A wavelet-based ECG delineator: evaluation on standard databases

In this paper, we developed and evaluated a robust single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) delineation system based on the wavelet transform (WT). In a first step, QRS complexes are detected. Then, each QRS is delineated by detecting and identifying the peaks of the individual waves, as well as the complex onset and end. Finally, the determination of P and T wave peaks, onsets and ends is performed. We evaluated the algorithm on several manually annotated databases, such as MIT-BIH Arrhythmia, QT, European ST-T and CSE databases, developed for validation purposes. The QRS detector obtained a sensitivity of Se = 99.66% and a positive predictivity of P+ = 99.56% over the first lead of the validation databases (more than 980,000 beats), while for the well-known MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, Se and P+ over 99.8% were attained. As for the delineation of the ECG waves, the mean and standard deviation of the differences between the automatic and manual annotations were computed. The mean error obtained with the WT approach was found not to exceed one sampling interval, while the standard deviations were around the accepted tolerances between expert physicians, outperforming the results of other well known algorithms, especially in determining the end of T wave.     

Passive in situ remediation of metal-polluted water with caustic magnesia: evidence from column experiments

Passive remediation consists of a permeable system that enables the water to pass through while retaining metals by means of biogeochemical reactions. Conventional passive treatments are based on calcite dissolution. This increases the pH to values between 6 and 7, which are insufficiently high to precipitate divalent metals. Alternative treatments are based on sulfate reduction with organic matter in order to precipitate metal sulfides. However, redox reactions are usually too slow to treat large groundwater flows as currently found in gravel aquifers (>50 m/a). Caustic magnesia obtained from calcination of magnesium carbonate was tested as an alternative material to devising passive remediation systems. Caustic magnesia reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide, which dissolves, increasing the pH to values higher than 8.5. Then zinc and lead are mainly precipitated as hydroxides, copper is precipitated as hydroxysulfate, and manganese(II) is oxidized and precipitated as manganese(III) oxides. Thus, metal concentrations as high as 75 mg/L in the inflowing water are depleted to values below 0.04 mg/L. Magnesia dissolution is sufficiently fast to treat flows as high as 100 m/a. The new precipitates may lead to a permeability drop in the porous treating system. Mixtures of caustic magnesia and an inert material such as silica sand (approximately 50% of each) have been shown to be as reactive as pure magnesia and permeable for a longer time (more than 10 months and 1000 pore vol).     

A high resolution workstation prototype for diagnosis of digital mammograms

The development of a total digital high resolution mammography display system must meet a number of requirements that remain a challenge nowadays, most probably because of the special nature of breast imaging. In this paper, we discuss our particular approach to address some problems concerning the complexity of soft-copy diagnosis in digital mammography, such as image quality and user interface evaluation. Based on the experience obtained in the previous implementation of a medical image browser, a more ambitious project is being developed at the Department of Radiology of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in collaboration with the Department of Medical Informatics of INTELSIS, an emerging software company in our country. This new system will provide complete support to display, store and analyze mammographic studies in digital format.     

A registration-based approach to quantify flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in ultrasound image sequences

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) offers a mechanism to characterize endothelial function and, therefore, may play a role in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Computerized analysis techniques are very desirable to give accuracy and objectivity to the measurements. Virtually all methods proposed up to now to measure FMD rely on accurate edge detection of the arterial wall, and they are not always robust in the presence of poor image quality or image artifacts. A novel method for automatic dilation assessment based on a global image analysis strategy is presented. We model interframe arterial dilation as a superposition of a rigid motion and a scaling factor perpendicular to the artery. Rigid motion can be interpreted as a global compensation for patient and probe movements, an aspect that has not been sufficiently studied before. The scaling factor explains arterial dilation. The ultrasound sequence is analyzed in two phases using image registration to recover both transformation models. Temporal continuity in the registration parameters along the sequence is enforced with a Kalman filter since the dilation process is known to be a gradual physiological phenomenon. Comparing automated and gold standard measurements (average of manual measurements) we found a negligible bias (0.05%FMD) and a small standard deviation (SD) of the differences (1.05%FMD). These values are comparable with those obtained from manual measurements (bias = 0.23%FMD, SD(intra-obs) = 1.13%FMD, SD(inter-obs) 1.20%FMD). The proposed method offers also better reproducibility (CV = 0.40%) than the manual measurements (CV = 1.04%).     

