Prediction of fluids volume fraction and barium sulfate scale in a multiphase system using gamma radiation and deep neural network.

In the oil industry, during the production of oil and gas, barium sulfate (BaSO4) scale may occur on the inner walls of the pipelines leading to the reduction of the internal diameter, making the fluids' passage difficult and complicating the calculation of the fluids volume fraction. This paper presents a methodology to predict volume fraction of fluids and BaSO4 scale thickness from obtaining spectra of two NaI(Tl) detectors that record the transmitted and scattered beams of gamma-rays. Theoretical models for a multiphase annular flow regime (gas-saltwater-oil-scale) were developed using MCNP6 code, which is a mathematical code based on the Monte Carlo method. The simulated data was used to train a deep neural network (DNN) to predict the volume fraction of gas, saltwater and oil, and the concentric scale thickness. A Python optimization library called Optuna was used for the hyperparameters search to design the DNN architecture. The methodology presented great results, especially for scale thickness prediction. Although the results for saltwater did not reach the same level, it was still possible to predict approximately 70% of the patterns up to 10% relative error. This achievement indicates the possibility to calculate the volume fraction of fluids and the concentric scale thickness in the offshore oil industry using gamma densitometry and deep learning models.

Application of deep neural network and gamma radiation to monitor the transport of petroleum by-products through polyducts.

To continuously monitor information about the transport of fluids by sequential batches in polyduct, found in the petrochemical industry, it is necessary to manage the mixing zone - transmix - that occurs when two fluids are being transported. This scenario demonstrates the need to estimate the interface region and the purity of the fluids in this region to improve the management of the pipeline and, thus, reduce associated costs. This study presents a measurement system based on the dual-modality gamma densitometry technique in combination with a deep neural network with seven hidden layers to predict the purity level of four different fluids (Gasoline, Glycerol, Kerosene and Oil Fuel) in the transmix. The detection geometry is composed of a137Cs radioactive source (emitting gamma rays of 661.657 keV) and two NaI(Tl) scintillator detectors to record the transmitted and scattered photons. The study was performed by computer simulations using the MCNP6 code, and the information recorded in the detectors was used as input data for training and evaluating the deep neural network. The proposed intelligent measurement system is able to predict the purity level of fluids with errors with mean squared error values below 1.4 and mean absolute percentage error values below 5.73% for all analyzed data.

Application to help physiotherapists in the evaluation of pelvic dysfunctions after cervical cancer / Aplicativo para auxiliar fisioterapeutas na avaliação de disfunções pélvicas após câncer de colo do útero

Abstract Introduction Cervical cancer is caused by a persistent infection with some types of human papillomavirus (HPV), and its treatment entails chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. This may cause different kinds of dysfunction in the pelvic floor. Hence, physiotherapy plays an important role in the evaluation and treatment of urogynecological dysfunctions occasioned by the oncological treatment. Objective To develop a digital technology in application format to help physiotherapists in the assessment of pelvic dysfunctions after cervical cancer. Methods A digital technology in application format was developed after approval from the Ethics in Research Committee of the Tropical Medical Center. The instrument was developed by a physiotherapist with expertise and experience in the area. The researchers held meetings to finalize the creation of the checklist, and the application was programmed using the Android Studio Environment. In the end, the application was evaluated by two physiotherapist experts in the field. Results The application created displays five sections addressing the symptoms of urinary dysfunction, sexual function, anal function, pain and alterations such as: lymphedema, vaginal stenosis and vaginal fibrosis. Conclusion The use of the application may help physiotherapists in the assessment of pelvic dysfunctions after cervical cancer.

Resumo Introdução O câncer de colo do útero é causado pela infecção persistente por alguns tipos de papilomavírus humano e o seu tratamento envolve quimioterapia, radioterapia e cirurgia, podendo ocasio-nar diferentes disfunções no assoalho pélvico. Desta forma, a fisioterapia tem papel importante na avaliação e tratamento das disfunções pélvicas decorrentes do tratamento oncológico. Objetivo Desenvolver uma tecnologia digital em formato de aplicativo para auxiliar fisioterapeutas na avaliação de disfunções pélvicas após câncer de colo do útero. Métodos Trata-se do desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia digital em formato de aplicativo, que foi realizado após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa do Núcleo de Medicina Tropical. O instrumento foi elaborado por fisioterapeutas com expertise e experiência na área. Os pesquisadores realizaram reuniões para finalizar o processo de criação do checklist, e o aplicativo foi programado em ambiente Androide Studio. Ao final, o aplicativo foi avaliado por duas fisioterapeutas especialistas na área. Resultados O aplicativo criado apresenta cinco capítulos abordando sintomas de disfunção urinária, função sexual, função anal, dor e alterações como linfedema, estenose vaginal e fibrose vaginal. Conclusão A utilização do aplicativo poderá auxiliar os profissionais fisioterapeutas na avaliação de disfunções pélvicas após câncer de colo do útero.

Correlation between intracranial pressure monitoring for severe traumatic brain injury with hospital length of stay and discharge disposition: a retrospective observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is recommended for severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) but some data suggests it may not improve outcomes. The objective was to investigate the effect of ICP monitoring among TBI. METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study (1/1/2015-6/1/2020) included severe TBI patients. Outcomes [discharge destination, length of stay (LOS)] were compared by ICP monitoring and were stratified by GCS (3 vs. 4-8), α < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the123 patients who met inclusion criteria, 47% received ICP monitoring. There were baseline differences in the two groups characteristics, ICP monitored patients were younger (p = 0.02), had a subarachnoid hemorrhage less often (p = 0.04), and a subdural hematoma more often (p = 0.04) than those without ICP monitors. ICP monitored patients had a significantly longer median LOS (12 vs. 3, p < 0.01) than patients without monitoring. There was a trend towards more ICP monitored patients discharged home (40% vs. 23%, p = 0.06). Among patients with GCS = 3, ICP monitored patients had a longer LOS (p < 0.01) with no significant differences in discharge destinations. For those with a GCS of 4-8, ICP monitoring was associated with a longer LOS (p = 0.01), but fewer were discharged to a skilled nursing facility or long-term care (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: For TBI patients, ICP monitoring was associated with an increased LOS, with no significant differences in discharge destinations when compared to those without ICP monitoring. However, among only those with a GCS of 4-8, ICP monitoring was associated with a decreased proportion of patients discharged to a skilled nursing facility or long-term acute care .

Suicide versus homicide firearm injury patterns on trauma systems in a study of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB).

Firearm related mortality in the USA surpassed all other developed countries. This study hypothesizes that injury patterns, weapon type, and mortality differ between suicide groups as opposed to homicide. The American College of Surgeons National Trauma Database was queried from January 2017 to December 2019. All firearm related injuries were included, and weapon type was abstracted. Differences between homicide and suicide groups by sex, age, race, and injury severity were compared using a Mann-Whitney test for numerical data and Fisher's exact test for categorical data. The association between weapon type and mortality relative to suicide as opposed to homicide was assessed in Fisher's exact tests. Significance was defined as p < 0.05. There were 100,031 homicide and 11,714 suicide subjects that met inclusion criteria. Homicides were mostly assault victims (97.6%), male (88%), African-American (62%), had less severe injury (mean (ISS) 12.07) and a median age of 20 years old (IQR: 14, 30, p < 0.01). Suicides were mostly male (83%), white (79%), had more severe injury (mean ISS 20.73), and a median age of 36 years old (IQR: 19, 54, p < 0.01). Suicide group had higher odds of head/neck (OR = 13.6) or face (OR = 5.7) injuries, with lower odds of injury to chest (OR = 0.55), abdominal or pelvic contents (OR = 0.25), extremities or pelvic girdle (OR = 0.15), or superficial soft tissue (OR = 0.32). Mortality rate was higher for suicide group (44.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 43.9%, 45.7%) compared to the homicide group (11.5%; 95% CI 11.3%, 11.7%). Suicide had higher mortality, more severe injuries, and more head/neck/facial injuries than homicide. Majority of suicides were with handguns.

Particle-associated bacteria differentially influence the aggregation of the marine diatom Minutocellus polymorphus.

The aggregation of phytoplankton leads to the settling of particulate organic carbon in the form of marine snow, making it an important process in marine biogeochemical cycles. Diatoms >20 µm in size are considered to contribute appreciably to sinking particle fluxes due to aggregation and the production of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP), the matrix for marine snow aggregates; however, it is not known whether nano-sized (2-20 µm) diatoms are able to aggregate and produce TEP. Here, we tested the aggregation and production of TEP by the nano-diatom Minutocellus polymorphus and investigated if interactions with bacteria influence aggregation by comparing axenic M. polymorphus cultures with co-cultures of the diatom with bacterial taxa known to colonize marine snow particles. We found that M. polymorphus form sinking aggregates and produce TEP comparably to other phytoplankton groups and that aggregation and TEP production were influenced depending on the species of bacteria added. Aggregation was enhanced in the presence of Marinobacter adhaerens HP15, but not in the presence of Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora or Vibrio thalassae. Cell aggregation mediated by interactions with specific bacterial species are possible mechanisms behind the export of nano-sized diatoms, such as M. polymorphus, especially in oligotrophic open ocean regions where small phytoplankton dominate.

Quantification of adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells spread on decellularized vein scaffold.

PURPOSE: To evaluate methods that improve adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) population in decellularized biological venous scaffold for tissue engineering in blood vessels, a model in rabbits. METHODS: The ASC was expanded until the third passage. Inferior vena cava (IVC) was submitted to the decellularization process using 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or 2% sodium deoxycholate (SD) to compose 12 study groups (G): pure SD or SDS, exposed or not to 1% TritonX-100 (TX-100) and exposed or not to poly-l'lysine and laminin (PL). Scaffolds were covered with 1 × 105 or 1 × 106 ASCs diluted in 10 µL Puramatrix™. The histological analysis was done by cell counting in hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and nuclei count in immunofluorescence (IF) with 4',6-Diamidine-2'-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). RESULTS: The study of groups in HE and IF showed similar results. For both analyses,IVC-SD-1 × 106 ASC and IVC-SD-PL-1 × 106 ASC provided the best results. The IF technique showed better sensitivity than HE, with a weak agreement between them. CONCLUSIONS: Decellularizing agent and the number of ASC influence scaffolds cellularization response and the best protocols as those ones using SD with or without the addition of PL.

The mechanism and pattern of injuries of undocumented immigrants crossing the Texas-Mexico border along the Rio Grande Valley.

BACKGROUND: Apprehensions of undocumented immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley sector of the U.S.-Mexico border have grown to account for nearly half of all apprehensions at the border. The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence, mechanism, and pattern of traumatic injuries sustained by undocumented immigrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border at the Rio Grande Valley sector over a span of 5 years and were treated at a local American College of Surgeons verified Level II trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2014 to December 2019. Demographics, comorbidities, injury severity score (ISS), mechanism of injury, anatomical part of the body affected, hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS), and treatment costs were analyzed. Descriptive statistics for demographics, injury location and cause, and temporal trends are reported. The impact of ISS or surgical intervention on hospital LOS was analyzed using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Of 178 patients, 65.2% were male with an average age of 31 (range 0-67) years old and few comorbidities (88.8%) or social risk factors (86%). Patients most commonly sustained injuries secondary to a border fence-related incident (33.7%), fleeing (22.5%), or motor vehicle accident (16.9%). There were no clear temporal trends in the total number of patients injured, or in causes of injury, between 2014 and 2019. The majority of patients (60.7%) sustained extremity injuries, followed by spine injuries (20.2%). Border fence-related incidents and fleeing increased risk of extremity injuries (Odds ratio (OR) > 3; p < 0.005), whereas motor vehicle accidents increased risk of head and chest injuries (OR > 4; p < 0.004). Extremity injuries increased the odds (OR: 9.4, p < 0.001) that surgery would be required. Surgical intervention was common (64%), and the median LOS of patients who underwent surgery was 3 days more than those who did not (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In addition to border fence related injuries, undocumented immigrants also sustained injuries while fleeing and in motor vehicle accidents, among others. Extremity injuries, which were more likely with border fence-related incidents, were the most common type. This type of injury often requires surgical intervention and, therefore, a longer hospital stay for severe injuries.

Efeito da fisioterapia nos sintomas de síndrome da bexiga hiperativa decorrente do tratamento do câncer de colo de útero / Effect of physical therapy on symptoms of the hyperactive bladder arising from the treatment of cervical cancer

Introdução: A síndrome da bexiga hiperativa pode afetar as mulheres após o tratamento para câncer de colo do útero, interferindo diretamente a qualidade de vida e funcionalidade. Objetivo: Verificar os efeitos da Fisioterapia nos sintomas da síndrome da bexiga hiperativa em mulheres submetidas ao tratamento de câncer de colo do útero. Métodos: Trata-se de um ensaio clínico não controlado, com mulheres que realizaram o tratamento para câncer de colo do útero. Foi utilizada uma ficha de avaliação para verificar dados ginecológicos/obstétricos, assim como hábitos de vida das pacientes. Os sintomas da síndrome da bexiga hiperativa foram avaliados por meio do Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder. Para a intervenção fisioterapêutica foi utilizado o protocolo de Treinamento dos Músculos do Assoalho, Eletroestimulação Transcutânea do Nervo Tibial e Terapia Comportamental. Resultados: No pós-tratamento ocorreu decréscimo estatisticamente significativo na mediana dos sintomas da síndrome da bexiga hiperativa e no impacto da qualidade de vida em relação ao pré-tratamento, indicando melhora do quadro. Conclusão: Esta pesquisa concluiu que o protocolo fisioterapêutico utilizado apresentou eficácia na melhora dos sintomas da síndrome da bexiga hiperativa após tratamento para câncer de colo do útero. (AU)

Introduction: A hyperactive bladder syndrome can affect women after treatment for cervical cancer, directly interfering with quality of life and functionality. Objective: To verify the effects of physical therapy on the symptoms of hyperactive bladder syndrome in women undergoing treatment for cervical cancer. Methods: This is an uncontrolled clinical trial, with women who underwent treatment for cervical cancer. An evaluation form was used to check gynecological/obstetric data, as well as the patients' lifestyle. The symptoms of the hyperactive bladder syndrome were obtained through the hyperactive bladder questionnaire. For the physiotherapeutic intervention, the floor muscle training, transcutaneous electrostimulation of the tibial nerve and behavioral therapy protocol was used. Results: In the post-treatment there was a statistically significant decrease in the median of the symptoms of the hyperactive bladder syndrome and no impact on the quality of life in relation to the pre-treatment, an improvement indicated in the condition. Conclusion: This research concluded that the physical therapy protocol used showed improvement of symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome after treatment for cervical cancer. (AU)

Quantification of adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells spread on decellularized vein scaffold

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate methods that improve adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) population in decellularized biological venous scaffold for tissue engineering in blood vessels, a model in rabbits. Methods: The ASC was expanded until the third passage. Inferior vena cava (IVC) was submitted to the decellularization process using 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or 2% sodium deoxycholate (SD) to compose 12 study groups (G): pure SD or SDS, exposed or not to 1% TritonX-100 (TX-100) and exposed or not to poly-l'lysine and laminin (PL). Scaffolds were covered with 1 × 105 or 1 × 106 ASCs diluted in 10 μL Puramatrix™. The histological analysis was done by cell counting in hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and nuclei count in immunofluorescence (IF) with 4',6-Diamidine-2'-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). Results: The study of groups in HE and IF showed similar results. For both analyses,IVC-SD-1 × 106 ASC and IVC-SD-PL-1 × 106 ASC provided the best results. The IF technique showed better sensitivity than HE, with a weak agreement between them. Conclusions: Decellularizing agent and the number of ASC influence scaffolds cellularization response and the best protocols as those ones using SD with or without the addition of PL.

Rastreamento de déficit cognitivo em idosos participantes da Campanha de Prevenção ao Câncer de Pele / Cognitive Impairment screening in elderly patients during a Skin Cancer Prevention Campaign

Introdução e objetivo: a Campanha Nacional de Prevenção ao Câncer de Pele, promovida pela SBD, é um evento anual de conscientização da população sobre diagnóstico precoce e prevenção dessa doença. Considerando o perfil dos participantes, em grande parte idosos, e seu caráter educativo, é válido identificar a proporção de pessoas com possível prejuízo cognitivo, de modo a aprimorar as informações transmitidas. Métodos: neste estudo, realizamos triagem cognitiva em participantes da Campanha de 2018 usando escore 10-point cognitive screener, incluindo indivíduos ≥ 60 anos. Foram excluídos pacientes com dificuldades comunicativas e não anuentes. Resultados: foram entrevistados 66 participantes com idade mediana de 68 anos (p25-p75:63-73), sendo 42 (64%) do sexo feminino. Desses, 24 (36%) possuíam ensino fundamental incompleto e 13 (20%) apresentavam doença neurológica ou psiquiátrica. O escore cognitivo 10-CS bruto e corrigido pela escolaridade apresentou mediana de 8 (6-9). Apresentavam escores ajustados menores que oito 25 entrevistados (38%), indicando déficit cognitivo possível, e seis (9%) apresentaram déficit cognitivo provável. Tal prejuízo cognitivo associou-se a antecedentes neurológicos e baixa escolaridade. Conclusões: apesar de abranger todas as idades, a Campanha prioriza populações de risco, incluindo idosos. Assim, as informações e a didática dessas campanhas devem adequar-se ao perfil dos ouvintes

Introduction and objective: The Campanha Nacional de Prevenção ao Câncer de Pele (National Skin Cancer Prevention Campaign), promoted by SBD, is an annual event to inform about the early diagnosis and prevention of skin cancer. Considering the participants' profile, composed mostly of older adults, and the campaign educational goals, it's opportune to identify the proportion of people with cognitive impairment to improve communication. Methods: We perform a cognitive screening of 2018 Campaign participants using a "10-point cognitive screener" score. The participants included were ≥ 60 years. We excluded those who were unable to communicate or denied consenting. Results: The study interviewed 66 participants. The median age was 68 years (p25-p75:63-73), and 42 (64%) were women. Twenty-four participants (36%) had some elementary school, and 13 (20%) had a neurological or psychiatric disease. The crude and adjusted by schooling 10-CS scores had a median of 8 (6-9). Twenty-five of the interviewed patients (38%) had adjusted score below eight, indicating cognitive impairment, and six (9%) had a probable impairment. The cognitive deficit was associated with a history of neurological disease and low schooling. Conclusions: Despite covering all ages, the campaign prioritizes the risk population, including older adults. Therefore, campaign volunteers should adapt the communication to participants' profile

Double emulsion flow cytometry with high-throughput single droplet isolation and nucleic acid recovery.

Droplet microfluidics has made large impacts in diverse areas such as enzyme evolution, chemical product screening, polymer engineering, and single-cell analysis. However, while droplet reactions have become increasingly sophisticated, phenotyping droplets by a fluorescent signal and sorting them to isolate individual variants-of-interest at high-throughput remains challenging. Here, we present sdDE-FACS (s[combining low line]ingle d[combining low line]roplet D[combining low line]ouble E[combining low line]mulsion-FACS), a new method that uses a standard flow cytometer to phenotype, select, and isolate individual double emulsion droplets of interest. Using a 130 µm nozzle at high sort frequency (12-14 kHz), we demonstrate detection of droplet fluorescence signals with a dynamic range spanning 5 orders of magnitude and robust post-sort recovery of intact double emulsion (DE) droplets using 2 commercially-available FACS instruments. We report the first demonstration of single double emulsion droplet isolation with post-sort recovery efficiencies >70%, equivalent to the capabilities of single-cell FACS. Finally, we establish complete downstream recovery of nucleic acids from single, sorted double emulsion droplets via qPCR with little to no cross-contamination. sdDE-FACS marries the full power of droplet microfluidics with flow cytometry to enable a variety of new droplet assays, including rare variant isolation and multiparameter single-cell analysis.

Heterotrophic Bacteria Enhance the Aggregation of the Marine Picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus.

Marine picocyanobacteria are ubiquitous primary producers across the world's oceans, and play a key role in the global carbon cycle. Recent evidence stemming from in situ investigations have shown that picocyanobacteria are able to sink out of the euphotic zone to depth, which has traditionally been associated with larger, mineral ballasted cells. The mechanisms behind the sinking of picocyanobacteria remain a point of contention, given that they are too small to sink on their own. To gain a mechanistic understanding of the potential role of picocyanobacteria in carbon export, we tested their ability to form "suspended" (5-60 µm) and "visible" (ca. > 0.1 mm) aggregates, as well as their production of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP)-which are a key component in the formation of marine aggregates. Additionally, we investigated if interactions with heterotrophic bacteria play a role in TEP production and aggregation in Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus by comparing xenic and axenic cultures. We observed TEP production and aggregation in batch cultures of axenic Synechococcus, but not in axenic Prochlorococcus. Heterotrophic bacteria enhanced TEP production as well as suspended and visible aggregate formation in Prochlorococcus, while in Synechococcus, aggregation was enhanced with no changes in TEP. Aggregation experiments using a natural plankton community dominated by picocyanobacteria resulted in aggregation only in the presence of the ballasting mineral kaolinite, and only when Synechococcus were in their highest seasonal abundance. Our results point to a different export potential between the two picocyanobacteria, which may be mediated by interactions with heterotrophic bacteria and presence of ballasting minerals. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanistic role of bacteria in TEP production and aggregation of these picocyanobacteria.

Live imaging of Aiptasia larvae, a model system for coral and anemone bleaching, using a simple microfluidic device.

Coral reefs, and their associated diverse ecosystems, are of enormous ecological importance. In recent years, coral health has been severely impacted by environmental stressors brought on by human activity and climate change, threatening the extinction of several major reef ecosystems. Reef damage is mediated by a process called 'coral bleaching' where corals, sea anemones, and other cnidarians lose their photosynthetic algal symbionts (family Symbiodiniaceae) upon stress induction, resulting in drastically decreased host energy harvest and, ultimately, coral death. The mechanism by which this critical cnidarian-algal symbiosis is lost remains poorly understood. The larvae of the sea anemone, Exaiptasia pallida (commonly referred to as 'Aiptasia') are an attractive model organism to study this process, but they are large (∼100 mm in length, ∼75 mm in diameter), deformable, and highly motile, complicating long-term imaging and limiting study of this critical endosymbiotic relationship in live organisms. Here, we report 'Traptasia', a simple microfluidic device with multiple traps designed to isolate and image individual, live larvae of Aiptasia and their algal symbionts over extended time courses. Using a trap design parameterized via fluid flow simulations and polymer bead loading tests, we trapped Aiptasia larvae containing algal symbionts and demonstrated stable imaging for >10 hours. We visualized algae within Aiptasia larvae and observed algal expulsion under an environmental stressor. To our knowledge, this device is the first to enable time-lapsed, high-throughput live imaging of cnidarian larvae and their algal symbionts and, in further implementation, could provide important insights into the cellular mechanisms of cnidarian bleaching under different environmental stressors. The 'Traptasia' device is simple to use, requires minimal external equipment and no specialized training to operate, and can easily be adapted using the trap optimization data presented here to study a variety of large, motile organisms.

Evaluación y diagnóstico imagenológico de las reabsorciones radiculares internas: una revisión de literatura / Internal radicular resorption, evaluation and imagenological diagnosis: a review of the literature

La reabsorción radicular interna es la pérdida de dentina intrarradicular por acción odontoclástica. El proceso es causado principalmente por una infección crónica, trauma, avulsión o reimplantación. La reabsorción radicular interna se clasifica en inflamatoria y de reemplazo, ambas implican pérdida de dentina radicular; la reabsorción radicular de reemplazo es la respuesta a una reparación frustrada de la reabsorción radicular inflamatoria, con la posterior deposición de un tejido duro metaplásico. Se ha demostrado la superioridad de la tomografía computarizada de haz cónico en el diagnóstico de las cavidades pequeñas de RRI, aunque no todas las imágenes de la tomografía computarizada de haz cónico ofrecen la misma resolución. Además del protocolo FOV en la tomografía computarizada de haz cónico, el tamaño de vóxel puede influenciar también en el diagnóstico de las reabsorciones radiculares internas. Imágenes 2D de cavidades grandes de reabsorción radicular interna (mayores a 0,6 mm de diámetro) han demostrado igual sensibilidad y especificidad en comparación con las imágenes 3D. Actualmente, no existen protocolos para la adquisición imagenológica de las diferentes condiciones de las reabsorciones radiculares internas. (AU)

Internal root resorption is the loss of intraradicular dentine by odontoclastic action. This process is principally caused by chronic infection, trauma, avulsion and reimplantation. Internal root resorption is classified as inflammatory and replacement, with both implying loss of intraradicular dentine. Replacement root resorption is the reaction of an unsuccessful repair of inflammatory radicular resorption with the subsequent deposi-tion of metaplastic hard tissue. Although cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) been shown to be effective in the diagnosis of small internal root resorption cavities, not all CBCT images provide the same resolution. In addition to the field of view protocol, voxel size can also influence the diagnosis of internal root resorption. 2D images of large cavities of internal root resorption (larger than 0.6 mm of diameter) have shown to have the same sensivity and specificity as 3D images. Currently there are no imaging acquisition protocols for studying different aspects of internal root resorption. (AU)

An Open-Source, Programmable Pneumatic Setup for Operation and Automated Control of Single- and Multi-Layer Microfluidic Devices.

Microfluidic technologies have been used across diverse disciplines (e.g. high-throughput biological measurement, fluid physics, laboratory fluid manipulation) but widespread adoption has been limited in part due to the lack of openly disseminated resources that enable non-specialist labs to make and operate their own devices. Here, we report the open-source build of a pneumatic setup capable of operating both single and multilayer (Quake-style) microfluidic devices with programmable scripting automation. This setup can operate both simple and complex devices with 48 device valve control inputs and 18 sample inputs, with modular design for easy expansion, at a fraction of the cost of similar commercial solutions. We present a detailed step-by-step guide to building the pneumatic instrumentation, as well as instructions for custom device operation using our software, Geppetto, through an easy-to-use GUI for live on-chip valve actuation and a scripting system for experiment automation. We show robust valve actuation with near real-time software feedback and demonstrate use of the setup for high-throughput biochemical measurements on-chip. This open-source setup will enable specialists and novices alike to run microfluidic devices easily in their own laboratories.