scholarly journals Assessing the validity of a cross-platform retinal image segmentation tool in normal and diseased retina

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Varsha Alex ◽  
Tahmineh Motevasseli ◽  
William R. Freeman ◽  
Jefy A. Jayamon ◽  
Dirk-Uwe G. Bartsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Retinal Layer ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Manual Segmentation ◽  
Volume Comparison ◽  
Proprietary Software ◽  
Segmented Images ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
Layer Segmentation ◽  
Better Than

AbstractComparing automated retinal layer segmentation using proprietary software (Heidelberg Spectralis HRA + OCT) and cross-platform Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) segmentation software (Orion). Image segmentations of normal and diseased (iAMD, DME) eyes were performed using both softwares and then compared to the ‘gold standard’ of manual segmentation. A qualitative assessment and quantitative (layer volume) comparison of segmentations were performed. Segmented images from the two softwares were graded by two masked graders and in cases with difference, a senior retina specialist made a final independent decisive grading. Cross-platform software was significantly better than the proprietary software in the segmentation of NFL and INL layers in Normal eyes. It generated significantly better segmentation only for NFL in iAMD and for INL and OPL layers in DME eyes. In normal eyes, all retinal layer volumes calculated by the two softwares were moderate-strongly correlated except OUTLY. In iAMD eyes, GCIPL, INL, ONL, INLY, TRV layer volumes were moderate-strongly correlated between softwares. In eyes with DME, all layer volume values were moderate-strongly correlated between softwares. Cross-platform software can be used reliably in research settings to study the retinal layers as it compares well against manual segmentation and the commonly used proprietary software for both normal and diseased eyes.

scholarly journals Assessing the validity of a cross-platform retinal image segmentation tool in normal and diseased retina

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varsha Alex ◽  
Tahmineh Motevasseli ◽  
William Freeman ◽  
Jefy A Jayamon ◽  
Dirk Bartsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Segmentation ◽  
Retinal Image ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Layer ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Manual Segmentation ◽  
Proprietary Software ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
Retinal Image Segmentation

Abstract Purpose- To compare automated retinal image segmentation using cross-platform and proprietary software on images captured using Heidelberg HRA + OCT in normal and diseased eyes. Methods- Study of retinal layer segmentations of normal, intermediate dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (iAMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) eyes performed using Heidelberg Spectralis HRA + OCT and automated OCT segmentation software Orion. Results- Orion was significantly better than Heidelberg in the segmentation of NFL and INL layers in normal eyes. Orion generated significantly better segmentation only for NFL in iAMD and for INL and OPL layers in DME eyes when compared to the ‘gold standard’ of manual segmentation. To understand where differences lay, we directly compared layer volumes between Orion and Heidelberg software. In normal eyes, all retinal layer volumes calculated by the two softwares were moderate-strongly correlated except OUTLY. In iAMD eyes, GCIPL, INL, ONL, INLY, TRV layer volumes were moderate-strongly correlated between softwares. In eyes with DME, all layer volume values were moderate-strongly correlated between softwares. Conclusion - Findings suggest that cross-platform Orion retinal layer segmentation software can be used reliably to study the retinal layers and compares well against manual segmentation and the commonly used proprietary software for normal eyes and in particular for diseased eyes.

scholarly journals An analysis of Italian university students’ performance through segmented regression models: gender differences in STEM courses

Genus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Priulla ◽  
Nicoletta D’Angelo ◽  
Massimo Attanasio
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
First Year ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Segmented Regression ◽  
Freshmen Students ◽  
Female Performance ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

AbstractThis paper investigates gender differences in university performances in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses in Italy, proposing a novel application through the segmented regression models. The analysis concerns freshmen students enrolled at a 3-year STEM degree in Italian universities in the last decade, with a focus on the relationship between the number of university credits earned during the first year (a good predictor of the regularity of the career) and the probability of getting the bachelor degree within 4 years. Data is provided by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR). Our analysis confirms that first-year performance is strongly correlated to obtaining a degree within 4 years. Furthermore, our findings show that gender differences vary among STEM courses, in accordance with the care-oriented and technical-oriented dichotomy. Males outperform females in mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science, while females are slightly better than males in biology. In engineering, female performance seems to follow the male stream. Finally, accounting for other important covariates regarding students, we point out the importance of high school background and students’ demographic characteristics.

scholarly journals Stabilizing membrane domains antagonizes n-alcohol anesthesia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.B. Machta ◽  
E. Grey ◽  
M. Nouri ◽  
N.L.C. McCarthy ◽  
E.M. Gray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Critical Temperature ◽  
Hydrostatic Pressure ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Membrane Domains ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Membrane Heterogeneity ◽  
Anesthetic Potency ◽  
Better Than

AbstractDiverse molecules induce general anesthesia with potency strongly correlated both with their hydrophobicity and their effects on certain ion channels. We recently observed that several n-alcohol anesthetics inhibit heterogeneity in plasma membrane derived vesicles by lowering the critical temperature (Tc) for phase separation. Here we exploit conditions that stabilize membrane heterogeneity to further test the correlation between the anesthetic potency of n-alcohols and effects on Tc. First we show that hexadecanol acts oppositely to n-alcohol anesthetics on membrane mixing and antagonizes ethanol induced anesthesia in a tadpole behavioral assay. Second, we show that two previously described ‘intoxication reversers’ raise Tc and counter ethanol’s effects in vesicles, mimicking the findings of previous electrophysiological and behavioral measurements. Third, we find that hydrostatic pressure, long known to reverse anesthesia, also raises Tc in vesicles with a magnitude that counters the effect of butanol at relevant concentrations and pressures. Taken together,these results demonstrate that ΔTc predicts anesthetic potency for n-alcohols better than hydrophobicity in a range of contexts, supporting a mechanistic role for membrane heterogeneity in general anesthesia.

scholarly journals Automated Retinal Layer Segmentation Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography: Evaluation of Inter-Session Repeatability and Agreement between Devices

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e0162001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Terry ◽  
Nicola Cassels ◽  
Kelly Lu ◽  
Jennifer H. Acton ◽  
Tom H. Margrain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Coherence Tomography ◽  
Spectral Domain ◽  
Retinal Layer ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Layer Segmentation

BIOM-43. CROSS-PLATFORM ROBUSTNESS IN THE GLUCOCORTICOID RESPONSE PHARMACODYNAMIC BIOMARKER

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi20-vi20
Author(s):  
Emily Tang ◽  
John Wiencke ◽  
Gayathri Warrier ◽  
Helen Hansen ◽  
Lucie McCoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Association Studies ◽  
Elastic Net ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Methylation Index ◽  
Cpg Sites ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
Adult Glioma ◽  
Epic Array ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The neutrophil dexamethasone methylation index (NDMI) is an algorithm-based biomarker to assess individuals’ exposures to dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid commonly administered for inflammation. Cortisol is the main endogenous glucocorticoid that controls vital processes including the immune response and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Variations in the NDMI score reflect individuals’ sensitivities of exposures to both exogenous and endogenous glucocorticoids, and this biomarker was trained using elastic net regression on Illumina’s most recent DNA methylation beadarray, the EPIC array, which contains 850,000 cytosine-guanine (CpG) sites. While technology for microarray research continues to advance over time, researchers are capable of conducting more comprehensive epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). However, many studies are still run and archived using Illumina’s historical 450K platform with approximately 450,000 CpGs, and there are fewer published databases using the 850K EPIC array. To evaluate the cross-platform bioinformatic comparability, we performed elastic net regression modeling using predictors available in the 450K to train the NDMI. Among the 135 pre-surgery glioma cases from the UCSF Immune Profiles Study (IPS), NDMI scores between the 450K and 850K model were strongly correlated (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001). In the 311 controls from the UCSF Adult Glioma Study (AGS), similar correlations were observed (r = 0.96, p < 0.0001). We observe that NDMI remains a robust tool using historical 450K data and conclude that this algorithmic tool is capable of detecting the variations in individuals’ responses to dexamethasone.

The Status Quo of Sustainable Tourism Development in Phuket. A Qualitative Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Kevin FUCHS ◽  
Kris SINCHAROENKUL
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Tourism Development ◽  
Mass Tourism ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Status ◽  
Coherent Leadership

Sustainable tourism is an increasingly fashionable term that is strongly correlated with the global age of increased mobility. While there is increasing interest in sustainable tourism, there is no contemporary research that describes the current state of Phuket, Thailand, the mass-tourism destination. An in-depth review of existing literature revealed that sustainable tourism at large receives a great deal of attention in its current state. This paper aimed to go beyond the common theme of sustainable tourism and conducted a thorough analysis about the status quo in Phuket with regard to sustainable tourism. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews (n=5) with industry experts and later analyzed the content by the means of thematic analysis. The research is specific to Phuket; therefore, the results of this research are not generalizable to other mass-tourism locations. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but it is evident that stakeholders in Phuket recognize the importance of sustainable tourism. Moreover, the lack of accountability, coherent leadership, and consistency resulted in a high failure rate when initiatives were launched to improve sustainable tourism behavior in Phuket.  

Enhancing Wikipedia Management by Evaluation Agent System

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-80
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Agent ◽  
Conventional Approach ◽  
Agent System ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Web 3.0 ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
Real Time Information ◽  
Time Information ◽  
Better Than

Wikipedia has recently become a popular platform for knowledge sharing and creation. However, the enormously increasing amount of editing has caused management problems with efficiency, accuracy, and convenience for Wikipedia administrators. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an intelligent agent system based on Web 3.0, the evaluation agent system (EAS), to solve these problems. The EAS is characterized by hybrid Web techniques, artificial intelligence, integration of management guidelines, retrieval of real-time information, and the transfer of cross-platform data and includes the following three systems: the testing agent, the wiki agent, and the rule-based expert system (RBES) agent. Because the RBES was central to the EAS, 29 university students were included in the study to examine the effectiveness of the RBES compared to the conventional approach to administration. The findings revealed that the RBES was better than the conventional approach in accuracy, efficiency, operation convenience, and fatigue strength.

Automated Retinal Layer Segmentation Based on Optical Coherence Tomographic Images

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1011003
Author(s):  
贺琪欲 He Qiyu ◽  
李中梁 Li Zhongliang ◽  
王向朝 Wang Xiangzhao ◽  
南楠 Nan Nan ◽  
卢宇 Lu Yu
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Layer ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Tomographic Images ◽  
Layer Segmentation

scholarly journals Effects of Au and Ge Additions on the Microstructures and Properties of Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y Alloys

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Desheng Zhang ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Sida Li ◽  
Hongying Yang
Keyword(s):  
Corrosion Resistance ◽  
Alloying Elements ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Experimental Basis ◽  
Secondary Dendrite Arm Spacing ◽  
Dendrite Arm Spacing ◽  
Better Than

The application of silver is seriously affected by its tendency to oxidize and corrode. Therefore, the addition of proper alloying elements to silver-based alloys to achieve better properties has become a hot topic at present. In this current study, the effects of the addition of the two elements Au and Ge on the microstructures and properties of Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloys were investigated. The results showed that the microstructures were refined and the second dendrite was shortened in the Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloys with the addition of Au and Ge. Adding Au enhanced the corrosion resistance of the Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloys. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance of the Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloys with the addition of both Ge and Au was better than that of the alloy samples with Au added alone. The best corrosion resistance of the Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloys was achieved by adding 1.0 wt.% Au and 1.0 wt.% Ge. The microhardness was enhanced by the addition of Au and Ge, and was strongly correlated with the secondary dendrite arm spacing (λ2) of the Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloys. In addition, the Au addition could improve the conductivity of the Ag-1.5Cu-0.1Y alloy; however, Ge had little effect on the conductivity of the alloy samples. This work provides an experimental basis for the design of better performing silver-based alloys.

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