Segmentation of Corneal Endothelial Cells Contour by Means of a Genetic Algorithm

Corneal images acquired by in-vivo microscopy provide clinical information on the cornea endothelium health state. The reliable estimation of the clinical morphometric parameters requires the accurate detection of cell contours in a large number of cells. Thus for the practical application of this analysis in clinical settings an automated method is needed. We propose the automatic segmentation of corneal endothelial cells contour through an innovative technique based on a genetic algorithm, which combines information about the typical regularity of endothelial cells shape with the pixels intensity of the actual image. Ground truth values for the clinical parameters were obtained from manually drawn cell contours. Results show that an accurate automatic estimation is achieved: for each parameter, the mean difference between its manual estimation and the automated one is always less than 4%, and the maximum difference is always less than 7%

Automated Morphometric Analysis of in-vivo Human Corneal Endothelium

In-vivo specular and confocal microscopy provide information on the corneal endothelium health state. The reliable estimation of the clinical parameters requires the accurate detection of cell contours. We propose a method for the automatic segmentation of cell contour. The centers of the cells are detected by convolving the original image with Laplacian of Gaussian kernels, whose scales are set according to the cell size preliminary estimated through a frequency analysis. A structure made by connected vertices is derived from the centers, and it is fine-tuned by combining information about the typical regularity of endothelial cells shape with the pixels intensity of the actual image. Ground truth values for the clinical parameters were obtained from manually drawn cell contours. An accurate automatic estimation is achieved on 30 images: for each clinical parameter, the mean difference between its manual estimation and the automated one is always less than 7%

Evaluación del polvo de aluminio fundido sobre el asentamiento, compresión, densidad, absorción en un concreto ligero, Trujillo-2017

En la presente tesis de grado, se investigó el comportamiento del polvo de aluminio en concreto ligero para la construcción de losas aligeradas sobre su resistencia a la compresión, asentamiento, absorción, densidad y tiempo de fraguado, se logra obtener por procesos de material espumoso e incorporador de aire hacen un concreto ligero con una densidad no mayor a 1900 kg/m , para la presente investigación, se añadió polvo de aluminio lo que pasa de la malla N°40 (0.425mm) al 1.5%,3%,4.5% y 6% del peso del cemento, sin superplastificante y con superplastificante al 1%, se obtuvo de la empresa Química Suiza Industrial EUCO 37. El concreto se diseñó para 210 kg/cm a base de Cemento Portland Compuesto Tipo ICo de la empresa Pacasmayo, arena y piedra de 3/8” de la cantera “Los Mellizos” en el distrito de Huanchaco, una relación agua/cemento constante de 0.55 y polvo de aluminio (Al) obtenido del reciclado de pistones de carros es un tipo de aluminio fundido, en el Emporio Albarracín, Urb. Palermo, Trujillo. Se conformaron probetas cilíndricas de 10 cm de diámetro y 20 cm de alto; curadas a los 28 días en una poza con hidróxido de calcio (NTP 339.183). Para determinar su resistencia a la compresión se empleó la norma NTP 339.034, para el asentamiento la NTP 339.035 y la NTP 339.187 para absorción y densidad, para el tiempo de fraguado NTP 339.082. Con la aplicación del polvo de aluminio en el concreto, se produjo un concreto menos pesado, pero aumentando su grado de absorción y a su vez manteniendo el asentamiento y su resistencia a la compresión. El diseño patrón o mezcla con 0% de polvo de aluminio y sin superplastificante alcanzó una resistencia a la compresión de 224 kg/cm , un asentamiento de 4”, una absorción de 2.22% y densidad de 2268 kg/m 3 . El diseño más óptimo del concreto ligero se dio al 1.5% de polvo de aluminio con superplastificante en base a los ensayos realizados durante esta investigación, presentándose un valor de resistencia de 236 kg/cm , asentamiento de 4”, absorción de 3.07% y densidad de 1765.55 kg/m 3 . Mientras que para el concreto añadiendo polvo de aluminio de 1.5% del peso de cemento sin superplastificante se obtuvo una resistencia de 195 kg/cm 2 , un asentamiento de 3 ¼”, una absorción de 4.32% y una densidad de 1783 kg/m 3 . El costo aproximado de hacer una mezcla para concreto ligero es de S/. 250.51. Al utilizar concreto ligero en cualquier tipo de estructura se aprecian cargas muertas mucho más livianas, importante en áreas de alto riesgo sísmico. La baja densidad del concreto ligero, asegura a las estructuras de concreto. Durante un sismo las edificaciones no serán afectadas gravemente, de está manteniendo a la población más segura durante el acontecimiento de un terremoto de gran intensidad.The research project, we investigate the behavior of aluminum powder in lightweight concrete for the construction of lightened slabs on their resistance to compression, settlement, absorption, density and time of fragmentation, it is obtained by processes of foamy material and The air lift has a light weight with a density not higher than 1900 kg / m 3 , for the present investigation, aluminum powder was added as it passes from the mesh No. 40 (0.425 mm) to 1.5%, 3%, 4.5 % and 6% of the weight of the cement, without superplasticizer and with 1% superplasticizer, was obtained from the company Química Suiza Industrial EUCO 37. The concrete was designed for 210 kg / cm 2 based on Type ICo cement of the company Pacasmayo, sand and stone of 3/8 "from the" Los Mellizos "quarry in the district of Huanchaco, a constant water / cement ratio of 0.55 and aluminum powder (Al) obtained from the recycling of car pistons is a type of molten aluminum, in the Emp ori or Albarracín, Urb. Palermo, Trujillo. Cylindrical specimens of 10 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height were formed; cured at 28 days in a well with calcium hydroxide (NTP 339.183). To determine its resistance to compression, the NTP 339.034 standard was used for the settlement of NTP 339.035 and NTP 339.187 for absorption and density, for setting time NTP 339.082. With the application of aluminum powder in concrete, but with a higher degree of absorption and in turn maintaining the settlement and its resistance to compression. The standard design or mixture with 0% aluminum powder and without superplasticizer achieved a compressive strength of 224 kg / cm 2 , a 4 "setting, an absorption of 2.22% and a density of 2268 kg / m 3 of the concrete to 1.5% of aluminum powder with superplasticizer based on the tests made for this investigation, presenting a resistance value of 236 kg / cm 2 , settlement of 4 ", absorption of 3.07% and density of 1765.55 kg / m While aluminum powder could be added to 1.5% by weight of the cement without superplasticizer, a resistance of 195 kg / cm 2 , a settlement of 3 ¼ ", an absorption of 4.32% and a density of 1783 kg / m The approximate cost of making a mix for a single floor is S / .250.51 Someone lightweight in any type of structure can see much lighter dead loads, important in areas of high seismic risk The low density of lightweight concrete , assures the concrete structures, during an earthquake the buildings have not become serious, of being in the safest population during the event of a high intensity earthquake

Gauged N=3,D=4\mathcal{N}=3,D=4 Supergravity: a new web of marginally connected vacua

We analyze the vacuum structure of $\mathcal{N}=3,D=4$ supergravity coupled to 9 vector multiplets with gauge group ${\rm SO}(3)\times {\rm SU}(3)$. Aside from the central $\mathcal{N}=3$ AdS$_4$ vacuum at the origin, on which the supermultiplet structure reproduces the massless sector of M-theory compactified on $\mathrm{N^{0,1,0}}$, we find a rich structure of AdS$_4$ vacua preserving $\mathcal{N}=0,1,2,3$ supersymmetry. These new vacua are arranged in a manifold spanned by scalar fields corresponding to exactly marginal deformations of the dual CFT. This manifold has the form $T^3/K$, where $K$ is a discrete subgroup of the gauge group: $\mathcal{N}=3,2$ and $1$ vacua correspond, respectively, to a point, a line and a surface in the three-dimensional vacuum manifold. We study RG flows from the central $\mathcal{N}=3$ vacuum and elaborate on the possible higher dimensional origin of the new vacua. For the reader's convenience we also provide a review of the embedding tensor formulation of $D=4$, $\mathcal{N}=3$ gauged supergravities. In particular we provide formulas involving the fermion shift tensors and mass matrices in $\mathcal{N}=3$ theories, which can be applied to a generic gauging

Waterborne outbreak of Norwalk-like virus gastroenteritis at a tourist resort, Italy.

