Body Volume Research Articles

Using unmanned aerial vehicles to estimate body volume at scale for ecological monitoring

Abstract Demographic data are essential to construct mechanistic models to understand how populations change over time and in response to global threats like climate change. Existing demographic data are either lacking or insufficient for many species, particularly those that are challenging to obtain direct measurements from that can be used to estimate demographic rates, like marine mammals. A method for collecting accurate demographic data to construct robust demographic models at scale would fill this knowledge gap for difficult‐to‐access species. We introduce a novel, non‐invasive method to estimate the 3D body size (volume) of pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) that will allow monitoring at high spatial and temporal scales. Our method integrates 3D structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry data collected via planned flight missions using off‐the‐shelf, multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). We apply and validate this method on the grey seal Halichoerus grypus, a pinniped species that spends much of its time at sea but is predictably observable during its annual breeding season. We investigate the optimal ground sampling distance (GSD) for surveys by calculating the success rates and accuracy of volume estimates of individuals at different altitudes. Based on current technology, we establish an optimal GSD of at least 0.8 cm px−1 for animals similar in size to UK grey seals (~1.2–2.5 m length), making our method reproducible and applicable to other species. We found volume estimates were accurate and could be successfully estimated for up to 68% of hauled‐out seals in study areas. Our method accurately estimates individual body volume of pinnipeds in a time‐ and cost‐effective manner while minimising disturbance. While the approach is applied to pinnipeds here, the method could be adapted to further taxa that are otherwise challenging to obtain direct measurements from. Our proposed approach therefore has the potential to fill demographic research gaps, which will improve our ability to protect and conserve species into the future.

Enlarged choroid plexus related to atrophy of hippocampal subfield volumes and glymphatic dysfunction in benzodiazepine use disorder.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of choroid plexus (CP) volume with hippocampal subregion volume and glymphatic system in patients with benzodiazepine use disorders (BUD). Eighty-four participants were recruited including 23 patients with BUD, 29 patients with chronic insomnia (CI) and 32 healthy controls (HC). The morphological alterations in CP, hippocampal subfield volumes and diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index were compared between the three groups and the relationships between CP volume and hippocampal subfield volumes and the glymphatic system were further investigated. Compared with the HC individuals, the CP volumes augmented and hippocampal subfield volumes reduced in patients with BUD (P < .05) but not in patients with CI (P > .05). In patients with BUD, there were extensive relationships between augmented CP volume and decreased hippocampal subfield volumes (P < .05, r = -0.421--0.513). CP volume was negatively related with the DTI-ALPS index (r = -0.582, P = .004) within the BUD group. In patients with BUD, the volume of bilateral cornu ammonis (CA)1 body, molecular layer (ML) body, hippocampal tail, left CA1 head volumes, right dentate gyrus body volumes, and right CA4 body volumes were positively related with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores (P < .05, r = 0.422-0.683). Right CA1 and ML body volumes positively related with the Mini-Mental State Examination scores (P < .05, r = 0.503-0.575). The enlarged CP related to atrophy of hippocampal subfield volumes and the glymphatic system dysfunction were shown in BUD patients.

Alterations of subcortical structure volume in pediatric bipolar disorder patients with manic or depressive first-episode

BackgroundBipolar disorder may begin as depression or mania, which can affect the treatment and prognosis. The physiological and pathological differences among pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) patients with different onset symptoms are not clear. The aims of the present study were to investigate subcortical structural alterations in PBD patients with first-episode depressive (PBD-FED) and first-episode manic (PBD-FEM).MethodsA total of 59 individuals including 28 PBD-FED, 13 PBD-FEM, and 18 healthy controls (HCs) underwent high-resolution structural magnetic resonance scans. FreeSurfer 7.2 was used to detect changes in subcortical volumes. Simultaneously, thalamic, hippocampal, and amygdala subregion volumes were compared between the three groups.ResultsAnalysis of covariance controlling for age, sex, education, and estimated intracranial volume shows third and fourth ventricle enlargement in patients with PBD. Compared with the PBD-FED and HCs, the PBD-FEM group had reduced gray matter volume in the left thalamus, bilateral hippocampus, and right amygdala. Subsequent subregion analyses showed right cortico-amygdaloid transient, bilateral accessory-basal nucleus, left hippocampal tail, right hippocampal head, and body volume reduction in the PBD-FEM group.ConclusionsThe present findings provided evidence of decreased subcortical structure in PBD-FEM patients, which might present its trait feature.

Digital image analysis of vertebral body L4 and its ossification center in the human fetus.

Using a Siemens-Biograph 128 mCT camera the morphometric analysis of the L4 vertebral body and its ossification center were done in 55human fetuses aged 17 to 30weeks. No sex differences were found. The mean height, transverse and sagittal diameters of L4 vertebral body followed the logarithmic functions: y = -11.797+ 5.208 × ln(age) ± 0.372, y = -23.462 + 9.428 × ln(age) ± 0.702, y = 2.770 + 13.521 × ln(age) ± 1.722, respectively. The mean cross-sectional area of L4 vertebral body followed the linear function: y = -30.683 + 1.976 × age ± 2.701. The mean volume of L4 vertebral body followed the second-degree polynomial function: y = -93.983+ 0.385 × (age)² ± 23.707. The mean transverse and sagittal diameters of the ossification center of L4 vertebral body followed the natural logarithmic function: y = -27.106 + 10.178 × ln(age) ± 0.769 and y = -13.345 + 5.458 × ln(age) ± 0.424, respectively. The mean cross-sectional area and the volume of the ossification center of L4 vertebral body followed the linear function: y = -30.683 + 1.976 × age ± 2.701 and y = -43.214 + 2.760 × age ± 4.085, respectively.

Association of concussion history with psychiatric symptoms, limbic system structure, and kynurenine pathway metabolites in healthy, collegiate-aged athletes

Psychiatric outcomes are commonly observed in individuals with repeated concussions, though their underlying mechanism is unknown. One potential mechanism linking concussion with psychiatric symptoms is inflammation-induced activation of the kynurenine pathway, which is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. Here, we investigated the association of prior concussion with multiple psychiatric-related outcomes in otherwise healthy male and female collegiate-aged athletes (N = 212) with varying histories of concussion recruited from the community. Specially, we tested the hypotheses that concussion history is associated with worse psychiatric symptoms, limbic system structural abnormalities (hippocampal volume, white matter microstructure assessed using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging; NODDI), and elevations in kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites (e.g., Quinolinic acid; QuinA). Given known sex-effects on concussion risk and recovery, psychiatric outcomes, and the kynurenine pathway, the moderating effect of sex was considered for all analyses. More concussions were associated with greater depression, anxiety, and anhedonia symptoms in female athletes (ps ≤ 0.005) and greater depression symptoms in male athletes (p = 0.011). More concussions were associated with smaller bilateral hippocampal tail (ps < 0.010) and left hippocampal body (p < 0.001) volumes across male and female athletes. Prior concussion was also associated with elevations in the orientation dispersion index (ODI) and lower intracellular volume fraction in several white matter tracts including the in uncinate fasciculus, cingulum-gyrus, and forceps major and minor, with evidence of female-specific associations in select regions. Regarding serum KP metabolites, more concussions were associated with elevated QuinA in females and lower tryptophan in males (ps ≤ 0.010). Finally, serum levels of QuinA were associated with elevated ODI (male and female athletes) and worse anxiety symptoms (females only), while higher ODI in female athletes and smaller hippocampal volumes in male athletes were associated with more severe anxiety and depression symptoms (ps ≤ 0.05). These data suggest that cumulative concussion is associated with psychiatric symptoms and limbic system structure in healthy athletes, with increased susceptibility to these effects in female athletes. Moreover, the associations of outcomes with serum KP metabolites highlight the KP as one potential molecular pathway underlying these observations.

Finding a balance: Reproductive trade-offs in parasitic isopods of the family Cymothoidae.

