Quantitative Morphological Analysis Research Articles

Quantitative 3D Analysis of Levator Ani Muscle Subdivisions in Nulliparous Women: MRI Feasibility Study.

The levator ani muscle (LAM) is crucial for pelvic floor stability, yet its quantitative MRI assessment is only a recent focus. Our study aims to standardize the quantitative analysis of the LAM morphology within the 3D Pelvic Inclination Correction System (3D-PICS). We analyzed 35 static MR datasets from nulliparous women examining the pubovisceral (PVM), iliococcygeal (ICM), coccygeal (COC), and puborectal muscle (PRM). The PVM consists of three origin-insertion pairs, namely the puboanal (PAM), puboperineal (PPM) and pubovaginal muscle (PVaM). The analysis included a quantitative examination of the morphology of LAM, focusing on the median location (x/y/z) (x: anterior-posterior, y: superior-inferior, z: left-right) of the origin and insertion points (a), angles (b) and lengths (c) of LAM. Inter-rater reliability was calculated. Interindividual variations in 3D coordinates among muscle subdivisions were shown. In all, 93% of all origin and insertion points were found within an SD of <8 mm. Angles to the xz-plane range between -15.4° (right PRM) and 40.7° (left PAM). The PRM is the largest pelvic muscle in static MRI. The ICC indicated moderate-to-good agreement between raters. The accurate morphometry of the LAM and its subdivisions, along with reliable inter-rater agreement, was demonstrated, enhancing the understanding of normal pelvic anatomy in young nulliparous women.

High Fidelity Full-Color Optical Sectioning Structured Illumination Microscopy by Fourier Domain Based Reconstruction

The natural color of biological specimens plays a crucial role in body protection, signaling, physiological adaptations, etc. Full-color optical sectioning structured illumination microscopy (OS-SIM) color is a promising approach that can reconstruct biological specimens in three-dimension meanwhile maintaining their natural color. Full-color OS-SIM takes the advantages of rapid imaging speed, compatibility with fluorescence and non-fluorescence samples, compact configuration, and low cost. However, the commonly used HSV-RMS reconstruction algorithm for full-color OS-SIM faces two issues to be improved. One is the RMS (root-mean-square) OS reconstruction algorithm is prone to background noise, and the other is the reconstruction is bound in RGB and HSV color spaces, consuming more reconstructing time. In this paper, we propose a full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method that allows for the OS reconstruction using the high-frequency spectrum of the sample and thus is immune to the low-frequency background noise. The full-color Fourier-OS-SIM directly runs in the RGB color space, providing an easy way to restore the color information. Simulation and experiments with various samples (pollen grains and tiny animals) demonstrate that the full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method is superior to the HSV-RMS method regarding background noise suppression. Moreover, benefiting from the background noise suppression merit, the quantitative morphological height map analysis with the full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method is more accurate. The proposed full-color Fourier-OS-SIM method is expected to find broad applications in biological and industrial fields where the 3D morphology and the color information of objects both need to be recovered.

Morphological diversity of saber-tooth upper canines and its functional implications.

Elongated upper canine teeth, commonly known as saber-teeth, have evolved three times within the sub-order Feliformia. The species that wielded them flourished throughout the Cenozoic and have historically been separated into two morphological groups: the dirk-tooths with longer, flatter canines, and the scimitar-tooths with shorter, serrated teeth. However, quantitative morphological analysis has not been conducted on these teeth to determine the true amount of diversity within the group, and how the upper canine morphology of extant feliforms compared to their extinct relatives has also not been explored. Using Geometric Morphometric analysis, it is shown that saber-tooth upper canine morphology is exceptionally diverse, with no extant clade having all its members occupy the same morphospace based on tooth length and curvature. Instead, a neutral basal morphospace is observed for all groups and diversification from this basal position is seen as species become more derived. A distinct and consistent scimitar tooth morphology is also not observed within the morphospace. When compared with extant taxa, several saber-tooth species are seen to be morphologically similar to extant feliforms, several of which exhibit novel dietary strategies in comparison to the obligate carnivore felids. Biomechanical analyses of different actual and theoretical tooth shapes demonstrate that saber-teeth upper canines further represent a functional compromise between sharpness, curvature, and length on the one hand, and robustness and material investment on the other.

Quantitative Microvascular Change Analysis Using a Semi-Automated Algorithm in Macula-on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Assessed by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate the longitudinal changes observed in the retinal capillaries in eyes with macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to assess the role of these microvascular measures as potential biomarkers of postoperative visual outcomes. This was a prospective, longitudinal study conducted on consecutive patients who underwent 25 G pars plana vitrectomy for primary RRD. The vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), and vessel diameter index (VDI) were assessed in the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses. Twenty-three eyes with macula-on RRD were included in the study. The mean preoperative VDI, VAD, and VSD of the RRD eye were 18.6 ± 1.1, 0.43 ± 0.02, and 0.17 ± 0.01 in the SCP; and 18.6 ± 0.6, 0.38 ± 0.03, and 0.15 ± 0.01 in the DCP, respectively. At month 6, eight (34.8%) eyes achieved a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gain ≥ 0.1 LogMAR. A preoperative VDI > 17.80, VSD > 0.170, and VDI-change > -0.395 in the SCP; and VDI > 18.11 and VDI change > -0.039 in the DCP were predictors of achieving a BCVA-gain ≥ 0.1 LogMAR. The preoperative VDI in SCP and DCP, the preoperative VSD in SCP, and their changes from preoperative values were predictors of visual outcomes. A quantitative OCTA analysis of capillary density and morphology may represent a potential predictive tool for surgical outcomes in RRD. The results reported in this study suggest that OCTA is a useful ancillary test for clinical disease management.

QUANTITATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FEATURES OF REMODELING OF HEMOMICROCIRCULATORY VESSELS IN THE TESTIS OF EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS AT CONDITIONS OF ETHANOL INTOXICATION

Ethanol is classifi ed as a vascular poison, long-term intoxication of which negatively aff ects almost all organs and systems body of humans and experimental animals. Morphological changes in testes during ethanol poisoning have not been studied enough. The aim of the study was a quantitative morphological analysis of the features of the remodeling of blood vessels of the hemomicrocirculatory bed of the left and right testes at conditions of ethanol intoxication. The structures of the left and right testis of 30 white male rats, which were divided into 2 groups, were morphologically and morphometrically studied. The 1 group included 15 intact animals, the 2-15 rats, which were injected intragastrically with a 30 % ethanol solution at the rate of 2 ml per 100 g of body weight for 28 days once a day. A month after the start of the experiment, the experimental animals were euthanized by bloodletting under thiopental anesthesia. Histological and semithin sections were made from testes. The outer and inner diameters, wall thickness of arterioles, precapillary arterioles, hemocapillaries, postcapillary venules and venules were determined. Quantitative indicators were processed statistically.It was established that twenty- eight days of ethanol intoxication in laboratory sexually mature white male rats leads to pronounced remodeling of the blood vessels of the hemomicrocirculatory bed of the left and right testes, which is characterized by narrowing of the lumens and thickening of the walls of its arterial (arterioles, precapillary arterioles) and exchange (hemocapillaries) vessels. pronounced expansion and thinning of the walls of postcapillary venules and venules, venous hemoptysis, hypoxia, dystrophic- necrotic changes in cells, stromal structures, infi ltration and sclerosis. The revealed remodeling of blood vessels of the hemomicrocirculatory bed in conditions of ethanol poisoning dominates in the left testicle.

