Mammography

In this volume, the topics are constructed from a variety of contents: the bases of mammography systems, optimization of screening mammography with reference to evidence-based research, new technologies of image acquisition and its surrounding systems, and case reports with reference to up-to-date multimodality images of breast cancer. Mammography has been lagged in the transition to digital imaging systems because of the necessity of high resolution for diagnosis. However, in the past ten years, technical improvement has resolved the difficulties and boosted new diagnostic systems. We hope that the reader will learn the essentials of mammography and will be forward-looking for the new technologies. We want to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation?to all the co-authors who have contributed their work to this volume

Soft Morphological Computation

Soft Robotics is a relatively new area of research, where progress in material science has powered the next generation of robots, exhibiting biological-like properties such as soft/elastic tissues, compliance, resilience and more besides. One of the issues when employing soft robotics technologies is the soft nature of the interactions arising between the robot and its environment. These interactions are complex, and the their dynamics are non-linear and hard to capture with known models. In this thesis we argue that complex soft interactions can actually be beneficial to the robot, and give rise to rich stimuli which can be used for the resolution of robot tasks. We further argue that the usefulness of these interactions depends on statistical regularities, or structure, that appear in the stimuli. To this end, robots should appropriately employ their morphology and their actions, to influence the system-environment interactions such that structure can arise in the stimuli. In this thesis we show that learning processes can be used to perform such a task. Following this rationale, this thesis proposes and supports the theory of Soft Morphological Computation (SoMComp), by which a soft robot should appropriately condition, or ‘affect’, the soft interactions to improve the quality of the physical stimuli arising from it. SoMComp is composed of four main principles, i.e.: Soft Proprioception, Soft Sensing, Soft Morphology and Soft Actuation. Each of these principles is explored in the context of haptic object recognition or object handling in soft robots. Finally, this thesis provides an overview of this research and its future directions.AHDB CP17

Real-time diagnosis of breast cancer during core needle biopsy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2010.Pages 1-36 (2nd group) has title: Raman clinical instrument manual, by Chae-Ryon Kong and Michael S. Feld; with contributions from Zoya Volynskaya and Luis Galindo. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Early detection of breast cancer is critical for improved survival. Currently, breast abnormalities are diagnosed based on a histopathological evaluation of tissue removed during core needle biopsy. Microcalcifications are used as targets to position biopsy devices, as they may indicate the presence of malignancy. Despite stereotactic guidance, needle biopsy fails to retrieve target microcalcifications in up to 15% of patients. Optical techniques may help clinicians accurately diagnose and treat patients by providing important diagnostic information in real time in a minimally invasive manner. This thesis describes the results of several studies we performed to evaluate the potential of Raman, reflectance, and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy to provide biochemical and morphological information for discriminating breast lesions. Each modality was evaluated individually, as well as in combination, using a technique known as multimodal spectroscopy (MMS). For the first part of this project we conducted a clinical study in which spectra were acquired from excised tissue in 99 patients and physically meaningful parameters were extracted by modeling the data. The goals of the study were as follows: 1) To prospectively validate previously developed diagnostic algorithms on the data from these patients; 2) To develop a new algorithm to evaluate additional histopathology diagnoses. Diffuse reflectance (DRS) spectra were modeled using diffusion theory and provided information about tissue absorbers and scatterers. Intrinsic fluorescence (IFS) spectra were extracted from the combined fluorescence and DRS spectra and analyzed using multivariate curve resolution. Raman spectroscopy data were fit using a linear combination of Raman active components (e.g. collagen, calcium, adipose) found in breast tissue. Prospective validation of Raman spectroscopy resulted in sensitivity and specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) of 78%, 98%, and 98%, respectively. An MMS system was developed to evaluate the benefit of combining information from all three spectroscopic modalities. We found that using new 3D Raman algorithm we could discriminate among 6 histopathology categories as compared to 4 categories previously diagnosed with Raman spectroscopy. For the second part of this project, we designed and developed a portable, miniature Raman clinical spectroscopy system to evaluate the potential of spectroscopy to guide the retrieval of microcalcifications during core needle biopsies. We focused specifically on the use of Raman spectroscopy for this application, as it is particularly sensitive to calcium-containing minerals. The system employs a side-viewing Raman probe that can be used in conjunction with commercial stereotactic needle biopsy devices. Prior to core needle excision, the Raman probe was inserted into the core needle biopsy device and spectra were acquired and analyzed in real time (<Is). The results from our work indicate that spectroscopy has the potential to accurately diagnose breast lesions and enable targeted biopsies of diseased tissue and retrieval of microcalcifications.by Zoya Volynskaya.Ph.D

Energy-Efficiency of Conveyor Belts in Raw Materials Industry

This book focuses on research related to the energy efficiency of conveyor transportation. The solutions presented in the Special Issue have an impact on optimizing, and thus reducing, the costs of energy consumption by belt conveyors. This is due, inter alia, to the use of better materials for conveyor belts, which reduce its rolling resistance and noise, and improve its ability to adsorb the impact energy from the material falling on the belt. The use of mobile robots designed to detect defects in the conveyor's components makes the conveyor operation safer, and means that the conveyor works for longer and there are no unplanned stops due to damage

The development and feasibility of a virtual patient for language training

"Thesis prepared and submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics)"Également disponible en version papier.Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 2 oct.. 2012)Applied Linguistics Concordia University 2009Bibliogr. : p. 119-12

The effects of question construction on expository text comprehension

This study investigated three research questions: (1) In spite of text coherency and domain knowledge combinations, can we expect generic question stems to lead to greater measurable outcomes on memory (i.e., textbase model) and learning (i.e., situation model) variables as compared to signal words and/or unguided questioning techniques? (2) Will there be interaction effects on these variables suggesting that combinations of domain knowledge and text coherency are uniquely affected by generic question stems, signal words, or unguided questioning? (3) Will the employment of generic questions stems lead to superior calibration of comprehension scores than those generated by signal words and/or unguided questions conditions? Sixty-three first year psychology students participated in the study. On the basis of pre-determined domain knowledge scores, participants were categorized as high or low domain knowledge. They were then randomly assigned to twelve treatment conditions in a 3 x 2 x 2 cross-factorial design. The first factor was treatment with three levels (i.e., generic question stems, signal words, and unguided questioning); the second factor was domain knowledge with two levels (i.e., high domain knowledge and low domain knowledge); and the third factor was text coherence with two levels (i.e., high text coherence and low text coherence). Participants were administered four measures: a pre- and post-treatment sorting task; a short answer post-test; a summary recall measure; and a calibration of comprehension task. Results of this study suggest that high domain knowledge and structured questioning strategies are the most reliable predictors of text memory and text learning. Several main effects favouring high domain knowledge arose on text memory, and to a lesser extent, text learning measures. Significant results involving signal words and generic question stems were detected primarily through interaction effects and one main effect. While not always significantly superior, generic question stem participants outperformed their signal word and unguided questioning counterparts on the majority of text memory and text learning variables. Therefore, it appears that generic question stems engage the reader in a deeper level of processing. However, when instructional time is limited, high domain knowledge is necessary for significantly superior text memory and for specific structural connections

Development of positioning devices for MRI-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for abdominal, thyroid and brain, tumours

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising technology for a variety of therapeutic applications. This concept initiated in 1942 by Lynn Zwemer [1]. HIFU has long been known as a minimal invasive or non-invasive procedure that destroys tissue through ablation. However, it is only in recent years that clinical applications are becoming feasible, with the development of high power ultrasound transducers compatible with the MRI scanner which is used to monitor these non-invasive HIFU applications. New technologies, combined with more sophisticated treatment methods and monitoring methods allow non-invasive procedures in many areas such as the brain, eye, breast, kidney, liver, pancreas, thyroid, uterine fibroids and pancreas. Meanwhile, new investigations are underway for treading cardiac arithmia, strokes, palliative pain treatment of bone metastases and brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and neuropathic pain. These optimistic investigations have encouraged physicians and provided them new valuable tools for medical research