Use of a Computed Tomography Based Approach to Validate Noninvasive Devices to Measure Rotational Knee Laxity

in International Scholarly Research Notices (2015)

The purpose of this study is to validate a noninvasive rotational knee laxity measuring device called “Rotameter P2” with an approach based on Computed Tomography (CT). This CT-approach using X-rays is ... [more ▼]

The purpose of this study is to validate a noninvasive rotational knee laxity measuring device called “Rotameter P2” with an approach based on Computed Tomography (CT). This CT-approach using X-rays is hence invasive and can be regarded as a precise reference method that may also be applied to similar devices. An error due to imperfect femur fixation was observed but can be neglected for small torques. The most significant estimation error is due to the unavoidable soft tissues rotation and hence flexibility in the measurement chain. The error increases with the applied torque.The assessment showed that the rotational knee angle measured with the Rotameter is still overestimated because of thigh and femur displacement, soft tissues deformation, and measurement artefacts adding up to a maximum of 285% error at +15Nm for the Internal Rotation of female volunteers. This may be questioned if such noninvasive devices for measuring the Tibia-Femoral Rotation (TFR) can help diagnosing knee pathologies and investigate ligament reconstructive surgery. [less ▲]

Use of Autostitch for automatic stitching of microscope images.

in Micron (2007), 38(5), 492-9

Image stitching is the process of combining multiple images to produce a panorama or larger image. In many biomedical studies, including those of cancer and infection, the use of this approach is highly ... [more ▼]

Image stitching is the process of combining multiple images to produce a panorama or larger image. In many biomedical studies, including those of cancer and infection, the use of this approach is highly desirable in order to acquire large areas of certain structures or whole sections, while retaining microscopic resolution. In this study, we describe the application of Autostitch, viz. software that is normally used for the generation of panoramas in photography, in the seamless stitching of microscope images. First, we tested this software on image sets manually acquired by normal light microscopy and compared the performance with a manual stitching approach performed with Paint Shop Pro. Secondly, this software was applied to an image stack acquired by an automatic microscope. The stitching results were then compared with that generated by a self-programmed rectangular tiling macro integrated in Image J. Thirdly, this program was applied in the image stitching of images from electron microscopy. Thus, the automatic stitching program described here may find applications in convenient image stitching and virtual microscopy in the biomedical research. [less ▲]

Use of continuous glucose monitoring in children and adolescents

in Pediatric Diabetes (2012), 13(3), 215-228

[No abstract available]

The use of GPS horizontals for loading studies, with applications to northern California and southeast Greenland

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth (2013), 118

We describe how GPS measurements of horizontal crustal motion can be used to augment vertical crustal motion measurements, to improve and extend GPS studies of surface loading. We show that the ratio of ... [more ▼]

We describe how GPS measurements of horizontal crustal motion can be used to augment vertical crustal motion measurements, to improve and extend GPS studies of surface loading. We show that the ratio of the vertical displacement to the horizontal displacement, combined with the direction of the horizontal motion, can help determine whether nearby loading is concentrated in a small region (for example, in a single lake or glacier), and where that region is. We illustrate this method by applying it to two specific cases: an analysis of GPS data from northern California to monitor the level of Lake Shasta, and the analysis of data from a single GPS site in southeast Greenland to determine mass variability of two large, nearby outlet glaciers: Helheim Glacier and Midgaard Glacier. The California example serves largely as a proof-of-concept, where the results can be assessed by comparing with independent observations (Lake Shasta tide gauge data, in this case). Our Greenland results show that both Helheim and Midgaard have experienced notable interannual variations in mass loss rate over the last decade. Helheim’s mass loss accelerated rapidly in mid-2003, decelerated in late 2005, and increased again in 2008–2009 before returning to about its pre-2003 rate in late 2010. Midgaard’s mass loss accelerated in mid-2004, and remained more-or-less constant before returning to its pre-2003 rate in late 2008. [less ▲]

The Use of In Vitro Systems for Evaluating Immunotoxicity: The Report and Recommendations of an ECVAM Workshop

in Journal of Immunotoxicology (2005), 2(2), 61-83

This is the report of a workshop organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). ECVAM's main goal, as defined in 1993 by its Scientific Advisory Committee, is to ... [more ▼]

This is the report of a workshop organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). ECVAM's main goal, as defined in 1993 by its Scientific Advisory Committee, is to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods that are of importance to the biosciences and which replace, reduce or refine the use of laboratory animals. One of the first priorities set by ECVAM was the implementation of procedures that would enable it to become well informed about the state-of-the-art of non-animal test development and validation, and the potential for the possible incorporation of alternative tests into regulatory procedures. It was decided that this would be best achieved by the organization of ECVAM workshops on specific topics, at which small groups of invited experts would review the current status of various types of in vitro tests and their potential uses, and make recommendations about the best ways forward (Anonymous, 1994). The workshop on "The use of in vitro systems for evaluating Immunotoxicity" was held at ECVAM (Ispra), Italy, on 24th-26th November 2003. The participants represented academia, national organizations, international regulatory bodies and industry. The aim of the workshop was to review the state-of-the-art in the field of in vitro immunotoxicology, and to develop strategies towards the replacement of in vivo testing. At the end of this report are listed the recommendations that should be considered for prevalidation and validation of relevant and reliable procedures, that could replace the use of animals in chemical and cosmetics toxicity testing. [less ▲]

The use of iPads in Kindergarten: An exploratory survey study

Scientific Conference (2016, September 06)

The educational technology support team of the city of Luxembourg deployed 60 iPads, in a pilot phase during the school year 2014-2015, in around 120 Kindergarten classes. In order to assess whether this ... [more ▼]

The educational technology support team of the city of Luxembourg deployed 60 iPads, in a pilot phase during the school year 2014-2015, in around 120 Kindergarten classes. In order to assess whether this deployment was well received by teachers and whether it was worth extending it, we did an exploratory survey study that asked Kindergarten teachers about their reactions to the provided iPads. Moreover, we wanted to contribute to the existing body of research on enabling and hindering factors for the integration of ICT in education (Ertmer, 2005; Pelgrum, 2011). We did send out an email to about 210 Kindergarten teachers inviting them to participate in our study and answer various questions about their use or not of the provided iPads. A mix of open and closed questions were used. We first asked them whether they had used the iPads or not and depending on their answers they received a slightly different version of our survey. Both groups of respondents were asked to answer some questions not directly linked to the use of iPads in education: their gender, their age, the length of their work experience, how many children they have in their class, how competent they feel with using digital tools, what digital tools they use privately and for what purposes they use them, what digital tools (other than iPads) they use in their classes and for what purposes they use them, what they consider to be good teaching in Kindergarten. Those who said they had indeed used the iPads were then asked how they had prepared themselves before using the iPads in class, why and for what purposes and for which learning & teaching activities they had used them (Leclercq & Poumay 2005), what they had expected from their use, what problems, issues and challenges they had faced, if they would want to use them more / differently in the future, what they would need to wore more / better with iPads and whether they would be willing to offer professional development sessions to other teachers. Those who said they did not use the provided iPads were asked why they did not use the iPads, if they had thought about the use of iPads in education, if they had heard about it from colleagues, under which conditions they might consider to use them, how they would prepare themselves in case they would plan to use iPads in their class, if they wanted to visit colleagues and observe how they use them, for what purposes and activities they might want to use them, how they would use them, and what effects they would expect the iPads to have on their pupils and on their teaching. Overall, 91 teachers filled out the survey, 63 claiming they had (at least once) used the provided iPads in their class and 28 saying they never used them. Results will be presented at the conference and discussed in terms of teacher believes about the usefulness of tablets and digital technologies (Tondeur, Hermans, van Braak & Valcke, 2008), and more specifically how first-order and second-order barriers impact Kindergarten teachers decisions to integrate mobile ICT in their classrooms, or not (Lui & Pange, 2015). [less ▲]

The use of primary human fibroblasts for monitoring mitochondrial phenotypes in the field of Parkinson's disease.

in Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE (2012), (68),

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common movement disorder and affects 1% of people over the age of 60 (1). Because ageing is the most important risk factor, cases of PD will increase during the ... [more ▼]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common movement disorder and affects 1% of people over the age of 60 (1). Because ageing is the most important risk factor, cases of PD will increase during the next decades (2). Next to pathological protein folding and impaired protein degradation pathways, alterations of mitochondrial function and morphology were pointed out as further hallmark of neurodegeneration in PD (3-11). After years of research in murine and human cancer cells as in vitro models to dissect molecular pathways of Parkinsonism, the use of human fibroblasts from patients and appropriate controls as ex vivo models has become a valuable research tool, if potential caveats are considered. Other than immortalized, rather artificial cell models, primary fibroblasts from patients carrying disease-associated mutations apparently reflect important pathological features of the human disease. Here we delineate the procedure of taking skin biopsies, culturing human fibroblasts and using detailed protocols for essential microscopic techniques to define mitochondrial phenotypes. These were used to investigate different features associated with PD that are relevant to mitochondrial function and dynamics. Ex vivo, mitochondria can be analyzed in terms of their function, morphology, colocalization with lysosomes (the organelles degrading dysfunctional mitochondria) and degradation via the lysosomal pathway. These phenotypes are highly relevant for the identification of early signs of PD and may precede clinical motor symptoms in human disease-gene carriers. Hence, the assays presented here can be utilized as valuable tools to identify pathological features of neurodegeneration and help to define new therapeutic strategies in PD. [less ▲]

Use of recycled concrete in construction in Luxembourg

in Cahier Scientifique - Revue Technique Luxembourgeoise (2015)

Construction and demolition waste constitutes a major portion of total waste production in the world, and most of it is used in landfills. The re-use of concrete rubble collected from demolished ... [more ▼]

Construction and demolition waste constitutes a major portion of total waste production in the world, and most of it is used in landfills. The re-use of concrete rubble collected from demolished structures is an important issue. After crushing and screening, there is the possibility of appropriately treating and reusing such waste as aggregate in new concrete, especially in lower level applications. Different aspects of the topic beginning with a brief review of the European initiatives and definition in terms of C&D waste generated and recycled aggregates produced from C&D waste are given. Along with a brief overview of C&D waste, a summary of the situation in Luxembourg in use of recycled aggregate is discussed. This writing concludes by identifying some of the major barriers in more use of recycled aggregate concrete, including lack of awareness, lack of knowledge, barriers of specifications/codes for reusing these aggregates in new concrete. [less ▲]

The use of strategies in motor learning: Validation of a new questionnaire

in Beek, Peter; van de Langenberg, Rolf (Eds.) European Workshop on Movement Science - Book of Abstracts (2007, June)

The use of the discrete Sugeno integral in decision making: a survey

in International Journal of Uncertainty, Fuzziness and Knowledge-Based Systems (2001), 9(5), 539-561

An overview of the use of the discrete Sugeno integral as either an aggregation tool or a preference functional is presented in the qualitative framework of two decision paradigms: multi-criteria decision ... [more ▼]

An overview of the use of the discrete Sugeno integral as either an aggregation tool or a preference functional is presented in the qualitative framework of two decision paradigms: multi-criteria decision-making and decision-making under uncertainty. The parallelism between the representation theorems in both settings is stressed, even if a basic requirement like the idempotency of the aggregation scheme should be explicitely stated in multi-criteria decision-making, while its counterpart is implicit in decision under uncertainty by equating the utility of a constant act with the utility of its consequence. Important particular cases of Sugeno integrals such as prioritized minimum and maximum operators, their ordered versions, and Boolean max-min functions are studied. [less ▲]