bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aberrant Expression of Novel Cytokine IL-38 and Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Childhood Asthma
Authors: Chu Man , Chu Ida , Yung Edmund , Lam Christopher , Leung Ting , Wong Gary , Wong Chun
Published: July 2016

We investigated the expression of novel anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-38 and regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes in childhood asthma patients. The protein and mRNA expression level of IL-38, periostin, peripheral CD4+CD25+CD134+ T lymphocytes as well as CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ and CD4+CD25highCD127− Treg lymphocytes from 40 asthmatic patients and 20 normal control (NC) subjects were studied using ELISA, qPCR and flow cytometry. Serum and supernatant cytokines/chemokines were determined by multiplex assay. Serum IL-38, IL-5, IL-17, IL-6, interferon-γ, periostin, IL-1β and IL-13 concentrations were significantly higher in asthmatic patients with or without steroid treatment than those in controls (all p < 0.05). The percentages of both CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ and CD4+CD25highCD127− Treg lymphocytes were markedly decreased in asthmatic patients with and without steroid treatment than those in controls (all p < 0.05). The elevated IL-38 concentration negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg lymphocytes in asthmatic patients with high level (>40 ng/mL) of periostin (p < 0.05). Although the comparable mRNA levels of IL-38 and its receptor IL-36R were found between patients and controls, the mRNA level of IL-38 positively correlated with IL-36R and negatively correlated with IL-10 in all asthmatic patients (both p < 0.05). The percentage of CD4+CD25+CD134+ activated T lymphocytes was also significantly higher in asthmatic patients with steroid treatment than those in controls (p < 0.05). This cross-sectional study demonstrated that the overexpression of circulating IL-38 may play a role in the immunopathogenesis in asthma.
TURBULENCE, TRANSPORT, AND WAVES IN OHMIC DEAD ZONES
Authors: Gole Daniel , Simon Jacob B. , Lubow Stephen H. , Armitage Philip J.
Published: July 2016

We use local numerical simulations to study a vertically stratified accretion disk with a resistive mid-plane that damps magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. This is an idealized model for the dead zones that may be present at some radii in protoplanetary and dwarf novae disks. We vary the relative thickness of the dead and active zones to quantify how forced fluid motions in the dead zone change. We find that the residual Reynolds stress near the mid-plane decreases with increasing dead zone thickness, becoming negligible in cases where the active to dead mass ratio is less than a few percent. This implies that purely Ohmic dead zones would be vulnerable to episodic accretion outbursts via the mechanism of Martin & Lubow. We show that even thick dead zones support a large amount of kinetic energy, but this energy is largely in fluid motions that are inefficient at angular momentum transport. Confirming results from Oishi & Mac Low, the perturbed velocity field in the dead zone is dominated by an oscillatory, vertically extended circulation pattern with a low frequency compared to the orbital frequency. This disturbance has the properties predicted for the lowest order r mode in a hydrodynamic disk. We suggest that in a global disk similar excitations would lead to propagating waves, whose properties would vary with the thickness of the dead zone and the nature of the perturbations (isothermal or adiabatic). Flows with similar amplitudes would buckle settled particle layers and could reduce the efficiency of pebble accretion.
CIRCUMSTELLAR DEBRIS DISKS: DIAGNOSING THE UNSEEN PERTURBER
Authors: Nesvold Erika R. , Naoz Smadar , Vican Laura , Farr Will M.
Published: July 2016

The first indication of the presence of a circumstellar debris disk is usually the detection of excess infrared emission from the population of small dust grains orbiting the star. This dust is short-lived, requiring continual replenishment, and indicating that the disk must be excited by an unseen perturber. Previous theoretical studies have demonstrated that an eccentric planet orbiting interior to the disk will stir the larger bodies in the belt and produce dust via interparticle collisions. However, motivated by recent observations, we explore another possible mechanism for heating a debris disk: a stellar-mass perturber orbiting exterior to and inclined to the disk and exciting the disk particles’ eccentricities and inclinations via the Kozai–Lidov mechanism. We explore the consequences of an exterior perturber on the evolution of a debris disk using secular analysis and collisional N-body simulations. We demonstrate that a Kozai–Lidov excited disk can generate a dust disk via collisions and we compare the results of the Kozai–Lidov excited disk with a simulated disk perturbed by an interior eccentric planet. Finally, we propose two observational tests of a dust disk that can distinguish whether the dust was produced by an exterior brown dwarf or stellar companion or an interior eccentric planet.
EXPANDING MOLECULAR BUBBLE SURROUNDING TYCHO’S SUPERNOVA REMNANT (SN 1572) OBSERVED WITH THE IRAM 30 m TELESCOPE: EVIDENCE FOR A SINGLE-DEGENERATE PROGENITOR
Authors: Zhou (周平) Ping , Chen (陳陽) Yang , Zhang (張智昱) Zhi-Yu , Li (李向東) Xiang-Dong , Safi-Harb Samar , Zhou (周鑫) Xin , Zhang (張瀟) Xiao
Published: July 2016

Whether the progenitors of SNe Ia are single-degenerate or double-degenerate white dwarf (WD) systems is a highly debated topic. To address the origin of Tycho’s Type Ia supernova remnant (SNR), SN 1572, we have carried out a 12CO J = 2–1 mapping and a 3 mm line survey toward the remnant using the IRAM 30 m telescope. We show that Tycho is surrounded by a clumpy molecular bubble at a local standard of rest velocity of

, which expands at a speed of

and has a mass of

(at the distance of 2.5 kpc). Enhanced 12CO J = 2–1 line emission relative to 12CO J = 1–0 emission and possible line broadenings (in velocity range −64 to −60 km s−1) are found at the northeastern boundary of the SNR, where the shell is deformed and decelerated. These features, combined with the morphological correspondence between the expanding molecular bubble and Tycho, suggest that the SNR is associated with the bubble at the velocity range −66 to −57 km s−1. The most plausible origin for the expanding bubble is the fast outflow (with velocity of hundreds km s−1) driven from the vicinity of a WD as it accreted matter from a nondegenerate companion star. The SNR has been expanding in the low-density wind-blown bubble, and the shock wave has just reached the molecular cavity wall. This is the first unambiguous detection of an expanding bubble driven by the progenitor of a Type Ia SNR, which constitutes evidence for a single-degenerate progenitor for this SN Ia.
SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW OF A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA
Authors: Nicholl M. , Berger E. , Smartt S. J. , Margutti R. , Kamble A. , Alexander K. D. , Chen T.-W. , Inserra C. , Arcavi I. , Blanchard P. K. , Cartier R. , Chambers K. C. , Childress M. J. , Chornock R. , Cowperthwaite P. S. , Drout M. , Flewelling H. A. , Fraser M. , Gal-Yam A. , Galbany L. , Harmanen J. , Holoien T. W.-S. , Hosseinzadeh G. , Howell D. A. , Huber M. E. , Jerkstrand A. , Kankare E. , Kochanek C. S. , Lin Z.-Y. , Lunnan R. , Magnier E. A. , Maguire K. , McCully C. , McDonald M. , Metzger B. D. , Milisavljevic D. , Mitra A. , Reynolds T. , Saario J. , Shappee B. J. , Smith K. W. , Valenti S. , Villar V. A. , Waters C. , Young D. R.
Published: July 2016

We present observations of SN 2015bn (=PS15ae = CSS141223-113342+004332 = MLS150211-113342+004333), a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift z = 0.1136. As well as being one of the closest SLSNe I yet discovered, it is intrinsically brighter (

) and in a fainter galaxy (

) than other SLSNe at

. We used this opportunity to collect the most extensive data set for any SLSN I to date, including densely sampled spectroscopy and photometry, from the UV to the NIR, spanning −50 to +250 days from optical maximum. SN 2015bn fades slowly, but exhibits surprising undulations in the light curve on a timescale of 30–50 days, especially in the UV. The spectrum shows extraordinarily slow evolution except for a rapid transformation between +7 and +20–30 days. No narrow emission lines from slow-moving material are observed at any phase. We derive physical properties including the bolometric luminosity, and find slow velocity evolution and non-monotonic temperature and radial evolution. A deep radio limit rules out a healthy off-axis gamma-ray burst, and places constraints on the pre-explosion mass loss. The data can be consistently explained by a

M

 stripped progenitor exploding with

erg kinetic energy, forming a magnetar with a spin-down timescale of ∼20 days (thus avoiding a gamma-ray burst) that reheats the ejecta and drives ionization fronts. The most likely alternative scenario—interaction with ∼20 M

 of dense, inhomogeneous circumstellar material—can be tested with continuing radio follow-up.
TESTING THE PROPAGATING FLUCTUATIONS MODEL WITH A LONG, GLOBAL ACCRETION DISK SIMULATION
Authors: Hogg J Drew , Reynolds Christopher S.
Published: July 2016

The broadband variability of many accreting systems displays characteristic structures; log-normal flux distributions, root-mean square (rms)-flux relations, and long inter-band lags. These characteristics are usually interpreted as inward propagating fluctuations of the mass accretion rate in an accretion disk driven by stochasticity of the angular momentum transport mechanism. We present the first analysis of propagating fluctuations in a long-duration, high-resolution, global three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of a geometrically thin (h/r ≈ 0.1) accretion disk around a black hole. While the dynamical-timescale turbulent fluctuations in the Maxwell stresses are too rapid to drive radially coherent fluctuations in the accretion rate, we find that the low-frequency quasi-periodic dynamo action introduces low-frequency fluctuations in the Maxwell stresses, which then drive the propagating fluctuations. Examining both the mass accretion rate and emission proxies, we recover log-normality, linear rms-flux relations, and radial coherence that would produce inter-band lags. Hence, we successfully relate and connect the phenomenology of propagating fluctuations to modern MHD accretion disk theory.
BAYESIAN ANALYSIS OF TWO STELLAR POPULATIONS IN GALACTIC GLOBULAR CLUSTERS. I. STATISTICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL METHODS
Authors: Stenning D. C. , Wagner-Kaiser R. , Robinson E. , van Dyk D. A. , Hippel T. von , Sarajedini A. , Stein N.
Published: July 2016

We develop a Bayesian model for globular clusters composed of multiple stellar populations, extending earlier statistical models for open clusters composed of simple (single) stellar populations. Specifically, we model globular clusters with two populations that differ in helium abundance. Our model assumes a hierarchical structuring of the parameters in which physical properties—age, metallicity, helium abundance, distance, absorption, and initial mass—are common to (i) the cluster as a whole or to (ii) individual populations within a cluster, or are unique to (iii) individual stars. An adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is devised for model fitting that greatly improves convergence relative to its precursor non-adaptive MCMC algorithm. Our model and computational tools are incorporated into an open-source software suite known as BASE-9. We use numerical studies to demonstrate that our method can recover parameters of two-population clusters, and also show how model misspecification can potentially be identified. As a proof of concept, we analyze the two stellar populations of globular cluster NGC 5272 using our model and methods. (BASE-9 is available from GitHub: https://github.com/argiopetech/base/releases).
BAYESIAN ANALYSIS OF TWO STELLAR POPULATIONS IN GALACTIC GLOBULAR CLUSTERS. II. NGC 5024, NGC 5272, AND NGC 6352
Authors: Wagner-Kaiser R. , Stenning D. C. , Robinson E. , Hippel T. von , Sarajedini A. , Dyk D. A. van , Stein N. , Jefferys W. H.
Published: July 2016

We use Cycle 21 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations and HST archival Advanced Camera for Surveys Treasury observations of Galactic Globular Clusters to find and characterize two stellar populations in NGC 5024 (M53), NGC 5272 (M3), and NGC 6352. For these three clusters, both single and double-population analyses are used to determine a best fit isochrone(s). We employ a sophisticated Bayesian analysis technique to simultaneously fit the cluster parameters (age, distance, absorption, and metallicity) that characterize each cluster. For the two-population analysis, unique population level helium values are also fit to each distinct population of the cluster and the relative proportions of the populations are determined. We find differences in helium ranging from ∼0.05 to 0.11 for these three clusters. Model grids with solar α-element abundances ([α/Fe] = 0.0) and enhanced α-elements ([α/Fe] = 0.4) are adopted.
A history of you, me, and humanity: mitochondrial DNA in anthropological research
Authors: Torres Jada Benn
Published: July 2016

Within genetic anthropology, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has garnered a prominent if not enduring place within the anthropological toolkit. MtDNA has provided new and innovative perspectives on the emergence and dispersal of our species, interactions with extinct human species, and illuminated relationships between human groups. In this paper, I provide a brief overview of the major findings ascertained from mtDNA about human origins, human dispersal across the globe, interactions with other hominin species, and the more recent uses of mtDNA in direct to consumer ancestry tests. Relative to nuclear DNA, mtDNA is a small section of the genome and due to its inheritance pattern provides a limited resolution of population history and an individual's genetic ancestry. Consequently, some scholars dismiss mtDNA as insignificant due to the limited inferences that may be made using the locus. Regardless, mtDNA provides some useful insights to understanding how social, cultural, and environmental factors have shaped patterns of genetic variability. Furthermore, with regard to the experiences of historically marginalized groups, in particular those of African descent throughout the Americas, mtDNA has the potential to fill gaps in knowledge that would otherwise remain unknown. Within anthropological sciences, the value of this locus for understanding human experience is maximized when contextualized with complementary lines of evidence.
Predictors of Expressed Emotion, Caregiver's Burden, and Quality of Life in Chronic Mental Illness
Authors: Kaushik Pratima , Singh Tej Bahadur
Published: July 2016

In the present study we intend to assess if the expressed emotion perceived by the patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder has any effect on their quality of life. Is the burden experienced by the caregivers, has any effect up on their quality of life? To explore these issues, regression was employed to estimate the quantitative effect of the causal variables upon the variable that they influence and the “statistical significance” of the estimated relationships. This study consisted of 120 participants. 30 patients with Schizophrenia Bipolar disorder and two caregiver groups. Administration of tests was done on individual basis. FEICS was administered to assess EE perceived by the patients. WHOQOL (BREF) scale was used to assess quality of life of patients. BAS was given to assess caregiver's burden. For the assessment of data regression analysis was calculated.
Legal Aspects of Chronic Mental Illness
Authors: B. N. Raveesh , Prasad Barre Vijaya , Tavaragi Meghamala S.
Published: July 2016

People with a chronic mental illness or disability have been identified as a group suffering multiple disadvantages. Law interacts with mental disorder to protect society from the dangerous consequences of mental disorder. The legal interaction with mental disorder includes both civil and criminal issues. A paradigm shift has given a new perspective to the care of mental disorders and has led to the review of mental health legislations worldwide in general, India in particular. This chapter will discuss the interaction of law and psychiatry, rights of persons with mental disorder and the gap in implementation of these laws.
Psychosocial Intervention Studies for Street Children with Substance Abuse
Authors: G. Lakshmana
Published: July 2016

The chapter made an attempt to review the literature and describes various interventions available for street children. The current chapter enlists all the intervention activities carried out for this group. Method of the study followed web based literature review (secondary data) using pubmed, Ebsco, Psyinfo, like on by using key words such as street children, substance abuse, motivation, intervention like on. Totally about 300 studies had been found out which discussed about street children. Among them the reviewers had chosen important studies for review purpose. Studies were discussed under the subthemes of concept of street children, prevalence of street children, reasons for on the street, street life and ways of coping with stress, substance abuse among street children, intervention carried out with street children and substance abuse, suggestions and conclusion. Conclusion: The discussed psychosocial intervention in the chapter are well proven in the general population and effectively tried with street children.
Formative Evaluations of Teaching
Authors: Mariano Gina , Hammonds Frank , Chambers Sheridan , Spear Gracie
Published: July 2016

Students engaging in the assessment and evaluation process is becoming increasingly popular because it helps students become active participants in their own learning. In this chapter we discuss ways to involve students in the assessment and evaluation process in the classroom. It brings together multiple perspectives on critical thinking, metacognition, interteaching and student evaluations of teaching (SETs). The commonality between these four key elements is the importance of engaging students to become active participants in their own learning because they can help improve student learning outcomes. This chapter goes on to examine how these assessments and evaluations play a role in developing critical thinking skills and metacognition in students.
Automatic MRI Brain Image Segmentation Using Gravitational Search-Based Clustering Technique
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Chhabra Jitender Kumar , Kumar Dinesh
Published: July 2016

Image segmentation plays an important role in medical imaging applications. In this chapter, an automatic MRI brain image segmentation framework using gravitational search based clustering technique has been proposed. This framework consists of two stage segmentation procedure. First, non-brain tissues are removed from the brain tissues using modified skull-stripping algorithm. Thereafter, the automatic gravitational search based clustering technique is used to extract the brain tissues from the skull stripped image. The proposed algorithm has been applied on four simulated T1-weighted MRI brain images. Experimental results reveal that proposed algorithm outperforms the existing techniques in terms of the structure similarity measure.
Metal Artifact Reduction
Authors: Desai Shrinivas D. , Kulkarni Linganagouda
Published: July 2016

Metallic implants are known to generate bright and dark streaking artifacts in x-ray computed tomography (CT) images. These artifacts cause loss of information, reduces the resolution, forms noise which hinders diagnostic capability. The reduction of metal artifact is of immense importance in the present scenario. We propose seeded watershed segmentation-interpolation based sinogram correction method to reduce the metal artifacts caused by metallic implants. We tend to find projection bins affected by the metallic objects in the raw projection data and to replace the corrupted values by appropriate estimates. The novelty of proposed method lies in segmentation of metal part from the CT image by seeded watershed segmentation method, using IlastiK tool. Proposed method is experimented using dataset pertaining to different clinical cases. Solution is studied for correctness by quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The result presents significant improvement in artifact reduction aiding to better diagnostic ability.
Multimodality Medical Image Fusion Using M-Band Wavelet and Daubechies Complex Wavelet Transform for Radiation Therapy
Authors: Chavan Satishkumar S. , Talbar Sanjay N.
Published: July 2016

The process of enriching the important details from various modality medical images by combining them into single image is called multimodality medical image fusion. It aids physicians in terms of better visualization, more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan for the cancer patient. The combined fused image is the result of merging of anatomical and physiological variations. It allows accurate localization of cancer tissues and more helpful for estimation of target volume for radiation. The details from both modalities (CT and MRI) are extracted in frequency domain by applying various transforms and combined them using variety of fusion rules to achieve the best quality of images. The performance and effectiveness of each transform on fusion results is evaluated subjectively as well as objectively. The fused images by algorithms in which feature extraction is achieved by M-Band Wavelet Transform and Daubechies Complex Wavelet Transform are superior over other frequency domain algorithms as per subjective and objective analysis.
Research and Developments in Medical Image Reconstruction Methods and Its Applications
Authors: Tiwari Shailendra , Srivastava Rajeev
Published: July 2016

Image reconstruction from projection is the field that lays the foundation for Medical Imaging or Medical Image Processing. The rapid and proceeding progress in medical image reconstruction, and the related developments in analysis methods and computer-aided diagnosis, has promoted medical imaging into one of the most important sub-fields in scientific imaging. Computer technology has enabled tomographic and three-dimensional reconstruction of images, illustrating both anatomical features and physiological functioning, free from overlying structures. In this chapter, the authors share their opinions on the research and development in the field of Medical Image Reconstruction Techniques, Computed Tomography (CT), challenges and the impact of future technology developments in CT, Computed Tomography Metrology in industrial research & development, technology, and clinical performance of different CT-scanner generations used for cardiac imaging, such as Electron Beam CT (EBCT), single-slice CT, and Multi-Detector row CT (MDCT) with 4, 16, and 64 simultaneously acquired slices. The authors identify the limitations of current CT-scanners, indicate potential of improvement and discuss alternative system concepts such as CT with area detectors and Dual Source CT (DSCT), recent technology with a focus on generation and detection of X-rays, as well as image reconstruction are discussed. Furthermore, the chapter includes aspects of applications, dose exposure in computed tomography, and a brief overview on special CT developments. Since this chapter gives a review of the major accomplishments and future directions in this field, with emphasis on developments over the past 50 years, the interested reader is referred to recent literature on computed tomography including a detailed discussion of CT technology in the references section.
Texture-Based Evolutionary Method for Cancer Classification in Histopathology
Authors: Fatima Kiran , Majeed Hammad
Published: July 2016

