Shape Analysis Research Articles

Motif clustering and digital biomarker extraction for free-living physical activity analysis

BackgroundAnalyzing free-living physical activity (PA) data presents challenges due to variability in daily routines and the lack of activity labels. Traditional approaches often rely on summary statistics, which may not capture the nuances of individual activity patterns. To address these limitations and advance our understanding of the relationship between PA patterns and health outcomes, we propose a novel motif clustering algorithm that identifies and characterizes specific PA patterns.MethodsThis paper proposes an elastic distance-based motif clustering algorithm for identifying specific PA patterns (motifs) in free-living PA data. The algorithm segments long-term PA curves into short-term segments and utilizes elastic shape analysis to measure the similarity between activity segments. This enables the discovery of recurring motifs through pattern clustering. Then, functional principal component analysis (FPCA) is then used to extract digital biomarkers from each motif. These digital biomarkers can subsequently be used to explore the relationship between PA and health outcomes of interest.ResultsWe demonstrate the efficacy of our method through three real-world applications. Results show that digital biomarkers derived from these motifs effectively capture the association between PA patterns and disease outcomes, improving the accuracy of patient classification.ConclusionsThis study introduced a novel approach to analyzing free-living PA data by identifying and characterizing specific activity patterns (motifs). The derived digital biomarkers provide a more nuanced understanding of PA and its impact on health, with potential applications in personalized health assessment and disease detection, offering a promising future for healthcare.

Assessing the Greater Sciatic Notch With 2‐D Shape Analysis for Sex Estimation

Assessing the Greater Sciatic Notch With 2‐D Shape Analysis for Sex Estimation

Is the skull of the black-headed gull dimorphic? Analysis of shape variation

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small bird belonging to the Laridae family. Their distribution and breeding broad area primarily cover the northern part of the Eurasian continent. Gulls are considered monomorphic birds, and distinguishing the sexes based on external morphological features is extremely difficult. In this study, a 3D shape analysis of the skull of black-headed gulls from central-northern Poland was performed to reveal the variation in shape between individuals and whether male skulls differ from females. For these purposes, 82 skulls were used (32 females and 50 males). 3D surface models of the skull were extracted using computed tomography. Twenty-one landmarks were designed on each skull. The principal components method was used to assess the variability of skull shapes. The first two principal components accounted for 48.28% of the cumulative shape variation. The most significant shape variation relative to PC1 was observed in the braincase. Positive PC2 values reflected the neurocranium expanding more rapidly dorso-ventrally with a wider orbit, and the nasofrontal hinge moved dorsally. According to the Procrustes ANOVA, the centroid size was statistically different between the sexes (p < 0.0001). Male skulls were longer than females. Neurocranium was wider in male gulls. The nasofrontal hinge was more caudal in females. The results of this study are consistent with the observations of other authors applying linear morphometry.

Generating High-Fidelity Clothed Human Dynamics with Temporal Diffusion

Clothed human modeling plays a crucial role in multimedia research, with applications spanning virtual reality, gaming, and fashion design. The goal is to learn clothed human dynamics from observations and then generate humans with high-fidelity clothing details for motion animation. Despite tremendous advancements in clothing shape analysis by existing approaches, the community still faces challenges in generating convincing visual effects of cloth dynamics, maintaining temporally smooth clothing details, and handling diverse clothing patterns. To address these challenges, we introduce ClothDiffuse, a temporal diffusion model that seamlessly integrates three key components into this task: temporal dynamics modeling, iterative refinement, and diversified generation. Our approach begins by using an encoder to extract high-level temporal features from input human body motions. These features are combined with a learnable pixel-aligned garment feature, serving as prior conditions for the shape decoder. The decoder then iteratively denoise Gaussian noise to produce clothing deformations over time on the input unclothed human bodies. To ensure that the results align with observations and adhere to physical plausibility for clothing shape inference, we propose two physics-inspired loss functions that preserve the intra-frame distances and inter-frame forces of clothing points. Additionally, the stochastic nature of the denoising process allows for the generation of diverse and plausible clothing shapes. Experiments show that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods in chamfer distance and visual effects, particularly for loose clothing such as dresses and skirts. Furthermore, our approach effectively adapts to out-of-domain clothing types and generate realistic clothes dynamics.

Hiatus and pelvic floor failure patterns in pelvic organ prolapse: A 3D MRI study of structural interactions using a Level III conceptual model.

A large urogenital hiatus in Level III results in a higher risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse after birth and failure after prolapse surgery. Deepening of the pelvic floor and downward rotation of the levator plate have also been linked to prolapse. Currently we lack data that evaluates how these measures relate to one another and to prolapse occurrence and size. This study uses measurements from a published conceptual model to compare women with and without prolapse to determine the magnitude of difference between cases and controls and to quantify the interrelationships among different aspects of pelvic floor shape and structure. Ninety-one women with anterior predominant prolapse and uterus in situ who had 3D MRI and 30 similar women with normal support were studied. Resting scans were used to avoid the influence of the prolapse dilating the hiatus. Measurements assessed three domains: hiatus size (urogenital and levator hiatus); length of the surrounding pelvic floor muscles (pubovisceral, puborectal, iliococcygeal muscles); the shelf-like posterior pelvic floor (levator plate shape, levator bowl volume), and bony pelvic dimensions. Effect sizes were calculated and principal component shape analysis performed to evaluate levator plate shape. A-scores were calculated and a value greater than 1.68 (95th percentile) was considered the "failure" criterion. Frequency and severity of structural support site failure were analyzed by prolapse size. Resting urogenital and levator hiatal areas were 68% and 59% larger in the prolapse group compared to controls. These area enlargements were 2-4 times larger than the anterior-posterior dimension enlargements (urogenital hiatus 36%; levator hiatus 13%). The greatest muscle length differences between groups occurred in the pubovisceral (34%) and puborectal (25%) muscles compared to the iliococcygeal muscle (8%)-roughly half the area differences. Levator bowl volume was 63% deeper with prolapse. Urogenital hiatus and levator hiatus areas were strongly correlated with pubovisceral and puborectal muscle length (.7 to .8), while iliococcygeal muscle length had lower correlations (.4 to .5). Levator bowl volume correlated strongly with hiatal enlargement (.7 to .8) and muscle length (pubovisceral and puborectal muscles), moderately so with levator plate and iliococcygeal muscle, and weakly with bony dimension. Failure frequency increased with prolapse size for urogenital hiatus anterior-posterior (p=.001) and area (p=.019). By contrast, levator hiatus area was similar for all prolapse sizes (p=.288), while levator hiatus anterior-posterior failure was more common in larger prolapses (p=.018) but with smaller percentages of failure than levator hiatus area (p<.01). Both levator bowl volume (p=.015) and levator plate (p=.045) trended toward increasing failure with larger prolapse sizes. Among women with enlarged urogenital hiatus at straining, 43% and 28% had normal urogenital hiatus anterior-posterior and area at rest, respectively. Changes in the shape and dimensions of the pelvic floor are complex and are not captured by a single measure (such as the urogenital hiatus anterior-posterior dimension, which does not capture its lateral expansion). The failure patterns were different between small and large prolapses. Understanding why could lead to improved prevention and treatments for Level III failures.

Development and evaluation of a polymer material-based formulation for non-surgical nasolabial fold reduction.

Currently, nasolabial folds are mainly removed by invasive procedures, resulting in long-lasting changes, as non-surgical user-implementable alternatives are scarce and inefficient. For example, the use of coating films for this purpose has thus far faced substantial difficulties because such films should combine the antithetical properties of shrinkability and flexibility. Herein, we challenge this status quo by identifying a polymer that simultaneously exhibits shrinkability and flexibility and using this polymer to develop a cosmetic formulation for immediate and non-invasive nasolabial fold removal. The developed formulation, namely a solution of norbornene/tris(trimethylsiloxy)silylnorbornene copolymer in disiloxane, was tested on a group of Japanese women using visual evaluation, three-dimensional shape analysis and ultrasonography. The polymer film obtained upon drying the formulation was subjected to shrinkage and flexibility tests, and its synchronization with the skin was examined using optical microscopy. The free volume of the polymer films was evaluated using positron annihilation measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. Upon application, the liquid formulation rapidly dries to produce a skin-synchronized polymer film that exhibits significant drying-induced shrinkage without cracking, thereby exerting a lift-up effect and inducing changes in the internal skin structure to efficiently reduce the nasolabial fold, providing a feeling of rejuvenation. On average, the proposed treatment decreases the nasolabial fold depth by 1 mm, increases the opening angle of the nasolabial fold by 11.5° and reduces the hypodermis thickness by 0.2 mm. Our results facilitate the development of cosmetic products targeting the nasolabial fold and inspire further research in this field.

Effect of mechanical instrumentation on titanium implant surface properties.

To assess the impact of mechanical decontamination using rotary brushes on the surface topography, elemental composition, roughness, and wettability of titanium implant surfaces. Four commercially available rotary brushes were used: Labrida BioClean Brush® (LB), i-Brush1 (IB), NiTiBrush Nano (NiTiB), and Peri-implantitis Brush (PIB). Seventy-five titanium discs with sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) surfaces were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 15): LB, IB, NiTiB, PIB, and a control group. Each disc was treated for 60 seconds with the respective rotary brush according to the manufacturer's instructions. Surface morphology was analysed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), surface elemental composition with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), surface roughness via optical profilometry, and wettability with a droplet shape analyser. SEI analysis revealed morphological changes, including scratches, flattening, and loose titanium particles in the IB, PIB, and NiTiB groups, whereas the LB group preserved the original surface morphology. SEM-EDX analysis showed that LB, PIB, and NiTiB groups closely match the control elemental composition. However, IB groups showed significantly different composition. Surface roughness values in the IB, PIB, and NiTiB groups differed significantly from the control (p < 0.05), whereas the LB group had comparable roughness values (p > 0.05). Contact angle measurements indicated enhanced wettability in IB, PIB, and NiTiB groups (p < 0.05), while the LB group exhibited values comparable to the control (p > 0.05). Mechanical decontamination of implant surfaces utilising rotary brushes can alter implant surface properties.

Multi Sign Language Recognition

The deaf and hard-of-hearing community often experiences communication barriers due to people who are not well-versed in the use of sign language.[1] This project would address this problem by developing an all-embracing machine learning (ML) model which would be able to interpret and translate the hand movements of American Sign Language (ASL) and Indian Sign Language (ISL) into corresponding spoken or written language in real time.[2] In using data from cameras, the system is designed to precisely predict and translate gestures both ASL and ISL. The solution integrates Natural Language Processing for context-aware translations and hence lets the system interpret the surrounding context for more meaningful and accurate implications. Moreover, the final project will explore the utilization of advanced Gesture recognition technologies, which might include the deep learning models and recurrent neural networks, shall enhance the system's accuracy as well as adaptability.[3] Data input multimodality will enhance gesture recognition: examples include skeletal tracking and hand shape analysis. User-friendly interface; it will be made possible for the users to interact with customization options of settings, preferences, including but not limited to language voice options.[6] Moreover, the project includes the potential for integration with other assistive technologies, such as speech-to-text devices and AR equipment among others, to provide a comprehensive communication assistant. At the end of it all, this project would empower the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by ensuring effective communication between the hearing population and the deaf and hard-of-hearing, social inclusion and access. The solution will be plentiful in schools, the workplaces, and public services, so all will be provided with the potentially useful tool of increasing accessibility and understanding.

Differentiation of Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus (Perciformes, Mullidae) from Turkish waters of the Mediterranean Sea using otolith shape analyses

Differentiation of Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus (Perciformes, Mullidae) from Turkish waters of the Mediterranean Sea using otolith shape analyses

Neural plasticity in early potters: Shape analysis and TMS-EEG co-registration trace the rise of a new motor skill.

In this study, we explored the biocultural mechanisms underlying ancient craft behaviours. Archaeological methods were integrated with neuroscience techniques to explore the impact on neuroplasticity resulting from the introduction of early pottery techniques. The advent of ceramic marked a profound change in the economy and socio-cultural dynamics of past societies. It may have also played a central role in developing new craft skills that influenced the neural plasticity of the potters. Coiling, one of the most widespread neolithic techniques, requires precise hand movements and the ability to regulate finger pressure to shape the clay without deformation. In a pilot study involving intensive training in neolithic pottery, we used TMS-EEG co-registration to monitor a group of participants and we examined the shape of the artefacts they made before and after training. Our findings suggest changes in the functional properties of the primary motor cortex (M1) responsible for the control and execution of actions. We also observed an improvement in symmetry and consistency of the artefacts and a significant reduction in errors. This multidisciplinary approach sheds light on the mechanisms of material culture's variation in the archaeological field and provides promising insights into the co-evolution of technology and human skill.

Geometric morphometric analysis of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) skulls using radiometric techniques at three and six months of development.

Morphological growth naturally progresses with age; however, the rate of growth varies across different parts of an organism, with certain structures developing more rapidly than others. This study aimed to analyze and compare the skull development of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) during two specific developmental stages: the 3rd and 6th months, which represent distinct growth phases in their early ontogeny. In this study, we aimed to analyze and compare skull development in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) during two specific post-natal time points: the 3rd and 6th months. Shape analysis was performed using radiographic images of nine red foxes at both the third and sixth months. Shape differences were observed in the skulls of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) at these two ages. Our findings confirmed the hypothesis that skull shape changes over time, reflecting distinct morphological adaptations associated with age-related growth. In the measurements at the 3rd month, the neurocranial region exhibited a more distinct and developed structure compared to the facial bones. Toward the 6th month, the skull displayed a thinner and more elongated structure with the further development of the facial bones. This difference indicates a period of rapid growth and development in the neurocranial area, suggesting that red foxes experience significant neurological and sensory development early in life. Future studies on skull shape variation across different developmental stages in red foxes can expand on these findings. Age-related morphological studies, such as this one, provide essential baseline data on the natural growth and development of wild species like red foxes. This knowledge is essential for identifying deviations from normal development, which could result from environmental stressors, habitat changes, or malnutrition.

Automated quantification of axonal and myelin changes in contusion, dislocation, and distraction spinal cord injuries: Insights into targeted remyelination and axonal regeneration.

Quantifying axons and myelin is essential for understanding spinal cord injury (SCI) mechanisms and developing targeted therapies. This study proposes and validates an automated method to measure axons and myelin, applied to compare contusion, dislocation, and distraction SCIs in a rat model. Spinal cords were processed and stained for neurofilament, tubulin, and myelin basic protein, with histology images segmented into dorsal, lateral, and ventral white matter regions. Custom MATLAB scripts identified axons and myelin through brightness-based object detection and shape analysis, followed by an iterative dilation process to differentiate myelinated from unmyelinated axons. Validation showed a high correlation with manual counts of total and myelinated axons, with no significant differences between methods. Application of this method revealed distinct injury-specific changes: dislocation caused the greatest axonal loss, while distraction led to the lowest myelin-to-axon-area ratio, indicating preserved axons but severe demyelination. All injuries resulted in increased axon diameter and a decreased myelin-sheath-thickness-to-axon-diameter ratio, suggesting disrupted myelination. These results indicate that remyelination therapies may be most effective for distraction injuries, where preserved axons make remyelination crucial, while axonal regeneration therapies are likely better suited for dislocation injuries with extensive axonal loss. Contusion injuries, involving both axonal and myelin damage, may benefit from a combination of neuroprotective and remyelination strategies. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring treatments to the distinct pathophysiological features of each SCI type to optimize recovery outcomes.

Sequential dissociation of ionized benzonitrile: New pathways to reactive interstellar ions and neutrals

Since benzonitrile’s discovery in the interstellar medium (ISM) in 2018, several studies have explored the strongest unimolecular dissociations of its radical cation ( C6H5CN^ ). However, sequential dissociation processes, which become important when ionization occurs with significant excess energy transfer, have received almost no attention to date. The present metastable dissociative ionization experiments reveal 14 different dissociations, of which 11 have never been observed before. Nine of these new reactions involve the dissociation of a fragment ion. A notable result shows that C4H2^ production (the second most intense fragment ion in conventional mass spectra without metastable dissociation analysis) derives from sequential dissociation via C6H4^ as well as from the previously reported unimolecular dissociation of C6H5CN^ . Furthermore, our experiments demonstrate new pathways that produce astrochemically important neutrals including HCN CNH and CN^ as well as revealing CH^ and C3H^ production from ionized benzonitrile for the first time. In addition to the metastable dissociation experiments, we applied density functional theory to calculate two sequential dissociation routes and report the results of our detailed analysis of the peak shapes in a conventional mass spectrum of benzonitrile. The latter enabled the dominant ion to be identified in peaks with nearest-integer m/z values that match two conceivable ions. The present identification of C6H2N+ production using this approach allows its presence in the ISM to be inferred for the first time. This paper extends our understanding of how the dissociative ionization of benzonitrile can contribute to the abundances of radicals and other reactive species in interstellar environments.

Pre-Fusion Shape Changes of Humeral Metaphyseal Surfaces: A New Method for Assessing Maturity and Age in Non-Adult Skeletal Individuals.

The current research delves into the use of 3D geometric morphometric for assessing shifts in maturity within both the proximal and distal humeral metaphyses. It mainly focuses on establishing correlations between these shifts and the shape changes observed in the corresponding epiphyses established through radiographic imaging. The total sample comprises 120 right-side proximal humeral metaphyses and 91 right-side distal humeral metaphyses. The entire sample was categorized into four maturity groups for the humeral distal metaphysis and five maturity groups for the humeral proximal metaphysis based on the appearance and subsequent changes in shape and size. All humeri were scanned using 3D surface scanning devices. Two different 3D template configurations were created to capture the shape changes during the development of the proximal and distal metaphyses. We conducted an analysis of shape (Procrustes shape coordinates) and an analysis on the form space in order to assess both maturity changes of humeral metaphyses and their interrelationship with size. The shape changes explained by PC1 are crucial in establishing the maturational sequence in both the distal and proximal metaphyses. These shape changes reflect the appearance and subsequent changes in shape and size of their corresponding epiphyses. There is a considerable overlap among different maturity groups related to the gradual nature of the maturational process. However, shape changes in proximal and distal humeral metaphyses are suitable to assess maturity in skeletal specimens.

Fish ID face-off: A comparison of genetic barcoding and otolith shape analysis for streamlining species identification of mesopelagic fishes

Fish ID face-off: A comparison of genetic barcoding and otolith shape analysis for streamlining species identification of mesopelagic fishes

Otolith shape analysis as a tool for species identification and management of cryptic congeners in the northern Benguela ocean warming hotspot

Otolith shape analysis as a tool for species identification and management of cryptic congeners in the northern Benguela ocean warming hotspot

Overcoming drug delivery challenges with lipid-based nanofibers for enhanced wound repair.

Wound healing is a dynamic, multi-phase process that includes haemostasis, tissue regeneration, cellular proliferation, and matrix modification. Traditional wound care procedures frequently encounter complications such as delayed healing and infection, demanding new therapeutic approaches. In this context, nanomaterial-based devices provide considerable benefits due to their capacity to improve medication delivery and tissue healing. We suggest a lipid-based nanofiber formulation for wound treatment that overcomes the restricted skin penetration of hydrophilic niacin, a strong wound healing agent. Niacin-loaded nanofibers (NLNFs) were manufactured utilizing glyceryl monostearate (GMS) by a self-assembly process, which included high-pressure homogenization and probe sonication for optimum nanostructure creation. The NLNFs were physicochemically characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface profilometry to determine their morphology and homogeneity, and a drop shape analyser was used to determine hydrophobicity. In vitro tests revealed prolonged drug release, great cytocompatibility, and strong antioxidant activity, indicating superior free radical scavenging capacity. Ex vivo tests, such as the Draize skin irritation test, skin permeation test, and drug retention assays, revealed low skin irritation, increased permeability, and efficient drug retention in skin layers. In vivo experiments showed rapid wound closure and positive histological results, which were backed by hemocompatibility tests such as hemolysis and whole blood clot analysis, validating the formulation's safety. ELISA results indicated that the NLNF-treated group had higher levels of critical wound-healing indicators than the controls. Overall, our findings suggest that NLNFs have tremendous potential as a unique and effective treatment alternative for controlling and improving wound healing processes.

Investigation on the effectiveness of fourier shape analysis in classifying milled aggregates

Investigation on the effectiveness of fourier shape analysis in classifying milled aggregates

Long-term Breast Shape Analysis After Short-scar Reduction Mammaplasty: A Critical View.

Over the past 2 decades, vertical scar reduction mammaplasty techniques have been gaining more acceptance. However, many surgeons are still hesitant to use it routinely because of the uncertainty of the effectiveness of vertical scar techniques in managing lower pole skin excess. We aimed to test its efficacy by using objective anthropometric measurements to evaluate long-term breast shape and lower pole stability. The study population included 40 of 129 consecutive women with short-scar reduction mammaplasty followed up for at least 1 year. Breasts were measured preoperatively, perioperatively, and at least 1 year postoperatively. All women also completed the BREAST-Q questionnaire at their most recent visit. The mean sternal notch-to-nipple and upper breast-to-nipple distances decreased postoperatively by 22% and 43%, respectively, and remained stable over a mean time of 110.1 ± 65.58 weeks. The nipple-to-inframammary fold distance, which was intraoperatively shortened by an average of 63%, elongated back to 88% of its preoperative measurements. No correlation was detected between the long-term changes across all 3 measurements, the amount of tissue removed or the satisfaction reported by patients. Mean BREAST-Q satisfaction rates in all parameters evaluated were 75.79-98.12. The 12% improvement in the nipple-to-inframammary fold measurement implies that the short-scar technique might properly address the horizontal dimension of the hypertrophic-ptotic breast but falls short in addressing its vertical dimension. The search for a modification that mirrors the advantages of the vertical scar technique in terms of shape and projection, while guaranteeing a steady lower pole, remains ongoing.

Stock Identification of Brown-Striped Snapper, Lutjanus vitta (Qouy and Gaimard, 1824), Inferred From Otolith Shape Analysis off the Coast of Iligan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines

Otolith shape analysis is an effective method that has been used to separate stocks based on their phenotypic traits. The brown-striped snapper, Lutjanus vitta (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824), is an important component of the fish catch in Iligan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines. Trends in catch and catch per unit effort, however, had been declining because of overfishing of this economically significant species as a result of continuous human exploitation. To accurately identify and manage fish, one must be aware of the stock structure of a species. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge on the stock identification of L. vitta using otolith morphometrics and shape analysis. A total of 90 individuals of L. vitta were collected from the three selected sampling locations in Iligan Bay: Iligan City, Kapatagan, and Oroquieta City. Results of ANOVA tests investigating otolith shape differences between areas showed that mean values among sites differed significantly for the following shape indices: ellipticity (F = 20.93, P &lt; 0.001), aspect ratio (F = 19.45, P &lt; 0.001), and circularity (F = 24.72, P &lt; 0.001). A canonical analysis of principal components verified the separation of otolith morphometric parameters among locations, with 73.9 % of the variation explained by the first axis (PC1). However, otolith shape did not differ significantly between sexes (P &gt; 0.05). Furthermore, the differences in otolith shape among the three locations suggests a spatial structuring of L. vitta in Iligan Bay (P = 0.001) and necessitates local management and policies to enable sustainable management of the fisheries.