Analysis Of Changes In Size Research Articles

High-Resolution Intratumoral Susceptibility Signal (ITSS) as an Adjunctive Imaging Tool in the Evaluation of Treatment Response of Brain Metastases Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Purpose: To evaluate the longitudinal change of intra-tumoral susceptibility signal (ITSS) on high-resolution SWI as an adjunctive imaging tool to evaluate treatment response of brain metastasis following stereotactic radiosurgery. This approach will allow further stratification of the patients and guide clinical decision making. Methods: An IRB approved retrospective study included 63 brain metastatic lesions within 49 patients (33 females and 16 males) who have undergone stereotactic radiosurgery with at least one follow-up MRI and available clinical data. The average age was 63.17 years (±1.48, ranged from 34-83 years). The longitudinal change in ITSS was categorized into 3 groups; increased, stable and decreased. The treatment response of each lesion was evaluated according to the longitudinal change in size, enhancement and susceptibility at the baseline and follow-up MRIs. Chi-square test was used to compare differences in categorical variables. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of including longitudinal change in ITSS with size and enhancement pattern in determining the treatment response following SRS. Results: Our results demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity when including longitudinal change in ITSS with size and enhancement for the evaluation of the treatment response of brain metastatic lesions treated with SRS. There was statistically significant difference between the different ITSS and enhancement patterns at baseline and follow-up MRIs (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test (p = .000, and .003) respectively. The multiparametric analysis of the longitudinal change in size, contrast enhancement, and ITSS in the evaluation of treatment response in the follow-up MRIs, showed that the sensitivity and specificity significantly improved (AUC 0.953). Conclusion: High resolution SWI can contribute as an imaging biomarker with supplemental information for monitoring treatment and predicting treatment response. High resolution SWI can complement the standard contrast enhanced T1 images to evaluate treatment response with a multiparametric MRI approach.

СТРУКТУРНІ ЗМІНИ ЕКСПОРТУ ТА ІМПОРТУ ТОВАРІВ УКРАЇНИ НА ПОЧАТКУ XXІ ст.

The article proves the need to study the structural changes in exports and imports of Ukrainian goods. In view of this, the author used his own method of quantitative analysis of structural changes, which was described in detail by him in previous works. The proposed method is based in part on the work of Polish researchers. On the basis of this method the analysis of process of structural changes which provides definition and an estimation of intensity (depth) of changes; development of changes; constancy (monotony) of changes in exports and imports of Ukrainian goods is carried out. The second aspect of the analysis involved the analysis of changes in the structure of exports and imports of goods, which involves the decomposition of structural changes at the level of structural elements and analysis of changes in size and shape of the structure on this basis. According to the results of the analysis, it is shown that at the beginning of the study period the metals and metal products, machinery, equipment and transport, food products and agricultural products were the basis of exports of goods. At the end of the study period, the priorities of Ukrainian exports of goods changed: the food products and agricultural products came in the first place in the structure. Changes in the structure of exports have shown that the world economy needs Ukrainian raw materials and agricultural products, i.e. Ukrainian exports have saved their raw materials and semi-raw materials orientation. In general, changes in terms of the interests of the national economy can be considered as negative. This is one of the evidences of noncompetitiveness of the Ukrainian processing, light and food industries. It is argued that the structure of imports of Ukrainian goods is asymmetric to exports. The main components of imports are high-tech products (electrical machinery and equipment, nuclear reactors, cars and vehicles, devices and optical devices), fuel and energy products, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, which is one of the indirect proofs of the orientation of Ukraine’s economy towards consumption. It should be noted that changes in the import’s goods structure took place under the influence of liberalization of tariff regulation of foreign trade in Ukraine under the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and under the influence of events in the east. Analysis of exports and imports of goods in Ukraine has shown that the current structure of production preserves the export orientation of the national economy and its raw material specialization, and this increases the dependence of the Ukrainian economy on market fluctuations in international markets.

Long-term follow-up of hepatic adenoma and adenomatosis: analysis of size change on imaging with histopathological correlation

To analyse the change in size on follow-up of hepatic adenomas (HAs) and adenomatosis, and to investigate the relationship of imaging features with size change. The study included 44 patients (142 lesions) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis and follow-up of HA. The imaging features and percentage change in maximum tumour dimension were observed over a follow-up duration of up to 139 months. With an average follow-up of 43 months, 37% lesions decreased in size, 58% were stable, 4% increased; one lesion regressed completely. Adenomas were stratified into size groups (<3, 3-5, and ≥5 cm). Size change among the three groups was similar (p>0.05). Percent size change was different for lesions followed for ≤12 months (-7.2%) compared with lesions followed for 13-60 months (-20.5%), and those followed for ≥60 months (-23.5%; p<0.05); there was no difference between lesions followed for 13-60 months and ≥60 months (p=0.523). Baseline size and percent size change was similar between the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α-inactivated HA (HA-H) and inflammatory HA (HA-I) subtype (p>0.05). Most adenomas were either stable or regressed on follow-up. Size change was independent of baseline size. After an initial size decrease within 5 years, no further size reduction was noted on extended follow-up. The percent size change in the HA-H and HA-I subtype was similar.

Archaeology, biology, and borrowing: A critical examination of Geometric Morphometrics in Archaeology

Geometric Morphometrics (GM) is a method originally applied in Evolutionary Biology studies, using the analysis of change in size and shape in order to better understand ontogenetic sequences, phylogenetic relations, among other issues. The application of GM in archaeological materials has seen a sharp increase in the last decade, mostly associated with theoretical approaches from Evolutionary Archaeology. This is not an isolated case, since most methods used by Evolutionary Archaeologists have been borrowed from Biology, provoking discussion with regard to the future development of Evolutionary Archaeology and its methods (Lycett, 2015). This article aims to discuss some concepts that have been directly borrowed from the application of GM in Biological Sciences and that have not been subject to much thought when used in Archaeology. Such concepts include homology and landmark types, the concept of modularity, as well as the idea of allometry. As much as archaeologists using GM can learn from past discussions held by biologists regarding the above mentioned concepts, it is high time for archaeologists to further discuss ideas concerning the use of these concepts in archaeological studies.

Point of queue size change analysis of the PH/PH/k system with heterogeneous servers

By observing the points only when the queue size changes, we study the PH/PH/k system with heterogeneous servers. We develop Markov chain set ups that are more efficient than studying the systems at arbitrary times, by reducing the sizes of matrices that need to be computed. Specifically we present procedures for constructing the associated Markov chains so one may use matrix-analytic methods for their analysis. This work is carried out for both the continuous and discrete time cases.

Case Series of Lower-Extremity Chronic Wounds Managed with an Antibacterial Foam Dressing Bound with Gentian Violet and Methylene Blue

To evaluate an antibacterial dressing for the management of lower-extremity chronic wounds with critical colonization. A case series of n = 15 patients with lower-extremity chronic wounds were treated with an antibacterial foam dressing consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam bound with gentian violet and methylene blue (Hydrofera Blue; Hydrofera, LLC, Willimantic, Connecticut). An outpatient clinic in Ontario, Canada. The dressing was applied to diabetic foot ulcers (n = 8) and other venous/leg wound etiologies (n = 7). The study population was clinically challenging due to high mean body weight, extended wound durations, and high diabetes prevalence. Wounds were assessed for clinical signs of superficial and deep/surrounding bacterial burden using the validated NERDS and STONEES mnemonic and with semiquantitative bacterial swabs. Changes in wound size, pain, and other clinical parameters were also recorded. Improvements in surface critical colonization and pain score at the end of the study period were noted in some patients, especially in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. A decreasing wound size was observed in 8 of the 14 patients (57%) at week 4. One patient was excluded from wound size change analysis. An antibacterial foam dressing consisting of PVA foam bound with gentian violet and methylene blue showed encouraging results in a clinically challenging study population. This dressing may be a suitable option for lower-extremity chronic wounds demonstrating an increased superficial bacterial burden. Further investigation focused on identifying the characteristics of patients who are most responsive to the dressing is warranted.

Morphologic variability of the Late Oligocene and the Early Miocene elliptical reticulofenestrids from the Central Paratethys: biostratigraphical, paleoecological and paleogeographical implications

The analysis of size changes (length of placoliths, their width, length of central opening and its width) in elliptical reticulofenestrids from the NP25-NN5 zonal interval of the Central Paratethys allowed to dicriminate two size categories of placoliths: (i) small Reticulofenestra minuta ( 8.0 iðehas been established in the Zone NN2 while its FCO (first common occurrence) in the Zone NN5. This study shows that the FOs of sizedefined morphotypes of the R. haqii-pseuduumbilicus group differ in the Central Paratethys and oceanic realm. Blooms of R. minuta at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary and in the Early Middle Miocene may be correlated with the incoming of warm water into the higher latitude Central Paratethys basins during connection wit...

Ranking functions for size-change termination

This article explains how to construct a ranking function for any program that is proved terminating by size-change analysis . The “principle of size-change termination” for a first-order functional language with well-ordered data is intuitive: A program terminates on all inputs, if every infinite call sequence (following program control flow) would imply an infinite descent in some data values. Size-change analysis is based on information associated with the subject program's call-sites. This information indicates, for each call-site, strict or weak data decreases observed as a computation traverses the call-site. The set DESC of call-site sequences for which the size-changes imply infinite descent is ω-regular, as is the set FLOW of infinite call-site sequences following the program flowchart. If FLOW ⊆ DESC (a decidable problem), every infinite call sequence would imply infinite descent in a well-ordering—an impossibility—so the program must terminate. This analysis accounts for termination arguments applicable to different call-site sequences, without indicating a ranking function for the program's termination. In this article, it is explained how one can be constructed whenever size-change analysis succeeds. The constructed function has an unexpectedly simple form; it is expressed using only min, max, and lexicographic tuples of parameters and constants. In principle, such functions can be tested to determine whether size-change analysis will be successful. As a corollary, if a program verified as terminating performs only multiply recursive operations, the function that it computes is multiply recursive. The ranking function construction is connected with the determinization of the Büchi automaton for DESC . While the result is not practical, it is of value in addressing the scope of size-change reasoning. This reasoning has been applied broadly, in the analysis of functional and logic programs, as well as term rewrite systems.

Пропозиції до третього видання Червоної книги України: птахи

Based on the analysis of changes in size and number of species in habitats nesting birds, population trends are subjected to significant fluctuations over the past decade, justifying proposals for new species to the third edition of the Red Book of Ukraine. For certain types the need to continue their conservation status within the national Red Book was confirmed. Keywords: Red Data Book, recommendation species, ornitofauna protection.

Climatology of Cyclone Size Characteristics and Their Changes during the Cyclone Life Cycle

Abstract Climatology of the atmospheric cyclone sizes and their change over the cyclone life cycle is analyzed on the basis of tracking 57 yr of NCEP–NCAR reanalysis sea level pressure data over the Northern Hemisphere. To quantify the atmospheric cyclone sizes a coordinate transform was used, which allows for the collocation of the cyclone center with the virtual pole and for the establishment of a unique coordinate system for the further determination of cyclone geometry. This procedure was incorporated into a numerical cyclone tracking scheme and provided quantitative estimation of cyclone geometry at every stage of the cyclone development. Climatological features of the distribution of the cyclone size characteristics (effective radius, asymmetry) are considered for the cyclones with different central pressure, deepening rate, and lifetime. Mean effective cyclone radius may experience significant changes, ranging from 300–400 km over the continents to more than 900 km over the oceans. There is found to be a strong dependence of the cyclone effective radius on the cyclone lifetime and intensity, implying the largest cyclone sizes for the most intense and long-living transients. Analysis of size changes during the cyclone life cycle implies that the cyclone radius increases during the development stage from 50% to 150%. Size evolution during the cyclone life cycle implies a universal dependence of the normalized cyclone effective radius and the normalized cyclone age. The actual maximum cyclone radius can be determined from these two nondimensional parameters and cyclone central pressure. Further application of the analysis of cyclone size and shape are discussed.

A Hyperspace Model to Decipher the Genetic Architecture of Developmental Processes: Allometry Meets Ontogeny

To better utilize limited resources for their survival and reproduction, all organisms undergo developmental changes in both body size and shape during ontogeny. The genetic analysis of size change with increasing age, i.e., growth, has received considerable attention in quantitative developmental genetic studies, but the genetic architecture of ontogenetic changes in body shape and its associated allometry have been poorly understood partly due to the lack of analytical tools. In this article, we attempt to construct a multivariate statistical framework for studying the genetic regulation of ontogenetic growth and shape. We have integrated biologically meaningful mathematical functions of growth curves and developmental allometry into the estimation process of genetic mapping aimed at identifying individual quantitative trait loci (QTL) for phenotypic variation. This model defined with high dimensions can characterize the ontogenetic patterns of genetic effects of QTL over the lifetime of an organism and assess the interplay between genetic actions/interactions and phenotypic integration. The closed forms for the residual covariance matrix and its determinant and inverse were derived to overcome the computational complexity typical of our high-dimensional model. We used a worked example to validate the utility of this model. The implications of this model for genetic research of evo-devo are discussed.

Analysis of Size Changes and Incremental Growth Structures in African Catfish Synodontis schall(schall) from Tell el-Amarna, Middle Egypt

We report on the analysis of fish bones of the African catfish, Synodontis schall (schall), recovered from the site of Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt. A systematic programme of sampling and sieving at this site has resulted in a large and well-preserved faunal collection from Pharaonic (14th century bc) and Late Roman (5th–6th centuriesad ) deposits. Bones of schall are well represented, and in particular the pectoral spine, a robust and well-preserved anatomical element, which contains a record of incremental growth structures. We present here our methods of analysis, using a sample of modern schall collected at monthly intervals over a 12-month period to validate the interpretation of the incremental growth structures. We use these methods to identify variations in size and growth characteristics between Pharaonic, Roman and modern material and to throw light on changes in the ancient Egyptian economy and the ecology of the Nile. Our results demonstrate that the schall of the Late Roman period grew more slowly and were subject to more intensive levels of fishing pressure than those of the Pharaonic and modern periods. We interpret this as evidence of climatic deterioration and a concomitant increased reliance on fish for food during the 5th–6th centuries ad.

Genetic analysis of changes in size of telomeres and antioncogens p53 and RB in children with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Changes in telomere length and mutations in p53 and RB genes were analyzed in 6 children with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Telomere length was reduced in 4 patients. One patient had mutation in p53 and in one patient loss of heterozygosity of the BR gene was found; in both samples telomere length was reduced.