An optical-flow-based monitoring method for measuring translational motion in infrared-thermographic images of AFP processes

This paper presents a novel method for a precise localization of the automated-fiber-placement head, without the need for a data access to the machine control. It is based on a sub-pixel accurate optical-flow-algorithm which determines information about the heads movement by means of the material flow in sequences of IR images. Using local curvatures in the temperature field of the IR images, feature matrices are created which can locally be compared to the features of successive images. Thus, the translation between images become visible. This enables the possibility to perform an accurate (16.8μm) and self-sufficient process monitoring that additionally is capable of capturing the motion and position information of the AFP system and can be linked to existing algorithms for defect detection and classification. © 2021, The Author(s)

Representative structural element approach for assessing the mechanical properties of automated fibre placement-induced defects

In this paper, a 3D finite element modelling approach is presented to assess the effects of manufacturing defects within composite structures. The mesoscale modelling approach derives the stress-strain response of a composite structure from a representative structural element. A set of tensile and bending loads is used to compute its ABD-Matrix. The boundary conditions of the model are described in detail as is the extraction of the strain and curvature response. The derived stiffness from the presented modelling approach is compared to the classical lamination theory and the models' shortcomings are discussed. Finally, the influence of a gap, an overlap and two different-sized fuzzballs on the macroscopic mechanical properties of a composite structure are evaluated using the presented multiscale modelling approach, thereby providing stiffness matrices influenced by the defects for the use in global models of composite parts

A cognitive fingerprint in human random number generation

Is the cognitive process of random number generation implemented via person-specific strategies corresponding to highly individual random generation behaviour? We examined random number sequences of 115 healthy participants and developed a method to quantify the similarity between two number sequences on the basis of Damerau and Levenshtein's edit distance. "Same-author" and "different author" sequence pairs could be distinguished (96.5% AUC) based on 300 pseudo-random digits alone. We show that this phenomenon is driven by individual preference and inhibition of patterns and stays constant over a period of 1 week, forming a cognitive fingerprint

Probabilistic tractography in the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus: cerebellar and pallidal connections

The ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VL), as part of the ‘motor thalamus’, is main relay station of cerebellar and pallidal projections. It comprises anterior (VLa) and posterior (VLpd and VLpv) subnuclei. Though the fibre architecture of cerebellar and pallidal projections to of the VL nucleus has already been focus in a numerous amount of in vitro studies mainly in animals, probabilistic tractography now offers the possibility of an in vivo comparison in healthy humans. In this study we performed a (a) qualitative and (b) quantitative examination of VL-cerebellar and VL-pallidal pathways and compared the probability distributions between both projection fields in the VL after an (I) atlas-based and (II) manual-based segmentation procedure. Both procedures led to high congruent results of cerebellar and pallidal connectivity distributions: the maximum of pallidal projections was located in anterior and medial parts of the VL nucleus, whereas cerebellar connectivity was more located in lateral and posterior parts. The median connectivity for cerebellar connections in both approaches (manual and atlas-based segmentation) was VLa > VLpv > VLpd, whereas the pallidal median connectivity was VLa ~ VLpv > VLpd in the atlas-based approach and VLpv > VLa > VLpd in the manual approach.Peer reviewe

Quality-of-life evaluations in children and adolescents with Ewing sarcoma treated with pencil-beam-scanning proton therapy.

BACKGROUND With improved survival rates for children with cancer, quality-of-life (QoL) issues have increasingly become the focus of attention. We report the QoL of children with Ewing sarcoma (EWS) treated with pencil-beam-scanning proton therapy (PT). METHODS A PEDQOL (QoL questionnaire for children 4-18 years) self/proxy questionnaire was used to prospectively assess the QoL of 23 children <18 years with EWS treated with PT. This questionnaire evaluates eight different domains. Children (self-rating) and parents (proxy-rating) filled out the questionnaire at the start of PT (E1), 2 months after treatment (E2), and thereafter once yearly (E≥3). RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, parents rated the QoL of their children at E1 significantly worse in all but two (cognition and social functioning-family) domains. At E4, significant differences between the two groups only remained in three of eight domains. At E1, children self-rated their QoL significantly worse in the domain Physical functioning (p = .004) and significantly better in the domain Body image (p = .044) compared to healthy controls, whereas no significant differences were observed at E4. For the longitudinal comparison E1 versus E4, according to parents, Emotional functioning, Cognition and Social functioning-peers were slightly decreased 2 years after PT. The children rated Emotional functioning and Body image poorly 2 years after PT. CONCLUSIONS Children with EWS usually recovered seemingly well to normal QoL levels 2 years after the end of PT. They tended to rate their QoL substantially higher than their parents. However, in the longitudinal analysis at 2 years, children rated their Emotional functioning and Body image scores poorly

Development and use of a bioeconomic model for management of mussel fisheries under different nutrient regimes in the temperate estuary of the Limfjord, Denmark

Coastal ecosystems worldwide are under pressure from human-induced nutrient inputs, fishing activities, mariculture, construction work, and climate change. Integrated management instruments handling one or more of these problems in combination with socioeconomic issues are therefore necessary to secure a sustainable use of resources. In the Limfjord, a temperate eutrophic estuary in Denmark, nutrient load reductions are necessary to fulfill EU regulations such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The expected outcome of these load reductions is an improved water quality, but also reduced production of the abundant stock of filter-feeding blue mussels, Mytilus edulis. This is expected to have significant economic consequences for the million-euro mussel fishing industry taking place in the Limfjord today. We developed a bioeconomic model that can be used to explore the consequences of load reductions for mussel fishery as practiced today, as well as potential management options, to obtain an economically and ecologically sustainable mussel fishery. Model simulations clearly demonstrate a substantial decrease in mussel production after the nutrient load reductions necessary to obtain the targets in the WFD. With today's practice, the mussel fishery in the Limfjord will not be profitable in a future, less eutrophic estuary. However, model simulations also revealed that mussel fishery can be profitable after implementation of the WFD with a reduction in the total fishing quota, fewer fishing vessels, and a higher fishing quota per vessel

Second-line treatment of pediatric patients with relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma adapted to initial risk stratification: Data of the European Soft Tissue Sarcoma Registry (SoTiSaR).

BACKGROUND Outcome of relapsed disease of localized rhabdomyosarcoma remains poor. An individual treatment approach considering the initial systemic treatment and risk group was included in the Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe (CWS) Guidance. METHODS Second-line chemotherapy (sCHT) ACCTTIVE based on anthracyclines (adriamycin, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, topotecan, vincristine, etoposide) was recommended for patients with initial low- (LR), standard- (SR), and high-risk (HR) group after initial treatment without anthracyclines. TECC (topotecan, etoposide, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide) was recommended after initial anthracycline-based regimen in the very high-risk (VHR) group. Data of patients with relapse (n = 68) registered in the European Soft Tissue Sarcoma Registry SoTiSaR (2009-2018) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Patients of initial LR (n = 2), SR (n = 16), HR (n = 41), and VHR (n = 9) group relapsed. sCHT consisted of ACCTTIVE (n = 36), TECC (n = 12), or other (n = 15). Resection was performed in 40/68 (59%) patients and/or radiotherapy in 47/68 (69%). Initial risk stratification, pattern/time to relapse, and achievement of second complete remission were significant prognostic factors. Microscopically incomplete resection with additional radiotherapy was not inferior to microscopically complete resection (p = .17). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 26% (±12%) and 31% (±14%). The 5-year OS of patients with relapse of SR, HR, and VHR groups was 80% (±21%), 20% (±16%), and 13% (±23%, p = .008), respectively. CONCLUSION Adapted systemic treatment of relapsed disease considering the initial risk group and initial treatment is reasonable. New treatment options are needed for patients of initial HR and VHR groups

Integrative analysis of blood metabolomics and PET brain neuroimaging data for Parkinson's disease

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) often remains a clinical challenge. Molecular neuroimaging can facilitate the diagnostic process. The diagnostic potential of metabolomic signatures has recently been recognized. Methods: We investigated whether the joint data analysis of blood metabolomics and PET imaging by machine learning provides enhanced diagnostic discrimination and gives further pathophysiological insights. Blood plasma samples were collected from 60 PD patients and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We determined metabolomic profiles by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the same cohort and at the same time we performed FDOPA PET in 44 patients and 14 controls and FDG PET in 51 patients and 16 controls. 18 PD patients were available for a follow-up exam after one year. Both data sets were analysed by two machine learning approaches, applying either linear support vector machines or random forests within a leave-one-out cross-validation and computing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: In the metabolomics data, the baseline comparison between cases and controls as well as the followup assessment of patients pointed to metabolite changes associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. For the FDOPA and FDG PET data, the diagnostic predictive performance (DPP) in the ROC analyses was highest when combining imaging features with metabolomics data (ROC AUC for best FDOPA + metabolomics model: 0.98; AUC for best FDG + metabolomics model: 0.91). DPP was lower when using only PET attributes or only metabolomics signatures. Conclusion: Integrating blood metabolomics data combined with PET data considerably enhances the diagnostic discrimination power. Metabolomic signatures also indicate interesting disease-inherent changes in cellular processes, including oxidative stress response and inflammation

Integrative analysis of blood metabolomics and PET brain neuroimaging data for Parkinson's disease

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) often remains a clinical challenge. Molecular neuroimaging can facilitate the diagnostic process. The diagnostic potential of metabolomic signatures has recently been recognized. Methods: We investigated whether the joint data analysis of blood metabolomics and PET imaging by machine learning provides enhanced diagnostic discrimination and gives further pathophysiological insights. Blood plasma samples were collected from 60 PD patients and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We determined metabolomic profiles by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the same cohort and at the same time we performed FDOPA PET in 44 patients and 14 controls and FDG PET in 51 patients and 16 controls. 18 PD patients were available for a follow-up exam after one year. Both data sets were analysed by two machine learning approaches, applying either linear support vector machines or random forests within a leave-one-out cross-validation and computing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: In the metabolomics data, the baseline comparison between cases and controls as well as the followup assessment of patients pointed to metabolite changes associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. For the FDOPA and FDG PET data, the diagnostic predictive performance (DPP) in the ROC analyses was highest when combining imaging features with metabolomics data (ROC AUC for best FDOPA + metabolomics model: 0.98; AUC for best FDG + metabolomics model: 0.91). DPP was lower when using only PET attributes or only metabolomics signatures. Conclusion: Integrating blood metabolomics data combined with PET data considerably enhances the diagnostic discrimination power. Metabolomic signatures also indicate interesting disease-inherent changes in cellular processes, including oxidative stress response and inflammation

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a comparative treatment planning study of photons and protons

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this treatment planning study was to investigate the potential advantages of intensity-modulated (IM) proton therapy (IMPT) compared with IM photon therapy (IMRT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight NPC patients were chosen. The dose prescriptions in cobalt Gray equivalent (Gy_E) for gross tumor volumes of the primary tumor (GTV-T), planning target volumes of GTV-T and metastatic (PTV-TN) and elective (PTV-N) lymph node stations were 72.6 Gy_E, 66 Gy_E, and 52.8 Gy_E, respectively. For each patient, nine coplanar fields IMRT with step-and-shoot technique and 3D spot-scanned three coplanar fields IMPT plans were prepared. Both modalities were planned in 33 fractions to be delivered with a simultaneous integrated boost technique. All plans were prepared and optimized by using the research version of the inverse treatment planning system KonRad (DKFZ, Heidelberg).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both treatment techniques were equal in terms of averaged mean dose to target volumes. IMPT plans significantly improved the tumor coverage and conformation (<it>P </it>< 0.05) and they reduced the averaged mean dose to several organs at risk (OARs) by a factor of 2–3. The low-to-medium dose volumes (0.33–13.2 Gy_E) were more than doubled by IMRT plans.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In radiotherapy of NPC patients, three-field IMPT has greater potential than nine-field IMRT with respect to tumor coverage and reduction of the integral dose to OARs and non-specific normal tissues. The practicality of IMPT in NPC deserves further exploration when this technique becomes available on wider clinical scale.</p