436 research outputs found
Supplemental material for Increasing cerebral blood flow improves cognition into late stages in Alzheimer’s disease mice
No full textSupplemental Material for Increasing cerebral blood flow improves cognition into late stages in Alzheimer’s disease mice by Oliver Bracko, Brendah N Njiru, Madisen Swallow, Muhammad Ali, Mohammad Haft-Javaherian and Chris B Schaffer in Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism</p
Data from: Deep convolutional neural networks for segmenting 3D in vivo multiphoton images of vasculature in Alzheimer disease mouse models
No full textThe health and function of tissue rely on its vasculature network to provide reliable blood perfusion. Volumetric imaging approaches, such as multiphoton microscopy, are able to generate detailed 3D images of blood vessels that could contribute to our understanding of the role of vascular structure in normal physiology and in disease mechanisms. The segmentation of vessels, a core image analysis problem, is a bottleneck that has prevented the systematic comparison of 3D vascular architecture across experimental populations. We explored the use of convolutional neural networks to segment 3D vessels within volumetric in vivo images acquired by multiphoton microscopy. We evaluated different network architectures and machine learning techniques in the context of this segmentation problem. We show that our optimized convolutional neural network architecture, which we call DeepVess, yielded a segmentation accuracy that was better than both the current state-of-the-art and a trained human annotator, while also being orders of magnitude faster. To explore the effects of aging and Alzheimer's disease on capillaries, we applied DeepVess to 3D images of cortical blood vessels in young and old mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and wild type littermates. We found little difference in the distribution of capillary diameter or tortuosity between these groups, but did note a decrease in the number of longer capillary segments (>75μm) in aged animals as compared to young, in both wild type and Alzheimer's disease mouse models. These data support these findings.This work was supported by the European Research Council grant 615102 (NN), the National Institutes of Health grant AG049952 (CS), the National Institutes of Health grants R01LM012719 and R01AG053949 (MS), and the National Science Foundation Cornell NeuroNex Hub grant (1707312, MS and CS)
Virtual Microstructure Generation of Asphaltic Mixtures
Get PDFThis thesis describes the development and application of a virtual microstructure generator incorporated with post-processing image analysis methods that can be used to fabricate a virtual, two-dimensional microstructure of asphaltic mixtures. In the generator, geometrical characteristics such as aggregate gradation, aggregate area fraction, angularity, orientation, and elongation were used to transform data from a three-dimensional (3D) mixture into its two-dimensional (2D) microstructure. The 2D virtual microstructures were generated from real 3D mixture information of asphaltic composites. Resulting virtual microstructures were then compared to real cross-sectional microstructure images obtained from actual samples for validation. Comparison presented a good agreement between the virtual and real microstructures, which demonstrates that the new 3D-2D transformation algorithms were properly developed and implemented into the virtual microstructure generator. Although much future work is required, the current development is at least sufficient to demonstrate the benefits and potential of this effort. Virtual fabrication and testing can result in significant time and cost savings compared to more expensive and repetitive laboratory fabrication and performance tests of actual specimens.
Adviser: Yong-Rak Ki
QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CEREBRAL MICROVASCULATURE USING MACHINE LEARNING AND NETWORK ANALYSIS
Get PDFVasculature networks are responsible for providing reliable blood perfusion to tissues in health or disease conditions. Volumetric imaging approaches, such as multiphoton microscopy, can generate detailed 3D images of blood vessel networks allowing researchers to investigate different aspects of vascular structures and networks in normal physiology and disease mechanisms. Image processing tasks such as vessel segmentation and centerline extraction impede research progress and have prevented the systematic comparison of 3D vascular architecture across large experimental populations in an objective fashion. The work presented in this dissertation provides complete a fully-automated, open-source, and fast image processing pipeline that is transferable to other research areas and practices with minimal interventions and fine-tuning. As a proof of concept, the applications of the proposed pipeline are presented in the contexts of different biomedical and biological research questions ranging from the stalling capillary phenomenon in Alzheimer’s disease to the drought resistance of xylem networks in various tree species and wood types
Introduction to Maps and Mapping in Kenneth Slessor’s Poetic Sequence The Atlas
No full textThis is the first of seven articles comprising a book-length treatment of The Atlas by the acclaimed Australian poet and journalist Kenneth Slessor (1901–1971). Hisreputation as Australia’s first modernist poet and pioneer of her national poeticidentity began with his 1932 collection Cuckooz Contrey, which opened with one ofthe most original interpretations of cartography in verse: the five-poem sequence The Atlas. Fascinated by maps and navigators’ tales, Slessor began each poem withthe title of a map or an atlas by a cartographer prominent during Europe’s “goldenage of cartography,” and then alluded to that particular work throughout thepoem. The sequence celebrates the cartographic achievements of the seventeenthcentury while imaginatively recreating the worlds portrayed in very differentmaps, including Robert Norton’s plan of Algiers (“The King of Cuckooz”), JohnOgilby’s road maps (“Post-roads”), Joan Blaeu’s plan-view of Amsterdam (“DutchSeacoast”), John Speed’s world map (“Mermaids”), and a map of the West Indies,supposedly by Nicolas or Adrien Sanson, featuring buccaneers and a seafight (“TheSeafight”). Yet none of these maps appears in Slessor’s collections or critical studiesof his work. Nor have his poems been juxtaposed with the atlases, maps, or rarecatalogue of maps that inspired them.I plan to fill these gaps in six future issues of Cartographic Perspectives. Fivewill begin with an Atlas poem—reprinted in its entirety and in the order ofits appearance within the sequence. Analysis of the poem’s content will befollowed by discussion of its introductory quote or epigraph, which Slessor (ashis poetry notebook makes clear) found in the map