Applicability of the cobb angle measurement in idiopathic scoliosis using scanned imaging

OBJECTIVES: To compare the measurement of the Cobb angle on printed radiographs and on scanned radiographs viewed through the software "PixViewer". METHODS: Preoperative radiographs of 23 patients were evaluated on printed films and through the software "PixViewer". The same evaluator, a spine surgeon, chose the proximal and distal limiting vertebrae of the main curve on printed radiographs, without identification of patients, and measured the Cobb angle based on these parameters. The same parameters and measurements were applied to scanned radiographs. The measurements were compared, as well as the choice of limiting vertebrae. RESULTS: The average variation of the Cobb angle between methods was 1.48 ± 1.73°. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.99, demonstrating excellent reproducibility. CONCLUSION: The Cobb method can be used to evaluate scoliosis through the "PixViewer" tool with the same reliability as the classic method on printed radiographs

Optical study of the band structure of wurtzite GaP nanowires

We investigated the optical properties of wurtzite (WZ) GaP nanowires by performing photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved PL measurements in the temperature range from 4 K to 300 K, together with atom probe tomography to identify residual impurities in the nanowires. At low temperature, the WZ GaP luminescence shows donor-acceptor pair emission at 2.115 eV and 2.088 eV, and Burstein-Moss band-filling continuum between 2.180 and 2.253 eV, resulting in a direct band gap above 2.170 eV. Sharp exciton α-β-γ lines are observed at 2.140-2.164-2.252 eV, respectively, showing clear differences in lifetime, presence of phonon replicas, and temperature- dependence. The excitonic nature of those peaks is critically discussed, leading to a direct band gap o

Study of the temperature distribution in Si nanowires under microscopic laser beam excitation

The use of laser beams as excitation sources for the characterization of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) is largely extended. Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) are currently applied to the study of NWs. However, NWs are systems with poor thermal conductivity and poor heat dissipation, which result in unintentional heating under the excitation with a focused laser beam with microscopic size, as those usually used in microRaman and microPL experiments. On the other hand, the NWs have subwavelength diameter, which changes the optical absorption with respect to the absorption in bulk materials. Furthermore, the NW diameter is smaller than the laser beam spot, which means that the optical power absorbed by the NW depends on its position inside the laser beam spot. A detailed analysis of the interaction between a microscopic focused laser beam and semiconductor NWs is necessary for the understanding of the experiments involving laser beam excitation of NWs. We present in this work a numerical analysis of the thermal transport in Si NWs, where the heat source is the laser energy locally absorbed by the NW. This analysis takes account of the optical absorption, the thermal conductivity, the dimensions, diameter and length of the NWs, and the immersion medium. Both free standing and heat-sunk NWs are considered. Also, the temperature distribution in ensembles of NWs is discussed. This analysis intends to constitute a tool for the understanding of the thermal phenomena induced by laser beams in semiconductor NWs

Data-driven energy demand forecasting for electric vehicle charging infrastructure

In the era of Big Data and electric vehicles growth by market, data-driven methodologies assume a crucial role to create valuable information. The focus is on supporting the decision-making process for the development of an accurate charging infrastructure. Forecast analysis allows prediction of energy demand over the network. This supports growing trends with a consequent increase in customer satisfaction. By anticipating potential breakdowns due to infrastructure overloads, maintenance costs are reduced. In this paper, we focus on analyzing charging sessions data together with external data (weather and population information and energy/fuel prices) collected from different sources. The proposed methodology, named GEORGE (enerGy dEmand fOrecasting foR charGing infrastructurE), offers a building-blocks based approach for the monthly energy demand forecasting. The approach is both generalisable and data-specific. We discuss the results of a classification learning approach to predict a belonging range of kwh for a charge point. In particular the most promising model has good performances in predicting high utilization and is more advantageous to support the company’s decision-making process. Many possible developments are discussed to improve the predictio

Bioconversão de resíduos de macaúba como indicação de uso para insumo em ração animal

Acrocomia aculeata, belonging to the Arecaceae family, a palm tree known locally as macauba or bocaiuva, displays potential for obtaining vegetable oil with application in the production of biofuels, food and pharma-ceuticals. The objective of this work was to improve the nutritional aspects of macauba residues by myceliation by the fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus sajor-caju. The extraction of its oils (from the pulp and the kernel) generates residue, the most interesting being the bran or cakes. In this study, macauba’s kernel and pulp bran, as well as their mixture with parts of the fruit, such as the epicarp, were submitted to the bioconversion treatment with the fungi P. ostreatus and P. sajor-caju. The composition of ash, crude protein, neutral and acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose, crude fiber, ether extract and in vitro digestibility were determined, in comparison to the control samples. In all samples there was a considerable increase in ash, protein and digestibility when compared to the control. Among the results obtained, the sample of the mixture of pulp bran and kernel in a 1:1 ratio stands out, which went from roughage to concentrate and was classified as protein. In the kernel bran-pulp bran (1:1) sample, production was carried out until the maturation phase with the fungus P. ostreatus. Fruiting occurred 80 days after the initial mycelium. The biological efficiency of this culture was 34.42%, and the value found for the crude protein of the mushroom produced was 33.11%.Acrocomia aculeata, pertencente à família Arecaceae, palmeira conhecida localmente como macaúba ou bocaiúva, apresenta potencial para obtenção de óleo vegetal com aplicação na produção de biocombustíveis, alimentos e fármacos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi melhorar os aspectos nutricionais de resíduos de macaúba por meio da miceliação pelos fungos Pleurotus ostreatus e Pleurotus sajor-caju, visando seu uso em alimentaçãoo animal. A extração de seus óleos (da polpa e da amêndoa) gera resíduo, sendo o mais interessante o farelo ou bolos. Neste estudo, o caroço e o farelo da polpa da macaúba, bem como sua mistura com partes do fruto, como o epicarpo, foram submetidos ao tratamento de bioconversão com os fungos P. ostreatus e P. sajor-caju. A composição de cinzas, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e ácido, lignina, celulose, fibra bruta, extrato etéreo e digestibilidade in vitro foram determinadas, em comparação com as amostras controle. Em todas as amostras houve aumento consi-derável de cinzas, proteína e digestibilidade quando comparadas ao controle. Entre os resultados obtidos, destaca-se a amostra da mistura de farelo de polpa e amêndoa na proporção de 1:1, que passou de volumoso para concentrado e foi classificada como proteína. Na amostra farelo-polpa de amêndoa (1:1), a produção foi realizada até a fase de maturação com o fungo P. ostreatus. A frutificação ocorreu 80 dias após o micélio inicial. A eficiência biológica desta cultura foi de 34,42%, e o valor encontrado para a proteína bruta do cogumelo produzido foi de 33,11%

Raman spectroscopy of wurtzite and zinc-blende GaAs nanowires: polarization dependence, selection rules and strain effects

Polarization dependent Raman scattering experiments realized on single GaAs nanowires with different percentages of zinc-blende and wurtzite structure are presented. The selection rules for the special case of nanowires are found and discussed. In the case of zinc-blende, the transversal optical mode E1(TO) at 267 cm-1 exhibits the highest intensity when the incident and analyzed polarization are parallel to the nanowire axis. This is a consequence of the nanowire geometry and dielectric mismatch with the environment, and in quite good agreement with the Raman selection rules. We also find a consistent splitting of 1 cm-1 of the E1(TO). The transversal optical mode related to the wurtzite structure, E2H, is measured between 254 and 256 cm-1, depending on the wurtzite content. The azymutal dependence of E2H indicates that the mode is excited with the highest efficiency when the incident and analyzed polarization are perpendicular to the nanowire axis, in agreement with the selection rules. The presence of strain between wurtzite and zinc-blende is analyzed by the relative shift of the E1(TO) and E2H modes. Finally, the influence of the surface roughness in the intensity of the longitudinal optical mode on {110} facets is presented.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures. to be published in Phys. Rev.

