Pectoral muscle removal in mammogram images: A novel approach for improved accuracy and efficiency

PURPOSE: Accurate pectoral muscle removal is critical in mammographic breast density estimation and many other computer-aided algorithms. We propose a novel approach to remove pectoral muscles form mediolateral oblique (MLO) view mammograms and compare accuracy and computational efficiency with existing method (Libra). METHODS: A pectoral muscle identification pipeline was developed. The image is first binarized to enhance contrast and then the Canny algorithm was applied for edge detection. Robust interpolation is used to smooth out the pectoral muscle region. Accuracy and computational speed of pectoral muscle identification was assessed using 951 women (1,902 MLO mammograms) from the Joanne Knight Breast Health Cohort at Washington University School of Medicine. RESULTS: Our proposed algorithm exhibits lower mean error of 12.22% in comparison to Libra\u27s estimated error of 20.44%. This 40% gain in accuracy was statistically significant (p \u3c 0.001). The computational time for the proposed algorithm is 5.4 times faster when compared to Libra (5.1 s for proposed vs. 27.7 s for Libra per mammogram). CONCLUSION: We present a novel approach for pectoral muscle removal in mammogram images that demonstrates significant improvement in accuracy and efficiency compared to existing method. Our findings have important implications for the development of computer-aided systems and other automated tools in this field

Improved Inactivation Effect of Bacteria Fabrication of Mesoporous Anatase Films with Fine Ag Nanoparticles Prepared by Coaxial Vacuum Arc Deposition

We realize ultrarapid inactivation of bacteria by modifying fine Ag nanoparticles with uniform size on mesoporous anatase films with high surface areas

Combining Karhunen–Loève expansion and stochastic modeling for probabilistic delineation of well capture zones in heterogeneous aquifers

The delineation of well capture zones (WCZs), particularly for water supply wells, is of utmost importance to ensure water quality. This task requires a comprehensive understanding of the aquifer’s hydrogeological parameters for precise delineation. However, the inherent uncertainty associated with these parameters poses a significant challenge. Traditional deterministic methods bear inherent risks, emphasizing the demand for more resilient and probabilistic techniques. This study introduces a novel approach that combines the Karhunen–Loève expansion (KLE) technique with stochastic modeling to probabilistically delineate well capture zones in heterogeneous aquifers. Through numerical examples involving moderate and strong heterogeneity, the effectiveness of KLE dimension reduction and the reliability of stochastic simulations are explored. The results show that increasing the number of KL-terms significantly improves the statistical attributes of the samples. When employing more KL-terms, the statistical properties of the hydraulic conductivity field outperform those of cases with fewer KL-terms. Notably, particularly in scenarios of strong heterogeneity, achieving a convergent probabilistic WCZs map requires a greater number of KL-terms and stochastic simulations compared to cases with moderate heterogeneity

Do radioiodine-avid lymph nodes from differentiated thyroid cancer on the initial posttherapy scan need repeated 131I therapy?

BackgroundResidual/recurrent lymph node metastase (LNM) is often found after differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether patients complicated with radioiodine-avid (131I+) lymph nodes from DTC on the initial posttherapy scan (PTS) need repeated 131I therapy.MethodsFrom June 2013 to August 2022, DTC patients with 131I+ lymph nodes on the initial PTS who received at least two cycles of 131I therapy were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into a complete response (CR) group and an incomplete response (IR) group according to their response to the initial 131I therapy based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines.ResultsA total of 170 DTC patients with 131I+ lymph nodes on the initial PTS were included; 42/170 (24.7%) patients were classified into the CR group and 128/170 (75.9%) were classified into the IR group according to their response to the initial 131I therapy. None of the 42 CR patients had disease progression at the subsequent follow-up, and 37/170 (21.8%) IR patients improved after repeated therapy. Univariate analysis showed that N stage (P=0.002), stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) level before initial 131I therapy (P<0.001), LNM size (P<0.001), number of total residual/recurrent LNM (P=0.021), radioiodine-nonavid (131I-) LNM (P=0.002) and ultrasound features (P<0.001) were related to the initial treatment response. On multivariate analysis, sTg level (OR=1.186, P<0.001) and LNM size (OR=1.533, P=0.004) were independent risk factors for IR after initial 131I therapy. The optimal sTg level and LNM size cutoff value for predicting the treatment response after initial 131I therapy were 18.2 µg/l and 5mm.ConclusionThis study suggested that approximately one-quarter of patients with 131I+ lymph nodes on initial PTS, especially those with N0 or N1a stage, lower sTg level, smaller LNM size, ≤2 residual/recurrent LNMs, negative ultrasound features and no 131I- LNM, remain stable after one cycle of 131I therapy and do not need repeated therapy

Genetic dissection of quantitative trait loci for flag leaf size in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Flag leaf size is a crucial trait influencing plant architecture and yield potential in wheat. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of W7268 and Chuanyu 12 was employed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling flag leaf length (FLL), flag leaf width (FLW), and flag leaf area (FLA) in six environments and the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE) datasets. Using a 55 K SNP-based genetic map, six major and stable QTL were detected with 6.33–53.12% of explained phenotypic variation. Except for QFlw.cib-4B.3, the other five major QTL were co-located within two intervals on chromosomes 2B and 2D, namely QFll/Fla.cib-2B and QFll/Flw/Fla.cib-2D, respectively. Their interactions and effects on the corresponding traits and yield-related traits were also assessed based on flanking markers. QFll/Fla.cib-2B showed pleiotropic effects on spikelet number per spike (SNS). QFlw.cib-4B.3 and QFll/Flw/Fla.cib-2D had effects on grain number per spike (GNS) and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Comparison analysis suggested that QFll/Fla.cib-2B was likely a new locus. Two candidate genes, TraesCS2B03G0222800 and TraesCS2B03G0230000, associated with leaf development within the interval of QFll/Fla.cib-2B were identified based on expression-pattern analysis, gene annotation, ortholog analysis, and sequence variation. The major QTL and markers reported here provide valuable information for understanding the genetic mechanism underlying flag leaf size as well as breeding utilization in wheat

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of 8 Inflammation-related Genes and their Associations with Smoking-related Cancers

Tobacco smoke and its metabolites are carcinogens that increase tissue oxidative stress and induce target tissue inflammation. We hypothesized that genetic variation of inflammatory pathway genes plays a role in tobacco-related carcinogenesis and is modified by tobacco smoking. We evaluated the association of 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 8 inflammation-related genes with tobacco-related cancers (lung, oropharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, bladder, and kidney) using 3 case-control studies from: Los Angeles (population-based; 611 lung and 553 upper aero-digestive tract cancer cases and 1,040 controls), Taixing, China (population-based; 218 esophagus, 206 stomach, 204 liver cancer cases, and 415 controls), and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (hospital-based; 227 bladder cancer cases and 211 controls). After adjusting for age, education, ethnicity, gender, and tobacco smoking, IL10 rs1800871 was inversely associated with oropharyngeal cancer (CT+TT vs. CC adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.95), and was positively associated with lung cancer among never smokers (TT vs. CT+CC aOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3-5.1) and inversely with oropharyngeal cancer among ever smokers (CT+TT vs. CC aOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41-0.95). Among all pooled never smokers (588 cases and 816 controls), TNF rs1799964 was inversely associated with smoking-related cancer (CC vs. CT+TT aOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17-0.77). Bayesian correction for multiple comparisons suggests that chance is unlikely to explain our findings (although epigenetic mechanisms may be in effect), which support our hypotheses, suggesting that IL10 rs1800871 is a susceptibility marker for oropharyngeal and lung cancers, and that TNF rs1799964 is associated with smoking-related cancers among never smokers. © 2010 UICC

Ethnic Differences in Body Composition and Obesity Related Risk Factors: Study in Chinese and White Males Living in China

The purpose of this cross-sectional observational study was to identify ethnic differences in body composition and obesity-related risk factors between Chinese and white males living in China. 115 Chinese and 114 white male pilots aged 28–63 years were recruited. Fasting body weight, height and blood pressure were measured following standard procedures. Whole-body and segmental body composition were measured using an 8-contact electrode bioimpedance analysis (BIA) system. Fasting serum glucose, fasting plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG) were assessed using automatic biochemistry analyzer. After adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI), Chinese males had significantly higher percentage of body fat (PBF) both with respect to whole body (Chinese: 23.7%±0.2% vs. Whites: 22.4%±0.2%) and the trunk area (Chinese: 25.0%±0.3% vs. Whites: 23.2%±0.3%) compared to their white counterparts. At all BMIs, Chinese males had significantly higher fasting glucose levels (Chinese: 5.7±1.0 mmol/L vs. Whites: 5.2±1.0 mmol/L) but lower high-density lipoprotein levels (Chinese: 0.8±1.0 mmol/L vs. Whites: 1.0±1.0 mmol/L) than white males. In addition, a marginally significantly higher diastolic blood pressure was found among Chinese men than that among white men (Chinese: 80±1.0 mmHg vs. Whites: 77±1.0 mmHg). Chinese males had more body fat and a greater degree of central fat deposition pattern than that seen in white males in the present study. Furthermore, data on blood pressure, fasting glucose and blood lipids suggest that Chinese men may be more prone to obesity-related risk factors than white men