Terrestrial laser scanning is a powerful technology for capturing the three-dimensional structure of forests with a high level of detail and accuracy. Over the last decade, many algorithms have been developed to extract various tree parameters from terrestrial laser scanning data. Here we present 3D Forest, an open-source non-platform-specific software application with an easy-to-use graphical user interface with the compilation of algorithms focused on the forest environment and extraction of tree parameters. The current version (0.42) extracts important parameters of forest structure from the terrestrial laser scanning data, such as stem positions (X, Y, Z), tree heights, diameters at breast height (DBH), as well as more advanced parameters such as tree planar projections, stem profiles or detailed crown parameters including convex and concave crown surface and volume. Moreover, 3D Forest provides quantitative measures of between-crown interactions and their real arrangement in 3D space. 3D Forest also includes an original algorithm of automatic tree segmentation and crown segmentation. Comparison with field data measurements showed no significant difference in measuring DBH or tree height using 3D Forest, although for DBH only the Randomized Hough Transform algorithm proved to be sufficiently resistant to noise and provided results comparable to traditional field measurements.

• MeSH
• algoritmy MeSH
• automatizace MeSH
• lesy * MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Although the field of sleep study has greatly developed over recent years, the most common and efficient way to detect sleep issues remains a sleep examination performed in a sleep laboratory. This examination measures several vital signals by polysomnograph during a full night's sleep using multiple sensors connected to the patient's body. Nevertheless, despite being the gold standard, the sensors and the unfamiliar environment's connection inevitably impact the quality of the patient's sleep and the examination itself. Therefore, with the novel development of accurate and affordable 3D sensing devices, new approaches for non-contact sleep study have emerged. These methods utilize different techniques to extract the same breathing parameters but with contactless methods. However, to enable reliable remote extraction, these methods require accurate identification of the basic region of interest (ROI), i.e., the patient's chest area. The lack of automated ROI segmenting of 3D time series is currently holding back the development process. We propose an automatic chest area segmentation algorithm that given a time series of 3D frames containing a sleeping patient as input outputs a segmentation image with the pixels that correspond to the chest area. Beyond significantly speeding up the development process of the non-contact methods, accurate automatic segmentation can enable a more precise feature extraction. In addition, further tests of the algorithm on existing data demonstrate its ability to improve the sensitivity of a prior solution that uses manual ROI selection. The approach is on average 46.9% more sensitive with a maximal improvement of 220% when compared to manual ROI. All mentioned can pave the way for placing non-contact algorithms as leading candidates to replace existing traditional methods used today.

• MeSH
• algoritmy * MeSH
• dýchání MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu metody   MeSH
• polysomnografie MeSH
• spánek MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné * metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Several recent studies suggest that quantitative description of signal complexity using algorithms of nonlinear analysis could uncover new information about the autonomic system that is not reflected using common methods applied to measures of autonomic activity. With this aim we have performed complexity analysis of electrodermal activity (EDA) assessed in 106 healthy university students during rest conditions and non-conflicting and conflicting Stroop task. Complexity analysis applied to EDA was performed using Skinner's algorithm for pointwise correlation dimension (PD2). Results have shown that EDA responses during the Stroop Colour Word test are related to significantly increased or decreased complexity. Particularly significant result is that PD2 has a unique ability to predict to an extent the change in EDA response to stress i.e. that subjects with low initial PD2 tended to respond to experimental stress by its increase and subjects with high initial PD2 values tended to respond by its decrease. This response was not found in EDA measures where increase of the EDA presented predominant response to experimental stress in majority of the subjects. These findings suggest that PD2 is more sensitive to subtle aspects of functionally and spatially distributed modulatory influences of various parts of the brain that are involved in the EDA modulation and provides novel information in comparison to traditional methods.

• MeSH
• algoritmy MeSH
• autonomní nervový systém fyziologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• galvanická kožní odpověď fyziologie   MeSH
• konflikt (psychologie) MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• psychický stres patofyziologie   MeSH
• statistika jako téma MeSH
• Stroopův test MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Medicinal plants have been exploited for therapeutic purposes since the dawn of civilization and have long been acknowledged essential to human health. The purpose of this research is to examine the scientific evidence for using the therapeutic herbal plants Thalictrum foliolosum DC. and Cordia dichotoma G. Forst. to treat hepatitis illness. The fundamental explanation for the therapeutic relevance of these plants is phytochemicals, which were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in three separate extracts with different solvent properties (methanol-polar, chloroform-non-polar, and aqueous-polar as one of the bases of traditional use). Flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids were all evaluated for their presence in plant extracts, and it was observed that methanolic extract had the highest content of phytochemicals among different extracts whereas, the aqueous extract showed least amount of phytochemicals. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of these plants was also evaluated and methanolic extract was revealed with potential antioxidant activity, as also evidenced by the lowest half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the DPPH, ABTS, and high %inhibition in μM Fe equivalent of FRAP assays. Following that, the dominant phytochemicals were investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography from the selected plants. Furthermore, default docking algorithms were used to appraise the dominant phytoconstituents for their in-silico investigation, in which rutin was found with the highest binding affinity (8.2 kcal/mol) and interaction with receptor which is further involved in causing jaundice. The receptor is infact an enzyme that is sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase Leptospira interrogans (PDB: 5EBB) which is holded back in its position by rutin and do not interact with Leptospira inferrogans spp which causes jaundice. Overall, the study suggested that these herbs have significant therapeutic properties, and their in-silico analysis strongly recommends further clinical investigations to get insight into the mechanisms of action in curing variety of diseases.

• MeSH
• antioxidancia farmakologie   analýza   MeSH
• Cordia * MeSH
• flavonoidy farmakologie   analýza   MeSH
• fytonutrienty analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• methanol MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty chemie   MeSH
• rutin MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
• Thalictrum * MeSH
• žloutenka * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Řada onemocnění centrální nervové soustavy (CNS) je doprovázena poruchami hlasu a řeči, často již od brzkých stádií nemoci. U pacientů s poruchami komunikačních schopností je tak negativně ovlivněna kvalita jejich života jak v sociální tak i v pracovní oblasti. Pacienti mají problémy s uplatněním na trhu práce a také stoupají náklady na jejich zdravotní péči, což má v důsledku negativní dopad na národní ekonomiku. Mezi nejčastější projevy komunikačních poruch pacientů s CNS patří koktavost, dysartrie a dysfázie. Pro hodnocení míry hlasových a řečových poruch používáme akustické analýzy, které představují kvantitativní, objektivní a přesný nástroj využitelný při diagnostice, pro sledování efektů léčby, stanovení míry progrese nemoci i při terapii řeči. Onemocnění CNS bývají doprovázena poškozením některých aspektů řeči, mezi něž patří fonace, artikulace, respirace a prozodie. V raných stádiích nemoci bývají ovlivněny pouze některé aspekty, ve vyšších jsou pak často ovlivněny již všechny. Jako fonace se označuje proces vytváření zvuku v hlasivkách; respirací rozumíme proces dýchání, který je nezbytný k produkci řeči; artikulace představuje vytváření hlásek pomocí pohybu mluvidel; a prozodie zahrnuje zvukové vlastnosti jazyka, které se uplatňují na vyšší lingvistické úrovni, než jsou jednotlivé fonémy (fráze, tvar vět, přízvuk). Neboť v současnosti je diagnostika komunikačních poruch založena především na subjektivních poslechových testech, předpokládáme, že aplikace nových automatických algoritmů digitálního zpracování signálů přispěje k lepší diagnostice, rehabilitaci a následnému snížení ceny poskytované zdravotnické péče u pacientů s různými poruchami řeči a hlasu nejen v rámci onemocnění CNS. Cílem příspěvku je rozbor tradičních a nových diagnostických a terapeutických metod a technik založených na neinvazivním měření řečového signálu.

Numerous diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are accompanied by voice and speech disorders, often from early stages of the disease. The quality of life both in the social and occupational spheres is thus negatively affected in patients with communication ability disorders. The patients have problems succeeding on the labour market, and their health care costs rise, which causes a negative impact on national economy in consequence. The most common manifestations of communication disorders in patients with CNS diseases include stuttering, dysarthria and dysphasia. Acoustic analyses are used to assess the voice and speech disorder levels; these analyses are used as a quantitative, objective and accurate tool that finds its application in diagnostics, in monitoring the effects of any therapy, in determining disease progression and also in speech therapy. CNS diseases are often accompanied by impairment of some speech aspects; these include phonation, articulation, respiration and prosody. Only some aspects are usually affected in early stages, while all are often involved in advanced stages. Phonation is the process of sound formation in the vocal cords; respiration means the breathing process needed to produce speech; articulation is the process of creating phones through the movement of speech organs; and prosody includes sound characteristics of the language applied on higher linguistic levels than individual phonemes (phrases, sentence forms, accent). Given that the diagnostics of communication disorders is based particularly on subjective listening tests at present, it is assumed that application of new automatic algorithms of digital signal processing will contribute to better diagnostics, rehabilitation and subsequent reduction of the price of health care provided to patients with various speech and voice disorders, not only within the realm of CNS diseases. The aim of the paper is to present an analysis of traditional and new diagnostic and therapeutic methods and techniques based on non-invasive speech signal measurement.

• MeSH
• akustika řeči MeSH
• akustika MeSH
• diagnostické techniky a postupy MeSH
• hlas MeSH
• komunikační poruchy diagnóza   MeSH
• nemoci centrálního nervového systému komplikace   MeSH
• poruchy hlasu diagnóza   patologie   MeSH

The aim of this project was to compare the phenotypic responses of global populations of Lythrum salicaria in cold/dry and hot/humid environments to determine if phenotypic plasticity varied between the native and invasive ranges, and secondarily if this variation was linked to genetic diversity. Common garden studies were conducted in Třeboň, Czech Republic, and Lafayette, Louisiana, USA (cold/dry vs. hot/humid garden, respectively), using populations from latitudinal gradients in Eurasia and North America. Lythrum salicaria seeds collected from the same maternal plants across these latitudinal gradients were germinated and grown in Třeboň and Lafayette. Tissue masses (above-, below-ground, inflorescence and total) of these individuals were assessed at the end of each growing season (2006-2008). Worldwide field measurements of L. salicaria height were made by volunteers from 2004-2016. Biomass and height data were analyzed using the General Linear Model framework and multivariate techniques. Molecular markers (amplified fragment length polymorphisms) of individuals used in the common garden study were analyzed using traditional genetic diversity metrics and Bayesian clustering algorithms in STRUCTURE. Reaction norms were developed from differences in maternal plant responses in Třeboň versus Lafayette. In the common garden studies, stem/leaf, root and total biomass generally were highest for individuals grown from seeds collected in the southern part of the range in the cold garden, particularly by the third year of the study. In contrast, inflorescence biomass in the cold garden was higher by the third year in individuals from mid-latitude populations. As measured by volunteers, plants were taller in Eurasia than in North America moving from north to south with the pattern switching southward of 40°N latitude. Genetic diversity was similar between native and non-native invasive populations regardless of geographical origin of the seed and was not significantly different in the GLM Select model (p > 0.05). Reaction norm slopes showed that Eurasia had larger values than North America for reaction norms for above-ground and total biomass. Plants from the seeds of mother plants from Turkey had wide variation in total biomass when grown in Třeboň versus Lafayette; this variation in response within certain populations may have contributed to the lack of population-level differences in plasticity. These results indicate no loss of genetic diversity for L. salicaria during its North American invasion, nor reduction in plastic tissue allocation responses to a varying environment, which may help explain some of its invasive qualities and which could be of adaptive value under changing future environments.

• MeSH
• analýza rozptylu MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• heterozygot MeSH
• klíčení MeSH
• Lythrum anatomie a histologie   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• mokřady MeSH
• nízká teplota * MeSH
• semena rostlinná růst a vývoj   MeSH
• vysoká teplota * MeSH
• zahradničení * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Severní Amerika MeSH

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterised by increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk. We aimed to examine the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and their control in an international survey of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: In this multicentre, cross-sectional study, cardiovascular risk factor data from medical files of adult patients (aged ≥18) with SLE followed between Jan 1, 2015, and Jan 1, 2020, were collected from 24 countries, across five continents. We assessed the prevalence and target attainment of cardiovascular risk factors and examined potential differences by country income level and antiphospholipid syndrome coexistence. We used the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation algorithm for cardiovascular risk estimation, and the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for assessing cardiovascular risk factor target attainment. People with lived experience were not involved in the research or writing process. FINDINGS: 3401 patients with SLE were included in the study. The median age was 43·0 years (IQR 33-54), 3047 (89·7%) of 3396 patients were women, 349 (10.3%) were men, and 1629 (48·1%) of 3390 were White. 556 (20·7%) of 2681 patients had concomitant antiphospholipid syndrome. We found a high cardiovascular risk factor prevalence (hypertension 1210 [35·6%] of 3398 patients, obesity 751 [23·7%] of 3169 patients, and hyperlipidaemia 650 [19·8%] of 3279 patients), and suboptimal control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure [target of <130/80 mm Hg], BMI, and lipids) in the entire SLE group. Higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors but a better blood pressure (target of <130/80 mm Hg; 54·9% [1170 of 2132 patients] vs 46·8% [519 of 1109 patients]; p<0·0001), and lipid control (75·0% [895 of 1194 patients] vs 51·4% [386 of 751 patients], p<0·0001 for high-density lipoprotein [HDL]; 66·4% [769 of 1158 patients] vs 60·8% [453 of 745 patients], p=0·013 for non-HDL; 80·9% [1017 of 1257 patients] vs 61·4% [486 of 792 patients], p<0·0001 for triglycerides]) was observed in patients from high-income versus those from middle-income countries. Patients with SLE with antiphospholipid syndrome had a higher prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and significantly lower attainment of BMI and lipid targets (for low-density lipoprotein and non-HDL) than patients with SLE without antiphospholipid syndrome. INTERPRETATION: High prevalence and inadequate cardiovascular risk factor control were observed in a large multicentre and multiethnic SLE cohort, especially among patients from middle-income compared with high-income countries and among those with coexistent antiphospholipid syndrome. Increased awareness of cardiovascular disease risk in SLE, especially in the above subgroups, is urgently warranted. FUNDING: None.

• MeSH
• antifosfolipidový syndrom * epidemiologie   komplikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hypertenze epidemiologie   MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory kardiovaskulárních chorob * MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• systémový lupus erythematodes * epidemiologie   komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• krevní nemoci MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• Publikační typ
• sborníky MeSH

• Konspekt
• Patologie. Klinická medicína
• NLK Obory
• onkologie
• hematologie a transfuzní lékařství

• MeSH
• informační systémy MeSH
• lékařská informatika MeSH
• lékařství MeSH
• Publikační typ
• kongresy MeSH
• sborníky MeSH

• Konspekt
• Lékařské vědy. Lékařství
• NLK Obory
• lékařská informatika