Linear Distance Research Articles

Evaluating the Impact of Scan Body Angulation and Geometric Attachments on the Accuracy of Complete-Arch Digital Implant Impressions: A Comparison of Two Intraoral Scanners.

To investigate the effects of scan body (SB) angulation and geometric attachments on the deviations of complete-arch digital implant impressions obtained using intraoral scanners (IOSs), in relation to the gold-standard desktop scanner. Two intraoral scanners (iTero and Omnicam), two scan body angulations (0 degrees and 30 degrees), and geometric attachments (GAs) for the SBs were investigated. SBs were attached to an edentulous maxillary cast with the following implant analogs: parallel 0-degree at positions #13, #23, and #26, and 30-degree posteriorly tilted at position #16. The cast was digitized using a reference desktop scanner, followed by ten consecutive digital scans using each IOS (five scans with GAs and five without GAs, n = 20). Meshes obtained from the IOS scans were superimposed on the master reference mesh. Linear distance and 3D surface deviations from the reference mesh were calculated. A three-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was employed to assess the effects of angulation, IOS type, and GAs on the combined dependent variables (α = 0.05). No significant three-way interaction was observed between IOS type, SB angulation, and GAs for combined deviations from the reference scan (p = 0.56). Simple main effect analysis revealed that iTero exhibited significantly lower mean 3D surface and linear deviations than Omnicam (p<0.05). Additionally, the use of GAs significantly reduced deviations (p<0.001), with mean deviation reductions for both scanners ranging from 26-33 micrometers (μm) for 3D deviations and 15-21μm for linear distance deviations. No differences were found between angled and parallel SBs regarding 3D surface and linear distance deviations (p≥0.05). iTero demonstrated significantly smaller deviations, and the use of GAs led to significantly reduced distance and 3D surface deviations. SB angulations did not impact scan deviations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effect of Repeated Use of Different Types of Scan Bodies on Transfer Accuracy of Implant Position.

Some components of implant treatment are reusable. Therefore, possible changes during fixation, removal, and sterilization process should be tested. Many studies have examined the reuse of implant parts, but the impact of repeated use of scan bodies on the accuracy of implant position has not been well investigated. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the effect of repeated use of two different types of scan bodies on the accuracy of implant position. In this in vitro experimental study, two acrylic resin maxillary models, each with two implant analogues inserted at the site of missing first and second molars were used. Two types of scan bodies including titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were used for digital impression. Then they were ten times removed and autoclaved for sterilization. The first scan was considered as a reference to be compared with the other next nine scans. Values of linear distance between two scan bodies, diameter changes of each scan body, and three-dimensional linear displacement (ΔR) were measured. These values were compared between the two types of scan bodies using t-test (α=.05). There was significant difference between titanium and PEEK scan bodies regarding inter-implant distance variation (p=.006) and diameter change (p< .001) in repeated use. However, for the ΔR, there was no significant difference between them (p= 0.759). The results demonstrated that type of scan body could affect the accuracy of implant position transfer after repeated use. PEEK scan body performed better after 9 cycles of reuse in comparison with titanium scan body.

Diversity of movement patterns of Longnose Gar tracked in coastal waters of western Lake Ontario

AbstractUnderstanding the spatial ecology of fish is critical for effective conservation and management. Gar (Lepisosteidae spp.) are an ancient lineage of freshwater fishes that have long been thought of as having high site fidelity with limited large-scale movements. We acoustically tagged Longnose Gar (L. osseus) in a large freshwater embayment (Hamilton Harbour) and tracked the movements of 12 individuals within this system and throughout the coastal waters of Lake Ontario for up to 4 years. Three distinct movement patterns were observed: migrants (N = 7), which moved throughout much of western Lake Ontario and had a maximum displacement of 184 km (linear distance); residents (N = 3), which remained in or near the original tagging location (an industrial slip with year-round warmwater outfall); and sporadic migrants (N = 2), which showed both migratory and resident behavioural patterns in different years. Seasonally, gar were most active during the summer and then fall, with more restricted home ranges and movements during winter suggestive of more quiescent behaviour. This study represents the first use of acoustic telemetry to track Longnose Gar movements year-round in a large lake and confirmed that a majority of tracked fishes make large-scale movements in Lake Ontario. Such results reframe the presumption that gar are more resident fishes with restricted space use.

Habitat salinity and source-induced variation in body shape of euryhaline long whiskers catfish (Mystus gulio)

The study was carried out to investigate the body shape variation of the Mystus gulio collected from three different salinity gradient habitats (high-salinity brackish water, low-salinity brackish water, and freshwater) and two different sources (wild and hatchery) using linear morphometric distances, landmark-based truss-networking and geometric morphometrics. A total of 436 individuals of M. gulio were collected from the high-salinity (8–15 ppt), low-salinity (2–6 ppt), and freshwater bodies (0 ppt). For wild versus hatchery sources body shape variation, 430 individuals of M. gulio were collected from various coastal rivers and hatcheries. M. gulio from different salinity gradient habitats and sources exhibited negligible sexual dimorphism. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that high and low salinity populations appeared to form overlapping clusters with the freshwater populations, but other multivariate analyses discriminated both populations from brackishwater habitats from the freshwater counterparts. The geometric morphometrics displayed that the body shape variation of M. gulio from salinity gradient habitats was mainly visible in the width of the dorsal-ventral part, the snout shape, the tail shape, the head region, and the eye diameter. PCA demonstrated that multivariate spaces of both the wild and captive populations overlapped each other, although many individuals of the wild population were discriminated from the culture populations. Our results showed that truss networking and geometric morphometric methods provide consistent outcomes for body shape discrimination in the M. gulio populations.

Using multilayer perceptron and similarity-weighted machine learning algorithms to reconstruct the past: A case study of the agricultural expansion on grasslands in the Uruguayan savannas.

Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have significant implications for biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and deforestation. Modeling LULC changes is crucial to understanding anthropogenic impacts on environmental conservation and ecosystem services. Although previous studies have focused on predicting future changes, there is a growing need to determine past scenarios using new assessment tools. This study proposes a methodology for LULC past scenario generation based on transition analysis. Aiming to hindcast LULC scenario in 1970 based on the transition analysis of the past 35 years (from 1985 to 2020), two machine learning algorithms, multilayer perceptron (MLP) and similarity weighted (SimWeight), were employed to determine the driver variables most related to conversions in LULC and to simulate the past. The study focused on the Aristida spp. grasslands in the Uruguayan savannas, where native grasslands have been extensively converted to agricultural areas. Land use and land cover data from the MapBiomas project were integrated with spatial variables such as altimetry, slope, pedology, and linear distances from rivers, roads, urban areas, agriculture, forest, forestry, and native grasslands. The accuracy of the predicted maps was assessed through stratified random sampling of reference images from the Multispectral Scanner (MSS) sensor. The results demonstrate a reduction of approximately 659 934 ha of native grasslands in the study area between 1985 and 2020, directly proportional to the increase in cultivable areas. The MLP algorithm exhibited moderate performance, with notable errors in classifying agriculture and grassland areas. In contrast, the SimWeight algorithm displayed better accuracy, particularly in distinguishing grassland and agriculture classes. The modeled map using SimWeight accurately represented the transitions between grassland and agriculture with a high level of agreement. By modeling the 1970s scenario using the SimWeight model, it was estimated that the Aristida spp. grasslands experienced a substantial reduction in grassland coverage, ranging from 9982.31 to 10 022.32 km2 between 1970 and 2020. This represents a range of 60.8%-61.07% of the total grassland area in 1970. These findings provide valuable insights into the driving factors behind land use change in the Aristida spp. grasslands and offer useful information for land management, conservation, and sustainable development in the region. The study's main contribution lies in the hindcasting of past LULC scenarios, utilizing a tool used primarily for forecasting future scenarios. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1140-1155. © 2023 SETAC.

Transvection between nonallelic genomic positions in Drosophila.

In Drosophila, pairing of maternal and paternal homologous chromosomes can permit trans-interactions between enhancers on one homolog and promoters on another, an example of transvection. Although trans-interactions have been observed at many loci in the Drosophila genome and in other organisms, the parameters that govern enhancer action in trans remain poorly understood. Using a transgenic reporter system, we asked whether enhancers and promoters at nonallelic, but nearby, genomic positions can communication in trans. Using one transgenic insertion carrying the synthetic enhancer GMR and another nearby insertion carrying the hsp70 promoter driving a fluorescent reporter, we show that transgenes separated by 2.6 kb of linear distance can support enhancer action in trans at the 53F8 locus. Furthermore, transvection between the nonallelic insertions can be augmented by a small deletion flanking one insert, likely via changes to the paired configuration of the homologs. Subsequent analyses of other insertions in 53F8 that carry different transgenic sequences demonstrate that the capacity to support transvection between nonallelic sites varies greatly, suggesting that factors beyond the linear distance between insertion sites play an important role. Finally, analysis of transvection between nearby nonallelic sites at other genomic locations shows evidence of position effects, where one locus supported GMR action in trans over a linear distance of over 10 kb, whereas another locus showed no evidence of transvection over a span <200 bp. Overall, our data demonstrate that transvection between nonallelic sites represents a complex interplay between genomic context, interallelic distance, and promoter identity.

Exploring shelf-life predictability of appearance traits and fruit texture in blueberry

Improving the shelf-life of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) has become a crucial breeding priority for the industry. However, the breeders have sparse empirical data to select genotypes with extended shelf-life. In this study, a large set of cultivars was evaluated for mechanical texture and appearance characteristics at harvest and after storage to understand their relationship and test multiple statistical models to assess the predictability of shelf-life. Blueberries harvested from 61 cultivars with extensive phenotypic variation were stored at 2 oC and 80% relative humidity (RH) for six weeks. The results indicated that weight loss, texture change, and fruit wrinkling could be predicted using fruit characteristics measured at harvest (T0) or two weeks post-harvest (T2). The berry size at T0 was able to predict postharvest weight loss with high accuracy; the larger the initial berry size, the less weight loss. This trend plateaued with berries larger than 18 mm in diameter. For texture, the measurements at T0 and six weeks after storage (T6) were positively correlated in all mechanical texture parameters, indicating that the initial texture is highly related to the final texture after storage. The overall change of texture could be best predicted using the texture parameter ‘distance to maximum force’ (DFM) measured at T0. Although the prediction accuracy was relatively low (R2 = 0.34), the model still effectively predicted the cultivars with the most texture change and those with the least. Interestingly, the prediction power improved to a moderate level (R2 = 0.45–0.66) when using all the texture and appearance parameters measured at T0 and T2. Wrinkling was best predicted by either the initial fruit size or the texture parameter ‘force linear distance’ (FLD) with low accuracy (R2 = 0.35–0.37); the larger the berry or FLD at T0, the less wrinkle after storage. These findings provide empirical data that blueberry breeders could use to select for shelf-life in blueberry. Predicting the variation of shelf-life indicators in a germplasm can substantially reduce the cost and time required to phenotype shelf-life performance.

Short-term dentoalveolar effects of aesthetic lip bumper appliance: A longitudinal cases-series and pilot study

BackgroundTo investigate the short-term dentoalveolar effects on the mandibular arch of a modified, aesthetic lip bumper (ALBAa). The study sample comprised 23 patients (13 boys and 10 girls, with a mean age of 9.5 ± 1.8 years) in mixed dentition, with no previous orthodontic treatment. For each patient, a scan of the mandibular arch was digitally acquired pre-treatment (T0), and at 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2) and 9 months (T3) post-treatment. Linear intra-arch measurements, Little’s irregularity index of the amount of mandibular anterior crowding, and the crown tipping values on all mandibular teeth were measured and compared statistically between time points. ANOVA and subsequent post-hoc tests were performed, considering a p-value of < 0.05 as significant. ResultsLinear intra-arch distances and crown tipping values on the mandibular teeth increased between the following time points: T0vsT1, T1vsT2, T0vsT2 and T0vsT3 (p < 0.05), although in the last three months of observation (T2vsT3) they only reached statistical significance at the lower incisors and lower left premolar concerning crown tipping values. There was a statistically significant decrease in anterior crowding throughout the observational period (p < 0.05), and this effect was equally distributed across the different time points investigated. ConclusionsALBAa therapy led to an increase in both linear intra-arch distances and crown tipping values, with a reduction in Little's index. The distribution of the effects reported across the observational period depended on the mechanism of action (mechanical vs. functional).

Spatial accessibility to health facilities among pregnant women with and without exposure to intimate partner violence in Uganda

BackgroundPoor physical access to health facilities could increase the likelihood of undetected intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy. We aimed to determine sub-regional differences and associations between spatial accessibility to health facilities and IPV among pregnant women in Uganda.MethodWeighted cross-sectional analyses were conducted using merged 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey and 2014 Uganda Bureau of Statistics health facility datasets. Our study population were 986 women who self-reported being currently pregnant and responded to IPV items. Outcome was spatial accessibility computed as the near point linear distance [< 5 km (optimal) vs. ≥ 5 km (low)] between women’s enumeration area and health facility according to government reference cutoffs. Primary independent variable (any IPV) was defined as exposure to at least one of physical, emotional, and sexual IPV forms. Logistic regression models were sequentially adjusted for covariates in blocks based on Andersen’s behavioral model of healthcare utilization. Covariates included predisposing (maternal age, parity, residence, partner controlling behavior), enabling (wealth index, occupation, education, economic empowerment, ANC visit frequency), and need (wanted current pregnancy, difficulty getting treatment money, afraid of partner, and accepted partner abuse) factors.ResultsRespondents’ mean age was 26.1 years with ± 9.4 standard deviations (SD), mean number of ANC visits was 3.8 (± 1.5 SD) and 492/986 (49.9%) pregnant women experienced IPV. Median spatial accessibility to the nearest health facility was 4.1 km with interquartile range (IQR) from 0.2 to 329.1 km. Southwestern, and Teso subregions had the highest average percentage of pregnant women experiencing IPV (63.8–66.6%) while Karamoja subregion had the highest median spatial accessibility (7.0 to 9.3 km). In the adjusted analysis, pregnant women exposed to IPV had significantly higher odds of low spatial accessibility to nearest health facilities when compared to pregnant women without IPV exposure after controlling for enabling factors in Model 2 (aOR 1.6; 95%CI 1.2, 2.3) and need factors in Model 3 (aOR 1.5; 95%CI 1.1, 3.8).ConclusionsSpatial accessibility to health facilities were significantly lower among pregnant women with IPV exposure when compared to those no IPV exposure. Improving proximity to the nearest health facilities with ANC presents an opportunity to intervene among pregnant women experiencing IPV. Focused response and prevention interventions for violence against pregnant women should target enabling and need factors.

Skull Biomechanics and Simplified Cephalometric Lines for the Estimation of Muscular Lines of Action.

Our study introduces a novel cephalometric analysis aimed at facilitating biomechanical simulations by elucidating the intricate relationship between craniofacial morphology and the size and inclination of the masseter muscle (MM) while incorporating muscle values. Our study analyzes the line of action of the MM drawn between the Gonion (Go) and Orbital (Or) points concerning dental and skeletal references (occlusal and Frankfort planes). A total of 510 pre-treatment lateral cephalometric tracings (217 males, 293 females, aged 6-50 years) and lateral Bolton standard tracings were examined. The key parameters investigated include (a) skeletal-cutaneous class (linear distance between projections of points A' and B' on the occlusal plane), (b) the angle between the perpendicular line to the occlusal plane and the Go-Or line at the molar occlusal point, and (c) the angle between the Go-Or line and the Frankfort plane. The assessment of anterior-posterior jaw discrepancy, measured as the skeletal-cutaneous class, ranged from -14.5 to 15.5 mm. Abnormal values were identified in two adolescents, showing no gender- or age-related patterns. The angle between the MM's line of action (Go-Or) and the normal to the occlusal plane averaged 39.3°, while the angle between Go-Or and Po-Or (Frankfort plane) averaged 41.99°. Age had an impact on these angles, with an average 3° decrease in adults and a 4° increase between ages 6 and 50. A weak relationship was observed between sagittal jaw discrepancy and the angle between Go-Or and the Frankfort plane, with about 20% of the variance explained by the anteroposterior maxillary-mandibular relationship. In conclusion, the study presents a cephalometric analysis of the relationship between craniofacial morphology and masseter muscle parameters. It finds that age influences the angles between key reference points, while the skeletal-cutaneous class does not exhibit age- or gender-specific trends. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of craniofacial biomechanics and aid in clinical orthodontic assessments and treatment planning.

A linear transportation [formula omitted] distance for pattern recognition

The transportation Lp distance, denoted TLp, has been proposed as a generalisation of Wasserstein Wp distances motivated by the property that it can be applied directly to colour or multi-channelled images, as well as multivariate time-series without normalisation or mass constraints. Both TLp and Wp assign a cost based on the transport distance (i.e. the “Lagrangian” model), the key difference between the distances is that TLp interprets the signal as a function whilst Wp interprets the signal as a measure. Both distances are powerful tools in modelling data with spatial or temporal perturbations. However, their computational cost can make them infeasible to apply to even moderate pattern recognition tasks. The linear Wasserstein distance was proposed as a method for projecting signals into a Euclidean space where the Euclidean distance is approximately the Wasserstein distance (more formally, this is a projection on to the tangent manifold). We propose linear versions of the TLp distance (LTLp) and we show significant improvement over the linear Wp distance on signal processing tasks, whilst being several orders of magnitude faster to compute than the TLp distance.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT HANDSTAND PLACEMENT TECHNIQUES IN HANDSTAND BALANCE CONTROL AND GENDER DIFFERENCESDSTAND BALANCE CONTROL AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

The purpose of the study was twofold: (a) to examine the impact of various finger placements and utilization on the quality, control, and overall efficiency of handstand performance, and (b) to investigate potential gender differences in relation to these factors. Thirty-one young competitive gymnasts (15 males; age: 12.60 ± 2.08, and 16 females; age: 13.31 ± 2.21) participated in this study. A portable posturographic digital platform was used to record hand area (cm²), maximal pressure (kPa), CoP (center of hand pressure) sway area (mm²), CoP linear distance displacement (mm) and CoP velocity. Derived data were analyzed in an integrated software module (Foot Checker, version 4.0). The intra-class correlation coefficient and the coefficient of variation supported the reliability of the measurements. One-way MANOVA showed better balance control for all gymnasts for the handstand with flat palms and joined and fully stretched fingers, followed by that of flat palms and wide open and fully stretched fingers, and wide flat palms and open and flexed fingers. Results from one-way MANOVA indicated no differences between males and females in age, training age, body mass, height, and body mass index. With control for the effects of age, training age, personal characteristics and hand area of support in place, females had better balance control compared to males based on differences in CoP sway area, CoP linear distance displacement, and CoP velocity. Despite the study's limitations, the findings contribute to the existing literature on balance control techniques in handstands in relation to gender differences. The study provides recommendations for more effective training for coaches and suggests avenues for future research.

Research on the diagnosis of corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) based on machine-learning

In recent years, the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) has brought a huge impact on people's daily life and the normal operation of society, and as machine learning research deepens, this technology could help detect viruses such as the novel coronavirus. According to this, how to accurately, quickly and effectively analyze and classify laboratory results with multiple indicators through the method of machine learning is the object of this paper. In order to explore the classification performance of various machine learning classification algorithms on laboratory results, linear and non-linear methods were used respectively to analyze and classify the laboratory results. In linear analysis, distance discriminant and fisher discriminant were used to explore the classification effect of linear classification on laboratory results. The non-linear analysis mainly used Adaptive Boosting(AdaBoost) and Random Forest algorithm which are widely used to test the classification effect under the influence of multiple indexes. In this paper, python and other tools were used to classify samples of different combinations by using the idea of cross validation. By comparing the running time and detection accuracy, it was found that Adaboost algorithm is applicable in most cases and was a relatively fast and accurate classification method. In addition, Random Forest algorithm had similar accuracy, but it might have better performance on a large data set.

Development of a Power Tiller Operated Safe Grain Cleaner

Threshed grain contains impurities which should be removed as soon as possible after harvesting and certainly before storage. A clean grain has esteem value, improves storability, reduces price penalties, and improves milling quality. Traditionally farmers use wind or fan to remove foreign matter from the grain. In mechanical grain cleaner, a fan and several superimposed reciprocating sieves or screens are now used. These can be operated manually or by electric motor. Traditional cleaning methods are laborious and mechanical cleaners are costlier for a farmer. An attempt was made to develop a power tiller-operated grain cleaner incorporating safety protection. Power tiller-operated (PTO) grain cleaner has been developed at the BRRI research workshop and tested at farmers’ yards. Two flat bars of 680x100 mm size were taken and both ends of the bars were curved in the same direction. Those were fixed with a pulley as a cross blade and fitted rigidly with the flywheel of a power tiller engine and a protection cage was made as safety measures to protect the operators/ users from accidents. The cage was made with mild steel (MS) wire (1/8th) and tightly attached to the chassis and oil tank by nut bolts. The air flow rate was found 7 m/s at a linear distance of 1 m and decreased to 3 m/s at 5 m from the center of the flywheel. No foreign matter was observed in the cleaned grain during the operation. Fuel consumption was found about 700 ml/hr. About 1200-1600 kg paddy can be cleaned in an hour. Males or females can use it easily without any accidental risk i.e. clogging dress with flywheel. However, the developed safe grain cleaner can significantly contribute to improving product quality by separating un-ambient materials, especially foreign matter, insect bored, and diseased grain.

Comparison of Face Anthropometry and Digital 2D-Face Photogrammetry as Methods for Predicting Vertical Dimension of Occlusion.

To determine the values of 15 craniofacial linear distances in the Serbian ethnic group using and comparing two methods of face-anthropometric and digital 2D-face-photogrammetric measurement and to determine the correlations between distances that can be predictive or can serve as proxy for occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). A total of 90 adults were selected. Facial distance as a tool to measure the OVD was measured as Sn-Gn (the distance between the septum of the nose [Sn] and the tip of the chin [Gn]). Face-anthropometric measurements were made with a Boley gauge (Buffalo Dental). Digital 2D-photogrammetric facial measurements were performed using the computer program Dr Ceph (FYI Technologies). The mean value for the distance Sn-Gn was 63.55 using face-anthropometric measurement (Sn-Gn[f]) and 63.56 using 2D-face-photogrammetic measurement (Sn-Gn[ph]) Multivariate regression analysis revealed that Sn-Gn(f) depended on ExL-ExR(f) P = .001; ZyL-ZyR(f) P = .077; N-Sn(f) P = .096; Sn-Sto(f) P = .043; and sex. Analysis also identified that Sn-Gn(ph) depended on ExL-ExR(ph) P < .001; EnL-EnR(ph) P = .029; N-Sn(ph) P = .013; Sn-Sto(ph) P = .001; and sex. A comparison of facial anthropometry and digital 2D-facial photogrammetry revealed no statistical significance differences in the values obtained and showed that facial photogrammetry could be as reliable a method as facial anthropometry.

Accuracy of intraoral scanning versus conventional impressions for partial edentulous patients with maxillary defects

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of digital dental impressions obtained by intraoral scanning (IOS) for partial edentulous patients with maxillary defects by comparing them with conventional impression techniques. Ten subjects underwent an experimental procedure where three ceramic blocks were affixed to the healthy palate mucosa. Digital dental impressions were captured using IOS and subsequently imported into software. Conventional impressions obtained by silicone rubber were also taken and scanned. Linear distance and best-fit algorithm measurements were performed using conventional impression techniques as the reference. Twenty impressions were analyzed, which included 30 pairs of linear distances and 10 best-fit algorithm measurements. Regarding linear distance, paired two-sample t-test demonstrated no significant differences between IOS and model scanning in groups A and C, whereas significant differences were found in group B (P < 0.05). Additionally, ANOVA revealed significant differences among the groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found for the best-fit algorithm measurement of the dentition. IOS can provide accurate impressions for partial edentulous patients with maxillary defects and its accuracy was found to be comparable with conventional impression techniques. A functional impression may be needed to ensure accurate reproduction of soft and hard tissues in defect or flap areas.

The positive response of small terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammals to beaver damming

Ecosystem engineers, such as the Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber, transform habitats, thereby creating favourable conditions for other species and increasing biodiversity. Multiple studies have revealed that beaver ponds are valuable habitats for invertebrates and vertebrates, including other mammals, but the impact of watercourse damming on the fauna of small terrestrial rodents and shrews has not yet been documented. We tested the hypothesis that the presence of beaver dams and consequent flooding enrich the small mammal assemblage both quantitatively and qualitatively. We live-trapped small mammals at nine beaver-modified sites on 300-metre transects alongside dammed watercourses, starting from the dam through to the pond to the sections with unmodified lotic conditions. The abundance and species richness of trapped small mammals were highest near the dams and declined with distance. Additionally, five out of 12 trapped species significantly decreased their abundance with linear distance along the shoreline from the dam and none revealed the opposite trend. Four species were more abundant on plots subjected to beaver-related inundation (especially Sorex minutus and Micromys minutus), while none were present solely on uninundated plots. Among the semi-aquatic species, two water shrews benefited from beaver activity in different ways. Neomys milleri occurred only in flooded sections, while N. fodiens preferred unmodified sections, but was the most numerous species closer to the dams, as per known patterns of competitive displacement observed in Central Europe. An important factor affecting small mammals, the herbaceous layer cover, appeared to be interdependent with damming. We provide the first unequivocal evidence that the presence of beaver dams facilitate the abundance and diversity of small mammals, presumably due to increased food abundance, availability of shelter and habitat connectivity. Beaver-created wetlands may act as potential refuges for species most susceptible to the consequences of anthropogenic climate change.

Cranial tibial translation measurements for radiographic diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs.

To assess the effect of tibial compression on radiographic cranial tibial translation measurements in healthy dogs and those with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and establish specific criteria for the radiographic diagnosis of CCL rupture. 60 dogs. Dogs were divided into 3 groups with 20 dogs each: group 1, healthy adult dogs; group 2, adult dogs with CCL rupture; and group 3, healthy young dogs. For each dog, 2 images of the stifle joint in mediolateral projection were taken, of which 1 was conventional and 1 was under tibial compression. Variables were measured in each radiographic projection: the patellar ligament angle, the patellar ligament insertion angle, the angle of tibial translation measured by 2 different methods, and the linear distance between the points of CCL origin and insertion (DPOI). Additionally, a novel variable, DPOI ratio, was evaluated. Regarding radiographic positioning, tibial compression significantly changed most of the variables in the within-group comparison. The variable DPOI were not different with and without tibial compression in the group of healthy adult dogs but were different for dogs with CCL rupture. Thus, these are important parameters in the diagnosis of CCL rupture. In the analysis of a novel variable, DPOI ratio, dogs with CCL rupture could be distinguished from healthy dogs at a high level of specificity and sensitivity. DPOI ratio values above 1.18 were consistently indicative of CCL rupture, thus allowing for a precise radiographic diagnosis of the condition.

Radiotherapy Capabilities, Population, Average Income, and Health Insurance Status as Predictors of Cancer Mortality at the County Level in the United States

Sufficient radiotherapy capacity at the country level is commonly seen in high income countries and is an essential factor in access to high quality cancer care. However, universal access is not always possible due to other factors beyond the commonly used parameter of machines per million population. This study aims to assess the barriers cancer patients in a high-income country face in accessing radiotherapy, and how this impacts cancer mortality. This cross-sectional study utilized United States county level oncologic and demographic data obtained from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Atomic Energy Agency Directory of Radiotherapy Centers. Radiotherapy facilities in the United States were mapped using Geographic Information Systems software. Univariate analysis was used to identify whether distance to a radiotherapy center or various socioeconomic factors were predictive of all-cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios. Variables that were deemed to be significant (p ≤ 0.05) on univariate analysis were then included in a step-wise backwards elimination method of multiple regression analysis. Among the United States counties studied, 31.3% of counties have at least one radiotherapy facility and 8.3% have five or more radiotherapy facilities. Median linear distance from a county's centroid to the nearest radiotherapy center was 36 Km and the median county all-cancer mortality to incidence ratio (MIR) was 0.37. The ratio of radiotherapy centers, linear accelerators and brachy therapy units per 1 million people were significantly associated with all-cancer MIR (p<0.05). Greater distance to radiotherapy facilities, lower county population, lower average income per county, and higher proportion of patients without health insurance were statistically significant predictors of increased all-cancer MIR (R-squared: 0.2113, F = 94.22, p<0.001). This analysis used unique high-quality datasets to identify significant barriers to radiotherapy access that correspond to higher cancer mortality at the county level. Geographic access, personal income, and insurance status all contribute to these concerning disparities. Efforts and novel strategies to address and minimize these barriers are needed to ensure access to care and improve oncologic outcomes.

Effective camera calibration by using phase-shifting fringe patterns

The accuracy of conventional target-based camera calibration depends on the detection of feature points. To improve the calibration accuracy in the flat field, this paper proposes an innovative calibration method based on encoded phase-shifting fringe (PSF) patterns. By using arbitrary quadrilateral interpolation, the relationship between a point on the virtual phase plane and the corresponding four original phase points is determined, establishing a mapping between the simplified original phase field and the virtual phase field. This spatial relationship can be used for accurate camera calibration. The proposed research investigates the details of the PSF based camera calibration method and demonstrates its accuracy and effectiveness through experiments. The evaluation of this method includes the checkerboard edge length variance analysis and the linear distance analysis of the checkerboard fit, both of which serve as validation metrics. Camera distortion is described by the phase distribution, and the average phase error after correction is less than 0.001 pixels (px).