Plant Identification Based on Leaf Midrib Cross-Section Images Using Fractal Descriptors.

The correct identification of plants is a common necessity not only to researchers but also to the lay public. Recently, computational methods have been employed to facilitate this task, however, there are few studies front of the wide diversity of plants occurring in the world. This study proposes to analyse images obtained from cross-sections of leaf midrib using fractal descriptors. These descriptors are obtained from the fractal dimension of the object computed at a range of scales. In this way, they provide rich information regarding the spatial distribution of the analysed structure and, as a consequence, they measure the multiscale morphology of the object of interest. In Biology, such morphology is of great importance because it is related to evolutionary aspects and is successfully employed to characterize and discriminate among different biological structures. Here, the fractal descriptors are used to identify the species of plants based on the image of their leaves. A large number of samples are examined, being 606 leaf samples of 50 species from Brazilian flora. The results are compared to other imaging methods in the literature and demonstrate that fractal descriptors are precise and reliable in the taxonomic process of plant species identification.

Improving reading and writing learning in underprivileged pluri-ethnic settings.

BACKGROUND: Many studies carried out in first language contexts tend to demonstrate the positive effects of activity programmes aimed at (1) developing metaphonological abilities and (2) developing language skills through active story listening on learning to read and to spell by first-grade students. AIMS: This study seeks to extend previous findings by (a) including children, the majority of whom have French as a second language, who attend plurilingual schools and have not been included in previous studies, and (b) providing training based on three essential principles shared by the two kinds of programmes: integrating activities into realistic literacy practice contexts; encouraging active student participation through tasks which very often require problem solving; and tackling, one after the other, different kinds of operations or strategies. SAMPLE: Three groups of students were created out a pool of 202 children enrolled in nine first-grade classes in three underprivileged pluri-ethnic schools. The control group was composed of 46 students who received typical, first-grade methods for teaching reading and spelling. Experimental group 1 (DMPA), 91 students, received a training programme aimed at metaphonological abilities development. Experimental group 2 (DLS), 65 students, received a training intended to develop language skills through active story listening and production. METHOD: The students from the three groups were evaluated at the beginning (metaphonological task I, pre-reading task) and at the end (metaphonological task II, word recognition task, text comprehension task, word spelling task) of their first year in elementary school. RESULTS: The programme for the development of metaphonological abilities enabled DMPA group students to obtain significantly higher scores than the control group on metaphonological task II and word recognition task. The DMPA group children also did significantly better than the control and the DLS groups on the word spelling task. However, the DLS group, who benefited from language skills development activities, also progressed in that they obtained significantly better results than the control group in the word recognition task. Moreover, at the end of grade one, there was no difference in the scores obtained by the groups on a comprehension questionnaire administered after the reading of the narrative text. CONCLUSION: The word reading skills of first-grade children in underprivileged pluriethnic settings can be improved through activities aimed at metaphonological abilities development or language skills development by means of active story listening and production. On the other hand, in order to develop word spelling abilities, the development of metaphonological abilities was more effective. Lastly, further research should seek to improve understanding of the absence of effects of either learning programme on narrative text comprehension.

[Brown tumors in multiple locations: manifestation of severe renal osteodystrophy. Case report]. / Tumores pardos en múltiples localizaciones: manifestación de osteodistrofia renal severa. Caso clínico.

We report a 25 years old woman with a four years history of end stage renal disease on hemodialysis. During the last two years of follow up, multiple tender nodules appeared in the left clavicle and ribs. These were diagnosed as brown tumors, secondary to osteitis fibrosa cystica, in the context of a secondary hyperparathyroidism. A subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed and a homologous parathyroid implant was done in the right forearm. The pathological study of the surgical pieces confirmed the presence of the brown tumors and parathyroid hyperplasia. Nine months after surgery, parathormone levels and brown tumor calcifications decreased significantly and bone mineral density increased by 20%.

H magnetic resonance spectroscopy assessment of the temozolomide response in peaditric pilocytic astrocytomas

Pilocytic Astrocytomas (PA) treatment and prognosis is variable depending on location. ¹H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is used to characterize tumor metabolism providing additional information to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation assessing the therapy response. This study was designed to evaluate brain metabolic changes that result from Temozolomide (TMZ) administration on pediatric PA using MRS. Twenty children with PA were studied. We performed MRI and MRS pretreatment and after 12 months of therapy on a 3.0 Tesla scanner in order to monitor the chemotherapy response to 5-day treatment with oral TMZ (200 mg/mt² x day) given every 28 days for 12 cycles. Multivoxel Proton Spectroscopic Imaging was performed using a Point Resolved Spectroscopy sequence (PRESS). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to the results in order to evaluate the possible statistical differences. Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction test were assessed in order to verify the differences among ratio means. It was observed a significant decrease in Cho/Cr ratio (p<0.05) and a significant increase in NAA/Cr ratio (p<0.05) while TMZ therapy was taking place. These results are linked with tumor size reduction (r = 0.95, p< 0.05) detected by MRI. Results show MRS can detect early tumor reaction to therapy prior to MRI. Therefore, MRS could provide a useful tool to monitor the answer of pediatric PA to TMZ. The link between metabolic markers changes due to TMZ treatment assessed by MRS and the tumor volume reduction may also provide a fertile ground to developa TMZ-based therapy for pediatric PA and to predict its efficacy to improve PA’s response to treatment.

Avances en la propuesta curricular. Núcleo clínico / Advance on a curricular proposal. clinical nucleus

El proceso de construcción curricular en el núcleo clínico parte de una visión global del contexto socioeconómico, político y legislativo en salud, educación y enfermería, a nivel nacional e internacional.Toma como referencia institucional el plan de desarrollo de la Facultad de Enfermería de la Universidad de Antioquia articulado con el plan de desarrollo de esta última, y los elementos de transformación curricular con la perspectiva de presente y futuro.El proceso de construcción curricular propone fortalecer la investigación, concretando líneas sobre el objeto del saber de enfermería, para formar personas con comprensión del rol profesional, que trabajen articuladas con otras disciplinas y den respuesta a los problemas de salud.Además, este grupo de docentes analiza los términos: clínico, núcleo y ámbito, y su significado para la profesión. Considera que lo nuclear que la Facultad tiene que enseñar es el cuidado de enfermería dando respuestas al qué, cómo, cuándo, dónde y para qué de dicho cuidado.Por último, como elemento fundamental se plantea recoger y sistematizar las experiencias de docentes y egresados para que, a la luz de éstas y de la visión global del currículo, se seleccionen los contenidos y experiencias esenciales para la formación, y se organice el plan de estudios orientandolo hacia el logro del propósito y del perfil de la formación.

Atención de pacientes sometidos a cirugía electiva de vías biliares en dos instituciones del segundo nivel de atención en salud, 1995 / Assistance to patients under bile duct elective surgery in two second-level health institutions, 1995

Este proyecto se enmarca dentro de dos líneas de investigación, una sobre calidad de atención en salud y otra sobre práctica de enfermería.Se seleccionó la atención a pacientes sometidos a cirugía de vías biliares por ocupar ésta el segundo lugar de incidencia en cirugías del tracto digestivo, después de la úlcera gastro-duodenal y las instituciones de segundo nivel de atención porque en el proceso de mejorar la calidad de los servicios, estas instituciones han manifestado interés de evaluar la calidad de la atención, teniendo en cuenta que se estén ampliando sus servicios quirúrgicos. Por la misma razón, enfermería necesita construir modelos y protocolos de atención de alta calidad, en beneficio de los usuarios de los servicios y de la cualificación de su función científico técnica. Se concluyó que hay limitaciones en la eficiencia de las instituciones en la planeación y administración general, insuficiencia en el recurso profesional de enfermería y deficiencias estructurales en los puestos de enfermería. Los profesionales de enfermería han delegado su función básica, relacionada con el cuidado y la educación de las personas sometidas a estas intervenciones. Es evidente la inclusión de programas ambulatorios y por la vía laparoscópica. Sólo se encontró una complicación alarmante en la evolución del paciente. Se relatan las dudas que encuentra el paciente y su familia para el manejo posoperatorio en el hogar.