmicas situadas sobre as estruturas secretoras constituem caracter��stica de valor diagn��stico e s��o reconhec��veis pela c��lula de topo, que �� reniforme, circundada pelas adjacentes, que apresentam disposi����o radiada. A compara����o entre folhas de sol e de sombra revela que, nas primeiras, as estruturas secretoras s��o completamente diferenciadas, ao contr��rio das folhas de sombra, al��m de apresentarem maior concentra����o de compostos erg��sticos.

A new genus and two new species of Stevardiinae (Characiformes: Characidae) with a hypothesis on their relationships based on morphological and histological data

Lepidocharax, new genus, and Lepidocharax diamantina and L. burnsi new species from eastern Brazil are described herein. Lepidocharax is considered a monophyletic genus of the Stevardiinae and can be distinguished from the other members of this subfamily except Planaltina, Pseudocorynopoma, and Xenurobrycon by having the dorsal-fin origin vertically aligned with the anal-fin origin, vs. dorsal fin origin anterior or posterior to anal-fin origin. Additionally the new genus can be distinguished from those three genera by not having the scales extending over the ventral caudal-fin lobe modified to form the dorsal border of the pheromone pouch organ or to represent a pouch scale in sexually mature males. In this paper, we describe these two recently discovered species and the ultrastructure of their spermatozoa.

Da fotografia como arte �� arte como fotografia: a experi��ncia do Museu de Arte Contempor��nea da USP na d��cada de 1970

Este ensaio visa sistematizar os primeiros resultados de uma pesquisa, ainda em curso, sobre o processo de legitima����o da fotografia pelo sistema de arte no Brasil, cujo foco principal �� o museu. Os museus de arte da cidade de S��o Paulo foram escolhidos para dar in��cio a essa investiga����o. Primeiramente, ser�� abordada, em linhas gerais, a presen��a da fotografia no Museu de Arte Moderna de S��o Paulo e na Bienal de S��o Paulo, dada a vincula����o de origem do Museu de Arte Contempor��nea com essas duas institui����es paulistanas. Na seq����ncia ser�� analisada a forma����o do acervo fotogr��fico do Museu de Arte Contempor��nea da Universidade de S��o Paulo durante a d��cada de 1970. Por fim, esse percurso permitir�� observar que a atua����o de Walter Zanini, o primeiro diretor do Museu, e as particularidades da posi����o do MAC-USP no sistema de arte no Brasil naquele per��odo resultaram no entendimento da fotografia prioritariamente no ��mbito da arte contempor��nea de car��ter experimental e n��o como obra de arte aut��noma, segundo os princ��pios da chamada fotografia art��stica.

Estudo cl��nico da aplica����o de matriz inorg��nica de osso associado a pept��deo sint��tico de ades��o celular (MIO/P-15), PepGen P-15��, em les��es periodontais avan��adas de c��es

