METRICS AND NEATENING OF HANDWRITTEN CHARACTERS

At the present time, with the technology that many portable devices have, pen-based input is widely supported and input can be done through handwriting rather than just by typing. While character recognition and other input issues are the main consideration with these devices, there are many interesting output issues related to digital ink. This thesis investigates the questions of handwriting neatening and personal handwriting fonts. We use the notion of “character metrics”, .which refer to the location and size of various features, such as ascender height and character width. Recording these features for handwritten characters allows for input and output transformations and may help with recognition in a 2-dimensional setting such as for mathematical handwriting recognition. To be able to create personalized handwriting fonts, we have constructed a tool to collect samples where lines related to the characters metrics can be recorded. Handwriting always comes with variations in alignment and size so certain measurements based on these metrics can be extracted to perform the desired transformations to obtain a set of samples in a normalized form

Comportamiento relajador del proceso conductivo del sistema Pb0,91La0,09(Zr0,65Ti0,35)O3 + xMnO

In this work, a study of the ceramic Pb0,91La0,09(Zr0,65Ti0,35)O3 + xMnO with x = 0,0; 0,01; 0,02 and 0,03 was carried out, The dielectric response of PLZT was measured using the impedance spectroscopy method, in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 MHz and at temperatures from 15 to 700 K, In the behavior of permittivity with frequency, a strong dispersion is reported for x = 0,0, This relaxing behavior becomes imperceptible with the increase of the Mn2+ cation, In the temperature range between 660 and 700 K, the doped samples showed a relaxation process by conductivity, studied by the Cole-Cole relaxation function, determining, in addition, the thermal evolution of the relaxation time τ, suggesting conductive processes by ion movement. The macroscopic activation energy was determined indicating a conduction process by oxygen vacancies.En este trabajo se realiza un estudio de la cerámica Pb0,91La0,09(Zr0,65Ti0,35)O3 + xMnO con x = 0,0; 0,01; 0,02 y 0,03. La respuesta dieléctrica del PLZT es medida a través del método de espectroscopia de impedancia, en un rango de frecuencias 100 Hz a 10 MHz y a temperaturas desde 15 a 700 K. En el comportamiento de la permitividad con la frecuencia se reporta una fuerte dispersión para x = 0,0. Este comportamiento relajador se hace imperceptible con el aumento del catión Mn2+.En el intervalo de temperaturas comprendido entre los 660 y 700 K las muestras dopadas, manifestaron un proceso de relajación por conductividad, estudiado por la función de relajación Cole-Cole, determinándose, además, la evolución térmica del tiempo de relajación sugiriendo procesos conductivos por movimiento de iones. Se determinó la energía de activación macroscópica indicando un proceso de conducción por vacancias de oxígeno.Fil: Vega García, Arles. Universidad de Holguin; CubaFil: Mariño Castellanos, Pedro Antonio. Universidad de Holguin; CubaFil: Velazquez Infante, Julio Cesar. Unidad de Extensión, Investigación y Capacitación Agropecuaria; Cuba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Fernández-Santiesteban, Eduardo. Universidad de Holguin; CubaFil: Pupo-Palma, Carlos. Universidad de Holguin; Cub

Comportamiento relajador del proceso conductivo del sistema Pb0,91La0,09(Zr0,65Ti0,35)O3 + xMnO

In this work, a study of the ceramic Pb0,91La0,09(Zr0,65Ti0,35)O3 + xMnO with x = 0,0; 0,01; 0,02 and 0,03 was carried out, The dielectric response of PLZT was measured using the impedance spectroscopy method, in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 10 MHz and at temperatures from 15 to 700 K, In the behavior of permittivity with frequency, a strong dispersion is reported for x = 0,0, This relaxing behavior becomes imperceptible with the increase of the Mn2+ cation, In the temperature range between 660 and 700 K, the doped samples showed a relaxation process by conductivity, studied by the Cole-Cole relaxation function, determining, in addition, the thermal evolution of the relaxation time τ, suggesting conductive processes by ion movement. The macroscopic activation energy was determined indicating a conduction process by oxygen vacancies.En este trabajo se realiza un estudio de la cerámica Pb0,91La0,09(Zr0,65Ti0,35)O3 + xMnO con x = 0,0; 0,01; 0,02 y 0,03. La respuesta dieléctrica del PLZT es medida a través del método de espectroscopia de impedancia, en un rango de frecuencias 100 Hz a 10 MHz y a temperaturas desde 15 a 700 K. En el comportamiento de la permitividad con la frecuencia se reporta una fuerte dispersión para x = 0,0. Este comportamiento relajador se hace imperceptible con el aumento del catión Mn2+.En el intervalo de temperaturas comprendido entre los 660 y 700 K las muestras dopadas, manifestaron un proceso de relajación por conductividad, estudiado por la función de relajación Cole-Cole, determinándose, además, la evolución térmica del tiempo de relajación sugiriendo procesos conductivos por movimiento de iones. Se determinó la energía de activación macroscópica indicando un proceso de conducción por vacancias de oxígeno.Fil: Vega García, Arles. Universidad de Holguin; CubaFil: Mariño Castellanos, Pedro Antonio. Universidad de Holguin; CubaFil: Velazquez Infante, Julio Cesar. Unidad de Extensión, Investigación y Capacitación Agropecuaria; Cuba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Fernández-Santiesteban, Eduardo. Universidad de Holguin; CubaFil: Pupo-Palma, Carlos. Universidad de Holguin; Cub

Germline Genetic Findings Which May Impact Therapeutic Decisions in Families with a Presumed Predisposition for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

In this study, we aim to gain insight in the germline mutation spectrum of ATM, BARD1, BRIP1, ERCC4, PALB2, RAD51C and RAD51D in breast and ovarian cancer families from Spain. We have selected 180 index cases in whom a germline mutation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 was previously ruled out. The importance of disease-causing variants in these genes lies in the fact that they may have possible therapeutic implications according to clinical guidelines. All variants were assessed by combined annotation dependent depletion (CADD) for scoring their deleteriousness. In addition, we used the cancer genome interpreter to explore the implications of some variants in drug response. Finally, we compiled and evaluated the family history to assess whether carrying a pathogenic mutation was associated with age at diagnosis, tumour diversity of the pedigree and total number of cancer cases in the family. Eight unequivocal pathogenic mutations were found and another fourteen were prioritized as possible causal variants. Some of these molecular results could contribute to cancer diagnosis, treatment selection and prevention. We found a statistically significant association between tumour diversity in the family and carrying a variant with a high score predicting pathogenicity (p = 0.0003)

Mid-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy Applications in Process Analytical Technology: Cleaning Validation, Microorganisms, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Formulations

Mid-infrared (MIR) lasers are very high-brightness energy sources that are replacing conventional thermal sources (globars) in many infrared spectroscopy (IRS) techniques. Although not all laser properties have been exploited in depth, properties such as collimation, polarization, high brightness, and very high resolution have contributed to recast IRS tools. Applications of MIR laser spectroscopy to process analytical technology (PAT) are numerous and important. As an example, a compact grazing angle probe mount has allowed coupling to a MIR quantum cascade laser (QCL), enabling reflectance-absorbance infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) measurements. This methodology, coupled to powerful multivariable analysis (MVA) routines of chemometrics and fast Fourier transform (FFT) preprocessing of the data resulted in very low limits of detection of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and high explosives (HEs) reaching trace levels. This methodology can be used to measure concentrations of surface contaminants for validation of cleanliness of pharmaceutical and biotechnology processing batch reactors and other manufacturing vessels. Another application discussed concerns the enhanced detection of microorganisms that can be encountered in pharmaceutical and biotechnology plants as contaminants and that could also be used as weapons of mass destruction in biological warfare. In the last application discussed, the concentration of APIs in formulations was determined by MIR laser spectroscopy and was cross validated with high-performance liquid chromatography

Estudio comparativo de la efectividad, tolerabilidad y seguridad de furoato de mometasona en combinación con mupirocina y clotrimazol (DermaQ®) vs la combinación dexametasona, neomicina y clotrimazol (Baycuten®) en sujetos con procesos inflamatorios de pi