catalogue. Next comes anexamination of both the cartographer and the map highlighted in the epigraph.By reproducing the map as well as the catalogue’s description of the map, eacharticle will uncover the cartographic connections between Slessor’s publishedpoem and its manuscript versions, its map(s), and the map catalogue. AnEpilogue will round out my series by exploring the unique atlas-like structure ofSlessor’s sequence and identifying the likely author of the catalogue that Slessorcreatively transformed into The Atlas.My Introduction, the only part of the series published in this issue, providesthe background for what will become the first extended examination of The Atlas. Opening with a brief biography of Slessor as poet, journalist, and man-about-Sydney, it surveys Cuckooz Contrey before turning to The Atlas, which debuted inthat collection. The effort that Slessor lavished on his sequence and on masteringthe period in which it is set are revealed throughout the notebook in whichhe drafted all five poems. Reviewing his corpus shows that The Atlas uniquelycombines strategies apparent in Slessor’s earlier and later poems, includinghis emphasis on the arts and the use of illustrations to heighten his poetry’sallure. The Introduction presents the maps created to illustrate his poetry,especially Strange Lands, made by the famously controversial Norman Lindsayand featured as the frontispiece of Cuckooz Contrey. Slessor’s poetic allusionsto maps lead to the magnificent nautical library in which he may have foundthe inspiration for The Atlas. Yet, as the second half of this article demonstrates,that library collection has proved one of many challenges to producing thisgroundbreaking study
Effectiveness of Microteaching for Developing Observation, Communication, and Professional Behavior Skill Sets Among Occupational Therapy Students
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 3/31/2017
This study explores the effectiveness of microteaching for developing a range of clinical skills among occupational therapy students. Findings show that microteaching is more effective than traditional methods for developing students’ professional behaviors and facilitating peer-supported learning.
Primary Author and Speaker: Dragana Krpalek
Additional Authors and Speakers: Sharon Pavlovich
Contributing Authors: Heather Javaherian-Dysinger, Katie Beach, Anna Boehning, Jacqueline Lim, Meryl Paja, Aishani Patel, Christine Pham</jats:p
Investigating the Occupational Needs of Emancipated Young Adults From the Perspective of Key Stakeholders
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 3/31/2017
This study investigated the needs of emancipated young adults and identified four primary areas of overlap with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: participation and role competence, quality of life, well-being, and occupational justice. Implications for occupational therapy are discussed.
Primary Author and Speaker: Caesarinne Sprianu
Additional Authors and Speakers: Dragana Krpalek, Judith Palladino
Contributing Authors: Minh-Quan Tran, Amanda Rank, Grace Leung, Richard Zecha, Alex MacGregor, Heather Javaherian-Dysinger, Liane Hewitt</jats:p
Exploring the Effectiveness of an Occupation-Based Intervention: An Experimental Study With Calligraphy
No full textAbstract
Date Presented 3/31/2017
This research study compared three intervention approaches for learning calligraphy: occupation-based, activity-based, and preparatory tasks. Our study encourages occupational therapy practitioners to center treatments on meaningful occupations for optimal motivation, engagement, and performance.
Primary Author and Speaker: Dragana Krpalek
Additional Authors and Speakers: Alice Hyun, Judy Kim, Amanda Lee, Jessica Lee, Darcie Moningka, Miriam Petersen
Contributing Authors: Heather Javaherian-Dysinger, Heather Roese, Karen Pendleton</jats:p
A topological encoding convolutional neural network for segmentation of 3D multiphoton images of brain vasculature using persistent homology
No full textThe clinical evidence suggests that cognitive disorders are associated with vasculature dysfunction and decreased blood flow in the brain. Hence, a functional understanding of the linkage between brain functionality and the vascular network is essential. However, methods to systematically and quantitatively describe and compare structures as complex as brain blood vessels are lacking. 3D imaging modalities such as multiphoton microscopy enables researchers to capture the network of brain vasculature with high spatial resolutions. Nonetheless, image processing and inference are some of the bottlenecks for biomedical research involving imaging, and any advancement in this area impacts many research groups. Here, we propose a topological encoding convolutional neural network based on persistent homology to segment 3D multiphoton images of brain vasculature. We demonstrate that our model outperforms state-of-the-art models in terms of the Dice coefficient and it is comparable in terms of other metrics such as sensitivity. Additionally, the topological characteristics of our model's segmentation results mimic manual ground truth. Our code and model are open source at https://github.com/mhaft/DeepVess.National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (Grant P41EB-015903)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant P41EB015902
Supernatural Forces and their role in the “Haft Lashkar”
Get PDFOne of the motifs of epic and mythological stories is the supernatural forces’ intervention made in the form of supernatural aids from God in support of a hero. In mythology, the inability of a hero is offset by supporting forces or supernatural forces. A mythical hero, praying and seeking help from God, fights a battle against an anti-hero, a demon, a dragon, and wins the victory over all his enemies with seeking help from God. The hero of the epic has a strong connection with the divine and supernatural forces, which often occurs in the form of association with the gods and predictions of his destiny. The predictions usually are made through seeing dreams, hearing the voice of an invisible speaker (soroush), the astronomers, spiritual leaders, fairies and Simurgh. And the association of the hero with God and his benefitting from the gods’ support sometimes directly takes place. Magical objects, ceremonial armaments and special armaments for killing dragons, such as the ox-headed mace and the armaments that are memorials from heroes' ancestors, including armlet gem, realistic and mythological animals, and supernatural beings such as fairies and demons and natural forces such as wind come to help the hero. Here in, referring to the narrative scroll of “Haft Lashkar” I have tried to examine analytically and descriptively the supernatural powers that are supporting and helping a hero
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