Os mecanismos biol��gicos desenvolvidos para aumentar a qualidade da regenera����o ��ssea e da repara����o tecidual de s��tios periodontais espec��ficos continuam a ser um desafio e t��m sido complementado pela capacidade de ades��o celular do col��geno do tipo I, promovida por um pept��deo sint��tico de ades��o celular (P-15), associado a uma matriz inorg��nica de osso (MIO) para formar MIO/P-15. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a perda do n��vel cl��nico de inser����o e a resposta da bolsa periodontal em dentes ap��s 3 e 6 meses da aplica����o de enxerto com MIO/P-15. Vinte e um c��es do Hospital Veterin��rio da Universidade de S��o Paulo foram anestesiados para realiza����o de tratamento periodontal e 132 faces dentais com perda de n��vel cl��nico de inser����o foram tratadas, sendo que 36,4% (48 faces) receberam o pept��deo de ades��o celular e 63,6% (84 faces) compuseram o grupo controle que recebeu tratamento convencional (retalho muco-gengival e aplainamento radicular). O procedimento foi documentado atrav��s de radiografia intra-oral e todas as sondagens de bolsas periodontais foram fotografadas. Depois de 3 e de 6 meses, os animais foram re-anestesiados a fim de se obter novas avalia����es, radiografias, fotografias e sondagens periodontais. As 48 faces com perda de n��vel cl��nico de inser����o que receberam material de enxertia apresentaram taxa de 40% de recupera����o do n��vel cl��nico de inser����o ap��s 6 meses. O grupo controle de faces dentais n��o apresentou altera����o do n��vel cl��nico de inser����o. A face palatina foi a que apresentou melhor taxa de regenera����o (40%) e os dentes caninos e molares mostraram as melhores respostas (57,14% e 65%, respectivamente). N��o houve sinais de infec����o p��s-cir��rgica relacionadas �� falta de higieniza����o oral dos animais. Pode-se concluir que o MIO/P-15 auxilia na regenera����o e re-ader��ncia das estruturas periodontais, incluindo osso alveolar. Sua aplica����o mostrou-se f��cil e pr��tica e a incid��ncia de complica����es p��s-cir��rgicas foi baixa. Ainda assim, mais estudos e pesquisas s��o necess��rios para que se avalie a quantidade e a qualidade do osso e do ligamento periodontal formados.

Vers��es do "progresso": a moderniza����o como tema e problema do fot��grafo Milit��o Augusto de Azevedo

O artigo centra-se no legado de Milit��o Augusto de Azevedo (1837-1905), com o objetivo de desvendar as diferentes maneiras como esse fot��grafo representou o processo de moderniza����o ocorrido nas ��ltimas d��cadas do s��culo XIX no Brasil e, especialmente, em S��o Paulo. A an��lise dos documentos de Milit��o - fotografias, cartas e um ��ndice das fotografias de antigos paulistas - configura uma multiplicidade de significados a respeito das transforma����es ocorridas na cidade de S��o Paulo a partir da d��cada de 1860, e na pol��tica brasileira ap��s a Proclama����o da Rep��blica. As observa����es da personagem a respeito de seu mundo em mudan��a asseveram que, menos do que coladas apenas ao "progresso", as representa����es do fot��grafo formam um am��lgama de temporalidades desencontradas, que se imbricam e tensionam-se.

Phototherapy Improves Healing of Chronic Venous Ulcers

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that LED phototherapy with combined 660-nm and 890-nm light will promote healing of venous ulcers that failed to respond to other forms of treatment. Background Data: A variety of dressings, growth factors, and adjunct therapies are used to treat venous ulcers, but none seems to yield satisfactory results. Materials and Methods: We used a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study to compare a total of 20 patients divided with 32 chronic ulcers into three groups. In group 1 the ulcers were cleaned, dressed with 1% silver sulfadiazine (SDZ) cream, and treated with placebo phototherapy (<.03 J/cm(-3)) using a Dynatron Solaris 705 phototherapy research device. In group 2 the ulcers were treated similarly but received real phototherapy (3 J/cm(-2)) instead of placebo. In group 3 (controls), the ulcers were simply cleaned and dressed with SDZ without phototherapy. The ulcers were evaluated with digital photography and computer image analysis over 90 d or until full healing was attained. Results: Ulcers treated with phototherapy healed significantly faster than controls when compared at day 30 (p < 0.01), day 60 (p < 0.05), and day 90 (p < 0.001), and similarly healed faster than the placebo-treated ulcers at days 30 and 90 (p < 0.01), but not at day 60. The beneficial effect of phototherapy was more pronounced when the confounding effect of small-sized ulcers was removed from the analysis. Medium- and large-sized ulcers healed significantly faster with treatment (>= 40% rate of healing per month) than placebo or control ulcers (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Phototherapy promotes healing of chronic venous ulcers, particularly large recalcitrant ulcers that do not respond to conventional treatment.

