Workstation Software Research Articles

Advanced tractography-guided laser ablation of a perirolandic long-term epilepsy-associated tumor: illustrative case.

Microsurgical resection of drug-resistant epilepsy-associated perirolandic lesions can lead to postoperative motor impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) has emerged as a less invasive alternative, offering reduced surgical risks and improved neurological outcomes. Electrophysiological tools routinely used for motor mapping in resective microsurgery are incompatible with intraoperative MRI. The utilization of advanced neuroimaging adjuncts for eloquent brain mapping during MRgLITT is imperative. The authors present the case of a 17-year-old athlete who underwent MRgLITT for a perirolandic long-term epilepsy-associated tumor (LEAT). They performed probabilistic multi-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution (MT-CSD) tractography to delineate the corticospinal tract (CST) for presurgical planning and intraoperative image guidance. The CST tractography was integrated into neuronavigation and MRgLITT workstation software to guide the ablation while monitoring the CST throughout the procedure. The integration of CST tractography into neuronavigation workstation planning and laser ablation workstation thermoablation is feasible and practical, facilitating complete ablation of a deep-seated perirolandic LEAT while preserving motor function. Probabilistic MT-CSD tractography enhanced MRgLITT planning as well as intraprocedural CST visualization and preservation, leading to a favorable functional outcome. The limitations of tractography and the predictability of thermal output distribution compared to the gold standard of microsurgical resection merit further discussion. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24139.

Towards liveness: collective memory and reproductions of studio reverberation

ABSTRACT Through a consideration of their reverberant characteristics, this article places representations of recording studios as an active cultural process that plays out through the recorded sounds such spaces become associated with. Like other heritage sites, the work to define, maintain, and allocate certain structures as unique or significant relies on the cultural process of collective memory. By focusing on the concept of sonic recollection, the reconfiguration of unique tracking room environments for “in the box” digital audio workstation software, exemplified through reverberation, is shown to draw from a network of people, sounds, and technologies that cumulatively reflect various stages of a recording studio’s trajectory. By uncovering this network – encompassing well-known and unnamed engineers, famous to merely aspiring recording artists, established or defunct studios and software companies, and technologies such as convolution reverb, all of which articulate one another in digital audio workstation software – it suggests that the theoretical underpinnings of collective memory studies are a useful tool of analysis to more fully frame reconstructions or representations of physical spaces undertaken through recorded sound, and that reverberation is an ideal metaphor for the work of collective memory.

Size Specific Dose Estimate in Abdominal Computed Tomography by AAPM TG Report-204 and AAPM TG Report-220

Purpose: The AAPM Task Group (TG) reports 204 and 220 presented methods for evaluation of patient dose by announcing the SSDE. The TG reports provide the Size Specific Conversion factors that can be multiplied to CTDIvol to calculate the patient dose in terms of SSDE constructed from Deff (AAPM TG-204) and Dw (AAPM TG-220). Our study presents a comparison of the two TG reports on SSDE for the routine Abdominal Computed Tomography. Materials and Methods: The scan lengths of abdomen were measured from computed tomography (CT) topographic images and cross-section at the mid-slice of the abdomen were measured from tomographic images of 61 adults who had undergone abdominal CT using the GE Advance Workstation (AWS) software. The Deff and Dw was computed according to TG- 204 and TG-220 reports, respectively. Further, we performed the correlation analysis between Deff and BMI, Dw and BMI and SSDE and BMI for both the TG- reports. The Student’s paired t-test was performed to compare the two of SSDE calculation methods. Results: The results confirm that the mean value of SSDE is 13.04 (𝑚𝐺𝑦) and 13.60 (𝑚𝐺𝑦) for AAPM TG-220 and AAPM TG-204, respectively. And a good positive correlation was observed between Deff and BMI, Dw and BMI with r = 0.67 and r = 0.68 respectively. Also, the weak correlation was observed between SSDE and BMI for both the TG - reports. The Student’s paired t-test shows that the two means of SSDE calculation methods are significantly different (𝑝< 0.01) in abdominal computed tomography. Conclusion: We confirm the AAPM TG reports 204/220 using clinical data for SSDE calculation that the mean SSDE values computed from Deff and Dw in abdomenal computed tomography are significantly different and we conclude that the SSDE calculated by Dw method gives a more accurate evaluation of SSDE for the patients undergoing abdominal computed tomography scan then the SSDE calculated by Deff method.

Incorporation of Macropads Into Abdominal Imaging to Improve Radiologist Productivity and Efficiency.

Shifting demographics within the United States population will likely continue to increase workplace demands of radiologists over the next decade, highlighting the importance of improving radiologist productivity and efficiency. Macropads may serve to optimize radiologist workstations by assigning complex repetitive tasks to a single press of a button. Information technology (IT) restrictions in many radiology practices limit the use of macropads, which often require software installation for use. duckyPad is a unique macropad that circumvents the obstacle of workstation software installation. As a proof of concept, a duckyPad was modified for use in an academic abdominal imaging department. Specifically, commonly accessed online resources (ie, incidentaloma management tables) were programmed to open in a new Google Chrome window when the assigned key on the duckyPad was pressed. The device was replicated and successfully used in several reading rooms within the department. Despite reported benefits of device use, widespread implementation of duckyPad is limited by a number of factors, including required assembly. Future efforts of macropad incorporation into radiology workflows will focus on collaboration with IT departments to potentially facilitate use of more robust devices that can be managed centrally using proprietary software.

Biventricular Deformation Assessment in Neonates: A Comparison Between Bedside Automated Function Imaging and Offline Clinical Workstation Software

Biventricular Deformation Assessment in Neonates: A Comparison Between Bedside Automated Function Imaging and Offline Clinical Workstation Software

AUTOMATING BUILD OF EMBEDDED LINUX BINARIES IN A HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING CLUSTER

A method for automating the build process of the embedded Linux operating system binary images in a high-performance computing cluster based on continuous integration and continuous deployment technology is discussed. The method proposed can significantly reduce software design time, free up computing resources at local workstations and organize joint work on a team project. A practical example of setting up the software tools necessary to compile the boot-loader, embedded Linux kernel and root file system for BeagleBone Black device with an ARM Cortex A8 processor is provided. Basic requirements for the server and workstation software are formulated. The materials of the article can be used to organize system software design for Internet of Things devices effectively, as well as for educational purposes. Tools used to develop embedded operating systems based on Linux Yocto as well as GitLab source code management system and configuring of CI/CD feature are described. The build system environment proposed includes GitLab service installed on a high-performance virtual machine in a computing cluster and set of workstations connected to the local network. The project repository is physically located on the server and managed by GitLab service. Docker virtualization is used to isolate build process from the server operating system. Building of operating system image is started automatically using CI/CD runner script, every time changes to the source code of the project are made. Git protocol is used to modify project repository remotely. Intermediate compilation data is stored outside of the Docker sandbox to prevent data integrity between compilation events. This data includes a significant amount of third-party library source code downloaded from external Linux repositories on the Internet. Thus, rebuilding the project after making changes does not require a complete rebuild and reloading of library sources, and takes much less time. Requirements for the workplace of a development engineer are minimized because the main computing load is transferred to a remote server. The proposed method of building an image of the Linux Yocto operating system allows manage team to work on a project and significantly increases the speed of the project rebuild procedure, therefore, reduces the time spent on designing and debugging system software for embedded systems. The effectiveness of the proposed method was confirmed practically with sample project Linux Yocto for the BeagleBone Black minicomputer based on the ARM Cortex A8 processor. The article contains examples of settings taken from this project. The proposed method can be used to study design of system software for embedded systems. Handson training sessions are a good example of team-based software development in a time-constrained environment.

Manchester Soundscape Experiment Online 2020: an overview

This paper presents results from the Manchester Soundscape Experiment Online 2020. It consisted of a virtual reality (VR) experiment online where participants rated 12 different scenarios with questions. The selected locations were Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street, Peel Park, and a bus stop. Each site was visited and recorded with a 360 camera and soundfield microphone on three crowd densities (empty, medium, and busy). Audio stimuli were converted from first-order ambisonic recordings to head-tracked binaural using Facebook Spatial Workstation software. The questions included the eight soundscape attributes from ISO 12913, three emotional self-assessment manikins, and demographic information. A total of 63 nationalities composed the group of 158 participants. Results from Piccadilly Gardens demonstrated that the eventful and vibrant scales significantly increased with the number of people in the scene. This tendency also happened at Market Street and Peel Park on the arousal emotional state. The other sites had these increases but were not as significant. Future research will include verifying these findings in laboratory conditions alongside measurements of brain activity via electroencephalogram.

Distribution of Lipid-soluble Vitamin Intake among Exclusively Breastfeeding Mothers and its Correlation with Human Milk’s Fatty Acids

The lipid composition such as fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins is the second-most abundant composition of human milk providing dietary energy to infants. Micronutrient dietary intake such as vitamin A, D, E, K and C by breastfeeding mothers plays an important role in regulating the quality of human milk for optimum infant health and growth. The objective of this paper is to determine the distribution and correlation of maternal micronutrient intake of lipid-soluble vitamin and vitamin C towards fatty acids composition in human milk of exclusively breastfeeding mothers. A total of N=36 nursing women were recruited from Dengkil, Selangor, and Kuantan, Pahang, using a convenience sample method. A 24-hour dietary recall (24HR) was performed to collect thorough information on all foods and beverages ingested in the previous 24 hours by the respondent. The data on micronutrients intake per mother was tabulated using Nutritionist Pro. (NP) software. Following the diet recall, the human sample was collected in the next morning and subjected to fatty acid extraction and transesterification using the Blight and Dyer method. The composition of fatty acids methyl esters was analyzed and quantified by a gas chromatography (Agilent 7890A), equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and Agilent Chromatography Workstation software. The highest mean of intake occurred during the fifth to sixth months with, 1067.37±629.66 µg RE/day for vitamin A, during the first two months with, 0.89±0.84 µg RE/day of vitamin D, 5.85±2.49 mg/day while during the fifth to sixth months with, 17.28±11.74 µg /day of Vitamin E and at the first two months of lactation period with, 91.60±55.26 mg per day for vitamin C. Despite the fact that there was no significant correlation between vitamin intake and the fatty acid content of human milk, the study discovered a variety of patterns of correlation. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) in human milk were only positively correlated with vitamin D and C, while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were positively correlated with vitamin A, E, and K and negatively correlated with the rest. As a result, the fatty acid composition of human milk is less dependent on micronutrient dietary intake and more dependent on De-Novo synthesis in the mammary gland.

Effects on Maternal Macronutrient Intake Towards Human Milk’s Fatty Acids Composition

While fatty acids found in human milk account for half of the energy consumed by exclusively breastfed infants, fatty acids such as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) plays critical roles in infant growth. Fatty acids components in human milk are vary widely accordance to the maternal diet during lactation but has not been sufficiently studied. The objective of this paper was to determine the correlation between maternal macronutrient intake with human milk’s fatty acids composition among exclusively breastfeeding mothers. A total of N=36 lactating mothers were recruited based on convenience sampling basis from Dengkil, Selangor and Kuantan, Pahang. A 24-hour dietary recall (24HR) was used to capture mother’s dietary intake in the past 24 hours. The human milk sample was collected in the next day morning after the diet recall and stored before proceeded to another fatty acids extraction and transesterification process namely Blight and Dyer method. The composition of fatty acids methyl esters was analyzed and quantified by a gas chromatography (Agilent 7890A), equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and Agilent Chromatography Workstation software. As overall, the most abundance fatty acids found was SFA ranged (81.90 to 97.7 %) followed with MUFA (2.3 to 18.1%), but PUFA was below detection limit (BDL). Result also indicated that palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids were the three major types of fatty acids determined from human milk. Correlational study also determined that, there was no significant correlation between the human milk’s SFA and MUFA with the same dietary intake and another macronutrient like carbohydrate and protein. Even though there was no significant correlation determined for the most composition, various pattern of correlation was found in the study. Human milk’s SFA only had a positive correlation with dietary carbohydrate but negative with the rest. Different pattern also showed for human milk’s MUFA which only negatively correlate with carbohydrate and fats while positive for the rest. Thus, overall, this fat composition is known to have higher variation in terms of concentration of its components compared to another macronutrient even within the same population. Aside from geographical considerations, maternal nationality and age have a substantial impact on the fatty acid composition of human milk.

Pancreatic necrosis volume for predicting readmission and reintervention in acute necrotizing pancreatitis

PurposeTo determine the correlation between the pancreatic necrosis volume (PNV) and readmission as well as reintervention. MethodThis was a retrospective cohort study that included necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) patients who were examined with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) one week before discharge. The PNV was calculated manually based on the postprocessing workstation software. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the independent risk factors for readmission and reintervention. ResultsA total of 167 NP patients were included. Among them, 94 (56.3%) patients were readmitted after discharge, and 55 (32.9%) patients needed further invasive intervention. The median PNV of all patients was 376.6 (interquartile range (IQR), 129.3–820.5) cm3, and the PNV was significantly higher in patients needing readmission or reintervention. Multivariate analysis showed that PNV ≥ 620 cm3 (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR), 3.08; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47–6.43; P = 0.003) and modified computed tomography severity index (CTSI) score ≥ 7 points (adjOR, 6.36; 95% CI, 2.05–10.70; P = 0.001) were independently associated with readmission. Stent or drainage tube placement at discharge (adjOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.27–6.77; P = 0.011), PNV ≥ 620 cm3 (adjOR, 5.11; 95% CI, 2.19–11.95; P < 0.001), pancreatic parenchymal necrosis (adjOR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.42–7.96; P = 0.006), and modified CTSI score ≥ 7 points (adjOR, 4.23; 95% CI, 1.46–12.27; P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for reintervention. ConclusionsThe PNV is a useful tool for quantifying pancreatic necrosis and is strongly associated with readmission and reintervention. Additional prospective studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Surgical Effects of Resecting Skull Base Tumors Using Pre-operative Multimodal Image Fusion Technology: A Retrospective Study.

ObjectivesTo analyze the surgical effects of resecting skull base tumors using multimodal three-dimensional (3D) image fusion technology in the neurosurgery department and present some typical cases.MethodsFrom October 2019 to October 2021, we included 47 consecutive patients with skull base tumors in the Neurosurgery Department at Zhuhai People's Hospital in this study. Pre-operative head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition was performed using the GE AW workstation software for registration fusion, image fusion, and 3D reconstruction. The surgical approach and surgical plan were designed based on the multimodal 3D image, and the resection rate, complication rate, and operative time of the surgery using the multimodal image fusion technique were analyzed.ResultsThe reconstructed multimodal 3D images precisely demonstrated the size, location, and shape of the tumor along with the anatomical relationship between the tumor and surrounding structures, which is consistent with the intraoperative findings. Among 47 patients, 39 patients (78.7%) underwent total resection, 5 (14.9%) underwent subtotal resection, and 3 (6.4%) underwent partial resection. The mean operative time was 4.42 ± 1.32 h. No patient died during the inpatient period. Post-operative complications included 6 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (14.9%), 3 cases of intracranial infection (6.4%), 6 cases of facial paralysis (12.8%), 2 cases of dysphagia (4.3%), and 1 case of diplopia (2.1%), all of which were improved after symptomatic treatment. The application value of pre-operative 3D image fusion technology was evaluated as outstanding in 40 cases (85.1%) and valuable in 7 cases (14.9%).ConclusionsPre-operative multimodal image fusion technology can provide valuable visual information in skull base tumor surgery and help neurosurgeons design the surgical incision, choose a more rational surgical approach, and precisely resect the tumor. The multimodal image fusion technique should be strongly recommended for skull base tumor surgery.

Эффективность применения золедроновой кислоты при лечении остеопороза у больных раком предстательной железы, получающих терапию агонистами ГнРГ

Introduction. It has been established that prolonged androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) of prostate cancer leads to a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and increases the risk of fractures, which is an important medical and social problem. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is most often used for the prevention of osteoporosis against the background of ADT. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy and safety of ZA for the treatment and prevention of osteopo-rosis in non-metastatic prostate cancer against the background of ADT therapy with GnRH agonists. Materials and methods. The study included 45 men aged 54-81 years with morphologically verified prostate cancer (stages T2-4 N0-1 M0) who underwent surgical castration at least 6 months before inclusion or continuously received therapy with GnRH agonists. The blood level of CTX-1 was used as the main marker of bone resorption. To assess the BMD, the screening method of dual-band X-ray densitometry of the calcaneus with laser determination of the examination area – DXL using the CALSCAN apparatus and the DXL Calscan Workstation software was used. Patients were randomized into groups of 15 people each: Group 1 – received intravenous infusion of ZA at a dose of 4 mg at the beginning of the study and after 3 months of treatment; Group 2 received ZA at 2 mg in the same mode; Group 3 – control. For antire-sorptive therapy (ART), the drug Resorba (JSC «Pharm-Synthesis», Russia) was used. The duration of follow-up was 6 months. Results. In 13 out of 15 patients of Group 1, 3 months after the first administration of ZA, a decrease in the level of CTX-1 by 50% or more was observed, and after 6 months all 15 patients (100%) reached the age norm («complete answer»). Group 2 patients also responded to ART and by the 6th month 13 out of 15 (87%) had achieved a «complete response». In the control group by the 6th month the decrease in CTX-1 was not observed in any of the patients. Initially, the values of BMD in the studied groups did not differ. By the 3rd month of the study, the BMD index significantly increased only in Group 1. In Group 2 this indicator significantly increased by the 6th month of treatment. At the same time, in Group 1 after 6 months the BMD index reached higher values than in Group 2: an increase of 27% and 13%, respectively. In the control group, by the 6th month of observation, a significant decrease in BMD by 12% was noted. In Group 1, the number of patients with osteoporosis decreased to 6% and with a normal level of BMD – reached to 40%. Conclusion. High efficacy and sufficient safety of ZA in doses of 4 mg and 2 mg i/v one time in 3 months for anti-resorptive therapy in patients receiving long-term hormonal therapy with GnRH agonists has been demonstrated.

Aviation simulator software, typical functions and its development prospects

Flight simulators have been used for more than eighty years. The development of aircraft simulators that simulate the pilot’s work in the cockpit, the conditions of take-off, flight, landing, as well as the work of the dispatcher to train and maintain the professional level of aviation specialists is being addressed worldwide[1]. Training complexes can be divided into several parts, one of which is software. The instructor’s workstation software allows him to set various parameters of take-off, flight and landing conditions, as well as monitor and control the simulator subsystems. The article discusses typical functions of simulator software and prospects for the training development on flight simulators.

An interactive eye-tracking system for measuring radiologists' visual fixations in volumetric CT images: Implementation and initial eye-tracking accuracy validation.

Eye-tracking approaches have been used to understand the visual search process in radiology. However, previous eye-tracking work in computer tomography (CT) has been limited largely to single cross-sectional images or video playback of the reconstructed volume, which do not accurately reflect radiologists' visual search activities and their interactivity with three-dimensional image data at a computer workstation (e.g., scroll, pan, and zoom) for visual evaluation of diagnostic imaging targets. We have developed a platform that integrates eye-tracking hardware with in-house-developed reader workstation software to allow monitoring of the visual search process and reader-image interactions in clinically relevant reader tasks. The purpose of this work is to validate the spatial accuracy of eye-tracking data using this platform for different eye-tracking data acquisition modes. An eye-tracker was integrated with a previously developed workstation designed for reader performance studies. The integrated system captured real-time eye movement and workstation events at 1000Hz sampling frequency. The eye-tracker was operated either in head-stabilized mode or in free-movement mode. In head-stabilized mode, the reader positioned their head on a manufacturer-provided chinrest. In free-movement mode, a biofeedback tool emitted an audio cue when the head position was outside the data collection range (general biofeedback) or outside a narrower range of positions near the calibration position (strict biofeedback). Four radiologists and one resident were invited to participate in three studies to determine eye-tracking spatial accuracy under three constraint conditions: head-stabilized mode (i.e., with use of a chin rest), free movement with general biofeedback, and free movement with strict biofeedback. Study 1 evaluated the impact of head stabilization versus general or strict biofeedback using a cross-hair target prior to the integration of the eye-tracker with the image viewing workstation. In Study 2, after integration of the eye-tracker and reader workstation, readers were asked to fixate on targets that were randomly distributed within a volumetric digital phantom. In Study 3, readers used the integrated system to scroll through volumetric patient CT angiographic images while fixating on the centerline of designated blood vessels (from the left coronary artery to dorsalis pedis artery). Spatial accuracy was quantified as the offset between the center of the intended target and the detected fixation using units of image pixels and the degree of visual angle. The three head position constraint conditions yielded comparable accuracy in the studies using digital phantoms. For Study 1 involving the digital crosshairs, the median ± the standard deviation of offset values among readers were 15.2 ± 7.0 image pixels with the chinrest, 14.2 ± 3.6 image pixels with strict biofeedback, and 19.1 ± 6.5 image pixels with general biofeedback. For Study 2 using the random dot phantom, the median ± standard deviation offset values were 16.7 ± 28.8 pixels with use of a chinrest, 16.5 ± 24.6 pixels using strict biofeedback, and 18.0 ± 22.4 pixels using general biofeedback, which translated to a visual angle of about 0.8° for all three conditions. We found no obvious association between eye-tracking accuracy and target size or view time. In Study 3 viewing patient images, use of the chinrest and strict biofeedback demonstrated comparable accuracy, while the use of general biofeedback demonstrated a slightly worse accuracy. The median ± standard deviation of offset values were 14.8 ± 11.4 pixels with use of a chinrest, 21.0 ± 16.2 pixels using strict biofeedback, and 29.7 ± 20.9 image pixels using general biofeedback. These corresponded to visual angles ranging from 0.7° to 1.3°. An integrated eye-tracker system to assess reader eye movement and interactive viewing in relation to imaging targets demonstrated reasonable spatial accuracy for assessment of visual fixation. The head-free movement condition with audio biofeedback performed similarly to head-stabilized mode.

QUANTITATIVE COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY MEASURES OF BODY COMPOSITION AND THE ASSOCIATION WITH MORTALITY, ALL CAUSE, COPD AND PNEUMONIA RELATED HOSPITAL ADMISSION IN A LARGE LUNG CANCER SCREENING COHORT

TOPIC: Imaging TYPE: Original Investigations PURPOSE: Patients at high-risk for lung cancer and qualified for CT lung cancer screening (CTLS) are at risk for numerous cardio-pulmonary comorbidities. CT quantified muscle area has been shown to be associated with mortality, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity and exacerbations. We sought to examine if quantitatively assessed measures of body composition on CTLS scans can identify patients at increased risk for mortality, and all cause, COPD and pneumonia related hospitalization in a large clinical CTLS cohort. METHODS: Patients (n=1703) from Lahey Hospital and Medical Center who underwent CTLS from January 12, 2012 through September 30, 2014 and had an in network primary care physician were included. Clinical outcomes data was collected through September 30, 2019. Quantitative measurements of pectoralis muscle area (PMA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were performed on a single axial slice of the CT above the aortic arch with the Chest Imaging Platform Workstation software. PMA, SFA and liver density were dichotomized into quartiles separately for each sex and combined to account for baseline differences between sexes. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between quantitative measures of body composition and mortality, hospitalization, COPD-related, and pneumonia-related hospitalization. To adjust for multiplicity Bonferroni correction was utilized and p-value significance was set at ≤ 0.004. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA14.1. RESULTS: Of the 1,703 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent CTLS, a total of seven patients were excluded secondary to failure of the Chest Imaging Platform program to analyze the scans. There were a total of 137 (8.1%) deaths during the study, 652 (38.4%) of the subjects were admitted to the hospital at least once, 74 (4.4%) were admitted for COPD and 97 (5.7%) were admitted for pneumonia related hospitalizations. The lowest quartile of PMA was found to be associated with an increased risk for mortality and COPD related hospital admission HR 3.10 (1.84, 5.21), p<0.001 and HR 3.24 (1.45, 7.22), p =0.004. The lowest quartile of liver density was found to be associated with an increased risk for all cause, COPD and pneumonia related hospital admission HR 1.73 (1.34, 2.24), p<0.001, HR 3.32 (1.53, 7.20), p =0.002 and HR 2.95 (1.46, 5.97), p =0.003. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative measure of PMA are associated with an increased risk for mortality and COPD related hospital admission. Liver density measurements are associated with an increased risk for all cause, COPD and pneumonia related hospital admissions. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Quantitative measurements of body composition on CTLS exams in these patients can be used to extrapolate risk for mortality and hospital admissions. Allowing clinicians to identify at risk patients, impacting clinical decision making and patient care. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Alissa Ali, source=Web Response Grant funding relationship with Genentech Please note: 9/10/2020 Added 04/23/2021 by Lee Gazourian, source=Web Response, value=Grant/Research Support Consultant relationship with Veracyte Please note: 2019-2021 Added 06/23/2021 by Carla Lamb, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria No relevant relationships by Timothy Liesching, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by William Long, source=Web Response Speaker/Speaker's Bureau relationship with Covidien Please note: $1001 - $5000 by andrea mckee, source=Web Response, value=Salary Speaker/Speaker's Bureau relationship with Covidien Please note: $1-$1000 by andrea mckee, source=Web Response, value=Travel Advisor relationship with AstraZeneca Please note: 2019-2021 Added 04/22/2021 by Brady McKee, source=Web Response, value=Advisor Fee No relevant relationships by Elizabeth Pagura, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Lori Lyn Price, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Shawn Regis, source=Web Response research relationship with Veracyte Please note: 1/1/18-present Added 06/23/2021 by Kimberly Rieger-Christ, source=Web Response, value=Grant/Research Support No relevant relationships by Giulia Rizzo, source=Web Response Owner/Founder relationship with Quantitative Imaging Solutions Please note: 2015 Added 04/30/2021 by Raúl San José Estépar, source=Web Response, value=Ownership interest No relevant relationships by Ava Sanayei, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Cristina Stefanescu, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Will Thedinger, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Christoph Wald, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria Removed 04/22/2021 by Christoph Wald, source=Web Response My spouse/partner as a Employee relationship with biogen Please note: >$100000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Salary Owner/Founder relationship with Quantitative Imaging Solutions Please note: >$100000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Ownership interest Advisory Committee Member relationship with Boehringer Ingelheim Please note: $1001 - $5000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Consultant relationship with Vertex Please note: $5001 - $20000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Advisory Committee Member relationship with PulmonX Please note: $1001 - $5000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Advisory Committee Member relationship with CSL Behring Please note: $1001 - $5000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Consultant relationship with Johnson and Johnson Please note: $5001 - $20000 by George Washko, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee

Preliminary Observations of Weak Three-Body Scatter Spikes Associated With Low-End Severe Hail

he three-body scatter spike (TBSS), an artifact caused by radar microwave scattering associated with large hydrometeors, traditionally has been utilized in the National Weather Service as an operational indicator of destructive hail. Severe weather warning strategies based on the TBSS were derived using a lower-bound reflectivity threshold of 5 dBZ. With recent WSR-88D workstation software and product upgrades, the operational display of very low value reflectivity data to -30 dBZ has allowed meteorologists to observe more subtle, but meaningful, atmospheric targets and artifacts. Since these upgrades, radar-based interrogations of thunderstorms over west Texas and South Dakota (among other places) have revealed weak TBSS signatures characterized by faint radar returns as low as -14 dBZ. A sufficient dataset of weak TBSS cases does not exist currently to support a robust statistical analysis. Preliminary observations, however, indicate that the artifact may occur prior to and during low-end severe hail measuring between 1.9 cm and 2.5 cm in diameter, especially when recognized to emanate from pulse-type convective storms sampled at close range over the Great Plains. These observations suggest that an extension to the current conceptual use of the conventional TBSS model, which associates the traditional signature to a likelihood of “very large hail,” should be investigated.

Development of a portable micro-liquid chromatograph

该工作报道了一种自行设计研制的便携式微型液相色谱仪(portable micro liquid chromatograph, p-μLC)。p-μLC集成了二元大推力注射泵作为流动相驱动装置、毛细管整体柱为分离介质和紫外-可见/荧光两用流通池为在线检测单元。自行设计研制的二元大推力注射泵可以实现等度/梯度洗脱和流动相再装填功能,可控流速范围在0.025 μL/min到5.6 mL/min之间;自制的甲基丙烯酸酯C-18有机聚合物毛细管整体微柱可实现自有机小分子至生物大分子的分离;自行研制的光纤式紫外-可见/荧光两用流通池,可以通过光纤导入来自光源的紫外光和可见光,并采集透射光和与入射光反方向射出的荧光信号,流通池内使用自聚焦透镜和全反射光导毛细管等器件提高通光效率和吸收光程;两用流通池通过光纤分别连接由大功率发光二极管/脉冲氙灯光源和微型光栅光谱仪所组成的检测装置进行在线吸收和荧光光谱检测,检测波长范围为220~700 nm。p-μLC采用整体手提箱式结构,流路模块、检测模块等位于下主箱体中,采集、控制模块等位于上盖中,全重不超过8 kg。仪器由装载了自编控制采集软件的内置平板电脑进行控制和数据采集。使用自行制备的甲基丙烯酸酯C-18有机聚合物毛细管整体柱,在等度洗脱模式下,在p-μLC上分离了烷基苯化合物混合样品,其分离检测效果可以与商品化大型HPLC仪器相媲美。

RadSimPE - a Radiology Workstation Simulator for Perceptual Education.

Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation in radiology perceptual education. While current software exists for perceptual research, these software packages are not optimized for inclusion of educational materials and do not have full integration for presentation of educational materials. To address this need, we created a user-friendly software application, RadSimPE. RadSimPE simulates a radiology workstation, displays radiology cases for quantitative assessment, and incorporates educational materials in one seamless software package. RadSimPE provides simple customizability for a variety of educational scenarios and saves results to quantitatively document changes in performance. We performed two perceptual education studies involving evaluation of central venous catheters: one using RadSimPE and the second using conventional software. Subjects in each study were divided into control and experimental groups. Performance before and after perceptual education was compared. Improved ability to classify a catheter as adequately positioned was demonstrated only in the RadSimPE experimental group. Additional quantitative performance metrics were similar for both the group using conventional software and the group using RadSimPE. The study proctors felt that it was qualitatively easier to run the RadSimPE session due to integration of educational material into the simulation software. In summary, we created a user-friendly and customizable simulated radiology workstation software package for perceptual education. Our pilot test using the software for central venous catheter assessment was a success and demonstrated effectiveness of our software in improving trainee performance.

Fetal neurosonography detects differences in cortical development and corpus callosum in late-onset small fetuses.

To explore whether neurosonography can detect differences in cortical development and corpus callosal length in late-onset small fetuses subclassified into small-for-gestational age (SGA) or growth restricted (FGR). This was a prospective cohort study in singleton pregnancies, including normally grown fetuses (birth weight between the 10th and 90th centiles) and late-onset small fetuses (estimated fetal weight < 10th centile, diagnosed after 32 weeks of gestation and confirmed by birth weight < 10th centile). Small fetuses were subclassified into SGA (birth weight between the 3rd and 9th centiles and normal fetoplacental Doppler) and FGR (birth weight < 3rd centile and/or abnormal cerebroplacental ratio and/or abnormal uterine artery Doppler). Neurosonography was performed at 33 ± 1 weeks of gestation to assess the depth of the insula, Sylvian fissure and parieto-occipital sulcus in the axial views and corpus callosal length in the midsagittal plane. Measurements were performed offline using Alma Workstation software and were adjusted by biparietal diameter or cephalic index. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between the neurosonographic variables and study group, adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, gestational age at neurosonography, nulliparity and pre-eclampsia. In total, 318 fetuses were included, of which 97 were normally grown and 221 were late-onset small fetuses that were further subdivided into late-onset SGA (n = 67) or late-onset FGR (n = 154). Compared to controls, both SGA and FGR cases showed significantly increased insular depth adjusted for biparietal diameter (median (interquartile range), controls 0.329 (0.312-0.342) vs SGA 0.339 (0.321-0.347) vs FGR 0.336 (0.325-0.349); P = 0.006). A linear tendency to reduced Sylvian fissure depth adjusted for biparietal diameter was also observed across the study groups (mean ± SD, controls 0.148 ± 0.021 vs SGA 0.142 ± 0.025 vs FGR 0.139 ± 0.022; P = 0.003). However, differences were significant only between the FGR and control groups. Corpus callosal length adjusted for cephalic index was significantly reduced in FGR cases compared with both controls and SGA cases, while there was no difference between SGA cases and controls (median (interquartile range), controls 0.500 (0.478-0.531) vs SGA 0.502 (0.487-0.526) vs FGR 0.475 (0.447-0.508); P = 0.005). No differences were found in parieto-occipital sulcus depth between the three study groups. Neurosonography seems to be a sensitive tool to detect subtle structural differences in brain development in late-onset small fetuses. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Measurement of the Femoral Anteversion Angle in Medium and Large Dog Breeds Using Computed Tomography.

To promote the development of an optimally functional total hip prosthesis for medium and large dog breeds, accurate measurements of the normal anatomy of the proximal femur and acetabular retroversion are essential. The aim of the current study was to obtain precise normal values of the femoral anteversion angle using computed tomography on cadavers of mature dogs with normal hip joints of both medium and large breeds. Based on the length of their femora 58 dogs were allocated either to group I: ≤195 mm or group II: >195 mm. In the study the femoral anteversion angle (FAA) was measured on each femur using multi-slice spiral computed tomography (CT). The data were processed as multi-planar and three-dimensional reconstructions using Advantage Workstation software. The CT measurements showed that the mean ± standard deviation (SD) FAA of group I was 31.34 ± 5.47° and in group II it was 31.02 ± 4.95°. There were no significant mean difference associations between the length of the femur and the femoral neck angle in either group (P > 0.05). The data suggest that a prosthesis FAA of 31 degrees would be suitable for a wide range of dog sizes.