RESUMO
The aim of this work was to develop and employ software for the study of the common carotid artery and its branches in the neck. We first constructed geometric models of anatomic components, for the building of knowledge bases to be used in automatic feature extraction techniques from images. Then, we developed a software system characterised by three-dimensional visualisation, image processing functions, knowledge base and a programming language to describe classification processing by means of fuzzy logic. The software system was used to perform automatic reconstruction of three-dimensional models of carotid arteries from contiguous CT scans of the neck. These findings suggest that such software systems represent a useful help in the study of image based diagnosis of carotid arteries.
Assuntos
Artéria Carótida Primitiva/anatomia & histologia , Imageamento Tridimensional/métodos , Pescoço/irrigação sanguínea , Design de Software , Humanos , Modelos AnatômicosRESUMO
We present a qualitative model of the interaction between the HIV-1 virus and the human cell, based on qualitative process theory. This model takes into account a previous qualitative model of the cell growth. The model presented here can be regarded as a first step for setting up a comprehensive model of the HIV-1 virus-cell interaction in which the possible points where a drug can attack the virus are evident. The first simulation trials indicate that the presented model reproduces (even though in a simplified way) the features of the real behaviour that have been considered in the modelling phase. Although our simulation is limited in the knowledge it expresses, it still gives a stimulating opportunity for the evaluation of the criteria chosen as discriminant in the interaction between virus and cell.
Assuntos
Inteligência Artificial , Células/virologia , HIV-1/fisiologia , Modelos Biológicos , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Simulação por Computador , Regulação Viral da Expressão Gênica , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV-1/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Humanos , Receptores de HIV/fisiologia , Integração Viral/fisiologia , Latência Viral/fisiologia , Replicação ViralRESUMO
We present a qualitative model of the interaction between HIV-1 virus and human cell, based on qualitative process theory. This model can be regarded as a first step for setting up a comprehensive model of the HIV 1 infection treatment in which the possible points where a drug can attack the virus are evidentiated. The first simulation trials indicate that the model reproduces the major features of the real behavior of the virus inside and outside the human cell.
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/prevenção & controle , Divisão Celular/fisiologia , Sistemas Inteligentes , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV-1/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/tratamento farmacológico , Simulação por Computador , Desenho de Fármacos , Humanos , Itália , Modelos Biológicos , DNA Polimerase Dirigida por RNARESUMO
A qualitative model of the short term glucose regulation system is presented. The model is based on the qualitative process theory, based on the concept of physical process defined by the property of causing changes in objects over time. The model has been successfully validated on inputs of several tests. It is intended to employ this model within a comprehensive system encompassing qualitative and quantitative aspects of modelling, building an environment useful for new treatment planning and for education.
Assuntos
Glicemia/metabolismo , Simulação por Computador , Modelos Biológicos , Glucagon/metabolismo , Glucose/administração & dosagem , Humanos , Injeções Intravenosas , Insulina/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Valores de ReferênciaRESUMO
This paper presents Visual Heuristics, a consultation system for diagnosis based on thorax radiograph recording. Visual Heuristics uses both prototypical representations of physiological and pathological states and reasoning aimed to infer conclusions from pathological or physiological conditions, establishing correspondences between pathological or physiological states and semantic descriptions of images. Images are assembled with groups of descriptors that guide the recognition process, achieving the possibility of comparisons with real images on the basis of 'expected' images. The system may be employed to generate a dynamic atlas that does not contain proper images, but generates them.
Assuntos
Diagnóstico por Computador/instrumentação , Sistemas Inteligentes , Interpretação de Imagem Radiográfica Assistida por Computador/instrumentação , Radiografia Torácica/instrumentação , Inteligência Artificial , Humanos , SoftwareRESUMO
A qualitative model of cell growth, based on qualitative process theory, is presented. The model can be used to analyze the effects of the interaction of antiproliferative drugs on cells when the effects of each specific drug are known, mainly when designing multi-drug protocols for optimal cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Simulação por Computador , Modelos Biológicos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Divisão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Neoplasias/patologiaRESUMO
NEWCHEM, an artificial intelligence system for the control of cancer cell growth, is described. This system takes into account the most recent advances in molecular and cellular biology and in cell-drug interaction, and aims to develop optimal strategies for the selective control of cancer cell through qualitative reasoning from first principles at cellular level.
Assuntos
Quimioterapia Assistida por Computador , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Terapia Assistida por Computador , Simulação por Computador , SoftwareRESUMO
An artificial intelligence system, NEWCHEM, for the development of new oncology therapies is described. This system takes into account the most recent advances in molecular and cellular biology and in cell-drug interaction, and aims to guide experimentation in the design of new optimal protocols. Further work is being carried out, aimed to embody in the system all the basic knowledge of biology, physiopathology and pharmacology, to reason qualitatively from first principles so as to be able to suggest cancer therapies.
Assuntos
Quimioterapia Assistida por Computador , Sistemas Inteligentes , Oncologia/métodos , Terapia Assistida por Computador , Animais , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administração & dosagem , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacologia , Protocolos Clínicos , Simulação por Computador , Humanos , Linguagens de Programação , Design de SoftwareRESUMO
An expert system, named BREASTCAN and designed to assist physicians giving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, is described. The system is based on frames, each corresponding to one stage of treatment--either a decision-making stage or a therapeutic stage. The system has been designed to allow fast and easy consultation by general practitioners lacking computer knowledge.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/terapia , Quimioterapia Assistida por Computador , Sistemas Inteligentes , Terapia Assistida por Computador , Terapia Combinada , Humanos , Linguagens de Programação , Design de Software , Interface Usuário-ComputadorRESUMO
A study of the fundamental principles upon which manipulation dexterity is based cannot help mixing robotic and neurophysiological concepts. A preliminary step in this study consists of trying to understand the complexity of manipulation dynamics. Though complexity shows itself in the massive number of elements of kinematic and dynamic equations, the fundamental simplicity of the underlying mechanical laws suggests to look for a structure, particularly from the computational point of view. Accordingly, a working computational model is proposed that organizes the massive computational load into a structure which is composed of a small number of computational units and lends itself to parallel computation.
Assuntos
Cibernética , Movimento , Braço/fisiologia , Computadores , Humanos , Matemática , Métodos , Modelos Neurológicos , Articulação do Ombro/fisiologiaRESUMO
An important factor in trying to capture the complexity of many manipulation problems is the notion of Output Motor Impedance, i.e., the relationship between a set of disturbing forces and the resulting variation in arm configuration. The functional significance of such force/displacement characteristics is investigated, showing how several aspects of different manipulation tasks (holding against gravity, inserting, fast moving, and throwing) can be naturally described in terms of appropriate modulation of the impedance characteristics of the manipulator. For this reason, impedance modulation can be considered an integral part of motor control.