"Soap-Bubble" visualization and quantitative analysis of 3D coronary magnetic resonance angiograms.

In order to compare coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) data obtained with different scanning methodologies, adequate visualization and presentation of the coronary MRA data need to be ensured. Furthermore, an objective quantitative comparison between images acquired with different scanning methods is desirable. To address this need, a software tool ("Soap-Bubble") that facilitates visualization and quantitative comparison of 3D volume targeted coronary MRA data was developed. In the present implementation, the user interactively specifies a curved subvolume (enclosed in the 3D coronary MRA data set) that closely encompasses the coronary arterial segments. With a 3D Delaunay triangulation and a parallel projection, this enables the simultaneous display of multiple coronary segments in one 2D representation. For objective quantitative analysis, frequently explored quantitative parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR); and vessel length, sharpness, and diameter can be assessed. The present tool supports visualization and objective, quantitative comparisons of coronary MRA data obtained with different scanning methods. The first results obtained in healthy adults and in patients with coronary artery disease are presented.

The scope of Baker's law.

656 I. 657 II. 658 III. 660 IV. 661 V. 663 VI. 663 VII. 664 VIII. 664 665 References 665 SUMMARY: Baker's law refers to the tendency for species that establish on islands by long-distance dispersal to show an increased capacity for self-fertilization because of the advantage of self-compatibility when colonizing new habitat. Despite its intuitive appeal and broad empirical support, it has received substantial criticism over the years since it was proclaimed in the 1950s, not least because it seemed to be contradicted by the high frequency of dioecy on islands. Recent theoretical work has again questioned the generality and scope of Baker's law. Here, we attempt to discern where the idea is useful to apply and where it is not. We conclude that several of the perceived problems with Baker's law fall away when a narrower perspective is adopted on how it should be circumscribed. We emphasize that Baker's law should be read in terms of an enrichment of a capacity for uniparental reproduction in colonizing situations, rather than of high selfing rates. We suggest that Baker's law might be tested in four different contexts, which set the breadth of its scope: the colonization of oceanic islands, metapopulation dynamics with recurrent colonization, range expansions with recurrent colonization, and colonization through species invasions.

Nouveautés dans l'ostéogenèse imparfaite: de la recherche à la prise en charge multidisciplinaire [News in osteogenesis imperfecta: from research to clinical management]

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disease. Today we are able to propose an adapted and efficient management to the patients with this rare disorder (and their families) thanks to a strong collaboration of clinicians and researchers. Recent knowledge regarding the genetics of OI permits an accurate diagnosis of the specific type of OI and its own molecular mechanism, a genetic counseling for family planning and prenatal diagnosis, and in addition more targeted therapeutic options. A specific support with re-education for patients with OI is necessary and efficient. To optimize patient care, a multidisciplinary consultation is proposed at the CHUV, moreover a web site is available for patients, families and therapists: www.infomaladiesrares.ch

Reconstruction and analysis of surface variation using photometric stereo

In many industrial applications, accurate and fast surface reconstruction is essential for quality control. Variation in surface finishing parameters, such as surface roughness, can reflect defects in a manufacturing process, non-optimal product operational efficiency, and reduced life expectancy of the product. This thesis considers reconstruction and analysis of high-frequency variation, that is roughness, on planar surfaces. Standard roughness measures in industry are calculated from surface topography. A fast and non-contact method to obtain surface topography is to apply photometric stereo in the estimation of surface gradients and to reconstruct the surface by integrating the gradient fields. Alternatively, visual methods, such as statistical measures, fractal dimension and distance transforms, can be used to characterize surface roughness directly from gray-scale images. In this thesis, the accuracy of distance transforms, statistical measures, and fractal dimension are evaluated in the estimation of surface roughness from gray-scale images and topographies. The results are contrasted to standard industry roughness measures. In distance transforms, the key idea is that distance values calculated along a highly varying surface are greater than distances calculated along a smoother surface. Statistical measures and fractal dimension are common surface roughness measures. In the experiments, skewness and variance of brightness distribution, fractal dimension, and distance transforms exhibited strong linear correlations to standard industry roughness measures. One of the key strengths of photometric stereo method is the acquisition of higher frequency variation of surfaces. In this thesis, the reconstruction of planar high-frequency varying surfaces is studied in the presence of imaging noise and blur. Two Wiener filterbased methods are proposed of which one is optimal in the sense of surface power spectral density given the spectral properties of the imaging noise and blur. Experiments show that the proposed methods preserve the inherent high-frequency variation in the reconstructed surfaces, whereas traditional reconstruction methods typically handle incorrect measurements by smoothing, which dampens the high-frequency variation.