Precision-based exercise as a new therapeutic option for children and adolescents with haematological malignancies

Children and adolescents with haematological malignancies (pedHM) are characterized by a severe loss of exercise ability during cancer treatment, lasting throughout their lives once healed and impacting their social inclusion prospects. The investigation of the effect of a precision-based exercise program on the connections between systems of the body in pedHM patients is the new frontier in clinical exercise physiology. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of 11 weeks (3 times weekly) of combined training (cardiorespiratory, resistance, balance and flexibility) on the exercise intolerance in PedHM patients. Two-hundred twenty-six PedHM patients were recruited (47% F). High or medium frequency participation (HAd and MAd) was considered when a participant joined; > 65% or between 30% and < 64% of training sessions, respectively. The \u201cup and down stairs\u2019\u2019 test (TUDS), \u201c6 min walking\u201d test (6MWT), the \u201c5 Repetition Maximum strength\u201d leg extension and arm lateral raise test (5RM-LE and 5RM-ALR), flexibility (stand and reach), and balance (stabilometry), were performed and evaluated before and after training. The TUDS, the 5RM-LE and 5RM-ALR, and the flexibility exercises showed an increase in HAd and MAd groups (P < 0.05), while the 6MWT and balance tests showed improvement only in HAd group (P < 0.0001). these results support the ever\u2010growing theory that, in the case of the treatment of PedHM, \u2018exercise is medicine\u2019 and it has the potential to increase the patient\u2019s chances of social inclusion

Computer-Aided Imaging Analysis of Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy With Molecular Labeling and Gene Expression Identifies Markers of Response to Biological Therapy in IBD Patients: The Endo-Omics Study

Abstract Background We aimed to predict response to biologics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using computerized image analysis of probe confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) in vivo and assess the binding of fluorescent-labeled biologics ex vivo. Additionally, we investigated genes predictive of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) response. Methods Twenty-nine patients (15 with Crohn’s disease [CD], 14 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) underwent colonoscopy with pCLE before and 12 to 14 weeks after starting anti-TNF or anti-integrin α4β7 therapy. Biopsies were taken for fluorescein isothiocyanate–labeled infliximab and vedolizumab staining and gene expression analysis. Computer-aided quantitative image analysis of pCLE was performed. Differentially expressed genes predictive of response were determined and validated in a public cohort. Results In vivo, vessel tortuosity, crypt morphology, and fluorescein leakage predicted response in UC (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.93; accuracy 85%, positive predictive value [PPV] 89%; negative predictive value [NPV] 75%) and CD (AUROC, 0.79; accuracy 80%; PPV 75%; NPV 83%) patients. Ex vivo, increased binding of labeled biologic at baseline predicted response in UC (UC) (AUROC, 83%; accuracy 77%; PPV 89%; NPV 50%) but not in Crohn’s disease (AUROC 58%). A total of 325 differentially expressed genes distinguished responders from nonresponders, 86 of which fell within the most enriched pathways. A panel including ACTN1, CXCL6, LAMA4, EMILIN1, CRIP2, CXCL13, and MAPKAPK2 showed good prediction of anti-TNF response (AUROC >0.7). Conclusions Higher mucosal binding of the drug target is associated with response to therapy in UC. In vivo, mucosal and microvascular changes detected by pCLE are associated with response to biologics in inflammatory bowel disease. Anti-TNF–responsive UC patients have a less inflamed and fibrotic state pretreatment. Chemotactic pathways involving CXCL6 or CXCL13 may be novel targets for therapy in nonresponders

Unveiling Planar Defects in Hexagonal Group IV Materials

Recently synthesized hexagonal group IV materials are a promising platform to realize efficient light emission that is closely integrated with electronics. A high crystal quality is essential to assess the intrinsic electronic and optical properties of these materials unaffected by structural defects. Here, we identify a previously unknown partial planar defect in materials with a type I 3 basal stacking fault and investigate its structural and electronic properties. Electron microscopy and atomistic modeling are used to reconstruct and visualize this stacking fault and its terminating dislocations in the crystal. From band structure calculations coupled to photoluminescence measurements, we conclude that the I 3 defect does not create states within the hex-Ge and hex-Si band gap. Therefore, the defect is not detrimental to the optoelectronic properties of the hex-SiGe materials family. Finally, highlighting the properties of this defect can be of great interest to the community of hex-III-Ns, where this defect is also present

Acute myelogenous leukemia switch lineage upon relapse to acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case report

Acute leukemia, the most common form of cancer in children, accounts for approximately 30% of all childhood malignancies, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia being five times more frequent than acute myeloid leukemia. Lineage switch is the term that has been used to describe the phenomenon of acute leukemias that meet the standard French-American-British system criteria for a particular lineage (either lymphoid or myeloid) upon initial diagnosis, but meet the criteria for the opposite lineage at relapse. Many reports have documented conversions of acute lymphoblastic leukemia to acute myeloid leukemia