A novel parameter derived from post-processing procedure of dual energy CT for identification of gout

ROI analysis is frequently used for obtaining acid content on rapid-kV-switching dual energy CT (DECT), providing inadequate accuracy. A new parameter derived from post-processing procedure, maximum lower limit with stain visible (MLLSV), was used by us to diagnose gout. 30 gout patients and 20 healthy volunteers were analyzed by using MLLSV. MLLSV was defined as the maximum lower limit of display window allowing only one stained site visible. Radiologists were asked to continuously increase the lower limit of display window of uric acid to decrease number of stained sites until the last stained site disappeared. MLLSV obtained by this way was compared between gout patients and volunteers. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the performance. MLLSV of gout patients was significantly higher than that of volunteers (1373.3 ± 23.0 mg/cm3 vs. 1315.4 ± 20.7 mg/cm3, p = 0.000). The area under ROC curve of MLLSV was 0.993 in identifying gout. When using the optimal cutoff of 1342 mg/cm3, the sensitivity and specificity of MLLSV in identification of gout were 96.7% and 95% respectively. MLLSV derived from post-processing procedure of DECT is useful in discriminating gout patients from healthy people.

Development of virtual instrument model for parameter estimation of fractal antenna array

This paper presents the parameter estimation of the fractal antenna array with the virtual instrument model designed in laboratory virtual instrument engineering workbench software. In this work resonant frequency, gain and voltage standing wave ratio have been used as an output parameter with the change in three input parameters such as radius of a circular patch, height of substrate, and dielectric constant of the material. Measured output parameters have been compared with neural network outputs and error has been represented in a graphical way for each output parameter of the antenna array. Along with output parameter estimation, a designing parameter such as radius of the circular patch has also been estimated with virtual instrument model and absolute error for radius has been shown in the display window of the designed model. The proposed antenna array has been fabricated and simulated results have been validated with measured results.

ORGANICS CONSUMPTION FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: ANALYZING A SPECIALTY MARKET IN FLORIANÓPOLIS-SC.

In order to contribute to the comprehension of the current situation of organic markets, this research investigates a prominent case at Florianopolis: Cantinho Especial Market. The methodology employed in this study involved six months of analysis of the market's institutional website (fan page) in a social network, eight months of unsystematic observations at the market and nine interviews with agents both from supply and demand. We argue here that recurrent categories used in sociological research on organic markets, such as political consumerism and ecological ethics, are sparser among this market participant agents. Instead of these recurrent categories, we realize that organics are in the display window acting as decoys to a distinctive symbolic exchanges market. These symbolic trades when combined together reflect a lifestyle marked by the praise of the exoticism and the cosmopolitanism.