Automatic mesh analysis technique by knowledge-based system

technical reportThe finite element analysis technique has been recognized as a very important tool to solve various engineering problems, such as structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics. The key point to the technique is discretization of the domain of interest into many finite elements. A good result is strongly dependent on the number and arrangement of meshes. However, it is very difficult to generate efficient finite element meshes, although there are many finite element analysis techniques available. The adaptive mesh generation algorithm has been implemented in the expert system in order to save both time and money in the finite element analysis process. It i s n o t required for a user to know detail information about the finite element analysis processes or computer science to test structural analysis. To verify efficiency of EFEM, analyses for planar and shell domain models have been performed in two and three dimensions respectively

Implementation and characteristics of rule-based system for the finite element analysis

Journal ArticleIt it well known that the analysis of process for the finite element method is tedious and errorprone steps. Considering the importance of the task of engineering analyses, such as structural analysis, heat transfer, fluid flow simulation, and electromagnetic potential, many researchers have tried to develop better and easier systems. Meanwhile, expert systems have been developed in various areas, such as DENDRAL, MYCIN, and XCON. There are two main reasons for developing expert systems. First, an expert system can facilitate the dissemination of vital knowledge to a certain organization with a reasonable cost. Second, an expert system does not suffer from humahpFoblems such as confusion to that it can apply appropriate rules to the problem. It is obvious that development of an expert system for finite element mesh generation can save both time and money in the finite element analysis process. A rule-based system for optimal finite element mesh generation, EFEM has been developed and implemented in powerful interactive solid modeler. Because required knowledge is translated into rules, it is not required to know detail information about the finite element analysis processes or computer science to test structural analysis. The implementation of the EFEM has been analyzed

Quality of Radiomic Features in Glioblastoma Multiforme: Impact of Semi-Automated Tumor Segmentation Software.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and quality of radiomic features in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) derived from tumor volumes obtained with semi-automated tumor segmentation software.Materials and methodsMR images of 45 GBM patients (29 males, 16 females) were downloaded from The Cancer Imaging Archive, in which post-contrast T1-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR sequences were used. Two raters independently segmented the tumors using two semi-automated segmentation tools (TumorPrism3D and 3D Slicer). Regions of interest corresponding to contrast-enhancing lesion, necrotic portions, and non-enhancing T2 high signal intensity component were segmented for each tumor. A total of 180 imaging features were extracted, and their quality was evaluated in terms of stability, normalized dynamic range (NDR), and redundancy, using intra-class correlation coefficients, cluster consensus, and Rand Statistic.ResultsOur study results showed that most of the radiomic features in GBM were highly stable. Over 90% of 180 features showed good stability (intra-class correlation coefficient [ICC] ≥ 0.8), whereas only 7 features were of poor stability (ICC < 0.5). Most first order statistics and morphometric features showed moderate-to-high NDR (4 > NDR ≥1), while above 35% of the texture features showed poor NDR (< 1). Features were shown to cluster into only 5 groups, indicating that they were highly redundant.ConclusionThe use of semi-automated software tools provided sufficiently reliable tumor segmentation and feature stability; thus helping to overcome the inherent inter-rater and intra-rater variability of user intervention. However, certain aspects of feature quality, including NDR and redundancy, need to be assessed for determination of representative signature features before further development of radiomics

Cupping for Treating Pain: A Systematic Review

The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for or against the effectiveness of cupping as a treatment option for pain. Fourteen databases were searched. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) testing cupping in patients with pain of any origin were considered. Trials using cupping with or without drawing blood were included, while trials comparing cupping with other treatments of unproven efficacy were excluded. Trials with cupping as concomitant treatment together with other treatments of unproven efficacy were excluded. Trials were also excluded if pain was not a central symptom of the condition. The selection of studies, data extraction and validation were performed independently by three reviewers. Seven RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. Two RCTs suggested significant pain reduction for cupping in low back pain compared with usual care (P < .01) and analgesia (P < .001). Another two RCTs also showed positive effects of cupping in cancer pain (P < .05) and trigeminal neuralgia (P < .01) compared with anticancer drugs and analgesics, respectively. Two RCTs reported favorable effects of cupping on pain in brachialgia compared with usual care (P = .03) or heat pad (P < .001). The other RCT failed to show superior effects of cupping on pain in herpes zoster compared with anti-viral medication (P = .065). Currently there are few RCTs testing the effectiveness of cupping in the management of pain. Most of the existing trials are of poor quality. Therefore, more rigorous studies are required before the effectiveness of cupping for the treatment of pain can be determined

Clinical Comparison of the Auditory Steady-State Response with the Click Auditory Brainstem Response in Infants

ObjectivesOur goal was to determine the effectiveness of using the auditory steady state response (ASSR) as a measure of hearing thresholds in infants who are suspected of having significant hearing loss, as compared with using the click-auditory brainstem response (C-ABR).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the audiologic profiles of 76 infants (46 boys and 30 girls, a total of 151 ears) who ranged in age from 1 to 12 months (average age: 5.7 months). The auditory evaluations in 76 infants who were suspected of having hearing loss were done via the C-ABR and ASSR. In addition, for reference, the mean ASSR thresholds were compared to those of 39 ears of infants and 39 ears of adults with normal hearing at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz.ResultsThe highest correlation between the C-ABR and ASSR thresholds was observed at an average of 2-4 kHz (r=0.94). On comparison between the hearing of infants and adults at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz, the mean ASSR threshold in infants was 12, 7, 8, and 7 dB higher, respectively, than that in adults.ConclusionASSR testing may provide additional audiometric information for accurately predicting the hearing sensitivity, and this is essential for the management of infants with severe to profound hearing loss

Immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Conjugate Vaccines in Korean Infants: A Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis was performed on the immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines after 2 (2 and 4 months) and 3 doses (2, 4, and 6 months) in Korean infants. A database search of MEDLINE, KoreaMed, and Korean Medical Database was done. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of infants with anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) concentrations >= 1.0 mu g/mL. Eight studies including eleven trials were retrieved. One trial reported on the diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine (PRP-D) and 2 trials each on the mutant diphtheria toxin (PRP-CRM) and Neisseria meningitidis outer-membrane protein (PRP-OMP) conjugate vaccine. Heterogeneity in study designs between trials on PRP-CRM was noted and one trial reported on a monovalent and another on a combination PRP-OMP vaccine. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted only on the tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (PRP-T). After a primary series of 2 doses and 3 doses, 80.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 76.0-85.1%) and 95.7% (95% CI; 94.0-98.0%) of infants achieved an antibody level >= 1.0 mu g/mL, respectively. The immunogenic response to the PRP-T vaccine was acceptable after a primary series of 3 doses and also 2 doses. A reduced number of doses as a primary series could be carefully considered in Korean infants.Kim KH, 2008, J KOREAN MED SCI, V23, P929, DOI 10.3346/jkms.2008.23.6.929Rossi IA, 2007, VACCINE, V25, P7075, DOI 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.07.058Obonyo CO, 2006, EUR J CLIN MICROBIOL, V25, P90, DOI 10.1007/s10096-006-0092-4*WHO, 2006, WKLY EPIDEMIOL REC, V81, P445CHUNG EH, 2006, KOREAN J PEDIAT INFE, V13, P163Kelly DF, 2004, IMMUNOLOGY, V113, P163, DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2004.01971.xKim JS, 2004, VACCINE, V22, P3952, DOI 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.04.003WENGER JD, 2004, VACCINES, P229Makela PH, 2003, VACCINE, V22, P287, DOI 10.1016/S0264-410X(03)00524-3CHUNG EH, 2003, KOREAN J PEDIAT INFE, V10, P71YANG PS, 2002, J KOREAN PEDIAT SOC, V45, P987*CDCP, 2002, MMWR-MORBID MORTAL W, V51, P234Granoff DM, 2001, CLIN INFECT DIS, V33, pS278Peltola H, 2000, CLIN MICROBIOL REV, V13, P302Moher D, 1999, LANCET, V354, P1896Peltola H, 1999, J INFECT DIS, V179, P223CHOI SY, 1999, J KOREAN PEDIAT SOC, V42, P771Heath PT, 1998, PEDIATR INFECT DIS J, V17, pS117Lagos R, 1998, LANCET, V351, P1472Mulholland K, 1997, LANCET, V349, P1191Kurikka S, 1996, J PEDIATR, V128, P524KIM JS, 1996, KOREAN J INFECT DIS, V28, P225YOO ES, 1995, J KOREAN PEDIAT SOC, V38, P1201DECKER MD, 1992, J PEDIATR, V120, P184SANTOSHAM M, 1991, NEW ENGL J MED, V324, P1767ESKOLA J, 1990, NEW ENGL J MED, V323, P1381LAIRD NM, 1990, INT J TECHNOL ASSESS, V6, P5DERSIMONIAN R, 1986, CONTROL CLIN TRIALS, V7, P177ANDERSON P, 1984, J INFECT DIS, V149, P1034KAYHTY H, 1983, J INFECT DIS, V147, P1100

Exercise Ameliorates Disruption of the Dystrophin-Associated Glycoprotein Complex and Fibrosis in the Aging Rat Heart

The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) is localized and integrated into the cell membrane. The DGC provides a mechanical link between the cellular cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In cardiac muscle, disruption of DGC might be involved in mediating cardiac remodeling that occurs with aging, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure through transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß). Decorin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan closely related to the DGC component that binds to collagen. Decorin reduces fibrosis via inhibition of TGF-ß and myofibroblast formation. PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that exercise training (ET) would alleviate age-related disruption of localization in DGC proteins (dystrophin, α-syntrophin, and β-sarcoglycan), and ET will upregulate decorin. METHODS: Young (3 mo.) and old (31 mo.) FBNF1 rats were assigned into sedentary (YS, OS) and exercise (YE, OE) groups (n=10/group), with ET rats training on a treadmill 45 min/d, 5 d/wk for 12 wk. Hearts were extracted, weighted, and dissected into the left ventricle (LV), septum, and right ventricle. LV and septa samples were homogenized, and protein expression was detected using western immunoblotting. Histology (H&E staining) and immunofluorescence were conducted to examine morphological changes and localization of DGC proteins, decorin, α-SMA, and TGF-ß. Aging and exercise comparisons were made using two-way ANOVA for repeated measure with Fisher’s LSD post hoc test (p\u3c.05). RESULTS: Dystrophin, α-syntrophin, and β-sarcoglycan in LV were delocalized from the membrane with aging, particularly in fibrotic areas, which was normalized by ET. LVs from old rats displayed higher TGF-β-positive staining and protein abundance (+94.5%,p\u3c.05), while TGF-β localization and protein levels were suppressed in OE vs. OS, (-27.5%, p\u3c.05). α-SMA localization was significantly elevated with age (+77.3%, p\u3c.05), but reducedin old hearts with ET (-27.5%, p\u3c.05). Furthermore, collagen type 1 signal intensity was higher in OS (+43.7%, p\u3c.05), and was significantly ameliorated with ET (-27.6%, p\u3c.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that exercise training provides significant protection against fibrosis, myofibroblast activation, and elevation of TGF-ß associated with upregulation of decorin and protection of DGC structure