Real-world histology tissue textures owing to non-homogeneous nature and unorganized spatial intensity variations are complex to analyze and classify. The major challenge in solving pathological problems is inherent complexity due to high intra-class variability and low inter-class variation in texture of histology samples. The development of computational methods to assists pathologists in characterization of these tissue samples would have great diagnostic and prognostic value. In this chapter, an optimized texture-based evolutionary framework is proposed to provide assistance to pathologists for classification of benign and pre-malignant tumors. The proposed framework investigates the imperative role of RGB color channels for discrimination of cancer grades or subtypes, explores higher-order statistical features at image-level, and implements an evolution-based optimization scheme for feature selection and classification. The highest classification accuracy of 99.06% is achieved on meningioma dataset and 90% on breast cancer dataset through Quadratic SVM classifier.
Development of Ultrasound Imaging CAD Tool for Assessment of Pathologies in Supraspinatus Tendon
Authors: Gupta Rishu , Elamvazuthi Irraivan , George John
Published: July 2016

Non-invasive diagnostic imaging methods for diagnosis of pathological conditions is increasingly gaining popularity resulting from speedy and effective recovery during follow up in several clinical trials. The accuracy of the diagnosis depends on the experience and knowledge of physicians conducting the trial. In such scenario, the need for quantitative measures for details such as shape and size of tissue can assist physicians for better intuitive understanding of tissue and its pathologies. Computer aided diagnosis (CAD) tool incorporating methods for segmentation, texture analysis and area computation can increase the accuracy of diagnosis by providing quantitative analysis of the image. This chapter briefly describes issues and challenges for building the CAD tool followed by brief description about the methods involved. The methods are validation are also discussed briefly. To summarize the work, brief discussion about a new software or CAD tool for diagnosis of pathologies supraspinatus tendon with the help of ultrasound images is provided. The new software has an intuitive user interface which is easy, quick and suitable for medical work.
Automatic Localization of the Optic Disc Center in Retinal Images Based on Angle Detection in Curvature Scale Space
Authors: Elbalaoui A. , Fakir Mohamed , Boutaounte M. , Merbouha A.
Published: July 2016

Digital images of the retina is widely used for screening of patients suffering from sight threatening diseases such as Diabetic retinopathy and Glaucoma. The localization of the Optic Disc (OD) center is the first and necessary step identification and segmentation of anatomical structures and in pathological retinal images. From the center of the optic disc spreads the major blood vessels of the retina. Therefore, by considering the high number of vessels and the high number of the angles resulted from the vessels crossing, the authors propose a new method based on the number of angles in the vicinity of optic disc for localization of the center of optic disc. The first step is pre-processing of retinal image for separate the fundus from its background and increase the contrast between contours. In the second step, the authors use the Curvature Scale Space (CSS) for angle detection. In the next step, they move a window about the size of optic disc to count the number of corners. In the final step, they use the center of windows which has the most number of corners for localizing the optic disc center. The proposed method is evaluated on DRIVE, CHASE_DB1 and STARE databases and the success rate is 100, 100 and 96.3%, respectively.
Chronic Wound Characterization Using Bayesian Classifier under Telemedicine Framework
Authors: Chakraborty Chinmay , Gupta Bharat , Ghosh Soumya K.
Published: July 2016

Chronic wound (CW) treatment by large is a burden for the government and society due to its high cost and time consuming treatment. It becomes more serious for the old age patient with the lack of moving flexibility. Proper wound recovery management is needed to resolve this problem. Careful and accurate documentation is required for identifying the patient's improvement and or deterioration timely for early diagnostic purposes. This paper discusses the comprehensive wound diagnostic method using three important modules, viz. Wounds Data Acquisition (WDA) module, Tele-Wound Technology Network (TWTN) module and Wound Screening and Diagnostic (WSD) module. Here the wound image characterization and diagnosis tool has been proposed under telemedicine to classify the percentage wise wound tissue based on the color variation over regular intervals for providing a prognostic treatment with better degree of accuracy. The Bayesian classifier based wound characterization (BWC) technique is proposed that able to identify wounded tissue and correctly predict the wound status with a good degree of accuracy. Results show that BWC technique provides very good accuracy, i.e. 87.40%, whereas the individual tissue wise accuracy for granulation tissue is 89.44%, slough tissue is 81.87% and for necrotic tissue is 90.91%.
Nanotechnology, Metal Nanoparticles, and Biomedical Applications of Nanotechnology
Authors: Bhat M. Amin , Nayak B. K. , Nanda Anima , Lone Imtiyaz H.
Published: July 2016

Nanotechnology has emerged as an important field of modern scientific research due to its diverse range of applications in the area of electronics, material sciences, biomedical engineering, and medicines at nano levels such as healthcare, cosmetics, food and feed, environmental health, optics, biomedical sciences, chemical industries, drug-gene delivery, energy science, optoelectronics, catalysis, reprography, single electron transistors, light emitters, nonlinear optical devices, and photoelectrochemical applications and other applications. Due to these immense applications of nanotechnology in biomedical science, it has become possible to design the pharmaceuticals in such a way that they could directly treat diseased cells like cancer and make microscopic repairs in hard-to-operate-on areas of the body. The nanomachines have been designed to clean up toxins or oil spills, recycle all garbage, eliminate landfills, etc. The chapter summarizes the present and future applications of nanotechnology for human welfare but needs further study in catalysis, optical devices, sensor technology, cancer treatment, and drug delivery systems.
Segmentation of Renal Calculi in Ultrasound Kidney Images Using Modified Watershed Method
Authors: Tamilselvi P. R.
Published: July 2016

US images are a commonly used tool for renal calculi diagnosis, although they are time consuming and tedious for radiologists to manually detect and calculate the size of the renal calculi. It is very difficult to properly segment the US image to detect interested area of objects with the correct position and shape due to speckle formation and other artifacts. In addition, boundary edges may be missing or weak and usually incomplete at some places. With that point of view, the proposed method is developed for renal calculi segmentation. A new segmentation method is proposed in this chapter. Here, new region indicators and new modified watershed transformation are utilized. The proposed method is comprised of four major processes, namely preprocessing, determination of outer and inner region indictors, and modified watershed segmentation with ANFIS performance. The results show the effectiveness of proposed segmentation methods in segmenting the kidney stones and the achieved improvement in sensitivity and specificity measures.
Analysis and Comparison of Developed 2D Medical Image Database Design using Registration Scheme, Retrieval Scheme, and Bag-of-Visual-Words
Authors: Ayyachamy Swarnambiga
Published: July 2016

There is certain to be a significant increase in the use of registration, retrieval and registration based retrieval of medical images in healthcare. But there is a related major concern that these initiatives are narrowly policy or technology led rather than evidence based or case based reasoning. Or else, either they will be based on old paradigm structures without considering the new paradigms that they create. It is planned to look at the image registration and retrieval from a unified perspective based on their performance for clinical diagnosis and treatment. It is concluded with an experiment carried out on histopathology and five types of anatomic (radiology) images. The results showed that this approach works better with more images from the Bag-Of-Visual words and Affine with B-Spline registration based retrieval for modality and histopathological images. Bag-of-Visual Words is more suitable for histopathological images than registration based retrieval techniques.
The Limitations of Traditional Non-Digital Occlusal Indicators When Compared to the T-Scan Computerized Occlusal Analysis Technology
Authors: Qadeer, BDS, MSD Sarah
Published: July 2016

The traditional occlusal indicators used in dental practice are articulation papers, shim-stock foils, elastomeric impression materials, and occlusal wax strips. These static dental materials have been widely believed to have occlusal force descriptive capability. However, modern material studies are challenging the widespread belief that occlusal indicator materials can measure differing occlusal force levels. This chapter evaluates the force reporting limitations of these static occlusal indicators and discusses how clinicians subjectively interpret their appearance characteristics to determine differing occlusal force levels. This chapter then compares these non-digital occlusal indicators to computerized occlusal analysis technology that records and displays precise, quantifiable, relative occlusal force variances and occlusal contact timing sequences. This digital data aids the clinician in making a more accurate occlusal analysis and can guide the clinician in the correction of occlusal contact force and timing abnormalities, thereby eliminating the subjectivity that is inherent in traditional occlusal indicator use.
An Approach for the Semantic Interoperability of SNOMED
Authors: Duarte Júlio , Amorim Magda , Miranda Filipe
Published: July 2016

The semantic and syntactic interoperability introduces the capability of two machines to communicate and understand each other improving then the quality of Electronic Health Records. In this work, is presented an independent application of the medical record, using a web service (with protocol TCP/IP) capable of provide human interaction with interfaces in different devices (web, android app., browser). SNOMED CT is a comprehensive and scientifically validated health care terminology resulting in an organized computer processable collection of medical terms. This can be mapped into other systems of codes like ICD also used in our application. A data base (SNOMED codes and relations) was created capable of answer to all sort of queries from the users using the browser or the mobile application. The first hospital unit to enjoy this system was the pathological anatomy unit of the CHAA hospital. Here after receiving a “piece” and a task, the responsible performs all kind of procedures with the purpose of performing a report (diagnosis for example). With the implementation of SNOMED CT, to produce reports a physician could search for the name of the “piece” or the code and immediately upload in that patient HER the diagnosis. The usage of this codes leads to report uniformed that could be read and understood around the world. Another important feature of the application is the incorporation within the AIDA, AIDA-PCE and AIDA-BI. Experiments with real user show a successful software implementation judging by the utilization rate and medical personal acceptance. The mobile application should suffer an upgrade allowing the patient usage for example.
Pe-DFA
Authors: Gheraibia Youcef , Moussaoui Abdelouahab , Kabir Sohag , Mazouzi Smaine
Published: July 2016

DNA Fragment Assembly (DFA) is a process of finding the best order and orientation of a set of DNA fragments to reconstruct the original DNA sequence from them. As it has to consider all possible combinations among the DNA fragments, it is considered as a combinatorial optimisation problem. This paper presents a method showing the use of Penguins Search Optimisation Algorithm (PeSOA) for DNA fragment assembly problem. Penguins search optimisation is a nature inspired metaheuristic algorithm based on the collaborative hunting strategy of penguins. The approach starts its operation by generating a set of random population. After that, the population is divided into several groups, and each group contains a set of active fragments in which the penguins concentrate on the search process. The search process of the penguin optimisation algorithm is controlled by the oxygen reserve of penguins. During the search process each penguin shares its best found solution with other penguins to quickly converge to the global optimum. In this paper, the authors adapted the original PeSOA algorithm to obtain a new algorithm structure for DNA assembly problem. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been verified by applying it on the well-known benchmarks for the DNA assembly problem. The results show that the proposed method performed well compared to the most used DNA fragment assembly methods.
Teacher Training and Digital Competence
Authors: Tammaro Rosanna , D'Alessio Anna
Published: July 2016

Teacher training in all fields should include advanced digital competence for teachers and their teaching, not concentrating only on ICT user skills of teachers. These issues should be part of both initial teacher training and in-service training. The training should consider aspects of using ICT both as a learning tool within subject teaching and as a tool used by learners for their homework and learning-related actions outside school sceneries. Recently, digital competence has become a key conception in debates on the kind of skills and understanding learners need in the Knowledge Society. The wide meaning of digital competence offers the necessary framework (i.e. the knowledge, skills and attitudes) for working, living and learning in the knowledge society. In this paper the focus is on how pedagogically the skill area can be addressed and what tools there are available to help the teachers and students.
Instrumentation and measurement strategy for the NOAA SENEX aircraft
campaign as part of the Southeast Atmosphere Study 2013
Authors: Warneke Carsten , Trainer Michael , de Gouw Joost A. , Parrish David D. , Fahey David W. , Ravishankara A. R. , Middlebrook Ann M. , Brock Charles A. , Roberts James M. , Brown Steven S. , Neuman Jonathan A. , Lerner Brian M. , Lack Daniel , Law Daniel , Hübler Gerhard , Pollack Iliana , Sjostedt Steven , Ryerson Thomas B. , Gilman Jessica B. , Liao Jin , Holloway John , Peischl Jeff , Nowak John B. , Aikin Kenneth C. , Min Kyung-Eun , Washenfelder Rebecca A. , Graus Martin G. , Richardson Mathew , Markovic Milos Z. , Wagner Nick L. , Welti André , Veres Patrick R. , Edwards Peter , Schwarz Joshua P. , Gordon Timothy , Dube William P. , McKeen Stuart A. , Brioude Jerome , Ahmadov Ravan , Bougiatioti Aikaterini , Lin Jack J. , Nenes Athanasios , Wolfe Glenn M. , Hanisco Thomas F. , Lee Ben H. , Lopez-Hilfiker Felipe D. , Thornton Joel A. , Keutsch Frank N. , Kaiser Jennifer , Mao Jingqiu , Hatch Courtney D.
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Natural emissions of ozone-and-aerosol-precursor gases such as isoprene and monoterpenes are high in the southeastern US. In addition, anthropogenic emissions are significant in the southeastern US and summertime photochemistry is rapid. The NOAA-led SENEX (Southeast Nexus) aircraft campaign was one of the major components of the Southeast Atmosphere Study (SAS) and was focused on studying the interactions between biogenic and anthropogenic emissions to form secondary pollutants. During SENEX, the NOAA WP-3D aircraft conducted 20 research flights between 27 May and 10 July 2013 based out of Smyrna, TN. Here we describe the experimental approach, the science goals and early results of the NOAA SENEX campaign. The aircraft, its capabilities and standard measurements are described. The instrument payload is summarized including detection limits, accuracy, precision and time resolutions for all gas-and-aerosol phase instruments. The inter-comparisons of compounds measured with multiple instruments on the NOAA WP-3D are presented and were all within the stated uncertainties, except two of the three NO2 measurements. The SENEX flights included day- and nighttime flights in the southeastern US as well as flights over areas with intense shale gas extraction (Marcellus, Fayetteville and Haynesville shale). We present one example flight on 16 June 2013, which was a daytime flight over the Atlanta region, where several crosswind transects of plumes from the city and nearby point sources, such as power plants, paper mills and landfills, were flown. The area around Atlanta has large biogenic isoprene emissions, which provided an excellent case for studying the interactions between biogenic and anthropogenic emissions. In this example flight, chemistry in and outside the Atlanta plumes was observed for several hours after emission. The analysis of this flight showcases the strategies implemented to answer some of the main SENEX science questions.
[NOTA DE PESQUISA] EMISSÕES DE GEE PELA AGRICULTURA: O CASO DOS CULTIVOS DE CANA-DE-AÇÚCAR (GHG EMISSIONS BY AGRICULTURE: THE CASE OF THE SUGAR CANE PLANTATION)
Authors: Portela Mirya Grazielle Torres , Leite Luiz Fernando Carvalho
Published: July 2016

A agricultura é responsável por boa parte das emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEEs), como o dióxido de carbono (CO2), o metano (CH4) e o óxido nitroso (N2O). Esses gases destacam-se pela capacidade de absorver energia, estabilidade na atmosfera e alta capacidade de reagir com a camada de ozônio, sendo alvo de pesquisas recentes. Em cultivos de cana-de-açúcar esses estudos têm sido mais frequentes, principalmente após a obrigatoriedade da colheita de cama sem queima, tratando-se principalmente do efeito dessa prática nas emissões desses gases para a atmosfera. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com esta revisão, reunir informações sobre as fontes que contribuem para as emissões dos gases de efeito estufa pela agricultura, especialmente nos cultivos de cana-de-açúcar.
AVALIAÇÃO ESTATÍSTICA ENTRE AS ESTIMATIVAS DE PRECIPITAÇÃO DA CONSTELAÇÃO GPM COM TRMM: UMA ANÁLISE A BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO RIO SOLIMÕES (STATISTICAL EVALUATION BETWEEN THE CONSTELLATION OF PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES WITH GPM SATELLITE TRMM: AN ANALYSIS OF THE RIVER BASIN SOLIMÕES)
Authors: Serrão Edivaldo Afonso de Oliveira , Wanzeler Romero Thiago Sobrinho , Santos Cleber Assis , Gonçalves Layrson De Jesus Menezes , Lima Alines Maria Meiguins de , Rocha Edson José Paulino da
Published: July 2016

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar estatisticamente o as estimativas de precipitação fornecidas pelo algoritmo IMERG da constelação do Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) e comparar como as estimativas do algoritmo 3B43 doTropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Solimões nos meses de (abril, julho, outubro/2014; janeiro/2015). Foram utilizados os coeficientes de: determinação (R²) para avaliar a proporção da variância do IMERG (y) explicada pelo TRMM (x); correlação de Pearson (r), averiguando o grau de correlação entre as estimativas; e de eficiência Nash-Sutcliffe (NS), medindo a concordância entre os valores estimados, sendo (1) admitida perfeita. Além do índice concordância de Willmott (IC) que mede o grau em que a precipitação estimada pelo IMERG do GPM se aproxima da precipitação estimada pelo 3B43 do TRMM. Na avaliação dos erros foi adotado o RMSE (raiz do erro quadrático médio) que é a medida da magnitude média dos erros estimados entre os dois produtos de satélites (3B43 e IMERG). E o MBE (desvio das médias) que indica o quanto o modelo está sendo subestimado (>0) ou superestimado (0>). Foi observado que todos os meses estudados tiveram excelentes índices estatísticos, sobressaindo o mês de outubro que apresentou o melhor desempenho.
VARIABILIDADE DA PROFUNDIDADE ÓTICA DE AEROSSÓIS ATMOSFÉRICOS SOBRE O PANTANAL BRASILEIRO (DEPTH OPTICAL VARIABILITY OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS ON THE BRAZILIAN PANTANAL)
Authors: Palácios Rafael Da Silva , Sallo Fernando Da Silva , Marques João Basso , Menezes Jorge Almeida de , Nogueira José De Souza
Published: July 2016

Análises das propriedades óticas dos aerossóis atmosféricos auxiliam no entendimento dos efeitos diretos e indiretos dessas partículas nos fluxos de energia do sistema Terra-atmosfera. Nesse sentido, este estudo objetivou analisar a variabilidade espaço-temporal da AOD 550 nm sobre o Pantanal brasileiro através de produtos de sensoriamento remoto. Os máximos da AOD 550 nm ocorrem na estação seca e os mínimos na estação chuvosa. Para a estação seca de 2010 a AOD 550 nm atingiu 3.6, sendo a média para toda a estação de 0.62 ± 0.77. A alta variabilidade temporal para a AOD 550 nm na estação seca foi explicada em função dos registros de focos de queimada em todo o Brasil. A análise da distribuição espacial constatou que praticamente não há variações da AOD 550 nm na estação chuvosa. Entretanto, na estação seca os valores de AOD 550 nm são maiores sobre as regiões norte e centro-oeste do Pantanal brasileiro. Foi verificado que a variabilidade espacial da AOD 550 nm está diretamente relacionada a sua variabilidade temporal e as movimentações das massas de ar sobre o Pantanal brasileiro.
OCORRÊNCIA DE NEVOEIROS EM UMA MICROBACIA EXPERIMENTAL NA SERRA DO MAR, CUNHA, SP (FOG OCCURRENCE IN AN EXPERIMENTAL CATCHMENT IN THE ATLANTIC FOREST IN CUNHA, BRAZIL)
Authors: Arcova Francisco Carlos Soriano , Galvani Emerson , Ranzini Maurício , De Cicco Valdir
Published: July 2016

No Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Cunha-SP, é comum a ocorrência de nevoeiros ao longo do ano. Nessa localidade encontra-se o Laboratório de Hidrologia Florestal Walter Emmerich-LHFWE, onde pesquisas sobre o ciclo hidrológico em Mata Atlântica são desenvolvidas desde 1980. Ainda na implantação do laboratório questionava-se sobre a possível influência do processo de interceptação dos nevoeiros pela floresta na entrada de água para as microbacias, e destacava-se a necessidade de realizar tais estudos no futuro. Assim, uma pesquisa minuciosa foi implementada com o propósito de se obter informações sobre a ocorrência de nevoeiros no LHFWE, e se esses apresentam potencial para influenciar a entrada de água na microbacia experimental “D”. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados referentes à distribuição espacial e temporal de ocorrência dos nevoeiros nesta microbacia. Para tanto, realizaram-se observações de visibilidade de três referências visuais situadas a distâncias conhecidas no interior da área durante três anos. As observações foram efetuadas de um ponto localizado na saída da microbacia, que permitiu aos técnicos de campo do laboratório avistar o maior espaço a céu aberto da área. Os resultados mostraram que para 61,3% do tempo, em média, houve ocorrência de nevoeiro em algum setor da microbacia, com a nebulosidade diminuindo de montante para jusante da área. Os nevoeiros foram mais frequentes à tarde, como consequência da brisa marítima que é mais intensa nesse período do dia e que alcança a região, que está distante 15 Km da linha da costa. A incidência de nevoeiros foi maior na primavera.