Total Contour Research Articles

The Law of the Total Pressure Loss in Supersonic Streamwise Corner Flow

Abstract The total pressure loss is a critical issue in the design of internal flow channels for hypersonic vehicles. In the flow through the streamwise corner region, the adjacent walls induce secondary flows that exacerbate the viscous effects, thereby intensifying the total pressure loss. This study investigates the impact of the corner’s dihedral angle and the compressibility of the flow on the total pressure loss in the streamwise corner region. The results indicated that as the dihedral angle increases, the distribution of the total pressure contour in the corner region became significantly distorted. The proportion of the boundary layer area within the corner region concurrently increased as the dihedral angle deviates from 90 degrees. Furthermore, we deduce that the total pressure loss is the largest in the supersonic flat plate boundary layer. This paper normalized the total pressure loss coefficient for different dihedral angles in the corner region and established an empirical relationship for the distribution of normalized total pressure loss coefficients along the flow path. It is discovered that under supersonic inflow conditions, the distribution law of the total pressure loss in the corner region exhibits higher predictive accuracy.

Minimum zone fitting and error evaluation for arc correction type convex contour of bearing roller

The minimum zone fitting and error evaluation for the arc-modified convex contour of a bearing roller have important applications for consistency detection and quantificational research of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication of a bearing roller. Based on the definition of the shape error and the geometric characteristics of the arc corrected roller convexity line of the bearing, a new fitting and error evaluation method for the total convexity contour of a bearing roller is presented. First, the reference cutoff points of the arc segment and straight line are determined based on the curvature difference of each measurement point. Then, the measuring points on both sides of the two reference cutoff points are selected as auxiliary cutoff points for arc fitting. The fitting error is obtained based on the minimum area method. Finally, a series of tangent equations are obtained based on the tangent principle between a line and two arcs, and the straightness error is determined by calculating the distances between the measuring points and the tangents. The example results show that an arc-modified convex contour can be fitted, and its global error can be evaluated effectively and precisely using the presented method. This study also provides a new idea for the minimum zone fitting of multi-segment curves along a plane.

Association of Peri-Implant Mucosa Dimensions With Emergence Profile Angles of the Implant Prosthesis.

The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between prosthesis design and peri-implant mucosa dimensions and morphology. The secondary aim was to investigate associations between mucosal dimensions and the presence of mucositis. Forty-seven patients with 103 posterior bone level implants underwent clinical and radiographic examination, including cone beam computer tomography and intraoral optical scanning. Three-dimensional models for each implant and peri-implant mucosa were constructed. Vertical mucosa height (TH), horizontal mucosa width at implant platform (TW), and 1.5 mm coronal of the platform (TW1.5), as well as mucosal emergence angle (MEA),deep angle (DA), and total contour angle (TA) were measured at six sites for each implant. There was a consistent correlation between peri-implant mucosa width and height (β = 0.217, p < 0.001), with the width consistently surpassing height by a factor of 1.4-2.1. All three angles (MEA, DA, TA) were negatively associated with mucosa height (p < 0.001), while DA was negatively associated with mucosa width (TW1.5) (p < 0.001, β = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.03, -0.01). There was a significant negative association between bleeding on probing (BoP) and mucosa width at platform (OR 0.903, 95% CI: 0.818-0.997, p = 0.043) and 1.5 coronal (OR 0.877,95% CI: 0.778-0.989, p = 0.033). Implants with less than half sites positive for BoP (0-2/6) had significantly higher mucosa height (OR 3.51, 95% CI: 1.72-7.14,p = 0.001). Prosthesis design can influence the dimensions of the peri-implant mucosa, with wider emergence profile angles associated with reduced peri-implant mucosa height. In particular, a wider deep angle is associated with reduced mucosa width in posterior sites. Reduced peri-implant mucosa height and width are associated with more signs of inflammation. Registered in Thai Clinical Trials Registry: http://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20220204002.

Identifying and analyzing the distribution of sliding surfaces in rock slopes using total displacement contour maps

Identifying and analyzing the distribution of sliding surfaces in rock slopes using total displacement contour maps

Sarcopenia in Men With Bone-Predominant Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Undergoing Ra-223 Therapy.