Effect of meal ingestion on liver stiffness in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Liver stiffness is increasingly used in the non-invasive evaluation of chronic liver diseases. Liver stiffness correlates with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with cirrhosis and holds prognostic value in this population. Hence, accuracy in its measurement is needed. Several factors independent of fibrosis influence liver stiffness, but there is insufficient information on whether meal ingestion modifies liver stiffness in cirrhosis. We investigated the changes in liver stiffness occurring after the ingestion of a liquid standard test meal in this population. METHODS: In 19 patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices (9 alcoholic, 9 HCV-related, 1 NASH; Child score 6.9±1.8), liver stiffness (transient elastography), portal blood flow (PBF) and hepatic artery blood flow (HABF) (Doppler-Ultrasound) were measured before and 30 minutes after receiving a standard mixed liquid meal. In 10 the HVPG changes were also measured. RESULTS: Post-prandial hyperemia was accompanied by a marked increase in liver stiffness (+27±33%; p<0.0001). Changes in liver stiffness did not correlate with PBF changes, but directly correlated with HABF changes (r = 0.658; p = 0.002). After the meal, those patients showing a decrease in HABF (n = 13) had a less marked increase of liver stiffness as compared to patients in whom HABF increased (n = 6; +12±21% vs. +62±29%,p<0.0001). As expected, post-prandial hyperemia was associated with an increase in HVPG (n = 10; +26±13%, p = 0.003), but changes in liver stiffness did not correlate with HVPG changes. CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness increases markedly after a liquid test meal in patients with cirrhosis, suggesting that its measurement should be performed in standardized fasting conditions. The hepatic artery buffer response appears an important factor modulating postprandial changes of liver stiffness. The post-prandial increase in HVPG cannot be predicted by changes in liver stiffness.

De convallariae specie vulgo Lilium convallium dicta

Invocatio: Q.D.B.V.

Nocturne / Berceuse

Soitinnus: lauluääni, piano.

L'Univers

1869/02/14 (Numéro 658).

Kinetic behavior of nitrification in the post-treatment of poultry wastewater in a sequential batch reactor

A sequential batch reactor with suspended biomass and useful volume of 5 L was used in the removal of nutrients and organic matter in workbench scale under optimal conditions obtained by central composite rotational design (CCRD), with cycle time (CT) of 16 h (10.15 h, aerobic phase, and 4.35 h, anoxic phase) and carbon: nitrogen ratio (COD/NO2--N+NO3--N) equal to 6. Complete cycles (20), nitrification followed by denitrification, were evaluated to investigate the kinetic behavior of degradation of organic (COD) and nitrogenated (NH4+-N, NO2--N and NO3--N) matter present in the effluent from a bird slaughterhouse and industrial processing facility, as well as to evaluate the stability of the reactor using Shewhart control charts of individual measures. The results indicate means total inorganic nitrogen (NH4+-N+NO2- -N+NO3--N) removal of 84.32±1.59% and organic matter (COD) of 53.65±8.48% in the complete process (nitrification-denitrification) with the process under statistical control. The nitrifying activity during the aerobic phase estimated from the determination of the kinetic parameters had mean K1 and K2 values of 0.00381±0.00043 min-1 and 0.00381±0.00043 min-1, respectively. The evaluation of the kinetic behavior of the conversion of nitrogen indicated a possible reduction of CT in the anoxic phase, since removals of NO2--N and NO3--N higher than 90% were obtained with only 1 h of denitrification.

