A new anisotropy index on trabecular bone radiographic images using the fast Fourier transform

BACKGROUND: The degree of anisotropy (DA) on radiographs is related to bone structure, we present a new index to assess DA. METHODS: In a region of interest from calcaneus radiographs, we applied a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). All the FFT spectra involve the horizontal and vertical components corresponding respectively to longitudinal and transversal trabeculae. By visual inspection, we measured the spreading angles: Dispersion Longitudinal Index (DLI) and Dispersion Transverse Index (DTI) and calculated DA = 180/(DLI+DTI). To test the reliability of DA assessment, we synthesized images simulating radiological projections of periodic structures with elements more or less disoriented. RESULTS: Firstly, we tested synthetic images which comprised a large variety of structures from highly anisotropic structure to the almost isotropic, DA was ranging from 1.3 to 3.8 respectively. The analysis of the FFT spectra was performed by two observers, the Coefficients of Variation were 1.5% and 3.1 % for intra-and inter-observer reproducibility, respectively. In 22 post-menopausal women with osteoporotic fracture cases and 44 age-matched controls, DA values were respectively 1.87 ± 0.15 versus 1.72 ± 0.18 (p = 0.001). From the ROC analysis, the Area Under Curve (AUC) were respectively 0.65, 0.62, 0.64, 0.77 for lumbar spine, femoral neck, total femoral BMD and DA. CONCLUSION: The highest DA values in fracture cases suggest that the structure is more anisotropic in osteoporosis due to preferential deletion of trabeculae in some directions

Sustained testicular atrophy in bulls actively immunized against GnRH: potential to control carcase characteristics

The objectives were to determine whether active immunization against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) induced a long-term suppression of testicular function in bulls, and to ascertain the effects of immunization against GnRH on carcase and meat quality characteristics. In experiment 1, 6-month-old Zebu bulls were assigned to: control (n = 25), no treatment: immunized (n = 31). immunized against GnRH at 0 and 4 months (anti-GnRH(2)). with a sub-set of bulls (n = 17) immunized again at 10 months (anti-GnRH(3)). After the second immunization, testicular growth ceased for 2 months in 14/31 (45%) bulls and for at least 6 months in 17/31 (55%) bulls. Among the latter bulls (anti-GnRH3) the testes did not grow for >1 year after the third immunization in 5/17 (30%) bulls. In experiment 2, 22-month-old Zebu bulls were assigned to: control (n = 14), no treatment; immunized (n = 17), immunized against GnRH at 0, 2 and 4 weeks. The testes decreased (P < 0.05) in size for 2 months after immunization in 11/17 (65%) bulls and then re-initiated growth, whilst in 6/17 (35%) bulls the testes continued to decrease in size for 4 months and did not re-initiate growth for 1 year. At slaughter, the latter immunocastrated bulls had carcase and meat quality characteristics the same as contemporary bulls that had been castrated before puberty. The findings demonstrated that active immunization against GnRH can induce a long-term suppression of testicular function in a proportion of bulls. Also, when bulls are immunocastrated after puberty, carcase and meat quality traits change from those typical of entire bulls to traits that are characteristic of long-term castrated bulls. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved

Towards a Holistic Development Approach for Adaptable Manufacturing Paradigms : A Case Study of Evolvable Production Systems

Increasing global competition, market uncertainties and high product variance are a few of the factors posing challenges to the existing manufacturing industry. Having a quick response to market fluctuations and adapting to changing customer demands while maintaining shorter lead times and low costs are a few of the major challenges. The main focus of this thesis is on Evolvable Production Systems, which is one of the promising solutions to deal with the emerging manufacturing challenges by changing the conventional manufacturing systems towards a more flexible, intelligent and adaptable approach. Although promising, further research is needed in several directions for a wider industrial acceptance of EPS. The directions include but are not limited to methodological aspects, tool support, etc. throughout the development lifecycle. This thesis aims to provide a basis for a holistic model-based development methodology for evolvable production systems. One of the main contributionsof this work is the identification of major architectural elements (i.e stakeholders,concerns, viewpoints and views) and their dependencies on each other.This work shall serve as a basis for establishing a well-defined architectural framework for EPS. The second important contribution of this thesis is the development of a domain specific modeling language (EPS- DSL) based on the existing EPS ontology. The DSM platform does not only store the domain knowledge in the form of models but also provides support for the re-use of these models, i.e. enables utilization of the domain ontology during system development. Moreover, the automatic code generation support for the module library presented in this work, significantly reduces the risks of information discrepancies when transferring data from one abstraction level to another. The existing EPS ontology is also evaluated from a holistic perspective and resulted in contributing a few improvement suggestions for achieving a seamless model-based development approach. Evaluation of Simulink/SimEvents as a modeling and simulation tool for EPS is the third main contribution of this thesis. One of the main advantages of evaluating this tool for EPS is the opportunity to analyze the complete system behavior on a single modeling platform. The integration of agent-based system behavior (discrete event) with dynamic system behavior (continuous &amp; discrete time) provides a holistic modeling approach and implies less information inconsistencies.QC 20160429</p

Restricted gene flow in the endangered Capricorn Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea macgregori: Consequences for conservation management

Houston, WA ORCiD: 0000-0003-2413-6677Summary The Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea is comprised of three disjunct subspecies. Subspecies E. c. macgregori (Capricorn Yellow Chat) is listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act and has a distribution that also appears to be disjunct, with a limited geographic area of less than 7,000 ha. Some populations are threatened by rapid industrial development, and it is important for conservation of the subspecies to determine the extent to which the putative populations are connected. We used 14 microsatellite markers to measure genetic diversity and to determine the extent of gene flow between two disjunct populations at the northern and southern extremes of the subspecies' range. No significant differences in genetic diversity (number of alleles and heterozygosity) were observed, but clear population structuring was apparent, with obvious differentiation between the northern and southern populations. The most likely explanation for reduced gene flow between the two populations is either the development of a geographic barrier as a consequence of shrinkage of the marine plains associated with the rise in sea levels following the last glacial maxima, or reduced connectivity across the largely unsuitable pasture and forest habitat that now separates the two populations, exacerbated by declining population size and fewer potential emigrants. Regardless of the mechanism, restricted gene flow between these two populations has important consequences for their ongoing conservation. The relative isolation of the smaller southern groups (the Fitzroy River delta and Curtis Island) from the much larger northern group (both sides of the Broad Sound) makes the southern population more vulnerable to local extinction. Conservation efforts should focus on nature refuge agreements with land owners agreeing to maintain favourable grazing management practices in perpetuity, particularly in the northern area where most chats occur. Supplemental exchanges of individuals from northern and southern populations should be explored as a way of increasing genetic diversity and reducing inbreeding. Copyright © BirdLife International 2017

Late Cenozoic To Modern- Day Volcanism in The Northern Andes: A Geochronological

The Northern Andean Block is the result of complex tectonic interaction between the Farallon-Nazca, South American, and Caribbean Plates. Abundant late Cenozoic volcanism (and associated hypabyssal porphyritic plutonism), beginning in the mid- to late Mi