Introducción: En un estudio abierto, comparativo, multicéntrico, aleatorio se evaluó la eficacia, seguridad y tolerabilidad de la combinación de furoato de mometasona, clotrimazol y mupirocina (DermaQ®, Galeno) (D) comparado con la combinación  dexametasona, neomicina y clotrimazol (Baycuten®, Bayer) (B) en el tratamiento de sujetos con procesos inflamatorios de piel asociados a sospecha de infecciones bacterianas y/o micóticas. Metodología: El protocolo, formato de reporte de casos y consentimiento informado fueron aprobados  por los Comités de Ética correspondientes. Se incluyeron sujetos masculinos y femeninos mayores de 18 años de edad con procesos de eccema complicado con manifestacionessospechosas de infección bacteriana y/o micótica.  Luego de firmar el consentimiento informado y de revisar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, los sujetos recibieron D oB por un período de 7 a 13 días. La evaluación de eficacia se  hizo mediante el análisis de signos y síntomas y las escalas VAS de prurito a los 7 días (visita 1) y si no había curación, los sujetos continuaban tratamiento hasta los 10-13 días y eran reevaluados. La evaluación de seguridad se hizo mediante el análisis de efectos secundarios. Resultados: Se estudiaron 170 sujetos. Un sujeto (Grupo D) presentó erisipela por lo que fue retirado del estudio. Se incluyeron en el análisis 169 sujetos (90 M, 79 F) con edades entre 18 y 95 años (promedio 44,1 años). La mitad de los sujetos recibió D y la otra mitad recibió B. Ambos productos produjeron mejoría altamente significativa en la Visita 1 y Visita 2 respecto a la evaluación basal (p < 0,001 para ambos productos). En el estudio sólo 1 sujeto presentó evento adverso (atrofia de piel, grupo B). Conclusión: En este estudio, DermaQ® demostró alta eficacia y seguridad en el tratamiento de sujetos con procesos de eccema sobreinfectado, logrando un 87,2% de curación mientras que Baycuten® logró 83,6% de curación (n.s.). DermaQ® representa una opción conveniente para el tratamiento de procesos dermatológicos inflamatorios complicados con probable infección bacteriana y/o micótica.Background: A randomized, open, multicentric, active comparator-controlled study was conducted on patients with a diagnosis of acute eccema complicated with suspect of infection to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of mometasone furoate plus mupirocine and clothrimazole (DermaQ® Galeno-D) versus dexamethasone, neomycin and clothrimazole (Baycuten® Bayer-B). Methods: Approval for the protocol, case report form and inform consent document was obtained from the Ethics Committees and all patients gave their written informed consent before any protocol-related procedure. Male or female patients, older than 18 years were included and randomized to receive DermaQ® or Baycuten® cream twice a day for 7 – 13 days. Efficacy was assessed by Signs/ Symptoms scale and pruritus VAS scale at Day 7 (visit 1) and if cure was not obtained, they continued treatment until 10-13 days when they were reassessed; adverse events recording was used to assess safety. Results: One hundred and seventy patients were screened. One patient developed erysipela and was excluded for any evaluation. One hundred and sixty-nine patients (90 male - 79 female; 18 - 95 years 53 old), mean age 44.1 years old were included. Half of them received D and the other half received B. Efficacy was similar for both drugs at visit 1 and at visit 2. Only one patient developed an adverse event (skin atrophy, Group B) Conclusion: in this trial DermaQ® showed high efficacy and safety in patients with dermatologic inflammatory conditions and suspicion of bacterial or mycotic infection, achieving a cure rate of 87,2% vs 83,6% with Baycuten® (n.s.). DermaQ® is a convenient optionfor the treatment of patients with this condition

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Presenting as Acute Polyneuropathy Mimicking Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a small-vessel vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) which commonly affects the peripheral nervous system. A 38-year-old female with a history of asthma presented with a 2-week history of bilateral lower extremity paresthesias that progressed to symmetric ascending paralysis. Nerve conduction studies could not rule out Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and plasmapheresis was considered. Her blood work revealed marked eosinophilia (>50%), she had purpuric lesions in her legs, and a head magnetic resonance image showed evidence of pansinusitis. Coupled with a history of asthma we suspected EGPA-associated neuropathy and started steroid treatment. The patient showed rapid and significant improvement. ANCAs were later reported positive. ANCA-associated vasculitides present most often as mononeuritis multiplex, but they can mimic GBS and should always be considered in the differential diagnosis, since the treatment strategies for these conditions are radically different