Validation of separate multi-atlases for auto segmentation of cardiac substructures in CT-scans acquired in deep inspiration breath hold and free breathing

Background and purpose: Developing NTCP-models for cardiac complications after breast cancer (BC) radiotherapy requires cardiac dose-volume parameters for many patients. These can be obtained by using multi-atlas based automatic segmentation (MABAS) of cardiac structures in planning CT scans. We investigated the relevance of separate multi-atlases for deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) and free breathing (FB) CT scans. Materials and methods: BC patients scanned in DIBH (n = 10) and in FB (n = 20) were selected to create separate multi-atlases consisting of expert panel delineations of the whole heart, atria and ventricles. The accuracy of atlas-generated contours was validated with expert delineations in independent datasets (n = 10 for DIBH and FB) and reported as Dice coefficients, contour distances and dose-volume differences in relation to interobserver variability of manual contours. Dependency of MABAS contouring accuracy on breathing technique was assessed by validation of a FB atlas in DIBH patients and vice versa (cross validation). Results: For all structures the FB and DIBH atlases resulted in Dice coefficients with their respective reference contours > 0.8 and average contour distances < 2 mm smaller than slice thickness of (CTs). No significant differences were found for dose-volume parameters in volumes receiving relevant dose levels (WH, LV and RV). Accuracy of the DIBH atlas was at least similar to, and for the ventricles better than, the interobserver variation in manual delineation. Cross-validation between breathing techniques showed a reduced MABAS performance. Conclusion: Multi-atlas accuracy was at least similar to interobserver delineation variation. Separate atlases for scans made in DIBH and FB could benefit atlas performance because accuracy depends on breathing technique

Reduction of adverse effects from intravenous acetylcysteine treatment for paracetamol poisoning: a randomised controlled trial:a randomised controlled trial

Copyright © 2014 Bateman et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. The trial was funded by Chief Scientist Office, Scotland (award CZB/4/722).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

YRITYKSEN KASVUSTRATEGIAN SUUNNITTELU

Työ on tehty ulkovalaistuksen asiantuntijayritykselle nimeltä FIXULUX OY, jonka toiminta on käynnistynyt muutamia vuosia sitten. Yritys on vakiinnuttanut asemansa toimialalla ja ajatuksena on kasvattaa ja kehittää liiketoimintaa. Yrityksen päätuotteita ovat valmistajista riippumattomat, puolueettomat valaistussuunnittelu- ja asiantuntijapalvelut kattaen koko ulkovalaistuksen. Työssä kerättiin teoriatietoa liiketoiminnan kehittämisestä ja kasvattamisesta strategisen johtamisen keinoin ja kerätyistä tiedoista koottiin teoriaosuuteen referaatti. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin mihin asioihin kannattava kasvu mikroyrityksessä voi perustua ja mitkä ovat yrityksen keinot kannattavan kasvun mahdollistamiseksi. Tutkimuksen perusteella mikroyrityksessä kasvu kannattaa perustaa olemassa olevaan osaamiseen, innovaatioihin, asiakaslähtöiseen liiketoimintaan sekä toiminnan sijoittamiseen oikeaan ympäristöön. Yrityksen keinot kannattavan kasvun mahdollistamiseksi ovat tämän tutkimuksen mukaan seuraavat: asiakkuuksien johtaminen, toiminnan ja osaamisen jatkuva kehittäminen, kilpailukykyinen hinnoittelu, ydinliiketoiminnan lähialueelle siirtyminen sekä yritysostot. Teoriapohjaksi on valittu strateginen johtaminen, mutta myös operatiivinen johtaminen nousi tärkeään asemaan työn edetessä. Tässä työssä on hyödynnetty tutkimuksellisen kehitystyön menetelmiä ja lähestymistapana on konstruktiivinen tutkimus. Aineistona on käytetty strategiseen johtamiseen sekä yritystoiminnan kehittämiseen liittyvää kirjallisuutta sekä digitaalisia lähteitä. Konstruktiivisen tutkimuksen päätuloksena tuotettiin kolme kasvuvaihtoehtoa sisältävä palveluliiketoiminnan kasvusuunnitelma. Sisällön perusteella yrityksen johto voi muodostaa oman näkemyksensä, tehdä tarvittavia päätöksiä sekä lähteä kehittämään tarkempaa kasvusuunnitelmaa.This thesis was made as an assignment to an outdoor lighting company called FIXULUX OY which was established a few years ago. The company has established its position in the industry with the idea of expanding and growing its business. The main products of the company are manufacturerindependent and neutral lighting design solutions and expert services throughout all kinds of outdoor lighting. The theory part of this thesis was made by gathering and summarizing information about developing and growing businesses with the help of strategic leadership. Thesis gives answers to questions such as which aspects should be taken into consideration when trying to find profitable growth in a micro sized company and what the means to enable that growth are. Research showed that in a micro sized company growth should be based on existing know-how, innovation, clientbased business and by placing the operations into the right environment. The means to enable profitable growth according to this research are as follows: managing customerships, continuous improvement of operations and know-how, competitive pricing, moving the business close enough to core business areas and business buy-outs. Strategic leadership was selected as the basis of this thesis but approaches from the perspective of operative leadership became equally important once the research progressed. The thesis utilized the research method of development through research with the approach of constructive research. The material used includes literature on strategic leadership and business development as well as digital sources. The main outcome of this thesis is a growth plan for service business including three different approaches for growth. With the help of this content the company management can make up their own opinions, make necessary decisions and start to develop a more precise growth plan

Plot of AEB determined using the assay in Fig 1 against concentration of calibrators for miR-122 (circles) and the same molecule with a single base mismatch at the 9^th position (squares) spiked into buffer.

<p>The sequences of these two molecules are shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0179669#pone.0179669.s009" target="_blank">S2 Table</a>. Error bars (±1 s.d.) based on duplicate measurements are smaller than the size of the data point.</p

Sequences of capture probe (1) and miR-122 target (2).

<p>Sequences of capture probe (1) and miR-122 target (2).</p

Schematic of the assay for miRNA based on combining dynamic labeling of specific single bases and detection using single molecule arrays.

<p>Schematic of the assay for miRNA based on combining dynamic labeling of specific single bases and detection using single molecule arrays.</p