Osteosarcopenia is the progressive loss of musculoskeletal structure and functionality, contributing to disability and mortality. Despite complex interactions between bone and muscle, osteosarcopenia prevention and treatment in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) focuses predominantly on bone health. It is unknown whether Radium-223 (Ra-223) therapy affects sarcopenia. We identified 52 patients with mCRPC who had received Ra-223 and had a baseline plus ≥1 follow-up abdominopelvic CT scan. The total contour area (TCA) and averaged Hounsfield units (HU) of the left and right psoas muscles were obtained at the inferior L3 endplate, and the psoas muscle index (PMI) was calculated therefrom. Intrapatient musculoskeletal changes were analyzed across various time points. TCA and PMI gradually declined over the study period (P = .002, P = .003, respectively), but Ra-223 therapy did not accelerate sarcopenia, nor the decline of HU compared to the pre-Ra-223 period. The median overall survival of patients with baseline sarcopenia was numerically worse (14.93 vs. 23.23 months, HR 0.612, P = .198). Ra-223 does not accelerate sarcopenia. Thus, worsening muscle parameters in men with mCRPC undergoing Ra-223 therapy are attributable to other factors. Further research is needed to determine whether baseline sarcopenia predicts poor overall survival in such patients.

Soft tissue dimensional change using customized titanium healing abutment in immediate implant placement in posterior teeth

BackgroundThe morphologic and dimensional alveolar bone is significant for resorption in the first 3 months after tooth removal because they restrict treatment outcomes with respect to function and esthetic. Following teeth extraction, the width and height of the alveolar ridge contour are reduced in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. Following implant placement, the gingival morphology should be changed minimally compared to pre-extraction. Surrounding natural-like tissue is also an ultimate goal of the dental implant treatment, which is correlated with the cervical third contour on the anatomical tooth, for comfortable cleansing, food impaction avoidance, and esthetics.PurposeTo evaluate the peri-implant soft tissue changes after immediate implant placement (IIP) with the use of a customized titanium healing abutment in the posterior teeth.MethodDigital impressions using the intraoral scanner (MEDIT i500) were taken from 30 patients. Customized titanium healing abutments were designed and milled before extraction. Flapless extractions were done using surgical guides, 32 immediate implants placement were done in posterior areas, and healing abutments were placed. Soft tissues were scanned during pre-operation, and post-surgery during the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months. A 3D analysis program (Final Surface) evaluated the gingival margin distance, height, contour width, and volume in each period. SPSS was used to analyze the data with a p-value = 0.05. The between-time interval comparisons were done and the analysis was done using a Multivariate test.ResultsCustomized titanium healing abutments used in immediate implantation maintained optimal peri-implant mucosa. In intermittent periods, there was no significant reduction in all aspects of the margin distances and heights. During the entire period, the margin height reduction on the buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal was 0.63 mm, 0.93 mm, 0.08 mm, and 0.24 mm, respectively, and contour width reduction on the buccal, lingual, and buccolingual was 0.59 mm, 0.43 mm, and 1.03 mm, respectively. There was a significant reduction in the total buccolingual contour width in the 1st month and total volume in the 3rd to 6th months.ConclusionsImmediate implant placement with customized titanium healing abutment can achieve the optimal peri-implant mucosa and this protocol is an alternative for soft tissue management.

Design and analysis of polycentric prosthetic knee with enhanced kinematics and stability.

