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Algorithms for automated oximetry along the retinal vascular tree from dual-wavelength fundus images.

We present an automated method to perform accurate, rapid, and objective measurement of the blood oxygen saturation over each segment of the retinal vascular hierarchy from dual-wavelength fundus images. Its speed and automation (2 s per entire image versus 20 s per segment for manual methods) enables detailed level-by-level measurements over wider areas. An automated tracing algorithm is used to estimate vessel centerlines, thickness, directions, and locations of landmarks such as bifurcations and crossover points. The hierarchical structure of the vascular network is recovered from the trace fragments and landmarks by a novel algorithm. Optical densities (OD) are measured from vascular segments using the minimum reflected intensities inside and outside the vessel. The OD ratio (ODR=OD600/OD570) bears an inverse relationship to systemic HbO2 saturation (SO2). The sensitivity for detecting saturation change when breathing air versus pure oxygen was calculated from the measurements made on six subjects and was found to be 0.0226 ODR units, which is in good agreement with previous manual measurements by the dual-wavelength technique, indicating the validity of the automation. A fully automated system for retinal vessel oximetry would prove useful to achieve early assessments of risk for progression of disease conditions associated with oxygen utilization.

Algorithms↗

Coronary artery calcium measurement: agreement of multirow detector and electron beam CT.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to establish the most suitable algorithm to compare coronary artery calcium measurements performed with electron beam CT and multirow detector CT for the assessment of coronary artery disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Coronary artery screening was performed in 100 patients with both electron beam and multirow detector CT. The images were transferred to a dedicated workstation for determination of the calcium score, volume, mass, density, and number of lesions. In addition to the traditional threshold of 130 H, the score of multirow detector CT studies was reevaluated at a threshold of 90 H. Fifty-nine of the patients underwent conventional coronary catheterization. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the different scoring algorithms for detection of significant coronary artery stenosis was performed. RESULTS: The correlation between electron beam CT and multirow detector CT was high for every quantification algorithm. Determination of the score and the number of lesions with multirow detector CT revealed a systematic error of the measurement compared with electron beam CT. The areas under the curve in the receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for electron beam and multirow detector CT were similar for the score, volume, and mass, whereas they were lower for the density. No significant difference was found for the areas under the curve between scores using a 130-H and those using a 90-H threshold. CONCLUSION: Volume and mass indexes are superior to the traditional score, density, and number of lesions for comparing the results of electron beam and multirow detector CT and for determining significant coronary artery disease.

Adult↗

A randomized trial comparing 5-mg and 10-mg warfarin loading doses.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin sodium therapy is usually initiated with a loading dose to reduce the time required to elevate the international normalized ratio (INR). Warfarin loading doses are associated with early overanticoagulation and the development of a potential hypercoagulable state; they also may not hasten achieving an INR value between 2.0 and 3.0. This study was designed to prospectively confirm our observation that a 5-mg warfarin sodium loading dose is as effective as a 10-mg loading dose in achieving a therapeutic INR for 2 consecutive days on days 3 and 4 or 4 and 5 of therapy. METHODS: Fifty-three patients initiating warfarin therapy with a target INR of 2.0 to 3.0 were randomly allocated to receive an initial dose of 5 or 10 mg of warfarin. Subsequent doses were based on dosing algorithms. The INR was measured daily for 5 days. The primary end point of the study was the proportion of patients whose INR values were between 2.0 and 3.0 on 2 consecutive daily determinations on days 3, 4, or 5 of the study and whose INR did not exceed 3.0 at any point during the study. RESULTS: Five (24%) of 21 patients in the 10-mg group and 21 (66%) of 32 patients in the 5-mg group achieved the primary end point (relative risk 2.22, 95% confidence interval 1.30-3.70 [P < .003]). A trend toward less overanticoagulation was seen in the 5-mg warfarin group. CONCLUSION: A 10-mg loading dose of warfarin is unlikely to be more effective than a 5-mg loading dose in achieving an INR of 2.0 to 3.0 by day 4 or 5 of therapy.

Aged↗

Myocardial velocity gradient imaging by phase contrast MRI with application to regional function in myocardial ischemia.

Velocity-encoded phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to quantify regional myocardial contractile function with a sensitivity to motion comparable to implanted ultrasonic crystals. An MRI sequence and post-processing algorithm were developed to measure myocardial velocity gradients on a 1.5 T MRI scanner. These methods were validated on a rotating phantom and applied to dogs before (n = 11) and during prolonged coronary occlusion (n = 5). In phantom validation studies, the average absolute error corresponded to motion equivalent to 0.03 +/- 0.04 mm (mean +/- SD) during the repetition time of the experiment. Rigid body corrections during post-processing significantly simplified the interpretation of myocardial velocity vectors. In vivo, rigid body motion contributes substantially to the recorded myocardial velocities in systole and diastole and can give the false impression of regional wall motion abnormalities. After rigid body correction, normal systolic and diastolic velocity vectors in short-axis views of the left ventricle were primarily directed toward the center of the left ventricle. Transmural radial strain rate was 2.0 +/- 0.6 sec-1 during systole and -3.6 +/- 1.1 sec-1 during early diastole in normal canine hearts. Ischemic myocardium was easily discriminated from normal left ventricle by velocity-encoded phase contrast MRI both qualitatively and quantitatively (P < 0.01 in systole and P < 0.05 in early diastole). Although the myocardial velocity images have a spatial resolution on the order of a millimeter, the velocity encoding describes the mechanical consequences of focal myocardial ischemia with sensitivity to submillimeter displacement of the pixels. The three-dimensional nature of velocity-encoded MRI is particularly well suited to the study of the complex motion of the heart in vivo.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional fiber architecture of the nonpregnant human uterus determined ex vivo using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging.

The global muscle and collagen fiber orientation in the human uterus has been analyzed hitherto by various standard microscopic techniques. However, no widely accepted model of the fiber architecture of the myometrium could be acquired. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the uterus by magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in a 3D macroscopic approach. Ex vivo MR DTI measurements were performed on five uteri from nonpregnant patients. The main diffusion directions reflecting the orientation of directional structures in the examined tissues were determined from diffusion-weighted spin-echo measurements. A fiber tracking algorithm was used to extrapolate the fiber architecture. The method was validated against histological slides and indirectly through the analysis of leiomyomas, which exhibit less anisotropy than normal myometrium. Significant anisotropy was found in most regions of all examined nonpregnant human uteri. But only two systems of fibers were found running circularly along the intramural part of the uterine tubes. They merged caudally and built a close fitting envelope of circular layers around the uterine cavity. On the cervix, circular fibers were observed in the outer part as well as mostly longitudinal fibers in the inner part. These results confirm the existence of directional structures in the complex fiber architecture of the human uterus. They also indicate that MR DTI is a beneficial and complementary tool to standard microscopic techniques to determine the intrinsic fiber architecture in human organs.

Adult↗

Count-dependent filter for smoothing bivariate FCM histograms.

A data-smoothing filter has been developed that permits the improvement in accuracy of individual elements of a bivariate flow cytometry (FCM) histogram by making use of data from adjacent elements, a knowledge of the two-dimensional measurement system point spread function (PSF), and the local count density. For FCM data, the PSF is assumed to be a set of two-dimensional Gaussian functions with a constant coefficient of variation for each axis. A set of space variant smoothing kernels are developed from the basic PSF by adjusting the orthogonal standard deviations of each Gaussian smoothing kernel according to the local count density. This adjustment in kernel size matches the degree of smoothing to the local reliability of the data. When the count density is high, a small kernel is sufficient. When the density is low, however, a broader kernel should be used. The local count density is taken from a region defined by the measurement PSF. The smoothing algorithm permits the reduction in statistical fluctuations present in bivariate FCM histograms due to the low count densities often encountered in some elements. This reduction in high-frequency spatial noise aids in the visual interpretation of the data. Additionally, by making more efficient use of smaller samples, systematic errors due to system drift may be minimized.

Cell Count↗

Combining functional and topological properties to identify core modules in protein interaction networks.

Advances in large-scale technologies in proteomics, such as yeast two-hybrid screening and mass spectrometry, have made it possible to generate large Protein Interaction Networks (PINs). Recent methods for identifying dense sub-graphs in such networks have been based solely on graph theoretic properties. Therefore, there is a need for an approach that will allow us to combine domain-specific knowledge with topological properties to generate functionally relevant sub-graphs from large networks. This article describes two alternative network measures for analysis of PINs, which combine functional information with topological properties of the networks. These measures, called weighted clustering coefficient and weighted average nearest-neighbors degree, use weights representing the strengths of interactions between the proteins, calculated according to their semantic similarity, which is based on the Gene Ontology terms of the proteins. We perform a global analysis of the yeast PIN by systematically comparing the weighted measures with their topological counterparts. To show the usefulness of the weighted measures, we develop an algorithm for identification of functional modules, called SWEMODE (Semantic WEights for MODule Elucidation), that identifies dense sub-graphs containing functionally similar proteins. The proposed method is based on the ranking of nodes, i.e., proteins, according to their weighted neighborhood cohesiveness. The highest ranked nodes are considered as seeds for candidate modules. The algorithm then iterates through the neighborhood of each seed protein, to identify densely connected proteins with high functional similarity, according to the chosen parameters. Using a yeast two-hybrid data set of experimentally determined protein-protein interactions, we demonstrate that SWEMODE is able to identify dense clusters containing proteins that are functionally similar. Many of the identified modules correspond to known complexes or subunits of these complexes.

Algorithms↗

Tomographic time-of-flight optical imaging device.

Time-resolved optical imaging has been used to image phantoms, animals, and humans, and offers the potential for the production of functional images of human tissues, such as the oxygenation of brain during stroke. We had previously reported a transmission scanner, and now give an early report on conversion to a rotational tomographic scanner with a non-parallel ray geometry similar to early CAT scanners. Initial scans show that 1) spatial imaging in turbid media using time-of-flight measurements, non-recursive algorithms, and standard tomographic geometry is possible, 2) separation of absorbance and scattering as an image is attainable, a key step in performing spatially-resolved chemometric analysis, 3) imaging of multiple objects buried within scattering material is feasible, demonstrating that equations derived for homogeneous media can be applied in at least some cases to inhomogeneous media such as tissue-like phantoms, and 4) imaging of brain pathology produces recognizable images with sufficient resolution for diagnostic decisions. We conclude that optical tomography is feasible for clinical use and that conversion of the present mechanically scanning device to a clinical scanner should be possible with retention of the current processing algorithms. Such a clinical scanner should ultimately be able to generate images in a few minutes with centimeter resolution at the center of living human brain.

Algorithms↗

Discovery and validation of novel plasma protein biomarkers for severe tuberculosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Severe tuberculosis (STB) imposes a substantial disease burden, yet reliable biomarkers for distinguishing STB from mild/moderate tuberculosis (MTB) remain scarce. This study aimed to identify and independently validate plasma protein biomarkers associated with tuberculosis severity. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective study, 298 adults with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled into screening (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;128) and independent validation (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;170) cohorts. Plasma samples were analysed using data-independent acquisition proteomics. Differentially expressed proteins were screened via Limma and four machine-learning algorithms, with candidate proteins measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Receiver operating characteristic analysis assessed individual and combined diagnostic performance. RESULTS: STB patients were older and presented with lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, neutrophilia, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. Among 166 differentially expressed proteins, HSPA5, HSP90B1, EEF1D, and SULT1A1 were selected for validation. In STB patients, HSPA5, HSP90B1, and EEF1D were upregulated, whereas SULT1A1 was downregulated. The four-protein panel achieved an AUC of 0.908 (95% CI 0.864-0.952), with 87.5% sensitivity and 83.8% specificity, modestly outperforming HSPA5 alone (AUC&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.894). Functional enrichment implicated cholesterol metabolism, immune-inflammatory pathways, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. CONCLUSIONS: The four-protein panel effectively discriminated STB from MTB; however, its marginal improvement over HSPA5 alone suggests that an HSPA5-based assay may offer a simpler, more practical, and potentially cost-effective strategy for severity stratification.

Humans↗

Comparison of six calcaneal quantitative ultrasound devices: precision and hip fracture discrimination.

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is now accepted as a useful tool in the management of osteoporosis. There are a variety of QUS devices clinically available with a number of differences among them, including their coupling methods, parameter calculation algorithms and sites of measurement. This study evaluated the abilities of six calcaneal QUS devices to discriminate between normal and hip-fractured subjects compared with the established method of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The short-term and mid-term precisions of these devices were also determined. Thirty-five women (mean age 74.5+/-7.9 years) who had sustained a hip fracture within the past 3 years, and 35 age-matched controls (75.8+/-5.6 years) were recruited. Ultrasound measurements were acquired using six ultrasound devices: three gel-coupled and three water-coupled devices. Bone mineral density was measured at the hip using DXA. Discrimination of fracture patients versus controls was assessed using logistic regression analysis (expressed as age- and BMI-adjusted odds ratios per standard deviation decrease with 95% confidence interval) and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Measurement precision was standardized to the biological range (sCV). The sCV ranged from 3.14% to 5.5% for speed of sound (SOS) and from 2.45% to 6.01% for broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). The standardized medium-term precision ranged from 4.33% to 8.43% for SOS and from 2.77% to 6.91% for BUA. The pairwise Pearson correlation coefficients between different devices was highly significant (SOS, r = 0.79-0.93; BUA, r = 0.71-0.92). QUS variables correlated weakly, though significantly, with femoral BMD (SOS, r = 0.30-0.55; BUA, r = 0.35-0.61). The absolute BUA and SOS values varied among devices. The gel-coupled devices generally had a higher SOS than water-coupled devices. Bone mineral density (BMD) and BUA were weakly correlated with weight (r = 0.48-0.57 for BMD and r = 0.18-0.54 for BUA), whereas SOS was independent of weight. All the QUS devices gave similar, statistically significant hip fracture discrimination for both SOS and BUA measures. The odds ratios for SOS (2.1-2.8) and BUA (2.4-3.4) were comparable to those for femoral BMD (2.6-3.5), as were the area under the curve (SOS, 0.65-0.71; BUA, 0.62-0.71; BMD, 0.65-0.74) from ROC analysis. Within the limitation of the sample size all devices show similar diagnostic sensitivity.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Cluster analysis: an alternative method for covariate selection in population pharmacokinetic modeling.

To be analyzed, the heterogeneity characterizing biological data calls for using appropriate models involving numerous variables. A high variable number could become problematic when one needs to determine a priori the most significant variable combination in order to reduce the inter-individual variability (IIV). Alternatively to multiple introductions of single variables, we propose a single introduction of a multivariate variable. We present cluster analysis as a stratification strategy that combines the initial single covariates to build a multivariate categorical covariate. It is an exploratory multivariate analysis that outlines homogeneous categories of individuals (clusters) according to similarities from the set of covariates. It includes many clustering techniques combining a distance measure and a linkage algorithm, and leading to various stratification patterns. The cluster analysis approach is illustrated by a case study on cortisol kinetics in 82 patients after intravenous bolus administration of synacthen (synthetic corticotropin). Using NONMEM, a basic infusion model was initially achieved for cortisol, and then a classical covariate selection was applied to improve IIV. The best fit was between the elimination rate constant k and the body mass index (BMI), which improved IIV of k. An alternative method is presented consisting in the population into homogeneous and non-overlapping groups by applying a cluster analysis. Such categorization (or clustering) was carried out using Euclidean distance and complete-linkage algorithm. This algorithm gave five dissimilar clusters that differed by increasing BMI, obesity duration, and waist-hip ratio. The dispersion of k according to the five clusters showed three distinctvariation ranges a priori, which corresponded a posteriori(after NONMEM modeling) to three sub-populations of k. After grouping the clusters that had similar variation ranges of k, we obtained three final clusters representing non-obese, intermediate, and extreme obese sub-populations. The pharmacokinetic model based on three clusters was better than the basic model, similar to the classical covariate model, but had a stronger interpretability: It showed that the stimulation and elimination of cortisol were higher in the extreme obese followed by intermediate then non-obese subjects.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Foetal heart rate in early pregnancy by detection of optimally estimated displacements with pulsed Doppler signals.

Foetal heart rate (FHR) in the early stage of pregnancy can be optimally estimated by a simple system combining a conventional pulsed Doppler device with a microcomputer (CPU). The input signals for FHR have been obtained as low frequency components of foetal Doppler signals. These components are less than 50 Hz and are directly transferred from the conventional pulsed Doppler device to a microcomputer as radio-frequency signals by a specially designed I/O unit. The low frequency components have been converted into displacement signals by the continuous calculation of an arc-tangent function combined with five channel recordings from the foetal cardiac area, each separated by 2 mm on the same echo line. After selecting the optimal displacement data line, the FHR is measured by the proposed algorithm of non-parametric frequency estimation and/or the conventional autocorrelation method. The algorithm draws attention to the improved frequency selectivity by multiplication with reference signals, whose frequency is automatically optimized by the standard FHR rate determined by the length of pregnancy. The FHR determined from the displacement signals by this algorithm has provided a more optimally controlled selectivity than with the presently used autocorrelation method, especially in those pregnancies of less than 8 weeks gestation. Clinical application of this system allowed a complete determination of foetal heart rate from 6 weeks of gestation by a transvaginal approach and from 7 weeks by transabdominal procedures. In some specific cases, with prominent foetal components, it was possible from 5 weeks 2 days by a vaginal, and 6 weeks by an abdominal procedure.

Algorithms↗

Test of a versatile on-line distortion corrector for a gamma-camera.

A gamma-camera on-line distortion corrector, based on a fast microprocessor, has been tested on two cameras. The original electronic design and the software algorithm are described. Performance measurements on phantoms and clinical results show an improvement of the pictures.

Computers↗

Abnormal ventricular repolarization in hypertensive patients: role of sympatho-vagal imbalance and left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: An increased risk for life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death has been observed in hypertensive patients, associated with either left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or prolonged QT interval. To investigate the influence of autonomic imbalance and LVH on QT interval in hypertensive patients, we compared two different models of LVH: hypertension and endurance physical training. METHODS: Forty-seven untreated subjects affected by essential hypertension and 35 endurance runners, with a similar degree of LVH, were enrolled into the study. All subjects underwent 24-h ambulatory ECG recording and morning blood sampling for catecholamines. Heart rate variability was evaluated by spectral analysis and a computerized algorithm was used to measure the QT interval; QTc was then computed by the Bazett's formula. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was assessed by echocardiogram. RESULTS: No difference in LVMI was found between hypertensive patients and athletes. Athletes showed lower heart rate (64 +/- 1 vs. 75 +/- 1 bpm, p<0.001, mean +/- S.E.M.) and shorter QTc (401 +/- 3 vs. 434 +/- 4 ms, p<0.001) than hypertensive patients throughout the 24-h period. Athletes showed a higher vagal drive compared to hypertensive patients as suggested by bradycardia and higher values of vagal indices, which negatively correlated with QTc. Plasma norepinephrine was significantly lower in athletes than in hypertensive patients (p<0.05) and positively correlated with QTc. CONCLUSION: Despite similar degrees of LVH, hypertensive patients show QTc lengthening, as compared to athletes. Heart rate variability and plasma norepinephrine levels suggest sympathetic predominance in hypertensive patients, which could contribute to abnormal ventricular repolarization, thus identifying patients with an increased arrhythmic risk.

Autonomic Nervous System↗

Enhancement of resolution in core-loss and low-loss spectroscopy in a monochromated microscope.

The significant enhancement of the energy resolution in the new generation of commercially available monochromated transmission electron microscopes presents new challenges in term of selecting the correct experimental conditions and understanding the various effects that can potentially influence the quality of the EELS data. In this respect we investigated the effect of point spread function of the detector and spectrum-diffraction mixing on the energy resolution and the intensity of the zero loss peak tails. Alternative approaches to improve the energy resolution by mathematical methods have been tested. By using a simple and commonly available test case (Si L(2,3) edges) we assessed the efficiency of the deconvolution algorithms to improve the resolution. The results show that the deconvolution is not always successful in improving the resolution of the core loss EELS data and the results may not always be reliable. Contrary to this, the application of the Richardson-Lucy deconvolution algorithm on some bandgap measurements data appears to be very effective. The procedure proved successful in removing the contribution of the zero-loss peak tails and allows an easier access to spectroscopic information starting at energy losses as low as of 0.5 eV with monochromated spectra and 1 eV with the non-monochromated spectra.

Journal Article↗

Three-dimensional ultrasound in margin evaluation for breast tumor excision using Mammotome.

Sonographic evidence of tumor removal by Mammotome excision does not confirm histological clearance. The operator finds it hard to determine if a malignant tumor has been fully removed, leaving a safe margin in the direction of each border; that is, the spatial orientation during tumor retrieval is not well-established by naked eye under sonographic guidance. We propose a computational imaging process to extract reasonable tumor contour in pre- and postoperative data sets for sonographic guidance so that Mammotome excision can help the operator to evaluate the surgical outcome. There were five tumors in the study, including three benign and two malignant. The lesion of interest was delineated after 2-D examination was completed, then it was analyzed with 3-D breast ultrasound (US). To give a reference point for correlations between pre- and postoperative images, we used a marker tape pasted on the skin within the transducer scanning area and then the preoperative 3-D US images were obtained. Subsequently, 2-D breast US was applied during Mammotome operation. After the Mammotome procedures were finished, the postoperative 3-D US images were obtained; thus, we gained two different data sets of 3-D US images that were used for later analysis for evaluating the extension of postoperative margin status. From the results, the safe margin was not satisfactory in all directions, because the minimum differences measured by the proposed algorithm were not large enough in all five cases, and this was proved from two malignant mastectomy specimens. The experimental results representing this inadequate Mammotome excision can be visualized through the computer aid. The comparison of tumor contour and excision margin may possibly be used for small malignant tumors in the future to improve the breast-conserving surgery.

Breast Neoplasms↗

How should we make the admission decision in community-acquired pneumonia?

The spectrum of pneumonia patients ranges from only slightly compromised patients to patients who require life-sustaining measures. Admission decision support algorithms usually are not required for patients at either end of the spectrum. For patients presenting with intermediate severity of illness, decision support algorithms have shown that they can support clinicians in the admission decision and complement the clinicians' experience and clinical judgment with an objective tool. Clinical information systems may help overcome the existing obstacles to successful implementation. Successful guideline implementation in a clinical setting includes strategies that target not only the disease, but also include other forces that significantly influence the admission decision. Shared decision making and better managing of patients' expectations about treatment and prognosis need to be incorporated in the overall admission decision. The availability of improved outpatient management, such as outpatient intravenous antibiotic treatment and home health care, and a change in physicians' perspectives and patients' expectations may help to increase the proportion of outpatient management without compromising the quality of care. Decision support tools for pneumonia are available and show promising results. Further studies are needed, however, that show the successful dissemination and clinical implementation during routine patient care. Studies are needed that assess the impact of guidelines and prediction rules on patient outcomes. As the example of the PSI shows, the development, implementation, and dissemination of admission decision support systems is not a revolutionary, but a stepwise, evolutionary process that requires many years of research.

Algorithms↗

Validation of modeling approach to evaluate congener-specific concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in air and soil near a solid waste incinerator.

A concise modeling approach using long-term averaged meteorological data was developed to estimate site-specific concentrations of congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) near a solid waste incinerator. This approach consists of calculation of atmospheric dispersion, dry and wet deposition of gaseous and particle-bound congeners, and non-steady-state concentrations in soil. The predictability of this approach was evaluated by comparison of calculated concentrations of congeners in soil with those measured at eight locations near a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI). The variation of these concentrations due to variability of meteorological parameters is small. A considerable number of mean values show good agreement with measured concentrations within a factor of three. The reasonable agreement between calculated and measured concentrations indicates that algorithms for the calculation of vapor-phase deposition and non-steady-state concentrations in soil must be included in the modeling approach for an accurate estimation of the concentrations of congeners of PCDD/Fs emitted from MSWIs to the atmosphere. For a detailed estimation of site-specific concentrations, it is important to specify the bulk density of soil in the evaluated area, together with meteorological parameters.

Air Movements↗