PRT Impact Study - Operational Phase : Volume 1. Travel Analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

Part of a three-volume work, this report describes the analysis performed on travel data collected for the Pre-PRT Impact Study. The data analyzed consist of travel behavior, travel patterns, model utilization and travel costs of various modes of tra...

PRT Impact Study Pre-PRT Phase : Volume 1. Travel Analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-03-01

Part of a three-volume work, this report describes the analysis performed on travel data collected for the Pre-PRT Impact Study. The data analyzed consist of travel behavior, travel patterns, model utilization and travel costs of various modes of tra...

Theoretical Studies of Microstrip Antennas : Volume II, Analysis and Synthesis of Multi-Frequency Elements

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-09-01

Volume II of Theoretical Studies of Microstrip Antennas deals with the analysis and synthesis of several types of novel multi-resonant elements with emphasis on dual-frequency operation of rectangular microstrip patch antennas with or without externa...

Papers and Studies in Contrastive Linguistics. Volume Twenty.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisiak, Jacek, Ed.

Papers on contrastive linguistics in this volume include: "Contrastive Discourse Analysis in Language Usage" (Juliane House); "Typology and Contrastive Analysis" (Vlasta Strakova); "On the Tenability of the Notion 'Pragmatic Equivalence' in Contrastive Analysis" (Karol Janicki); "On the Relevance of Phonetic,…

Cargo Logistics Airlift Systems Study (CLASS). Volume 1: Analysis of current air cargo system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burby, R. J.; Kuhlman, W. H.

1978-01-01

The material presented in this volume is classified into the following sections; (1) analysis of current routes; (2) air eligibility criteria; (3) current direct support infrastructure; (4) comparative mode analysis; (5) political and economic factors; and (6) future potential market areas. An effort was made to keep the observations and findings relating to the current systems as objective as possible in order not to bias the analysis of future air cargo operations reported in Volume 3 of the CLASS final report.

Hippocampal volume changes following electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Wilkinson, Samuel T; Sanacora, Gerard; Bloch, Michael H

2017-05-01

Reduced hippocampal volume is one of the most consistent morphological findings in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective therapy for MDD, yet its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Animal models show that ECT induces several neuroplastic processes, which lead to hippocampal volume increases. We conducted a meta-analysis of ECT studies in humans to investigate its effects on hippocampal volume. PubMed was searched for studies examining hippocampal volume before and after ECT. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis with standardized mean difference (SMD) of the change in hippocampal volume before and after ECT as the primary outcome. Nine studies involving 174 participants were included. Total hippocampal volumes increased significantly following ECT compared to pre-treatment values (SMD=1.10; 95% CI 0.80-1.39; z=7.34; p<0.001; k=9). Both right (SMD=1.01; 95% CI 0.72-1.30; z=6.76; p<0.001; k=7) and left (SMD=0.87; 95% CI 0.51-1.23; z=4.69; p<0.001; k=7) hippocampal volumes were also similarly increased significantly following ECT. We demonstrated no correlation between improvement in depression symptoms with ECT and change in total hippocampal volume (beta=-1.28, 95% CI -4.51-1.95, z=-0.78, p=0.44). We demonstrate fairly consistent increases in hippocampal volume bilaterally following ECT treatment. The relationship among these volumetric changes and clinical improvement and cognitive side effects of ECT should be explored by larger, multisite studies with harmonized imaging methods.

Brain volume reduction after whole-brain radiotherapy: quantification and prognostic relevance.

PubMed

Hoffmann, Christian; Distel, Luitpold; Knippen, Stefan; Gryc, Thomas; Schmidt, Manuel Alexander; Fietkau, Rainer; Putz, Florian

2018-01-22

Recent studies have questioned the value of adding whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastasis treatment. Neurotoxicity, including radiation-induced brain volume reduction, could be one reason why not all patients benefit from the addition of WBRT. In this study, we quantified brain volume reduction after WBRT and assessed its prognostic significance. Brain volumes of 91 patients with cerebral metastases were measured during a 150-day period after commencing WBRT and were compared with their pretreatment volumes. The average daily relative change in brain volume of each patient, referred to as the "brain volume reduction rate," was calculated. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the prognostic significance of the brain volume reduction rate, as well as of 3 treatment-related and 9 pretreatment factors. A one-way analysis of variance was used to compare the brain volume reduction rate across recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classes. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, the brain volume reduction rate was a significant predictor of overall survival after WBRT (P < 0.001), as well as the number of brain metastases (P = 0.002) and age (P = 0.008). Patients with a relatively favorable prognosis (RPA classes 1 and 2) experienced significantly less brain volume decrease after WBRT than patients with a poor prognosis (RPA class 3) (P = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between delivered radiation dose and brain volume reduction rate (P = 0.147). In this retrospective study, a smaller decrease in brain volume after WBRT was an independent predictor of longer overall survival. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Measurement of gastric meal and secretion volumes using magnetic resonance imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoad, C. L.; Parker, H.; Hudders, N.; Costigan, C.; Cox, E. F.; Perkins, A. C.; Blackshaw, P. E.; Marciani, L.; Spiller, R. C.; Fox, M. R.; Gowland, P. A.

2015-02-01

MRI can assess multiple gastric functions without ionizing radiation. However, time consuming image acquisition and analysis of gastric volume data, plus confounding of gastric emptying measurements by gastric secretions mixed with the test meal have limited its use to research centres. This study presents an MRI acquisition protocol and analysis algorithm suitable for the clinical measurement of gastric volume and secretion volume. Reproducibility of gastric volume measurements was assessed using data from 10 healthy volunteers following a liquid test meal with rapid MRI acquisition within one breath-hold and semi-automated analysis. Dilution of the ingested meal with gastric secretion was estimated using a respiratory-triggered T1 mapping protocol. Accuracy of the secretion volume measurements was assessed using data from 24 healthy volunteers following a mixed (liquid/solid) test meal with MRI meal volumes compared to data acquired using gamma scintigraphy (GS) on the same subjects studied on a separate study day. The mean ± SD coefficient of variance between 3 observers for both total gastric contents (including meal, secretions and air) and just the gastric contents (meal and secretion only) was 3  ±  2% at large gastric volumes (>200 ml). Mean ± SD secretion volumes post meal ingestion were 64  ±  51 ml and 110  ±  40 ml at 15 and 75 min, respectively. Comparison with GS meal volumes, showed that MRI meal only volume (after correction for secretion volume) were similar to GS, with a linear regression gradient ± std err of 1.06  ±  0.10 and intercept -11  ±  24 ml. In conclusion, (i) rapid volume acquisition and respiratory triggered T1 mapping removed the requirement to image during prolonged breath-holds (ii) semi-automatic analysis greatly reduced the time required to derive measurements and (iii) correction for secretion volumes provided accurate assessment of gastric meal volumes and emptying. Together these features provide the scientific basis of a protocol which would be suitable in clinical practice.

A meta-analysis of sex differences in human brain structure☆

PubMed Central

Ruigrok, Amber N.V.; Salimi-Khorshidi, Gholamreza; Lai, Meng-Chuan; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Lombardo, Michael V.; Tait, Roger J.; Suckling, John

2014-01-01

The prevalence, age of onset, and symptomatology of many neuropsychiatric conditions differ between males and females. To understand the causes and consequences of sex differences it is important to establish where they occur in the human brain. We report the first meta-analysis of typical sex differences on global brain volume, a descriptive account of the breakdown of studies of each compartmental volume by six age categories, and whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analyses on brain volume and density. Gaussian-process regression coordinate-based meta-analysis was used to examine sex differences in voxel-based regional volume and density. On average, males have larger total brain volumes than females. Examination of the breakdown of studies providing total volumes by age categories indicated a bias towards the 18–59 year-old category. Regional sex differences in volume and tissue density include the amygdala, hippocampus and insula, areas known to be implicated in sex-biased neuropsychiatric conditions. Together, these results suggest candidate regions for investigating the asymmetric effect that sex has on the developing brain, and for understanding sex-biased neurological and psychiatric conditions. PMID:24374381

A Survey and Analysis of Military Computer-Based Systems: A Two Part Study. Volume II. A Descriptive and Predictive Model for Evaluating Instructional Systems. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. - East, St. Louis, MO.

This is the second volume of a two volume study. The first volume examined the literature to identify authoring aids for developing instructional materials, and to identify information clearing houses for existing materials. The purpose of this volume was to develop a means for assessing the cost versus expected benefits of innovations in…

Tri-level study of the causes of traffic accidents, volume 2 : special analyses.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-05-01

This final report is comprised of two volumes. Volume I provides causal result tabulations and related analyses. Volume II presents several special analysis reports dealing with driver vision knowledge, psychological make-up, etc. Human, environmenta...

Storm-damaged saline-contaminated boreholes as a means of aquifer contamination

USGS Publications Warehouse

Carlson, D.A.; Van Biersel, T. P.; Milner, L.R.

2008-01-01

Saline water from a storm surge can flow down storm-damaged submerged water supply wells and contaminate boreholes and surrounding aquifers. Using data from conventional purging techniques, aquifer test response analysis, chemical analysis, and regression analysis of chloride/silica (Cl/Si) ratio, equations were derived to estimate the volume of saline water intrusion into a well and a porous media aquifer, the volume of water needed to purge a well shortly following an intrusion event, and the volume of water needed after delay of several or more months, when the saline plume has expanded. Purging time required is a function of volume of water and pumping rate. The study site well is located within a shoreline community of Lake Pontchartrain, St. Tammany Parish, in southeastern Louisiana, United States, which was impacted by two hurricane storm surges and had neither been rehabilitated nor chlorinated prior to our study. Chemical analysis of water samples in fall 2005 and purging of well and aquifer in June 6, 2006, indicated saline water had intruded the well in 2005 and the well and aquifer in 2006. The volume of water needed to purge the study well was approximately 200 casing volumes, which is significantly greater than conventionally used during collection of water samples for water quality analyses. ?? 2007 National Ground Water Association.

Papers and Studies in Contrastive Linguistics, Volume Twelve. The Polish-English Contrastive Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisiak, Jacek, Ed.

This volume contains six articles. In "Integrational Linguistics as a Basis for Contrastive Studies," Hans-Heinrich Lieb discusses the problems associated with complex contrastive analysis. Hanne Martinet's "A Functional and Contrastive Analysis of Attributive Adjectives Endings in '-ant' and in '-ende' in French and Danish,…

Prone positioning reduces mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome in the low tidal volume era: a meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Shaefi, Shahzad; Montesi, Sydney B.; Devlin, Amy; Loring, Stephen H.; Talmor, Daniel; Malhotra, Atul

2014-01-01

Purpose Prone positioning for ARDS has been performed for decades without definitive evidence of clinical benefit. A recent multicenter trial demonstrated for the first time significantly reduced mortality with prone positioning. This meta-analysis was performed to integrate these findings with existing literature and test whether differences in tidal volume explain conflicting results among randomized trials. Methods Studies were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, LILACS, and citation review. Included were randomized trials evaluating the effect on mortality of prone versus supine positioning during conventional ventilation for ARDS. The primary outcome was risk ratio of death at 60 days meta-analyzed using random effects models. Analysis stratified by high (>8 ml/kg predicted body weight) or low (≤8 ml/kg PBW) mean baseline tidal volume was planned a priori. Results Seven trials were identified including 2,119 patients, of whom 1,088 received prone positioning. Overall, prone positioning was not significantly associated with the risk ratio of death (RR 0.83; 95 % CI 0.68–1.02; p = 0.073; I2 = 64 %). When stratified by high or low tidal volume, prone positioning was associated with a significant decrease in RR of death only among studies with low baseline tidal volume (RR 0.66; 95 % CI 0.50–0.86; p = 0.002; I2 = 25 %). Stratification by tidal volume explained over half the between-study heterogeneity observed in the unstratified analysis. Conclusions Prone positioning is associated with significantly reduced mortality from ARDS in the low tidal volume era. Substantial heterogeneity across studies can be explained by differences in tidal volume. PMID:24435203

Pituitary gland volume in patients with schizophrenia, subjects at ultra high-risk of developing psychosis and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Nordholm, Dorte; Krogh, Jesper; Mondelli, Valeria; Dazzan, Paola; Pariante, Carmine; Nordentoft, Merete

2013-11-01

A larger pituitary size is thought to reflect a greater activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which may be related to an increase in the number and size of corticotroph cells. Some studies, but not all, indicate that pituitary volume increases before or at the onset of psychosis. There is a need for at critical appraisal of the literature on this topic accompanied by a meta-analytical evaluation of the data. We included studies comparing the volume of the pituitary gland in healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia, first episode of psychosis (FEP), schizotypal disorder or ultra high-risk (UHR) subjects. We defined three groups of subjects for the analyses: healthy controls; UHR and schizotypal patients; and patients diagnosed with first episode of psychosis, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found a trend of a larger pituitary volume in both UHR subject who had transition to psychosis (p=0.05) and in FEP subjects (p=0.09) compared to healthy controls. There was no difference in pituitary volume between patients with schizophrenia combined with FEP versus healthy controls (p=0.52) or between UHR (with and without transition) and healthy controls (p=0.24). In a regression analysis, we demonstrated that the number of subjects receiving antipsychotics and pituitary volume were positively correlated. As previously reported in other samples, gender also had an impact on pituitary volume with females presenting with a larger mean volume. Results from this meta-analysis suggest that the pituitary gland could be increasing before the onset of psychosis. Both gender and use of antipsychotics have a major impact on the pituitary volume. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Feasibility study for biomass power plants in Thailand. Volume 2. appendix: Detailed financial analysis results. Export trade information

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

This study, conducted by Black & Veatch, was funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. The report presents a technical and commercial analysis for the development of three nearly identical electricity generating facilities (biomass steam power plants) in the towns of Chachgoengsao, Suphan Buri, and Pichit in Thailand. Volume 2 of the study contains the following appendix: Detailed Financial Analysis Results.

The power-proportion method for intracranial volume correction in volumetric imaging analysis.

PubMed

Liu, Dawei; Johnson, Hans J; Long, Jeffrey D; Magnotta, Vincent A; Paulsen, Jane S

2014-01-01

In volumetric brain imaging analysis, volumes of brain structures are typically assumed to be proportional or linearly related to intracranial volume (ICV). However, evidence abounds that many brain structures have power law relationships with ICV. To take this relationship into account in volumetric imaging analysis, we propose a power law based method-the power-proportion method-for ICV correction. The performance of the new method is demonstrated using data from the PREDICT-HD study.

Volume-outcome associations after major hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a nationwide Taiwan study.

PubMed

Lu, Chih-Cheng; Chiu, Chong-Chi; Wang, Jhi-Joung; Chiu, Yu-Hsien; Shi, Hon-Yi

2014-06-01

The objective of this study was to explore volume-outcome associations after major hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This population-based cohort study retrospectively analyzed 23,107 major hepatectomies for HCC patients from 1998 to 2009. Relationships between hospital/surgeon volume and patient outcome were analyzed by propensity score matching (PSM). Five-year overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were compared by log-rank test. The mean length of stay (LOS) after major hepatectomy was 18.1 days, and the mean hospital cost was US$5,088.2. After PSM, the mean OS in high- and low-volume hospitals was 71.1 months (standard deviation (SD) 0.7 months) and 68.6 months (SD 0.6 months), respectively; the mean OS in high- and low-volume surgeons was 78.5 months (SD 0.7 months) and 66.9 months (SD 0.7 months), respectively. The PSM analysis showed that treatment by high-volume hospitals and treatment by high-volume surgeons were both associated with significantly shorter LOS, lower hospital cost, and longer survival compared to their low-volume counterparts (P < 0.001). The results of this nationwide study support the regionalization of HCC treatment by hospital volume and by surgeon volume. High surgeon volume revealed both short- and long-term benefits. The applicability of PSM in volume-outcome analysis may also be confirmed.

Exsanguinated blood volume estimation using fractal analysis of digital images.

PubMed

Sant, Sonia P; Fairgrieve, Scott I

2012-05-01

The estimation of bloodstain volume using fractal analysis of digital images of passive blood stains is presented. Binary digital photos of bloodstains of known volumes (ranging from 1 to 7 mL), dispersed in a defined area, were subjected to image analysis using FracLac V. 2.0 for ImageJ. The box-counting method was used to generate a fractal dimension for each trial. A positive correlation between the generated fractal number and the volume of blood was found (R(2) = 0.99). Regression equations were produced to estimate the volume of blood in blind trials. An error rate ranging from 78% for 1 mL to 7% for 6 mL demonstrated that as the volume increases so does the accuracy of the volume estimation. This method used in the preliminary study proved that bloodstain patterns may be deconstructed into mathematical parameters, thus removing the subjective element inherent in other methods of volume estimation. © 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

A comparison between plaque-based and vessel-based measurement for plaque component using volumetric intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data analysis.

PubMed

Shin, Eun-Seok; Garcia-Garcia, Hector M; Garg, Scot; Serruys, Patrick W

2011-04-01

Although percent plaque components on plaque-based measurement have been used traditionally in previous studies, the impact of vessel-based measurement for percent plaque components have yet to be studied. The purpose of this study was therefore to correlate percent plaque components derived by plaque- and vessel-based measurement using intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH). The patient cohort comprised of 206 patients with de novo coronary artery lesions who were imaged with IVUS-VH. Age ranged from 35 to 88 years old, and 124 patients were male. Whole pullback analysis was used to calculate plaque volume, vessel volume, and absolute and percent volumes of fibrous, fibrofatty, necrotic core, and dense calcium. The plaque and vessel volumes were well correlated (r = 0.893, P < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between percent plaque components volumes calculated by plaque and those calculated by vessel volumes (fibrous; r = 0.927, P < 0.001, fibrofatty; r = 0.972, P < 0.001, necrotic core; r = 0.964, P < 0.001, dense calcium; r = 0.980, P < 0.001,). Plaque and vessel volumes correlated well to the overall plaque burden. For percent plaque component volume, plaque-based measurement was also highly correlated with vessel-based measurement. Therefore, the percent plaque component volume calculated by vessel volume could be used instead of the conventional percent plaque component volume calculated by plaque volume.

Chemical Laser Facility Study. Volume III. Cost Analysis.

DTIC Science & Technology

Chemical Laser Test Facility. The design criteria for the architectural and engineering design of the facility are presented in Volume I and the design requirements for the Laser Test System are presented in Volume II.

Sediment Transportation Induced by Deep-Seated Landslides in a Debris Flow Basin in Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Meei Ling; Chen, Te Wei; Chen, Yong Sheng; Sin Jhuang, Han

2016-04-01

Typhoon Morakot brought huge amount of rainfall to the southern Taiwan in 2009 and caused severe landslides and debris flow hazard. After Typhoon Morakot, it was found that the volume of sediment transported by the debris flow and its effects on the affected area were much more significant compared to previous case history, which may due to the huge amount of rainfall causing significant deep-seated landslides in the basin. In this study, the effects and tendency of the sediment transportation in a river basin following deep-seated landslides caused by typhoon Morakot were evaluated. We used LiDAR, DEM, and aerial photo to identify characteristics of deep-seated landslides in a debris flow river basin, KSDF079 in Liuoguey District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Eight deep-seated landslides were identified in the basin. To estimate the potential landslide volume associated with the deep-seated landslides, the stability analysis was conducted to locate the critical sliding surface, and the potential landside volume was estimated based on the estimation equation proposed by the International Geotechnical Societies' UNESCO Working Party on World Landslide Inventory (WP/WLI, 1990). The total potential landslide volume of the eight deep-seated landslides in KSDF079 basin was about 28,906,856 m3. Topographic analysis was performed by using DEM before and LiDAR derived DEM after typhoon Morakot to calculate the landslide volume transported. The result of erosion volume and deposition volume lead to a run out volume of 5,832,433 m3. The results appeared to consist well with the field condition and aerial photo. Comparing the potential landslide volume and run out volume of eight deep-seated landslides, it was found that the remaining potential landslide volume was about 80%. Field investigation and topographic analysis of the KSDF079 debris flow revealed that a significant amount of sediment deposition remained in the river channel ranging from the middle to the downstream section of the channel, and the channel has been widen. Such large proportion of landslide volume remained in the basin on deep-seated landslide scars and debris flow river channel would likely to cause further debris transportation in the future events. The stability analysis used in this study provided a feasible method and satisfactory results for estimating sediment volume transportation associated with the deep-seated landslides in the study area. Combination of the stability analysis results and the topographic analysis provided estimation of sediment transportation caused by the deep-seated landslides, and trend variation of further sediment transport of the basin, which could provide vital information for hazard mitigation. Keyword: deep-seated landslide, sediment transport, DEM, LiDAR, stability analysis

A meta-analysis of sex differences in human brain structure.

PubMed

Ruigrok, Amber N V; Salimi-Khorshidi, Gholamreza; Lai, Meng-Chuan; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Lombardo, Michael V; Tait, Roger J; Suckling, John

2014-02-01

The prevalence, age of onset, and symptomatology of many neuropsychiatric conditions differ between males and females. To understand the causes and consequences of sex differences it is important to establish where they occur in the human brain. We report the first meta-analysis of typical sex differences on global brain volume, a descriptive account of the breakdown of studies of each compartmental volume by six age categories, and whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analyses on brain volume and density. Gaussian-process regression coordinate-based meta-analysis was used to examine sex differences in voxel-based regional volume and density. On average, males have larger total brain volumes than females. Examination of the breakdown of studies providing total volumes by age categories indicated a bias towards the 18-59 year-old category. Regional sex differences in volume and tissue density include the amygdala, hippocampus and insula, areas known to be implicated in sex-biased neuropsychiatric conditions. Together, these results suggest candidate regions for investigating the asymmetric effect that sex has on the developing brain, and for understanding sex-biased neurological and psychiatric conditions. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Is Heart Rate Variability Better Than Routine Vital Signs for Prehospital Identification of Major Hemorrhage

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

different PRBC transfusion volumes. We performed multivariate regression analysis using HRV metrics and routine vital signs to test the hypothesis that...study sponsors did not have any role in the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, report writing, or the decision to...primary outcome was hemorrhagic injury plus different PRBC transfusion volumes. We performed multivariate regression analysis using HRV metrics and

Development and validation of automatic tools for interactive recurrence analysis in radiation therapy: optimization of treatment algorithms for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Kessel, Kerstin A; Habermehl, Daniel; Jäger, Andreas; Floca, Ralf O; Zhang, Lanlan; Bendl, Rolf; Debus, Jürgen; Combs, Stephanie E

2013-06-07

In radiation oncology recurrence analysis is an important part in the evaluation process and clinical quality assurance of treatment concepts. With the example of 9 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer we developed and validated interactive analysis tools to support the evaluation workflow. After an automatic registration of the radiation planning CTs with the follow-up images, the recurrence volumes are segmented manually. Based on these volumes the DVH (dose volume histogram) statistic is calculated, followed by the determination of the dose applied to the region of recurrence and the distance between the boost and recurrence volume. We calculated the percentage of the recurrence volume within the 80%-isodose volume and compared it to the location of the recurrence within the boost volume, boost + 1 cm, boost + 1.5 cm and boost + 2 cm volumes. Recurrence analysis of 9 patients demonstrated that all recurrences except one occurred within the defined GTV/boost volume; one recurrence developed beyond the field border/outfield. With the defined distance volumes in relation to the recurrences, we could show that 7 recurrent lesions were within the 2 cm radius of the primary tumor. Two large recurrences extended beyond the 2 cm, however, this might be due to very rapid growth and/or late detection of the tumor progression. The main goal of using automatic analysis tools is to reduce time and effort conducting clinical analyses. We showed a first approach and use of a semi-automated workflow for recurrence analysis, which will be continuously optimized. In conclusion, despite the limitations of the automatic calculations we contributed to in-house optimization of subsequent study concepts based on an improved and validated target volume definition.

Advanced transportation system studies technical area 2 (TA-2): Heavy lift launch vehicle development. volume 3; Program Cost estimates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McCurry, J. B.

1995-01-01

The purpose of the TA-2 contract was to provide advanced launch vehicle concept definition and analysis to assist NASA in the identification of future launch vehicle requirements. Contracted analysis activities included vehicle sizing and performance analysis, subsystem concept definition, propulsion subsystem definition (foreign and domestic), ground operations and facilities analysis, and life cycle cost estimation. The basic period of performance of the TA-2 contract was from May 1992 through May 1993. No-cost extensions were exercised on the contract from June 1993 through July 1995. This document is part of the final report for the TA-2 contract. The final report consists of three volumes: Volume 1 is the Executive Summary, Volume 2 is Technical Results, and Volume 3 is Program Cost Estimates. The document-at-hand, Volume 3, provides a work breakdown structure dictionary, user's guide for the parametric life cycle cost estimation tool, and final report developed by ECON, Inc., under subcontract to Lockheed Martin on TA-2 for the analysis of heavy lift launch vehicle concepts.

Single-breath CO2 analysis as a predictor of lung volume in a healthy animal model during controlled ventilation.

PubMed

Stenz, R I; Grenier, B; Thompson, J E; Arnold, J H

1998-08-01

To examine the utility of single-breath CO2 analysis as a measure of lung volume. A prospective, animal cohort study comparing 21 parameters derived from single-breath CO2 analysis with lung volume measurements determined by nitrogen washout in animals during controlled ventilation. An animal laboratory in a university-affiliated medical center. Seven healthy lambs. The single-breath CO2 analysis station consists of a mainstream capnometer, a variable orifice pneumotachometer, a signal processor and computer software with capability for both on- and off-line data analysis. Twenty-one derived components of the CO2 expirogram were evaluated as predictors of lung volume. Lung volume was manipulated by 3 cm H2O incremental increases in positive end-expiratory pressure from 0 to 21 cm H2O, and ranged between 147 and 942 mL. Fifty-five measurements of lung volume were available for comparison with derived variables from the CO2 expirogam. Stepwise linear regression identified four variables that were most predictive of lung volume: a) dynamic lung compliance; b) the slope of phase 3; c) the slope of phase 2 divided by the mixed expired CO2 tension; and d) airway deadspace. The multivariate equation was highly statistically significant and explained 94% of the variance (adjusted r2 =.94, p < .0001). The bias and precision of the calculated lung volume was .00 and 51, respectively. The mean percent difference for the lung volume estimate derived from the single-breath CO2 analysis station was 0.79%. Our data indicate that analysis of the CO2 expirogram can yield accurate information about lung volume. Specifically, four variables derived from a plot of expired CO2 concentration vs. expired volume predict changes in lung volume in healthy lambs with an adjusted coefficient of determination of .94. Prospective application of this technology in the setting of lung injury and rapidly changing physiology is essential in determining the clinical usefulness of the technique.

Price-volume multifractal analysis and its application in Chinese stock markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Ying; Zhuang, Xin-tian; Liu, Zhi-ying

2012-06-01

An empirical research on Chinese stock markets is conducted using statistical tools. First, the multifractality of stock price return series, ri(ri=ln(Pt+1)-ln(Pt)) and trading volume variation series, vi(vi=ln(Vt+1)-ln(Vt)) is confirmed using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. Furthermore, a multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis between stock price return and trading volume variation in Chinese stock markets is also conducted. It is shown that the cross relationship between them is also found to be multifractal. Second, the cross-correlation between stock price Pi and trading volume Vi is empirically studied using cross-correlation function and detrended cross-correlation analysis. It is found that both Shanghai stock market and Shenzhen stock market show pronounced long-range cross-correlations between stock price and trading volume. Third, a composite index R based on price and trading volume is introduced. Compared with stock price return series ri and trading volume variation series vi, R variation series not only remain the characteristics of original series but also demonstrate the relative correlation between stock price and trading volume. Finally, we analyze the multifractal characteristics of R variation series before and after three financial events in China (namely, Price Limits, Reform of Non-tradable Shares and financial crisis in 2008) in the whole period of sample to study the changes of stock market fluctuation and financial risk. It is found that the empirical results verified the validity of R.

Head Start Program and Cost Data Analysis: Final Report - Volume II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cordes, Joseph; And Others

This second volume of the Head Start Program and Cost Data Analysis Final Report analyzes data from sources other than the Head Start Program Information Report (PIR). The report is divided into three sections: Distributional Impact of Head Start Financing, Pilot Study of Program Compliance, and Recommendations for Secondary Data Analysis. The…

Thyroid Volume and Its Relation to Anthropometric Measures in a Healthy Cuban Population

PubMed Central

Turcios, Silvia; Lence-Anta, Juan J.; Santana, Jose-Luis; Pereda, Celia M.; Velasco, Milagros; Chappe, Mae; Infante, Idalmis; Bustillo, Marlene; García, Anabel; Clero, Enora; Maillard, Stephane; Rodriguez, Regla; Xhaard, Constance; Ren, Yan; Rubino, Carole; Ortiz, Rosa M.; de Vathaire, Florent

2015-01-01

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the thyroid volume in healthy adults by ultrasound and to correlate this volume with some anthropometric measures and other differentiated thyroid cancer risk factors. Study Design Thyroid volume and anthropometric measures were recorded in a sample of 100 healthy adults, including 21 men and 79 women aged 18-50 years, living in a non-iodine-deficient area of Havana city. Results The average thyroid volume was 6.6 ± 0.26 ml; it was higher in men (7.3 ml) than in women (6.4 ml; p = 0.15). In the univariate analysis, thyroid volume was correlated with all anthropometric measures, but in the multivariate analysis, body surface area was found to be the only significant anthropometric parameter. Thyroid volume was also higher in current or former smokers and in persons with blood group AB or B. Conclusion Specific reference values of thyroid volume as a function of body surface area could be used for evaluating thyroid volume in clinical practice. The relation between body surface area and thyroid volume is coherent with what is known about the relation of thyroid volume to thyroid cancer risk, but the same is not true about the relation between thyroid volume and smoking habit. PMID:25960963

3D volumetry comparison using 3T magnetic resonance imaging between normal and adenoma-containing pituitary glands.

PubMed

Roldan-Valadez, Ernesto; Garcia-Ulloa, Ana Cristina; Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Omar; Martinez-Lopez, Manuel

2011-01-01

Computed-assisted three-dimensional data (3D) allows for an accurate evaluation of volumes compared with traditional measurements. An in vitro method comparison between geometric volume and 3D volumetry to obtain reference data for pituitary volumes in normal pituitary glands (PGs) and PGs containing adenomas. Prospective, transverse, analytical study. Forty-eight subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3D sequencing for computer-aided volumetry. PG phantom volumes by both methods were compared. Using the best volumetric method, volumes of normal PGs and PGs with adenoma were compared. Statistical analysis used the Bland-Altman method, t-statistics, effect size and linear regression analysis. Method comparison between 3D volumetry and geometric volume revealed a lower bias and precision for 3D volumetry. A total of 27 patients exhibited normal PGs (mean age, 42.07 ± 16.17 years), although length, height, width, geometric volume and 3D volumetry were greater in women than in men. A total of 21 patients exhibited adenomas (mean age 39.62 ± 10.79 years), and length, height, width, geometric volume and 3D volumetry were greater in men than in women, with significant volumetric differences. Age did not influence pituitary volumes on linear regression analysis. Results from the present study showed that 3D volumetry was more accurate than the geometric method. In addition, the upper normal limits of PGs overlapped with lower volume limits during early stage microadenomas.

Progressive brain changes in children and adolescents with early-onset psychosis: A meta-analysis of longitudinal MRI studies.

PubMed

Fraguas, David; Díaz-Caneja, Covadonga M; Pina-Camacho, Laura; Janssen, Joost; Arango, Celso

2016-06-01

Studies on longitudinal brain volume changes in patients with early-onset psychosis (EOP) are particularly valuable for understanding the neurobiological basis of brain abnormalities associated with psychosis. However, findings have not been consistent across studies in this population. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis on progressive brain volume changes in children and adolescents with EOP. A systematic literature search of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies comparing longitudinal brain volume changes in children and adolescents with EOP and healthy controls was conducted. The annualized rates of relative change in brain volume by region of interest (ROI) were used as raw data for the meta-analysis. The effect of age, sex, duration of illness, and specific diagnosis on volume change was also evaluated. Five original studies with 156 EOP patients (mean age at baseline MRI in the five studies ranged from 13.3 to 16.6years, 67.31% males) and 163 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, with a mean duration of follow-up of 2.46years (range 2.02-3.40), were included. Frontal gray matter (GM) was the only region in which significant differences in volume change over time were found between patients and controls (Hedges' g -0.435, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.678 to -0.193, p<0.001). Younger age at baseline MRI was associated with greater loss of temporal GM volume over time in patients as compared with controls (p=0.005). Within patients, a diagnosis of schizophrenia was related to greater occipital GM volume loss over time (p=0.001). Compared with healthy individuals, EOP patients show greater progressive frontal GM loss over the first few years after illness onset. Age at baseline MRI and diagnosis of schizophrenia appear to be significant moderators of particular specific brain volume changes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the Field Test of Project Information Packages: Volume III--Resource Cost Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Salam, Nabeel; And Others

The third of three volumes evaluating the first year field test of the Project Information Packages (PIPs) provides a cost analysis study as a key element in the total evaluation. The resource approach to cost analysis is explained and the specific resource methodology used in the main cost analysis of the 19 PIP field-test projects detailed. The…

SOLVENT-BASED TO WATERBASED ADHESIVE-COATED SUBSTRATE RETROFIT - VOLUME I: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

EPA Science Inventory

This volume represents the analysis of case study facilities' experience with waterbased adhesive use and retrofit requirements. (NOTE: The coated and laminated substrate manufacturing industry was selected as part of NRMRL'S support of the 33/50 Program because of its significan...

The Effects of Bolus Volume and Texture on Pharyngeal Pressure Events Using High-resolution Manometry and Its Comparison with Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study

PubMed Central

Ryu, Ju Seok; Park, Donghwi; Oh, Yoongul; Lee, Seok Tae; Kang, Jin Young

2016-01-01

Background/Aims The purpose of this study was to develop new parameters of high-resolution manometry (HRM) and to applicate these to quantify the effect of bolus volume and texture on pharyngeal swallowing. Methods Ten healthy subjects prospectively swallowed dry, thin fluid 2 mL, thin fluid 5 mL, thin fluid 10 mL, and drinking twice to compare effects of bolus volume. To compare effect of texture, subjects swallowed thin fluid 5 mL, yogurt 5 mL, and bread twice. A 32-sensor HRM catheter and BioVIEW ANALYSIS software were used for data collection and analysis. HRM data were synchronized with kinematic analysis of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) using epiglottis tilting. Results Linear correlation analysis for volume showed significant correlation for area of velopharynx, duration of velopharynx, pre-upper esophageal sphincter (UES) maximal pressure, minimal UES pressure, UES activity time, and nadir UES duration. In the correlation with texture, all parameters were not significantly different. The contraction of the velopharynx was faster than laryngeal elevation. The durations of UES relaxation was shorter in the kinematic analysis than HRM. Conclusions The bolus volume was shown to have significant effect on pharyngeal pressure and timing, but the texture did not show any effect on pharyngeal swallowing. The parameters of HRM were more sensitive than those of kinematic analysis. As the parameters of HRM are based on precise anatomic structure and the kinematic analysis reflects the actions of multiple anatomic structures, HRM and VFSS should be used according to their purposes. PMID:26598598

Statistical representative elementary volumes of porous media determined using greyscale analysis of 3D tomograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruns, S.; Stipp, S. L. S.; Sørensen, H. O.

2017-09-01

Digital rock physics carries the dogmatic concept of having to segment volume images for quantitative analysis but segmentation rejects huge amounts of signal information. Information that is essential for the analysis of difficult and marginally resolved samples, such as materials with very small features, is lost during segmentation. In X-ray nanotomography reconstructions of Hod chalk we observed partial volume voxels with an abundance that limits segmentation based analysis. Therefore, we investigated the suitability of greyscale analysis for establishing statistical representative elementary volumes (sREV) for the important petrophysical parameters of this type of chalk, namely porosity, specific surface area and diffusive tortuosity, by using volume images without segmenting the datasets. Instead, grey level intensities were transformed to a voxel level porosity estimate using a Gaussian mixture model. A simple model assumption was made that allowed formulating a two point correlation function for surface area estimates using Bayes' theory. The same assumption enables random walk simulations in the presence of severe partial volume effects. The established sREVs illustrate that in compacted chalk, these simulations cannot be performed in binary representations without increasing the resolution of the imaging system to a point where the spatial restrictions of the represented sample volume render the precision of the measurement unacceptable. We illustrate this by analyzing the origins of variance in the quantitative analysis of volume images, i.e. resolution dependence and intersample and intrasample variance. Although we cannot make any claims on the accuracy of the approach, eliminating the segmentation step from the analysis enables comparative studies with higher precision and repeatability.

Validity of automated measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction and volume using the Philips EPIQ system.

PubMed

Hovnanians, Ninel; Win, Theresa; Makkiya, Mohammed; Zheng, Qi; Taub, Cynthia

2017-11-01

To assess the efficiency and reproducibility of automated measurements of left ventricular (LV) volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in comparison to manually traced biplane Simpson's method. This is a single-center prospective study. Apical four- and two-chamber views were acquired in patients in sinus rhythm. Two operators independently measured LV volumes and LVEF using biplane Simpson's method. In addition, the image analysis software a2DQ on the Philips EPIQ system was applied to automatically assess the LV volumes and LVEF. Time spent on each analysis, using both methods, was documented. Concordance of echocardiographic measures was evaluated using intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Manual tracing and automated measurement of LV volumes and LVEF were performed in 184 patients with a mean age of 67.3 ± 17.3 years and BMI 28.0 ± 6.8 kg/m 2 . ICC and Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreements between manual and automated methods measuring LVEF, end-systolic, and end-diastolic volumes. The average analysis time was significantly less using the automated method than manual tracing (116 vs 217 seconds/patient, P < .0001). Automated measurement using the novel image analysis software a2DQ on the Philips EPIQ system produced accurate, efficient, and reproducible assessment of LV volumes and LVEF compared with manual measurement. © 2017, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Amygdala volume in combat-exposed veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Kuo, Janice R; Kaloupek, Danny G; Woodward, Steven H

2012-10-01

Data from animal models demonstrate a link between stress exposure and hypertrophic changes in the amygdala; however, studies of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have failed to find analogous structural alterations. To compare amygdala volumes between a sample of combat veterans with and without PTSD (analysis 1) and examine whether our observation of larger amygdala volume in individuals with PTSD could be accounted for by the presence of trauma exposure in childhood and the severity of combat exposure in adulthood (analysis 2). Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging. Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System Inpatient Trauma Recovery Program and Veterans Affairs New England Health Care System Outpatient PTSD program. Ninety-nine combat-exposed veterans from the Vietnam Conflict or the Persian Gulf War who had been exposed to substantial military operational stress. Amygdala volume adjusted for total cerebral volume, Life Events Checklist, and the Combat Exposure Scale. Analysis 1 indicated that combat-exposed individuals with PTSD exhibited larger total amygdala volume compared with their non-PTSD counterparts (99 individuals, P = .047). Analysis 2 indicated that greater severity of combat exposure (87 individuals, P = .02), as well as the interaction between the presence of early life trauma and the severity of combat exposure (87 individuals, P = .008), were significantly associated with smaller total amygdala volume. The PTSD diagnosis continued to explain larger amygdala volume (87 individuals, P = .006). Posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with enlarged amygdala volume, above the variance accounted for by a history of early life trauma and severity of adult trauma exposure. The discrepancy between our and prior findings may be explained by variability in these trauma indices in previous investigations. These findings support additional study of amygdala structure in human stress disorders and further delineation of the role of early and adult trauma on associated neurologic changes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elgowainy, Amgad; Han, Jeongwoo; Ward, Jacob

This study provides a comprehensive lifecycle analysis (LCA), or cradle-to-grave (C2G) analysis, of the cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a variety of vehicle-fuel pathways, as well as the levelized cost of driving (LCD) and cost of avoided GHG emissions. This study also estimates the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of key fuel and vehicle technologies along the pathways. The C2G analysis spans a full portfolio of midsize light-duty vehicles (LDVs), including conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehiclesmore » (FCEVs). In evaluating the vehicle-fuel combinations, this study considers both low-volume and high-volume “CURRENT TECHNOLOGY” cases (nominally 2015) and a high-volume “FUTURE TECHNOLOGY” lower-carbon case (nominally 2025–2030). For the CURRENT TECHNOLOGY case, low-volume vehicle and fuel production pathways are examined to determine costs in the near term.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elgowainy, Amgad; Han, Jeongwoo; Ward, Jacob

This study provides a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA), or cradle-to-grave (C2G) analysis, of the cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a variety of vehicle-fuel pathways, as well as the levelized cost of driving (LCD) and cost of avoided GHG emissions. This study also estimates the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of key fuel and vehicle technologies along the pathways. The C2G analysis spans a full portfolio of midsize light-duty vehicles (LDVs), including conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehiclesmore » (FCEVs). In evaluating the vehicle-fuel combinations, this study considers both low-volume and high-volume “CURRENT TECHNOLOGY” cases (nominally 2015) and a high-volume “FUTURE TECHNOLOGY” lower-carbon case (nominally 2025–2030). For the CURRENT TECHNOLOGY case, low-volume vehicle and fuel production pathways are examined to determine costs in the near term.« less

A Study of Job Demands and Curriculum Development in Agricultural Training Related to the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System. Final Report. Volume II. Task Analysis Results.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Harold S.; And Others

This is the second volume of a four-volume report of a research project designed to (1) identify job needs for agricultural occupations which will result from the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System and perform a task analysis on each occupation, (2) develop instructional modules and determine their place in either high school or 2-year…

Wayside Energy Storage Study : Volume 2. Detailed Description of Analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-02-01

Volume II summarizes an in-depth application study which was conducted to determine the practicality and viability of using large wayside flywheels to recuperate braking energy from freight trains on long downgrades. The study examined the route stru...

Airport Surface Traffic Control Concept Formulation Study : Volume 3. Operations Analysis of O'Hare Airport - Part 2.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-07-01

The volume presents the results of the quantitative analyses of the O'Hare ASTC System operations. The operations environments for the periods selected for detailed analysis of the ASDE films and controller communications recording are described. Fol...

Advanced transportation system studies technical area 2(TA-2): Heavy lift launch vehicle development. volume 1; Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McCurry, J.

1995-01-01

The purpose of the TA-2 contract was to provide advanced launch vehicle concept definition and analysis to assist NASA in the identification of future launch vehicle requirements. Contracted analysis activities included vehicle sizing and performance analysis, subsystem concept definition, propulsion subsystem definition (foreign and domestic), ground operations and facilities analysis, and life cycle cost estimation. This document is part of the final report for the TA-2 contract. The final report consists of three volumes: Volume 1 is the Executive Summary, Volume 2 is Technical Results, and Volume 3 is Program Cost Estimates. The document-at-hand, Volume 1, provides a summary description of the technical activities that were performed over the entire contract duration, covering three distinct launch vehicle definition activities: heavy-lift (300,000 pounds injected mass to low Earth orbit) launch vehicles for the First Lunar Outpost (FLO), medium-lift (50,000-80,000 pounds injected mass to low Earth orbit) launch vehicles, and single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) launch vehicles (25,000 pounds injected mass to a Space Station orbit).

Simplex volume analysis for finding endmembers in hyperspectral imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hsiao-Chi; Song, Meiping; Chang, Chein-I.

2015-05-01

Using maximal simplex volume as an optimal criterion for finding endmembers is a common approach and has been widely studied in the literature. Interestingly, very little work has been reported on how simplex volume is calculated. It turns out that the issue of calculating simplex volume is much more complicated and involved than what we may think. This paper investigates this issue from two different aspects, geometric structure and eigen-analysis. The geometric structure is derived from its simplex structure whose volume can be calculated by multiplying its base with its height. On the other hand, eigen-analysis takes advantage of the Cayley-Menger determinant to calculate the simplex volume. The major issue of this approach is that when the matrix is ill-rank where determinant is desired. To deal with this problem two methods are generally considered. One is to perform data dimensionality reduction to make the matrix to be of full rank. The drawback of this method is that the original volume has been shrunk and the found volume of a dimensionality-reduced simplex is not the real original simplex volume. Another is to use singular value decomposition (SVD) to find singular values for calculating simplex volume. The dilemma of this method is its instability in numerical calculations. This paper explores all of these three methods in simplex volume calculation. Experimental results show that geometric structure-based method yields the most reliable simplex volume.

Alterations in white matter volume and its correlation with neuropsychological scales in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a DARTEL-based voxel-based morphometry study.

PubMed

Moon, Chung-Man; Shin, Il-Seon; Jeong, Gwang-Woo

2017-02-01

Background Non-invasive imaging markers can be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD) in its early stages, but an optimized quantification analysis to measure the brain integrity has been less studied. Purpose To evaluate white matter volume change and its correlation with neuropsychological scales in patients with AD using a diffeomorphic anatomical registration through exponentiated lie algebra (DARTEL)-based voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Material and Methods The 21 participants comprised 11 patients with AD and 10 age-matched healthy controls. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were processed by VBM analysis based on DARTEL algorithm. Results The patients showed significant white matter volume reductions in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, cerebral peduncle of the midbrain, and parahippocampal gyrus compared to healthy controls. In correlation analysis, the parahippocampal volume was positively correlated with the Korean-mini mental state examination score in AD. Conclusion This study provides an evidence for localized white matter volume deficits in conjunction with cognitive dysfunction in AD. These findings would be helpful to understand the neuroanatomical mechanisms in AD and to robust the diagnostic accuracy for AD.

The effects of contrast media volume on acute kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Thongprayoon, Charat; Cheungpasitporn, Wisit; Podboy, Alexander J; Gillaspie, Erin A; Greason, Kevin L; Kashani, Kianoush B

2016-11-01

The goal of this systematic review was to assess the effects of contrast media volume on transcatheter aortic valve replacement-related acute kidney injury. A literature search was performed using Medline, EMbase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and clinicaltrials.gov from the inception of these databases through December 2015. Studies that reported relative risk, odds ratio, or hazard ratio comparing the risks of acute kidney injury following transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients who received high contrast media volume were included. Pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. Four cohort studies composed of 891 patients were included in the analyses to assess the risk of acute kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients who received high contrast media volume. The pooled RR of acute kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients who received a large volume of contrast media was 1.41 (95% CI, 0.87 to 2.28) compared with low contrast media volume. The meta-analysis was limited to studies using standard acute kidney injury definitions, and the pooled RR of acute kidney injury in patients who received high contrast media volume is 1.12 (95% CI, 0.78 to 1.62). Our meta-analysis shows no significant association between contrast media volume and risk of acute kidney injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. © 2016 Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Long-Term Midface Volume Change After Vertical Vector Deep-Plane Rhytidectomy.

PubMed

Jacono, Andrew A; Malone, Melanie H; Talei, Benjamin

2015-07-01

Facial aging is a complicated process that includes volume loss and soft tissue descent. This study provides quantitative 3-dimensional (3D) data on the long-term effect of vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy on restoring volume to the midface. To determine if primary vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy resulted in long-term volume change in the midface. We performed a prospective study on patients undergoing primary vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy to quantitate 3D volume changes in the midface. Quantitative analysis of volume changes was made using the Vectra 3D imaging software (Canfield Scientific, Inc, Fairfield, New Jersey) at a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Forty-three patients (86 hemifaces) were analyzed. The average volume gained in each hemi-midface after vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy was 3.2 mL. Vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy provides significant long-term augmentation of volume in the midface. These quantitative data demonstrate that some midface volume loss is related to gravitational descent of the cheek fat compartments and that vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy may obviate the need for other volumization procedures such as autologous fat grafting in selected cases. 4 Therapeutic. © 2015 The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. Reprints and permission: journals.permissions@oup.com.

New Trends in Mathematics Teaching, Volume III.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris (France).

Each of the ten chapters in this volume is intended to present an objective analysis of the trends of some important subtopic in mathematics education and each includes a bibliography for fuller study. The chapters cover primary school mathematics, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, analysis, logic, applications of mathematics, methods…

An analysis of malar fat volume in two age groups: implications for craniofacial surgery.

PubMed

Corey, Christina L; Popelka, Gerald R; Barrera, Jose E; Most, Sam P

2012-12-01

Objective To evaluate how malar fat pad (MFP) volumes vary with age, after controlling for gender and body mass index (BMI). Study Design A prospective case-control study evaluating volume of the MFP in women of two age groups. Methods Soft tissue dimensions were measured in eight subjects using magnetic resonance imaging. A multiplanar localizing sequence, followed in sagittal and coronal orientations using a turbo spin echo sequence, was performed to define the MFP. Volumetric calculations were then performed using a 3D image analysis application (Dextroscope, Volume Interactions, Republic of Singapore) to circumscribe areas, orient dimensions, and calculate volumes of the MFP. Results These data reveal no significant difference in the mean (standard deviation) right MFP (p = 0.50), left MFP (p = 0.41), or total MFP (p = 0.45) volumes when comparing the two age groups. In addition, these data indicate that there was no correlation between age and total MFP volume (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.27). Moreover, there was no correlation between age and the ratio of total volume/BMI (Pearson correlation coefficient -0.18). Conclusions Although the sample size of this study was small, these data indicate that ptosis of midfacial fat is more important than volume loss in midfacial aging. These data would suggest repositioning as the primary modality for craniofacial reconstruction.

Hospital esophagectomy volume and postoperative length of stay: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Giwa, Femi; Salami, Aitua; Abioye, Ajibola I

2018-01-01

Much attention in the volume-outcomes literature has focused on the empirical impact of surgical caseload on outcomes. However, relevant studies on the association between surgical volume and variables that potentially contribute to healthcare costs are limited. The objective of this study was to systematically elucidate a contemporary analysis of the empirical relationship between hospital esophagectomy volume and postoperative length of stay, a cost-related outcome. OvidSP, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ISI Web of Science and OpenGrey were searched for relevant articles published from 2000 to 2016. High hospital esophagectomy volume was associated with reduced postoperative length of stay (mean: 3 days; 95%CI: 2.8, 3.2) and risk of prolonged length of stay (RR: 0.80, 95%CI: 0.74, 0.87) in a dose-response fashion. Complex surgeries performed at high surgical volume centers may be associated with overall decrease in postoperative length of stay, a cost-related outcome. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of change in timber volume on non-Federal timberlands in Washington.

Treesearch

Daniel D. Oswald

1986-01-01

This report presents the findings of a study conducted to determine change in per acre timber volume on non-Federal timberlands in Washington from the mid-1960’s to 1978-80. The basis for the-study was the measurement of 1,576 permanent plots at two occasions. The study findings include estimates of change in volume and of the components of change-growth, mortality,...

The Nature of Middle School Mathematics Teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge: The Case of The Volume of Prisms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tekin-Sitrava, Reyhan; Isiksal-Bostan, Mine

2018-01-01

This study investigated middle school teachers' knowledge of students' misconceptions and the sources of these misconceptions related to the volume of prisms. This case study investigated four middle school teachers who taught 8th grade students in Ankara (Turkey). Based on the analysis of the data, two misconceptions related to the volume of…

Satellite power systems (SPS) concept definition study. Volume 7: SPS program plan and economic analysis, appendixes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G.

1978-01-01

Three appendixes in support of Volume 7 are contained in this document. The three appendixes are: (1) Satellite Power System Work Breakdown Structure Dictionary; (2) SPS cost Estimating Relationships; and (3) Financial and Operational Concept. Other volumes of the final report that provide additional detail are: Executive Summary; SPS Systems Requirements; SPS Concept Evolution; SPS Point Design Definition; Transportation and Operations Analysis; and SPS Technology Requirements and Verification.

Food habits of Nyctinomops macrotis at a maternity roost in New Mexico, as indicated by analysis of guano

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sparks, D.W.; Valdez, E.W.

2003-01-01

We examined 56 fecal pellets from under a maternity colony of big free-tailed bats (Nyctinomops macrotis) in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. The most important food items, listed in order of decreasing percent volume, were Cicadellidae, leafhoppers (26.7% volume, 58.9% frequency); Ichneumonidae, Ichneumon wasps (19.3% volume, 35.7% frequency); and Lepidoptera, moths (17.2% volume, 82.1% frequency). Overall, the most important orders as prey consumed, listed by decreasing percent volume, were Homoptera (27.6% volume, 62.5% frequency), Hymenoptera (19.5% volume, 37.5% frequency), Lepidoptera (17.2% volume, 82.1% frequency), Hemiptera (11.7% volume, 37.5% frequency), and Diptera (10.6% volume, 50.0% frequency). Our study documents an unusually varied diet, as previous studies indicated that these bats fed almost exclusively on moths.

Probabilistic risk assessment of the Space Shuttle. Phase 3: A study of the potential of losing the vehicle during nominal operation. Volume 4: System models and data analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fragola, Joseph R.; Maggio, Gaspare; Frank, Michael V.; Gerez, Luis; Mcfadden, Richard H.; Collins, Erin P.; Ballesio, Jorge; Appignani, Peter L.; Karns, James J.

1995-01-01

In this volume, volume 4 (of five volumes), the discussion is focussed on the system models and related data references and has the following subsections: space shuttle main engine, integrated solid rocket booster, orbiter auxiliary power units/hydraulics, and electrical power system.

Transportation Community Institutional Infrastructure Study : Volume 1. National Transportation Needs Mail Survey.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-04-01

The results of the Transportation Community Infrastructure Study are presented as a three volume series. This series presents a surveyed priority of topics for information exhange, a case study of a porposed training proram, and an analysis of the tr...

Space station tracking requirements feasibility study, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Udalov, Sergei; Dodds, James

1988-01-01

The objective of this feasibility study is to determine analytically the accuracies of various sensors being considered as candidates for Space Station use. Specifically, the studies were performed whether or not the candidate sensors are capable of providing the required accuracy, or if alternate sensor approaches should be investigated. Other topics related to operation in the Space Station environment were considered as directed by NASA-JSC. The following topics are addressed: (1) Space Station GPS; (2) Space Station Radar; (3) Docking Sensors; (4) Space Station Link Analysis; (5) Antenna Switching, Power Control, and AGC Functions for Multiple Access; (6) Multichannel Modems; (7) FTS/EVA Emergency Shutdown; (8) Space Station Information Systems Coding; (9) Wanderer Study; and (10) Optical Communications System Analysis. Brief overviews of the abovementioned topics are given. Wherever applicable, the appropriate appendices provide detailed technical analysis. The report is presented in two volumes. This is Volume 2, containing Appendices K through U.

Space station tracking requirements feasibility study, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Udalov, Sergei; Dodds, James

1988-01-01

The objective of this feasibility study is to determine analytically the accuracies of various sensors being considered as candidates for Space Station use. Specifically, the studies were performed whether or not the candidate sensors are capable of providing the required accuracy, or if alternate sensor approaches be investigated. Other topics related to operation in the Space Station environment were considered as directed by NASA-JCS. The following topics are addressed: (1) Space Station GPS; (2) Space Station Radar; (3) Docking Sensors; (4) Space Station Link Analysis; (5) Antenna Switching, Power Control, and AGC Functions for Multiple Access; (6) Multichannel Modems; (7) FTS/EVA Emergency Shutdown; (8) Space Station Information Systems Coding; (9) Wanderer Study; and (10) Optical Communications System Analysis. Brief overviews of the abovementioned topics are given. Wherever applicable, the appropriate appendices provide detailed technical analysis. The report is presented in two volumes. This is Volume 1, containing the main body and Appendices A through J.

Comparison of gray matter volume and thickness for analysis of cortical changes in Alzheimer's disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jiachao; Li, Ziyi; Chen, Kewei; Yao, Li; Wang, Zhiqun; Li, Kunchen; Guo, Xiaojuan

2011-03-01

Gray matter volume and cortical thickness are two indices of concern in brain structure magnetic resonance imaging research. Gray matter volume reflects mixed-measurement information of cerebral cortex, while cortical thickness reflects only the information of distance between inner surface and outer surface of cerebral cortex. Using Scaled Subprofile Modeling based on Principal Component Analysis (SSM_PCA) and Pearson's Correlation Analysis, this study further provided quantitative comparisons and depicted both global relevance and local relevance to comprehensively investigate morphometrical abnormalities in cerebral cortex in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirteen patients with AD and thirteen age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Results showed that factor scores from the first 8 principal components accounted for ~53.38% of the total variance for gray matter volume, and ~50.18% for cortical thickness. Factor scores from the fifth principal component showed significant correlation. In addition, gray matter voxel-based volume was closely related to cortical thickness alterations in most cortical cortex, especially, in some typical abnormal brain regions such as insula and the parahippocampal gyrus in AD. These findings suggest that these two measurements are effective indices for understanding the neuropathology in AD. Studies using both gray matter volume and cortical thickness can separate the causes of the discrepancy, provide complementary information and carry out a comprehensive description of the morphological changes of brain structure.

Satellite Power Systems (SPS) concept definition study, exhibit C. Volume 4: Transportation analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G. M.

1979-01-01

Volume 4 of a seven volume Satellite Power Systems (SPS) is presented. This volume is divided into the following sections: (1) transportation systems elements; (2) transportation systems requirements; (3) heavy lift launch vehicles (HLLV); (4) LEO-GEO transportation; (5) on-orbit mobility systems; (6) personnel transfer systems; and (7) cost and programmatics. Three appendixes are also provided and they include: horizontal takeoff (single stage to orbit technical summary); HLLV reference vehicle trajectory and trade study data; and electric orbital transfer vehicle sizing.

On the suitability of the copula types for the joint modelling of flood peaks and volumes along the Danube River

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohnová, Silvia; Papaioannou, George; Bacigál, Tomáš; Szolgay, Ján; Hlavčová, Kamila; Loukas, Athanasios; Výleta, Roman

2017-04-01

Flood frequency analysis is often performed as a univariate analysis of flood peaks using a suitable theoretical probability distribution of the annual maximum flood peaks or peak over threshold values. However, also other flood attributes, such as flood volume and duration, are often necessary for the design of hydrotechnical structures and projects. In this study, the suitability of various copula families for a bivariate analysis of peak discharges and flood volumes has been tested on the streamflow data from gauging stations along the whole Danube River. Kendall's rank correlation coefficient (tau) quantifies the dependence between flood peak discharge and flood volume settings. The methodology is tested on two different data samples: 1) annual maximum flood (AMF) peaks with corresponding flood volumes, which is a typical choice for engineering studies and 2). annual maximum flood (AMF) peaks combined with annual maximum flow volumes of fixed durations at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 60 days, which can be regarded as a regime analysis of the dependence between the extremes of both variables in a given year. The bivariate modelling of the peak discharge - flood volume couples is achieved with the use of the the following copulas: Ali-Mikhail-Haq (AMH), Clayton, Frank, Joe, Gumbel, HuslerReiss, Galambos, Tawn, Normal, Plackett and FGM, respectively. Scatterplots of the observed and simulated peak discharge - flood volume pairs and goodness-of-fit tests have been used to assess the overall applicability of the copulas as well as observing any changes in suitable models along the Danube River. The results indicate that, almost all of the considered Archimedean class copulas (e.g. Frank, Clayton and Ali-Mikhail-Haq) perform better than the other copula families selected for this study, and that for the second data samples mostly the upper-tail-flat copulas were suitable.

Tooth segmentation system with intelligent editing for cephalometric analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shoupu

2015-03-01

Cephalometric analysis is the study of the dental and skeletal relationship in the head, and it is used as an assessment and planning tool for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient. Conventional cephalometric analysis identifies bony and soft-tissue landmarks in 2D cephalometric radiographs, in order to diagnose facial features and abnormalities prior to treatment, or to evaluate the progress of treatment. Recent studies in orthodontics indicate that there are persistent inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the results provided using conventional 2D cephalometric analysis. Obviously, plane geometry is inappropriate for analyzing anatomical volumes and their growth; only a 3D analysis is able to analyze the three-dimensional, anatomical maxillofacial complex, which requires computing inertia systems for individual or groups of digitally segmented teeth from an image volume of a patient's head. For the study of 3D cephalometric analysis, the current paper proposes a system for semi-automatically segmenting teeth from a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) volume with two distinct features, including an intelligent user-input interface for automatic background seed generation, and a graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration mechanism for three-dimensional GrowCut volume segmentation. Results show a satisfying average DICE score of 0.92, with the use of the proposed tooth segmentation system, by 15 novice users who segmented a randomly sampled tooth set. The average GrowCut processing time is around one second per tooth, excluding user interaction time.

Pushing quantitation limits in micro UHPLC-MS/MS analysis of steroid hormones by sample dilution using high volume injection.

PubMed

Márta, Zoltán; Bobály, Balázs; Fekete, Jenő; Magda, Balázs; Imre, Tímea; Mészáros, Katalin Viola; Szabó, Pál Tamás

2016-09-10

Ultratrace analysis of sample components requires excellent analytical performance in terms of limits of quantitation (LoQ). Micro UHPLC coupling with sensitive tandem mass spectrometry provides state of the art solutions for such analytical problems. Decreased column volume in micro LC limits the injectable sample volume. However, if analyte concentration is extremely low, it might be necessary to inject high sample volumes. This is particularly critical for strong sample solvents and weakly retained analytes, which are often the case when preparing biological samples (protein precipitation, sample extraction, etc.). In that case, high injection volumes may cause band broadening, peak distortion or even elution in dead volume. In this study, we evaluated possibilities of high volume injection onto microbore RP-LC columns, when sample solvent is diluted. The presented micro RP-LC-MS/MS method was optimized for the analysis of steroid hormones from human plasma after protein precipitation with organic solvents. A proper sample dilution procedure helps to increase the injection volume without compromising peak shapes. Finally, due to increased injection volume, the limit of quantitation can be decreased by a factor of 2-5, depending on the analytes and the experimental conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eliminating the blood-flow confounding effect in intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) using the non-negative least square analysis in liver.

PubMed

Gambarota, Giulio; Hitti, Eric; Leporq, Benjamin; Saint-Jalmes, Hervé; Beuf, Olivier

2017-01-01

Tissue perfusion measurements using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-MRI are of interest for investigations of liver pathologies. A confounding factor in the perfusion quantification is the partial volume between liver tissue and large blood vessels. The aim of this study was to assess and correct for this partial volume effect in the estimation of the perfusion fraction. MRI experiments were performed at 3 Tesla with a diffusion-MRI sequence at 12 b-values. Diffusion signal decays in liver were analyzed using the non-negative least square (NNLS) method and the biexponential fitting approach. In some voxels, the NNLS analysis yielded a very fast-decaying component that was assigned to partial volume with the blood flowing in large vessels. Partial volume correction was performed by biexponential curve fitting, where the first data point (b = 0 s/mm 2 ) was eliminated in voxels with a very fast-decaying component. Biexponential fitting with partial volume correction yielded parametric maps with perfusion fraction values smaller than biexponential fitting without partial volume correction. The results of the current study indicate that the NNLS analysis in combination with biexponential curve fitting allows to correct for partial volume effects originating from blood flow in IVIM perfusion fraction measurements. Magn Reson Med 77:310-317, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hippocampal and Parahippocampal Volumes in Schizophrenia: A Structural MRI Study

PubMed Central

Sim, Kang; DeWitt, Iain; Ditman, Tali; Zalesak, Martin; Greenhouse, Ian; Goff, Donald; Weiss, Anthony P; Heckers, Stephan

2006-01-01

Smaller medial temporal lobe volume is a frequent finding in studies of patients with schizophrenia, but the relative contributions of the hippocampus and three surrounding cortical regions (entorhinal cortex, perirhinal cortex, and parahippocampal cortex) are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that the volumes of medial temporal lobe regions are selectively changed in schizophrenia. We studied 19 male patients with schizophrenia and 19 age-matched male control subjects. Hippocampal and cortical volumes were estimated using a three-dimensional morphometric protocol for the analysis of high-resolution structural magnetic resonance images, and repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for region-specific differences. Patients had smaller overall medial temporal lobe volumes compared to controls. The volume difference was not specific for either region or hemisphere. The finding of smaller medial temporal lobe volumes in the absence of regional specificity has important implications for studying the functional role of the hippocampus and surrounding cortical regions in schizophrenia. PMID:16319377

Orbital transfer vehicle concept definition and system analysis study, 1985. Volume 2: OTV concept definition and evaluation. Book 2: OTV concept definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dickman, Glen J.; Keeley, J. T.

1985-01-01

This portion of the Orbit Transfer Vehicle (OTV) Concept Definition and System Analysis Study, Volume 2, Book 2, summarizes the flight vehicle concept selection process and results. It presents an overview of OTV mission and system design requirements and describes the family of OTV recommended, the reasons for this recommendation, and the associated Phase C/D Program.

Norms and attitudes related to alcohol usage and driving : a review of the literature. Volume 2, A meta-analysis of primary prevention studies

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-09-01

This project provides information on norms and attitudes related to alcohol use and driving. This volume contains a review and analysis of the literature pertaining to attitude formation and change, attitudes towards alcohol use/abuse, attitudes asso...

Hospital type- and volume-outcome relationships in esophageal cancer patients receiving non-surgical treatments.

PubMed

Hsu, Po-Kuei; Chen, Hui-Shan; Wang, Bing-Yen; Wu, Shiao-Chi; Liu, Chao-Yu; Shih, Chih-Hsun; Liu, Chia-Chuan

2015-01-28

To study the "hospital type-outcome" and "volume-outcome" relationships in patients with esophageal cancer who receive non-surgical treatments. A total of 6106 patients with esophageal cancer diagnosed between 2008 and 2011 were identified from a national population-based cancer registry in Taiwan. The hospital types were defined as medical center and non-medical center. The threshold for high-volume hospitals was based on a median volume of 225 cases between 2008 and 2011 (annual volume, >56 cases) or an upper quartile (>75%) volume of 377 cases (annual volume>94 cases). Cox regression analyses were used to determine the effects of hospital type and volume outcome on patient survival. A total of 3955 non-surgically treated patients were included in the survival analysis. In the unadjusted analysis, the significant prognostic factors included cT, cN, cM stage, hospital type and hospital volume (annual volume, >94 vs ≤94). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates in the non-medical centers (36.2% and 13.2%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the medical centers (33.5% and 11.3%, respectively; P=0.027). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates in hospitals with an annual volume of ≤94 (35.3% and 12.6%, respectively) were significantly higher than those with an annual volume of >94 (31.1% and 9.4%, respectively; P=0.001). However, in the multivariate analysis, the hospital type was not statistically significant. Only cT, cN, and cM stages and hospital volume (annual volume>94 vs ≤94) were independent prognostic factors. Whether the treatment occurs in medical centers is not a significant prognostic factor. High-volume hospitals were not associated with better survival rates compared with low-volume hospitals.

Right atrial indexed volume in healthy adult population: reference values for two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic measurements.

PubMed

Moreno, Joel; Pérez de Isla, Leopoldo; Campos, Nellys; Guinea, Juan; Domínguez-Perez, Laura; Saltijeral, Adriana; Lennie, Vera; Quezada, Maribel; de Agustín, Alberto; Marcos-Alberca, Pedro; Mahía, Patricia; García-Fernández, Miguel Ángel; Macaya, Carlos

2013-07-01

Current guidelines do not recommend routine assessment of right atrial volume due to the lack of standardized data. Three-dimensional wall-motion tracking (3D-WMT) is a new technology that allows us to calculate volumes without any geometric assumptions. The aim of this study was to define the indexed reference values for two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-echo) and 3D-WMT in adult healthy population and to assess the intermethod, intra- and interobserver agreement. Prospective study. Nonselected healthy subjects were enrolled. Every patient underwent a 2D-echo and a 3D-WMT examination. 2D-echo right atrial volume was obtained by using the area-length method (A-L) from four- and two-chamber view. 3D-echo volumes were assessed by 3D-WMT. Values were indexed by the patient's body surface area. Sixty consecutive healthy subjects were enrolled. Mean age was 57 ± 12-years old and 27 patients (45%) were male. Average indexed right atrial volume obtained by 2D-echo and 3D-echo was 16.76 ± 8.15 mL/m(2) and 19.05 ± 6.87 mL/m(2) , respectively. Univariate linear regression analysis between 2D-echo and 3D-echo right atrial volumes shows a weak correlation between right atrial volume obtained with 2D-echo compared with 3D-WMT (r = 0.29, CI 95% 0.029-0.66, P = 0.033). The agreement analysis shows a similar result (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.28). The intra- and interobserver agreement analysis showed a better agreement when using 3D-WMT. This is the first study that reports the reference indexed right atrial volume values by means of 2D-echo and 3D-echo in healthy population. 3D-WMT is a feasible and reproducible method to determine right atrial volume. © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adhesive blood microsampling systems for steroid measurement via LC-MS/MS in the rat.

PubMed

Heussner, Kirsten; Rauh, Manfred; Cordasic, Nada; Menendez-Castro, Carlos; Huebner, Hanna; Ruebner, Matthias; Schmidt, Marius; Hartner, Andrea; Rascher, Wolfgang; Fahlbusch, Fabian B

2017-04-01

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) allows for the direct analysis of multiple hormones in a single probe with minimal sample volume. Rodent-based animal studies strongly rely on microsampling, such as the dry blood spot (DBS) method. However, DBS suffers the drawback of hematocrit-dependence (non-volumetric). Hence, novel volumetric microsampling techniques were introduced recently, allowing sampling of fixed accurate volumes. We compared these methods for steroid analysis in the rat to improve inter-system comparability. We analyzed steroid levels in blood using the absorptive microsampling devices Whatman® 903 Protein Saver Cards, Noviplex™ Plasma Prep Cards and the Mitra™ Microsampling device and compared the obtained results to the respective EDTA plasma levels. Quantitative steroid analysis was performed via LC-MS/MS. For the determination of the plasma volume factor for each steroid, their levels in pooled blood samples from each human adults and rats (18weeks) were compared and the transferability of these factors was evaluated in a new set of juvenile (21days) and adult (18weeks) rats. Hematocrit was determined concomitantly. Using these approaches, we were unable to apply one single volume factor for each steroid. Instead, plasma volume factors had to be adjusted for the recovery rate of each steroid and device individually. The tested microsampling systems did not allow the use of one single volume factor for adult and juvenile rats based on an unexpectedly strong hematocrit-dependency and other steroid specific (pre-analytic) factors. Our study provides correction factors for LC-MS/MS steroid analysis of volumetric and non-volumetric microsampling systems in comparison to plasma. It argues for thorough analysis of chromatographic effects before the use of novel volumetric systems for steroid analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Long memory of abnormal investor attention and the cross-correlations between abnormal investor attention and trading volume, volatility respectively

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Xiaoqian; Yuan, Ying; Zhuang, Xintian; Jin, Xiu

2017-03-01

Taking Baidu Index as a proxy for abnormal investor attention (AIA), the long memory property in the AIA of Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) 50 Index component stocks was empirically investigated using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) method. The results show that abnormal investor attention is power-law correlated with Hurst exponents between 0.64 and 0.98. Furthermore, the cross-correlations between abnormal investor attention and trading volume, volatility respectively are studied using detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA) and the DCCA cross-correlation coefficient (ρDCCA). The results suggest that there are positive correlations between AIA and trading volume, volatility respectively. In addition, the correlations for trading volume are in general higher than the ones for volatility. By carrying on rescaled range analysis (R/S) and rolling windows analysis, we find that the results mentioned above are effective and significant.

Association of center volume with outcomes in critically ill children with acute asthma.

PubMed

Gupta, Punkaj; Tang, Xinyu; Gossett, Jeffrey M; Gall, Christine M; Lauer, Casey; Rice, Tom B; Carroll, Christopher L; Kacmarek, Robert M; Wetzel, Randall C

2014-07-01

Little is known about the relation between center volume and outcomes in children requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for acute asthma. To evaluate the association of center volume with the odds of receiving positive pressure ventilation and length of ICU stay. Patients 2 to 18 years of age with the primary diagnosis of asthma were included (2009-2012). Center volume was defined as the average number of mechanical ventilator cases per year for any diagnoses during the study period. In multivariable analysis, the odds of receiving positive pressure ventilation (invasive and noninvasive ventilation) and ICU length of stay were evaluated as a function of center volume. Fifteen thousand eighty-three patients from 103 pediatric ICUs with the primary diagnosis of acute asthma met the inclusion criteria. Seven hundred fifty-two patients (5%) received conventional mechanical ventilation and 964 patients (6%) received noninvasive ventilation. In multivariable analysis, center volume was not associated with the odds of receiving any form of positive pressure ventilation in children with acute asthma, with the exception of high- to medium-volume centers. However, ICU length of stay varied with center volume and was noted to be longer in low-volume centers compared with medium- and high-volume centers. In children with acute asthma, this study establishes a relation between center volume and ICU length of stay. However, this study fails to show any significant relation between center volume and the odds of receiving positive pressure ventilation; further analyses are needed to evaluate this relation in more detail. Copyright © 2014 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gray Matter Features of Reading Disability: A Combined Meta-Analytic and Direct Analysis Approach1234

PubMed Central

Berninger, Virginia W.; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Tsu, Loretta

2016-01-01

Abstract Meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry dyslexia studies and direct analysis of 293 reading disability and control cases from six different research sites were performed to characterize defining gray matter features of reading disability. These analyses demonstrated consistently lower gray matter volume in left posterior superior temporal sulcus/middle temporal gyrus regions and left orbitofrontal gyrus/pars orbitalis regions. Gray matter volume within both of these regions significantly predicted individual variation in reading comprehension after correcting for multiple comparisons. These regional gray matter differences were observed across published studies and in the multisite dataset after controlling for potential age and gender effects, and despite increased anatomical variance in the reading disability group, but were not significant after controlling for total gray matter volume. Thus, the orbitofrontal and posterior superior temporal sulcus gray matter findings are relatively reliable effects that appear to be dependent on cases with low total gray matter volume. The results are considered in the context of genetics studies linking orbitofrontal and superior temporal sulcus regions to alleles that confer risk for reading disability. PMID:26835509

Correlations among Brain Gray Matter Volumes, Age, Gender, and Hemisphere in Healthy Individuals

PubMed Central

Taki, Yasuyuki; Thyreau, Benjamin; Kinomura, Shigeo; Sato, Kazunori; Goto, Ryoi; Kawashima, Ryuta; Fukuda, Hiroshi

2011-01-01

To determine the relationship between age and gray matter structure and how interactions between gender and hemisphere impact this relationship, we examined correlations between global or regional gray matter volume and age, including interactions of gender and hemisphere, using a general linear model with voxel-based and region-of-interest analyses. Brain magnetic resonance images were collected from 1460 healthy individuals aged 20–69 years; the images were linearly normalized and segmented and restored to native space for analysis of global gray matter volume. Linearly normalized images were then non-linearly normalized and smoothed for analysis of regional gray matter volume. Analysis of global gray matter volume revealed a significant negative correlation between gray matter ratio (gray matter volume divided by intracranial volume) and age in both genders, and a significant interaction effect of age × gender on the gray matter ratio. In analyzing regional gray matter volume, the gray matter volume of all regions showed significant main effects of age, and most regions, with the exception of several including the inferior parietal lobule, showed a significant age × gender interaction. Additionally, the inferior temporal gyrus showed a significant age × gender × hemisphere interaction. No regional volumes showed significant age × hemisphere interactions. Our study may contribute to clarifying the mechanism(s) of normal brain aging in each brain region. PMID:21818377

Global grey matter volume in adult bipolar patients with and without lithium treatment: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Sun, Yue Ran; Herrmann, Nathan; Scott, Christopher J M; Black, Sandra E; Khan, Maisha M; Lanctôt, Krista L

2018-01-01

The goal of this meta-analysis was to quantitatively summarize the evidence available on the differences in grey matter volume between lithium-treated and lithium-free bipolar patients. A systematic search was conducted in Cochrane Central, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases for original peer-reviewed journal articles that reported on global grey matter volume in lithium-medicated and lithium-free bipolar patients. Standard mean difference and Hedges' g were used to calculate effect size in a random-effects model. Risk of publication bias was assessed using Egger's test and quality of evidence was assessed using standard criteria. There were 15 studies with a total of 854 patients (368 lithium-medicated, 486 lithium-free) included in the meta-analysis. Global grey matter volume was significantly larger in lithium-treated bipolar patients compared to lithium-free patients (SMD: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.01-0.33; z = 2.11, p = 0.035). Additionally, there was a difference in global grey matter volume between groups in studies that employed semi-automated segmentation methods (SMD: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.01-1.31; z = 1.99, p = 0.047), but no significant difference in studies that used fully-automated segmentation. No publication bias was detected (bias coefficient = - 0.65, p = 0.46). Variability in imaging methods and lack of high-quality evidence limits the interpretation of the findings. Results suggest that lithium-treated patients have a greater global grey matter volume than those who were lithium-free. Further study of the relationship between lithium and grey matter volume may elucidate the therapeutic potential of lithium in conditions characterized by abnormal changes in brain structure. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geospatial cross-correlation analysis of Oklahoma earthquakes and saltwater disposal volume 2011 - 2016

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pollyea, R.; Mohammadi, N.; Taylor, J. E.

2017-12-01

The annual earthquake rate in Oklahoma increased dramatically between 2009 and 2016, owing in large part to the rapid proliferation of salt water disposal wells associated with unconventional oil and gas recovery. This study presents a geospatial analysis of earthquake occurrence and SWD injection volume within a 68,420 km2 area in north-central Oklahoma between 2011 and 2016. The spatial co-variability of earthquake occurrence and SWD injection volume is analyzed for each year of the study by calculating the geographic centroid for both earthquake epicenter and volume-weighted well location. In addition, the spatial cross correlation between earthquake occurrence and SWD volume is quantified by calculating the cross semivariogram annually for a 9.6 km × 9.6 km (6 mi × 6 mi) grid over the study area. Results from these analyses suggest that the relationship between volume-weighted well centroids and earthquake centroids generally follow pressure diffusion space-time scaling, and the volume-weighted well centroid predicts the geographic earthquake centroid within a 1σ radius of gyration. The cross semivariogram calculations show that SWD injection volume and earthquake occurrence are spatially cross correlated between 2014 and 2016. These results also show that the strength of cross correlation decreased from 2015 to 2016; however, the cross correlation length scale remains unchanged at 125 km. This suggests that earthquake mitigation efforts have been moderately successful in decreasing the strength of cross correlation between SWD volume and earthquake occurrence near-field, but the far-field contribution of SWD injection volume to earthquake occurrence remains unaffected.

Entitlements for Federally Affected School Districts Under Public Laws 874 and 815: Case Studies. Volume II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, CA.

Public laws 874 and 815 are intended to help relieve the financial burdens imposed on public school districts as a result of the tax-exempt nature of federal property. Where volume 1 presented a broad statistical analysis of the impact of P.L. 874 and 815 in 54 school districts, this volume contains indepth case studies of the laws' effects in…

Family Day Care in the United States: Family Day Care Systems. Final Report of the National Day Care Home Study. Volume 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grasso, Janet; Fosburg, Steven

Fifth in a series of seven volumes reporting the design, methodology, and findings of the 4-year National Day Care Home Study (NDCHS), this volume presents a descriptive and statistical analysis of the day care institutions that administer day care systems. These systems, such as Learning Unlimited in Los Angeles and the family day care program of…

Cognitive, Social, and Literacy Competencies: The Chelsea Bank Simulation Project. Year One: Final Report. [Volume 2]: Appendices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duffy, Thomas; And Others

This supplementary volume presents appendixes A-E associated with a 1-year study which determined what secondary school students were doing as they engaged in the Chelsea Bank computer software simulation activities. Appendixes present the SCANS Analysis Coding Sheet; coding problem analysis of 50 video segments; student and teacher interview…

Accuracy of surgical wound drainage measurements: an analysis and comparison.

PubMed

Yue, Brian; Nizzero, Danielle; Zhang, Chunxiao; van Zyl, Natasha; Ting, Jeannette

2015-05-01

Surgical drain tube readings can influence the clinical management of the post-operative patient. The accuracy of these readings has not been documented in the current literature and this experimental study aims to address this paucity. Aliquots (10, 25, 40 and 90 mL) of black tea solution prepared to mimic haemoserous fluid were injected into UnoVac, RedoVac and Jackson-Pratt drain tubes. Nursing and medical staff from a tertiary hospital were asked to estimate drain volumes by direct observation; analysis of variance was performed on the results and significance level was set at 0.05. Doctors and nurses are equally accurate in estimating drain tube volumes. Jackson-Pratt systems were found to be the most accurate for intermediate volumes of 25 and 40 mL. For extreme of volumes (both high and low), all drainage systems were inaccurate. This study suggests that for intermediate volumes (25 and 40 mL), Jackson-Pratt is the drainage system of choice. The accuracy of volume measurement is diminished at the extremes of drain volumes; emptying of drainage systems is recommended to avoid overfilling of drainage systems. © 2014 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Feasibility Study on Fully Automatic High Quality Translation: Volume II. Final Technical Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lehmann, Winifred P.; Stachowitz, Rolf

This second volume of a two-volume report on a fully automatic high quality translation (FAHQT) contains relevant papers contributed by specialists on the topic of machine translation. The papers presented here cover such topics as syntactical analysis in transformational grammar and in machine translation, lexical features in translation and…

Larger Gray Matter Volume in the Basal Ganglia of Heavy Cannabis Users Detected by Voxel-Based Morphometry and Subcortical Volumetric Analysis.

PubMed

Moreno-Alcázar, Ana; Gonzalvo, Begoña; Canales-Rodríguez, Erick J; Blanco, Laura; Bachiller, Diana; Romaguera, Anna; Monté-Rubio, Gemma C; Roncero, Carlos; McKenna, Peter J; Pomarol-Clotet, Edith

2018-01-01

Background: Structural imaging studies of cannabis users have found evidence of both cortical and subcortical volume reductions, especially in cannabinoid receptor-rich regions such as the hippocampus and amygdala. However, the findings have not been consistent. In the present study, we examined a sample of adult heavy cannabis users without other substance abuse to determine whether long-term use is associated with brain structural changes, especially in the subcortical regions. Method: We compared the gray matter volume of 14 long-term, heavy cannabis users with non-using controls. To provide robust findings, we conducted two separate studies using two different MRI techniques. Each study used the same sample of cannabis users and a different control group, respectively. Both control groups were independent of each other. First, whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to compare the cannabis users against 28 matched controls (HC1 group). Second, a volumetric analysis of subcortical regions was performed to assess differences between the cannabis users and a sample of 100 matched controls (HC2 group) obtained from a local database of healthy volunteers. Results: The VBM study revealed that, compared to the control group HC1, the cannabis users did not show cortical differences nor smaller volume in any subcortical structure but showed a cluster ( p < 0.001) of larger GM volume in the basal ganglia, involving the caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens, bilaterally. The subcortical volumetric analysis revealed that, compared to the control group HC2, the cannabis users showed significantly larger volumes in the putamen ( p = 0.001) and pallidum ( p = 0.0015). Subtle trends, only significant at the uncorrected level, were also found in the caudate ( p = 0.05) and nucleus accumbens ( p = 0.047). Conclusions: This study does not support previous findings of hippocampal and/or amygdala structural changes in long-term, heavy cannabis users. It does, however, provide evidence of basal ganglia volume increases.

Peripheral i.v. analysis (PIVA) of venous waveforms for volume assessment in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

PubMed

Hocking, K M; Alvis, B D; Baudenbacher, F; Boyer, R; Brophy, C M; Beer, I; Eagle, S

2017-12-01

The assessment of intravascular volume status remains a challenge for clinicians. Peripheral i.v. analysis (PIVA) is a method for analysing the peripheral venous waveform that has been used to monitor volume status. We present a proof-of-concept study for evaluating the efficacy of PIVA in detecting changes in fluid volume. We enrolled 37 hospitalized patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) as a controlled model for intravascular volume loss. Respiratory rate (F0) and pulse rate (F1) frequencies were measured. PIVA signal was obtained by fast Fourier analysis of the venous waveform followed by weighing the magnitude of the amplitude of the pulse rate frequency. PIVA was compared with peripheral venous pressure and standard monitoring of vital signs. Regression analysis showed a linear correlation between volume loss and change in the PIVA signal (R2=0.77). Receiver operator curves demonstrated that the PIVA signal showed an area under the curve of 0.89 for detection of 20 ml kg-1 change in volume. There was no correlation between volume loss and peripheral venous pressure, blood pressure or pulse rate. PIVA-derived pulse rate and respiratory rate were consistent with similar numbers derived from the bio-impedance and electrical signals from the electrocardiogram. PIVA is a minimally invasive, novel modality for detecting changes in fluid volume status, respiratory rate and pulse rate in spontaneously breathing patients with peripheral i.v. cannulas. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Quantitative computer tomography analysis of post-operative subdural fluid volume predicts recurrence of chronic subdural haematoma.

PubMed

Xu, Fei-Fan; Chen, Jin-Hong; Leung, Gilberto Ka Kit; Hao, Shu-Yu; Xu, Long; Hou, Zong-Gang; Mao, Xiang; Shi, Guang-Zhi; Li, Jing-Sheng; Liu, Bai-Yun

2014-01-01

Post-operative volume of subdural fluid is considered to correlate with recurrence in chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH). Information on the applications of computer-assisted volumetric analysis in patients with CSDHs is lacking. To investigate the relationship between haematoma recurrence and longitudinal changes in subdural fluid volume using CT volumetric analysis. Fifty-four patients harbouring 64 CSDHs were studied prospectively. The association between recurrence rate and CT findings were investigated. Eleven patients (20.4%) experienced post-operative recurrence. Higher pre-operative (over 120 ml) and/or pre-discharge subdural fluid volumes (over 22 ml) were significantly associated with recurrence; the probability of non-recurrence for values below these thresholds were 92.7% and 95.2%, respectively. CSDHs with larger pre-operative (over 15.1 mm) and/or residual (over 11.7 mm) widths also had significantly increased recurrence rates. Bilateral CSDHs were not found to be more likely to recur in this series. On receiver-operating characteristic curve, the areas under curve for the magnitude of changes in subdural fluid volume were greater than a single time-point measure of either width or volume of the subdural fluid cavity. Close imaging follow-up is important for CSDH patients for recurrence prediction. Using quantitative CT volumetric analysis, strong evidence was provided that changes in the residual fluid volume during the 'self-resolution' period can be used as significantly radiological predictors of recurrence.

Causes and consequences of reduced blood volume in space flight - A multi-discipline modeling study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leonard, J. I.

1983-01-01

A group of mathematical models of various physiological systems have been developed and applied to studying problems associated with adaptation to weightlessness. One biomedical issue which could be addressed by at least three of these models from varying perspectives was the reduction in blood volume that universally occurs in astronauts. Accordingly, models of fluid-electrolyte, erythropoiesis, and cardiovascular regulation were employed to study the causes and consequences of blood volume loss during space flight. This analysis confirms the notion that alterations of blood volume are central to an understanding of adaptation to prolonged space flight. More importantly, the modeling studies resulted in specific hypotheses accounting for plasma volume and red cell mass losses and testable predictions concerning the behavior of the circulatory system.

Effects of solution volume on hydrogen production by pulsed spark discharge in ethanol solution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xin, Y. B.; Sun, B., E-mail: sunb88@dlmu.edu.cn; Zhu, X. M.

2016-07-15

Hydrogen production from ethanol solution (ethanol/water) by pulsed spark discharge was optimized by varying the volume of ethanol solution (liquid volume). Hydrogen yield was initially increased and then decreased with the increase in solution volume, which achieved 1.5 l/min with a solution volume of 500 ml. The characteristics of pulsed spark discharge were studied in this work; the results showed that the intensity of peak current, the rate of current rise, and energy efficiency of hydrogen production can be changed by varying the volume of ethanol solution. Meanwhile, the mechanism analysis of hydrogen production was accomplished by monitoring the process of hydrogenmore » production and the state of free radicals. The analysis showed that decreasing the retention time of gas production and properly increasing the volume of ethanol solution can enhance the hydrogen yield. Through this research, a high-yield and large-scale method of hydrogen production can be achieved, which is more suitable for industrial application.« less

A novel approach to segmentation and measurement of medical image using level set methods.

PubMed

Chen, Yao-Tien

2017-06-01

The study proposes a novel approach for segmentation and visualization plus value-added surface area and volume measurements for brain medical image analysis. The proposed method contains edge detection and Bayesian based level set segmentation, surface and volume rendering, and surface area and volume measurements for 3D objects of interest (i.e., brain tumor, brain tissue, or whole brain). Two extensions based on edge detection and Bayesian level set are first used to segment 3D objects. Ray casting and a modified marching cubes algorithm are then adopted to facilitate volume and surface visualization of medical-image dataset. To provide physicians with more useful information for diagnosis, the surface area and volume of an examined 3D object are calculated by the techniques of linear algebra and surface integration. Experiment results are finally reported in terms of 3D object extraction, surface and volume rendering, and surface area and volume measurements for medical image analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The RAAF Logistics Study. Volume 4,

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-10-01

Use of Issue-Based Root Definitions Application of Soft Systems Methodology to 27 Information Systems Analysis Conclusion 30 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 58 k...Management Control Systems’, Journal of Applied Systems Analysis, Volume 6, 1979, pages 51 to 67. 5. The soft systems methodology was developed to tackle...the soft systems methodology has many advantages whi-h recmmenrl it to this type of study area, it does not mcklel the timo ev, lut i, n :-f a system

Education and the State: Federal Involvement in Educational Policy Development. Policy Development and Analysis Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Doug

This volume is part of a series of monographs from Australia devoted to outlining an alternative approach, based on neo-Marxist concepts, to policy studies in education. The opening essay in this volume is a historical analysis of federal involvement in Australian educational policy development. After a descriptive overview of the role of…

Space shuttle/food system study. Volume 2, Appendix F: Flight food and primary packaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The analysis and selection of food items and primary packaging, the development of menus, the nutritional analysis of diet, and the analyses of alternate food mixes and contingency foods is reported in terms of the overall food system design for space shuttle flight. Stowage weights and cubic volumes associated with each alternate mix were also evaluated.

Coyote Papers: The University of Arizona Working Papers in Linguistics, Volume 11. Special Volume on Native American Languages.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weinberg, Jessica P., Ed.; O'Bryan, Erin L., Ed.; Moll, Laura A., Ed.; Haugan, Jason D., Ed.

The five papers included in this volume approach the study of American Indian languages from a diverse array of methodological and theoretical approaches to linguistics. Two papers focus on approaches that come from the applied linguistics tradition, emphasizing ethnolinguistics and discourse analysis: Sonya Bird's paper "A Cross Cultural…

Effects of cumulative illness severity on hippocampal gray matter volume in major depression: a voxel-based morphometry study.

PubMed

Zaremba, Dario; Enneking, Verena; Meinert, Susanne; Förster, Katharina; Bürger, Christian; Dohm, Katharina; Grotegerd, Dominik; Redlich, Ronny; Dietsche, Bruno; Krug, Axel; Kircher, Tilo; Kugel, Harald; Heindel, Walter; Baune, Bernhard T; Arolt, Volker; Dannlowski, Udo

2018-02-08

Patients with major depression show reduced hippocampal volume compared to healthy controls. However, the contribution of patients' cumulative illness severity to hippocampal volume has rarely been investigated. It was the aim of our study to find a composite score of cumulative illness severity that is associated with hippocampal volume in depression. We estimated hippocampal gray matter volume using 3-tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging in 213 inpatients with acute major depression according to DSM-IV criteria (employing the SCID interview) and 213 healthy controls. Patients' cumulative illness severity was ascertained by six clinical variables via structured clinical interviews. A principal component analysis was conducted to identify components reflecting cumulative illness severity. Regression analyses and a voxel-based morphometry approach were used to investigate the influence of patients' individual component scores on hippocampal volume. Principal component analysis yielded two main components of cumulative illness severity: Hospitalization and Duration of Illness. While the component Hospitalization incorporated information from the intensity of inpatient treatment, the component Duration of Illness was based on the duration and frequency of illness episodes. We could demonstrate a significant inverse association of patients' Hospitalization component scores with bilateral hippocampal gray matter volume. This relationship was not found for Duration of Illness component scores. Variables associated with patients' history of psychiatric hospitalization seem to be accurate predictors of hippocampal volume in major depression and reliable estimators of patients' cumulative illness severity. Future studies should pay attention to these measures when investigating hippocampal volume changes in major depression.

Small-Volume Injections: Evaluation of Volume Administration Deviation From Intended Injection Volumes.

PubMed

Muffly, Matthew K; Chen, Michael I; Claure, Rebecca E; Drover, David R; Efron, Bradley; Fitch, William L; Hammer, Gregory B

2017-10-01

In the perioperative period, anesthesiologists and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses routinely prepare and administer small-volume IV injections, yet the accuracy of delivered medication volumes in this setting has not been described. In this ex vivo study, we sought to characterize the degree to which small-volume injections (≤0.5 mL) deviated from the intended injection volumes among a group of pediatric anesthesiologists and pediatric postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses. We hypothesized that as the intended injection volumes decreased, the deviation from those intended injection volumes would increase. Ten attending pediatric anesthesiologists and 10 pediatric PACU nurses each performed a series of 10 injections into a simulated patient IV setup. Practitioners used separate 1-mL tuberculin syringes with removable 18-gauge needles (Becton-Dickinson & Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ) to aspirate 5 different volumes (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mL) of 0.25 mM Lucifer Yellow (LY) fluorescent dye constituted in saline (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) from a rubber-stoppered vial. Each participant then injected the specified volume of LY fluorescent dye via a 3-way stopcock into IV tubing with free-flowing 0.9% sodium chloride (10 mL/min). The injected volume of LY fluorescent dye and 0.9% sodium chloride then drained into a collection vial for laboratory analysis. Microplate fluorescence wavelength detection (Infinite M1000; Tecan, Mannedorf, Switzerland) was used to measure the fluorescence of the collected fluid. Administered injection volumes were calculated based on the fluorescence of the collected fluid using a calibration curve of known LY volumes and associated fluorescence.To determine whether deviation of the administered volumes from the intended injection volumes increased at lower injection volumes, we compared the proportional injection volume error (loge [administered volume/intended volume]) for each of the 5 injection volumes using a linear regression model. Analysis of variance was used to determine whether the absolute log proportional error differed by the intended injection volume. Interindividual and intraindividual deviation from the intended injection volume was also characterized. As the intended injection volumes decreased, the absolute log proportional injection volume error increased (analysis of variance, P < .0018). The exploratory analysis revealed no significant difference in the standard deviations of the log proportional errors for injection volumes between physicians and pediatric PACU nurses; however, the difference in absolute bias was significantly higher for nurses with a 2-sided significance of P = .03. Clinically significant dose variation occurs when injecting volumes ≤0.5 mL. Administering small volumes of medications may result in unintended medication administration errors.

Assessing the quality of the volume-outcome relationship in uro-oncology.

PubMed

Mayer, Erik K; Purkayastha, Sanjay; Athanasiou, Thanos; Darzi, Ara; Vale, Justin A

2009-02-01

To assess systematically the quality of evidence for the volume-outcome relationship in uro-oncology, and thus facilitate the formulating of health policy within this speciality, as 'Implementation of Improving Outcome Guidance' has led to centralization of uro-oncology based on published studies that have supported a 'higher volume-better outcome' relationship, but improved awareness of methodological drawbacks in health service research has questioned the strength of this proposed volume-outcome relationship. We systematically searched previous relevant reports and extracted all articles from 1980 onwards assessing the volume-outcome relationship for cystectomy, prostatectomy and nephrectomy at the institution and/or surgeon level. Studies were assessed for their methodological quality using a previously validated rating system. Where possible, meta-analytical methods were used to calculate overall differences in outcome measures between low and high volume healthcare providers. In all, 22 studies were included in the final analysis; 19 of these were published in the last 5 years. Only four studies appropriately explored the effect of both the institution and surgeon volume on outcome measures. Mortality and length of stay were the most frequently measured outcomes. The median total quality scores within each of the operation types were 8.5, 9 and 8 for cystectomy, prostatectomy and nephrectomy, respectively (possible maximum score 18). Random-effects modelling showed a higher risk of mortality in low-volume institutions than in higher-volume institutions for both cystectomy and nephrectomy (odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.54-2.29, and 1.28, 1.10-1.49, respectively). The methodological quality of volume-outcome research as applied to cystectomy, prostatectomy and nephrectomy is only modest at best. Accepting several limitations, pooled analysis confirms a higher-volume, lower-mortality relationship for cystectomy and nephrectomy. Future research should focus on the development of a quality framework with a validated scoring system for the bench-marking of data to improve validity and facilitate rational policy-making within the speciality of uro-oncology.

Surgical outcomes for low-volume vs high-volume surgeons in gynecology surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Mowat, Alex; Maher, Christopher; Ballard, Emma

2016-07-01

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of gynecological surgeon volumes on patient outcomes. Eligible studies were selected through an electronic literature search from database inception up until September 2015 and references in published studies. Search terms included surgical volume, surgeon volume, low-volume or high-volume, and gynecology or hysterectomy or sling or pelvic floor repair or continence procedure. The literature search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We defined a low-volume surgeon (LVS) as one performing the procedure once a month or less, and studies were excluded if their definition of LVS was > ±33% of our definition. Primary outcomes were total complications, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications. All outcome data for individual studies were entered into systematic review software. When 2 or more studies evaluated a designated outcome, a meta-analysis of the entered data was undertaken as per the Cochrane database methodology. Data analysis was entered into a software product, which generated a summary of findings table that included structured and qualified grading (very low to high) of the quality for the evidence of the individual outcomes and provided a measure of effect. Fourteen peer-reviewed studies with 741,760 patients were included in the systematic review. For gynecology the LVS group had an increased rate of total complications (odds ratio [OR], 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-1.5), intraoperative complications (OR, 1.6, 95% CI, 1.2-2.1), and postoperative complications (OR, 1.4 95% CI, 1.3-1.4). In gynecological oncology, the LVS group had higher mortality (OR, 1.9, 95% CI, 1.3-2.6). In the urogynecology group, a single study reported that the LVS group had a higher rate of any complication (risk ratio [RR], 1.4, 95% CI, -1.2-1.6). Another single study found that LVS had higher rates of reoperation for mesh complications after midurethral sling procedures (RR, 1.4, 95% CI, 1.2-1.5). The evidence is of moderate to very low quality. Gynecologists performing procedures approximately once a month or less were found to have higher rates of adverse outcomes in gynecology, gynecological oncology, and urogynecology, with higher mortality in gynecological oncology. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hippocampus shape analysis and late-life depression.

PubMed

Zhao, Zheen; Taylor, Warren D; Styner, Martin; Steffens, David C; Krishnan, K Ranga R; MacFall, James R

2008-03-19

Major depression in the elderly is associated with brain structural changes and vascular lesions. Changes in the subcortical regions of the limbic system have also been noted. Studies examining hippocampus volumetric differences in depression have shown variable results, possibly due to any volume differences being secondary to local shape changes rather than differences in the overall volume. Shape analysis offers the potential to detect such changes. The present study applied spherical harmonic (SPHARM) shape analysis to the left and right hippocampi of 61 elderly subjects with major depression and 43 non-depressed elderly subjects. Statistical models controlling for age, sex, and total cerebral volume showed a significant reduction in depressed compared with control subjects in the left hippocampus (F(1,103) = 5.26; p = 0.0240) but not right hippocampus volume (F(1,103) = 0.41; p = 0.5213). Shape analysis showed significant differences in the mid-body of the left (but not the right) hippocampus between depressed and controls. When the depressed group was dichotomized into those whose depression was remitted at time of imaging and those who were unremitted, the shape comparison showed remitted subjects to be indistinguishable from controls (both sides) while the unremitted subjects differed in the midbody and the lateral side near the head. Hippocampal volume showed no difference between controls and remitted subjects but nonremitted subjects had significantly smaller left hippocampal volumes with no significant group differences in the right hippocampus. These findings may provide support to other reports of neurogenic effects of antidepressants and their relation to successful treatment for depressive symptoms.

Right-Turn Traffic Volume Adjustments in Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-01-01

To accomplish this research, a comprehensive literature review of existing guidelines and findings based on national and local studies was conducted. Ultimately, guidelines for consistent application for adjusting right-turn traffic volumes were deve...

Measuring pedestrian volumes and conflicts. Volume 2, Accident prediction model

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1987-12-01

This final report presents the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study conducted to model pedestrian/vehicle accidents. A group-type analysis approach for the prediction of pedestrian/vehicle accidents using pedestrian/vehicle conflic...

Experiment Research of Microbial Flooding Injected Capacity and Injected Volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Fang; Zhao, Yang; Tang, Qinghua; Xie, Ximing

2018-01-01

Strains of microbial enhanced oil recovery technology is the use of crude oil directly in growth and the same time the metabolites of itself, so as to enhance oil recovery. Experimental study on paper through a number of data analysis. The growth and metabolism of three kinds of oil producing bacteria in the core are determined, and the corresponding growth curve is obtained. The parameter sensitivity analysis of the microorganism flooding process by homogeneous core is studied, and the influence of injection capacity and injection volume on the oil displacement effect is studied. The same permeability, water, temperature and other conditions, microbial injection pressure has a certain degree of increase than water flooding. Injection volume depends on the actual input-output ratio, quantity is 0.3PV is more reasonable.

Structure of the alexithymic brain: A parametric coordinate-based meta-analysis.

PubMed

Xu, Pengfei; Opmeer, Esther M; van Tol, Marie-José; Goerlich, Katharina S; Aleman, André

2018-04-01

Alexithymia refers to deficiencies in identifying and expressing emotions. This might be related to changes in structural brain volumes, but its neuroanatomical basis remains uncertain as studies have shown heterogeneous findings. Therefore, we conducted a parametric coordinate-based meta-analysis. We identified seventeen structural neuroimaging studies (including a total of 2586 individuals with different levels of alexithymia) investigating the association between gray matter volume and alexithymia. Volumes of the left insula, left amygdala, orbital frontal cortex and striatum were consistently smaller in people with high levels of alexithymia. These areas are important for emotion perception and emotional experience. Smaller volumes in these areas might lead to deficiencies in appropriately identifying and expressing emotions. These findings provide the first quantitative integration of results pertaining to the structural neuroanatomical basis of alexithymia. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Risk adjustment for case mix and the effect of surgeon volume on morbidity.

PubMed

Maas, Matthew B; Jaff, Michael R; Rordorf, Guy A

2013-06-01

Retrospective studies of large administrative databases have shown higher mortality for procedures performed by low-volume surgeons, but the adequacy of risk adjustment in those studies is in doubt. To determine whether the relationship between surgeon volume and outcomes is an artifact of case mix using a prospective sample of carotid endarterectomy cases. Observational cohort study from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2010, with preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 30-day postoperative assessments acquired by independent monitors. Urban, tertiary academic medical center. All 841 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy performed by a vascular surgeon or cerebrovascular neurosurgeon at the institution. Carotid endarterectomy without another concurrent surgery. Stroke, death, and other surgical complications occurring within 30 days of surgery along with other case data. A low-volume surgeon performed 40 or fewer cases per year. Variables used in a comparison administrative database study, as well as variables identified by our univariate analysis, were used for adjusted analyses to assess for an association between low-volume surgeons and the rate of stroke and death as well as other complications. RESULTS The rate of stroke and death was 6.9% for low-volume surgeons and 2.0% for high-volume surgeons (P = .001). Complications were similarly higher (13.4% vs 7.2%, P = .008). Low-volume surgeons performed more nonelective cases. Low-volume surgeons were significantly associated with stroke and death in the unadjusted analysis as well as after adjustment with variables used in the administrative database study (odds ratio, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.70-7.67, and odds ratio, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.72-7.89, respectively). However, adjusting for the significant disparity of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification in case mix eliminated the effect of surgeon volume on the rate of stroke and death (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.59-4.64) and other complications. Variables selected for risk adjustment in studies using administrative databases appear to be inadequate to control for case mix bias between low-volume and high-volume surgeons. Risk adjustment should empirically analyze for case mix imbalances between surgeons to identify meaningful risk modifiers in clinical practice such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification. A true relationship between surgeon volume and outcomes remains uncertain, and caution is advised in developing policies based on these findings.

Space shuttle/food system study. Volume 2, appendix E: Alternate flight systems analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The functional requirements of stowage, preparation, serving, consumption, and cleanup were applied to each of the five food mixes selected for study in terms of the overall design of the space shuttle food system. The analysis led to a definition of performance requirements for each food mix, along with a definition of equipment to meet those requirements. Weight and volume data for all five systems, in terms of food and packaging, support equipment, and galley installation penalties, are presented.

Space station data system analysis/architecture study. Task 3: Trade studies, DR-5, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

The primary objective of Task 3 is to provide additional analysis and insight necessary to support key design/programmatic decision for options quantification and selection for system definition. This includes: (1) the identification of key trade study topics; (2) the definition of a trade study procedure for each topic (issues to be resolved, key inputs, criteria/weighting, methodology); (3) conduct tradeoff and sensitivity analysis; and (4) the review/verification of results within the context of evolving system design and definition. The trade study topics addressed in this volume include space autonomy and function automation, software transportability, system network topology, communications standardization, onboard local area networking, distributed operating system, software configuration management, and the software development environment facility.

Regional flux analysis for discovering and quantifying anatomical changes: An application to the brain morphometry in Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Lorenzi, M; Ayache, N; Pennec, X

2015-07-15

In this study we introduce the regional flux analysis, a novel approach to deformation based morphometry based on the Helmholtz decomposition of deformations parameterized by stationary velocity fields. We use the scalar pressure map associated to the irrotational component of the deformation to discover the critical regions of volume change. These regions are used to consistently quantify the associated measure of volume change by the probabilistic integration of the flux of the longitudinal deformations across the boundaries. The presented framework unifies voxel-based and regional approaches, and robustly describes the volume changes at both group-wise and subject-specific level as a spatial process governed by consistently defined regions. Our experiments on the large cohorts of the ADNI dataset show that the regional flux analysis is a powerful and flexible instrument for the study of Alzheimer's disease in a wide range of scenarios: cross-sectional deformation based morphometry, longitudinal discovery and quantification of group-wise volume changes, and statistically powered and robust quantification of hippocampal and ventricular atrophy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of Cross-Linking on Free Volume Properties of PEG Based Thiol-Ene Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramakrishnan, Ramesh; Vasagar, Vivek; Nazarenko, Sergei

According to the Fox and Loshaek theory, in elastomeric networks, free volume decreases linearly with the cross-link density increase. The aim of this study is to show whether the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based multicomponent thiol-ene elastomeric networks demonstrate this model behavior? Networks with a broad cross-link density range were prepared by changing the ratio of the trithiol crosslinker to PEG dithiol and then UV cured with PEG diene while maintaining 1:1 thiol:ene stoichiometry. Pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) data of the networks was generated from the high pressure dilatometry experiments which was fit using the Simha-Somcynsky Equation-of-State analysis to obtain the fractional free volume of the networks. Using Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) analysis, the average free volume hole size of the networks was also quantified. The fractional free volume and the average free volume hole size showed a linear change with the cross-link density confirming that the Fox and Loshaek theory can be applied to this multicomponent system. Gas diffusivities of the networks showed a good correlation with free volume. A free volume based model was developed to describe the gas diffusivity trends as a function of cross-link density.

Third International Mathematics and Science Study 1999 Video Study Technical Report: Volume 2--Science. Technical Report. NCES 2011-049

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garnier, Helen E.; Lemmens, Meike; Druker, Stephen L.; Roth, Kathleen J.

2011-01-01

This second volume of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study Technical Report focuses on every aspect of the planning, implementation, processing, analysis, and reporting of the science components of the TIMSS 1999 Video Study. The report is intended to serve as a record of the actions and documentation of…

Sensitivity of Spaceborne and Ground Radar Comparison Results to Data Analysis Methods and Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Kenneth R.; Schwaller, Mathew

2011-01-01

With the availability of active weather radar observations from space from the Precipitation Radar (PR) on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TR.MM) satellite, numerous studies have been performed comparing PR reflectivity and derived rain rates to similar observations from ground-based weather radars (GR). These studies have used a variety of algorithms to compute matching PR and GR volumes for comparison. Most studies have used a fixed 3-dimensional Cartesian grid centered on the ground radar, onto which the PR and GR data are interpolated using a proprietary approach and/or commonly available GR analysis software (e.g., SPRINT, REORDER). Other studies have focused on the intersection of the PR and GR viewing geometries either explicitly or using a hybrid of the fixed grid and PR/GR common fields of view. For the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) of the upcoming Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, a prototype DPR/GR comparison algorithm based on similar TRMM PR data has been developed that defines the common volumes in terms of the geometric intersection of PR and GR rays, where smoothing of the PR and GR data are minimized and no interpolation is performed. The PR and GR volume-averaged reflectivity values of each sample volume are accompanied by descriptive metadata, for attributes including the variability and maximum of the reflectivity within the sample volume, and the fraction of range gates in the sample average having reflectivity values above an adjustable detection threshold (typically taken to be 18 dBZ for the PR). Sample volumes are further characterized by rain type (Stratiform or Convective), proximity to the melting layer, underlying surface (land/water/mixed), and the time difference between the PR and GR observations. The mean reflectivity differences between the PR and GR can differ between data sets produced by the different analysis methods; and for the GPM prototype, by the type of constraints and categorization applied to the data. In this paper, we will show results comparing the 3-D gridded analysis "black box" approach to the GPM prototype volume-matching approach, using matching TRMM PR and WSR-88D ground radar data. The affects of applying data constraints and data categorizations on the volume-matched data to the results will be shown, and explanations of the differences in terms of data and analysis algorithm characteristics will be presented. Implications of the differences to the determination of PR/DPR calibration differences and use of ground radar data to evaluate the PR and DPR attenuation correction algorithms will be discussed.

Main rotor free wake geometry effects on blade air loads and response for helicopters in steady maneuvers. Volume 2: Program listings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadler, S. G.

1972-01-01

A mathematical model and computer program was implemented to study the main rotor free wake geometry effects on helicopter rotor blade air loads and response in steady maneuvers. Volume 1 (NASA CR-2110) contains the theoretical formulation and analysis of results. Volume 2 contains the computer program listing.

Association of over-the-counter pharmaceutical sales with influenza-like-illnesses to patient volume in an urgent care setting.

PubMed

Liu, Timothy Y; Sanders, Jason L; Tsui, Fu-Chiang; Espino, Jeremy U; Dato, Virginia M; Suyama, Joe

2013-01-01

We studied the association between OTC pharmaceutical sales and volume of patients with influenza-like-illnesses (ILI) at an urgent care center over one year. OTC pharmaceutical sales explain 36% of the variance in the patient volume, and each standard deviation increase is associated with 4.7 more patient visits to the urgent care center (p<0.0001). Cross-correlation function analysis demonstrated that OTC pharmaceutical sales are significantly associated with patient volume during non-flu season (p<0.0001), but only the sales of cough and cold (p<0.0001) and thermometer (p<0.0001) categories were significant during flu season with a lag of two and one days, respectively. Our study is the first study to demonstrate and measure the relationship between OTC pharmaceutical sales and urgent care center patient volume, and presents strong evidence that OTC sales predict urgent care center patient volume year round.

Automotive Manufacturing Assessment System : Volume 4. Engine Manufacturing Analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-11-01

Volume IV represents the results of one of four major study areas under the Automotive Manufacturing Assessment System (AMAS) sponsored by the DOT/Transportation Systems Center. AMAS was designed to assist in the evaluation of industry's capability t...

Preoperative prognostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI-derived contrast transfer coefficient and plasma volume in patients with cerebral gliomas.

PubMed

Nguyen, T B; Cron, G O; Mercier, J F; Foottit, C; Torres, C H; Chakraborty, S; Woulfe, J; Jansen, G H; Caudrelier, J M; Sinclair, J; Hogan, M J; Thornhill, R E; Cameron, I G

2015-01-01

The prognostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging-derived plasma volume obtained in tumor and the contrast transfer coefficient has not been well-established in patients with gliomas. We determined whether plasma volume and contrast transfer coefficient in tumor correlated with survival in patients with gliomas in addition to other factors such as age, type of surgery, preoperative Karnofsky score, contrast enhancement, and histopathologic grade. This prospective study included 46 patients with a new pathologically confirmed diagnosis of glioma. The contrast transfer coefficient and plasma volume obtained in tumor maps were calculated directly from the signal-intensity curve without T1 measurements, and values were obtained from multiple small ROIs placed within tumors. Survival curve analysis was performed by dichotomizing patients into groups of high and low contrast transfer coefficient and plasma volume. Univariate analysis was performed by using dynamic contrast-enhanced parameters and clinical factors. Factors that were significant on univariate analysis were entered into multivariate analysis. For all patients with gliomas, survival was worse for groups of patients with high contrast transfer coefficient and plasma volume obtained in tumor (P < .05). In subgroups of high- and low-grade gliomas, survival was worse for groups of patients with high contrast transfer coefficient and plasma volume obtained in tumor (P < .05). Univariate analysis showed that factors associated with lower survival were age older than 50 years, low Karnofsky score, biopsy-only versus resection, marked contrast enhancement versus no/mild enhancement, high contrast transfer coefficient, and high plasma volume obtained in tumor (P < .05). In multivariate analysis, a low Karnofsky score, biopsy versus resection in combination with marked contrast enhancement, and a high contrast transfer coefficient were associated with lower survival rates (P < .05). In patients with glioma, those with a high contrast transfer coefficient have lower survival than those with low parameters. © 2015 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Does the pancreatic volume reduction rate using serial computed tomographic volumetry predict new onset diabetes after pancreaticoduodenectomy?

PubMed Central

Yun, Sung Pil; Seo, Hyung-Il; Kim, Suk; Kim, Dong Uk; Baek, Dong Hoon

2017-01-01

Abstract Volume reduction of the pancreatic tissues following a pancreatectomy can lead to the deterioration of glucose homeostasis. This is defined as pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus (DM). The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of new-onset DM (NODM) and evaluate the risk factors, including the pancreas volume reduction rate in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Sixty-six patients without preoperative DM underwent PD for periampullary tumors between August 2007 and December 2012 and were included in this analysis. These patients underwent follow-up tests and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan 7 days, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months after the operation. The pancreas volume reduction rate was calculated by CT volumetry. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the postoperative development of DM. After PD, newly diagnosed DM occurred in 16 patients (24.2%). The incidence of DM was highest among patients with carcinomas with an advanced T stage. The pancreatic volume reduction rate after 6 and 12 months in the NODM group was significantly higher than the normal glucose group in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, the pancreatic volume reduction rate 6 months after PD was the only significant predictive factor for the development of NODM (P = 0.002). This study suggests that the pancreatic volume reduction rate 6 months after PD was the only significant predictive factor for the development of NODM. CT volumetry of the pancreas may be useful as a predictor of NODM after PD. PMID:28353594

Archaeological Investigations at the San Gabriel Reservoir Districts, Central Texas. Volume 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-06-01

analysis provide a means for studying the prehistoric ecology of a site. At San Gabriel, I - 15-12 the plant remains recovered by flotation are all present...CONTENTS VOLUME 2 Section Page V. ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS 14-1 14.0 Artifact Analyses 14-3 14.1 Projectile Point Classification - Duane E. Peter...14-3 14.2 An Experiment in the Assessment of Projectile Point Variability - Duane E. Peter 14-35 14.3 Lithic Tool Typological Analysis - Marie-Anne

A Multi-Level Geographical Study of Italian Political Elections from Twitter Data

PubMed Central

Caldarelli, Guido; Chessa, Alessandro; Pammolli, Fabio; Pompa, Gabriele; Puliga, Michelangelo; Riccaboni, Massimo; Riotta, Gianni

2014-01-01

In this paper we present an analysis of the behavior of Italian Twitter users during national political elections. We monitor the volumes of the tweets related to the leaders of the various political parties and we compare them to the elections results. Furthermore, we study the topics that are associated with the co-occurrence of two politicians in the same tweet. We cannot conclude, from a simple statistical analysis of tweet volume and their time evolution, that it is possible to precisely predict the election outcome (or at least not in our case of study that was characterized by a “too-close-to-call” scenario). On the other hand, we found that the volume of tweets and their change in time provide a very good proxy of the final results. We present this analysis both at a national level and at smaller levels, ranging from the regions composing the country to macro-areas (North, Center, South). PMID:24802857

A Finite-Volume "Shaving" Method for Interfacing NASA/DAO''s Physical Space Statistical Analysis System to the Finite-Volume GCM with a Lagrangian Control-Volume Vertical Coordinate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Shian-Jiann; DaSilva, Arlindo; Atlas, Robert (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Toward the development of a finite-volume Data Assimilation System (fvDAS), a consistent finite-volume methodology is developed for interfacing the NASA/DAO's Physical Space Statistical Analysis System (PSAS) to the joint NASA/NCAR finite volume CCM3 (fvCCM3). To take advantage of the Lagrangian control-volume vertical coordinate of the fvCCM3, a novel "shaving" method is applied to the lowest few model layers to reflect the surface pressure changes as implied by the final analysis. Analysis increments (from PSAS) to the upper air variables are then consistently put onto the Lagrangian layers as adjustments to the volume-mean quantities during the analysis cycle. This approach is demonstrated to be superior to the conventional method of using independently computed "tendency terms" for surface pressure and upper air prognostic variables.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies investigating cognitive and social activity levels in older adults.

PubMed

Anatürk, M; Demnitz, N; Ebmeier, K P; Sexton, C E

2018-06-22

Population aging has prompted considerable interest in identifying modifiable factors that may help protect the brain and its functions. Collectively, epidemiological studies show that leisure activities with high mental and social demands are linked with better cognition in old age. The extent to which socio-intellectual activities relate to the brain's structure is, however, not yet fully understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes magnetic resonance imaging studies that have investigated whether cognitive and social activities correlate with measures of gray and white matter volume, white matter microstructure and white matter lesions. Across eighteen included studies (total n = 8429), activity levels were associated with whole-brain white matter volume, white matter lesions and regional gray matter volume, although effect sizes were small. No associations were found for global gray matter volume and the evidence concerning white matter microstructure was inconclusive. While the causality of the reviewed associations needs to be established, our findings implicate socio-intellectual activity levels as promising targets for interventions aimed at promoting healthy brain aging. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Systematic determination of thyroid volume by ultrasound examination from infancy to adolescence in Japan: the Fukushima Health Management Survey.

PubMed

Suzuki, Satoru; Midorikawa, Sanae; Fukushima, Toshihiko; Shimura, Hiroki; Ohira, Tetsuya; Ohtsuru, Akira; Abe, Masafumi; Shibata, Yoshisada; Yamashita, Shunichi; Suzuki, Shinichi

2015-01-01

Although several reports have defined normal thyroid volume depending on either age or body surface, there are no sequential reference values on childhood thyroid volume evaluated by using ultrasonography and epidemiological analysis in Japan. The aim of the present study was to establish updated reference values for thyroid volume by ultrasound examination and epidemiological analysis in 0-19 year-old Japanese children. It is based on a cross-sectional study conducted from October 9, 2011 to March 31, 2012. The subjects were 38,063 children who were examined by ultrasonography as the initial preliminary survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey in October 9, 2011 to March 31, 2012. The width, thickness, and height of each lobe were measured and the volume of each lobe was calculated by the mean of the elliptical shape volume formula. The values of thyroid volume at the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles of age and body surface area for each gender group were obtained from 0-19 year-old children. Positive correlation was observed between thyroid volume and either age or body surface. The right lobe was significantly larger than the left lobe. The thyroid volume in females was larger than that in males after adjusting body surface area. The reference values of childhood thyroid for each age or body surface area were obtained by this extensive survey using ultrasound. These reference values may be used to define the normal size of thyroid gland by echosonography in Japanese children, although thyroid volume may be affected by dimorphic factors such as sex hormones.

Spider phobia is associated with decreased left amygdala volume: a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Evidence from animal and human studies imply the amygdala as the most critical structure involved in processing of fear-relevant stimuli. In phobias, the amygdala seems to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and maintenance of the disorder. However, the neuropathology of specific phobias remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether patients with spider phobia show altered amygdala volumes as compared to healthy control subjects. Methods Twenty female patients with spider phobia and twenty age-matched healthy female controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging to investigate amygdala volumes. The amygdalae were segmented using an automatic, model-based segmentation tool (FSL FIRST). Differences in amygdala volume were investigated by multivariate analysis of covariance with group as between-subject factor and left and right amygdala as dependent factors. The relation between amygdala volume and clinical features such as symptom severity, disgust sensitivity, trait anxiety and duration of illness was investigated by Spearman correlation analysis. Results Spider phobic patients showed significantly smaller left amygdala volume than healthy controls. No significant difference in right amygdala volume was detected. Furthermore, the diminished amygdala size in patients was related to higher symptom severity, but not to higher disgust sensitivity or trait anxiety and was independent of age. Conclusions In summary, the results reveal a relation between higher symptom severity and smaller left amygdala volume in patients with spider phobia. This relation was independent of other potential confounders such as the disgust sensitivity or trait anxiety. The findings suggest that greater spider phobic fear is associated with smaller left amygdala. However, the smaller left amygdala volume may either stand for a higher vulnerability to develop a phobic disorder or emerge as a consequence of the disorder. PMID:23442196

The relationship between nocturnal polyuria and the distribution of body fluid: assessment by bioelectric impedance analysis.

PubMed

Torimoto, Kazumasa; Hirayama, Akihide; Samma, Shoji; Yoshida, Katsunori; Fujimoto, Kiyohide; Hirao, Yoshihiko

2009-01-01

Increased nocturnal urinary volume is closely associated with nocturia. We investigated the relationship between nocturnal polyuria and the variation of body fluid distribution during the daytime using bioelectric impedance analysis. A total of 34 men older than 60 years were enrolled in this study. A frequency volume chart was recorded. Nocturnal polyuria was defined as a nocturnal urine volume per 24-hour production of greater than 0.35 (the nocturnal polyuria index). Bioelectric impedance analysis was performed 4 times daily at 8 and 11 a.m., and 5 and 9 p.m. using an InBody S20 body composition analyzer (BioSpace, Seoul, Korea). A significant difference was found in mean +/- SEM 24-hour urine production per fat-free mass between the groups with and without nocturnal polyuria (17.8 +/- 1.4 vs 7.7 +/- 0.9 ml/kg). The increase in fluid in the legs compared with the volume at 8 a.m. was significantly larger at 5 p.m., while there was no difference in the arms or trunk. Nocturnal urine volume significantly correlated with the difference in fluid volume in the legs (r = 0.527, p = 0.0019) and extracellular fluid volume (r = 0.3844, p = 0.0248) between the volumes at 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Overproduction of urine per fat-free mass leads to nocturnal polyuria. Extracellular fluid accumulates as edema in the legs during the day in patients with nocturnal polyuria. The volume of accumulated extracellular fluid correlates with nocturnal urine volume. We suggest that leg edema is the source of nocturnal urine volume and decreasing edema may cure nocturnal polyuria.

Wisconsin Elementary Teacher Education Project. Volume VI, Feasibility Study: Pricing and Economic Analysis Study. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wisconsin Univ., Madison.

This document is the second volume of the feasibility study report for the Wisconsin Elementary Teacher Education Project. It provides in part 1 data on program, planning and budgeting, including cost figures for preparing students in the present and new programs, marginal expenses, and costs for implementing the program on other campuses. Part 2…

Evaluation of Diesel Engine Performance with Intake and Exhaust System Throttling : Volume 2. Appendix 1.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-11-01

The appendix to the preceding volume presents the data for the subject diesel engine noise study, including an engine sound power level analysis and sound spectrums showing the effect of intake and exhaust restrictions.

Study of Automobile Market Dynamics : Volume 2. Analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-08-01

Volume II describes the work in providing statistical inputs to a computer model by examining the effects of various options on the number of automobiles sold; the distribution of sales among small, medium and large cars; the distribution between aut...

Theoretical study of the partial molar volume change associated with the pressure-induced structural transition of ubiquitin

PubMed Central

Imai, Takashi; Ohyama, Shusaku; Kovalenko, Andriy; Hirata, Fumio

2007-01-01

The partial molar volume (PMV) change associated with the pressure-induced structural transition of ubiquitin is analyzed by the three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory of molecular solvation. The theory predicts that the PMV decreases upon the structural transition, which is consistent with the experimental observation. The volume decomposition analysis demonstrates that the PMV reduction is primarily caused by the decrease in the volume of structural voids in the protein, which is partially canceled by the volume expansion due to the hydration effects. It is found from further analysis that the PMV reduction is ascribed substantially to the penetration of water molecules into a specific part of the protein. Based on the thermodynamic relation, this result implies that the water penetration causes the pressure-induced structural transition. It supports the water penetration model of pressure denaturation of proteins proposed earlier. PMID:17660257

Theoretical study of the partial molar volume change associated with the pressure-induced structural transition of ubiquitin.

PubMed

Imai, Takashi; Ohyama, Shusaku; Kovalenko, Andriy; Hirata, Fumio

2007-09-01

The partial molar volume (PMV) change associated with the pressure-induced structural transition of ubiquitin is analyzed by the three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory of molecular solvation. The theory predicts that the PMV decreases upon the structural transition, which is consistent with the experimental observation. The volume decomposition analysis demonstrates that the PMV reduction is primarily caused by the decrease in the volume of structural voids in the protein, which is partially canceled by the volume expansion due to the hydration effects. It is found from further analysis that the PMV reduction is ascribed substantially to the penetration of water molecules into a specific part of the protein. Based on the thermodynamic relation, this result implies that the water penetration causes the pressure-induced structural transition. It supports the water penetration model of pressure denaturation of proteins proposed earlier.

The relationship between patient volume and mortality in American trauma centres: a systematic review of the evidence.

PubMed

Caputo, Lisa M; Salottolo, Kristin M; Slone, Denetta Sue; Mains, Charles W; Bar-Or, David

2014-03-01

To synthesise published and unpublished findings examining the relationship between institutional trauma centre volume or trauma patient volume per surgeon and mortality. Evidence on the relationship between patient volume and survival in trauma patients is inconclusive in the literature and remains controversial. A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 1976 and 2013 via MEDLINE (Pubmed) and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (EbscoHost) as well as footnote chasing. Abstracts from appropriate conferences and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were also searched. Inclusion criteria required studies to be original research published in English that examined the relationship between mortality and either institutional or per surgeon volume in American trauma centres. We employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement checklist and flowchart. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was employed to rate the quality of the evidence. Of 1392 studies reviewed, 19 studies met defined inclusion criteria; all studies were retrospective. The definition of volume was heterogeneous across the studies. Patient population and analysis methods also varied across the studies. Sixteen studies (84%) examined the relationship between institutional trauma centre volume and mortality. Of the 16 studies, 12 examined the volume of severely injured patients and eight examined overall trauma patient volume. High institutional volume was associated with at least somewhat improved mortality in ten of 16 studies (63%); however, nearly half of these studies found only some subpopulations experienced benefits. In the remaining six studies, volume was not associated with any benefits. Four studies (25%) analysed the impact of surgeon volume on mortality. High volume per surgeon was associated with improved mortality in only one of four studies (25%). The studies were extremely heterogeneous, thus definitive conclusions cannot be drawn regarding optimal volume before a clear advantage in survival is observed. A prospective study defining volume as a continuous variable is warranted to support current admission criteria for American trauma patients. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Computational study of noise in a large signal transduction network.

PubMed

Intosalmi, Jukka; Manninen, Tiina; Ruohonen, Keijo; Linne, Marja-Leena

2011-06-21

Biochemical systems are inherently noisy due to the discrete reaction events that occur in a random manner. Although noise is often perceived as a disturbing factor, the system might actually benefit from it. In order to understand the role of noise better, its quality must be studied in a quantitative manner. Computational analysis and modeling play an essential role in this demanding endeavor. We implemented a large nonlinear signal transduction network combining protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phospholipase A2, and β isoform of phospholipase C networks. We simulated the network in 300 different cellular volumes using the exact Gillespie stochastic simulation algorithm and analyzed the results in both the time and frequency domain. In order to perform simulations in a reasonable time, we used modern parallel computing techniques. The analysis revealed that time and frequency domain characteristics depend on the system volume. The simulation results also indicated that there are several kinds of noise processes in the network, all of them representing different kinds of low-frequency fluctuations. In the simulations, the power of noise decreased on all frequencies when the system volume was increased. We concluded that basic frequency domain techniques can be applied to the analysis of simulation results produced by the Gillespie stochastic simulation algorithm. This approach is suited not only to the study of fluctuations but also to the study of pure noise processes. Noise seems to have an important role in biochemical systems and its properties can be numerically studied by simulating the reacting system in different cellular volumes. Parallel computing techniques make it possible to run massive simulations in hundreds of volumes and, as a result, accurate statistics can be obtained from computational studies. © 2011 Intosalmi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Recent regulatory experience of low-Btu coal gasification. Volume III. Supporting case studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ackerman, E.; Hart, D.; Lethi, M.

The MITRE Corporation conducted a five-month study for the Office of Resource Applications in the Department of Energy on the regulatory requirements of low-Btu coal gasification. During this study, MITRE interviewed representatives of five current low-Btu coal gasification projects and regulatory agencies in five states. From these interviews, MITRE has sought the experience of current low-Btu coal gasification users in order to recommend actions to improve the regulatory process. This report is the third of three volumes. It contains the results of interviews conducted for each of the case studies. Volume 1 of the report contains the analysis of themore » case studies and recommendations to potential industrial users of low-Btu coal gasification. Volume 2 contains recommendations to regulatory agencies.« less

Less Daily Computer Use is Related to Smaller Hippocampal Volumes in Cognitively Intact Elderly.

PubMed

Silbert, Lisa C; Dodge, Hiroko H; Lahna, David; Promjunyakul, Nutta-On; Austin, Daniel; Mattek, Nora; Erten-Lyons, Deniz; Kaye, Jeffrey A

2016-01-01

Computer use is becoming a common activity in the daily life of older individuals and declines over time in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The relationship between daily computer use (DCU) and imaging markers of neurodegeneration is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between average DCU and volumetric markers of neurodegeneration on brain MRI. Cognitively intact volunteers enrolled in the Intelligent Systems for Assessing Aging Change study underwent MRI. Total in-home computer use per day was calculated using mouse movement detection and averaged over a one-month period surrounding the MRI. Spearman's rank order correlation (univariate analysis) and linear regression models (multivariate analysis) examined hippocampal, gray matter (GM), white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and ventricular cerebral spinal fluid (vCSF) volumes in relation to DCU. A voxel-based morphometry analysis identified relationships between regional GM density and DCU. Twenty-seven cognitively intact participants used their computer for 51.3 minutes per day on average. Less DCU was associated with smaller hippocampal volumes (r = 0.48, p = 0.01), but not total GM, WMH, or vCSF volumes. After adjusting for age, education, and gender, less DCU remained associated with smaller hippocampal volume (p = 0.01). Voxel-wise analysis demonstrated that less daily computer use was associated with decreased GM density in the bilateral hippocampi and temporal lobes. Less daily computer use is associated with smaller brain volume in regions that are integral to memory function and known to be involved early with Alzheimer's pathology and conversion to dementia. Continuous monitoring of daily computer use may detect signs of preclinical neurodegeneration in older individuals at risk for dementia.

A Review and Analysis of Performance Appraisal Processes, Volume III. Performance Appraisal for Professional Service Employees: Non-Technical Report. Professionalism in Schools Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ondrack, D. A.; Oliver, C.

The third of three volumes, this report summarizes the findings of, first, a review and analysis of published literature on performance appraisal in general and particularly on the use of appraisals in public education systems, and, second, a series of field-site investigations of performance appraisal systems in action. The field site studies of…

Comparison of logging residue from lump sum and log scale timber sales.

Treesearch

James O Howard; Donald J. DeMars

1985-01-01

Data from 1973 and 1980 logging residues studies were used to compare the volume of residue from lump sum and log scale timber sales. Covariance analysis was used to adjust the mean volume for each data set for potential variation resulting from differences in stand conditions. Mean residue volumes from the two sale types were significantly different at the 5-percent...

Landscapes: A State-of-the-Art Assessment of Reading Comprehension Research 1974-1984. Final Report, Volume 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crismore, Avon, Ed.

The 594 studies referenced in this volume, the first of a two-volume set, synthesize reading comprehension research conducted from 1974 to 1984. The 12 chapters cover the following topics: (1) the necessity for both quantitative and qualitative meta-analysis for a complete state-of-the-art understanding of any domain, (2) the background of the…

Implications of the Alaska Education Satellite Communications Demonstration for Technological and Educational Policymakers. First Annual Report. Volume II: Supporting Materials.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Practical Concepts, Inc., Washington, DC.

This volume contains the raw data and descriptive materials which form the basis of Volume I, "Analysis of the Demonstration." The information is divided into three categories: (1) description of the overall study plan, (2) compendium of user reaction to program, and (3) a chronology of critical events and their documentary basis. A…

Nondestructive microimaging during preclinical pin-on-plate testing of novel materials for arthroplasty.

PubMed

Teeter, Matthew G; Langohr, G Daniel G; Medley, John B; Holdsworth, David W

2014-02-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of micro-computed tomography to quantify wear in preclinical pin-on-plate testing of materials for use in joint arthroplasty. Wear testing of CoCr pins articulating against six polyetheretherketone plates was performed using a pin-on-plate apparatus over 2 million cycles. Change in volume due to wear was quantified with gravimetric analysis and with micro-computed tomography, and the volumes were compared. Separately, the volume of polyetheretherketone pin-on-plate specimens that had been soaking in fluid for 52 weeks was quantified with both gravimetric analysis and micro-computed tomography, and repeated after drying. The volume change with micro-computed tomography was compared to the mass change with gravimetric analysis. The mean wear volume measured was 8.02 ± 6.38 mm(3) with gravimetric analysis and 6.76 ± 5.38 mm(3) with micro-computed tomography (p = 0.06). Micro-computed tomography volume measurements did not show a statistically significant change with drying for either the plates (p = 0.60) or the pins (p = 0.09), yet drying had a significant effect on the gravimetric mass measurements for both the plates (p = 0.03) and the pins (p = 0.04). Micro-computed tomography provided accurate measurements of wear in polyetheretherketone pin-on-plate test specimens, and no statistically significant change was caused by fluid uptake. Micro-computed tomography quantifies wear depth and wear volume, mapped to the specific location of damage on the specimen, and is also capable of examining subsurface density as well as cracking. Its noncontact, nondestructive nature makes it ideal for preclinical testing of materials, in which further additional analysis techniques may be utilized.

Partial volume correction and image analysis methods for intersubject comparison of FDG-PET studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jun

2000-12-01

Partial volume effect is an artifact mainly due to the limited imaging sensor resolution. It creates bias in the measured activity in small structures and around tissue boundaries. In brain FDG-PET studies, especially for Alzheimer's disease study where there is serious gray matter atrophy, accurate estimate of cerebral metabolic rate of glucose is even more problematic due to large amount of partial volume effect. In this dissertation, we developed a framework enabling inter-subject comparison of partial volume corrected brain FDG-PET studies. The framework is composed of the following image processing steps: (1)MRI segmentation, (2)MR-PET registration, (3)MR based PVE correction, (4)MR 3D inter-subject elastic mapping. Through simulation studies, we showed that the newly developed partial volume correction methods, either pixel based or ROI based, performed better than previous methods. By applying this framework to a real Alzheimer's disease study, we demonstrated that the partial volume corrected glucose rates vary significantly among the control, at risk and disease patient groups and this framework is a promising tool useful for assisting early identification of Alzheimer's patients.

Space transfer concepts and analysis for exploration missions. Implementation plan and element description document. Volume 1: Major trades. Book 1: Draft final

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

This document presents trade studies and reference concept designs accomplished during a study of Space Transfer Concepts and Analyses for Exploration Missions (STCAEM). This volume contains the major top level trades, level 2 trades conducted in support of NASA's Lunar/Mars Exploration Program Office, and a synopsis of the vehicles for different propulsion systems under trade consideration. The vehicles are presented in more detail in other volumes of this report. Book 1 of Volume 1 covers the following analyses: lunar/Mars commonality trades, lunar/Mars mission operations, and Mars transfer systems.

Bilateral Thalamocortical Abnormalities in Focal Cortical Dysplasia.

PubMed

Rezayev, Arthur; Feldman, Henry A; Levman, Jacob; Takahashi, Emi

2018-05-05

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), a congenital malformation of the neocortex and one of the most common causes of medication resistant epilepsy in pediatric populations, can be studied noninvasively by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The present study aimed to quantify changes in the thalamus and thalamocortical pathways with respect to fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), volume, and other common measures. The study quantified data collected from pediatric patients with a prior diagnosis of FCD; 75 patients (35 females, 10.1 ± 6.5 years) for analysis of thalamic volume and 68 patients (32 females, 10.2 ± 6.4 years) for DTI analysis. DTI scans were taken at 3 Tesla MRI scanners (30 diffusion gradient directions; b= 1000 s/mm 2 and 5 non diffusion-weighted measurements). DTI tractography was performed using the FACT algorithm with an angle threshold of 45 degrees. Manually delineated ROIs were used to compare the hemisphere containing the dysplasia to the contralateral hemisphere and controls. A significant decrease in the volume of the FCD hemisphere thalamus was detected as compared to the contralateral hemisphere. In comparison to controls, there was an observed reduction in tract volume, length, count, FA of thalami, and FA of thalamocortical pathways in FCD patients. FCD patients had higher odds of exhibiting high ADC in both the thalamus and thalamocortical pathways. The data implied a widespread reduction in structural connectivity of the thalamocortical network. MRI analysis suggests a potential influence of FCD on thalamic volume. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Correlates of Intellectual Ability with Morphology of the Hippocampus and Amygdala in Healthy Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amat, Jose A.; Bansal, Ravi; Whiteman, Ronald; Haggerty, Rita; Royal, Jason; Peterson, Bradley S.

2008-01-01

Several prior imaging studies of healthy adults have correlated volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala with measures of general intelligence (IQ), with variable results. In this study, we assessed correlations between volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala and full-scale IQ scores (FSIQ) using a method of image analysis that permits detailed…

Places of Inquiry: Research and Advanced Education in Modern Universities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Burton R.

This volume, the second in a two-volume work, builds on an international study of the research university in Germany, Britain, France, the United States and Japan, to explore the role and function of the research university and the relationship between teaching, research and graduate study. Part 1 lays the foundation for comparative analysis by…

Left ventricular volume analysis as a basic tool to describe cardiac function.

PubMed

Kerkhof, Peter L M; Kuznetsova, Tatiana; Ali, Rania; Handly, Neal

2018-03-01

The heart is often regarded as a compression pump. Therefore, determination of pressure and volume is essential for cardiac function analysis. Traditionally, ventricular performance was described in terms of the Starling curve, i.e., output related to input. This view is based on two variables (namely, stroke volume and end-diastolic volume), often studied in the isolated (i.e., denervated) heart, and has dominated the interpretation of cardiac mechanics over the last century. The ratio of the prevailing coordinates within that paradigm is termed ejection fraction (EF), which is the popular metric routinely used in the clinic. Here we present an insightful alternative approach while describing volume regulation by relating end-systolic volume (ESV) to end-diastolic volume. This route obviates the undesired use of metrics derived from differences or ratios, as employed in previous models. We illustrate basic principles concerning ventricular volume regulation by data obtained from intact animal experiments and collected in healthy humans. Special attention is given to sex-specific differences. The method can be applied to the dynamics of a single heart and to an ensemble of individuals. Group analysis allows for stratification regarding sex, age, medication, and additional clinically relevant covariates. A straightforward procedure derives the relationship between EF and ESV and describes myocardial oxygen consumption in terms of ESV. This representation enhances insight and reduces the impact of the metric EF, in favor of the end-systolic elastance concept advanced 4 decades ago.

Plasma volume status predicts prognosis in patients with acute heart failure syndromes.

PubMed

Yoshihisa, Akiomi; Abe, Satoshi; Sato, Yu; Watanabe, Shunsuke; Yokokawa, Tetsuro; Miura, Shunsuke; Misaka, Tomofumi; Sato, Takamasa; Suzuki, Satoshi; Oikawa, Masayoshi; Kobayashi, Atsushi; Yamaki, Takayoshi; Kunii, Hiroyuki; Saitoh, Shu-Ichi; Takeishi, Yasuchika

2017-01-01

The intravascular compartment is known as the plasma volume, and the extravascular compartment represents fluid within the interstitial space. Plasma volume expansion is a major symptom of heart failure. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of plasma volume status on the prognosis of acute heart failure syndromes. We analyzed 1115 patients with acute heart failure syndromes who were admitted to our hospital. These patients were divided into three groups based on their plasma volume status at admission: first tertile (plasma volume status <41.9%, n = 371), second tertile (41.9%⩽ plasma volume status <49.0%, n = 372), and third tertile (49.0%⩽ plasma volume status, n = 372). Plasma volume status was defined as follows: actual plasma volume = (1 - hematocrit) × [ a + ( b × body weight)] ( a=1530 in males and a=864 in females, b=41.0 in males and b=47.9 in females); ideal plasma volume = c × body weight ( c=39 in males and c=40 in females); and plasma volume status = [(actual plasma volume - ideal plasma volume)/ideal plasma volume] × 100 (%). In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality and cardiac events increased progressively from the first to third tertile ( p <0.001, respectively). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, plasma volume status was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.429, p < 0.001), cardiac mortality (hazard ratio 1.416, p = 0.001) and cardiac events (hazard ratio 1.207, p = 0.004). Increased congestion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients. Plasma volume status, which represents intravascular compartment and congestion, can identify poor prognosis in patients with acute heart failure syndromes.

Bivariate Heritability of Total and Regional Brain Volumes: the Framingham Study

PubMed Central

DeStefano, Anita L.; Seshadri, Sudha; Beiser, Alexa; Atwood, Larry D.; Massaro, Joe M.; Au, Rhoda; Wolf, Philip A.; DeCarli, Charles

2009-01-01

Heritability and genetic and environmental correlations of total and regional brain volumes were estimated from a large, generally healthy, community-based sample, to determine if there are common elements to the genetic influence of brain volumes and white matter hyperintensity volume. There were 1538 Framingham Heart Study participants with brain volume measures from quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who were free of stroke and other neurological disorders that might influence brain volumes and who were members of families with at least two Framingham Heart Study participants. Heritability was estimated using variance component methodology and adjusting for the components of the Framingham stroke risk profile. Genetic and environmental correlations between traits were obtained from bivariate analysis. Heritability estimates ranging from 0.46 to 0.60, were observed for total brain, white matter hyperintensity, hippocampal, temporal lobe, and lateral ventricular volumes. Moderate, yet significant, heritability was observed for the other measures. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that relationships between brain volume measures, except for white matter hyperintensity, reflected both moderate to strong shared genetic and shared environmental influences. This study confirms strong genetic effects on brain and white matter hyperintensity volumes. These data extend current knowledge by showing that these two different types of MRI measures do not share underlying genetic or environmental influences. PMID:19812462

Orbitofrontal cortex volumes in medication naïve children with major depressive disorder: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

Chen, Hua-Hsuan; Rosenberg, David R; MacMaster, Frank P; Easter, Philip C; Caetano, Sheila C; Nicoletti, Mark; Hatch, John P; Nery, Fabiano G; Soares, Jair C

2008-12-01

Adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) are reported to have reduced orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volumes, which could be related to decreased neuronal density. We conducted a study on medication naïve children with MDD to determine whether abnormalities of OFC are present early in the illness course. Twenty seven medication naïve pediatric Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition (DSM-IV) MDD patients (mean age +/- SD = 14.4 +/- 2.2 years; 10 males) and 26 healthy controls (mean age +/- SD = 14.4 +/- 2.4 years; 12 males) underwent a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3D spoiled gradient recalled acquisition. The OFC volumes were compared using analysis of covariance with age, gender, and total brain volume as covariates. There was no significant difference in either total OFC volume or total gray matter OFC volume between MDD patients and healthy controls. Exploratory analysis revealed that patients had unexpectedly larger total right lateral (F = 4.2, df = 1, 48, p = 0.05) and right lateral gray matter (F = 4.6, df = 1, 48, p = 0.04) OFC volumes compared to healthy controls, but this finding was not significant following statistical correction for multiple comparisons. No other OFC subregions showed a significant difference. The lack of OFC volume abnormalities in pediatric MDD patients suggests the abnormalities previously reported for adults may develop later in life as a result of neural cell loss.

Pleiotropic Contribution of MECOM and AVPR1A to Aggression and Subcortical Brain Volumes

PubMed Central

van Donkelaar, Marjolein M. J.; Hoogman, Martine; Pappa, Irene; Tiemeier, Henning; Buitelaar, Jan K.; Franke, Barbara; Bralten, Janita

2018-01-01

Reactive and proactive subtypes of aggression have been recognized to help parse etiological heterogeneity of this complex phenotype. With a heritability of about 50%, genetic factors play a role in the development of aggressive behavior. Imaging studies implicate brain structures related to social behavior in aggression etiology, most notably the amygdala and striatum. This study aimed to gain more insight into the pathways from genetic risk factors for aggression to aggression phenotypes. To this end, we conducted genome-wide gene-based cross-trait meta-analyses of aggression with the volumes of amygdala, nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus to identify genes influencing both aggression and aggression-related brain volumes. We used data of large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of: (a) aggressive behavior in children and adolescents (EAGLE, N = 18,988); and (b) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-based volume measures of aggression-relevant subcortical brain regions (ENIGMA2, N = 13,171). Second, the identified genes were further investigated in a sample of healthy adults (mean age (SD) = 25.28 (4.62) years; 43% male) who had genome-wide genotyping data and questionnaire data on aggression subtypes available (Brain Imaging Genetics, BIG, N = 501) to study their effect on reactive and proactive subtypes of aggression. Our meta-analysis identified two genes, MECOM and AVPR1A, significantly associated with both aggression risk and nucleus accumbens (MECOM) and amygdala (AVPR1A) brain volume. Subsequent in-depth analysis of these genes in healthy adults (BIG), including sex as an interaction term in the model, revealed no significant subtype-specific gene-wide associations. Using cross-trait meta-analysis of brain measures and psychiatric phenotypes, this study generated new hypotheses about specific links between genes, the brain and behavior. Results indicate that MECOM and AVPR1A may exert an effect on aggression through mechanisms involving nucleus accumbens and amygdala volumes, respectively. PMID:29666571

Regional magnetic resonance imaging measures for multivariate analysis in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

PubMed

Westman, Eric; Aguilar, Carlos; Muehlboeck, J-Sebastian; Simmons, Andrew

2013-01-01

Automated structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) processing pipelines are gaining popularity for Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. They generate regional volumes, cortical thickness measures and other measures, which can be used as input for multivariate analysis. It is not clear which combination of measures and normalization approach are most useful for AD classification and to predict mild cognitive impairment (MCI) conversion. The current study includes MRI scans from 699 subjects [AD, MCI and controls (CTL)] from the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The Freesurfer pipeline was used to generate regional volume, cortical thickness, gray matter volume, surface area, mean curvature, gaussian curvature, folding index and curvature index measures. 259 variables were used for orthogonal partial least square to latent structures (OPLS) multivariate analysis. Normalisation approaches were explored and the optimal combination of measures determined. Results indicate that cortical thickness measures should not be normalized, while volumes should probably be normalized by intracranial volume (ICV). Combining regional cortical thickness measures (not normalized) with cortical and subcortical volumes (normalized with ICV) using OPLS gave a prediction accuracy of 91.5 % when distinguishing AD versus CTL. This model prospectively predicted future decline from MCI to AD with 75.9 % of converters correctly classified. Normalization strategy did not have a significant effect on the accuracies of multivariate models containing multiple MRI measures for this large dataset. The appropriate choice of input for multivariate analysis in AD and MCI is of great importance. The results support the use of un-normalised cortical thickness measures and volumes normalised by ICV.

Predictive Utility of Marketed Volumetric Software Tools in Subjects at Risk for Alzheimer's: Do Regions Outside the Hippocampus Matter?

PubMed Central

Tanpitukpongse, Teerath P.; Mazurowski, Maciej A.; Ikhena, John; Petrella, Jeffrey R.

2016-01-01

Background and Purpose To assess prognostic efficacy of individual versus combined regional volumetrics in two commercially-available brain volumetric software packages for predicting conversion of patients with mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. Materials and Methods Data was obtained through the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. 192 subjects (mean age 74.8 years, 39% female) diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment at baseline were studied. All had T1WI MRI sequences at baseline and 3-year clinical follow-up. Analysis was performed with NeuroQuant® and Neuroreader™. Receiver operating characteristic curves assessing the prognostic efficacy of each software package were generated using a univariable approach employing individual regional brain volumes, as well as two multivariable approaches (multiple regression and random forest), combining multiple volumes. Results On univariable analysis of 11 NeuroQuant® and 11 Neuroreader™ regional volumes, hippocampal volume had the highest area under the curve for both software packages (0.69 NeuroQuant®, 0.68 Neuroreader™), and was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between packages. Multivariable analysis did not increase the area under the curve for either package (0.63 logistic regression, 0.60 random forest NeuroQuant®; 0.65 logistic regression, 0.62 random forest Neuroreader™). Conclusion Of the multiple regional volume measures available in FDA-cleared brain volumetric software packages, hippocampal volume remains the best single predictor of conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease at 3-year follow-up. Combining volumetrics did not add additional prognostic efficacy. Therefore, future prognostic studies in MCI, combining such tools with demographic and other biomarker measures, are justified in using hippocampal volume as the only volumetric biomarker. PMID:28057634

Structural brain alterations in primary open angle glaucoma: a 3T MRI study

PubMed Central

Wang, Jieqiong; Li, Ting; Sabel, Bernhard A.; Chen, Zhiqiang; Wen, Hongwei; Li, Jianhong; Xie, Xiaobin; Yang, Diya; Chen, Weiwei; Wang, Ningli; Xian, Junfang; He, Huiguang

2016-01-01

Glaucoma is not only an eye disease but is also associated with degeneration of brain structures. We now investigated the pattern of visual and non-visual brain structural changes in 25 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and 25 age-gender-matched normal controls using T1-weighted imaging. MRI images were subjected to volume-based analysis (VBA) and surface-based analysis (SBA) in the whole brain as well as ROI-based analysis of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), visual cortex (V1/2), amygdala and hippocampus. While VBA showed no significant differences in the gray matter volumes of patients, SBA revealed significantly reduced cortical thickness in the right frontal pole and ROI-based analysis volume shrinkage in LGN bilaterally, right V1 and left amygdala. Structural abnormalities were correlated with clinical parameters in a subset of the patients revealing that the left LGN volume was negatively correlated with bilateral cup-to-disk ratio (CDR), the right LGN volume was positively correlated with the mean deviation of the right visual hemifield, and the right V1 cortical thickness was negatively correlated with the right CDR in glaucoma. These results demonstrate that POAG affects both vision-related structures and non-visual cortical regions. Moreover, alterations of the brain visual structures reflect the clinical severity of glaucoma. PMID:26743811

Improving the clinical correlation of multiple sclerosis black hole volume change by paired-scan analysis.

PubMed

Tam, Roger C; Traboulsee, Anthony; Riddehough, Andrew; Li, David K B

2012-01-01

The change in T 1-hypointense lesion ("black hole") volume is an important marker of pathological progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). Black hole boundaries often have low contrast and are difficult to determine accurately and most (semi-)automated segmentation methods first compute the T 2-hyperintense lesions, which are a superset of the black holes and are typically more distinct, to form a search space for the T 1w lesions. Two main potential sources of measurement noise in longitudinal black hole volume computation are partial volume and variability in the T 2w lesion segmentation. A paired analysis approach is proposed herein that uses registration to equalize partial volume and lesion mask processing to combine T 2w lesion segmentations across time. The scans of 247 MS patients are used to compare a selected black hole computation method with an enhanced version incorporating paired analysis, using rank correlation to a clinical variable (MS functional composite) as the primary outcome measure. The comparison is done at nine different levels of intensity as a previous study suggests that darker black holes may yield stronger correlations. The results demonstrate that paired analysis can strongly improve longitudinal correlation (from -0.148 to -0.303 in this sample) and may produce segmentations that are more sensitive to clinically relevant changes.

Effect of Thyroid Remnant Volume on the Risk of Hypothyroidism After Hemithyroidectomy: A Prospective Study.

PubMed

Lang, Brian Hung-Hin; Wong, Carlos K H; Wong, Kai Pun; Chu, Kelvin Ka-Wan; Shek, Tony W H

2017-06-01

Hypothyroidism is a common sequel after a hemithyroidectomy. Although various risk factors leading to hypothyroidism have been reported, the effect of the contralateral lobe's volume has been understudied. This study aimed to examine the association between the preoperative contralateral lobe's volume and the risk of postoperative hypothyroidism. During a 2-year period, 150 eligible patients undergoing a hemithyroidectomy were evaluated. The volume of the contralateral nonexcised lobe was estimated preoperatively by independent assessors on ultrasonography using the following formula: width (in cm) × depth (in cm) × length (in cm) × (π/6), adjusted for the body surface area (BSA). Postoperative hypothyroidism was defined as serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) exceeding 4.78 mIU/L. Any significant characteristics in the univariate analysis were entered into the multivariate analysis to determine independent factors. After a mean follow-up period of 53.5 ± 9.4 months, 44 patients (29.3 %) experienced postoperative hypothyroidism, and 10 of these patients required thyroxine replacement. Hypothyroidism was associated with a higher preoperative TSH level (p < 0.001), a smaller BSA-adjusted volume (p < 0.001), fewer ipsilateral nodules (p = 0.037), and the presence of thyroiditis (p = 0.050). After adjustment for thyroiditis, preoperative TSH (p < 0.001), number of ipsilateral nodules (p = 0.048), and BSA-adjusted volume (p < 0.001) were independent factors for hypothyroidism. Patients with a BSA-adjusted volume smaller than 3.2 ml had a threefold greater hypothyroidism risk than those with a BSA-adjusted volume of 3.2 ml or more (p < 0.001). A significant inverse association between the preoperative contralateral lobe's volume and hypothyroidism risk was observed after hemithyroidectomy. Together with a higher preoperative TSH level and fewer ipsilateral nodules, a smaller BSA-adjusted volume measured by preoperative ultrasonography independently predicted hypothyroidism.

Volumetric Analysis of Alveolar Bone Defect Using Three-Dimensional-Printed Models Versus Computer-Aided Engineering.

PubMed

Du, Fengzhou; Li, Binghang; Yin, Ningbei; Cao, Yilin; Wang, Yongqian

2017-03-01

Knowing the volume of a graft is essential in repairing alveolar bone defects. This study investigates the 2 advanced preoperative volume measurement methods: three-dimensional (3D) printing and computer-aided engineering (CAE). Ten unilateral alveolar cleft patients were enrolled in this study. Their computed tomographic data were sent to 3D printing and CAE software. A simulated graft was used on the 3D-printed model, and the graft volume was measured by water displacement. The volume calculated by CAE software used mirror-reverses technique. The authors compared the actual volumes of the simulated grafts with the CAE software-derived volumes. The average volume of the simulated bone grafts by 3D-printed models was 1.52 mL, higher than the mean volume of 1.47 calculated by CAE software. The difference between the 2 volumes was from -0.18 to 0.42 mL. The paired Student t test showed no statistically significant difference between the volumes derived from the 2 methods. This study demonstrated that the mirror-reversed technique by CAE software is as accurate as the simulated operation on 3D-printed models in unilateral alveolar cleft patients. These findings further validate the use of 3D printing and CAE technique in alveolar defect repairing.

Big River Reservoir Project - Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay Drainage Basins - Water and Related Land Resources Study. Volume III. Appendices H-K.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

including a recreation impact analysis, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems assessment and a fish and wildlife management plan), social and cultural...APPENDIX G - DESIGN AND COST ESTIMATES VOLUME III - APPENDIX H - RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES Section 1 - Recreation Impact Analysis Section 2 - Aquatic... Ecosystem Assessment Section 3 - Terrestrial Ecosystem Assessment Section 4 - Fish and Wildlife Management Plan APPENDIX I - SOCIAL AND CULTURAL

Cerebellar Volume in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

PubMed

Wyciszkiewicz, Aleksandra; Pawlak, Mikolaj A; Krawiec, Krzysztof

2017-02-01

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with altered cerebellar volume and cerebellum is associated with cognitive performance. However there are mixed results regarding the cerebellar volume in young patients with ADHD. To clarify the size and direction of this effect, we conducted the analysis on the large public database of brain images. The aim of this study was to confirm that cerebellar volume in ADHD is smaller than in control subjects in currently the largest publicly available cohort of ADHD subjects.We applied cross-sectional case control study design by comparing 286 ADHD patients (61 female) with age and gender matched control subjects. Volumetric measurements of cerebellum were obtained using automated segmentation with FreeSurfer 5.1. Statistical analysis was performed in R-CRAN statistical environment. Patients with ADHD had significantly smaller total cerebellar volumes (134.5±17.11cm 3 vs.138.90±15.32 cm 3 ). The effect was present in both females and males (males 136.9±14.37 cm 3 vs. 141.20±14.75 cm 3 ; females 125.7±12.34 cm 3 vs. 131.20±15.03 cm 3 ). Age was positively and significantly associated with the cerebellar volumes. These results indicate either delayed or disrupted cerebellar development possibly contributing to ADHD pathophysiology.

Control volume based hydrocephalus research; analysis of human data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Benjamin; Wei, Timothy; Voorhees, Abram; Madsen, Joseph; Anor, Tomer

2010-11-01

Hydrocephalus is a neuropathophysiological disorder primarily diagnosed by increased cerebrospinal fluid volume and pressure within the brain. To date, utilization of clinical measurements have been limited to understanding of the relative amplitude and timing of flow, volume and pressure waveforms; qualitative approaches without a clear framework for meaningful quantitative comparison. Pressure volume models and electric circuit analogs enforce volume conservation principles in terms of pressure. Control volume analysis, through the integral mass and momentum conservation equations, ensures that pressure and volume are accounted for using first principles fluid physics. This approach is able to directly incorporate the diverse measurements obtained by clinicians into a simple, direct and robust mechanics based framework. Clinical data obtained for analysis are discussed along with data processing techniques used to extract terms in the conservation equation. Control volume analysis provides a non-invasive, physics-based approach to extracting pressure information from magnetic resonance velocity data that cannot be measured directly by pressure instrumentation.

Prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury: is simple oral hydration similar to intravenous? A systematic review of the evidence.

PubMed

Hiremath, Swapnil; Akbari, Ayub; Shabana, Wael; Fergusson, Dean A; Knoll, Greg A

2013-01-01

Pre-procedural intravenous fluid administration is an effective prophylaxis measure for contrast-induced acute kidney injury. For logistical ease, the oral route is an alternative to the intravenous. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of the oral to the intravenous route in prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials with a stratified analysis and metaregression. Databases included MEDLINE (1950 to November 23 2011), EMBASE (1947 to week 47 2011), Cochrane CENTRAL (3(rd) quarter 2011). Two reviewers identified relevant trials and abstracted data. SETTINGS AND POPULATION: Trials including patients undergoing a contrast enhanced procedure. Randomised controlled trial; adult (>18 years) population; comparison of oral versus intravenous volume expansion. Oral route of volume expansion compared to the intravenous route. Any measure of acute kidney injury, need for renal replacement therapy, hospitalization and death. Six trials including 513 patients met inclusion criteria. The summary odds ratio was 1.19 (95% CI 0.46, 3.10, p = 0.73) suggesting no difference between the two routes of volume expansion. There was significant heterogeneity (Cochran's Q = 11.65, p = 0.04; I(2) = 57). In the stratified analysis, inclusion of the five studies with a prespecified oral volume expansion protocol resulted in a shift towards oral volume expansion (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.37, 1.50, p = 0.42) and also resolved the heterogeneity (Q = 3.19, P = 0.53; I(2) = 0). Small number of studies identified; lack of hard clinical outcomes. The oral route may be as effective as the intravenous route for volume expansion for contrast-induced acute kidney injury prevention. Adequately powered trials with hard endpoints should be done given the potential advantages of oral (e.g. reduced patient burden and cost) over intravenous volume expansion.

Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and gray matter volume in bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Poletti, S; Aggio, V; Hoogenboezem, T A; Ambrée, O; de Wit, H; Wijkhuijs, A J M; Locatelli, C; Colombo, C; Arolt, V; Drexhage, H A; Benedetti, F

2017-02-01

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric condition characterized by grey matter (GM) volumes reduction. Neurotrophic factors have been suggested to play a role in the neuroprogressive changes during the illness course. In particular peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a potential biomarker related to disease activity and neuroprogression in BD. The aim of our study was to investigate if serum levels of BDNF are associated with GM volumes in BD patients and healthy controls (HC). We studied 36 inpatients affected by a major depressive episode in course of BD type I and 17 HC. Analysis of variance was performed to investigate the effect of diagnosis on GM volumes in the whole brain. Threshold for significance was P<0.05, Family Wise Error (FWE) corrected for multiple comparisons. All the analyses were controlled for the effect of nuisance covariates known to influence GM volumes, such as age, gender and lithium treatment. BD patients showed significantly higher serum BDNF levels compared with HC. Reduced GM volumes in BD patients compared to HC were observed in several brain areas, encompassing the caudate head, superior temporal gyrus, insula, fusiform gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and anterior cingulate cortex. The interaction analysis between BDNF levels and diagnosis showed a significant effect in the middle frontal gyrus. HC reported higher BDNF levels associated with higher GM volumes, whereas no association between BDNF and GM volumes was observed in BD. Our study seems to suggest that although the production of BDNF is increased in BD possibly to prevent and repair neural damage, its effects could be hampered by underlying neuroinflammatory processes interfering with the neurodevelopmental role of BDNF. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Morphometric analysis of abdominal organs and rib cage: Implication for risk of solid organ injuries in children.

PubMed

Harbaugh, Calista M; Shlykov, Maksim A; Tsuchida, Ryan E; Holcombe, Sven A; Hirschl, Jake; Wang, Stewart C; Ehrlich, Peter F

2015-06-01

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury-related mortality in children, with a higher rate of multiorgan injuries than in adults. This may be related to increased solid organ volume relative to abdominal cavity and decreased protection of an underdeveloped cartilaginous rib cage in young children. To date, these anatomic relationships have not been fully described. Our study used analytic morphomics to obtain precise measures of the pediatric liver, spleen, kidneys, and ribs. This pilot study included 215 trauma patients (aged 0-18 years) with anonymized computed tomography (CT) scans. Liver, spleen, and kidney volumes were modeled using semiautomatic algorithms (MATLAB 2013a, MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA). Thirty-one scans were adequate to model the rib cage. Pearson's r was used to correlate absolute organ volume, fractional organ volume, and organ exposure with age and weight. Spleen, right and left kidney, and liver volumes increased with age and weight (p < 0.01). Right/left kidney and liver fractional volumes decreased with age (p < 0.01), whereas spleen fractional volume remained relatively constant. Exposed surface area of the liver only significantly decreased with age in the anterior (p < 0.01), right (p < 0.01), and posterior views (p = 0.02). With this study, we have demonstrated the ability to model solid organ and rib cage anatomy of children using cross-sectional imaging. In younger children, there may be a decrease in fractional organ volume and increase in liver surface exposure, although analysis of a larger sample size is warranted. In the future, this information may be used to improve the design of safety restraints in motor vehicles.

Digital 3D Microstructure Analysis of Concrete using X-Ray Micro Computed Tomography SkyScan 1173: A Preliminary Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Latief, F. D. E.; Mohammad, I. H.; Rarasati, A. D.

2017-11-01

Digital imaging of a concrete sample using high resolution tomographic imaging by means of X-Ray Micro Computed Tomography (μ-CT) has been conducted to assess the characteristic of the sample’s structure. A standard procedure of image acquisition, reconstruction, image processing of the method using a particular scanning device i.e., the Bruker SkyScan 1173 High Energy Micro-CT are elaborated. A qualitative and a quantitative analysis were briefly performed on the sample to deliver some basic ideas of the capability of the system and the bundled software package. Calculation of total VOI volume, object volume, percent of object volume, total VOI surface, object surface, object surface/volume ratio, object surface density, structure thickness, structure separation, total porosity were conducted and analysed. This paper should serve as a brief description of how the device can produce the preferred image quality as well as the ability of the bundled software packages to help in performing qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Grey matter volume and cortical structure in Prader-Willi syndrome compared to typically developing young adults.

PubMed

Manning, Katherine E; Tait, Roger; Suckling, John; Holland, Anthony J

2018-01-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder of genomic imprinting, presenting with a characteristic overeating disorder, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and a variable range of social and behavioral difficulties. Consequently, widespread alterations in neural structure and developmental and maturational trajectory would be expected. To date, there have been few quantitative and systematic studies of brain morphology in PWS, although alterations of volume and of cortical organisation have been reported. This study aimed to investigate, in detail, the structure of grey matter and cortex in the brain in a sample of young adults with PWS in a well-matched case-controlled analysis. 20 young adults with PWS, aged 19-27 years, underwent multiparameter mapping magnetic resonance imaging sequences, from which measures of grey matter volume, cortical thickness and magnetisation transfer saturation, as a proxy measure of myelination, were examined. These variables were investigated in comparison to a control group of 40 typically developing young adults, matched for age and sex. A voxel-based morphometry analysis identified large and widespread bilateral clusters of both increased and decreased grey matter volume in the brain in PWS. In particular, widespread areas of increased volume encompassed parts of the prefrontal cortex, especially medially, the majority of the cingulate cortices, from anterior to posterior aspects, insula cortices, and areas of the parietal and temporal cortices. Increased volume was also reported in the caudate, putamen and thalamus. The most ventromedial prefrontal areas, in contrast, showed reduced volume, as did the parts of the medial temporal lobe, bilateral temporal poles, and a small cluster in the right lateral prefrontal cortex. Analysis of cortical structure revealed that areas of increased volume in the PWS group were largely driven by greater cortical thickness. Conversely, analysis of myelin content using magnetisation transfer saturation indicated that myelination of the cortex was broadly similar in the PWS and control groups, with the exception of highly localised areas, including the insula. The bilateral nature of these abnormalities suggests a systemic biological cause, with possible developmental and maturational mechanisms discussed, and may offer insight into the contribution of imprinted genes to neural development.

Satellite Power Systems (SPS) concept definition study, exhibit C. Volume 2, part 1: System engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G. M.

1979-01-01

Volume 2, Part 1, of a seven volume report is presented. Part 1 encompasses Satellite Power Systems (SPS) systems engineering aspects and is divided into three sections. The first section presents descriptions of the various candidate concepts considered and conclusions and recommendations for a preferred concept. The second section presents a summary of results of the various trade studies and analysis conducted during the course of the study. The third section describes the Photovoltaic Satellite Based Satellite Power System (SPS) Point Design as it was defined through studies performed during the period January 1977 through March 1979.

Free volumes and gas transport in polymers: amine-modified epoxy resins as a case study.

PubMed

Patil, Pushkar N; Roilo, David; Brusa, Roberto S; Miotello, Antonio; Aghion, Stefano; Ferragut, Rafael; Checchetto, Riccardo

2016-02-07

The CO2 transport process was studied in a series of amine-modified epoxy resins having different cross-linking densities but the same chemical environment for the penetrant molecules. Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) was used to monitor the free volume structure of the samples and experimentally evaluate their fractional free volume fh(T) and its temperature evolution. The analysis of the free volume hole size distribution showed that all the holes have a size large enough to accommodate the penetrant molecules at temperatures T above the glass transition temperature Tg. The measured gas diffusion constants at T > Tg have been reproduced in the framework of the free volume theory of diffusion using a novel procedure based on the use of fh(T) as an input experimental parameter.

Association of Over-The-Counter Pharmaceutical Sales with Influenza-Like-Illnesses to Patient Volume in an Urgent Care Setting

PubMed Central

Liu, Timothy Y.; Sanders, Jason L.; Tsui, Fu-Chiang; Espino, Jeremy U.; Dato, Virginia M.; Suyama, Joe

2013-01-01

We studied the association between OTC pharmaceutical sales and volume of patients with influenza-like-illnesses (ILI) at an urgent care center over one year. OTC pharmaceutical sales explain 36% of the variance in the patient volume, and each standard deviation increase is associated with 4.7 more patient visits to the urgent care center (p<0.0001). Cross-correlation function analysis demonstrated that OTC pharmaceutical sales are significantly associated with patient volume during non-flu season (p<0.0001), but only the sales of cough and cold (p<0.0001) and thermometer (p<0.0001) categories were significant during flu season with a lag of two and one days, respectively. Our study is the first study to demonstrate and measure the relationship between OTC pharmaceutical sales and urgent care center patient volume, and presents strong evidence that OTC sales predict urgent care center patient volume year round. PMID:23555647

Accurate computer-aided quantification of left ventricular parameters: experience in 1555 cardiac magnetic resonance studies from the Framingham Heart Study.

PubMed

Hautvast, Gilion L T F; Salton, Carol J; Chuang, Michael L; Breeuwer, Marcel; O'Donnell, Christopher J; Manning, Warren J

2012-05-01

Quantitative analysis of short-axis functional cardiac magnetic resonance images can be performed using automatic contour detection methods. The resulting myocardial contours must be reviewed and possibly corrected, which can be time-consuming, particularly when performed across all cardiac phases. We quantified the impact of manual contour corrections on both analysis time and quantitative measurements obtained from left ventricular short-axis cine images acquired from 1555 participants of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort using computer-aided contour detection methods. The total analysis time for a single case was 7.6 ± 1.7 min for an average of 221 ± 36 myocardial contours per participant. This included 4.8 ± 1.6 min for manual contour correction of 2% of all automatically detected endocardial contours and 8% of all automatically detected epicardial contours. However, the impact of these corrections on global left ventricular parameters was limited, introducing differences of 0.4 ± 4.1 mL for end-diastolic volume, -0.3 ± 2.9 mL for end-systolic volume, 0.7 ± 3.1 mL for stroke volume, and 0.3 ± 1.8% for ejection fraction. We conclude that left ventricular functional parameters can be obtained under 5 min from short-axis functional cardiac magnetic resonance images using automatic contour detection methods. Manual correction more than doubles analysis time, with minimal impact on left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Feasibility of single-beat full-volume capture real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and auto-contouring algorithm for quantification of left ventricular volume: validation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Chang, Sung-A; Lee, Sang-Chol; Kim, Eun-Young; Hahm, Seung-Hee; Jang, Shin Yi; Park, Sung-Ji; Choi, Jin-Oh; Park, Seung Woo; Choe, Yeon Hyeon; Oh, Jae K

2011-08-01

With recent developments in echocardiographic technology, a new system using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) that allows single-beat acquisition of the entire volume of the left ventricle and incorporates algorithms for automated border detection has been introduced. Provided that these techniques are acceptably reliable, three-dimensional echocardiography may be much more useful for clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of left ventricular (LV) volume measurements by RT3DE using the single-beat full-volume capture technique. One hundred nine consecutive patients scheduled for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and RT3DE using the single-beat full-volume capture technique on the same day were recruited. LV end-systolic volume, end-diastolic volume, and ejection fraction were measured using an auto-contouring algorithm from data acquired on RT3DE. The data were compared with the same measurements obtained using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Volume measurements on RT3DE with single-beat full-volume capture were feasible in 84% of patients. Both interobserver and intraobserver variability of three-dimensional measurements of end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes showed excellent agreement. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a close correlation of end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes between RT3DE and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (r = 0.94 and r = 0.91, respectively, P < .0001 for both). Bland-Altman analysis showed reasonable limits of agreement. After application of the auto-contouring algorithm, the rate of successful auto-contouring (cases requiring minimal manual corrections) was <50%. RT3DE using single-beat full-volume capture is an easy and reliable technique to assess LV volume and systolic function in clinical practice. However, the image quality and low frame rate still limit its application for dilated left ventricles, and the automated volume analysis program needs more development to make it clinically efficacious. Copyright © 2011 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Early Change in Stroke Size Performs Best in Predicting Response to Therapy.

PubMed

Simpkins, Alexis Nétis; Dias, Christian; Norato, Gina; Kim, Eunhee; Leigh, Richard

2017-01-01

Reliable imaging biomarkers of response to therapy in acute stroke are needed. The final infarct volume and percent of early reperfusion have been used for this purpose. Early fluctuation in stroke size is a recognized phenomenon, but its utility as a biomarker for response to therapy has not been established. This study examined the clinical relevance of early change in stroke volume and compared it with the final infarct volume and percent of early reperfusion in identifying early neurologic improvement (ENI). Acute stroke patients, enrolled between 2013 and 2014 with serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (pretreatment baseline, 2 h post, and 24 h post), who received thrombolysis were included in the analysis. Early change in stroke volume, infarct volume at 24 h on diffusion, and percent of early reperfusion were calculated from the baseline and 2 h MRI scans were compared. ENI was defined as ≥4 point decrease in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scales within 24 h. Logistic regression models and receiver operator characteristics analysis were used to compare the efficacy of 3 imaging biomarkers. Serial MRIs of 58 acute stroke patients were analyzed. Early change in stroke volume was significantly associated with ENI by logistic regression analysis (OR 0.93, p = 0.048) and remained significant after controlling for stroke size and severity (OR 0.90, p = 0.032). Thus, for every 1 mL increase in stroke volume, there was a 10% decrease in the odds of ENI, while for every 1 mL decrease in stroke volume, there was a 10% increase in the odds of ENI. Neither infarct volume at 24 h nor percent of early reperfusion were significantly associated with ENI by logistic regression. Receiver-operator characteristic analysis identified early change in stroke volume as the only biomarker of the 3 that performed significantly different than chance (p = 0.03). Early fluctuations in stroke size may represent a more reliable biomarker for response to therapy than the more traditional measures of final infarct volume and percent of early reperfusion. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

[Definition of low threshold volumes for quality assurance: conceptual and methodological issues involved in the definition and evaluation of thresholds for volume outcome relations in clinical care].

PubMed

Wetzel, Hermann

2006-01-01

In a large number of mostly retrospective association studies, a statistical relationship between volume and quality of health care has been reported. However, the relevance of these results is frequently limited by methodological shortcomings. In this article, criteria for the evidence and definition of thresholds for volume-outcome relations are proposed, e.g. the specification of relevant outcomes for quality indicators, analysis of volume as a continuous variable with an adequate case-mix and risk adjustment, accounting for cluster effects and considering mathematical models for the derivation of cut-off values. Moreover, volume thresholds are regarded as surrogate parameters for the indirect classification of the quality of care, whose diagnostic validity and effectiveness in improving health care quality need to be evaluated in prospective studies.

Orbit Transfer Vehicle (OTV) engine, phase A study. Volume 2: Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mellish, J. A.

1979-01-01

The hydrogen oxygen engine used in the orbiter transfer vehicle is described. The engine design is analyzed and minimum engine performance and man rating requirements are discussed. Reliability and safety analysis test results are presented and payload, risk and cost, and engine installation parameters are defined. Engine tests were performed including performance analysis, structural analysis, thermal analysis, turbomachinery analysis, controls analysis, and cycle analysis.

The Effect of Pressure-Controlled Ventilation and Volume-Controlled Ventilation in Prone Position on Pulmonary Mechanics and Inflammatory Markers.

PubMed

Şenay, Hasan; Sıvacı, Remziye; Kokulu, Serdar; Koca, Buğra; Bakı, Elif Doğan; Ela, Yüksel

2016-08-01

The aim of this present study is to compare the effect of pressure-controlled ventilation and volume-controlled ventilation on pulmonary mechanics and inflammatory markers in prone position. The study included 41 patients undergoing to vertebrae surgery. The patients were randomized into two groups: Group 1 received volume-controlled ventilation, while group 2 received pressure-controlled ventilation. The demographic data, pulmonary mechanics, the inflammatory marker levels just after the induction of anesthetics, at the 6th and 12th hours, and gas analysis from arterial blood samples taken at the beginning and the 30th minute were recorded. The inflammatory marker levels increased in both groups, without any significant difference among groups. Peak inspiratory pressure level was higher in the volume-controlled ventilation group. This study revealed that there is no difference regarding inflammatory marker levels between volume- and pressure-controlled ventilation.

IVHS Countermeasures for Rear-End Collision, Task 1 Vol. V: 1985 NASS Case Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-02-15

The Task 1 Interim Report consists of six volumes. This Volume, Volume V, 1985 NASS Analysis, presents the results of the analysis of the 1985 NASS crash data. Data from 1985 was selected for analysis because it provided more insight into roadway var...

Locomotive cab design development. volume III: design application analysis - Interim report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-10-01

In Volume II of this service of reports on Locomotive Cab Design Development, changes were recommended in the layout and equipment content of locomotive cabs. This report studies the impact of these changes on the interface of the cab with the rest o...

Progesterone treatment for experimental stroke: an individual animal meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Wong, Raymond; Renton, Cheryl; Gibson, Claire L; Murphy, Stephanie J; Kendall, David A; Bath, Philip M W

2013-01-01

Preclinical studies suggest progesterone is neuroprotective after cerebral ischemia. The gold standard for assessing intervention effects across studies within and between subgroups is to use meta-analysis based on individual animal data (IAD). Preclinical studies of progesterone in experimental stroke were identified from searches of electronic databases and reference lists. Corresponding authors of papers of interest were contacted to obtain IAD and, if unavailable, summary data were obtained from the publication. Data are given as standardized mean differences (SMDs, continuous data) or odds ratios (binary data), with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In an unadjusted analysis of IAD and summary data, progesterone reduced standardized lesion volume (SMD −0.766, 95% CI −1.173 to −0.358, P<0.001). Publication bias was apparent on visual inspection of a Begg's funnel plot on lesion volume and statistically using Egger's test (P=0.001). Using individual animal data alone, progesterone was associated with an increase in death in adjusted analysis (odds ratio 2.64, 95% CI 1.17 to 5.97, P=0.020). Although progesterone significantly reduced lesion volume, it also appeared to increase the incidence of death after experimental stroke, particularly in young ovariectomized female animals. Experimental studies must report the effect of interactions on death and on modifiers, such as age and sex. PMID:23838830

SU-E-J-83: CBCT Based Rectum and Bladder Dose Tracking in the Prostate Radiotherapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Z; Wang, J; Yang, Z

2015-06-15

Purpose: The aim of this study is to monitor the volume changes of bladder and rectum and evaluate the dosimetric changes of bladder and rectum using daily cone-beam CT for prostate radiotherapy. Methods: The data of this study were obtained from 12 patients, totally 222 CBCTs. All the volume of the bladder and the rectum on the CBCT were normalized to the bladder and the rectum on their own original CT to monitory the volume changes. To evaluate dose delivered to the OARs, volumes that receive 70Gy (V70Gy), 60Gy, 50Gy, 40Gy and 30Gy are calculated for the bladder and themore » rectum, V20Gy and V10Gy for rectum additionally. And the deviation of the mean dose to the bladder and the rectum are also chosen as the evaluation parameter. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify the mean dose change of the volume change using SPSS 19. Results: The results show that the variances of the normalize volume of the bladder and the rectum are 0.15–0.58 and 0.13–0.50. The variances of V70Gy, V60Gy, V50Gy, V40Gy and V30Gy of bladder are bigger than rectum for 11 patients. The linear regression analysis indicated a negative correlation between the volume and the mean dose of the bladder (p < 0.05). A 10% increase in bladder volume will cause 5.1% (±4.3%) reduction in mean dose. Conclusion: The bladder volume change is more significant than that for rectum for the prostate cancer patient. The volume changes of rectum are not significant except air gap in the rectum. Bladder volume varies will cause significant dose change. The bladder volume monitoring before fractional treatment delivery would be crucial for accuracy dose delivery.« less

The volume threshold of 300 versus 100 ml/day for chest tube removal after pulmonary lobectomy: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Zhang, Tian-Xiang; Zhang, Ye; Liu, Zhi-Dong; Zhou, Shi-Jie; Xu, Shao-Fa

2018-05-07

In this meta-analysis, we conducted a pooled analysis of clinical studies comparing the efficacy of a volume threshold of 300 ml/day before removing a chest tube (CT) versus 100 ml/day after a lobectomy. According to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration, we established a rigorous study protocol. We performed a systematic electronic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science databases, CNKI, the Wanfang database, CBMdisc and Google Scholar to identify articles to include in our meta-analysis. A literature search was performed using relevant keywords. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan© software. Five studies, published between 2014 and 2015, including 615 patients (314 patients who had the CT removed when daily drainage was <300 ml and 301 patients who had the CT removed when daily drainage was <100 ml) met the selection criteria. From the available data, the patients using the volume threshold of 300 ml/day had a significantly decreased duration of drainage [MD = -44.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) -64.45 to -23.68; P < 0.0001] and hospital stay after operation (MD = -2.25; 95% CI -3.52 to -0.97; P = 0.0006) compared with patients using a volume threshold of 100 ml/day after a pulmonary lobectomy. However, no significant differences were observed in postoperative complications, such as pleural fluid reaccumulation [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.73; 95% CI = 0.74-4.07; P = 0.21] and atelectasis (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.52-1.81; P = 0.93). Thoracentesis rates after removing the CT also showed no significant difference (OR = 1.53; 95% CI 0.55-4.22; P = 0.41). Our results showed that a higher volume threshold, up to 300 ml/day, is effective in reducing hospitalization times and duration of drainage in patients who undergo a lobectomy. Moreover, the volume threshold of 300 ml/day does not increase the occurrence of postoperative atelectasis, pleural fluid reaccumulation and thoracentesis rates. However, this review is limited by the methodological quality of the included trials, and additional studies according to the recommendations of Cochrane Library are appreciated.

Complementary effect of patient volume and quality of care on hospital cost efficiency.

PubMed

Choi, Jeong Hoon; Park, Imsu; Jung, Ilyoung; Dey, Asoke

2017-06-01

This study explores the direct effect of an increase in patient volume in a hospital and the complementary effect of quality of care on the cost efficiency of U.S. hospitals in terms of patient volume. The simultaneous equation model with three-stage least squares is used to measure the direct effect of patient volume and the complementary effect of quality of care and volume. Cost efficiency is measured with a data envelopment analysis method. Patient volume has a U-shaped relationship with hospital cost efficiency and an inverted U-shaped relationship with quality of care. Quality of care functions as a moderator for the relationship between patient volume and efficiency. This paper addresses the economically important question of the relationship of volume with quality of care and hospital cost efficiency. The three-stage least square simultaneous equation model captures the simultaneous effects of patient volume on hospital quality of care and cost efficiency.

The optimal fiber volume fraction and fiber-matrix property compatibility in fiber reinforced composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pan, Ning

1992-01-01

Although the question of minimum or critical fiber volume fraction beyond which a composite can then be strengthened due to addition of fibers has been dealt with by several investigators for both continuous and short fiber composites, a study of maximum or optimal fiber volume fraction at which the composite reaches its highest strength has not been reported yet. The present analysis has investigated this issue for short fiber case based on the well-known shear lag (the elastic stress transfer) theory as the first step. Using the relationships obtained, the minimum spacing between fibers is determined upon which the maximum fiber volume fraction can be calculated, depending on the fiber packing forms within the composites. The effects on the value of this maximum fiber volume fraction due to such factors as fiber and matrix properties, fiber aspect ratio and fiber packing forms are discussed. Furthermore, combined with the previous analysis on the minimum fiber volume fraction, this maximum fiber volume fraction can be used to examine the property compatibility of fiber and matrix in forming a composite. This is deemed to be useful for composite design. Finally some examples are provided to illustrate the results.

Inter- and intra-observer variation in soft-tissue sarcoma target definition.

PubMed

Roberge, D; Skamene, T; Turcotte, R E; Powell, T; Saran, N; Freeman, C

2011-08-01

To evaluate inter- and intra-observer variability in gross tumor volume definition for adult limb/trunk soft tissue sarcomas. Imaging studies of 15 patients previously treated with preoperative radiation were used in this study. Five physicians (radiation oncologists, orthopedic surgeons and a musculoskeletal radiologist) were asked to contour each of the 15 tumors on T1-weighted, gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance images. These contours were drawn twice by each physician. The volume and center of mass coordinates for each gross tumor volume were extracted and a Boolean analysis was performed to measure the degree of volume overlap. The median standard deviation in gross tumor volumes across observers was 6.1% of the average volume (range: 1.8%-24.9%). There was remarkably little variation in the 3D position of the gross tumor volume center of mass. For the 15 patients, the standard deviation of the 3D distance between centers of mass ranged from 0.06 mm to 1.7 mm (median 0.1mm). Boolean analysis demonstrated that 53% to 90% of the gross tumor volume was common to all observers (median overlap: 79%). The standard deviation in gross tumor volumes on repeat contouring was 4.8% (range: 0.1-14.4%) with a standard deviation change in the position of the center of mass of 0.4mm (range: 0mm-2.6mm) and a median overlap of 93% (range: 73%-98%). Although significant inter-observer differences were seen in gross tumor volume definition of adult soft-tissue sarcoma, the center of mass of these volumes was remarkably consistent. Variations in volume definition did not correlate with tumor size. Radiation oncologists should not hesitate to review their contours with a colleague (surgeon, radiologist or fellow radiation oncologist) to ensure that they are not outliers in sarcoma gross tumor volume definition. Protocols should take into account variations in volume definition when considering tighter clinical target volumes. Copyright © 2011 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear bivariate dependency of price-volume relationships in agricultural commodity futures markets: A perspective from Multifractal Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Ling-Yun; Chen, Shu-Peng

2011-01-01

Nonlinear dependency between characteristic financial and commodity market quantities (variables) is crucially important, especially between trading volume and market price. Studies on nonlinear dependency between price and volume can provide practical insights into market trading characteristics, as well as the theoretical understanding of market dynamics. Actually, nonlinear dependency and its underlying dynamical mechanisms between price and volume can help researchers and technical analysts in understanding the market dynamics by integrating the market variables, instead of investigating them in the current literature. Therefore, for investigating nonlinear dependency of price-volume relationships in agricultural commodity futures markets in China and the US, we perform a new statistical test to detect cross-correlations and apply a new methodology called Multifractal Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis (MF-DCCA), which is an efficient algorithm to analyze two spatially or temporally correlated time series. We discuss theoretically the relationship between the bivariate cross-correlation exponent and the generalized Hurst exponents for time series of respective variables. We also perform an empirical study and find that there exists a power-law cross-correlation between them, and that multifractal features are significant in all the analyzed agricultural commodity futures markets.

Senior Dance Experience, Cognitive Performance, and Brain Volume in Older Women.

PubMed

Niemann, Claudia; Godde, Ben; Voelcker-Rehage, Claudia

2016-01-01

Physical activity is positively related to cognitive functioning and brain volume in older adults. Interestingly, different types of physical activity vary in their effects on cognition and on the brain. For example, dancing has become an interesting topic in aging research, as it is a popular leisure activity among older adults, involving cardiovascular and motor fitness dimensions that can be positively related to cognition. However, studies on brain structure are missing. In this study, we tested the association of long-term senior dance experience with cognitive performance and gray matter brain volume in older women aged 65 to 82 years. We compared nonprofessional senior dancers ( n = 28) with nonsedentary control group participants without any dancing experience ( n = 29), who were similar in age, education, IQ score, lifestyle and health factors, and fitness level. Differences neither in the four tested cognitive domains (executive control, perceptual speed, episodic memory, and long-term memory) nor in brain volume (VBM whole-brain analysis, region-of-interest analysis of the hippocampus) were observed. Results indicate that moderate dancing activity (1-2 times per week, on average) has no additional effects on gray matter volume and cognitive functioning when a certain lifestyle or physical activity and fitness level are reached.

Space station data system analysis/architecture study. Task 2: Options development, DR-5. Volume 3: Programmatic options

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

Task 2 in the Space Station Data System (SSDS) Analysis/Architecture Study is the development of an information base that will support the conduct of trade studies and provide sufficient data to make design/programmatic decisions. This volume identifies the preferred options in the programmatic category and characterizes these options with respect to performance attributes, constraints, costs, and risks. The programmatic category includes methods used to administrate/manage the development, operation and maintenance of the SSDS. The specific areas discussed include standardization/commonality; systems management; and systems development, including hardware procurement, software development and system integration, test and verification.

Economic analysis of Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine systems for the generation of utility grid electrical power. Volume IV. Summary and analysis of the A. T. Kearney and Alcoa Laboratories point design economic studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sullivan, W.N.; Nellums, R.O.

1979-08-01

The A.T. Kearney and Alcoa economic studies are two independent attempts to assess the installed costs of a series of six Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine designs. The designs cover a range of sizes with peak outputs from 10 to 1600 kW. All are designed to produce utility grid electrical power. Volume IV of this report summarizes, compares, and analyzes the results of these studies. The Kearney and Alcoa final reports are included in the Appendices.

Economic analysis of Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine systems for the generation of utility grid electrical power. Volume IV: summary and analysis of the A. T. Kearney and Alcoa Laboratories point design economic studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sullivan, W.N.; Nellums, R.O.

1979-08-01

The A. T. Kearney and Alcoa economic studies are two independent attempts to assess the installed costs of a series of six Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine designs. The designs cover a range of sizes with peak outputs from 10 to 1600 kW. All are designed to produce utility grid electrical power. Volume IV of this report summarizes, compares, and analyzes the results of these studies. The Kearney and Alcoa final reports are included in the Appendices.

SU-F-T-611: Critical Analysis and Efficacy of Linac Based (Beam Modulator) and Cyberknife Treatment Plans for Acoustic Neuroma/schwannoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KP, Karrthick; Kataria, T; Thiyagarajan, R

Purpose: To study the critical analysis and efficacy of Linac and Cyberknife (CK) treatment plans for acoustic neuroma/schwannoma. Methods: Twelve of acoustic neuroma/schwannoma patients were taken for these study that. Treatment plans were generated in Multiplan treatment planning system (TPS) for CK using 5,7.5 and 10mm diameter collimators. Target volumes were in the range of 0.280 cc to 9.256 cc. Prescription dose (Rx) ranges from 1150cGy to 1950cGy delivered over 1 to 3 Fractions. For same patients stereotactic Volumetric modulated arc plans were generated using Elekta Linac with MLC thickness of 4mm in Monaco TPS. Appropriate calculation algorithms and gridmore » size were used with same Rx and organ at risk (OAR) constrains for both Linac and CK plans. Treatment plans were developed to achieve at least 95% of the target volume to receive the Rx. The dosimetric indices such as conformity index (CI), coverage, OAR dose and volume receiving 50% of Rx (V50%) were used to evaluate the plans. Results: Target volumes ranges from 0.280 cc to 3.5cc shows the CI of 1.16±0.109 and 1.53±0.360 for cyberknife and Linac plans respectively. For small volume targets, the OARs were well spared in CK plans. There are no significant differences in CI and OAR doses were observed between CK and Linac plans that have the target volume >3.5 cc. Perhaps the V50% were lesser in CK plans, and found to be 12.8± 8.4 and 22.8 ± 15.0 for CK and Linac respectively. Conclusion: The analysis shows the importance of collimator size for small volume targets. The target volumes >3.5 cc can be treated in Linac as comparable with CK. For targets <3.5cc CK plans showed superior plan quality with better CI and OAR sparing than the Linac based plans. Further studies may require evaluating the clinical advantage of CK robotic system.« less

Additive gene-environment effects on hippocampal structure in healthy humans.

PubMed

Rabl, Ulrich; Meyer, Bernhard M; Diers, Kersten; Bartova, Lucie; Berger, Andreas; Mandorfer, Dominik; Popovic, Ana; Scharinger, Christian; Huemer, Julia; Kalcher, Klaudius; Pail, Gerald; Haslacher, Helmuth; Perkmann, Thomas; Windischberger, Christian; Brocke, Burkhard; Sitte, Harald H; Pollak, Daniela D; Dreher, Jean-Claude; Kasper, Siegfried; Praschak-Rieder, Nicole; Moser, Ewald; Esterbauer, Harald; Pezawas, Lukas

2014-07-23

Hippocampal volume loss has been related to chronic stress as well as genetic factors. Although genetic and environmental variables affecting hippocampal volume have extensively been studied and related to mental illness, limited evidence is available with respect to G × E interactions on hippocampal volume. The present MRI study investigated interaction effects on hippocampal volume between three well-studied functional genetic variants (COMT Val158Met, BDNF Val66Met, 5-HTTLPR) associated with hippocampal volume and a measure of environmental adversity (life events questionnaire) in a large sample of healthy humans (n = 153). All three variants showed significant interactions with environmental adversity with respect to hippocampal volume. Observed effects were additive by nature and driven by both recent as well as early life events. A consecutive analysis of hippocampal subfields revealed a spatially distinct profile for each genetic variant suggesting a specific role of 5-HTTLPR for the subiculum, BDNF Val66Met for CA4/dentate gyrus, and COMT Val158Met for CA2/3 volume changes. The present study underscores the importance of G × E interactions as determinants of hippocampal volume, which is crucial for the neurobiological understanding of stress-related conditions, such as mood disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Copyright © 2014 the authors 0270-6474/14/349917-10$15.00/0.

A Study of Job Demands and Curriculum Development in Agricultural Training Related to the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System. Final Report. Volume IV. Career Awareness Information.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Harold S.; And Others

This is the final volume of a four-volume report of a research project designed to (1) identify job needs for agricultural occupations which will result from the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System and perform a task analysis on each occupation, (2) develop instructional modules and determine their place in either high school or 2-year…

Proceedings of Symposium on Energy Engineering in the 21st Century (SEE 2000). Volume Four

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-01-13

Significantly Varying Demand of Heat and Power 1347 D. Hein and K. Kwanka T2. Thermodynamic Analysis and Sensitivity Studies on Braysson cycle Using...to Volumes 1-4 T. Cycle Analysis 1346 CHENG CYCLE COGENERATION FOR A SIGNIFICANTLY VARYING DEMAND OF HEAT AND POWER Dietmar Hein, Klaus Kwanka...significantly varying demand of heat and power a Cheng Cycle gas turbine cogeneration plant was installed. By injecting steam, produced by the heat

A systematic review of the impact of center volume in dialysis.

PubMed

Pieper, Dawid; Mathes, Tim; Marshall, Mark Roger

2015-12-22

A significant relationship exists between the volume of surgical procedures that a given center performs and subsequent outcomes. It seems plausible that such a volume-outcome relationship is also present in dialysis. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched in November 2014 for non-experimental studies evaluating the association between center volume and patient outcomes [mortality, morbidity, peritonitis, switch to hemodialysis (HD) or any other treatment], without language restrictions or other limits. Selection of relevant studies, data extraction and critical appraisal were performed by two independent reviewers. We did not perform meta-analysis due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity (e.g. different volume categories). 16 studies met out inclusion criteria. Most studies were performed in the US. The study quality ranged from fair to good. Only few items were judged to have a high risk of bias, while many items were judged to have an unclear risk of bias due to insufficient reporting. All 10 studies that analyzed peritoneal dialysis (PD) technique survival by modeling switch to HD or any other treatment as an outcome showed a statistical significant effect. The relative effect measures ranged from 0.25 to 0.94 (median 0.73) in favor of high volume centers. All nine studies indicated a lower mortality for PD in high volume centers, but only study was statistical significant. This systematic review supports a volume-outcome relationship in peritoneal dialysis with respect to switch to HD or any other treatment. An effect on mortality is probably present in HD. Further research is needed to identify and understand the associations of center volume that are causally related to patient benefit.

Longitudinal volumetric and 2D assessment of cerebellar atrophy in a large cohort of children with phosphomannomutase deficiency (PMM2-CDG).

PubMed

de Diego, Víctor; Martínez-Monseny, Antonio F; Muchart, Jordi; Cuadras, Daniel; Montero, Raquel; Artuch, Rafael; Pérez-Cerdá, Celia; Pérez, Belén; Pérez-Dueñas, Belén; Poretti, Andrea; Serrano, Mercedes

2017-09-01

We aim to delineate the progression of cerebellar atrophy (the primary neuroimaging finding) in children with phosphomannomutase-deficiency (PMM2-CDG) by analyzing longitudinal MRI studies and performing cerebellar volumetric analysis and a 2D cerebellar measurement. Statistical analysis was used to compare MRI measurements [midsagittal vermis relative diameter (MVRD) and volume] of children with PMM2-CDG and sex- and age-matched controls, and to determine the rate of progression of cerebellar atrophy at different ages. Fifty MRI studies of 33 PMM2-CDG patients were used for 2D evaluation, and 19 MRI studies were available for volumetric analysis. Results from a linear regression model showed that patients have a significantly lower MVRD and cerebellar volume compared to controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between age and MVRD for patients (p = 0.014). The rate of cerebellar atrophy measured by the loss of MVRD and cerebellar volume per year was higher at early ages (r = -0.578, p = 0.012 and r = -0.323, p = 0.48 respectively), particularly in patients under 11 years (p = 0.004). There was a significant positive correlation between MVRD and cerebellar volume in PMM2-CDG patients (r = 0.669, p = 0.001). Our study quantifies a progression of cerebellar atrophy in PMM2-CDG patients, particularly during the first decade of life, and suggests a simple and reliable measure, the MVRD, to monitor cerebellar atrophy. Quantitative measurement of MVRD and cerebellar volume are essential for correlation with phenotype and outcome, natural follow-up, and monitoring in view of potential therapies in children with PMM2-CDG.

Is the Maxillary Sinus Really Suitable in Sex Determination? A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Maxillary Sinus Volume and Surface Depending on Sex and Dentition.

PubMed

Möhlhenrich, Stephan Christian; Heussen, Nicole; Peters, Florian; Steiner, Timm; Hölzle, Frank; Modabber, Ali

2015-11-01

The morphometric analysis of maxillary sinus was recently presented as a helpful instrument for sex determination. The aim of the present study was to examine the volume and surface of the fully dentate, partial, and complete edentulous maxillary sinus depending on the sex. Computed tomography data from 276 patients were imported in DICOM format via special virtual planning software, and surfaces (mm) and volumes (mm) of maxillary sinuses were measured. In sex-specific comparisons (women vs men), statistically significant differences for the mean maxillary sinus volume and surface were found between fully dentate (volume, 13,267.77 mm vs 16,623.17 mm, P < 0.0001; surface, 3480.05 mm vs 4100.83 mm, P < 0.0001) and partially edentulous (volume, 10,577.35 mm vs 14,608.10 mm, P = 0.0002; surface, 2980.11 mm vs 3797.42 mm, P < 0.0001) or complete edentulous sinuses (volume, 11,200.99 mm vs 15,382.29 mm, P < 0.0001; surface, 3118.32 mm vs 3877.25 mm, P < 0.0001). For males, the statistically different mean values were calculated between fully dentate and partially edentulous (volume, P = 0.0022; surface, P = 0.0048) maxillary sinuses. Between the sexes, no differences were only measured for female and male partially dentate fully edentulous sinuses (2 teeth missing) and between partially edentulous sinuses in women and men (1 teeth vs 2 teeth missing). With a corresponding software program, it is possible to analyze the maxillary sinus precisely. The dentition influences the volume and surface of the pneumatic maxillary sinus. Therefore, sex determination is possible by analysis of the maxillary sinus event through the increase in pneumatization.

Common and distinct patterns of grey-matter volume alteration in major depression and bipolar disorder: evidence from voxel-based meta-analysis.

PubMed

Wise, T; Radua, J; Via, E; Cardoner, N; Abe, O; Adams, T M; Amico, F; Cheng, Y; Cole, J H; de Azevedo Marques Périco, C; Dickstein, D P; Farrow, T F D; Frodl, T; Wagner, G; Gotlib, I H; Gruber, O; Ham, B J; Job, D E; Kempton, M J; Kim, M J; Koolschijn, P C M P; Malhi, G S; Mataix-Cols, D; McIntosh, A M; Nugent, A C; O'Brien, J T; Pezzoli, S; Phillips, M L; Sachdev, P S; Salvadore, G; Selvaraj, S; Stanfield, A C; Thomas, A J; van Tol, M J; van der Wee, N J A; Veltman, D J; Young, A H; Fu, C H; Cleare, A J; Arnone, D

2017-10-01

Finding robust brain substrates of mood disorders is an important target for research. The degree to which major depression (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are associated with common and/or distinct patterns of volumetric changes is nevertheless unclear. Furthermore, the extant literature is heterogeneous with respect to the nature of these changes. We report a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies in MDD and BD. We identified studies published up to January 2015 that compared grey matter in MDD (50 data sets including 4101 individuals) and BD (36 data sets including 2407 individuals) using whole-brain VBM. We used statistical maps from the studies included where available and reported peak coordinates otherwise. Group comparisons and conjunction analyses identified regions in which the disorders showed common and distinct patterns of volumetric alteration. Both disorders were associated with lower grey-matter volume relative to healthy individuals in a number of areas. Conjunction analysis showed smaller volumes in both disorders in clusters in the dorsomedial and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, including the anterior cingulate cortex and bilateral insula. Group comparisons indicated that findings of smaller grey-matter volumes relative to controls in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus, along with cerebellar, temporal and parietal regions were more substantial in major depression. These results suggest that MDD and BD are characterised by both common and distinct patterns of grey-matter volume changes. This combination of differences and similarities has the potential to inform the development of diagnostic biomarkers for these conditions.

Hydrologic risk analysis in the Yangtze River basin through coupling Gaussian mixtures into copulas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Y. R.; Huang, W. W.; Huang, G. H.; Li, Y. P.; Huang, K.; Li, Z.

2016-02-01

In this study, a bivariate hydrologic risk framework is proposed through coupling Gaussian mixtures into copulas, leading to a coupled GMM-copula method. In the coupled GMM-Copula method, the marginal distributions of flood peak, volume and duration are quantified through Gaussian mixture models and the joint probability distributions of flood peak-volume, peak-duration and volume-duration are established through copulas. The bivariate hydrologic risk is then derived based on the joint return period of flood variable pairs. The proposed method is applied to the risk analysis for the Yichang station on the main stream of the Yangtze River, China. The results indicate that (i) the bivariate risk for flood peak-volume would keep constant for the flood volume less than 1.0 × 105 m3/s day, but present a significant decreasing trend for the flood volume larger than 1.7 × 105 m3/s day; and (ii) the bivariate risk for flood peak-duration would not change significantly for the flood duration less than 8 days, and then decrease significantly as duration value become larger. The probability density functions (pdfs) of the flood volume and duration conditional on flood peak can also be generated through the fitted copulas. The results indicate that the conditional pdfs of flood volume and duration follow bimodal distributions, with the occurrence frequency of the first vertex decreasing and the latter one increasing as the increase of flood peak. The obtained conclusions from the bivariate hydrologic analysis can provide decision support for flood control and mitigation.

Tracking and data relay satellite system configuration and tradeoff study, part 1. Volume 3: Telecommunications service system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The results of the telecommunications subsystem analysis are presented. The relay system requirements and constraints, interference analysis, frequency selection, modulation and coding analysis, and the performance analysis of the relay system are included.

Photo-Geomorphology of Coastal Landforms, Cat Island, Bahamas. Volume II,

DTIC Science & Technology

The report provides the aerial imagery used in the analysis of the coastal landforms of Cat Island in the east-central Bahama Islands. Interpretive...published volume Coastal Landform of Cat Island, Bahamas: A Study of Holocene Accretionary Topography and Sea-Level Change but may also serve as an

STS payload data collection and accommodations analysis study. Volume 2: Payload data collection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

A format developed for Space Transportation System payload data collection and a process for collecting the data are described along with payload volumes and a data deck to be used as input for the Marshall Interactive Planning System. Summary matrices of the data generated are included.

Meta-Analysis of Amygdala Volumes in Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pfeifer, Jonathan C.; Welge, Jeffrey; Strakowski. Stephen M.; Adler, Caleb M.; Delbello, Melissa P.

2008-01-01

The size of amygdala of bipolar youths and adults is investigated using neuroimaging studies. Findings showed that smaller volumes of amygdala were observed in youths with bipolar youths compared with children and adolescents without bipolar disorder. The structural amygdala abnormalities in bipolar youths are examined further.

ANALYSIS OF LOW-LEVEL PESTICIDES FROM HIGH-ELEVATION LAKE WATERS BY LARGE VOLUME INJECTION GCMS

EPA Science Inventory

This paper describes the method development for the determination of ultra-low level pesticides from high-elevation lake waters by large-volume injection programmable temperature vaporizer (LVI-PTV) GC/MS. This analytical method is developed as a subtask of a larger study, backgr...

Detection of traffic incidents using nonlinear time series analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fragkou, A. D.; Karakasidis, T. E.; Nathanail, E.

2018-06-01

In this study, we present results of the application of nonlinear time series analysis on traffic data for incident detection. More specifically, we analyze daily volume records of Attica Tollway (Greece) collected from sensors located at various locations. The analysis was performed using the Recurrence Plot (RP) and Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) method of the volume data of the lane closest to the median. The results show that it is possible to identify, through the abrupt change of the dynamics of the system revealed by RPs and RQA, the occurrence of incidents on the freeway and differentiate from recurrent traffic congestion. The proposed methodology could be of interest for big data traffic analysis.

Volume of Plasma Expansion and Functional Outcomes in Stroke.

PubMed

Miller, Joseph B; Lewandowski, Christopher; Wira, Charles R; Taylor, Andrew; Burmeister, Charlotte; Welch, Robert

2017-04-01

Plasma expansion in acute ischemic stroke has potential to improve cerebral perfusion, but the long-term effects on functional outcome are mixed in prior trials. The goal of this study was to evaluate how the magnitude of plasma expansion affects neurological recovery in acute stroke. This was a secondary analysis of data from the Albumin in Acute Stroke Part 2 trial investigating the relationship between the magnitude of overall intravenous volume infusion (crystalloid and colloid) to clinical outcome. The data were inclusive of 841 patients with a mean age of 64 years and a median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 11. In a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model, this analysis tested the volume of plasma expansion over the first 48 h of hospitalization as a predictor of favorable outcome, defined as either a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 or 1 or a NIHSS score of 0 or 1 at 90 days. This model included all study patients, irrespective of albumin or isotonic saline treatment. Patients that received higher volumes of plasma expansion more frequently had large vessel ischemic stroke and higher NIHSS scores. The multivariable-adjusted model revealed that there was decreased odds of a favorable outcome for every 250 ml additional volume plasma expansion over the first 48 h (OR 0.91, 95 % CI, 0.88-0.94). The present study demonstrates an association between greater volume of plasma expansion and worse neurological recovery.

Free volume study on the miscibility of PEEK/PEI blend using positron annihilation and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramani, R.; Alam, S.

2015-06-01

High performance polymer blend of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and poly(ether imide) (PEI) was examined for their free volume behaviour using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis methods. The fractional free volume obtained from PALS shows a negative deviation from linear additivity rule implying good miscibility between PEEK and PEI. The dynamic modulus and loss tangent were obtained for the blends at three different frequencies 1, 10 and 100 Hz at temperatures close to and above their glass transition temperature. Applying Time-Temperature-Superposition (TTS) principle to the DMTA results, master curves were obtained at a reference temperature To and the WLF coefficients c01 and c02 were evaluated. Both the methods give similar results for the dependence of fractional free volume on PEI content in this blend. The results reveal that free volume plays an important role in determining the visco-elastic properties in miscible polymer blends.

Semiautomatic regional segmentation to measure orbital fat volumes in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. A validation study.

PubMed

Comerci, M; Elefante, A; Strianese, D; Senese, R; Bonavolontà, P; Alfano, B; Bonavolontà, B; Brunetti, A

2013-08-01

This study was designed to validate a novel semi-automated segmentation method to measure regional intra-orbital fat tissue volume in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Twenty-four orbits from 12 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, 24 orbits from 12 controls, ten orbits from five MRI study simulations and two orbits from a digital model were used. Following manual region of interest definition of the orbital volumes performed by two operators with different levels of expertise, an automated procedure calculated intra-orbital fat tissue volumes (global and regional, with automated definition of four quadrants). In patients with Graves' disease, clinical activity score and degree of exophthalmos were measured and correlated with intra-orbital fat volumes. Operator performance was evaluated and statistical analysis of the measurements was performed. Accurate intra-orbital fat volume measurements were obtained with coefficients of variation below 5%. The mean operator difference in total fat volume measurements was 0.56%. Patients had significantly higher intra-orbital fat volumes than controls (p<0.001 using Student's t test). Fat volumes and clinical score were significantly correlated (p<0.001). The semi-automated method described here can provide accurate, reproducible intra-orbital fat measurements with low inter-operator variation and good correlation with clinical data.

Rostral cranial fossa as a site for cerebrospinal fluid drainage - volumetric studies in dog breeds of different size and morphotype.

PubMed

Sokołowski, Wojciech; Czubaj, Norbert; Skibniewski, Michał; Barszcz, Karolina; Kupczyńska, Marta; Kinda, Wojciech; Kiełbowicz, Zdzisław

2018-05-18

Hydrocephalus is a multifactorial condition, whose aetiology is not fully understood. Congenital hydrocephalus frequently occurs in small and brachycephalic dog breeds. Although it is widely accepted that the cribriform plate located in the rostral cranial fossa (RCF) is a site of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage, the RCF has not been studied extensively. Literature reports indicate that a decreased caudal cranial fossa (CCF) volume in the course of the Chiari-like malformation may obstruct CSF circulation. We hypothesised that morphological diversity among different breeds in the volume of the RCF may affect CSF circulation. The aim of the study was to carry out a volumetric analysis of the RCF and the cranial cavity and to determine the ratio between them in dog breeds of different size and morphotype. We performed computed tomography (CT) morphometric analysis of the RCF compartment by obtaining volume measurements from the transverse and reformatted sagittal and dorsal planes. The rostral cranial fossa percentage - volume of the rostral cranial fossa/volume of cranial cavity × 100 (volRCF/volCC × 100) was lower in small and brachycephalic dog breeds than in the other dogs. A reduced RCF volume was detected in small and brachycephalic dog breeds, some of which are predisposed to congenital hydrocephalus. This may lead to overcrowding of brain parenchyma in the RCF and may impede CSF circulation. Our observations may be useful for future studies focusing on the causes and new therapies to treat conditions such as hydrocephalus and syringomyelia.

Which echocardiographic parameter is a better marker of volume status in hemodialysis patients?

PubMed

Sabaghian, Tahereh; Hajibaratali, Bahareh; Samavat, Shiva

2016-11-01

Bio-impedance analysis (BIA) is a preferred method for estimating the volume status. However, it cannot be utilized in daily practice. Since the assessment of the volume status is important and challenging for hemodialysis (HD) patients, the aim of study was to determine the volume status in chronic HD patients using echocardiographic parameters and assess its correlation with BIA. In this cross-sectional analysis, echocardiography and BIA were performed on 30 chronic HD patients 30 min before and 30 min after dialysis. All the cases of dialysis were performed in the middle of the week. This study also assessed the correlation between echocardiographic parameters and BIA parameters. There were significant differences between ECW, TBW, and TBW% (TBW/W) before and after HD. Significant differences were observed between echocardiographic parameters of IVCD, IVCDi min , IVCDi max before and after the HD. LVEDD, LVESD, LA area, mitral valve inflow, E/E', and IVRT, were improved after dialysis, too. There was a significant correlation between IVCDi min as an index of volume status, ECW% and TBW% before HD and IVCDi min change after dialysis had a significant correlation with %ECW change after dialysis. Comparison between hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups indicated IVCDi min was significantly lower in non-hypertensive group after dialysis. Our results showed a correlation between IVCDi min and BIA parameters before HD. So, it seems that IVCDi min can be a good parameter for determining the volume status of HD patients. However, further studies, with larger sample size and with a prospective study design, are required to confirm these results.

Meta-analysis of gray matter abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder: should Asperger disorder be subsumed under a broader umbrella of autistic spectrum disorder?

PubMed

Via, Esther; Radua, Joaquim; Cardoner, Narcis; Happé, Francesca; Mataix-Cols, David

2011-04-01

Studies investigating abnormalities of regional gray matter volume in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have yielded contradictory results. It is unclear whether the current subtyping of ASD into autistic disorder and Asperger disorder is neurobiologically valid. To conduct a quantitative meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies exploring gray matter volume abnormalities in ASD, to examine potential neurobiological differences among ASD subtypes, and to create an online database to facilitate replication and further analyses by other researchers. We retrieved studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge databases between June 3, 1999, the date of the first voxel-based morphometry study in ASD, and October 31, 2010. Studies were also retrieved from reference lists and review articles. We contacted authors soliciting additional data. Twenty-four data sets met inclusion criteria, comprising 496 participants with ASD and 471 healthy control individuals. Peak coordinates of clusters of regional gray matter differences between participants with ASD and controls, as well as demographic, clinical, and methodologic variables, were extracted from each study or obtained from the authors. No differences in overall gray matter volume were found between participants with ASD and healthy controls. Participants with ASD were found to have robust decreases of gray matter volume in the bilateral amygdala-hippocampus complex and the bilateral precuneus. A small increase of gray matter volume in the middle-inferior frontal gyrus was also found. No significant differences in overall or regional gray matter volumes were found between autistic disorder and Asperger disorder. Decreases of gray matter volume in the right precuneus were statistically higher in adults than in adolescents with ASD. These results confirm the crucial involvement of structures linked to social cognition in ASD. The absence of significant differences between ASD subtypes may have important nosologic implications for the DSM-5. The publically available database will be a useful resource for future research.

The structural studies of vanadium substituted lithium-bismuth-boro-tellurite glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madhu, A.; Eraiah, B.

2018-05-01

The structural studies of vanadium substituted lithium-bismuth-boro-tellurite glass is successfully prepared and certain analysis like XRD,FTIR,DTA/TGA with density, molar volume are done. The amorphous phase has been identified based on X-ray diffraction analysis. The vanadium oxide plays the role as a glass-modifier and influences on BO3 ↔ BO4 conversion. The observed nonlinear variation in Tg with vanadium oxide increase, it reflects structural changes. The nonlinear variation of density and molar volume can be attributed to vanadium oxide incorporation have increased the number of Non-bridging oxygen (NBO'S).

DOD/NASA system impact analysis (study 2.1). Volume 2: Study results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

Results of the tug turnaround cost study and the space transportation system (STS) abort modes and effects study are presented for DOD/NASA system impact analysis. Cost estimates are given for tug turnabout; and vehicle description, abort assessment, and abort performance capability are given for the STS.

Intra- and interobserver agreement for fetal cerebral measurements in 3D-ultrasonography.

PubMed

Albers, Maria E W A; Buisman, Erato T I A; Kahn, René S; Franx, Arie; Onland-Moret, N Charlotte; de Heus, Roel

2018-04-10

The aim of this study is to evaluate intra- and interobserver agreement for measurement of intracranial, cerebellar, and thalamic volume with the Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) technique in three-dimensional ultrasound images, in comparison to two-dimensional measurements of these brain structures. Three-dimensional ultrasound images of the brains of 80 fetuses at 20-24 weeks' gestational age were obtained from YOUth, a Dutch prospective cohort study. Two observers performed offline measurement of the occipitofrontal diameter, intracranial volume, transcerebellar diameter, cerebellar volume, and thalamic width, area, and volume, independently. VOCAL was used for calculation of the volumes. The two-way random, single measures intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for analysis of agreement and Bland-Altman plots were configured. Intra- and interobserver agreement was almost perfect for occipitofrontal diameter (intra ICC 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.92; inter ICC 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.94), intracranial volume (intra ICC 0.96, 95% CI 0.91-0.98; inter ICC 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98) and transcerebellar diameter (intra ICC 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.94; inter ICC 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.910). For cerebellar volume, the intraobserver agreement was almost perfect (0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.90), whereas the interobserver agreement was substantial (0.75, 95% CI 0.44-0.88). Agreement was only moderate for thalamic measurements. Bland-Altman plots for the volume measurements are normally distributed with acceptable mean differences and 95% limits of agreement. The intra- and interobserver agreement of the measurement of intracranial and cerebellar volume with VOCAL was almost perfect. These measurements are therefore reliable, and can be used to investigate fetal brain development. Thalamic measurements are not reliable enough. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gray matter alteration in isolated congenital anosmia patient: a voxel-based morphometry study.

PubMed

Yao, Linyin; Yi, Xiaoli; Wei, Yongxiang

2013-09-01

Decreased volume of gray matter (GM) was observed in olfactory loss in patients with neurodegenerative disorder. However, GM volume has not yet been investigated in isolated congenital anosmia (ICA) people. We herewith investigated the volume change of gray matter of an ICA boy by morphometric analysis of magnetic resonance images (voxel-based morphometry), and compared with that of 20 age-matched healthy controls. ICA boy presented a significant decrease in GM volume in the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, middle cingulate cortex, thalamus, insular cortex, cerebellum, precuneus, gyrus rectus, subcallosal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus and piriform cortex. No significant GM volume increase was detected in other brain areas. The pattern of GM atrophy was similar as previous literature reported. Our results identified similar GM volume alterations regardless of the causes of olfactory impairment. Decreased GM volume was not only shown in olfactory bulbs, olfactory tracts and olfactory sulcus, also in primary olfactory cortex and the secondary cerebral olfactory areas in ICA people. This is the first study to evaluate GM volume alterations in ICA people.

Whole-tumor histogram analysis of the cerebral blood volume map: tumor volume defined by 11C-methionine positron emission tomography image improves the diagnostic accuracy of cerebral glioma grading.

PubMed

Wu, Rongli; Watanabe, Yoshiyuki; Arisawa, Atsuko; Takahashi, Hiroto; Tanaka, Hisashi; Fujimoto, Yasunori; Watabe, Tadashi; Isohashi, Kayako; Hatazawa, Jun; Tomiyama, Noriyuki

2017-10-01

This study aimed to compare the tumor volume definition using conventional magnetic resonance (MR) and 11C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET/PET) images in the differentiation of the pre-operative glioma grade by using whole-tumor histogram analysis of normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV) maps. Thirty-four patients with histopathologically proven primary brain low-grade gliomas (n = 15) and high-grade gliomas (n = 19) underwent pre-operative or pre-biopsy MET/PET, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted at 3.0 T. The histogram distribution derived from the nCBV maps was obtained by co-registering the whole tumor volume delineated on conventional MR or MET/PET images, and eight histogram parameters were assessed. The mean nCBV value had the highest AUC value (0.906) based on MET/PET images. Diagnostic accuracy significantly improved when the tumor volume was measured from MET/PET images compared with conventional MR images for the parameters of mean, 50th, and 75th percentile nCBV value (p = 0.0246, 0.0223, and 0.0150, respectively). Whole-tumor histogram analysis of CBV map provides more valuable histogram parameters and increases diagnostic accuracy in the differentiation of pre-operative cerebral gliomas when the tumor volume is derived from MET/PET images.

Finite element analysis of osteoporosis models based on synchrotron radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, W.; Xu, J.; Zhao, J.; Sun, J.

2016-04-01

With growing pressure of social aging, China has to face the increasing population of osteoporosis patients as well as the whole world. Recently synchrotron radiation has become an essential tool for biomedical exploration with advantage of high resolution and high stability. In order to study characteristic changes in different stages of primary osteoporosis, this research focused on the different periods of osteoporosis of rats based on synchrotron radiation. Both bone histomorphometry analysis and finite element analysis were then carried on according to the reconstructed three dimensional models. Finally, the changes of bone tissue in different periods were compared quantitatively. Histomorphometry analysis showed that the structure of the trabecular in osteoporosis degraded as the bone volume decreased. For femurs, the bone volume fraction (Bone volume/ Total volume, BV/TV) decreased from 69% to 43%. That led to the increase of the thickness of trabecular separation (from 45.05μ m to 97.09μ m) and the reduction of the number of trabecular (from 7.99 mm-1 to 5.97mm-1). Simulation of various mechanical tests with finite element analysis (FEA) indicated that, with the exacerbation of osteoporosis, the bones' ability of resistance to compression, bending and torsion gradually became weaker. The compression stiffness of femurs decreased from 1770.96 Fμ m-1 to 697.41 Fμ m-1, the bending and torsion stiffness were from 1390.80 Fμ m-1 to 566.11 Fμ m-1 and from 2957.28N.m/o to 691.31 N.m/o respectively, indicated the decrease of bone strength, and it matched the histomorphometry analysis. This study suggested that FEA and synchrotron radiation were excellent methods for analysing bone strength conbined with histomorphometry analysis.

A study of system requirements for Phobos/Deimos missions. Volume 2: Phase 1 results, satellite rendezvous and landing missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The feasibility of a satellite rendezvous, landing, and roving mission to the Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos is considered. Mission-oriented analysis, systems analysis, and conceptual design studies are presented.

Surgeon volume for percutaneous nephrolithotomy is associated with medical costs and length of hospital stay: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

PubMed

Huang, Wei-Yi; Wu, Shiao-Chi; Chen, Yu-Fen; Lan, Chung-Fu; Hsieh, Ju-Ton; Huang, Kuo-How

2014-08-01

To investigate the factors associated with outcomes and medical costs for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). The present study uses a subset of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), known as the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID 2005), which contains the data of all medical benefit claims from 1997 to 2010 for a subset of 1 million enrollees randomly drawn from the population of 22.72 million persons who were enrolled in 2005. The claims data for all subjects with a diagnosis of urolithiasis who underwent PCNL were analyzed. Hospital and surgeon case volume were classified by quartile. The correlations of all patient, surgeon, and hospital variables with the outcomes and medical costs of PCNL were analyzed by generalized estimating equations. A total of 995 subjects received PCNL. In univariate analysis, PCNL performed by high-volume surgeons (≥12) cost 26% less ($2684 vs $1986) and resulted in a 34.3% shorter hospital stay (6.5 vs 9.9 days) compared with low-volume surgeons (≤3). In multivariate analysis, surgeon volume was a significant predictor for medical cost, length of stay, and intensive care unit transfer but not complications and mortality. Surgeon volume was associated with lower medical costs and shorter length of stay after PCNL. Surgeon volume, however, was not an independent predictor of complications and mortality. Our findings have important implications for urologists and policymakers with regard to the cost and effectiveness of PCNL.

Cerebellum and cognition in multiple sclerosis: the fall status matters.

PubMed

Kalron, Alon; Allali, Gilles; Achiron, Anat

2018-04-01

Cerebellar volume has been linked with cognitive performances in MS; however, the association in terms of fall status has never been compared. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to compare cognitive performance with cerebellar volume between MS fallers and non-fallers. The cross-sectional study included 140 PwMS (96 women). MRI volumetric analysis was based on the FreeSurfer image analysis suite. Volumes of the cerebellar gray and white matter were identified as the region of interest. Cognitive function included scores obtained from a computerized cognitive battery of tests. The sample was divided into fallers and non-fallers. MS fallers demonstrated a lower global cognitive performance and reduced gray and white matter cerebellar volumes compared to non-fallers. A significant association was found between total gray and white matter cerebellar volume and visual spatial subdomain (P value = 0.044 and 0.032, respectively) in the non-fallers group. The association remained significant after controlling for the total cranial volume and neurological disability (P value = 0.026 and 0.047, respectively). A relationship was found between the visual spatial score and the left gray matter cerebellum volume; R 2  = 0.44, P value = 0.021. We believe that a unique relationship exists between the cerebellum structure and cognitive processing according to fall history in PwMS and should be considered when investigating the association between brain functioning and cognitive performances in MS.

Identification of Pulmonary Hypertension Caused by Left-Sided Heart Disease (World Health Organization Group 2) Based on Cardiac Chamber Volumes Derived From Chest CT Imaging.

PubMed

Aviram, Galit; Rozenbaum, Zach; Ziv-Baran, Tomer; Berliner, Shlomo; Topilsky, Yan; Fleischmann, Dominik; Sung, Yon K; Zamanian, Roham T; Guo, Haiwei Henry

2017-10-01

Evaluations of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) commonly include chest CT imaging. We hypothesized that cardiac chamber volumes calculated from the same CT scans can yield additional information to distinguish PH related to left-sided heart disease (World Health Organization group 2) from other PH subtypes. Patients who had PH confirmed by right heart catheterization and contrast-enhanced chest CT studies were enrolled in this retrospective multicenter study. Cardiac chamber volumes were calculated using automated segmentation software and compared between group 2 and non-group 2 patients with PH. This study included 114 patients with PH, 27 (24%) of whom were classified as group 2 based on their pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Patients with group 2 PH exhibited significantly larger median left atrial (LA) volumes (118 mL vs 63 mL; P < .001), larger median left ventricular (LV) volumes (90 mL vs 76 mL; P = .02), and smaller median right ventricular (RV) volumes (173 mL vs 210 mL; P = .005) than did non-group 2 patients. On multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, group 2 PH was significantly associated with larger median LA and LV volumes (P < .001 and P = .008, respectively) and decreased volume ratios of RA/LA, RV/LV, and RV/LA (P = .001, P = .004, and P < .001, respectively). Enlarged LA volumes demonstrated a high discriminatory ability for group 2 PH (area under the curve, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.870-0.968). Volumetric analysis of the cardiac chambers from nongated chest CT scans, particularly with findings of an enlarged left atrium, exhibited high discriminatory ability for identifying patients with PH due to left-sided heart disease. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Structural Arrangement Trade Study. Volume 1: Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS) and Graphite Composite Primary Structures (GCPS). Executive summary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1995-03-01

This volume is the first of a three volume set that discusses the structural arrangement trade study plan that will identify the most suitable configuration for an SSTO winged vehicle capable of delivering 25,000 lbs to a 220 nm circular orbit at 51.6 deg inclination. The Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS), and Graphite Composite Primary Structures most suitable for intertank, wing and thrust structures are identified. This executive summary presents the trade study process, the selection process, requirements used, analysis performed and data generated. Conclusions and recommendations are also presented.

Structural Arrangement Trade Study. Volume 1: Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS) and Graphite Composite Primary Structures (GCPS). Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

This volume is the first of a three volume set that discusses the structural arrangement trade study plan that will identify the most suitable configuration for an SSTO winged vehicle capable of delivering 25,000 lbs to a 220 nm circular orbit at 51.6 deg inclination. The Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS), and Graphite Composite Primary Structures most suitable for intertank, wing and thrust structures are identified. This executive summary presents the trade study process, the selection process, requirements used, analysis performed and data generated. Conclusions and recommendations are also presented.

SPAR thermal analysis processors reference manual, system level 16. Volume 1: Program executive. Volume 2: Theory. Volume 3: Demonstration problems. Volume 4: Experimental thermal element capability. Volume 5: Programmer reference

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marlowe, M. B.; Moore, R. A.; Whetstone, W. D.

1979-01-01

User instructions are given for performing linear and nonlinear steady state and transient thermal analyses with SPAR thermal analysis processors TGEO, SSTA, and TRTA. It is assumed that the user is familiar with basic SPAR operations and basic heat transfer theory.

Development and Evaluation of a Semi-automated Segmentation Tool and a Modified Ellipsoid Formula for Volumetric Analysis of the Kidney in Non-contrast T2-Weighted MR Images.

PubMed

Seuss, Hannes; Janka, Rolf; Prümmer, Marcus; Cavallaro, Alexander; Hammon, Rebecca; Theis, Ragnar; Sandmair, Martin; Amann, Kerstin; Bäuerle, Tobias; Uder, Michael; Hammon, Matthias

2017-04-01

Volumetric analysis of the kidney parenchyma provides additional information for the detection and monitoring of various renal diseases. Therefore the purposes of the study were to develop and evaluate a semi-automated segmentation tool and a modified ellipsoid formula for volumetric analysis of the kidney in non-contrast T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR)-images. Three readers performed semi-automated segmentation of the total kidney volume (TKV) in axial, non-contrast-enhanced T2-weighted MR-images of 24 healthy volunteers (48 kidneys) twice. A semi-automated threshold-based segmentation tool was developed to segment the kidney parenchyma. Furthermore, the three readers measured renal dimensions (length, width, depth) and applied different formulas to calculate the TKV. Manual segmentation served as a reference volume. Volumes of the different methods were compared and time required was recorded. There was no significant difference between the semi-automatically and manually segmented TKV (p = 0.31). The difference in mean volumes was 0.3 ml (95% confidence interval (CI), -10.1 to 10.7 ml). Semi-automated segmentation was significantly faster than manual segmentation, with a mean difference = 188 s (220 vs. 408 s); p < 0.05. Volumes did not differ significantly comparing the results of different readers. Calculation of TKV with a modified ellipsoid formula (ellipsoid volume × 0.85) did not differ significantly from the reference volume; however, the mean error was three times higher (difference of mean volumes -0.1 ml; CI -31.1 to 30.9 ml; p = 0.95). Applying the modified ellipsoid formula was the fastest way to get an estimation of the renal volume (41 s). Semi-automated segmentation and volumetric analysis of the kidney in native T2-weighted MR data delivers accurate and reproducible results and was significantly faster than manual segmentation. Applying a modified ellipsoid formula quickly provides an accurate kidney volume.

Traffic analysis toolbox volume IX : work zone modeling and simulation, a guide for analysts

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

This document is the second volume in the FHWA Traffic Analysis Toolbox: Work Zone Analysis series. Whereas the first volume provides guidance to decision-makers at agencies and jurisdictions considering the role of analytical tools in work zone plan...

Three dimensional ultrasonography for advanced neurosonography (Neurosofe-3d). Analysis of acquisition-related factors influencing the quality of the brain volumes.

PubMed

Maiz, Nerea; Alonso, Ignacio; Belar, María; Burgos, Jorge; Irasarri, Ana; Molina, Francisca S; de Paco, Catalina; Pijoan, José I; Plasencia, Walter; Rodó, Carlota; Rodríguez, M Angeles; Tajada, Mauricio; Tubau, Albert

2016-11-01

To evaluate the acquisition-related factors influencing the quality of the brain volumes for further study of advanced neurosonography. This was a prospective multicentre study. Five centres were asked to include five cases each, acquiring two volumes per case, at different gestational ages. Ten operators performed an advanced neurosonography per case. The potential influence of the following factors on the number of evaluable structures was assessed: vaginal/ abdominal acquisition, position of the head, gestational age, subjective quality of the volume and the acquiring operator itself. Four hundred and thirty-two evaluations were included in the study. A total of 80% of the structures were evaluated satisfactorily in the axial plane, 67.1% and 55.1% in the coronal and sagittal plane, respectively. Sagittal volumes acquired transvaginally had a better quality than those acquired transabdominally. Gestational age affected the quality of axial and sagittal volumes (p < 0.001), and the best quality was obtained between 20 and 27 weeks. In axial and sagittal volumes, the head position influenced the percentage of structures visualized (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Factors affecting the quality of the volume for advanced neurosonography are gestational age, fetal head position, transvaginal acquisition in sagittal volumes, the acquiring operator and the subjective quality of the volume. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Volume 1: Survey of Available Information in Support of the Energy-Water Bandwidth Study of Desalination Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rao, Prakash; Aghajanzadeh, Arian; Sheaffer, Paul

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has set a goal to reduce the cost of seawater desalination systems to $0.50/ cubic meter (m 3) through the development of technology pathways to reduce energy, capital, operating, soft, and system integration costs.1 In support of this goal and to evaluate the technology pathways to lower the energy and carbon intensity of desalination while also reducing the total water cost, DOE is undertaking a comprehensive study of the energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions for desalination technologies and systems. This study is being undertaken in two phases. Phase 1, Survey ofmore » Available Information in Support of the Energy-Water Bandwidth Study of Desalination Systems, collected the background information that will underpin Phase 2, the Energy Water Bandwidth Study for Desalination Systems. This report (Volume 1) summarizes the results from Phase 1. The results from Phase 2 will be summarized in Volume 2: Energy Water Bandwidth Study for Desalination Systems (Volume 2). The analysis effort for Phase 2 will utilize similar methods as other industry-specific Energy Bandwidth Studies developed by DOE,2 which has provided a framework to evaluate and compare energy savings potentials within and across manufacturing sectors at the macroscale. Volume 2 will assess the current state of desalination energy intensity and reduction potential through the use of advanced and emerging technologies. For the purpose of both phases of study, energy intensity is defined as the amount of energy required per unit of product water output (for example, kilowatt-hours per cubic meter of water produced). These studies will expand the scope of previous sectorial bandwidth studies by also evaluating CO 2 intensity and reduction opportunities and informing a techno-economic analysis of desalination systems. Volume 2 is expected to be completed in 2017.« less

Space tug economic analysis study. Volume 2: Tug concepts analysis. Part 2: Economic analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

An economic analysis of space tug operations is presented. The subjects discussed are: (1) cost uncertainties, (2) scenario analysis, (3) economic sensitivities, (4) mixed integer programming formulation of the space tug problem, and (5) critical parameters in the evaluation of a public expenditure.

High volume data storage architecture analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malik, James M.

1990-01-01

A High Volume Data Storage Architecture Analysis was conducted. The results, presented in this report, will be applied to problems of high volume data requirements such as those anticipated for the Space Station Control Center. High volume data storage systems at several different sites were analyzed for archive capacity, storage hierarchy and migration philosophy, and retrieval capabilities. Proposed architectures were solicited from the sites selected for in-depth analysis. Model architectures for a hypothetical data archiving system, for a high speed file server, and for high volume data storage are attached.

Cervical Vertebral Body's Volume as a New Parameter for Predicting the Skeletal Maturation Stages.

PubMed

Choi, Youn-Kyung; Kim, Jinmi; Yamaguchi, Tetsutaro; Maki, Koutaro; Ko, Ching-Chang; Kim, Yong-Il

2016-01-01

This study aimed to determine the correlation between the volumetric parameters derived from the images of the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae by using cone beam computed tomography with skeletal maturation stages and to propose a new formula for predicting skeletal maturation by using regression analysis. We obtained the estimation of skeletal maturation levels from hand-wrist radiographs and volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae bodies from 102 Japanese patients (54 women and 48 men, 5-18 years of age). We performed Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis and simple regression analysis. All volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae exhibited statistically significant correlations (P < 0.05). The simple regression model with the greatest R-square indicated the fourth-cervical-vertebra volume as an independent variable with a variance inflation factor less than ten. The explanation power was 81.76%. Volumetric parameters of cervical vertebrae using cone beam computed tomography are useful in regression models. The derived regression model has the potential for clinical application as it enables a simple and quantitative analysis to evaluate skeletal maturation level.

Cervical Vertebral Body's Volume as a New Parameter for Predicting the Skeletal Maturation Stages

PubMed Central

Choi, Youn-Kyung; Kim, Jinmi; Maki, Koutaro; Ko, Ching-Chang

2016-01-01

This study aimed to determine the correlation between the volumetric parameters derived from the images of the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae by using cone beam computed tomography with skeletal maturation stages and to propose a new formula for predicting skeletal maturation by using regression analysis. We obtained the estimation of skeletal maturation levels from hand-wrist radiographs and volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae bodies from 102 Japanese patients (54 women and 48 men, 5–18 years of age). We performed Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis and simple regression analysis. All volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae exhibited statistically significant correlations (P < 0.05). The simple regression model with the greatest R-square indicated the fourth-cervical-vertebra volume as an independent variable with a variance inflation factor less than ten. The explanation power was 81.76%. Volumetric parameters of cervical vertebrae using cone beam computed tomography are useful in regression models. The derived regression model has the potential for clinical application as it enables a simple and quantitative analysis to evaluate skeletal maturation level. PMID:27340668

SRB Environment Evaluation and Analysis. Volume 3: ASRB Plume Induced Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bender, R. L.; Brown, J. R.; Reardon, J. E.; Everson, J.; Coons, L. W.; Stuckey, C. I.; Fulton, M. S.

1991-01-01

Contract NAS8-37891 was expanded in late 1989 to initiate analysis of Shuttle plume induced environments as a result of the substitution of the Advanced Solid Rocket Booster (ASRB) for the Redesigned Solid Rocket Booster (RSRB). To support this analysis, REMTECH became involved in subscale and full-scale solid rocket motor test programs which further expanded the scope of work. Later contract modifications included additional tasks to produce initial design cycle environments and to specify development flight instrumentation. Volume 3 of the final report describes these analyses and contains a summary of reports resulting from various studies.

Paying for volume: British Columbia's experiment with funding hospitals based on activity.

PubMed

Sutherland, Jason M; Liu, Guiping; Crump, R Trafford; Law, Michael

2016-11-01

For decades, Canadian hospitals have been funded using global budgets, a lump sum for providing care irrespective of the volume or mix of patients. In 2010, British Columbia (BC) introduced a controversial, but limited, form of activity-based funding (ABF) for hospitals. This study uses a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of the introduction of ABF funding in the province. Our analysis used the population of patient-level acute hospitalization and day surgery discharge summaries from BC's acute hospitals from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2013. Our outcome measures focused on both the intended and unintended impacts of ABF including the volume of cases, the efficiency of care, and the quality of care delivered. Our analysis used interrupted time series analysis. There was an increase in the volume of inpatient surgical activity associated with the implementation of ABF. The volume of medical cases dropped, and medical patients' lengths of stays increased. There were no changes in measures of quality. Hospitals' measurable responses to ABF policies on a number of key performance measures were mixed. Though BC's experiment with ABF was not associated with increases in hospital volumes for all types of care, the experience provides key lessons that small magnitude and short-term reforms are unlikely to change hospitals' behaviors quickly. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of perioperative chewing gum on gastric fluid volume and gastric pH: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Ouanes, Jean-Pierre P; Bicket, Mark C; Togioka, Brandon; Tomas, Vicente Garcia; Wu, Christopher L; Murphy, Jamie D

2015-03-01

To determine if preoperative gum chewing affects gastric pH and gastric fluid volume. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources included Cochrane, PubMed, and EMBASE databases from inception to June 2012 and reference lists of known relevant articles without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials in which a treatment group that chewed gum was compared to a control group that fasted were included. Relevant data, including main outcomes of gastric fluid volume and gastric pH, were extracted. Four studies involving 287 patients were included. The presence of chewing gum was associated with small but statically significant increases in gastric fluid volume (mean difference = 0.21 mL/kg; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.39; P = .03) but not in gastric pH (mean difference = 0.11 mL/kg; 95% confidence interval, -0.14 to 0.36; P = .38). Gastric fluid volume and gastric pH remained unchanged in subgroup analysis by either sugar or sugarless gum type. Chewing gum in the perioperative period causes small but statically significant increases in gastric fluid volume and no change in gastric pH. The increase in gastric fluid most likely is of no clinical significance in terms of aspiration risk for the patient. Elective surgery should not necessarily be canceled or delayed in healthy patients who accidentally chew gum preoperatively. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasm size using CT volumetry, spherical and ellipsoid formulas: validation study.

PubMed

Chalian, Hamid; Seyal, Adeel Rahim; Rezai, Pedram; Töre, Hüseyin Gürkan; Miller, Frank H; Bentrem, David J; Yaghmai, Vahid

2014-01-10

The accuracy for determining pancreatic cyst volume with commonly used spherical and ellipsoid methods is unknown. The role of CT volumetry in volumetric assessment of pancreatic cysts needs to be explored. To compare volumes of the pancreatic cysts by CT volumetry, spherical and ellipsoid methods and determine their accuracy by correlating with actual volume as determined by EUS-guided aspiration. Setting This is a retrospective analysis performed at a tertiary care center. Patients Seventy-eight pathologically proven pancreatic cysts evaluated with CT and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were included. Design The volume of fourteen cysts that had been fully aspirated by EUS was compared to CT volumetry and the routinely used methods (ellipsoid and spherical volume). Two independent observers measured all cysts using commercially available software to evaluate inter-observer reproducibility for CT volumetry. The volume of pancreatic cysts as determined by various methods was compared using repeated measures analysis of variance. Bland-Altman plot and intraclass correlation coefficient were used to determine mean difference and correlation between observers and methods. The error was calculated as the percentage of the difference between the CT estimated volumes and the aspirated volume divided by the aspirated one. CT volumetry was comparable to aspirated volume (P=0.396) with very high intraclass correlation (r=0.891, P<0.001) and small mean difference (0.22 mL) and error (8.1%). Mean difference with aspirated volume and error were larger for ellipsoid (0.89 mL, 30.4%; P=0.024) and spherical (1.73 mL, 55.5%; P=0.004) volumes than CT volumetry. There was excellent inter-observer correlation in volumetry of the entire cohort (r=0.997, P<0.001). CT volumetry is accurate and reproducible. Ellipsoid and spherical volume overestimate the true volume of pancreatic cysts.

Comparing diffuse optical tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging signals during a cognitive task: pilot study

PubMed Central

Hernández-Martin, Estefania; Marcano, Francisco; Casanova, Oscar; Modroño, Cristian; Plata-Bello, Julio; González-Mora, Jose Luis

2017-01-01

Abstract. Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) measures concentration changes in both oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin providing three-dimensional images of local brain activations. A pilot study, which compares both DOT and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) volumes through t-maps given by canonical statistical parametric mapping (SPM) processing for both data modalities, is presented. The DOT series were processed using a method that is based on a Bayesian filter application on raw DOT data to remove physiological changes and minimum description length application index to select a number of singular values, which reduce the data dimensionality during image reconstruction and adaptation of DOT volume series to normalized standard space. Therefore, statistical analysis is performed with canonical SPM software in the same way as fMRI analysis is done, accepting DOT volumes as if they were fMRI volumes. The results show the reproducibility and ruggedness of the method to process DOT series on group analysis using cognitive paradigms on the prefrontal cortex. Difficulties such as the fact that scalp–brain distances vary between subjects or cerebral activations are difficult to reproduce due to strategies used by the subjects to solve arithmetic problems are considered. T-images given by fMRI and DOT volume series analyzed in SPM show that at the functional level, both DOT and fMRI measures detect the same areas, although DOT provides complementary information to fMRI signals about cerebral activity. PMID:28386575

Left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex atrophy is associated with frontal lobe function in Alzheimer's disease and contributes to caregiver burden.

PubMed

Matsuoka, Kiwamu; Yasuno, Fumihiko; Hashimoto, Akiko; Miyasaka, Toshiteru; Takahashi, Masato; Kiuchi, Kuniaki; Iida, Junzo; Kichikawa, Kimihiko; Kishimoto, Toshifumi

2018-05-01

Caregivers of patients with dementia experience physical and mental deterioration. We have previously reported a correlation between caregiver burden and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) total scores of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially regarding the dependency factor from the Zarit Burden Interview. The present study aimed to identify an objective biomarker for predicting caregiver burden. The participants were 26 pairs of caregivers and patients with AD and mild-to-moderate dementia. Correlations between regional gray matter volumes in the patients with AD and the FAB total scores were explored by using whole-brain voxel-based morphometric analysis. Path analysis was used to estimate the relationships between regional gray matter volumes, FAB total scores, and caregiver burden based on the Zarit Burden Interview. The voxel-based morphometric revealed a significant positive correlation between the FAB total scores and the volume of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This positive correlation persisted after controlling for the effect of general cognitive dysfunction, which was assessed by using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Path analysis revealed that decreases in FAB scores, caused by reduced frontal lobe volumes, negatively affected caregiver burden. The present study revealed that frontal lobe function, based on FAB scores, was affected by the volume of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Decreased scores were associated with greater caregiver burden, especially for the dependency factor. These findings may facilitate the development of an objective biomarker for predicting caregiver burden. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Converging evidence for abnormalities of the prefrontal cortex and evaluation of midsagittal structures in pediatric PTSD: an MRI study

PubMed Central

Carrion, Victor G.; Weems, Carl F.; Watson, Christa; Eliez, Stephan; Menon, Vinod; Reiss, Allan L.

2009-01-01

Objective Volumetric imaging research has shown abnormal brain morphology in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when compared to controls. We present results on a study of brain morphology in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and midline structures, via indices of gray matter volume and density, in pediatric PTSD. We hypothesized that both methods would demonstrate aberrant morphology in the PFC. Further, we hypothesized aberrant brainstem anatomy and reduced corpus collosum volume in children with PTSD. Methods Twenty-four children (aged 7-14) with history of interpersonal trauma and 24 age, and gender matched controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Images of the PFC and midline brain structures were first analyzed using volumetric image analysis. The PFC data were then compared with whole-brain voxel-based techniques using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Results The PTSD group showed significant increased gray matter volume in the right and left inferior and superior quadrants of the prefrontal cortex and smaller gray matter volume in pons, and posterior vermis areas by volumetric image analysis. The voxel-byvoxel group comparisons demonstrated increased gray matter density mostly localized to ventral PFC as compared to the control group. Conclusions Abnormal frontal lobe morphology, as revealed by separate-complementary image analysis methods, and reduced pons and posterior vermis areas are associated with pediatric PTSD. Voxel-based morphometry may help to corroborate and further localize data obtained by volume of interest methods in PTSD. PMID:19349151

A Study of Job Demands and Curriculum Development in Agricultural Training Related to the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System. Final Report. Volume III. Student Terminal Performance Objectives and Instructional Modules.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Harold S.; And Others

This is the third volume of a four-volume report of a research project designed to (1) identify job needs for agricultural occupations which will result from the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System and perform a task analysis on each occupation, (2) develop instructional modules and determine their place in either high school or 2-year…

Impact Assessment and Forecasts of Information and Telecommunications Technologies Applied to Education and Training: Volume II--Main Report and Issues Analyses. Analysis for the Orientation of the Work of Sector Actors in the Framework of DELTA.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Commission of the European Communities, Brussels (Belgium).

This report, the second volume in a three volume set, summarizes the results of a study performed by the DELTA (Developing European Learning through Technological Advance) unit in parallel with the projects underway in the research and development Exploratory Action. The report identifies the key issues, associated requirements and options, and…

CMR reference values for left ventricular volumes, mass, and ejection fraction using computer-aided analysis: the Framingham Heart Study.

PubMed

Chuang, Michael L; Gona, Philimon; Hautvast, Gilion L T F; Salton, Carol J; Breeuwer, Marcel; O'Donnell, Christopher J; Manning, Warren J

2014-04-01

To determine sex-specific reference values for left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass, and ejection fraction (EF) in healthy adults using computer-aided analysis and to examine the effect of age on LV parameters. We examined data from 1494 members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, obtained using short-axis stack cine SSFP CMR, identified a healthy reference group (without cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or LV wall motion abnormality) and determined sex-specific upper 95th percentile thresholds for LV volumes and mass, and lower 5th percentile thresholds for EF using computer-assisted border detection. In secondary analyses, we stratified participants by age-decade and tested for linear trend across age groups. The reference group comprised 685 adults (423F; 61 ± 9 years). Men had greater LV volumes and mass, before and after indexation to common measures of body size (all P = 0.001). Women had greater EF (73 ± 6 versus 71 ± 6%; P = 0.0002). LV volumes decreased with greater age in both sexes, even after indexation. Indexed LV mass did not vary with age. LV EF and concentricity increased with greater age in both sexes. We present CMR-derived LV reference values. There are significant age and sex differences in LV volumes, EF, and geometry, whereas mass differs between sexes but not age groups. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

CMR Reference Values for Left Ventricular Volumes, Mass and Ejection Fraction Using Computer-Aided Analysis: The Framingham Heart Study

PubMed Central

Chuang, Michael L.; Gona, Philimon; Hautvast, Gilion L.T.F.; Salton, Carol J.; Breeuwer, Marcel; O’Donnell, Christopher J.; Manning, Warren J.

2013-01-01

Purpose To determine sex-specific reference values for left ventricular (LV) volumes, mass and ejection fraction (EF) in healthy adults using computer-aided analysis and to examine the effect of age on LV parameters. Methods and Methods We examined data from 1494 members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort, obtained using short-axis stack cine SSFP CMR, identified a healthy reference group (without cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or LV wall motion abnormality) and determined sex-specific upper 95th percentile thresholds for LV volumes and mass, and lower 5th percentile thresholds for EF using computer-assisted border detection. In secondary analyses we stratified participants by age-decade and tested for linear trend across age groups. Results The reference group comprised 685 adults (423F; 61±9 years). Men had greater LV volumes and mass, before and after indexation to common measures of body size (all p<0.001). Women had greater EF (73±6 vs. 71±6%, p=0.0002). LV volumes decreased with greater age in both sexes, even after indexation. Indexed LV mass did not vary with age. LV EF and concentricity increased with greater age in both sexes. Conclusion We present CMR-derived LV reference values. There are significant age and sex differences in LV volumes, EF and geometry, while mass differs between sexes but not age groups. PMID:24123369

Bacterial molecular networks: bridging the gap between functional genomics and dynamical modelling.

PubMed

van Helden, Jacques; Toussaint, Ariane; Thieffry, Denis

2012-01-01

This introductory review synthesizes the contents of the volume Bacterial Molecular Networks of the series Methods in Molecular Biology. This volume gathers 9 reviews and 16 method chapters describing computational protocols for the analysis of metabolic pathways, protein interaction networks, and regulatory networks. Each protocol is documented by concrete case studies dedicated to model bacteria or interacting populations. Altogether, the chapters provide a representative overview of state-of-the-art methods for data integration and retrieval, network visualization, graph analysis, and dynamical modelling.

Analysis of flexible aircraft longitudinal dynamics and handling qualities. Volume 1: Analysis methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waszak, M. R.; Schmidt, D. S.

1985-01-01

As aircraft become larger and lighter due to design requirements for increased payload and improved fuel efficiency, they will also become more flexible. For highly flexible vehicles, the handling qualities may not be accurately predicted by conventional methods. This study applies two analysis methods to a family of flexible aircraft in order to investigate how and when structural (especially dynamic aeroelastic) effects affect the dynamic characteristics of aircraft. The first type of analysis is an open loop model analysis technique. This method considers the effects of modal residue magnitudes on determining vehicle handling qualities. The second method is a pilot in the loop analysis procedure that considers several closed loop system characteristics. Volume 1 consists of the development and application of the two analysis methods described above.

Structural arrangement trade study. Volume 3: Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS) and Graphite Composite Primary Structures (GCPS). Addendum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1995-03-01

This volume is the third of a 3 volume set that addresses the structural trade study plan that will identify the most suitable structural configuration for an SSTO winged vehicle capable of delivering 25,000 lbs to a 220 nm circular orbit at 51.6 deg inclination. The most suitable Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS), and Graphite Composite Tank System (GCPS) composite materials for intertank, wing and thrust structures are identified. Vehicle resizing charts, selection criteria and back-up charts, parametric costing approach and the finite element method analysis are discussed.

Structural arrangement trade study. Volume 3: Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS) and Graphite Composite Primary Structures (GCPS). Addendum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

This volume is the third of a 3 volume set that addresses the structural trade study plan that will identify the most suitable structural configuration for an SSTO winged vehicle capable of delivering 25,000 lbs to a 220 nm circular orbit at 51.6 deg inclination. The most suitable Reusable Hydrogen Composite Tank System (RHCTS), and Graphite Composite Tank System (GCPS) composite materials for intertank, wing and thrust structures are identified. Vehicle resizing charts, selection criteria and back-up charts, parametric costing approach and the finite element method analysis are discussed.

Volume of the steady-state space of financial flows in a monetary stock-flow-consistent model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazan, Aurélien

2017-05-01

We show that a steady-state stock-flow consistent macro-economic model can be represented as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP). The set of solutions is a polytope, which volume depends on the constraints applied and reveals the potential fragility of the economic circuit, with no need to study the dynamics. Several methods to compute the volume are compared, inspired by operations research methods and the analysis of metabolic networks, both exact and approximate. We also introduce a random transaction matrix, and study the particular case of linear flows with respect to money stocks.

The physical basis of glacier volume-area scaling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bahr, D.B.; Meier, M.F.; Peckham, S.D.

1997-01-01

Ice volumes are known for only a few of the roughly 160,000 glaciers worldwide but are important components of many climate and sea level studies which require water flux estimates. A scaling analysis of the mass and momentum conservation equations shows that glacier volumes can be related by a power law to more easily observed glacier surface areas. The relationship requires four closure choices for the scaling behavior of glacier widths, slopes, side drag and mass balance. Reasonable closures predict a volume-area scaling exponent which is consistent with observations, giving a physical and practical basis for estimating ice volumes. Glacier volume is insensitive to perturbations in the mass balance scaling, but changes in average accumulation area ratios reflect significant changes in the scaling of both mass balance and ice volume. Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.

Relationship of carotid arterial functional and structural changes to left atrial volume in untreated hypertension.

PubMed

Jaroch, Joanna; Rzyczkowska, Barbara; Bociąga, Zbigniew; Vriz, Olga; Driussi, Caterina; Loboz-Rudnicka, Maria; Dudek, Krzysztof; Łoboz-Grudzień, Krystyna

2016-04-01

The contribution of arterial functional and structural changes to left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been the area of recent research. There are some studies on the relationship between arterial stiffness (a.s.) and left atrial (LA) remodelling as a marker of diastolic burden. Little is known about the association of arterial structural changes and LA remodelling in hypertension (H). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between carotid a.s. and intima-media thickness (IMT) and LA volume in subjects with H. The study included 245 previously untreated hypertensives (166 women and 79 men, mean age 53.7 ± 11.8 years). Each patient was subjected to echocardiography with measurement of LA volume, evaluation of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and LV systolic/diastolic function indices, integrated assessment of carotid IMT and echo-tracking of a.s. and wave reflection parameters. Univariate regression analysis revealed significant correlations between indexed LA volume and selected clinical characteristics, echocardiographic indices of LVH and LV diastolic/systolic function and a.s./wave reflection parameters. The following parameters were identified as independent determinants of indexed LA volume on multivariate regression analysis: diastolic blood pressure (beta = -0.229, P < 0.001), left ventricular mass index (LVMI; beta = 0.258, P < 0.001), E/e’ index (ratio of early mitral flow wave velocity – E to early diastolic mitral annular velocity – e’; beta = 0.266, P = 0.001), augmentation index (AI; beta = 0.143, P = 0.008) and body mass index (BMI; beta = 0.132, P = 0.017). No correlations between indexed LA volume and IMT were found. There is a significant relationship between carotid arterial stiffness but not intima-media thickness and LA volume in patients with untreated hypertension.

Association of umbilical hernia with volume of ascites in liver cirrhosis: a retrospective observational study.

PubMed

Wang, Ran; Qi, Xingshun; Peng, Ying; Deng, Han; Li, Jing; Ning, Zheng; Dai, Junna; Hou, Feifei; Zhao, Jiancheng; Guo, Xiaozhong

2016-11-01

Umbilical hernia is a common abdominal complication in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Our study aimed to evaluate the correlation of umbilical hernia with the volume of ascites. Cirrhotic patients that underwent axial abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scans at our hospital between June 2012 and June 2014 were eligible. All CT images were reviewed to confirm the presence of umbilical hernia. The volume of ascites was estimated by five-point method. One hundred and fifty-seven patients were enrolled into this study. Among them, 101 patients had ascites and 6 patients had umbilical hernia. Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and serum sodium were significantly lower in patients with umbilical hernia (P = 0.008, P = 0.011, respectively). Child-Pugh scores and the volume of ascites were significantly higher in patients with umbilical hernia (P = 0.03, P < 0.0001, respectively). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the volume of ascites, Child-Pugh scores, and blood ammonia had positive correlations with umbilical hernia (r = 0.4579, P < 0.0001; r = 0.175, P = 0.03; r = 0.342, P = 0.001, respectively) and that serum sodium had a negative correlation with umbilical hernia (r = -0.203, P = 0.011). In patients with ascites ≥2000 mL, only AKP was significantly associated with umbilical hernia (P = 0.0497). No variables were significantly associated with umbilical hernia in a subgroup analysis of patients matched according to the volume of ascites. The volume of ascites has a positive correlation with umbilical hernia. However, the factors associated with umbilical hernia in patients with severe ascites remain unclear. © 2016 Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Detection and volume estimation of embolic air in the middle cerebral artery using transcranial Doppler sonography.

PubMed

Bunegin, L; Wahl, D; Albin, M S

1994-03-01

Cerebral embolism has been implicated in the development of cognitive and neurological deficits following bypass surgery. This study proposes methodology for estimating cerebral air embolus volume using transcranial Doppler sonography. Transcranial Doppler audio signals of air bubbles in the middle cerebral artery obtained from in vivo experiments were subjected to a fast-Fourier transform analysis. Audio segments when no air was present as well as artifact resulting from electrocautery and sensor movement were also subjected to fast-Fourier transform analysis. Spectra were compared, and frequency and power differences were noted and used for development of audio band-pass filters for isolation of frequencies associated with air emboli. In a bench model of the middle cerebral artery circulation, repetitive injections of various air volumes between 0.5 and 500 microL were made. Transcranial Doppler audio output was band-pass filtered, acquired digitally, then subjected to a fast-Fourier transform power spectrum analysis and power spectrum integration. A linear least-squares correlation was performed on the data. Fast-Fourier transform analysis of audio segments indicated that frequencies between 250 and 500 Hz are consistently dominant in the spectrum when air emboli are present. Background frequencies appear to be below 240 Hz, and artifact resulting from sensor movement and electrocautery appears to be below 300 Hz. Data from the middle cerebral artery model filtered through a 307- to 450-Hz band-pass filter yielded a linear relation between emboli volume and the integrated value of the power spectrum near 40 microL. Detection of emboli less than 0.5 microL was inconsistent, and embolus volumes greater than 40 microL were indistinguishable from one another. The preliminary technique described in this study may represent a starting point from which automated detection and volume estimation of cerebral emboli might be approached.

Public Interest in Breast Augmentation: Analysis and Implications of Google Trends Data.

PubMed

Wilson, Stelios C; Daar, David A; Sinno, Sammy; Levine, Steven M

2018-06-01

Breast augmentation is the most common aesthetic surgery performed in the United States (US) annually. Analysis of Google Trends (GT) data may give plastic surgeons useful information regarding worldwide, national, and regional interest for breast augmentation and other commonly performed aesthetic surgeries. Data were collected using GT for breast augmentation and associated search terms from January 2004 to May 2017. Case volume was obtained from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual reports for the calendar year 2005-2016. Trend analysis showed that total search term volume for breast augmentation and breast implants gradually decreased worldwide and in the US over the study period while the search term boob job slowly increased. Univariate linear regression demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation between average annual Google search volume of "breast augmentation" and the annual volume of breast augmentations performed in the US according to ASPS data (R 2  = 0.44, p = 0.018). There was no significant correlation between national volume of breast augmentations performed and search volume using the terms "breast implants" or "boob job" over time (p = 0.84 and p = 0.07, respectively). In addition, there appears to be country specific variation in interest based on time of year and peaks in interest following specific policies. To our knowledge, this is the first and only analysis of GT data in the plastic surgery literature to date. To that end, this study highlights this large and potentially powerful data set for plastic surgeons both in the US and around the world. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Probabilistic risk assessment of the Space Shuttle. Phase 3: A study of the potential of losing the vehicle during nominal operation. Volume 5: Auxiliary shuttle risk analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fragola, Joseph R.; Maggio, Gaspare; Frank, Michael V.; Gerez, Luis; Mcfadden, Richard H.; Collins, Erin P.; Ballesio, Jorge; Appignani, Peter L.; Karns, James J.

1995-01-01

Volume 5 is Appendix C, Auxiliary Shuttle Risk Analyses, and contains the following reports: Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Space Shuttle Phase 1 - Space Shuttle Catastrophic Failure Frequency Final Report; Risk Analysis Applied to the Space Shuttle Main Engine - Demonstration Project for the Main Combustion Chamber Risk Assessment; An Investigation of the Risk Implications of Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Chamber Pressure Excursions; Safety of the Thermal Protection System of the Space Shuttle Orbiter - Quantitative Analysis and Organizational Factors; Space Shuttle Main Propulsion Pressurization System Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Final Report; and Space Shuttle Probabilistic Risk Assessment Proof-of-Concept Study - Auxiliary Power Unit and Hydraulic Power Unit Analysis Report.

The unfolding effects on the protein hydration shell and partial molar volume: a computational study.

PubMed

Del Galdo, Sara; Amadei, Andrea

2016-10-12

In this paper we apply the computational analysis recently proposed by our group to characterize the solvation properties of a native protein in aqueous solution, and to four model aqueous solutions of globular proteins in their unfolded states thus characterizing the protein unfolded state hydration shell and quantitatively evaluating the protein unfolded state partial molar volumes. Moreover, by using both the native and unfolded protein partial molar volumes, we obtain the corresponding variations (unfolding partial molar volumes) to be compared with the available experimental estimates. We also reconstruct the temperature and pressure dependence of the unfolding partial molar volume of Myoglobin dissecting the structural and hydration effects involved in the process.

Analysis of Water Volume Changes and Temperature Measurement Location Effect to the Accuracy of RTP Power Calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lanyau, T.; Hamzah, N. S.; Jalal Bayar, A. M.; Karim, J. Abdul; Phongsakorn, P. K.; Suhaimi, K. Mohammad; Hashim, Z.; Razi, H. Md; Fazli, Z. Mohd; Ligam, A. S.; Mustafa, M. K. A.

2018-01-01

Power calibration is one of the important aspect for safe operation of the reactor. In RTP, the calorimetric method has been applied in reactor power calibration. This method involves measurement of water temperature in the RTP tank. Water volume and location of the temperature measurement may play an important role to the accuracy of the measurement. In this study, the analysis of water volume changes and thermocouple location effect to the power calibration accuracy has been done. The changes of the water volume are controlled by the variation of water level in reactor tank. The water level is measured by the ultrasonic measurement device. Temperature measurement has been done by thermocouple placed at three different locations. The accuracy of the temperature trend from various condition of measurement has been determined and discussed in this paper.

The relationships between breast volume, breast dense volume and volumetric breast density with body mass index, body fat mass and ethnicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakariyah, N.; Pathy, N. B.; Taib, N. A. M.; Rahmat, K.; Judy, C. W.; Fadzil, F.; Lau, S.; Ng, K. H.

2016-03-01

It has been shown that breast density and obesity are related to breast cancer risk. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships of breast volume, breast dense volume and volumetric breast density (VBD) with body mass index (BMI) and body fat mass (BFM) for the three ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay and Indian) in Malaysia. We collected raw digital mammograms from 2450 women acquired on three digital mammography systems. The mammograms were analysed using Volpara software to obtain breast volume, breast dense volume and VBD. Body weight, BMI and BFM of the women were measured using a body composition analyser. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of increased overall breast volume, breast dense volume and VBD. Indians have highest breast volume and breast dense volume followed by Malays and Chinese. While Chinese are highest in VBD, followed by Malay and Indian. Multivariable analysis showed that increasing BMI and BFM were independent predictors of increased overall breast volume and dense volume. Moreover, BMI and BFM were independently and inversely related to VBD.

Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Infant Heart Transplant Patients Is Not Associated with Worsened Outcomes.

PubMed

Carter, Harmony F; Lau, Carol; Juma, David; Wells, Briana; Applegate, Richard L

2016-05-01

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is common during infant cardiac surgery. A previous report of pediatric heart transplant recipients showed that increased RBC transfusion volume was independently associated with increased length of intensive care unit stay. It is unclear whether transfusion to infants as a subgroup carries similar risks. This study investigated relationships between intraoperative RBC transfusion during heart transplantation and postoperative length of stay (LOS), morbidity, and mortality in infants. Retrospective analysis of medical records from infants <1 year old undergoing primary heart transplantation at Loma Linda University Medical Center from 1985 to 2012 was conducted. Exclusion criteria included preoperative exchange transfusion or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Data sought included patient characteristics; intraoperative RBC transfusion volume and cardiopulmonary bypass details; and postoperative vasoactive support, ventilator support, morbidity, LOS, and 30-day mortality. The relationship of RBC transfusion volume (mL/kg) to these postoperative variables was assessed by univariate analysis. Multiple regression analysis of postoperative LOS included variables that were independent predictors of LOS or associated with ≥10% change in the β-estimate for RBC effect. Data from 307 infants showed that most (66.8%) had single-ventricle physiology. Median age at transplant was 50 days, weight 3.95 kg, and intraoperative transfusion volume 109 mL/kg. Transfusion volume was inversely related to age and weight. Median postoperative LOS was 18.2 days. Univariate linear regression analysis of transfused volume showed no relationship to log-transformed postoperative LOS (F(1,305) = 0.00; P = 0.960; R = 0.000; β-coefficient = 0.004; 95% confidence interval = -0.1542 to 0.1623). Transfused volume was not related to 30-day mortality (difference -0.162; -0.048 to 0.371 mL/kg; P = 0.112) or to postoperative ventilator support (R = 0.047), but was greater in patients who required reoperation (difference -0.246; -0.494 to -0.025; P = 0.004). Multiple regression analysis for all patients revealed age, preoperative ventilator support, prolonged postoperative ventilatory or vasoactive support, transplant year, and 30-day mortality, but not major adverse events, to be significant confounding variables. Adjusting for these variables, transfused volume was not associated with prolonged postoperative LOS. In contrast to a prior report, we found no correlation between intraoperative RBC transfusion and postoperative LOS when studying only infants. Infants have maturing organ systems, less physiologic reserve, and increased surgical blood loss (evaluated as mL/kg) during cardiac surgery than their larger, older counterparts, distinguishing them from the general pediatric population. These differences require additional studies to determine the outcome impact of transfusion strategies in the infant subgroup.

Comparative study of standard space and real space analysis of quantitative MR brain data.

PubMed

Aribisala, Benjamin S; He, Jiabao; Blamire, Andrew M

2011-06-01

To compare the robustness of region of interest (ROI) analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain data in real space with analysis in standard space and to test the hypothesis that standard space image analysis introduces more partial volume effect errors compared to analysis of the same dataset in real space. Twenty healthy adults with no history or evidence of neurological diseases were recruited; high-resolution T(1)-weighted, quantitative T(1), and B(0) field-map measurements were collected. Algorithms were implemented to perform analysis in real and standard space and used to apply a simple standard ROI template to quantitative T(1) datasets. Regional relaxation values and histograms for both gray and white matter tissues classes were then extracted and compared. Regional mean T(1) values for both gray and white matter were significantly lower using real space compared to standard space analysis. Additionally, regional T(1) histograms were more compact in real space, with smaller right-sided tails indicating lower partial volume errors compared to standard space analysis. Standard space analysis of quantitative MRI brain data introduces more partial volume effect errors biasing the analysis of quantitative data compared to analysis of the same dataset in real space. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Are EMS call volume predictions based on demand pattern analysis accurate?

PubMed

Brown, Lawrence H; Lerner, E Brooke; Larmon, Baxter; LeGassick, Todd; Taigman, Michael

2007-01-01

Most EMS systems determine the number of crews they will deploy in their communities and when those crews will be scheduled based on anticipated call volumes. Many systems use historical data to calculate their anticipated call volumes, a method of prediction known as demand pattern analysis. To evaluate the accuracy of call volume predictions calculated using demand pattern analysis. Seven EMS systems provided 73 consecutive weeks of hourly call volume data. The first 20 weeks of data were used to calculate three common demand pattern analysis constructs for call volume prediction: average peak demand (AP), smoothed average peak demand (SAP), and 90th percentile rank (90%R). The 21st week served as a buffer. Actual call volumes in the last 52 weeks were then compared to the predicted call volumes by using descriptive statistics. There were 61,152 hourly observations in the test period. All three constructs accurately predicted peaks and troughs in call volume but not exact call volume. Predictions were accurate (+/-1 call) 13% of the time using AP, 10% using SAP, and 19% using 90%R. Call volumes were overestimated 83% of the time using AP, 86% using SAP, and 74% using 90%R. When call volumes were overestimated, predictions exceeded actual call volume by a median (Interquartile range) of 4 (2-6) calls for AP, 4 (2-6) for SAP, and 3 (2-5) for 90%R. Call volumes were underestimated 4% of time using AP, 4% using SAP, and 7% using 90%R predictions. When call volumes were underestimated, call volumes exceeded predictions by a median (Interquartile range; maximum under estimation) of 1 (1-2; 18) call for AP, 1 (1-2; 18) for SAP, and 2 (1-3; 20) for 90%R. Results did not vary between systems. Generally, demand pattern analysis estimated or overestimated call volume, making it a reasonable predictor for ambulance staffing patterns. However, it did underestimate call volume between 4% and 7% of the time. Communities need to determine if these rates of over-and underestimation are acceptable given their resources and local priorities.

Quantification of right ventricular volumes and function by real time three-dimensional echocardiographic longitudinal axial plane method: validation in the clinical setting.

PubMed

Endo, Yuka; Maddukuri, Prasad V; Vieira, Marcelo L C; Pandian, Natesa G; Patel, Ayan R

2006-11-01

Measurement of right ventricular (RV) volumes and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) by three-dimensional echocardiographic (3DE) short-axis disc summation method has been validated in multiple studies. However, in some patients, short-axis images are of insufficient quality for accurate tracing of the RV endocardial border. This study examined the accuracy of long-axis analysis in multiple planes (longitudinal axial plane method) for assessment of RV volumes and RVEF. 3DE images were analyzed in 40 subjects with a broad range of RV function. RV end-diastolic (RVEDV) and end-systolic volumes (RVESV) and RVEF were calculated by both short-axis disc summation method and longitudinal axial plane method. Excellent correlation was obtained between the two methods for RVEDV, RVESV, and RVEF (r = 0.99, 0.99, 0.94, respectively; P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). 3DE longitudinal-axis analysis is a promising technique for the evaluation of RV function, and may provide an alternative method of assessment in patients with suboptimal short-axis images.

Cross-sectional study of variables associated with length of stay and ICU need in open Roux-En-Y gastric bypass surgery for morbid obese patients: an exploratory analysis based on the Public Health System administrative database (Datasus) in Brazil.

PubMed

Asano, Elio Fernando; Rasera, Irineu; Shiraga, Elisabete Cristina

2012-12-01

This is an exploratory analysis of potential variables associated with open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery hospitalization resource use pattern. Cross-sectional study based on an administrative database (DATASUS) records. Inclusion criteria were adult patients undergoing RYGB between Jan/2008 and Jun/2011. Dependent variables were length of stay (LoS) and ICU need. Independent variables were: gender, age, region, hospital volume, surgery at certified center of excellence (CoE) by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), teaching hospital, and year of hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate analysis (logistic regression for ICU need and linear regression for length of stay) were performed. Data from 13,069 surgeries were analyzed. In crude analysis, hospital volume was the most impactful variable associated with log-transformed LoS (1.312 ± 0.302 high volume vs. 1.670 ± 0.581 low volume, p < 0.001), whereas for ICU need it was certified CoE (odds ratio (OR), 0.016; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.010-0.026). After adjustment by logistic regression, certified CoE remained as the strongest predictor of ICU need (OR, 0.011; 95% CI, 0.007-0.018), followed by hospital volume (OR, 3.096; 95% CI, 2.861-3.350). Age group, male gender, and teaching hospital were also significantly associated (p < 0.001). For log-transformed LoS, final model includes hospital volume (coefficient, -0.223; 95% CI, -0.250 to -0.196) and teaching hospital (coefficient, 0.375; 95% CI, 0.351-0.398). Region of Brazil was not associated with any of the outcomes. High-volume hospital was the strongest predictor for shorter LoS, whereas SRC certification was the strongest predictor of lower ICU need. Public health policies targeting an increase of efficiency and patient access to the procedure should take into account these results.

Factors influencing endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Hebbar, S; Chaya, V; Rai, L; Ramachandran, A

2014-07-01

Cut-off values for endometrial thickness (ET) in asymptomatic postmenopausal woman have been standardized. However, there are no comprehensive studies to document how various factors can influence the ET after the age of menopause. To study the various factors influencing the ET in postmenopausal women. This was a prospective observational study. A total of 110 postmenopausal women underwent detailed history taking, clinical examination, and transvaginal scan for uterine volume and ovarian volume. The volumes were calculated by using ellipsoid formula: Width × thickness × height × 0.523. The variation in ET with respect to the influencing factors such as age, duration of menopause, parity, body mass index (BMI), medical illness like diabetes/hypertension, drugs like tamoxifen, presence of myoma, uterine volume, ovarian volume, and serum estradiol (in selected patients) were measured. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 16, Chicago II, USA) to obtain mean, standard deviation (SD), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and inter quartile ranges. Comparison of means was carried out using analysis of variance. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 55.4 (6.91) years (95% CI, 54.1, 56.7). The mean (SD) age at menopause was 47.95 (3.90) years (95% CI, 47.2, 48.7) and the mean (SD) duration of menopause was 7.27 (6.65) years (95% CI, 6.01, 8.53). The mean (SD) ET was 3.8 (2.3) mm (95% CI, 3.36, 4.23). Medical illness like diabetes and hypertension did not alter the ET. ET increased as BMI increased and it was statistically significant. The presence of myoma increased uterine volume significantly and was associated with thick endometrial stripe. Similarly, whenever the ovaries were visualized and as the ovarian volume increased, there was an increase in ET. When ET was > 4 mm (n = 37), they were offered endocel, of which 16 agreed to undergo the procedure. None were found to have endometrial cancer. This study suggests that parity, BMI, presence of myoma, tamoxifen usage, uterine volume, ovarian volume and serum estradiol influence the ET in postmenopausal women.

Image registration and analysis for quantitative myocardial perfusion: application to dynamic circular cardiac CT.

PubMed

Isola, A A; Schmitt, H; van Stevendaal, U; Begemann, P G; Coulon, P; Boussel, L; Grass, M

2011-09-21

Large area detector computed tomography systems with fast rotating gantries enable volumetric dynamic cardiac perfusion studies. Prospectively, ECG-triggered acquisitions limit the data acquisition to a predefined cardiac phase and thereby reduce x-ray dose and limit motion artefacts. Even in the case of highly accurate prospective triggering and stable heart rate, spatial misalignment of the cardiac volumes acquired and reconstructed per cardiac cycle may occur due to small motion pattern variations from cycle to cycle. These misalignments reduce the accuracy of the quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion parameters on a per voxel basis. An image-based solution to this problem is elastic 3D image registration of dynamic volume sequences with variable contrast, as it is introduced in this contribution. After circular cone-beam CT reconstruction of cardiac volumes covering large areas of the myocardial tissue, the complete series is aligned with respect to a chosen reference volume. The results of the registration process and the perfusion analysis with and without registration are evaluated quantitatively in this paper. The spatial alignment leads to improved quantification of myocardial perfusion for three different pig data sets.

Nanopipettes: probes for local sample analysis.

PubMed

Saha-Shah, Anumita; Weber, Anna E; Karty, Jonathan A; Ray, Steven J; Hieftje, Gary M; Baker, Lane A

2015-06-01

Nanopipettes (pipettes with diameters <1 μm) were explored as pressure-driven fluid manipulation tools for sampling nanoliter volumes of fluids. The fundamental behavior of fluids confined in the narrow channels of the nanopipette shank was studied to optimize sampling volume and probe geometry. This method was utilized to collect nanoliter volumes (<10 nL) of sample from single Allium cepa cells and live Drosophila melanogaster first instar larvae. Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was utilized to characterize the collected sample. The use of nanopipettes for surface sampling of mouse brain tissue sections was also explored. Lipid analyses were performed on mouse brain tissues with spatial resolution of sampling as small as 50 μm. Nanopipettes were shown to be a versatile tool that will find further application in studies of sample heterogeneity and population analysis for a wide range of samples.

Studies in Public Welfare. Paper No. 12 (Part I): The Family, Poverty, and Welfare Programs; Factors Influencing Family Instability. A Volume of Studies Prepared for the Use of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy of the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joint Economic Committee, Washington, DC.

Contents of this volume of studies analyzing the causes of the alarming growth in illegitimacy, families lacking a father, and welfare caseloads, include the following studies: "The Family, Poverty, and Welfare Programs: An Introductory Essay on Problems of Analysis and Policy," Robert I. Lerman; "The Impact of Welfare Payment Levels on Family…

Influences of sampling volume and sample concentration on the analysis of atmospheric carbonyls by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine cartridge.

PubMed

Pal, Raktim; Kim, Ki-Hyun

2008-03-10

In this study, the analytical bias involved in the application of the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH)-coated cartridge sampling method was investigated for the analysis of five atmospheric carbonyl species (i.e., acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, and valeraldehyde). In order to evaluate the potential bias of the sampling technique, a series of the laboratory experiments were conducted to cover a wide range of volumes (1-20 L) and concentration levels (approximately 100-2000 ppb in case of acetaldehyde). The results of these experiments were then evaluated in terms of the recovery rate (RR) for each carbonyl species. The detection properties of these carbonyls were clearly distinguished between light and heavy species in terms of RR and its relative standard error (R.S.E.). It also indicates that the studied analytical approach can yield the most reliable pattern for light carbonyls, especially acetaldehyde. When these experimental results were tested further by a two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), the analysis based on the cartridge sampling method is affected more sensitively by the concentration levels of samples rather than the sampling volume.

Lee-Yang zero analysis for the study of QCD phase structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ejiri, Shinji

2006-03-01

We comment on the Lee-Yang zero analysis for the study of the phase structure of QCD at high temperature and baryon number density by Monte-Carlo simulations. We find that the sign problem for nonzero density QCD induces a serious problem in the finite volume scaling analysis of the Lee-Yang zeros for the investigation of the order of the phase transition. If the sign problem occurs at large volume, the Lee-Yang zeros will always approach the real axis of the complex parameter plane in the thermodynamic limit. This implies that a scaling behavior which would suggest a crossover transition will notmore » be obtained. To clarify this problem, we discuss the Lee-Yang zero analysis for SU(3) pure gauge theory as a simple example without the sign problem, and then consider the case of nonzero density QCD. It is suggested that the distribution of the Lee-Yang zeros in the complex parameter space obtained by each simulation could be more important information for the investigation of the critical endpoint in the (T,{mu}{sub q}) plane than the finite volume scaling behavior.« less

Vestibular schwannomas: Accuracy of tumor volume estimated by ice cream cone formula using thin-sliced MR images.

PubMed

Ho, Hsing-Hao; Li, Ya-Hui; Lee, Jih-Chin; Wang, Chih-Wei; Yu, Yi-Lin; Hueng, Dueng-Yuan; Ma, Hsin-I; Hsu, Hsian-He; Juan, Chun-Jung

2018-01-01

We estimated the volume of vestibular schwannomas by an ice cream cone formula using thin-sliced magnetic resonance images (MRI) and compared the estimation accuracy among different estimating formulas and between different models. The study was approved by a local institutional review board. A total of 100 patients with vestibular schwannomas examined by MRI between January 2011 and November 2015 were enrolled retrospectively. Informed consent was waived. Volumes of vestibular schwannomas were estimated by cuboidal, ellipsoidal, and spherical formulas based on a one-component model, and cuboidal, ellipsoidal, Linskey's, and ice cream cone formulas based on a two-component model. The estimated volumes were compared to the volumes measured by planimetry. Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver agreement was tested. Estimation error, including absolute percentage error (APE) and percentage error (PE), was calculated. Statistical analysis included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), linear regression analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and paired t-tests with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Overall tumor size was 4.80 ± 6.8 mL (mean ±standard deviation). All ICCs were no less than 0.992, suggestive of high intraobserver reproducibility and high interobserver agreement. Cuboidal formulas significantly overestimated the tumor volume by a factor of 1.9 to 2.4 (P ≤ 0.001). The one-component ellipsoidal and spherical formulas overestimated the tumor volume with an APE of 20.3% and 29.2%, respectively. The two-component ice cream cone method, and ellipsoidal and Linskey's formulas significantly reduced the APE to 11.0%, 10.1%, and 12.5%, respectively (all P < 0.001). The ice cream cone method and other two-component formulas including the ellipsoidal and Linskey's formulas allow for estimation of vestibular schwannoma volume more accurately than all one-component formulas.

Validation of geometric measurements of the left atrium and pulmonary veins for analysis of reverse structural remodeling following ablation therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rettmann, M. E.; Holmes, D. R., III; Gunawan, M. S.; Ge, X.; Karwoski, R. A.; Breen, J. F.; Packer, D. L.; Robb, R. A.

2012-03-01

Geometric analysis of the left atrium and pulmonary veins is important for studying reverse structural remodeling following cardiac ablation therapy. It has been shown that the left atrium decreases in volume and the pulmonary vein ostia decrease in diameter following ablation therapy. Most analysis techniques, however, require laborious manual tracing of image cross-sections. Pulmonary vein diameters are typically measured at the junction between the left atrium and pulmonary veins, called the pulmonary vein ostia, with manually drawn lines on volume renderings or on image cross-sections. In this work, we describe a technique for making semi-automatic measurements of the left atrium and pulmonary vein ostial diameters from high resolution CT scans and multi-phase datasets. The left atrium and pulmonary veins are segmented from a CT volume using a 3D volume approach and cut planes are interactively positioned to separate the pulmonary veins from the body of the left atrium. The cut plane is also used to compute the pulmonary vein ostial diameter. Validation experiments are presented which demonstrate the ability to repeatedly measure left atrial volume and pulmonary vein diameters from high resolution CT scans, as well as the feasibility of this approach for analyzing dynamic, multi-phase datasets. In the high resolution CT scans the left atrial volume measurements show high repeatability with approximately 4% intra-rater repeatability and 8% inter-rater repeatability. Intra- and inter-rater repeatability for pulmonary vein diameter measurements range from approximately 2 to 4 mm. For the multi-phase CT datasets, differences in left atrial volumes between a standard slice-by-slice approach and the proposed 3D volume approach are small, with percent differences on the order of 3% to 6%.

Mobility and Transportation Analysis in Support of the Light Attack Battalion (LAB) Study. Volume 1. Mobility and Transportation Analyses

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-05-01

LAB) STUDY VOLUME I: MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION ANALYSES JAMES C EMANUEL L. ALAN DORNEY LAWRENCE E. MARTIN WAYNE E. FERGUSON JOHN P. O’MALLEY...Runs were maBe on dry, eIcha!londi?Ln0Ve^^rfaireS *? 0btain data 5n maximm attainable speeds under K?nn M? wISiI Addltional ana yses were

Objective evaluation of the latissimus dorsi flap for breast reconstruction using three-dimensional imaging.

PubMed

Henseler, Helga; Smith, Joanna; Bowman, Adrian; Khambay, Balvinder S; Ju, Xiangyang; Ayoub, Ashraf; Ray, Arup K

2012-09-01

The latissimus dorsi muscle flap is a common method for the reconstruction of the breast following mastectomy. The study aimed to assess the quality of this reconstruction using a three-dimensional (3D) imaging method. The null hypothesis was that there was no difference in volume between the reconstructed breast and the opposite side. This study was conducted in forty-four patients who had had immediate unilateral breast reconstruction by latissimus dorsi muscle flap. The breast was captured using the 3D imaging system. Ten landmarks were digitised on the 3D images. The volume of each breast was measured by the application of Breast Analysis Tool software. The symmetry of the breast was measured using Procrustes analysis. The impact of breast position, orientation, size and intrinsic shape on the overall breast asymmetry was investigated. The null hypothesis was rejected. The reconstructed breast showed a significantly smaller volume when compared to the opposite side, p < 0.0001, a mean difference of 176.8 cc and 95% CI (103.5, 250.0). The shape and the position of the reconstructed breast were the main contributing factors to the measured asymmetry score. 3D imaging was efficient in evaluating the outcome of breast surgery. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap on its own for breast reconstruction did not restore the volume and shape of the breast fully lost due to complete mastectomy. The modification of this method and the selection of other or additional surgical techniques for breast reconstruction should be considered. The asymmetry analysis through reflection and Procrustes matching was a useful method for the objective shape analysis of the female breast and presented a new approach for breast shape assessment. The intrinsic breast shape and the positioning of the breast were major components of postoperative breast asymmetry. The reconstructed breast was smaller overall than the un-operated breast at a significant level when assessing the breast volume using the surface area. 3D imaging by multiple stereophotogrammetry was a useful tool for volume measurements, shape analysis and the evaluation of symmetry. Copyright © 2012 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Space shuttle/food system. Volume 2, Appendix C: Food cooling techniques analysis. Appendix D: Package and stowage: Alternate concepts analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The relative penalties associated with various techniques for providing an onboard cold environment for storage of perishable food items, and for the development of packaging and vehicle stowage parameters were investigated in terms of the overall food system design analysis of space shuttle. The degrees of capability for maintaining both a 40 F to 45 F refrigerated temperature and a 0 F and 20 F frozen environment were assessed for the following cooling techniques: (1) phase change (heat sink) concept; (2) thermoelectric concept; (3) vapor cycle concept; and (4) expendable ammonia concept. The parameters considered in the analysis were weight, volume, and spacecraft power restrictions. Data were also produced for packaging and vehicle stowage parameters which are compatible with vehicle weight and volume specifications. Certain assumptions were made for food packaging sizes based on previously generated space shuttle menus. The results of the study are shown, along with the range of meal choices considered.

Non-invasive assessment of peripheral arterial disease: Automated ankle brachial index measurement and pulse volume analysis compared to duplex scan.

PubMed

Lewis, Jane Ea; Williams, Paul; Davies, Jane H

2016-01-01

This cross-sectional study aimed to individually and cumulatively compare sensitivity and specificity of the (1) ankle brachial index and (2) pulse volume waveform analysis recorded by the same automated device, with the presence or absence of peripheral arterial disease being verified by ultrasound duplex scan. Patients (n=205) referred for lower limb arterial assessment underwent ankle brachial index measurement and pulse volume waveform recording using volume plethysmography, followed by ultrasound duplex scan. The presence of peripheral arterial disease was recorded if ankle brachial index <0.9; pulse volume waveform was graded as 2, 3 or 4; or if haemodynamically significant stenosis >50% was evident with ultrasound duplex scan. Outcome measure was agreement between the measured ankle brachial index and interpretation of pulse volume waveform for peripheral arterial disease diagnosis, using ultrasound duplex scan as the reference standard. Sensitivity of ankle brachial index was 79%, specificity 91% and overall accuracy 88%. Pulse volume waveform sensitivity was 97%, specificity 81% and overall accuracy 85%. The combined sensitivity of ankle brachial index and pulse volume waveform was 100%, specificity 76% and overall accuracy 85%. Combining these two diagnostic modalities within one device provided a highly accurate method of ruling out peripheral arterial disease, which could be utilised in primary care to safely reduce unnecessary secondary care referrals.

Which Kind of Provider’s Operation Volumes Matters? Associations between CABG Surgical Site Infection Risk and Hospital and Surgeon Operation Volumes among Medical Centers in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Yu, Tsung-Hsien; Tung, Yu-Chi; Chung, Kuo-Piao

2015-01-01

Background Volume-infection relationships have been examined for high-risk surgical procedures, but the conclusions remain controversial. The inconsistency might be due to inaccurate identification of cases of infection and different methods of categorizing service volumes. This study takes coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgical site infections (SSIs) as an example to examine whether a relationship exists between operation volumes and SSIs, when different SSIs case identification, definitions and categorization methods of operation volumes were implemented. Methods A population-based cross-sectional multilevel study was conducted. A total of 7,007 patients who received CABG surgery between 2006 and 2008 from19 medical centers in Taiwan were recruited. SSIs associated with CABG surgery were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9 CM) codes and a Classification and Regression Trees (CART) model. Two definitions of surgeon and hospital operation volumes were used: (1) the cumulative CABG operation volumes within the study period; and (2) the cumulative CABG operation volumes in the previous one year before each CABG surgery. Operation volumes were further treated in three different ways: (1) a continuous variable; (2) a categorical variable based on the quartile; and (3) a data-driven categorical variable based on k-means clustering algorithm. Furthermore, subgroup analysis for comorbidities was also conducted. Results This study showed that hospital volumes were not significantly associated with SSIs, no matter which definitions or categorization methods of operation volume, or SSIs case identification approaches were used. On the contrary, the relationships between surgeon’s volumes varied. Most of the models demonstrated that the low-volume surgeons had higher risk than high-volume surgeons. Conclusion Surgeon volumes were more important than hospital volumes in exploring the relationship between CABG operation volumes and SSIs in Taiwan. However, the relationships were not robust. Definitions and categorization methods of operation volume and correct identification of SSIs are important issues for future research. PMID:26053035

Correlation between Volume of Apical Periodontitis Determined by Cone-beam Computed Tomography Analysis and Endotoxin Levels Found in Primary Root Canal Infection.

PubMed

Cardoso, Flávia G R; Ferreira, Nádia S; Martinho, Frederico C; Nascimento, Gustavo G; Manhães, Luiz R C; Rocco, Marco A; Carvalho, Cláudio A T; Valera, Marcia C

2015-07-01

This clinical study was conducted to correlate the levels of endotoxins and bacterial counts found in primary endodontic infection with the volume of periapical bone destruction determined by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis. Moreover, the levels of bacteria and endotoxins were correlated with the development of clinical features. Twenty-four root canals with primary endodontic disease and apical periodontitis were selected. Clinical features such as pain on palpation, pain on percussion, and previous episode of pain were recorded. The volume (cubic millimeters) of periapical bone destruction was determined by CBCT analysis. Endotoxins and bacterial samplings were collected by using sterile/apyrogenic paper points. Endotoxins were quantified by using limulus amebocyte lysate assay (KQCL test), and bacterial count (colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) was determined by using anaerobic culture techniques. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple logistic regression (P < .05). Endotoxins and bacteria were detected in 100% of the root canal samples (24 of 24), with median values of 10.92 endotoxin units (EU)/mL (1.75-128 EU/mL) and 7.5 × 10(5) CFU/mL (3.20 × 10(5)-8.16 × 10(6) CFU/mL), respectively. The median volume of bone destruction determined by CBCT analysis was 100 mm(3) (10-450 mm(3)). The multiple regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between higher levels of endotoxins present in root canal infection and larger volume of bone destruction (P < .05). Moreover, higher levels of endotoxins were also correlated with the presence of previous pain (P < .05). Our findings revealed that the levels of endotoxins found in root canal infection are related to the volume of periapical bone destruction determined by CBCT analysis. Moreover, the levels of endotoxin are related to the presence of previous pain. Copyright © 2015 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Small Bowel Dose Parameters Predicting Grade ≥3 Acute Toxicity in Rectal Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: An Independent Validation Study Comparing Peritoneal Space Versus Small Bowel Loop Contouring Techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Banerjee, Robyn, E-mail: robynbanerjee@gmail.com; Chakraborty, Santam; Nygren, Ian

Purpose: To determine whether volumes based on contours of the peritoneal space can be used instead of individual small bowel loops to predict for grade ≥3 acute small bowel toxicity in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Methods and Materials: A standardized contouring method was developed for the peritoneal space and retrospectively applied to the radiation treatment plans of 67 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for rectal cancer. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) data were extracted and analyzed against patient toxicity. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and logistic regression were carried out for both contouring methods. Results: Grade ≥3more » small bowel toxicity occurred in 16% (11/67) of patients in the study. A highly significant dose-volume relationship between small bowel irradiation and acute small bowel toxicity was supported by the use of both small bowel loop and peritoneal space contouring techniques. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that, for both contouring methods, the greatest sensitivity for predicting toxicity was associated with the volume receiving between 15 and 25 Gy. Conclusion: DVH analysis of peritoneal space volumes accurately predicts grade ≥3 small bowel toxicity in patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy, suggesting that the contours of the peritoneal space provide a reasonable surrogate for the contours of individual small bowel loops. The study finds that a small bowel V15 less than 275 cc and a peritoneal space V15 less than 830 cc are associated with a less than 10% risk of grade ≥3 acute toxicity.« less

Smaller hippocampal volumes predict lower antidepressant response/remission rates in depressed patients: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Colle, Romain; Dupong, Irène; Colliot, Olivier; Deflesselle, Eric; Hardy, Patrick; Falissard, Bruno; Ducreux, Denis; Chupin, Marie; Corruble, Emmanuelle

2016-08-15

Whether hippocampal volume predicts response and/or remission after antidepressant treatment of major depressive episodes (MDE) in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. We meta-analysed prospective studies comparing baseline hippocampal volume in patients with or without response/remission after antidepressant treatment. Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar were searched for studies of patients with current MDE in MDD, with hippocampal volume assessments at baseline, initiation of antidepressant drug treatment, and prospective assessment of response/remission after treatment. Six studies (374 patients), of which two were positive and four negative, were meta-analysed. Compared to responders/remitters, patients who failed to achieve response/remission had smaller total hippocampus volumes at baseline (mean volume difference = 260 mm 3 , 95% CI [93; 427], P = 0.002). These results remained significant in patients under 60 years of age (P = 0.02), in those over 60 years old (P = 0.04), and for right (P = 0.006) and left (P = 0.02) hippocampi. The probability of non-response/non-remission was 68.6% for patients with a total hippocampal volume at least 10% lower than the average, and 47.1% for patients with a total hippocampal volume 10% higher than the average. In depressed patients treated with antidepressant drugs, smaller hippocampal volumes predict lower response/remission rates.

Partial molar volume of proteins studied by the three-dimensional reference interaction site model theory.

PubMed

Imai, Takashi; Kovalenko, Andriy; Hirata, Fumio

2005-04-14

The three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory is applied to the analysis of hydration effects on the partial molar volume of proteins. For the native structure of some proteins, the partial molar volume is decomposed into geometric and hydration contributions using the 3D-RISM theory combined with the geometric volume calculation. The hydration contributions are correlated with the surface properties of the protein. The thermal volume, which is the volume of voids around the protein induced by the thermal fluctuation of water molecules, is directly proportional to the accessible surface area of the protein. The interaction volume, which is the contribution of electrostatic interactions between the protein and water molecules, is apparently governed by the charged atomic groups on the protein surface. The polar atomic groups do not make any contribution to the interaction volume. The volume differences between low- and high-pressure structures of lysozyme are also analyzed by the present method.

Relationship between trabecular texture features of CT images and an amount of bone cement volume injection in percutaneous vertebroplasty

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tack, Gye Rae; Choi, Hyung Guen; Shin, Kyu-Chul; Lee, Sung J.

2001-06-01

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a surgical procedure that was introduced for the treatment of compression fracture of the vertebrae. This procedure includes puncturing vertebrae and filling with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Recent studies have shown that the procedure could provide structural reinforcement for the osteoporotic vertebrae while being minimally invasive and safe with immediate pain relief. However, treatment failures due to disproportionate PMMA volume injection have been reported as one of complications in vertebroplasty. It is believed that control of PMMA volume is one of the most critical factors that can reduce the incidence of complications. In this study, appropriate amount of PMMA volume was assessed based on the imaging data of a given patient under the following hypotheses: (1) a relationship can be drawn between the volume of PMMA injection and textural features of the trabecular bone in preoperative CT images and (2) the volume of PMMA injection can be estimated based on 3D reconstruction of postoperative CT images. Gray-level run length analysis was used to determine the textural features of the trabecular bone. The width of trabecular (T-texture) and the width of intertrabecular spaces (I-texture) were calculated. The correlation between PMMA volume and textural features of patient's CT images was also examined to evaluate the appropriate PMMA amount. Results indicated that there was a strong correlation between the actual PMMA injection volume and the area of the intertrabecular space and that of trabecular bone calculated from the CT image (correlation coefficient, requals0.96 and requals-0.95, respectively). T- texture (requals-0.93) did correlate better with the actual PMMA volume more than the I-texture (requals0.57). Therefore, it was demonstrated that appropriate PMMA injection volume could be predicted based on the textural analysis for better clinical management of the osteoporotic spine.

Volume fractions of DCE-MRI parameter as early predictor of histologic response in soft tissue sarcoma: A feasibility study.

PubMed

Xia, Wei; Yan, Zhuangzhi; Gao, Xin

2017-10-01

To find early predictors of histologic response in soft tissue sarcoma through volume transfer constant (K trans ) analysis based on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). 11 Patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the lower extremity that underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by limb salvage surgery were included in this retrospective study. For each patient, DCE-MRI data sets were collected before and two weeks after therapy initiation, and histologic tumor cell necrosis rate (TCNR) was reported at surgery. The DCE-MRI volumes were aligned by registration. Then, the aligned volumes were used to obtain the K trans variation map. Accordingly, three sub-volumes (with increased, decreased or unchanged K trans ) were defined and identified, and fractions of the sub-volumes, denoted as F + , F - and F 0 , respectively, were calculated. The predictive ability of volume fractions was determined by using area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between TCNR and volume fractions. In addition, the K trans values of the sub-volumes were compared. The AUC for F - (0.896) and F 0 (0.833) were larger than that for change of tumor longest diameter ΔD (0.625) and the change of mean K trans ΔK trans ¯ (0.792). Moreover, the regression results indicated that TCNR was directly proportional to F 0 (R 2 =0.75, P=0.0003), while it was inversely proportional to F - (R 2 =0.77, P=0.0002). However, TCNR had relatively weak linear relationship with ΔK trans ¯ (R 2 =0.64, P=0.0018). Additionally, TCNR did not have linear relationship with DD (R 2 =0.16, P=0.1246). The volume fraction F - and F 0 have potential as early predictors of soft tissue sarcoma histologic response. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-invasive volumetric analysis of asymptomatic hands using a 3-D scanner

PubMed Central

Shinkai, Hiroki; Yamamoto, Michiro; Tatebe, Masahiro; Iwatsuki, Katsuyuki; Kurimoto, Shigeru; Hirata, Hitoshi

2017-01-01

Hand swelling is one of the symptoms often seen in practice, but none of the available morphometric methods can quickly and efficiently quantify hand volume in an objective manner, and the current gold-standard volume measurement requires immersion in water, which can be difficult to use. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the accuracy of using 3-dimensional (3-D) scanning to measure hand volume. First, we compared the hand volume calculated using the 3-D scanner to that calculated from the conventional method among 109 volunteers to determine the reliability of 3-D measurements. We defined the beginning of the hand as the distal wrist crease, and 3-D forms of the hands were captured by the 3-D scanning system. Second, 238 volunteers (87 men, 151 women) with no disease or history of hand surgery underwent 3-D scanning. Data collected included age, height, weight, and shoe size. The wrist circumference (WC) and the distance between distal wrist crease and tip of middle finger (DDT) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using linear regression to investigate the relationship between the hand volume and these parameters. In the first study, a significantly strong positive correlation was observed [R = 0.98] between the hand volume calculated via 3-D scanning and that calculated via the conventional method. In the second study, no significant differences between the volumes, WC or DDT of right and left hands were found. The correlations of hand volume with weight, WC, and DDT were strong. We created a formula to predict the hand volume using these parameters; these variables explained approximately 80% of the predicted volume. We confirmed that the new 3-D scanning method, which is performed without touching the hand and can record the form of the hand, yields an accurate volumetric analysis of an asymptomatic hand. PMID:28796816

Prognostic Factors for Hormone Sensitive Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Impact of Disease Volume

PubMed

Alhanafy, Alshimaa Mahmoud; Zanaty, Fouad; Ibrahem, Reda; Omar, Suzan

2018-04-27

Background and Aim: The optimal management of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer has been controversial in recent years with introduction of upfront chemohormonal treatment based on results of several Western studies. This changing landscape has renewed interest in the concept “disease volume”, the focus of the present study is the Egyptian patients. Methods: Patients with hormone sensitive metastatic prostate cancer presenting at Menoufia University Hospital, Egypt, during the period from June 2013 to May 2016, were enrolled. All received hormonal treatment. Radiologic images were evaluated and patients were stratified according to their disease volume into high or low, other clinical and pathological data that could affect survival also being collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 128 patients were included, with a median age of 70 years (53.9% ≥70). About 46% had co-morbidities, 62% having high volume disease. During the median follow up period of 28 months about half of the patients progressed and one third received chemotherapy. On univariate analysis, disease volume, performance status (PS), prostate specific antigen level (PSA) and presence of pain at presentation were identified as factors influencing overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed the independent predictor factors for survival to be PS, PSA and disease volume. The median overall survival with 27 months was high volume versus 49 with low volume disease (hazard ratio 2.1; 95% CI 1.2 - 4.4; P=0.02). Median progression free survival was 19 months in the high volume, as compared with 48 months in the low volume disease patients (hazard ratio, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.42 – 7.4; P=0.009). Conclusions: Disease volume is a reliable predictor of survival which should be incorporated with other important factors as; patient performance status and comorbidities in treatment decision-making. Creative Commons Attribution License

Influence of different rotation angles in assessment of lung volumes by 3-dimensional sonography in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging in healthy fetuses.

PubMed

Kehl, Sven; Eckert, Sven; Sütterlin, Marc; Neff, K Wolfgang; Siemer, Jörn

2011-06-01

Three-dimensional (3D) sonographic volumetry is established in gynecology and obstetrics. Assessment of the fetal lung volume by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in congenital diaphragmatic hernias has become a routine examination. In vitro studies have shown a good correlation between 3D sonographic measurements and MRI. The aim of this study was to compare the lung volumes of healthy fetuses assessed by 3D sonography to MRI measurements and to investigate the impact of different rotation angles. A total of 126 fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks' gestation were measured by 3D sonography, and 27 of them were also assessed by MRI. The sonographic volumes were calculated by the rotational technique (virtual organ computer-aided analysis) with rotation angles of 6° and 30°. To evaluate the accuracy of 3D sonographic volumetry, percentage error and absolute percentage error values were calculated using MRI volumes as reference points. Formulas to calculate total, right, and left fetal lung volumes according to gestational age and biometric parameters were derived by stepwise regression analysis. Three-dimensional sonographic volumetry showed a high correlation compared to MRI (6° angle, R(2) = 0.971; 30° angle, R(2) = 0.917) with no systematic error for the 6° angle. Moreover, using the 6° rotation angle, the median absolute percentage error was significantly lower compared to the 30° angle (P < .001). The new formulas to calculate total lung volume in healthy fetuses only included gestational age and no biometric parameters (R(2) = 0.853). Three-dimensional sonographic volumetry of lung volumes in healthy fetuses showed a good correlation with MRI. We recommend using an angle of 6° because it assessed the lung volume more accurately. The specifically designed equations help estimate lung volumes in healthy fetuses.

Impact Assessment and Forecasts of Information and Telecommunications Technologies Applied to Education and Training: Volume III--Annex & Glossary. Analysis of Key Issues for the Orientation of the Work of Sector Actors in the Framework of DELTA.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Commission of the European Communities, Brussels (Belgium).

This annex to the main report, the third volume in a three volume set, is based on a study performed by the DELTA (Developing European Learning through Technological Advance) unit in parallel with the projects underway in the research and development Exploratory Action. It provides an assessment of the world situation in flexible and distance…

Predictive Utility of Marketed Volumetric Software Tools in Subjects at Risk for Alzheimer Disease: Do Regions Outside the Hippocampus Matter?

PubMed

Tanpitukpongse, T P; Mazurowski, M A; Ikhena, J; Petrella, J R

2017-03-01

Alzheimer disease is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Computer assessment of brain atrophy patterns can help predict conversion to Alzheimer disease. Our aim was to assess the prognostic efficacy of individual-versus-combined regional volumetrics in 2 commercially available brain volumetric software packages for predicting conversion of patients with mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease. Data were obtained through the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. One hundred ninety-two subjects (mean age, 74.8 years; 39% female) diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment at baseline were studied. All had T1-weighted MR imaging sequences at baseline and 3-year clinical follow-up. Analysis was performed with NeuroQuant and Neuroreader. Receiver operating characteristic curves assessing the prognostic efficacy of each software package were generated by using a univariable approach using individual regional brain volumes and 2 multivariable approaches (multiple regression and random forest), combining multiple volumes. On univariable analysis of 11 NeuroQuant and 11 Neuroreader regional volumes, hippocampal volume had the highest area under the curve for both software packages (0.69, NeuroQuant; 0.68, Neuroreader) and was not significantly different ( P > .05) between packages. Multivariable analysis did not increase the area under the curve for either package (0.63, logistic regression; 0.60, random forest NeuroQuant; 0.65, logistic regression; 0.62, random forest Neuroreader). Of the multiple regional volume measures available in FDA-cleared brain volumetric software packages, hippocampal volume remains the best single predictor of conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease at 3-year follow-up. Combining volumetrics did not add additional prognostic efficacy. Therefore, future prognostic studies in mild cognitive impairment, combining such tools with demographic and other biomarker measures, are justified in using hippocampal volume as the only volumetric biomarker. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Symptom Severities Are Differentially Associated With Hippocampal Subfield Volume Loss in Combat Veterans.

PubMed

Averill, Christopher L; Satodiya, Ritvij M; Scott, J Cobb; Wrocklage, Kristen M; Schweinsburg, Brian; Averill, Lynnette A; Akiki, Teddy J; Amoroso, Timothy; Southwick, Steven M; Krystal, John H; Abdallah, Chadi G

2017-01-01

Two decades of human neuroimaging research have associated volume reductions in the hippocampus with posttraumatic stress disorder. However, little is known about the distribution of volume loss across hippocampal subfields. Recent advances in neuroimaging methods have made it possible to accurately delineate 10 gray matter hippocampal subfields. Here, we apply a volumetric analysis of hippocampal subfields to data from a group of combat-exposed Veterans. Veterans (total, n = 68, posttraumatic stress disorder, n = 36; combat control, n = 32) completed high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging. Based on previously validated methods, hippocampal subfield volume measurements were conducted using FreeSurfer 6.0. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale assessed posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity; Beck Depression Inventory assessed depressive symptom severity. Controlling for age and intracranial volume, partial correlation analysis examined the relationship between hippocampal subfields and symptom severity. Correction for multiple comparisons was performed using false discovery rate. Gender, intelligence, combat severity, comorbid anxiety, alcohol/substance use disorder, and medication status were investigated as potential confounds. In the whole sample, total hippocampal volume negatively correlated with Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and Beck Depression Inventory scores. Of the 10 hippocampal subfields, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale symptom severity negatively correlated with the hippocampus-amygdala transition area (HATA). Beck Depression Inventory scores negatively correlated with dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis 4 (CA4), HATA, CA2/3, molecular layer, and CA1. Follow-up analysis limited to the posttraumatic stress disorder group showed a negative correlation between Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale symptom severity and each of HATA, CA2/3, molecular layer, and CA4. This study provides the first evidence relating posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms to abnormalities in the HATA, an anterior hippocampal region highly connected to prefrontal-amygdala circuitry. Notably, dentate gyrus abnormalities were associated with depression severity but not posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Future confirmatory studies should determine the extent to which dentate gyrus volume can differentiate between posttraumatic stress disorder- and depression-related pathophysiology.

Greater cerebellar gray matter volume in car drivers: an exploratory voxel-based morphometry study

PubMed Central

Sakai, Hiroyuki; Ando, Takafumi; Sadato, Norihiro; Uchiyama, Yuji

2017-01-01

Previous functional neuroimaging studies have identified multiple brain areas associated with distinct aspects of car driving in simulated traffic environments. Few studies, however, have examined brain morphology associated with everyday car-driving experience in real traffic. Thus, the aim of the current study was to identify gray matter volume differences between drivers and non-drivers. We collected T1-weighted structural brain images from 73 healthy young adults (36 drivers and 37 non-drivers). We performed a whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analysis to examine between-group differences in regional gray matter volume. Compared with non-drivers, drivers showed significantly greater gray matter volume in the left cerebellar hemisphere, which has been associated with cognitive rather than motor functioning. In contrast, we found no brain areas with significantly greater gray matter volume in non-drivers compared with drivers. Our findings indicate that experience with everyday car driving in real traffic is associated with greater gray matter volume in the left cerebellar hemisphere. This brain area may be involved in abilities that are critical for driving a car, but are not commonly or frequently used during other daily activities. PMID:28417971

Greater cerebellar gray matter volume in car drivers: an exploratory voxel-based morphometry study.

PubMed

Sakai, Hiroyuki; Ando, Takafumi; Sadato, Norihiro; Uchiyama, Yuji

2017-04-18

Previous functional neuroimaging studies have identified multiple brain areas associated with distinct aspects of car driving in simulated traffic environments. Few studies, however, have examined brain morphology associated with everyday car-driving experience in real traffic. Thus, the aim of the current study was to identify gray matter volume differences between drivers and non-drivers. We collected T1-weighted structural brain images from 73 healthy young adults (36 drivers and 37 non-drivers). We performed a whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analysis to examine between-group differences in regional gray matter volume. Compared with non-drivers, drivers showed significantly greater gray matter volume in the left cerebellar hemisphere, which has been associated with cognitive rather than motor functioning. In contrast, we found no brain areas with significantly greater gray matter volume in non-drivers compared with drivers. Our findings indicate that experience with everyday car driving in real traffic is associated with greater gray matter volume in the left cerebellar hemisphere. This brain area may be involved in abilities that are critical for driving a car, but are not commonly or frequently used during other daily activities.

Senior Dance Experience, Cognitive Performance, and Brain Volume in Older Women

PubMed Central

Niemann, Claudia; Godde, Ben

2016-01-01

Physical activity is positively related to cognitive functioning and brain volume in older adults. Interestingly, different types of physical activity vary in their effects on cognition and on the brain. For example, dancing has become an interesting topic in aging research, as it is a popular leisure activity among older adults, involving cardiovascular and motor fitness dimensions that can be positively related to cognition. However, studies on brain structure are missing. In this study, we tested the association of long-term senior dance experience with cognitive performance and gray matter brain volume in older women aged 65 to 82 years. We compared nonprofessional senior dancers (n = 28) with nonsedentary control group participants without any dancing experience (n = 29), who were similar in age, education, IQ score, lifestyle and health factors, and fitness level. Differences neither in the four tested cognitive domains (executive control, perceptual speed, episodic memory, and long-term memory) nor in brain volume (VBM whole-brain analysis, region-of-interest analysis of the hippocampus) were observed. Results indicate that moderate dancing activity (1-2 times per week, on average) has no additional effects on gray matter volume and cognitive functioning when a certain lifestyle or physical activity and fitness level are reached. PMID:27738528

Small gray matter volume in orbitofrontal cortex in Prader-Willi syndrome: a voxel-based MRI study.

PubMed

Ogura, Kaeko; Fujii, Toshikatsu; Abe, Nobuhito; Hosokai, Yoshiyuki; Shinohara, Mayumi; Takahashi, Shoki; Mori, Etsuro

2011-07-01

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetically determined neurodevelopmental disorder presenting with behavioral symptoms including hyperphagia, disinhibition, and compulsive behavior. The behavioral problems in individuals with PWS are strikingly similar to those in patients with frontal pathologies, particularly those affecting the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). However, neuroanatomical abnormalities in the frontal lobe have not been established in PWS. The aim of this study was to look, using volumetric analysis, for morphological changes in the frontal lobe, especially the OFC, of the brains of individuals with PWS. Twelve adults with PWS and 13 age- and gender-matched control subjects participated in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The whole-brain images were segmented and normalized to a standard stereotactic space. Regional gray matter volumes were compared between the PWS group and the control group using voxel-based morphometry. The PWS subjects showed small gray-matter volume in several regions, including the OFC, caudate nucleus, inferior temporal gyrus, precentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, postcentral gyrus, and cerebellum. The small gray-matter volume in the OFC remained significant in a separate analysis that included total gray matter volume as a covariate. These preliminary findings suggest that the neurobehavioral symptoms in individuals with PWS are related to structural brain abnormalities in these areas. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Quantitative analysis of the renal aging in rats. Stereological study.

PubMed

Melchioretto, Eduardo Felippe; Zeni, Marcelo; Veronez, Djanira Aparecida da Luz; Martins, Eduardo Lopes; Fraga, Rogério de

2016-05-01

To evaluate the renal function and the renal histological alterations through the stereology and morphometrics in rats submitted to the natural process of aging. Seventy two Wistar rats, divided in six groups. Each group was sacrificed in a different age: 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. It was performed right nephrectomy, stereological and morphometric analysis of the renal tissue (renal volume and weight, density of volume (Vv[glom]) and numerical density (Nv[glom]) of the renal glomeruli and average glomerular volume (Vol[glom])) and also it was evaluated the renal function for the dosage of serum creatinine and urea. There was significant decrease of the renal function in the oldest rats. The renal volume presented gradual increase during the development of the rats with the biggest values registered in the group of animals at 12 months of age and significant progressive decrease in older animals. Vv[glom] presented statistically significant gradual reduction between the groups and the Nv[glom] also decreased significantly. The renal function proved to be inferior in senile rats when compared to the young rats. The morphometric and stereological analysis evidenced renal atrophy, gradual reduction of the volume density and numerical density of the renal glomeruli associated to the aging process.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Donnelly, H.; Fullwood, R.; Glancy, J.

This is the second volume of a two volume report on the VISA method for evaluating safeguards at fixed-site facilities. This volume contains appendices that support the description of the VISA concept and the initial working version of the method, VISA-1, presented in Volume I. The information is separated into four appendices, each describing details of one of the four analysis modules that comprise the analysis sections of the method. The first appendix discusses Path Analysis methodology, applies it to a Model Fuel Facility, and describes the computer codes that are being used. Introductory material on Path Analysis given inmore » Chapter 3.2.1 and Chapter 4.2.1 of Volume I. The second appendix deals with Detection Analysis, specifically the schemes used in VISA-1 for classifying adversaries and the methods proposed for evaluating individual detection mechanisms in order to build the data base required for detection analysis. Examples of evaluations on identity-access systems, SNM portal monitors, and intrusion devices are provided. The third appendix describes the Containment Analysis overt-segment path ranking, the Monte Carlo engagement model, the network simulation code, the delay mechanism data base, and the results of a sensitivity analysis. The last appendix presents general equations used in Interruption Analysis for combining covert-overt segments and compares them with equations given in Volume I, Chapter 3.« less

Space shuttle navigation analysis. Volume 2: Baseline system navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, H. L.; Luders, G.; Matchett, G. A.; Rains, R. G.

1980-01-01

Studies related to the baseline navigation system for the orbiter are presented. The baseline navigation system studies include a covariance analysis of the Inertial Measurement Unit calibration and alignment procedures, postflight IMU error recovery for the approach and landing phases, on-orbit calibration of IMU instrument biases, and a covariance analysis of entry and prelaunch navigation system performance.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Analysis of Mucosal Thickening in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Maxillary Sinuses.

PubMed

Kula, Katherine; Hale, Lindsay N; Ghoneima, Ahmed; Tholpady, Sunil; Starbuck, John M

2016-11-01

  To compare maxillary mucosal thickening and sinus volumes of unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects (UCLP) with noncleft (nonCLP) controls.   Randomized, retrospective study of cone-beam computed tomographs (CBCT).   University.   Fifteen UCLP subjects and 15 sex- and age-matched non-CLP controls, aged 8 to 14 years.   Following institutional review board approval and reliability tests, Dolphin three-dimensional imaging software was used to segment and slice maxillary sinuses on randomly selected CBCTs. The surface area (SA) of bony sinus and airspace on all sinus slices was determined using Dolphin and multiplied by slice thickness (0.4 mm) to calculate volume. Mucosal thickening was the difference between bony sinus and airspace volumes. The number of slices with bony sinus and airspace outlines was totaled. Right and left sinus values for each group were pooled (t tests, P > .05; n = 30 each group). All measures were compared (principal components analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of variance) by group and age (P ≤ .016 was considered significant).   Principal components analysis axis 1 and 2 explained 89.6% of sample variance. Principal components analysis showed complete separation based on the sample on axis 1 only. Age groups showed some separation on axis 2. Unilateral cleft lip and palate subjects had significantly smaller bony sinus and airspace volumes, fewer bony and airspace slices, and greater mucosal thickening and percentage mucosal thickening when compared with controls. Older subjects had significantly greater bony sinus and airspace volumes than younger subjects.   Children with UCLP have significantly more maxillary sinus mucosal thickening and smaller sinuses than controls.

Association of myelopathy scores with cervical sagittal balance and normalized spinal cord volume: analysis of 56 preoperative cases from the AOSpine North America Myelopathy study.

PubMed

Smith, Justin S; Lafage, Virginie; Ryan, Devon J; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Schwab, Frank J; Patel, Alpesh A; Brodke, Darrel S; Arnold, Paul M; Riew, K Daniel; Traynelis, Vincent C; Radcliff, Kris; Vaccaro, Alexander R; Fehlings, Michael G; Ames, Christopher P

2013-10-15

Post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data. Development of methods to determine in vivo spinal cord dimensions and application to correlate preoperative alignment, myelopathy, and health-related quality-of-life scores in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). CSM is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction. The association between cervical alignment, sagittal balance, and myelopathy has not been well characterized. This was a post hoc analysis of the prospective, multicenter AOSpine North America CSM study. Inclusion criteria for this study required preoperative cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neutral sagittal cervical radiography. Techniques for MRI assessment of spinal cord dimensions were developed. Correlations between imaging and health-related quality-of-life scores were assessed. Fifty-six patients met inclusion criteria (mean age = 55.4 yr). The modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores correlated with C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (r = -0.282, P = 0.035). Spinal cord volume correlated with cord length (r = 0.472, P < 0.001) and cord average cross-sectional area (r = 0.957, P < 0.001). For all patients, no correlations were found between MRI measurements of spinal cord length, volume, mean cross-sectional area or surface area, and outcomes. For patients with cervical lordosis, mJOA scores correlated positively with cord volume (r = 0.366, P = 0.022), external cord area (r = 0.399, P = 0.012), and mean cross-sectional cord area (r = 0.345, P = 0.031). In contrast, for patients with cervical kyphosis, mJOA scores correlated negatively with cord volume (r = -0.496, P = 0.043) and mean cross-sectional cord area (r = -0.535, P = 0.027). This study is the first to correlate cervical sagittal balance (C2-C7 SVA) to myelopathy severity. We found a moderate negative correlation in kyphotic patients of cord volume and cross-sectional area to mJOA scores. The opposite (positive correlation) was found for lordotic patients, suggesting a relationship of cord volume to myelopathy that differs on the basis of sagittal alignment. It is interesting to note that sagittal balance but not kyphosis is tied to myelopathy score. Future work will correlate alignment changes to cord morphology changes and myelopathy outcomes. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: This is the first study to correlate sagittal balance (C2-C7 SVA) to myelopathy severity. We found a moderate negative correlation in kyphotic patients of cord volume and cross-sectional area to mJOA scores. The opposite (positive correlation) was found for lordotic patients, suggesting a relationship of cord volume to myelopathy that differs on the basis of sagittal alignment.

Three-Dimensional Topographic Surface Changes in Response to Compartmental Volumization of the Medial Cheek: Defining a Malar Augmentation Zone.

PubMed

Stern, Carrie S; Schreiber, Jillian E; Surek, Chris C; Garfein, Evan S; Jelks, Elizabeth B; Jelks, Glenn W; Tepper, Oren M

2016-05-01

Given the widespread use of facial fillers and recent identification of distinct facial fat compartments, a better understanding of three-dimensional surface changes in response to volume augmentation is needed. Advances in three-dimensional imaging technology now afford an opportunity to elucidate these morphologic changes for the first time. A cadaver study was undertaken in which volumization of the deep medial cheek compartment was performed at intervals up to 4 cc (n = 4). Three-dimensional photographs were taken after each injection to analyze the topographic surface changes, which the authors define as the "augmentation zone." Perimeter, diameter, and projection were studied. The arcus marginalis of the inferior orbit consistently represented a fixed boundary of the augmentation zone, and additional cadavers underwent similar volumization following surgical release of this portion of the arcus marginalis (n = 4). Repeated three-dimensional computer analysis was performed comparing the augmentation zone with and without arcus marginalis release. Volumization of the deep medial cheek led to unique topographic changes of the malar region defined by distinct boundaries. Interestingly, the cephalic border of the augmentation zone was consistently noted to be at the level of the arcus marginalis in all specimens. When surgical release of the arcus marginalis was performed, the cephalic border of the augmentation zone was no longer restricted. Using advances in three-dimensional photography and computer analysis, the authors demonstrate characteristic surface anatomy changes in response to volume augmentation of facial compartments. This novel concept of the augmentation zone can be applied to volumization of other distinct facial regions. Therapeutic, V.

Automated SEM Modal Analysis Applied to the Diogenites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowman, L. E.; Spilde, M. N.; Papike, James J.

1996-01-01

Analysis of volume proportions of minerals, or modal analysis, is routinely accomplished by point counting on an optical microscope, but the process, particularly on brecciated samples such as the diogenite meteorites, is tedious and prone to error by misidentification of very small fragments, which may make up a significant volume of the sample. Precise volume percentage data can be gathered on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) utilizing digital imaging and an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). This form of automated phase analysis reduces error, and at the same time provides more information than could be gathered using simple point counting alone, such as particle morphology statistics and chemical analyses. We have previously studied major, minor, and trace-element chemistry of orthopyroxene from a suite of diogenites. This abstract describes the method applied to determine the modes on this same suite of meteorites and the results of that research. The modal abundances thus determined add additional information on the petrogenesis of the diogenites. In addition, low-abundance phases such as spinels were located for further analysis by this method.

Orbitofrontal and caudate volumes in cannabis users: a multi-site mega-analysis comparing dependent versus non-dependent users.

PubMed

Chye, Yann; Solowij, Nadia; Suo, Chao; Batalla, Albert; Cousijn, Janna; Goudriaan, Anna E; Martin-Santos, Rocio; Whittle, Sarah; Lorenzetti, Valentina; Yücel, Murat

2017-07-01

Cannabis (CB) use and dependence are associated with regionally specific alterations to brain circuitry and substantial psychosocial impairment. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between CB use and dependence, and the volumes of brain regions critically involved in goal-directed learning and behaviour-the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and caudate. In the largest multi-site structural imaging study of CB users vs healthy controls (HC), 140 CB users and 121 HC were recruited from four research sites. Group differences in OFC and caudate volumes were investigated between HC and CB users and between 70 dependent (CB-dep) and 50 non-dependent (CB-nondep) users. The relationship between quantity of CB use and age of onset of use and caudate and OFC volumes was explored. CB users (consisting of CB-dep and CB-nondep) did not significantly differ from HC in OFC or caudate volume. CB-dep compared to CB-nondep users exhibited significantly smaller volume in the medial and the lateral OFC. Lateral OFC volume was particularly smaller in CB-dep females, and reduced volume in the CB-dep group was associated with higher monthly cannabis dosage. Smaller medial OFC volume may be driven by CB dependence-related mechanisms, while smaller lateral OFC volume may be due to ongoing exposure to cannabinoid compounds. The results highlight a distinction between cannabis use and dependence and warrant examination of gender-specific effects in studies of CB dependence.

Automated linking of suspicious findings between automated 3D breast ultrasound volumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gubern-Mérida, Albert; Tan, Tao; van Zelst, Jan; Mann, Ritse M.; Karssemeijer, Nico

2016-03-01

Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) is a 3D imaging technique which is rapidly emerging as a safe and relatively inexpensive modality for screening of women with dense breasts. However, reading ABUS examinations is very time consuming task since radiologists need to manually identify suspicious findings in all the different ABUS volumes available for each patient. Image analysis techniques to automatically link findings across volumes are required to speed up clinical workflow and make ABUS screening more efficient. In this study, we propose an automated system to, given the location in the ABUS volume being inspected (source), find the corresponding location in a target volume. The target volume can be a different view of the same study or the same view from a prior examination. The algorithm was evaluated using 118 linkages between suspicious abnormalities annotated in a dataset of ABUS images of 27 patients participating in a high risk screening program. The distance between the predicted location and the center of the annotated lesion in the target volume was computed for evaluation. The mean ± stdev and median distance error achieved by the presented algorithm for linkages between volumes of the same study was 7.75±6.71 mm and 5.16 mm, respectively. The performance was 9.54±7.87 and 8.00 mm (mean ± stdev and median) for linkages between volumes from current and prior examinations. The proposed approach has the potential to minimize user interaction for finding correspondences among ABUS volumes.

The safe volume threshold for chest drain removal following pulmonary resection.

PubMed

Yap, Kok Hooi; Soon, Jia Lin; Ong, Boon Hean; Loh, Yee Jim

2017-11-01

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'In patients undergoing pulmonary resection, is there a safe drainage volume threshold for chest drain removal?' Altogether 1054 papers were found, of which 5 papers represented the best evidence. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Chest drainage threshold, where used, ranged from 250 to 500 ml/day. Both randomized controlled trials showed no significant difference in reintervention rates with a higher chest drainage volume threshold. Four studies that performed analysis on other complications showed no statistical significant difference with a higher chest drainage volume threshold. Four studies evaluating length of hospital stay showed reduced or no difference in the length of stay with a higher chest drainage volume threshold. Two cohort studies reported the mortality rate of 0-0.01% with a higher chest drainage volume threshold. We conclude that early chest drain removal after pulmonary resection, accepting a higher chest drainage volume threshold of 250-500 ml/day is safe, and may result in shorter hospital stay without increasing reintervention, morbidity or mortality. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

The application of capillary microsampling in GLP toxicology studies.

PubMed

Verhaeghe, Tom; Dillen, Lieve; Stieltjes, Hans; Zwart, Loeckie de; Feyen, Bianca; Diels, Luc; Vroman, Ann; Timmerman, Philip

2017-04-01

Capillary microsampling (CMS) to collect microplasma volumes is gradually replacing traditional, larger volume sampling from rats in GLP toxicology studies. About 32 µl of blood is collected with a capillary, processed to plasma and stored in a 10- or 4-µl capillary which is washed out further downstream in the laboratory. CMS has been standardized with respect to materials, assay validation experiments and application for sample analysis. The implementation of CMS has resulted in blood volume reductions in the rat from 300 to 32 µl per time point and the elimination of toxicokinetic satellite groups in the majority of the rat GLP toxicology studies. The technique has been successfully applied in 26 GLP studies for 12 different projects thus far.

Effect of Neutral-pH, Low–Glucose Degradation Product Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions on Residual Renal Function, Urine Volume, and Ultrafiltration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Yohanna, Seychelle; Alkatheeri, Ali M.A.; Brimble, Scott K.; McCormick, Brendan; Iansavitchous, Arthur; Blake, Peter G.

2015-01-01

Background and objectives Neutral-pH, low–glucose degradation products solutions were developed in an attempt to lessen the adverse effects of conventional peritoneal dialysis solutions. A systematic review was performed evaluating the effect of these solutions on residual renal function, urine volume, peritoneal ultrafiltration, and peritoneal small-solute transport (dialysate to plasma creatinine ratio) over time. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Multiple electronic databases were searched from January of 1995 to January of 2013. Randomized trials reporting on any of four prespecified outcomes were selected by consensus among multiple reviewers. Results Eleven trials of 643 patients were included. Trials were generally of poor quality. The meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. The use of neutral-pH, low-glucose degradation products solutions resulted in better preserved residual renal function at various study durations, including >1 year (combined analysis: 11 studies; 643 patients; standardized mean difference =0.17 ml/min; 95% confidence interval, 0.01 to 0.32), and greater urine volumes (eight studies; 598 patients; mean difference =128 ml/d; 95% confidence interval, 58 to 198). There was no significant difference in peritoneal ultrafiltration (seven studies; 571 patients; mean difference =−110; 95% confidence interval, −312 to 91) or dialysate to plasma creatinine ratio (six studies; 432 patients; mean difference =0.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.00 to 0.06). Conclusions The use of neutral-pH, low–glucose degradation products solutions results in better preservation of residual renal function and greater urine volumes. The effect on residual renal function occurred early and persisted beyond 12 months. Additional studies are required to evaluate the use of neutral-pH, low–glucose degradation products solutions on hard clinical outcomes. PMID:26048890

Better diet quality relates to larger brain tissue volumes: The Rotterdam Study.

PubMed

Croll, Pauline H; Voortman, Trudy; Ikram, M Arfan; Franco, Oscar H; Schoufour, Josje D; Bos, Daniel; Vernooij, Meike W

2018-05-16

To investigate the relation of diet quality with structural brain tissue volumes and focal vascular lesions in a dementia-free population. From the population-based Rotterdam Study, 4,447 participants underwent dietary assessment and brain MRI scanning between 2005 and 2015. We excluded participants with an implausible energy intake, prevalent dementia, or cortical infarcts, leaving 4,213 participants for the current analysis. A diet quality score (0-14) was calculated reflecting adherence to Dutch dietary guidelines. Brain MRI was performed to obtain information on brain tissue volumes, white matter lesion volume, lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds. The associations of diet quality score and separate food groups with brain structures were assessed using multivariable linear and logistic regression. We found that better diet quality related to larger brain volume, gray matter volume, white matter volume, and hippocampal volume. Diet quality was not associated with white matter lesion volume, lacunes, or microbleeds. High intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, dairy, and fish and low intake of sugar-containing beverages were associated with larger brain volumes. A better diet quality is associated with larger brain tissue volumes. These results suggest that the effect of nutrition on neurodegeneration may act via brain structure. More research, in particular longitudinal research, is needed to unravel direct vs indirect effects between diet quality and brain health. © 2018 American Academy of Neurology.

Benefit-Cost Analysis of Integrated Paratransit Systems : Volume 2. Introduction and Framework for Analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-09-01

The study represents the first systematic attempt to estimate the potential impacts of a wide range of IP options in different settings. The output of this study should provide local decision-makers with a better understanding of the varied impacts a...

Reliability and statistical power analysis of cortical and subcortical FreeSurfer metrics in a large sample of healthy elderly.

PubMed

Liem, Franziskus; Mérillat, Susan; Bezzola, Ladina; Hirsiger, Sarah; Philipp, Michel; Madhyastha, Tara; Jäncke, Lutz

2015-03-01

FreeSurfer is a tool to quantify cortical and subcortical brain anatomy automatically and noninvasively. Previous studies have reported reliability and statistical power analyses in relatively small samples or only selected one aspect of brain anatomy. Here, we investigated reliability and statistical power of cortical thickness, surface area, volume, and the volume of subcortical structures in a large sample (N=189) of healthy elderly subjects (64+ years). Reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) of cortical and subcortical parameters is generally high (cortical: ICCs>0.87, subcortical: ICCs>0.95). Surface-based smoothing increases reliability of cortical thickness maps, while it decreases reliability of cortical surface area and volume. Nevertheless, statistical power of all measures benefits from smoothing. When aiming to detect a 10% difference between groups, the number of subjects required to test effects with sufficient power over the entire cortex varies between cortical measures (cortical thickness: N=39, surface area: N=21, volume: N=81; 10mm smoothing, power=0.8, α=0.05). For subcortical regions this number is between 16 and 76 subjects, depending on the region. We also demonstrate the advantage of within-subject designs over between-subject designs. Furthermore, we publicly provide a tool that allows researchers to perform a priori power analysis and sensitivity analysis to help evaluate previously published studies and to design future studies with sufficient statistical power. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chernobyl Doses. Volume 1. Analysis of Forest Canopy Radiation Response from Multispectral Imagery and the Relationship to Doses

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-01

AD-A284 746 Defense Nuclear Agency Alexandria, VA 22310-3398 DNA-TR-92-37-V1 Chernobyl Doses Volume 1-Analysis of Forest Canopy Radiation Response...REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED 940901 Technical 870929- 930930 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Chernobyl Doses Volume 1-Analysis of...volume of the report Chernobyl Doses presents details of a new, quantitative method for remotely sensing ionizing radiation dose to vegetation

Spacelab user implementation assessment study. (Software requirements analysis). Volume 2: Technical report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

The engineering analyses and evaluation studies conducted for the Software Requirements Analysis are discussed. Included are the development of the study data base, synthesis of implementation approaches for software required by both mandatory onboard computer services and command/control functions, and identification and implementation of software for ground processing activities.

The effect of Tricresyl-Phosphate (TCP) as an additive on wear of Iron (Fe)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghose, Hiren M.; Ferrante, John; Honecy, Frank C.

1987-01-01

The effect of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) as an antiwear additive in lubricant trimethyol propane triheptanoate (TMPTH) was investigated. The objective was to examine step loading wear by use of surface analysis, wetting, and chemical bonding changes in the lubricant. The investigation consisted of steploading wear studies by a pin or disk tribometer, the effects on wear related to wetting by contact angle and surface tension measurements of various liquid systems, the chemical bonding changes between lubricant and TCP chromatographic analysis, and by determining the reaction between the TCP and metal surfaces through wear scar analysis by Auger emission spectroscopy (AES). The steploading curve for the base fluid alone shows rapid increase of wear rate with load. The steploading curve for the base fluid in presence of 4.25 percent by volume TCP under dry air purge has shown a great reduction of wear rate with all loads studied. It has also been found that the addition of 4.25 percent by volume TCP plus 0.33 percent by volume water to the base lubricant under N2 purge also greatly reduces the wear rate with all loads studied. AES surface analysis reveals a phosphate type wear resistant film, which greatly increases load-bearing capacity, formed on the iron disk. Preliminary chromatographic studies suggest that this film forms either because of ester oxidation or TCP degradation. Wetting studies show direct correlation between the spreading coefficient and the wear rate.

A Comparative Analysis of Postsecondary Technical Education in Texas. Phase I, Volume II--Appendices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Groves, Cecil L.; And Others

In response to concerns of unnecessary duplication in programs offered by Texas community/junior colleges and the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) system, TSTC conducted an examination of curricula, enrollments, and outcomes for both systems. This document provides the second volume of the study, containing the data tables used to generate the…

An Empirical Analysis of the Literature Cited in the Journal of Leadership Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Lori L.; Stewart, Ashley

2015-01-01

Since 2002, the "Journal of Leadership Education" ("JOLE") has served as a primary source for the dissemination of new knowledge in the field of leadership education. The purpose of this study was to empirically analyze sources cited in research features included in the "JOLE" from Volume 1, Issue 1 through Volume 12,…

Correlation between Gray/White Matter Volume and Cognition in Healthy Elderly People

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taki, Yasuyuki; Kinomura, Shigeo; Sato, Kazunori; Goto, Ryoi; Wu, Kai; Kawashima, Ryuta; Fukuda, Hiroshi

2011-01-01

This study applied volumetric analysis and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images to assess whether correlations exist between global and regional gray/white matter volume and the cognitive functions of semantic memory and short-term memory, which are relatively well preserved with aging, using MR image data from 109…

Biplane roentgen videometric system for dynamic, 60/sec, studies of the shape and size of circulatory structures, particularly the left ventricle.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ritman, E. L.; Sturm, R. E.; Wood, E. H.

1973-01-01

An operator interactive video system for the measurement of roentgen angiographically outlined structures is described. Left ventricular volume and three-dimensional shapes are calculated from up to 200 pairs of diameters measured from ventriculograms at the rate of 60 pairs of biplane images per second. The accuracy and reproducibility of volumes calculated by the system were established by analysis of roentgenograms of inanimate objects of known volume and by comparison of left ventricular stroke volumes calculated by the system with the stroke volumes calculated by an indicator-dilution technique and an aortic root electromagnetic flowmeter. Computer-generated display of the large amounts of data obtained by the videometry system is described.

[The heterogeneity of blood flow on magnetic resonance imaging: a biomarker for grading cerebral astrocytomas].

PubMed

Revert Ventura, A J; Sanz Requena, R; Martí-Bonmatí, L; Pallardó, Y; Jornet, J; Gaspar, C

2014-01-01

To study whether the histograms of quantitative parameters of perfusion in MRI obtained from tumor volume and peritumor volume make it possible to grade astrocytomas in vivo. We included 61 patients with histological diagnoses of grade II, III, or IV astrocytomas who underwent T2*-weighted perfusion MRI after intravenous contrast agent injection. We manually selected the tumor volume and peritumor volume and quantified the following perfusion parameters on a voxel-by-voxel basis: blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), mean transit time (TTM), transfer constant (K(trans)), washout coefficient, interstitial volume, and vascular volume. For each volume, we obtained the corresponding histogram with its mean, standard deviation, and kurtosis (using the standard deviation and kurtosis as measures of heterogeneity) and we compared the differences in each parameter between different grades of tumor. We also calculated the mean and standard deviation of the highest 10% of values. Finally, we performed a multiparametric discriminant analysis to improve the classification. For tumor volume, we found statistically significant differences among the three grades of tumor for the means and standard deviations of BV, BF, and K(trans), both for the entire distribution and for the highest 10% of values. For the peritumor volume, we found no significant differences for any parameters. The discriminant analysis improved the classification slightly. The quantification of the volume parameters of the entire region of the tumor with BV, BF, and K(trans) is useful for grading astrocytomas. The heterogeneity represented by the standard deviation of BF is the most reliable diagnostic parameter for distinguishing between low grade and high grade lesions. Copyright © 2011 SERAM. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

A structural model of age, grey matter volumes, education, and personality traits.

PubMed

Kitamura, Soichiro; Yasuno, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Akihide; Kazui, Hiroaki; Kudo, Takashi; Matsuoka, Kiwamu; Kiuchi, Kuniaki; Kosaka, Jun; Nagatsuka, Kazuyuki; Iida, Hidehiro; Kishimoto, Toshifumi

2016-01-01

When the relationship between ageing and changes in personality traits is considered, it is important to know how they are influenced by biological and environmental factors. The present study examined the relationships between various factors associated with the effect of ageing on personality traits, including structural changes of the brain and environmental factors such as education. We recruited 41 healthy subjects. We administered the NEO Five-Factor Inventory to assess personality factors. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and regional grey matter (GM) volumes were obtained. We identified associations in the correlation analysis of age, cerebral GM volume, years of education, and the personality trait of openness. Path analysis was used to estimate the relationships among these factors. The path analysis model of age, GM volume, years of education, and the personality trait of openness revealed that age has an indirect negative association with openness through GM volume and years of education. Ageing was related to a decrease in GM volume, which was in turn related to a decrease in the openness score. Older subjects generally had fewer years of education, which was related to a lower openness score. Maintaining openness against the effects of ageing is desirable, and our results imply that interventions against age-related cerebral atrophy and the promotion of opportunities for higher education may contribute to the development and stability of a healthy personality during the adult life course. © 2015 The Authors. Psychogeriatrics © 2015 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.

Determination of fiber volume in graphite/epoxy materials using computer image analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viens, Michael J.

1990-01-01

The fiber volume of graphite/epoxy specimens was determined by analyzing optical images of cross sectioned specimens using image analysis software. Test specimens were mounted and polished using standard metallographic techniques and examined at 1000 times magnification. Fiber volume determined using the optical imaging agreed well with values determined using the standard acid digestion technique. The results were found to agree within 5 percent over a fiber volume range of 45 to 70 percent. The error observed is believed to arise from fiber volume variations within the graphite/epoxy panels themselves. The determination of ply orientation using image analysis techniques is also addressed.

Emergency department imaging: are weather and calendar factors associated with imaging volume?

PubMed

Burns, K; Chernyak, V; Scheinfeld, M H

2016-12-01

To identify weather and calendar factors that would enable prediction of daily emergency department (ED) imaging volume to aid appropriate scheduling of imaging resources for efficient ED function. Daily ED triage and imaging volumes for radiography, computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound were obtained from hospital databases for the period between January 2011 and December 2013 at a large tertiary urban hospital with a Level II trauma centre. These data were tabulated alongside daily weather conditions (temperature, wind and precipitation), day of week, season, and holidays. Multivariate analysis was performed. Pearson correlations were used to measure the association between number of imaging studies performed and ED triage volume. For every additional 50 triaged patients, the odds of having high (imaging volume ≥90th percentile) radiography, CT, and ultrasound volume increased by 4.3 times (p<0.001), 1.5 times (p=0.02), and 1.4 times (p=0.02), respectively. Tuesday was an independent predictor of high radiography volume (odds ratio=2.8) and Monday was an independent predictor of high CT volume (odds ratio=3.0). Weekday status was an independent factor increasing the odds of a high US volume compared to Saturday (odds ratios ranging from 5.6-9.8). Weather factors and other calendar variables were not independent predictors of high imaging volume. Using Pearson correlations, ED triage volume correlated with number of radiographs, CT, and ultrasound examinations with r=0.73, 0.37, and 0.41, respectively (p<0.0001). As ED triage volume was found to be the only factor associated with imaging volume for all techniques, analysis of predictors of ED triage volumes at a particular healthcare facility would be useful to determine imaging needs. Although calendar and weather factors were found to be minor or non-significant independent predictors of ED imaging utilisation, these may be important in influencing the actual number of ED triages. Copyright © 2016 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Space Station Furnace Facility. Volume 2: Requirements Definition and Conceptual Design Study. Appendix 3: Environment Analysis. Volume 2; Appendix 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

A Preliminary Safety Analysis (PSA) is being accomplished as part of the Space Station Furnace Facility (SSFF) contract. This analysis is intended to support SSFF activities by analyzing concepts and designs as they mature to develop essential safety requirements for inclusion in the appropriate specifications, and designs, as early as possible. In addition, the analysis identifies significant safety concerns that may warrant specific trade studies or design definition, etc. The analysis activity to date concentrated on hazard and hazard cause identification and requirements development with the goal of developing a baseline set of detailed requirements to support trade study, specifications development, and preliminary design activities. The analysis activity will continue as the design and concepts mature. Section 2 defines what was analyzed, but it is likely that the SSFF definitions will undergo further changes. The safety analysis activity will reflect these changes as they occur. The analysis provides the foundation for later safety activities. The hazards identified will in most cases have Preliminary Design Review (PDR) applicability. The requirements and recommendations developed for each hazard will be tracked to ensure proper and early resolution of safety concerns.

Thalamic volume and related visual recognition are associated with freezing of gait in non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Sunwoo, Mun Kyung; Cho, Kyoo H; Hong, Jin Yong; Lee, Ji E; Sohn, Young H; Lee, Phil Hyu

2013-12-01

The pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FOG) in non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients remains poorly understood. Recent studies have suggested that neurochemical alterations in the cholinergic systems play a role in the development of FOG. Here, we evaluated the association between subcortical cholinergic structures and FOG in patients with non-demented PD. We recruited 46 non-demented patients with PD, categorized into PD with (n = 16) and without FOG (n = 30) groups. We performed neuropsychological test, region-of-interest-based volumetric analysis of the substantia innominata (SI) and automatic analysis of subcortical brain structures using a computerized segmentation procedure. The comprehensive neuropsychological assessment showed that PD patients with FOG had lower cognitive performance in the frontal executive and visual-related functions compared with those without freezing of gait. The normalized SI volume did not differ significantly between the two groups (1.65 ± 0.18 vs. 1.68 ± 0.31). The automatic analysis of subcortical structures revealed that the thalamic volumes were significantly reduced in PD patients with FOG compared with those without FOG after adjusting for age, sex, disease duration, the Unified PD Rating Scale scores and total intracranial volume (left: 6.71 vs. 7.16 cm3, p = 0.029, right: 6.47 vs. 6.91 cm3, p = 0.026). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that thalamic volume showed significant positive correlations with visual recognition memory (left: β = 0.441, p = 0.037, right: β = 0.498, p = 0.04). These data suggest that thalamic volume and related visual recognition, rather than the cortical cholinergic system arising from the SI, may be a major contributor to the development of freezing of gait in non-demented patients with PD. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[Experience of a Break-Even Point Analysis for Make-or-Buy Decision.].

PubMed

Kim, Yunhee

2006-12-01

Cost containment through continuous quality improvement of medical service is required in an age of a keen competition of the medical market. Laboratory managers should examine the matters on make-or-buy decision periodically. On this occasion, a break-even point analysis can be useful as an analyzing tool. In this study, cost accounting and break-even point (BEP) analysis were performed in case that the immunoassay items showing a recent increase in order volume were to be in-house made. Fixed and variable costs were calculated in case that alpha fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), ferritin, free thyroxine (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), CA 125, CA 19-9, and hepatitis B envelope antibody (HBeAb) were to be tested with Abbott AxSYM instrument. Break-even volume was calculated as fixed cost per year divided by purchasing cost per test minus variable cost per test and BEP ratio as total purchasing costs at break-even volume divided by total purchasing costs at actual annual volume. The average fixed cost per year of AFP, CEA, PSA, ferritin, fT4, T3, TSH, CA 125, CA 19-9, and HBeAb was 8,279,187 won and average variable cost per test, 3,786 won. Average break-even volume was 1,599 and average BEP ratio was 852%. Average BEP ratio without including quality costs such as calibration and quality control was 74%. Because the quality assurance of clinical tests cannot be waived, outsourcing all of 10 items was more adequate than in-house make at the present volume in financial aspect. BEP analysis was useful as a financial tool for make-or-buy decision, the common matter which laboratory managers meet with.

Can Asperger syndrome be distinguished from autism? An anatomic likelihood meta-analysis of MRI studies

PubMed Central

Yu, Kevin K.; Cheung, Charlton; Chua, Siew E.; McAlonan, Gráinne M.

2011-01-01

Background The question of whether Asperger syndrome can be distinguished from autism has attracted much debate and may even incur delay in diagnosis and intervention. Accordingly, there has been a proposal for Asperger syndrome to be subsumed under autism in the forthcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, in 2013. One approach to resolve this question has been to adopt the criterion of absence of clinically significant language or cognitive delay — essentially, the “absence of language delay.” To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of people with autism to compare absence with presence of language delay. It capitalizes on the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach to systematically explore the whole brain for anatomic correlates of delay and no delay in language acquisition in people with autism spectrum disorders. Methods We conducted a systematic search for VBM MRI studies of grey matter volume in people with autism. Studies with a majority (at least 70%) of participants with autism diagnoses and a history of language delay were assigned to the autism group (n = 151, control n = 190). Those with a majority (at least 70%) of individuals with autism diagnoses and no language delay were assigned to the Asperger syndrome group (n = 149, control n = 214). We entered study coordinates into anatomic likelihood estimation meta-analysis software with sampling size weighting to compare grey matter summary maps driven by Asperger syndrome or autism. Results The summary autism grey matter map showed lower volumes in the cerebellum, right uncus, dorsal hippocampus and middle temporal gyrus compared with controls; grey matter volumes were greater in the bilateral caudate, prefrontal lobe and ventral temporal lobe. The summary Asperger syndrome map indicated lower grey matter volumes in the bilateral amygdala/hippocampal gyrus and prefrontal lobe, left occipital gyrus, right cerebellum, putamen and precuneus compared with controls; grey matter volumes were greater in more limited regions, including the bilateral inferior parietal lobule and the left fusiform gyrus. Both Asperger syndrome and autism studies reported volume increase in clusters in the ventral temporal lobe of the left hemisphere. Limitations We assigned studies to autism and Asperger syndrome groups for separate analyses of the data and did not carry out a direct statistical group comparison. In addition, studies available for analysis did not capture the entire spectrum, therefore we cannot be certain that our findings apply to a wider population than that sampled. Conclusion Whereas grey matter differences in people with Asperger syndrome compared with controls are sparser than those reported in studies of people with autism, the distribution and direction of differences in each category are distinctive. PMID:21406158

Can Asperger syndrome be distinguished from autism? An anatomic likelihood meta-analysis of MRI studies.

PubMed

Yu, Kevin K; Cheung, Charlton; Chua, Siew E; McAlonan, Gráinne M

2011-11-01

The question of whether Asperger syndrome can be distinguished from autism has attracted much debate and may even incur delay in diagnosis and intervention. Accordingly, there has been a proposal for Asperger syndrome to be subsumed under autism in the forthcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, in 2013. One approach to resolve this question has been to adopt the criterion of absence of clinically significant language or cognitive delay--essentially, the "absence of language delay." To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of people with autism to compare absence with presence of language delay. It capitalizes on the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach to systematically explore the whole brain for anatomic correlates of delay and no delay in language acquisition in people with autism spectrum disorders. We conducted a systematic search for VBM MRI studies of grey matter volume in people with autism. Studies with a majority (at least 70%) of participants with autism diagnoses and a history of language delay were assigned to the autism group (n = 151, control n = 190). Those with a majority (at least 70%) of individuals with autism diagnoses and no language delay were assigned to the Asperger syndrome group (n = 149, control n = 214). We entered study coordinates into anatomic likelihood estimation meta-analysis software with sampling size weighting to compare grey matter summary maps driven by Asperger syndrome or autism. The summary autism grey matter map showed lower volumes in the cerebellum, right uncus, dorsal hippocampus and middle temporal gyrus compared with controls; grey matter volumes were greater in the bilateral caudate, prefrontal lobe and ventral temporal lobe. The summary Asperger syndrome map indicated lower grey matter volumes in the bilateral amygdala/hippocampal gyrus and prefrontal lobe, left occipital gyrus, right cerebellum, putamen and precuneus compared with controls; grey matter volumes were greater in more limited regions, including the bilateral inferior parietal lobule and the left fusiform gyrus. Both Asperger syndrome and autism studies reported volume increase in clusters in the ventral temporal lobe of the left hemisphere. We assigned studies to autism and Asperger syndrome groups for separate analyses of the data and did not carry out a direct statistical group comparison. In addition, studies available for analysis did not capture the entire spectrum, therefore we cannot be certain that our findings apply to a wider population than that sampled. Whereas grey matter differences in people with Asperger syndrome compared with controls are sparser than those reported in studies of people with autism, the distribution and direction of differences in each category are distinctive. © 2011 Canadian Medical Association

Frequency spectrum analysis of finger photoplethysmographic waveform variability during haemodialysis.

PubMed

Javed, Faizan; Middleton, Paul M; Malouf, Philip; Chan, Gregory S H; Savkin, Andrey V; Lovell, Nigel H; Steel, Elizabeth; Mackie, James

2010-09-01

This study investigates the peripheral circulatory and autonomic response to volume withdrawal in haemodialysis based on spectral analysis of photoplethysmographic waveform variability (PPGV). Frequency spectrum analysis was performed on the baseline and pulse amplitude variabilities of the finger infrared photoplethysmographic (PPG) waveform and on heart rate variability extracted from the ECG signal collected from 18 kidney failure patients undergoing haemodialysis. Spectral powers were calculated from the low frequency (LF, 0.04-0.145 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.145-0.45 Hz) bands. In eight stable fluid overloaded patients (fluid removal of >2 L) not on alpha blockers, progressive reduction in relative blood volume during haemodialysis resulted in significant increase in LF and HF powers of PPG baseline and amplitude variability (P < 0.01), when expressed in mean-scaled units. The augmentation of LF powers in PPGV during haemodialysis may indicate the recovery and possibly further enhancement of peripheral sympathetic vascular modulation subsequent to volume unloading, whilst the increase in respiratory HF power in PPGV is most likely a sign of preload reduction. Spectral analysis of finger PPGV may provide valuable information on the autonomic vascular response to blood volume reduction in haemodialysis, and can be potentially utilized as a non-invasive tool for assessing peripheral circulatory control during routine dialysis procedure.

Cortical and subcortical atrophy in Alzheimer disease: parallel atrophy of thalamus and hippocampus.

PubMed

Štěpán-Buksakowska, Irena; Szabó, Nikoletta; Hořínek, Daniel; Tóth, Eszter; Hort, Jakub; Warner, Joshua; Charvát, František; Vécsei, László; Roček, Miloslav; Kincses, Zsigmond T

2014-01-01

Brain atrophy is a key imaging hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD). In this study, we carried out an integrative evaluation of AD-related atrophy. Twelve patients with AD and 13 healthy controls were enrolled. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of total brain tissue volumes with SIENAX. Localized gray matter atrophy was identified with optimized voxel-wise morphometry (FSL-VBM), and subcortical atrophy was evaluated by active shape model implemented in FMRIB's Integrated Registration Segmentation Toolkit. SIENAX analysis demonstrated total brain atrophy in AD patients; voxel-based morphometry analysis showed atrophy in the bilateral mediotemporal regions and in the posterior brain regions. In addition, regarding the diminished volumes of thalami and hippocampi in AD patients, subsequent vertex analysis of the segmented structures indicated shrinkage of the bilateral anterior thalami and the left medial hippocampus. Interestingly, the volume of the thalami and hippocampi were highly correlated with the volume of the thalami and amygdalae on both sides in AD patients, but not in healthy controls. This complex structural information proved useful in the detailed interpretation of AD-related neurodegenerative process, as the multilevel approach showed both global and local atrophy on cortical and subcortical levels. Most importantly, our results raise the possibility that subcortical structure atrophy is not independent in AD patients.

Uncertainty modelling and analysis of volume calculations based on a regular grid digital elevation model (DEM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chang; Wang, Qing; Shi, Wenzhong; Zhao, Sisi

2018-05-01

The accuracy of earthwork calculations that compute terrain volume is critical to digital terrain analysis (DTA). The uncertainties in volume calculations (VCs) based on a DEM are primarily related to three factors: 1) model error (ME), which is caused by an adopted algorithm for a VC model, 2) discrete error (DE), which is usually caused by DEM resolution and terrain complexity, and 3) propagation error (PE), which is caused by the variables' error. Based on these factors, the uncertainty modelling and analysis of VCs based on a regular grid DEM are investigated in this paper. Especially, how to quantify the uncertainty of VCs is proposed by a confidence interval based on truncation error (TE). In the experiments, the trapezoidal double rule (TDR) and Simpson's double rule (SDR) were used to calculate volume, where the TE is the major ME, and six simulated regular grid DEMs with different terrain complexity and resolution (i.e. DE) were generated by a Gauss synthetic surface to easily obtain the theoretical true value and eliminate the interference of data errors. For PE, Monte-Carlo simulation techniques and spatial autocorrelation were used to represent DEM uncertainty. This study can enrich uncertainty modelling and analysis-related theories of geographic information science.

International Spine Radiosurgery Consortium Consensus Guidelines for Target Volume Definition in Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cox, Brett W., E-mail: coxb@mskcc.org; Spratt, Daniel E.; Lovelock, Michael

2012-08-01

Purpose: Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is increasingly used to manage spinal metastases. However, target volume definition varies considerably and no consensus target volume guidelines exist. This study proposes consensus target volume definitions using common scenarios in metastatic spine radiosurgery. Methods and Materials: Seven radiation oncologists and 3 neurological surgeons with spinal radiosurgery expertise independently contoured target and critical normal structures for 10 cases representing common scenarios in metastatic spine radiosurgery. Each set of volumes was imported into the Computational Environment for Radiotherapy Research. Quantitative analysis was performed using an expectation maximization algorithm for Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation (STAPLE)more » with kappa statistics calculating agreement between physicians. Optimized confidence level consensus contours were identified using histogram agreement analysis and characterized to create target volume definition guidelines. Results: Mean STAPLE agreement sensitivity and specificity was 0.76 (range, 0.67-0.84) and 0.97 (range, 0.94-0.99), respectively, for gross tumor volume (GTV) and 0.79 (range, 0.66-0.91) and 0.96 (range, 0.92-0.98), respectively, for clinical target volume (CTV). Mean kappa agreement was 0.65 (range, 0.54-0.79) for GTV and 0.64 (range, 0.54-0.82) for CTV (P<.01 for GTV and CTV in all cases). STAPLE histogram agreement analysis identified optimal consensus contours (80% confidence limit). Consensus recommendations include that the CTV should include abnormal marrow signal suspicious for microscopic invasion and an adjacent normal bony expansion to account for subclinical tumor spread in the marrow space. No epidural CTV expansion is recommended without epidural disease, and circumferential CTVs encircling the cord should be used only when the vertebral body, bilateral pedicles/lamina, and spinous process are all involved or there is extensive metastatic disease along the circumference of the epidural space. Conclusions: This report provides consensus guidelines for target volume definition for spinal metastases receiving upfront SRS in common clinical situations.« less

Cost drivers and resource allocation in military health care systems.

PubMed

Fulton, Larry; Lasdon, Leon S; McDaniel, Reuben R

2007-03-01

This study illustrates the feasibility of incorporating technical efficiency considerations in the funding of military hospitals and identifies the primary drivers for hospital costs. Secondary data collected for 24 U.S.-based Army hospitals and medical centers for the years 2001 to 2003 are the basis for this analysis. Technical efficiency was measured by using data envelopment analysis; subsequently, efficiency estimates were included in logarithmic-linear cost models that specified cost as a function of volume, complexity, efficiency, time, and facility type. These logarithmic-linear models were compared against stochastic frontier analysis models. A parsimonious, three-variable, logarithmic-linear model composed of volume, complexity, and efficiency variables exhibited a strong linear relationship with observed costs (R(2) = 0.98). This model also proved reliable in forecasting (R(2) = 0.96). Based on our analysis, as much as $120 million might be reallocated to improve the United States-based Army hospital performance evaluated in this study.

Analysis of the Volumes of the Posterior Cranial Fossa, Cerebellum, and Herniated Tonsils Using the Stereological Methods in Patients with Chiari Type I Malformation

PubMed Central

Vurdem, Ümit Erkan; Acer, Niyazi; Ertekin, Tolga; Savranlar, Ahmet; İnci, Mehmet Fatih

2012-01-01

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the posterior cranial fossa volume, cerebellar volume, and herniated tonsillar volume in patients with chiari type I malformation and control subjects using stereological methods. Material and Methods. These volumes were estimated retrospectively using the Cavalieri principle as a point-counting technique. We used magnetic resonance images taken from 25 control subjects and 30 patients with chiari type I malformation. Results. The posterior cranial fossa volume in patients with chiari type I malformation was significantly smaller than the volume in the control subjects (P < 0.05). In the chiari type I malformation group, the cerebellar volume was smaller than the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In the chiari type I malformation group, the ratio of cerebellar volume to posterior cranial fossa volume was higher than in the control group. We also found a positive correlation between the posterior cranial fossa volume and cerebellar volume for each of the groups (r = 0.865, P < 0.001). The mean (±SD) herniated tonsillar volume and length were 0.89 ± 0.50 cm3 and 9.63 ± 3.37 mm in the chiari type I malformation group, respectively. Conclusion. This study has shown that posterior cranial fossa and cerebellum volumes can be measured by stereological methods, and the ratio of these measurements can contribute to the evaluation of chiari type I malformation cases. PMID:22629166

Studies 5. The Yugoslav Serbo-Croatian-English Contrastive Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Filipovic, Rudolf, Ed.

The fifth volume in this series on Serbo-Croatian-English contrastive analysis contains seven articles. They are: "The Use of Sector Analysis in Contrastive Studies in Linguistics," by Thomas K. Adeyanju; "A Compromise System," by Rudolf Filipovic; "Case Frames and Transformations for Clause-Expanded Adjectives," by Vladimir Ivir; "Some Crucial…

An Ultra-Sensitive Method for the Analysis of Perfluorinated ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

In epidemiological research, it has become increasingly important to assess subjects' exposure to different classes of chemicals in multiple environmental media. It is a common practice to aliquot limited volumes of samples into smaller quantities for specific trace level chemical analysis. A novel method was developed for the determination of 14 perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) in small volumes (10 mL) of drinking water using off-line solid phase extraction (SPE) pre-treatment followed by on-line pre-concentration on WAX column before analysis on column-switching high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). In general, large volumes (100 - 1000 mL) have been used for the analysis of PFAAs in drinking water. The current method requires approximately 10 mL of drinking water concentrated by using an SPE cartridge and eluted with methanol. A large volume injection of the extract was introduced on to a column-switching HPLC-MS/MS using a mix-mode SPE column for the trace level analysis of PFAAs in water. The recoveries for most of the analytes in the fortified laboratory blanks ranged from 73±14% to 128±5%. The lowest concentration minimum reporting levels (LCMRL) for the 14 PFAAs ranged from 0.59 to 3.4 ng/L. The optimized method was applied to a pilot-scale analysis of a subset of drinking water samples from an epidemiological study. These samples were collected directly from the taps in the households of Ohio and Nor

Review of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Schools. Volume II: Quantitative Analysis of Educational Quality. IDA Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Lowell Bruce; Bracken, Jerome; Bracken, Marilyn C.

This volume compiles, and presents in integrated form, the Institute for Defense Analyses' (IDA) quantitative analysis of educational quality provided by the Department of Defense's dependent schools. It covers the quantitative aspects of volume 1 in greater detail and presents some analyses deemed too technical for that volume. The first task in…

Review and analysis of ASAP enforcement efforts, volume 4

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-08-01

This Final Report recapitulates and summarizes the work of a contract on Review and Analysis of ASAP Enforcement Effort. The major sections of the report are contained in four volumes. Volume 1, Methods for Recording the Behavior of Drinking Drivers,...

Review and analysis of ASAP enforcement efforts, volume 3

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-08-01

This Final Report recapitulates and summarizes the work of a contract on Review and Analysis of ASAP Enforcement Effort. The major sections of the report are contained in four volumes. Volume 1, Methods for Recording the Behavior of Drinking Drivers,...

Review and analysis of ASAP enforcement efforts, volume 1

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-08-01

This Final Report recapitulates and summarizes the work of a contract on : Review and Analysis of ASAP Enforcement Effort. The major sections of the report : are contained in four volumes. : Volume 1, Methods for Recording the Behavior of Drinking Dr...

Review and analysis of ASAP enforcement efforts, volume 2

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-08-01

This Final Report recapitulates and summarizes the work of a contract on Review and Analysis of ASAP Enforcement Effort. The major sections of the report are contained in four volumes. Volume 1, Methods for Recording the Behavior of Drinking Drivers,...

Asymmetrical booster ascent guidance and control system design study. Volume 4: Sampled data stability analysis program (SADSAP) user's guide. [space shuttle development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, J. L.

1974-01-01

A users guide to the Sampled Data Stability Analysis Program (SADSAP) is provided. This program is a general purpose sampled data Stability Analysis Program capable of providing frequency response on root locus data.

Airport Surface Traffic Control Concept Formulation Study : Volume II. Operations Analysis of O'Hare Airport - Part 1

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-07-01

The report describes the approach followed and the analysis techniques employed in the performance of the operations analysis of the current ASTC system for the baseline airport, O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. It also describes the ...

Knowledge-based reconstruction for measurement of right ventricular volumes on cardiovascular magnetic resonance images in a mixed population.

PubMed

Pieterman, Elise D; Budde, Ricardo P J; Robbers-Visser, Daniëlle; van Domburg, Ron T; Helbing, Willem A

2017-09-01

Follow-up of right ventricular performance is important for patients with congenital heart disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is optimal for this purpose. However, observer-dependency of manual analysis of right ventricular volumes limit its use. Knowledge-based reconstruction is a new semiautomatic analysis tool that uses a database including knowledge of right ventricular shape in various congenital heart diseases. We evaluated whether knowledge-based reconstruction is a good alternative for conventional analysis. To assess the inter- and intra-observer variability and agreement of knowledge-based versus conventional analysis of magnetic resonance right ventricular volumes, analysis was done by two observers in a mixed group of 22 patients with congenital heart disease affecting right ventricular loading conditions (dextro-transposition of the great arteries and right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit) and a group of 17 healthy children. We used Bland-Altman analysis and coefficient of variation. Comparison between the conventional method and the knowledge-based method showed a systematically higher volume for the latter group. We found an overestimation for end-diastolic volume (bias -40 ± 24 mL, r = .956), end-systolic volume (bias -34 ± 24 mL, r = .943), stroke volume (bias -6 ± 17 mL, r = .735) and an underestimation of ejection fraction (bias 7 ± 7%, r = .671) by knowledge-based reconstruction. The intra-observer variability of knowledge-based reconstruction varied with a coefficient of variation of 9% for end-diastolic volume and 22% for stroke volume. The same trend was noted for inter-observer variability. A systematic difference (overestimation) was noted for right ventricular size as assessed with knowledge-based reconstruction compared with conventional methods for analysis. Observer variability for the new method was comparable to what has been reported for the right ventricle in children and congenital heart disease with conventional analysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of IMRT versus 3D-CRT in the treatment of esophagus cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Xu, Dandan; Li, Guowen; Li, Hongfei; Jia, Fei

2017-08-01

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common cancer with high mortality because of its rapid progression and poor prognosis. Radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for EC. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) are 2 recently developed radiotherapy techniques. IMRT is believed to be more effective than 3D-CRT in target coverage, dose homogeneity, and reducing toxicity to normal organs. However, these advantages have not been demonstrated in the treatment of EC. This meta-analysis was performed to compare IMRT and 3D-CRT in the treatment of EC in terms of dose-volume histograms and outcomes including survival and toxicity. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library databases from their inceptions to Dec 30, 2016. Two authors independently assessed the included studies and extracted data. The average percent irradiated volumes of adjacent noncancerous organs were calculated and compared between IMRT and 3D-CRT. The odds ratio of overall survival (OS), and radiation pneumonitis and radiation esophagitis was also evaluated. Totally 7 studies were included. Of them, 5 studies (80 patients) were included in the dosimetric comparison, 3 studies (871 patients) were included in the OS analysis, and 2 studies (205 patients) were included in the irradiation toxicity analysis. For lung in patients receiving doses ≥20 Gy and heart in patients receiving dose = 50 Gy, the average irradiated volumes of IMRT were less than those from 3D-CRT. IMRT resulted in a higher OS than 3D-CRT. However, no significant difference was observed in the incidence of radiation pneumonitis and radiation esophagitis between 2 radiotherapy techniques. Our data suggest that IMRT-delivered high radiation dose produces significantly less average percent volumes of irradiated lung and heart than 3D-CRT. IMRT is superior to 3D-CRT in the OS of EC while shows no benefit on radiation toxicity.

Head circumference and brain size in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Sacco, Roberto; Gabriele, Stefano; Persico, Antonio M

2015-11-30

Macrocephaly and brain overgrowth have been associated with autism spectrum disorder. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide an overall estimate of effect size and statistical significance for both head circumference and total brain volume in autism. Our literature search strategy identified 261 and 391 records, respectively; 27 studies defining percentages of macrocephalic patients and 44 structural brain imaging studies providing total brain volumes for patients and controls were included in our meta-analyses. Head circumference was significantly larger in autistic compared to control individuals, with 822/5225 (15.7%) autistic individuals displaying macrocephaly. Structural brain imaging studies measuring brain volume estimated effect size. The effect size is higher in low functioning autistics compared to high functioning and ASD individuals. Brain overgrowth was recorded in 142/1558 (9.1%) autistic patients. Finally, we found a significant interaction between age and total brain volume, resulting in larger head circumference and brain size during early childhood. Our results provide conclusive effect sizes and prevalence rates for macrocephaly and brain overgrowth in autism, confirm the variation of abnormal brain growth with age, and support the inclusion of this endophenotype in multi-biomarker diagnostic panels for clinical use. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Big Cat Coalitions: A Comparative Analysis of Regional Brain Volumes in Felidae.

PubMed

Sakai, Sharleen T; Arsznov, Bradley M; Hristova, Ani E; Yoon, Elise J; Lundrigan, Barbara L

2016-01-01

Broad-based species comparisons across mammalian orders suggest a number of factors that might influence the evolution of large brains. However, the relationship between these factors and total and regional brain size remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between relative brain size and regional brain volumes and sociality in 13 felid species in hopes of revealing relationships that are not detected in more inclusive comparative studies. In addition, a more detailed analysis was conducted of four focal species: lions ( Panthera leo ), leopards ( Panthera pardus ), cougars ( Puma concolor ), and cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ). These species differ markedly in sociality and behavioral flexibility, factors hypothesized to contribute to increased relative brain size and/or frontal cortex size. Lions are the only truly social species, living in prides. Although cheetahs are largely solitary, males often form small groups. Both leopards and cougars are solitary. Of the four species, leopards exhibit the most behavioral flexibility, readily adapting to changing circumstances. Regional brain volumes were analyzed using computed tomography. Skulls ( n = 75) were scanned to create three-dimensional virtual endocasts, and regional brain volumes were measured using either sulcal or bony landmarks obtained from the endocasts or skulls. Phylogenetic least squares regression analyses found that sociality does not correspond with larger relative brain size in these species. However, the sociality/solitary variable significantly predicted anterior cerebrum (AC) volume, a region that includes frontal cortex. This latter finding is despite the fact that the two social species in our sample, lions and cheetahs, possess the largest and smallest relative AC volumes, respectively. Additionally, an ANOVA comparing regional brain volumes in four focal species revealed that lions and leopards, while not significantly different from one another, have relatively larger AC volumes than are found in cheetahs or cougars. Further, female lions possess a significantly larger AC volume than conspecific males; female lion values were also larger than those of the other three species (regardless of sex). These results may reflect greater complexity in a female lion's social world, but additional studies are necessary. These data suggest that within family comparisons may reveal variations not easily detected by broad comparative analyses.

Big Cat Coalitions: A Comparative Analysis of Regional Brain Volumes in Felidae

PubMed Central

Sakai, Sharleen T.; Arsznov, Bradley M.; Hristova, Ani E.; Yoon, Elise J.; Lundrigan, Barbara L.

2016-01-01

Broad-based species comparisons across mammalian orders suggest a number of factors that might influence the evolution of large brains. However, the relationship between these factors and total and regional brain size remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between relative brain size and regional brain volumes and sociality in 13 felid species in hopes of revealing relationships that are not detected in more inclusive comparative studies. In addition, a more detailed analysis was conducted of four focal species: lions (Panthera leo), leopards (Panthera pardus), cougars (Puma concolor), and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). These species differ markedly in sociality and behavioral flexibility, factors hypothesized to contribute to increased relative brain size and/or frontal cortex size. Lions are the only truly social species, living in prides. Although cheetahs are largely solitary, males often form small groups. Both leopards and cougars are solitary. Of the four species, leopards exhibit the most behavioral flexibility, readily adapting to changing circumstances. Regional brain volumes were analyzed using computed tomography. Skulls (n = 75) were scanned to create three-dimensional virtual endocasts, and regional brain volumes were measured using either sulcal or bony landmarks obtained from the endocasts or skulls. Phylogenetic least squares regression analyses found that sociality does not correspond with larger relative brain size in these species. However, the sociality/solitary variable significantly predicted anterior cerebrum (AC) volume, a region that includes frontal cortex. This latter finding is despite the fact that the two social species in our sample, lions and cheetahs, possess the largest and smallest relative AC volumes, respectively. Additionally, an ANOVA comparing regional brain volumes in four focal species revealed that lions and leopards, while not significantly different from one another, have relatively larger AC volumes than are found in cheetahs or cougars. Further, female lions possess a significantly larger AC volume than conspecific males; female lion values were also larger than those of the other three species (regardless of sex). These results may reflect greater complexity in a female lion’s social world, but additional studies are necessary. These data suggest that within family comparisons may reveal variations not easily detected by broad comparative analyses. PMID:27812324

Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Volumetry in Predicting Myometrial Invasion, Lymphovascular Space Invasion, and Tumor Grade: Is It Valuable in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage I Endometrial Cancer?

PubMed

Sahin, Hilal; Sarioglu, Fatma Ceren; Bagci, Mustafa; Karadeniz, Tugba; Uluer, Hatice; Sanci, Muzaffer

2018-05-01

The aim of this retrospective single-center study was to evaluate the relationship between maximum tumor size, tumor volume, tumor volume ratio (TVR) based on preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) volumetry, and negative histological prognostic parameters (deep myometrial invasion [MI], lymphovascular space invasion, tumor histological grade, and subtype) in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I endometrial cancer. Preoperative pelvic MR imaging studies of 68 women with surgical-pathologic diagnosis of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I endometrial cancer were reviewed for assessment of MR volumetry and qualitative assessment of MI. Volume of the tumor and uterus was measured with manual tracing of each section on sagittal T2-weighted images. Tumor volume ratio was calculated according to the following formula: TVR = (total tumor volume/total uterine volume) × 100. Receiver operating characteristics curve was performed to investigate a threshold for TVR associated with MI. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression analysis were applied to evaluate possible differences between tumor size, tumor volume, TVR, and negative prognostic parameters. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis of TVR for prediction of deep MI was statistically significant (P = 0.013). An optimal TVR threshold of 7.3% predicted deep myometrial invasion with 85.7% sensitivity, 46.8% specificity, 41.9% positive predictive value, and 88.0% negative predictive value. Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses of TVR, tumor size, and tumor volume for prediction of tumor histological grade or lymphovascular space invasion were not significant. The concordance between radiologic and pathologic assessment for MI was almost excellent (κ value, 0.799; P < 0.001). Addition of TVR to standard radiologic assessment of deep MI increased the sensitivity from 90.5% to 95.2%. Tumor volume ratio, based on preoperative MR volumetry, seems to predict deep MI independently in stage I endometrial cancer with insufficient sensitivity and specificity. Its value in clinical practice for risk stratification models in endometrial cancer has to be studied in larger cohort of patients.

Initial 12-h operative fluid volume is an independent risk factor for pleural effusion after hepatectomy.

PubMed

Cheng, Xiang; Wu, Jia-Wei; Sun, Ping; Song, Zi-Fang; Zheng, Qi-Chang

2016-12-01

Pleural effusion after hepatectomy is associated with significant morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. Several studies have addressed the risk factors for postoperative pleural effusion. However, there are no researches concerning the role of the initial 12-h operative fluid volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the initial 12-h operative fluid volume during liver resection is an independent risk factor for pleural effusion after hepatectomy. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 470 patients consecutively undergoing elective hepatectomy between January 2011 and December 2012. We prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed baseline and clinical data, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify whether the initial 12-h operative fluid volume was an independent risk factor for pleural effusion after hepatectomy. The multivariate analysis identified 2 independent risk factors for pleural effusion: operative time [odds ratio (OR)=10.2] and initial 12-h operative fluid volume (OR=1.0003). Threshold effect analyses revealed that the initial 12 h operative fluid volume was positively correlated with the incidence of pleural effusion when the initial 12-h operative fluid volume exceeded 4636 mL. We conclude that the initial 12-h operative fluid volume during liver resection and operative time are independent risk factors for pleural effusion after hepatectomy. Perioperative intravenous fluids should be restricted properly.

Peripheral telomere length and hippocampal volume in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Henje Blom, E; Han, L K M; Connolly, C G; Ho, T C; Lin, J; LeWinn, K Z; Simmons, A N; Sacchet, M D; Mobayed, N; Luna, M E; Paulus, M; Epel, E S; Blackburn, E H; Wolkowitz, O M; Yang, T T

2015-11-10

Several studies have reported that adults with major depressive disorder have shorter telomere length and reduced hippocampal volumes. Moreover, studies of adult populations without major depressive disorder suggest a relationship between peripheral telomere length and hippocampal volume. However, the relationship of these findings in adolescents with major depressive disorder has yet to be explored. We examined whether adolescent major depressive disorder is associated with altered peripheral telomere length and hippocampal volume, and whether these measures relate to one another. In 54 unmedicated adolescents (13-18 years) with major depressive disorder and 63 well-matched healthy controls, telomere length was assessed from saliva using quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods, and bilateral hippocampal volumes were measured with magnetic resonance imaging. After adjusting for age and sex (and total brain volume in the hippocampal analysis), adolescents with major depressive disorder exhibited significantly shorter telomere length and significantly smaller right, but not left hippocampal volume. When corrected for age, sex, diagnostic group and total brain volume, telomere length was not significantly associated with left or right hippocampal volume, suggesting that these cellular and neural processes may be mechanistically distinct during adolescence. Our findings suggest that shortening of telomere length and reduction of hippocampal volume are already present in early-onset major depressive disorder and thus unlikely to be only a result of accumulated years of exposure to major depressive disorder.

Wave energy devices with compressible volumes.

PubMed

Kurniawan, Adi; Greaves, Deborah; Chaplin, John

2014-12-08

We present an analysis of wave energy devices with air-filled compressible submerged volumes, where variability of volume is achieved by means of a horizontal surface free to move up and down relative to the body. An analysis of bodies without power take-off (PTO) systems is first presented to demonstrate the positive effects a compressible volume could have on the body response. Subsequently, two compressible device variations are analysed. In the first variation, the compressible volume is connected to a fixed volume via an air turbine for PTO. In the second variation, a water column separates the compressible volume from another volume, which is fitted with an air turbine open to the atmosphere. Both floating and bottom-fixed, axisymmetric, configurations are considered, and linear analysis is employed throughout. Advantages and disadvantages of each device are examined in detail. Some configurations with displaced volumes less than 2000 m 3 and with constant turbine coefficients are shown to be capable of achieving 80% of the theoretical maximum absorbed power over a wave period range of about 4 s.

Wave energy devices with compressible volumes

PubMed Central

Kurniawan, Adi; Greaves, Deborah; Chaplin, John

2014-01-01

We present an analysis of wave energy devices with air-filled compressible submerged volumes, where variability of volume is achieved by means of a horizontal surface free to move up and down relative to the body. An analysis of bodies without power take-off (PTO) systems is first presented to demonstrate the positive effects a compressible volume could have on the body response. Subsequently, two compressible device variations are analysed. In the first variation, the compressible volume is connected to a fixed volume via an air turbine for PTO. In the second variation, a water column separates the compressible volume from another volume, which is fitted with an air turbine open to the atmosphere. Both floating and bottom-fixed, axisymmetric, configurations are considered, and linear analysis is employed throughout. Advantages and disadvantages of each device are examined in detail. Some configurations with displaced volumes less than 2000 m3 and with constant turbine coefficients are shown to be capable of achieving 80% of the theoretical maximum absorbed power over a wave period range of about 4 s. PMID:25484609

Use of frequency analysis and the extended streamflow prediction procedure to estimate evacuation dates for the joint-use pool of Pueblo Reservoir, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kuhn, Gerhard; Nickless, R.C.

1994-01-01

Part of the storage space of Pueblo Reservoir consists of a 65,950 acre-foot joint-use pool (JUP) that can be used to provide additional conservation capacity from November 1 to April 14; however, the JUP must be evacuated by April 15 and used only for flood-control capacity until November 1. A study was completed to determine if the JUP possibly could be used for conservation storage for any number of days from April 15 through May 14 under certain hydrologic conditions. The methods of the study were: (1) Frequency analysis of recorded daily mean discharge data for streamflow-gaging stations upstream and downstream from Pueblo Reservoir, and (2) Implementation of the extended streamflow prediction (ESP) procedure for the Arkansas River basin upstream from the reservoir. The frequency analyses enabled estimation of daily discharges at selected exceedance probabilities (EP's), including the 0.01 EP that was used in design of the flood- storage capacity of Pueblo Reservoir. The ESP procedure enabled probabilistic forecasts of inflow volume to the reservoir for April 15 through May 14. Daily discharges derived from the frequency analyses were routed through Pueblo Reservoir to estimate evacuation dates of the JUP for different reservoir inflow volumes; the estimates indicated a relation between the inflow volume and the JUP evacuation date. To apply the study results, only a ESP forecast of the April 15-May 14 reservoir inflow volume is needed. Study results indicate the JUP possibly could be used as late as May 5 depending on the forecast inflow volume.

Study on Edge Thickening Flow Forming Using the Finite Elements Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Young Jin; Park, Jin Sung; Cho, Chongdu

2011-08-01

This study is to examine the forming features of flow stress property and the incremental forming method with increasing the thickness of material. Recently, the optimized forming method is widely studied through the finite element analysis to optimize forming process conditions in many different forming fields. The optimal forming method should be adopted to meet geometric requirements as the reduction in volume per unit length of material such as forging, rolling, spinning etc. However conventional studies have not dealt with issue regarding volume per unit length. For the study we use the finite element method and model a gear part of an automotive engine flywheel as the study model, which is a weld assembly of a plate and a gear with respective different thickness. In simulation of the present study, a optimized forming condition for gear machining, considering the thickness of the outer edge of flywheel is studied using the finite elements analysis for the increasing thickness of the forming method. It is concluded from the study that forming method to increase the thickness per unit length for gear machining is reasonable using the finite elements analysis and forming test.

Volume and health outcomes: evidence from systematic reviews and from evaluation of Italian hospital data.

PubMed

Amato, Laura; Fusco, Danilo; Acampora, Anna; Bontempi, Katia; Rosa, Alessandro Cesare; Colais, Paola; Cruciani, Fabio; D'Ovidio, Mariangela; Mataloni, Francesca; Minozzi, Silvia; Mitrova, Zuzana; Pinnarelli, Luigi; Saulle, Rosella; Soldati, Salvatore; Sorge, Chiara; Vecchi, Simona; Ventura, Martina; Davoli, Marina

2017-01-01

BACKGROUND Improving quality and effectiveness of healthcare is one of the priorities of health policies. Hospital or physician volume represents a measurable variable with an impact on effectiveness of healthcare. An Italian law calls for the definition of «qualitative, structural, technological, and quantitative standards of hospital care». There is a need for an evaluation of the available scientific evidence in order to identify qualitative, structural, technological, and quantitative standards of hospital care, including the volume of care above or below which the public and private hospitals may be accredited (or not) to provide specific healthcare interventions. OBJECTIVES To identify conditions/interventions for which an association between volume and outcome has been investigated. To identify conditions/interventions for which an association between volume and outcome has been proved. To analyze the distribution of Italian health providers by volume of activity. To measure the association between volume of care and outcomes of the health providers of the Italian National Health Service (NHS). METHODS Systematic review An overview of systematic reviews was performed searching PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library up to November 2016. Studies were evaluated by 2 researchers independently; quality assessment was performed using the AMSTAR checklist. For each health condition and outcome, if available, total number of studies, participants, high volume cut-off values, and metanalysis have been reported. According to the considered outcomes, health topics were classified into 3 groups: positive association: a positive association was demonstrated in the majority of studies/participants and/or a pooled measure (metanalysis) with positive results was reported; lack of association: both studies and/or metanalysis showed no association; no sufficient evidence of association: both results of single studies and metanalysis do not allow to draw firm conclusions on the association between volume and outcome. Analysis of the distribution of Italian hospitals by volume of activity and the association between volume of activity and outcomes: the Italian National Outcome evaluation Programme 2016 The analyses were performed using the Hospital Information System and the National Tax Register (year 2015). For each condition, the number of hospitals by volume of activity was calculated. Hospitals with a volume lower than 3-5 cases/year were excluded. For conditions with more than 1,500 cases/year and frequency of outcome ≥1%, the association between volume of care and outcome was analyzed estimating risk-adjusted outcomes. RESULTS Bibliographic searches identified 80 reviews, evaluating 48 different clinical areas. The main outcome considered was intrahospital/30-day mortality. The other outcomes vary depending on the type of condition or intervention in study. The relationship between hospital volume and outcomes was considered in 47 out of 48 conditions: 34 conditions showed evidence of a positive association; • 14 conditions consider cancer surgery for bladder, breast, colon, rectum, colon rectum, oesophagus, kidney, liver, lung, ovaries, pancreas, prostate, stomach, head and neck; • 11 conditions consider cardiocerebrovascular area: nonruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myocardial infarction, brain aneurysm, carotid endarterectomy, coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass, paediatric heart surgery, revascularization of lower limbs, stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage; • 2 conditions consider orthopaedic area: knee arthroplasty, hip fracture; • 7 conditions consider other areas: AIDS, bariatric surgery, cholecystectomy, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, sepsis, and traumas; for 3 conditions, no association was demonstrated: hip arthroplasty, dialysis, and thyroidectomy. for the remaining 10 conditions, the available evidence does not allow to draw firm conclusions about the association between hospital volume and considered outcomes: surgery for testicular cancer and intracranial tumours, paediatric oncology, aortofemoral bypass, cardiac catheterization, appendectomy, colectomy, inguinal hernia, respiratory failure, and hysterectomy. The relationship between volume of clinician/surgeon and outcomes was assessed only through the literature re view; to date, it is not possible to analyze this association for Italian health provider hospitals, since information on the clinician/surgeon on the hospital discharge chart is missing. The literature found a positive association for 21 conditions: 9 consider surgery for cancer: bladder, breast, colon, colon rectum, pancreas, prostate, rectum, stomach, and head and neck; 5 consider the cardiocerebrovascular area: ruptured and nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid endarterectomy, paediatric heart surgery, and revascularization of the lower limbs; 2 consider the orthopaedic area: knee and hip arthroplasty; 5 consider other areas: AIDS, bariatric surgery, hysterectomy, intensive care unit, and thyroidectomy. The analysis of the distribution of Italian hospitals concerned the 34 conditions for which the systematic review has shown a positive volume-outcome association. For the following, it was possible to conduct the analysis of the association using national data: unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, coronary angioplasty, hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, coronary artery bypass, cancer surgery (colon, liver, breast, pancreas, lung, prostate, kidney, and stomach), laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hip fracture, stroke, acute myocardial infarction. For these conditions, the association between volume and outcome of care was observed. For laparoscopic cholecystectomy and surgery of the breast and stomach cancer, the association between the volume of the discharge (o dismissal) operating unit and the outcome was analyzed. The outcomes differ depending on the condition studied. The shape of the relationship is variable among different conditions, with heterogeneous slope of the curves. DISCUSSION For many conditions, the overview of systematic reviews has shown a strong evidence of association between higher volumes and better outcomes. The quality of the available reviews can be considered good for the consistency of the results between the studies and for the strength of the association; however, this does not mean that the included studies are of good quality. Analyzing national data, potential confounders, including age and comorbidities, have been considered. The systematic review of the literature does not permit to identify predefined volume thresholds. The analysis of national data shows a strong improvement in outcomes in the first part of the curve (from very low to higher volumes) for most conditions. In some cases, the improvement in outcomes remains gradual or constant with the increasing volume of care; in other, the analysis could allow the identification of threshold values beyond which the outcome does not further improve. However, a good knowledge of the relationship between effectiveness of treatments and costs, the geographical distribution and the accessibility to healthcare services are necessary to choose the minimum volumes of care, under which specific health procedures could not been provided in the NHS. Some potential biases due to the use of information systems data should also be considered. The different way of coding among hospitals could lead to a different selection of cases for some conditions. Regarding the definition of the exposure (volume of care), a possible bias could result from misclassification of health providers with high volume of activity. Performing the intervention in different departments/ units of the same hospital would result in an overestimation of the volume of care measured for hospital rather than for department/unit. For the conditions with a further fragmentation within the same structure, the association between volumes of discharge department and outcomes has also been evaluated. In this case, the two curves were different. The limit is to attribute the outcome to the discharge unit, which in case of surgery may not be the intervention unit. A similar bias could occur if the main determinant of the outcome of treatment was the caseload of each surgeon. The results of the analysis may be biased when different operators in the same hospital/unit carried out the same procedure. In any case, the observed association between volumes and outcome is very strong, and it is unlikely to be attributable to biases of the study design. Another aspect on which there is still little evidence is the interaction between volume of the hospital and of the surgeon. A MEDICARE study suggests that in some conditions, especially for specialized surgery, the effect of the surgeon's volume of activity is different depending on the structure volume, whereas it would not differ for some less specialized surgery conditions. The data here presented still show extremely fragmented volumes of both clinical and surgical areas, with a predominance of very low volume structures. Health systems operate, by definition, in a context of limited resources, especially when the amount of resources to allocate to the health system is reduced. In such conditions, the rationalization of the organization of health services based on the volume of care may make resources available to improve the effectiveness of interventions. The identification and certification of services and providers with high volume of activity can help to reduce differences in the access to non-effective procedures. To produce additional evidence to guide the reorganization of the national healthcare system, it will be necessary to design further primary studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of policies aimed at concentrating interventions in structures with high volumes of activity.

Satellite Power Systems (SPS) concept definition study, exhibit C. Volume 2, part 2: System engineering, cost and programmatics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G. M.

1979-01-01

Volume 2, Part 2, of a seven volume Satellite Power Systems (SPS) report is presented. Part 2 covers cost and programmatics and is divided into four sections. The first section gives illustrations of the SPS reference satellite and rectenna concept, and an overall scenario for SPS space transportation involvement. The second section presents SPS program plans for the implementation of PHASE C/D activities. These plans describe SPS program schedules and networks, critical items of systems evolution/technology development, and the natural resources analysis. The fourth section presents summary comments on the methods and rationale followed in arriving at the results documented. Suggestions are also provided in those areas where further analysis or evaluation will enhance SPS cost and programmatic definitions.

Heat Transfer Characteristics of Fan Coil Unit (FCU) Under The Effect of Chilled Water Volume Flowrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijaya Sunu, Putu; Anakottapary, Daud Simon; Mulawarman, A. A. N. B.; Cipta Santosa, I. D. M.; Putu Sastra Negara, I.

2018-01-01

In this paper, the volume flowrate of chilled water in the water chiller simulation apparatus was optimized using experimental studied. The experimental analysis was performed on the fan coil unit (FCU) of the system. The chilled water flows in tube side and the air as a hot fluid flows throughout the tube and fin of FCU. The thermal performance and analysis of the heat transfer is examined using various chilled water flowrate e.g. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 lpm. The effect of the flowrate to the important parameter such as LMTD temperature, heat absorb used for investigate the heat transfer characteristics. The result showed that the heat transfer characteristics has been increased with the increased of chilled water volume flowrate.

Importance of nasal clipping in screening investigations of flow volume curve.

PubMed

Yanev, I

1992-01-01

Comparative analysis of some basic lung indices obtained from a screening investigation of the flow volume curve by using two techniques, with a nose clip and without a nose clip, was made on a cohort of 86 workers in a factory shop for the production of bearings. We found no statistically significant differences between the indices obtained by the two techniques. Our study showed that the FVC and FEV1 obtained in workers without using nose clips were equal to or better than those obtained using nose clips in 60% of the workers. The reproducibility of the two methods was similar. The analysis of the data has shown that the flow volume curve investigation gives better results when performed without a nose clip, especially in industrial conditions.

Benefit-Cost Analysis of Integrated Paratransit Systems : Volume 6. Technical Appendices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-09-01

This last volume, includes five technical appendices which document the methodologies used in the benefit-cost analysis. They are the following: Scenario analysis methodology; Impact estimation; Example of impact estimation; Sensitivity analysis; Agg...

Stratal Control Volumes and Stratal Control Trajectories: A New Method to Constrain, Understand and Reconcile Results from Stratigraphic Outcrop Analysis, Subsurface Analysis and Analogue and Numerical Modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgess, P. M.; Steel, R. J.

2016-12-01

Decoding a history of Earth's surface dynamics from strata requires robust quantitative understanding of supply and accommodation controls. The concept of stratigraphic solution sets has proven useful in this decoding, but application and development of this approach has so far been surprisingly limited. Stratal control volumes, areas and trajectories are new approaches defined here, building on previous ideas about stratigraphic solution sets, to help analyse and understand the sedimentary record of Earth surface dynamics. They may have particular application reconciling results from outcrop and subsurface analysis with results from analogue and numerical experiments. Stratal control volumes are sets of points in a three-dimensional volume, with axes of subsidence, sediment supply and eustatic rates of change, populated with probabilities derived from analysis of subsidence, supply and eustasy timeseries (Figure 1). These empirical probabilities indicate the likelihood of occurrence of any particular combination of control rates defined by any point in the volume. The stratal control volume can then by analysed to determine which parts of the volume represent relative sea-level fall and rise, where in the volume particular stacking patterns will occur, and how probable those stacking patterns are. For outcrop and subsurface analysis, using a stratal control area with eustasy and subsidence combined on a relative sea-level axis allows similar analysis, and may be preferable. A stratal control trajectory is a history of supply and accommodation creation rates, interpreted from outcrop or subsurface data, or observed in analogue and numerical experiments, and plotted as a series of linked points forming a trajectory through the stratal control volume (Figure 1) or area. Three examples are presented, one from outcrop and two theoretical. Much work remains to be done to build a properly representative database of stratal controls, but careful comparison of stratal control volume and trajectories constructed from outcrop analysis, subsurface analysis and experimental models may help the convergence, reconciliation and future evolution of these different approaches.

Design, simulation, and optimization of an RGB polarization independent transmission volume hologram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahamat, Adoum Hassan

Volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings have been designed for use in many areas of science and technology such as optical communication, medical imaging, spectroscopy and astronomy. The goal of this dissertation is to design a volume phase holographic grating that provides diffraction efficiencies of at least 70% for the entire visible wavelengths and higher than 90% for red, green, and blue light when the incident light is unpolarized. First, the complete design, simulation and optimization of the volume hologram are presented. The optimization is done using a Monte Carlo analysis to solve for the index modulation needed to provide higher diffraction efficiencies. The solutions are determined by solving the diffraction efficiency equations determined by Kogelnik's two wave coupled-wave theory. The hologram is further optimized using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis to correct for effects of absorption omitted by Kogelnik's method. Second, the fabrication or recording process of the volume hologram is described in detail. The active region of the volume hologram is created by interference of two coherent beams within the thin film. Third, the experimental set up and measurement of some properties including the diffraction efficiencies of the volume hologram, and the thickness of the active region are conducted. Fourth, the polarimetric response of the volume hologram is investigated. The polarization study is developed to provide insight into the effect of the refractive index modulation onto the polarization state and diffraction efficiency of incident light.

Longitudinal study of neonatal brain tissue volumes in preterm infants and their ability to predict neurodevelopmental outcome.

PubMed

Gui, L; Loukas, S; Lazeyras, F; Hüppi, P S; Meskaldji, D E; Borradori Tolsa, C

2018-06-14

Premature birth has been associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the relation between such outcomes and brain growth in the neonatal period has not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigates longitudinal brain development between birth and term-equivalent age (TEA) by quantitative imaging in a cohort of premature infants born between 26 and 36 weeks gestational age (GA), to provide insight into the relation of brain growth with later neurodevelopmental outcomes. Longitudinal T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 84 prematurely born infants acquired shortly after birth and TEA were automatically segmented into cortical gray matter (CGM), unmyelinated white matter (UWM), subcortical gray matter (SGM), cerebellum (CB) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). General linear models and correlation analysis were used to study the relation between brain volumes and their growth, and perinatal variables. To investigate the ability of the brain volumes to predict children's neurodevelopmental outcome at 18-24 months and at 5 years of age, a linear discriminant analysis classifier was tested and several general linear models were fitted and compared by statistical tests. From birth to TEA, relative volumes of CGM, CB and CSF with respect to total intracranial volume increased, while relative volumes of UWM and SGM decreased. The fastest growing tissues between birth and TEA were found to be the CB and the CGM. Lower GA at birth was associated with lower growth rates of CGM, CB and total tissue. Among perinatal factors, persistent ductus arteriosus was associated with lower SGM, CB and IC growth rates, while sepsis was associated with lower CSF and intracranial volume growth rates. Model comparisons showed that brain tissue volumes at birth and at TEA contributed to the prediction of motor outcomes at 18-24 months, while volumes at TEA and volume growth rates contributed to the prediction of cognitive scores at 5 years of age. The family socio-economic status (SES) was not correlated with brain volumes at birth or at TEA, but was strongly associated with the cognitive outcomes at 18-24 months and 5 years of age. This study provides information about brain growth between birth and TEA in premature children with no focal brain lesions, and investigates their association with subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome. Parental SES was found to be a major determinant of neurodevelopmental outcome, unrelated to brain growth. However, further research is necessary in order to fully explain the variability of neurodevelopmental outcomes in this population. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Imaging genetics paradigms in depression research: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Pereira, Lícia P; Köhler, Cristiano A; Stubbs, Brendon; Miskowiak, Kamilla W; Morris, Gerwyn; de Freitas, Bárbara P; Thompson, Trevor; Fernandes, Brisa S; Brunoni, André R; Maes, Michael; Pizzagalli, Diego A; Carvalho, André F

2018-05-17

Imaging genetics studies involving participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) have expanded. Nevertheless, findings have been inconsistent. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of imaging genetics studies that enrolled MDD participants across major databases through June 30th, 2017. Sixty-five studies met eligibility criteria (N = 4034 MDD participants and 3293 controls), and there was substantial between-study variability in the methodological quality of included studies. However, few replicated findings emerged from this literature with only 22 studies providing data for meta-analyses (882 participants with MDD and 616 controls). Total hippocampal volumes did not significantly vary in MDD participants or controls carrying either the BDNF Val66Met 'Met' (386 participants with MDD and 376 controls) or the 5-HTTLPR short 'S' (310 participants with MDD and 230 controls) risk alleles compared to non-carriers. Heterogeneity across studies was explored through meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Gender distribution, the use of medications, segmentation methods used to measure the hippocampus, and age emerged as potential sources of heterogeneity across studies that assessed the association of 5-HTTLPR short 'S' alleles and hippocampal volumes. Our data also suggest that the methodological quality of included studies, publication year, and the inclusion of brain volume as a covariate contributed to the heterogeneity of studies that assessed the association of the BDNF Val66Met 'Met' risk allele and hippocampal volumes. In exploratory voxel-wise meta-analyses, MDD participants carrying the 5-HTTLPR short 'S' allele had white matter microstructural abnormalities predominantly in the corpus callosum, while carriers of the BDNF Val66Met 'Met' allele had larger gray matter volumes and hyperactivation of the right middle frontal gyrus compared to non-carriers. In conclusion, few replicated findings emerged from imaging genetics studies that included participants with MDD. Nevertheless, we explored and identified specific sources of heterogeneity across studies, which could provide insights to enhance the reproducibility of this emerging field. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Forecasting on the total volumes of Malaysia's imports and exports by multiple linear regression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beh, W. L.; Yong, M. K. Au

2017-04-01

This study is to give an insight on the doubt of the important of macroeconomic variables that affecting the total volumes of Malaysia's imports and exports by using multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis. The time frame for this study will be determined by using quarterly data of the total volumes of Malaysia's imports and exports covering the period between 2000-2015. The macroeconomic variables will be limited to eleven variables which are the exchange rate of US Dollar with Malaysia Ringgit (USD-MYR), exchange rate of China Yuan with Malaysia Ringgit (RMB-MYR), exchange rate of European Euro with Malaysia Ringgit (EUR-MYR), exchange rate of Singapore Dollar with Malaysia Ringgit (SGD-MYR), crude oil prices, gold prices, producer price index (PPI), interest rate, consumer price index (CPI), industrial production index (IPI) and gross domestic product (GDP). This study has applied the Johansen Co-integration test to investigate the relationship among the total volumes to Malaysia's imports and exports. The result shows that crude oil prices, RMB-MYR, EUR-MYR and IPI play important roles in the total volumes of Malaysia's imports. Meanwhile crude oil price, USD-MYR and GDP play important roles in the total volumes of Malaysia's exports.

Smaller Hippocampal Volume in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite ENIGMA-PGC Study: Subcortical Volumetry Results From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Consortia.

PubMed

Logue, Mark W; van Rooij, Sanne J H; Dennis, Emily L; Davis, Sarah L; Hayes, Jasmeet P; Stevens, Jennifer S; Densmore, Maria; Haswell, Courtney C; Ipser, Jonathan; Koch, Saskia B J; Korgaonkar, Mayuresh; Lebois, Lauren A M; Peverill, Matthew; Baker, Justin T; Boedhoe, Premika S W; Frijling, Jessie L; Gruber, Staci A; Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan; Jahanshad, Neda; Koopowitz, Sheri; Levy, Ifat; Nawijn, Laura; O'Connor, Lauren; Olff, Miranda; Salat, David H; Sheridan, Margaret A; Spielberg, Jeffrey M; van Zuiden, Mirjam; Winternitz, Sherry R; Wolff, Jonathan D; Wolf, Erika J; Wang, Xin; Wrocklage, Kristen; Abdallah, Chadi G; Bryant, Richard A; Geuze, Elbert; Jovanovic, Tanja; Kaufman, Milissa L; King, Anthony P; Krystal, John H; Lagopoulos, Jim; Bennett, Maxwell; Lanius, Ruth; Liberzon, Israel; McGlinchey, Regina E; McLaughlin, Katie A; Milberg, William P; Miller, Mark W; Ressler, Kerry J; Veltman, Dick J; Stein, Dan J; Thomaes, Kathleen; Thompson, Paul M; Morey, Rajendra A

2018-02-01

Many studies report smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but findings have not always been consistent. Here, we present the results of a large-scale neuroimaging consortium study on PTSD conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)-Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) PTSD Working Group. We analyzed neuroimaging and clinical data from 1868 subjects (794 PTSD patients) contributed by 16 cohorts, representing the largest neuroimaging study of PTSD to date. We assessed the volumes of eight subcortical structures (nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, and lateral ventricle). We used a standardized image-analysis and quality-control pipeline established by the ENIGMA consortium. In a meta-analysis of all samples, we found significantly smaller hippocampi in subjects with current PTSD compared with trauma-exposed control subjects (Cohen's d = -0.17, p = .00054), and smaller amygdalae (d = -0.11, p = .025), although the amygdala finding did not survive a significance level that was Bonferroni corrected for multiple subcortical region comparisons (p < .0063). Our study is not subject to the biases of meta-analyses of published data, and it represents an important milestone in an ongoing collaborative effort to examine the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD and the brain's response to trauma. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Convection-enhanced delivery of MANF--volume of distribution analysis in porcine putamen and substantia nigra.

PubMed

Barua, N U; Bienemann, A S; Woolley, M; Wyatt, M J; Johnson, D; Lewis, O; Irving, C; Pritchard, G; Gill, S

2015-10-15

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a 20kDa human protein which has both neuroprotective and neurorestorative activity on dopaminergic neurons and therefore may have application for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The aims of this study were to determine the translational potential of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of MANF for the treatment of PD by studying its distribution in porcine putamen and substantia nigra and to correlate histological distribution with co-infused gadolinium-DTPA using real-time magnetic resonance imaging. We describe the distribution of MANF in porcine putamen and substantia nigra using an implantable CED catheter system using co-infused gadolinium-DTPA to allow real-time MRI tracking of infusate distribution. The distribution of gadolinium-DTPA on MRI correlated well with immunohistochemical analysis of MANF distribution. Volumetric analysis of MANF IHC staining indicated a volume of infusion (Vi) to volume of distribution (Vd) ratio of 3 in putamen and 2 in substantia nigra. This study confirms the translational potential of CED of MANF as a novel treatment strategy in PD and also supports the co-infusion of gadolinium as a proxy measure of MANF distribution in future clinical studies. Further study is required to determine the optimum infusion regime, flow rate and frequency of infusions in human trials. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Smaller Hippocampal Volume in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite ENIGMA-PGC Study: Subcortical Volumetry Results From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Consortia

PubMed Central

Logue, Mark W.; van Rooij, Sanne J.H.; Dennis, Emily L.; Davis, Sarah L.; Hayes, Jasmeet P.; Stevens, Jennifer S.; Densmore, Maria; Haswell, Courtney C.; Ipser, Jonathan; Koch, Saskia B.J.; Korgaonkar, Mayuresh; Lebois, Lauren A.M.; Peverill, Matthew; Baker, Justin T.; Boedhoe, Premika S.W.; Frijling, Jessie L.; Gruber, Staci A.; Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan; Jahanshad, Neda; Koopowitz, Sheri; Levy, Ifat; Nawijn, Laura; O’Connor, Lauren; Olff, Miranda; Salat, David H.; Sheridan, Margaret A.; Spielberg, Jeffrey M.; van Zuiden, Mirjam; Winternitz, Sherry R.; Wolff, Jonathan D.; Wolf, Erika J.; Wang, Xin; Wrocklage, Kristen; Abdallah, Chadi G.; Bryant, Richard A.; Geuze, Elbert; Jovanovic, Tanja; Kaufman, Milissa L.; King, Anthony P.; Krystal, John H.; Lagopoulos, Jim; Bennett, Maxwell; Lanius, Ruth; Liberzon, Israel; McGlinchey, Regina E.; McLaughlin, Katie A.; Milberg, William P.; Miller, Mark W.; Ressler, Kerry J.; Veltman, Dick J.; Stein, Dan J.; Thomaes, Kathleen; Thompson, Paul M.; Morey, Rajendra A.

2018-01-01

BACKGROUND Many studies report smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but findings have not always been consistent. Here, we present the results of a large-scale neuroimaging consortium study on PTSD conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)–Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) PTSD Working Group. METHODS We analyzed neuroimaging and clinical data from 1868 subjects (794 PTSD patients) contributed by 16 cohorts, representing the largest neuroimaging study of PTSD to date. We assessed the volumes of eight subcortical structures (nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, and lateral ventricle). We used a standardized image-analysis and quality-control pipeline established by the ENIGMA consortium. RESULTS In a meta-analysis of all samples, we found significantly smaller hippocampi in subjects with current PTSD compared with trauma-exposed control subjects (Cohen’s d = −0.17, p = .00054), and smaller amygdalae (d = −0.11, p = .025), although the amygdala finding did not survive a significance level that was Bonferroni corrected for multiple subcortical region comparisons (p < .0063). CONCLUSIONS Our study is not subject to the biases of meta-analyses of published data, and it represents an important milestone in an ongoing collaborative effort to examine the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD and the brain’s response to trauma. PMID:29217296

Longitudinal Analysis of Superficial Midfacial Fat Volumes Over a 10-Year Period.

PubMed

Tower, Jacob; Seifert, Kimberly; Paskhover, Boris

2018-04-11

Volumetric changes to facial fat that occur with aging remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate for longitudinal changes to midfacial fat volumes in a group of individuals. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study of adult subjects who underwent multiple facial computed tomographic (CT) scans timed at least 8 years apart. Subjects who underwent facial surgery or suffered facial trauma were excluded. Facial CT scans were analyzed, and superficial cheek fat volumes were measured and compared to track changes that occurred with aging. Fourteen subjects were included in our analysis of facial aging (5 male, 9 female; mean initial age 50.9 years; mean final age 60.4 years). In the right superficial cheek there was an increase in mean (SD) superficial fat volume from 10.33 (2.01) to 10.50 (1.80) cc, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.75). Similar results were observed in the left cheek. There were no statistically significant longitudinal changes to caudal, middle, or cephalad subdivisions of bilateral superficial cheek fat. A simple linear regression was performed to predict superficial cheek fat pad volume based on age which did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.31), with an R 2 of 0.039. This study is the first to quantitatively assess for longitudinal changes to midfacial fat in a group of individuals. Superficial cheek fat remained stable as subjects aged from approximately 50 to 60 years old, with no change in total volume or redistribution within a radiographically defined compartment. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Single-Isocenter Multiple-Target Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Risk of Compromised Coverage

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roper, Justin, E-mail: justin.roper@emory.edu; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Chanyavanich, Vorakarn

2015-11-01

Purpose: To determine the dosimetric effects of rotational errors on target coverage using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for multitarget stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Methods and Materials: This retrospective study included 50 SRS cases, each with 2 intracranial planning target volumes (PTVs). Both PTVs were planned for simultaneous treatment to 21 Gy using a single-isocenter, noncoplanar VMAT SRS technique. Rotational errors of 0.5°, 1.0°, and 2.0° were simulated about all axes. The dose to 95% of the PTV (D95) and the volume covered by 95% of the prescribed dose (V95) were evaluated using multivariate analysis to determine how PTV coverage was relatedmore » to PTV volume, PTV separation, and rotational error. Results: At 0.5° rotational error, D95 values and V95 coverage rates were ≥95% in all cases. For rotational errors of 1.0°, 7% of targets had D95 and V95 values <95%. Coverage worsened substantially when the rotational error increased to 2.0°: D95 and V95 values were >95% for only 63% of the targets. Multivariate analysis showed that PTV volume and distance to isocenter were strong predictors of target coverage. Conclusions: The effects of rotational errors on target coverage were studied across a broad range of SRS cases. In general, the risk of compromised coverage increased with decreasing target volume, increasing rotational error and increasing distance between targets. Multivariate regression models from this study may be used to quantify the dosimetric effects of rotational errors on target coverage given patient-specific input parameters of PTV volume and distance to isocenter.« less

The Value of Children: A Cross-National Study, Volume One. Introduction and Comparative Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arnold, Fred; And Others

The volume, first in a series of seven, discusses the Value of Children Project, a cross-cultural survey designed to analyze reasons for married couples' wanting or not wanting children. The sample includes participants from the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States (Hawaii). The…

Essays on Minority Cultures. Selected Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Minority Studies (3rd, April 1975). Volume 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, George E.; And Others

The volume consists of 23 essays which examine interdisciplinary perspectives, grouped by academic areas or viewpoints on various minority issues. Topics include: the existence of a black literary tradition, the international need to develop an analysis of minority conflict and intergroup tension, the conditions faced by migrant workers, origins…

Space station system analysis study. Part 3: Documentation. Volume 2: Technical report. [structural design and construction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

An analysis of construction operation is presented as well as power system sizing requirements. Mission hardware requirements are reviewed in detail. Space construction base and design configurations are also examined.

Small Volume Isotopic Analysis of Zircon Using LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb and Lu-Hf and Sub-ng Amounts of Hf in Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, A.; Horstwood, M. S.

2016-12-01

Crust-mantle evolution studies are greatly informed by zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic datasets and the ease with which these data can now be acquired has seen their application become commonplace. In order to deconvolute geochemical change and interpret geologic variation in complexly zoned zircons, this information is most ideally obtained on the smallest volume of zircon by successive SIMS U-Pb and LA-MC-ICP-MS Lu-Hf isotopic analyses. However, due to variations in zircon growth zone geometry at depth, the Lu-Hf analysis may not relate to the lower volume U-Pb analysis, potentially causing inaccuracy of the resultant age-corrected Hf isotope signature. Laser ablation split-stream methods are applied to be certain that U-Pb and Lu-Hf data represent the same volume of zircon, however, the sampling volume remains relatively large at 40x30µm1. Coupled ID-TIMS U-Pb and solution MC-ICP-MS Lu-Hf work traditionally utilize whole-zircon dissolution ( 10-50ng Hf), which has the potential to homogenize different zones of geologic significance within an analysis. Conversely, modern ID-TIMS U-Pb methods utilize microsampling of zircon grains, often providing < 5ng Hf, thereby challenging conventional Lu-Hf acquisition protocols to achieve the required precision. In order to obtain usable precision on minimal zircon volumes, we developed laser ablation methods using successive 25um spot U-Pb and Lu-Hf ablation pits with a combined depth of 18um, and low-volume solution introduction methods without Hf-REE separation utilizing Hf amounts as low as 0.4ng, while retaining an uncertainty level of ca. 1 ɛHf for both methods. We investigated methods of Yb interference correction and the potential for matrix effects, with a particular focus on the accurate quantification of 176Lu/177Hf. These improvements reduce the minimum amount of material required for U-Pb and Hf isotopic analysis of zircon by about an order of magnitude. 1Ibanez-Mejia et al (2015). PreRes, 267, 285-310.

Driving Change in Community Colleges. Volume 1: Building Systems for Advancement to Self-Sufficiency; Volume 2: An Analysis of Change in Two Community Colleges.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liebowitz, Marty; Haynes, Leslie; Milley, Jane

This report contains two volumes: "Building Systems for Advancement to Self-Sufficiency," and "An Analysis of Change in Two Community Colleges." Volume 1 addresses the following topics: (1) the need and opportunity for change; (2) from promising practices toward systems for advancement; (3) institutional change strategies; (4) levers for…

Space station data system analysis/architecture study. Task 3: Trade studies, DR-5, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

Results of a Space Station Data System Analysis/Architecture Study for the Goddard Space Flight Center are presented. This study, which emphasized a system engineering design for a complete, end-to-end data system, was divided into six tasks: (1); Functional requirements definition; (2) Options development; (3) Trade studies; (4) System definitions; (5) Program plan; and (6) Study maintenance. The Task inter-relationship and documentation flow are described. Information in volume 2 is devoted to Task 3: trade Studies. Trade Studies have been carried out in the following areas: (1) software development test and integration capability; (2) fault tolerant computing; (3) space qualified computers; (4) distributed data base management system; (5) system integration test and verification; (6) crew workstations; (7) mass storage; (8) command and resource management; and (9) space communications. Results are presented for each task.

Impact Assessment and Forecasts of Information and Telecommunications Technologies Applied to Education and Training. R&D in Information and Communication Based Learning Technology. Analysis of Key Issues for the Orientation of the Work of Sector Actors in the Framework of DELTA. Volume I--Executive Summary.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Commission of the European Communities, Brussels (Belgium).

This report, the first volume in a three volume set, summarizes the results of a study performed by the DELTA (Developing European Learning through Technological Advance) Unit in parallel with the projects underway in the research and development Exploratory Action. The report identifies the key issues, associated requirements and options, and…

Bioresearch module design definition and space shuttle vehicle integration study. Volume 2: Appendices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lang, A. L., Jr.

1971-01-01

Data presented in the appendices covers: (1) summary description of baseline power system; (2) revised thermal profile analysis; (3) design analysis of television monitor; (4) bioresearch module ground station support evaluation; (5) variable spin control analysis; and (6) bioresearch modules and work flow.

Studies 1. The Yugoslav Serbo-Croatian-English Contrastive Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Filipovic, Rudolf, Ed.

The first volume in this series on Serbo-Croatian-English contrastive analysis contains four articles. They are: "Contrasting via Translation: Formal Correspondence vs. Translation Equivalence," by Vladimir Ivir; "Approach to Contrastive Analysis," by Leonardo Spalatin; and "The Choice of the Corpus for the Contrastive Analysis of Serbo-Croatian…

Studies 2. The Yugoslav Serbo-Croatian-English Contrastive Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Filipovic, Rudolf, Ed.

The second volume in this series on Serbo-Croatian-English contrastive analysis contains five articles. They are: "On Contrastive Contrastive Grammar," by Eric P. Hamp; "Remarks on Contrastive Analysis and Translation," by Vladimir Ivir; "Formal and Semantic Considerations in Contrastive Analysis," by Jerry L. Liston; "On Differences in…

Distinct Subcortical Volume Alterations in Pediatric and Adult OCD: A Worldwide Meta- and Mega-Analysis.

PubMed

Boedhoe, Premika S W; Schmaal, Lianne; Abe, Yoshinari; Ameis, Stephanie H; Arnold, Paul D; Batistuzzo, Marcelo C; Benedetti, Francesco; Beucke, Jan C; Bollettini, Irene; Bose, Anushree; Brem, Silvia; Calvo, Anna; Cheng, Yuqi; Cho, Kang Ik K; Dallaspezia, Sara; Denys, Damiaan; Fitzgerald, Kate D; Fouche, Jean-Paul; Giménez, Mònica; Gruner, Patricia; Hanna, Gregory L; Hibar, Derrek P; Hoexter, Marcelo Q; Hu, Hao; Huyser, Chaim; Ikari, Keisuke; Jahanshad, Neda; Kathmann, Norbert; Kaufmann, Christian; Koch, Kathrin; Kwon, Jun Soo; Lazaro, Luisa; Liu, Yanni; Lochner, Christine; Marsh, Rachel; Martínez-Zalacaín, Ignacio; Mataix-Cols, David; Menchón, José M; Minuzzi, Luciano; Nakamae, Takashi; Nakao, Tomohiro; Narayanaswamy, Janardhanan C; Piras, Fabrizio; Piras, Federica; Pittenger, Christopher; Reddy, Y C Janardhan; Sato, Joao R; Simpson, H Blair; Soreni, Noam; Soriano-Mas, Carles; Spalletta, Gianfranco; Stevens, Michael C; Szeszko, Philip R; Tolin, David F; Venkatasubramanian, Ganesan; Walitza, Susanne; Wang, Zhen; van Wingen, Guido A; Xu, Jian; Xu, Xiufeng; Yun, Je-Yeon; Zhao, Qing; Thompson, Paul M; Stein, Dan J; van den Heuvel, Odile A

2017-01-01

Structural brain imaging studies in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have produced inconsistent findings. This may be partially due to limited statistical power from relatively small samples and clinical heterogeneity related to variation in illness profile and developmental stage. To address these limitations, the authors conducted meta- and mega-analyses of data from OCD sites worldwide. T 1 images from 1,830 OCD patients and 1,759 control subjects were analyzed, using coordinated and standardized processing, to identify subcortical brain volumes that differ between OCD patients and healthy subjects. The authors performed a meta-analysis on the mean of the left and right hemisphere measures of each subcortical structure, and they performed a mega-analysis by pooling these volumetric measurements from each site. The authors additionally examined potential modulating effects of clinical characteristics on morphological differences in OCD patients. The meta-analysis indicated that adult patients had significantly smaller hippocampal volumes (Cohen's d=-0.13; % difference=-2.80) and larger pallidum volumes (d=0.16; % difference=3.16) compared with adult controls. Both effects were stronger in medicated patients compared with controls (d=-0.29, % difference=-4.18, and d=0.29, % difference=4.38, respectively). Unmedicated pediatric patients had significantly larger thalamic volumes (d=0.38, % difference=3.08) compared with pediatric controls. None of these findings were mediated by sample characteristics, such as mean age or scanning field strength. The mega-analysis yielded similar results. The results indicate different patterns of subcortical abnormalities in pediatric and adult OCD patients. The pallidum and hippocampus seem to be of importance in adult OCD, whereas the thalamus seems to be key in pediatric OCD. These findings highlight the potential importance of neurodevelopmental alterations in OCD and suggest that further research on neuroplasticity in OCD may be useful.

Relationship between uterine volume and discontinuation of treatment with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices in patients with adenomyosis.

PubMed

Lee, Ki Hwan; Kim, Jang Kew; Lee, Min A; Ko, Young Bok; Yang, Jung Bo; Kang, Byung Hun; Yoo, Heon Jong

2016-09-01

This study is to evaluate the relationship between the uterine volume and the failure of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) in patients with adenomyosis. A total of 171 women with adenomysis were treated with LNG-IUD from November 2009 to December 2011. The amount of menorrhagia, degree of dysmenorrhea, and the uterine volume were compared before and after insertion of LNG-IUD, and the treatment failure of LNG-IUD was observed. The mean age of the participants was 42.5 years (range 29-53 years). The mean uterine volume was 158 mL (range 46-769 mL). Among the total participants, 37 (21.6 %) discontinued the treatment prematurely. There were no different characteristics between the ongoing treatment group and treatment failure group with LNG-IUD. However, there was significant difference of uterine volume between two groups (178 ± 14 and 141 ± 7 mL, P = 0.010). Based on the receiver operator characteristic analysis, the optimum cutoff value of uterine volume more than 150 mL was significantly associated with failure of LNG-IUD (area under curve: 0.763, 95 % CI 0.669-0.856). In univariate analysis, the uterine volume more than 150 mL was the only independent factor for the failure of LNG-IUD (odds ratio 6.76, 95 % CI 1.20-38.02, P = 0.030). The rate of treatment failure after LNG-IUD insertion for the patients with adenomyosis was related to the uterine volume. Specifically, the treatment failure rate of large volume uterus (>150 mL) with LNG-IUD was significantly higher than that of small volume uterus.

Traffic analysis toolbox volume XIII : integrated corridor management analysis, modeling, and simulation guide

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-02-01

As part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Analysis Toolbox (Volume XIII), this guide was designed to help corridor stakeholders implement the Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) methodology...

Traffic analysis toolbox volume XIII : integrated corridor management analysis, modeling, and simulation guide.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-02-01

As part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Analysis Toolbox (Volume XIII), this guide was designed to help corridor stakeholders implement the Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) methodology...

Frequency Domain Computer Programs for Prediction and Analysis of Rail Vehicle Dynamics : Volume 2. Appendixes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-12-01

Frequency domain computer programs developed or acquired by TSC for the analysis of rail vehicle dynamics are described in two volumes. Volume 2 contains program listings including subroutines for the four TSC frequency domain programs described in V...

Frequency Domain Computer Programs for Prediction and Analysis of Rail Vehicle Dynamics : Volume 1. Technical Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-12-01

Frequency domain computer programs developed or acquired by TSC for the analysis of rail vehicle dynamics are described in two volumes. Volume I defines the general analytical capabilities required for computer programs applicable to single rail vehi...

Analysis of modeling cumulative noise from simultaneous flights volume 2 : supplemental analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-12-31

This is the second of two volumes of the report on modeling cumulative noise from simultaneous flights. This volume examines the effect of several modeling input cases on Percent Time Audible results calculated by the Integrated Noise Model. The case...

Antera 3D capabilities for pore measurements.

PubMed

Messaraa, C; Metois, A; Walsh, M; Flynn, J; Doyle, L; Robertson, N; Mansfield, A; O'Connor, C; Mavon, A

2018-04-29

The cause of enlarged pores remains obscure but still remains of concern for women. To complement subjective methods, bioengineered methods are needed for quantification of pores visibility following treatments. The study objective was to demonstrate the suitability of pore measurements from the Antera 3D. Pore measurements were collected on 22 female volunteers aged 18-65 years with the Antera 3D, the DermaTOP and image analysis on photographs. Additionally, 4 raters graded pore size on photographs on a scale 0-5. Repeatability of Antera 3D parameters was ascertained and the benefit of a pore minimizer product on the cheek was assessed on a sub panel of seven female volunteers. Pore parameters using the Antera were shown to depict pore severity similar to raters on photographs, except for Max Depth. Mean pore volume, mean pore area and count were moderately correlated with DermaTOP parameters (up to r = .50). No relationship was seen between the Antera 3D and pore visibility analysis on photographs. The most repeatable parameters were found to be mean pore volume, mean pore area and max depth, especially for the small and medium filters. The benefits of a pore minimizer product were the most striking for mean pore volume and mean pore area when using the small filter for analysis, rather than the medium/large ones. Pore measurements with the Antera 3D represent a reliable tool for efficacy and field studies, with an emphasis of the small filter for analysis for the mean pore volume/mean pore area parameters. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Pituitary gland volume in at-risk mental state for psychosis: a longitudinal MRI analysis.

PubMed

Walter, Anna; Studerus, Erich; Smieskova, Renata; Tamagni, Corinne; Rapp, Charlotte; Borgwardt, Stefan J; Riecher-Rössler, Anita

2015-04-01

Pituitary enlargement has been reported in individuals with schizophrenic psychosis or an at-risk mental state for psychosis (ARMS). In a previous study, our group could show pituitary volume increase in first episode and ARMS patients with later transition to psychosis (ARMS-T). However, there are no longitudinal studies on this issue so far. We therefore examined longitudinally whether transition to psychosis would be accompanied by a further increase of pituitary volume in antipsychotic-naïve ARMS patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired from 23 antipsychotic-naïve individuals with an ARMS. Ten subjects developed psychosis (ARMS-T) and 13 did not (ARMS-NT). ARMS-T were re-scanned after the onset of psychosis, and ARMS-NT were re-scanned at the end of the study period. There was no significant difference of the pituitary volume between ARMS-T and ARMS-NT in our sample, and there were no significant pituitary volume changes over time. Discussion Longitudinally, we could not detect any further volumetric changes in the pituitary volume with transition to psychosis. This, together with the result of our previous study, could indicate that the perceived level of stress in ARMS patients is constantly high from very early onward.

Identifying factors that predict the choice and success rate of radial artery catheterisation in contemporary real world cardiology practice: a sub-analysis of the PREVAIL study data.

PubMed

Pristipino, Christian; Roncella, Adriana; Trani, Carlo; Nazzaro, Marco S; Berni, Andrea; Di Sciascio, Germano; Sciahbasi, Alessandro; Musarò, Salvatore Donato; Mazzarotto, Pietro; Gioffrè, Gaetano; Speciale, Giulio

2010-06-01

To assess: the reasons behind an operator choosing to perform radial artery catheterisation (RAC) as against femoral arterial catheterisation, and to explore why RAC may fail in the real world. A pre-determined analysis of PREVAIL study database was performed. Relevant data were collected in a prospective, observational survey of 1,052 consecutive patients undergoing invasive cardiovascular procedures at nine Italian hospitals over a one month observation period. By multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of RAC choice were having the procedure performed: (1) at a high procedural volume centre; and (2) by an operator who performs a high volume of radial procedures; clinical variables played no statistically significant role. RAC failure was predicted independently by (1) a lower operator propensity to use RAC; and (2) the presence of obstructive peripheral artery disease. A 10-fold lower rate of RAC failure was observed among operators who perform RAC for > 85% of their personal caseload than among those who use RAC < 25% of the time (3.8% vs. 33.0%, respectively); by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, no threshold value for operator RAC volume predicted RAC failure. A routine RAC in all-comers is superior to a selective strategy in terms of feasibility and success rate.

The relationship of waist circumference and body mass index to grey matter volume in community dwelling adults with mild obesity.

PubMed

Hayakawa, Y K; Sasaki, H; Takao, H; Yoshikawa, T; Hayashi, N; Mori, H; Kunimatsu, A; Aoki, S; Ohtomo, K

2018-02-01

Previous work has shown that high body mass index (BMI) is associated with low grey matter volume. However, evidence on the relationship between waist circumference (WC) and brain volume is relatively scarce. Moreover, the influence of mild obesity (as indexed by WC and BMI) on brain volume remains unclear. This study explored the relationships between WC and BMI and grey matter volume in a large sample of Japanese adults. The participants were 792 community-dwelling adults (523 men and 269 women). Brain magnetic resonance images were collected, and the correlation between WC or BMI and global grey matter volume were analysed. The relationships between WC or BMI and regional grey matter volume were also investigated using voxel-based morphometry. Global grey matter volume was not correlated with WC or BMI. Voxel-based morphometry analysis revealed significant negative correlations between both WC and BMI and regional grey matter volume. The areas correlated with each index were more widespread in men than in women. In women, the total area of the regions significantly correlated with WC was slightly greater than that of the regions significantly correlated with BMI. Results show that both WC and BMI were inversely related to regional grey matter volume, even in Japanese adults with somewhat mild obesity. Especially in populations with less obesity, such as the female participants in current study, WC may be more sensitive than BMI as a marker of grey matter volume differences associated with obesity.

Chronic baseline prostate inflammation is associated with lower tumor volume in men with prostate cancer on repeat biopsy: Results from the REDUCE study.

PubMed

Moreira, Daniel M; Nickel, J Curtis; Andriole, Gerald L; Castro-Santamaria, Ramiro; Freedland, Stephen J

2015-09-01

To evaluate whether baseline acute and chronic prostate inflammation among men with initial negative biopsy for prostate cancer (PC) is associated with PC volume at the 2-year repeat prostate biopsy in a clinical trial with systematic biopsies. Retrospective analysis of 886 men with negative baseline prostate biopsy and positive 2-year repeat biopsy in the Reduction by Dutasteride of PC Events (REDUCE) study. Acute and chronic inflammation and tumor volume were determined by central pathology. The association of baseline inflammation with 2-year repeat biopsy cancer volume was evaluated with linear and Poisson regressions controlling for demographics and laboratory variables. Chronic, acute inflammation, and both were detected in 531 (60%), 12 (1%), and 84 (9%) baseline biopsies, respectively. Acute and chronic inflammation were significantly associated with each other (P < 0.001). Chronic inflammation was associated with larger prostate (P < 0.001) and lower pre-repeat biopsy PSA (P = 0.01). At 2-year biopsy, baseline chronic inflammation was associated with lower mean tumor volume (2.07 µl vs. 3.15 µl; P = 0.001), number of biopsy cores involved (1.78 vs. 2.19; P < 0.001), percent of cores involved (17.8% vs. 22.8%; P < 0.001), core involvement (0.21 µl vs. 0.31 µl; P < 0.001), and overall percent tumor involvement (1.40% vs. 2.01%; P < 0.001). Results were unchanged in multivariable analysis. Baseline acute inflammation was not associated with any tumor volume measurement. In a cohort of men with 2-year repeat prostate biopsy positive for PC after a negative baseline biopsy, baseline chronic inflammation was associated with lower PC volume. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Determination of fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on scaling laws: a simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Jerry T.; Molloi, Sabee

2008-07-01

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) provides an objective physiological evaluation of stenosis severity. A technique that can measure FFR using only angiographic images would be a valuable tool in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. To perform this, the diseased blood flow can be measured with a first pass distribution analysis and the theoretical normal blood flow can be estimated from the total coronary arterial volume based on scaling laws. A computer simulation of the coronary arterial network was used to gain a better understanding of how hemodynamic conditions and coronary artery disease can affect blood flow, arterial volume and FFR estimation. Changes in coronary arterial flow and volume due to coronary stenosis, aortic pressure and venous pressure were examined to evaluate the potential use of flow and volume for FFR determination. This study showed that FFR can be estimated using arterial volume and a scaling coefficient corrected for aortic pressure. However, variations in venous pressure were found to introduce some error in FFR estimation. A relative form of FFR was introduced and was found to cancel out the influence of pressure on coronary flow, arterial volume and FFR estimation. The use of coronary flow and arterial volume for FFR determination appears promising.

Pituitary gland volume in adolescent and young adult bipolar and unipolar depression.

PubMed

MacMaster, Frank P; Leslie, Ronald; Rosenberg, David R; Kusumakar, Vivek

2008-02-01

Few studies have examined pituitary gland size in mood disorders, particularly in adolescents. We hypothesized increase in the pituitary gland size in early-onset mood disorders. Thirty subjects between the ages of 13 and 20 years participated in the study. Three groups (control, bipolar I depression and unipolar depression) of 10 subjects each (4 male, 6 female) underwent volumetric magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T. Analysis of covariance (covarying for age, sex and intracranial volume) revealed a significant difference in pituitary gland volume amongst the groups [F(2,24) = 7.092, p = 0.014]. Post hoc analysis revealed that controls had a significantly smaller pituitary gland volume than both bipolar patients (p = 0.019) and depressed patients (p = 0.049). Bipolar and depressed subjects did not differ significantly from each other with regard to pituitary gland volume (p = 0.653). Control females had larger pituitary glands than control males [F(1,8) = 10.523, p = 0.012], but no sex differences were noted in the mood disorder groups. Pituitary glands are enlarged in adolescents with mood disorders compared to controls. Healthy young females have larger pituitary glands than males, but such a difference is not evident in individuals with unipolar depression or bipolar disorder. These findings provide new evidence of abnormalities of the pituitary in early onset mood disorders, and are consistent with neuroendocrine dysfunction in early stages of such illnesses.

Projections of Demand for Waterborne Transportation, Ohio River Basin, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2020, 2040. Volume 1. Study Summary.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

NOTES 3 19. KEY WORDS (Continue on revere side If n.cessary d Identify by block number) Bulk cargo Market demand analysis Commodity resource inventory...The study included a Commodity Resource Inventory, a Modal Split Analysis and a Market Demand Analysis. The work included investigation and analyses...inventory, a modal split analysis and a market demand analysis. The work included investigation and analyses of the production, transportation, and

Association between surgeon volume and hospitalisation costs for patients with oral cancer: a nationwide population base study in Taiwan.

PubMed

Lee, C-C; Ho, H-C; Jack, Lee C-C; Su, Y-C; Lee, M-S; Hung, S-K; Chou, Pesus

2010-02-01

Oral cancer leads to a considerable use of and expenditure on health care. Wide resection of the tumour and reconstruction with a pedicle flap/free flap is widely used. This study was conducted to explore the relationship between hospitalisation costs and surgeon case volume when this operation was performed. A population-based study. This study uses data for the years 2005-2006 obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database published in the Taiwanese National Health Research Institute. From this population-based data, the authors selected a total of 2663 oral cancer patients who underwent tumour resection and reconstruction. Case volume relationships were based on the following criteria; low-, medium-, high-, very high-volume surgeons were defined by or= 56 resections with reconstruction, respectively. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was subsequently performed to explore the relationship between surgeon case volume and the cost and length of hospitalisation. The mean hospitalisation cost among the 2663 patients was US$ 9528 (all costs are given in US dollars). After adjusting for physician, hospital, and patient characteristics in a hierarchical linear regression model, the cost per patient for low-volume surgeons was found to be US$ 741 (P = 0.012) higher than that for medium-volume surgeons, US$ 1546 (P < 0.001) higher than that for high-volume surgeons, and US$ 1820 (P < 0.001) higher than that for very-high-volume surgeons. After adjustment for physician, hospital, and patient characteristics, the hierarchical linear regression model revealed that the mean length of stay per patient for low-volume surgeons was the highest (P < 0.001). After adjustment for physician, hospital, and patient characteristics, low-volume surgeons performing wide excision with reconstructive surgery in oral cancer patients incurred significantly higher costs and longer hospital stays per patient than did other surgeons. Treatment strategies adopted by high- and very-high-volume surgeons should be analysed further and utilised more widely.

Meta-analysis reveals a lack of sexual dimorphism in human amygdala volume.

PubMed

Marwha, Dhruv; Halari, Meha; Eliot, Lise

2017-02-15

The amygdala plays a key role in many affective behaviors and psychiatric disorders that differ between men and women. To test whether human amygdala volume (AV) differs reliably between the sexes, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of AVs reported in MRI studies of age-matched healthy male and female groups. Using four search strategies, we identified 46 total studies (58 matched samples) from which we extracted effect sizes for the sex difference in AV. All data were converted to Hedges g values and pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model. Each dataset was further meta-regressed against study year and average participant age. We found that uncorrected amygdala volume is about 10% larger in males, with pooled sex difference effect sizes of g=0.581 for right amygdala (κ=28, n=2022), 0.666 for left amygdala (κ=28, n=2006), and 0.876 for bilateral amygdala (κ=16, n=1585) volumes (all p values < 0.001). However, this difference is comparable to the sex differences in intracranial volume (ICV; g=1.186, p<.001, 11.9% larger in males, κ=11) and total brain volume (TBV; g=1.278, p<0.001, 11.5% larger in males, κ=15) reported in subsets of the same studies, suggesting the sex difference in AV is a product of larger brain size in males. Among studies reporting AVs normalized for ICV or TBV, sex difference effect sizes were small and not statistically significant: g=0.171 for the right amygdala (p=0.206, κ=13, n=1560); 0.233 for the left amygdala (p=0.092, κ=12, n=1512); and 0.257 for bilateral volume (p=0.131, κ=5, n=1629). These values correspond to less than 0.1% larger corrected right AV and 2.5% larger corrected left AV in males compared to females. In summary, AV is not selectively enhanced in human males, as often claimed. Although we cannot rule out subtle male-female group differences, it is not accurate to refer to the human amygdala as "sexually dimorphic." Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reduced volume of gray matter in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

PubMed

Li, Meng; Yan, Jianhao; Li, Shumei; Wang, Tianyue; Zhan, Wenfeng; Wen, Hua; Ma, Xiaofen; Zhang, Yong; Tian, Junzhang; Jiang, Guihua

2017-04-01

Accumulating evidence from brain structural imaging studies has supported that chronic pain could induce changes in brain gray matter volume. However, few studies have focused on the gray matter alterations of Trigeminal neuralgia (TN). In this study, twenty-eight TN patients (thirteen females; mean age, 45.86 years ±11.17) and 28 healthy controls (HC; thirteen females; mean age, 44.89 years ±7.67) were included. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we detected abnormalities in gray matter volume in the TN patients. Based on a voxel-wise analysis, the TN group showed significantly decreased gray matter volume in the bilateral superior/middle temporal gyrus (STG/MTG), bilateral parahippocampus, left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), caudate nucleus, right fusiform gyrus, and right cerebellum compared with the HC. In addition, we found that the gray matter volume in the bilateral STG/MTG was negatively correlated with the duration of TN. These results provide compelling evidence for gray matter abnormalities in TN and suggest that the duration of TN may be a critical factor associated with brain alterations.

MRI allows for longitudinal quantitative analysis of body fat composition in rats: an analysis of sibutramine-associated changes at the group level.

PubMed

Müller, Hans-Peter; Niessen, Heiko G; Kaulisch, Thomas; Ludolph, Albert C; Kassubek, Jan; Stiller, Detlef

2013-09-01

Body fat distribution changes are associated with multiple alterations in metabolism. Therefore, the assessment of body fat compartments by MRI in animal models is a promising approach to obesity research. Standard T1-weighted (T1w) whole body MRI was used here to quantify different effects in the subcutaneous and visceral fat compartments in rats under treatment with an anorexiant. Twenty rats on a high caloric diet were investigated by the identical MRI protocol at baseline and after seven weeks. Ten rats received a treatment with sibutramine, 10 rats served as vehicle control group. To longitudinally assess body fat components, MRI analysis was used with two approaches: 2D slicewise graphic analysis (SGA) was compared with an automated 3D analysis algorithm (3DA). At the group level, fat volume differences showed a longitudinal increase of subcutaneous and visceral fat volumes for the control group, whereas the sibutramine group showed stable subcutaneous fat volumes and decrease in visceral fat volumes. SGA and 3DA volume determination showed significant correlations for subcutaneous fat volume (C=0.85, p<0.001), visceral fat volume (C=0.87, p<0.001), and total fat volume (C=0.90, p<0.001). It could be demonstrated that computer-based analysis of T1w MRI could be used to longitudinally assess changes in body fat compartments in rats at the group level. In detail, it was possible to investigate the effect of sibutramine separate on the fat compartments in rats. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oil-spill risk analysis: Cook inlet outer continental shelf lease sale 149. Volume 2: Conditional risk contour maps of seasonal conditional probabilities. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, W.R.; Marshall, C.F.; Anderson, C.M.

1994-08-01

The Federal Government has proposed to offer Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lands in Cook Inlet for oil and gas leasing. Because oil spills may occur from activities associated with offshore oil production, the Minerals Management Service conducts a formal risk assessment. In evaluating the significance of accidental oil spills, it is important to remember that the occurrence of such spills is fundamentally probabilistic. The effects of oil spills that could occur during oil and gas production must be considered. This report summarizes results of an oil-spill risk analysis conducted for the proposed Cook Inlet OCS Lease Sale 149. The objectivemore » of this analysis was to estimate relative risks associated with oil and gas production for the proposed lease sale. To aid the analysis, conditional risk contour maps of seasonal conditional probabilities of spill contact were generated for each environmental resource or land segment in the study area. This aspect is discussed in this volume of the two volume report.« less

Brain Volume Differences Associated With Hearing Impairment in Adults

PubMed Central

Vriend, Chris; Heslenfeld, Dirk J.; Versfeld, Niek J.; Kramer, Sophia E.

2018-01-01

Speech comprehension depends on the successful operation of a network of brain regions. Processing of degraded speech is associated with different patterns of brain activity in comparison with that of high-quality speech. In this exploratory study, we studied whether processing degraded auditory input in daily life because of hearing impairment is associated with differences in brain volume. We compared T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance images of 17 hearing-impaired (HI) adults with those of 17 normal-hearing (NH) controls using a voxel-based morphometry analysis. HI adults were individually matched with NH adults based on age and educational level. Gray and white matter brain volumes were compared between the groups by region-of-interest analyses in structures associated with speech processing, and by whole-brain analyses. The results suggest increased gray matter volume in the right angular gyrus and decreased white matter volume in the left fusiform gyrus in HI listeners as compared with NH ones. In the HI group, there was a significant correlation between hearing acuity and cluster volume of the gray matter cluster in the right angular gyrus. This correlation supports the link between partial hearing loss and altered brain volume. The alterations in volume may reflect the operation of compensatory mechanisms that are related to decoding meaning from degraded auditory input. PMID:29557274

Estimation of standard liver volume in Chinese adult living donors.

PubMed

Fu-Gui, L; Lu-Nan, Y; Bo, L; Yong, Z; Tian-Fu, W; Ming-Qing, X; Wen-Tao, W; Zhe-Yu, C

2009-12-01

To determine a formula predicting the standard liver volume based on body surface area (BSA) or body weight in Chinese adults. A total of 115 consecutive right-lobe living donors not including the middle hepatic vein underwent right hemi-hepatectomy. No organs were used from prisoners, and no subjects were prisoners. Donor anthropometric data including age, gender, body weight, and body height were recorded prospectively. The weights and volumes of the right lobe liver grafts were measured at the back table. Liver weights and volumes were calculated from the right lobe graft weight and volume obtained at the back table, divided by the proportion of the right lobe on computed tomography. By simple linear regression analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, we correlated calculated liver volume and body height, body weight, or body surface area. The subjects had a mean age of 35.97 +/- 9.6 years, and a female-to-male ratio of 60:55. The mean volume of the right lobe was 727.47 +/- 136.17 mL, occupying 55.59% +/- 6.70% of the whole liver by computed tomography. The volume of the right lobe was 581.73 +/- 96.137 mL, and the estimated liver volume was 1053.08 +/- 167.56 mL. Females of the same body weight showed a slightly lower liver weight. By simple linear regression analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, a formula was derived based on body weight. All formulae except the Hong Kong formula overestimated liver volume compared to this formula. The formula of standard liver volume, SLV (mL) = 11.508 x body weight (kg) + 334.024, may be applied to estimate liver volumes in Chinese adults.

FBI fingerprint identification automation study: AIDS 3 evaluation report. Volume 6: Environmental analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mulhall, B. D. L.

1980-01-01

The results of the analysis of the external environment of the FBI Fingerprint Identification Division are presented. Possible trends in the future environment of the Division that may have an effect on the work load were projected to determine if future work load will lie within the capability range of the proposed new system, AIDS 3. Two working models of the environment were developed, the internal and external model, and from these scenarios the projection of possible future work load volume and mixture was developed. Possible drivers of work load change were identified and assessed for upper and lower bounds of effects. Data used for the study were derived from historical information, analysis of the current situation and from interviews with various agencies who are users of or stakeholders in the present system.

IVHS Countermeasures for Rear-End Collisions, Task 1 Vol. III: 1991 NASS CDS Case Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-02-15

This report is from the NHTSA sponsored program, "IVHS Countermeasures for Rear-End Collisions". The Task 1 Interim Report consists of six volumes. This Volume, Volume III, 1991 NASS CDS Clinical Case Analysis presents the results of a clinical case ...

Hazard Analysis of Commercial Space Transportation: Volume 1: Operations. Volume 2: Hazards. Volume 3: Risk Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-05-01

The report is devoted to the review and discussion of generic hazards associated with the ground, launch, orbital and re-entry phases of space operations. Since the DOT Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST) has been charged with protecting...

Preliminary analysis of an integrated logistics system for OSSA payloads. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palguta, T.; Bradley, W.; Stockton, T.

1988-01-01

The purpose is to describe the logistics study background and approach to providing estimates of of logistics support requirements for Office of Space Science and Applications' payloads in the Space Station era. A concise summary is given of the study results. Future logistics support analysis tasks are identified.

ORGANIC MOLECULAR MARKER ANALYSIS OF LOW VOLUME RESIDENTIAL SAMPLES FOR SOURCE APPORTIONMENT IN THE DETROIT EXPOSURE AND AEROSOL RESEARCH STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

This abstract describes a poster on results for organic speciation analysis for Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study (DEARS) to be presented at the 2006 International Aerosol Conference sponsored by the American Association for Aerosol Research in St. Paul, Minnesota on Se...

TechTrends 2010-2015: A Content Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stauffer, Eric

2017-01-01

This study is a content analysis of articles published within the journal "TechTrends" from 2000 to 2015. The study reveals that the publication "TechTrends" has increased the overall number of peer reviewed original papers over the last 6 years. The author describes the proportion of these original papers per volume and…

Age estimation by assessment of pulp chamber volume: a Bayesian network for the evaluation of dental evidence.

PubMed

Sironi, Emanuele; Taroni, Franco; Baldinotti, Claudio; Nardi, Cosimo; Norelli, Gian-Aristide; Gallidabino, Matteo; Pinchi, Vilma

2017-11-14

The present study aimed to investigate the performance of a Bayesian method in the evaluation of dental age-related evidence collected by means of a geometrical approximation procedure of the pulp chamber volume. Measurement of this volume was based on three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography images. The Bayesian method was applied by means of a probabilistic graphical model, namely a Bayesian network. Performance of that method was investigated in terms of accuracy and bias of the decisional outcomes. Influence of an informed elicitation of the prior belief of chronological age was also studied by means of a sensitivity analysis. Outcomes in terms of accuracy were adequate with standard requirements for forensic adult age estimation. Findings also indicated that the Bayesian method does not show a particular tendency towards under- or overestimation of the age variable. Outcomes of the sensitivity analysis showed that results on estimation are improved with a ration elicitation of the prior probabilities of age.

Advanced study of global oceanographic requirements for EOS A/B: Appendix volume

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

Tables and graphs are presented for a review of oceanographic studies using satellite-borne instruments. The topics considered include sensor requirements, error analysis for wind determination from glitter pattern measurements, coverage frequency plots, ground station rise and set times, a technique for reduction and analysis of ocean spectral data, rationale for the selection of a 2 PM descending orbit, and a priority analysis.

Introduction to “Global tsunami science: Past and future, Volume I”

USGS Publications Warehouse

Geist, Eric L.; Fritz, Hermann; Rabinovich, Alexander B.; Tanioka, Yuichiro

2016-01-01

Twenty-five papers on the study of tsunamis are included in Volume I of the PAGEOPH topical issue “Global Tsunami Science: Past and Future”. Six papers examine various aspects of tsunami probability and uncertainty analysis related to hazard assessment. Three papers relate to deterministic hazard and risk assessment. Five more papers present new methods for tsunami warning and detection. Six papers describe new methods for modeling tsunami hydrodynamics. Two papers investigate tsunamis generated by non-seismic sources: landslides and meteorological disturbances. The final three papers describe important case studies of recent and historical events. Collectively, this volume highlights contemporary trends in global tsunami research, both fundamental and applied toward hazard assessment and mitigation.

Introduction to "Global Tsunami Science: Past and Future, Volume I"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geist, Eric L.; Fritz, Hermann M.; Rabinovich, Alexander B.; Tanioka, Yuichiro

2016-12-01

Twenty-five papers on the study of tsunamis are included in Volume I of the PAGEOPH topical issue "Global Tsunami Science: Past and Future". Six papers examine various aspects of tsunami probability and uncertainty analysis related to hazard assessment. Three papers relate to deterministic hazard and risk assessment. Five more papers present new methods for tsunami warning and detection. Six papers describe new methods for modeling tsunami hydrodynamics. Two papers investigate tsunamis generated by non-seismic sources: landslides and meteorological disturbances. The final three papers describe important case studies of recent and historical events. Collectively, this volume highlights contemporary trends in global tsunami research, both fundamental and applied toward hazard assessment and mitigation.

Feasibility study: Atmospheric general circulation experiment, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Homsey, R. J. (Editor)

1981-01-01

The feasibility analysis of the atmospheric general circulation experiment (AGCE) are documented. The analysis performed in each technical area, the rationale and substantiation for the design approaches selected for the hardware, and the design details for the baseline AGCE are presented.

Airport Surface Traffic Control Concept Formulation Study : Volume 1. Executive Summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-07-01

The report describes the approach followed and the analysis techniques employed in the performance of the operations analysis of the current ASTC system for the baseline airport, O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. It also describes the ...

Assessment of honking impact on traffic noise in urban traffic environment of Nagpur, India.

PubMed

Vijay, Ritesh; Sharma, Asheesh; Chakrabarti, Tapan; Gupta, Rajesh

2015-01-01

In context of increasing traffic noise in urban India, the objective of the research study is to assess noise due to heterogeneous traffic conditions and the impact of honking on it. Traffic volume, noise levels, honking, road geometry and vehicular speed were measured on national highway, major and minor roads in Nagpur, India. Initial study showed lack of correlation between traffic volume and equivalent noise due to some factors, later identified as honking, road geometry and vehicular speed. Further, frequency analysis of traffic noise showed that honking contributed an additional 2 to 5 dB (A) noise, which is quite significant. Vehicular speed was also found to increase traffic noise. Statistical method of analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirms that frequent honking (p < 0.01) and vehicular speed (p < 0.05) have substantial impact on traffic noise apart from traffic volume and type of road. The study suggests that honking must also be a component in traffic noise assessment and to identify and monitor "No Honking" zones in urban agglomerations.

Telemedicine in the management of chronic pain: a cost analysis study.

PubMed

Pronovost, Antoine; Peng, Philip; Kern, Ralph

2009-08-01

Telemedicine provides patients with easy and remote access to consultant expertise irrespective of geographic location. In a randomized controlled trial, this study has applied a rigorous costing methodology to the use of telemedicine in chronic pain management. We performed a randomized two-period crossover trial comparing in-person (IP) consultation with telemedicine (TM) consultation in the management of chronic pain. Over an 18-month period, 26 patients each completed two diaries capturing their direct and indirect travel costs, daily pain scores, and satisfaction with physician consultation. Costing models were developed to account for direct, indirect, fixed, and variable costs in order to perform break-even analyses. Sensitivity analysis was performed over a broad range of assumptions. Direct patient costs were significantly lower in the TM group than in the IP group, with median cost and interquartile range 133 dollars (28-377) vs 443 dollars (292-1075), respectively (P = 0.001). More patients were highly satisfied with the TM consultation than with the IP consultation (56 and 24%, respectively; P < 0.05). Break-even annual patient volume was estimated at 57 patients. A two-way sensitivity analysis controlling for annual patient volume and round-trip distance indicated that TM remains cost-effective at volumes >50 patients/year or at round-trip distances >200 km. Telemedicine is cost-effective over a broad range of assumptions, including annual patient volumes, travel distance, fuel costs, amortization, and discount rates. This study provides data from a real-world setting to determine relevant thresholds and targets for establishing a TM program for patients who are undergoing chronic pain therapy.

Volumetric analysis of pelvic hematomas after blunt trauma using semi-automated seeded region growing segmentation: a method validation study.

PubMed

Dreizin, David; Bodanapally, Uttam K; Neerchal, Nagaraj; Tirada, Nikki; Patlas, Michael; Herskovits, Edward

2016-11-01

Manually segmented traumatic pelvic hematoma volumes are strongly predictive of active bleeding at conventional angiography, but the method is time intensive, limiting its clinical applicability. We compared volumetric analysis using semi-automated region growing segmentation to manual segmentation and diameter-based size estimates in patients with pelvic hematomas after blunt pelvic trauma. A 14-patient cohort was selected in an anonymous randomized fashion from a dataset of patients with pelvic binders at MDCT, collected retrospectively as part of a HIPAA-compliant IRB-approved study from January 2008 to December 2013. To evaluate intermethod differences, one reader (R1) performed three volume measurements using the manual technique and three volume measurements using the semi-automated technique. To evaluate interobserver differences for semi-automated segmentation, a second reader (R2) performed three semi-automated measurements. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare differences in mean volumes. Time effort was also compared. Correlation between the two methods as well as two shorthand appraisals (greatest diameter, and the ABC/2 method for estimating ellipsoid volumes) was assessed with Spearman's rho (r). Intraobserver variability was lower for semi-automated compared to manual segmentation, with standard deviations ranging between ±5-32 mL and ±17-84 mL, respectively (p = 0.0003). There was no significant difference in mean volumes between the two readers' semi-automated measurements (p = 0.83); however, means were lower for the semi-automated compared with the manual technique (manual: mean and SD 309.6 ± 139 mL; R1 semi-auto: 229.6 ± 88.2 mL, p = 0.004; R2 semi-auto: 243.79 ± 99.7 mL, p = 0.021). Despite differences in means, the correlation between the two methods was very strong and highly significant (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). Correlations with diameter-based methods were only moderate and nonsignificant. Mean semi-automated segmentation time effort was 2 min and 6 s and 2 min and 35 s for R1 and R2, respectively, vs. 22 min and 8 s for manual segmentation. Semi-automated pelvic hematoma volumes correlate strongly with manually segmented volumes. Since semi-automated segmentation can be performed reliably and efficiently, volumetric analysis of traumatic pelvic hematomas is potentially valuable at the point-of-care.

Impact of roots, mycorrhizas and earthworms on soil physical properties as assessed by shrinkage analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milleret, R.; Le Bayon, R.-C.; Lamy, F.; Gobat, J.-M.; Boivin, P.

2009-07-01

SummarySoil biota such as earthworms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant roots are known to play a major role in engineering the belowground part of the terrestrial ecosystems, thus strongly influencing the water budget and quality on earth. However, the effect of soil organisms and their interactions on the numerous soil physical properties to be considered are still poorly understood. Shrinkage analysis allows quantifying a large spectrum of soil properties in a single experiment, with small standard errors. The objectives of the present study were, therefore, to assess the ability of the method to quantify changes in soil properties as induced by single or combined effects of leek roots ( Allium porrum), AMF ( Glomus intraradices) and earthworms ( Allolobophora chlorotica). The study was performed on homogenised soil microcosms and the experiments lasted 35 weeks. The volume of the root network and the external fungal hyphae was measured at the end, and undisturbed soil cores were collected. Shrinkage analysis allowed calculating the changes in soil hydro-structural stability, soil plasma and structural pore volumes, soil bulk density and plant available water, and structural pore size distributions. Data analysis revealed different impacts of the experimented soil biota on the soil physical properties. At any water content, the presence of A. chlorotica resulted in a decrease of the specific bulk volume and the hydro-structural stability around 25%, and in a significant increase in the bulk soil density. These changes went with a decrease of the structural pore volumes at any pore size, a disappearing of the thinnest structural pores, a decrease in plant available water, and a hardening of the plasma. On the contrary, leek roots decreased the bulk soil density up to 1.23 g cm -3 despite an initial bulk density of 1.15 g cm -3. This increase in volume was accompanied with a enhanced hydro-structural stability, a larger structural pore volume at any pore size, smaller structural pore radii and an increase in plant available water. Interestingly, a synergistic effect of leek roots and AMF in the absence of the earthworms was highlighted, and this synergistic effect was not observed in presence of earthworms. The structural pore volume generated by root and AMF growth was several orders of magnitude larger than the volume of the organisms. Root exudates as well as other AMF secretion have served as carbon source for bacteria that in turn would enhance soil aggregation and porosity, thus supporting the idea of a self-organization of the soil-plant-microbe complex previously described.

Pre- and postoperative radiotherapy for extremity soft tissue sarcoma: Evaluation of inter-observer target volume contouring variability among French sarcoma group radiation oncologists.

PubMed

Sargos, P; Charleux, T; Haas, R L; Michot, A; Llacer, C; Moureau-Zabotto, L; Vogin, G; Le Péchoux, C; Verry, C; Ducassou, A; Delannes, M; Mervoyer, A; Wiazzane, N; Thariat, J; Sunyach, M P; Benchalal, M; Laredo, J D; Kind, M; Gillon, P; Kantor, G

2018-04-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate, during a national workshop, the inter-observer variability in target volume delineation for primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma radiation therapy. Six expert sarcoma radiation oncologists (members of French Sarcoma Group) received two extremity soft tissue sarcoma radiation therapy cases 1: one preoperative and one postoperative. They were distributed with instructions for contouring gross tumour volume or reconstructed gross tumour volume, clinical target volume and to propose a planning target volume. The preoperative radiation therapy case was a patient with a grade 1 extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma of the thigh. The postoperative case was a patient with a grade 3 pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma of the thigh. Contour agreement analysis was performed using kappa statistics. For the preoperative case, contouring agreement regarding GTV, gross tumour volume GTV, clinical target volume and planning target volume were substantial (kappa between 0.68 and 0.77). In the postoperative case, the agreement was only fair for reconstructed gross tumour volume (kappa: 0.38) but moderate for clinical target volume and planning target volume (kappa: 0.42). During the workshop discussion, consensus was reached on most of the contour divergences especially clinical target volume longitudinal extension. The determination of a limited cutaneous cover was also discussed. Accurate delineation of target volume appears to be a crucial element to ensure multicenter clinical trial quality assessment, reproducibility and homogeneity in delivering RT. radiation therapy RT. Quality assessment process should be proposed in this setting. We have shown in our study that preoperative radiation therapy of extremity soft tissue sarcoma has less inter-observer contouring variability. Copyright © 2018 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

A New Volumetric Radiologic Method to Assess Indirect Decompression After Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion Using High-Resolution Intraoperative Computed Tomography.

PubMed

Navarro-Ramirez, Rodrigo; Berlin, Connor; Lang, Gernot; Hussain, Ibrahim; Janssen, Insa; Sloan, Stephen; Askin, Gulce; Avila, Mauricio J; Zubkov, Micaella; Härtl, Roger

2018-01-01

Two-dimensional radiographic methods have been proposed to evaluate the radiographic outcome after indirect decompression through extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF). However, the assessment of neural decompression in a single plane may underestimate the effect of indirect decompression on central canal and foraminal volumes. The present study aimed to assess the reliability and consistency of a novel 3-dimensional radiographic method that assesses neural decompression by volumetric analysis using a new generation of intraoperative fan-beam computed tomography scanner in patients undergoing XLIF. Prospectively collected data from 7 patients (9 levels) undergoing XLIF was retrospectively analyzed. Three independent, blind raters using imaging analysis software performed volumetric measurements pre- and postoperatively to determine central canal and foraminal volumes. Intrarater and Interrater reliability tests were performed to assess the reliability of this novel volumetric method. The interrater reliability between the three raters ranged from 0.800 to 0.952, P < 0.0001. The test-retest analysis on a randomly selected subset of three patients showed good to excellent internal reliability (range of 0.78-1.00) for all 3 raters. There was a significant increase in mean volume ≈20% for right foramen, left foramen, and central canal volumes postoperatively (P = 0.0472; P = 0.0066; P = 0.0003, respectively). Here we demonstrate a new volumetric analysis technique that is feasible, reliable, and reproducible amongst independent raters for central canal and foraminal volumes in the lumbar spine using an intraoperative computed tomography scanner. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Vortex Flow Aerodynamics, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, J. F. (Editor); Osborn, R. F. (Editor); Foughner, J. T., Jr. (Editor)

1986-01-01

Vortex modeling techniques and experimental studies of research configurations utilizing vortex flows are discussed. Also discussed are vortex flap investigations using generic and airplane research models and vortex flap theoretical analysis and design studies.

Wyoming Low-Volume Roads Traffic Volume Estimation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-10-01

Low-volume roads are excluded from regular traffic counts except on a need to know basis. But needs for traffic volume data on low-volume roads in road infrastructure management, safety, and air quality analysis have necessitated regular traffic volu...

Morphologic changes in the mesolimbic pathway in Parkinson's disease motor subtypes.

PubMed

Nyberg, Eric M; Tanabe, Jody; Honce, Justin M; Krmpotich, Theodore; Shelton, Erika; Hedeman, Jessica; Berman, Brian D

2015-05-01

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder associated with gray matter atrophy. Cortical atrophy patterns may further help distinguish between PD motor subtypes. Comparable differences in subcortical volumes have not been found. Twenty-one cognitively intact and treated PD patients, including 12 tremor dominant (TD) subtype, Nine postural instability gait dominant (PIGD) subtype, and 20 matched healthy control subjects underwent 3.0 T high-resolution structural MRI scanning. Subcortical volumetric analysis was performed using FreeSurfer and shape analysis was performed with FIRST to assess for differences between PD patients and controls and between PD subtypes. No significant differences in subcortical volumes were found between motor PD subtypes, but comparing grouped PD patients with controls revealed a significant increase in hippocampal volume in PD patients (p = 0.03). A significant shape difference was detected in the right nucleus accumbens (NAcc) between PD and controls and between motor subtypes. Shape differences were driven by positive deviations in the TD subtype. Correlation analysis revealed a trend between hippocampal volume and decreasing MDS-UPDRS (p = 0.06). While no significant differences in subcortical volumes between PD motor subtypes were found, increased hippocampal volumes were observed in PD patients compared to controls. Right NAcc shape differences in PD patients were driven by changes in the TD subtype. These unexpected findings may be related to the effects of chronic dopaminergic replacement on the mesolimbic pathway. Further studies are needed to replicate and determine the clinical significance of such morphologic changes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analysis of Oropharyngeal Airway in Preadolescent Nonsyndromic Bilateral and Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

PubMed

Al-Fahdawi, Mahmood Abd; El-Kassaby, Marwa Abdelwahab; Farid, Mary Medhat; El-Fotouh, Mona Abou

2018-01-01

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the volume, area, and dimensions of the oropharyngeal airway (OPA) in a previously repaired nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) versus bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients when compared with noncleft controls using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Design This was a retrospective case-control study. Setting The Cleft Care Center and outpatient clinic that are affiliated to our faculty were the settings for the study. Participants A total of 58 CBCT scans were selected of preadolescent individuals: 14 BCLP, 20 UCLP, and 24 age- and gender-matched noncleft controls. Variables Variables were volume, cross-sectional area (CSA), midsagittal area (MSA), and dimensions of OPA. Statistical analysis One-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests were used to compare variables. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05. Results UCLP showed significantly smaller superior oropharyngeal airway volume than both controls and BCLP ( P ≤ .05). BCLP showed significantly larger CSA at soft palate plane and significantly larger MSA than both UCLP and controls ( P < .05). Conclusions UCLP patients at the studied age and stage of previously repaired clefts have significantly less superior oropharyngeal airway volume than both controls and BCLP patients. This confirms that preadolescents with UCLP are at greater risk for superior oropharyngeal airway obstruction when compared with those BCLP and controls. Furthermore, BCLP patients showed significantly larger CSA at soft palate plane and MSA than both controls and UCLP patients. These variations in OPA characteristics of cleft patients can influence function in terms of respiration and vocalization.

Earth observing system. Output data products and input requirements, version 2.0. Volume 2: Analysis of IDS input requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lu, Yun-Chi; Chang, Hyo Duck; Krupp, Brian; Kumar, Ravindra; Swaroop, Anand

1992-01-01

On 18 Jan. 1991, NASA confirmed 29 Inter-Disciplinary Science (IDS) teams, each involving a group of investigators, to conduct interdisciplinary research using data products from Earth Observing System (EOS) instruments. These studies are multi-disciplinary and require output data products from multiple EOS instruments, including both FI and PI instruments. The purpose of this volume is to provide information on output products expected from IDS investigators, required input data, and retrieval algorithms. Also included in this volume is the revised analysis of the 'best' and 'alternative' match data products for IDS input requirements. The original analysis presented in the August 1991 release of the SPSO Report was revised to incorporate the restructuring of the EOS platform. As a result of the reduced EOS payload, some of EOS instruments were deselected and their data products would not be available for IDS research. Information on these data products is also presented.

Impact of APOE4-CSF Aβ interaction on hippocampal volume loss over 1 year in MCI

PubMed Central

Chiang, G.C.; Insel, P.S.; Tosun, D.; Schuff, N.; Truran-Sacrey, D.; Raptentsetsang, S.T.; Thompson, P.M.; Reiman, E.M.; Jack, C.R.; Fox, N.C.; Jagust, W.J.; Harvey, D.J.; Beckett, L.A.; Gamst, A.; Aisen, P.S.; Petersen, R.C.; Weiner, M.W.

2011-01-01

Background The majority of studies relating amyloid pathology with brain volumes have been cross-sectional. Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is also associated with hippocampal volume loss. No studies have considered the effects of amyloid pathology and APOE4 together on longitudinal volume loss. Methods We evaluated whether an abnormal level of cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid (CSF Aβ) and APOE4 carrier status were independently associated with greater hippocampal volume loss over 1 year. We then assessed whether APOE4 status and CSF Aβ acted synergistically, testing the significance of an interaction term in the regression analysis. We included 297 participants: 77 cognitively normal (NC), 144 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 76 with AD. Results An abnormal CSF Aβ level was found to be associated with greater hippocampal volume loss over 1 year in each group. APOE4 was associated with hippocampal volume loss only in the NC and MCI groups. APOE4 carriers with abnormal CSF Aβ in the MCI group acted synergistically to produce disproportionately greater volume loss than noncarriers. Conclusion Baseline CSF Aβ predicts progression of hippocampal volume loss. APOE4 carrier status amplifies the degree of neurodegeneration in MCI. Understanding the effect of interactions between genetic risk and amyloid pathology will be important in clinical trials and our understanding of the disease process. PMID:21889115

Runout and fine-sediment deposits of axisymmetric turbidity currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dade, W. Brian; Huppert, Herbert E.

1995-09-01

We develop a model that describes the runout behavior and resulting deposit of a radially spreading, suspension-driven gravity current on a surface of negligible slope. Our analysis considers the separate cases of constant-volume and constant-flux sources. It incorporates expressions for the conservation of volume, a Froude number condition at the current front, and the evolution of the driving suspension due to settling of particles to the underlying bed. The model captures the key features of a range of experimental observations. The analysis also provides important scaling relationships between the geometry of a deposit and the source conditions for the deposit-forming flow, as well as explicit expressions for flow speed and deposit thickness as functions of radial distance from the source. Among the results of our study we find that, in the absence of information regarding flow history, the geometries of relatively well-sorted deposits generated by flows with source conditions of constant volume or constant flux are virtually indistinguishable. The results of our analysis can be used by geologists in the interpretation of some geologically important gravity-surge deposits. Using our analytical results, we consider three previously studied, radially symmetric turbidites of the Hispaniola-Caicos basin in the western Atlantic Ocean. From gross geometry and grain size of the turbidites alone we estimate for the respective deposit-forming events that upon entry into the basin the initial sediment concentrations were approximately 3% by volume and the total volumes were roughly between 30 km3 and 100 km3. Each of the suspension-driven flows is inferred to have spread into the basin with a characteristic speed of 3-5 m s-1, and reached its ultimate runout length of about 60-75 km while laying down a deposit over a period of about 10-12 hours.

Distinct subcortical volume alterations in pediatric and adult OCD

PubMed Central

Boedhoe, Premika S.W.; Schmaal, Lianne; Abe, Yoshinari; Ameis, Stephanie H.; Arnold, Paul D.; Batistuzzo, Marcelo C.; Benedetti, Francesco; Beucke, Jan C.; Bollettini, Irene; Bose, Anushree; Brem, Silvia; Calvo, Anna; Cheng, Yuqi; Cho, Kang Ik K.; Dallaspezia, Sara; Denys, Damiaan; Fitzgerald, Kate D.; Fouche, Jean-Paul; Giménez, Mònica; Gruner, Patricia; Hanna, Gregory L.; Hibar, Derrek P.; Hoexter, Marcelo Q.; Huyser, Chaim; Ikari, Keisuke; Jahanshad, Neda; Kathmann, Norbert; Kaufmann, Christian; Koch, Kathrin; Kwon, Jun Soo; Lazaro, Luisa; Liu, Yanni; Lochner, Christine; Marsh, Rachel; Martínez-Zalacaín, Ignacio; Mataix-Cols, David; Menchón, José M.; Minuzzii, Luciano; Nakamae, Takashi; Nakao, Tomohiro; Narayanaswamy, Janardhanan C.; Piras, Fabrizio; Piras, Federica; Pittenger, Christopher; Reddy, Y.C. Janardhan; Sato, Joao R.; Simpson, H. Blair; Soreni, Noam; Soriano-Mas, Carles; Spalletta, Gianfranco; Stevens, Michael C.; Szeszko, Philip R.; Tolin, David F.; Venkatasubramanian, Ganesan; Walitza, Susanne; Wang, Zhen; van Wingen, Guido A.; Xu, Jian; Xu, Xiufeng; Yun, Je-Yeon; Zhao, Qing; Thompson, Paul M.; Stein, Dan J.; van den Heuvel, Odile A.

2016-01-01

Objective Structural brain imaging studies in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have produced inconsistent findings. This may be partially due to limited statistical power from relatively small samples and clinical heterogeneity related to variation in disease profile and developmental stage. Methods To address these limitations, we conducted a meta- and mega-analysis of data from OCD sites worldwide. T1 images from 1,830 OCD patients and 1,759 controls were analyzed, using coordinated and standardized processing, to identify subcortical brain volumes that differ in OCD patients and healthy controls. We additionally examined potential modulating effects of clinical characteristics on morphological differences in OCD patients. Results The meta-analysis indicated that adult patients had significantly smaller hippocampal volumes (Cohen’s d=−0.13; p=5.1x10−3, % difference −2.80) and larger pallidum volumes (d=0.16; p=1.6x10−3, % difference 3.16) compared to adult controls. Both effects were stronger in medicated patients compared to controls (d=−0.29; p=2.4x10−5, % difference −4.18 and d=0.29; p=1.2x10−5, % difference 4.38, respectively). Unmedicated pediatric patients had larger thalamic volumes (d=0.38, p=2.1x10−3) compared to pediatric controls. None of these findings were mediated by sample characteristics such as mean age or field strength. Overall the mega-analysis yielded similar results. Conclusion Our study indicates a different pattern of subcortical abnormalities in pediatric versus adult OCD patients. The pallidum and hippocampus seem to be of importance in adult OCD, whereas the thalamus seems to be key in pediatric OCD. This highlights the potential importance of neurodevelopmental alterations in OCD, and suggests that further research on neuroplasticity in OCD may be useful. PMID:27609241

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and subclinical cerebrovascular disease: the WHIMS-MRI Study.

PubMed

Coker, L H; Hogan, P E; Bryan, N R; Kuller, L H; Margolis, K L; Bettermann, K; Wallace, R B; Lao, Z; Freeman, R; Stefanick, M L; Shumaker, S A

2009-01-13

The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) hormone therapy (HT) trials reported that conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) increases risk for all-cause dementia and global cognitive decline. WHIMS MRI measured subclinical cerebrovascular disease as a possible mechanism to explain cognitive decline reported in WHIMS. We contacted 2,345 women at 14 WHIMS sites; scans were completed on 1,424 (61%) and 1,403 were accepted for analysis. The primary outcome measure was total ischemic lesion volume on brain MRI. Mean duration of on-trial HT or placebo was 4 (CEE+MPA) or 5.6 years (CEE-Alone) and scans were conducted an average of 3 (CEE+MPA) or 1.4 years (CEE-Alone) post-trial termination. Cross-sectional analysis of MRI lesions was conducted; general linear models were fitted to assess treatment group differences using analysis of covariance. A (two-tailed) critical value of alpha = 0.05 was used. In women evenly matched within trials at baseline, increased lesion volumes were significantly related to age, smoking, history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, lower post-trial global cognition scores, and increased incident cases of on- or post-trial mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia. Mean ischemic lesion volumes were slightly larger for the CEE+MPA group vs placebo, except for the basal ganglia, but the differences were not significant. Women assigned to CEE-Alone had similar mean ischemic lesion volumes compared to placebo. Conjugated equine estrogen-based hormone therapy was not associated with a significant increase in ischemic brain lesion volume relative to placebo. This finding was consistent within each trial and in pooled analyses across trials.

An algorithm for selecting the most accurate protocol for contact angle measurement by drop shape analysis.

PubMed

Xu, Z N

2014-12-01

In this study, an error analysis is performed to study real water drop images and the corresponding numerically generated water drop profiles for three widely used static contact angle algorithms: the circle- and ellipse-fitting algorithms and the axisymmetric drop shape analysis-profile (ADSA-P) algorithm. The results demonstrate the accuracy of the numerically generated drop profiles based on the Laplace equation. A significant number of water drop profiles with different volumes, contact angles, and noise levels are generated, and the influences of the three factors on the accuracies of the three algorithms are systematically investigated. The results reveal that the above-mentioned three algorithms are complementary. In fact, the circle- and ellipse-fitting algorithms show low errors and are highly resistant to noise for water drops with small/medium volumes and contact angles, while for water drop with large volumes and contact angles just the ADSA-P algorithm can meet accuracy requirement. However, this algorithm introduces significant errors in the case of small volumes and contact angles because of its high sensitivity to noise. The critical water drop volumes of the circle- and ellipse-fitting algorithms corresponding to a certain contact angle error are obtained through a significant amount of computation. To improve the precision of the static contact angle measurement, a more accurate algorithm based on a combination of the three algorithms is proposed. Following a systematic investigation, the algorithm selection rule is described in detail, while maintaining the advantages of the three algorithms and overcoming their deficiencies. In general, static contact angles over the entire hydrophobicity range can be accurately evaluated using the proposed algorithm. The ease of erroneous judgment in static contact angle measurements is avoided. The proposed algorithm is validated by a static contact angle evaluation of real and numerically generated water drop images with different hydrophobicity values and volumes.

Validation study of an interpolation method for calculating whole lung volumes and masses from reduced numbers of CT-images in ponies.

PubMed

Reich, H; Moens, Y; Braun, C; Kneissl, S; Noreikat, K; Reske, A

2014-12-01

Quantitative computer tomographic analysis (qCTA) is an accurate but time intensive method used to quantify volume, mass and aeration of the lungs. The aim of this study was to validate a time efficient interpolation technique for application of qCTA in ponies. Forty-one thoracic computer tomographic (CT) scans obtained from eight anaesthetised ponies positioned in dorsal recumbency were included. Total lung volume and mass and their distribution into four compartments (non-aerated, poorly aerated, normally aerated and hyperaerated; defined based on the attenuation in Hounsfield Units) were determined for the entire lung from all 5 mm thick CT-images, 59 (55-66) per animal. An interpolation technique validated for use in humans was then applied to calculate qCTA results for lung volumes and masses from only 10, 12, and 14 selected CT-images per scan. The time required for both procedures was recorded. Results were compared statistically using the Bland-Altman approach. The bias ± 2 SD for total lung volume calculated from interpolation of 10, 12, and 14 CT-images was -1.2 ± 5.8%, 0.1 ± 3.5%, and 0.0 ± 2.5%, respectively. The corresponding results for total lung mass were -1.1 ± 5.9%, 0.0 ± 3.5%, and 0.0 ± 3.0%. The average time for analysis of one thoracic CT-scan using the interpolation method was 1.5-2 h compared to 8 h for analysis of all images of one complete thoracic CT-scan. The calculation of pulmonary qCTA data by interpolation from 12 CT-images was applicable for equine lung CT-scans and reduced the time required for analysis by 75%. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

RBANS Memory Indices Are Related to Medial Temporal Lobe Volumetrics in Healthy Older Adults and Those with Mild Cognitive Impairment

PubMed Central

England, Heather B.; Gillis, M. Meredith; Hampstead, Benjamin M.

2014-01-01

The current study (i) determined whether NeuroQuant® volumetrics are reflective of differences in medial temporal lobe (MTL) volumes between healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and (ii) examined the relationship between RBANS indices and MTL volumes. Forty-three healthy older adults and 57 MCI patients completed the RBANS and underwent structural MRI. Hippocampal and inferior lateral ventricle (ILV) volumes were obtained using NeuroQuant®. Results revealed significantly smaller hippocampal and larger ILV volumes in MCI patients. MTL volumes were significantly related to the RBANS Immediate and Delayed Memory and Language indices but not the Attention or Visuoconstruction indices; findings that demonstrate anatomical specificity. Following discriminant function analysis, we calculated a cutpoint that may prove clinically useful for integrating MTL volumes into the diagnosis of MCI. These findings demonstrate the potential clinical utility of NeuroQuant® and are the first to document the relationship between RBANS indices and MTL volumes. PMID:24709384

Vestibular schwannomas: Accuracy of tumor volume estimated by ice cream cone formula using thin-sliced MR images

PubMed Central

Ho, Hsing-Hao; Li, Ya-Hui; Lee, Jih-Chin; Wang, Chih-Wei; Yu, Yi-Lin; Hueng, Dueng-Yuan; Hsu, Hsian-He

2018-01-01

Purpose We estimated the volume of vestibular schwannomas by an ice cream cone formula using thin-sliced magnetic resonance images (MRI) and compared the estimation accuracy among different estimating formulas and between different models. Methods The study was approved by a local institutional review board. A total of 100 patients with vestibular schwannomas examined by MRI between January 2011 and November 2015 were enrolled retrospectively. Informed consent was waived. Volumes of vestibular schwannomas were estimated by cuboidal, ellipsoidal, and spherical formulas based on a one-component model, and cuboidal, ellipsoidal, Linskey’s, and ice cream cone formulas based on a two-component model. The estimated volumes were compared to the volumes measured by planimetry. Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver agreement was tested. Estimation error, including absolute percentage error (APE) and percentage error (PE), was calculated. Statistical analysis included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), linear regression analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and paired t-tests with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Overall tumor size was 4.80 ± 6.8 mL (mean ±standard deviation). All ICCs were no less than 0.992, suggestive of high intraobserver reproducibility and high interobserver agreement. Cuboidal formulas significantly overestimated the tumor volume by a factor of 1.9 to 2.4 (P ≤ 0.001). The one-component ellipsoidal and spherical formulas overestimated the tumor volume with an APE of 20.3% and 29.2%, respectively. The two-component ice cream cone method, and ellipsoidal and Linskey’s formulas significantly reduced the APE to 11.0%, 10.1%, and 12.5%, respectively (all P < 0.001). Conclusion The ice cream cone method and other two-component formulas including the ellipsoidal and Linskey’s formulas allow for estimation of vestibular schwannoma volume more accurately than all one-component formulas. PMID:29438424

Trends in Fatalities From Distracted Driving in the United States, 1999 to 2008

PubMed Central

Stimpson, Jim P.

2010-01-01

Objectives. We examined trends in distracted driving fatalities and their relation to cell phone use and texting volume. Methods. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) records data on all road fatalities that occurred on public roads in the United States from 1999 to 2008. We studied trends in distracted driving fatalities, driver and crash characteristics, and trends in cell phone use and texting volume. We used multivariate regression analysis to estimate the relation between state-level distracted driving fatalities and texting volumes. Results. After declining from 1999 to 2005, fatalities from distracted driving increased 28% after 2005, rising from 4572 fatalities to 5870 in 2008. Crashes increasingly involved male drivers driving alone in collisions with roadside obstructions in urban areas. By use of multivariate analyses, we predicted that increasing texting volumes resulted in more than 16 000 additional road fatalities from 2001 to 2007. Conclusions. Distracted driving is a growing public safety hazard. Specifically, the dramatic rise in texting volume since 2005 appeared to be contributing to an alarming rise in distracted driving fatalities. Legislation enacting texting bans should be paired with effective enforcement to deter drivers from using cell phones while driving. PMID:20864709

Trends in fatalities from distracted driving in the United States, 1999 to 2008.

PubMed

Wilson, Fernando A; Stimpson, Jim P

2010-11-01

We examined trends in distracted driving fatalities and their relation to cell phone use and texting volume. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) records data on all road fatalities that occurred on public roads in the United States from 1999 to 2008. We studied trends in distracted driving fatalities, driver and crash characteristics, and trends in cell phone use and texting volume. We used multivariate regression analysis to estimate the relation between state-level distracted driving fatalities and texting volumes. After declining from 1999 to 2005, fatalities from distracted driving increased 28% after 2005, rising from 4572 fatalities to 5870 in 2008. Crashes increasingly involved male drivers driving alone in collisions with roadside obstructions in urban areas. By use of multivariate analyses, we predicted that increasing texting volumes resulted in more than 16,000 additional road fatalities from 2001 to 2007. Distracted driving is a growing public safety hazard. Specifically, the dramatic rise in texting volume since 2005 appeared to be contributing to an alarming rise in distracted driving fatalities. Legislation enacting texting bans should be paired with effective enforcement to deter drivers from using cell phones while driving.

Sequential dome-collapse nuées ardentes analyzed from broadband seismic data, Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brodscholl, A.; Kirbani, S.B.; Voight, B.

2000-01-01

The broadband data were evaluated using the assumption that avalanches with the same source areas and descent paths exhibit a linear relation between source volume and recorded seismic-amplitude envelope area. A result of the analysis is the determination of the volume of selected individual events. From the field surveys, the total volume of the collapsed dome lava is 2.6 Mm3. Discounting the volumetric influence of rockfalls, the average size of the 44 nuées ardentes is therefore about 60,000 m3. The largest collapse event at 10:54 is estimated to involve 260,000 m3, based on an analysis of the seismicity. The remaining 23 phase I events averaged 60,000 m3, with the total volume of all phase I events accounting for 63% of the unstable dome. The 20 phase II events comprised 37% of the total volume and averaged 47,000 m3. The methods described here can be put to practical use in real-time monitoring situations. Broadband data were essential in this study primarily because of the wide dynamic range.

Hamiltonian Effective Field Theory Study of the N^{*}(1535) Resonance in Lattice QCD.

PubMed

Liu, Zhan-Wei; Kamleh, Waseem; Leinweber, Derek B; Stokes, Finn M; Thomas, Anthony W; Wu, Jia-Jun

2016-02-26

Drawing on experimental data for baryon resonances, Hamiltonian effective field theory (HEFT) is used to predict the positions of the finite-volume energy levels to be observed in lattice QCD simulations of the lowest-lying J^{P}=1/2^{-} nucleon excitation. In the initial analysis, the phenomenological parameters of the Hamiltonian model are constrained by experiment and the finite-volume eigenstate energies are a prediction of the model. The agreement between HEFT predictions and lattice QCD results obtained on volumes with spatial lengths of 2 and 3 fm is excellent. These lattice results also admit a more conventional analysis where the low-energy coefficients are constrained by lattice QCD results, enabling a determination of resonance properties from lattice QCD itself. Finally, the role and importance of various components of the Hamiltonian model are examined.

Multifractal analysis of white matter structural changes on 3D magnetic resonance imaging between normal aging and early Alzheimer’s disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Huang-Jing; Zhou, Lu-Ping; Zeng, Peng; Huang, Xiao-Lin; Liu, Hong-Xing; Ning, Xin-Bao

2015-07-01

Applications of multifractal analysis to white matter structure changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have recently received increasing attentions. Although some progresses have been made, there is no evident study on applying multifractal analysis to evaluate the white matter structural changes on MRI for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research. In this paper, to explore multifractal analysis of white matter structural changes on 3D MRI volumes between normal aging and early AD, we not only extend the traditional box-counting multifractal analysis (BCMA) into the 3D case, but also propose a modified integer ratio based BCMA (IRBCMA) algorithm to compensate for the rigid division rule in BCMA. We verify multifractal characteristics in 3D white matter MRI volumes. In addition to the previously well studied multifractal feature, Δα, we also demonstrated Δf as an alternative and effective multifractal feature to distinguish NC from AD subjects. Both Δα and Δf are found to have strong positive correlation with the clinical MMSE scores with statistical significance. Moreover, the proposed IRBCMA can be an alternative and more accurate algorithm for 3D volume analysis. Our findings highlight the potential usefulness of multifractal analysis, which may contribute to clarify some aspects of the etiology of AD through detection of structural changes in white matter. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61271079), the Vice Chancellor Research Grant in University of Wollongong, and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, China.

Cross-sectional changes in lung volume measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung in ventilated preterm infants.

PubMed

van der Burg, Pauline S; Miedema, Martijn; de Jongh, Frans H; Frerichs, Inez; van Kaam, Anton H

2014-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography measures lung volume in a cross-sectional slice of the lung. Whether these cross-sectional volume changes are representative of the whole lung has only been investigated in adults, showing conflicting results. This study aimed to compare cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes using electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography. A prospective, single-center, observational, nonrandomized study. The study was conducted in a neonatal ICU in the Netherlands. High-frequency ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes were continuously and simultaneously measured by, respectively, electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography during a stepwise recruitment procedure. End-expiratory lung volume changes were assessed by mapping the inflation and deflation limbs using both the pressure/impedance and pressure/inductance pairs and characterized by calculating the inflection points. In addition, oscillatory tidal volume changes were assessed at each pressure step. Twenty-three infants were included in the study. Of these, eight infants had to be excluded because the quality of the registration was insufficient for analysis (two electrical impedance tomography and six respiratory inductive plethysmography). In the remaining 15 infants (gestational age 28.0 ± 2.6 wk; birth weight 1,027 ± 514 g), end-expiratory lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography were significantly correlated to respiratory inductive plethysmography measurements in 12 patients (mean r = 0.93 ± 0.05). This was also true for the upper inflection point on the inflation (r = 0.91, p < 0.01) and deflation limb (r = 0.83, p < 0.01). In 13 patients, impedance and inductance data also correlated significantly on oscillatory tidal volume/pressure relationships (mean r = 0.81 ± 0.18). This study shows that cross-sectional lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung and that this concept also applies to newborn infants.

Effects of the liver volume and donor steatosis on errors in the estimated standard liver volume.

PubMed

Siriwardana, Rohan Chaminda; Chan, See Ching; Chok, Kenneth Siu Ho; Lo, Chung Mau; Fan, Sheung Tat

2011-12-01

An accurate assessment of donor and recipient liver volumes is essential in living donor liver transplantation. Many liver donors are affected by mild to moderate steatosis, and steatotic livers are known to have larger volumes. This study analyzes errors in liver volume estimation by commonly used formulas and the effects of donor steatosis on these errors. Three hundred twenty-five Asian donors who underwent right lobe donor hepatectomy were the subjects of this study. The percentage differences between the liver volumes from computed tomography (CT) and the liver volumes estimated with each formula (ie, the error percentages) were calculated. Five popular formulas were tested. The degrees of steatosis were categorized as follows: no steatosis [n = 178 (54.8%)], ≤ 10% steatosis [n = 128 (39.4%)], and >10% to 20% steatosis [n = 19 (5.8%)]. The median errors ranged from 0.6% (7 mL) to 24.6% (360 mL). The lowest was seen with the locally derived formula. All the formulas showed a significant association between the error percentage and the CT liver volume (P < 0.001). Overestimation was seen with smaller liver volumes, whereas underestimation was seen with larger volumes. The locally derived formula was most accurate when the liver volume was 1001 to 1250 mL. A multivariate analysis showed that the estimation error was dependent on the liver volume (P = 0.001) and the anthropometric measurement that was used in the calculation (P < 0.001) rather than steatosis (P ≥ 0.07). In conclusion, all the formulas have a similar pattern of error that is possibly related to the anthropometric measurement. Clinicians should be aware of this pattern of error and the liver volume with which their formula is most accurate. Copyright © 2011 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Exploring Dutch surgeons' views on volume-based policies: a qualitative interview study.

PubMed

Mesman, Roos; Faber, Marjan J; Westert, Gert P; Berden, Bart

2018-01-01

Objective In many countries, the evidence for volume-outcome associations in surgery has been transferred into policy. Despite the large body of research that exists on the topic, qualitative studies aimed at surgeons' views on, and experiences with, these volume-based policies are lacking. We interviewed Dutch surgeons to gain more insight into the implications of volume-outcome policies for daily clinical practice, as input for effective surgical quality improvement. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 purposively selected surgeons from a stratified sample for hospital type and speciality. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and underwent inductive content analysis. Results Two overarching themes were inductively derived from the data: (1) minimum volume standards and (2) implications of volume-based policies. Although surgeons acknowledged the premise 'more is better', they were critical about the validity and underlying evidence for minimum volume standards. Patients often inquire about caseload, which is met with both understanding and discomfort. Surgeons offered many examples of controversies surrounding the process of determining thresholds as well as the ways in which health insurers use volume as a purchasing criterion. Furthermore, being held accountable for caseload may trigger undesired strategic behaviour, such as unwarranted operations. Volume-based policies also have implications for the survival of low-volume providers and affect patient travel times, although the latter is not necessarily problematic in the Dutch context. Conclusions Surgeons in this study acknowledged that more volume leads to better quality. However, validity issues, undesired strategic behaviour and the ways in which minimum volume standards are established and applied have made surgeons critical of current policy practice. These findings suggest that volume remains a controversial quality measure and causes polarization that is not conducive to a collective effort for quality improvement. We recommend enforcing thresholds that are based on the best achievable level of consensus and assessing additional criteria when passing judgement on quality of care.

Evolutionary space platform concept study. Volume 2, part B: Manned space platform concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Logical, cost-effective steps in the evolution of manned space platforms are investigated and assessed. Tasks included the analysis of requirements for a manned space platform, identifying alternative concepts, performing system analysis and definition of the concepts, comparing the concepts and performing programmatic analysis for a reference concept.

Instream-Flow Analysis for the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico: Methods and Analysis

Treesearch

F.N. Scatena; S.L. Johnson

2001-01-01

This study develops two habitat-based approaches for evaluating instream-flow requirements within the Luquillo Experimental Forest in northeastern Puerto Rico. The analysis is restricted to instream-flow requirements in upland streams dominated by the common communities of freshwater decapods. In headwater streams, pool volume was the most consistent factor...

The Ninevah Mission: A design summary for an unmanned mission to Venus, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

The design summary for an unmanned mission to the planet Venus, with code name Ninevah, is presented. The design includes a Hohmann transfer trajectory analysis, propulsion trade study, an overview of the communication and instrumentation systems, power requirements, probe and lander analysis, and a weight and cost analysis.

Motor vehicle crash-related subdural hematoma from real-world head impact data.

PubMed

Urban, Jillian E; Whitlow, Christopher T; Edgerton, Colston A; Powers, Alexander K; Maldjian, Joseph A; Stitzel, Joel D

2012-12-10

Abstract Approximately 1,700,000 people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a leading cause of hospitalization from TBI. Acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is a common intracranial injury that occurs in MVCs associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. In this study, SDH volume and midline shift have been analyzed in order to better understand occupant injury by correlating them to crash and occupant parameters. Fifty-seven head computed tomography (CT) scans were selected from the Crash Injury Research Engineering Network (CIREN) with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) level 3+ SDH. Semi-automated methods were used to isolate the intracranial volume. SDH and additional occupant intracranial injuries were segmented across axial CT images, providing a total SDH injury volume. SDH volume was correlated to crash parameters and occupant characteristics. Results show a positive correlation between SDH volume and crash severity in near-side and frontal crashes. Additionally, the location of the resulting hemorrhage varied by crash type. Those with greater SDH volumes had significantly lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores at the crash site in near-side crashes. Age and fracture type were found to be significant contributors to SDH volume. This study is a volumetric analysis of real world brain injuries and known MVC impacts. The results of this study demonstrate a relationship among SDH volume, crash mechanics, and occupant characteristics that provide a better understanding of the injury mechanisms of MVC-associated TBI.

Finding of increased caudate nucleus in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Persson, K; Bohbot, V D; Bogdanovic, N; Selbaek, G; Braekhus, A; Engedal, K

2018-02-01

A recently published study using an automated MRI volumetry method (NeuroQuant®) unexpectedly demonstrated larger caudate nucleus volume in patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD) compared to patients with subjective and mild cognitive impairment (SCI and MCI). The aim of this study was to explore this finding. The caudate nucleus and the hippocampus volumes were measured (both expressed as ratios of intracranial volume) in a total of 257 patients with SCI and MCI according to the Winblad criteria and AD according to ICD-10 criteria. Demographic data, cognitive measures, and APOE-ɛ4 status were collected. Compared with non-dementia patients (SCI and MCI), AD patients were older, more of them were female, and they had a larger caudate nucleus volume and smaller hippocampus volume (P<.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, age and female sex were associated with larger caudate nucleus volume, but neither diagnosis nor memory function was. Age, gender, and memory function were associated with hippocampus volume, and age and memory function were associated with caudate nucleus/hippocampus ratio. A larger caudate nucleus volume in AD patients was partly explained by older age and being female. These results are further discussed in the context of (1) the caudate nucleus possibly serving as a mechanism for temporary compensation; (2) methodological properties of automated volumetry of this brain region; and (3) neuropathological alterations. Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of the caudate nucleus in AD. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The impact of preload reduction with head-up tilt testing on longitudinal and transverse left ventricular mechanics: a study utilizing deformation volume analysis

PubMed Central

Schneider, Caroline; Forsythe, Lynsey; Somauroo, John; George, Keith

2018-01-01

Background Left ventricular (LV) function is dependent on load, intrinsic contractility and relaxation with a variable impact on specific mechanics. Strain (ε) imaging allows the assessment of cardiac function; however, the direct relationship between volume and strain is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of preload reduction through head-up tilt (HUT) testing on simultaneous left ventricular (LV) longitudinal and transverse function and their respective contribution to volume change. Methods A focused transthoracic echocardiogram was performed on 10 healthy male participants (23 ± 3 years) in the supine position and following 1 min and 5 min of HUT testing. Raw temporal longitudinal ε (Ls) and transverse ε (Ts) values were exported and divided into 5% increments across the cardiac cycle and corresponding LV volumes were traced at each 5% increment. This provided simultaneous LV longitudinal and transverse ε and volume loops (deformation volume analysis – DVA). Results There was a leftward shift of the ε-volume loop from supine to 1 min and 5 min of HUT (P < 0.001). Moreover, longitudinal shortening was reduced (P < 0.001) with a concomitant increase in transverse thickening from supine to 1 min, which was further augmented at 5 min (P = 0.018). Conclusions Preload reduction occurs within 1 min of HUT but does not further reduce at 5 min. This decline is associated with a decrease in longitudinal ε and concomitant increase in transverse ε. Consequently, augmented transverse relaxation appears to be an important factor in the maintenance of LV filling in the setting of reduced preload. DVA provides information on the relative contribution of mechanics to a change in LV volume and may have a role in the assessment of clinical populations. PMID:29339401

The impact of preload reduction with head-up tilt testing on longitudinal and transverse left ventricular mechanics: a study utilizing deformation volume analysis.

PubMed

Schneider, Caroline; Forsythe, Lynsey; Somauroo, John; George, Keith; Oxborough, David

2018-03-01

Left ventricular (LV) function is dependent on load, intrinsic contractility and relaxation with a variable impact on specific mechanics. Strain (ε) imaging allows the assessment of cardiac function; however, the direct relationship between volume and strain is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of preload reduction through head-up tilt (HUT) testing on simultaneous left ventricular (LV) longitudinal and transverse function and their respective contribution to volume change. A focused transthoracic echocardiogram was performed on 10 healthy male participants (23 ± 3 years) in the supine position and following 1 min and 5 min of HUT testing. Raw temporal longitudinal ε (Ls) and transverse ε (Ts) values were exported and divided into 5% increments across the cardiac cycle and corresponding LV volumes were traced at each 5% increment. This provided simultaneous LV longitudinal and transverse ε and volume loops (deformation volume analysis - DVA). There was a leftward shift of the ε-volume loop from supine to 1 min and 5 min of HUT ( P  < 0.001). Moreover, longitudinal shortening was reduced ( P  < 0.001) with a concomitant increase in transverse thickening from supine to 1 min, which was further augmented at 5 min ( P  = 0.018). Preload reduction occurs within 1 min of HUT but does not further reduce at 5 min. This decline is associated with a decrease in longitudinal ε and concomitant increase in transverse ε. Consequently, augmented transverse relaxation appears to be an important factor in the maintenance of LV filling in the setting of reduced preload. DVA provides information on the relative contribution of mechanics to a change in LV volume and may have a role in the assessment of clinical populations. © 2018 The authors.

Research and Planning for Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenske, Robert H., Ed.; Staskey, Paul J., Ed.

Forty-four papers are collected in this volume and categorized: invited papers on research and planning for higher education; organizational analysis; finance and resource allocation; program and outcomes analysis; modeling; evaluation; and studies of faculty and students. Abstracts of additional papers are included. (MSE)

The Impact of Hospital Closures and Hospital and Population Characteristics on Increasing Emergency Department Volume: A Geographic Analysis.

PubMed

Lee, David C; Carr, Brendan G; Smith, Tony E; Tran, Van C; Polsky, Daniel; Branas, Charles C

2015-12-01

Emergency visits are rising nationally, whereas the number of emergency departments is shrinking. However, volume has not increased uniformly at all emergency departments. It is unclear what factors account for this variability in emergency volume growth rates. The objective of this study was to test the association of hospital and population characteristics and the effect of hospital closures with increases in emergency department volume. The study team analyzed emergency department volume at New York State hospitals from 2004 to 2010 using data from cost reports and administrative databases. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate characteristics associated with emergency volume growth. Spatial analytics and distances between hospitals were used in calculating the predicted impact of hospital closures on emergency department use. Among the 192 New York hospitals open from 2004 to 2010, the mean annual increase in emergency department visits was 2.7%, but the range was wide (-5.5% to 11.3%). Emergency volume increased nearly twice as fast at tertiary referral centers (4.8%) and nonurban hospitals (3.7% versus urban at 2.1%) after adjusting for other characteristics. The effect of hospital closures also strongly predicted variation in growth. Emergency volume is increasing faster at specific hospitals: tertiary referral centers, nonurban hospitals, and those near hospital closures. This study provides an understanding of how emergency volume varies among hospitals and predicts the effect of hospital closures in a statewide region. Understanding the impact of these factors on emergency department use is essential to ensure that these populations have access to critical emergency services.

Treatment Planning and Volumetric Response Assessment for Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Semiautomated Determination of Liver Volume and Volume of Tumor Necrosis in Patients with Hepatic Malignancy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Monsky, Wayne L., E-mail: wayne.monsky@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu; Garza, Armando S.; Kim, Isaac

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to demonstrate intraobserver/interobserver reproducibility for novel semiautomated measurements of hepatic volume used for Yttrium-90 dose calculations as well as whole-liver and necrotic-liver (hypodense/nonenhancing) tumor volume after radioembolization. The secondary aim was to provide initial comparisons of tumor volumetric measurements with linear measurements, as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria, and survival outcomes. Methods: Between 2006 and 2009, 23 consecutive radioembolization procedures were performed for 14 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 9 cases of hepatic metastases. Baseline and follow-up computed tomography obtained 1 month after treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Threemore » observers measured liver, whole-tumor, and tumor-necrosis volumes twice using semiautomated software. Results: Good intraobserver/interobserver reproducibility was demonstrated (intraclass correlation [ICC] > 0.9) for tumor and liver volumes. Semiautomated measurements of liver volumes were statistically similar to those obtained with manual tracing (ICC = 0.868), but they required significantly less time to perform (p < 0.0001, ICC = 0.088). There was a positive association between change in linear tumor measurements and whole-tumor volume (p < 0.0001). However, linear measurements did not correlate with volume of necrosis (p > 0.05). Dose, change in tumor diameters, tumor volume, and necrotic volume did not correlate with survival (p > 0.05 in all instances). However, Kaplan-Meier curves suggest that a >10% increase in necrotic volume correlated with survival (p = 0.0472). Conclusion: Semiautomated volumetric analysis of liver, whole-tumor, and tumor-necrosis volume can be performed with good intraobserver/interobserver reproducibility. In this small retrospective study, measurements of tumor necrosis were suggested to correlate with survival.« less

Genetic Overlap Between Schizophrenia and Volumes of Hippocampus, Putamen, and Intracranial Volume Indicates Shared Molecular Genetic Mechanisms.

PubMed

Smeland, Olav B; Wang, Yunpeng; Frei, Oleksandr; Li, Wen; Hibar, Derrek P; Franke, Barbara; Bettella, Francesco; Witoelar, Aree; Djurovic, Srdjan; Chen, Chi-Hua; Thompson, Paul M; Dale, Anders M; Andreassen, Ole A

2018-06-06

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is associated with differences in subcortical brain volumes and intracranial volume (ICV). However, little is known about the underlying etiology of these brain alterations. Here, we explored whether brain structure volumes and SCZ share genetic risk factors. Using conditional false discovery rate (FDR) analysis, we integrated genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on SCZ (n = 82315) and GWAS data on 7 subcortical brain volumes and ICV (n = 11840). By conditioning the FDR on overlapping associations, this statistical approach increases power to discover genetic loci. To assess the credibility of our approach, we studied the identified loci in larger GWAS samples on ICV (n = 26577) and hippocampal volume (n = 26814). We observed polygenic overlap between SCZ and volumes of hippocampus, putamen, and ICV. Based on conjunctional FDR < 0.05, we identified 2 loci shared between SCZ and ICV implicating genes FOXO3 (rs10457180) and ITIH4 (rs4687658), 2 loci shared between SCZ and hippocampal volume implicating SLC4A10 (rs4664442) and SPATS2L (rs1653290), and 2 loci shared between SCZ and volume of putamen implicating DCC (rs4632195) and DLG2 (rs11233632). The loci shared between SCZ and hippocampal volume or ICV had not reached significance in the primary GWAS on brain phenotypes. Proving our point of increased power, 2 loci did reach genome-wide significance with ICV (rs10457180) and hippocampal volume (rs4664442) in the larger GWAS. Three of the 6 identified loci are novel for SCZ. Altogether, the findings provide new insights into the relationship between SCZ and brain structure volumes, suggesting that their genetic architectures are not independent.

The effect of surgeon and hospital volume on shoulder arthroplasty perioperative quality metrics.

PubMed

Singh, Anshu; Yian, Edward H; Dillon, Mark T; Takayanagi, Miwa; Burke, Mary F; Navarro, Ronald A

2014-08-01

There has been a significant increase in both the incidence of shoulder arthroplasty and the number of surgeons performing these procedures. Literature regarding the relationship between surgeon or hospital volume and the performance of modern shoulder arthroplasty is limited. This study examines the effect of surgeon or hospital shoulder arthroplasty volume on perioperative metrics related to shoulder hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Blood loss, length of stay, and operative time were the main endpoints analyzed. Prospective data were analyzed from a multicenter shoulder arthroplasty registry; 1176 primary shoulder arthroplasty cases were analyzed. Correlation and analysis of covariance were used to examine the association between surgeon and hospital volume and perioperative metrics adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. Surgeon volume is inversely correlated with length of stay for hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty and with blood loss and operative time for all 3 procedures. Hospital volume is inversely correlated with length of stay for hemiarthroplasty, with blood loss for total and reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and with operative time for all 3 procedures. High-volume surgeons performed shoulder arthroplasty 30 to 50 minutes faster than low-volume surgeons did. Higher surgeon and hospital case volumes led to improved perioperative metrics with all shoulder arthroplasty procedures, including reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, which has not been previously described in the literature. Surgeon volume had a larger effect on metrics than hospital volume did. This study supports the concept that complex shoulder procedures are, on average, performed more efficiently by higher volume surgeons in higher volume centers. Copyright © 2014 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Inhibited Temperament and Hippocampal Volume in Offspring of Parents with Bipolar Disorder.

PubMed

Kim, Eunjoo; Garrett, Amy; Boucher, Spencer; Park, Min-Hyeon; Howe, Meghan; Sanders, Erica; Kelley, Ryan G; Reiss, Allan L; Chang, Kiki D; Singh, Manpreet K

2017-04-01

Prior studies have suggested that inhibited temperament may be associated with an increased risk for developing anxiety or mood disorder, including bipolar disorder. However, the neurobiological basis for this increased risk is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine temperament in symptomatic and asymptomatic child offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (OBD) and to investigate whether inhibited temperament is associated with aberrant hippocampal volumes compared with healthy control (HC) youth. The OBD group consisted of 45 youth, 24 of whom had current psychiatric symptoms (OBD + s) and 21 without any psychiatric symptoms (OBD - s), and were compared with 24 HC youth. Temperament characteristics were measured by using the Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure hippocampal volumes. The association between temperament and hippocampal volumes was tested by using multiple regression analysis. Compared with the OBD - s group, the OBD + s group had significantly more inhibited temperament traits, less flexibility, more negative mood, and less regular rhythm in their daily routines. In contrast, the OBD - s group was more likely to approach novel situations compared with OBD + s or HC groups. Within the OBD + s group, a more inhibited temperament was associated with smaller right hippocampal volumes. In this study, symptomatic OBD were characterized by an inhibited temperament that was inversely correlated with hippocampal volume. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether inverse correlations between hippocampal volume and inhibited temperament represent early markers of risk for later developing bipolar disorder.

Comparision between Brain Atrophy and Subdural Volume to Predict Chronic Subdural Hematoma: Volumetric CT Imaging Analysis

PubMed Central

Ju, Min-Wook; Kwon, Hyon-Jo; Choi, Seung-Won; Koh, Hyeon-Song; Youm, Jin-Young; Song, Shi-Hun

2015-01-01

Objective Brain atrophy and subdural hygroma were well known factors that enlarge the subdural space, which induced formation of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Thus, we identified the subdural volume that could be used to predict the rate of future CSDH after head trauma using a computed tomography (CT) volumetric analysis. Methods A single institution case-control study was conducted involving 1,186 patients who visited our hospital after head trauma from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014. Fifty-one patients with delayed CSDH were identified, and 50 patients with age and sex matched for control. Intracranial volume (ICV), the brain parenchyme, and the subdural space were segmented using CT image-based software. To adjust for variations in head size, volume ratios were assessed as a percentage of ICV [brain volume index (BVI), subdural volume index (SVI)]. The maximum depth of the subdural space on both sides was used to estimate the SVI. Results Before adjusting for cranium size, brain volume tended to be smaller, and subdural space volume was significantly larger in the CSDH group (p=0.138, p=0.021, respectively). The BVI and SVI were significantly different (p=0.003, p=0.001, respectively). SVI [area under the curve (AUC), 77.3%; p=0.008] was a more reliable technique for predicting CSDH than BVI (AUC, 68.1%; p=0.001). Bilateral subdural depth (sum of subdural depth on both sides) increased linearly with SVI (p<0.0001). Conclusion Subdural space volume was significantly larger in CSDH groups. SVI was a more reliable technique for predicting CSDH. Bilateral subdural depth was useful to measure SVI. PMID:27169071

Comparision between Brain Atrophy and Subdural Volume to Predict Chronic Subdural Hematoma: Volumetric CT Imaging Analysis.

PubMed

Ju, Min-Wook; Kim, Seon-Hwan; Kwon, Hyon-Jo; Choi, Seung-Won; Koh, Hyeon-Song; Youm, Jin-Young; Song, Shi-Hun

2015-10-01

Brain atrophy and subdural hygroma were well known factors that enlarge the subdural space, which induced formation of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Thus, we identified the subdural volume that could be used to predict the rate of future CSDH after head trauma using a computed tomography (CT) volumetric analysis. A single institution case-control study was conducted involving 1,186 patients who visited our hospital after head trauma from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014. Fifty-one patients with delayed CSDH were identified, and 50 patients with age and sex matched for control. Intracranial volume (ICV), the brain parenchyme, and the subdural space were segmented using CT image-based software. To adjust for variations in head size, volume ratios were assessed as a percentage of ICV [brain volume index (BVI), subdural volume index (SVI)]. The maximum depth of the subdural space on both sides was used to estimate the SVI. Before adjusting for cranium size, brain volume tended to be smaller, and subdural space volume was significantly larger in the CSDH group (p=0.138, p=0.021, respectively). The BVI and SVI were significantly different (p=0.003, p=0.001, respectively). SVI [area under the curve (AUC), 77.3%; p=0.008] was a more reliable technique for predicting CSDH than BVI (AUC, 68.1%; p=0.001). Bilateral subdural depth (sum of subdural depth on both sides) increased linearly with SVI (p<0.0001). Subdural space volume was significantly larger in CSDH groups. SVI was a more reliable technique for predicting CSDH. Bilateral subdural depth was useful to measure SVI.

Preoperative Renal Volume: A Surrogate Measure for Radical Nephrectomy-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

PubMed

Wu, Fiona Mei Wen; Tay, Melissa Hui Wen; Tai, Bee Choo; Chen, Zhaojin; Tan, Lincoln; Goh, Benjamin Yen Seow; Raman, Lata; Tiong, Ho Yee

2015-12-01

Surgically induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been found to have less impact on survival as well as function when compared to medical causes for CKD. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether preoperative remaining kidney volume correlates with renal function after nephrectomy, which represents an individual's renal reserve before surgically induced CKD. A retrospective review of 75 consecutive patients (29.3% females) who underwent radical nephrectomy (RN) (2000-2010) was performed. Normal side kidney parenchyma, excluding renal vessels and central sinus fat, was manually outlined in each transverse slice of CT image and multiplied by slice thickness to calculate volume. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was determined using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. CKD is defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Mean preoperative normal kidney parenchymal volume (mean age 55 [SD 13] years) is 150.7 (SD 36.4) mL. Over median follow-up of 36 months postsurgery, progression to CKD occurred in 42.6% (n = 32) of patients. On multivariable analysis, preoperative eGFR and preoperative renal volume <144 mL are independent predictors for postoperative CKD. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, median time to reach CKD postnephrectomy is 12.7 (range 0.03-43.66) months for renal volume <144 mL but not achieved if renal volume is >144 mL. Normal kidney parenchymal volume and preoperative eGFR are independent predictive factors for postoperative CKD after RN and may represent renal reserve for both surgically and medically induced CKD, respectively. Preoperative remaining kidney volume may be an adjunct representation of renal reserve postsurgery and predict later renal function decline due to perioperative loss of nephrons.

Determination of volume-time curves for the right ventricle and its outflow tract for functional analyses.

PubMed

Gabbert, Dominik D; Entenmann, Andreas; Jerosch-Herold, Michael; Frettlöh, Felicitas; Hart, Christopher; Voges, Inga; Pham, Minh; Andrade, Ana; Pardun, Eileen; Wegner, P; Hansen, Traudel; Kramer, Hans-Heiner; Rickers, Carsten

2013-12-01

The determination of right ventricular volumes and function is of increasing interest for the postoperative care of patients with congenital heart defects. The presentation of volumetry data in terms of volume-time curves allows a comprehensive functional assessment. By using manual contour tracing, the generation of volume-time curves is exceedingly time-consuming. This study describes a fast and precise method for determining volume-time curves for the right ventricle and for the right ventricular outflow tract. The method applies contour detection and includes a feature for identifying the right ventricular outflow tract volume. The segregation of the outflow tract is performed by four-dimensional curved smooth boundary surfaces defined by prespecified anatomical landmarks. The comparison with manual contour tracing demonstrates that the method is accurate and improves the precision of the measurement. Compared to manual contour tracing the bias is <0.1% ± 4.1% (right ventricle) and -2.6% ± 20.0% (right ventricular outflow tract). The standard deviations of inter- and intraobserver variabilities for determining the volume of the right ventricular outflow tract are reduced to less than half the values of manual contour tracing. The time consumption per patient is reduced from 341 ± 80 min (right ventricle) and 56 ± 11 min (right ventricular outflow tract) using manual contour tracing to 46 ± 9 min for a combined analysis of right ventricle and right ventricular outflow tract. The analysis of volume-time curves for the right ventricle and its outflow tract discloses new evaluation methods in clinical routine and science. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of donor- and collection-related variables on product quality in ex utero cord blood banking.

PubMed

Askari, Sabeen; Miller, John; Chrysler, Gayl; McCullough, Jeffrey

2005-02-01

Optimizing product quality is a current focus in cord blood banking. This study evaluates the role of selected donor- and collection-related variables. Retrospective review was performed of cord blood units (CBUs) collected ex utero between February 1, 2000, and February 28, 2002. Preprocessing volume and total nucleated cell (TNC) counts and postprocessing CD34 cell counts were used as product quality indicators. Of 2084 CBUs, volume determinations and TNC counts were performed on 1628 and CD34+ counts on 1124 CBUs. Mean volume and TNC and CD34+ counts were 85.2 mL, 118.9 x 10(7), and 5.2 x 10(6), respectively. In univariate analysis, placental weight of greater than 500 g and meconium in amniotic fluid correlated with better volume and TNC and CD34+ counts. Greater than 40 weeks' gestation predicted enhanced volume and TNC count. Cesarean section, two- versus one-person collection, and not greater than 5 minutes between placental delivery and collection produced superior volume. Increased TNC count was also seen in Caucasian women, primigravidae, female newborns, and collection duration of more than 5 minutes. A time between delivery of newborn and placenta of not greater than 10 minutes predicted better volume and CD34+ count. By regression analysis, collection within not greater than 5 minutes of placental delivery produced superior volume and TNC count. Donor selection and collection technique modifications may improve product quality. TNC count appears to be more affected by different variables than CD34+ count.

Provincial Variation of Cochlear Implantation Surgical Volumes and Cost in Canada.

PubMed

Crowson, Matthew G; Chen, Joseph M; Tucci, Debara

2017-01-01

Objectives To investigate provincial cochlear implantation (CI) annual volume and cost trends. Study Design Database analysis. Setting National surgical volume and cost database. Subjects and Methods Aggregate-level provincial CI volumes and cost data for adult and pediatric CI surgery from 2005 to 2014 were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Population-level aging forecast estimates were obtained from the Ontario Ministry of Finance and Statistics Canada. Linear fit, analysis of variance, and Tukey's analyses were utilized to compare variances and means. Results The national volume of annual CI procedures is forecasted to increase by <30 per year ( R 2 = 0.88). Ontario has the highest mean annual CI volume (282; 95% confidence interval, 258-308), followed by Alberta (92.0; 95% confidence interval, 66.3-118), which are significantly higher than all other provinces ( P < .05 for each). Ontario's annual CI procedure volume is forecasted to increase by <11 per year ( R 2 = 0.62). Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have the highest CI procedures per 100,000 residents as compared with all other provinces ( P < .05). Alberta, Newfoundland, and Manitoba have the highest estimated implantation cost of all provinces ( P < .05). Conclusions Historical trends of CI forecast modest national volume growth. Potential bottlenecks include provincial funding and access to surgical expertise. The proportion of older adult patients who may benefit from a CI will rise, and there may be insufficient capacity to meet this need. Delayed access to CI for pediatric patients is also a concern, given recent reports of long wait times for CI surgery.

Lower limb muscle volume estimation from maximum cross-sectional area and muscle length in cerebral palsy and typically developing individuals.

PubMed

Vanmechelen, Inti M; Shortland, Adam P; Noble, Jonathan J

2018-01-01

Deficits in muscle volume may be a significant contributor to physical disability in young people with cerebral palsy. However, 3D measurements of muscle volume using MRI or 3D ultrasound may be difficult to make routinely in the clinic. We wished to establish whether accurate estimates of muscle volume could be made from a combination of anatomical cross-sectional area and length measurements in samples of typically developing young people and young people with bilateral cerebral palsy. Lower limb MRI scans were obtained from the lower limbs of 21 individuals with cerebral palsy (14.7±3years, 17 male) and 23 typically developing individuals (16.8±3.3years, 16 male). The volume, length and anatomical cross-sectional area were estimated from six muscles of the left lower limb. Analysis of Covariance demonstrated that the relationship between the length*cross-sectional area and volume was not significantly different depending on the subject group. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that the product of anatomical cross-sectional area and length bore a strong and significant relationship to the measured muscle volume (R 2 values between 0.955 and 0.988) with low standard error of the estimates of 4.8 to 8.9%. This study demonstrates that muscle volume may be estimated accurately in typically developing individuals and individuals with cerebral palsy by a combination of anatomical cross-sectional area and muscle length. 2D ultrasound may be a convenient method of making these measurements routinely in the clinic. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association Between Treatment at High-Volume Facilities and Improved Overall Survival in Soft Tissue Sarcomas.

PubMed

Venigalla, Sriram; Nead, Kevin T; Sebro, Ronnie; Guttmann, David M; Sharma, Sonam; Simone, Charles B; Levin, William P; Wilson, Robert J; Weber, Kristy L; Shabason, Jacob E

2018-03-15

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignancies that require complex multidisciplinary management. Therefore, facilities with high sarcoma case volume may demonstrate superior outcomes. We hypothesized that STS treatment at high-volume (HV) facilities would be associated with improved overall survival (OS). Patients aged ≥18 years with nonmetastatic STS treated with surgery and radiation therapy at a single facility from 2004 through 2013 were identified from the National Cancer Database. Facilities were dichotomized into HV and low-volume (LV) cohorts based on total case volume over the study period. OS was assessed using multivariable Cox regression with propensity score-matching. Patterns of care were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Of 9025 total patients, 1578 (17%) and 7447 (83%) were treated at HV and LV facilities, respectively. On multivariable analysis, high educational attainment, larger tumor size, higher grade, and negative surgical margins were statistically significantly associated with treatment at HV facilities; conversely, black race and non-metropolitan residence were negative predictors of treatment at HV facilities. On propensity score-matched multivariable analysis, treatment at HV facilities versus LV facilities was associated with improved OS (hazard ratio, 0.87, 95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.95; P = .001). Older age, lack of insurance, greater comorbidity, larger tumor size, higher tumor grade, and positive surgical margins were associated with statistically significantly worse OS. In this observational cohort study using the National Cancer Database, receipt of surgery and radiation therapy at HV facilities was associated with improved OS in patients with STS. Potential sociodemographic disparities limit access to care at HV facilities for certain populations. Our findings highlight the importance of receipt of care at HV facilities for patients with STS and warrant further study into improving access to care at HV facilities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Volumetric Analysis of Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Peri-Implant Sulcus Fluid in Healthy and Diseased Sites: A Cross-Sectional Split-Mouth Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Bevilacqua, Lorenzo; De Biasi, Matteo; Lorenzon, Maria Giulia; Frattini, Costanza; Angerame, Daniele

2016-01-01

Background: Researchers have recently drawn attention to the analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant sulcus fluid (PISF) for the implementation of the diagnosis of periodontal and peri-implant disease. Nevertheless, the measurements of volume and biomarkers concentration can be critically biased when data collected from studies with parallel group design are compared, given the technical difficulties, methodological variables, as well as the variability of crevicular fluid characteristics among different individuals. Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the GCF and PISF volumes in healthy and diseased sites belonging to the same patient. Method: Ten patients presenting a periodontally healthy tooth, a tooth with periodontitis, an implant with healthy peri-implant tissues and an implant with peri-implantitis were enrolled. Samples of GCF and PISF were collected from each site of interest and their volume measured with a Periotron 8000 device. Non-parametric statistical analysis was performed to test the significance of the differences in GCF and PISF volumes between i) sites of teeth and dental implants with the same condition of health or disease and ii) healthy and diseased sites of both teeth and dental implants subgroups. The correlation between probing pocket depth (PPD) and fluid production was also tested (p<0.05). Results: Healthy periodontal and peri-implant tissues produced comparable amounts of fluid that was significantly lower than in diseased sites (p<0.05). In the presence of diagnosed disease, the volumes of GCF and PISF were similar, too. The correlation between PPD and fluid production was significant only in healthy sites (PPD/GCF, ρ=0.890, p<0.001; PPD/PISF, ρ=0.810; p<0.005). Conclusion: The periodontal and peri-implant tissues behaved similarly in terms of fluid production in condition of both health and active disease. PMID:27335614

Voxel-based morphometric analysis in hypothyroidism using diffeomorphic anatomic registration via an exponentiated lie algebra algorithm approach.

PubMed

Singh, S; Modi, S; Bagga, D; Kaur, P; Shankar, L R; Khushu, S

2013-03-01

The present study aimed to investigate whether brain morphological differences exist between adult hypothyroid subjects and age-matched controls using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) with diffeomorphic anatomic registration via an exponentiated lie algebra algorithm (DARTEL) approach. High-resolution structural magnetic resonance images were taken in ten healthy controls and ten hypothyroid subjects. The analysis was conducted using statistical parametric mapping. The VBM study revealed a reduction in grey matter volume in the left postcentral gyrus and cerebellum of hypothyroid subjects compared to controls. A significant reduction in white matter volume was also found in the cerebellum, right inferior and middle frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, right inferior occipital gyrus and right temporal gyrus of hypothyroid patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, no meaningful cluster for greater grey or white matter volume was obtained in hypothyroid subjects compared to controls. Our study is the first VBM study of hypothyroidism in an adult population and suggests that, compared to controls, this disorder is associated with differences in brain morphology in areas corresponding to known functional deficits in attention, language, motor speed, visuospatial processing and memory in hypothyroidism. © 2012 British Society for Neuroendocrinology.

Endoscopic transnasal approach for the treatment of isolated medial orbital blow-out fractures: a prospective study of preoperative and postoperative orbital volume change.

PubMed

Kim, KyoungHoon; Song, KyeongHo; Choi, SooJong; Bae, YongChan; Choi, ChiWon; Oh, HeungChan; Lee, JaeWoo; Nam, SuBong

2012-02-01

Endoscopic transnasal reduction is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of blow-out fractures of the medial orbital wall. However, because this approach does not use rigid permanent material for reconstruction of the fractured medial orbital wall, some degree of herniation of the orbital contents may occur after the intraethmoidal packing material is removed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in orbital volume in patients with medial orbital wall fractures treated through an endoscopic transnasal approach. This study was a prospective analysis that includes 20 patients who underwent endoscopic transnasal reduction of medial orbital wall fractures between April 2007 and December 2008. Computer-assisted orbital volume measurements were made using axial computed tomography. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) volume increase was 2.00 (0.92) cm(3) and the mean (SD) dimension of the fractured orbital wall was 2.76 (0.83) cm(2). After endoscopic surgery, an average (SD) volume decrease of 2.15 (0.91) cm(3) was achieved with ethmoid sinus packing. After removal of the packing materials, 1.14 (0.78) cm(3) increase of the orbital volume was observed. The dimension of the orbital wall fracture significantly correlated with the increased preoperative orbital volume (P = 0.002, r = 0.609); the preoperative increase in the orbital volume also significantly correlated with volume relapse after removal of the packing (P = 0.023, r = 0.452). These findings suggest that in broad orbital wall fractures, reconstruction of the orbital wall by rigid materials or prolongation of the packing period should be considered, because orbital volume can increase again after packing removal, and may thus lead to postoperative complications.

Orbital operations study. Volume 1: Mission analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steinwachs, W. L.

1972-01-01

The final report of the orbital operations study and a summary of the 25 elements in the study inventory are presented. Fourteen interfacing activities are defined. Eleven mission models encompassing all potential interfacing element pairs and interfacing activities are included.

Solar power satellite system definition study, volume 5. Phase 2: Final briefing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

A briefing outline of the definition study is presented. Topics discussed include: Solar Power Satellite (SPS) research and development, definition study, operations control, transportation, solid state SPS, pilot link analysis, and offshore space center.

Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of the Rockfalls in the Crater of Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, La Réunion, and their Link with the Eruptive Activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durand, V.; Mangeney, A.; Hibert, C.; Haas, F.; Peltier, A.; Kowalski, P.; Lauret, F.; Brunet, C.; Delorme, A.; Wegner, K.; Satriano, C.; Bonilla, L. F.; Aissaoui, E. M.; Protin, A.

2017-12-01

The seismic and photogrammetric networks of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano (La Réunion Island) are very well appropriate to study seismic signals generated by rockfalls in the Dolomieu crater. In particular, seismic data make it possible to precisely locate the rockfalls and recover the volume of each rockfall. Rockfall locations and volumes are validated comparing them to the ones obtained using photogrammetric data. We thus obtain an accurate catalog of 5802 rockfalls over the 2014-2016 period. This period is especially active, with 7 eruptions, after a break of 4 years. The analysis of the catalog reveals that the recovery of the eruptive activity unsettles the crater edges, increasing the average volume of the rockfalls. It also highlights that rain and seismicity could increase the volume of individual rockfalls. However, it seems that the pre-eruptive seismicity is the main triggering factor for larger volumes, with a delay of several days. We infer that the repetitive vibrations due to the high number of seismic events induce a cyclic fatigue of the material, leading to the collapse of large volumes. To better understand and discriminate the influence of seismicity and rainfall on the rockfall volumes, we investigate in the same way the transition period, from 2010 to 2014, during which there is no eruption. Finally, we show that before an eruption, the largest rockfalls tend to migrate towards the location of the eruption.

Television Programming for Children: A Report of the Children's Television Task Force.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greene, Susan C.; And Others

These two volumes of a 5-volume report on commercial broadcaster compliance with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 1974 policies on programming and advertising to children provide an overall analysis of children's television, as well as a detailed analysis of broadcast industry compliance. The first volume reviews the social, cognitive,…

Economic Analysis. Volume V. Course Segments 65-79.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sterling Inst., Washington, DC. Educational Technology Center.

The fifth volume of the multimedia, individualized course in economic analysis produced for the United States Naval Academy covers segments 65-79 of the course. Included in the volume are discussions of monopoly markets, monopolistic competition, oligopoly markets, and the theory of factor demand and supply. Other segments of the course, the…

40 CFR 80.1164 - What are the attest engagement requirements under the RFS program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... volumes, contained in the inventory reconciliation analysis under § 80.133, and verify that the volumes reported to EPA agree with the volumes in the inventory reconciliation analysis. (iv) Compute and report as... reported to EPA. (v) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation for all RINs used for...

40 CFR 80.1164 - What are the attest engagement requirements under the RFS program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... volumes, contained in the inventory reconciliation analysis under § 80.133, and verify that the volumes reported to EPA agree with the volumes in the inventory reconciliation analysis. (iv) Compute and report as... reported to EPA. (v) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation for all RINs used for...

BEGINNING POLISH, VOLUME ONE. YALE LINGUISTIC SERIES.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

SCHENKER, ALEXANDER M.

BASED ON A MODERN LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE POLISH LANGUAGE, THIS TWO-VOLUME TEXT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A ONE-YEAR INTENSIVE COURSE. VOLUME I INCLUDES 25 LESSONS, EACH DIVIDED INTO--SENTENCES (DIALOGS), GRAMMAR, EXERCISES, AND VOCABULARY LISTS. THE INTRODUCTION PRESENTS A BRIEF CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF POLISH AND RUSSIAN, AND THERE IS INCLUDED A…

Evaluation of brine disposal from the Bryan Mound site of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Program. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hann, R.W. Jr.; Randall, R.E.

1980-12-01

The purpose of this report is to describe the environmental conditions found by the principal investigators during the predisposal study conducted from September 1977 through February 1980 prior to the start of brine discharge in March 1980. The major areas of investigation are physical oceanography, analysis of the discharge plume, water and sediment quality, nekton, benthos, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and data management. Volume 1 describes the results of the predisposal study, and it is divided into eight chapters entitled: Physical Oceanography, Analysis of the Discharge Plume, Water and Sediment Quality, Nekton, Benthos, Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, and Data Management. Volume 2 consists ofmore » appendices which contain additional supporting data in the form of figures and tables.« less

A semi-automatic method for left ventricle volume estimate: an in vivo validation study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Corsi, C.; Lamberti, C.; Sarti, A.; Saracino, G.; Shiota, T.; Thomas, J. D.

2001-01-01

This study aims to the validation of the left ventricular (LV) volume estimates obtained by processing volumetric data utilizing a segmentation model based on level set technique. The validation has been performed by comparing real-time volumetric echo data (RT3DE) and magnetic resonance (MRI) data. A validation protocol has been defined. The validation protocol was applied to twenty-four estimates (range 61-467 ml) obtained from normal and pathologic subjects, which underwent both RT3DE and MRI. A statistical analysis was performed on each estimate and on clinical parameters as stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF). Assuming MRI estimates (x) as a reference, an excellent correlation was found with volume measured by utilizing the segmentation procedure (y) (y=0.89x + 13.78, r=0.98). The mean error on SV was 8 ml and the mean error on EF was 2%. This study demonstrated that the segmentation technique is reliably applicable on human hearts in clinical practice.

Space Mechanisms Lessons Learned Study. Volume 2: Literature Review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shapiro, Wilbur; Murray, Frank; Howarth, Roy; Fusaro, Robert

1995-01-01

Hundreds of satellites have been launched to date. Some have operated extremely well and others have not. In order to learn from past operating experiences, a study was conducted to determine the conditions under which space mechanisms (mechanically moving components) have previously worked or failed. The study consisted of an extensive literature review that included both government contractor reports and technical journals, communication and visits (when necessary) to the various NASA and DOD centers and their designated contractors (this included contact with project managers of current and prior NASA satellite programs as well as their industry counterparts), requests for unpublished information to NASA and industry, and a mail survey designed to acquire specific mechanism experience. The information obtained has been organized into two volumes. Volume 1 provides a summary of the lesson learned, the results of a needs analysis, responses to the mail survey, a listing of experts, a description of some available facilities, and a compilation of references. Volume 2 contains a compilation of the literature review synopsis.

Space Mechanisms Lessons Learned Study. Volume 1: Summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shapiro, Wilbur; Murray, Frank; Howarth, Roy; Fusaro, Robert

1995-01-01

Hundreds of satellites have been launched to date. Some have operated extremely well and others have not. In order to learn from past operating experiences, a study was conducted to determine the conditions under which space mechanisms (mechanically moving components) have previously worked or failed. The study consisted of: (1) an extensive literature review that included both government contractor reports and technical journals; (2) communication and visits (when necessary) to the various NASA and DOD centers and their designated contractors (this included contact with project managers of current and prior NASA satellite programs as well as their industry counterparts); (3) requests for unpublished information to NASA and industry; and (4) a mail survey designed to acquire specific mechanism experience. The information obtained has been organized into two volumes. Volume 1 provides a summary of the lessons learned, the results of a needs analysis, responses to the mail survey, a listing of experts, a description of some available facilities and a compilation of references. Volume 2 contains a compilation of the literature review synopsis.

Predicted stand volume for Eucalyptus plantations by spatial analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Latifah, Siti; Teodoro, RV; Myrna, GC; Nathaniel, CB; Leonardo, M. F.

2018-03-01

The main objective of the present study was to assess nonlinear models generated by integrating the stand volume growth rate to estimate the growth and yield of Eucalyptus. The primary data was done for point of interest (POI) of permanent sample plots (PSPs) and inventory sample plots, in Aek Nauli sector, Simalungun regency,North Sumatera Province,Indonesia. from December 2008- March 2009. Today,the demand for forestry information has continued to grow over recent years. Because many forest managers and decision makers face complex decisions, reliable information has become the necessity. In the assessment of natural resources including plantation forests have been widely used geospatial technology.The yield of Eucalyptus plantations represented by merchantable volume as dependent variable while factors affecting yield namely stands variables and the geographic variables as independent variables. The majority of the areas in the study site has stand volume class 0 - 50 m3/ha with 16.59 ha or 65.85 % of the total study site.

Hospital volume and other risk factors for in-hospital mortality among diverticulitis patients: A nationwide analysis

PubMed Central

Diamant, Michael J; Coward, Stephanie; Buie, W Donald; MacLean, Anthony; Dixon, Elijah; Ball, Chad G; Schaffer, Samuel; Kaplan, Gilaad G

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found that a higher volume of colorectal surgery was associated with lower mortality rates. While diverticulitis is an increasingly common condition, the effect of hospital volume on outcomes among diverticulitis patients is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between hospital volume and other factors on in-hospital mortality among patients admitted for diverticulitis. METHODS: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (years 1993 to 2008) were analyzed to identify 822,865 patients representing 4,108,726 admissions for diverticulitis. Hospitals were divided into quartiles based on the volume of diverticulitis cases admitted over the study period, adjusted for years contributed to the dataset. Mortality according to hospital volume was modelled using logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, race, comorbidities, health care insurance, admission type, calendar year, colectomy, disease severity and clustering. Risk estimates were expressed as adjusted ORs with 95% CIs. RESULTS: Patients at high-volume hospitals were more likely to be admitted emergently, undergo surgical treatment and have more severe disease. In-hospital mortality was higher among the lowest quartile of hospital volume compared with the highest volume (OR 1.13 [95% CI 1.05 to 1.21]). In-hospital mortality was increased among patients admitted emergently (OR 2.58 [95% CI 2.40 to 2.78]) as well as those receiving surgical treatment (OR 3.60 [95% CI 3.42 to 3.78]). CONCLUSIONS: Diverticulitis patients admitted to hospitals with a low volume of diverticulitis cases had an increased risk for death compared with those admitted to high-volume centres. PMID:25965439

Space station needs, attributes and architectural options study. Volume 2: Mission analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

Space environment studies, astrophysics, Earth environment, life sciences, and material sciences are discussed. Commercial communication, materials processing, and Earth observation missions are addressed. Technology development, space operations, scenarios of operational capability, mission requirements, and benefits analysis results for space-produced gallium arsenide crystals, direct broadcasting satellite systems, and a high inclination space station are covered.

Space station systems analysis study. Part 3: Documentation. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

The space stations systems analysis study is summarized. A cost efffective system concept capable of meeting a broad spectrum of mission requirements was developed. Candidate objectives were reviewed and implementation requirements were defined. Program options for both low earth and geosynchronous orbits were examined. Space construction concepts were analyzed and defined in detail.

Chronic Use of Aspirin and Total White Matter Lesion Volume: Results from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

PubMed

Holcombe, Andrea; Ammann, Eric; Espeland, Mark A; Kelley, Brendan J; Manson, JoAnn E; Wallace, Robert; Robinson, Jennifer

2017-10-01

To investigate the relationship between aspirin and subclinical cerebrovascular heath, we evaluated the effect of chronic aspirin use on white matter lesions (WML) volume among women. Chronic aspirin use was assessed in 1365 women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Differences in WML volumes between aspirin users and nonusers were assessed with linear mixed models. A number of secondary analyses were performed, including lobe-specific analyses, subgroup analyses based on participants' overall risk of cerebrovascular disease, and a dose-response relationship analysis. The mean age of the women at magnetic resonance imaging examination was 77.6 years. Sixty-one percent of participants were chronic aspirin users. After adjusting for demographic variables and comorbidities, chronic aspirin use was nonsignificantly associated with 4.8% (95% CI: -6.8%, 17.9%) larger WML volumes. These null findings were confirmed in secondary and sensitivity analyses, including an active comparator evaluation where aspirin users were compared to users of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen. There was a nonsignificant difference in WML volumes between aspirin users and nonusers. Further, our results suggest that chronic aspirin use may not have a clinically significant effect on WML volumes in women. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Quantitative analysis of aortic regurgitation: real-time 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional color Doppler echocardiographic method--a clinical and a chronic animal study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shiota, Takahiro; Jones, Michael; Tsujino, Hiroyuki; Qin, Jian Xin; Zetts, Arthur D.; Greenberg, Neil L.; Cardon, Lisa A.; Panza, Julio A.; Thomas, James D.

2002-01-01

BACKGROUND: For evaluating patients with aortic regurgitation (AR), regurgitant volumes, left ventricular (LV) stroke volumes (SV), and absolute LV volumes are valuable indices. AIM: The aim of this study was to validate the combination of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and semiautomated digital color Doppler cardiac flow measurement (ACM) for quantifying absolute LV volumes, LVSV, and AR volumes using an animal model of chronic AR and to investigate its clinical applicability. METHODS: In 8 sheep, a total of 26 hemodynamic states were obtained pharmacologically 20 weeks after the aortic valve noncoronary (n = 4) or right coronary (n = 4) leaflet was incised to produce AR. Reference standard LVSV and AR volume were determined using the electromagnetic flow method (EM). Simultaneous epicardial real-time 3DE studies were performed to obtain LV end-diastolic volumes (LVEDV), end-systolic volumes (LVESV), and LVSV by subtracting LVESV from LVEDV. Simultaneous ACM was performed to obtain LVSV and transmitral flows; AR volume was calculated by subtracting transmitral flow volume from LVSV. In a total of 19 patients with AR, real-time 3DE and ACM were used to obtain LVSVs and these were compared with each other. RESULTS: A strong relationship was found between LVSV derived from EM and those from the real-time 3DE (r = 0.93, P <.001, mean difference (3D - EM) = -1.0 +/- 9.8 mL). A good relationship between LVSV and AR volumes derived from EM and those by ACM was found (r = 0.88, P <.001). A good relationship between LVSV derived from real-time 3DE and that from ACM was observed (r = 0.73, P <.01, mean difference = 2.5 +/- 7.9 mL). In patients, a good relationship between LVSV obtained by real-time 3DE and ACM was found (r = 0.90, P <.001, mean difference = 0.6 +/- 9.8 mL). CONCLUSION: The combination of ACM and real-time 3DE for quantifying LV volumes, LVSV, and AR volumes was validated by the chronic animal study and was shown to be clinically applicable.

Mod-5A Wind Turbine Generator Program Design Report. Volume 2: Conceptual and Preliminary Design, Book 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1984-01-01

The design, development and analysis of the 7.3 MW MOD-5A wind turbine generator is documented. There are four volumes. In Volume 2, book 1 the requirements and criteria for the design are presented. The conceptual design studies, which defined a baseline configuration and determined the weights, costs and sizes of each subsystem, are described. The development and optimization of the wind turbine generator are presented through the description of the ten intermediate configurations between the conceptual and final designs. Analyses of the system's load and dynamics are presented.

Telescience testbed pilot program, volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leiner, Barry M.

1989-01-01

Space Station Freedom and its associated labs, coupled with the availability of new computing and communications technologies, have the potential for significantly enhancing scientific research. A Telescience Testbed Pilot Program (TTPP), aimed at developing the experience base to deal with issues in the design of the future information system of the Space Station era. The testbeds represented four scientific disciplines (astronomy and astrophysics, earth sciences, life sciences, and microgravity sciences) and studied issues in payload design, operation, and data analysis. This volume, of a 3 volume set, which all contain the results of the TTPP, is the executive summary.

Space transfer vehicle concepts and requirements study. Volume 2, book 1: STV concept definition and evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weber, Gary A.

1991-01-01

The topics covered include the following: mission analysis; initial and evolutionary space transfer vehicle (STV) concept definition; configuration and subsystem trade studies; and operations and logistics.

IVHS Countermeasures for Rear-End Collisions, Task 1; Vol. II: Statistical Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-02-25

This report is from the NHTSA sponsored program, "IVHS Countermeasures for Rear-End Collisions". This Volume, Volume II, Statistical Analysis, presents the statistical analysis of rear-end collision accident data that characterizes the accidents with...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Medin, Paul M., E-mail: Paul.medin@utsouthwestern.ed; Boike, Thomas P.

Clinical implementation of spinal radiosurgery has increased rapidly in recent years, but little is known regarding human spinal cord tolerance to single-fraction irradiation. In contrast, preclinical studies in single-fraction spinal cord tolerance have been ongoing since the 1970s. The influences of field length, dose rate, inhomogeneous dose distributions, and reirradiation have all been investigated. This review summarizes literature regarding single-fraction spinal cord tolerance in preclinical models with an emphasis on practical clinical significance. The outcomes of studies that incorporate uniform irradiation are surprisingly consistent among multiple small- and large-animal models. Extensive investigation of inhomogeneous dose distributions in the rat hasmore » demonstrated a significant dose-volume effect while preliminary results from one pig study are contradictory. Preclinical spinal cord dose-volume studies indicate that dose distribution is more critical than the volume irradiated suggesting that neither dose-volume histogram analysis nor absolute volume constraints are effective in predicting complications. Reirradiation data are sparse, but results from guinea pig, rat, and pig studies are consistent with the hypothesis that the spinal cord possesses a large capacity for repair. The mechanisms behind the phenomena observed in spinal cord studies are not readily explained and the ability of dose response models to predict outcomes is variable underscoring the need for further investigation. Animal studies provide insight into the phenomena and mechanisms of radiosensitivity but the true significance of animal studies can only be discovered through clinical trials.« less

Tower Shielding Reactor II design and operation report: Vol. 2. Safety Analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Holland, L. B.; Kolb, J. O.

1970-01-01

Information on the Tower Shielding Reactor II is contained in the TSR-II Design and Operation Report and in the Tower Shielding Facility Manual. The TSR-II Design and Operating Report consists of three volumes. Volume 1 is Descriptions of the Tower Shielding Reactor II and Facility; Volume 2 is Safety analysis of the Tower Shielding Reactor II; and Volume 3 is the Assembly and Testing of the Tower Shielding Reactor II Control Mechanism Housing.

The Influence of Hospital Volume on Circumferential Resection Margin Involvement: Results of the Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit.

PubMed

Gietelink, Lieke; Henneman, Daniel; van Leersum, Nicoline J; de Noo, Mirre; Manusama, Eric; Tanis, Pieter J; Tollenaar, Rob A E M; Wouters, Michel W J M

2016-04-01

This population-based study evaluates the association between hospital volume and CRM (circumferential resection margin) involvement, adjusted for other confounders, in rectal cancer surgery. A low hospital volume (<20 cases/year) was independently associated with a higher risk of CRM involvement (odds ratio=1.54; 95% CI: 1.12-2.11). To evaluate the association between hospital volume and CRM (circumferential resection margin) involvement in rectal cancer surgery. To guarantee the quality of surgical treatment of rectal cancer, the Association of Surgeons of the Netherlands has stated a minimal annual volume standard of 20 procedures per hospital. The influence of hospital volume has been examined for different outcome variables in rectal cancer surgery. Its influence on the pathological outcome (CRM) however remains unclear. As long-term outcomes are best predicted by the CRM status, this parameter is of essential importance in the debate on the justification of minimal volume standards in rectal cancer surgery. Data from the Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit (2011-2012) were used. Hospital volume was divided into 3 groups, and baseline characteristics were described. The influence of hospital volume on CRM involvement was analyzed, in a multivariate model, between low- and high-volume hospitals, according to the minimal volume standards. This study included 5161 patients. CRM was recorded in 86% of patients. CRM involvement was 11% in low-volume group versus 7.7% and 7.9% in the medium- and high-volume group (P≤0.001). After adjustment for relevant confounders, the influence of hospital volume on CRM involvement was still significant odds ratio (OR) = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.12-2.11). The outcomes of this pooled analysis support minimal volume standards in rectal cancer surgery. Low hospital volume was independently associated with a higher risk of CRM involvement (OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.12-2.11).

CALS Baseline Architecture Analysis of Weapons System. Technical Information: Army, Draft. Volume 8

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-09-01

This effort was performed to provide a common framework for analysis and planning of CALS initiatives across the military services, leading eventually to the development of a common DoD-wide architecture for CALS. This study addresses Army technical ...

F-15 inlet/engine test techniques and distortion methodologies studies. Volume 2: Time variant data quality analysis plots

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stevens, C. H.; Spong, E. D.; Hammock, M. S.

1978-01-01

Time variant data quality analysis plots were used to determine if peak distortion data taken from a subscale inlet model can be used to predict peak distortion levels for a full scale flight test vehicle.

Altered structural covariance of the striatum in functional dyspepsia patients.

PubMed

Liu, P; Zeng, F; Yang, F; Wang, J; Liu, X; Wang, Q; Zhou, G; Zhang, D; Zhu, M; Zhao, R; Wang, A; Gong, Q; Liang, F

2014-08-01

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is thought to be involved in dysregulation within the brain-gut axis. Recently, altered striatum activation has been reported in patients with FD. However, the gray matter (GM) volumes in the striatum and structural covariance patterns of this area are rarely explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the GM volumes and structural covariance patterns of the striatum between FD patients and healthy controls (HCs). T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were obtained from 44 FD patients and 39 HCs. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was adopted to examine the GM volumes in the two groups. The caudate- or putamen-related regions identified from VBM analysis were then used as seeds to map the whole brain voxel-wise structural covariance patterns. Finally, a correlation analysis was used to investigate the effects of FD symptoms on the striatum. The results showed increased GM volumes in the bilateral putamen and right caudate. Compared with the structural covariance patterns of the HCs, the FD-related differences were mainly located in the amygdala, hippocampus/parahippocampus (HIPP/paraHIPP), thalamus, lingual gyrus, and cerebellum. And significant positive correlations were found between the volumes in the striatum and the FD duration in the patients. These findings provided preliminary evidence for GM changes in the striatum and different structural covariance patterns in patients with FD. The current results might expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of FD. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Numerical Simulation Analysis of High-precision Dispensing Needles for Solid-liquid Two-phase Grinding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Junye; Hu, Jinglei; Wang, Binyu; Sheng, Liang; Zhang, Xinming

2018-03-01

In order to investigate the effect of abrasive flow polishing surface variable diameter pipe parts, with high precision dispensing needles as the research object, the numerical simulation of the process of polishing high precision dispensing needle was carried out. Analysis of different volume fraction conditions, the distribution of the dynamic pressure and the turbulence viscosity of the abrasive flow field in the high precision dispensing needle, through comparative analysis, the effectiveness of the abrasive grain polishing high precision dispensing needle was studied, controlling the volume fraction of silicon carbide can change the viscosity characteristics of the abrasive flow during the polishing process, so that the polishing quality of the abrasive grains can be controlled.

A data reduction, management, and analysis system for a 10-terabyte data set

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeMajistre, R.; Suther, L.

1995-01-01

Within 12 months a 5-year space-based research investigation with an estimated daily data volume of 10 to 15 gigabytes will be launched. Our instrument/analysis team will analyze 2 to 8 gigabytes per day from this mission. Most of these data will be spatial and multispectral collected from nine sensors covering the UV/Visible/NlR spectrum. The volume and diversity of these data and the nature of its analysis require a very robust reduction and management system. This paper is a summary of the systems requirements and a high-level description of a solution. The paper is intended as a case study of the problems and potential solutions faced by the new generation of Earth observation data support systems.

Correlation between orbital volume, body mass index, and eyeball position in healthy East asians.

PubMed

Yoo, Jun Ho; Lee, Young Hen; Lee, Hwa; Kim, Jung Wan; Chang, Minwook; Park, Minsoo; Baek, Sehyun

2013-05-01

The objectives of this study were measure the orbital volume of healthy Koreans and analyze the differences between orbital tissue volume with respect to age and sex and to assess any correlation between body mass index (BMI), eyeball position, and orbital volume. We retrospectively evaluated the scan results of patients who had undergone orbital computed tomography scans between November 2010 and November 2011. We assessed the scan results of 184 orbits in 92 adults who had no pathology of the orbit. The individuals were classified into 3 groups with respect to age. Orbital volume, effective orbital volume (defined as the difference between orbital and eyeball volume), extraocular muscle volume, orbital fat volume, and transverse globe protrusion were recorded and analyzed. The records of the subjects were reviewed retrospectively, and BMI was calculated. A correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between BMI, eyeball position, and orbital volume. Orbital tissue volume, with the exception of orbital fat volume, was larger in men compared with women. In both sexes, orbital fat volume increased with increasing age, whereas the other volumes decreased. Orbital tissue volumes increased with increasing BMI, but transverse globe protrusion was not significantly related to BMI. In addition, orbital volume and effective orbital volume were positively correlated with transverse globe protrusion. These results provide basic information about the effects of age, sex, and BMI on orbital volume and eyeball position in healthy Koreans. Furthermore, these results will be helpful in the diagnosis of orbital diseases and in planning orbital surgeries.