1,431 research outputs found
Cymothales massaronei Badano 2020, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Cymothales massaronei</i> sp. nov. <p>Based on holotype female.</p> <p>(Figs 1, 2A, 2C, 3)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Large-sized, slender dendroleontine myrmeleontid (Fig. 1A). Antenna elongate, without apical dilatation. Pronotum brown with paler stripes. Legs long and slender; foretibia pale; metathoracic leg with T1 as long as T5. Forewing broad with slightly pointed apex, largely hyaline with light brown markings; base of forewing with a yellow marking with black margin, sectoral markings comprising a small marking at RP origin and a large marking in the cubital area. Hind wing slightly longer than forewing, barely pointed.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Size (in mm), body length: 22, pronotum length: 2, forewing length 44, forewing width 12, ratio length/width 3.66, hind wing length 46 mm, hind wing width 9 mm, ratio length/width 5.11.</p> <p>Head. Vertex strongly inflated, markedly angular in frontal view, brown; occiput brown with faint irregular paler areas (Fig. 1D). Frons, clypeus and labrum entirely brown (Fig. 1D). Antenna relatively long, without apical dilatation, yellowish brown. Scape twice wider than long, dark brown; pedicel with a basal narrowing, light brown; flagellomeres twice longer than wide, yellowish brown. Maxillary palpus pale brown. Labial palpus pale brown, third palpomere tapered apically. Frons, clypeus and labrum sparsely covered with slender pale setae.</p> <p>Thorax. Pronotum longer than wide, brown with a faint median pale stripe and a pair of lateral pale stripes joining posteriorly in a median trapezoidal pale marking (Fig. 1C). Mesothorax brown with lighter sclerite margins; mesoscutellum brown with lighter anterior margins. Metathorax largely brown, except a pair of short paler stripes on metascutum. Pleurae largely brown (Fig. 1B). Pronotum with light hair-like setae; meso- and metathorax with sparse hair-like setae.</p> <p>Legs. Prothoracic leg: femur at least 4 times longer than wide, longer than tibia; tibia narrow, 4 times longer than wide, T1 as long as T5. Mesothoracic leg: femur more than 9 times longer than wide, tibia 9 times longer than wide, T1 as long as T5. Metathoracic leg: femur more than 10 times longer than wide, tibia 10 times as long as wide, T1 as long as T5 (Fig. 2C). Tibial spurs as long as T1+T 2 in all legs (Fig. 2C). Legs entirely pale, with exception of the dark brown markings on prothoracic coxa (Fig. 1B). Legs thickly covered with long dark setae and short brown bristles, setae longer on the ventral side.</p> <p>Wings. Forewing broad, not falcate, with slightly pointed apex (Figs 1A, 2A). Presectoral area with 2 crossveins and about 8 irregular biareolated cells. RP with 10 branches. Hypostigmatic cell relatively short, without crossveins. Wing membrane largely hyaline with a light brown pattern, wing veins largely pale. Base of wing with a brown marking, covering the entire anal area. Basal third of wing with small brown markings. Sectoral spot as a small brown marking at RP origin, slightly wider than radial cells. Some crossveins between M and Cu highlighted with brown spots. Cubital area with a smaller light brown marking and a larger distal marking. Posterior margin of wing and medial area with a large marking, rhegma dark brown. Distal third of wing with a large light brown marking, pterostigma and wing apex whitish. Hind wing slightly longer than forewing, not falcate, with a slightly pointed apex (Figs 1A, 2A). Presectoral area with 1 crossvein. RP with 10 branches. Membrane largely hyaline with large light brown markings and whitish apex. Wing base with a dark isolated dot on posterior margin. Cubital area with a large dark brown marking.</p> <p>Abdomen. First four abdominal segments pale brown, with the exception of the dark brown posterior margin of tergites; distal segments largely dark brown. Abdomen with short pale setae. Female genitalia. As in Fig. 3. Gonocoxite 7 relatively small; setiferous processes anterior of gonocoxites 8 short, not prominent (especially in lateral view) with dark apex; gonocoxites 8 digitiform, curved inward; gonocoxites 9 with yellowish digging setae; ectoproct slightly tapered ventrally with strong digging setae on the ventral surface (Fig. 3).</p> <p> <b>Specimen examined.</b> <b>Holotype. ♀</b> GABON—Ogoou Ivindo / Parc National Ivindo—Station de Recherche d’Ipassa, 500 m / 0.5123333° 12.802555555555557°/ 15–25.VI.2016 C. Massarone leg. // <i>Cymothales massaronei</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> / D. Badano det. 2020 [MZUR].</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The new species is named in honor of its collector, Carlo Massarone, who brought it to the attention of the author, as a sign of friendship.</p> <p> <b>FIGURE 2.</b> Diagnostic characters of the species of <i>Cymothales</i> reported for Gabon. A: <i>Cymothales massaronei</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> B: <i>Cymothales liberiensis</i> van der Weele [Congo]. C: tarsus of metathoracic leg of <i>C. massaronei</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> D: tarsus of metathoracic leg of <i>C. liberiensis</i>. Abbreviations: Abbreviations: C: costa; Sc: subcosta; RA = radius anterior; RP = radius posterior; MA = media anterior; MP = media posterior; CuA = cubitus anterior; CuP = cubitus posterior; A = anal field; <i>irr cell</i>: irregular series of biareolated cells cells anterior to RP origin, RP <i>o</i>: origin of RP, t: tarsomere.Scale bars, A–B: 10 mm, C–D: 0.2 mm.</p>Published as part of <i>Badano, Davide, 2020, A new Cymothales Gerstaecker from the Gabonese rainforest (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae), pp. 345-354 in Zootaxa 4803 (2)</i> on pages 347-349, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4803.2.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3909183">http://zenodo.org/record/3909183</a>
New Philippine species of Spilosmylus Kolbe (Neuroptera, Osmylidae)
No full textNew species of lance lacewings, Spilosmylus spilopteryx sp. n. and Spilosmylus tephrodestigma sp. n., are described from the Philippines and compared with congeners. Both species are characterised by a distinctive wing pattern, which in the case of Spilosmylus spilopteryx sp. n. is relatively spectacular among lacewings. An identification key to the species of Spilosmylus Kolbe known from the Philippines is also provided
Legami tra Castelvecchio e il mondo vegetale
No full textCapitolo sulle caratteristiche floristiche del territorio e sull'uso delle piante nella vita quotidiana del paes
Data for: Relative Prognostic Importance of Left and Right Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients with Cardiac Diseases
No full text3D echocardiography volumes and ejection fraction of the left and right ventricle in patients with various cardiac diseaes who were followed for 3.7 years after the echo study to assess outcom
Myrmeleon almohadarum Badano, Acevedo, Pantaleoni & Monserrat, 2016, sp. nov.
No full textMyrmeleon almohadarum sp. nov. Diagnosis. Small-sized Myrmeleon with a dark brown, variegated habitus (Figs 1, 2); pronotum with a diagnostic pattern (Fig. 3 B); wings hyaline with dark-and-pale dashed veins (Fig. 4 A); male hindwing with pilula axillaris; abdomen with conspicuous paler markings, creating an annulated pattern. Larva with an ochre habitus (Fig. 7), characterized by a particularly dense arrangement of digging setae on sternite IX (Fig. 8). Description of the adult. Size. Average body length 20.43 mm (min-max 16.03–26.82); forewing male length 21.56 mm (19.20–23.33), female length 23.05 mm (19.84–26.5), ratio width/length (both sexes) 0.23; hind wing male length 19.57 mm (16.35–21.42), female length 20.81 mm (17.77–25.55), ratio width/length (both sexes) 0.22. General colouring. Dark brown with large ochre markings on thorax and abdomen (Fig. 2). Head. Vertex and occiput dark brown, with a contrasting ochre pattern (Fig. 3 B). Frons dark brown with paler lateral margins. Ocular rim pale. Clypeus pale with fainted median marking. Labrum pale. Maxillary palpus brown. Labial palpus pale, with the distal segment fusiform and dark brown, palpimacula elliptical. Scape brown, paler distally, pedicellum dark brown, flagellum brown. (Fig. 3 A). Thorax. Pronotum brown, with anterior and lateral margins pale; dorsal side with a complex pattern composed by: a narrow median pale stripe, a pair of poorly defined pale spots in the apical half and a pair of usually well contrasted pale spots in the basal half (Fig. 3 B). Mesonotum and metanotum brown, lateral and ventral sclerite margins ochre, particularly evident on mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metascutum and metascutellum (Fig. 2). Legs. Coxae brown in all legs (Fig. 2). Pro- and mesothoracic legs with extensive brown markings on the femur and tibia. Metathoracic leg with brown markings on the femur and the inner face of the tibia brown (Fig. 2). Tibial spurs as long as the first tarsomere. Wings. Relatively broad with a rounded apex (Fig. 4 A). Membrane hyaline. Pterostigma distinct, proximally brown and distally whitish. Venation predominantly dark brown with alternating pale dashes. Radius sector of forewing with on average 5–7 (less frequently 8) crossveins, thus the cells of Rs are few and elongated. Cubital fork of forewing slightly more basal than Media posterior fork. Hind wing with on average 5 presectoral crossveins. Male hind wing equipped with pilula axillaris (Fig. 4 A). Abdomen. Shorter than wings (Fig. 2). Tergites brown with large dorso-proximal ochre markings. Sternites brown with ventro-proximal pale markings. Interpleural membrane brown with paler markings. Ectoproct ochre. Male terminalia as in Fig. 5 A, B; male genitalia, complex of gonocoxites 9+11 sensu Aspöck & Aspöck 2008 (gonarcus-paramere complex) as in Fig. 6. Female terminalia as in Fig. 5 C, D. Variability. M. almohadarum sp. nov. is a relatively variable species in term of body pattern, like other congeners. Body colour varies from brown to dark brown but it is never pale ochre or blackish, like M. mariaemathildae and M. inconspicuus respectively. Some specimens are characterized by a partial fusion or fading of the pronotal pattern (e.g. specimen depicted in Fig. 2). The markings on the clypeus are also relatively variable. Description of the third instar larva. Size. Average body length 9.20 mm; head length 1.78 mm (min-max 1.67–1.87), head width 1.53 mm (1.47–1.57), mandible length 1.83 mm (1.75–1.87), ratio head width/length 0.86, ratio mandible length/head length 1.03. General colouring. Pale brown, with a dark brown pattern, ventral side of the body paler, with conspicuous dark markings (Fig. 7). Dorsal side of the head capsule with dark brown markings on the clypeo-labrum and a posterior V-shaped, fainted marking, lateral side with dark brown markings. Ventral side pale, with a pair of large dark brown spots (Fig. 7). Mandible pale brown. Some preserved Spanish larvae are characterized by the presence of a dark marking in the median section of the mandible. Legs pale brown, unspotted. Body chaetotaxy black. Head. Sub-rectangular, longer than wide. Ocular tubercle sessile. Mandible as long as the head capsule, provided with 3 equidistant teeth not abruptly differentiated in size. Interdental mandibular setae: (5)(2)(2)(1). External margin with a fringe of long setae, dorsal and ventral side almost hairless except a few short setae near the margin. Labial palpus 4-segmented. Abdomen. VIII abdominal sternite with small odontoid processes, posterior margin with stout setae. IX abdominal sternite with many ventral digging setae, unevenly arranged or irregularly aligned in rows, mostly sub-equal in size and interspersed with smaller ones (Fig. 8). Rastra sessile, each bearing 4 digging setae, of which the external pairs are longer (Fig. 8). Examined specimens. HOLOTYPE: Spain: Cádiz: Bolonia / 30 STE 59 / 10 m / ex larva 13.VII.2015 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ in alcohol [VM] (Fig. 1). PARATYPES. Spain: Almería: Las Casillas de Atochares, Rambla del Artal / 210 m / ex l. 20.VIII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♀ dry pinned [DB]; San Roque / 300 m / 2.IX.1993 / J. Ramírez leg., 1 ♀ dry pinned [VM]; Tabernas, Rambla Roja / 360 m / ex l. 16.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ dry pinned [DB]; Baleares: Ibiza, Las Salinas / 10 m / ex l. 3.VIII.2011 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♀ dry pinned [VM]; Cádiz: Barbate, Cerro del Pinar / 130 m / 20.VIII.1976 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1♀ * dry pinned [VM]; Pinar de la Duquesa 26.VIII.77 E.L. / V. Monserrat 1♀ * [RAP]; Bolonia / 10 m / ex l. 13.VIII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Bolonia / 10 m / ex l. 25.VIII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ dry pinned [VM]; Bolonia / 10 m / ex l. 13.VII.2015 / F. Acevedo leg., 1♂ [VM]; Bolonia / 10 m / ex l. 13.VII.2015 / F. Acevedo leg., 1♂ [VM]; Bonanza / 18 m / ex l. 2.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [DB]; Bonanza / 18 m / ex l. 3.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Bonanza / 18 m / ex l. 23.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Bonanza / 18 m / ex l. 13.VIII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♀ * dry pinned [DB]; Cádiz, Castillo de San Sebastián / 10 m / 10.VII.1976 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Caños de Meca / 10 m / ex l. 23.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Caños de Meca / 10 m / ex l. 4.VIII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Chiclana / 10 m /ex l. 13.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [DB]; Playa de Los Lances / 10 m / ex l. 13.VIII.2012 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [DB]; Playa Los Lances / 10 m / ex l. 27.VIII.2012 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♀ * dry pinned [DB]; Puerto Santa María, La Puntilla / 10 m / 29.VI.1976 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♂ * dry pinned [VM]; Venta del Retín/ 40 m / 5.VIII.1976 / I. Reviejo leg., 1 ♀ * dry pinned [DB]; Huelva: Punta Umbría / 10 m / ex l. 16.VII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♀ * dry pinned [VM]; Punta Umbría / 10 m / ex l. 4.VIII.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 1 ♀ * dry pinned [VM]; Jaén: El Centenillo / 600 m / ex l. 6.VII.1986 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♂ [VM]; El Centenillo / 600 m / ex l. 10.VII.1986 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♂ [VM]; El Centenillo / 600 m / ex l. 10.VII.1986 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♀ [VM]; El Centenillo / 600 m / ex l. 11.VII.1986 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♀ [VM]; El Centenillo / 600 m / ex l. VIII.1986 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♀ [VM]; Málaga: Estepona, Sierra Bermeja, Rio Padrón / 140 m / 9.VII.2013 V. J. Monserrat leg., 1 ♂ dry pinned [DB]. Tunisia: Tunis, Gammarth / VII.2010 / INRGREF leg. / 1♀, ex larva, in alcohol [DB]; Tunis, Gammarth / VII.2010 / INRGREF leg. / 2♂, 2♀, ex larvae, in alcohol [RAP]; Forêt de Dar Chichou 36° 57,733N 10° 59,445E / VIII.2010 / INRGREF leg. 1♂, 4♀ ex larvae, in alcohol [RAP]; Al Sawasi (=Souassi) 35° 21,953N 10° 36,689E / VIII.2010 / INRGREF leg. 1♀ ex larva, in alcohol [RAP]; Tunis, Gammarth 36°55’10”N 10°17’38”E / 9.IV.2014 / R. A. Pantaleoni leg., 1 ♀, ex larva, dry pinned [DB]; Tunis, Gammarth 36°55’10”N 10°17’38”E / 9.IV.2014 / R. A. Pantaleoni leg. 1♂, 2♀, ex larvae, in alcohol [DB]; Tunis, Gammarth 36°55’10”N 10°17’38”E / 9.IV.2014 / R. A. Pantaleoni leg., 3♂, 2 ♀, ex larvae, in alcohol [RAP]. Larvae. Spain: Cádiz: Bolonia / 10 m / 24.V.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 3 third instar larvae [VM]; Bolonia/ 10 m / 5.IV.2015 / F. Acevedo leg., 2 third instar larvae [VM]; Bonanza/ 18 m / 21.VI.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 2 third instar larvae [VM]; Huelva: Punta Umbría / 10 m / 24.V.2012 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 3 third instar larvae [VM]; Málaga: Las Cañillas / 160 m / 25.V.2012 / F. Acevedo leg., 6 third instar larvae [VM]; Monda, Llanos de Purla / 370 m / 18.VIII.2013 / V. J. Monserrat leg., 2 third instar larvae [VM]. Tunisia: Tunis, Gammarth 36°55’10”N 10°17’38”E / 9.IV.2014 / R. A. Pantaleoni leg., 2 third instar larvae, in alcohol [DB]; Tunis, Gammarth 36°55’10”N 10°17’38”E / 9.IV.2014 / R. A. Pantaleoni leg.,over 20 larvae, in alcohol [RAP] Derivatio nominis. The name of this new species is a noun in the genitive case, referring to the Almohad dynasty, which dominated North Africa and the south of the Iberian Peninsula between the 12th and 13th centuries. DNA taxonomy and phylogeny. The six putative species of the genus Myrmeleon, included in the analysed data set, were all supported by Bayesian posterior probabilities of 1.0 (Fig. 10). The Bayesian Poisson tree process algorithm applied on the Bayesian consensus tree also supported the existence of six species, reinforcing the morphology-based assumptions. The status of M. almohadarum as a new species was confirmed by a posterior probability of 0.97, given the input phylogeny and the bPTP model. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis reconstructed M. almohadarum as sister to M. inconspicuus with a posterior probability of 1.0 (Fig. 10). Ecological notes and distribution. In Tunisia, the pit-building larvae of M. almohadarum were collected in old coastal sand dunes with tree vegetation, including pine plantations. In Spain, besides the above mentioned environments, this species was also found in river banks and dry ephemeral riverbeds, suggesting that this antlion shares the same habitat preferences with M. inconspicuus (Nicoli Aldini 2007; Gepp 2010; Pantaleoni et al. 2010; Badano & Pantaleoni 2014) but it is more thermophilous. M. almohadarum is presently known from relatively few localities in Spain, mostly in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula (Andalusia: Huelva, Jaén, Cádiz, Málaga and Almería). An isolated record from the Balearic Islands (Ibiza) is also known (Fig. 9). At least some of the numerous records of M. inconspicuus from the Iberian Peninsula (see list in Monserrat & Acevedo 2013), especially from its southernmost part and/or the Balearic Islands, very likely belong to the new species. In North Africa, this antlion was collected in Tunisia, but it is probably widespread along the south-western Mediterranean coast, in areas influenced by the Mediterranean climate and avoiding desert environments. Comparative notes. The Myrmeleon inconspicuus -group of species, firstly delimited by Pantaleoni et al. (2010), includes the Turano-European M. inconspicuus, the Mediterranean M. mariaemathildae and the Asiatic-E- European M. immanis Walker. These species differ from other Palaearctic congeners in a set of adult characters: forewing Cubital fork more basal than Media posterior fork (Fig. 4), male hind wing with pilula axillaris and male genitalia with a large, lamellar mediuncus (Fig. 6). Moreover, the larvae of this species-group are characterized by the IX abdominal sternite with the anterior row of digging setae composed by at least 6 bristles (Badano & Pantaleoni 2014). M. almohadarum also fits within this species group, based on adult and larval morphology and the DNA-based phylogenetic reconstruction. The new species and M. immanis are easily distinguished by the unmistakable habitus of the latter (i.e. blackish body colour and yellowish, hyaline wings with pointed apex). M. inconspicuus is also darker than M. almohadarum and it is characterized by a blackish pronotum with a thin median line and an isolated pale spot per side (Fig. 3 C). On the other hand, M. mariaemathildae is a highly variable species, with distinct pale and dark morphs, though most specimens are pale ochre. The pronotum of M. mariaemathildae is usually characterized by large pale markings and paired dark areas, with a large median, pale stripe connected with a pair of posterior spots (Fig. 3 D), though in very dark specimens the pronotum closely resembles that of M. inconspicuus, see Pantaleoni et al. (2010) for further details. M. almohadarum is best distinguished from these closely related species due to the overall brown habitus and the dark brown pronotum with two pale markings per side connected to a median stripe (but see Variability). The new species is usually characterized by the Radius sector of forewing with about 5–7 transversal crossveins, therefore the cells of the Rs are few and comparatively long (Fig. 4 A). In other species (including the other members of the M. inconspicuus group) the Rs crossveins are usually 10 or more, thus the cells appear more numerous but shorter (Fig. 4 B, C). M. almohadarum closely resembles the African species M. caliginosus Hölzel & Ohm. The most obvious difference, besides genitalia, between these species is represented by the presence of pilula axillaris on male hind wing, always lacking in M. caliginosus. Moreover, M. caliginosus is overall darker, with pronotal spots well separated and not connected by a median line. The larva of M. almohadarum is very similar in body pattern and relative proportions to those of M. inconspicuus and M. mariaemathildae (see Badano & Pantaleoni 2014). The larva of the new species is characterized by the IX sternite with the anterior row of digging setae comprising numerous and irregularly arranged bristles, mostly of similar size (Fig. 8). M. inconspicuus has a lower number of setae on the anterior row, while M. mariaemathildae is recognizable due to its combination of large setae disorderly interspersed with smaller ones (Badano & Pantaleoni 2014).Published as part of Badano, Davide, Acevedo, Fernando, Pantaleoni, Roberto A. & Monserrat, Víctor J., 2016, Myrmeleon almohadarum sp. nov., from Spain and North Africa, with description of the larva (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae), pp. 210-220 in Zootaxa 4196 (2) on pages 212-218, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/16796
Rediscovery and revision of the antlion genus Ripalda Navás within a phylogeny of Nemoleontini (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae)
No full textForest-dwelling myrmeleontids are often inadequately known and poorly represented in collections, impeding the study of their affinities and ecology. An exceptional example is the Neotropical species Ripalda insignis (Rambur, 1842), described on a single specimen and never observed again for more than 170 years. The recent rediscovery of this species in Paraguay allowed us to include it in a broader phylogenetic context of the antlion tribe Nemoleontini. Our morphology-based phylogenetic reconstruction, including both adult and larval characters, supports the synonymisation of the genus Araucaleon Banks, 1938 with Ripalda Navás, 1915, as the members of these genera form a well-supported clade. Ripalda appears to be related to the diverse genus Eremoleon Banks, 1901 and the small genera Sericoleon Esben-Petersen, 1933, Navasoleon Banks, 1943 and Elachyleon Esben-Petersen, 1927. The genus is also revised in light of a new cladistic framework, redescribing the three previously known species, R. insignis (Rambur, 1842), R. withycombei (Esben-Petersen, 1927) and R. inca (Banks, 1938) and naming a new species, R. wayana, sp. Nov. from French Guyana. The larva of R. withycombei is also described for the first time. Larval morphology is broadly consistent with Eremoleon, also sharing a similar ecological niche
European Association of Echocardiography: Research grant programme
No full textThe European Society of Cardiology (ESC) offers a variety of grants/fellowships to help young professionals in the field of cardiological training or research activities throughout Europe. The number of grants has significantly increased in recent years with contributions from the Associations, Working Groups and Councils of the ESC. The European Association of Echocardiography (EAE) is a registered branch of the ESC and actively takes part in this initiative. One of the aims of EAE is to promote excellence in research in cardiovascular ultrasound and other imaging modalities in Europe. Therefore, since 2008, the EAE offers a Research Grant Programme to help young doctors to obtain research experience in a high standard academic centre (or similar institution oriented to clinical or pre-clinical research) in an ESC member country other than their own. This programme can be considered as a valorization of the geographical mobility as well as cultural exchanges and professional practice in the field of cardiovascular imaging. The programme has been very successful so far, therefore in 2012 the EAE has increased its offer to two grants of 25 000 euros per annum each. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2011
Quantization in Medical Imaging Displays — Initial Observer Results for a High-Luminance-Range, Dual-Layer LCD
No full textWe studied the effect of image quantization by comparing observer detection performance with 8-and 16-bit grayscale presentation. Eight readers evaluated 532 image pairs using a two-alternative forced choice experimental design. The image set consisted of synthetic backgrounds generated using the mammography-like cluster lumpy background (CLB) technique with a dual-layer approach with parameter values that have been shown to replicate the correlation structure found in digital mammography. The image pairs were reviewed in a display device prototype with one million pixels capable of processing and displaying 16-bit images (up to 65536 luminance values). These image pairs were presented either as non-quantized (full range) images in a 16-bit presentation scale, or as quantized, 8-bit images, with a perceptual mapping of gray levels to luminance. The difference in reader performance between reads on quantized image pairs and reads on non-quantized image pairs were derived using fraction of correct decisions. The variance of our measurements was estimated using a multi-reader, multi-case analysis. Average reader performance difference between 16-and 8-bit quantization was 0.065 with an associated standard deviation of 0.048. Our study showed that image quantization is an important factor in visual detection task, that is, a quantization from 16-to 8-bit significantly reduces reader detection performance
Effect of case variability on the measurement of reader performance when comparing medical display technologies: application to the study of high-luminance-range displays
No full text- …
