Maximal Projection Research Articles

The role of 3D cinematic rendering in the evaluation of upper extremity trauma.

Traumatic upper extremity injuries are a common cause of emergency department visits, comprising between 10-30% of traumatic injury visits. Timely and accurate evaluation is important to prevent severe complications such as permanent deformities, ischemia, or even death. Computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography (CTA) are the favored non-invasive imaging techniques for assessing upper extremity trauma, playing a crucial role in both the treatment planning and decision-making processes for such injuries. In CT postprocessing, a novel 3D rendering method, cinematic rendering (CR), employs sophisticated lighting models that simulate the interaction of multiple photons with the volumetric dataset. This technique produces images with realistic shadows and improved surface detail, surpassing the capabilities of volume rendering (VR) or maximal intensity projection (MIP). Considering the benefits of CR, we demonstrate its use and ability to achieve photorealistic anatomic visualization in a series of 11 cases where patients presented with traumatic upper extremity injuries, including bone, vascular, and skin/soft tissue injuries, adding to diagnostic confidence and intervention planning.

Re-Orthogonalized/Affine GMRES and Orthogonalized Maximal Projection Algorithm for Solving Linear Systems

GMRES is one of the most powerful and popular methods to solve linear systems in the Krylov subspace; we examine it from two viewpoints: to maximize the decreasing length of the residual vector, and to maintain the orthogonality of the consecutive residual vector. A stabilization factor, η, to measure the deviation from the orthogonality of the residual vector is inserted into GMRES to preserve the orthogonality automatically. The re-orthogonalized GMRES (ROGMRES) method guarantees the absolute convergence; even the orthogonality is lost gradually in the GMRES iteration. When η<1/2, the residuals’ lengths of GMRES and GMRES(m) no longer decrease; hence, η<1/2 can be adopted as a stopping criterion to terminate the iterations. We prove η=1 for the ROGMRES method; it automatically keeps the orthogonality, and maintains the maximality for reducing the length of the residual vector. We improve GMRES by seeking the descent vector to minimize the residual in a larger space of the affine Krylov subspace. The resulting orthogonalized maximal projection algorithm (OMPA) is identified as having good performance. We further derive the iterative formulas by extending the GMRES method to the affine Krylov subspace; these equations are slightly different from the equations derived by Saad and Schultz (1986). The affine GMRES method is combined with the orthogonalization technique to generate a powerful affine GMRES (A-GMRES) method with high performance.

Optimal Combination of the Splitting–Linearizing Method to SSOR and SAOR for Solving the System of Nonlinear Equations

The symmetric successive overrelaxation (SSOR) and symmetric accelerated overrelaxation (SAOR) are conventional iterative methods for solving linear equations. In this paper, novel approaches are presented by combining a splitting–linearizing method with SSOR and SAOR for solving a system of nonlinear equations. The nonlinear terms are decomposed at two sides through a splitting parameter, which are linearized around the values at the previous step, obtaining a linear equation system at each iteration step. The optimal values of parameters are determined to minimize the reciprocal of the maximal projection, which are sought in preferred ranges using the golden section search algorithm. Numerical tests assess the performance of the developed methods, namely, the optimal splitting symmetric successive over-relaxation (OSSSOR), and the optimal splitting symmetric accelerated over-relaxation (OSSAOR). The chief advantages of the proposed methods are that they do not need to compute the inverse matrix at each iteration step, and the computed orders of convergence by OSSSOR and OSSAOR are between 1.5 and 5.61; they, without needing the inner iterations loop, converge very fast with saving CPU time to find the true solution with a high accuracy.

Influence of molecular descriptors of plant volatilomics on fumigant action against the three major stored product beetle pests.

Plant volatilomics such as essential oils (EOs) and volatile phytochemicals (PCs) are known as potential natural sources for the development of biofumigants as an alternative to conventional fumigant pesticides. This present work was aimed to evaluate the fumigant toxic effect of five selected EOs (cinnamon, garlic, lemon, orange, andpeppermint) and PCs (citronellol, limonene, linalool, piperitone, andterpineol) against the Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus oryzae, and Tribolium castaneum adults. Furthermore, for the estimation of the relationship between molecular descriptors and fumigant toxicity of plant volatiles, quantitative structural activity relationship (QSAR) models were developed using principal component analysis and multiple linear regression. Amongst the tested EOs, garlic EO was found to be the most toxic fumigant. The PCs toxicity analysis revealed that terpineol, limonene, linalool, and piperitone as potential fumigants to C. maculatus (< 20 µL/L air of LC50), limonene and piperitone as potential fumigants to T. castaneum (14.35 and 154.11 µL/L air of LC50, respectively), and linalool and piperitone as potential fumigants to S. oryzae (192.27 and 69.10 µL/L air of LC50, respectively). QSAR analysis demonstrated the role of various molecular descriptors of EOs and PCs on the fumigant toxicity in insect pest species. In specific, dipole and Randic index influence the toxicity in C. maculatus, molecular weight and maximal projection area influence the toxicity in S. oryzae, and boiling point and Dreiding energy influence the toxicity in T. castaneum. The present findings may provide insight of a new strategy to select effective EOs and/or PCs against stored product insect pests.

Topographical distribution and morphology of TH-IR and VAChT-IR axons in the antrum, pylorus, and duodenum of rats

The autonomic nervous system plays an essential role in controlling gastrointestinal functions including a variety of physiological functions such as the regulation of motility, gut secretion, and vascular flow. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) are commonly used markers for sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation, respectively. However, the regional distribution and morphology of TH-IR and VAChT-IR axons in the submucosa and mucosa are not well documented. In this study, the rat antrum-pylorus-duodenum (APD) were transversely and longitudinally sectioned. A Zeiss M2 imager was used to scan the serial sections of each APD (each section montage consisted of 50–100 all-in-focus maximal projection images). To determine the detailed structures of TH-IR and VAChT-IR axons, we used the confocal microscope to scan the regions of interest. We found that (1) TH-IR axons innervated the muscular, submucosal, and mucosal layers. In the muscular layer, the submucosa and the mucosa, TH-IR varicose axons innervated the muscles and innervated blood vessels. In the villi, TH-IR axons were presented. (2) VAChT-IR axons heavily innervated the muscular, submucosal, and mucosal layers. In the muscular layer, VAChT-IR varicose axons densely innervated the muscles and myenteric neurons were VAChT positive. In the submucosa and mucosa, VAChT-IR axons innervated as well. In the villi, VAChT-IR axons were densely innervated. (3) TH-IR and VAChT-IR axons were found not co-localized in the muscular, submucosal, and mucosal layers. This work provided a comprehensive view of the distribution and morphology of TH-IR and VAChT-IR axons in the APD at single cell/axon/varicosity scale. This data will be used to create a 3D mapping of the TH-IR and VAChT-IR axons innervation of the APD in rats. This study was supported by NIH HEAL/SPARC U01 NS113867-01 and NIH R15HL137143-01A1. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Article Drop and Case Marking in Romanian

In Romanian, the definite article cannot be overtly realized if the maximal nominal projection contains only the lexical N and occurs in the complement position of (most) accusative-taking prepositions. Arguing that a definite D is present in the underlying syntactic representation, I describe article drop as a PF-phenomenon. I follow Dobrovie-Sorin’s (2007) idea that article drop is conditioned by a complex head formation operation that assigns a X0-status to DPs of the form [D+def N0], but I show that her proposal of extending complex head formation to P is contradicted by the behavior of article drop in coordination. Therefore, I propose a different explanation for the limitation of article drop to the complement of P: based on the fact that article drop also occurs with prepositional case markers (which are K heads rather than Ps), I propose that article drop only occurs when D lacks Case. Underlying this analysis is a novel theory of case marking in Romanian: I propose that inflectional marking involves null Ks that trigger spreading of a Case feature to their complement (following Norris 2014, 2018), whereas prepositional marking involves an overt K and no feature spreading. Prepositions that trigger article drop are assimilated to K heads in that they take a DP, rather than a KP, complement, playing K’s role of closing-off the nominal extended projection.

Morpho-syntactic structure of code-switched sentences produced by Albanian bilingual speakers

This paper aims to analyze the structure of code-switched sentences uttered by Albanian bilingual students. It examines the predictions made by two theoretical viewpoints, namely Myers-Scotton’s Matrix Language Frame (MLF) and MacSwan’s approach within the Minimalist Program (MP). The students were observed in informal environments within Prishtina international school settings, such as during recess time, on the playground, etc. Tape recordings of the conversations were used to record this naturalistic data, which was then transcribed. In particular, examples from the Albanian/English pair were analyzed, and the MLF and MP predictions regarding combinatorial possibilities were tested. The findings show that our data can only partially be accounted for by the MLF and MP approaches. Switching is mainly unidirectional, with insertions from English into an Albanian syntactic frame. Determiners, such as demonstrative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, adverbs of quantity, as well as copular verbs, auxiliary verbs, and clitics, come from the Matrix Language (ML), complying with the MLF model. However, violations of the MLF model are encountered as well, such as the non-occurrence of stem/affix switching, the occurrence of bare forms, and Embedded Language (EL) islands not always constituting the maximal projection of the phrase, which are further described and predicted in MP model. The paper provides evidence that neither MLF nor MP are able to adequately account for the possible combinations in the mixed clause. According to what the literature to date indicates, integrating the approaches rather than using each one individually results in a better understanding of the grammar of code-switching.

Pseudo and anisotropic MFS for Laplace equation and optimal sources using maximal projection method with a substitution function

The paper creates two new families of fundamental solutions for the 3D Laplace equation, presented into two parts. For the first part in terms of a planar line as a new coordinate the derived 2D like fundamental solution has a logarithmic singularity, which results in a method of pseudo fundamental solutions. We propose two methods to determine the optimal values of the offset parameter used to locate the source points. In the second part, an anisotropic distance function rg in terms of a symmetric non-negative anisotropic metric tensor is introduced, which satisfies a certain quadratic matrix equation, and then lnrg is proved to be a new fundamental solution. Using a unit orientation vector we can derive the metric tensor in closed-form, and prove that it is a singular projection operator. Given the unit orientation vector satisfying a cone condition, a method of anisotropic fundamental solutions is developed. They are distinct from the traditional 3D MFS. Owing to a weaker singularity than that of 1/r appeared in the 3D MFS, the method of pseudo fundamental solutions and the method of anisotropic fundamental solutions outperform the 3D MFS. Some numerical experiments explore the performance of these two novel methods.

Exocentric Structures and Labeling

Chomsky (2001) has proposed a phase-based compu- tation, which takes a hybrid approach adopting derivational, but slightly representational, structure building. What is important in this proposal is that T is never finite in itself, but can bear a full φ-feature set only when it is selected by the phase head C. Chomsky (2008) in turn has assumed further that T can agree and attract its goal, the subject only after it inherits relevant features from C. This means that T is only partially projected without Spec when C is introduced into the derivation. This non-cyclic structure building is possible within a phase, hence slight representational flavor. However, Chosmky (2013, 2015) discarded this phase-based partially representational approach, to the effect that TP should complete its projection, which is now reinterpreted as an exocentric structure consisting of two maximal projections (with no specifiers). In this paper, we will explore the reason why Chomsky recently rejected the non-cyclic structure building within a phase. And we will note problems with this approach, and try to seek a solution in the recent MERGE system proposed by Chomsky (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, Forthcoming).

Dynamical Optimal Values of Parameters in the SSOR, AOR, and SAOR Testing Using Poisson Linear Equations

This paper proposes a dynamical approach to determine the optimal values of the parameters used in each iteration of the symmetric successive over-relaxation (SSOR), accelerated over-relaxation (AOR), and symmetric accelerated over-relaxation (SAOR) methods for solving linear equation systems. When the optimal values of the parameters in the SSOR, AOR, and SAOR are hard to determine as some fixed values, they are obtained by minimizing the merit functions, which are based on the maximal projection technique between the left- and right-hand-side vectors, which involves the input vector, the previous step values of the variables, and the parameters. The novelty is a new concept of the dynamical optimal values of the parameters, instead of the fixed values and the maximal projection technique. In a preferred range, the optimal values of the parameters can be quickly determined by using the golden section search algorithm with a loose convergence criterion. Without knowing and having the theoretical optimal values in general, the new methods might provide an alternative and proper choice of the values of the parameters for accelerating the convergence speed. Numerical testings of the linear Poisson equation discretized to a matrix–vector form and a Lyapunov equation form were used to assess the performance of the DOSSOR, DOAOR, and DOSAOR dynamical optimal methods.

Adaptive restraint design for a diverse population through machine learning.

Using population-based simulations and machine-learning algorithms to develop an adaptive restraint system that accounts for occupant anthropometry variations to further enhance safety balance throughout the whole population. Two thousand MADYMO full frontal impact crash simulations at 35 mph using two validated vehicle/restraint models representing a sedan and an SUV along with a parametric occupant model were conducted based on the maximal projection design of experiments, which considers varying occupant covariates (sex, stature, and body mass index) and vehicle restraint design variables (three for airbag, three for safety belt, and one for knee bolster). A Gaussian-process-based surrogate model was trained to rapidly predict occupant injury risks and the associated uncertainties. An optimization framework was formulated to seek the optimal adaptive restraint design policy that minimizes the population injury risk across a wide range of occupant sizes and shapes while maintaining a low difference in injury risks among different occupant subgroups. The effectiveness of the proposed method was tested by comparing the population-wise injury risks under the adaptive design policy and the traditional state-of-the-art design. Compared to the traditional state-of-the-art design for midsize males, the optimal design policy shows the potential to further reduce the joint injury risk (combining head, chest, and lower extremity injury risks) among the whole population in the sedan and SUV models. Specifically, the two subgroups of vulnerable occupants including tall obese males and short obese females had higher reductions in injury risks. This study lays out a method to adaptively adjust vehicle restraint systems to improve safety balance. This is the first study where population-based crash simulations and machine-learning methods are used to optimize adaptive restraint designs for a diverse population. Nevertheless, this study shows the high injury risks associated with obese and female occupants, which can be mitigated via restraint adaptability.

Diagnostic value of serum CA125 combined with PET/CT in ovarian cancer and tuberculous peritonitis in female patients.

To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum CA125 combined with 18F-FDG PET/CT in ovarian cancer (OC) and tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) in female patients and to establish a diagnostic scoring system. A total of 86 female patients (64 OC and 22 TBP) were included in this study. Serum CA125, PET/CT maximal intensity projection (MIP), maximal standardized uptake value, ovarian mass, ascites volume, and other indicators were analyzed and a diagnostic scoring system was established according to the weights of statistically significant indicators. Univariate analysis showed that serum CA125 in OC and TBP patients were 2079.9 ± 1651.3 U/mL and 448.3 ± 349.5 U/mL (P < 0.001). In MIP images, abdominal lesions were focal distribution in 92.2% (59/64) of OC patients and diffuse distribution in 95.5% (21/22) of TBP patients (P<0.001). Ovarian masses could be observed in 82.8% (53/64) OC patients and 31.8% (7/22) TBP patients (P <0.001). The other indicators were not statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum CA125 and MIP were independent risk factors for diagnosis. A diagnostic scoring system could be established based on serum CA125, MIP and ovarian mass, and the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 98.4% (63/64), 95.5% (21/22), 97.7% (84/86), 98.4% (63/64), and 95.5% (21/22), respectively. Serum CA125 combined with PET/CT is of great value in the diagnosis of OC and TBP. A simple and efficient diagnostic scoring system can be established using serum CA125, MIP image feature, and ovarian mass.

Local context is calculated domain by domain, for each maximal projection

Parsing-based theories of local contexts that either rely on strict linear order (Schlenker 2009) or c-command (Ingason 2016; Romoli &amp;amp; Mandelkern 2017) face a number of challenges, most notably in accounting for nominal modification (Schlenker 2020) and partitives (Anvari &amp;amp; Blumberg 2021) but also, depending on the theory, belief reports and coordination in head-final languages. To resolve such issues, I propose a hybrid theory which takes into account both linear order and syntactic structure: local context is calculated domain by domain, and for each maximal projection.

The Role of 68 Ga-FAPI PET/CT in Breast Cancer Response Assessment and Follow-Up.

68 Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI), a new PET/CT radiotracer targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor microenvironment, can detect many types of cancer. We aimed to assess whether it can also be used for response assessment and follow-up. We followed up patients with FAPI-avid invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) before and after treatment changes and correlated qualitative maximal intensity projection images and quantitative tumor volume with CT results and blood tumor biomarkers. Six consenting ILC breast cancer patients (53 ± 8 years old) underwent a total of 24 scans (baseline for each patient and 2-4 follow-up scans). We found a strong correlation between 68 Ga-FAPI tumor volume and blood biomarkers ( r = 0.7, P < 0.01), but weak correlation between CT and 68 Ga-FAPI maximal intensity projection-based qualitative response assessment. We found a strong correlation between ILC progression and regression (as assessed by blood biomarkers) and 68 Ga-FAPI tumor volume. 68 Ga-FAPI PET/CT could possibly be used for disease response assessment and follow-up.

Correlation between degree of sagittal suture fusion and surrogates of elevated intracranial pressure in sagittal craniosynostosis.

Sagittal craniosynostosis constricts transverse skull growth, with possible neurocognitive sequelae. While the degree of sagittal suture fusion has been shown to influence the degree of dysmorphology, it is unknown if it impacts functional findings, including elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). The purpose of this study was to determine associations between the degree of sagittal suture fusion and optical coherence tomography (OCT) surrogates suggestive of increased ICP in patients with nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis. Three-dimensional CT head images of patients with sagittal craniosynostosis were analyzed in Materialise Mimics and parietal bones were manually isolated to determine the percentage fusion of the sagittal suture. Retinal OCT was performed prior to the cranial vault procedure with analysis for thresholds that correlate with elevated ICP. The degree of sagittal suture fusion was compared with OCT retinal parameter measurements using Mann-Whitney U-tests, Spearman's correlations, and multivariate logistic regression models controlled for age. Forty patients (31 males) with nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis at a mean (± SD) age of 3.4 ± 0.4 months were included in this study. OCT surrogates of elevated ICP (maximal retinal nerve fiber layer [RNFL] thickness and maximal anterior projection [MAP]) were not associated with total sagittal suture fusion (p > 0.05). Maximal RNFL thickness was positively associated with increased percentage of posterior one-half (rho = 0.410, p = 0.022) and posterior one-third (rho = 0.417, p = 0.020) sagittal suture fusion. MAP was also positively associated with increased percentage of posterior one-half (rho = 0.596, p < 0.001) and posterior one-third (rho = 0.599, p < 0.001) sagittal suture fusion. Multivariate logistic regression models revealed increased percentage of posterior one-half (p = 0.048) and posterior one-third (p = 0.039) sagittal suture fusion predicted ICP > 20 mm Hg. Increased percentage fusion of the posterior sagittal suture, but not total suture, was positively associated with retinal changes indicative of increased ICP. These findings suggest suture fusion leading to increased ICP may be region specific.

Topographical distribution and morphology of SP-IR axons in the antrum, pylorus, and duodenum of mice.

Substance-P (SP) is a commonly used marker of nociceptive afferent axons, and it plays an important role in a variety of physiological functions including the regulation of motility, gut secretion, and vascular flow. Previously, we found that SP-immunoreactive (SP-IR) axons densely innervated the pyloric antrum of the flat-mount of the mouse whole stomach muscular layer. However, the regional distribution and morphology of SP-IR axons in the submucosa and mucosa were not well documented. In this study, the mouse antrum-pylorus-duodenum (APD) were transversely and longitudinally sectioned. A Zeiss M2 imager was used to scan the serial sections of each APD (each section montage consisted of 50-100 all-in-focus maximal projection images). To determine the detailed structures of SP-IR axons and terminals, we used the confocal microscope to scan the regions of interest. We found that 1) SP-IR axons innervated the muscular, submucosal, and mucosal layers. 2) In the muscular layer, SP-IR varicose axons densely innervated the muscles and formed varicose terminals which encircled myenteric neurons. 3) In the submucosa, SP-IR axons innervated blood vessels and submucosal ganglia and formed a network in Brunner's glands. 4) In the mucosa, SP-IR axons innervated the muscularis mucosae. Some SP-IR axons entered the lamina propria. 5) The muscular layer of the antrum and duodenum showed a higher SP-IR axon density than the pyloric sphincter. 6) SP-IR axons were from extrinsic and intrinsic origins. This work provided a comprehensive view of the distribution and morphology of SP-IR axons in the APD at single cell/axon/varicosity scale. This data will be used to create a 3D scaffold of the SP-IR axon innervation of the APD.

Lumbar Artery Perforator Flaps in Autologous Breast Reconstruction

The lumbar artery perforator (LAP) flap should be considered for autologous breast reconstruction when a patient's abdomen is unavailable as a donor site. The LAP flap can be harvested with dimensions and volume of distribution that facilitate the restoration of a naturally shaped breast with a sloping upper pole and maximal projection in the lower one-third. Harvest of LAP flaps lifts the buttocks and narrows the waist and, consequently, aesthetic improvement in body contour is generally achieved with these procedures. Although technically challenging, the LAP flap is a valuable tool in the practice of autologous breast reconstruction.

A simple proof of the Grünbaum conjecture

Let λK(m) denote the maximal absolute projection constant over the subspaces of dimension m. Apart from the trivial case for m=1, the only known value of λK(m) is for m=2 and K=R. In 1960, B. Grünbaum conjectured that λR(2)=43 and, in 2010, B. Chalmers and G. Lewicki proved it. In 2019, G. Basso delivered the alternative proof of this conjecture. Both proofs are quite complicated, and there was a strong belief that providing an exact value for λK(m) in other cases would be a difficult task. In our paper, we present an upper bound of the value λK(m), which becomes an exact value for numerous cases. This bound was first stated in H. König and N. Tomczak-Jaegermann (1994) [10], but with an erroneous proof. The crucial idea of our proof will be an application of some results from the articles (B. Bukh and C. Cox (2020) [3] and G. Basso (2019) [1]), for which simplified proofs will be given.

Defining the Ideal Male Buttocks.

There is no well-defined male buttock aesthetic. The authors performed a crowdsourced analysis to define the ideal male buttocks. A survey was deployed using the Amazon MTurk platform. Respondents rated a panel of digitally altered male buttocks from most to least attractive using three views. Respondents were asked questions pertaining to their own interest in gluteal augmentation, self-reported body type, and other demographics. A total of 2095 responses were recorded; 61% were from male respondents, 52% of respondents were between the ages of 25 and 34 years, and 49% were White respondents. The preferred lateral ratio in the anteroposterior dimension was 1.18; the oblique angle between the sacrum, lateral gluteal depression, and point of maximal projection of the gluteal sulcus was 60 degrees; and the posterior ratio between the waist and maximal width of the hips was 0.66. This corresponds to moderate gluteal projection in the lateral and oblique views, with a narrower gluteal width and defined trochanteric depression in the posterior view. Loss of the trochanteric depression was associated with lower scores. Subgroup analysis revealed differences when stratified by region, race, sexual orientation, employment industry, and athletic interest. No appreciable difference was found based on respondent sex. The authors' results demonstrate that there is a preferred male gluteal aesthetic. This study suggests that men and women favor a more projected male buttock with a more pronounced contour, but preferred a narrow width with defined lateral depression. These findings have the potential to guide future aesthetic gluteal contouring techniques in men.

Novel 3D Echocardiographic Technique for Mitral Calcium Mapping

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a common chronic degenerative process of the mitral valve fibrous support ring. MAC increases the risk of mitral valve dysfunction, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and worse outcomes in cardiac interventions. Echocardiography represents the first imaging modality for MAC assessment, but it has low specificity compared to cardiac CT in terms of distinguishing between calcium and dense collagen. Novel three-dimensional transesophageal maximal intensity projection (MIP) mapping allows for the real-time MAC distribution and depth visualization of the cardiac anatomy and represents a useful and promising tool for pre-procedural assessment and intra-procedural guidance of cardiac interventions.