In this study conducted along the coast of Odisha, India, reproductive trade-offs in isopods of the family Cymothoidae were investigated, focusing on the relationship between the number vs. volume of eggs and the percentage of brood to body volume. Ovigerous females from species with substantial sample sizes (n > 30) were analyzed to understand their survival strategies. The findings highlight distinct strategies among different parasite types within Cymothoidae. Buccal parasites such as Cymothoa frontalis and Cymothoa indica, along with branchial parasites like Joryma sawayah and Agarna malayi, generally produced a higher number of smaller eggs, except for A. malayi, which produced fewer but larger eggs. In contrast, the external body surface-attaching parasite, Nerocila orbignyi, was observed to produce fewer eggs of larger size. Across all parasite types (intraspecific), there was a statistically significant negative correlation between egg number and egg volume (p < 0.05). Buccal parasites were observed to have the highest percentage of marsupium volume relative to body volume, indicating a strategy to maximize egg storage. Conversely, external body surface-attaching parasites had the lowest percentage, possibly reflecting adaptation to a different reproductive environment. Additional observations revealed anatomical adaptations in all the studied isopod species which include the shift of the alimentary canal to the dorsal side to accommodate the development of the marsupial sac for egg incubation. In summary, these findings illustrate how parasitic isopods of the family Cymothoidae manage trade-offs between reproductive potential and success, crucial for their species' continuity and survival strategies in coastal ecosystems.

Hippocampal fimbria atrophy and its mediating effect between cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment

We aimed to investigate the relationship between the volume reduction in hippocampal (HP) subregions and cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Clinical, cognitive, and magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained for 315 participants. The CSVD group included 146 participants with a total CSVD score of 1–4. 169 participants with a total CSVD score of zero were used as control group (CSVD-0). The volume differences of 19 HP subregions between CSVD and CSVD–0 groups were analyzed, and we investigated the hazard factors that might cause subregional volume reduction in HP. Mediation analysis was performed to detect the relationship among HP subregional volumes, CSVD burden, and cognitive function. In our results, significant differences can be found in the volumes of CA4 body, presubiculum–head, presubiculum–body, subiculum–body, GC–ML–DG–head, GC–ML–DG–body, fimbria, and HP tail between CSVD group and control group. Regression analysis showed that fimbria was the most impacted HP subregion by CSVD. And mediation analysis revealed fimbria volume was a mediator variable between total CSVD score and MoCA/SCWT score. These results suggest that the volumes of HP subregions, especially the fimbria, may be effective potential biomarkers for early detecting cognitive impairment in CSVD.

Optimisation of Beam Member Loading

Introduction. The I-beams are deemed to have the highest load-bearing capacity. However, in practice, due to wide spreading and affordability of pipe-rolling products, the tubular beams are being used quite often. The load-bearing capacity of these beams should be compared under the condition of their equal mass per running meter. An I-beam according to the GOST R 57837-2017 with the mass of running meter equal to 194 kg and a pipe according to the GOST 33228-2015 with the mass of 194 kg/m have been compared. The load-bearing capacity of an I-beam was almost twice as high as that of a tubular beam. The data about the concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) beams, including the ones with the prestressed concrete core at the bottom, is also provided. In such beams, a steel pipe works as an external reinforcement — exo-reinforcement. The load-bearing capacity of the CFST beams is quite considerable taking into account their low cost and good processability. The present research aims at increasing the load-bearing capacity of the tubular beams, which will expand the range of the construction products.Materials and Methods. The geometric optimisation and mental experiment methods have been used. The idea of using the fluid filling material for a tubular beam is based on the well-known property of fluid — its almost complete incompressibility. The maximum volume of a geometric long body with the rectilinear generatrix of lateral surface (for a given lateral surface) is reached if its cross-section has the shape of a circle, which corresponds to a round pipe.Results. A tubular beam with the fluid filling material (a hydraulic beam) is a round pipe blanked off at both ends, completely filled with fluid (without air pockets). When a hydraulic beam is loaded, its lateral surface tends to deform. Consequently, the internal volume of the pipe tends to decrease. However, since fluid is incompressible, its volume doesn’t decrease, which, in turn, prevents the pipe from deformation.Discussion and Conclusion. In a hydraulic beam, due to fluid, the entire load is distributed relatively evenly over the whole internal surface of a beam. The load-bearing capacity of a hydraulic beam has been estimated, which is five times higher than that of an I-beam and ten times higher than that of a tubular beam.

Anti-tumor property of Argemone mexicana leaves methanol extracts against 7, 12- Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced mammary tumors in experimental rats

Background: Breast cancer is a complex and multistage process. Many natural compounds are available for an effective and efficient alternative method against breast cancer. This study focused on the anti-cancer activity of Argemone mexicana leaf extract on Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors in experimental rats. Materials and Methods: Argemone mexicana Leaves (AML) were collected, extracted by soxhlet apparatus with methanol solvent, and analyzed by Gas Chromatography and Mass-Spectroscopy (GCMS). Healthy Female Sprague-Dawley rats (7-8 weeks and 100 ± 20 g) were divided in five groups and used to induce mammary tumors by DMBA [25 mg/kg/ Subcutaneous (s.c.)]. After developing a palpable nodule (10-12 weeks after DMBA), the rats were treated with AML extract [200 and 400 mg/kg/Body Weight (b.w.)] and Tamoxifen (TAM 10 mg/kg) orally for 12 weeks. Body weight, tumor weight and volume measurements, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant and tumor marker [Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)] levels, and histological investigations were assessed. Results: Following AML treatment, there was a reduction in weight and volume (P&lt; 0.01) of breast tumor, as well as a significant decrease in levels of lipid peroxidation and tumor marker CEA (P &lt; 0.001) and improved Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Reduced glutathione (GSH), and caspase levels (P &lt; 0.001). In cytological results, AML improved the cellular architecture, and significant restoration in histopathological examinations revealed a tumor with minimal glandular epithelium proliferation, a decrease in mitotic figures, and nuclear alterations. Conclusion: The study suggests that AML extract has a chemoprotective effect against DMBA-induced mammary tumors in experimental animals, specifying its possibility as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.

The hormonal status of male combatants depending on the volume of body wounding

The hormonal status of male combatants depending on the volume of body wounding

Large-scale penetration model tests of bucket foundations of different structural types in clay

Clarifying penetration characteristics and accurately predicting penetration resistance of bucket foundations is crucial to ensure their smooth penetration. This study performed large-scale model tests on nearshore seven-compartment (SC) bucket foundations and novel deep-sea five-connected (FC) bucket foundations to systematically explore the penetration attitude, development of soil plugs, flow rates, bucket-soil interactions, and required suction of these two structures in clay. The good penetrability was identified for the new FC bucket foundation. The development of soil plugs due to bucket wall replacement as well as the mechanism of drag reduction of the inner wall and bucket end were revealed. The experiments demonstrated that the penetration flow rate was almost equal to the volume of bucket body entering the soil and accounted for approximately 95% of the total flow rate. A formula for calculating penetration resistance in clay that considers the effect of suction on the reduction in resistance of the inner wall and bucket end was proposed and validated by field tests. The research results improve the safety of bucket foundation penetration in clay and provide significant guidance for the installation of deep-sea FC bucket foundations.

Alterations of Liver Morphology in Senescent Rats.

Age-related liver changes can have important implications for health and metabolic function. This study aimed to describe the morphoquantitative alterations of the liver in senescent rats compared to adult rats. Twelve male rats were used, divided into 6-month-old adults (group A) and 36-month-old senescent rats (group S). Morphometric and histopathological studies, quantification of collagen types I and III, and stereological analyses were performed to determine the volume density of mononucleated (VvhepM) and binucleated (VvhepB) hepatocyte nuclei, surface area density (SvhepM), and number density (NvhepM) of mononucleated hepatocyte nuclei. The findings reveal an alteration of the normal liver tissue architecture in senescent rats and the presence of inflammatory lesions and fibrosis. In addition, there was a decrease in body and liver mass and volume. Group S showed a significant reduction in VvhepM and NvhepM; however, SvhepM was significantly higher. No significant differences were noted in the percentage of binucleated hepatocytes between the two groups. This study reveals substantial morphological changes in the aging liver, with possible functional implications. More research is needed on the underlying mechanisms and their consequences at older ages.

Aloperine protects the testis against testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Testicular torsion/detorsion can cause testis loss and infertility. Aloperine is a major active alkaloid extracted from Sophora alopecuroides Linn. It has been shown to have organ-protective effects. However, the effects of aloperine on the testis and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effect of aloperine on testicular torsion/detorsion injury in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the sham-operated (sham), testicular I/R (TI/R), or aloperine preconditioning (ALOPre) or postconditioning (ALOPost) groups. All rats except for the sham-operated rats were subjected to 3h of right spermatic cord torsion (720°, clockwise), followed by 3h of detorsion. Aloperine (10mg/kg) was intravenously administered before testicular torsion (ALOPre) or at the onset of testicular detorsion (ALOPost). The therapeutic efficacy of aloperine was evaluated by histological analysis, oxidative stress evaluation, inflammatory response examination, apoptosis analysis, protein analysis, and immunohistological assessment. Compared with TI/R, aloperine protected both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes against unilateral testicular I/R, as evidenced by a reduced testicular weight to body weight (TW/BW) ratio (ALOPre: p=0.0037; ALOPost: p=0.0021) and volume (ALOPre: p=0.0020; ALOPost: p=0.0009), less structural damage with better Johnsen (ALOPre: p=0.0013; ALOPost: p=0.0021), and Cosentino scores (ALOPre: p<0.0001; ALOPost: p<0.0001), increased mean seminiferous tubule diameter and mean seminiferous tubule epithelial height, decreased testicular apoptosis, and less oxidative stress and inflammatory response. In addition, aloperine significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 in the ipsilateral testes following detorsion. Administration of Ag490 suppressed STAT-3 phosphorylation, thereby abrogating the protective effects exerted by aloperine on the ipsilateral testis. Aloperine has a strong testicular protective effect on the ipsilateral and contralateral testes after testicular torsion/detorsion. This aloperine-induced ipsilateral testicular protection is mediated via the STAT-3 signaling pathway.

Effectiveness of Structured teaching program on Knowledge and Practice of Blood and Blood components Transfusion among Staff Nurses

Background: Blood is a collection of cells that have been specialized to perform a set oftasks within an organism. It is described as the fluid connective tissue that carriesoxygen and nutrients to the body. It is straw in colour, the average volume of blood inthe human body is 5 litres generally, the PH of blood is 7.4, which is slightly alkaline. The blood comprises 8% of our total body weight. It is composed of plasma, about 55% and 45% cells, respectively. Blood transfusion is when apatient receives a blood product through an intravenous line or the introduction of newmatching blood into the bloodstream or/and of any specific blood components. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of a structured teaching programme on blood and blood components among staff nurses. Methods: 50 Staff nurses were selected by a non-probabilityconvenient sampling technique. Quasi-experimental design with one grouppre-test and post-test design was used. The tools used to collect the data consisted of a structuredknowledge questionnaireand structured practice scale on blood and blood component transfusion. The reliability was checked using test-retest method showed that the tools were highly reliable. Results: The good knowledge score was increased from pretest (12%) to posttest (32%). Moderate practice score was increased from pretest (50%) to posttest (78%). There was a significant difference (p&lt;0.05) between mean pretest knowledge and practice scores with mean post test knowledge and practice scores. So, the structured teaching program was effective in improving the knowledge and practice of staff nurses regarding blood and blood components. The Chi-square test showed that there was a significant association with knowledge and gender, practice and marital status, education. The other variables are not showing association. Conclusion: The findings revealed thatstaff nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding bloodand blood components transfusion wasimproved after the teaching program.

A Practical Approach for Estimating Drag Increase due to Volume Increase in the Center Body of a High-Speed UAV

High-speed unmanned aerial vehicles are used for many purposes in aviation. High-speed aircraft do not only fly at supersonic speed, but their subsonic flight performance is also important. Aircraft design is an iterative process in which many disciplines work together. The design process is updated by the negotiation of different disciplines. There may be a demand for a body volume increase in the interior design process. The increase in volume can be achieved by the elongation or expansion of the body. A volume increase in the center body causes an increase in drag. The aim of this study is to predict the effect of the elongation or expansion of the center body on drag in a practical way. It is investigated using a structure proposed with MATLAB and DATCOM. The results in both subsonic and supersonic regimes are formalized separately and compared. It is shown that in case of providing the same volume increase in both subsonic and supersonic regimes, the elongation of the aircraft center body causes less drag compared to widening.

Effect of body contour changes on the setup and dosimetric accuracy of radiotherapy after cervical cancer surgery.

The body contour of patients with cervical cancer is prone to change between radiotherapy sessions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of body contour changes on the setup and dosimetric accuracy of radiotherapy. 15 patients with cervical cancer after surgery were randomly selected for retrospective analysis. The body contours on the once-per-week cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) were registered to the planning CT (pCT) for subsequent evaluation. A body contour conformity index (CIbody) was defined to quantify the variation of body changes. The body volume measured by CBCT was collected, and its relative difference in reference with the first CBCT was calculated and denoted by ΔVn. The relative setup errors, denoted by ΔSELR, ΔSEAP, ΔSESI, and ΔSEvec for left-right, anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and vectorial shifts, respectively, were defined as the difference in measured setup errors between the reference and following CBCTs. The planned dose was calculated on the basis of virtual CT generated from CBCT and pCT by altering the CT body contour to fit the body on CBCT without deformable registration. The correlations between body contour changes and relative setup errors as well as dosimetric parameters were evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient rs . CIbody was found to be negatively correlated with the superior-inferior and vectorial relative setup errors ΔSESI (rs = -0.448, p = 0.001) and ΔSEvec (rs = -0.387, p = 0.002), and no significant correlation was found between relative setup errors and ΔVn. Moreover, ΔVn was negatively correlated with ΔD2 (rs = -0.829, p < 0.001), ΔD98 (rs = -0.797, p < 0.001), and ΔTVPIV (rs = -0.819, p < 0.001). ΔD2, ΔD98, and ΔTVPIV were negatively correlated with ΔVn (p < 0.005). No correlation was found for other examined dosimetric parameters. The body contour change of patients could be associated with the setup variability. The effect of body contour changes on dose distribution is minimal. The extent of body change could be used as a metric for radiation therapists to estimate the setup errors.

Stereologically adapted Crofton formulae for tensor valuations

The classical Crofton formula explains how intrinsic volumes of a convex body K in n-dimensional Euclidean space can be obtained from integrating a measurement function at sections of K with invariantly moved affine flats. We generalize this idea by constructing stereologically adapted Crofton formulae for translation invariant Minkowski tensors, expressing a prescribed tensor valuation as an invariant integral of a measurement function of section profiles with flats. The measurement functions are weighed sums of powers of the metric tensor times Minkowski valuations. The weights are determined explicitly from known Crofton formulae using Zeilberger's algorithm. The main result is an exhaustive set of measurement functions where the invariant integration is over flats.With the main result at hand, a Blaschke-Petkantschin formula allows us to establish new measurement functions valid when the invariant integration over flats is replaced by an invariant integration over subspaces containing a fixed subspace of lower dimension. Likewise, a stereologically adapted Crofton formula valid in the scheme of vertical sections is constructed. Only some special cases of this result have been stated explicitly before, with even the three-dimensional case yielding a new stereological formula. Here, we obtain new vertical section formulae for the surface tensors of even rank.

A 3D-CT Study of the Cortical Bone Trajectory Screw Placement Parameters Based on Lumbar CT.

The cortical bone trajectory (CBT) technology is an effective substitute for traditional pedicle screw (PS) technology. However, there is still controversy about the CBT screw technology placement strategy. The objective of this study was to simulate cortical screw placement with the help of three-dimensional (3D) software, to discuss the differences in screws between genders and vertebral segments, and to explore a safer and more efficient strategy for cortical screw placement. Mimics Medical software was used to construct a 3D model of the lumbar spine, and the placement of CBT screws was simulated. The volume of each vertebral body from L1 to L5, the pedicle isthmus height (IH), the pedicle isthmus width (IW), and the sagittal vertebral distance (SAVD) were measured. The transverse distance (TD) and the longitudinal distance (LD) between the ideal starting point (SP) and the clinical SP (the intersection Q of the midline of the superior articular process and the horizontal line 1 mm below the transverse process) were measured. The cephalad angle (CA), lateral angle (LA), maximum screw diameter (MSD), maximum screw length (MSL) of each trajectory of the L1 to L5 vertebral bodies, and the percentage of the screw insertion depth (PSID) into the vertebral body were measured. Data were statistically analyzed using Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's test. Vertebral anatomical parameters and CBT screw parameters differed between males and females. Female patients had lower IH, IW, SAVD, CA, LA, MSD, and MSL than males. IH was greatest in L1 (male, 17.81 mm; female, 16.12 mm) and the smallest in L5 (male, 14.11 mm; female, 13.05 mm). IW was smallest in L1 (male, 8.89 mm; female, 7.37 mm) and greatest in L5 (male, 16.59 mm; female, 15.43 mm). The MSD of males was smallest in L1 (6.05 mm) and greatest in L3 (7.06 mm); the MSD of females was smallest in L1 (5.13 mm) and greatest in L4 (6.64 mm). MSL was greatest at L3 (male, 33.63 mm; female, 32.28 mm) and smallest at L5 (male, 31.25 mm; female, 29.97 mm). CA was smallest in L1 (male, 22.80°; female, 21.92°) and greatest in L3 (male, 25.29°; female, 24.33°). LA was smallest in L1 (male 12.37°, female 11.27°) and greatest in L5 (male 13.56°, female 12.96°). Among the males, TD was smallest at L1 (-0.51 mm) and greatest at L5 (1.37 mm), while LD was greatest at L2 (3.46 mm) and smallest at L5 (2.40 mm). In females, TD was greatest at L1 (0.12 mm) and smallest at L3 (-0.51 mm), while LD was greatest at L1 (3.69 mm) and smallest at L5 (2.08 mm). In the overall sample, the incidence of SAVD and PSID gradually increased from L1 to L5. The optimal screw placement strategy for CBT screws varies significantly according to sex and vertebral body segments, particularly noting the specificity of screw placement at L5. The optimal screw placement strategy should be selected based on the patient's sex and segment characteristics before surgery to maximize the safety and accuracy of CBT screw placement.

Objective Sleep Function is Associated with Hippocampal Subfield Volumes in Community-Dwelling Adults.

Sleep patterns often shift as people age, a phenomenon frequently associated with the onset of neurodegenerative conditions. Additionally, distinct alterations occur in brain structure as individuals grow older, particularly within the hippocampus, a region known for its role in cognition and sleep regulation. Yet, how exactly do changes in sleep relate to specific subfields within the hippocampus is still unclear. We conducted a study involving non-demented healthy adults from the Aiginition Longitudinal Biomarker Investigation Of Neurodegeneration (ALBION) cohort. Participants underwent objective sleep measurements using wrist Actiwatch and WatchPAT devices. Further, all participants underwent the same Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) protocol, including a 3D high resolution T1-weighted sequence, on the same 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner using an eight-channel head coil. The study aimed to examine the relationship between objectively measured sleep metrics and the morphology of twenty-two distinct hippocampal subregions. In total, 75 non-demented participants with 63 mean years of age were included in the study. Results indicated that a higher frequency of awakenings during sleep was associated with increased volume in the right presubiculum body (beta = 0.630, p False Discovery Rate (FDR) <0.036). Longer sleep duration showed a tendency to be associated with smaller volumes of the right presubiculum body, hinting at a possible negative impact of prolonged sleep on this brain region. Similar trends were observed regarding sleep apnea and the presubiculum body volume. Further analysis based on age stratification revealed that in younger participants, longer sleep duration was linked to decreased volume of the presubiculum body, while a greater number of awakenings was correlated with increased volume of the same region. Among older participants, higher frequencies of awakenings were associated with larger volumes in various hippocampal subfields. These findings shed light on the complex relationship between sleep characteristics and brain structure, highlighting potential age-related differences. The study provides valuable insights into how sleep disruptions may impact hippocampal morphology and cognitive function of cognitively healthy adults. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

Minibrain plays a role in the adult brain development of honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers.

The brain of adult honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers is larger than that of queens, facilitating behavioural differentiation between the castes. This brain diphenism develops during the pharate-adult stage and is driven by a caste-specific gene expression cascade in response to unique hormonal milieus. Previous molecular screening identified minibrain (mnb; DYRK1A) as a potential regulator in this process. Here, we used RNAi approach to reduce mnb transcript levels and test its role on brain diphenism development in honeybees. White-eyed unpigmented cuticle worker pupae were injected with dsRNA for mnb (Mnb-i) or gfp, and their phenotypes were assessed two and 8 days later using classic histological and transcriptomic analyses. After 2 days of the injections, Mnb-i bees showed 98% of downregulation of mnb transcripts. After 8 days, the brain of Mnb-i bees showed reduction in total volume and in the volume of the mushroom bodies (MB), antennal, and optic lobes. Additionally, signs of apoptosis were observed in the Kenyon cells region of the MB, and the cohesion of the brain tissues was affected. Our transcriptomic analyses revealed that 226 genes were affected by the knockdown of mnb transcripts, most of which allowing axonal fasciculation. These results suggest the evolutionary conserved mnb gene has been co-opted for promoting hormone-mediated developmental brain morphological plasticity generating caste diphenism in honeybees.