High performance computing for a 3-D optical diffraction tomographic application in fluid velocimetry

Optical Diffraction Tomography has been recently introduced in fluid velocimetry to provide three dimensional information of seeding particle locations. In general, image reconstruction methods at visible wavelengths have to account for diffraction. Linear approximation has been used for three-dimensional image reconstruction, but a non-linear and iterative reconstruction method is required when multiple scattering is not negligible. Non-linear methods require the solution of the Helmholtz equation, computationally highly demanding due to the size of the problem. The present work shows the results of a non-linear method customized for spherical particle location using GPU computing and a made-to-measure storing format

Numerical and experimental study of the fluid flow through a medical device

The purpose of this paper is to verify a commercial software based fluid–structure interaction scheme for the inferior vena cava. Vena cava deep thrombosis (TVP) is a potentially deathly disease consequent to pulmonary thromboembolism (TEP). TEP consist in the obstruction of the pulmonary artery due to a blood clot traveling in the cardiovascular system and is treated with anticoagulants and inferior vena cava filters. Flow fields along the vena cava and an antithrombus filter were studied and compared with a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) based model to validate the numerical model. The results show that the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) models are valid and can be used to study the deformations in the inferior vena cava wall using patient-specific geometries

Electronic Structure of the Complex Hydride NaAlH4

Density functional calculations of the electronic structure of the complex hydride NaAlH4 and the reference systems NaH and AlH3 are reported. We find a substantially ionic electronic structure for NaAlH4, which emphasizes the importance of solid state effects in this material. The relaxed hydrogen positions in NaAlH4 are in good agreement with recent experiment. The electronic structure of AlH3 is also ionic. Implications for the binding of complex hydrides are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks And Tuberculosis Avoidable Hospitalizations: Is There A Relation Between Them In Brazil?

The early identification of the Breathing Symptoms within the scope of Primary Health Care is recommended, and is also one of the strategies of national sanitary authorities for reaching the elimination of tuberculosis. The purpose of this study is to consider which attributes and which territories have shown the most significant progress in Primary Health Care, in terms of coordination of Health Care Networks, and also check if those areas of Primary Health Care that are most critical regarding coordination, there were more or less cases of avoidable hospitalizations for tuberculosis. Methods: This is an ecological study that uses primary and secondary data. For analysis, coropletic maps were developed through the ArcGIS software, version 10.2. There was also the calculation of gross annual and Bayesian rates for hospitalizations for tuberculosis, for each Primary Health Care territory. Results: There were satisfactory results for attributes such as Population (n = 37; 80.4 %), Primary Health Care (n = 43; 93.5 %), Support System (n = 45; 97.8 %); the exceptions were Logistics System (n = 32; 76.0 %) and Governance System, with fewer units in good condition (n = 31; 67.3 %). There is no evidence of any connection between networks' coordination by Primary Health Care and tuberculosis avoidable admissions. Conclusion: The results show that progress has been made regarding the coordination of the Health Care Networks, and a positive trend has been shown, even though the levels are not excellent. It was found no relationship between the critical areas of Primary Health Care and tuberculosis avoidable hospitalizations, possibly because other variables necessary to comprehend the phenomena. © 2016 Popolin et al.16

Ex vivo, in situ perfusion protocol for human brain fixation compatible with microscopy, MRI techniques, and anatomical studies

We present a method for human brain fixation based on simultaneous perfusion of 4% paraformaldehyde through carotids after a flush with saline. The left carotid cannula is used to perfuse the body with 10% formalin, to allow further use of the body for anatomical research or teaching. The aim of our method is to develop a vascular fixation protocol for the human brain, by adapting protocols that are commonly used in experimental animal studies. We show that a variety of histological procedures can be carried out (cyto- and myeloarchitectonics, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, intracellular cell injection, and electron microscopy). In addition, ex vivo, ex situ high-resolution MRI (9.4T) can be obtained in the same specimens. This procedure resulted in similar morphological features to those obtained by intravascular perfusion in experimental animals, provided that the postmortem interval was under 10 h for several of the techniques used and under 4 h in the case of intracellular injections and electron microscopy. The use of intravascular fixation of the brain inside the skull provides a fixed whole human brain, perfectly fitted to the skull, with negligible deformation compared to conventional techniques. Given this characteristic of ex vivo, in situ fixation, this procedure can probably be considered the most suitable one available for ex vivo MRI scans of the brain. We describe the compatibility of the method proposed for intravascular fixation of the human brain and fixation of the donor’s body for anatomical purposes. Thus, body donor programs can provide human brain tissue, while the remainder of the body can also be fixed for anatomical studies. Therefore, this method of human brain fixation through the carotid system optimizes the procurement of human brain tissue, allowing a greater understanding of human neurological diseases, while benefiting anatomy departments by making the remainder of the body available for teaching purposes.This work was supported in part by the National Institute of Health (Grant R01 AG056014-R01), a UCLM travel grant (to RI), a UCLM research grant to Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory (2020-GRIN-28837), and project EQC2019-006341-P (AEI/FEDER UE)