Technical note: Does scan resolution or downsampling impact the analysis of trabecular bone architecture?

The “gold standard” for the assessment of trabecular bone structure is high-resolution micro-CT. In this technical note, we test the influence of initial scan resolution and post hoc downsampling on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of trabecular bone in a Gorilla tibia. We analyzed trabecular morphology in the right distal tibia of one Gorilla gorilla individual to investigate the impact of variation in voxel size on measured trabecular variables. For each version of the micro-CT volume, trabecular bone was segmented using the medical image analysis method. Holistic morphometric analysis was then used to analyze bone volume (BV/TV), anisotropy (DA), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), spacing (Tb.Sp), and number (Tb.N). Increasing voxel size during initial scanning was found to have a strong impact on DA and Tb.Th measures, while BV/TV, Tb.Sp, and Tb.N were found to be less sensitive to variations in initial scan resolution. All tested parameters were not substantially influenced by downsampling up to 90 μm resolution. Color maps of BV/TV and DA also retained their distribution up to 90 μm. This study is the first to examine the effect of variation in micro-CT voxel size on the analysis of trabecular bone structure using whole epiphysis approaches. Our results indicate that microstructural variables may be measured for most trabecular parameters up to a voxel size of 90 μm for both scan and downsampled resolutions. Moreover, if only BV/TV, Tb.Sp or Tb.N is measured, even larger voxel sizes might be used without substantially affecting the results

Trabecular distribution of proximal tibia in extant apes

Extant apes are characterized by a wide range of locomotor, postural and manipulative behaviours that require each to use their limbs in different ways. In addition to external bone morphology, comparative investigation of trabecular bone can provide novel insights into bone functional adaptation. Two previous studies [1,2] have examined trabecular bone structure in the hominoid knee joint but have focused on the distal femur only. We build upon these previous studies to characterize trabecular structure of the proximal tibia in extant apes. Here we analyze the trabecular morphology of proximal tibial epiphysis of Homo sapiens (N = 25), Gorilla gorilla (N=13), Pan troglodytes verus (N = 15), and Pongo spp. (N = 7) to determine how variation in trabecular structure reflects differences in locomotor behaviour and to establish patterns of proximal tibia loading in extant taxa. Trabecular bone was imaged using microtomography with an isometric voxel resolution of 30-70 microns. Bone tissues were segmented using the medical image analysis (MIA) clustering method [3]. Canonical holistic morphometric analysis (cHMA) [4] was used to analyze relative bone volume fraction (rBV/TV) and patterns of rBV/TV distribution within and between taxa were investigated via principal component analysis (PCA). A PCA of rBV/TV shows clear separation between extant ape taxa. In humans, trabecular density is similarly concentrated in circular regions in the middle of both the medial and lateral condyles, which distinguishes them from all other apes on PC1. In African apes, the trabecular bone is denser on the medial side (penetrating the entire condyle) suggesting differential loading of the tibia plateau. [italics]Pongo[italics] also exhibits greater density on the medial side but differs from African apes in having less rBV/TV at the margins of the condyles. Values of rBV/TV under the articulation with proximal tibia (and on the thibial plateau) are significantly higher compared to rest of the lateral condyle in all taxa. [italics]Pongo[italics] (positive PC2) separates from [italics]Gorilla[italics] (negative PC2) due to the higher rBV/TV concentration in the middle of both tibial condyles on tibial plateau. Additionally, rBV/TV concentration is the lowest in orangutans, which separates them from gorillas (PC2) as well as from chimpanzees (PC3). Trabecular distribution in humans is consistent with an extended knee position and bipedal locomotion where the load is spread more equally between both tibial condyles. However, trabecular distribution in non-human apes is consistent with flexed knee positions compared to humans and with primarily medial loading due to the higher knee adduction moment, varus angle and ground reaction forces. The pattern of trabecular distribution in orangutans reflects their more variable knee joint postures during locomotion. These results provide the comparative context to interpret knee posture and, in turn, locomotor behaviours in fossil hominins

Trabecular distribution of distal femur in extant apes

Extant great apes are often used to model aspects of fossil hominin locomotor behaviours. Comparative investigation of trabecular bone, which (re-)models to reflect loads incurred during life, can provide novel insights into the locomotor reconstruction of fossil taxa [1]. Here we analyze the distal femoral epiphysis of [italics]Homo sapiens[italics] (N = 26), [italics]Gorilla gorilla[italics] (N = 14), [italics]Pan troglodytes verus[italics] (N = 15), and [italics]Pongo[italics] sp. (N = 9) to determine how variation in trabecular structure reflects differences in locomotor behaviours. Canonical holistic morphometric analysis (cHMA) of relative bone volume fraction (rBV/TV) and degree of anisotropy (DA) is used to infer patterns of joint loading in extant taxa. A principal component analysis of rBV/TV and DA distributions show clear separation between taxa. Trabecular distribution in humans is consistent with medial (due to the ground reaction forces) and lateral (due to the resistance of the knee adduction moment provided by the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles and lateral collateral ligament) loading. Distribution in non-human apes is consistent with primarily medial loading due to the higher knee adduction moment, varus angle and ground reaction forces. Signals of a more extended knee in female gorillas compared to males (or chimpanzees) may reflect a more extended knee position during vertical climbing and higher arboreality in females [3]. Orangutans showed the most homogenous distribution of trabecular structure across both condyles, consistent with more variable knee joint postures. These results provide the comparative context to interpret knee posture and, in turn, locomotor behaviours in fossil hominins. References: [1] Georgiou, L., Dunmore, C. J., Bardo, A., Buck, L. T., Hublin, J. J., Pahr, D. H., ... & Skinner, M. M. (2020). Evidence for habitual climbing in a Pleistocene hominin in South Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(15), 8416-8423. [2] Bachmann, S., Dunmore, C. J., Skinner, M. M., Pahr, D. H. and Synek, A. (2022). A computational framework for canonical holistic morphometric analysis of trabecular bone. Scientific Reports, 12, 1-13. [3] Isler, K. (2005). 3D‐kinematics of vertical climbing in hominoids. American Journal of Physical Anthropology: The Official Publication of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, 126(1), 66-81. Acknowledgments: For access to specimens we thank the following individuals/institutions: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (C. Boesch, J-J. Hublin); Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (F. Mayer, C. Funk); Powell-Cotton Museum (I. Livne); Royal Museum for Central Africa (E. Gilissen); University of Florence (J. Moggi-Cecchi, S. Bortoluzzi); Johann-Friedrich�Blumenback-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University, Goettingen (B. Grosskopf); Frankfurt Senckenberg Museum (V. Volpato); University of the Witswatersand (L. Berger, B. Zipfel); Science Academy of the Czech Republic (J. Svoboda). This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 819960)

Trabecular distribution of distal femur in extant apes and Australopithecus sediba

Knee morphology of fossil hominins is of particular interest to paleoanthropologists due to longstanding debates about relative degrees of arboreality and terrestrial bipedalism in the hominin clade. In addition to external bone shape, the investigation of trabecular bone in the knee joint can provide insights into in vivo locomotor behavior of hominins [1-2]. The nearly complete right distal femur (U.W. 88-63) of Australopithecus sediba (1.98 Ma) shows a unique combination of condyles that resemble other australopith species and Homo-like anatomy of the patellar surface, which has been used to infer a unique locomotor pattern in this species [3]. Here we analyze the trabecular morphology of distal femoral epiphysis of Homo sapiens (N = 15), Gorilla gorilla (N=14), Pan troglodytes verus (N = 15), Pongo sp. (N = 9), and A. sediba (MH2) in order to 1) establish patterns of joint loading in extant taxa of known locomotor behaviour and 2) investigate joint loading in the knee of A. sediba. A canonical holistic morphometric analysis (cHMA), combining holistic morphometric analysis (HMA) and statistical free-form deformation model (SDM), approach was used to analyze the patterns of trabecular bone distribution following published protocols [4]. A principal component (PC) analysis of relative bone volume (rBV/TV) distribution shows clear separation between extant ape taxa. Positive values on PC1, PC2 and PC3 are mostly driven by rBV/TV concentrated on the patellar surface and on the posterior articular surface of the medial condyle separating humans from great apes (PC1, PC2) and chimpanzees (PC3) from humans, gorillas and orangutans. Negative PC1 is mostly driven by rBV/TV concentrated beneath the insertion of posterior cruciate ligament discriminating non-human apes from humans, negative PC2 by loadings on the patellar surface separating gorillas from others, and negative PC3 by loadings on the patellar surface and on the posterior articulation surface of the medial condyle discriminating orangutans from others. Results suggest that differences between humans and apes are primarily in the patellar articular surface. Relative bone volume in humans is concentrated in the posteroinferior region of the lateral condyle and on the lateral patellar surface, which is consistent with loading in an extended knee position during locomotion. In non-human apes relative bone volume is found to extend from the inferior margin of the patellar articulation to the posterior region of both condyles. However, in gorillas it does not extend as posterosuperiorly in the medial condyle as it does in chimpanzees and orangutans. Trabecular bone is concentrated in the lateral condyles in apes, with the greatest values in the posterosuperior and the posteroinferior regions. Unlike humans, ape like a trabecular concentration at the distal regions of both condyles (i.e., those assumed to be loaded in an extended knee), with the lowest values in orangutans. We suggest that this reflects predominant loading in a more flexed knee posture in great apes compared to humans. Finally, among apes, we found the most homogenous distribution of trabecular bone across both condyles in orangutans, which we relate to their more variable knee joint postures during locomotion. A. sediba shows trabecular concentrations on the patellar surface and on the posterior area of the lateral condyle. Values in the posteroinferior and posterosuperior regions of lateral condyle are generally higher than in medial condyle. We interpret these fossil results as reflective of loading the knee joint with a degree of flexion that differs somewhat from modern humans. However, taphonomic erosion of parts of the condyles hinders a complete assessment of trabecular bone distribution in A. sediba

Trabecular architecture of the distal femur in extant hominids

Extant great apes are characterized by a wide range of locomotor, postural and manipulative behaviours that each require the limbs to be used in different ways. In addition to external bone morphology, comparative investigation of trabecular bone, which (re‐)models to reflect loads incurred during life, can provide novel insights into bone functional adaptation. Here, we use canonical holistic morphometric analysis (cHMA) to analyse the trabecular morphology in the distal femoral epiphysis of Homo sapiens (n = 26), Gorilla gorilla (n = 14), Pan troglodytes (n = 15) and Pongo sp. (n = 9). We test two predictions: (1) that differing locomotor behaviours will be reflected in differing trabecular architecture of the distal femur across Homo, Pan, Gorilla and Pongo; (2) that trabecular architecture will significantly differ between male and female Gorilla due to their different levels of arboreality but not between male and female Pan or Homo based on previous studies of locomotor behaviours. Results indicate that trabecular architecture differs among extant great apes based on their locomotor repertoires. The relative bone volume and degree of anisotropy patterns found reflect habitual use of extended knee postures during bipedalism in Homo, and habitual use of flexed knee posture during terrestrial and arboreal locomotion in Pan and Gorilla. Trabecular architecture in Pongo is consistent with a highly mobile knee joint that may vary in posture from extension to full flexion. Within Gorilla, trabecular architecture suggests a different loading of knee in extension/flexion between females and males, but no sex differences were found in Pan or Homo, supporting our predictions. Inter‐ and intra‐specific variation in trabecular architecture of distal femur provides a comparative context to interpret knee postures and, in turn, locomotor behaviours in fossil hominins

Expert consensus document: Clinical and molecular diagnosis, screening and management of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: an international consensus statement.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), a human genomic imprinting disorder, is characterized by phenotypic variability that might include overgrowth, macroglossia, abdominal wall defects, neonatal hypoglycaemia, lateralized overgrowth and predisposition to embryonal tumours. Delineation of the molecular defects within the imprinted 11p15.5 region can predict familial recurrence risks and the risk (and type) of embryonal tumour. Despite recent advances in knowledge, there is marked heterogeneity in clinical diagnostic criteria and care. As detailed in this Consensus Statement, an international consensus group agreed upon 72 recommendations for the clinical and molecular diagnosis and management of BWS, including comprehensive protocols for the molecular investigation, care and treatment of patients from the prenatal period to adulthood. The consensus recommendations apply to patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann spectrum (BWSp), covering classical BWS without a molecular diagnosis and BWS-related phenotypes with an 11p15.5 molecular anomaly. Although the consensus group recommends a tumour surveillance programme targeted by molecular subgroups, surveillance might differ according to the local health-care system (for example, in the United States), and the results of targeted and universal surveillance should be evaluated prospectively. International collaboration, including a prospective audit of the results of implementing these consensus recommendations, is required to expand the evidence base for the design of optimum care pathways

Cultivation Methods Establishment And Planting New Varieties Of Potato

The article presents the studying results and establishing the cultivation and planting methods influence of new varieties of potatoes. It was revealed that the large-tuber new varieties cultivation of potatoes in an early and two-yielding culture with a two-line planting method (90 + 30x22cm) with 74 thousand / ha density contributes to obtaining the highest yield (25.8-47.0 t / ha) with 3.1 -4.8 reproduction factor. At the same time, the marketable tubers yield amounted to 34.6-46.5 t / ha (spring planting) and 24.6-34.4 t / ha (summer planting). The mid-early varieties Arizona, Yarokli-2010 and Bogizogon differed in yield, marketability, and multiplication rate

Polysaccharide-Based Micro- and Nanosized Drug Delivery Systems for Potential Application in the Pediatric Dentistry.

International audienc

Optimization of Chitosan Microspheres Spray Drying via 32 Full Factorial Design

Background: Generally, the preparation of spray-dried microspheres is strongly affected by the process parameters. Particle size and production yield are mainly influenced by the spraying solution concentration and the pump rate of the spray dryer

Effect of Extracts of Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) on Amyloglucosidase and α-Glucosidase Activity

Background:Vaccinium myrtillus L. is a species belonging to the genus Vaccinium of the family Ericaceae. Bilberries have drawn attention due to the multiple benefits for the human health, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-neurodegenerative, and cardioprotective effects. Recently, bilberries were shown to inhibit the activity of carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes that can help reduce the intensity of the metabolic syndrome and prevent type 2 diabetes