Remote Sensing Data Analytics with the Udocker Container Tool using Multi-GPU Deep Learning Systems

Multi-GPU systems are in continuous development to deal with the challenges of intensive computational big data problems. On the one hand, parallel architectures provide a tremendous computation capacity and outstanding scalability. On the other hand, the production path in multi-user environments faces several roadblocks since they do not grant root privileges to the users. Containers provide flexible strategies for packing, deploying and running isolated application processes within multi-user systems and enable scientific reproducibility. This paper describes the usage and advantages that the uDocker container tool offers for the development of deep learning models in the described context. The experimental results show that uDocker is more transparent to deploy for less tech-savvy researchers and allows the application to achieve processing time with negligible overhead compared to an uncontainerized environment

Bioactive coatings of glass-ceramics on metals

To combine the mechanical properties of high-strength base metals with the biological properties of bioactive materials, coatings of BIOVERIT® glasses and glass-ceramics on CoCr alloys and titanium have been produced. Different kinds of coating processes have been used: dipping, sputtering, plasma spraying, sintering and pasting. Dipping and pasting seem not to be suitable to produce layers because of cracks and low adhesion strength of the coatings (dipping) and the limitations in relation to the implant shape and the thickness of the layers (pasting). Using sputter techniques it is possible to produce dense layers ( < 10µim) with a high adhesion strength. Plasma spraying resuhed in layers with a thickness of 50 to 300µim, but during the plasma spraying process there is a partial evaporation of the highly volatile glass components. Sintering processes are very suitable to produce layers with a high adhesion strength; these layers are long term stable in simulated body fluid

Deep-Learning-Based 3-D Surface Reconstruction—A Survey

In the last decade, deep learning (DL) has significantly impacted industry and science. Initially largely motivated by computer vision tasks in 2-D imagery, the focus has shifted toward 3-D data analysis. In particular, 3-D surface reconstruction, i.e., reconstructing a 3-D shape from sparse input, is of great interest to a large variety of application fields. DL-based approaches show promising quantitative and qualitative surface reconstruction performance compared to traditional computer vision and geometric algorithms. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of these DL-based methods for 3-D surface reconstruction. To this end, we will first discuss input data modalities, such as volumetric data, point clouds, and RGB, single-view, multiview, and depth images, along with corresponding acquisition technologies and common benchmark datasets. For practical purposes, we also discuss evaluation metrics enabling us to judge the reconstructive performance of different methods. The main part of the document will introduce a methodological taxonomy ranging from point- and mesh-based techniques to volumetric and implicit neural approaches. Recent research trends, both methodological and for applications, are highlighted, pointing toward future developments

EVENTRAÇÃO ABDOMINAL CAUDOVENTRAL TRAUMÁTICA EM UM FELINO

Occurrence of trauma has a high occurence in the clinical and surgical routine of small animals. Eventrations consist of the rupture of all layers of a cavity wall, except the skin, and the content is housed in the subcutaneous tissue, without contact with the external environment. Its etiology is variable and can be caused by car accidents, and animal interactions, as well as other simple or severe trauma. In dogs and cats, the most affected region is the ventrolateral caudal abdomen, in the form of inguinal and prepubic eventrations. The increase in volume, associated with asymmetry of the abdominal contour, is considered the main physical finding and the diagnosis is based on the history, clinical signs, and imaging exams, such as radiography and ultrasound. The severity of the injury and systemic effects varies according to location, etiology, and displaced content. The treatment aims at clinical stabilization of the patient and surgical correction of the defect, by means of primary approximation of the tissues or with the use of synthetic meshes. This study aimed to report and discuss a case of progressively occurring traumatic caudoventral eventration in a three-month-old female feline submitted to a surgical correction, emphasizing the clinical and surgical aspects, as well as the complications observed during the attempt of treatment of the condition. The patient died, probably due to complications related to the condition itself and anesthetic risk linked to the animal's young age.A ocorrência de traumas possui grande ocorrência na rotina clínica e cirúrgica de pequenos animais. Eventrações consistem na ruptura de todas as camadas de uma parede cavitária, com exceção da pele, sendo que o conteúdo fica alojado no subcutâneo, sem contato com o meio externo. Sua etiologia é variável, podendo ser causada por acidentes automobilísticos e interações animais, bem como, outros traumatismos simples ou acentuados. Em cães e gatos, a região mais acometida é o abdome caudal ventrolateral, na forma de eventrações inguinais e pré-púbicas. O aumento de volume, associado à assimetria do contorno abdominal, é considerado o principal achado físico e o diagnóstico baseia-se no histórico, sinais clínicos e exames de imagem, como radiografia e ultrassonografia. A severidade da lesão e dos efeitos sistêmicos varia de acordo com a localização, etiologia e conteúdo deslocado. O tratamento visa a estabilização clínica do paciente e correção cirúrgica do defeito, por meio da aproximação primária dos tecidos ou com o emprego de malhas sintéticas. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se relatar e discutir um caso de eventração caudoventral traumática de ocorrência progressiva, em uma fêmea felina de três meses de idade, submetida à correção cirúrgica, enfatizando os aspectos clínicos e cirúrgicos, bem como as complicações observadas durante a tentativa de tratamento da afecção. A paciente veio a óbito, provavelmente devido às complicações relacionadas à propria afecção e risco anestésico ligado à pouca idade do animal

Changes in the proliferative program limit astrocyte homeostasis in the aged post-traumatic murine cerebral cortex

Aging leads to adverse outcomes after traumatic brain injury. The mechanisms underlying these defects, however, are not yet clear. In this study, we found that astrocytes in the aged post-traumatic cerebral cortex develop a significantly reduced proliferative response, resulting in reduced astrocyte numbers in the penumbra. Moreover, experiments of reactive astrocytes in vitro reveal that their diminished proliferation is due to an age-related switch in the division mode with reduced cell-cycle re-entry rather than changes in cell-cycle length. Notably, reactive astrocytes in vivo and in vitro become refractory to stimuli increasing their proliferation during aging, such as Sonic hedgehog signaling. These data demonstrate for the first time that age-dependent, most likely intrinsic changes in the proliferative program of reactive astrocytes result in their severely hampered proliferative response to traumatic injury thereby affecting astrocyte homeostasis.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

SÍNDROME DE CÓLICA POR ENTEROLITÍASE EM EQUINO DA RAÇA PÔNEI BRASILEIRO

The colic syndrome, also known as acute abdomen, is characterized by acute abdominal pain and systemic signs that can often lead the affected horse to death. Its occurrence is related to several linked factors, mainly to the wrong management and anatomical particularities of this species. There are different types of colic, one of which is enterolithiasis. The diagnosis of the disease is carried out through anamnesis, clinical signs, nasogastric tube, laboratory tests, paracentesis, and ultrasound and radiographic examination. Therefore, due to the high rate of deaths this pathology is considered a medical emergency, and clinical and/or surgical treatment by veterinarians is essential. The present work aimed to report and discuss a case of colic syndrome due to enterolithiasis in a Brazilian Pony horse, which was attended at the Large Animals Sector of the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Passo Fundo (UPF), covering clinical aspects, diagnoses, prognosis, and the treatment established in the face of the occurrence of this pathology.A síndrome cólica, também conhecida por abdômen agudo, é caracterizada por uma dor aguda de origem abdominal e sinais sistêmicos que frequentemente podem levar o equino acometido a óbito. Sua ocorrência está relacionada a diversos fatores interligados, principalmente, ao manejo errôneo e as particularidades anatômicas dessa espécie. Existem diferentes tipos de cólica, sendo uma delas a enterolitíase. O diagnóstico da enfermidade é realizado através de anamnese, sinais clínicos, sondagem nasogástrica, exames laboratoriais, paracentese, exame ultrassonográfico e radiográfico. Dessa forma, devido ao alto índice de óbitos, esta patologia, é considerada uma emergência médica e se faz indispensável o tratamento clínico e/ou cirúrgico por médicos veterinários. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se relatar e discutir um caso de síndrome cólica por enterolitíase em um equino da raça Pônei Brasileiro, o qual foi atendido no Setor de Grandes Animais do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade de Passo Fundo (UPF), abrangendo aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos, prognóstico e tratamento estabelecido diante da ocorrência dessa patologia

ESOFAGORRAFIA INTRATORÁCICA COM RETALHO DIAFRAGMÁTICO E DE OMENTO, NO TRATAMENTO DE PERFURAÇÃOEM UM CÃO

The ingestion of foreign bodies is the main cause of esophageal obstruction in dogs and cats and can affect any portion of the organ along its path. In dogs, they have a high incidence and the most commonly found objects are bones, needles, wooden sticks, rubber and plastic toys, and coins. Clinical signs typically observed are regurgitation, gagging, odynophagia, ptyalism, and dysphagia. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, radiographic study, and/or endoscopy. Esophagoscopy is the treatment of choice, except when there is evidence of esophageal perforation. Foreign bodies can be surgically removed through esophagotomy, esophagectomy, or gastrotomy. Complications such as dehiscence and strictures are common after surgical interventions in the esophagus. Therefore, using techniques to aid healing and sealing, such as the mobilization of muscle and omentum flaps, may be necessary. The prognosis is favorable, becoming reserved in the presence of complications, such as esophageal perforations. This study aims to report a case of esophageal perforation secondary to a foreign body in an American Pitbull dog, emphasizing the diagnostic means and the clinical-surgical approach used to treat the condition, which proved to be effective, providing the complete recovery of the patient.A ingestão de corpos estranhos é a principal causa de obstrução esofágica em cãs e gatos, podendo acometer qualquer porção do órgão, ao longo de seu trajeto. Na espécie canina, possui incidência alta e os objetos mais comumente encontrados são ossos, agulhas, gravetos de madeira, brinquedos de borracha, plástico e moedas. Os sinais clínicos tipicamente observados são a regurgitação, engasgos, odinofagia, ptialismo e disfagia. O diagnóstico se baseia no histórico, sinais clínicos, estudo radiográfico e/ou endoscopia. A esofagoscopia é o tratamento de eleição, exceto quando há evidências de perfuração esofágica. Cirurgicamente, os corpos estranhos podem ser removidos por meio de esofagotomia, esofagectomia ou gastrotomia. Complicações como deiscência e estenoses são comuns, após intervenções cirúrgicas no esôfago. Deste modo, pode-se fazer necessário o uso de técnicas de auxílio à cicatrização e vedação, como a mobilização de retalhos musculares e de omento. O prognóstico é favorável, tornando-se reservado na presença de complicações, como perfurações esofágicas. O objetivo do presente trabalho é relatar um caso de perfuração esofágica, secundária a corpo estranho em um cão da raça Pitbull Americano, enfatizando o meio diagnóstico e a conduta clinicocirúrgica empregada, para o tratamento da afecção, a qual mostrou-se efetiva, proporcionando a completa recuperação do paciente

Changes in the proliferative program limit astrocyte homeostasis in the aged post-traumatic murine cerebral cortex

Aging leads to adverse outcomes after traumatic brain injury. The mechanisms underlying these defects, however, are not yet clear. In this study, we found that astrocytes in the aged post-traumatic cerebral cortex develop a significantly reduced proliferative response, resulting in reduced astrocyte numbers in the penumbra. Moreover, experiments of reactive astrocytes in vitro reveal that their diminished proliferation is due to an age-related switch in the division mode with reduced cell-cycle re-entry rather than changes in cell-cycle length. Notably, reactive astrocytes in vivo and in vitro become refractory to stimuli increasing their proliferation during aging, such as Sonic hedgehog signaling. These data demonstrate for the first time that age-dependent, most likely intrinsic changes in the proliferative program of reactive astrocytes result in their severely hampered proliferative response to traumatic injury thereby affecting astrocyte homeostasis.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

A strongly magnetized pulsar within the grasp of the milky way’s supermassive black hole

The center of our Galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole, Sagittarius (Sgr) A∗. Young, massive stars within 0.5 pc of Sgr A∗ are evidence of an episode of intense star formation near the black hole a few million years ago, which might have left behind a young neutron star traveling deep into Sgr A∗’s gravitational potential. On 2013 April 25, a short X-ray burst was observed from the direction of the Galactic center. With a series of observations with the Chandra and the Swift satellites, we pinpoint the associated magnetar at an angular distance of 2.4±0.3 arcsec from Sgr A∗, and refine the source spin period and its derivative (P = 3.7635537(2) s and ˙ P = 6.61(4) × 10−12 s s−1), confirmed by quasi simultaneous radio observations performed with the Green Bank Telescope and Parkes Radio Telescope, which also constrain a dispersion measure of DM = 1750 ± 50 pc cm−3, the highest ever observed for a radio pulsar. We have found that this X-ray source is a young magnetar at ≈0.07–2 pc from Sgr A∗. Simulations of its possible motion around Sgr A∗ show that it is likely (∼90% probability) in a bound orbit around the black hole. The radiation front produced by the past activity from the magnetar passing through the molecular clouds surrounding the Galactic center region might be responsible for a large fraction of the light echoes observed in the Fe fluorescence features.We acknowledge support by grants AYA 2012-39303, SGR2009-811, iLINK 2011-0303, AYA 2010-21097-C03-02, Prometeo 2009/103, AYA2010-17631, P08-TIC-4075, INAF 2010 PRIN grant, Chandra Awards GO2-13076X, G03-14060X, GO3-14099X and G03-14121X, and an EU Marie Curie IEF (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF-331095)