43 research outputs found
A proposal of a standard rainbow false color scale for thermal medical images
Medical thermal imaging offers the opportunity of human body physiology monitoring. The frequent use of false color scales in those images has the objective of being a visual aid for human eye interpretation. However, several scales are being used, which may lead to different subjective interpretations. Is objective of this study to raise the need of uniformity in adoption of an internationally accepted standard false color scale and for that purpose a scale is proposed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Comparison of machine learning strategies for infrared thermography of skin cancer
Objective: The aim of this work was to explore the potential of infrared thermal imaging as an
aiding tool for the diagnosis of skin cancer lesions, using artificial intelligence methods.
Methods: Thermal parameters of skin tumours were retrieved from thermograms and used as
input features for two machine learning based strategies: ensemble learning and deep learning.
Results: The deep learning strategy outperformed the ensemble learning one, showing good
predictive performance for the differentiation of melanoma and nevi (Precision=0.9665,
Recall=0.9411, f1-score=0.9536, ROC(AUC)=0.9185) and melanoma and non-melanoma skin
cancer (Precision=0.9259, Recall=0.8852, f1-score=0.9051, ROC(AUC)=0.901).
Conclusion: IRT imaging combined with deep learning techniques is promising for simplifying
and accelerating the diagnosis of skin cancer.
Significance: Despite ongoing awareness campaigns for skin cancer’ risk factors, its incidence
rate has continuously been growing worldwide, becoming a major public health issue. The
standard first detection method – dermoscopy –, is largely experience-dependent and mostly
used to assess melanocytic lesions. As infrared thermal imaging is an innocuous imaging
technique that maps skin surface temperature, which may be associated to pathological states,
e.g., tumorous lesions, it could be a potential aiding tool for all skin cancer conditions. The
application of artificial intelligence methods to process the collected temperature data can save
time and assist health care professionals with low experience levels in the diagnosis task. To the
best of our knowledge, this is the first study where a data set of skin cancer thermograms is
expanded and used for skin lesion differentiation with a deep learning approach.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Recent use of medical infrared thermography in skin neoplasms
Background: Infrared thermal imaging captures the infrared radiation emitted by the skin surface. The thermograms contain valuable information, since the temperature distribution can be used to characterize physiological anomalies. Thus, the use of infrared thermal imaging (IRT) has been studied as a possible medical tool to aid in the diagnosis of skin oncological lesions. The aim of this review is to assess the current state of the applications of IRT in skin neoplasm identification and characterization. Methods: A literature survey was conducted using the reference bibliographic databases: Scopus, PubMed and ISI Web of Science. Keywords (thermography, infrared imaging, thermal imaging and skin cancer) were combined and its presence was verified at the title and abstract of the article or as a main topic. Only articles published after 2013 were considered during this search. Results: In total, 55 articles were encountered, resulting in 14 publications for revision after applying the exclusion criteria. It was denoted that IRT have been used to characterize and distinguish between malignant and benign neoplasms and different skin cancer types. IRT has also been successfully applied in the treatment evaluation of these types of lesions. Conclusion: Trends and future challenges have been established to improve the application of IRT in this field, disclosing that dynamic thermography is a promising tool for early identification of oncological skin conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Building Low Cost Cloud Computing Systems
The actual models of cloud computing are based in megalomaniac hardware solutions, being its implementation and maintenance unaffordable to the majority of service providers. The use of jail services is an alternative to current models of cloud computing based on virtualization. Models based in utilization of jail environments instead of the used virtualization systems will provide huge gains in terms of optimization of hardware resources at computation level and in terms of storage and energy consumption. In this paper it will be addressed the practical implementation of jail environments in real scenarios, which allows the visualization of areas where its application will be relevant and will make inevitable the redefinition of the models that are currently defined for cloud computing. In addition it will bring new opportunities in the development of support features for jail environments in the majority of operating systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Bilateral assessment of body core temperature through axillar, tympanic and inner canthi thermometers in a young population
There are several sites in which the human body core temperature can be estimated and used to identify febrile
states in a threat of pandemic situations at high-populational-traffic places (e.g. airports, ports, universities,
schools, public buildings). In these locations, a fast method is required for temperature screening of masses.
The most common methods are axillar and tympanic thermometers. However, in addition, measurement of the
inner canthi (IC) of the eye with infrared thermal (IRT) imaging has been suggested as a fast mass measurement
screening tool. Objective: It is the aim of this research to identify the bilateral difference of the available body
temperature screening methods with potential use for large-scale fever screening and to verify if such a difference
is acceptable. Approach: A total of 206 young participants (104 females and 102 males) were recruited, having
their temperatures taken with the different methods bilaterally under neutral environmental conditions. The
obtained results were statistically processed. Main results: Results established absent reference data for site and
method in west European populations. The bilateral differences were minor using the IC of the eye monitored
with infrared imaging, which was also proved with the Bland–Altmann limits of agreement. Significance: Based
on the findings of this research, despite all methods being able to estimate body core temperature, it is suggested
to use IRT images of the IC of the eye, due to its fast, reliable and reproducible procedure for mass screening.
Further research is required to understand the higher bilateral variability in using the traditional thermometer
axilla and tympanic membrane assessments, since these are the methods currently used within a clinical setup.
The same procedure must be applied to fever cases to establish a decision threshold per method.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Recent application of infrared thermography in work-related musculoskeletal disorders
The burden of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is an important problem in the occupational setting. New techniques to quantify the exposure to risk factors are important to understand possible pathophysiological mechanisms that may lead to the development of these disorders. Existing methods have known limitations and new approaches are required. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders have been associated with blood flow impairments. Skin temperature is influenced by blood flow and might be an interesting parameter in their management. Thermography is a simple way to record skin temperature and produces a thermal map of the evaluated body part. A literature review was conducted in order to analyze the recent applications of thermal imaging in the management of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Performance of Jails versus Virtualization for Cloud Computing Solutions
The existence of a virtualization layer within the cloud affects the resources optimization and the reduction of requirements of its implementation. In this publication the focus will be the use of jail environments, provided by the FreeBSD Operating System, which present a relevant set of features that can enhance the increase of performance. A set of data collection tests that allows measuring the degree of optimization obtainable in current models of cloud computing, based on the use of hypervisors tests, are presented. These tests proved that the increase in performance and optimization of resources is possible, bringing up the need to adapt the current models of cloud computing for the use of such solutions. However, this increase in performance, leads to a loss of flexibility of the usage of independent operating systems, which is not relevant to the model of cloud computing business.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Quantitative Models for Prediction of Cumulative Trauma Disorders Applied to the Maquiladora Industry
Temperature gradient changes on the surface of the skin or in the middle of the body are
signs of a disease. The aim of this study is to develop quantitative models for the prediction of
cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) arising from highly repetitive activities, considering risk factors,
such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), and heart
rate, to prevent injuries in manufacturing factory operators. This research involved 19 individuals
from the area of sanding and 14 individuals from the area of tolex in manufacturing factories who
had their vital signs and somatometry taken, as well as thermal images of their hands in the dorsal
and palmar areas; an evaluation by the OCRA method was also applied. Factors such as BP and
heart rate were determined to significantly influence the injuries, but no strong association with BMI
was found. Quadratic regression models were developed, the estimates of which were adequately
adjusted to the variable (R2 and R2 adjusted > 0.70). When integrating the factors of the OCRA
method to the generated models, a better fit was obtained (R2 and adjusted R2 > 0.80). In conclusion,
the participants who present levels out of the normal range in at least one of the factors have high
probabilities of developing injuries in their wrists.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The Functional Interdependence of Wind Instrumentalists’ Embouchure and Their Craniofacial Features
The criteria of performing a correct embouchure can differ according
to particular craniofacial features. Different teaching techniques can also
lead to specific patterns of a musician embouchure, where playing in a relaxed
position is one of the major indications. In order to understand if there is a
“perfect embouchure”, several techniques were used on the analysis of the embouchure
of three different wind instrumentalists. Force sensing resistors were
applied to the mouthpiece of a clarinet, infrared thermography was performed to
a brass player, while a bassoon player underwent two lateral cephalograms. The
examinations techniques were chosen to take advantage of the possible information
that could be taken from each musician, on addition to the evidence of
the intra-oral exam. The force analysis showed that the clarinetist had an asymmetrical
force distribution among the two central incisors. The infrared thermography
showed that the tuba player had thermal asymmetry at the region correspondent
to the masseters muscles possibly related to the teeth position. The
lateral cephalograms showed a 10° posterior rotation of the mandible during the
embouchure of the bassoon player. Therefore, understanding the anatomical
limitations of the orofacial region, which may lead to an asymmetrical embouchure,
is fundamental to analyze and treat a wind instrumentalist within a dental
appointment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A case study on dynamic thermal imaging evaluation of a thyroid nodule
BACKGROUND:The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the neck anteriorly to the larynx and trachea,
typically extending from the level of C5-T1. It is responsible for the release of hormones that control metabolic rates and
thereby modifying obligatory and adaptive thermogenesis. This organ can be affected by nodules and cellular malforma- tions, which can result in malignant neoplasia or benign cysts. Those manifestations may change the normal pattern of
skin temperature distribution in the affected area. The aim of this study is to investigate the thermal pattern of a subject
presenting a hypervascularized nodule located on the left side of the thyroid.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A male with 40 years old presenting a 11x6 mm nodule in the left side of his thyroid, con- firmed by functional doppler imaging, was examined in a controlled environment using a FLIR E60 thermal camera and
two aluminium disks to provide a cooling provocation during one minute on the skin, above the thyroid gland location.
Thermal images were taken before and until the fifth minute after cooling at an interval of 1 minute. A 26x26 pixel square
region of interest (ROI) was drawn in the analysis software to statistically analyze the temperature values, histogram,
mean, median and mode temperature, standard deviation, kurtosis and skewness per ROI and side.
RESULTS:The ROI presented at baseline a bilateral difference in mean temperature of 0.4 ºC, after cooling this difference
was accentuated, the affected side recovered quickly and showed a hot spot in the area of the nodule identified by Doppler
imaging.
CONCLUSION:This case study showed evidence of the utility on using dynamic infrared thermal imaging when assess ing thyroid nodules, which was confirmed by Doppler imaging to be highly vascularized. However, for diagnostic pur poses the traditional expensive methods such as biopsy and nuclear medicine are still required. Still the application of IRT
imaging should be further researched in possible monitoring and documenting the diagnosis and treatment evaluation
applied to thyroid conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio