Toward Improving Safety in Neurosurgery with an Active Handheld Instrument

Microsurgical procedures, such as petroclival meningioma resection, require careful surgical actions in order to remove tumor tissue, while avoiding brain and vessel damaging. Such procedures are currently performed under microscope magnification. Robotic tools are emerging in order to filter surgeons’ unintended movements and prevent tools from entering forbidden regions such as vascular structures. The present work investigates the use of a handheld robotic tool (Micron) to automate vessel avoidance in microsurgery. In particular, we focused on vessel segmentation, implementing a deep-learning-based segmentation strategy in microscopy images, and its integration with a feature-based passive 3D reconstruction algorithm to obtain accurate and robust vessel position. We then implemented a virtual-fixture-based strategy to control the handheld robotic tool and perform vessel avoidance. Clay vascular phantoms, lying on a background obtained from microscopy images recorded during petroclival meningioma surgery, were used for testing the segmentation and control algorithms. When testing the segmentation algorithm on 100 different phantom images, a median Dice similarity coefficient equal to 0.96 was achieved. A set of 25 Micron trials of 80 s in duration, each involving the interaction of Micron with a different vascular phantom, were recorded, with a safety distance equal to 2 mm, which was comparable to the median vessel diameter. Micron’s tip entered the forbidden region 24% of the time when the control algorithm was active. However, the median penetration depth was 16.9 μm, which was two orders of magnitude lower than median vessel diameter. Results suggest the system can assist surgeons in performing safe vessel avoidance during neurosurgical procedures

Lem benchmark database for tropical agricultural remote sensing application.

Abstract: The monitoring of agricultural activities at a regular basis is crucial to assure that the food production meets the world population demands, which is increasing yearly. Such information can be derived from remote sensing data. In spite of topic?s relevance, not enough efforts have been invested to exploit modern pattern recognition and machine learning methods for agricultural land-cover mapping from multi-temporal, multi-sensor earth observation data. Furthermore, only a small proportion of the works published on this topic relates to tropical/subtropical regions, where crop dynamics is more complicated and difficult to model than in temperate regions. A major hindrance has been the lack of accurate public databases for the comparison of different classification methods. In this context, the aim of the present paper is to share a multi-temporal and multi-sensor benchmark database that can be used by the remote sensing community for agricultural land-cover mapping. Information about crops in situ was collected in Luís Eduardo Magalhães (LEM) municipality, which is an important Brazilian agricultural area, to create field reference data including information about first and second crop harvests. Moreover, a series of remote sensing images was acquired and pre-processed, from both active and passive orbital sensors (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2/MSI, Landsat-8/OLI), correspondent to the LEM area, along the development of the main annual crops. In this paper, we describe the LEM database (crop field boundaries, land use reference data and pre-processed images) and present the results of an experiment conducted using the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data

Concentração de nutrientes via deposição de liteira na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, Belterra - PA.

A liteira representa uma importante forma de transferência de nutrientes e energia da vegetação para o solo. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a eficiência de utilização dos nutrientes via deposição de liteira, na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, localizada no município de Belterra-PA. A amostragem da liteira aportada foi realizada em quatro transectos, medindo 50 m de largura por 1000 m de comprimento cada, totalizando 20 ha. Foram distribuídos de forma sistemática dez coletores circulares, de plástico, com fundo em tela de nylon com malha de 4 mm2 e área total de 0,22 m2 cada, perfazendo um total de 40 cestos em toda a área. As coletas foram realizadas quinzenalmente, onde a liteira depositada sobre os coletores era retirada, acondicionadas em sacos de papel e levadas para laboratório, onde eram secas em estufa a 65 °C até peso constante e posteriormente, separadas nas frações folhas, madeira, flores/frutos e miscelânea. Foram determinadas a eficiência de utilização para N, P, K, Ca e Mg. O fósforo foi o que apresentou maior eficiência no uso de nutrientes. Observou-se na relação entre a concentração de nutrientes da liteira e as variáveis meteorológicas que, as mesmas, oscilaram entre fraca e forte e que dos elementos analisados o Nitrogênio, Cálcio e Magnésio não apresentaram nenhuma correlação significativa, sugerindo que estes nutrientes não estão relacionados com a precipitação ou com a temperatura, nos anos analisado

Concentração de nutrientes via deposição de liteira na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, Belterra - PA.

