Spatiotemporal Modeling Encounters 3D Medical Image Analysis: Slice-Shift UNet with Multi-View Fusion

As a fundamental part of computational healthcare, Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provide volumetric data, making the development of algorithms for 3D image analysis a necessity. Despite being computationally cheap, 2D Convolutional Neural Networks can only extract spatial information. In contrast, 3D CNNs can extract three-dimensional features, but they have higher computational costs and latency, which is a limitation for clinical practice that requires fast and efficient models. Inspired by the field of video action recognition we propose a new 2D-based model dubbed Slice SHift UNet (SSH-UNet) which encodes three-dimensional features at 2D CNN's complexity. More precisely multi-view features are collaboratively learned by performing 2D convolutions along the three orthogonal planes of a volume and imposing a weights-sharing mechanism. The third dimension, which is neglected by the 2D convolution, is reincorporated by shifting a portion of the feature maps along the slices' axis. The effectiveness of our approach is validated in Multi-Modality Abdominal Multi-Organ Segmentation (AMOS) and Multi-Atlas Labeling Beyond the Cranial Vault (BTCV) datasets, showing that SSH-UNet is more efficient while on par in performance with state-of-the-art architectures

Beyond Sentinel Lymph Node: Outcomes of Indocyanine Green-Guided Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Endometrial and Cervical Cancer

Background: The aim of our study was to compare the number of lymph nodes removed during indocyanine green (ICG)-guided laparoscopic/robotic pelvic lymphadenectomy with standard systematic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (EC) and cervical cancer (CC). Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective comparative study (Clinical Trial ID: NCT04246580; updated on 31 January 2023). Women affected by EC and CC who underwent laparoscopic/robotic systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy, with (cases) or without (controls) the use of ICG tracer injection within the uterine cervix, were included in the study. Results: The two groups were homogeneous for age (p = 0.08), Body Mass Index, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages (p = 0.41 for EC; p = 0.17 for CC), median estimated blood loss (p = 0.76), median operative time (p = 0.59), and perioperative complications (p = 0.66). Nevertheless, the number of lymph nodes retrieved during surgery was significantly higher (p = 0.005) in the ICG group (n = 18) compared with controls (n = 16). Conclusions: The accurate and precise dissection achieved with the use of the ICG-guided procedure was associated with a higher number of lymph nodes removed in the case of systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy for EC and CC

Ferrous to Ferric Transition in Fe-Phthalocyanine Driven by NO2 Exposure

Due to its unique magnetic properties offered by the open-shell electronic structure of the central metal ion, and for being an effective catalyst in a wide variety of reactions, iron phthalocyanine has drawn significant interest from the scientific community. Nevertheless, upon surface deposition, the magnetic properties of the molecular layer can be significantly affected by the coupling occurring at the interface, and the more reactive the surface, the stronger is the impact on the spin state. Here, we show that on Cu(100), indeed, the strong hybridization between the Fe d-states of FePc and the sp-band of the copper substrate modifies the charge distribution in the molecule, significantly influencing the magnetic properties of the iron ion. The FeII ion is stabilized in the low singlet spin state (S=0), leading to the complete quenching of the molecule magnetic moment. By exploiting the FePc/Cu(100) interface, we demonstrate that NO2 dissociation can be used to gradually change the magnetic properties of the iron ion, by trimming the gas dosage. For lower doses, the FePc film is decoupled from the copper substrate, restoring the gas phase triplet spin state (S=1). A higher dose induces the transition from ferrous to ferric phthalocyanine, in its intermediate spin state, with enhanced magnetic moment due to the interaction with the atomic ligands. Remarkably, in this way, three different spin configurations have been observed within the same metalorganic/metal interface by exposing it to different doses of NO2 at room temperature

Projeto Rondon: aproximando culturas e quebrando preconceitos regionais

Trabalho apresentado no II Congresso Nacional do PROJETO RONDON, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 23 a 25 de setembro de 2015 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.O presente trabalho tem como base a participação da Universidade Federal de Pelotas na operação Mandacarú, “conjunto A” realizada no primeiro semestre de 2015. A preparação da equipe teve início no mes de outubro de 2014, onde os alunos selecionados realizaram periodicamente reuniões para a montagem das oficinas a serem desenvolvidas no município de Itapiúna – CE. Devido ao distanciamento regional e a diferenciação cultural entre as regiões, em conjunto com o intercâmbio das informações midiáticas, a equipe estudou os costumes, histórias regionais e tradições da comunidade para a qual iria se dirigir com vistas a descontruir as ideias preconcebidas, que circulam no imaginário popular e no senso comum em relação ao nordestino e ao gaúcho. Conforme objetivado pelo Projeto Rondon, o grupo selecionado focou se em uma troca cultural a partir de projetos solidários, como também teve em seus objetivos a quebra de preconceitos paradigmáticos, a partir de uma relação dinâmica e horizontal com a população de Itapiúna. A partir da observação participativa, mais de 20 oficinas foram desenvolvidas nas áreas de promoção da saúde, direitos humanos e cidadania, cultura e educação. Conforme a atuação do grupo e a relação com a comunidade foi perceptível o quanto as ideias preconcebidas não condiziam com a realidade apresentada, mostrando assim, a dinâmica cultural presente no Brasil, e a importância da quebra de preconceitos regionais, assim, Laraia (2013, p. 101) descreve “cada sistema cultural está sempre em mudança. Entender esta dinâmica é importante para atenuar o choque entre as gerações e evitar comportamentos preconceituosos.”. As oficinas visavam como resultado a formação dos indivíduos e o desenvolvimento da cidadania, sendo assim, quebrando barreiras que fossem preconceituosas entre as duas regiões. Sabe se que somente as oficinas não são determinantes para quebras de conceitos formados pela sociedade, somente através de um trabalho contínuo conseguiremos mudar as questões sociais de nosso país. As oficinas foram totalmente voltadas para quebra de preconceitos regionais e erradicar as dicotomias entre os estados brasileiros. Sendo assim, ter uma maior interação com a comunidade de forma horizontalizada

Versatile Coordination of Cyclopentadienyl-Arene Ligands and Its Role in Titanium-Catalyzed Ethylene Trimerization

Cationic titanium(IV) complexes with ansa-(η5-cyclopentadienyl,η6-arene) ligands were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The strength of the metal-arene interaction in these systems was studied by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy. Complexes with a C1 bridge between the cyclopentadienyl and arene moieties feature hemilabile coordination behavior of the ligand and consequently are active ethylene trimerization catalysts. Reaction of the titanium(IV) dimethyl cations with CO results in conversion to the analogous cationic titanium(II) dicarbonyl species. Metal-to-ligand backdonation in these formally low-valent complexes gives rise to a strongly bonded, partially reduced arene moiety. In contrast to the η6-arene coordination mode observed for titanium, the more electron-rich vanadium(V) cations [cyclopentadienyl-arene]V(NiPr2)(NC6H4-4-Me)+ feature η1-arene binding, as determined by a crystallographic study. The three different metal-arene coordination modes that we experimentally observed model intermediates in the cycle for titanium-catalyzed ethylene trimerization. The nature of the metal-arene interaction in these systems was studied by DFT calculations.

A educação em perspectiva: as atividades da Universidade Federal de Pelotas no Projeto Rondon 2015

Trabalho apresentado no II Congresso Nacional do PROJETO RONDON, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 23 a 25 de setembro de 2015 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.O presente trabalho tem como intuito apresentar e discutir o processo de elaboração das atividades da área da Educação promovidas por estudantes da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) participantes do Projeto Rondon através da Operação Mandacaru do ano de 2015, tendo, igualmente, o interesse de dialogar sobre as aprendizagens e resultados da construção dessas ações nesse projeto de extensão. As atividades da área da Educação da UFPel na Operação Mandacaru foram aplicadas no munícipio de Itapiúna (Ceará). A metodologia utilizada para a elaboração das atividades foi a pesquisa bibliográfica e a pesquisa exploratória. Ampara-se na definição de GIL (2002, p. 3), para se compreender a pesquisa bibliográfica, que auxiliou a medida que levou os graduandos da área da educação a se debruçarem na busca de temas que apresentassem uma valia social e que estivessem de acordo com a realidade do local onde se colocaria em prática as atividades. A pesquisa exploratória é ancorada na explicação de Malhotra (2001, p. 105), utilizou-se da pesquisa exploratória para a reconstrução das atividades após viagem percursora ao município de Itapiúna, na qual uma professora coordenadora da Operação Mandacaru, representante da UFPel, coletou dados e informações sobre o município. Após a construção teórica, baseada principalmente nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (BRASIL, 1998) e no pedagogo Celestin Freinet (COSTA, 2006), os participantes da UFPel, foram elaboradas as seguintes oficinas: (1) Gênero e Sexualidade: uma proposta interdisciplinar; (2) Lambe-Lambe como instrumento de Educação; (3) Oficina de Artesanato; e (4) Cultura e Geografia na Educação de Jovens e Adultos. Nos resultados, são apresentadas as atividades construídas pelos representantes da área da Educação da UFPel, além de discutir acerca da importância do trabalho visto que o engajamento da comunidade nas atividades propostas foi significativo

Impact of covid-19 in gynecologic oncology: A nationwide italian survey of the sigo and mito groups

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused rapid and drastic changes in cancer management. The Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SIGO), and the Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecologic malignancies (MITO) promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on clinical activity of gynecologist oncologists and to assess the implementation of containment measures against COVID-19 diffusion. Methods: The survey consisted of a self-administered, anonymous, online questionnaire. The survey was sent via email to all the members of the SIGO, and MITO groups on April 7, 2020, and was closed on April 20, 2020. Results: Overall, 604 participants completed the questionnaire with a response-rate of 70%. The results of this survey suggest that gynecologic oncology units had set a proactive approach to COVID-19 outbreak. Triage methods were adopted in order to minimize in-hospital diffusion of COVID-19. Only 38% of gynecologic surgeons were concerned about COVID-19 outbreak. Although 73% of the participants stated that COVID-19 has not significantly modified their everyday practice, 21% declared a decrease of the use of laparoscopy in favor of open surgery (19%). However, less than 50% of surgeons adopted specific protection against COVID-19. Additionally, responders suggested to delay cancer treatment (10%–15%), and to perform less radical surgical procedures (20%–25%) during COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: National guidelines should be implemented to further promote the safety of patients and health care providers. International cooperation is of paramount importance, as heavily affected nations can serve as an example to find out ways to safely preserve clinical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak