Gender inequity in cancer research leadership in Europe: Time to act.

AIM: Cancer is one of Europe's key research missions, with gender equity a major policy pillar. To benchmark how well European countries perform for gender balance in cancer research, high quality intelligence is required. METHODS: For cancer research papers in Europe (EUR31; the 28 EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) from two specific years (2009 and 2019), we evaluated the numbers of female authors overall and then the female last-author presence, as a proxy of female cancer research leadership. RESULTS: Overall, female authorship increased from 42% to 49%. In 2009, females represented 50% or more of cancer research authors in only five EUR31 countries. By 2019, that number had risen to 17. In Eastern European (EE) countries, females were more likely to be in the majority. The presence of female cancer research authors in the last (senior) author position increased from 24% to 34%. Five of the top six countries for female authorship in 2019 were from EE, whereas disappointingly four central European countries (Austria (AT), Czechia (CZ), Germany (DE) and Switzerland (CH)) were below the 25th percentile. A number of European powerhouses of cancer research (UK, DE, CH) underperformed in terms of female cancer research leadership. However, when cancer researchers from these countries worked abroad (e.g. Scandinavia, USA) the percentage of females was similar to that of their host countries. A factor potentially influencing female cancer research participation was availability and relative cost of child-care, which is more favourable in Scandinavia and EE than in central/western Europe. CONCLUSION: Our data show that Horizon Europe's Cancer Mission must ensure gender equity in its future research programmes and support the enhancement of female cancer research leadership opportunities.

Global Origin of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Midlands, UK.

DNA fingerprinting data for 4,207 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were combined with data from a computer program (Origins). Largest population groups were from England (n = 1,031) and India (n = 912), and most prevalent strains were the Euro-American (45%) and East African-Indian (34%) lineages. Combining geographic and molecular data can enhance cluster investigation.

Lung cancer researchers, 2008-2013: their sex and ethnicity.

This paper describes the process by which almost all authors of papers in the Web of Science (WoS) can be characterised by their sex and ethnicity or national background, based on their names. These are compared with two large databases of surnames and given names to determine to which of some 160 different ethnic groups they are most likely to belong. Since 2008 the authors of WoS papers are tagged with their addresses, and many have their given names if they appear on the paper, so the workforce composition of each country can be determined. Conversely, the current location of members of particular ethnic groups can be found. This will show the extent of a country's "brain drain", if any. Key results are shown for one subject area, and inter alia it appears that the majority of researchers of Indian origin who are active in lung cancer research are working in the USA. But East Asians (Chinese, Japanese and Koreans) tend to stay in their country of birth.

The contribution of ethnic groups to Malaysian scientific output, 1982-2014, and the effects of the new economic policy.

Malaysia has three main ethnic communities: Chinese, Indians and Malays. At independence in 1957, the Chinese dominated commercial life, and this led to ethnic tensions and finally riots. As a result in 1969 Malaysia introduced a "New Economic Policy" (NEP) to promote Malays in all areas of activity, and in particular to assist them to obtain basic and higher education. We examined the scientific outputs from Malaysia between 1982 and 2014 and classified the names of Malaysian researchers into one of these three groups and two others. There was a major increase in Malay participation in research, which has risen from 20 % of researchers in 1982-1984 to 65 % in 2012-2014, with corresponding declines in the percentages of Chinese and Indian authors, although their absolute numbers have increased because Malaysian scientific output has increased so rapidly in the last 10 years. The huge increase in Malay researchers contrasts with their presence in the Malaysian population which has remained stable at about 50 % since 1969.

Application of TACT to the evaluation of total joint arthroplasty.

Three-dimensional imaging may be valuable in the evaluation of total joint arthroplasty. The partial-volume effect and streak artifacts from the metallic components of these devices limit the applicability of computed tomography (CT) to this application. Tuned-aperture computed tomography (TACT) is a tomographic approach that has been successfully used in other medical applications. In TACT, the acquisition geometry is inferred from the localization of fiducial markers in a series of projection images. The flexibility and robustness of TACT, as well as the fact that through an appropriate choice of reconstruction algorithms it can suppress streak artifacts, potentially makes it an appropriate approach for evaluating total joint arthroplasty. A simple computer-simulated model of a total knee replacement (TKR) was generated and used to evaluate the accuracy and artifacts associated with three-dimensional (3-D) renderings produced using TACT. A knee specimen from a cadaver that had received a TKR was used to investigate further the potential of TACT for this application. In both tests, TACT provided high-quality 3-D representations of the object. Both simple back-projection and minimum pixel back-projection were used to reconstruct the data. Minimum pixel back-projection provided high-contrast images that appeared to be relatively free of tomosynthetic artifacts. In summary, the potential of TACT in the evaluation of total joint arthroplasty was demonstrated. Future investigations will study TACT's ability to quantify the spatial relationship between the metallic components of these devices as well as TACT's ability to identify bony changes of diagnostic consequence.

Angular disparity in ETACT scintimammography.

Emission tuned aperture computed tomography (ETACT) has been previously shown to have the potential for the detection of small tumors (<1 cm) in scintimammography. However, the optimal approach to the application of ETACT in the clinic has yet to be determined. Therefore, we sought to determine the effect of the angular disparity between the ETACT projections on image quality through the use of a computer simulation. A small, spherical tumor of variable size (5, 7.5 or 10 mm) was placed at the center of a hemispherical breast (15 cm diameter). The tumor to nontumor ratio was either 5:1 or 10:1. The detector was modeled to be a gamma camera fitted with a 4-mm-diam pinhole collimator. The pinhole-to-detector and the pinhole-to-tumor distances were 25 and 15 cm, respectively. A ray tracing technique was used to generate three sets of projections (10 degrees, 15 degrees, and 20 degrees, angular disparity). These data were blurred to a resolution consistent with the 4 mm pinhole. The TACT reconstruction method was used to reconstruct these three image sets. The tumor contrast and the axial spatial resolution was measured. Smaller angular disparity led to an improvement in image contrast but at a cost of degraded axial spatial resolution. The improvement in contrast is due to a slight improvement in the in-plane spatial resolution. Since improved contrast should lead to better tumor detectability, smaller angular disparity should be used. However, the difference in contrast between 10 degrees and 15 degrees was very slight and therefore a reasonable clinical choice for angular disparity is 15 degrees.

Effect of iterative restoration on the detection of artificially induced vertical radicular fractures by Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the number of iterative restorations (IR) on the diagnostic accuracy of Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography images (TACT) for detection of induced vertical/oblique root fractures in mandibular teeth. STUDY DESIGN: Fractures were induced in 28 single-rooted, endodontically treated cadaver mandibular teeth while another 26 such teeth served as controls. TACT slices reconstructed by using 9 arbitrary projections (angular disparity of 9 degrees -20 degrees) were iteratively restored 1, 2, and 3 times. Eight observers scored their diagnoses by using a confidence rating scale. Ground truth was available from direct examination with transillumination, following extraction. RESULTS: Mean areas under the representative ROC curves for the 3 operations were 0.96 (3 IRs), 0.87 (2 IRs), and 0.86 (1 IRs). Analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences between 3 and 1 to 2 IRs (P <.01), as well as between observers (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic accuracy of TACT for vertical/oblique root fracture detection improved after 3 IRs.

Evaluation of tuned-aperture computed tomography in the detection of simulated periodontal defects.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of tuned-aperture computed tomography (TACT) and conventional film for the detection of simulated periodontal defects. STUDY DESIGN: Periodontal defects were created in 15 premolar-molar interproximal sites selected from 8 cadaver jaw segments. Ten observers viewed 45 image pairs (baseline and follow up) in 4 TACT modalities and film to assess the presence of defect. The TACT modalities were 1st and 2nd generation prototype systems (TACT-1 and TACT-2) with circular (C) and random (R) distribution patterns of source projection (TACT-1C, TACT-1R, TACT-2C, TACT-2R). Observer performance and related factors were analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Mean A(z) values were 0.64 for film, 0.74 for TACT-1C, 0.82 for TACT-1R, 0.64 for TACT-2C, and 0.69 for TACT-2R. TACT-1R was significantly better than film (P < .001), TACT-2C (P < .001) and TACT-2R (P = .007). CONCLUSION: TACT-1R provided the best diagnostic performance in the detection of simulated periodontal defects among the 5 modalities compared in this study.

Interactive three-dimensional visualization and contextual analysis of protein interaction networks.

To understand the biology of the interactome, the covisualization of protein interactions and other protein-related data is required. In this study, we have adapted a 3-D network visualization platform, GEOMI, to allow the coanalysis of protein-protein interaction networks with proteomic parameters such as protein localization, abundance, physicochemical parameters, post-translational modifications, and gene ontology classification. Working with Saccharomyces cerevisiae data, we show that rich and interactive visualizations, constructed from multidimensional orthogonal data, provide insights on the complexity of the interactome and its role in biological processes and the architecture of the cell. We present the first organelle-specific interaction networks, that provide subinteractomes of high biological interest. We further present some of the first views of the interactome built from a new combination of yeast two-hybrid data and stable protein complexes, which are likely to approximate the true workings of stable and transient aspects of the interactome. The GEOMI tool and all interactome data are freely available by contacting the authors.

High-resolution in situ imaging of cochlear implant electrode arrays in cat temporal bones using Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the suitability of Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT) to generate high-resolution images of intracochlear electrode arrays, in situ, with sufficient anatomic and electrode detail to relate the location of individual electrode contacts to important anatomic landmarks in cat cadaveric temporal bones. The ultimate objective is to develop an imaging technology whereby variations in electrode location, relative to the target neural tissues, can be accurately determined and related to variations in performance with the cochlear implant. DESIGN: Cat temporal bones were implanted with an experimental scala tympani electrode array and an external fiducial landmark. A series of conventional 2D digital radiographs were collected from a variety of x-ray source projection angles and served as for generation of 3D volume renderings using the TACT software toolbox. The 3D renderings were then reoriented and resliced interactively to view the cochlear and electrode features of interest. RESULTS: Significant electrode and anatomical details could be visualized including the course of the electrode wires (<40 microm diameter), the location of all electrode contacts and the outline of the scala tympani. CONCLUSIONS: TACT generates high-resolution 3D images from 2D conventional radiographs. With TACT, the 3D renderings can be interactively reoriented and resectioned to permit visualization of any cochlear or electrode feature. In the present study, this aspect of TACT affords the opportunity to view of the location of each electrode contact relative to the adjacent cochlear features, such as the scalar walls. Because TACT uses conventional radiographic images to generate the volume renderings, the quality and resolution of the resulting 2D images do not suffer from artifacts characteristic of CT. These findings suggest that TACT may be a powerful tool for understanding the contribution of electrode placement to perceptual performance with the cochlear implant.

Comparison of conventional and TACT (Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography) digital subtraction radiography in detection of pericrestal bone-gain.

Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography or TACT is a relatively new technique that transforms correlated two-dimensional images into a three-dimensional display. Associating TACT with digital subtraction radiography (TACT-DSR) may enhance its use in the detection of diseases. This study aims to assess observer performance in the task of detecting simulated bone-gain in periodontal defects, comparing conventional and TACT DSR. Buccal, lingual and proximal pericrestal bony defects in a human dry skull were imaged with and without increments of crushed-bone and wax mixtures using standardized vertical bitewing projections, acquired with an intraoral digital receptor in a tomographic X-ray machine. One hundred and twenty pairs of baseline and follow-up images were obtained for each imaging modality. Post-acquisition processing including image-registration, density-correction and subtraction operation were applied to both transmission images and TACT-slices. Eight calibrated observers evaluated the presence or absence of pericrestal bone-gain using a 5-point confidence scale. Details about the location of periodontal defects and the amount of bone-gain for each subtracted image were recorded and used in the statistical analysis. Observer performance and study design factors were analyzed by means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and ANOVA. Mean values of areas under ROC curves for bone-gain detection performance were 0.82 for conventional DSR and 0.90 for TACT-DSR. TACT-DSR provided statistically superior detection performance of simulated periodontal bone-gain over conventional DSR for tooth-obscured defects (p = 0.001) and for the smallest bone mass (p = 0.024). The findings support TACT-DSR's potential to provide greater sensitivity and technique flexibility in detecting periodontal bone-gain than standard DSR.

A Collaborative Study to Determine the Feasibility of Using 0.40-, 0.20-, 0.14-, and 0.10-Inch-Diameter Discs to Measure Sediment in Fluid Milk.

This collaborative study was done to determine whether laboratory personnel could successfully grade raw milk for sediment content using 0.40-, 0.20-, 0.14-, and 0.10-inch-diameter sediment discs. The 0.40-inch disc presently is accepted for grading sediment in mixed bulk milk samples. Technicians in 17 separate laboratories made 1,360 determinations (80 per laboratory) or 20 determinations for each size of sediment disc. Each laboratory graded the same set of samples. Samples were graded using photoprint standards that were prepared for this study. The laboratories were evaluated on the ability of laboratory technicians to grade the various sizes of sediment discs. Technicians in 13 of the 17 laboratories graded samples showing no significant differences in their ability to grade the various sized sediment discs. Four laboratories were not consistent in their ability to grade discs and showed significant differences in agreements with the previously determined sediment level as the diameter of the disc was reduced. Based on these results, most laboratories evaluated were capable of grading sediment discs with diameters of 0.40-, 0.20-, and 0.14-inch with consistency. With properly trained personnel in the laboratories, the study indicates the 0.10-inch diameter disc also can be used effectively for grading sediment in milk.