Convolutional Neural Networks for the segmentation of microcalcification in Mammography Imaging

Cluster of microcalcifications can be an early sign of breast cancer. In this paper we propose a novel approach based on convolutional neural networks for the detection and segmentation of microcalcification clusters. In this work we used 283 mammograms to train and validate our model, obtaining an accuracy of 98.22% in the detection of preliminary suspect regions and of 97.47% in the segmentation task. Our results show how deep learning could be an effective tool to effectively support radiologists during mammograms examination.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure

Sensitivity Analysis of Whole-Room Indirect Calorimeters at the Steady-state Condition

Whole-Room Indirect Calorimeters (WRIC) are accurate tools to precisely measure energy metabolism in humans via calculation of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Yet, overall accuracy of metabolic measurements relies on the validity of the dynamic model for gas exchange inside the calorimeter volume in addition to experimental and environmental conditions that contribute to the uncertainty of WRIC outcome variables. The aim of this work is to formally study the sensitivity of a WRIC system operated in a push configuration at the steady-state condition to identify the optimal experimental conditions to obtain the best degree of accuracy for outcome metabolic measurements. The results of our sensitivity analysis are then validated with measurements obtained during propane combustion tests performed at the WRIC located at the University Hospital of Pisa. Our results demonstrate that achieving a fractional concentration of carbon dioxide inside the calorimeter >0.2% leads to relative uncertainty <5% for the outcome metabolic measurements when assuming an accuracy class of 1% for gas analyzer instruments

Static sensitivity of whole-room indirect calorimeters

Whole-room indirect calorimeters (WRIC) are accurate tools to precisely measure energy metabolism in humans via calculation of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Yet, overall accuracy of metabolic measurements relies on the validity of the theoretical model for gas exchange inside the WRIC volume in addition to experimental and environmental conditions that contribute to the uncertainty of WRIC outcome variables. The aim of this study was to quantitatively study the static sensitivity of a WRIC operated in a push configuration and located at the laboratories of the University Hospital of Pisa with the goal to identify the experimental conditions required to reach the best degree of accuracy for outcome metabolic measurements. Herein we demonstrate that achieving a fractional concentration of carbon dioxide inside the WRIC>0.2% at the steady state conditions allows to obtain a relative uncertainty <5% for the outcome metabolic measurement

Experimental tests on existing RC beams strengthened in flexure and retrofitted for shear by C-FRP in presence of negative moments

Abstract The shear strength of reinforced concrete beams extracted from existing buildings often reveals insufficient transversal steel reinforcement, mainly due to design or construction defects or increased design load requirements. FRP wrapping is one of the best solutions to improve beam shear strength as the retrofitting intervention is fast and the cost is modest. Design codes provide clear indication about the retrofitting design of simply supported beams, while the case of a beam with negative moments at the end is not considered, although this is in the case of a beam in a framed structure. One of the main uncertainties lies in the effectiveness of the FRP U sheet anchorage behavior in the area of negative bending moments with cracked concrete. This may limit the shear strength of the retrofitted beam. In this study, two beams extracted from an existing building constructed in the 1930s in Rome and retrofitted by carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (C-FRP) U strips placed at beam ends, where also negative bending moments were present, and have been evaluated with experimental tests at the laboratory of the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University. Beam steel and concrete characteristics were evaluated by means of different tests. The experimental results are discussed considering the final results in terms of maximum shear resistance in the presence of negative bending moments. Load deflections at different points along the beam, shear-C-FRP deformation along the reinforcement strips and the damage state for different load levels, are presented. The importance of avoiding possible fragile mechanisms in the sections retrofitted with FRP is clearly shown

Asynchronous earthquake strong motion and RC bridges response

The dynamic response of long structures (e.g., bridges) is sensitive to the spatial variability of strong ground motion (asynchronous motion). Ground motion differences increase from point to point with increasing foundation distance. This latter is due to two physical phenomena: soil-wave interaction, that causes the loss of coherence and local amplification; wave traveling with finite velocity, that causes signals time lag. This ground motion variability produces a different structural demand compared to the synchronous one, which is the only one considered by designers in the majority of cases. A few codes consider this type of actions, therefore further research efforts are necessary. In this study, asynchronous ground motions are generated by means of a new generation procedure implemented in the software GAS 2.0 using as input the simultaneous strong motion records from the April 6th, 2009, L'Aquila (Italy) at the seismic stations AQA and AQV, located in the Aterno River valley. These records are used to calibrate the generation model and to produce sets of asynchronous earthquake sampling. The asynchronous earthquake sets are applied on a typical highway reinforced concrete bridge to study its dynamic response considering two different configurations: non-isolated with traditional supports and isolated bridge with lead rubber bearings. The bridge is placed in two positions along the wave propagation direction: a position near one recording station and a position between the two stations to consider local soil effects. The response parameters investigated are the maximum relative displacements of soil and deck. The results show that there is an important variation of relative displacement along the direction of wave propagation due to asynchronous motion with effects that designer should consider for the structural details design of isolated and non-isolated bridges. Keywords: Asynchronous motion, Bridges, Seismic response, Earthquake spatial variabilit

Sorafenib and Thyroid Cancer

Sorafenib (Nexavar) is a multikinase inhibitor, which has demonstrated both anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the activity of targets present in the tumor cell [c-RAF (proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase), BRAF, V600EBRAF, c-KIT, and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3] and in tumor vessels (c-RAF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β). For several years, sorafenib has been approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma. After previous studies showing that sorafenib was able to inhibit oncogenic RET mutants, V600EBRAF, and angiogenesis and growth of orthotopic anaplastic thyroid cancer xenografts in nude mice, some clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of sorafenib in advanced thyroid cancer. Currently, the evaluation of the clinical safety and efficacy of sorafenib for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer is ongoing. This article reviews the anti-neoplastic effect of sorafenib in thyroid cancer. Several completed (or ongoing) studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in patients with papillary and medullary aggressive thyroid cancer. The results suggest that sorafenib is a promising therapeutic option in patients with advanced thyroid cancer that is not responsive to traditional therapeutic strategies

Damage patterns in the town of Amatrice after August 24th 2016 Central Italy earthquakes

The impact of the two seismic events of August 24th 2016 on the municipality of Amatrice was highly destructive. There were 298 victims, 386 injured, about 5000 homeless, and the historical center of the town suffered a great number of partial and total collapses. The 260 strong motion records obtained for the first event were analyzed and plotted in a shakemap, comparing them with the macroseismic damage surveys made in 305 localities. On the basis of an inspection survey made in September 2016, a map of the damage patterns of the buildings in the historical center was elaborated according to the EMS 98 classification. The damage level resulted very high with more than 60% of the inspected buildings showing partial or total collapse. The elevated level of destruction was mainly caused by the high vulnerability of the masonry buildings, mostly due to specific vulnerability factors such as the poor quality of masonry, the lack of connections between walls and the poor connection between external walls and floors

Correlation between hyperglycemia and glycated albumin with retinopathy of prematurity

Funding Information: The present publication was funded by Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia, IP national support through CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020).To determine the association between hyperglycemia, glycated albumin (GlyA) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Prospective study of all infants under ROP screening from March 2017 to July 2019. All demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Glucose was measured at birth and every 8 h for the first week and serum GlyA was evaluated at birth, 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks after birth. Reference range for GlyA was obtained. Univariate logistic regression was used to examine risk factors for ROP followed by multivariate regression. A total of 152 infants were included in the study. Median gestational age was 30 weeks and median birth weight 1240 g. Thirty-three infants (21.7%) had ROP. Hyperglycemia was present in 24 (72.7%) infants diagnosed with any ROP versus 6 (0.05%) in those without ROP. Median GlyA at birth, 1st, 2nd and 4th and respective reference ranges were 8.50% (6.00–12.65), 8.20% (5.32–11.67), 8.00% (5.32–10.00) and 7.90% (5.30–9.00) respectively. After multivariate logistic regression, hyperglycemia but not GlyA, remained a significant risk factor for ROP overpowering the other recognized risk factors (Exp (B) 28.062, 95% CI for Exp(B) 7.881–99.924 p < 0.001). In our cohort, hyperglycemia but not GlyA, remained a significant risk factor for ROP overpowering the other recognized risk factors.publishersversionpublishe