This paper describes a continuation of earlier work using the finite element method to conduct an engineering failure analysis of an existing polycentric prosthetic knee. The primary purpose of this workis to enhance the quality of the existing knee which has been reported with multiple cases of failure during its clinical practice in India. A modified design of the polycentric knee has been proposed based on the findings of failure analysis. Simulation-based comparative analysis of polycentric knees has been performed as per the ISO 10328:2016 standard in terms of stress distribution, total contour deformation, safety factor, and fatigue life. The upper extension lever is subjected to static and cyclic loads of 4130 and 1230N, whereas the lower plate has a translational constraint.The modified polycentric knee prosthesis outperforms static and fatigue strength tests. The standard of the existing knee prosthesis has significantly improved as a result of design variations and integration of high-strength and lightweight aluminium 7075-T6 alloy. The modified polycentric knee prosthesis has a predicted maximum deformation of less than 0.7mm and a minimum safety factor between 1.7 and 2 compared to 2.66mm and 1.0 for the existing knee prosthesis. Based on the fatigue simulation results, it is predicted that the modified polycentric knee will have a lifespan of at least ten years indicating a safe design. It has improved alignment stability and kinematics, with a significant weight reduction of 33g, and a high cost-benefit ratio to reach the maximum amputee population in low-income countries like India.

ПРОЦЕСИ РОЗВИТКУ АКУМУЛЯТИВНИХ ФОРМ РЕЛЬЄФУ І ҐРУНТОУТВОРЕННЯ НА НИХ У БЕРЕГОВІЙ ЗОНІ НЕПРИПЛИВНОГО МОРЯ

The purpose of this publication is to determine and analyze natural conditions and the development of soil formation on accumulative landforms in the coastal zone of non-tidal seas. As an example, long-term instrumental measurements were used in stationary sites within the coastal sandy forms of the Black and Azov Seas, in Ukraine. The complexity, originality of the structure, and the high rate of change of these landforms make it necessary to answer the question: can typical soils be formed in such an environment, with an appropriate profile and fertility, and the ability to conduct various types of agriculture? First of all, it should be noted that the sandy coastal-marine forms, in contrast to the upland ones, are formed by the mechanical hydrogenic factors of the sea. The building material for the forms is sedimentary sediments that have undergone coastal-marine mechanical differentiation. Consequently, their composition differs in origin and hydraulic size of alluvial, aeolian, glacial, fluvial, etc. sediment on the mainland. The contours of the searched reliefs and the transverse and longitudinal profile can change dramatically within one round the clock. At the same time, waves of strong storms can completely wash away and mix the entire thickness of radical sediments together with plants, animals, groundwater of a certain composition, and accumulations of mineral and organic compounds. Also, the humus is washed out, and the humus layer cannot be fixed. But then, within 1–2 years, the studied forms are restored in a complex in general. In this case, the transverse profile is restored in a similar form in total contour. This process happens many times over several decades, and centuries yet. Therefore, the process of soil formation is always disrupted and the formation of typical soils (“pedolites” inclusive) is practically impossible in the environment of the coastal zone of the seas.

Micellar entanglement and its relation to the elastic behavior of wormlike micelle fluids

HypothesisThe elastic contribution to the fluid dynamics of wormlike micellar solutions makes these fluids unique due to the distinctive self-assembled micellar network formed by tubular micelles. Measured mesoscopic scales of the micellar network related to the degree of entanglement can give guidelines for understanding the origin of elastic forces and their effect on rheological response. ExperimentsDifferent experiments were made as flow curves, rotating the internal or external cylinder in a Couette geometry, small and large oscillatory shear tests, and linear shear banding observations, all of them to determine how elastic forces modify the rheological behavior in systems made of different ratios of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/sodium salicylate (NaSal) and different ratios of CTAB/NaNO3. Diffusive wave spectroscopy micro-rheology was also performed to measure the mean square displacements of microspheres embedded in the micellar fluids to obtain their high-frequency viscoelastic spectra. With this information, the entanglement index κ, the ratio of the total contour of the micelles to the entanglement length, was estimated and correlated with the rheological behavior. FindingsThe entanglement index is a valuable piece of information to understand the origin of the contribution of the elastic forces from a molecular point of view on the fluid dynamics of wormlike micelle solutions.

Quantum Chemical Calculations on Fentanyl Used as Potent Analgesic

This current study dealt with the quantum chemical analysis on fentanyl compound, which is a potent synthetic analgesic. First of all, the geometry optimizations were carried out via Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock (HF) methods in both the gas and the water phase. The B3LYP functional and the HF method were used with the 6-31G (d,p) and 6-31++G (d,p) basis sets. Computed structural parameters were compared with the data available in the literature and consistent results were obtained for all four different methodologies. Charge distributions of each atom of fentanyl were obtained by Mulliken and natural population analysis. Accompanied by calculated molecular descriptors, the results of frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis were reported. Finally, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis has been performed to estimate reactive sites for electrophilic and nucleophilic attack. Total density, ESP, MEP, and contour maps were visualized at B3LYP/6-31++G (d,p) level of theory.

Paediatric nasal dermoid: evaluation and management.

The aim of this study was to present the evaluation and current management of congenital paediatric nasal dermoid. There has been a trend towards less invasive surgical excision techniques, including purely endoscopic excision, endoscopic-assisted approaches and midline excision with nasal bone osteotomies and bone flap. These approaches allow adequate access for both total resection and nasal contour and skull base reconstruction. Following resection, if nasal bone osteotomies are insufficient for restoring nasal appearance, free temporoparietal fascial graft and/or conchal cartilage can be considered. For nasal tip deformities, interdomal sutures and free fat grafting are a suitable option. Complete surgical excision remains the treatment of choice for nasal dermoid lesions. The surgical approach taken and reconstruction depends on the type of lesion (cyst versus sinus or fistula), location (intranasal versus extranasal), whether or not there is intracranial extension, and experience of the surgical team.

Measuring mesoscopic scales in complex fluids embedded with giant cylindrical micelles with diffusing wave spectroscopy micro-rheology

This review paper presents a procedure for measuring the mesoscopic scales in micellar solutions embedded with giant cylindrical micelles using the mean square displacement determined with a quasi-elastic multiple light scattering method (diffusing wave spectroscopy) and theory. The mesoscopic scales of interest are the micelles’ total contour length, persistence and entanglement lengths, and the mesh size of the entangled micellar network. All of them depend on the physicochemical parameters of the solutions and determine the rheological behavior. We present an assessment of the whole procedure, the scattering experiments performance, the recovery of optical parameters, which includes dealing with the light absorption and its treatment, and how to develop the micro-rheology for obtaining the mesoscopic scales in these complex fluids.

CFD investigation on the performance analysis of Tesla turbine

A Tesla turbine is a bladeless turbine in which fluid flows in the direction of the centripetal path. It uses fluid properties such as Boundary layer & adhesion of fluid on a series of discs keyed to a shaft. The initial cost and maintenance cost of the Tesla turbine is very low. Our project’s main motive is to improve the performance of a Tesla turbine by changing various parameters such as disc diameter and disc rotating speed through the CFD simulation software using water as a working fluid. The CAD model is designed using Ansys design modeler, meshing is performed using Ansys meshing and post processing is carried out in Ansys fluent. The numerical simulations were carried out using Ansys Fluent which is based on the finite volume method and the changes that occurred in the pressure and velocities are investigated. The parametric study is performed by varying the turbine disc speed. By performing CFD simulations, total pressure contour and velocity magnitude contours are plotted and it is found that pressure and velocity are maximum when the clearance between disc and turbine casing is lesser and at higher turbine disc speeds. The power output of the Tesla turbine is also plotted for various rpm where higher rpm gives maximum power output. The results from the present study would be useful in designing an efficient Tesla turbine with improved performance.

A Quantum Mechanical Viewpoint on Structural Stability of the Smallest Hydrated Sulfate Cluster [SO4(H2O)3]2-

Being the most kosmotropic type anion, SO 4 2 - shows a very strong affinity towards sequential hydration, and hence undergoes immediate stabilization via differently sized hydrated clusters [SO 4 (H 2 O) n ] 2− , n ≤ 80 in solution state. Interestingly, the smallest yet stable hydrated cluster detected through the advanced experimental techniques is [SO 4 (H 2 O) 3 ] 2− with hydration number n = 3. Despite its ubiquity in many sulfate enriched aqueous systems, the concerned electronic structure and structural stability reported so far are mostly based on the position of atomic nuclei in the theoretically produced low energy molecular geometry, which is, however, not regarded as a quantitative approach for depicting chemical bonding and structural entity in respect to electron density distributions around atoms and bonds between the atoms. In this study, the molecular orbitals (MOs) and Mulliken population analysis methods are used to extract chemical bond related information of [SO 4 (H 2 O) 3 ] 2− from its DFT derived molecular wavefunctions ( ) and then total molecular electron density surface (TMEDS), MOs iso-surfaces, and contour lines are deeply analyzed prior to describe how these EDSs actually provide detailed insights into the orbital interactions, atomic bonding, and structural stability. It is found that [SO 4 (H 2 O) 3 ] 2− ion stabilizes with (a) a closed 3D structural entity and a realistic distribution of electron cloud around the specific atoms and bonds, (b) a delocalized type electron density, and (c) an orbital type bonding interaction between the atoms. Besides these, a quantitatively measured electron amplitudes and the specific type bonding interactions make that hydrated structure quantum mechanically feasible.

Evaluation of the Total Quality of Tunnel Contour Using Projection Pursuit Dynamic Cluster Method

Full understanding of the total quality of tunnel contour after smooth blasting is quite a valuable task for accurately assessing the cost and construction rate. The traditional evaluation of tunnel contour quality which is always based on a single index such as the over/underbreak might not be rational enough because the contour quality at specific positions cannot completely stand for that of the total contour. Unreasonable evaluation of contour quality might cause construction delay or overbudget, as well as safety- and stability-related issues or even catastrophic accidents under some specific conditions. In this case, evaluating the total quality of tunnel contour considering all influential factors is of significance to smooth tunnelling. The aim of this paper is to develop a multiple indices system which can represent the total quality of the contour from different aspects, and then, the projection pursuit dynamic cluster (PPDC) method is utilized to quantitatively evaluate the total quality of tunnel contour. The multiple indices are screened using the principal component analysis (PCA) and gray correlation analysis (GCA). The selected 9 indices to form the multiple indices system include the maximum overbreak, average overbreak, maximum underbreak, maximum size of step between two guns, area of overbreak, measured area, rate of overbreak, volume of overbreak, and blast hole utilization factor. The total quality of tunnel contour is quantitatively defined with 5 levels by using the dynamic cluster (DC) analysis. With the obtained values of the 9 indices, the total quality of the tunnel contour could be determined quantitatively according to the calculated projection eigenvalues. The result of the total quality of tunnel contour obtained using the proposed method is much more accordant with the site than that based on a single evaluation index. The proposed method will offer a promising alternative to fully understand the total quality of tunnel contour.

Comparative analysis of sarcopenia induced by long-term abiraterone (A) versus enzalutamide (E) therapy in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

69 Background: Androgen deprivation therapy induces osteosarcopenia, which in turn is associated with prostate cancer related morbidity, mortality and health expenditures. Although bone and skeletal muscle health are interconnected at multiple levels, clinical guidelines focus on the prevention and management of osteoporosis while largely ignoring skeletal muscle health. Due to the paucity of studies investigating the impact of A or E therapy on skeletal muscle loss, we decided to compare the effects of the two agents on sarcopenia development among men with mCRPC. Methods: In this retrospective single-centre study we identified a total of 58 mCRPC patients (pts) who (i) had received treatment with A (n = 29) or E (n = 29) for &gt; 1.5 years, (ii) had an available routine abdominopelvic CT scan at baseline, and (iii) had at least one follow-up CT scan 12 and/or 24 months after treatment initiation. Using the contour tool of the eUnity imaging platform, we obtained the total contour area of the left and right psoas muscle at the inferior endplate of L3 in order to calculate the Psoas Muscle Index (PMI; defined as the total contour area divided by patients’ height in meters) as a measure of sarcopenia. Results: The median age of men undergoing A or E therapy was 75 (range 70-79) versus 69 (67-75) years (p = 0.09), with A use for first line mCRPC therapy in 65.5% of pts, and of E in 69.0% of pts. The median time on A was 30.3 (95%CI 27.2-46.0) months, compared to 42.8 (27.4-49.9) months for men on E (p = 0.96). Using a PMI cut-off for sarcopenia of &lt; 5.7, the rate of sarcopenia increased from 34.5% at baseline to 39.3% at 24 months in pts undergoing A therapy (p = 0.71); the median PMI of A pts at baseline was 6.79 (95%CI 5.48-7.22) and steadily decreased to 5.86 (5.46-6.42) at 24 months (p = 0.0002). As for E, the rate of sarcopenia increased from 24.1% to 39.3% after 24 months of treatment (p = 0.21), with a concurrent PMI decrease from 6.73 (95%CI 5.87-7.64) to 6.32 (5.25-6.90; p = 0.001). There were no significant PMI differences between the A and E cohorts at baseline, month 12, or month 24. Furthermore, the presence versus absence of baseline sarcopenia was not significantly associated with the time on A or E therapy (p = 0.15 and p = 0.54, respectively). Conclusions: A sizeable number of men with mCRPC are sarcopenic at start of A or E therapy. In addition, the use of both agents is associated with an increase in the rate of sarcopenia, and with significant PMI decreases over time. The sarcopenia-inducing potential of A and E is comparable, while baseline sarcopenia seems not to predict time on A or E.

Robust segmentation of lung in chest x-ray: applications in analysis of acute respiratory distress syndrome

BackgroundThis study outlines an image processing algorithm for accurate and consistent lung segmentation in chest radiographs of critically ill adults and children typically obscured by medical equipment. In particular, this work focuses on applications in analysis of acute respiratory distress syndrome – a critical illness with a mortality rate of 40% that affects 200,000 patients in the United States and 3 million globally each year.MethodsChest radiographs were obtained from critically ill adults (n = 100), adults diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (n = 25), and children (n = 100) hospitalized at Michigan Medicine. Physicians annotated the lung field of each radiograph to establish the ground truth. A Total Variation-based Active Contour (TVAC) lung segmentation algorithm was developed and compared to multiple state-of-the-art methods including a deep learning model (U-Net), a random walker algorithm, and an active spline model, using the Sørensen–Dice coefficient to measure segmentation accuracy.ResultsThe TVAC algorithm accurately segmented lung fields in all patients in the study. For the adult cohort, an averaged Dice coefficient of 0.86 ±0.04 (min: 0.76) was reported for TVAC, 0.89 ±0.12 (min: 0.01) for U-Net, 0.74 ±0.19 (min: 0.15) for the random walker algorithm, and 0.64 ±0.17 (min: 0.20) for the active spline model. For the pediatric cohort, a Dice coefficient of 0.85 ±0.04 (min: 0.75) was reported for TVAC, 0.87 ±0.09 (min: 0.56) for U-Net, 0.67 ±0.18 (min: 0.18) for the random walker algorithm, and 0.61 ±0.18 (min: 0.18) for the active spline model.ConclusionThe proposed algorithm demonstrates the most consistent performance of all segmentation methods tested. These results suggest that TVAC can accurately identify lung fields in chest radiographs in critically ill adults and children.

663P Sarcopenia assessment in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) undergoing radium 223 (Ra223) therapy

Osteosarcopenia is (i) an age-related, progressive loss of musculoskeletal structure and functionality, contributing to falls, fractures, and premature death, and (ii) amongst the detrimental consequences of having cancer and undergoing cancer therapy. While the complex interactions between bone and muscle health are being explored, efforts to diagnose and prevent osteosarcopenia in prostate cancer patients (pts) focus almost exclusively on bone health management. Ra223 is known to contribute to osteopenia, but there is a lack of studies on the impact of Ra223 on sarcopenia. We identified 52 men with mCRPC that had received ≥2 cycles of Ra223 between Feb 2015 and Dec 2019 at Odette Cancer Centre (Toronto, ON, Canada), and who had at least a baseline abdominopelvic CT scan (ie at the beginning of Ra223 therapy) and ≥1 follow-up CT scan. Using the contour tool of the eUnity imaging platform (Client Outlook Inc, Waterloo, ON, Canada), two independent assessors obtained the total contour area (TCA) and averaged Hounsfield units (HU) of the left and right psoas muscles at the level of the inferior endplate L3. We also calculated the Psoas Muscle Index (PMI) by dividing the TCA by the square of pts’ height in meters. Mixed-effects analysis was performed regarding the TCA, HU, and PMI measurements and according intra-patient changes across the following CT time points: ≤2 years before Ra223, baseline, and 6 and/or 12 months following start of Ra223. The TCA values measured by each assessor were highly correlated (r between 0.8991 and 0.9125 across the various time points). While there was a gradual psoas TCA and PMI decline over the entire study period analyzed (p=0.0020 for TCA, p=0.0028 for PMI), Ra223 therapy did not accelerate sarcopenia development. Similarly, Ra223 did not aggravate the gradual decline of psoas density (p<0.0001 for HU) seen over time. Ra223 does not appear to accelerate sarcopenia. Thus, the worsening of sarcopenia in men undergoing Ra223 is rather attributable to concurrent androgen deprivation therapy, amongst others.

Food Quantity Discrimination in Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare): The Role of Number, Density, Size and Area Occupied by the Food Items.

Quantity discrimination, the ability to identify, process, and respond to differences in number, has been shown in a variety of animal species and may have fitness value. In fish, the ability to distinguish between numerically different shoals has been well studied. However, little work has been devoted to the investigation of such ability in a foraging context. Nevertheless, angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) have been previously shown to be able to discriminate numerically different sets of food items, with variables such as size and density of the food items playing important roles in making the choice. Here, we examine the possible role of other numerical and non-numerical variables. Using a spontaneous binary choice task, we contrasted sets of food items differing in specifically controlled ways: (1) different numerical size but equal inter-item distance; (2) different numerical size and different inter-item distance; and (3) identical total contour length and area occupied but different individual food size and inter-food distance between the contrasted food sets. In Experiment 1, angelfish were found to prefer the sets with a large number of food items. In Experiment 2, they preferred the numerically smaller sets with clustered items to the numerically larger sets with scattered items, but only when the sets were in the large number range (10 vs. 5 food items). Finally, in Experiment 3 fish preferred numerically smaller sets with large-sized and scattered food items in the large number range sets. We conclude that food item number, density, and size may not be considered individually by angelfish, but instead, the fish respond to all these factors attempting to maximize energy gained from eating the food while minimizing energy expenditure collecting and/or protecting the food.

A Convolutional Neural Network Classifier VGG-19 Architecture for Lesion Detection and Grading in Diabetic Retinopathy Based on Deep Learning

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a type of disease in eyes as a result of a diabetic condition that ends up damaging the retina, leading to blindness or loss of vision. Morphological and physiological retinal variations involving slowdown of blood flow in the retina, elevation of leukocyte cohesion, basement membrane dystrophy, and decline of pericyte cells, develop. As DR in its initial stage has no symptoms, early detection and automated diagnosis can prevent further visual damage. In this research, using a Deep Neural Network (DNN), segmentation methods are proposed to detect the retinal defects such as exudates, hemorrhages, microaneurysms from digital fundus images and then the conditions are classified accurately to identify the grades as mild, moderate, severe, no PDR, PDR in DR. Initially, saliency detection is applied on color images to detect maximum salient foreground objects from the background. Next, structure tensor is applied powerfully to enhance the local patterns of edge elements and intensity changes that occur on edges of the object. Finally, active contours approximation is performed using gradient descent to segment the lesions from the images. Afterwards, the output images from the proposed segmentation process are subjected to evaluate the ratio between the total contour area and the total true contour arc length to label the classes as mild, moderate, severe, No PDR and PDR. Based on the computed ratio obtained from segmented images, the severity levels were identified. Meanwhile, statistical parameters like the mean and the standard deviation of pixel intensities, mean of hue, saturation and deviation clustering, are estimated through K-means, which are computed as features from the output images of the proposed segmentation process. Using these derived feature sets as input to the classifier, the classification of DR was performed. Finally, a VGG-19 deep neural network was trained and tested using the derived feature sets from the KAGGLE fundus image dataset containing 35,126 images in total. The VGG-19 is trained with features extracted from 20,000 images and tested with features extracted from 5,000 images to achieve a sensitivity of 82% and an accuracy of 96%. The proposed system was able to label and classify DR grades automatically.