Macrophagic myofascitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Macrophagic myofascitis (MMF) is an unusual inflammatory myopathy characterized by muscle infiltration by macrophages and lymphocytes. Here, we describe a case of MMF which is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. A 53-year-old Japanese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient presented with focal tenderness of lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of myofascitis involving fascias of anterior tibialis muscle. Muscle biopsy showed a unique pathological pattern of MMF. MMF is known to be associated with vaccination containing aluminum. However, our case was not related to aluminum containing vaccinations and etiologies are unknown. The possible link needs to be discussed

Geometric modeling from sketches

La modélisation à l'aide de croquis a pour but de construire une forme tridimensionnelle à partir d'un dessin en deux dimensions. L'utilisateur dessine la silhouette de l'objet à reconstruire sur le plan de dessin, puis un algorithme génère automatiquement une forme en 3D à partir de ce croquis. La modélisation par croquis à l’avantage d’être plus simple et plus rapide que la modélisation classique qui requiert l’utilisation de logiciels complexes comme 3DS Max, Maya, Blender, etc. Les applications liées à la modélisation par croquis seraient nombreuses : dans le domaine de l'infographie, la modélisation géométrique pour les jeux vidéo le dessin industriel, les effets spéciaux, etc., serait plus rapide et moins coûteuse. La modélisation à l’aide de croquis pourrait être utilisée par tout le monde. Nous avons tous, un jour ou l’autre, fait un croquis pour expliquer le chemin à prendre pour aller à un lieu précis, un croquis pour l’agencement d’une cuisine et d’une salle de séjour, ou un croquis pour expliquer le fonctionnement d’une machine, etc. Dans ce mémoire de thèse, nous nous intéressons dans un premier temps au problème de la génération de courbes en 3D constituées d’hélices à partir de croquis. Nous présentons deux algorithmes qui traitent ce problème. Puis dans un second temps, nous nous intéressons à la génération de surfaces à partir de croquis et plus particulièrement à la génération de bas-reliefs, ces surfaces ayant l’avantage de ne pas présenter de parties cachées.The goal of sketch based modeling is to generate a 3D shape from a 2D sketch. The user draw the outline of the object to rebuild on the sketch plane, then an algorithm automatically build the 3D shape from the sketch. Sketch based modeling is easier to use and faster than traditional technics which uses complex modeling software such as 3DS max, Maya or Blender. There is a lot of applications for sketch based modeling, for example, the geometric modeling for video games, industrial design, special effects, etc. would be faster and less expensive. Sketch based modeling can be used by anybody. We all , at one time or another , made a sketch to explain a route to take to get to a specific place , a sketch for the arrangement of a kitchen and a living room, or sketches to explain the operation of a machine, etc. In this thesis memory, we look initially to the problem of generating piecewise helix curves from 2D sketches . We present two algorithms that address this problem. Then in a second step, we focus on the generation of 3D surfaces from sketches and more particularly to the generation of low reliefs, these surfaces have the advantage of not presenting hidden parts

A new transducer receive transfer function calibration method: application to microbubble backscattering cross-section measurements at high frequency.

When comparing acoustic scattering experiments with theory, the relationship between the pressure generated by a scatterer at the surface of a transducer and the induced voltage must be known. Methods have been previously proposed to measure the receive transfer function that rely on several assumptions. A new, experimental method for measuring the acoustic response of a spherically-focused transducer, using a hydrophone at twice the focal distance, is proposed that requires a minimum number of assumptions and calculations. The receive transfer function of a spherically-focused, high-frequency transducer was calculated, and found to be within 10% of the receive transfer function calculated assuming reciprocity. Further, using the receive transfer function, the effective backscattering cross-section of bound microbubbles interrogated at 30 MHz was measured to be, on average, 65% of the geometric backscattering cross-section, with significant size-independent variability. These results give insight into selecting the optimal microbubble size distribution for linear microbubble imaging at high frequencies

Nonlinear emission from individual bound microbubbles at high frequencies.

Targeted microbubbles detected with high-frequency ultrasound can establish the molecular expression of blood vessels with submillimeter resolution. To improve microbubble-specific imaging at high frequencies, the subharmonic and second harmonic signal from individual microbubbles were measured as a function of size and pressure. Single phospholipid-shell microbubbles (1.1 to 5.0 microm in diameter) bound to gelatin, co-aligned with an optical microscope and transducer, were insonated with 30 MHz Gaussian-enveloped pulses at pressures from 20 kPa to 1 MPa with -6 dB one-way bandwidths of 11%, 20% and 45%. A subharmonic signal (15 MHz) was detected above a pressure threshold of 110 kPa--independent of bandwidth. The signal peaked for microbubbles 1.60 microm in diameter subject to 20% and 11% bandwidth pulses, and 1.80 microm for 45% bandwidth pulses, for pressures up to 400 kPa, agreeing with the notion that microbubbles insonated at twice their resonant frequency preferentially emit a subharmonic component. For pressures between 400 kPa and 1 MPa, a broader range of microbubbles emitted a subharmonic signal, and microbubbles below 1.70 mum in diameter were disrupted. The second harmonic signal measured, within the limited experimental conditions, was consistent with nonlinear propagation. Further, the results shed light on the effect of the shell on the phase of the subharmonic signal with respect to the fundamental signal

Hybrid ICA-PSO algorithm for continuous optimization

International audienc

Hybrid ICA-PSO algorithm for continuous optimization

International audienceno abstrac

Hybrid ICA-PSO algorithm for continuous optimization

International audienceno abstrac