BACKGROUND: Prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity may be useful to plan delivery in complicated pregnancies. The limited predictive performance of the current diagnostic tests together with the risks of an invasive procedure restricts the use of fetal lung maturity assessment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of quantitative ultrasound texture analysis of the fetal lung (quantusFLM) to predict neonatal respiratory morbidity in preterm and early-term (<39.0 weeks) deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective multicenter study conducted in 20 centers worldwide. Fetal lung ultrasound images were obtained at 25.0-38.6 weeks of gestation within 48 hours of delivery, stored in Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine format, and analyzed with quantusFLM. Physicians were blinded to the analysis. At delivery, perinatal outcomes and the occurrence of neonatal respiratory morbidity, defined as either respiratory distress syndrome or transient tachypnea of the newborn, were registered. The performance of the ultrasound texture analysis test to predict neonatal respiratory morbidity was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 883 images were collected, but 17.3% were discarded because of poor image quality or exclusion criteria, leaving 730 observations for the final analysis. The prevalence of neonatal respiratory morbidity was 13.8% (101 of 730). The quantusFLM predicted neonatal respiratory morbidity with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 74.3% (75 of 101), 88.6% (557 of 629), 51.0% (75 of 147), and 95.5% (557 of 583), respectively. Accuracy was 86.5% (632 of 730) and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 6.5 and 0.3, respectively. CONCLUSION: The quantusFLM predicted neonatal respiratory morbidity with an accuracy similar to that previously reported for other tests with the advantage of being a noninvasive technique.

• Klíčová slova
• amniocentesis, amniotic fluid analysis, biomarker, computational methods, diagnostic indices, fetal lung maturity, neonatal respiratory morbidity, predictive values, quantitative texture analysis, respiratory distress syndrome, sonography, transient tachypnea, ultrasound,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• morbidita MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• plíce diagnostické zobrazování   embryologie   patologie   MeSH
• prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• syndrom respirační tísně novorozenců epidemiologie   MeSH
• tachypnoe epidemiologie   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ultrasonografie prenatální * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH

We developed a swing arm device for acoustic measurement of food texture, which resolved difficulties of food texture evaluation. The device has a structure of balance-style and a probe in the device is moved downward along with motion of swing arm according to the balance of weights at both ends of the swing arm. The probe was inserted into a food sample. The device measured displacement and acceleration of the probe on food fracture by probe insertion with high precision until the probe stops inserting into a food sample. Using the displacement and acceleration of the probe on fracture, we calculated three parameters to determine food texture. Energy texture index (ETI) which is probe kinetic energy of acoustic vibration was evaluated by the vibration on food fracture. Audible energy texture index (aETI) could be introduced as food texture perceived by human sense of hearing, which was obtained by multiplying ETI by human hearing sensitivity. It was found that the ETI and aETI can be used for measurement of characteristic food texture detected at a tooth and perceived in brain, respectively. Food friction index (FFI) to explain the friction strength of a probe against a food sample was theoretically formulated under the condition of probe motion in the device. FFI was found to be useful not only for crispy food like biscuit but for soft food. The measured FFI indicated characteristic of smoothness of probe insertion into food sample. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The swing arm device can be used to estimate food texture by measuring probe vibration energy on food fracture. Energy texture index (ETI) and Audible energy texture index (aETI) are introduced into measurements of food with crispness which emits sounds on fracture by probe insertion. ETI is an index to estimate probe vibration energy, while aETI is one to estimate food texture by human sense of hearing that was corrected by human hearing sensitivity as human hearing sensitivity is highest around sound frequency ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 Hz. Food friction index (FFI) was also obtained by the device to evaluate smoothness of probe insertion into a food sample. ETI, aETI, and FFI can be useful parameters for food texture of water melon, pear, persimmon, apple, cookie, potato chips, and biscuit. FFI is especially suitable for evaluation of soft food such as banana, avocado, mango, melon, peach, pudding, or bread.

• Klíčová slova
• acoustic vibration, food texture, kinetic energy, swing arm device,
• MeSH
• akustika * MeSH
• analýza potravin přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• design vybavení MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• manipulace s potravinami přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• sluchové testy MeSH
• teoretické modely MeSH
• vibrace MeSH
• zrychlení MeSH
• zvuk MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Knowledge of texture and residual stresses in tungsten heavy pseudoalloys is substantial for the microstructure optimization. These characteristics were determined in cold and warm rotary swaged W/NiCo composite with help of neutron diffraction. The results were discussed in view of the observed microstructure and mechanical properties. The investigated bars consisted of tungsten agglomerates (bcc lattice) surrounded by NiCo-based matrix (fcc lattice). No preferential crystallographic orientation was found in the as-sintered bar. A strong texture was formed in both the tungsten agglomerates (<101> fiber texture parallel to the swaging axis) and in the NiCo-based matrix (<111> fiber texture) after rotary swaging. Although usually of double-fiber texture, the <001> fiber of the fcc structures was nearly missing in the matrix. Further, the cold-swaged bar exhibited substantially stronger texture for both phases which corresponds to the higher measured ultimate tensile strength. The residual stress differences were employed for characterization of the stress state of the bars. The largest residual stress difference (≈400 MPa) was found at the center of the bar deformed at room temperature. The hoop stresses were non-symmetrical with respect to the swaging axis, which was likely caused by the elliptical cross section of the as-sintered bar.

• Klíčová slova
• neutron diffraction, residual stress, rotary swaging, texture, tungsten heavy alloys,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Deformation behaviour of rolled AZ31 sheets that were subjected to the accumulative roll bonding was investigated. Substantially refined microstructure of samples was achieved after the first and second pass through the rolling mill. Sheets texture was investigated using an X-ray diffractometer. Samples for tensile tests were cut either parallel or perpendicular to the rolling direction. Tensile tests were performed at temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 300 °C. Tensile plastic anisotropy, different from the anisotropy observed in AZ31 sheets by other authors, was observed. This anisotropy decreases with an increasing number of rolling passes and increasing deformation temperature. Grain refinement and texture are the crucial factors influencing the deformation behaviour.

• Klíčová slova
• accumulative roll bonding, dynamic recrystallization, magnesium alloy, tensile anisotropy, texture, twinning,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Hematite, α-Fe2O3, is considered as one of the most promising materials for sustainable hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical water splitting with a theoretical solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 17%. However, the poor electrical conductivity of hematite is a substantial limitation reducing its efficiency in real experimental conditions. Despite of computing models suggesting that the electrical conductivity is extremely anisotropic, revealing up to 4 orders of magnitude higher electron transport with conduction along the (110) hematite crystal plane, synthetic approaches allowing the sole growth in that direction have not been reported yet. Here, we present a strategy for controlling the crystal orientation of very thin hematite films by adjusting energy of ion flux during advanced pulsed reactive magnetron sputtering technique. The texture and effect of the deposition mode on the film properties were monitored by XRD, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, XPS, SEM, AFM, PEC water splitting, IPCE, transient photocurrent measurements, and Mott-Schottky analysis. The precise control of the synthetic conditions allowed to fabricate hematite photoanodes exhibiting fully textured structures along (110) and (104) crystal planes with huge differences in photocurrents of 0.65 and 0.02 mA cm(-2) (both at 1.55 V versus RHE), respectively. The photocurrent registered for fully textured (110) film is among record values reported for thin planar films. Moreover, the developed fine-tuning of crystal orientation having a huge impact on the photoefficiency would induce further improvement of thin hematite films mainly if cation doping will be combined with the controllable texture.

• Klíčová slova
• Hematite, PEC water splitting, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, iron oxide, pulsed magnetron sputtering, texture,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The interaction of warming and soil texture on responsiveness of the key soil processes i.e. organic carbon (C) fractions, soil microbes, extracellular enzymes and CO2 emissions remains largely unknown. Global warming raises the relevant question of how different soil processes will respond in near future, and what will be the likely regulatory role of texture? To bridge this gap, this work applied the laboratory incubation method to investigate the effects of temperature changes (10-50 °C) on dynamics of labile, recalcitrant and stable C fractions, soil microbes, microbial biomass, activities of extracellular enzymes and CO2 emissions in sandy and clayey textured soils. The role of texture (sandy and clayey) in the mitigation of temperature effect was also investigated. The results revealed that the temperature sensitivity of C fractions and extracellular enzymes was in the order recalcitrant C fractions > stable C fractions > labile C fractions and oxidative enzymes > hydrolytic enzymes. While temperature sensitivity of soil microbes and biomass was in the order bacteria > actinomycetes > fungi ≈ microbial biomass C (MBC) > microbial biomass N (MBN) > microbial biomass N (MBP). Conversely, the temperature effect and sensitivity of all key soil processes including CO2 emissions were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in sandy than clayey textured soil. Results confirmed that under the scenario of global warming and climate change, soils which are sandy in nature are more susceptible to temperature increase and prone to become the CO2-C sources. It was revealed that clayey texture played an important role in mitigating and easing off the undue temperature influence, hence, the sensitivity of key soil processes.

• Klíčová slova
• CO2 fluxes, Extracellular enzymes, Soil C fractions, Soil microbes and biomass, Temperature sensitivity, Texture,
• MeSH
• jíl MeSH
• oxid uhličitý * analýza   MeSH
• písek MeSH
• půda * MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• uhlík MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• jíl MeSH
• oxid uhličitý * MeSH
• písek MeSH
• půda * MeSH
• uhlík MeSH

PURPOSE: To classify healthy and diseased livers by texture analysis (TA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 43 patients divided into four groups according to their clinical stage and 10 controls on a 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) imager, using a T2-weighted breath-hold sequence. For the TA, features of the first and second order were used, and several classification procedures were applied for the classification of patients and controls. The choice of features was performed manually and by use of the Fischer coefficient, average correlation coefficients between features and multidimensional discrimination measure. RESULTS: All the statistical methods employed were able to differentiate between controls and patients in each group. The classification error varied around 8%. CONCLUSION: We have shown that texture analysis can be successfully used for separating cirrhotic patients and healthy volunteers. Different sets of TA features can be used for a similar classification of patients.

• MeSH
• interpretace statistických dat MeSH
• jaterní cirhóza klasifikace   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The recent advanced representation for realistic real-world materials in virtual reality applications is the Bidirectional Texture Function (BTF) which describes rough texture appearance for varying illumination and viewing conditions. Such a function can be represented by thousands of measurements (images) per material sample. The resulting BTF size excludes its direct rendering in graphical applications and some compression of these huge BTF data spaces is obviously inevitable. In this paper we present a novel, fast probabilistic model-based algorithm for realistic BTF modeling allowing an extreme compression with the possibility of a fast hardware implementation. Its ultimate aim is to create a visual impression of the same material without a pixel-wise correspondence to the original measurements. The analytical step of the algorithm starts with a BTF space segmentation and a range map estimation by photometric stereo of the BTF surface, followed by the spectral and spatial factorization of selected sub-space color texture images. Single mono-spectral band-limited factors are independently modeled by their dedicated spatial probabilistic model. During rendering, the sub-space images of arbitrary size are synthesized and both color (possibly multi-spectral) and range information is combined in a bump-mapping filter according to the view and illumination directions. The presented model offers a huge BTF compression ratio unattainable by any alternative sampling-based BTF synthesis method. Simultaneously this model can be used to reconstruct missing parts of the BTF measurement space.

• MeSH
• algoritmy * MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• komprese dat metody   MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• povrchové vlastnosti MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• rozpoznávání automatizované metody   MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• subtrakční technika * MeSH
• teoretické modely MeSH
• umělá inteligence * MeSH
• vylepšení obrazu metody   MeSH
• vyrobené materiály analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Tumor consistency is considered to be a critical factor for the surgical removal of meningiomas and its preoperative assessment is intensively studied. A significant drawback in the research of predictive methods is the lack of a clear shared definition of tumor consistency, with most authors resorting to subjective binary classification labeling the samples as "soft" and "hard." This classification is highly observer-dependent and its discrete nature fails to capture the fine nuances in tumor consistency. To compensate for these shortcomings, we examined the utility of texture analysis to provide an objective observer-independent continuous measure of meningioma consistency. METHODS: A total of 169 texturometric measurements were conducted using the Brookfield CT3 Texture Analyzer on meningioma samples from five patients immediately after the removal and on the first, second, and seventh postoperative day. The relationship between measured stiffness and time from sample extraction, subjectively assessed consistency grade and histopathological features (amount of collagen and reticulin fibers, presence of psammoma bodies, predominant microscopic morphology) was analyzed. RESULTS: The stiffness measurements exhibited significantly lower variance within a sample than among samples (p = 0.0225) and significant increase with a higher objectively assessed consistency grade (p = 0.0161, p = 0.0055). A significant negative correlation was found between the measured stiffness and the time from sample extraction (p < 0.01). A significant monotonic relationship was revealed between stiffness values and amount of collagen I and reticulin fibers; there were no statistically significant differences between histological phenotypes in regard to presence of psammoma bodies and predominant microscopic morphology. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the values yielded by texture analysis are highly representative of an intrinsic consistency-related quality of the sample despite the influence of intra-sample heterogeneity and that our proposed method can be used to conduct quantitative studies on the role of meningioma consistency.

• Klíčová slova
• Meningioma, Preoperative planning, Texture analysis, Tumor consistency,
• MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• meningeální nádory * chirurgie   patologie   MeSH
• meningeom * diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   patologie   MeSH
• retikulin MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kolagen MeSH
• retikulin MeSH

An ever-growing number of real-world computer vision applications require classification, segmentation, retrieval, or realistic rendering of genuine materials. However, the appearance of real materials dramatically changes with illumination and viewing variations. Thus, the only reliable representation of material visual properties requires capturing of its reflectance in as wide range of light and camera position combinations as possible. This is a principle of the recent most advanced texture representation, the Bidirectional Texture Function (BTF). Multispectral BTF is a seven-dimensional function that depends on view and illumination directions as well as on planar texture coordinates. BTF is typically obtained by measurement of thousands of images covering many combinations of illumination and viewing angles. However, the large size of such measurements has prohibited their practical exploitation in any sensible application until recently. During the last few years, the first BTF measurement, compression, modeling, and rendering methods have emerged. In this paper, we categorize, critically survey, and psychophysically compare such approaches, which were published in this newly arising and important computer vision and graphics area.

• MeSH
• algoritmy * MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• rozpoznávání automatizované metody   MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• subtrakční technika * MeSH
• teoretické modely * MeSH
• umělá inteligence * MeSH
• vylepšení obrazu metody   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH