Automatic microstructural characterization and classification using artificial intelligence techniques on ultrasound signals

Secondary phases such as Laves and carbides are formed during the final solidification stages of nickel based superalloy coatings deposited during the gas tungsten arc welding cold wire process. However, when aged at high temperatures, other phases can precipitate in the microstructure, like the γ″ and δ phases. This work presents a new application and evaluation of artificial intelligent techniques to classify (the background echo and backscattered) ultrasound signals in order to characterize the microstructure of a Ni-based alloy thermally aged at 650 and 950 °C for 10, 100 and 200 h. The background echo and backscattered ultrasound signals were acquired using transducers with frequencies of 4 and 5 MHz. Thus with the use of features extraction techniques, i.e.; detrended fluctuation analysis and the Hurst method, the accuracy and speed in the classification of the secondary phases from ultrasound signals could be studied. The classifiers under study were the recent optimum-path forest (OPF) and the more traditional support vector machines and Bayesian. The experimental results revealed that the OPF classifier was the fastest and most reliable. In addition, the OPF classifier revealed to be a valid and adequate tool for microstructure characterization through ultrasound signals classification due to its speed, sensitivity, accuracy and reliability. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of follicular events in owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus) using B-mode and Doppler ultrasound

Ultrasound (B-mode) was used to analyze follicular events in 12 trained female owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus). The animals were examined every 48 hours for over 90days to measure and map follicular growth in both ovaries and to measure (using Doppler velocimetry) local hemodynamic changes during the peri-ovulatory stage. There were 44 follicular growth events, each with two or three follicular waves, and a mean ± SEM interval between events of 17 ± 1.13 days. There were various hemodynamic changes during follicular growth; both vascular resistance index and pulsatility index decreased during the time when the follicle diameter peaked. Thus, both B-mode and Doppler ultrasound were useful for monitoring ovarian follicular events in owl monkeys. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Ultrasound evaluation of common carotid artery blood flow in the Labrador retriever

Background: Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination provides quantitative and qualitative information concerning the blood flow in veins and arteries, enabling their morphological evaluation and the collection of hemodynamic data. Dogs and cats as well as humans may display neurological signs of brain hypoperfusion secondary to common carotid alterations. Hence, DUS examination might aid in the differential diagnosis of neurological disorders of ischemic origin, among other causes. The objective of this study was to register normal values for systolic peak velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, diameter and resistance index of both common carotid arteries of 12 healthy Labrador retriever dogs between 2 and 5 years of age. By gathering these values, we might be able to improve the sensitivity of hemodynamic studies in clinically important brain disorders. Results: There were no statistical differences between the values for the right and left vessels: the systolic peak velocity was 75.8 ± 16 cm/s, minimum diastolic velocity was 12.2 ± 4 cm/s, common carotid diameter was 0.545 ± 0.063 cm, and resistance index was 0.83 ± 0.07. Conclusions: The results of this study might be used to establish normal parameters for Labrador retriever dogs and thus help in the diagnosis of neurological disorders associated with alterations of the carotid arteries. Similar studies must be performed to evaluate the same parameters in other dog breeds of different sizes and skull conformations. © 2013 Svicero et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Na and K from swine feed and its application in a digestibility assay: A green analytical procedure

The study is aimed to evaluate the efficiency of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) as a simple strategy focused on sample preparation for metal determination in biological samples. The extraction of sodium and potassium extraction was carried out from swine feed followed by determination of the concentration of these metals by flame atomic emission spectrometry (FAES). The experiment was performed to cover the study of the variables influencing the extraction process and its optimal conditions (sample mass, particle size, acid concentration, sonication time and ultrasound power); the determination of these analytical characteristics and method validation using certified reference material; and the analysis of pre-starter diets. The optimal conditions established conditions were as follows: mass: 100 mg, particle size:<60 μm, acid concentration: 0.10 mol L-1 HCl, sonication time: 50 s and ultrasound power: 102 W. The proposed method (UAE) was applied in digestibility assays of those nutrients present in different piglet pre-starter feeds and their results proved to be compatible with those obtained from mineralized samples (P < 0.05). The ultrasound extraction method was demonstrated to be an excellent alternative for handless sampling and operational costs and the method also has the advantage of does not generating toxic residues that may negatively affect human health and contaminate the environment. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estudo teórico da relação entre número de CT de raios-X e Stopping Power de prótons

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Papel da tomografia torácica e abdominal no estadiamento do carcinoma mamário localmente avançado

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Solicitud de cooperación técnica (CT/INTRA) de Nicaragua sobre adiestramiento teórico-práctico en técnicas de análisis de sistemas eléctricos de países en desarrollo: versión preliminar

El Instituto Nicaraguense de Energia presenta al BID una solicitud de cooperacion tecnica consistente en el adiestramiento de un grupo de profesionales en tecnicas de analisis de sistemas electricos debiles o longitudinales de paises en desarrollo.