In Vivo Effects on the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A(165) Messenger Ribonucleic Acid of an Infrared Diode Laser Associated or Not with a Visible Red Diode Laser

Objective: This study investigated and correlated the kinetic expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A(165) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) with the associated use or not of an infrared laser and a visible red laser during the wound healing in rats. Background Data: There is a lack of scientific evidence demonstrating the influence of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the expression of VEGF mRNA in vivo. Materials and Methods: Forty-five Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of three groups: I (n = 5, nonoperated animals), II (n = 25, operated animals), and III (n = 25, animals operated and subjected to laser irradiation). A surgical wound was performed using a scalpel in the right side of the tongue of operated animals. In group III, two sessions of laser irradiation were performed, one right after the surgical procedure (infrared laser, 780 nm, 70mW, 35 J/cm(2)) and the other 48 h later (visible red laser, 660 nm, 40mW, 5J/cm(2)). Five animals each were sacrificed 1, 3, 5, and 7 days postoperatively in groups II and III, and samples of tongue tissue were obtained. The animals of group I were sacrificed on day 7. Total RNA was extracted using guanidine-isothiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method. The results of horizontal electrophoresis after reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction permitted the ratio of VEGF-A(165) mRNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA expression for groups I, II, and III to be assessed (two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test, p<0.05). Results: The expression of VEGF-A(165) mRNA in group II (0.770 +/- 0.098) was statistically greater than that observed in groups I (0.523 +/- 0.164) and III (0.504 +/- 0.069) in the first day after surgery (p<0.05). Significant differences between the groups were not observed in other time periods. Conclusion: LLLT influenced the expression of VEGF-A(165) mRNA during wound healing after a surgical procedure on the tongue of Wistar rats.

Observation of pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) photoproduction in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV at the STAR detector

We present a measurement of pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) photonuclear production in ultraperipheral Au-Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV from the STAR experiment. The pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) final states are observed at low transverse momentum and are accompanied by mutual nuclear excitation of the beam particles. The strong enhancement of the production cross section at low transverse momentum is consistent with coherent photoproduction. The pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) invariant mass spectrum of the coherent events exhibits a broad peak around 1540 +/- 40 MeV/c(2) with a width of 570 +/- 60 MeV/c(2), in agreement with the photoproduction data for the rho(0)(1700). We do not observe a corresponding peak in the pi(+)pi(-) final state and measure an upper limit for the ratio of the branching fractions of the rho(0)(1700) to pi(+)pi(-) and pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) of 2.5% at 90% confidence level. The ratio of rho(0)(1700) and rho(0)(770) coherent production cross sections is measured to be 13.4 +/- 0.8(stat.) +/- 4.4(syst.)%.

Hadronic resonance production in d+Au collisions at root S(NN) = 200 GeV measured at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

We present the first measurements of the rho(770)(0),K(*)(892),Delta(1232)(++),Sigma(1385), and Lambda(1520) resonances in d+Au collisions at <radical><radicand>s(NN)</radicand></radical>=200 GeV, reconstructed via their hadronic decay channels using the STAR detector (the solenoidal tracker at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider). The masses and widths of these resonances are studied as a function of transverse momentum p(T). We observe that the resonance spectra follow a generalized scaling law with the transverse mass m(T). The < p(T)> of resonances in minimum bias collisions are compared with the < p(T)> of pi,K, and <overline>p</overline>. The rho(0)/pi(-),K(*)/K(-),Delta(++)/p,Sigma(1385)/Lambda, and Lambda(1520)/Lambda ratios in d+Au collisions are compared with the measurements in minimum bias p+p interactions, where we observe that both measurements are comparable. The nuclear modification factors (R(dAu)) of the rho(0),K(*), and Sigma(*) scale with the number of binary collisions (N(bin)) for p(T)> 1.2 GeV/c.

Scalar resonances in a unitary pi pi S-wave model for D(+)->pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)

We propose a model for D(+)->pi(+)pi(-)pi(+) decays following experimental results which indicate that the two-pion interaction in the S wave is dominated by the scalar resonances f(0)(600)/sigma and f(0)(980). The weak decay amplitude for D(+)-> R pi(+), where R is a resonance that subsequently decays into pi(+)pi(-), is constructed in a factorization approach. In the S wave, we implement the strong decay R ->pi(+)pi(-) by means of a scalar form factor. This provides a unitary description of the pion-pion interaction in the entire kinematically allowed mass range m(pi pi)(2) from threshold to about 3 GeV(2). In order to reproduce the experimental Dalitz plot for D(+)->pi(+)pi(-)pi(+), we include contributions beyond the S wave. For the P wave, dominated by the rho(770)(0), we use a Breit-Wigner description. Higher waves are accounted for by using the usual isobar prescription for the f(2)(1270) and rho(1450)(0). The major achievement is a good reproduction of the experimental m(pi pi)(2) distribution, and of the partial as well as the total D(+)->pi(+)pi(-)pi(+) branching ratios. Our values are generally smaller than the experimental ones. We discuss this shortcoming and, as a by-product, we predict a value for the poorly known D ->sigma transition form factor at q(2)=m pi(2).

Quantitative assessment of postural alignment in young adults based on photographs of anterior, posterior, and lateral views

Objective: Postural assessment through photography is a simple method that allows the acquisition of quantitative values to define the alignment of body segments. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the postural alignment of several body segments in standing through anterior, posterior, and lateral views. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 122 subjects were initially evaluated. Seven subjects were excluded from the study after cluster analysis. The final sample had 115 subjects, 75% women with a mean age of 26 + 7 years. Photographs were taken from anterior, posterior, and lateral views after placement of markers on specific anatomical points. Photographs were analyzed using free Postural Analysis Software/Software of Postural Analysis (PAS/SAPO). Quantitative values for postural analysis variables were ascertained for head, upper and lower limbs, and trunk, along with the frequency of inclinations to the left and to the right. Results: Regarding the head, 88% of the sample presented some inclination, 67% of which was to the right. There was a predominance of right inclination of the shoulder and pelvis in 68% and 43% of study subjects, respectively. Lower limbs presented mean alignment of 178 in the anterior view, and the trunk showed predominant right inclination in 66% of participants. Conclusion: Small asymmetries were observed in anterior and posterior views. This study suggests that there is no symmetry in postural alignment and that small asymmetries represent the normative standard for posture in standing. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011;34:371-380)

Photodegradation of Thermodegraded Polypropylene/High-Impact Polystyrene Blends: Mechanical Properties

The influence of the addition of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) on polypropylene (PP) photodegradation was studied with blends obtained by extrusion with and without styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer (10 wt % with respect to the dispersed phase). The concentrations of HIPS ranged from 10 to 30 wt %. The blends and pure materials were exposed for periods of up to 15 weeks of UV irradiation; their mechanical properties (tensile and impact), fracture surface, and melt flow indices were monitored. After 3 weeks of UV exposure, all of the materials presented mechanical properties of the same order of magnitude. However, for times of exposure greater than 3 weeks, an increasing concentration of HIPS resulted in a better photostability of PP. These results were explained in light of morphological observations. This increase of photostability was even greater when SBS was added to the blends. It was more difficult to measure the melt flow index of the binary PP/HIPS blends than that of PP for low concentrations of HIPS; this was most likely due to energy transfer between the blend domains during photodegradation. This phenomenon was not observed for the ternary blends. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 770-779, 2011

Characterization of the cold ductility degradation after aging in centrifugally cast 20Cr32Ni+Nb alloy tube

The mechanical properties (yield stress, ultimate tensile stress and elongation) of alloy 20Cr32Ni + Nb subject to isochronal aging at temperatures between 670 and 820 degrees C for 200 h were investigated using samples extracted from a centrifugally cast tube. The results confirm the occurrence of embrittlement in the aged samples, with maximum embrittlement observed around 770 degrees C without significant gain in strength. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.