scholarly journals 3D Muscle Architecture of the Pectoral Muscles of European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S P Sullivan ◽  
F R McGechie ◽  
K M Middleton ◽  
C M Holliday
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Tracking ◽  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starling ◽  
Muscle Architecture ◽  
The Body ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Pectoral Girdle ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Model Quality

Abstract Avian flight is achieved through a number of modifications to the body, including the pectoral girdle, yet little is known about the architecture of the pectoral musculature. Muscle architecture is a critical variable in determining the biomechanical function of the vertebrate musculoskeletal system; however, accurate three-dimensional (3D) understanding of muscle architecture has been historically difficult to acquire. Here, we present a musculoskeletal model of a European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) pectoral girdle generated from iodine contrast-enhanced micro-computed-tomography (CT) data and 3D fiber tracking analysis. We used a template-based fiber-tracking algorithm to reconstruct muscle fibers in 3D based on grayscale differences in CT images, which allowed us to estimate fascicle lengths, pennation angles, muscle volumes, and physiological cross-sectional area. Our modeled muscles were qualitatively accurate; however, quantitative muscle architecture data differed between digital and traditional gross-dissection methods reflecting the complex organization of the tissue and differing natures of data collection. We found that model quality is affected by the resolution of CT image data and the fiber-tracking program’s input parameters. Nonetheless, digital fiber tracking offers numerous advantages over gross-dissection methods, most importantly, the ability to visualize and quantify entire muscles in three-dimensions, yielding a much more accurate estimation of whole muscle architecture.

scholarly journals Three-dimensional mobility and muscle attachments in the pectoral limb of the Triassic cynodontMassetognathus pascuali

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil H. Lai ◽  
Andrew A. Biewener ◽  
Stephanie E. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
Body Wall ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
The Body ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Glenoid Fossa ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Skeletal Morphology ◽  
Shoulder Muscles ◽  
Maximum Range

ABSTRACTThe musculoskeletal configuration of the mammalian pectoral limb has been heralded as a key anatomical feature leading to the adaptive radiation of mammals, but limb function in the cynodont outgroup remains unresolved. Conflicting reconstructions of abducted and adducted posture are based on mutually-incompatible interpretations of ambiguous osteology. We reconstruct the pectoral limb of the Triassic non-mammalian cynodontMassetognathus pascualiin three dimensions, by combining skeletal morphology from micro-computed tomography with muscle anatomy from an extended extant phylogenetic bracket. Conservative tests of maximum range of motion suggest a degree of girdle mobility, as well as substantial freedom at the shoulder and the elbow joints. The glenoid fossa supports a neutral pose in which the distal end of the humerus points 45° posterolaterally from the body wall, intermediate between classically “sprawling” and “parasagittal” limb postures.Massetognathusis reconstructed as having a near-mammalian complement of shoulder muscles, including an incipient rotator cuff (m. subscapularis, m. infraspinatus, m. supraspinatus, and m. teres minor). Based on close inspection of the morphology of the glenoid fossa, we hypothesize a posture-driven scenario for the evolution of the therian ball-and-socket shoulder joint. The musculoskeletal reconstruction presented here provides the anatomical scaffolding for more detailed examination of locomotor evolution in the precursors to mammals.

scholarly journals Plasma radio-metabolite analysis of PET tracers for dynamic PET imaging: TLC and autoradiography

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Li ◽  
Justin W. Hicks ◽  
Lihai Yu ◽  
Lise Desjardin ◽  
Laura Morrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Kinetic Parameters ◽  
High Performance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Dynamic Pet ◽  
Arterial Concentration ◽  
In Blood Plasma

Abstract Background In molecular imaging with dynamic PET, the binding and dissociation of a targeted tracer is characterized by kinetics modeling which requires the arterial concentration of the tracer to be measured accurately. Once in the body the radiolabeled parent tracer may be subjected to hydrolysis, demethylation/dealkylation and other biochemical processes, resulting in the production and accumulation of different metabolites in blood which can be labeled with the same PET radionuclide as the parent. Since these radio-metabolites cannot be distinguished by PET scanning from the parent tracer, their contribution to the arterial concentration curve has to be removed for the accurate estimation of kinetic parameters from kinetic analysis of dynamic PET. High-performance liquid chromatography has been used to separate and measure radio-metabolites in blood plasma; however, the method is labor intensive and remains a challenge to implement for each individual patient. The purpose of this study is to develop an alternate technique based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) and a sensitive commercial autoradiography system (Beaver, Ai4R, Nantes, France) to measure radio-metabolites in blood plasma of two targeted tracers—[18F]FAZA and [18F]FEPPA, for imaging hypoxia and inflammation, respectively. Results Radioactivity as low as 17 Bq in 2 µL of pig’s plasma can be detected on the TLC plate using autoradiography. Peaks corresponding to the parent tracer and radio-metabolites could be distinguished in the line profile through each sample (n = 8) in the autoradiographic image. Significant intersubject and intra-subject variability in radio-metabolites production could be observed with both tracers. For [18F]FEPPA, 50% of plasma activity was from radio-metabolites as early as 5-min post injection, while for [18F]FAZA, significant metabolites did not appear until 50-min post. Simulation study investigating the effect of radio-metabolite in the estimation of kinetic parameters indicated that 32–400% parameter error can result without radio-metabolites correction. Conclusion TLC coupled with autoradiography is a good alternative to high-performance liquid chromatography for radio-metabolite correction. The advantages of requiring only small blood samples (~ 100 μL) and of analyzing multiple samples simultaneously, make the method suitable for individual dynamic PET studies.

scholarly journals Development of a Deep Neural Network Model for Estimating Joint Location of Occupant Indoor Activities for Providing Thermal Comfort

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 696
Author(s):  
Eun Ji Choi ◽  
Jin Woo Moon ◽  
Ji-hoon Han ◽  
Yongseok Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Deep Neural Network ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Estimation Accuracy ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Joint Location

The type of occupant activities is a significantly important factor to determine indoor thermal comfort; thus, an accurate method to estimate occupant activity needs to be developed. The purpose of this study was to develop a deep neural network (DNN) model for estimating the joint location of diverse human activities, which will be used to provide a comfortable thermal environment. The DNN model was trained with images to estimate 14 joints of a person performing 10 common indoor activities. The DNN contained numerous shortcut connections for efficient training and had two stages of sequential and parallel layers for accurate joint localization. Estimation accuracy was quantified using the mean squared error (MSE) for the estimated joints and the percentage of correct parts (PCP) for the body parts. The results show that the joint MSEs for the head and neck were lowest, and the PCP was highest for the torso. The PCP for individual activities ranged from 0.71 to 0.92, while typing and standing in a relaxed manner were the activities with the highest PCP. Estimation accuracy was higher for relatively still activities and lower for activities involving wide-ranging arm or leg motion. This study thus highlights the potential for the accurate estimation of occupant indoor activities by proposing a novel DNN model. This approach holds significant promise for finding the actual type of occupant activities and for use in target indoor applications related to thermal comfort in buildings.

scholarly journals The Accuracy of Broselow Tape Weight Estimate among Pediatric Population

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Turki M. AlHarbi ◽  
Abdullaziz AlGarni ◽  
Fasial AlGamdi ◽  
Mona Jawish ◽  
Tariq Ahmad Wani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Actual Weight ◽  
Medical City

Objective.To determine the accuracy of the Broselow Tape (BT) versions 2007 and 2011 in estimating weight among pediatric population.Methods.A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Fahad Medical City and six schools across Riyadh province on 1–143-month-old children. BT 2007 and 2011 estimated weights were recorded. Both tapes via the child’s height produce an estimated weight, which was compared with the actual weight.Results.A total of 3537 children were recruited. The height (cm) of the subjects was97.7±24.1and the actual weight (kg) was16.07±8.9, whereas the estimated weight determined by BT 2007 was15.87±7.56and by BT 2011 was16.38±7.95. Across all the five age groups, correlation between actual weight and BT 2007 ranged between 0.702 and 0.788, while correlation between actual weight and BT 2011 ranged between 0.698 and 0.788. Correlation between BT 2007 and BT 2011 across all the five age groups ranged from 0.979 to 0.989. Accuracy of both the tape versions was adversely affected when age was >95 months and body weight was >26 kilograms.Conclusions.Our study showed that BT 2007 and 2011 provided accurate estimation of the body weight based on measured body height. However, 2011 version provided more precise estimate for weight.

WING MOVEMENTS AND LIFT REGULATION IN THE FLIGHT OF DESERT LOCUSTS

1993 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wortmann ◽  
W. Zarnack
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamics ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
The Body ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Body Angle ◽  
Wing Movement ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Lift Body

1. We simultaneously recorded lift/body weight, flight speed, body angle and 12 variables of wing movement for locusts performing tethered long-term flight with low movement scatter. The movements of the forewings and hindwings were recorded in three dimensions by means of miniature induction coils. 2. By adjusting the body angle, we could reproducibly manipulate lift generation as a consequence of induced changes in the wings' movement patterns. We were therefore able to analyse various relationships between the movement patterns and lift. 3. The most prominent variations of kinematic variables were observed for the forewing movements. The relative lift and the steady angle of pitch were positively correlated but there was a negative correlation between relative lift and pitching amplitude. We found no correlation between relative lift and flapping amplitude. Our results seem to correspond to a new theory about unsteady aerodynamics of oscillating aerofoils. 4. We sometimes observed variations in lagging. 5. The forewing downstroke was delayed by 0–8 ms following the hindwing downstroke. Relative lift was positively correlated to this delay.

Effects of an introduced, novel prey on diet and reproduction in the diet-specialist European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-231
Author(s):  
T.D. Williams ◽  
A. Cornell ◽  
C. Gillespie ◽  
A. Hura ◽  
M. Serota
Keyword(s):  
Prey Item ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
European Starling ◽  
Tarsus Length ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Diet Specialization ◽  
Specialized Diet

Diet specialization has important consequences for how individuals or species deal with environmental change that causes changes in availability of prey species. We took advantage of a “natural experiment” — establishment of a commercial insect farm — that introduced a novel prey item, black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758)), to the diet-specialist European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758). We investigated evidence for individual diet specialization (IDS) and the consequences of diet specialization and exploitation of novel prey on breeding productivity. In all 4 years of our study, tipulid larvae were the most common prey item. Soldier flies were not recorded in diets in 2013–2014; however, coincident with the establishment of the commercial insect farming operation, they comprised 22% and 30% of all prey items in the diets of European Starling females and males, respectively, in 2015. There was marked individual variation in use of soldier flies (4%–48% and 2%–70% in females and males, respectively), but we found little evidence of dichotomous IDS, i.e., where only some individuals have a specialized diet. We found no evidence for negative effects of use of soldier flies on breeding productivity: brood size at fledging and chick quality (mass, tarsus length) were independent of the number and proportion (%) of soldier flies returned to the nest.

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