Experimental Models of Glaucoma

Optic nerve pits are a mono- or bilateral congenital anomaly represented by optic disc depressions of various sizes. In half of the cases, the pits are complicated by edema, central retinal detachment and retinoschisis, and cause visual function decrease. Visual acuity losses can be either insignificant or pronounced. Optic discs pits have been investigated massively over the last century and a half, but their etiology is still underresearched. In recent years, however, due to the development of digital scanning and data processing technologies and the emergence of non-invasive highly informative diagnostic methods, it has become possible to reveal structural and functional changes of the optic disc in vivo, in addition to the traditional detection of histological changes in cadaveric eyes.Glaucomatous process modeling is one of the challenges in ophthalmology. And this is due primarily to the fact that, so far, the main reasons for the onset and progression of glaucoma. Numerous works on experimental research in its core model ocular. However, there are forms of glaucoma, which are independent of the level of intraocular pressure. Ideal model of glaucoma is considered a model with the development of the characteristic symptom in which a key symptom is a slowly progressive excavation of the optic nerve. But given the new knowledge in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative changes in glaucoma in this model should be added and the opportunity to study the brain, vascular factors of progression, the level of neurotransmitters, trophic factors, etc. Therefore, we tried to make the analysis of models of glaucoma in various experimental animals and determine the most appropriate model for studying the pathogenesis of glaucoma.

Historical aspects and current views of the etiopathogenesis and clinical manifestations of optic nerve pits

Optic nerve pits are a mono- or bilateral congenital anomaly represented by optic disc depressions of various sizes. In half of the cases, the pits are complicated by edema, central retinal detachment and retinoschisis, and cause visual function decrease. Visual acuity losses can be either insignificant or pronounced. Optic discs pits have been investigated massively over the last century and a half, but their etiology is still underresearched. In recent years, however, due to the development of digital scanning and data processing technologies and the emergence of non-invasive highly informative diagnostic methods, it has become possible to reveal structural and functional changes of the optic disc in vivo, in addition to the traditional detection of histological changes in cadaveric eyes.

Surgical treatm ent of dento maxillary anomalies class III angle. Clinical case

Dento-maxillary anomalies are relatively widespread among the population, eventually leading to serious psychological and lifestyle deterioration. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the complex orthodontic-surgical treatment in the dento-maxillary anomaly class III Angle. We aim to present the clinical case of a female patient suffering from skeletal third-class, gnathic form, who came to „Omni Dent” clinic in order to complete the second stage of associate orthodontic and surgical treatment. Medical investigations: OPG, CBCT, TRG, digital scanning, dental photography, digital programs, used at collecting data for virtual planning, establishing a complex diagnosis and choosing the best surgical technique for this case, subsequently, with the transfer of the virtual plan in the operating room through surgical guides and occlusal splints. Postoperatively, there was an obvious improvement of the facial appearance, supported by the comparison of pre- and postoperative cephalometric indices: SNA (from 76,6° to 84°), SNB (from 80,6° to 78,8°), ANB (from -4° to 5,2°), Wits (from -9,6° to 0°). Early diagnosis and detailed planning by using modern methods of examination may ensure an efficient rehabilitation of patients suffering from dento-maxillary anomalies.

Comparison of digital scanning and conventional impression taking for implant-supported prostheses

The effect of discrepancies between digital scans and conventional impressions on the clinical performance of a permanent restoration has not been fully understood.Thirty patients received conventional impressions and digital scans of a single implant restoration. Two crowns were made for the same implant using both methods. The time taken for each procedure was recorded. After analyzing the accuracy and effectiveness of both crowns, the best one was placed. A questionnaire was conducted to assess the preferences and comfort when using crowns made by one method or another.The total time for the traditional impression technique was 15 minutes, while the time for the digital scanning technique was significantly less – 10 minutes.The preparation time, including the disinfection of the silicone impressions, their transportation to the laboratory, the casting of the impressions, the hardening of the plaster, as well as the preparation of the model by the technician, was 4 hours for conventional impressions.The timing for sending the STL file and modeling the structure was less than 2 hours for the digital scan method. The production time of crowns takes 3 hours for both conventional impressions and digital ones.Of all crowns selected for placement, 46.7% were made from conventional impressions and 53.3% from digital scans. Participants preferred the digital scanning technique (89%) over the traditional impression-taking technique (11%).The data from this study suggest that digital scanning and CAD/CAM technology may be more effective and better accepted by study par-ticipants for a single implant restoration than conventional impressions and plaster casts.

Novel Ways of Discovering, Capturing and Experiencing Cultural Heritage: A Review of Current State-of-the-Art, Challenges and Future Directions

The present chapter investigates the emerging paradigm of cultural heritage experience, as shaped by the continuous advances in information technologies. Recent years have seen the growing digitisation of cultural heritage, leveraged by innovative information technologies (imaging technologies, multimedia, virtual reality etc.). Advanced digitisation, and digital preservation and accessibility have been instrumental in transforming conservation and scientific research methods in the field of cultural heritage, as well as people’s experience of cultural heritage assets, relics, and monuments. Digitisation and immersion technologies are already in use in the context of cultural tourism in museums and on location. At the same time, a manifold of new applications and services can be generated from the adoption and adaptation of relevant technologies already applied in other sectors (e.g. 2D/3D digital scanning technologies applied in the construction industry). The present chapter will provide a thorough review of relevant digital technologies and existing work in the field, highlighting important research efforts and achievements; and will discuss the current challenges and promising avenues for future work. Following a literature review methodology, our research will provide a critical appraisal of carefully selected work from recent scientific literature and contribute to the systematisation of the current knowledge in the field towards the identification of key challenges and the extraction of new insights in terms of potential for practical applications and future research directions in the area.

Scanning and data capturing for BIM-supported resources assessment: a case study

Buildings are the largest consumer of raw materials and simultaneously are responsible for 40% of the global energy consumption as well as for about 30% of global CO2 emissions. In order to reach sustainability goals such as reduction of the use of primary resources, it is of utmost importance to reuse or recycle the existing stocks – a strategy labelled as “Urban Mining”. The fact that the new construction rate is only 3%, underlines the importance of Urban Mining. However, there is lack of knowledge about the exact material composition and geometry of the existing stock, which represents the main obstacle for Urban Mining and accordingly for reaching high recycling rates. In this paper the Integrated Data Assessment and Modelling (IDAM) method based on digital scanning and modelling technologies for capturing of the geometry and material composition data is proposed for enabling a generation of as built Building Information Modelling (BIM)-models from acquired point clouds and non-geometric data. The main aim of this research is to explore the potential of the IDAM method for the generation of a BIM-model, which serves as basis for BIM-based Material Passports (MP), as major element enabling Circular Economy (CE) and Urban Mining strategies as well as the creation of a digital secondary raw materials cadastre. In order to deliver a proof of concept for IDAM, a real use case will be assessed in terms of geometry and material composition, and possibilities of data capturing via laser scanning and ground penetrating radar (GPR) for follow-up generation of a BIM-based MP explored. For capturing the geometry, laser scanning, and for capturing the material composition, GPR is used. The use of GPR for the generation of a BIM-model, which incorporates material information, addresses a research gap – the capturing and modelling of geometry is already well explored, however the methods and tools for capturing and modelling of the material composition of buildings are largely lacking. Result show, that the coupled use of capturing technologies has great potential to serve as basis for a BIM-based MP. Moreover, the use of GPR, enables a determination of embedded materials within a building, but is confronted with various difficulties. As a result, a framework, which can serve as groundwork for follow-up research, is presented.

Digital Scanning Recommended Practice v1

A protocol regarding digitization of documents stored in paper format. Topics covered: minimum standards, best practices, digital scanning hardware, software, file storage, things to consider, and resources available.

Annually and Cumulative Radiographic Alveolar Bone Loss Rates using Digital Scanning Image for the Periodontal Disease Groups before and after Periodontal Treatment

The aim of the present study was to assess the cumulative radiographic alveolar bone loss (CRABL) and yearly radiographic periodontal attachment loss (YRABL) of periodontal disease groups over 5 years or more. A total of 53 subjects, who had taken two sets of full-mouth standardized paralleling radiographs with separated periods of 5 years or more in Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital during 1981-2001, were collected for the past 20 years. The radiographic alveolar bone levels at mesial and distal aspects of teeth were assessed by measuring the distance between cemento-enamel junction and alveolar bone crest using an electronic digimatic caliper (EDC) under a 3.5X magnified radiographs. The results revealed that 1) patients with a periodic recall (3-4 times/yr.) showed a significantly lower loss rate than patients without periodic recalls; 2) mean CRPAL was highest in the generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) group (5.52±3.27mm), then the chronic periodontitis (CP) group (4.82±3.47mm), and the localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP) group (4.47±3.47mm) followed, and lowest in the periodontal healthy (PH) group (1.05±0.59mm); 3) mean YRPAL was the highest in the LAgP group (0.26±0.25mm/yr.), then the GAgP group (0.20±0.13 mm/yr.), and the CP group (0.12±0.09 mm/yr.) followed, and lowest in the periodontal healthy group (0.07±0.06 mm/yr.). It was concluded that: 1) sites with more advanced alveolar bone loss are more likely to undergo further breakdown; 2) patients with a periodic recall showed a significantly lower alveolar bone loss rate and bone gain, irrespective disease groups; 3) mean CPBLs was highest in the GAgP group; mean YRABLs was highest in the LAgP.

Deep-learning on-chip DSLM enabling video-rate volumetric imaging of neural activities in moving biological specimens

Volumetric imaging of dynamic signals in a large, moving, and light-scattering specimen is extremely challenging, owing to the requirement on high spatiotemporal resolution and difficulty in obtaining high-contrast signals. Here we report that through combing a microfluidic chip-enabled digital scanning light-sheet illumination strategy with deep-learning based image restoration, we can realize isotropic 3D imaging of crawling whole Drosophila larva on an ordinary inverted microscope at single-cell resolution and high volumetric imaging rate up to 20 Hz. Enabled with high performances even unmet by current standard light-sheet fluorescence microscopes, we intoto record the neural activities during the forward and backward crawling of 1st instar larva, and successfully correlate the calcium spiking of motor neurons with the locomotion patterns.