In July 2000, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a tourist resort in the Gulf of Taranto in southern Italy. Illness in 344 people, 69 of whom were staff members, met the case definition. Norwalk-like virus (NLV) was found in 22 of 28 stool specimens tested. The source of illness was likely contaminated drinking water, as environmental inspection identified a breakdown in the resort water system and tap water samples were contaminated with fecal bacteria. Attack rates were increased (51.4%) in staff members involved in water sports. Relative risks were significant only for exposure to beach showers and consuming drinks with ice. Although Italy has no surveillance system for nonbacterial gastroenteritis, no outbreak caused by NLV has been described previously in the country

What is New on Thyroid Cancer Biomarkers

Thyroid cancer harbours in about 5% of thyroid nodules. The majority of them are well-differentiated cancers originating from the follicular epithelium, and are subdivided into papillary and follicular carcinomas. Undifferentiated carcinomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas arising from C cells are less common

To screen or not to screen for medullary thyroid cancer? This is (yet) the question. An illustrative case.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare disease, often displaying an aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis. Serum calcitonin represents the most sensitive marker of MTC and its routine measurement in patients with thyroid nodules allows early detection of occult MTC and appropriate surgical cure.Here we report on a 55-yr-old woman with a long-standing goiter, autonomously functioning thyroid nodules and subclinical thyrotoxicosis, who was diagnosed with MTC at an early stage by means of calcitoninscreening. This rare case highlights the importance of performing routine calcitonin measurementin thyroid nodules

An uncommon case of Marine-Lenhart syndrome

The term Marine-Lenhart syndrome describes the association between Graves' disease and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN), such as toxic adenoma or toxic multinodular goiter. The two diseases may coexist or may be present at different moments in the same patient. In the literature, there are many reports on the development of Graves' disease after radioiodine treatment for AFTN, but very little information may be found on the occurrence of AFTN after radioiodine therapy for Graves' disease. We describe here the case of a female patient with Graves' disease who was successfully treated with radioiodine for Graves' disease, returning to normal thyroid function. Three years later, biochemical analysis and ultrasound examination identified a thyroid nodule that progressively increased in size. The 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy showed avid uptake in the right lobule, which corresponded to a nodular lesion consistent with AFTN

Rotavirus induces a biphasic enterotoxic and cytotoxic response in human-derived intestinal enterocytes, which is inhibited by human immunoglobulins.

The mechanisms of diarrhea due to rotavirus infection in humans are not fully understood; no specific therapy is available, but orally administered human serum immunoglobulins are effective in blocking stool output. We aimed to investigate the effect of rotavirus on ion transport and the role of NSP4 in human-derived enterocytes, and to test the efficacy of human serum immunoglobulin in a model of rotavirus infection. Soon after infection, rotavirus induces active chloride secretion in enterocytes. This effect is evident before viral replication leads to cell damage and correlates with NSP4 production. Inhibition of NSP4 prevents the early secretory phase but not cell damage. Incubation with human serum immunoglobulin blocks both ion secretion and cell damage. Rotavirus exerts an early NSP4-dependent ion secretion and subsequent tissue damage. The combined enterotoxic and cytotoxic effects may be responsible for the increased severity of diarrhea due to rotavirus infection, and both are counteracted by human serum immunoglobulin

Thyroid dysfunction in patients treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab: different clinical features

Rationale. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for some advanced neoplasms, increasing survival. ICIs block inhibitor receptors cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) and trigger T cell-mediated immunity against tumor. Their action is accompanied by several immunity-related adverse events (IRAEs), also involving the endocrine system (pituitary, thyroid, adrenals). We report two different cases of thyrotoxicosis following administration of the anti-PD-1 nivolumab. Patients. Patient 1, M, 75 years-old, treated for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) since September 2016, with euthyroid multinodular goiter. In January 2017 (12 weeks from baseline), he developed frank hyperthyroidism, with positive TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) and thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb). A Tc99m thyroid scintiscan showed diffuse uptake and “cold” areas. After nivolumab withdrawal, treatment with metimazole (MMI) 5 mg per day was started and euthyroidism was resumed, so to restart the drug in May 2017. Patient 2, M, 80 years-old, treated for a left-eye choroid melanoma since January 2017, with euthyroid nodular goiter. In April 2017 (6 weeks from baseline), thyrotoxicosis was detected, with positive thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab, 244 IU/ml, nv 4.5 µIU/ml (subclinical hypothyroidism). Patient was treated with replacement doses of levothyroxine (LT-4), and continued nivolumab infusions. Conclusions. Two forms of thyrotoxicosis were reported: the first with thyroid hyperfunction and positive TRAb, the latter as a destructive thyroiditis. In both cases (mean onset after 9 weeks), the moderate severity and the appropriate management of endocrine IRAEs allowed treatment continuation