102,464 research outputs found
Pocket Brain, an interactive, web-based ultrasound atlas of normal and abnormal fetal brain development
No full textThe teaching of ultrasound involves various modalities, including direct tuition by a teacher, supervised acquisition and application of practical skills, and observation of educational normal and pathological specimens. Some aspects can be achieved by self-study, using multimedia material and ultrasound simulators. Imaging data are well suited to transformation into digital learning objects. Using appropriately converted obstetric and gynecological ultrasound volume data, we have shown previously that such digital objects can be used with regular computer equipment, via a freely available storage and interactive display format, QuickTime Virtual reality. Mobile devices, including smartphones, are ubiquitous in medicine, but a recent literature review found only a limited number of publications
regarding the use of reference applications by physicians or medical students6. Until recently, due to the lack of a universal standard, interactive imaging content was not available for widespread use on stationary and mobile devices. Here, we extend the existing uses of virtual reality imaging for ultrasound to a web-based, cross-platform reference application, using a new standard format (hypertext markup language level, revision 5 (HTML5)), compatible with current mobile devices, to display interactive volume imaging data. Using ultrasound volume datasets from clinical cases with known outcomes, acquired from normal and abnormal mid-trimester fetal brains, as described previously4, we created ‘Pocket Brain’, an interactive onlinemultimedia atlas of fetal brain anatomy and pathology for stationary andmobile devices
Brain views that benefit from three-dimensional ultrasound
No full textPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fetal central nervous system malformations are among the most common congenital anomalies. Whereas simple axial views are sufficient for basic fetal brain examination, other important views are essential for a more detailed examination, which are sometimes challenging to obtain. Three-dimensional ultrasound can be helpful in obtaining standardized and reproducible images of many difficult fetal brain views. The aim of the present review is to explore the most recent evidence on the utility and technique of three-dimensional ultrasound in the examination of the fetal brain, with particular emphasis on the brain views that benefit from three-dimensional ultrasound. RECENT FINDINGS: The article describes the various techniques of acquisition and analyses of three-dimensional ultrasound volumes of the fetal brain and their usefulness in the assessment of normal and abnormal fetal brain anatomy. Three-dimensional ultrasound has also permitted the application of many new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and deep machine learning. Recently, thanks to high-quality three-dimensional ultrasound, fetal cortical development can be assessed quantitatively and reliably. SUMMARY: Three dimensional ultrasound can help as a complementary tool to two-dimensional ultrasound in the assessment of the fetal brain development and malformations. In addition, it paves the way for the application of promising technologies in the evaluation of fetal brain. VIDEO ABSTRACT: A video summarizing the findings of the article. The video illustrates the various approaches and techniques applied for the examination of the fetal brain using three-dimensional ultrasound. Furthermore, the advantages and future perspectives of the application of three-dimensional ultrasound in the examination of the fetal brain are discussed, http://links.lww.com/COOG/A74
Domestication of new species
No full textDomestication is the process through which a wild plant becomes a crop. The process is the result of the selection, either deliberate or as a byproduct of agricultural practices, of characteristics favorable to human beings. The sum of such characteristics is usually described as the ‘domestication syndrome’ because the types of traits selected are often shared among many different species. The most commonly selected traits are loss of seed dispersal, reduced seed dormancy, changes in growth habit, flowering time, and gigantism, all of which have an impact on morphology, reproductive strategies and, most importantly, production (yield and harvest index). Depending on the plant and its use, other traits could be selected, such as reduction or loss of toxic compounds, winter hardiness, nutritional quality, etc. Most domestication took place in ancient times, but there are a few examples of recent and accelerated domestication, for instance sugar beet. It is now possible to achieve the domestication of new species, based on the deliberate induction and combination of traits, using a set of approaches: classical plant breeding via hybridization and selection (including wide area crosses, hybrid seeds and plant cell culture), coupled with molecular tools such as Marker Assisted Selection, transgenesis, and site directed mutagenesis. Examples of interesting traits as well as candidate crops are discussed. Thus, we have the means to repeat the achievements of the early domestication wave and do even better, but this requires drastic changes in international and national regulations impacting on plant biotechnology and novel breeding techniques
Sonography of fetal central nervous system
No full textAn overview on the principles of screening, diagnosis and management of fetal central nervous anomalie
Natural genetic diversity and crop improvement
No full textAbstract: With the human population expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, food production will need to increase significantly in the coming years. In particular the forecast doubling in cereal demands requires improvement of yields of the top four cereal crops, maize, rice, wheat and barley. This goal is made more challenging by global environmental changes and the connected abiotic and biotic stresses. In this chapter we briefly discuss two different breeding strategies to increase cereal yield: the heterosis approach in maize and the ideotype approach based on knowledge of the genes controlling yield components in rice. We further discuss the importance of crop genetic diversity in connection to studies of the domestication history of maize, rice, wheat and barley. We present examples of how crop genetic resources including landraces and wild relatives have been used in genetic improvement of yield and adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. More extensive deployment of such resources to face future challenges is now empowered by new genomic tools enabling efficient exploration of genetic variability and innovative approaches to direct collection and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture
Virtual reality ultrasound imaging of the normal and abnormal fetal central nervous system.
No full textOBJECTIVES: In fetal ultrasound imaging, teaching and experience are of paramount importance to improve prenatal detection rates of fetal abnormalities. Yet both aspects depend on exposure to normal and, in particular, abnormal 'specimens'. We aimed to generate a number of simple virtual reality (VR) objects of the fetal central nervous system for use as educational tools.
METHODS: We applied a recently proposed algorithm for the generation of fetal VR object movies to the normal and abnormal fetal brain and spine. Interactive VR object movies were generated from ultrasound volume data from normal fetuses and fetuses with typical brain or spine anomalies. Pathognomonic still images from all object movies were selected and annotated to enable recognition of these features in the object movies.
RESULTS: Forty-six virtual reality object movies from 22 fetuses (two with normal and 20 with abnormal brains) were generated in an interactive display format (QuickTime) and key images were annotated. The resulting .mov files are available for download from the website of this journal.
CONCLUSIONS: VR object movies can be generated from educational ultrasound volume datasets, and may prove useful for teaching and learning normal and abnormal fetal anatomy
A novel technique for visualization of the normal and cleft fetal secondary palate: angled insonation and three-dimensional ultrasound
No full textOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel approach to the visualization of the fetal secondary palate using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound.
METHODS: Sonographic examinations were performed in normal fetuses and in one fetus with cleft lip and palate. To avoid acoustic shadowing from the alveolar ridge, the secondary palate was insonated at a 45 degrees angle in the sagittal plane, and 3D ultrasound was used to reconstruct axial and coronal planes. RESULTS: The secondary palate was successfully visualized in 10 of 15 normal fetuses, both in the axial and coronal planes. In the fetus with cleft lip and palate the lesion of the secondary palate was clearly demonstrated, particularly in the coronal plane. CONCLUSION: Angled insonation and 3D ultrasound allow clear visualization of normal and cleft secondary palate
The a1-eap Allele of A1 represents a specific Marker for the selection of embryogenetic mutants
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