Image Processing Software Research Articles

In vivo quantitative assessment of proximal femoral cortical bone microstructure using double-echo ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging.

Quantitative assessment of cortical bone microstructure is crucial for the evaluation of osteoporosis, yet current clinical methods such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) have many limitations. The in vivo quantitative assessment without radiation can be achieved by ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where double-echo UTE has high clinical feasibility. However, related studies have mainly focused on distal extremities, and there is a lack of in vivo studies on the proximal femur. This cross-sectional study, as a preliminary study for in vivo quantitative assessment of proximal femoral cortical bone in healthy adults by double-echo UTE MRI, aimed to evaluate the repeatability and explore the impact of potential influencing factors on UTE measurements, thereby providing a reference for the further clinical application of this technique. Healthy volunteers without osteoporosis risk factors were enrolled and underwent double-echo UTE MRI of the proximal femur. Porosity index (PI) and cortical bone thickness (CbTh) were obtained manually by two radiologists independently on double-echo UTE images using image processing software. Repeatability of PI and CbTh measurements were evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. PI and CbTh of different limbs and sexes were compared, and P<0.05 indicated statistical significance for these analyses. Correlations of PI and CbTh with age and body mass index (BMI) were assessed by Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient as well as the partial Pearson correlation coefficient. Curve estimation was used to assess non-monotonic variable correlations in scatterplots. For these analyses, P<0.025 indicated statistical significance according to the Bonferroni correction. A total of 52 healthy cases (33 males, 19 females) aged 22-55 years were included for analysis, where no statistical difference in age was found between sexes (P=0.586) and BMI of males was greater than that of females (P=0.007). The repeatability of PI and CbTh measurements was excellent (ICC 0.985 and 0.943, respectively). The proximal femoral cortical PI was greater on the non-dominant side (P<0.001). PI was greater in males than in females (non-dominant: P<0.001, dominant: P=0.032) and CbTh was greater on the non-dominant side in males than in females (P=0.036) after excluding the effect of confounding factor (BMI). PI on the dominant side was positively correlated with BMI in males (r=0.535, P=0.001), and CbTh on the non-dominant side was positively correlated with BMI in males (r=0.482, P=0.005). There was a U-shaped curve trend between dominant side cortical PI and age in females (y = 65.32 - 1.88x + 0.02x2, R2=0.348, P=0.033), although there was no statistical significance after Bonferroni correction. Double-echo UTE MRI enables in vivo quantitative assessment of proximal femoral cortical microarchitecture with excellent repeatability. We identified the effects of limb dominance, sex, age, and BMI on UTE measurements in healthy adults, which can serve as a reference for future in vivo studies on proximal femoral cortical bone and is essential before clinical application.

Hematoma surface irregularity predicts postoperative rebleeding and poor drainage in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage following minimally invasive surgery: a retrospective cohort study at a high-volume stroke center.

The surface regularity index (SRI) reflects hematoma surface regularity in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Studies had reported an association between hematoma surface irregularity and hematoma expansion (HE). However, research on the correlation between the SRI and clinical outcomes in ICH patients following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is limited. This study aimed to investigate the ability of the SRI to predict rebleeding and poor drainage in patients with spontaneous ICH following MIS. The data of patients with ICH who underwent MIS between January 2021 to September 2022 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, a high-volume stroke center, were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical, radiological, and surgical characteristics of the patients were systematically reviewed. The hematoma were segmented and constructed, and the SRI scores were estimated using image-processing software [three-dimensional (3D) Slicer] based on preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify potential predictors for post-MIS rebleeding and poor drainage (defined as a residual hematoma >15 mL). A total of 151 ICH patients were included in the study, of whom 28 (18.5%) experienced post-MIS rebleeding, and 75 (49.7%) had poor drainage. The SRI was found to be independently associated with rebleeding [odds ratio (OR): 0.926, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.891-0.963; P<0.001] and poor drainage (OR: 0.912, 95% CI: 0.882-0.944; P<0.001) after adjusting for confounders in the logistic regression. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the SRI in predicting postoperative rebleeding was 0.765 (the cut-off point, sensitivity, and specificity were 44.980, 66.7%, and 82.1%, respectively), and that for poor drainage was 0.809 (the cut-off point, sensitivity, and specificity were 53.462, 61.8%, and 89.3%, respectively). The hematoma SRI is an independent indicator of postoperative rebleeding and poor drainage in ICH patients following MIS.

Influence of Bone Defects After Endoscope-Assisted Suturectomy on Monobloc Advancement in Syndromic Bilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis Patients.

Surgery is performed for craniosynostosis to enlarge intracranial volume and improve cranial morphology. Endoscope-assisted suturectomy is one of the effective treatments. Compared with other techniques, it is reported to be low invasive and enables improvement of cranial volume and morphology at an early age. At the National Center for Child Health and Development (Tokyo, Japan), endoscope-assisted suturectomy is performed for all patients with craniosynostosis under the age of 3 months. Bone defects are sometimes observed several years after endoscope-assisted suturectomy. In syndromic bilateral coronal craniosynostosis patients in whom fused coronal sutures are removed, bone defects often remain in the temporal region. These may cause difficulty in setting the osteotomy line and placing distraction device for later monobloc advancement. In the present study, syndromic bilateral coronal craniosynostosis patients who underwent endoscope-assisted suturectomy between 2017 and 2022 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed to investigate residual bone defects after the operation. As monobloc advancement, tongue-in-groove technique and placing internal distractors were assumed, and cranial bone defects between the ages of 3 and 5 years were evaluated in 3D by using image processing software. Five patients were included, and in 2 patients, the bone defects in the temporal regions were deemed large enough to interfere with making the bandeau or restrict the use of internal distractors for monobloc advancement. When performing suturectomy for syndromic craniosynostosis patients with midfacial concavity, careful surgical strategies that take into account future monobloc advancement should be considered.

Three-dimensional evaluation of maxillofacial symmetry improvement following orthognathic surgery in patients with asymmetrical jaw deformities.

The aim of this study was to clarify the three-dimensional changes in maxillofacial morphology following orthognathic surgery using 3D-CT in patients with asymmetrical jaw deformities. The subjects were 30 patients with asymmetrical jaw deformities. Three-dimensional images taken preoperatively and 6months postoperatively were re-aligned using image processing software with the horizontal plane, coronal plane, and midsagittal plane as reference axes. Thirty-nine measurements including 28 distances, nine angles, and two volumes were recorded, and differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements and percentage differences between paired measurements on the deviated and unevolved sides were calculated. Translational and rotational movements of the maxillary dentition and mandibular body and the mandibular ramus internally rotating contributed to improved symmetry of the maxillofacial morphology, but the degree and proportion of these changes varied from case to case and mild asymmetry remained even after surgery. 3D-CT analysis of maxillofacial morphology is essential to accurately evaluate the asymmetry of hard and soft tissue morphology in the maxillofacial region and the degree of improvement after orthognathic surgery, and the tooth movement during preoperative orthodontic treatment should be determined taking into account the movement of the upper and lower jaws during orthognathic surgery.

Internal adaptation assessment of implant infrastructures manufactured through five different techniques (heat-press, milling, lost wax, calcinable cylinder, and CAD/Waxx®): an in vitro pilot study

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the fit performance of implant infrastructures manufactured by five different techniques: heat-press (IPS), milling (ZIR), lost wax (CER), calcinable cylinder (CAL), and CAD/Waxx® (CAD).MethodsThe methodology was based on the Replica Technique, which can simulate and evaluate the fit of the infrastructure on the implant component. Thus, each infrastructure was internally filled with low-viscosity silicone addition and seated on the component until its final setting, obtaining the replica of the cementation space. After removing the coping containing the silicone film, light-density silicone was inserted addition in place of the components, and in its surroundings, condensation silicone was applied, establishing support for the assembly. The joint was sectioned mesiodistally, photographed, and analyzed in image processing software in order to measure the thickness of the interface infrastructure/implant at five different areas: marginal opening (M), gingival-axial angle (G-A), axial region (A), axial-occlusal angle (A-O) and occlusal surface (O).ResultsThe lowest and the highest average thickness between groups was, respectively, IPS: 187.5 μm and CAD: 221.6 μm, with statistically significant differences (p &amp;lt; 0.01) among all five groups; the lowest and the highest average of all groups in each point was, respectively, A: 99.86 μm and O: 279.78 μm. The IPS group exhibited the lowest value of the internal space of the infrastructure on the implant. The marginal region of all groups demonstrated a correlation with the findings in the literature, except the CAL group; otherwise, the occlusal region and the angles A-O and G-A exhibited values beyond that expected.DiscussionIt was possible to conclude that the five infrastructure groups presented different adaptations, suggesting possible interference in the internal spaces due to the manufacturing infrastructure processes.

A Parametric Study on the Stability, Geometry and Hardness of AISI 308LSi WAAM-GMAW

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has been established to be an efficient and cost-effective additive manufacturing technique for fabricating functional metallic parts from scratch. However, there is need to determine optimal processing condition for each material system to produce high-quality parts. In this work, a parametric study of WAAM of AISI 308LSi was performed to determine the processing condition(s) at which single tracks of high dimensional accuracy, excellent geometry, no visible crack and pore, and high hardness required for high-quality multi-track deposition can be achieved. The track geometries were investigated using a combination of optical microscopy and image processing software. The microstructure and hardness of the deposited single tracks were examined using optical microscopy and Vickers hardness tester respectively. A process map predicting the process stability of WAAM of AISI 308LSi was developed within a process window. Continuous single tracks of high dimensional accuracy were produced from a stable deposition process. The process becomes unstable whenever the wire deposition volume per unit length of track is in excess of the available heat energy per unit length of track. The wire feed rate and traverse speed significantly influence the stability and geometry of the single tracks. The processing conditions at which single tracks of low wetting angle (&lt;90◦), high aspect ratio (&gt;1.5), high surface quality, and high hardness (close to the as-received material) can be deposited were determined. These processing conditions were considered suitable for the fabrication, surface modification and repair of functional engineering parts made of 308LSi stainless steel.

Dynamic visualization study of in situ cleaning of polystyrene microparticles off silicon wafer surface

With the improvement of chip performance, the requirements for cleaning the surface of silicon wafers are becoming higher. However, due to equipment and technology, it is difficult to observe the complex motion processes of particles at the microscopic scale. In this paper, an in situ dynamic visualization experiment on the cleaning of Polystyrene Latex (PSL) on the surface of silicon wafers is carried out by using a high-speed camera and image processing software. The mechanical behavior of PSL particles in fluid was investigated on a microscopic scale, and the trajectory and force of the polystyrene particles on the surface of the wafers were visualized, which provided a new perspective for understanding the complex cleaning process. Theoretical models were developed to explain the motion characteristics of the particles by calculating parameters such as van der Waals force, surface tension, and trailing force, and these models provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the cleaning process. There are four particle motion modes in the fluid: (1) interface capture, where the particles on the surface of silicon wafer are trapped by gas–liquid interface under surface tension; (2) particle collision, where the particles captured by the water film collide with the particles on the wafer surface to make the latter leave the silicon wafer; (3) jump attachment, where the particles jump and attach to the surface of the particle group under the action of lift; and (4) wall surface movement, where the particles start up under the action of water flow and then leave the silicon wafer quickly.

Innovative Endodontic Management of Pulp Canal Obliteration in Mandibular Incisors Using a Static Navigation System: A Case Report.

