Effect of denoising on the quality of reconstructed images in digital breast tomosynthesis

Individual projection images in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) must be acquired with low levels of radiation,\ud which significantly increases image noise. This work investigates the influence of a denoising algorithm and the\ud Anscombe transformation on the reduction of quantum noise in DBT images. The Anscombe transformation is a\ud variance-stabilizing transformation that converts the signal-dependent quantum noise to an approximately signalindependent\ud Gaussian additive noise. Thus, this transformation allows for the use of conventional denoising algorithms,\ud designed for additive Gaussian noise, on the reduction of quantum noise, by working on the image in the Anscombe\ud domain. In this work, denoising was performed by an adaptive Wiener filter, previously developed for 2D\ud mammography, which was applied to a set of synthetic DBT images generated using a 3D anthropomorphic software\ud breast phantom. Ideal images without noise were also generated in order to provide a ground-truth reference. Denoising\ud was applied separately to DBT projections and to the reconstructed slices. The relative improvement in image quality\ud was assessed using objective image quality metrics, such as peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and mean structural\ud similarity index (SSIM). Results suggest that denoising works better for tomosynthesis when using the Anscombe\ud transformation and when denoising was applied to each projection image before reconstruction; in this case, an average\ud increase of 9.1 dB in PSNR and 58.3% in SSIM measurements was observed. No significant improvement was observed\ud by using the Anscombe transformation when denoising was applied to reconstructed images, suggesting that the\ud reconstruction algorithm modifies the noise properties of the DBT images.FAPESPCNP

Investigating poisson noise filtering in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) is a potential\ud candidate to substitute digital mammography in breast cancer\ud screening. In DBT, projection images are acquired with low\ud levels of radiation, which significantly increases image noise. In\ud this work, we evaluate the effect of a denoising filter, designed for\ud digital mammography, on the reduction of quantum noise in\ud DBT images. This filter is based on an adaptive Wiener filter and\ud the Anscombe transformation, to reduce Poisson noise without\ud significantly affecting image sharpness. Denoising was applied to\ud a set of synthetic DBT images generated using a 3D\ud anthropomorphic software breast phantom. Images without noise\ud was also created to provide ground-truth information. In order to\ud evaluate the denoising performance in different steps of the DBT\ud imaging, filtering was applied separately to the projections\ud (before reconstruction) and to the tomographic slices (after\ud reconstruction). The performance of the filter was evaluated\ud considering qualitative and quantitative analysis of the images\ud before and after denoising.FAPESPCNP

Avaliação de ruído em imagens radiográficas digitalizadas por meio do histograma

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar três equipamentos digitais em relação ao ruído agregado as imagens radiográficas digitalizadas contendo diferentes densidades ópticas. MATERIAL AND MÉTODO: Uma imagem radiográfica foi digitalizada seqüencialmente dez vezes usando dois escaneres (HP 4c/T and HP 5370C) e uma câmera digital (Nikon 990). Por meio do histograma foram medidos os valores de pixels e os desvios-padrões da região de interesse de cada imagem. Ambos valores foram utilizados para o cálculo do ruído nas diferentes densidades ópticas. RESULTADOS: Os valores encontrados para o ruído foram diferentes para cada equipamento e para cada densidade óptica. Houve uma diferença estatística significante entre os valores de ruído encontrados para o escaner HP 4c/T e a câmera digital (pTo evaluate the performance of three digital devices regarding the noise added to digital radiographic images containing different optical densities. METHODS: A radiographic image was digitized repeatedly ten times using two scanners (HP 4c/T and HP 5370C) and a digital camera (Nikon 990). A histogram tool measured a mean pixel value and the standard deviation of the region of interest in each image. Both values were used to calculate the image noise at the different optical densities. RESULTS: The noise values found were different for all devices and optical densities. There was a statistically significant difference (

Associated Clinical and Laboratory Markers of Donor on Allograft Function After Heart Transplant

Abstract Introduction: Primary graft dysfunction is a major cause of mortality after heart transplantation. Objectiv

Saúde, direito de todos e dever do estado: impacto financeiro na assistência farmacêutica em um componente especializado / Health, everyone'srightandthestate'sduty: financial impactonpharmaceuticalcare in a specialized componente

     O direito à saúde é um direito adquirido, com apoio na Constituição Federal, e que desse modo o acesso aos medicamentos de alto custo é apenas um dos aspectos dessa garantia constitucional, o qual insere-se nesse debate como um fator relevante dos direitos fundamentais, e cuja intervenção do Poder Judiciário torna-se imprescindível, no sentido de garantir o atendimento dos serviços de saúde e consequentemente a sobrevivência para muitas pessoas, bem como, de tornar efetivo do princípio da dignidade humana. O objetivo do presente trabalho consiste em dissertar sobre os medicamentos de alto custo fornecidos pelo SUS, além de  mostrar como a saúde pública do país evoluiu ao passar do tempo. Para isso usou-se as bases de dados Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SCIELO), Literatura Latino Americana, Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), WebSites e  Portal de Pesquisa da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) aplicando-se os descritores: componente especializado, medicamentos e assistência farmacêutica, com artigos nas línguas inglesa, espanhola, portuguesa e corte temporal  entre os anos de 2010 e 2021. Os resultados apresentaram as Principais Patologias, Medicamentos de Alto Custo do Componente Especializado da Assistência Farmacêutica eosProtocolos Clínicos e Diretrizes Terapêuticas, Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID) e suas respectivas legislações. Através do estudo constatou-se que a implementação dos princípios da integralidade e universalidade do SUS apesar de limitações quanto aos seus cumprimentos buscam ser atendidos, e fornecer medicamentos de alto custo é fundamental  e a assistência farmacêutica utiliza-se de um nicho de conhecimentos técnicospara assistir ao paciente em suas necessidades de tratamento e cuidado, sendo, entretanto, atividade de caráter multiprofissional e multidisciplinar.O direito à saúde é um direito adquirido, com apoio na Constituição Federal, e que desse modo o acesso aos medicamentos de alto custo é apenas um dos aspectos dessa garantia constitucional, o qual insere-se nesse debate como um fator relevante dos direitos fundamentais, e cuja intervenção do Poder Judiciário torna-se imprescindível, no sentido de garantir o atendimento dos serviços de saúde e consequentemente a sobrevivência para muitas pessoas, bem como, de tornar efetivo do princípio da dignidade humana. O objetivo do presente trabalho consiste em dissertar sobre os medicamentos de alto custo fornecidos pelo SUS, além de  mostrar como a saúde pública do país evoluiu ao passar do tempo. Para isso usou-se as bases de dados Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SCIELO), Literatura Latino Americana, Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), WebSites e  Portal de Pesquisa da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) aplicando-se os descritores: componente especializado, medicamentos e assistência farmacêutica, com artigos nas línguas inglesa, espanhola, portuguesa e corte temporal  entre os anos de 2010 e 2021. Os resultados apresentaram as Principais Patologias, Medicamentos de Alto Custo do Componente Especializado da Assistência Farmacêutica eosProtocolos Clínicos e Diretrizes Terapêuticas, Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID) e suas respectivas legislações. Através do estudo constatou-se que a implementação dos princípios da integralidade e universalidade do SUS apesar de limitações quanto aos seus cumprimentos buscam ser atendidos, e fornecer medicamentos de alto custo é fundamental  e a assistência farmacêutica utiliza-se de um nicho de conhecimentos técnicospara assistir ao paciente em suas necessidades de tratamento e cuidado, sendo, entretanto, atividade de caráter multiprofissional e multidisciplinar.

Xenogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Formation of Hyaline Cartilage in Osteochondral Goat Failure

Background: Osteochondral knee failures are among the most common causes of disability among the elderly human population and animal athletes. The xenogeneic transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells is a questionable therapeutic alternative that, despite the low expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex type II by these cells, still has relevantuncertainties about the safety and clinical efficacy. The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether the xenogeneic transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells induces hyaline cartilage formation, without histopathological evidence of rejection, in osteochondralfailures of goats.Materials, Methods & Results: Five female goats were used, submitted to three surgical osteocondral failures in the right knee, treated with xenogenic mesenchymal stem cells of dental pulp, xenogenic platelet-rich plasma and hemostatic sponge of hydrolyzed collagen, respectively. The lesions were evaluated after 60 days of treatment, aiming to identify thepresence of hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage and the subchondral bone pattern (regenerated or disorganized). Transplantation of xenogenic mesenchymal stem cells induced predominant formation of hyaline cartilage (P 0.05). Macroscopically, the lesions of the stem cell treated group showed formation of firm repair tissue, opaque staining, integrated with adjacent cartilage and with the failure filling almost completely. The groups treated with PRP and hemostatic sponge of hydrolyzed collagen presented, on average, partial filling of the lesion, with irregular shape and darkened coloration.Discussion. The absence of macroscopic and histopathological evidences of an inflammatory process on the surface and in the internal portion of the osteochondral lesions treated with xenogeneic stem cells, probably due to the low expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex type II by these cells, which would theoretically induce low rejection response. Such observations are of great importance, since graft-versus- host disease syndrome is a serious condition, responsible for the low therapeutic efficacy with transplantation of cells or grafts in humans. The formation of fibrocartilage, although without macro and microscopic evidence of degeneration or necrosis, in the osteochondral failures treated with PRP and hemostatic collagen sponge suggest that paracrine factors of the local microenvironment of the osteochondral failure are possibly responsible for the formation of fibrocartilaginous tissue or by inhibition of normal cartilage formation. The fibrocartilage formed in the Plasmaand Control groups, contributed to the commitment in the filling of the lesion, contrasting with the almost complete fill of the lesions treated with stem cells. The xenotransplantation of mesenchymal stem cells induced formation of hyaline cartilage and did not promote histopathological evidence of rejection in osteochondral lesions of goat knees. The treatments with PRP and hemostatic sponge of hydrolyzed collagen induced greater formation of fibrocartilaginous cartilaginous surface in the osteochondral failures

BIODIGESTOR PARA O GÁS DO LIXO ORGÂNICO

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma alternativa de reutilização do gás produzido pelo lixo, por meio da construção de um biodigestor, visando a preservação do meio ambiente por meio de energia renovável. A energia produzida por esse sistema, obtida da decomposição do lixo orgânico, é o biogás, formado por gases, tais como o metano (CH4) e o dióxido de carbono (CO2). Esse experimento verifica a possibilidade de utilizar o gás metano como alternativa para o funcionamento de um fogão doméstico

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

O 6º objetivo da agenda dos ODS da ONU: Debates sobre água segura y saneamento básico universalizado.

El proyecto de Trabajo Comunal Universitario (TCU) No. 540: Procesos pedagógicos y didácticos para la enseñanza de los derechos humanos y la convivencia pacífica, coordinado por la Dra. Marcela Moreno Buján, con la cooperación académica del proyecto de extensión docente Grupo de Pesquisa Derecho y Sustentabilidad (GPDS), coordinado por el Dr. Carlos Peralta Montero, han unido esfuerzos para organizar y publicar la Colección “Comunidad Académica y COVID 19”. Esta colección, conformada por tres volúmenes, forma parte de la sistematización de experiencias relacionadas con las temáticas abordadas por el TCU No. 540 y el GPDS. Este volumen está compuesto por doce capítulos, desarrollados por veintiocho académicos costarricenses, brasileños y colombianos donde se reflexiona de manera interdisciplinaria sobre el sexto objetivo de la agenda de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la ONU en el contexto de pandemia actual.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Acción Social::Trabajo Comunal Universitario (TCU

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio