SPHARM Shape Modeling and Analysis Toolkit for Brain Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：此R03申请为期一年，用于开发和发布spham - mat，这是一种用于神经解剖学研究的3D形状建模和分析工具包。形状分析越来越受到神经影像界的关注，因为它有可能提供比简单体积测量更重要的信息。SPHARM- mat是一套工具，旨在利用球面谐波函数（SPHARM）有效地表征和规范化3D脑结构的形态特征。它建立了一个基础，在此基础上可以进行统计形状分析，以发现与特定大脑疾病相关的神经解剖结构的形态测量变化。spham - mat的开发是与现有工具相关的协同努力。它提供了一个可选择的软件平台，也为工具比较和交叉验证提供了机会。更重要的是，它是一个功能强大的工具包，具有几个增加价值的新特性。由于实现了几种克服传统SPHARM方法局限性的新算法，它具有更广泛的适用性。它是用户友好且可互操作的，提供图形界面、模块化设计结构以及文档完备的用户手册和源代码。本研究的目标包括：(1)实现一种改进的单个SPHARM建模方法，(2)实现一种改进的使用SPHARM进行组分析的方法，以及(3)将该功能与SPHARM- mat中的其他必要组件一起打包并发布工具包。SPHARM- mat将通过封装先前研究中SPHARM处理组件的现有原型实现，以及实现其他必要组件，包括图形用户界面、可视化模块、用户手册、项目wiki站点和源代码文档来开发。spham - mat将在NITRC （www.nitrc.org）上发布，使用GNU通用公共许可证进行广泛传播。这个新工具包的传播将使研究许多脑部疾病的研究人员能够更有效地测试神经解剖学假设，因此该项目将有利于公共卫生结果。公共卫生相关性：形状分析正日益引起神经影像学界的兴趣，因为它有可能提供简单体积测量之外的重要信息，并了解与特定脑疾病相关的神经解剖结构的形态测量变化。该项目的目的是开发和发布spham - mat，一个用于神经解剖学研究的3D形状建模和分析工具包。spham - mat是与现有工具相关的协同工作，是一个强大的工具包，具有几个增加价值的新特性，包括易用性、广泛的适用性、良好的互操作性和广泛的传播。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This R03 application is for one year of funding to develop and release SPHARM-MAT, a 3D shape modeling and analysis toolkit for neuroanatomical studies. Shape analysis is becoming of increasing interest to the neuroimaging community because of its potential to provide important information beyond simple volume measurements. SPHARM-MAT is a suite of tools that are designed to effectively characterize and normalize morphometric features of 3D brain structures using spherical harmonic functions (SPHARM). It establishes a foundation on which statistical shape analysis can be performed to discover morphometric changes in neuroanatomical structures related to specific brain disorders. The development of SPHARM-MAT is a synergistic effort in relation to existing tools. It provides an alternative software platform as well as an opportunity for tool comparison and cross-validation. More importantly, it is a powerful toolkit with several new features that add value. It has a broader applicability due to the implementation of several new algorithms that overcome the limitations of the traditional SPHARM method. It is user-friendly and interoperable, offering a graphical interface, modular design structure, and well-documented user manual and source code. The objectives of this research include (1) implementing an improved method for individual SPHARM modeling, (2) implementing an improved method for group analysis using SPHARM, and (3) packaging this functionality together with other necessary components in SPHARM-MAT and releasing the toolkit. SPHARM-MAT will be developed by packaging the existing prototype implementation of SPHARM processing components from previous studies as well as by implementing additional necessary components including a graphical user interface, a visualization module, a user manual, a project wiki site, and documentation of source code. SPHARM-MAT will be released at NITRC (www.nitrc.org) using GNU General Public License for wide dissemination. The dissemination of this new toolkit will enable investigators working on many brain disorders to more effectively test neuroanatomical hypotheses and therefore this project will benefit public health outcomes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Shape analysis is becoming of increasing interest to the neuroimaging community because of its potential to provide important information beyond simple volume measurements and to understand morphometric changes in neuroanatomical structures related to specific brain disorders. The purpose of this project is to develop and release SPHARM-MAT, a 3D shape modeling and analysis toolkit for neuroanatomical studies. SPHARM-MAT is a synergistic effort in relation to existing tools, and is a powerful toolkit with several new features that add value, including ease of use, broad applicability, good interoperability, and wide dissemination.