Geometric considerations of the evolution of magnetic flux ropes.

We use flux conservation and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) theory to discuss essential differences in the nature of the evolution of two analytical solutions describing magnetic flux tubes evolving in time. The first of these maintains the elongation of the tube, while the second maintains a constant angular extension with respect to a possible pointlike source. In the first case, free expansion of the plasma (density N) occurs only in a direction perpendicular to the flux-tube x axis. In the second case, isotropic evolution is considered. In both cases it is assumed that at initial time t(0) the flux-tube B field is the force-free magnetostatic Lundquist solution, which energetically corresponds to the most stable state for any flux-tube structure. We show that for each case conservation of magnetic flux is enough to establish the scaling with time of the B field. While both expansions may correspond to the evolution of observed flux tubes in the heliosphere, the isotropic expansion appears to capture consistently essential features associated with the actual observations of expanding coronal mass ejections within 30 solar radii. For isotropic expansion of the plasma the force-free nature of the B field is preserved for all time. As an example the MHD solutions are applied to an interplanetary magnetic cloud observed with the spacecraft Wind, which passed Earth's vicinity on June 2, 1998.

Performance evaluation of an automated system for registration and postprocessing of CT scans.

A prototype system optimized for automatic registration of CT scans and applications such as subtraction enhancement and CT angiography was evaluated. Co-registration was performed on 50 studies of various types, including CT angiograms. Mean registration speed was 109 s; accuracy was 2.0 mm. Examples of subtraction enhancement and automatic extraction of the vascular tree are provided. Unattended registration was demonstrated in routine application. Subtraction-enhanced images and extraction of the vascular tree may be useful in clinical practice.

A method for assessing the accuracy of intersubject registration of the human brain using anatomic landmarks.

Several groups have developed methods for registering an individual's 3D MRI by deforming a standard template. This achievement leads to many possibilities for segmentation and morphology that will impact nuclear medical research in areas such as activation and receptor studies. Accordingly, there is a need for methods that can assess the accuracy of intersubject registration. We have developed a method based on a set of 128 anatomic landmarks per hemisphere, both cortical and subcortical, that allows assessment of both global and local transformation accuracy. We applied our method to compare the accuracy of two standard methods of intersubject registration, AIR 3.0 with fifth-order polynomial warping and the Talairach stereotaxic transformation (Talairach and Tournoux, 1988). SPGR MRI's (256 x 256 x 160) of six normal subjects (age 18-24 years) were derformed to match a standard template volume. To assess registration accuracy the landmarks were located on both the template volume and the transformed volumes by an experienced neuroanatomist. The resulting list of coordinates was analyzed graphically and by ANOVA to compare the accuracy of the two methods and the results of the manual analysis. ANOVA performed over all 128 landmarks showed that the Woods method was more accurate than Talairach (left hemisphere F = 2.8, P < 0.001 and right hemisphere F =2.4, P < 0.006). The Woods method provided a better brain surface transformation than did Talairach (F = 18.0, P < 0.0001), but as expected there was a smaller difference for subcortical structures and both had an accuracy <1 mm for the majority of subcortical landmarks. Overall, both the Woods and Talairach method located about 70% of landmarks with an error of 3 mm or less. More striking differences were noted for landmark accuracy

Improved methods for image registration.

We report a system for PET-MRI registration that is improved or optimized in several areas: (1) Automatic scalp/brain segmentation replaces manual drawing operations, (2) a new fast and accurate method of image registration, (3) visual assessment of registration quality is enhanced by composite imaging methods (i.e., fusion) and (4) the entire procedure is embedded in a commercially available scientific visualization package, thereby providing a consistent graphical user interface. The segmentation algorithm was tested on 17 MRI data sets and was successful in all cases. Accuracy of image registration was equal to that of the Woods algorithm, but 10 times faster for PET-PET and 4 times faster for PET-MRI. The image fusion method allows detection of misalignments on the order of 2-3 mm. These results demonstrate an integrated system for intermodality image registration, which is important because the procedure can be performed by technicians with no anatomic knowledge and reduces the required time from hours to about 15 min on a modern computer workstation.

Maternal serum markers levels in consecutive pregnancies: a possible genetic predisposition to abnormal levels.

The study comprised 2,361 women, each with two consecutive normal uncomplicated pregnancies screened at 15-20 weeks gestation for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (AFP). In 1,816 of these women, maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were tested as well. The proportion of women who had a second high AFP level (> or = 2.0 MOM) in their subsequent pregnancy was 6.5-fold higher as compared with the proportion of women who had normal levels of AFP in their first tested pregnancy. The relative chance of having a second positive result of a low level of AFP (AFP < or = 0.5 MOM) in subsequent pregnancies was 3.8-fold higher. The relative chances of having a second positive result of high or low levels of hCG were 3.9- and 2.2-fold higher, respectively. It is concluded that there is a predisposition for abnormal levels of serum markers that is influenced by genetic and/or environmental factors. Therefore it is suggested that the individual's risk of having a Down syndrome baby, or other adverse pregnancy outcome that is derived from the serum markers' levels, should be adjusted taking into account unexplained high or low levels in previous pregnancies. A screening policy is suggested which is designed to yield a lower false-positive rate without affecting the detection rate of abnormal pregnancies. More data are needed before an accurate adjustment based on previous results can be made.