UNLABELLED: Direct ink writing (DIW) techniques open up new possibilities for the fabrication of patient-specific bone grafts. Self-setting calcium phosphate inks, which harden at low temperature, allow obtaining nanostructured scaffolds with biomimetic properties and enhanced bioactivity. However, the slow hardening kinetics hampers the translation to the clinics. Different hydrothermal treatments for the consolidation of DIW scaffolds fabricated with an α-tricalcium phosphate /pluronic F127 ink were explored, comparing them with a biomimetic treatment. Three different scaffold architectures were analysed. The hardening process, associated to the conversion of α-tricalcium phosphate to hydroxyapatite was drastically accelerated by the hydrothermal treatments, reducing the time for complete reaction from 7 days to 30 minutes, while preserving the scaffold architectural integrity and retaining the nanostructured features. β-tricalcium phosphate was formed as a secondary phase, and a change of morphology from plate-like to needle-like crystals in the hydroxyapatite phase was observed. The binder was largely released during the treatment. The hydrothermal treatment resulted in a 30% reduction of the compressive strength, associated to the residual presence of β-tricalcium phosphate. Biomimetic and hydrothermally treated scaffolds supported the adhesion and proliferation of rat mesenchymal stem cells, indicating a good suitability for bone tissue engineering applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: 3D plotting has opened up new perspectives in the bone regeneration field allowing the customisation of synthetic bone grafts able to fit patient-specific bone defects. Moreover, this technique allows the control of the scaffolds' architecture and porosity. The present work introduces a new method to harden biomimetic hydroxyapatite 3D-plotted scaffolds which avoids high-temperature sintering. It has two main advantages: i) it is fast and simple, reducing the whole fabrication process from the several days required for the biomimetic processing to a few hours; and ii) it retains the nanostructured character of biomimetic hydroxyapatite and allows controlling the porosity from the nano- to the macroscale. Moreover, the good in vitro cytocompatibility results support its suitability for cell-based bone regeneration therapies.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D plotting, Biomimetic, Bone graft, Bone regeneration, Calcium phosphate, Direct ink writing, Hydroxyapatite,
• MeSH
• buněčná adheze MeSH
• fosforečnany vápenaté chemie   MeSH
• inkoust * MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• nanostruktury chemie   MeSH
• pevnost v tlaku MeSH
• polyethyleny chemie   MeSH
• polypropyleny chemie   MeSH
• potkani inbrední LEW MeSH
• tkáňové podpůrné struktury chemie   MeSH
• vysoká teplota MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alpha-tricalcium phosphate MeSH Prohlížeč
• fosforečnany vápenaté MeSH
• polyethyleny MeSH
• polypropyleny MeSH
• UCON 50-HB-5100 MeSH Prohlížeč

In this work, we have examined an electrochemical behavior of the ephedrine at the polarized liquid-liquid interface (water/1,2-dichloroethane). In this respect, we first designed and then 3D printed polyamide-based electrochemical cell that was used as the liquid-liquid interface support during electroanalytical measurements. The protonated ephedrine undergoes a reversible ion transfer reaction with the standard Galvani potential difference equal to +0.269 V. This value was used to calculate the water - 1,2-dichloroethane logP equal to -4.6. Ion transfer voltammetry was used to build the calibration curve and allowed for the ephedrine detection from concentration equal to 20 μM. By varying the pH of the aqueous phase from 2 up to 12 we were able to plot the ion partition diagram that was further analyzed and provided several pharmacochemical information. To further push this work towards practical utility, we have formulated the artificial urine and studied the interfacial behavior of all its components at the polarized liquid-liquid interface. Ephedrine detection from real spiked urine samples was also performed.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D printing, ITIES, illicit drugs, ion transfer voltammetry, methamphetamine precursor, sensing,
• MeSH
• 3D tisk * MeSH
• efedrin * chemie   MeSH
• ethylendichloridy * MeSH
• voda MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• efedrin * MeSH
• ethylendichloridy * MeSH
• voda MeSH

AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate the value of preoperative power Doppler sonography with 3D reconstruction (3D-PDS) for diagnostics of extraprostatic extension of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the prospective study we examined 146 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. Prior to surgery, each patient underwent 3D-PDS, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and digital rectal examination (DRE). Furthermore, we determined the prostate volume, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA density (PSAD), and Gleason score. The risk of locally advanced cancer was assessed using Partin tables. We determined the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of these diagnostic procedures. We plotted the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calculated the areas under the curves (AUC). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the significant predictors of extraprostatic tumor extension. Based on this we developed diagnostic nomograms maximizing the probability of accurate diagnosis. RESULTS: The significant differences between patients with organ confined and locally advanced tumor (based on the postoperative assessment) were observed in the PSA levels (P < 0.014), PSAD (P < 0.004), DRE (P < 0.037), TRUS (P < 0.003), and 3D-PDS (P < 0.000). The highest AUC value of 0.776 (P < 0.000) was found for 3D-PDS. The observed AUC value for TRUS was 0.670 (P < 0.000) and for PSAD 0.639 (P < 0.004). In multivariate regression analysis, the PSAD, preoperative Gleason score, and 3D-PDS finding were identified as significant preoperative predictors of extraprostatic tumor extension. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the 3D-PDS is a valuable preoperative diagnostic examination to identify locally advanced prostate cancer. Therefore, it can be used to maximize the probability of the accurate diagnosis of extraprostatic tumor extension.

• MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• multivariační analýza MeSH
• nádory mužských pohlavních orgánů sekundární   MeSH
• nádory prostaty diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• prostatektomie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• semenné váčky patologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• ultrasonografie dopplerovská metody   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• hodnotící studie MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

The article deals with the investigation of the flexural properties of 3D-printed Nylon CF12 with regard to the correlation between the loading and layering directions. It also discusses the prospective consideration of a suitable combination of lightweight material, 3D-printing, and cellular structures for application in sports, such as the production of poles for pole vaulting. Full-volume samples (with and without orbital shell) and porous (Diamond, Primitive, and Gyroid) samples sizes of 20 × 20 × 250 mm were fabricated and subjected to experimental three-point bending tests. The force-displacement dependencies were plotted, and the data were further evaluated. The results showed that the flexural properties of 3D-printed full-volume beams are significantly influenced by the direction of loading relative to the layering, while for porous beams with cellular structures, the differences in properties are very small. Also, the mismatches between the material properties listed in the datasheets and achieved within the research were identified and indicate the necessity to verify mechanical properties of newly developed products experimentally.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D-printing, Nylon CF12, flexural properties, layering, load direction, pole vault pole,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Efforts related to minimizing the environmental burden caused by agricultural activities and increasing economic efficiency are key contemporary drivers in the precision agriculture domain. Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) techniques are being applied against soil compaction creation, using the on-line optimization of trajectory planning for soil-sensitive field operations. The research presented in this paper aims at a proof-of-concept solution with respect to optimizing farm machinery trajectories in order to minimize the environmental burden and increase economic efficiency. As such, it further advances existing CTF solutions by including (1) efficient plot divisions in 3D, (2) the optimization of entry and exit points of both plot and plot segments, (3) the employment of more machines in parallel and (4) obstacles in a farm machinery trajectory. The developed algorithm is expressed in terms of unified modeling language (UML) activity diagrams as well as pseudo-code. Results were visualized in 2D and 3D to demonstrate terrain impact. Verifications were conducted at a fully operational commercial farm (Rostěnice, the Czech Republic) against second-by-second sensor measurements of real farm machinery trajectories.

• Klíčová slova
• controlled traffic farming, coverage path planning, digital elevation model, mission planning, soil compaction,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Facial attractiveness is an important factor in our social interactions. It is still not entirely clear which factors influence the attractiveness of a face and facial asymmetry appears to play a certain role. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between facial attractiveness and regional facial asymmetries evaluated on three-dimensional (3D) images. METHODS: 3D facial images of 59 (23 male, 36 female) young adult patients (age 16-25 years) before orthodontic treatment were evaluated for asymmetry. The same 3D images were presented to 12 lay judges who rated the attractiveness of each subject on a 100mm visual analogue scale. Reliability of the method was assessed with Bland-Altman plots and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: All subjects showed a certain amount of asymmetry in all regions of the face; most asymmetry was found in the chin and cheek areas and less in the lip, nose and forehead areas. No statistically significant differences in regional facial asymmetries were found between male and female subjects (P > 0.05). Regression analyses demonstrated that the judgement of facial attractiveness was not influenced by absolute regional facial asymmetries when gender, facial width-to-height ratio and type of malocclusion were controlled (P > 0.05). LIMITATIONS: A potential limitation of the study could be that other biologic and cultural factors influencing the perception of facial attractiveness were not controlled for. CONCLUSIONS: A small amount of asymmetry was present in all subjects assessed in this study, and asymmetry of this magnitude may not influence the assessment of facial attractiveness.

• MeSH
• anatomická značka MeSH
• asymetrie obličeje patologie   psychologie   MeSH
• brada patologie   MeSH
• čelo patologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• estetika stomatologická * MeSH
• fotogrammetrie metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• malokluze patologie   MeSH
• mínění MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• nos patologie   MeSH
• obličej patologie   MeSH
• postoj ke zdraví MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• tvář patologie   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether vessel morphology depicted by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound improves discrimination between benignity and malignancy if used as a second-stage test in adnexal masses that are difficult to classify. METHODS: This was a prospective observational international multicenter diagnostic accuracy study. Consecutive patients with an adnexal mass underwent standardized transvaginal two-dimensional (2D) grayscale and color or power Doppler and 3D power Doppler ultrasound examination by an experienced examiner, and those with a 'difficult' tumor were included in the current analysis. A difficult tumor was defined as one in which the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) logistic regression model-1 (LR-1) yielded an ambiguous result (risk of malignancy, 8.3% to 25.5%), or as one in which the ultrasound examiner was uncertain regarding classification as benign or malignant when using subjective assessment. Even when the ultrasound examiner was uncertain, he/she was obliged to classify the tumor as most probably benign or most probably malignant. For each difficult tumor, one researcher created a 360° rotating 3D power Doppler image of the vessel tree in the whole tumor and another of the vessel tree in a 5-cm3 spherical volume selected from the most vascularized part of the tumor. Two other researchers, blinded to the patient's history, 2D ultrasound findings and histological diagnosis, independently described the vessel tree using predetermined vessel features. Their agreed classification was used. The reference standard was the histological diagnosis of the mass. The sensitivity of each test for discriminating between benign and malignant difficult tumors was plotted against 1 - specificity on a receiver-operating-characteristics diagram, and the test with the point furthest from the reference line was considered to have the best diagnostic ability. RESULTS: Of 2403 women with an adnexal mass, 376 (16%) had a difficult mass. Ultrasound volumes were available for 138 of these cases. In 79/138 masses, the ultrasound examiner was uncertain about the diagnosis based on subjective assessment, in 87/138, IOTA LR-1 yielded an ambiguous result and, in 28/138, both methods gave an uncertain result. Of the masses, 38/138 (28%) were malignant. Among tumors that were difficult to classify as benign or malignant by subjective assessment, the vessel feature 'densely packed vessels' had the best discriminative ability (sensitivity 67% (18/27), specificity 83% (43/52)) and was slightly superior to subjective assessment (sensitivity 74% (20/27), specificity 60% (31/52)). In tumors in which IOTA LR-1 yielded an ambiguous result, subjective assessment (sensitivity 82% (14/17), specificity 79% (55/70)) was superior to the best vascular feature, i.e. changes in the diameter of vessels in the whole tumor volume (sensitivity 71% (12/17), specificity 69% (48/70)). CONCLUSION: Vessel morphology depicted by 3D power Doppler ultrasound may slightly improve discrimination between benign and malignant adnexal tumors that are difficult to classify by subjective ultrasound assessment. For tumors in which the IOTA LR-1 model yields an ambiguous result, subjective assessment is superior to vessel morphology as a second-stage test. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

