Software for micromorphometric characterization of soil pores obtained from 2-D image analysis

ABSTRACT Studies of soil porosity through image analysis are important to an understanding of how the soil functions. However, the lack of a simplified methodology for the quantification of the shape, number, and size of soil pores has limited the use of information extracted from images. The present work proposes a software program for the quantification and characterization of soil porosity from data derived from 2-D images. The user-friendly software was developed in C++ and allows for the classification of pores in terms of size, shape, and combinations of size and shape. Using raw data generated by image analysis systems, the software calculates the following parameters for the characterization of soil porosity: total area of pore (Tap), number of pores, pore shape, pore shape and pore area, and pore shape and equivalent pore diameter (EqDiam). In this paper, the input file with the raw soil porosity data was generated using the Noesis Visilog 5.4 image analysis system; however other image analysis programs can be used, in which case, the input file requires a standard format to permit processing by this software. The software also shows the descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, variance, and the coefficient of variation) of the parameters considering the total number of images evaluated. The results show that the software is a complementary tool to any analysis of soil porosity, allowing for a precise and quick analysis

Disseminated cutaneous cryptococcosis in a patient with AIDS Criptococose cutânea disseminada em paciente com SIDA. Relato de caso

The authors study a patient carrying Aids, with exuberant dermatological manifestations of cryptococcosis. They stress the therapeutic effectiveness of short-term amphotericin B. The authors reviewed cases of cutaneous infection with Cryptococcus reported in the national and international literature, verifying that the frequency has increased with the AIDS epidemic. Also, they discuss about the differential diagnosis with some cases of dermatosis, particularly with the disseminated giant molluscum contagiosum. In relation to the therapy, they affirm that the choice of drug depends on the organ involved, as well as the immune state of the patient.<br>Os autores estudam um paciente portador de SIDA, com manifestações dermatológicas exuberantes de criptococose. Destacam a eficácia terapêutica da anfotericina B, a curto prazo. Revisam os casos de criptococose cutânea relatados na literatura nacional e internacional, ressaltando o aumento de sua freqüência com a epidemia da SIDA. Também discutem o diagnóstico diferencial com várias dermatoses, particularmente com o molusco contagioso gigante disseminado. Em relação à terapêutica, afirmam que a escolha da droga depende do órgão comprometido, assim como do estado imunológico do paciente