ThicknessTool: automated ImageJ retinal layer thickness and profile in digital images

To develop an automated retina layer thickness measurement tool for the ImageJ platform, to quantitate nuclear layers following the retina contour. We developed the ThicknessTool (TT), an automated thickness measurement plugin for the ImageJ platform. To calibrate TT, we created a calibration dataset of mock binary skeletonized mask images with increasing thickness masks and different rotations. Following, we created a training dataset and performed an agreement analysis of thickness measurements between TT and two masked manual observers. Finally, we tested the performance of TT measurements in a validation dataset of retinal detachment images. In the calibration dataset, there were no differences in layer thickness between measured and known thickness masks, with an overall coefficient of variation of 0.00%. Training dataset measurements of immunofluorescence retina nuclear layers disclosed no significant differences between TT and any observer's average outer nuclear layer (ONL) (p = 0.998), inner nuclear layer (INL) (p = 0.807), and ONL/INL ratio (p = 0.944) measurements. Agreement analysis showed that bias between TT vs. observers' mean was lower than between any observers' mean against each other in the ONL (0.77 ± 0.34 µm vs 3.25 ± 0.33 µm) and INL (1.59 ± 0.28 µm vs 2.82 ± 0.36 µm). Validation dataset showed that TT can detect significant and true ONL thinning (p = 0.006), more sensitive than manual measurement capabilities (p = 0.069). ThicknessTool can measure retina nuclear layers thickness in a fast, accurate, and precise manner with multi-platform capabilities. In addition, the TT can be customized to user preferences and is freely available to download

Expert knowledge for translating land cover/use maps to General Habitat Categories (GHC)

Monitoring biodiversity at the level of habitats and landscape is becoming widespread in Europe and elsewhere as countries establish international and national habitat conservation policies and monitoring systems. Earth Observation (EO) data offers a potential solution to long-term biodiversity monitoring through direct mapping of habitats or by integrating Land Cover/Use (LC/LU) maps with contextual spatial information and in situ data. Therefore, it appears necessary to develop an automatic/semi-automatic translation framework of LC/LU classes to habitat classes, but also challenging due to discrepancies in domain definitions. In the context of the FP7 BIO_SOS (www.biosos.eu) project, the authors demonstrated the feasibility of the Food and Agricultural Organization Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) taxonomy to habitat class translation. They also developed a framework to automatically translate LCCS classes into the recently proposed General Habitat Categories classification system, able to provide an exhaustive typology of habitat types, ranging from natural ecosystems to urban areas around the globe. However discrepancies in terminology, plant height criteria and basic principles between the two mapping domains inducing a number of one-to-many and many-to-many relations were identified, revealing the need of additional ecological expert knowledge to resolve the ambiguities. This paper illustrates how class phenology, class topological arrangement in the landscape, class spectral signature from multi-temporal Very High spatial Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery and plant height measurements can be used to resolve such ambiguities. Concerning plant height, this paper also compares the mapping results obtained by using accurate values extracted from LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) data and by exploiting EO data texture features (i.e. entropy) as a proxy of plant height information, when LIDAR data are not available. An application for two Natura 2000 coastal sites in Southern Italy is discussed

The Earth Observation Data for Habitat Monitoring (EODHaM) system

To support decisions relating to the use and conservation of protected areas and surrounds, the EU-funded BIOdiversity multi-SOurce monitoring System: from Space TO Species (BIO_SOS) project has developed the Earth Observation Data for HAbitat Monitoring (EODHaM) system for consistent mapping and monitoring of biodiversity. The EODHaM approach has adopted the Food and Agriculture Organization Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) taxonomy and translates mapped classes to General Habitat Categories (GHCs) from which Annex I habitats (EU Habitats Directive) can be defined. The EODHaM system uses a combination of pixel and object-based procedures. The 1st and 2nd stages use earth observation (EO) data alone with expert knowledge to generate classes according to the LCCS taxonomy (Levels 1 to 3 and beyond). The 3rd stage translates the final LCCS classes into GHCs from which Annex I habitat type maps are derived. An additional module quantifies changes in the LCCS classes and their components, indices derived from earth observation, object sizes and dimensions and the translated habitat maps (i.e., GHCs or Annex I). Examples are provided of the application of EODHaM system elements to protected sites and their surrounds in Italy, Wales (UK), the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and India

Adrenalectomy for solitary adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer: A case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Effects of Natural and Anthropogenic Stressors on Fucalean Brown Seaweeds Across Different Spatial Scales in the Mediterranean Sea

