Background To gain insight into the role of plantar intrinsic foot muscles in fall-related gait parameters in older adults, it is fundamental to assess foot muscles separately. Ultrasonography is considered a promising instrument to quantify the strength capacity of individual muscles by assessing their morphology. The main goal of this study was to investigate the intra-assessor reliability and measurement error for ultrasound measures for the morphology of selected foot muscles and the plantar fascia in older adults using a tablet-based device. The secondary aim was to compare the measurement error between older and younger adults and between two different ultrasound machines. Methods Ultrasound images of selected foot muscles and the plantar fascia were collected in younger and older adults by a single operator, intensively trained in scanning the foot muscles, on two occasions, 1–8 days apart, using a tablet-based and a mainframe system. The intra-assessor reliability and standard error of measurement for the cross-sectional area and/or thickness were assessed by analysis of variance. The error variance was statistically compared across age groups and machines. Results Eighteen physically active older adults (mean age 73.8 (SD: 4.9) years) and ten younger adults (mean age 21.9 (SD: 1.8) years) participated in the study. In older adults, the standard error of measurement ranged from 2.8 to 11.9%. The ICC ranged from 0.57 to 0.97, but was excellent in most cases. The error variance for six morphology measures was statistically smaller in younger adults, but was small in older adults as well. When different error variances were observed across machines, overall, the tablet-based device showed superior repeatability. Conclusions This intra-assessor reliability study showed that a tablet-based ultrasound machine can be reliably used to assess the morphology of selected foot muscles in older adults, with the exception of plantar fascia thickness. Although the measurement errors were sometimes smaller in younger adults, they seem adequate in older adults to detect group mean hypertrophy as a response to training. A tablet-based ultrasound device seems to be a reliable alternative to a mainframe system. This advocates its use when foot muscle morphology in older adults is of interest.
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Abstract Aims: To lower the threshold for applying ultrasound (US) guidance during peripheral intravenous cannulation, nurses need to be trained and gain experience in using this technique. The primary outcome was to quantify the number of procedures novices require to perform before competency in US-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation was achieved. Materials and methods: A multicenter prospective observational study, divided into two phases after a theoretical training session: a handson training session and a supervised life-case training session. The number of US-guided peripheral intravenous cannulations a participant needed to perform in the life-case setting to become competent was the outcome of interest. Cusum analysis was used to determine the learning curve of each individual participant. Results: Forty-nine practitioners participated and performed 1855 procedures. First attempt cannulation success was 73% during the first procedure, but increased to 98% on the fortieth attempt (p<0.001). The overall first attempt success rate during this study was 93%. The cusum learning curve for each practitioner showed that a mean number of 34 procedures was required to achieve competency. Time needed to perform a procedure successfully decreased when more experience was achieved by the practitioner, from 14±3 minutes on first procedure to 3±1 minutes during the fortieth procedure (p<0.001). Conclusions: Competency in US-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation can be gained after following a fixed educational curriculum, resulting in an increased first attempt cannulation success as the number of performed procedures increased.
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This work provides a feasibility study on estimating the 3-D locations of several thousand miniaturized free-floating sensor platforms. The localization is performed on basis of sparse ultrasound range measurements between sensor platforms and without the use of beacons. We show that this task can be viewed as a specific type of pose graph optimization. The main challenge is robustly estimating an initial pose graph, that models the locations of sensor platforms. For this, we introduce a novel graph growing strategy that uses random sample consensus in alternation with non-linear refinement. The theoretical properties of our sensor cloud localization method are analyzed and its robustness is investigated using simulations. These simulations are based on inlier-outlier measurement models and focus on the application of subterranean 3-D mapping of liquid environments, such as pipe infrastructures and oil wells.
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Training-induced adaptations in muscle morphology, including their magnitude and individual variation, remain relatively unknown in elite athletes. We reported changes in rowing performance and muscle morphology during the general and competitive preparation phases in elite rowers. Nineteen female rowers completed 8 weeks of general preparation, including concurrent endurance and high-load resistance training (HLRT). Seven rowers were monitored during a subsequent 16 weeks of competitive preparation, including concurrent endurance and resistance training with additional plyometric loading (APL). Vastus lateralis muscle volume, physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), fascicle length, and pennation angle were measured using 3D ultrasonography. Rowing ergometer power output was measured as mean power in the final 4 minutes of an incremental test. Rowing ergometer power output improved during general preparation [+2 ± 2%, effect size (ES) = 0.22, P = 0.004], while fascicle length decreased (−5 ± 8%, ES = −0.47, P = 0.020). Rowing power output further improved during competitive preparation (+5 ± 3%, ES = 0.52, P = 0.010). Here, morphological adaptations were not significant, but demonstrated large ESs for fascicle length (+13 ± 19%, ES = 0.93), medium for pennation angle (−9 ± 15%, ES = −0.71), and small for muscle volume (+8 ± 13%, ES = 0.32). Importantly, rowers showed large individual differences in their training-induced muscle adaptations. In conclusion, vastus lateralis muscles of elite female athletes are highly adaptive to specific training stimuli, and adaptations largely differ between individual athletes. Therefore, coaches are encouraged to closely monitor their athletes' individual (muscle) adaptations to better evaluate the effectiveness of their training programs and finetune them to the athlete's individual needs.
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Ingezonden artikel in MEMO RAD: dit artikel is een samenvatting van afstudeeronderzoek dat de eerste auteur heeft uitgevoerd ter afronding van de bachelor opleiding Medisch Beeldvorming en Radiotherapeutische Technieken aan de hogeschool Inholland.
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We report on a first field test in which miniaturized sensor motes were used to explore and inspect an operational pipeline by performing in situ measurements. The spherical sensor motes with a diameter of 39 mm were equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) measuring 3-D acceleration, rotation, and magnetic field, as well as an ultrasound emitter. The motes were injected into the pipeline and traversed a 260-m section of it with the flow of water. After the extraction of the motes from the pipeline, the recorded IMU data were read out for the off-line analysis. Unlike dead-reckoning techniques, we analyze the IMU data to reveal structural information about the pipeline and locate pipe components, such as hydrants and junctions. The recorded data show different and distinct patterns that are a result of the fluid dynamics and the interaction with the pipeline. Using the magnetic data, pipe sections made from different materials and pipe components are identified and localized. A preliminary analysis on the motes' interaction with the pipeline shows differences in pipe wall roughness and locates structural anomalies. The results of this field test show that sensor motes can be used as a versatile and cost-effective tool for exploration and inspection of a wide variety of pipelines.
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Background Altered muscle-tendon properties in clubfoot patients could play a role in the occurrence of a relapse and negatively affect physical functioning. However, there is a lack of literature about muscle-tendon properties of clubfoot relapse patients. Research question The aim of this study was to determine whether the muscle architecture of the medial gastrocnemius and the morphology of the Achilles tendon differ between typically developing children (TDC) and clubfoot patients with and without a relapse clubfoot and to determine the relationships between morphological and functional gait outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in clubfoot patients treated according to the Ponseti method and TDC aged 4–8 years. A division between clubfoot patients with and without a relapse was made. Fifteen clubfoot patients, 10 clubfoot relapse patients and 19 TDC were included in the study. Morphologic properties of the medial head of the Gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon were assessed by ultrasonography. Functional gait outcomes were assessed using three-dimensional gait analysis. Mean group differences were analysed with ANOVA and non-parametric alternatives. Relationships between functional and morphologic parameters were determined for all clubfoot patients together and for TDC with Spearman’s rank correlation. Results Morphological and functional gait parameters did not differ between clubfoot patients with and without a relapse, with exception of lower maximal dorsiflexor moment in clubfoot relapse patients. Compared to TDC, clubfoot and relapse patients did show lower functional gait outcomes, as well as shorter and more pennate muscles with a longer Achilles tendon. In all clubfoot patients, this longer relative tendon was related to higher ankle power and plantarflexor moment. Significance In clubfoot and relapse patients, abnormalities in morphology did not always relate to worse functional gait outcomes. Understanding these relationships in all clubfoot patients may improve the knowledge about clubfoot and aid future treatment planning.
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This year, OPTIMAX was warmly welcomed by University College Dublin. For the sixth time students and teachers from Europe, South Africa, South America and Canada have come together enthusiastically to do research in the Radiography domain. As in previous years, there were several research groups consisting of PhD-, MSc- and BSc students and tutors from the OPTIMAX partner Universities or on invitation by partner Universities. OPTIMAX 2018 was partly funded by the partner Universities and partly by the participants.
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Prophylactic replacement therapy is the cornerstone of treatment in severe haemophilia. Regular infusions with clotting factor concentrate have been proven effective to prevent bleeding, subsequent (joint) damage, and positively affect the impact of haemophilia on daily life [1]. Patients or parents of younger patients learn to infuse clotting factor concentrate in a peripheral vein (i.v.) or a central venous access device (CVAD) [2].
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Light scattering is a fundamental property that can be exploited to create essential devices such as particle analysers. The most common particle size analyser relies on measuring the angle-dependent diffracted light from a sample illuminated by a laser beam. Compared to other non-light-based counterparts, such a laser diffraction scheme offers precision, but it does so at the expense of size, complexity and cost. In this paper, we introduce the concept of a new particle size analyser in a collimated beam configuration using a consumer electronic camera and machine learning. The key novelty is a small form factor angular spatial filter that allows for the collection of light scattered by the particles up to predefined discrete angles. The filter is combined with a light-emitting diode and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor array to acquire angularly resolved scattering images. From these images, a machine learning model predicts the volume median diameter of the particles. To validate the proposed device, glass beads with diameters ranging from 13 to 125 µm were measured in suspension at several concentrations. We were able to correct for multiple scattering effects and predict the particle size with mean absolute percentage errors of 5.09% and 2.5% for the cases without and with concentration as an input parameter, respectively. When only spherical particles were analysed, the former error was significantly reduced (0.72%). Given that it is compact (on the order of ten cm) and built with low-cost consumer electronics, the newly designed particle size analyser has significant potential for use outside a standard laboratory, for example, in online and in-line industrial process monitoring.
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