The present case report aims to describe the successful management of pulp canal obliteration (PCO) in mandibular incisors using static-guided endodontics. A healthy 74-year-old man was referred by a prosthodontist for root canal treatment on teeth #31, #32, and #41. Periapical radiographs revealed the presence of periapical lesions as well as PCOs in teeth #31 and #41. After cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) evaluation, guided endodontics was selected as the treatment approach. The intraoral scan of the lower jaw and CBCT datasets were aligned and processed through image processing software to design and create a 3D-printed guide. A virtual drill was superimposed on the scans to ensure proper access to the identified root canals. Finally, the virtually designed guide was printed using a 3D printer and accurately positioned on the teeth. The access cavities were prepared using a Munce Discovery bur. After detecting the canals, the working length was determined. Root canal preparation was performed using rotary files up to F2, followed by obturation with gutta-percha and a bioceramic sealer. After a six-month follow-up, the teeth remained completely asymptomatic and functional, and the periapical radiograph showed a normal periodontal ligament space, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment. These results indicate that static-guided endodontics can be an effective and predictable approach for managing PCO in mandibular incisors with some consideration. Furthermore, these results highlight the clinical implications of this approach, particularly in elderly patients or teeth with severe obliterations.

Characterizing disintegrated dolomite pore structure and seepage: CT scanning and numerical approach

Disintegrated dolomite slope and tunnel disasters occur frequently due to poor water stability of disintegrated dolomite, primarily in a form of seepage failure. For engineering purposes, it is critical to determine the seepage properties of disintegrated dolomite within the strata. However, conventional experimental methods are time-consuming and expensive and may not be effective in investigating seepage characteristics due to the heterogeneity of disintegrated dolomite. In this study, pore network model (PNM) was established by the computerized tomography (CT) scanning technology to characterize the pores. Meanwhile, the seepage and coefficient of permeability under different inlet stress conditions based on the accurate pore model were realized by linking the commercial image processing software Avizo with the commercial multi-physics modeling package Comsol. The results show that the porosities of severely and completely disintegrated dolomites are 29.17% and 45.37%, respectively. The grade of pore development increases with disintegration grade, which facilitates seepage failure. Severely and completely disintegrated dolomites have the coefficients of permeability of 9.67 × 10-7 m/s and 1.61 × 10-6 m/s, respectively. Under conventional conditions, severely and completely disintegrated dolomites undergo seepage failure above a pressure difference of 6 × 103 Pa and 5 × 103 Pa, respectively. These results are consistent with both in situ water pressure tests in the borehole and laboratory tests with the constant-head method, demonstrating that CT scanning is an effective method for observing fractures and pores in disintegrated dolomite for seepage evaluation.

Peripapillary and subfoveal choroidal vascular index in patients with tension-type headache and migraine.

This study aimed to evaluate the choroidal vascular characteristics of patients followed up with different headache diagnoses. Prospective comparative study. This study included 21 patients with migraine with visual aura (MwA), 20 with migraine without aura, 29 patients experiencing episodic tension-type headache, and 30 healthy participants. The participants was performed refraction values, axial length, and intraocular pressure were examined. Choroidal thickness was determined in all participants with HD-line optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the subfoveal, nasal, and temporal quadrants 500 µm from the fovea. Using special image processing software, luminal area (LA), stromal area, total choroidal area, and choroidal vascular index (CVI) values were calculated in both macular and peripapillary regions. OCT was also used to perform peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and optic disc head measurements. Spherical refraction, axial length, and intraocular pressure values did not significantly differ among the four groups with similar gender and age distributions ( P > 0.05). The LA values in both macular and peripapillary regions were found to be statistically significantly lower in the MwA group ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.005, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of the remaining choroidal area parameters or CVI values ( P > 0.05). The groups also did not show any significant difference in the pRNFL or optic disc head measurements performed in different quadrants ( P > 0.05). While LA, one of the choroidal vascular parameters, was found to be lower in the MwA group in both the macular and peripapillary regions, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of the peripapillary or macular CVI values.

Bio-inspired Design and Performance Evaluation of Lawnmower Cutter Blade

This study presents a bio-inspired design approach for the engineering applications of agricultural implements, with practical implications for the field. The CAD modeling of bio-inspired serrated lawnmower cutter blades was followed by structural and fatigue analysis with a comparative evaluation of the performance of conventional plain cutter blades. This method involved the bionic transformation of a biological model of the serrated leg of the grasshopper, traced using MATLAB edge detection and image processing software. The solid modeling CAD software for the Bionic Blade lawnmower cutter blade converts this biological model into an engineering model. After designing the geometric shape of the bionic tooth profile's serrated cutting edge, the boundary conditions are evaluated for numerical simulation based on the machine specifications of the conventional lawnmower cutter. After analyzing the power of the motor, the rotational speed, and the torque, the static structural and fatigue analysis was carried out in numerical simulation software to synthesize the performance of the bionic lawnmower cutter blade for engineering analysis of deformation, shear stress, and fatigue life. The bionic design of the blade and conventional plain blades were manufactured using an Amada CO2 laser cutting machine and sheet metal bending processes for Stainless Steel (SS 304) material. The experimental validation of software simulation was carried out by field trials using the Bionic design of a lawnmower cutter blade to evaluate the performance improvement in cutting time and yield of grass cut in kg for 60 to 100 meters distance cutting. After comparing the performance of the plain blade and the design of the bionic blade, there was a reduction in abrasive wear, a 12.87% improvement in the cutting time, and a 14.8% increase in the yield of grass compared to the conventional blade. This performance improvement was attributed to the unique bionic design of serrated cutting-edge and ground clearance. The bio-inspired design approach has immense practical applications in designing agricultural implements, as confirmed by this performance evaluation of this case study of bio-inspired lawnmower cutter blades.

A new free radical scavenger, resorcimoline, prevents ischaemia/reperfusion injury in the heart

Abstract Introduction Ischaemic heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Early coronary revascularisation is the most important treatment. Recent findings have revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to tissue damage following coronary artery revascularisation, known as ischaemia-reperfusion injury. In this study, we focused on resorcimoline, a new free radical scavenger that was generated during the synthesis of dimethylresveratrol and dimethylpiceatannol. Last year, we reported the scavenging activity in vitro against multiple ROS, confirmed by the electron spin resonance spectrometry (Ref. 1). Purpose This study aimed to assess the potential of resorcimoline as a novel therapeutic treatment for reducing the degree of infarction caused by myocardial ischaemia, by eliminating ROS generated during myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion. Methods Nine-to-eleven-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to acute myocardial ischaemia induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 minutes, followed by reperfusion for 24 hours. Rats received intravenous injections of resorcimoline at 6 mg/kg before coronary ligation or saline as a control (n = 9 vs. n = 8). The heart sections were double-stained with Evans blue 1% and triphenyltetrazolium chloride 1% to assess infarct area and area-at-risk. For immunohistochemical study, the other ischaemia/reperfusion models were treated with resorcimoline and saline (n = 7 vs. n = 7) as above, and the middle parts of the hearts were embedded in optimal cutting temperature compound and quickly frozen. In the H＆E-stained section, the infarct border zone was defined as a 2-mm band surrounding the necrosis area. Troponin I levels in serum were measured using ELISA. Primary cultured cardiomyocytes were treated with 10 μM angiotensin II for 3.5 hours and then exposed to resorcimoline for 30 minutes at an increasing dosage. A cellular ROS assay kit was used to assess the levels of ROS in the cardiomyocytes and the number of cells was counted with DAPI stain using an image processing software. Results Infarct size in resorcimoline-treated animals was significantly smaller than in control animals (41.8±19.4% vs. 60.8±12.9%, p=0.03, Fig. 1A) and area-at-risk was not significantly different (58.0±27.8% vs. 51.9±18.5%, p=0.61). Apoptotic cells in the border zone were significantly reduced in resorcimoline-treated animals (32.0±11.7% vs. 55.1±16.9%, p=0.01, Fig. 1B). Troponin I levels in resorcimoline-treated animals were significantly lower than in control animals (4524±3596 vs. 7856±4653, p=0.04, Fig. 1C). resorcimoline significantly reduced angiotensin II-induced ROS in cardiomyocytes in a concentration-dependent manner (Fig. 2A,B). Conclusion This novel compound, resorcimoline, can reduce infarct size induced by coronary ischaemia-reperfusion injury by reducing the ROS damage to myocardiocytes in the border zone and cellular ROS levels in cardiomyocytes.

Enhancing mechanical properties of 2024-Aluminium Alloy Matrix Composite strengthened by Y2O3 ceramic particles

The development of high-strength, low-weight composite materials has been a high-priority demand in the structural, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and sports equipment sectors. Micro-particle size Yttrium oxide (Y2O3) has been utilized to enhance the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of the 2024-Al alloy. The stir-casting technique is employed to prepare 2024-Al alloy and aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) with different Y2O3 weight fractions (1 %, 2 %, and 3 %). Scanning electron microscope ESM with EDS analysis and optical microscope imaging have been used to assess the development in the microstructure of AMCs. Furthermore, optical microscope images have been analyzed by using image processing software, ImageJ to evaluate development in microstructure grain size. Vickers' micro-hardness, tensile strength, elongation, and wear-resistant tests were conducted to assess the mechanical properties of AMCs. AMC image analysis results demonstrated a significant reduction in microstructure grain size. The highest reduction in grain size was recorded when adding 2 wt. % of Y2O3, which was approximately 22.5 % smaller than that of the plain alloy. Other mechanical test results demonstrated an increase in the hardness and tensile strength of AMCs compared with the plain alloy by approximately 58 % and 116 %, respectively, upon the addition of 2 wt. % of Y2O3, also tensile test shows increasing of AMCs elongation at failure point with increasing Y2O3 content, 132 % upon adding 3 wt. %. Finally, wear tests show a decrease in the AMC wear rate with an increasing Y2O3 weight fraction compared to the plain alloy.

Computer aided villi morphometric quantification in video-capsule enteroscopy: A newly developed software to quantify small bowel atrophy

Background and AimsSmall bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) has an established role in patients with non-responsive celiac disease (CeD). A non-invasive method to quantify small bowel atrophy is still lacking. MethodsWe analysed SBCE frames from CeD patients from 2018 to 2020. Histology was the reference standard, with atrophy defined as Marsh-Oberhuber score ≥ 3a. Three regions of interest (ROI) were blindly selected from each frame by an expert gastroenterologist and analysed using a National Institute of Health J image-processing software into a numerical scale. A 3D surface plot macro identified intestinal villi density through isolines plots. ResultsWe acquired 306 ROIs from 57 frames with macroscopic atrophy and 45 with normal mucosa. Frames were classified as atrophic (n = 63) or non-atrophic (n = 39) per Marsh-Oberhuber classification. Median density score significantly differed between atrophic and non-atrophic frames (p < 0.001). The morphometric analysis showed a sensitivity of 77 % and a specificity of 79 % in discriminating between atrophic or non-atrophic mucosa with a 14.10 cut-off (Youden Index) and an overall AUC of 0.805 (CI 95 % 0.712–0.897). ConclusionsOur newly developed SBCE software can effectively quantify villous atrophy. Further studies are needed to validate its applicability in an external cohort.

Detection and characterization of hole processing defects in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer

Abstract The defects of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) during the drilling process will affect the mechanical properties and service life of the components. We investigate the detection and characterization of delamination and burr defects after drilling CFRP. The drilling test was conducted on CFRP specimens, followed by image processing software to detect and extract the resulting defects. Subsequently, a more accurate two-dimensional quantitative characterization of the extracted delamination and burr defects was performed. Finally, by comprehensively considering the quality indexes of delamination and burr defects, a comprehensive evaluation factor that can fully reflect the hole-making defects is established to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for enhancing CFRP’s hole-making quality.

Which muscle is the external rotation compensator after superior capsular reconstruction?

BackgroundSuperior capsular reconstruction (SCR) is a surgical option for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears, particularly involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. In this procedure, the torn infraspinatus is not repaired or reconstructed. However, an improvement in postoperative external rotation (ER) angle and strength is observed. There is a lack of studies explaining how ER is restored after SCR. The aim of this study is to identify the ER compensator by assessing the muscle volume of the posterior deltoid and teres minor. MethodsSixty-eight patients with massive rotator cuff tears underwent SCR during 2016-2021. Of these patients, 28 who met the following inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed: (1) massive rotator cuff tears including the supraspinatus and infraspinatus; (2) severe muscle atrophy and fatty change; (3) intact or reparable subscapularis tendon; (4) Hamada of grade 3 or lower. Posterior deltoid and teres minor volume were measured by using an open-source medical image processing software preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. The percentage of the posterior deltoid and teres minor muscle volume change was compared between patients with 1-year postoperative ER manual motor testing (MMT) of grade 5 and of grade < 5. The relationship between grade of fatty change, percentage of the muscle volume change, and ER angle and strength were evaluated. ResultsThere was a significant increase in the 1-year postoperative teres minor volume compared with the preoperative volume (24.6±10.3 cm³ versus 20.9±8.3 cm³, p<0.000), while the posterior deltoid volume remained unchanged (178.1±48.3 cm³ versus 178.8±47 cm³). Patients with ER MMT of grade 5 had a greater teres minor volume compared to those with an ER MMT grade of less than 5 (22.3% versus 9.4%), although this difference was not significant (p=0.074, 95% CI=-1.3–27.0). The posterior deltoid volume showed no significant change. The percentage of teres minor volume change had a weak positive correlation with ER strength (r=0.308, p=0.055, 95% CI=-0.02–1.0). There was a significant negative correlation between ER strength and the severity of both preoperative and postoperative fatty changes in the teres minor (r=-0.258, p=0.065, 95% CI=-1.0–-0.042 and r=-0.323, p=0.028, 95% CI=-1.0–-0.113, respectively). The pre- and postoperative fatty changes in the teres minor were negatively correlated with the percentage of teres minor volume change (r=-0.298, p=0.062, 95% CI=-1.0–0.031 and r=-0.413, p=0.015, 95% CI=-1.0–-0.1, respectively). ConclusionThe teres minor may serve as a potential compensator for ER in patients with massive rotator cuff tears following SCR.

Effects of depressions and drainage systems on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merill) growth during the early growth stages under excess water stress conditions

ABSTRACT Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merill) productivity is severely compromised under conditions of excess water, particularly during the early growth stages. Depressions in converted paddy fields are believed to significantly contribute to excess water stress. Farmers typically use drainage systems, such as field ditches and pipe drains to improve field drainage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impacts of depressions and drainage systems on soybean growth during the early growth stages in farming fields. Using uncrewed aerial vehicles and imaging processing software, we observed the soybean coverage ratio at two and four weeks after sowing. We analyzed the relationship between the coverage ratio and depression depth, distance from field ditches, and distance from pipe drains. Depressions deeper than 2 cm were present in all study fields, and the coverage ratio increase from 2 to 4 weeks after sowing was negatively correlated with depression depth. Although the distance from pipe drains was negatively related to the coverage ratio increase, the distance from field ditches had a limited effect. The construction of pipe drains significantly improved the coverage ratio increase, particularly in areas with deep depressions and near pipe drains, by up to 23.0 times in this study. Therefore, constructing pipe drains near depressions is an effective way to mitigate the impact of depressions and excess water stress on soybean growth during the early stages. Our results will be useful for developing strategies to improve drainage and soybean growth during early growth stages.

Research on Pattern Generation and Innovative Design of Chinese Mongolian Embroidery based on AIGC Technology

This study aims to investigate the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the generation and innovation of Mongolian embroidery patterns. It seeks to address the limitations of traditional embroidery pattern design, which is often time- consuming and inefficient, and to enhance the market competitiveness of Mongolian embroidery products. A substantial corpus of Mongolian embroidery patterns has been assembled, and image processing software has been employed to enhance the processing. A generative adversarial network (GAN) and a variational self-encoder model are constructed to learn and train Mongolian embroidery patterns, with the objective of generating new patterns that exhibit a combination of traditional style and modern design concepts. The experimental results demonstrate that the Mongolian embroidery patterns generated by AIGC technology retain the defining characteristics of traditional patterns in terms of form, while also exhibiting a greater degree of diversification in design style through the creative generation of the model.

Cloud computing and spatial hydrology for monitoring the Buyo and Kossou reservoirs in Côte d'Ivoire

The Buyo and Kossou reservoirs are crucial for water supply, agricultural irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation in Côte d'Ivoire. However, climate change threatens the stability and availability of these water resources by increasing rainfall variability, extending drought periods, and intensifying extreme weather events. These challenges underscore the need for precise and continuous monitoring of water levels and surface areas to ensure sustainable management. Due to the scarcity of gauging stations, the objective of this study is to leverage cloud computing technologies along with altimetric and satellite data, for effective reservoir monitoring. Tools like the EO-Africa program's Innovation Lab and Google Earth Engine (GEE), along with advanced image processing software such as PyGEE-SWToolbox and AlTis, were used to process large datasets from the Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3 satellites. These satellites delivered extensive, high-resolution imagery and altimetric data, crucial for monitoring changes in the reservoirs. The processed data were validated with in-situ measurements, yielding a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of less than 0.4 m and a correlation coefficient exceeding 0.90. The results highlighted water surface and level changes from 2016 to 2022, with downward trends and seasonal variations closely aligning with in-situ measurements. The study also revealed that the relationship between water levels and surface areas is influenced by both precipitation and the hydrological regimes of the Bandama and Sassandra rivers, demonstrating the complexity of water dynamics in these reservoirs. This research emphasizes the effectiveness of integrating spatial hydrology with cloud computing tools for fast and accurate monitoring of large reservoir. The use of these advanced technologies provides near real-time, reliable, and easily accessible data, offering a significant advantage for water resource management in Côte d'Ivoire.

Simulation of the effects of nanopores at different scales on the wettability of coal

The structural difference of nanopores at different scales in coal is one of the important factors that affect the wettability of coal. Therefore, it is necessary to determine influences of nanopores at different scales in coal on the wettability thereof from the perspective of molecular structure. Taking coal samples collected from Pingdingshan (PDS), Hebi (HB), Xiegou (XG), and Changping (CP) as research objects, the nanopore combination types of the interface were divided by using Materials Studio (MS) molecular simulation software and Image Pro Plus (IPP) image processing software, fractal theory and wettability dynamic simulation method, and the fractal characteristics of different nanopore combination types and the wetting angle change characteristics of active water were analyzed. The effects of total porosity and fractal dimension of pore structure on wettability of nanopores were discussed. The results show that the nanopore combinations in coal can be divided into three types according to the diameter of water molecules: those separately dominated by diffusion pores, adsorption-diffusion pores, and adsorption pores. As the diameter of dominant pores decreases, the fractal dimension decreases and the structure becomes increasingly simple. The wetting angle of active water in diffusion pores changes as follows: it rapidly decreases at first, then tends to stabilizes, before increasing slightly; that in adsorption-diffusion pores changes in this way: it rapidly decreases after transient fluctuations, then basically stabilizes, and finally slightly increases; that in adsorption pores changes as follows: it fluctuates for a long period, then decreases with fluctuations, and finally basically stabilizes. As the total porosity of nanopores increases, the wetting angle decreases linearly. If the porosity is similar, the negative influence of fractal dimension on the wettability of coal interfaces by active water increases as the scale of dominant pores in pore combinations decreases.