Este artículo contiene 14 páginas, 8 figuras, 3 tablas.Algal habitat-forming forests composed of fucalean brown seaweeds (Cystoseira, Ericaria, and Gongolaria) have severely declined along the Mediterranean coasts, endangering the maintenance of essential ecosystem services. Numerous factors determine the loss of these assemblages and operate at different spatial scales, which must be identified to plan conservation and restoration actions. To explore the critical stressors (natural and anthropogenic) that may cause habitat degradation, we investigated (a) the patterns of variability of fucalean forests in percentage cover (abundance) at three spatial scales (location, forest, transect) by visual estimates and or photographic sampling to identify relevant spatial scales of variation, (b) the correlation between semi-quantitative anthropogenic stressors, individually or cumulatively (MA-LUSI index), including natural stressors (confinement, sea urchin grazing), and percentage cover of functional groups (perennial, semi-perennial) at forest spatial scale. The results showed that impacts from mariculture and urbanization seem to be the main stressors affecting habitat-forming species. In particular, while mariculture, urbanization, and cumulative anthropogenic stress negatively correlated with the percentage cover of perennial fucalean species, the same stressors were positively correlated with the percentage cover of the semi-perennial Cystoseira compressa and C. compressa subsp. pustulata. Our results indicate that human impacts can determine spatial patterns in these fragmented and heterogeneous marine habitats, thus stressing the need of carefully considering scale-dependent ecological processes to support conservation and restoration.This study was supported by the European Union’s EASME (Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprise) and EMFF (European Maritime and Fisheries fund) as part of the project AFRIMED, “Algal Forest Restoration in the Mediterranean Sea” (under grant agreement no. 789059), http:// afrimed-project.eu/.Peer reviewe

THE PERFORMANCE OF BANKS IN THE MENA REGION DURING THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

This paper examines the impact of the global financial crisis on the banking sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as the main determinants of the profitability of both domestic and foreign banks. The empirical findings suggest that during the crisis the former outperformed the latter in that region. As for the determinants of profitability, size does not appear to play a role, whilst the liquidity ratio and net interest revenues seem to have a negative and positive effect respectively; GDP has a positive effect in the case of domestic banks

FABRICATION OF NANOPOROUS MATERIALS FOR APPLICATIONS UNDER EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

The study of nanoporous materials has become a key aspect of nanotechnology due to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, arising from the small size ligaments and pores that form the structure. Sensing, catalysis, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), medical applications, and materials for radiation environments are some of the applications for which nanoporous materials are considered great candidates. This work, performed at the Ion Beam Laboratory (IBL) at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), examines the effect of heavy and light ion irradiation exposure on nanoporous Au. Radiation damage accumulation is observed with real-time recording of the creation, migration, and removal of the radiation-induced defects within the nanoporous framework. Promising results of nanoporous gold to radiation tolerance have emerged, underscoring the need to explore the synthesis of nanoporous refractory metals. For this purpose, niobium was selected as one such element, primarily due to its low neutron absorption cross-section and high-temperature stability that renders it a candidate structural material in fusion energy systems. A novel technique, named Vacuum Thermal Dealloying (VTD), is introduced for refractory metals since conventional dealloying is problematic for highly chemically active elements that are prone to oxidation. An analytical investigation of this unique dealloying technique has occurred with real-time recording through in-situ TEM annealing experiments under various heating conditions in order to optimize the final nanoporous structure. Finally, elemental and morphological characterization of the nanoscale volume were performed using 3D electron tomography, providing essential information about the interconnected porosity of two nanostructured samples: 1. Nanoporous Niobium and 2. Multilayered Nanoporous Tantalum / Dense Tantalum

Effect of atorvastatin on red blood cell Na+ / Li counter transport activity in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia

To evaluate the Na⁺-Li⁺ countertransport activity in hypertensive/hypercholesterolemic and normotensive/hypercholsterolemic patients and to explore the effect of short-term cholesterol lowering treatment with atorvastatin on erythrocyte sodium/lithium countertransport (Na/Li CT) and the effect on blood pressure and lipidemic and non lipidemic parameters. […]Σκοπός της μελέτης ήταν η εκτίμηση της δραστικότητας της αντλίας Na⁺-Li⁺ των ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων των υπερτασικών/υπερχοληστερολαιμικών και των νορμοτασικών/ υπερχοληστερολαιμικών ασθενών και της επίδρασης της θεραπείας για βραχύ χρονικό διάστημα με ατορβαστατίνη στη δραστικότητα της αντλίας Na⁺/Li⁺ των ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων των ασθενών καθώς και την εκτίμηση της θεραπείας με ατορβαστατίνη στις τιμές της αρτηριακής πίεσης, των λιπιδαιμικών και μη λιπιδαιμικών παραμέτρων. […