• Klíčová slova
• Doppler, ovarian neoplasm, three-dimensional ultrasound, ultrasonography, vascular morphology,
• MeSH
• adenom diagnostické zobrazování   patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory vaječníků diagnostické zobrazování   patofyziologie   MeSH
• nemoci děložních adnex diagnostické zobrazování   patofyziologie   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• ROC křivka MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• ultrasonografie dopplerovská MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Timber volume is an important asset, not only as an ecological component, but also as a key source of present and future revenues, which requires precise estimates. We used the Trimble TX8 survey-grade terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) to create a detailed 3D point cloud for extracting total tree height and diameter at breast height (1.3 m; DBH). We compared two different methods to accurately estimate total tree heights: the first method was based on a modified version of the local maxima algorithm for treetop detection, "HTTD", and for the second method we used the centers of stem cross-sections at stump height (30 cm), "HTSP". DBH was estimated by a computationally robust algebraic circle-fitting algorithm through hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). This study aimed to assess the accuracy of these descriptors for evaluating total stem volume by comparing the results with the reference tree measurements. The difference between the estimated total stem volume from HTTD and measured stems was 2.732 m3 for European oak and 2.971 m3 for Norway spruce; differences between the estimated volume from HTSP and measured stems was 1.228 m3 and 2.006 m3 for European oak and Norway spruce, respectively. The coefficient of determination indicated a strong relationship between the measured and estimated total stem volumes from both height estimation methods with an R2 = 0.89 for HTTD and R2 = 0.87 for HTSP for European oak, and R2 = 0.98 for both HTTD and HTSP for Norway spruce. Our study has demonstrated the feasibility of finer-resolution remote sensing data for semi-automatic stem volumetric modeling of small-scale studies with high accuracy as a potential advancement in precision forestry.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D point cloud, circle fitting, forest biometrics, hierarchical cluster analysis, managed forest, modeling stem volume, stem-level assessment,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Insulin production in pancreatic beta-cells is critically linked to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Increased ATP production triggered by blood glucose represents the beta-cells' glucose sensor. Type-2 diabetes mellitus results from insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and impaired insulin secretion. Pathology of diabetic beta-cells might be reflected by the altered morphology of mitochondrial network. Its characterization is however hampered by the complexity and density of the three-dimensional (3D) mitochondrial tubular networks in these cell types. Conventional confocal microscopy does not provide sufficient axial resolution to reveal the required details; electron tomography reconstruction of these dense networks is still difficult and time consuming. However, mitochondrial network morphology in fixed cells can also be studied by 4Pi microscopy, a laser scanning microscopy technique which provides an approximately 7-fold improved axial resolution (approximately 100 nm) over conventional confocal microscopy. Here we present a quantitative study of these networks in insulinoma INS-1E cells and primary beta-cells in Langerhans islets. The former were a stably-transfected cell line while the latter were transfected with lentivirus, both expressing mitochondrial matrix targeted redox-sensitive GFP. The mitochondrial networks and their partial disintegration and fragmentation are revealed by carefully created iso-surface plots and their quantitative analysis. We demonstrate that beta-cells within the Langerhans islets from diabetic Goto Kakizaki rats exhibited a more disintegrated mitochondrial network compared to those from control Wistar rats and model insulinoma INS-1E cells. Standardization of these patterns may lead to development of morphological diagnostics for Langerhans islets, for the assessment of beta-cell condition, before their transplantations.

• MeSH
• beta-buňky patologie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• diabetes mellitus 2. typu patologie   MeSH
• inzulinom patologie   MeSH
• konfokální mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mitochondrie patologie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory slinivky břišní patologie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny genetika   MeSH
• techniky in vitro MeSH
• transfekce MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny genetika   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Názvy látek
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH

Nucleus, chromatin, and chromosome organization studies heavily rely on fluorescence microscopy imaging to elucidate the distribution and abundance of structural and regulatory components. Three-dimensional (3D) image stacks are a source of quantitative data on signal intensity level and distribution and on the type and shape of distribution patterns in space. Their analysis can lead to novel insights that are otherwise missed in qualitative-only analyses. Quantitative image analysis requires specific software and workflows for image rendering, processing, segmentation, setting measurement points and reference frames and exporting target data before further numerical processing and plotting. These tasks often call for the development of customized computational scripts and require an expertise that is not broadly available to the community of experimental biologists. Yet, the increasing accessibility of high- and super-resolution imaging methods fuels the demand for user-friendly image analysis workflows. Here, we provide a compendium of strategies developed by participants of a training school from the COST action INDEPTH to analyze the spatial distribution of nuclear and chromosomal signals from 3D image stacks, acquired by diffraction-limited confocal microscopy and super-resolution microscopy methods (SIM and STED). While the examples make use of one specific commercial software package, the workflows can easily be adapted to concurrent commercial and open-source software. The aim is to encourage biologists lacking custom-script-based expertise to venture into quantitative image analysis and to better exploit the discovery potential of their images.Abbreviations: 3D FISH: three-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization; 3D: three-dimensional; ASY1: ASYNAPTIC 1; CC: chromocenters; CO: Crossover; DAPI: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMC1: DNA MEIOTIC RECOMBINASE 1; DSB: Double-Strand Break; FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridization; GFP: GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN; HEI10: HUMAN ENHANCER OF INVASION 10; NCO: Non-Crossover; NE: Nuclear Envelope; Oligo-FISH: oligonucleotide fluorescence in situ hybridization; RNPII: RNA Polymerase II; SC: Synaptonemal Complex; SIM: structured illumination microscopy; ZMM (ZIP: MSH4: MSH5 and MER3 proteins); ZYP1: ZIPPER-LIKE PROTEIN 1.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D organization, Nucleus, RNA Pol II, SIM, STED imaging, chromatin, chromosome, crossovers, image analysis, meiosis, metaphase, mitosis, nuclear bodies, nuclear speckles, oligo FISH, pachytene, quantification, segmentation, spatial distribution, transcription factories,
• MeSH
• buněčné jádro * MeSH
• chromatin * MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průběh práce MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chromatin * MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH