Head Measurements (head + measurement)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A Wet/Wet Differential Pressure Sensor for Measuring Vertical Hydraulic Gradient

GROUND WATER, Issue 1 2010
Brad G. Fritz
Vertical hydraulic gradient is commonly measured in rivers, lakes, and streams for studies of groundwater,surface water interaction. While a number of methods with subtle differences have been applied, these methods can generally be separated into two categories; measuring surface water elevation and pressure in the subsurface separately or making direct measurements of the head difference with a manometer. Making separate head measurements allows for the use of electronic pressure sensors, providing large datasets that are particularly useful when the vertical hydraulic gradient fluctuates over time. On the other hand, using a manometer-based method provides an easier and more rapid measurement with a simpler computation to calculate the vertical hydraulic gradient. In this study, we evaluated a wet/wet differential pressure sensor for use in measuring vertical hydraulic gradient. This approach combines the advantage of high-temporal frequency measurements obtained with instrumented piezometers with the simplicity and reduced potential for human-induced error obtained with a manometer board method. Our results showed that the wet/wet differential pressure sensor provided results comparable to more traditional methods, making it an acceptable method for future use. [source]


Source connectivity analysis with MEG and EEG

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 6 2009
Jan-Mathijs Schoffelen
Abstract Interactions between functionally specialized brain regions are crucial for normal brain function. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) are techniques suited to capture these interactions, because they provide whole head measurements of brain activity in the millisecond range. More than one sensor picks up the activity of an underlying source. This field spread severely limits the utility of connectivity measures computed directly between sensor recordings. Consequentially, neuronal interactions should be studied on the level of the reconstructed sources. This article reviews several methods that have been applied to investigate interactions between brain regions in source space. We will mainly focus on the different measures used to quantify connectivity, and on the different strategies adopted to identify regions of interest. Despite various successful accounts of MEG and EEG source connectivity, caution with respect to the interpretation of the results is still warranted. This is due to the fact that effects of field spread can never be completely abolished in source space. However, in this very exciting and developing field of research this cautionary note should not discourage researchers from further investigation into the connectivity between neuronal sources. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Conformation of the Equine Skull: A Morphometric Study

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 4 2006
K. E. Evans
Summary There is a lack of an established method for quantifying equine skull morphology. This study proposes a method that is valid for use on both live and deceased horses. A total of nine head measurements (skull length, cranial length, nasal length, ratio of cranial:nasal length, cranial width, zygomatic width, mandibular depth, nasal profile area, cranial profile area) and six indices (skull index, cranial index, nasal index, mandibular index, nasal profile index, cranial profile index) were recorded from 30 horses from a variety of breeds whilst the soft tissues of the head were intact. A line was drawn level with the palpable notches caudal to the caudal lacrimal process of each orbit to estimate the suture line of the nasal and frontal bones and distinguish between the neurocranium and splanchnocranium. There were positive correlations between many of the head measurements. This method also illustrated significant differences in the skull morphology of three breeds (Arabians, thoroughbreds and standardbreds). [source]


Neonatal death after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: does a postmortem add to the final diagnoses?

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2005
Dawn E. Elder
Background Case review after fatal perinatal asphyxia may have medicolegal implications. Accurate diagnosis of cause of death is therefore essential. Objective To determine consent rate and utility of autopsy after fatal grade III hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) presumed to be secondary to birth asphyxia. Design A retrospective clinical review from January 1995 to December 2002. Setting Regional tertiary referral neonatal unit, Wellington, New Zealand. Population Inclusion criteria were gestation ,37 weeks, resuscitation after delivery and clinical course of grade III HIE. Exclusions were a recognised major lethal malformation. Methods Review of clinical records including the autopsy report. Main outcome measures Consent for autopsy, change in diagnosis after autopsy. Results Twenty-three infants died during the time period with a major diagnosis of grade III HIE. Three did not meet inclusion criteria. Of the remaining 20, 11 were female. Median gestation at birth was 40 weeks (range 38,42 weeks) and median birth weight was 3568 g (range 2140,4475 g). In 8/17 of the infants for whom length and head measurements were available, the Ponderal Index suggested intrauterine growth retardation. The 16/20 infants had an autopsy. Four of these were Coroner's cases giving an autopsy rate of 80% with a rate by consent of 60%. In 10 (62.5%) infants, significant new information was added to the clinical diagnoses. Conclusions Neonatal HIE is a symptom rather than a final clinical diagnosis. A full autopsy is required to fully explore the reasons for fatal neonatal HIE and may provide information that is important medicolegally. [source]