The effect of calcium sensitisers on the return of spontaneous circulation and on the neurological outcome after asphyxial cardiac arrest

Background In asphyxial cardiac arrest, the severe hypoxic stress complicates the resuscitation efforts and results in poor neurological outcomes. Our aim was to assess the effects of levosimendan on a swine model of asphyxial cardiac arrest. Methods Asphyxial cardiac arrest was induced in 20 Landrace/Large White piglets, which were subsequently left untreated for four minutes. The animals were randomised to receive adrenaline alone (n=10, Group A) and adrenaline plus levosimendan (n=10, Group B). All animals were resuscitated according to the 2010 European Resuscitation Council guidelines. Haemodynamic variables were measured before arrest, during arrest and resuscitation, and during the first 30 minutes after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), while survival and neurologic alertness score were measured 24 hours later. Results Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in six animals (60%) from Group A and nine animals (90%) from Group B (p=0.303). During the first minute of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, coronary perfusion pressure was significantly higher in Group B (p=0.046), but there was no significant difference at subsequent time points until ROSC. Although six animals (60%) from each group survived after 24 hours (p=1.000), neurologic examination was significantly better in the animals of Group B (p<0.01). Conclusions The addition of levosimendan to adrenaline improved coronary perfusion pressure immediately after the onset of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and resulted in better 24-hour neurological outcome.Εισαγωγή Στην καρδιακή ανακοπή ασφυκτικής αιτιολογίας, η παρατεταμένη σοβαρή υποξαιμία δυσχεραίνει την αποτελεσματικότητα της προσπάθειας αναζωογόνησης και οδηγεί σε κακή νευρολογική έκβαση. Ο σκοπός της μελέτης ήταν να ερευνηθεί η επίδραση της λεβοσιμεντάνης σε ένα ζωικό μοντέλο καρδιακής ανακοπής ασφυκτικής αιτιολογίας. Μέθοδος Σε 20 λευκά χοιρίδια Landrace προκλήθηκε καρδιακή ανακοπή ασφυκτικής αιτιολογίας τα οποία παρέμειναν χωρίς θεραπεία για τέσσερα λεπτά. Τα χοιρίδια τυχαιοποιήθηκαν να λάβουν μονοθεραπεία με επινεφρίνη (n=10, Ομάδα A) ή επινεφρίνη με λεβοσιμεντάνη (n=10, Ομάδα B). Σε όλα τα πειραματόζωα πραγματοποιήθηκε καρδιοαναπνευστική αναζωογόνηση σύμφωνα με τις οδηγίες του Ευρωπαικού Συμβουλίου Αναζωογόνησης (European Resuscitation Council 2010). Οι αιμοδυναμικές παράμετροι μετρήθηκαν πρίν την ανακοπή, κατά τη διάρκεια της ανακοπής και της αναζωογόνησης, και κατά τη διάρκεια των 30 λεπτών μετά την επάνοδο της αυτόματης κυκλοφορίας (return of spontaneous circulation, ROSC), ενώ η επιβίωση και η νευρολογική έκβαση όπως εκφράζεται από τη δοκιμασία βαθμονόμησης της νευρολογικής επαγρύπνησης μετρήθηκαν 24 ώρες μετά. Αποτελέσματα Σε έξι πειραματόζωα επετεύχθη επάνοδος της αυτόματης κυκλοφορίας (60%) από την Ομάδα A και εννέα (90%) από την Ομάδα Β (p=0.303). Κατά το πρώτο λεπτό της καρδιοαναπνευστικής αναζωογόνησης, η πίεση των στεφανιαίων αρτηριών ήταν σημαντικά πιο αυξημένη στην Ομάδα Β (p=0.046), αλλά δεν παρατηρήθηκε σημαντική διαφορά σε επόμενα χρονικά σημεία μέχρι τη ROSC. Αν και έξι πειραματόζωα (60%) από κάθε ομάδα επέζησαν για 24 ώρες (p=1.000), η νευρολογική εξέταση ήταν σημαντικά καλύτερη στα πειραματόζωα της Ομάδας B (p<0.01). Συμπεράσματα Η προσθήκη της λεβοσιμεντάνης στην επινεφρίνη βελτίωσε την πίεση των στεφανιαίων αγγείων αμέσως μετά την έναρξη της καρδιοαναπνευστικής αναζωογόνησης και οδήγησε σε καλύτερη νευρολογική έκβαση στις 2 4ώρες από την ανακοπή