Matching Study to Registry data: Maintaining Data Privacy in a Study on Family based Colorectal Cancer

Confidentiality of patient data in the field of medical informatics is an important task. Leaked sensitive information within this data can be adverse to and being abused against a patient. Therefore, when working with medical data, appropriate and secure models which serve as guidelines for different applications are needed. Consequently, this work presents a model for performing a privacy preserving record linkage between study and registry data. The model takes into account seven requirements related to data privacy. Furthermore, this model is exemplified with a study on family based colorectal cancer in Germany. The model is very strict and excludes possible violations towards data privacy protection to a reasonable degree. It should be applicable to similar use cases which are in need of a mapping between medical data of a study and a registry database

Automated visual assembly inspection

Includes bibliographical references (pages 699-700).This chapter has discussed an intelligent assembly inspection system that uses a multiscale algorithm to detect errors in assemblies after the algorithm is trained on synthetic CAD images of correctly assembled products. It was shown how the CAD information of an assembly along with fast rendering techniques on specialized graphics machines can be used for the automation of the work-cell camera and light placement. The current emphasis in the manufacturing industry on concurrent engineering will only cause this integration between the CAD model of products and its manufacturing inspection to grow in value

Automated assembly inspection using a multiscale algorithm trained on synthetic images

Includes bibliographical references.An important part of a robust automated assembly process is an accurate and efficient method for the inspection of finished assemblies. This paper presents a novel multiscale assembly inspection algorithm that is used to detect errors in an assembled product. The algorithm is trained on synthetic images generated using the CAD model of the different components of the assembly. The CAD model guides the inspection algorithm through its training stage by addressing the different types of variations that occur during manufacturing and assembly. Those variations are classified into those that can affect the functionality of the assembled product and those that are unrelated to its functionality. Using synthetic images in the training process adds to the versatility of the technique by removing the need to manufacture multiple prototypes and control the lighting conditions. Once trained on synthetic images, the algorithm can detect assembly errors by examining real images of the assembled product. The effectiveness of the system is illustrated on a typical mechanical assembly.This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant number CDR 8803017 to the Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, National Science Foundation grant number MIP93-00560, an AT&T Bell Laboratories PhD Scholarship, and the NEC corporation

Camera and light placement for automated assembly inspection

Includes bibliographical references.Visual assembly inspection can provide a low cost, accurate, and efficient solution to the automated assembly inspection problem, which is a crucial component of any automated assembly manufacturing process. The performance of such an inspection system is heavily dependent on the placement of the camera and light source. This article presents new algorithms that use the CAD model of a finished assembly for placing the camera and light source to optimize the performance of an automated assembly inspection algorithm. This general-purpose algorithm utilizes the component material properties and the contact information from the CAD model of the assembly, along with standard computer graphics hardware and physically accurate lighting models, to determine the effects of camera and light source placement on the performance of an inspection algorithm. The effectiveness of the algorithms is illustrated on a typical mechanical assembly.This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant number CDR 8803017 to the Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, National Science Foundation grant number MIP93-00560, an AT&T Bell Laboratories PhD Scholarship, and the NEC Corporation

Matching Study to Registry data: Maintaining Data Privacy in a Study on Family based Colorectal Cancer

Confidentiality of patient data in the field of medical informatics is an important task. Leaked sensitive information within this data can be adverse to and being abused against a patient. Therefore, when working with medical data, appropriate and secure models which serve as guidelines for different applications are needed. Consequently, this work presents a model for performing a privacy preserving record linkage between study and registry data. The model takes into account seven requirements related to data privacy. Furthermore, this model is exemplified with a study on family based colorectal cancer in Germany. The model is very strict and excludes possible violations towards data privacy protection to a reasonable degree. It should be applicable to similar use cases which are in need of a mapping between medical data of a study and a registry database

Peripheral blood natural killer cell percentages in granulomatosis with polyangiitis correlate with disease inactivity and stage

Introduction: The role of CD3−CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is poorly understood. Recently, it has been shown that peripheral blood NK cells can kill renal microvascular endothelial cells, suggesting a pathogenic role of NK cells in this disease. So far, subset distribution, phenotype, and function of peripheral blood NK cells in relation to GPA disease activity have not been elucidated. Moreover, it is not known whether NK cells infiltrate GPA tissue lesions. Methods: Paraffin sections of GPA granulomas and controls were stained with anti-CD56 and anti-CD3 antibodies. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. NK cell degranulation was analyzed using cocultures of patient PBMCs with target cells and surface expression of CD107a. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Statistical analysis was performed in an exploratory way. Results: CD56+ cells were not detectable in active granulomatous GPA lesions but were found frequently in granulomas from tuberculosis and sarcoidosis patients. In GPA, the proportion of NK cells among peripheral blood lymphocytes correlated negatively with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) (n = 28). Accordingly, NK cell percentages correlated positively with the duration of remission (n = 28) and were significantly higher in inactive GPA (BVAS = 0, n = 17) than in active GPA, healthy controls (n = 29), and inactive control diseases (n = 12). The highest NK cell percentages were found in patients with long-term remission and tapered immunosuppressive therapy. NK cell percentages >18.5 % of peripheral blood lymphocytes (n = 12/28) determined GPA inactivity with a specificity of 100 %. The differentiation into CD56dim and CD56bright NK cell subsets was unchanged in GPA (n = 28), irrespective of disease activity. Similar surface expression of the activating NK cell-receptors (NKp30, NKp46, and NKG2D) was determined. Like in healthy controls, GPA NK cells degranulated in the presence of NK cell receptor ligand bearing epithelial and lymphatic target cells. Conclusions: NK cells were not detectable in GPA granulomas. Peripheral blood NK cell percentages positively correlate with the suppression of GPA activity and could serve as a biomarker for GPA activity. Peripheral blood NK cells in GPA patients are mature NK cells with preserved immune recognition

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery