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.     

Assessing the Novelty of Computer-Generated Narratives Using Empirical Metrics

Novelty is a key concept to understand creativity. Evaluating a piece of artwork or other creation in terms of novelty requires comparisons to other works and considerations about the elements that have been reused in the creative process. Human beings perform this analysis intuitively, but in order to simulate it using computers, the objects to be compared and the similarity metrics to be used should be formalized and explicitly implemented. In this paper we present a study on relevant elements for the assessment of novelty in computer-generated narratives. We focus on the domain of folk-tales, working with simple plots and basic narrative elements: events, characters, props and scenarios. Based on the empirical results of this study we propose a set of computational metrics for the automatic assessment of novelty. Although oriented to the implementation of our own story generation system, the measurement methodology we propose can be easily generalized to other creative systems.     

Metabolic turnover and catalase activity of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 17552) as related to copper corrosion

In this work we report the results of a combined biochemical and electrochemical study aimed to analyze both the growth of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens on copper samples and its possible role in the instability of the metal/electrolyte interface.DNA and RNA were quantified along the time for biofilms grown on copper and glass to estimate both the growth of the bacterial population and its metabolic state (through the RNA/DNA ratio). The expression and specific activity of catalase were also determined to gain insight into their possible role in corrosion acceleration. The electrochemical behavior of the biofilm/copper interface was monitored by Linear Polarization Resistance (Rp) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) along the experiments.Results showed a longer lag phase for biofilms developing on copper that included a period of high metabolic activity (as measured by the RNA/DNA ratio) without biomass growth. Biological activity introduced a new time constant at intermediate frequencies in EIS spectra whose capacitive behavior increased with the biofilm development. The increment in this biofilm-related signal was accompanied by a strong limitation to charge transfer through a diffusion controlled process probably due to oxygen exhaustion by cells respiration, while the resistance of the interface decreased presumably due to oxide dissolution by local acidification under the colonies. In addition, catalase activity was found to be high in mature copper-tolerant biofilms, which differentially express a catalase isoform not present in biofilms growing on glass.     

Viral systems: A new bio-inspired optimisation approach

The paper presents a new approach to deal with combinatorial problems. It makes use of a biological analogy inspired by the performance of viruses. The replication mechanism, as well as the hosts’ infection processes is used to generate a metaheuristic that allows the obtention of valuable results. The viral system (VS) theoretical context is described and it is applied to a library of medium-to-large-sized cases of the Steiner problem for which the optimal solution is known. The method is compared with the metaheuristics that have provided the best results for the Steiner problem. The VS provides better solutions than genetic algorithms and certain tabu search approaches. For the most sophisticated tabu search approaches (the best metaheuristic approximations to the Steiner problem solution) VS provides solutions of similar quality.     

Electron theoretical investigation of the stability of the B2-TiFe compound

The metastable phase diagram of the BCC-based ordering equilibria in the Ti–Fe system has been calculated using a truncated cluster expansion, through the combination of FP-LAPW and cluster variation method (CVM) in the irregular tetrahedron cluster approximation. The results are compared with phenomenological CVM assessments of the system and suggest that the value for the experimental formation enthalpy of the B2-TiFe compound should be significantly more negative than the currently assessed value.     

Extraction of lipids from Yarrowia Lipolytica

BACKGROUND: Microorganisms have often been considered for the production of oils and fats as an alternative to agricultural and animal resources. Extraction experiments were performed using a strain of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (Y. lipolytica), a high‐lipid‐content yeast. Three different methods were tested: Soxhlet extraction, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO₂) extraction using ethanol as a co‐solvent. Also, high pressure solubility measurements in the systems ‘CO₂ + yeast oil’ and ‘CO₂ + ethanol + yeast oil’ were carried out. RESULTS: The solubility experiments determined that, at the conditions of the supercritical extractor (40 °C and 20 MPa), a maximum concentration of 10 mg of yeast oil per g of solvent can be expected in pure CO₂. 10% w/w of ethanol in the solvent mixture increased this value to almost 15 mg of yeast oil per g of solvent. Different pretreatments were necessary to obtain satisfactory yields in the extraction experiments. The Soxhlet and the ASE method were not able to complete the lipid extraction. The ‘SCCO₂ + ethanol’ extraction curves revealed the influence of the different pretreatments on the extraction mechanism. CONCLUSION: Evaluating the effectiveness of a given pretreatment, ASE reduced the amount of material and solvent used compared with Soxhlet. In all three cases, the best total extraction performance was obtained for the ethanol‐macerated yeast (EtM). Addition of ethanol to the solvent mixture enhanced the oil solubility. Oil can be extracted from Y. lipolytica in two different steps: a non‐selective ethanol extraction followed by TAG‐selective SCCO₂ purification. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hypoglycaemia‐free artificial pancreas project

Driving blood glycaemia from hyperglycaemia to euglycaemia as fast as possible while avoiding hypoglycaemia is a major problem for decades for type‐1 diabetes and is solved in this study. A control algorithm is designed that guaranties hypoglycaemia avoidance for the first time both from the theory of positive systems point of view and from the most pragmatic clinical practice. The solution consists of a state feedback control law that computes the required hyperglycaemia correction bolus in real‐time to safely steer glycaemia to the target. A rigorous proof is given that shows that the control‐law respects the positivity of the control and of the glucose concentration error: as a result, no hypoglycaemic episode occurs. The so‐called hypo‐free strategy control is tested with all the UVA/Padova T1DM simulator patients (i.e. ten adults, ten adolescents, and ten children) during a fasting‐night scenario and in a hybrid closed‐loop scenario including three meals. The theoretical results are assessed by the simulations on a large cohort of virtual patients and encourage clinical trials.Inspec keywords: biochemistry, medical control systems, blood, diseases, medical computing, closed loop systems, biomedical equipment, state feedback, patient treatment, patient monitoring, biomedical measurement, physiological models, sugarOther keywords: fasting‐night scenario, hybrid closed‐loop scenario, hypoglycaemia‐free artificial pancreas project, blood glycaemia, euglycaemia, type‐1 diabetes, control algorithm, guaranties hypoglycaemia avoidance, pragmatic clinical practice, state feedback control law, required hyperglycaemia correction bolus, rigorous proof, control‐law, glucose concentration error, hypo‐free strategy control