Impact of chromophores on colour appearance in a computational skin model

Early diagnosis of skin cancer offers the patient more favorable treatment options. Color fidelity of skin images is a major concern for dermatologists as adoption of digital dermatoscopes is increasing rapidly. Accurate color depiction of the lesion and surrounding skin are vital in diagnostic evaluation of a lesion. We previously introduced VCT-Derma, a pipeline for dermatological Virtual Clinical Trials (VCTs) including detailed and flexible models of human skin and lesions, which represent the patient in the entire dermatoscopy-based diagnostic process. However, those initial models of skin and lesions did not properly account for tissue colors. Our new skin model accounts for tissue color appearance by incorporating chromophores (e.g., melanin, blood) into the tissue model, and simulating the optical properties of the various skin layers. The physical properties of the skin and lesion were selected from clinically plausible values. The model and simulated dermatoscope images were created in open modelling software, assuming a linear camera model. We have assumed ambient white lighting, with a 6mm distance to the camera. Our model of color appearance was characterised by comparing the brightness of the lesion to its depth. The brightness of the lesion is compared through the variability of the mean gray values of a cropped region around the lesion. We compare two skin models, one without extensive chromophore content and one with. Our preliminary evaluation of increasing chromophore content shows promise based on the results presented here. Further refinement and validation of the model is ongoing

Novel deletions causing pseudoxanthoma elasticum underscore the genomic instability of the ABCC6 region

Mutations in ABCC6 cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a heritable disease that affects elastic fibers. Thus far, >200 mutations have been characterized by various PCR-based techniques (primarily direct sequencing), identifying up to 90% of PXE-causing alleles. This study wanted to assess the importance of deletions and insertions in the ABCC6 genomic region, which is known to have a high recombinational potential. To detect ABCC6 deletions/insertions, which can be missed by direct sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was applied in PXE patients with an incomplete genotype. MLPA was performed in 35 PXE patients with at least one unidentified mutant allele after exonic sequencing and exclusion of the recurrent exon 23-29 deletion. Six multi-exon deletions and four single-exon deletions were detected. Using MLPA in addition to sequencing, we expanded the ABCC6 mutation spectrum with 9 novel deletions and characterized 25% of unidentified disease alleles. Our results further illustrate the instability of the ABCC6 genomic region and stress the importance of screening for deletions in the molecular diagnosis of PXE. Journal of Human Genetics (2010) 55, 112-117; doi: 10.1038/jhg.2009.132; published online 15 January 201

Supraventriculaire tachycardie met isoritmische atrioventriculaire dissociatie bij een labrador-retriever

A neutered, seven-year-old, female Labrador retriever was presented with complaints of tachypnea, gagging and abdominal distension. A left apical systolic murmur with an intensity of 3/6, tachycardia, weak femoral pulses and positive undulation were observed on physical examination. After echocar-diographic and electrocardiographic examination, dilated cardiomyopathy (primary or secundary) and supraventricular tachycardia were diagnosed. At a later control visit, after initiation of treatment with digoxin, electrocardiography revealed isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation (IAVD) and poor control of the SVT. After transition to diltiazem, the tachycardia was well-controlled. A full recovery of the heart was observed on echocardiographic examination. Twenty-four months later, the dog showed no more cardiac signs. In this case report, a rare arrhythmia, i.e. IAVD in combination with SVT is described. It shows the importance of SVT as a reversible cause of a DCM-like phenotype on echo-cardiography

Experimental investigation of solidification in metal foam enhanced phase change material

A major challenge for the use of phase change materials (PCMs) in thermal energy storage (TES) is overcoming the low thermal conductivity of PCM’s. The low conductivity gives rise to limited power during charging and discharging TES. Impregnating metal foam with PCM, however, has been found to enhance the heat transfer. On the other hand, the effect of foam parameters such as porosity, pore size and material type has remained unclear. In this paper, the effect of these foam parameters on the solidification time is investigated. Different samples of PCM-impregnated metal foam were experimentally tested and compared to one without metal foam. The samples varied with respect to choice of material, porosity and pore size. They were placed in a rectangular cavity and cooled from one side using a coolant flowing through a cold plate. The other sides of the rectangular cavity were Polymethyl Methacrylate (PM) walls exposed to ambient. The temperature on the exterior walls of the cavity was monitored as well as the coolant flow rate and its temperature. The metal foam inserts reduced the solidification times by at least 25 %. However, the difference between the best performing and worst performing metal foam is about 28 %. This shows a large potential for future research.This study has received funding from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 657466 (INPATH-TES)

Semantics in the wild : a digital assistant for Flemish citizens

Public service fragmentation across more than 800 digital channels of government administrations in the region of Flanders (Belgium), causes administrative burden and frustrations, as citizens expect a coherent service. Given the autonomy of the various entities, the fragmentation of information and budget constraints, it is not feasible to rewire the entire e-gov ecosystem to a single portal. Therefore, the Flemish Government is building a smart digital assistant, which supports citizens on the governmental portals, by integrating status information of various transactions. This paper outlines our ongoing research on a method for raising semantic interoperability between different information systems and actors. In this approach, semantic agreements are maintained and implemented end-to-end using the design principles of Linked Data. The lessons learned can speed-up the process in other countries that face the complexity of integrating e-government portals

The effects of an intronic polymorphism in TOMM40 and APOE genotypes in sporadic inclusion body myositis.

A previous study showed that, in carriers of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype ε3/ε3 or ε3/ε4, the presence of a very long (VL) polyT repeat allele in "translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40" (TOMM40) was less frequent in patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) compared with controls and associated with a later age of sIBM symptom onset, suggesting a protective effect of this haplotype. To further investigate the influence of these genetic factors in sIBM, we analyzed a large sIBM cohort of 158 cases as part of an International sIBM Genetics Study. No significant association was found between APOE or TOMM40 genotypes and the risk of developing sIBM. We found that the presence of at least 1 VL polyT repeat allele in TOMM40 was significantly associated with about 4 years later onset of sIBM symptoms. The age of onset was delayed by 5 years when the patients were also carriers of the APOE genotype ε3/ε3. In addition, males were likely to have a later age of onset than females. Therefore, the TOMM40 VL polyT repeat, although not influencing disease susceptibility, has a disease-modifying effect on sIBM, which can be enhanced by the APOE genotype ε3/ε3

Performance evaluation of CHP with heat storage in buildings

Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, South Africa, 1-4 July, 2007.Combined heat and power (CHP) production gains more and more attention. Offices and public buildings often have a large thermal power demand in combination with a fairly large electrical power demand. On the other hand they are seldom occupied by night and in weekends, reducing the actual operational time of the heating system. This in turn brings down the financial benefits of investing in CHP. A second problem is that electrical and thermal demands are often shifted in time. The running time of the engine is again limited this way, as it is often not allowed to deliver electricity to the power grid. A possible solution is using heat storage. This way the CHP-engine can run when the electricity demand is high. In the paper a simulation model of CHP with gas engine and heat storage by means of a hot water vessel is developed. The model is validated through experiments on an engine and a vessel. This model is used to analyze the design, control and performance of cogeneration plants. It is shown that storage is marginal beneficial and the design has to be done with great care.cs201

Portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats: definition, epidemiology and clinical signs of congenital portosystemic shunts

SAMENVATTING Congenitale portosystemische shunts (CPSS) zijn hepatische bloedvatafwijkingen die bij elk honden-of kattenras kunnen voorkomen. Extrahepatische CPSS komen vooral voor bij kleine honden en katten, terwijl intrahepatische CPSS vooral grote hondenrassen aantasten. Voor sommige hondenrassen is een erfelijke basis vastgesteld. Aangetaste dieren worden meestal op jonge leeftijd aangeboden met variërende neurologische, gastro-intestinale, urinaire of andere klachten. Symptomen te wijten aan hepatische encefalopathie nemen dikwijls de overhand. De pathogenese van dit syndroom is tot nu toe nog niet volledig gekend en is vermoedelijk multifactorieel. De onderliggende oorzaak is vermoedelijk de invloed op de hersenen van één of meerdere toxinen die normaal gezien door de lever ontgiftigd zouden moeten worden. Katten met CPSS vertonen zeer vaak ptyalisme