Attribute Controlled Reconstruction and Adaptive Mathematical Morphology

ISBN : 978-3-642-38293-2International audienceIn this paper we present a reconstruction method controlled by the evolution of attributes. The process begins from a marker, propagated over increasing quasi-flat zones. The evolution of several increasing and non-increasing attributes is studied in order to select the appropriate region. Additionally, the combination of attributes can be used in a straightforward way. To demonstrate the performance of our method, three applications are presented. Firstly, our method successfully segments connected objects in range images. Secondly, input-adaptive structuring elements (SE) are defined computing the controlled propagation for each pixel on a pilot image. Finally, input-adaptive SE are used to assess shape features on the image. Our approach is multi-scale and auto-dual. Compared with other methods, it is based on a given attribute but does not require a size parameter in order to determine appropriate regions. It is useful to extract objects of a given shape. Additionally, our reconstruction is a connected operator since quasi-flat zones do not create new contours on the image

Deoxyribonuclease IV from rat liver chromatin and the excision of apurinic sites from depurinated DNA

Deoxyribonuclease IV, a 5'-3' exonuclease degrading double-stranded DNA from intra-strand nicks, has been purified from the chromatin of rat liver cells. The enzyme, which has an Mr of 58000, excises the apurinic (AP) sites from a depurinated DNA nicked 5' to these AP sites with the chromatin AP endonuclease. The excision is not the result of hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond 3' to the AP sites since the excision product does not behave as deoxyribose 5-phosphate but as its 2,3-unsaturated derivative. This result suggests that, to remove the AP sites from the DNA nicked by an AP endonuclease, the chromatin deoxyribonuclease IV rather acts as a catalyst of beta-elimination

Serial FEM/XFEM-Based Update of Preoperative Brain Images Using Intraoperative MRI

Current neuronavigation systems cannot adapt to changing intraoperative conditions over time. To overcome this limitation, we present an experimental end-to-end system capable of updating 3D preoperative images in the presence of brain shift and successive resections. The heart of our system is a nonrigid registration technique using a biomechanical model, driven by the deformations of key surfaces tracked in successive intraoperative images. The biomechanical model is deformed using FEM or XFEM, depending on the type of deformation under consideration, namely, brain shift or resection. We describe the operation of our system on two patient cases, each comprising five intraoperative MR images, and we demonstrate that our approach significantly improves the alignment of nonrigidly registered images

Omega-3 supplementation from pregnancy to postpartum to prevent depressive symptoms: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background: Low n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been linked to depression, but the preventive effect of n-3PUFAs supplementation on maternal depression needs further investigation. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a daily dose of n-3 PUFAs supplementation (fish oil) on the prevention of postpartum depression (PPD). Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial was designed and nested into a cohort study conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sixty pregnant women identified as being at risk for PPD were invited and randomly assigned to receive fish oil capsules [1.8 g (1.08 g of Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and 0.72 g of Docosapentaenoic (DHA) acids)] or placebo (control). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was scored at 5–13 (T0, baseline), 22–24 (T1), 30–32 weeks of gestation (T2) and 4–6 weeks’ postpartum (T3). Supplementation started at week 22–24 of gestation (T1) and lasted for 16 weeks. Serum fatty acids were assayed to evaluate compliance. Prevalence of EPDS ≥11 was the primary outcome, and mean and changes in EPDS score, length of gestation, and birth weight the secondary outcomes. Linear mixed-effect (LME) and random-intercept logistic regression models were performed to test the effect of fish oil supplementation on prevalence of EPDS ≥11 and EPDS scores variation. Results: In intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, at 30–32 weeks’ gestation women in the fish oil presented higher serum concentration of EPA, DHA and lower n-6/n-3 ratio comparing to the control group. There were no differences between intervention and control groups in the prevalence of EPDS ≥11, EPDS scores over time, or in changes in EPDS scores from pregnancy to postpartum in either the ITT or per-protocol analyses. Women in the fish oil group with previous history of depression presented a higher reduction on the EPDS score from the second to the third trimester in the fish oil comparing to the control group in the ITT analyses [−1.0 (−3.0–0.0) vs. -0.0 (−1.0–3.0), P = 0.038). These results were confirmed on the LME model (β = −3.441; 95%CI: -6.532– -0.350, P = 0.029). Conclusion: Daily supplementation of 1.8 g of n-3 PUFAs during 16 weeks did not prevent maternal depressive symptoms in a sample of Brazilian women

COMPLEMENTARITY BETWEEN <i>IN SITU</i> STUDIES AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY: METHODOLOGICAL FEEDBACK FROM A ROMAN SHIPWRECK IN CAESAREA, ISRAEL

As a quick and effective way to archive the different stages of an excavation - notably to prepare the post-excavation phase and to document the production methods – photogrammetry has become an indispensable tool. Indeed, it offers a valid scientific model, usable by any member of the team and at any moment, without the need to return to the excavation site. Photogrammetry can also complement other archaeological tools such as manual surveys. The interaction between the complementary approach of the interpretative drawing measurements (IDM) and the photogrammetric model measurements (PMM) enables us to apprehend the error rate of the interpretative measurements in situ. It appears thus that the measurements taken flat have an error rate inferior to 2% whereas the distances that are either too long or taken on a three-dimensional support have an error rate that can exceed 10%. The input of photogrammetry is therefore an added value whether it be during the excavation phase or during the post-excavation studies

Provenance reinterpretation of some early Egyptian copper alloy artefacts

This paper presents a new provenance evaluation of recently published Egyptian copper alloy artefacts dating to the Protodynastic and Old Kingdom periods. The excavation context of a Protodynastic chisel from Elkab is considered in detail to provide a nuanced interpretation of its dating. In turn, the broader implications of this dating for early Egyptian copper provenance determination are discussed. Furthermore, several Old Kingdom artefacts from Abusir and Giza are reviewed. These objects include some of the earliest attestations of likely metal imports within Egypt, although their exact provenance remains unclear. Using a wide range of reference data and technological arguments, alternative interpretations are suggested to obtain a more nuanced picture of copper alloy imports and their role in early Egyptian metal procurement.Material Culture Studie

Consensus Paper: Radiological Biomarkers of Cerebellar Diseases

Hereditary and sporadic cerebellar ataxias represent a vast and still growing group of diseases whose diagnosis and differentiation cannot only rely on clinical evaluation. Brain imaging including magnetic resonance (MR) and nuclear medicine techniques allows for characterization of structural and functional abnormalities underlying symptomatic ataxias. These methods thus constitute a potential source of radiological biomarkers, which could be used to identify these diseases and differentiate subgroups of them, and to assess their severity and their evolution. Such biomarkers mainly comprise qualitative and quantitative data obtained from MR including proton spectroscopy, diffusion imaging, tractography, voxel-based morphometry, functional imaging during task execution or in a resting state, and from SPETC and PET with several radiotracers. In the current article, we aim to illustrate briefly some applications of these neuroimaging tools to evaluation of cerebellar disorders such as inherited cerebellar ataxia, fetal developmental malformations, and immune-mediated cerebellar diseases and of neurodegenerative or early-developing diseases, such as dementia and autism in which cerebellar involvement is an emerging feature. Although these radiological biomarkers appear promising and helpful to better understand ataxia-related anatomical and physiological impairments, to date, very few of them have turned out to be specific for a given ataxia with atrophy of the cerebellar system being the main and the most usual alteration being observed. Consequently, much remains to be done to establish sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of available MR and nuclear medicine features as diagnostic, progression and surrogate biomarkers in clinical routine

The Chaîne Opératoire of Middle Kingdom smelting batteries and the problem of fuel: excavation, experimental and analytical studies on ancient Egyptian metallurgy

Material Culture Studie