Morphological Patterns Research Articles

Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia in Aortic Surgery: What You Need to Know.

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI), a subtype of acute mesenteric ischemia, is primarily caused by mesenteric arterial vasoconstriction and decreased vascular resistance, leading to impaired intestinal perfusion.Commonly observed after cardiac surgery, NOMI affects older patients with cardiovascular or systemic diseases, accounting for 20-30% of acute mesenteric ischemia cases with a mortality rate of ∼50%. This review explores NOMI's pathophysiology, clinical implications in aortic dissection, and the unmet needs in diagnosis and management, emphasizing its prognostic significance. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using multiple electronic databases to extract relevant data and information. NOMI is a life-threatening condition characterized by mesenteric vasoconstriction and reduced splanchnic blood flow, often triggered by cardiac surgery, haemodialysis, or hypotensive episodes. Epidemiological studies highlight its prevalence in ICU settings, with a high mortality rate linked to delayed diagnosis and systemic hypoperfusion. Risk factors include advanced age, vasopressor use, and inflammatory markers. Biomarkers such as I-FABP, citrulline, and D-lactate show potential for early detection but lack robust clinical validation. Management includes fluid resuscitation, vasodilators, and surgical intervention for bowel necrosis. Emerging endovascular approaches show promise but are limited to select cases without bowel infarction. This review underscores the critical need for timely diagnosis, risk factor identification, and tailored interventions to improve outcomes. NOMI remains poorly understood despite advances in surgical and perioperative care. Its pathophysiology, linked to cardiopulmonary bypass and intraoperative factors, requires heightened clinical vigilance. Limited evidence underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, radiologists, and anaesthetists to improve diagnosis, management, and outcomes in aortic surgery patients. Figure 1. Schematic illustration of morphological and haemodynamic patterns of mesenteric ischaemia. The aortic type (A) and branch type (B) cause significant malperfusion, while mild compression of the true lumen (TL) or double tract perfusion do not cause malperfusion. AB-AO abdominal aorta, FL false lumen, SMA superior mesenteric artery. Reproduced from Orihashi et al. [REF] with copyright permission obtained.

Investigating particle-particle interaction during the initial crystal growth: insights from phase field model approach

ABSTRACT By utilising the two-dimensional phase field model with the phenomenological anti-trapping current, the morphological pattern formation of particles within the alloy melt during the initial crystal growth is studied. The results of the numerical simulations elucidate that the two particles progressively converge and interact, ultimately coalescing into a microstructure, and subsequently, the microstructure interface undergoes deformation growth. To be specific, differential growth orientation across various parts of the microstructure interface prompts deformation during the initial crystal growth. The concentration and temperature evolutions of the different parts of the microstructure at different time points during the initial crystal growth are analysed. These findings enhance the comprehension of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the evolution of the microstructure during crystal growth.

Reading an adaptable urban form: Exploring the morphological patterns of the Iranian traditional bazaar

ABSTRACT In order to keep pace with the speed of the new era, modified patterns from the past can help generate faster and more reliable solutions, along with new ideas in the urban design process. Meanwhile, the urban traditional forms serve as a valuable knowledge source, offering guidance for contemporary designers. Iran's traditional bazaars represent urban complexes with a history dating back to the formation of cities. Endowed with both physical and functional flexibility, these bazaars have grown and evolved, enduring long lives to reach the present age. This article delves into the reasons behind the adaptation ability of these historical urban complexes employing the morphological method. The analysis focuses on the bazaars’ structure, anatomy, and diversity. Consequently, the established physical patterns of Iran's traditional bazaars unveil the key to their remarkable resilience against various physical changes over time. The results derived from this research can help better preserve these historical phenomena as they face the threat of isolation every day. Additionally, lessons from these adaptable patterns hold relevance not only for the bazaar's future but also for urban design within the Iranian context and beyond.

Morphological Patterns of Spinal Degeneration and Trauma in a Nigerian Population: a Retrospective Radio-Anatomic Study.

Understanding the morphological patterns of degenerative and traumatic spinal conditions is essential for precise diagnosis and management plans. This study evaluates the sequence of structural changes in degenerative spinal disorder patients' disco-vertebral unit and the traumatic spinal injury patterns in a northwestern Nigerian population. A hospital-based retrospective study reviewed radiologic images of 307 patients with spinal degeneration (n=269) and trauma (n=38) at two tertiary hospitals in Northwest Nigeria. The study presented descriptive and inferential statistics with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and significance level with a p-value ≤ 0.05. The average age of patients with spinal degeneration was 52.5 years, with females (60.6%) and those aged 41 and older (76.6%) predominant, while trauma patients averaged 36.3 years, predominantly male (78.9%) and aged 21 - 40 years (60.5%). Common clinical manifestations included radicular pain (53.9%) in degenerative cases and spinal shock (36.8%) in trauma. Correlation analysis showed significant links between mild/moderate straightening of spinal curvature and clinical manifestations (p=0.001). Age-influenced osteophyte and intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, especially in the 41 - 60 age group (p=0.001), with AO/Magerl Type A spinal injury was more common in males (p = 0.022) and the 21 - 40 age group (p = 0.019), indicating notable demographic trends. IVD degeneration peaks at L3, L4, and L5, notably Grade III (p = 0.001), and Modic II frequencies rise from L1 (16) to L5 (35) without significant association (p = 0.99). This study reveals different morphological patterns in degenerative and traumatic spinal conditions in the study population, with considerable age, gender, and symptom correlations. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding these patterns for effective diagnosis and management strategies of spinal degeneration and trauma.

Quantifying and Mapping the Impact of Construction Land Expansion on Cultivated Land Fragmentation—A Case Study of Fuqing City, China

To ensure the sustainable utilization of cultivated land resources, it is essential to quantify and map the characteristics of construction land and cultivated land and analyze the mechanisms by which construction land expansion affects cultivated land. However, few studies have been conducted focusing on this issue. This study integrated morphological spatial pattern analysis, spillover effect analysis, landscape pattern analysis, and a land use transition monitoring method to investigate the characteristics of construction land expansion and cultivated land fragmentation. Fuqing City of China was selected as the case study area for demonstration. The results demonstrated that the expansion of construction land resulted in fragmented patterns within the cultivated land landscape: (1) The large core area of cultivated land was subdivided into smaller core areas during 2000–2020, while the construction land exhibited a tendency towards aggregation and a spillover effect; (2) The expansion rate of the construction land in the study area accelerated, while the extent of the cultivated land decreased; (3) Cultivated land fragmentation intensified as landscape aggregation weakened, leading to an expansion in the agglomeration of construction land. The highlights of this study are: (1) examining the characteristics of construction land expansion and cultivated land fragmentation from morphological and geospatial perspectives; (2) categorizing the core areas of cultivated land based on their size to facilitate the analysis of factors contributing to cultivated land fragmentation. The findings in this study can be used to develop models to predict future patterns of cultivated and construction land to provide suggestions for landscape planning.

Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis between primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid and squamous cell carcinoma combined with papillary thyroid carcinoma

BackgroundPrimary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid (PSCCT) has recently been reclassified as a morphologic pattern of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). Consequently, PSCCT and squamous cell carcinoma with papillary thyroid carcinoma (SCC-PTC) were categorized as ATC. However, in terms of clinical characteristics and overall prognosis, whether PSCCT is similar to SCC-PTC has yet to be sufficiently investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the differences and similarities between PSCCT and SCC-PTC regarding clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid in our institution from December 2009 to December 2020. In addition, the publications in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases were systematically searched to collect patient information. According to pathological diagnosis, patients were divided into the PSCCT and SCC-PTC groups, and compared their clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis, respectively.Results308 patients in the PSCCT group and 60 patients in the SCC-PTC group were enrolled in the study. There were significant differences in gender, age, T stage, N stage, M stage, symptoms at diagnosis, and TTF-1 expression between the two groups. Patients in the SCC-PTC group with more frequent radioactive iodine therapy, surgery, and less frequent radiotherapy than PSCCT. In addition, PSCCT and SCC-PTC also demonstrated similarities in tracheal invasion, esophageal invasion, CK5/6 expression, TG expression, P53 expression, and chemotherapy frequency. The 3-year overall survival rate of PSCCT (19.1%) was lower than that of SCC-PTC (34.6%). The prognostic factors were different between the two groups. Multivariable analysis shows that the N stage, M stage, radiotherapy, and tracheal invasion were related to the prognosis of PSCCT, while only the T stage was associated with the prognosis in SCC-PTC.ConclusionsClinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were not identical in patients with SCC-PTC and PSCCT. These findings indicated that different clinical treatment and management plans are required for patients with these two types of thyroid cancer.

A Framework for Developing Biodiversity Conservation Networks Based on Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis and the Maximum Entropy Model: A Case Study of the Jianghan Plain, China

Constructing ecological networks in urban areas improves ecosystem stability and biodiversity protection. However, most studies focus on optimizing ecological environments through objective assessments, often neglecting species diversity. This study developed a biodiversity grading framework for the Jianghan Plain using species observation and ecosystem diversity data. Supported by ArcGIS, ecological sources were identified via MSPA and graded using the Guidelines and MaxEnt model. The MCR model was used to simulate connectivity barriers between ecological sources and calculate the minimum cumulative resistance distance, thereby generating corridors and ultimately constructing a hierarchical biodiversity conservation network for the Jianghan Plain. Our findings indicated the following: (1) The Jianghan Plain hosts 21 major ecological sources, primarily natural water bodies at the plain’s edge, which can be classified into five primary and 16 secondary sources based on biodiversity grades. (2) The recessive corridors, comprising 10 primary and 95 secondary ones, are mainly concentrated in the central Jianghan Plain, with primary corridors located centrally and westward, characterized by a large overall span. (3) Changhu Lake and Honghu Lake, two critical water bodies with high-quality habitats and significant biodiversity, were identified as key ecological nodes from the ecological sources, bridging and guiding the central and southern corridors. (4) Based on the ecological network distribution and key nodes and corridors, a “three zones, three belts, and two points” strategy was proposed for optimizing the Jianghan Plain’s ecological network. This study provides a novel framework and theoretical support for regional habitat, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

A new species of lowland karst-dwelling Slender Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia

A new species of gekkonid lizard is described from Phnom Khpoh, an isolated karstic hill within an extensive karstic archipelago in Battambang Province, western Cambodia. Phylogenetic analysis using a 1041 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial gene ND2 recovered Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh sp. nov. as the sister species of H. pardalis, found 335 km to the west in southern Thailand. Analyses of meristic, morphometric, and categorical characters of morphology and color pattern differentiated H. khpoh sp. nov. from both the morphologically distinct H. pardalis and the very similar Hemiphyllodactylus sp. from Phnom Kulen, approximately 130 km to the northeast in Siem Reap Province. The statistical morphological analyses and comparisons also showed that H. khpoh sp. nov. is well-differentiated from the recently described H. bokor and H. samkos from the nearby Cardamom Mountains as well from species in clade 6—a recently designated lineage from China, Laos, and Vietnam to which H. khpoh sp. nov. + H. pardalis compose the sister lineage. The discovery of H. khpoh sp. nov. highlights the rich but understudied biodiversity of karstic landscapes, emphasizing the need for continued research in the extensive unexplored karstic archipelago of western Cambodia. This region is poised to reveal unparalleled gekkonid diversity, comparable to that observed in the similarly sized karstic archipelago of the Salween Basin in southern Myanmar. Although karstic landscapes are proving to be some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet, less than 1% of them are afforded any formal protection.

Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characterization of Basal Cell Carcinoma Arising at Sun-protected Sites.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are driven primarily by cumulative ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure resulting in activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, often as a result of UV-mediated Patched-1 (PTCH1) gene inactivation. Accordingly, BCCs most commonly arise at sun-exposed sites such as the head and neck. Very rarely, BCCs can arise at sun-protected sites such as the genital skin and perianal area. This can pose significant diagnostic challenges not only due to the rarity of BCC at these sites but also due to the potential morphologic overlap with other entities such as basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, trichoblastic carcinoma, and even benign neoplasms such as trichoblastomas. Hh pathway alterations have not yet been described in BCCs arising at genital and perianal sites, and the role of UV radiation is uncertain at these anatomic locations. To address this ambiguity, we report the clinicopathologic features of a cohort of 14 BCCs arising at sun-protected sites (perianal n=7, vulva n=4, scrotum n=3). Furthermore, we use a next-generation DNA sequencing platform to investigate their pathogenesis and compare it to that of a cohort of 8 BCCs arising on sun-exposed skin. We find that BCCs arising on sun-protected sites display a spectrum of morphologic patterns, rarely recur, and do not metastasize. Both sun-protected and sun-exposed BCCs are characterized by recurrent PTCH1 alterations (93% and 100% of cases, respectively), supporting the classification of the tumors arising at sun-protected sites as bona fide BCCs. Notably, in contrast to conventional BCCs, none of the sun-protected BCCs harbored a UV mutation signature, suggesting an alternative mechanism of mutagenesis. Furthermore, the presence of upstream Hh pathway alterations in sun-protected BCCs supports their susceptibility to Hh pathway inhibitors such as vismodegib and sonidegib.

Optimization of Development Strategies and Injection-Production Parameters in a Fractured-Vuggy Carbonate Reservoir by Considering the Effect of Karst Patterns: Taking C Oilfield in the Tarim Basin as an Example

The spatial structural characteristics of fractured-vuggy units vary greatly in different karst patterns, which significantly influence the study of remaining oil distribution patterns in ultra-deep fractured-vuggy reservoirs and the determination of the most efficient development strategies. However, few numerical simulation studies have focused on improving water and gas injection in fractured-vuggy reservoirs by considering the effect of karst patterns. By taking a typical fractured-vuggy reservoir in C oilfield in Tarim Basin, China as an example, the development dynamic characteristics of eight typical fractured-vuggy units in three different karst patterns are analyzed, and based on the newly proposed numerical simulation method of fluid vertical equilibrium, the residual oil reservoir distribution in different karst pattern fractured-vuggy units are studied, and the effects of fracture-vuggy karst patterns on the development characteristics, on the remaining oil morphology pattern, on the development strategies, and on the injection-production parameters are explored. This study shows that for different karst patterns fractured-vuggy units, the complexity of spatial structure, reserve scale, and oil-water relationship aggravates the heterogeneity of reservoirs and results in substantial differences in the development of dynamic patterns. In the northern facing karst fractured-vuggy units, there are two main types of remaining oil: well-spacing type and local-blocking type, and the reasonable development strategies are affected by reservoir morphology and the connectivity of structure patterns. Attic-type remaining oil mainly occurs in platform margin overlay and fault-controlled karst fractured-vuggy units. In the southern fault-controlled karst area, the remaining oil is mostly found along the upper part, and periodic gas injection or N2 huff-n-puff is recommended with priority for potential tapping. The fractured-vuggy karst patterns show a significant influence on the optimal level of injection-production parameters for improving the development of gas injection development strategies. The ideas of improving water injection and gas injection for fracture-vuggy reservoirs proposed in this paper also provide a good reference to further improve water control and increase oil production in other similar carbonate reservoirs.

Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull

This study aimed to investigate the effects of environmental factors, sexual selection, and genetic variation on skull morphology by examining the skull structure of the European bison, a species at risk of extinction, and comparing it to other bovid species. The skull of the European bison was significantly bigger than that of other species of the tribe Bovini, and the results revealed considerable morphological differences in skull shape compared to other Bovini samples. The bison skull exhibited a broader shape in the frontal region and a more laterally oriented cornual process. The frontal bone also significantly influenced skull shape variation within the European bison subspecies. Also, the findings indicated that cornual processes size significantly affected skull shape. Male Bison had larger skulls and more developed cornual ridges, and these morphological changes in the frontal region are thought to have also influenced the nuchal region, maxillary region, and facial bones. Furthermore, the differences in skull size observed between the Lowland-Pszczyna and Lowland-Białowieża lines, which share a closer origin than the Lowland-Carpathian lines, may reflect environmental and genetic adaptations over time. This research provides a reference point for future studies on the ecological and evolutionary factors influencing bison skull variations, with significant implications for the conservation of this species.

Novel Use and Value of Contrast-Enhanced Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging Morphologic and Radiomic Features in Predicting Extremity Soft Tissue Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma Treatment Response.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs) demonstrate therapy-induced hemosiderin deposition, granulation tissue formation, fibrosis, and calcification. We aimed to determine the treatment-assessment value of morphologic tumoral hemorrhage patterns and first- and high-order radiomic features extracted from contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted imaging (CE-SWI). This retrospective institutional review board-authorized study included 33 patients with extremity UPS with magnetic resonance imaging and resection performed from February 2021 to May 2023. Volumetric tumor segmentation was obtained at baseline, postsystemic chemotherapy (PC), and postradiation therapy (PRT). The pathology-assessed treatment effect (PATE) in surgical specimens separated patients into responders (R; ≥90%, n = 16), partial responders (PR; 89%-31%, n = 10), and nonresponders (NR; ≤30%, n = 7). RECIST, WHO, and volume were assessed for all time points. CE-SWI T2* morphologic patterns and 107 radiomic features were analyzed. A Complete-Ring (CR) pattern was observed in PRT in 71.4% of R (P = 7.71 × 10-6), an Incomplete-Ring pattern in 33.3% of PR (P = .2751), and a Globular pattern in 50% of NR (P = .1562). The first-order radiomic analysis from the CE-SWI intensity histogram outlined the values of the 10th and 90th percentiles and their skewness. R showed a 280% increase in 10th percentile voxels (P = .061) and a 241% increase in skewness (P = .0449) at PC. PR/NR showed a 690% increase in the 90th percentile voxels (P = .03) at PC. Multiple high-order radiomic texture features observed at PRT discriminated better R versus PR/NR than the first-order features. CE-SWI morphologic patterns strongly correlate with PATE. The CR morphology pattern was the most frequent in R and had the highest statistical association predicting response at PRT, easily recognized by a radiologist not requiring postprocessing software. It can potentially outperform size-based metrics, such as RECIST. The first- and high-order radiomic analysis found several features separating R versus PR/NR.

Intra-colony light regulates morphology diversity of colonial cyanobacteria

Morphological diversity widely exists in colonial cyanobacteria, which poses a challenge to monitor and predict population dynamics. Light-induced adaptation plays a key role in the underlying mechanisms. Here, to demonstrate how morphological parameters adapt to physiological features (such as pigments and gas vesicles) under light limitation, a model of intra-colony light regimes (ICLR) was developed based on the colonies of Microcystis Kützing. that caused cyanobacterial harmful blooms worldwide. Cell pigments and gas vesicles positively regulated cellular light attenuation coefficient (D(λ)cell), and both accounted for the D(λ)cell variation of 68.2 % and 30.1 %, respectively. According to the ICLR model, D(λ)cell negatively correlated to colony thickness, and a positive relationship existed between colony thickness and cell-to-cell distance (an indicator of colony compactness). Therefore, increasing cell-to-cell distance is an effective strategy when the D(λ)cell is high or colonies are light-limiting, facilitating the formation of loose, large colonies. This pattern was also observed in Microcystis populations in eutrophic Lake Taihu (China) and cyanobacterial Nostoc sphaeroides Kützing, showing cell-to-cell distance positively related to colony thickness or colony depth. This suggests that the predicted morphological adaptation patterns based on the ICLR model are general in colony-forming cyanobacteria. These findings provide new insights into the morphology diversity of colonial cyanobacteria toward changing environments.

Formation of ZrO2 with unusual morphology and Zr surface patterning via one-step anodization of zirconium in aqueous electrolyte

Formation of ZrO2 with unusual morphology and Zr surface patterning via one-step anodization of zirconium in aqueous electrolyte

Acoustic shock wave-induced superheating-assisted dynamic recrystallization - a case study of D-tartaric acid.

Superheating-assisted melting and crystallization are prominent subjects in condensed matter physics. However, understanding the superheating concepts under acoustic shocked conditions remains a mystery. Herein, we demonstrate superheating on the basis of dynamic recrystallization in a D-tartaric acid powder sample, which nearly attains an ideal crystal structure and morphology under the 100-shocked conditions compared to the control sample and the obtained results are evaluated by conventional diffraction, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. From the XRD results, the intensities of the planes (100) and (110) are found to have increased under the 100-shocked conditions, whereas the intensity ratio (011)/(110) has been significantly reduced. Moreover, the intensity ratio of major internal Raman modes such as vC-O (1694 and 1700 cm-1), vC-H (2933 and 2967 cm-1) and vO-H (3331 and 3403 cm-1) has been considerably modified with respect to the number of shock pulses such that the sample produces an ideal Raman spectrum of D-tartaric acid, and thereby the intensities of the lattice Raman modes also support this claim. Most importantly, the SEM results demonstrate the formation of an ideal morphology of D-tartaric acid from the irregular morphological pattern upon exposure to 100 shocks due to the superheating and dynamic recrystallization process. The proposed technique is strongly suggested for materials processing to enhance technological significance for all classes and scales of materials.

Multifocal electroretinogram evaluation of different optical coherence tomography patterns of diabetic macular edema

Purpose To correlate macular function to morphological patterns of diabetic macular edema (DME) observed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients and methods This study included 100 DME eyes and 60 control eyes. OCT patterns of DME were divided into: Type 1: diffuse retinal thickening (DRT); Type 2: cystoid macular edema (CME); Type 3: neurosensory detachment (NSD); and Type 4: the combined type that was further subdivided into: Type 4a: DRT with CME, Type 4b: DRT with NSD, and Type 4c: CME with NSD. These types were correlated with LogMAR VA and P1 wave amplitude and implicit time of multifocal electroretinogram. Results In both central ring 1 and paracentral ring 2, P1 amplitude was significantly reduced in all types of DME compared with control group. P1 amplitude was highest in Type 1, and lowest in Type 4c compared with other DME types. P1 implicit time was significantly delayed in all types, and significantly delayed in Type 4c compared with Type 1. Conclusion DRT was the best type for macular function, CME was associated with decreased P1 wave amplitude in central macular ring, NSD was associated with decreased P1 wave amplitude in the paracentral macular ring, combined CME with NSD carried the poorest visual function. From a practical point of view, combining OCT and multifocal electroretinogram testing may offer a potent method to assess the degree of retinal injury.

Quantifying spatial patterns of urban building morphology in the China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Marco greater bay area

ABSTRACT Understanding the spatial patterns of urban building morphology is crucial for revealing the interplay between the built and social environments. Previous research has predominantly concentrated on the computation of building-level metrics which makes it challenging to quantify and compare spatial patterns and variations across different cities. Using the newly available world settlement footprint 3D (WSF3D) data, this study examines the spatial patterns of urban building morphology across various cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a rapidly urbanizing region in China. Specifically, we applied a concentric ring approach to delineate the spatial gradients of the building fraction, area, height, and volume from the urban center to the suburban fringes. Subsequently, we utilized dynamic time warping and a multi-dimensional scaling technique facilitating a comparative analysis of these gradients across cities. Developed cities demonstrated more homogenous distributions of building morphologies; however, notable differences were observed among the spatial patterns of distinct building metrics. Furthermore, a correlation between the spatial patterns of urban building morphology and degree of urban development was revealed, suggesting that developed cities exhibit significantly smaller declines in building morphology from the urban core to the rural periphery.

The lymphatic drainage of the goat heart.

The detailed knowledge of the morphological structure, drainage pathways and patterns, the first tier lymph node of the cardiac lymphatic and its relationship with the circulatory system has not yet been completed. Although, the cardiac lymphatics had been described with renewed interest in past years, which was attributed to the transparent nature of lymphatic vessels that are difficult to be observed. In this study, cardiac lymphatics of the goat heart were perfused by a direct microinjecting technique with a radiopaque mixture. This demonstrated the subepicardial and subendocardial lymph capillary networks communicating with transmyocardial lymph vessels and then entering to subepicardial collecting lymph vessels that were directed toward the atrio-ventricular sulcus where they form a confluence from which the main cardiac lymph channels. We also found that: 1) the quantity and caliber of collecting lymph vessels varied in each goat heart; 2) drainage patterns of lymph vessels in the goat heart were different in individuals; 3) the first tier lymph node that each major lymph vessel drained to was different; and 4) multiple lymphatic-venous anastomosis sites have been confirmed to exist in the subepicardium of the left and right ventricles of each goat heart, which may be the morphological structure to accelerate the return of intercellular fluid to the venous system during excessive exercise of the heart. Therefore, the information may provide reference for further study in physiological and pathological conditions of the human heart.

The impact of climate change on morphological patterns of river floodplains in cryolithozone

Fluvial processes are highly variable and their dynamics under the influence of modern climate change are of both scientific and practical interest. The present work is an attempt to assess the impact of the modern climate change on the morphological pattern development in cryolithozone flood plains using modelling based on the methods of mathematical morphology of landscapes. The flood plains are territories of free channel meandering with topography formed by fluvial processes at different stages of development; so they represent a complex “patchwork” landscape morphological pattern occurring in the dynamic balance state. Our research involves fragments of the flood plains, for which there were two survey dates with a fairly large interval between them (about 50 years). As a climate change characteristic, the trends of surface air temperature anomalies for the same period (1956—2019) were calculated. An analysis of the calculated trends in surface temperature anomalies showed their heterogeneity both by seasons and by location, with a steady increase in surface temperature in general over the studied period. For all key sites, the mathematical model of the landscape morphological pattern of alluvial plains was tested. The analysis shows the correspondence of empirical data to theoretical ones, which allows us to obtain the model parameters to assess the change in the morphological pattern under the influence of climate change. It was suggested that climate change may lead to a change of the parameters of the corresponding distribution for the model variables due to the violation of dynamic balance. This statement was tested using the Smirnov test for two independent samples. The study of the relationship between distribution parameters and temperature trends includes assessing the correlation between them. Our analysis showed that the influence of modern temperature changes on the development of the morphological pattern of the flood plains over the past 40–50 years is manifested in a change of the distribution parameters for the forming flood plain segments, but it is not significant enough to change greatly the statistical distributions in the mathematical model of the morphological pattern of floodplains in general.

3D Segmentation and Visualization of Skin Vasculature Using Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography

This study explores the advanced imaging of skin vasculature using Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC-OCT), which offers high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) visualization of vascular structures, especially within skin tumors. The research aims to improve the understanding of tumor angiogenesis and the complex vascular morphology associated with malignancies. The methodology involves converting original image stacks into negative images, manually tracing vessels using the Simple Neurite Tracer (SNT) plugin, and creating smoothed binary masks to reconstruct 3D models. The study’s results highlight the ability to visualize serpiginous, corkscrew-like, and irregular vessels across various skin cancers, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. These visualizations provide insights into vessel morphology, spatial arrangements, and blood flow patterns, which are crucial for assessing tumor growth and potential therapeutic responses. The findings indicate that 3D reconstructions from LC-OCT can uncover vascular details previously undetectable by two-dimensional imaging techniques, making it a valuable tool in dermatology for both clinical diagnostics and research. This method allows for better monitoring of skin cancer treatment and understanding of the role of vascular polymorphism in tumor development.