The Comparison of Imaging and Clinical Methods to Estimate Prostate Volume: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Prostate volume (PV) is a useful tool in risk stratification, diagnosis, and follow-up of numerous prostatic diseases including prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy. There is currently no accepted ideal PV measurement method. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> This study compares multiple means of PV estimation, including digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and radical prostatectomy specimens to determine the best volume measurement style. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A retrospective, observational, single-site study with patients identified using an institutional database was performed. A total of 197 patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy were considered. Data collected included age, serum PSA at the time of the prostate biopsy, clinical T stage, Gleason score, and PVs for each of the following methods: DRE, TRUS, MRI, and surgical specimen weight (SPW) and volume. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A paired <i>t</i> test was performed, which reported a statistically significant difference between PV measures (DRE, TRUS, MRI ellipsoid, MRI bullet, SP ellipsoid, and SP bullet) and the actual prostate weight. Lowest differences were reported for SP ellipsoid volume (<i>M</i> = −2.37; standard deviation [SD] = 10.227; <i>t</i>[167] = −3.011; and <i>p</i> = 0.003), MRI ellipsoid volume (<i>M</i> = −4.318; SD = 9.53; <i>t</i>[167] = −5.87; and <i>p</i> = 0.000), and MRI bullet volume (<i>M</i> = 5.31; SD = 10.77; <i>t</i>[167] = 6.387; and <i>p</i> = 0.000). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The PV obtained by MRI has proven to correlate with the PV obtained via auto-segmentation software as well as actual SPW, while also being more cost-effective and time-efficient. Therefore, demonstrating that MRI estimated the PV is an adequate method for use in clinical practice for therapeutic planning and patient follow-up.

Gait Assessment Using Three-Dimensional Acceleration of the Trunk in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Background: The subjective evaluation of pathological gait exhibits a low inter-rater reliability. Therefore, we developed a three-dimensional acceleration of the trunk during walking to assess the pathological gait quantitatively.Methods: We evaluated 97 patients who underwent the cerebrospinal tap test and were diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and 68 healthy elderlies. The gait features of all patients were evaluated and classified as one of the following: freezing of gait, wide-based gait, short-stepped gait, shuffling gait, instability, gait festination, difficulty in changing direction, and balance disorder in standing up. All gait features of 68 healthy elderlies were treated as normal. Trunk acceleration was recorded automatically by a smartphone placed on the umbilicus during a 15-foot walking test. Two novel indices were created. The first index was a trunk acceleration index, which was defined as (forward acceleration fluctuation) + (vertical acceleration fluctuation) – (lateral acceleration fluctuation) based on the multivariate logistics regression model, and the second index was created by multiplying the forward acceleration with the vertical acceleration. Additionally, 95% confidence ellipsoid volume of the three-dimensional accelerations was assessed.Results: Forward and vertical acceleration fluctuations were significantly associated with the probability of an iNPH-specific pathological gait. The trunk acceleration index demonstrated the strongest association with the probability of an iNPH-specific pathological gait. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for detecting 100% probability of an iNPH-specific pathological gait were 86.9% for forward acceleration fluctuation, 88.0% for vertical acceleration fluctuation, 82.8% for lateral acceleration fluctuation, 89.0% for trunk acceleration index, 88.8% for forward × vertical acceleration fluctuation, and 87.8% for 95% confidence ellipsoid volume of the three-dimensional accelerations.Conclusions: The probability of a pathological gait specific to iNPH is high at the trunk acceleration fluctuation, reduced in the forward and vertical directions, and increased in the lateral direction.

Research on the growth and development of some varieties of Lavandula Angustifolia (Mill.) in the South-East of Romania

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the canopy volume of lavender shrubs as a morphologic trait influenced by variety and also to evaluate the development of the root system on a Chromic Luvisol with an argic B horizon. The crop was established in 2017 at Belciugatele Didactic Station/Moara Domnească Farm (44°30′ North, 26°15′ East) using the following lavender varieties: Sevstopolis, Vera, Hidcote, and Buena Vista. During 2017-2019, plants’ height and diameters were measured at harvest, and these observations were used to determine lavender shrubs’ canopy volume, by applying the derived ellipsoid volume formula. Varieties (A) obtained different values in terms of canopy volumes, and these values also varied under the influence of the different doses and combinations of mineral and organic fertilizers (B). The highest canopy volume was registered by Vera, with values ranging from 0.0557 m3 (1st year, Control) and 0.0944 m3 (3rd year, organic fertilization with manure at 30 t/ha). The evaluation of the root system distribution and development was performed after carrying out a soil profile between two plants, along the row, for each researched variety. Measurements were conducted using a frame of 50/50 cm, and data sampling was performed for every 10 cm layer, by counting and measuring the roots. Based on these observations the root section area (RSA) was determined. The values of this indicator ranged between 283.06 mm2 (Buena Vista) and 378.29 mm2 (Vera).

A new approach to measure reduction intensity on cores and tools on cobbles: The Volumetric Reconstruction Method

Knowing to what extent lithic cores have been reduced through knapping is an important step toward understanding the technological variability of lithic assemblages and disentangling the formation processes of archaeological assemblages. In addition, it is a good complement to more developed studies of reduction intensity in retouched tools, and can provide information on raw material management or site occupation dynamics. This paper presents a new methodology for estimating the intensity of reduction in cores and tools on cobbles, the Volumetric Reconstruction Method (VRM). This method is based on a correction of the dimensions (length, width, and thickness) of each core from an assemblage. The mean values of thickness and platform thickness of the assemblage’s flakes are used as corrections for the cores’ original dimensions, after its diacritic analysis. Then, based on these new dimensions, the volume or mass of the original blank are reconstructed using the ellipsoid volume formula. The accuracy of this method was experimentally tested, reproducing a variety of possible archaeological scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate a high inferential potential of the VRM, both in estimating the original volume or mass of the original blanks, and in inferring the individual percentage of reduction for each core. The results of random resampling demonstrate the applicability of VRM to non size-biased archaeological contexts.

THE VOLUME OF THE CEREBELLUM IN THE SECOND SEMESTER OF GESTATION

Background and aims. The cerebellum (“little brain”), the largest part of hind brain, lies in the posterior cranial fossa, beneath the occipital lobe and dorsal to the brainstem. It develops over a long period: it is one of the first structures in the brain to begin to differentiate, but one of the last to mature. The use of ultrasonography has significantly improved the evaluation of fetal growth and development and has permitted prenatal diagnosis of a variety of congenital malformations.The aim of our study was to evaluate the cerebellar growth and development using 2 different measuring techniques: microMRI and ultrasound technique. The cerebellum measurements were related to gestational age.Methods. We used 14 human fetuses corresponding to 15-28 gestational weeks, immersed in a 9% formalin solution. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed by employing a Bruker BioSpec 70/16USR scanner (Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH, Ettlingen, Germany), operated at 7.04 Tesla for cerebellar volume measurement. Ultrasonographic measurements of the cerebellum diameter were performed on 14 pregnant women, 15 – 28 gestational weeks. Ultrasound scan used 5-10 MHZ for transvaginal approach. Taking into consideration the values of the cerebellum dimensions and considering the general shape of the cerebellum as a transverse ellipsoid, the volume of the cerebellum was calculated by a mathematical formula for ellipsoid volume.Results. The study correlates the measurements from the microMRI study with the ultrasounds data and the results are superposable. Both established the exponential volume growth after the 22-23 GW. We used the ellipsoid volume formula for the cerebellar volume using the half of the three diameters of the cerebellum determined by ultrasound measurements:Cerebellar Volume = Ellipsoid volume = r1 r2 r3Conclusion. There is a linear correlation between the microMRI measurements and ultrasound determinations. Based on all collected data we could apply an easy formula to calculate the volume of cerebellum, a useful criterion in the evaluation of the cerebellar development and the appreciation of the gestational age.

The effect of movement variability on putting proficiency during the golf putting stroke

Movement variability has been considered important to execute an effective golf swing yet is comparatively unexplored regarding the golf putt. Movement variability could potentially be important considering the small margins of error between a successful and a missed putt. The aim of this study was to assess whether variability of body segment rotations influence putting performance (ball kinematic measures). Eight golfers (handicap range 0–10) performed a 3.2 m level putt wearing retro-reflective markers which were tracked using a three-dimensional motion analysis system sampling at 120 Hz. Ball roll kinematics were recorded using Quintic Ball Roll launch monitor. Movement (segment) variability was calculated based on a scalene ellipsoid volume concept and correlated with the coefficient of variation of ball kinematics. Statistical analysis showed no significant relationships between segment variability and putting proficiency. One significant relationship was identified between left forearm variability and horizontal launch angle, but this did not result in deficits in putting success. Results show that performance variability in the backswing and downswing is not related to putting proficiency or the majority of ball roll measures. Differing strategies may exist where certain golfers may have more fluid movement patterns thereby effectively utilising variability of movement. Therefore, golf instructors should consider movement variability when coaching the golf putt.

Volume of confidence ellipsoid: a technique for quantifying trunk sway during stance

The position of the trunk can be negatively affected by many diseases. This work focuses on a noninvasive method of quantifying human postural stability and identifying defects in balance and coordination as a result of the nervous system pathology. We used a three-degree-of-freedom orientation tracker (Xsens MTx unit) placed on a patient’s trunk and measured three-dimensional (3-D) data (pitch, roll, and yaw) during quiet stance. The principal component analysis was used to analyze the data and to determine the volume of 3-D 95% confidence ellipsoid. Using this method, we were able to model the distribution of the measured 3-D data (pitch, roll, and yaw). Eight patients with degenerative cerebellar disease and eight healthy subjects in this study were measured during stance, with eyes open and eyes closed, and statistical analysis was performed. The results of the new method based on the 3-D confidence ellipsoid show that the volumes related to the patients are significantly larger than the volumes related to the healthy subjects. The concept of confidence ellipsoid volume, although known to the biomechanics community, has not been used before to study the postural balance problems. The method can also be used to study, for example, head and pelvis movements or alignments during stance.

A New Optimal Binary Tree SVM Multi-Class Classification Algorithm

A improved binary tree SVM multi-class classification algorithm is proposed. Firstly, constructing the minimum hyper ellipsoid for each class sample in the feather space, and then generating optimal binary tree according to the hyper ellipsoid volume, training sub-classifier for every non-leaf node in the binary tree at the same time. For the sample to be classified, the sub-classifiers are used from the root node until one leaf node, and the corresponding class of the leaf node is the class of the sample. The experiments are done on the Statlog database, and the experimental results show that the algorithm improves classification precision and classification speed, especially in the situation that the number of class are more and their distribution area are equal approximately, the algorithm can greatly improve the classification precision and classification speed.