Motion and contrast enhancement separation model reconstruction from partial measurements in dynamic MRI

We propose a motion and contrast enhancement separation model in dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, the reconstruction is done from partial measurements to achieve faster dynamic MR imaging. The algorithm minimizes a linear combination of three terms, a data fitting functional and two regularization functionals corresponding to the nuclear and ℓ1 norm. The proposed method is tested on simulated and real dynamic datasets. This paper suggests an image reconstruction model that directly induces clinically-relevant informations from partial measurements

Uniform acquisition modelling across PET imaging systems: unified scatter modelling

RIN factor of all samples used for Illumina sequencing. (PDF 225 kb

WESTT (Workload, Error, Situational Awareness, Time and Teamwork): An analytical prototyping system for command and control

Modern developments in the use of information technology within command and control allow unprecedented scope for flexibility in the way teams deal with tasks. These developments, together with the increased recognition of the importance of knowledge management within teams present difficulties for the analyst in terms of evaluating the impacts of changes to task composition or team membership. In this paper an approach to this problem is presented that represents team behaviour in terms of three linked networks (representing task, social network structure and knowledge) within the integrative WESTT software tool. In addition, by automating analyses of workload and error based on the same data that generate the networks, WESTT allows the user to engage in the process of rapid and iterative “analytical prototyping”. For purposes of illustration an example of the use of this technique with regard to a simple tactical vignette is presented

Effect of scatter correction when comparing attenuation maps: Application to brain PET/MR

Email Print Request Permissions In PET imaging, attenuation and scatter corrections are an essential requirement to accurately quantify the radionuclide uptake. In the context of PET/MR scanners, obtaining the attenuation information can be challenging. Various authors have quantified the effect of an imprecise attenuation map on the reconstructed PET image but its influence on scatter correction has usually been ignored. In this paper, we investigate the effects of imperfect attenuation maps (μmaps) on the scatter correction in a simulation setting. We focused our study on three μmaps: the reference μmap derived from a CT image, and two MR-based methods. Two scatter estimation strategies were implemented: a μmap-specific scatter estimation and an ideal scatter estimation relying only on the reference CT μmap. The scatter estimation used the Single Scatter Simulation algorithm with tail-fitting. The results show that, for FDG brain PET, regardless of the μmap used in the reconstruction, the difference on PET images between μmap-specific and ideal scatter estimations is small (less than 1%). More importantly, the relative error between attenuation correction methods does not change depending on the scatter estimation method included in the simulation and reconstruction process. This means that the effect of errors in the μmap on the PET image is dominated by the attenuation correction, while the scatter estimate is relatively unaffected. Therefore, while scatter correction improves reconstruction accuracy, it is unnecessary to include scatter in the simulation when comparing different attenuation correction methods for brain PET/MR

Point-Spread-Function-Aware Slice-to-Volume Registration: Application to Upper Abdominal MRI Super-Resolution

MR image acquisition of moving organs remains challenging despite the advances in ultra-fast 2D MRI sequences. Post-acquisition techniques have been proposed to increase spatial resolution a posteriori by combining acquired orthogonal stacks into a single, high-resolution (HR) volume. Current super-resolution techniques classically rely on a two-step procedure. The volumetric reconstruction step leverages a physical slice acquisition model. However, the motion correction step typically neglects the point spread function (PSF) information. In this paper, we propose a PSF-aware slice-to-volume registration approach and, for the first time, demonstrate the potential benefit of Super-Resolution for upper abdominal imaging. Our novel reconstruction pipeline takes advantage of different MR acquisitions clinically used in routine MR cholangiopancreatography studies to guide the registration. On evaluation of clinically relevant image information, our approach outperforms state-of-the-art reconstruction toolkits in terms of visual clarity and preservation of raw data information. Overall, we achieve promising results towards replacing currently required CT scans

The political economy of competitiveness and social mobility

Social mobility has become a mainstream political and media issue in recent years in the United Kingdom. This article suggests that part of the reason for this is that it can serve as a mechanism to discuss policy concerns that appear to be about social justice without questioning important aspects of neo-liberal political economy. The article charts the policy rhetoric on social mobility under both New Labour and the current Coalition Government. It is argued first that under New Labour the apparent commitment to social mobility was in fact subsumed beneath the pursuit of neo-liberal competitiveness, albeit imperfectly realised in policy. Second, the article suggests that under the Coalition Government the commitment to raising levels of social mobility has been retained and the recently published Strategy for Social Mobility promises that social mobility is what the Coalition means when it argues that the austerity programme is balanced with ‘fairness’. Third, however, the Strategy makes clear that the Coalition define social mobility in narrower terms than the previous government. It is argued here that in narrowing the definition the connection with the idea of competitiveness, while still clearly desirable for the Coalition, is weakened. Fourth, a brief analysis of the Coalition's main policy announcements provides little evidence to suggest that even the narrow definition set out in the Strategy is being seriously pursued. Fifth, the international comparative evidence suggests that any strategy aimed at genuinely raising the level of social mobility would need to give much more serious consideration to narrowing levels of inequality. Finally, it is concluded that when considered in the light of the arguments above, the Strategy for Social Mobility – and therefore ‘Fairness’ itself – is merely a discursive legitimation of the wider political economy programme of austerity

The fission yeast non-coding transcriptome

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of gene expression, although it remains unclear to what extent they contribute overall to the information flow from genotype to phenotype. Using strand-specific RNAsequencing, I identify thousands of novel unstable, or cryptic, lncRNAs in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The nuclear exosome, the RNAi pathway and the cytoplasmic exonuclease Exo2 represent three key pathways regulating lncRNAs in S. pombe, defining the overlapping classes of CUTs, RUTs and XUTs, respectively. The nuclear exosome and the RNAi pathway act cooperatively to control nuclear lncRNA expression, while the cytoplasmic Exo2 pathway is more distinct. Impairing both the nuclear exosome and the cytoplasmic exonuclease Exo2 is lethal in S. pombe. Importantly, I show that CUTs, RUTs and XUTs are stabilised under physiologically relevant growth conditions, with three key groups emerging: late meiotic RUTs/XUTs, early meiotic CUTs and quiescent CUTs. Late meiotic RUTs/XUTs tend to be antisense to protein-coding genes, and anti-correlate in expression with their sense loci. In contrast, early meiotic and quiescent CUTs tend to be transcribed divergently from protein-coding genes and positively correlate in expression with their mRNA partners. The current study provides an in-depth survey of the lncRNA repertoire of S. pombe, and the pathways that regulate their expression. It seems likely that any regulatory functions mediated by most of these lncRNAs are in cis, nuclear and cotranscriptional. The current study provides a rich and comprehensive resource for future studies of lncRNA function

Bio-nanotechnology application in wastewater treatment

The nanoparticles have received high interest in the field of medicine and water purification, however, the nanomaterials produced by chemical and physical methods are considered hazardous, expensive, and leave behind harmful substances to the environment. This chapter aimed to focus on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their medical applications. Moreover, the chapter highlighted the applicability of the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the inactivation of microbial cells due to their high surface and small particle size. Modifying nanomaterials produced by green-methods is safe, inexpensive, and easy. Therefore, the control and modification of nanoparticles and their properties were also discussed