345 research outputs found
Recurrence-free Survival Prediction under the Guidance of Automatic Gross Tumor Volume Segmentation for Head and Neck Cancers
For Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) patient management, automatic gross tumor
volume (GTV) segmentation and accurate pre-treatment cancer recurrence
prediction are of great importance to assist physicians in designing
personalized management plans, which have the potential to improve the
treatment outcome and quality of life for HNC patients. In this paper, we
developed an automated primary tumor (GTVp) and lymph nodes (GTVn) segmentation
method based on combined pre-treatment positron emission tomography/computed
tomography (PET/CT) scans of HNC patients. We extracted radiomics features from
the segmented tumor volume and constructed a multi-modality tumor
recurrence-free survival (RFS) prediction model, which fused the prediction
results from separate CT radiomics, PET radiomics, and clinical models. We
performed 5-fold cross-validation to train and evaluate our methods on the
MICCAI 2022 HEad and neCK TumOR segmentation and outcome prediction challenge
(HECKTOR) dataset. The ensemble prediction results on the testing cohort
achieved Dice scores of 0.77 and 0.73 for GTVp and GTVn segmentation,
respectively, and a C-index value of 0.67 for RFS prediction. The code is
publicly available (https://github.com/wangkaiwan/HECKTOR-2022-AIRT). Our
team's name is AIRT.Comment: MICCAI 2022, HECKTOR Challenge Submissio
Accurate Real Time Localization Tracking in A Clinical Environment using Bluetooth Low Energy and Deep Learning
Deep learning has started to revolutionize several different industries, and
the applications of these methods in medicine are now becoming more
commonplace. This study focuses on investigating the feasibility of tracking
patients and clinical staff wearing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags in a
radiation oncology clinic using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and
convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The performance of these networks was
compared to relative received signal strength indicator (RSSI) thresholding and
triangulation. By utilizing temporal information, a combined CNN+ANN network
was capable of correctly identifying the location of the BLE tag with an
accuracy of 99.9%. It outperformed a CNN model (accuracy = 94%), a thresholding
model employing majority voting (accuracy = 95%), and a triangulation
classifier utilizing majority voting (accuracy = 95%). Future studies will seek
to deploy this affordable real time location system in hospitals to improve
clinical workflow, efficiency, and patient safety
Correlated Mutation in the Evolution of Catalysis in Uracil DNA Glycosylase Superfamily
Enzymes in Uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) superfamily are essential for the removal of uracil. Family 4 UDGa is a robust uracil DNA glycosylase that only acts on double-stranded and single-stranded uracil-containing DNA. Based on mutational, kinetic and modeling analyses, a catalytic mechanism involving leaving group stabilization by H155 in motif 2 and water coordination by N89 in motif 3 is proposed. Mutual Information analysis identifies a complexed correlated mutation network including a strong correlation in the EG doublet in motif 1 of family 4 UDGa and in the QD doublet in motif 1 of family 1 UNG. Conversion of EG doublet in family 4 Thermus thermophilus UDGa to QD doublet increases the catalytic efficiency by over one hundred-fold and seventeen-fold over the E41Q and G42D single mutation, respectively, rectifying the strong correlation in the doublet. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the correlated mutations in the doublet in motif 1 position the catalytic H155 in motif 2 to stabilize the leaving uracilate anion. The integrated approach has important implications in studying enzyme evolution and protein structure and function
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Cigarette Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Before and After a Tobacco-Free Olympic Policy Period : Qingdao, China
Introduction: We explored the impact of a temporary tobacco-free public policy for the 2008 Summer Olympics on the smoking prevalence and secondhand smoke exposure among the population of a co-hosting city, Qingdao, China. Methods: The Qingdao Diabetes Survey was analyzed for 2006 (n = 4599) and 2009 (n = 4680), which are survey years before and after the tobacco-free Olympics public policy period (July 2007 to January 2009). We analyzed the differences in self-reported smoking prevalence and exposure to secondhand smoke at home and/or workplace, and compared odds of smoking by survey year and of exposure to secondhand smoke among nonsmokers. Results: From 2006 to 2009, the male smoking prevalence declined from 51.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 49.0% to 53.9%) to 42.6% (95% CI = 40.2% to 45.1%), and the proportion of lighter smokers decreased more. Among nonsmokers, the secondhand smoke exposure rate declined from 62.2% (95% CI = 60.5% to 63.9%) to 56.8% (95% CI = 55.1% to 58.6%). Regression analyses show 34% lower odds of men smoking after Olympics (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.57% to 0.77%). Rural residents and individuals who are not retired were more likely to smoke. Female nonsmokers report 17% less exposure to secondhand smoke after Olympics (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.70% to 0.98%). Urban nonsmokers were more likely to be exposed than their rural counterparts. Conclusions: Smoking prevalence among men and secondhand smoke exposure among women significantly decreased in Qingdao, China, after the tobacco-free Olympics public policy period. As only the proportion of lighter smokers decreased, this may help explain why urban nonsmokers reported increased exposure. Unintended increased secondhand smoke exposure and cessation support need to be addressed in large-scale policy campaigns. Implications: Hosting the Olympic Games can help to initiate large-scale tobacco-free public policies for hosting cities. Although previous studies have demonstrated reduction in nonsmoker exposure to secondhand smoke, the impact on the hosting city's smoking prevalence or exposure rates is unclear. After the Olympic Games in Qingdao, China, smoking prevalence among men significantly decreased, mostly due to light smokers. Secondhand smoke exposure at home and/or workplace significantly decreased among female nonsmokers. Urban nonsmokers had an unintended consequence of increased secondhand smoke exposure after the tobacco-free Olympic policy period. Concurrent promotion of cessation support for heavier smokers may be needed.Peer reviewe
Concurrent probing of electron-lattice dephasing induced by photoexcitation in 1T-TaSeTe using ultrafast electron diffraction
It has been technically challenging to concurrently probe the electrons and
the lattices in materials during non-equilibrium processes, allowing their
correlations to be determined. Here, in a single set of ultrafast electron
diffraction patterns taken on the charge-density-wave (CDW) material 1T-TaSeTe,
we discover a temporal shift in the diffraction intensity measurements as a
function of scattering angle. With the help of dynamic models and theoretical
calculations, we show that the ultrafast electrons probe both the
valence-electron and lattice dynamic processes, resulting in the temporal shift
measurements. Our results demonstrate unambiguously that the CDW is not merely
a result of the periodic lattice deformation ever-present in 1T-TaSeTe but has
significant electronic origin. This method demonstrates a novel approach for
studying many quantum effects that arise from electron-lattice dephasing in
molecules and crystals for next-generation devices.Comment: 13 pages and 4 figures in main tex
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