Quantitative analysis and comprehensive evaluation of coarse aggregate morphology for asphalt pavement

The morphological characteristics of coarse aggregate play a crucial role in the mechanical properties, durability, and construction performance of asphalt mixtures and pavements in highway engineering. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the morphological characteristics of coarse aggregate and establish comprehensive evaluation indicators for its quality and performance. Two-dimensional cross-sectional images of coarse aggregates are obtained using the self-developed laser scanning equipment, and edge features are extracted using the Canny operator and edge tracing algorithm. Six morphological characteristic indicators are selected, and factor analysis is employed to propose comprehensive shape and edge feature for coarse aggregates. The results show that the proposed evaluation indicators effectively capture the shape and edge feature of coarse aggregates, with the exception of roughness, which is deemed unsuitable for evaluation. Factor analysis of six indicator values in 2,700 two-dimensional images led to the proposal of Shape Factor (SF) and Edge Feature Factor (EFF) as significant factors affecting aggregate shape and edge characteristics, respectively. Following optimization, SF ranged from 0.041 to 1.793, while EFF ranged from 0.368 to 1.745. The spearman’s rank correlation coefficient revealed strong correlations between the evaluation of coarse aggregate shape and edge features using the line laser-based comprehensive evaluation index. Specifically, correlation coefficients of 0.864 and 0.805 exceeded those of commonly used methods such as AIMS and X-ray CT, indicating the rationality and accuracy of the self-developed laser scanning device in evaluating aggregate morphology. This research provides strong support for the construction of highway engineering and optimization of coarse aggregate production and supply.

Retracted: The Use of a Hypoallergenic Dermal Matrix for Wrapping in Peripheral Nerve Lesions Regeneration: Functional and Quantitative Morphological Analysis in an Experimental Animal Model.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/4750624.].

An experimental investigation into the influence of water column height in submerged mode of abrasive waterjet trepanning on the hole quality

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) trepanning/drilling exhibits immense potential to realize holes of various shapes and sizes in a diverse range of materials, ranging from soft-and-ductile to hard-and-brittle, making it highly valuable for various industries. AWJ trepanning offers the advantage of not requiring tool changes to accommodate different hole shapes and sizes; adjusting the jet path can produce the desired hole geometry, proving exceptionally advantageous for mass production. However, the stochastic nature of the jet results in geometrical errors (diametric deviation, taper angle (α)), form errors (circularity error (Ce), cylindricity error (Cy)) and quality issues (damage region, edge radius (R), surface roughness (Ra), and waviness (Wa)). To address these issues, trepanning in submerged mode can be adopted as it attenuates the mist region and aggressiveness of the jet. This study analyzes the influence of the submerged mode of trepanning on the geometry, form, and quality of trepanned holes relative to the in-air mode. The study found that submerged trepanning produces a more consistent hole diametrical profile along the depth and minimizes the average Ce and α by 23.18 % and 29.20 %, respectively. The maximum Cy in in-air trepanning was reduced in submerged mode by 36.76 %. The average damage region and R reduced by 50.80 % and 35.49 %, respectively. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the trepanned surface morphology is presented in-air and submerged mode: the results show that the Ra and Wa decrease at the hole entry and middle zone and increase at the exit zone. Finally, the process parameters level settings for achieving near-optimal trepanning responses (α, Cy, Ce, damage region, R, Ra, and Wa) suggested with the help of mean response- and parallel coordinate- plots. Micrographs of submerged trepanned surfaces show that the material removal mechanism (MRM) governs by shallower craters and grooves at the entry and middle zone of the hole, and at the exit zone, the MRM is random, in comparison to the in-air mode.

The first living cervid species described in the 21st century and revalidation of Pudella (Artiodactyla)

Abstract Several issues regarding the systematics and taxonomy of the Neotropical deer tribe Odocoileini, an assemblage of 18 recognized living species currently allocated into 7 genera, remain unclear. The few available phylogenetic analyses indicate that some genera are not monophyletic and that species richness in the group is underestimated. One genus that presents both problems are the stocky and short-legged dwarf deer, Pudu. As currently understood, it includes 2 species, the Northern pudu, Pudu mephistophiles from Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia; and the Southern pudu, P. puda, from southern Chile and nearby Argentina. Here, by means of qualitative and quantitative morphologic analysis and the assessment of genetic variation, we showed that 2 distinct species are encompassed by the current concept of P. mephistophiles. The typical form distributes north of the Huancabamba Depression from northernmost Peru to the north (Ecuador and Colombia), while the other distributes south of the Huancabamba Depression and is a Peruvian endemic. As no name is available for the last one, we describe and name it here. This is the first living cervid species described in the 21st century and the first from the New World in over 60 years. Additionally, as the Southern Pudu (the type species of Pudu) is not sister to the 2 northern pudu species, we revalidate the genus Pudella to allocate the latter 2 species.

Parallel Streams of Direct Corticogeniculate Feedback from Mid-level Extrastriate Cortex in the Macaque Monkey.

First-order thalamic nuclei receive feedforward signals from peripheral receptors and relay these signals to primary sensory cortex. Primary sensory cortex, in turn, provides reciprocal feedback to first-order thalamus. Because the vast majority of sensory thalamocortical inputs target primary sensory cortex, their complementary corticothalamic neurons are assumed to be similarly restricted to primary sensory cortex. We upend this assumption by characterizing morphologically diverse neurons in multiple mid-level visual cortical areas of the primate (Macaca mulatta) brain that provide direct feedback to the primary visual thalamus, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Although the majority of geniculocortical neurons project to primary visual cortex (V1), a minority, located mainly in the koniocellular LGN layers, provide direct input to extrastriate visual cortex. These "V1-bypassing" projections may be implicated in blindsight. We hypothesized that geniculocortical inputs directly targeting extrastriate cortex should be complemented by reciprocal corticogeniculate circuits. Using virus-mediated circuit tracing, we discovered corticogeniculate neurons throughout three mid-level extrastriate areas: MT, MST, and V4. Quantitative morphological analyses revealed nonuniform distributions of unique cell types across areas. Many extrastriate corticogeniculate neurons had spiny stellate morphology, suggesting possible targeting of koniocellular LGN layers. Importantly though, multiple morphological types were observed across areas. Such morphological diversity could suggest parallel streams of V1-bypassing corticogeniculate feedback at multiple stages of the visual processing hierarchy. Furthermore, the presence of corticogeniculate neurons across visual cortex necessitates a reevaluation of the LGN as a hub for visual information rather than a simple relay.

Quantitative Analysis of Morphology and Function in the Fetal Heart with Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation by Speckle Tracking Imaging.

Morphology and function in a fetal heart with severe tricuspid regurgitation remains challenging. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac morphology and function in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation by fetal heart quantification (HQ) and to assess the practical value of fetal HQ. Clinical information was analyzed for 63 pregnant women who underwent fetal cardiac ultrasonography. The women were divided into those who had a fetus with severe tricuspid regurgitation (n = 20) and those with a normal fetus (n = 40). The global sphericity index (GSI), fractional area change (FAC), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) of both ventricles and the sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) of 24 segments were quantified by fetal HQ using speckle tracking imaging. Fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation had a significantly lower GSI (1.14 ± 0.10 vs. 1.26 ± 0.08, p < 0.001) and a higher GSI Z-score (-0.98 ± 1.01 vs. 0.25 ± 0.87, p < 0.001) as well as a significantly lower right ventricular FAC (36.50 ± 7.34% vs. 45.19 ± 3.39%, p < 0.001), FAC Z-score (-1.02 ± 1.41 vs. 0.49 ± 0.74, p < 0.001), and GLS (-21.01 ± 5.66% vs. 45.19 ± 3.49%, p < 0.001). The SI and SI Z-score were significantly lower in segments 1-18 of the right ventricle in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation (p < 0.05); furthermore, FS of segments 1-12 and 19-24 and the FS Z-score of segments 18-24 were significantly lower in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation (p < 0.05). Fetal HQ is useful for evaluation of cardiac morphology and function in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation and can provide important reference information for both clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Microtubule-binding protein MAP1B regulates interstitial axon branching of cortical neurons via the tubulin tyrosination cycle

Regulation of directed axon guidance and branching during development is essential for the generation of neuronal networks. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie interstitial (or collateral) axon branching in the mammalian brain remain unresolved. Here, we investigate interstitial axon branching in vivo using an approach for precise labeling of layer 2/3 callosal projection neurons (CPNs). This method allows for quantitative analysis of axonal morphology at high acuity and also manipulation of gene expression in well-defined temporal windows. We find that the GSK3β serine/threonine kinase promotes interstitial axon branching in layer 2/3 CPNs by releasing MAP1B-mediated inhibition of axon branching. Further, we find that the tubulin tyrosination cycle is a key downstream component of GSK3β/MAP1B signaling. These data suggest a cell-autonomous molecular regulation of cortical neuron axon morphology, in which GSK3β can release a MAP1B-mediated brake on interstitial axon branching upstream of the posttranslational tubulin code.

External Spatial Morphology of Creative Industries Parks in the Industrial Heritage Category Based on Spatial Syntax: Taking Tianjin as an Example

Industrial heritage creative industrial parks are an organic component of historical neighborhood buildings. According to several field visits and surveys of creative industrial parks, it has been found that the external space of some creative industrial parks does not meet the needs of the people. This research primarily investigates the critical factors influencing the usability of external spaces in these revitalization projects. Spatial syntax, a field that has seen considerable advancement in recent years, offers a more scientific approach to understanding spatial relationships. Therefore, this paper employs spatial syntax as its principal methodology. It conducts a quantitative analysis of the external spatial morphology of four creative industrial parks of industrial heritage in Tianjin. The study critically evaluates the syntactic values and identifies issues in the external spatial morphology, including a dearth of cultural elements and limited environmental richness. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for the enhancement of these external spaces. The aim is to furnish data support and strategic insights to invigorate the revitalization efforts of Tianjin’s industrial heritage creative industrial parks.

PathoGraph: An Attention-Based Graph Neural Network Capable of Prognostication Based on CD276 Labelling of Malignant Glioma Cells.

Computerized methods have been developed that allow quantitative morphological analyses of whole slide images (WSIs), e.g., of immunohistochemical stains. The latter are attractive because they can provide high-resolution data on the distribution of proteins in tissue. However, many immunohistochemical results are complex because the protein of interest occurs in multiple locations (in different cells and also extracellularly). We have recently established an artificial intelligence framework, PathoFusion which utilises a bifocal convolutional neural network (BCNN) model for detecting and counting arbitrarily definable morphological structures. We have now complemented this model by adding an attention-based graph neural network (abGCN) for the advanced analysis and automated interpretation of such data. Classical convolutional neural network (CNN) models suffer from limitations when handling global information. In contrast, our abGCN is capable of creating a graph representation of cellular detail from entire WSIs. This abGCN method combines attention learning with visualisation techniques that pinpoint the location of informative cells and highlight cell-cell interactions. We have analysed cellular labelling for CD276, a protein of great interest in cancer immunology and a potential marker of malignant glioma cells/putative glioma stem cells (GSCs). We are especially interested in the relationship between CD276 expression and prognosis. The graphs permit predicting individual patient survival on the basis of GSC community features. Our experiments lay a foundation for the use of the BCNN-abGCN tool chain in automated diagnostic prognostication using immunohistochemically labelled histological slides, but the method is essentially generic and potentially a widely usable tool in medical research and AI based healthcare applications.

Novel in vitro evidence on the beneficial effect of quercetin treatment in vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification is a pathological chronic condition characterized by calcium crystal deposition in the vessel wall and is a recurring event in atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. The lack of effective therapeutic treatments opened the research to natural products, which have shown promising potential in inhibiting the pathological process in different experimental models. This study investigated the anti-calcifying effects of Quercetin and Berberine extracts on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with an inorganic phosphate solution for 7days. Quercetin has shown the highest anti-calcifying activity, as revealed by the intracellular quantitative assay and morphological analysis. Confocal microscopy revealed downregulation of RUNX2, a key marker for calcified phenotype, which was otherwise upregulated in calcified VSMCs. To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Quercetin, culture media were subjected to immunometric assays to quantify the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and the caspase-1 activity. As expected, calcified VSMCs released a large quantity of inflammatory mediators, significantly decreasing in the presence of Quercetin. In summary, our findings suggest that Quercetin counteracted calcification by attenuating the VSMC pathological phenotypic switch and reducing the inflammatory response. In our opinion, these preliminary in vitro findings could be the starting point for further investigations into the beneficial effects of Quercetin dietary supplementation against vascular calcification.

ChOP-CT: quantitative morphometrical analysis of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus by X-ray micro-computed tomography

The Hindbrain Choroid Plexus is a complex, cerebrospinal fluid-secreting tissue that projects into the 4th vertebrate brain ventricle. Despite its irreplaceability in the development and homeostasis of the entire central nervous system, the research of Hindbrain Choroid Plexus and other Choroid Plexuses has been neglected by neuroscientists for decades. One of the obstacles is the lack of tools that describe the complex shape of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus in the context of brain ventricles. Here we introduce an effective tool, termed ChOP-CT, for the noninvasive, X-ray micro-computed tomography-based, three-dimensional visualization and subsequent quantitative spatial morphological analysis of developing mouse Hindbrain Choroid Plexus. ChOP-CT can reliably quantify Hindbrain Choroid Plexus volume, surface area, length, outgrowth angle, the proportion of the ventricular space occupied, asymmetries and general shape alterations in mouse embryos from embryonic day 13.5 onwards. We provide evidence that ChOP-CT is suitable for the unbiased evaluation and detection of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus alterations within various mutant embryos. We believe, that thanks to its versatility, quantitative nature and the possibility of automation, ChOP-CT will facilitate the analysis of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus in the mouse models. This will ultimately accelerate the screening of the candidate genes and mechanisms involved in the onset of various Hindbrain Choroid Plexus-related diseases.

Application of unimodal probability distribution models for morphological phenotyping of budding yeast.

Morphological phenotyping of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has helped to greatly clarify the functions of genes and increase our understanding of cellular functional networks. It is necessary to understand cell morphology and perform quantitative morphological analysis (QMA) but assigning precise values to morphological phenotypes has been challenging. We recently developed the Unimodal Morphological Data image analysis pipeline for this purpose. All true values can be estimated theoretically by applying an appropriate probability distribution if the distribution of experimental values follows a unimodal pattern. This reliable pipeline allows several downstream analyses, including detection of subtle morphological differences, selection of mutant strains with similar morphology, clustering based on morphology, and study of morphological diversity. In addition to basic research, morphological analyses of yeast cells can also be used in applied research to monitor breeding and fermentation processes and control the fermentation activity of yeast cells.

Quantitative morphological analysis of age structural changes in prostate of experimental animals with ethanol poisoning

Aim: To find out the age remodeling of the structural components of the prostate gland at alcohol poisoning using quantitative morphological analysis. Materials and Methods: The structure of the prostate gland of 4 white male rats groups were morphologically investigated. The 1 group included 30 control intact animals aged 8 months, the 2-nd group – 30 rats aged 24 months, the 3-rd group – 30 8-month-old animals with ethanol intoxication, and the 4-th group included 30 24-month-old rats with the specified simulated pathology. Ethanol intoxication was modeled by intragastric administration of 30% ethyl alcohol solution at a dose of 20 ml/kg once daily for 28 days. Rats were euthanized by bloodletting under general thiopental anesthesia 28 days after the beginning of the experiment. The area of glands, the height of glandular epithelial cells, the area of their nuclei and cytoplasm, the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in these cells and the stromal-parenchymal ratio in the organ were studied using light microscopy and were determined morphometrically. Morphometric parameters were processed statistically. Results: It was established that with age in the intact prostate of laboratory sexually mature white male rats, the area of glands, the height of glandular epitheliocytes, the area of their nuclei and cytoplasm, with the stability of nuclear-cytoplasmic ratios in the epithelial cells of the glands, significantly decreases, and the stromal-parenchymal ratio in the organ under study increases. Long-term ethanol poisoning leads to pronounced structural changes in the prostate, which is characterized by pronounced atrophy of the glandular epithelium, a decrease in the area of the glands, a decrease in the height of epithelial cells, a violation of nuclear-cytoplasmic relations in them, an increase in stromal-parenchymal ratio, and a prominent growth of the muscle-elastic stroma. The revealed structural changes of the studied components of the prostate dominated in 24-month-old experimental animals. Conclusions: Morphological analysis of the prostate gland established that morphometric and morphological changed significantly according to the age and were depend on the ethanol poisoning.

Three-Dimensional Leaf Edge Reconstruction Combining Two- and Three-Dimensional Approaches

Leaves, crucial for plant physiology, exhibit various morphological traits that meet diverse functional needs. Traditional leaf morphology quantification, largely 2-dimensional (2D), has not fully captured the 3-dimensional (3D) aspects of leaf function. Despite improvements in 3D data acquisition, accurately depicting leaf morphologies, particularly at the edges, is difficult. This study proposes a method for 3D leaf edge reconstruction, combining 2D image segmentation with curve-based 3D reconstruction. Utilizing deep-learning-based instance segmentation for 2D edge detection, structure from motion for estimation of camera positions and orientations, leaf correspondence identification for matching leaves among images, and curve-based 3D reconstruction for estimating 3D curve fragments, the method assembles 3D curve fragments into a leaf edge model through B-spline curve fitting. The method's performances were evaluated on both virtual and actual leaves, and the results indicated that small leaves and high camera noise pose greater challenges to reconstruction. We developed guidelines for setting a reliability threshold for curve fragments, considering factors occlusion, leaf size, the number of images, and camera error; the number of images had a lesser impact on this threshold compared to others. The method was effective for lobed leaves and leaves with fewer than 4 holes. However, challenges still existed when dealing with morphologies exhibiting highly local variations, such as serrations. This nondestructive approach to 3D leaf edge reconstruction marks an advancement in the quantitative analysis of plant morphology. It is a promising way to capture whole-plant architecture by combining 2D and 3D phenotyping approaches adapted to the target anatomical structures.

Quantitative analysis of right coronary artery morphology by digital subtraction angiography

The right coronary artery (RCA) is a major target for interventional and surgical procedures, but its anatomical variations and normal reference values are not well established. This study aimed to establish the normal distribution values of the length, diameter and angle measurements of the RCA. Angiography images of the RCA of 143 patients were analyzed using digital subtraction angiography techniques. The RCA images of each patient were divided into three sections (Proximal RCA, Middle RCA, Distal RCA) and length and diameter measurements were made separately for each section. In addition, the angles formed between the posterior descending artery (PD) and posterior lateral artery (PL) of the RCA and the lengths and diameters of the PD and PL branches were measured separately. The RCA length-diameter measurements were 1.75-4.7 mm for proximal RCA, 4.75-4.2 mm for middle RCA, and 7.45-3.5 mm for distal RCA. The mean values of the angles formed between RCA-PL, PL-PD (bifurcation angle), and RCA-PD were 144.33±19.22˚, 62.67±18.94˚, 151.40±19.33˚, respectively. Our study provides important epidemiological data on the length-diameter-angle values of the RCA. The presented data will be useful in guiding the success and clinical outcomes of the RCA in both interventional and surgical procedures.