Uterine devascularization

Uterine devascularization is a valuable alternative to hysterectomy or internal iliac arteries ligation in case of otherwise intractable obstetrical haemorrhage. Has a higher success rate as compared to that of internal iliac arteries ligation. Can be dealt with, vaginally or through abdomen, in this case may be employed curatively or preventively

Bayesian Modeling of Perceived Surface Slant from Actively-Generated and Passively-Observed Optic Flow

We measured perceived depth from the optic flow (a) when showing a stationary physical or virtual object to observers who moved their head at a normal or slower speed, and (b) when simulating the same optic flow on a computer and presenting it to stationary observers. Our results show that perceived surface slant is systematically distorted, for both the active and the passive viewing of physical or virtual surfaces. These distortions are modulated by head translation speed, with perceived slant increasing directly with the local velocity gradient of the optic flow. This empirical result allows us to determine the relative merits of two alternative approaches aimed at explaining perceived surface slant in active vision: an “inverse optics” model that takes head motion information into account, and a probabilistic model that ignores extra-retinal signals. We compare these two approaches within the framework of the Bayesian theory. The “inverse optics” Bayesian model produces veridical slant estimates if the optic flow and the head translation velocity are measured with no error; because of the influence of a “prior” for flatness, the slant estimates become systematically biased as the measurement errors increase. The Bayesian model, which ignores the observer's motion, always produces distorted estimates of surface slant. Interestingly, the predictions of this second model, not those of the first one, are consistent with our empirical findings. The present results suggest that (a) in active vision perceived surface slant may be the product of probabilistic processes which do not guarantee the correct solution, and (b) extra-retinal signals may be mainly used for a better measurement of retinal information

Perceived Surface Slant Is Systematically Biased in the Actively-Generated Optic Flow

Humans make systematic errors in the 3D interpretation of the optic flow in both passive and active vision. These systematic distortions can be predicted by a biologically-inspired model which disregards self-motion information resulting from head movements (Caudek, Fantoni, & Domini 2011). Here, we tested two predictions of this model: (1) A plane that is stationary in an earth-fixed reference frame will be perceived as changing its slant if the movement of the observer's head causes a variation of the optic flow; (2) a surface that rotates in an earth-fixed reference frame will be perceived to be stationary, if the surface rotation is appropriately yoked to the head movement so as to generate a variation of the surface slant but not of the optic flow. Both predictions were corroborated by two experiments in which observers judged the perceived slant of a random-dot planar surface during egomotion. We found qualitatively similar biases for monocular and binocular viewing of the simulated surfaces, although, in principle, the simultaneous presence of disparity and motion cues allows for a veridical recovery of surface slant

From glow-sticks to sensors: Single-electrode electrochemical detection for paper-based devices

With the goal of creating a multipurpose platform for electrogenerated luminescence, a single electrode electrochemical system was designed, developed, and validated. Glow sticks were used as the source of the luminophore, which was used as the optical reporter for the biosensor. A smartphone was used as the detector to quantify the electrochemiluminescence emissions. A disposable paper-based device was designed and used as a two-compartment electrochemical reaction cell, affording the possibility to individually optimize the sensing and detection reactions. This sensor assembly was tested under different conditions, showing acceptable performance both in the determination of hydrogen peroxide concentrations, to evaluate rancidity markers in edible oil samples, and to quantify the glucose concentration in soft drinks. The analytical performance of the single electrode, electrochemiluminescent device showed a limit of detection for hydrogen peroxide of 1.02 µM, with a working range between 0.4 µM and 150 mM. The proposed approach represents the first example of a system that combines paperbased devices, single electrode electrochemistry, electrochemiluminescence, and smartphone image sensing. As such, it not only provides a convenient platform for the development of a variety of analytical applications but also broaden the versatility of ePADs.Fil: Vidal, Ezequiel Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Domini, Claudia Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Whitehead, Daniel C.. CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (CLEMSON UNIVERSITY);Fil: Garcia, Carlos D.. CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (CLEMSON UNIVERSITY)

Working length transfer in the endodontic clinical practice: A comparative study

8The present paper evaluated the accuracy of two different methods for transferring working length (WL) between manual endodontic instruments and nickel–titanium (NiTi) shaping files. Thirty root canals of extracted permanent teeth were used. Root canals were divided according to canal length (CL) and canal curvature (CC). The reference cusp and the root end were flattened to provide reproducible and accurate measurements. During shaping, the WL measurements were obtained with manual k-files (KF) and transferred to WaveOne (W1) NiTi reciprocating files using the traditional method with the endodontic ruler (method I) and an alternative clinical procedure based on the comparison of the instruments side by side from tip to shank (method II). For each file and each tested method, two measures were taken by two examiners using Rhino (ver. 4.0, McNeel, Seattle, WA, USA) software for a total of 360 (30 × 3 × 2 × 2) measures. Analysis of variance was performed by taking the difference in length (Delta WL, DWL) between files used for the same canal. The difference between methods I and II for WL transfer was found to be statistically significant (df = 1; F = 71.52; p < 0.001). The DWL absolute values obtained with method II were found to be closer to 0 mm (i.e., same length as corresponding KF) than those obtained with method I. Both CL (df = 2; F = 1.27; p = 0.300) and CC (df = 1; F = 2.22; p = 0.149) did not significantly influence WL measurements. With respect to WL transfer, method II seemed to better preserve the correct WL transfer between instruments during the clinical endodontic procedures.openopenMario Alovisi; Mario Dioguardi; Massimo Carossa; Giuseppe Troiano; Maria Chiara Domini; Davide Salvatore Paolino; Giorgio Chiandussi; Elio BeruttiAlovisi, Mario; Dioguardi, Mario; Carossa, Massimo; Troiano, Giuseppe; Chiara Domini, Maria; Paolino, DAVIDE SALVATORE; Chiandussi, Giorgio; Berutti, Eli