0-visio - teoriasta käytännöksi : Varsinais-Suomen ja Satakunnan maakuntien liikenneturvallisuussuunnitelma 2012-2016

Liikenneturvallisuus syntyy eri osapuolten toiminnan ja yhteistyön tuloksena. Poliitikot päättävät yhteiskunnan suunnittelusta ja liikennejärjestelmästä, suunnittelijat toteuttavat poliitikkojen tekemiä päätöksiä, virkamiehet laativat lakiehdotuksia ja sääntöjä, ELY-keskus ja kunnat vastaavat teistä ja niiden kunnosta, poliisi valvoo liikennesääntöjen noudattamista, Liikenneturva tiedottaa ja kouluttaa, yritykset, yhteisöt ja yksityiset ihmiset tilaavat ja käyttävät kuljetuspalveluja ja kaikki kuntalaiset osallistuvat liikenteeseen. Liikenneturvallisuussuunnitelma toimii työkaluna Varsinais-Suomen ja Satakunnan liikenneturvallisuustyössä. Alueellisen liikenneturvallisuustyön nollavisio ja tavoitteet asetettiin valtakunnallisen liikenneturvallisuussuunnitelman, alueen nykytila-analyysin sekä suunnitelman laadinnan aikana sidosryhmien kanssa käydyn keskustelun pohjalta. Nollavision mukaan kenenkään ei tarvitse kuolla tai loukkaantua vakavasti liikenteessä. Lisäksi visiona on vastuullinen liikkuminen, joka myös koetaan turvalliseksi. Seitsemän kohdan ohjelmaan nollavision toteuttamiseksi on tiivistetty tärkeimmät toimet. Yksilöityihin toimenpiteisiin on kirjattu maankäytön suunnitteluun, kestävään liikkumiseen, liikenneympäristöön ja liikennekäyttäytymiseen liittyviä toimenpiteitä. Lisäksi liikenneturvallisuusyhteistyöhön kohdistuvia toimenpiteitä sisältyy suunnitelmaan. Toimenpiteiden toteuttamisen vastuu- ja yhteistyötahoja on useita. Toimenpiteet kohdistuvat alueen tielläliikkujiin, organisaatioihin ja päätöksentekijöihin. Pitkän aikavälin ja valtakunnallisen tason toimenpiteet edesauttavat liikenneturvallisuuden kehittymistä toivottuun suuntaan. Vaikutustarkastelu osoittaa, että asetettujen tavoitteiden saavuttaminen vaatii laajaa keinovalikoimaa, usean toimijan välistä yhteistyötä sekä resursseja liikenneturvallisuustyöhön. Tämä liikenneturvallisuussuunnitelma haastaa eri hallinnonalat, viranomaiset, järjestöt ja yritykset omalta osaltaan toteuttamaan toimia, jotka vievät kohti nollavisiota. Suunnitelman toteutuminen edellyttää, että sillä on kuntien ja päättäjien tuki. Varsinais-Suomen ja Satakunnan liikenteen tulevaisuus kehittyy suunnitelman mukaisesti, jos liikenteen vastuunkantajat sitoutuvat suunnitelman vision periaatteisiin ja pitävät elämää suojelevia arvoja toimintansa perustana.

Caracterização filogenética de amostras do vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) do Estado de São Paulo

O vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) é um lentivírus que causa distúrbios imunológicos em gatos domésticos. Devido à alta variabilidade genética do FIV, já foram identificados cinco subtipos (A a E) e a diversidade dentro de cada subtipo é freqüente e o seu estudo pode auxiliar no conhecimento da patogenia e epidemiologia da doença. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou analisar filogeneticamente cepas do FIV de gatos domésticos oriundos do estado de São Paulo. Para tanto, foi realizado o seqüenciamento de 658 pares de bases do gene gag de amostras coletadas de 23 animais, cujos resultados foram analisados pelo método de substituição nucleotídica Tamura-Nei. A análise filogenética demonstrou que todas as amostras pertenciam ao subtipo B e, claramente, três subgrupos foram formados dentro deste subtipo. Adicionalmente, o resultado obtido sugeriu um ancestral comum entre as cepas do FIV oriundas do Japão e uma amostra brasileira obtida neste estudo. Em conclusão, este trabalho traz as primeiras informações sobre a diversidade genética do FIV no Estado de São Paulo. Estudos adicionais são necessários para melhor entender o cenário real e a distribuição dos tipos e subtipos do FIV na população de gatos domésticos do país.