Height Estimation Based on 3-Dimensional CT Scan of 12th Thoracic, 1st and 5th Lumbar Vertebrae

Background: Identification of victims is one of the main challenges of forensic medicine. Height is one of the key measurements of the biological profiles of individuals. This study aimed to evaluate height based on measuring three-dimensional CT scan indices of twelfth thoracic (T12), first lumbar (L1), and fifth lumbar (L5) vertebrae in Iranian adults.Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study performed on 100 patients who underwent a spinal CT scan. Vertebral T12, L1, and L5 indices were measured in these individuals. Finally, the evaluated indices were statistically compared and the diagnostic effect of each was evaluated to estimate the height. Independent t-test and linear regression were used using SPSS software v. 21. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: The results showed that the mean difference between T12, L1, and L5 indices in the two groups of male and female patients was statistically significant. With one unit increase in the Transverse process distance T 12 (TDM T12), there is an increase of 0.42 units in height (P=0.02). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the measurements of the T12, L1, and L5 vertebral indices have a significant relationship with gender. Among the measurements of the T12, L1, and L5 vertebral indices, just TDM T12 can be a predictive factor to estimate the height of the Iranian population

Estimation of Gender and Age Based on Three-dimensional Computed Tomography Scan Indices of the Twelfth Thoracic Vertebrae and the First and Fifth Lumbar Vertebrae in Iranian Adults

Background: Gender identification is a crucial starting point in creating a biological profile for human skeletal remains because it reduces the number of possible matches by 50%. The vertebrae (especially the chest and back) can also be some of the best-preserved skeletal elements in some areas of forensics and archeology. In the present study, gender and age were assessed based on the measurement of three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scan indices of the Twelfth thoracic (T12) vertebrae and the first and fifth lumbar (L1 and L5) vertebrae in Iranian adults.Methods: The present study was a descriptive study carried out on 200 participants over 18 years of age in 2020. Individuals measuring thoracic and lumbar vertebrae diameters (T12 and first and fifth lumbar vertebrae) by three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scan (Toshiba, Japan, 16-Slice) with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and volume rendering were placed in two sagittal and horizontal sections.Results: The mean age of male and female participants was 34.62±9.63 years and 34.10±9.70 years, respectively, which were not significantly different (P=0.789). The present study showed that the mean indices for T12, L1 and L5 vertebrae were significantly higher in males (P>0.05). The results also showed that T12, L1, and L5 indices of nuts are not good predictors for age estimation.Conclusion: Based on the results, the indices of the T12 vertebrae and the L1, and L5 vertebrae can be used to determine gender, but these indices are not a good criterion to estimate age and do not have the necessary accuracy to predict the age variable

A Novel Control-rod Drive Mechanism via Electromagnetic Levitation in MNSR

In this paper, an electromagnetic levitation system was used with a synchronous motor to navigate the control rod of a small-type research reactor. The result from this prototype magnetic levitation system was in agreement with simulation results. The control system was programmed in MATLAB through open-loop system, closed-loop with state feedback and closed-loop with state feedback integral tracking. The final control system showed the highest performance with a low positioning error. Our results showed that the developed control system has the potential to be used as a reliable actuator in nuclear reactors to satisfy higher performance and safety

A Novel Control-rod Drive Mechanism via Electromagnetic Levitation in MNSR

In this paper, an electromagnetic levitation system was used with a synchronous motor to navigate the control rod of a small-type research reactor. The result from this prototype magnetic levitation system was in agreement with simulation results. The control system was programmed in MATLAB through open-loop system, closed-loop with state feedback and closed-loop with state feedback integral tracking. The final control system showed the highest performance with a low positioning error. Our results showed that the developed control system has the potential to be used as a reliable actuator in nuclear reactors to satisfy higher performance and safety

Evaluation of Cerebral Cortex Function in Clients with Bipolar Mood Disorder I (BMD I) Compared With BMD II Using QEEG Analysis

Objective: Early diagnosis of type I and type II bipolar mood disorder is very challenging particularly in adolescence. Hence, we aimed to investigate the cerebral cortex function in these patients, using quantitative electroencephalography analysis to obtain significant differences between them. Methods: Thirty- eight adolescents (18 patients with bipolar disorder I and 20 with BMD II) participated in this study. We recorded the electroencephalogram signals based on 10-20 international system by 21 electrodes in eyes open and eyes closed condition resting conditions. Forty seconds segments were selected from each recorded signals with minimal noise and artifacts. Periodogram Welch was used to estimate power spectrum density from each segment. Analysis was performed in five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma), and we assessed power, mean, entropy, variance and skewness of the spectrums, as well as mean of the thresholded spectrum and thresholded spectrogram. We only used focal montage for comparison. Eventually, data were analyzed by independent Mann-Whitney test and independent t test. Results: We observed significant differences in some brain regions and in all frequency bands. There were significant differences in prefrontal lobe, central lobe, left parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe between BMD I and BMD II (P < 0.05). In patients with BMD I, spectral entropy was compared to patients with BMD II. The most significant difference was observed in the gamma frequency band. Also, the power and entropy of delta frequency band was larger in the left parietal lobe in the BMD I patients compared to BMD II patients (P < 0.05). In the temporal lobe, significant differences were observed in the spectrum distribution of beta and gamma frequency bands (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The QEEG and entropy measure are simple and available tools to help detect cerebral cortex deficits and distinguish BMD I from BMD II

The effects of general fatigue induced by incremental exercise test and active recovery modes on energy cost, gait variability and stability in male soccer players

The aerobic endurance is considered an important physiological capacity of soccer players which is examined by Incremental Exercise Test (IET). However, it is not clear how general fatigue induced by IET influences physiological and biomechanical gait features in soccer players and how players recover optimally at post-IET. Here, the effect of general fatigue induced by IET on energy cost, gait variability and stability in soccer players was investigated. To identify an optimal recovery mode, the effect of walking at Preferred Walking Speed (PWS), running at Individual Ventilation Threshold (IVT) (two active recovery modes), and Rest (a passive recovery mode) on aforementioned features were studied. Nine male players walked 4-min at PWS on a treadmill prior IET (PreT), which was followed by four 4-min walking trials (PosT-0, 1, 2, and 3) with three 4-min recovery intervals (PWS, IVT, or Rest) between them, in three sessions (one for each recovery mode) in a random order. Energy cost, gait variability and stability were examined at PreT (baseline), and at PosT-0, 1, 2, and 3 (intervals of respectively 0–4, 8–12, 16–20, 24–28 min at post-IET). Gait variability was assessed by the standard deviation of trunk angle and gait stability was assessed by the local dynamic stability of trunk angular velocity. Gait stability was not affected by IET, despite increases in gait variability and energy cost. Different from IVT, PWS and Rest recovery modes reduced energy cost at post-IET. Gait variability and energy cost recovered at PosT-1 and PosT-2, suggesting that 8–12 and 16–20 min recovery intervals, respectively, were required for returning to their baselines. No preference for active over passive recovery was found in terms of gait variability and energy cost

EEG-based functional connectivity analysis of brain abnormalities: A systematic review study

Several imaging modalities and many signal recording techniques have been used to study the brain activities. Significant advancements in medical device technologies like electroencephalographs have provided conditions for recording neural information with high temporal resolution. These recordings can be used to calculate the connections between different brain areas. It has been proved that brain abnormalities affect the brain activity in different brain regions and the connectivity patterns between them are changed as a result. This paper studies the electroencephalogram (EEG) functional connectivity methods and investigates the impacts of brain abnormalities on brain functional connectivities. The effects of different brain abnormalities including stroke, depression, emotional disorders, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and Alzheimer's disease on functional connectivity of the EEG recordings have been explored in this study. The EEG-based metrics and network properties of different brain abnormalities have been discussed to present a comparison of the connectivities affected by each abnormality. Also, the effects of therapy and medical intake on the EEG functional connectivity network of each abnormality have been reviewed

Fourth lumbar vertebral parameters in predicting the gender, height and age in Iranian population

Introduction: Lumbar vertebral dimensions can be considered as a criterion to diagnose unidentified individuals with severe burning or corpses. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender, age, and height using the parameters of fourth lumbar vertebral (L4). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 106 volunteers. Lumbar diameters of L4 were measured in the two sagittal and horizontal sections by three-dimensional CT scan with reconstruction and volume rendering. The measured parameters were Upper end plate depts (EPD); Upper end plate widths (EPW); Anterior height of vertebral body (VBH); Foramen diameter (depts.) (FDS); Foramen diameter (widths) (FDC); Pedicle height (PH); Pedicle widths (PW); Articular process height (APH); Maximum distance between (ADM); Transverse process distance (TDM); Spinal process height (SPH); Spinal process lengths (SPL); and Vertebral lengths (VL). These parameters were compared. The relationship of each parameter was evaluated with age, height and gender. Results: Totally, the mean parameters of L4 was higher in men compared to women, but this difference was not significant in FDS, APHI, and SPL. In the study of the correlation of diameters with age, only EPD and SPL parameters were significant, but in the linear regression model to predict age, only the FDS index showed a significant relationship. All parameters except APHS, APHI, SPL, and VL showed a significant and positive correlation with height. But in the linear regression model to predict height, only a significant relationship was reported for EPD. Conclusion: It was shown that the parameters of the fourth lumbar vertebra can be helpful to determine the age, height, and gender

Epidemiology of Fatal Injuries among Patients Admitted at Sina Hospital, the National Trauma Registry of Iran, 2016-2019

Introduction: Injuries cause high rates of mortality and harm to millions of people annually.&nbsp;Objective: The aims of this study were to assess some characteristics of hospitalized trauma patients and determine the variables which were associated with increased rates of mortality.&nbsp;Methods: Data were extracted from the National Trauma Registry of Iran (NTRI) data bank. Among all trauma patients admitted to Sina Hospital, those who had one of the following were registered in the NTRI: hospitalization for more than 24 hours, death less than 24 hours in the hospital, and transferring from the intensive care unit (ICU) of another hospital. Recorded data relating to the interval between 24 July 2016 and 10 October 2019 were analyzed.&nbsp;Results: A total number of 3430 patients were studied, of whom 78 (0.02%) did not survive. The mean age of survivors was 38.4 (±18.5) and it was 58.1 (±23.7) for non-survivors (p&lt;0.001). The mean Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of survivors was 14.9 (±0.7) and it was 11.7 (±4.4) for non-survivors (p&lt;0.001). The most important predictors of death were ICU admission (OR 4.31; 95% CI 1.65-11.26) and not having surgical operation (OR 6.08; 95% CI 2.30-16.03). The injuries with higher injury severity score (ISS) had higher risks of death (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.06-1.36).&nbsp;Conclusions: In this study, Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) were the main cause of injuries. The elder age, lower GCS score, ICU admission, higher ISS and not having surgical operation were the worst factors of death. More studies are needed to reveal other prognostic factors of fatal injuries