Application of matlab for digital images topological characteristics calculation and analysis

The paper describes the practical results received from digital images topographic characteristics calculating in Matlab, such as length and curvature of contour lines, density of lengths and curvature, as well as irregularities of contour lines of the first and second order. Topological characteristics contain complete information about the shape and contours of a digital image, which allows them to be effectively used in solving the problems of remote sensing data processing, analysis of biomedical images, classification and pattern recognition problems.

Computational Analysis of Climate Performance for Improving Design Strategies at an Australian Community

Nightingale 1 is a well-designed, community-led building for owner-occupiers in Brunswick, Melbourne, which is continuously awarded as the top five of the most livable cities in the world. To identify sustainability aspects of the Nightingale 1, the study will not only investigate local topographic characteristics and solar performance but also demonstrate the advantages or disadvantages of the current design related to the solar analysis. Based on the analysis, the study will propose improvements of thermal comfort in the housing project.

Topographical measurement of the attachments of the central band of the interosseous membrane on interosseous crests of the radius and ulna

Background: To suggest a reasonable isometric point based on the anatomical consistency of interosseous membrane (IOM) attachment in association with topographic characteristics of the interosseous crest, the footprints of the central band (CB) of the IOM on the radial and ulnar interosseous crests (RIC and UIC) were measured.Methods: We measured the distance from the CB footprints from each apex of both interosseous crests in 14 cadavers and the angles between the forearm axis of rotation (AOR) and the distal slopes of the RIC and UIC in 33 volunteers. Results: The CB footprints lay on the downslope of both interosseous crests with its upper margin on average 3-mm proximal from the RIC's apex consistently in the radial length, showing normality (p>0.05), and on average 16-mm distal from the UIC's apex on the ulna without satisfying normality (p<0.05). The average angle between the UIC's distal slope and the AOR was 1.3°, and the RIC's distal slope to the AOR was 14.0°, satisfying the normality tests (p>0.05), and there was no side-to-side difference in both forearms (p<0.05).Conclusions: The CB attached to the downslope just distal to the RIC's apex constrains the radius to the UIC that coincides with the AOR of the forearm circumduction, maintaining itself both isometrically and isotonically.

Evaluation Flexural Strength of PMMA Resins with the Addition of Nanoparticles

The flexural strength of heat cure acrylic resin was investigated by adding different concentrations of TiO2 and ZrO2 nanoparticles to increase its mechanical properties. ZrO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles were added at 1, 3, and 5% concentrations to the powder portion of heat polymerized acrylic resins. A total of 49 samples were prepared in 65 × 10 × 3 mm size. The structural characterisations of all experimental groups were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Flexural strength of the resin specimens was evaluated with a three-point bending test in a universal test machine and then examined under by scanning electron microscope to assess its topographic characteristics. The highest flexural strength value was obtained for 3% TiO2, while the lowest values were obtained for 1% and 5% TiO2. 1% ZrO2 and 3% TiO2 groups showed statistically higher flexural strength values than the control group. Addition of 3% and 5% ZrO2 and 1% and 5% TiO2 showed statistically lower flexural strength than the control group.

Identification of changes in the rainfall regime in Chihuahua's state (México)

The impacts of Climate Change are not homogeneous globally or for a country or region as a whole. Consequently, it is essential to carry out studies to identify its effects in particular areas. Due to its geographical and topographic characteristics, Chihuahua's state is vulnerable to the adverse effects of Climate Change. The scarce availability of water resources leads to problems of social pressure and economic impact. This paper analyzes the alteration of the rainfall regime in Chihuahua's state and its association with Climate Change. For this, historical characterization is used; trend analysis using the Mann Kendall test; and calculation of 10 indices of climatic extremes proposed by the Group of Experts for Detection and Climate Change Indices for the precipitation variable. The results showed that the precipitation patterns in the south and southeast of Chihuahua's state have been gradually modifying, with a downward trend in annual accumulated and reduction of wet days. Still, in counterpart, there is a slight intensification of extreme rainfall. This fact added to the growing demand for water resources in the entity, requests for public policies for sustainable management and responsible use by users. Otherwise, there is a risk of experiencing negative effects associated with the over-exploitation of water, not only for the resource users but also for the environment.

Cystoscopic features of the ureteral orifices in children with vesicoureteral reflux

Purpose – to establish cystoscopic prognostic criteria for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children. Materials and methods. Clinical material covers 270 patients with VUR II–IV grades aged 9 months to 14 years and 22 healthy children. The study included patients with VUR in the period of clinical and laboratory remission without symptoms of neurogenic bladder. During cystoscopy, the condition of the bladder mucosa was assessed; location, shape, hydrodistention degree, and ureteral orifices contractility. Results. Patients with VUR were diagnosed ureteral orifices in the form of: horseshoes – 127 (47.04%) patients, stadium – 106 (39.26%) and golf holes – 37 (13.7%). They were in the zones: A – 13 (4.81%) children, B – 154 (57.04%), C – 67 (24.81%), D – 36 (13.33%), and were characterized by the hydrodistention degree: H0 – 7 (2.59%) patients, H1 – 173 (64.07%), H2 – 60 (22.22%) and H3 – 30 (11.11%). In children with VUR, sluggish peristalsis of the ureter orifices clearly prevailed – 252 (93.33%) cases, relative to active peristalsis in only 18 (6.67%) patients. Conclusions. For ureteral orifices in the form of a stadium and with more pronounced signs of deepening, which are shifted to zone B and laterally to the sidewall of the bladder, with a hydrodistention degree above H1 has a positive association with VUR at the highest specificity of tests. Unfavorable prognostic diagnostic markers for effective minimally invasive interventions in patients with VUR should be considered ureteral orifices, which combine such morpho-topographic characteristics as pronounced signs of deepening to the shape of a golf hole, lateralization to the sidewall of the bladder in zone D, and hydrodistention H3 degree. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local ethics committee of all participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Key words: vesicoureteral reflux, ureteral orifice, cystoscopy, children.

Doublecortin-Expressing Neurons in Chinese Tree Shrew Forebrain Exhibit Mixed Rodent and Primate-Like Topographic Characteristics

Doublecortin (DCX) is transiently expressed in new-born neurons in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ) related to adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb (OB) and hippocampal formation. DCX immunoreactive (DCX+) immature neurons also occur in the cerebral cortex primarily over layer II and the amygdala around the paralaminar nucleus (PLN) in various mammals, with interspecies differences pointing to phylogenic variation. The tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) are phylogenetically closer to primates than to rodents. Little is known about DCX+ neurons in the brain of this species. In the present study, we characterized DCX immunoreactivity (IR) in the forebrain of Chinese tree shrews aged from 2 months- to 6 years-old (n = 18). DCX+ cells were present in the OB, SVZ, SGZ, the piriform cortex over layer II, and the amygdala around the PLN. The numerical densities of DCX+ neurons were reduced in all above neuroanatomical regions with age, particularly dramatic in the DG in the 5–6 years-old animals. Thus, DCX+ neurons are present in the two established neurogenic sites (SVZ and SGZ) in the Chinese tree shrew as seen in other mammals. DCX+ cortical neurons in this animal exhibit a topographic pattern comparable to that in mice and rats, while these immature neurons are also present in the amygdala, concentrating around the PLN as seen in primates and some nonprimate mammals.

Insights from the topographic characteristics of a large global catalog of rainfall-induced landslide event inventories

Landslides are a key hazard in high-relief areas around the world and pose a risk to population and infrastructure. It is important to understand where landslides are likely to occur in the landscape to inform local analyses of exposure and potential impacts. Large triggering events such as earthquakes or major rain storms often cause hundreds or thousands of landslides, and mapping the landslide populations generated by these events can provide extensive datasets of landslide locations. Previous work has explored the characteristic locations of landslides triggered by seismic shaking, but rainfall induced landslides are likely to occur in different parts of a given landscape when compared to seismically induced failures. Here we show measurements of a range of topographic parameters associated with rainfall-induced landslides inventories, including a number of previously unpublished inventories which we also present here. We find that average upstream angle and compound topographic index are strong predictors of landslide headscarp location, while local relief and topographic position index provide a stronger sense of where landslide material may end up (and thus where hazard may be highest). By providing a large compilation of inventory data for open use by the landslide community, we suggest that this work could be useful for other regional and global landslide modelling studies and local calibration of landslide susceptibility assessment, as well as hazard mitigation studies.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS IN VOJVODINA, SERBIA, 2009-2018, FROM THE ASPECT OF ONE HEALTH

This study attempts to summarize epidemiological characteristics of human leptospirosis and to determine the seroprevalence of this disease among domestic animals in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, for the period 2009-2018. Chronological, demographic and topographic characteristics of human cases were analyzed. Pearson's correlation was used to explore correlations between different meteorological factors and trends in time-series of human cases. Overall 87 human cases of leptospirosis and five subsequent deaths (CFR: 5.75%) were recorded in the ten-year period. The average annual incidence rate was 0.45/100,000 (range: 0.16-1.50/100,000). The disease was more prevalent in males (M/F=16.40:1), with the majority of cases reported in August (N=23; 26.44%), September (N=20; 23.00%) and October (N=15; 17,24%). A statistically significant weak positive correlation was observed between the mean monthly air temperature and the number of human cases of leptospirosis of the same month (r=0.30, p<0.01) and a statistically significant weak positive correlation was found between the number of human cases and the sum of precipitation in the previous month (r=0.27, p<0.01). The average annual seroprevalence among domestic animals in total was 1.13% (range: 0.23% -3.65%). Seropositivity of tested samples of cats, dogs, cattle, donkeys, horses, sheep, pigs and goats was 25%, 9.50%, 8.55%, 6.25%, 1.59%, 0.25%, 0.18%, 0.00, respectively. Human and animal leptospirosis continuously occurs in Vojvodina, which implies the need for continuous and quality monitoring of the epidemiological and epizootiological situation of this disease. Further, more comprehensive parallel studies in humans and animals are needed, as well as additional studies of living conditions of animals on farms with leptospirosis and the studies that will determine the strength of association between climatic/ environmental factors and leptospirosis in Vojvodina. Key words: Human leptospirosis, animal leptospirosis, zoonosis, epidemiology, seroprevalence, one health.