Multitask Brain Tumor Inpainting with Diffusion Models: A Methodological Report

Despite the ever-increasing interest in applying deep learning (DL) models to medical imaging, the typical scarcity and imbalance of medical datasets can severely impact the performance of DL models. The generation of synthetic data that might be freely shared without compromising patient privacy is a well-known technique for addressing these difficulties. Inpainting algorithms are a subset of DL generative models that can alter one or more regions of an input image while matching its surrounding context and, in certain cases, non-imaging input conditions. Although the majority of inpainting techniques for medical imaging data use generative adversarial networks (GANs), the performance of these algorithms is frequently suboptimal due to their limited output variety, a problem that is already well-known for GANs. Denoising diffusion probabilistic models (DDPMs) are a recently introduced family of generative networks that can generate results of comparable quality to GANs, but with diverse outputs. In this paper, we describe a DDPM to execute multiple inpainting tasks on 2D axial slices of brain MRI with various sequences, and present proof-of-concept examples of its performance in a variety of evaluation scenarios. Our model and a public online interface to try our tool are available at: https://github.com/Mayo-Radiology-Informatics-Lab/MBTIComment: 17 pages, 7 figure

Impact of Feeding Aspergillus Subspecies Blend and Di! erent Corn Processing Methods on Finishing Beef Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics

A feedlot study utilizing 320 crossbred calf- fed steers (initial body weight 588 lb) compared the effect of feeding an Aspergillus additive in either dry- rolled corn or high- moisture corn finishing diets on cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Steers were fed 0 g/steer daily or 10 g/steer daily Aspergillus for both corn processing methods. # ere were no significant interactions between corn processing method and Aspergillus. Feeding finishing cattle Aspergillus did not impact performance compared to feeding none. Cattle fed dry- rolled corn had greater final body weight, dry matter intake, and gain compared to high- moisture corn diets. But cattle fed high- moisture corn had a 6.25% decrease in feed- to- gain compared to dry- rolled corn. These data suggest that feeding Aspergillus does not affect performance. The lower dry matter intake and average daily gain observed would suggest a potential acidosis problem for high- moisture corn compared to dry- rolled corn- based finishing diets

Impact of Shade in Beef Feed Yards on Performance, Body Temperature, and Heat Stress

A study using crossbred steers was conducted at a commercial feedyard in Eastern NE to determine the effects of shade on cattle performance, ear temperature, panting scores, and cattle activity. Cattle with shade had greater dry matter intake, average daily gain and lower panting scores while movement and ear temperature were not different between treatments. Over the course of the experiment three weather events were selected to be analyzed separately (two heat events and one cool event) based on wind adjusted temperature- humidity index. Providing shade during heat event 1 resulted in greater intakes and lower panting scores, while providing shade during heat event 2 resulted in lower panting scores compared to non- shaded cattle. During the cool event, greater intakes and lower panting scores were observed for shaded cattle, although panting scores were low for both treatments. Providing shade for cattle improved intakes and average daily gains while mitigating some effects of heat stress

Evaluation of Corn Distillers Solubles on Finishing Steer Performance

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding 0, 8, 16, or 20% corn distillers solubles (CDS), as well as the effects of feeding a combination of 16% CDS and 20% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) to replace a blend of dry-rolled and high-moisture corn on finishing steer performance. As inclusions of CDS increased, ADG linearly increased and F:G linearly decreased. Feeding value of CDS at 20% inclusion was determined to be 147% compared to the corn blend. The addition of WDGS resulted in a decrease in DMI with similar ADG, resulting in a decrease in F:G. Feeding a combination of CDS and WDGS resulted in a feeding value of 161% compared to corn. Feeding CDS up to 20% or in combination with WDGS displaces corn in finishing diets and improves ADG and F:G

Effects of Kernel Processing at Harvest of Brown Midrib Corn Silage on Finishing Performance of Steers

A 2 × 3 factorial finishing study evaluated kernel processing in three corn silage hybrids on finishing performance of yearling steers fed 40% silage. The three hybrids included a control corn silage (CON), a brown midrib (bm3), and a brown midrib with a softer endosperm (bm3-EXP). No interactions were observed between hybrids and kernel processing (P \u3e 0.45). Feeding both bm3 hybrids increased dry matter intake and average daily gain over CON (P \u3c 0.01). Cattle fed bm3-EXP and bm3 had lower feed to gain than CON (P = 0.04), with no differences between the two brown midrib hybrids. Feeding silage that has undergone kernel processing decreased dry matter intake with similar average daily gain, which decreased feed to gain by 2.6% at 40% inclusion compared to non-processed silage (P = 0.10). The improvement in silage is calculated to be 6.5% (2.6/40) when kernel processing was utilized as compared to not kernel processing the corn silage hybrids

Detrital Shocked Zircon Provides First Radiometric Age Constraint of <1472 Ma for the Santa Fe Impact Structure, New Mexico, USA

Impact structures are prone to erosion, burial and tectonic deformation. The Santa Fe impact structure in New Mexico contains shatter cones and shocked quartz, but is highly tectonized and eroded; estimates of the impact age (1200-300 Ma) and size (6-13 km) are poorly constrained. Here we report the first occurrence of shock-twinned zircon identified both in modern sediments and bedrock at the Santa Fe impact structure. Zircon {112} twin lamellae are considered diagnostic evidence of shock deformation and have been identified at several impact structures including Vredefort, Sudbury, Ries, Rock Elm, and in lunar impact breccia. A total of 6619 grains from fifteen sediment samples and two rock samples were surveyed; seven shocked grains were identified (7/6619 = 0.1%). One shocked zircon was identified in a biotite schist shatter cone. Five of seven shocked zircon grains were EBSD mapped; three were analyzed with multiple SIMS spots. EBSD mapping revealed {112} deformation twin lamellae in each of the five zircon grains. U-Pb geochronology for three of the shocked zircon grains yield crystallization ages from 1715+/-22 to 1472+/-35 Ma. LA-ICPMS U-Th-Pb analysis of detrital zircon grains from five samples yielded Paleoproterozoic (1800-1600 Ma) and Mesoproterozoic (1500-1300 Ma) ages. We reveal the first confirmed shocked zircon at the Santa Fe structure. Zircon is the third shocked mineral identified at this site, in addition to xenotime and quartz]; the {112} twin lamellae indicate that exposed bedrock may have experienced shock pressures up to ~20 GPa. The 1472+/-35 Ma age determined from a shock-twinned zircon is the first reliable maximum impact age constraint based on analysis of shocked material and extends the window for the Santa Fe impact event into the Mesoproterozoic