Morphometric Analysis Techniques Research Articles

Soil Erosion Hazard Zonation in Bandu Sub-Watershed, India

Abstract Soil hazard zonation in watershed is quite significant to take the necessary actions for soil conservation. The present study attempts to identify soil hazard zones for proper soil conservation and prepare a treatment plan for the Bandu sub-watershed of India through morphometric analysis techniques by giving rank based on priority. The result of the prioritization of eighteen micro-watersheds is entirely satisfactory due to the use of fourteen morphometric parameters. The study quantifies the potential soil loss and identifies the soil eroded zone of the sub-watershed using the universal soil loss equation method and the entire region is categorized into three soil hazard zones with varying degrees. Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data have been used to conduct the whole study. The micro-watershed prioritization has been estimated by applying the composite morphometric value. The micro-watershed having 5.625 composite value ranks first for prioritization (most vulnerable with maximum soil erosion) and having 15.875 composite value ranks last for prioritization (least vulnerable with minimum soil erosion). The result also shows that the soil loss ranges from 0-30 tonne/hectare/year with an average soil loss of 0-10 tonne/hectare/year in maximum areas of the sub-watershed. The soil loss map shows that along the Bandu and in some agricultural fields, the central part of the region is susceptible to soil erosion. The scientific approach of this research could be more effective in maintaining sustainable rural planning. The study can be used as a reference work for determining soil hazard zones in any tropical watershed with high soil loss risk.

Morpho-Hydrological Analysis and Preliminary Flash Flood Hazard Mapping of Neom City, Northwestern Saudi Arabia, Using Geospatial Techniques

Neom city is a unique cross-border city connecting Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. Although Neom city is of great and critical importance for Saudi Arabia, few hydrological, natural hazard, and geomorphological studies have been undertaken on this region. This work aims to investigate the hydro-geomorphological characteristics and assess the flash flood hazards in Neom city by investigating several valuable morphometric parameters. The Shutter Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model and hydrological and geological data were analyzed in this study using ArcGIS software. Based on the morphometric parameter results, total stream lengths and stream orders were relatively high (17,956.03 km and 5, respectively), whereas the average bifurcation ratio was recorded to be low at 3.54. Basins 10, 12, 17, 30, 31, 32, and 34 were described as large basins, coarse-textured, elongated, with a medium drainage density, low infiltration values, long overland flows, and high values of constant maintenance. Additionally, the El-Shamy approach for flood hazard assessment was applied side by side with the morphometric analysis, which indicated that the possibility of an intense flood hazard is very low. In general, this study suggests that most of the studied basins cover similar and resistant rocks and soils. They have minimal conditions for flooding events and suitable conditions for underground and surface water resources. Therefore, they display high signals of susceptibility to erosion. The morphometric analysis and flash flood assessment techniques applied in this study were time- and cost-effective for the morphometric characterization of landforms. This text deals with the analysis of several environmental characteristics including hydro-morphological characteristics, drainage topography and lithology, soil erosion, groundwater recharge impact, and flash flood signals. Excellent sustainability plans should be reliant on extensive and varied information about the environment. Thus, integrated analyses incorporating environmental characteristics and flood hazard assessment play an important role in adjusting and adapting the suitable socioeconomic and scientific sustainability of the development of the study city. They build up the basic and essential information required to help decision-makers and sustainability managers design and adjust the most suitable sustainability plans for the study city over the long term.

Cricetinae in the Quaternary fossil record of the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

The paper surveys the Quaternary (MN17–Q4) fossil record of Cricetinae in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with particular attention to the current glacial cycle (Q4: Vistulian–Holocene) and immediate history of extant taxa. Vast majority of records were reexamined using standardized techniques of morphometric analysis (in total 625 molars of Cricetus, 805 molars of small hamsters). Cricetus cricetus, recorded in 130 Q4 fossil communities, exhibits almost continuous appearance since the beginning of Vistulian, possibly with considerable range regressions during LGM and middle Holocene. It was recorded also in 27 Early Pleistocene (MN17–Q2) and 6 Middle Pleistocene (Q3) assemblages, with a small-sized form (Cricetus cricetus nanus) in MN17–Q1 stage and a mosaic of Q2–Q3 records exhibiting mostly excessively large size (C. c. runtonensis), similarly as the Vistulian items which are clearly larger than those of the post-LGM and early Holocene age. The appearance of hamster in fossil record shows a mosaic character suggesting temporal spatial and abundance fluctuations: in most sites it absents and in general, it appears as a rather rare sub-recedent element (in Q4 communities with overall dominance of mere 0.55% and this is valid also for its appearance in Early and Middle Pleistocene assemblages). Small hamsters arranged here in the genus Cricetulus (incl. Allocricetus) represent a constant element of the Early and Middle Pleistocene assemblages (43 sites in the Czech Republic and Slovakia). The items of Q4 record (21 communities) clearly differ from the Early to Middle Pleistocene form Cricetulus bursae by a consistently smaller size corresponding to extant species Cricetulus migratorius. The gap is quite distinct conforming even to the possible extinction of C. bursae during the Eemian interglacial followed by early Vistulian expansion of the extant species from its Asiatic range suggested by molecular phylogeography. We examined a question of possible appearance of Phodopus among the Q4 record of small hamsters, yet in our material, we did not succeed to confirm it.

GIS and geomorphological mapping applied to landslide inventory and susceptibility mapping in the El Estado River basin, Pico de Ori-zaba, Mexico

With the purpose of strengthening the knowledge and prevention of landslide disasters, this work develops a methodology that integrates geomorphological mapping with the elaboration of landslide susceptibility maps using geographic information systems (GIS) and the multiple logistic regression method (MLR). In Mexico, some isolated works have been carried out with GIS to evaluate slope stability. However, to date, no practical and standardized method has been developed to integrate geomorphological maps with landslide inventories using GIS. This paper shows the analysis carried out to develop a multitemporal landslide inventory together with the morphometric analysis and mapping technique for the El Estado River basin where, selected as the study area, is located on the southwestern slope of the Citlaltepetl or Pico de Orizaba volcano. The geological and geomorphological factors in combination with the high seasonal precipitation, the high degree of weathering and the steep slopes predispose its surfaces to landslides. To assess landslide susceptibility, a landslide inventory map was prepared using aerial photographs, followed by geomorphometric mapping (altimetry, slopes and geomorphology) and field work. With this information, landslide susceptibility was modeled using multiple logistic regression (MLR) within a GIS platform and the landslide susceptibility map was obtained.

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This study aims at examining and confirming the patterns of phenetic relationships and the levels of variations within and among the species of Lotus L., 1753 in Egypt by using morphometric analysis techniques. We have evaluated 24 morphological characters from about 300 herbarium specimens representing 19 species of Lotus that are currently recognized. Based on numerical analyses of macromorphological characters (cluster analysis, principal coordinate analysis and principal component analysis), 19 species of Lotus were recognized from Egypt. These species were clustered in six species-specific groups: (I) Lotus halophilus Boiss. & Spruner, L. angustissimus L., L. glinoides Delile and L. schimperi Steud. ex Boiss., (II) Lotus glaber Mill. and L. palustris Willd., (III) Lotus polyphyllos E.D. Clarke, L. creticus L. and L. cytisoides L., (IV) Lotus gebelia Vent., L. lanuginosus Vent. and L. arenarius Brot., (V) Lotus edulis L., L. tetragonolobus L. and L. conjugatus L. and (VI) Lotus ornithopodioides L., L. peregrinus L., L. arabicus L. and L. hebranicus Hochst. ex Brand. As a result of this study, we proposed that some characters, not previously examined in detail, showed significant characters in species delimitation: pod length, seed dimensions, features of upper and lower leaflets, calyx, length of corolla, length of style, numbers of flowers and ovules.

Morphometric and principal component analysis–based prioritization of reservoir catchments using geospatial techniques for land and water conservation aspects in North-West India

A study was undertaken to prioritize the six reservoir catchments, viz. C1: Chohal dam, C2: Dholbaha dam, C3: Thana dam, C4: Janauri dam, C5: Damsal dam and C6: Patiaria dam, located in Shivalik foothills of North-West India, using morphometric and principal component analysis (PCA), remote sensing and GIS techniques for land and water conservation aspects. The selected catchments were delineated using high-resolution ALOS PALSAR digital elevation model (DEM) in ArcGIS 10.4.1 software (Archydro tool). The morphometric analysis was found suitable for identifying catchment shapes and the factors affecting hydrologic conditions and erodibility. The lower values of elongation ratio (0.59–0.79), circularity ratio (0.23–0.36) and form factor (0.28–0.64) indicated higher soil erosion potential in the catchments. Moreover, the higher values of stream frequency, drainage density, drainage texture and bifurcation ratio indicated higher runoff potential, which would intensify the soil erosion. The results indicated a successful enactment of both approaches in catchment prioritization. PCA used only highly correlated parameters, thereby reducing the prioritization time. The morphometric analysis followed by PCA-based prioritization was witnessed to be consistent for better decision-making in conservation planning. Thus, remote sensing and GIS-based morphometric analysis followed by prioritization can be highly useful in identifying the critical issues related to water distribution, erosion pattern and groundwater recharge in the most critical reservoir catchment (s). Moreover, in the reservoir catchments where the sediment inflow significantly reduces their storage capacities, such study can be useful in maintaining the maximum reservoir storage volumes through appropriate land and water conservation measures.

High resolution automated labeling of the hippocampus and amygdala using a 3D convolutional neural network trained on whole brain 700 μm isotropic 7T MP2RAGE MRI

Image labeling using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are a template‐free alternative to traditional morphometric techniques. We trained a 3D deep CNN to label the hippocampus and amygdala on whole brain 700 μm isotropic 3D MP2RAGE MRI acquired at 7T. Manual labels of the hippocampus and amygdala were used to (i) train the predictive model and (ii) evaluate performance of the model when applied to new scans. Healthy controls and individuals with epilepsy were included in our analyses. Twenty‐one healthy controls and sixteen individuals with epilepsy were included in the study. We utilized the recently developed DeepMedic software to train a CNN to label the hippocampus and amygdala based on manual labels. Performance was evaluated by measuring the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) between CNN‐based and manual labels. A leave‐one‐out cross validation scheme was used. CNN‐based and manual volume estimates were compared for the left and right hippocampus and amygdala in healthy controls and epilepsy cases. The CNN‐based technique successfully labeled the hippocampus and amygdala in all cases. Mean DSC = 0.88 ± 0.03 for the hippocampus and 0.8 ± 0.06 for the amygdala. CNN‐based labeling was independent of epilepsy diagnosis in our sample (p = .91). CNN‐based volume estimates were highly correlated with manual volume estimates in epilepsy cases and controls. CNNs can label the hippocampus and amygdala on native sub‐mm resolution MP2RAGE 7T MRI. Our findings suggest deep learning techniques can advance development of morphometric analysis techniques for high field strength, high spatial resolution brain MRI.

<p>Visible Meibomian Gland Structure Increases After Vectored Thermal Pulsation Treatment in Dry Eye Disease Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction</p>

PurposeTo assess the effect of vectored thermal pulsation treatment (VTP) on visible meibomian gland structure (VGS) in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).SettingPrivate group practice (A.T.E.).DesignRetrospective, single-blinded cohort study.MethodsVisible meibomian gland structure was evaluated at baseline and at 1-year in treatment (30 patients, 48 eyes) and control (13 patients, 22 eyes) groups. Meibography images were captured using dynamic meibomian imaging. Images were assessed using a novel morphometric analysis technique and analyzed for change in area of VGS (pixels). Additional outcomes measured include tear break up time, corneal staining, tear osmolarity, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), meibography grading, and meibomian gland evaluation.ResultsAs high as 69% of eyes in the treatment group showed an improvement in VGS versus 27% of eyes in the control group. As high as 31% of eyes in the treatment group showed a decline in VGS versus 73% of eyes in the control group. TBUT (p = 0.0001), corneal staining (p = 0.0063), and meibomian gland evaluation scores (p = 0.0038) all significantly improved after VTP treatment. However, SPEED scores, MMP-9, tear osmolarity, and meiboscale scores were not significantly improved 1-year post treatment.ConclusionA morphometric analysis protocol of meibography provides clinically meaningful information that is undetectable with the standard semiquantitative method of grading meibomian gland structure. This is the first report indicating that gland structure may increase post-VTP relative to untreated controls, thus presenting significant implications regarding benefits and timing of VTP therapy. The described protocol is currently more appropriate for research than for clinical practice.

Subtle sexual plumage color dimorphism and size dimorphism in a South American colonial breeder, the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

BackgroundParrots (Psittacidae Family) are one of the most colorful groups of birds in the world, their colors produced both structurally and via unusual pigments (psittacofulvins). Most species are considered to be monogamous, and many have been viewed historically as sexually monomorphic and monochromatic. However, studies using morphometric analysis and spectrophotometric techniques have revealed sexual size dimorphism and also sexual plumage color dimorphism among some species. The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), a native parrot of South America, is an interesting species for the study of plumage coloration and size since it is considered sexually monochromatic and monomorphic. Furthermore, recent studies show that the Monk Parakeet has extra-bond paternity behavior and even breeding trios, which suggests that sexual selection may play an important role in this species, and that it might have sexually dimorphic plumage (albeit imperceptible by humans) and be dimorphic in size.MethodsFor the determination of plumage color we used spectrophotometry in the range of avian vision (300‒700 nm) and performed a morphological analysis.ResultsOur spectrophotometric results indicate that the Monk Parakeet shows subtle sexual plumage color dimorphism in three (crown, nape and wing) out of twelve body regions. Similarly, our morphometric analysis showed that there are subtle sex differences in body size (bill and weight).ConclusionsAlthough the Monk Parakeet shows extra-bond paternity and breeding trio behaviors which could increase sexual dimorphism, these behaviors occur among highly related individuals; perhaps the high rate of inbreeding is responsible for the attenuation of sexual plumage color dimorphism and sex differences in body size observed.

Estimation of the soil loss in micro watersheds using morphometric analysis and GIS techniques

Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) has now become the fastest growing technology which is found to be useful in many aspects. In current scenario, we face many problems in the form of flood in one side due to improper drainage system and on the other side we face water scarcity. There is a great demand for water at present. This is an ironical situation. As per the rainfall analysis, the amount of rainfall remains same during the years and it is not reduced, but the pattern of rainfall varied greatly. These factors lead to the inefficiency of water storage structures. For that, water resource management has become an inevitable study. RS and GIS acts as a tool used to delineate the watershed. Estimation of Morphometric parameters is done using GIS. Morphometric parameters are of three aspects-Linear aspects, Aerial aspects, Relief aspects. On determining the morphometric parameters, the most eroded region in the watershed is found and for that particular region, run-off is calculated using SCS-CN curve number method. The soil loss is estimated using USLE for the watershed. These techniques are used to find soil loss in the highly eroded sub-watershed in the Noyyal basin. This helps us in estimating the severity of soil erosion and thus a suitable soil - conservation method can be implemented in the watershed

Detecting structured sources in noisy images via Minkowski maps

Astronomy, biophysics, and material science often depend on the possibility to extract information out of faint spatial signals. Here we present a morphometric analysis technique to quantify the shape of structural deviations in greyscale images. It identifies important features in noisy spatial data, especially for short observation times and low statistics. Without assuming any prior knowledge about potential sources, the additional shape information can increase the sensitivity by 14 orders of magnitude compared to previous methods. Rejection rates can increase by an order of magnitude. As a key ingredient to such a dramatic increase, we accurately describe the distribution of the homogeneous background noise in terms of the density of states for the area A, perimeter P, and Euler characteristic χ of random black-and-white images. The technique is successfully applied to data of the H.E.S.S. experiment for the detection of faint extended sources.

Prioritization of W. Mujib Catchment (South Jordan) through Morphometric and Discriminant Analysis, GIS, and RS Techniques

GIS and remote sensing were utilized for prioritizing the W. Mujib catchment. Fifty three fourth-order sub-watersheds were prioritized based on morphometric analysis of linear and shape parameters. ASTER DEM (v.2), topographical maps, and Arc GIS (10.1) software, have been employed to delineate the 53 sub-basins, to extract the drainage networks, and to compute the required basic, linear, and shape parameters, and to compile the necessary thematic maps such as elevation and slope categories. The land use/land cover map was generated using ERDAS Imagine (2015), LANDSAT 8 image, and supervised classification (Maximum Likelihood Method). Soil map was digitized using the Arc GIS tool. Each sub-basin is prioritized by assigning ranks based on the calculated compound parameter (Cp). The final score for each sub-basin is ascribed as per erosion threat. The 53 sub-watersheds were grouped into four categories of priority: very high (15 sub-basins, 28.3% of the total), high (17 sub-basins, 32% of the total), moderate (16 sub-basins, 30.2% of the total), and low (5 sub-basins, 9.5% of the total). Sub-basins categorized as very high and high priority (60.3% of the total) are subjected to high erosion risk, thus, creating an urgent need for applying soil and water conservation measures. The validity of the prioritized four groups was tested statistically by means of Discriminant Analysis (DA), and a significant difference was found between the four priority classes. A relatively complete separation exists between the recognized priority classes; thus, they are statistically valid, distinct, and different from each other. The present results intend to help decision makers pay sufficient attention to soil and water conservation programs, and to encourage tree plantation over the government-owned sloping land. Such procedures are essential in order to minimize soil erosion loss, and to increase soil moisture on farms, thus, reducing the impact of recurrent droughts and the possibility of flooding downstream.

Quantitative characterization of soil micro-aggregates: New opportunities from sub-micron resolution synchrotron X-ray microtomography

Soil microaggregates are the fundamental building block, at the micron scale, of the highly hierarchical structure of soils, and can exert a significant control on the local biological metabolism and microbial community partitioning. In this study we propose an analysis protocol for the morphometric characterization of complete soil microaggregates based on sub-micron resolution synchrotron X-ray microtomography. A comprehensive characterization of the aggregate morphology is the first step towards a complete characterization of the soil microaggregates, when trying to correlate morphometric parameters with physical and/or biological properties, or when building models (e.g., effective diffusivity, microbial distribution, etc.). We demonstrate our characterization approach on two single microaggregate samples from dramatically different soil environments: one from Kansas, primarily composed by inorganic particles, and one from Barrow (Alaska) dominated by plant fragments. A series of state-of-the-art morphometric analysis techniques have been employed providing quantitative results highlighting specific differences of the two samples. The role of the microstructure in a scenario microbial population development has been discussed and it has been found that the Barrow microaggregate seems to be more favorable, from a purely geometrical point of view, as also confirmed by a simple model presented in this work. The potential of this approach, when coupled with chemical and biological analysis for a fully comprehensive characterization of soil aggregates in the larger picture of enhanced biological activity, is evident.

Machine learning performance for predicting soil salinity using different combinations of geomorphometric covariates

Conventional methods of monitoring salt accumulation in irrigation schemes require regular field visits to collect soil samples for laboratory analysis. Identifying areas prone to salt accumulation by means of geomorphometry (i.e. terrain analyses using digital elevation models (DEMs)) can potentially save time and costs. This study evaluated the extent to which DEM derivatives and machine learning (ML) algorithms (k-nearest neighbour, support vector machine, decision tree (DT) and random forest) can be used for predicting the location and extent of salt-affected areas within the Vaalharts and Breede River irrigation schemes of South Africa. In accordance with local management policies, salt-affected areas were defined as regions with soil electrical conductivity (EC) values >4dS/m. Two DEMs, namely the one-arch second Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM and a photogrammetrically-extracted digital surface model (DSM), were used for deriving the derivatives. Wetness indices as well as hydrological and morphometric terrain analysis techniques were used to generate predictive variables. For comparative purposes, the predictive variables were also used as input to regression modelling and kriging with external drift (KED). Thresholds were applied to the regression models and KED results to obtain a binary classification. EC values based on in situ soil samples were used for model development, classifier training and accuracy assessment.The results show that KED achieved the highest overall accuracy (OA) in Vaalharts (79.6%), whereas KED and ML (DT) showed the most promise in the Breede River (75%). The findings suggest that the use of elevation data and its derivatives as input to geostatistics and ML holds much potential for monitoring salt accumulation in irrigated areas, particularly for simulating sub-surface conditions. More work is needed to investigate the potential of using ML and DEM-derivatives, along with other geospatial datasets such as satellite imagery (that have been shown to be effective for monitoring surface conditions), for the operational modelling of salt accumulation in large irrigation schemes.

Follistatin-like 1 expression is decreased in the alveolar epithelium of hypoplastic rat lungs with nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Background/purposePulmonary hypoplasia (PH), characterized by incomplete alveolar development, remains a major therapeutic challenge associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a crucial regulator of alveolar formation and maturation, which is strongly expressed in distal airway epithelium. Fstl1-deficient mice exhibit reduced airspaces, impaired alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, and insufficient production of surfactant proteins similar to PH in human CDH. We hypothesized that pulmonary Fstl1 expression is decreased during alveolarization in the nitrofen-induced CDH model. MethodsTimed-pregnant rats received nitrofen or vehicle on gestational day 9 (D9). Fetal lungs were harvested on D18 and D21 and divided into control−/nitrofen-exposed specimens. Alveolarization was assessed using morphometric analysis techniques. Pulmonary gene expression of Fstl1 was determined by qRT-PCR. Immunofluorescence-double-staining for Fstl1 and alveolar epithelial marker surfactant protein C (SP-C) was performed to evaluate protein expression/localization. ResultsRadial alveolar count was significantly reduced in hypoplastic lungs of nitrofen-exposed fetuses with significant down regulation of Fstl1 mRNA expression on D18 and D21 compared to controls. Confocal-laser-scanning-microscopy revealed strikingly diminished Fstl1 immunofluorescence and SP-C expression in distal alveolar epithelium of nitrofen-exposed fetuses with CDH-associated PH on D18 and D21 compared to controls. ConclusionsDecreased expression of Fstl1 in alveolar epithelium may disrupt alveolarization and pulmonary surfactant production, thus contributing to the development of PH in the nitrofen-induced CDH model. Level of evidence2b (Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Oxford).

Prioritization of Semi-Arid Agricultural Watershed Using Morphometric and Principal Component Analysis, Remote Sensing, and GIS Techniques, the Zerqa River Watershed, Northern Jordan

Remote sensing and GIS techniques were employed for prioritization of the Zerqa River watershed. Forty-three 4th order sub-watersheds were prioritized based on morphometric and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), in order to examine the effectiveness of morphometric parameters in watershed prioritization. A comparison has been carried out between the results achieved through applying the two methods of analysis (morphometric and PCA). Afterwards, suitable measures are proposed for soil and water conservation. Topo sheets and ASTER DEM have been employed to demarcate the 43 sub-watersheds, to extract the drainage networks, and to compile the required thematic maps such as slope categories and elevation. LANDSAT 8 image (April-2015) is employed to generate land use/cover maps using ENVI (v 5.1) software. The soil map of the watershed has been digitized using Arc GIS software. Prioritization of the 43 sub-watersheds was performed using ten linear and shape parameters, and three parameters which are highly correlated with components 1 and 2. Subsequently, different sub-watersheds were prioritized by ascribing ranks based on the calculated compound parameters (Cp) using the two approaches. Comparison of the results revealed that prioritization of watersheds based on morphometric analysis is more consistent and serves for better decision making in conservation planning as compared with the PCA approach. The recommended soil conservation measures are prescribed in accordance with the specified priority, in order to avoid undesirable effects on land and environment. Sub-watersheds classified under high priority class are subjected to high erosion risk, thus, creating an urgent need for applying soil and water conservation measures. It is expected that decision makers will pay sufficient attention to the present results/information, activate programs encouraging soil conservation, integrated watershed management, and will continue working on the afforestation of the government-owned sloping lands. Such a viable approach can be applied at different parts of the rainfed highland areas to minimize soil erosion loss, and to increase infiltration and soil moisture in the soil profile, thus, reducing the impact of recurrent droughts and the possibility of flooding hazards.

MP54-13 DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF HEMORRHAGIC KIDNEY INJURY CAUSED BY BURST WAVE LITHOTRIPSY USING ULTRASOUND AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

You have accessJournal of UrologyStone Disease: Shock Wave Lithotripsy1 Apr 2016MP54-13 DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF HEMORRHAGIC KIDNEY INJURY CAUSED BY BURST WAVE LITHOTRIPSY USING ULTRASOUND AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING Adam Maxwell, Wayne Kreider, Yak-Nam Wang, Philip May, Donghoon Lee, Joshua Park, Bryan Cunitz, Mathew Sorensen, Rajash Handa, Michael Bailey, and Jonathan Harper Adam MaxwellAdam Maxwell More articles by this author , Wayne KreiderWayne Kreider More articles by this author , Yak-Nam WangYak-Nam Wang More articles by this author , Philip MayPhilip May More articles by this author , Donghoon LeeDonghoon Lee More articles by this author , Joshua ParkJoshua Park More articles by this author , Bryan CunitzBryan Cunitz More articles by this author , Mathew SorensenMathew Sorensen More articles by this author , Rajash HandaRajash Handa More articles by this author , Michael BaileyMichael Bailey More articles by this author , and Jonathan HarperJonathan Harper More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.583AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) is a new, noninvasive method to disintegrate urinary tract stones by focused ultrasound pulses rather than shock waves. In order to evaluate the safety of this technique, preclinical work is needed to identify the effects of the BWL exposures on kidney tissue. This study investigated the use of ultrasound (US) imaging for real-time detection of hemorrhagic injury during BWL, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for post-treatment quantification of injury in comparison with a standard morphometric technique. METHODS BWL exposures were delivered to 21 sites in 4 pigs by 170 and 335 kHz focused ultrasound transducers. A midline incision was made to open the abdomen, and the transducer was coupled through a water-filled cone directly to the kidney. During treatment, synchronized B-Mode and color Doppler ultrasound imaging were employed to monitor the transducer focal region to detect BWL-induced cavitation associated with hemorrhagic injury. After treatment, kidneys were perfusion-fixed and extracted for analysis. A 3T MRI scanner (Achieva, Philips Healthcare, The Netherlands) was used to obtain T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and susceptibility-weighted images of each of the 8 fixed kidneys. Hemorrhagic injury was then identified and volumetrically quantified from the three scans using 3D segmentation. The injury was also quantified in 5 of the kidneys by an established morphometric analysis technique that has been used to quantify injury in shock wave lithotripsy research. The detection of cavitation on US imaging was correlated with MRI and morphometric results. RESULTS During exposures, cavitation was identified on US images as hyperechoic regions in kidney tissue on B-Mode imaging and highly elevated Doppler power in the focal zone. Injury was clearly demarcated on MRI as a hypointense region on T2-weighted images. All injured volumes were <2% of the functional renal volume, and <0.5% for exposures anticipated to be used for BWL, measured either by MR or the traditional quantification method. Detection of cavitation on US was consistent with presence/absence of injury on MR in 20 of 24 sites (including untreated locations), and with morphometric analysis in 14 of 15 sites. Identified lesions on MRI coincided with results of morphometric analysis in 13 of 15 sites. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound imaging is a sensitive detector of cavitation onset during BWL and correlates well with the presence of hemorrhagic tissue injury. MRI is a promising method to identify and quantify hemorrhagic kidney injury for BWL. © 2016FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 195Issue 4SApril 2016Page: e731 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016MetricsAuthor Information Adam Maxwell More articles by this author Wayne Kreider More articles by this author Yak-Nam Wang More articles by this author Philip May More articles by this author Donghoon Lee More articles by this author Joshua Park More articles by this author Bryan Cunitz More articles by this author Mathew Sorensen More articles by this author Rajash Handa More articles by this author Michael Bailey More articles by this author Jonathan Harper More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Evaluation of Shallow Landslides in the Northern Walgau (Austria) Using Morphometric Analysis Techniques

Landslides play a key role in landscape evolution in the Eastern Alps. These geomorphic phenomena are influenced by multiple interdependent and interacting natural and anthropogenic factors. An in-depth evaluation of the spatial distribution of existing landslides enables to gain first insights into potentially hazardous areas. Morphometric analysis techniques of mapped landslides as well as their date of occurrence allow to infer their activity and also potential impacts on affected areas. The prevalent slow moving landslides and inactive slipping areas were mapped and analysed via digital terrain models (DTM), shaded relief images of highly resolved airborne laserscanning (ALS) data and in-field observations. Orthophotos from aerial surveys and ALS data allowed a deferred-time analyses of past landslide occurrences including a record of recent slope movements. All mapped landslides were classified and analysed with geomorphometric indices. Pedological processes, the lithological setting and anthropogenic landscape transformationwere taken into account when interpreting the results. The geomorphometrical evaluation of the sliding areas determine the creation of a multitemporal landslide inventory in the Northern Walgau.

Dermal type I collagen assessment by digital image analysis.

Type I collagen is the main dermal component, and its evaluation is relevant to quantitative studies in dermatopathology. However, visual gradation (0 to 4+) has low precision and high subjectivity levels. This study aimed to develop and validate a digital morphometric analysis technique to estimate type I collagen levels in the papillary dermis. Four evaluators visually quantified (0 to 4+) the density of type I collagen in 63 images of forearm skin biopsies marked by immunohistochemistry and two evaluators analyzed the same images using digital morphometric techniques (RGB split colors (I) and color deconvolution (II)). Automated type I collagen density estimation in the papillary dermis (two techniques) were correlated with visual evaluations (Spearman's rho coefficients of 0.48 and 0.62 (p<0.01)). With regard to the inter-observer repeatability, the four evaluators who used visual classification had an intraclass correlation coefficient (for absolute agreement) of 0.53, while the other two evaluators who used digital analysis (algorithm II) had an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97.

Female pelvic shape: Distinct types or nebulous cloud?

The objective of this study was to re-evaluate the Caldwell-Moloy (1933) classification of female pelvic shape, which has been traditionally, and still is currently, taught to students of midwifery and medicine. Using modern pelvimetric methodologies and geometric morphometric (GM) analysis techniques, we aim to elucidate whether these classic female pelvic types are an accurate reflection of the real morphometric variation present in the female human pelvis. GM analysis was carried out on sets of pelvic landmarks from scans of women living in a contemporary Western Australian population. Sixty-four anonymous female multi-detector computer tomography (MDCT) scans were used for most of the study and 51 male scans were also examined for comparison. Principle component analysis (PCA) found that there was no obvious clustering into the four distinct types of pelvis (gynaecoid, anthropoid, android and platypelloid) in the Caldwell-Moloy classification, but rather an amorphous, cloudy continuum of shape variation. Until more data is collected to confirm or deny the statistical significance of this shape variation, it is recommended that teachers and authors of midwifery, obstetrics and gynaecological texts be more cautious about continuing to promote the Caldwell-Moloy classification, as our results show no support for the long taught ‘four types’ of pelvis.