Region-based wavelet coding methods for digital mammography

Spatial resolution and contrast sensitivity requirements for some types of medical image techniques, including mammography, delay the implementation of new digital technologies, namely, computer-aided diagnosis, picture archiving and communications systems, or teleradiology. In order to reduce transmission time and storage cost, an efficient data-compression scheme to reduce digital data without significant degradation of medical image quality is needed. In this study, we have applied two region-based compression methods to digital mammograms. In both methods, after segmenting the breast region, a region-based discrete wavelet transform is applied, followed by an object-based extension of the set partitioning in hierarchical trees (OB-SPIHT) coding algorithm in one method, and an object-based extension of the set partitioned embedded block (OB-SPECK) coding algorithm in the other. We have compared these specific implementations against the original SPIHT and the new standard JPEG 2000, both using reversible and irreversible filters, on five digital mammograms compressed at rates ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 bit per pixel (bbp). Distortion was evaluated for all images and compression rates by the peak signal-to-noise ratio. For all images, OB-SPIHT and OB-SPECK performed substantially better than the traditional SPIHT and JPEG 2000, and a slight difference in performance was found between them. A comparison applying SPIHT and the standard JPEG 2000 to the same set of images with the background pixels fixed to zero was also carried out, obtaining similar implementation as region-based methods. For digital mammography, region-based compression methods represent an improvement in compression efficiency from full-image methods, also providing the possibility of encoding multiple regions of interest independently.     

Group velocity and dispersion model of coupled-cavity waveguides in photonic crystals

A theoretical model of the group velocity, dispersion parameter, and dispersion slope of coupled-cavity waveguides in photonic crystals is reported. Results arising from closed-form expressions show a good agreement with simulation results obtained by employing a plane-wave expansion method. Coupled-cavity waveguides present interesting dispersion properties that may be employed in applications such as optical signal processing, dispersion compensation, and optical delay lines.     

Ultrasound image segmentation with shape priors: application to automatic cattle rib-eye area estimation.

Automatic ultrasound (US) image segmentation is a difficult task due to the quantity of noise present in the images and the lack of information in several zones produced by the acquisition conditions. In this paper, we propose a method that combines shape priors and image information to achieve this task. In particular, we introduce knowledge about the rib-eye shape using a set of images manually segmented by experts. A method is proposed for the automatic segmentation of new samples in which a closed curve is fitted taking into account both the US image information and the geodesic distance between the evolving curve and the estimated mean rib-eye shape in a shape space. This method can be used to solve similar problems that arise when dealing with US images in other fields. The method was successfully tested over a database composed of 610 US images, for which we have the manual segmentations of two experts.     

Non-zero set-point affine feedback control of impulsive systems with application to biomedical processes

Linear impulsive systems have been extensively studied in the last decades, mainly in the field of biomedical research. However, a proper characterisation of the equilibria of such a systems - when they are out of the origin - and its use by optimising control strategies is still a matter of discussion. In this work, a novel characterisation of the system equilibria and invariant regions - derived from the definition of two underlying discrete-time systems - is given, and based on this characterisation impulsive affine feedback control strategies for non-zero set-points are designed. The closed-loop performance and benefits of the strategies are assessed through two biomedical examples: the Lithium ions distribution in the human body and the HIV treatment.     

A comparative assessment on the use of SAR and high-resolution optical images in ocean dynamics studies

A comparison of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images acquired by the ERS-2 and RADARSAT-1 satellites with Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images acquired close in time is presented. Similarities and differences on the kind of ocean information they provide are discussed. The images were acquired over the Brazil–Malvinas (Falkland) Confluence under different solar elevation and azimuth angles. Ocean features observed by both types of sensors are discussed. These observations show that (1) at high solar angles, sun glint prevails over upwelled water-leaving radiance resulting in optical images that tend to provide dynamical information similar to that obtained from SAR imagery and (2) at low solar zenith and azimuth angles, upwelled radiation tends to prevail over sun glint, providing typical ocean colour and water quality information that can still complement and aid in the interpretation of SAR observations.     

Evaluating mechanical properties and degradation of YTZP dental implants

Lately new biomedical grade yttria stabilized zirconia (YTZP) dental implants have appeared in the implantology market. This material has better aesthetical properties than conventional titanium used for implants but long term behaviour of these new implants is not yet well known. The aim of this paper is to quantify the mechanical response of YTZP dental implants previously degraded under different time conditions and compare the toughness and fatigue strength with titanium implants. Mechanical response has been studied by means of mechanical testing following the ISO 14801 for Standards for dental implants and by finite element analysis. Accelerated hydrothermal degradation has been achieved by means of water vapour and studied by X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation tests. The results show that the degradation suffered by YTZP dental implants will not have a significant effect on the mechanical behaviour. Otherwise the fracture toughness of YTZP ceramics is still insufficient in certain implantation conditions.