A liteira representa uma importante forma de transferência de nutrientes e energia da vegetação para o solo. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a eficiência de utilização dos nutrientes via deposição de liteira, na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, localizada no município de Belterra-PA. A amostragem da liteira aportada foi realizada em quatro transectos, medindo 50 m de largura por 1000 m de comprimento cada, totalizando 20 ha. Foram distribuídos de forma sistemática dez coletores circulares, de plástico, com fundo em tela de nylon com malha de 4 mm2 e área total de 0,22 m2 cada, perfazendo um total de 40 cestos em toda a área. As coletas foram realizadas quinzenalmente, onde a liteira depositada sobre os coletores era retirada, acondicionadas em sacos de papel e levadas para laboratório, onde eram secas em estufa a 65 °C até peso constante e posteriormente, separadas nas frações folhas, madeira, flores/frutos e miscelânea. Foram determinadas a eficiência de utilização para N, P, K, Ca e Mg. O fósforo foi o que apresentou maior eficiência no uso de nutrientes. Observou-se na relação entre a concentração de nutrientes da liteira e as variáveis meteorológicas que, as mesmas, oscilaram entre fraca e forte e que dos elementos analisados o Nitrogênio, Cálcio e Magnésio não apresentaram nenhuma correlação significativa, sugerindo que estes nutrientes não estão relacionados com a precipitação ou com a temperatura, nos anos analisados

A nested loop for simultaneous model topology screening, parameters estimation, and identification of the optimal number of experiments: Application to a Simulated Moving Bed unit

Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) chromatography is a well-known technique for the resolution of several high-value-added compounds. Parameters identification and model topology definition are arduous when one is dealing with complex systems such as a Simulated Moving Bed unit. Moreover, the large number of experiments necessary might be an expansive-long process. Hence, this work proposes a novel methodology for parameter estimation, screening the most suitable topology of the models sink-source (defined by the adsorption isotherm equation) and defining the minimum number of experiments necessary to identify the model. Therefore, a nested loop optimization problem is proposed with three levels considering the three main goals of the work: parameters estimation; topology screening by isotherm definition; minimum number of experiments necessary to yield a precise model. The proposed methodology emulated a real scenario by introducing noise in the data and using a Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) approach. Data reconciliation and uncertainty evaluation add robustness to the parameter estimation adding precision and reliability to the model. The methodology is validated considering experimental data from literature apart from the samples applied for parameter estimation, following a cross-validation. The results corroborate that it is possible to carry out trustworthy parameter estimation directly from an SMB unit with minimal system knowledge

DESCRIÇÃO DO SERVIÇO DE CONSULTA DE REVISÃO DA FARMACOTERAPIA, PARA PACIENTES ATENDIDOS EM UMA FARMÁCIA UNIVERSITÁRIA EM GOIÂNIA, GOIÁS, BRASIL.

Introdução e objetivos: Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde, 50% dos medicamentos possuem o uso irracional. Para solucionar este problema, foi proposta a realização da consulta de revisão da farmacoterapia, que é um exame estruturado e crítico de medicamentos de um paciente, com o objetivo de chegar a um acordo com o paciente sobre o tratamento. Este vem otimizando o impacto dos medicamentos, minimizando o número de problemas relacionados com estes e reduzindo o desperdício1. Metodologia: Este foi um estudo transversal, descritivo, realizado por meio de análise dos dados secundários da Farmácia Universitária, aprovado no Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados e discussões: Foram atendidos 21 pacientes, 19 mulheres e 2 homens, dos quais 11 vieram por demanda espontânea e 10 após a avaliação prévia do farmacêutico no ato da dispensação. A média de medicamentos utilizados foi de 8,2 ± 4 por pessoa. Foram identificados problemas relacionados aos medicamentos (PRM) em 61,9% dos pacientes, com uma média de aproximadamente 2,2 PRMs por paciente, resultando em possíveis 28 resultados negativos associados a medicamentos (RNM) que foram evitados. Em relação à frequência, 100% dos pacientes compareceram na primeira consulta, 71,4% na segunda e 28,6% na terceira e última consulta. Conclusões: A partir dos dados, pode-se perceber a importância da consulta de revisão para a saúde do indivíduo, uma vez que 28 RNM podem ter sido evitados. Contudo, devem ser feitas mais análises relacionadas a esse sistema, envolvendo o porquê da não comparecimento do paciente nas consultas de revisão

ENPP1 Affects Insulin Action and Secretion: Evidences from In Vitro Studies

The aim of this study was to deeper investigate the mechanisms through which ENPP1, a negative modulator of insulin receptor (IR) activation, plays a role on insulin signaling, insulin secretion and eventually glucose metabolism. ENPP1 cDNA (carrying either K121 or Q121 variant) was transfected in HepG2 liver-, L6 skeletal muscle- and INS1E beta-cells. Insulin-induced IR-autophosphorylation (HepG2, L6, INS1E), Akt-Ser473, ERK1/2-Thr202/Tyr204 and GSK3-beta Ser9 phosphorylation (HepG2, L6), PEPCK mRNA levels (HepG2) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake (L6) was studied. GLUT 4 mRNA (L6), insulin secretion and caspase-3 activation (INS1E) were also investigated. Insulin-induced IR-autophosphorylation was decreased in HepG2-K, L6-K, INS1E-K (20%, 52% and 11% reduction vs. untransfected cells) and twice as much in HepG2-Q, L6-Q, INS1E-Q (44%, 92% and 30%). Similar data were obtained with Akt-Ser473, ERK1/2-Thr202/Tyr204 and GSK3-beta Ser9 in HepG2 and L6. Insulin-induced reduction of PEPCK mRNA was progressively lower in untransfected, HepG2-K and HepG2-Q cells (65%, 54%, 23%). Insulin-induced glucose uptake in untransfected L6 (60% increase over basal), was totally abolished in L6-K and L6-Q cells. GLUT 4 mRNA was slightly reduced in L6-K and twice as much in L6-Q (13% and 25% reduction vs. untransfected cells). Glucose-induced insulin secretion was 60% reduced in INS1E-K and almost abolished in INS1E-Q. Serum deficiency activated caspase-3 by two, three and four folds in untransfected INS1E, INS1E-K and INS1E-Q. Glyburide-induced insulin secretion was reduced by 50% in isolated human islets from homozygous QQ donors as compared to those from KK and KQ individuals. Our data clearly indicate that ENPP1, especially when the Q121 variant is operating, affects insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle- and liver-cells and both function and survival of insulin secreting beta-cells, thus representing a strong pathogenic factor predisposing to insulin resistance, defective insulin secretion and glucose metabolism abnormalities

Involvement of MAF/SPP1 axis in the development of bone marrow fibrosis in PMF patients

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by hyperplastic megakaryopoiesis and myelofibrosis. We recently described the upregulation of MAF (v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog) in PMF CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) compared to healthy donor. Here we demonstrated that MAF is also upregulated in PMF compared with the essential thrombocytemia (ET) and polycytemia vera (PV) HPCs. MAF overexpression and knockdown experiments shed some light into the role of MAF in PMF pathogenesis, by demonstrating that MAF favors the megakaryocyte and monocyte/macrophage commitment of HPCs and leads to the increased expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic mediators. Among them, we focused our further studies on SPP1 and LGALS3. We assessed SPP1 and LGALS3 protein levels in 115 PMF, 47 ET and 24 PV patients plasma samples and we found that SPP1 plasma levels are significantly higher in PMF compared with ET and PV patients. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrated that SPP1 promotes fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells proliferation and collagen production. Strikingly, clinical correlation analyses uncovered that higher SPP1 plasma levels in PMF patients correlate with a more severe fibrosis degree and a shorter overall survival. Collectively our data unveil that MAF overexpression contributes to PMF pathogenesis by driving the deranged production of the profibrotic mediator SPP1