O pop rock e a escritura poética em Voyages de l’Autre Côté, de Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio

A literatura contemporânea expressa o rompimento das fronteiras entre a cultura erudita e a cultura de massa ou comercial, criando formas híbridas que convivem no interior do texto. No romance Voyages de l’autre cote (1975), de Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, as canções do pop rock embalam as viagens da fada Naja Naja e de seus amigos em busca do ‘outro lado’. Desta forma, a impregnação da música popular à escritura poética, parece ajudar a libertar a imaginação, preparando as personagens para o encontro do infinito sensível.

Efeito da ovariectomia sobre os tecidos periodontais após o reimplante dentário imediato: análise histomorfométrica, imunoistoquímica e micro-ct em ratas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Contribuição da aplicação do ultrassom de baixa potência na prevenção de osteopenia em tíbias de ratos sob ausência de carga

Este trabalho objetivou verificar se o ultrassom de baixa potência (US) previne a ocorrência de osteopenia em tíbias de ratos sob ausência de carga. Foram utilizados 45 Rattus novergicus albinus, Wistar adultos, machos, distribuídos em cinco grupos iguais: C - animais-controle livres em gaiolas por 21 dias; S - animais suspensos pela cauda por 21 dias; ST - suspensos pela cauda por 21 dias e concomitantemente tratados com US; S→C - suspensos por 21 dias e depois permanecendo livres em gaiolas por mais 21 dias; S→CT - suspensos por 21 dias e depois permanecendo livres em gaiolas por mais 21 dias e concomitantemente tratados com US. O tratamento foi realizado com US de 1,5MHz, ciclo de trabalho 1:4, 30mW/cm², na tíbia direita, por 15 sessões de 20 minutos cada, cinco sessões por semana. Ainda vivos, os animais foram submetidos a exame de densitometria óssea para verificação da densidade mineral óssea (DMO) e do conteúdo mineral ósseo (CMO). Após a eutanásia dos animais, as tíbias foram desarticuladas, dissecadas e submetidas a ensaio mecânico destrutivo para análise da força máxima (Fmáx) e da rigidez (R). Foram avaliados também o comprimento (L) e o diâmetro (D) no ponto médio da tíbia. O grupo S apresentou valores de DMO, CMO, Fmáx, R, L e D menores em relação ao grupo C, demonstrando que a suspensão pela cauda é prejudicial a estas variáveis. O tratamento dos animais suspensos com o US, grupo ST, elevou os valores de CMO e DMO em relação aos do grupo S, igualando-os aos do grupo C. A Fmáx, R e L do grupo ST aumentou em relação ao grupo S e também em relação ao grupo C (p<0,05). Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada entre as variáveis analisadas para os grupos S→CT e S→C (p>0,05). Os resultados obtidos neste estudo permitem concluir que o US de baixa potência contribuiu na prevenção e reversão da ocorrência da osteopenia nos animais submetidos à suspensão pela cauda, demonstrando que a ausência do estímulo mecânico causada pela impossibilidade da deambulação pode ser minimizada pela ação mecânica deste.

Semen parameters and seminal plasma protein and biochemical profiles of dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia after botulinum toxin type A intraprostatic injection

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Simulation-based ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation training program

PURPOSE: To propose a simulation-based ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation skills' training program, during residency.METHODS: This study describes the strategies for learning the ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation on low-fidelity bench models. The preparation of bench models, educational goals, processes of skill acquisition, feedback and evaluation methods were also outlined. The training program was based on key references to the subject.RESULTS: It was formulated a simulation-based ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation teaching program on low-fidelity bench models.CONCLUSION: A simulation-based inexpensive, low-stress, no-risk learning program on low-fidelity bench models was proposed to facilitate acquisition of ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation skills by residents-in-training before exposure to the living patient.

Body composition variables as predictors of NAFLD by ultrasound in obese children and adolescents

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disorder associated with excessive fat accumulation, mainly in the intra-abdominal region. A simple technique to estimate abdominal fat in this region could be useful to assess the presence of NAFLD, in obese subjects who are more vulnerable to this disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to verify the reliability of waist circumference and body composition variables to identify the occurrence of NAFLD in obese children and adolescents.Methods: Sample was composed of 145 subjects, aged 11 to 17 years. Assessments of waist circumference (WC), trunk fat mass (TFM) and fat mass (FM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and ultrasound for diagnosis of NAFLD and intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) were used. Correlation between variables was made by Spearman's coefficients; ROC curve parameters (sensitivity, specificity, area under curve) were used to assess the reliability of body composition variables to assess the presence of NAFLD. Statistical significance was set at 5%.Results: Significant correlations were observed between NAFLD and WC (p = 0.001), TFM (p = 0.002) and IAAT (p = 0.001). The higher values of area under the ROC curve were for WC (AUC = 0.720), TFM (AUC = 0.661) and IAAT (AUC = 0.741).Conclusions: Our findings indicated that TFM, IAAT and WC present high potential to identify NAFLD in obese children and adolescents.

The role of superstructure material on the stress distribution in mandibular full-arch implant-supported fixed dentures. A CT-based 3D-FEA

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)