Characterization of an Inherited Neurologic Syndrome in Toyger Cats with Forebrain Commissural Malformations, Ventriculomegaly and Interhemispheric Cysts.

BackgroundIn children, frequent congenital malformations with concomitant agenesis of the corpus callosum are diagnosed by neuroimaging in association with other cerebral malformations, including interhemispheric cysts and ventriculomegaly. Similar studies providing full characterization of brain defects by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and correlations with the pertinent anatomic pathologic examinations are absent in veterinary medicine.Hypothesis/objectivesCongenital brain defects underlie the neurologic signs observed in Toyger cats selectively bred for a short ear phenotype.AnimalsUsing proper pedigree analysis and genetic evaluations, 20 related Oriental-derived crossbred Toyger cats were evaluated. Seven clinically healthy (carrier) cats and 13 clinically affected cats that had neurologic signs, short ear phenotype and concomitant complex brain anomalies were studied.MethodsComplete physical and neurologic examinations and MRI were performed in all clinically healthy and affected cats. Postmortem and histopathologic examinations were performed in 8 affected cats and 5 healthy cats.ResultsNeurologic and MRI investigations confirmed 13 clinically affected cats with structural brain abnormalities. Ventriculomegaly with frequent concomitant supratentorial interhemispheric, communicating ventricular type-1b cysts and multiple midline and callosal malformations were detected in all cats displaying neurologic signs. Genetic analysis confirmed autosomal recessive mode of inheritance with no chromosomal abnormalities.Conclusions and clinical importanceNeuroanatomic dissections and histopathology were helpful for evaluation of abnormalities in midline brain structures, and for the full characterization of cysts. However, MRI was more sensitive for detection of small cysts. In this feline model, MRI diagnosis had extremely good correlation with pathologic abnormalities noted in the subset of animals that were examined by both modalities

Banning design automation software implementation

The research is reported for developing a system of computer programs to aid engineering in the design, fabrication, and testing of large scale integrated circuits, hybrid circuits, and printed circuit boards. The automatic layout programs, analysis programs, and interface programs are discussed

Haematopoietic stem cell differentiation promotes the release of prominin-1/CD133-containing membrane vesicles—a role of the endocytic–exocytic pathway

The differentiation of stem cells is a fundamental process in cell biology and understanding its mechanism might open a new avenue for therapeutic strategies. Using an ex vivo co-culture system consisting of human primary haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells growing on multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells as a feeder cell layer, we describe here the exosome-mediated release of small membrane vesicles containing the stem and cancer stem cell marker prominin-1 (CD133) during haematopoietic cell differentiation. Surprisingly, this contrasts with the budding mechanism underlying the release of this cholesterol-binding protein from plasma membrane protrusions of neural progenitors. Nevertheless, in both progenitor cell types, protein–lipid assemblies might be the essential structural determinant in the release process of prominin-1. Collectively, these data support the concept that prominin-1-containing lipid rafts may host key determinants necessary to maintain stem cell properties and their quantitative reduction or loss may result in cellular differentiation

Image processing platform for the analysis of brain vascular patterns

Aquest projecte consisteix en el desenvolupament d'una aplicació web per al suport metge de l'anàlisi d'imatges cerebrovasculars. L'objectiu és crear un prototip obert i modular que serveixi com a exemple i plantilla per al desenvolupament d'altres projectes. L'objectiu és aconseguir una alternativa a les opcions comercials actualment existents d'eines d'anàlisi de dades en la indústria de la salut. L'aplicació es desenvolupa utilitzant el llenguatge Python. L'aplicació permet a l'usuari carregar imatges mèdiques contingudes en fitxers DICOM, aquestes imatges són processades per eliminar el soroll i extreure els vasos sanguinis de la imatge de cara a l'anàlisi. Els resultats es resumeixen en tres gràfics: un anomenat mapa isocronal que reflecteix l'evolució temporal de el flux de la sang, un altre gràfic mostrant l'esquelet de l'estructura o xarxa de sistema vascular, i un últim gràfic que representa dades numèriques extretes com a paràmetres de l'anàlisi de l'esquelet. El framework Dash és usat per implementar la interfície i la interacció amb l'usuari. L'usuari pot carregar dues mostres diferents a el mateix temps i executar una anàlisi per comparar els resultats de les dues mostres en una mateixa pantalla. Finalment l'aplicació s'empaqueta en un contenidor virtual usant la plataforma Docker. Després de provar l'aplicació amb imatges reals de mostra proporcionades per l'Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, els resultats obtinguts són satisfactoris ja que l'aplicació funciona adequadament així com els algoritmes de processat d'imatge aplicats. Malgrat les limitacions de el projecte, el treball realitzat pot servir com a punt de partida per a futurs desenvolupaments.Este proyecto consiste en el desarrollo de una aplicación web para el soporte médico del análisis de imágenes cerebrovasculares. El objetivo es crear un prototipo abierto y modular que sirva como ejemplo y plantilla para el desarrollo de otros proyectos. El objetivo es conseguir una alternativa a las opciones comerciales actualmente existentes de herramientas de análisis de datos en la industria de la salud. La aplicación se desarrolla usando el lenguaje Python. La aplicación permite al usuario cargar imágenes médicas contenidas en ficheros DICOM, esas imágenes son procesadas para eliminar el ruido y extraer los vasos sanguíneos de la imagen de cara al análisis. Los resultados se resumen en tres gráficos: uno llamado mapa isocronal que refleja la evolución temporal del flujo de la sangre, otro gráfico mostrando el esqueleto de la estructura o red del sistema vascular, y un último gráfico que representa datos numéricos extraídos como parámetros del análisis del esqueleto. El framework Dash es usado para implementar la interfaz y la interacción con el usuario. El usuario puede cargar dos muestras diferentes al mismo tiempo y ejecutar un análisis para comparar los resultados de las dos muestras en una misma pantalla. Finalmente la aplicación se empaqueta en un contenedor virtual usando la plataforma Docker. Tras probar la aplicación con imágenes reales de muestra proporcionadas por el Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, los resultados obtenidos son satisfactorios ya que la aplicación funciona adecuadamente así como los algoritmos de procesado de imagen aplicados. Pese a las limitaciones del proyecto, el trabajo realizado puede servir como punto de partida para futuros desarrollos.This project consists in the development of a web application for the support of medical professionals in the analysis of cerebrovascular image data. The objective is to build an open and modular prototype that can serve as an example or template for the development of other projects. The purpose is to have an open alternative to the commercial options currently available for data analysis tools in the health industry market. The application is developed using Python. The application allows the user to load medical images contained in DICOM files, those images are processed for noise removal and binarization in order to build the result graphs. The results are three graphs: an image graph called “isochronal map” reflecting the temporal evolution of the blood flow, an image graph showing the skeleton of the vascular system structure, a box-plot graph representing the numerical branch data extracted from the skeleton. The Dash framework is used to construct the user interface and to implement the user interaction functionalities. The subject can load two different samples at the same time and execute the analysis to compare the results for both samples in the same screen. Finally the application is containerized using Docker to package it and make it multi-platform. The app is tested and the results are satisfactory as the resulting application works properly and so do the image processing algorithms for the input data provided by the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. Despite its obvious limitations, the work done serves as a starting point for future developments

A Comparison of File Organization Techniques

This thesis compares the file organization techniques that are implemented on two different types of computer systems, the large-scale and the small-scale. File organizations from representative computers in each class are examined in detail: the IBM System/370 (OS/370) and the Harris 1600 Distributed Processing System with the Extended Communications Operating System (ECOS). In order to establish the basic framework for comparison, an introduction to file organizations is presented. Additionally, the functional requirements for file organizations are described by their characteristics and user demands. Concluding remarks compare file organization techniques and discuss likely future developments of file systems

Tools for modelling and simulating migration-based preservation

This report describes two tools for modelling and simulating the costs and risks of using IT storage systems for the long-term archiving of file-based AV assets. The tools include a model of storage costs, the ingest and access of files, the possibility of data corruption and loss from a range of mechanisms, and the impact of having limited resources with which to fulfill access requests and preservation actions. Applications include archive planning, development of a technology strategy, cost estimation for business planning, operational decision support, staff training and generally promoting awareness of the issues and challenges archives face in digital preservation