Toward Self-Referential Autonomous Learning of Object and Situation Models

Most current approaches to scene understanding lack the capability to adapt object and situation models to behavioral needs not anticipated by the human system designer. Here, we give a detailed description of a system architecture for self-referential autonomous learning which enables the refinement of object and situation models during operation in order to optimize behavior. This includes structural learning of hierarchical models for situations and behaviors that is triggered by a mismatch between expected and actual action outcome. Besides proposing architectural concepts, we also describe a first implementation of our system within a simulated traffic scenario to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Salivary Glands of an Invasive Whitefly

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Some species of the whitefly <em>Bemisia tabaci</em> complex cause tremendous losses to crops worldwide through feeding directly and virus transmission indirectly. The primary salivary glands of whiteflies are critical for their feeding and virus transmission. However, partly due to their tiny size, research on whitefly salivary glands is limited and our knowledge on these glands is scarce.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p>We sequenced the transcriptome of the primary salivary glands of the Mediterranean species of <em>B. tabaci</em> complex using an effective cDNA amplification method in combination with short read sequencing (Illumina). In a single run, we obtained 13,615 unigenes. The quantity of the unigenes obtained from the salivary glands of the whitefly is at least four folds of the salivary gland genes from other plant-sucking insects. To reveal the functions of the primary glands, sequence similarity search and comparisons with the whole transcriptome of the whitefly were performed. The results demonstrated that the genes related to metabolism and transport were significantly enriched in the primary salivary glands. Furthermore, we found that a number of highly expressed genes in the salivary glands might be involved in secretory protein processing, secretion and virus transmission. To identify potential proteins of whitefly saliva, the translated unigenes were put into secretory protein prediction. Finally, 295 genes were predicted to encode secretory proteins and some of them might play important roles in whitefly feeding.</p> <h3>Conclusions/Significance:</h3><p>The combined method of cDNA amplification, Illumina sequencing and <em>de novo</em> assembly is suitable for transcriptomic analysis of tiny organs in insects. Through analysis of the transcriptome, genomic features of the primary salivary glands were dissected and biologically important proteins, especially secreted proteins, were predicted. Our findings provide substantial sequence information for the primary salivary glands of whiteflies and will be the basis for future studies on whitefly-plant interactions and virus transmission.</p> </div

Model Cortical Association Fields Account for the Time Course and Dependence on Target Complexity of Human Contour Perception

Can lateral connectivity in the primary visual cortex account for the time dependence and intrinsic task difficulty of human contour detection? To answer this question, we created a synthetic image set that prevents sole reliance on either low-level visual features or high-level context for the detection of target objects. Rendered images consist of smoothly varying, globally aligned contour fragments (amoebas) distributed among groups of randomly rotated fragments (clutter). The time course and accuracy of amoeba detection by humans was measured using a two-alternative forced choice protocol with self-reported confidence and variable image presentation time (20-200 ms), followed by an image mask optimized so as to interrupt visual processing. Measured psychometric functions were well fit by sigmoidal functions with exponential time constants of 30-91 ms, depending on amoeba complexity. Key aspects of the psychophysical experiments were accounted for by a computational network model, in which simulated responses across retinotopic arrays of orientation-selective elements were modulated by cortical association fields, represented as multiplicative kernels computed from the differences in pairwise edge statistics between target and distractor images. Comparing the experimental and the computational results suggests that each iteration of the lateral interactions takes at least ms of cortical processing time. Our results provide evidence that cortical association fields between orientation selective elements in early visual areas can account for important temporal and task-dependent aspects of the psychometric curves characterizing human contour perception, with the remaining discrepancies postulated to arise from the influence of higher cortical areas

Abstract P4-05-10: PIK3CA mutations are enriched in invasive lobular carcinomas and invasive mammary carcinomas with lobular features: Results from a TCGA sub-analysis

Abstract Background: Aberrant signaling via the PI3K pathway is a common alteration in breast cancer (BC), with frequent activating mutations in the PIK3CA gene helical (exon 9) and catalytic (exon 20) domains. These mutations occur across all BC subtypes with an overall incidence of 36%, with the highest frequency (∼45%) in luminal A/ER+ tumors. Lobular phenotype is common among luminal A tumors. We examined associations between lobular histology and molecular features among BC samples submitted for comprehensive molecular analyses for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Design: Experts in breast pathology reviewed digital slides of breast cancer samples submitted for comprehensive molecular profiling to the TCGA. Tumors were graded, subtyped and scored for additional histopathologic features. We tested pairwise associations between lobular features and components of grade, PAM50-derived molecular subtype and mutational status for BRAC1/2, PIK3CA, TP53 and CDH1 by performing Chi-Square analysis for comparisons with a categorical variable and the Mann-Whitney test for comparisons with an ordinal variable Results: A total of 1132 images were scored from 589 unique cases in TCGA. For cases with multiple scorers (43% of cases), we summarized scores by taking the median (for ordinal variables) or the consensus diagnosis (for categorical variables). A total of 567 cases had a consensus diagnosis for lobular features, all of which had pathological information on components of histologic grade and 540 of which had data for TP53, CDH1, and PIK3CA mutations. 110/567 (19%) of cases were classified as invasive lobular or invasive mammary carcinoma with lobular features. The lobular cases had significantly less nuclear pleomorphism (p = 3.3 e -12), lower mitotic index (p = 3.4e-16), less tubule formation (p = 3.9e-8), increased association with lobular carcinoma in situ (p &amp;lt; 2.2 e-16), decreased stromal inflammation (p = 1.5e-7), and decreased necrosis (p = 4.4e-11) compared with cases without lobular features. Cases with lobular features were highly enriched for CDH1 mutations with 19% of cases with lobular features having CDH1 mutations, compared with only 1% of cases without lobular features (p = 2.4 e-14). The lobular features cases were more likely to have PIK3CA mutations (p = 0.01), with 33% of the lobular features cases having PIK3CA mutations, compared with 21% of the non-lobular cases. The lobular features cases were less likely to have TP53 mutations (p = 0.02), with 13% of lobular features cases having TP53 mutations as compared with 24% of the non-lobular feature cases. Lobular status was associated with PAM50 molecular subtype (Chi-square p = 0.002) with the lobular cases significantly less likely to be basal molecular subtype and more likely to be Luminal-A. Conclusions: PIK3CA mutations are enriched in invasive lobular carcinomas and invasive mammary carcinomas with lobular features. These associations point to the possibility that PIK3CA mutations as well as CDH1 alterations are important drivers of invasive lobular carcinomas. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-05-10.</jats:p

Abstract P4-05-15: Breast cancers with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are associated with specific pathologic features and molecular profiles: Results from a TCGA sub-analysis

Abstract Background: Previous studies have found that particular pathologic features are more common in breast cancers arising in BRCA mutation carriers. However, the biologic and molecular bases for the morphologic associations are not clear. This study is conducted to analyze pathologic and molecular features in tumors stratified by BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation status using the breast cancer samples that have comprehensive molecular portraits characterized by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Methods: The digital slides of breast cancer samples submitted for comprehensive molecular profiling to the TCGA were reviewed by expert breast pathologists, who were unaware of the BRCA status or other molecular signatures. Each tumor was evaluated and scored for histologic type, nuclear pleomorphism, tubule formation, mitosis, stromal inflammation, and necrosis. 562 cases had both pathology and tumor exome sequencing data available and constituted the current study population. We determined the association of somatic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status with pathologic features and molecular characteristics (mutation of PIK3CA and TP53, and molecular subtypes defined by PAM50 mRNA data) using the Fisher exact test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon test for ordinal variables. Results: Of the 562 tumors, 514 had no BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, while 48 (8.5%) of tumors were found to harbor a BRCA1 mutation (n = 16, 3%), BRCA2 mutation (n = 30, 5%), or mutation in both (n = 2, 0.3%). BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutational status showed no significant association with lobular features, tubule formation, nuclear pleomorphism, or stromal inflammation (all p &amp;gt; 0.05), although there was a trend for increased nuclear pleomorphism in BRCA2 mutant cases (p = 0.07). The lack of significant association of BRCA1/2 mutational status with these features may be due to our study's relatively small number of BRCA1/2 mutant cases. Both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations were associated with a higher mitotic count (p = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). BRCA2 mutation showed no association with necrosis (p = 1), while BRCA1 mutation status was associated with increased necrosis (OR = 2.7, p = 0.04). BRCA2 mutation status showed no significant association with PAM50 subtype (p = 0.37), while BRCA1 mutation status was significantly associated with PAM50 molecular subtype (p = 0.005), with the greatest enrichment among Basal-like (7/70 Basal-like with BRCA1 mutation, 10%) and depletion among Luminal-B (0/79 Luminal-B with BRCA1 mutation, 0%). Neither BRCA1 nor BRCA2 mutations were significantly association with PIK3CA mutations (p = 0.39, 0.08, respectively). BRCA2 mutation status was not associated with TP53 mutations (p = 0.65), while BRCA1 mutation status was associated with increased TP53 mutations (OR = 4.0, p = 0.005). Conclusion: Tumors with BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations are associated with specific pathologic and molecular features. However, there is molecular and morphologic heterogeneity within these cancers. These factors need to be considered when designing algorithms for BRCA testing and targeted therapy in BRCA-related cancers. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-05-15.</jats:p

Manejo da dor pós-operatória na Enfermagem Pediátrica: em busca de subsídios para aprimorar o cuidado El manejo del dolor postoperatorio en la Enfermería Pediátrica: en búsqueda de apoyo para mejorar el cuidado Managing postoperative pain in Pediatric Nursing: searching for subsides to improve nursing care

O objetivo deste artigo é realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre o manejo da dor pelos profissionais de enfermagem no pós-operatório infantil, no período de 1993 a 2005. A revisão possibilitou identificar três temáticas: fatores que influenciam o manejo da dor da criança pelos enfermeiros, intervenções para o alívio da dor da criança e avaliação e resposta dos enfermeiros à experiência de dor da criança. O manejo da dor infantil é um ato complexo que engloba elementos das dimensões referentes à própria criança, aos profissionais de saúde e aos seus familiares. A carência de estudos nesta área revela a necessidade de se realizarem pesquisas, para que se possa (re)pensar o cuidado de enfermagem pediátrica.<br>La finalidad de este artículo es realizar una revisión de la literatura sobre el manejo del dolor por los profesionales de enfermería en el postoperatorio infantil, en el período de 1993 a 2005. La revisión posibilitó identificar tres temáticas: factores que influencian el manejo del dolor del niño por los enfermeros, intervenciones para el alivio del dolor del niño y evaluación y respuesta de los enfermeros a la experiencia de dolor del niño. El manejo del dolor infantil es un acto complejo que abarca elementos de las dimensiones referentes al propio niño, a los profesionales de salud y a sus familiares.La falta de estudios en esta área revela la necesidad de llevar a cabo investigaciones, para que se pueda (re)pensar el cuidado de enfermería pediátrica.<br>This study reports on a literature review about child postoperative pain management by nursing professionals, in the period from 1993 to 2005. Three themes were identified: factors influencing nurses' management of child pain, interventions to relieve child pain, and nurses' assessment and response to children's pain experience. Child pain management is a complex act that involves elements of the dimensions related to the children themselves, health professionals and family members. The lack of studies in this area reveals the need for research, with a view to (re)considering pediatric nursing care