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Optimized prostate biopsy via a statistical atlas of cancer spatial distribution.

A methodology is presented for constructing a statistical atlas of spatial distribution of prostate cancer from a large patient cohort, and it is used for optimizing needle biopsy. An adaptive-focus deformable model is used for the spatial normalization and registration of 100 prostate histological samples, which were provided by the Center for Prostate Disease Research of the US Department of Defense, resulting in a statistical atlas of spatial distribution of prostate cancer. Based on this atlas, a statistical predictive model was developed to optimize the needle biopsy sites, by maximizing the probability of detecting cancer. Experimental results using cross-validation show that the proposed method can detect cancer with a 99% success rate using seven needles, in these samples.

Algorithms↗

Spatial distribution patterns of malaria vectors and sample size determination in spatially heterogeneous environments: a case study in the west Kenyan highland.

The current study examined temporal and spatial distribution patterns of anopheline malaria vectors in a highland site and determined the number of houses to be sampled to achieve the targeted precision level. Adult mosquito sampling was conducted seasonally in May and August 2002 in a 3 by 3-km2 area, and in November 2002 and February 2003 in an expanded 4 by 4-km2 area in Kakamega District, western Kenya. Anopheles gambiae Giles was the predominant malaria vector species, constituting 84.6% of the specimens, whereas Anopheles funestus Giles constituted 15.4% of the vector populations. An. gambiae abundance increased by six- to eight-fold in the long rainy season over the dry seasons, but An. funestus abundance peaked 3 mo after the long rainy season. For both species, the coefficient of variation was larger than 1, suggesting that the distribution of mosquito adults was aggregated. Mosquito clustering occurred in houses <400 m from a valley bottom. The negative binomial distribution was accepted in one sample period (August 2002) for An. gambiae and in two sampling periods (May and August 2002) for An. funestus. Taylor's power law analyses indicated that An. gambiae distribution was more aggregated in the wet seasons than in the dry seasons, whereas the degree of aggregation of An. funestus was similar in all four seasons. The minimum number of houses required to estimate anopheline female abundance within the commonly acceptable precision level (0.2) should be 17 houses per km2 for An. gambiae and 42 houses per km2 for An. funestus. The potential factors causing aggregated anopheline mosquito distribution are discussed.

Animals↗

Spatial distribution analysis on climatic variables in northeast China.

Information ecology is a new research area of modern ecology. Here describes the spatial distribution analysis methods of four sorts of climatic variables, i.e. temperature, precipitation, relative humidity and sunshine fraction in Northeast China. First, digital terrain models was built with large-scale maps and vector data. Then trend surface analysis and interpolation method were used to analyze the spatial distribution of these four kinds of climatic variables at three temporal scale: (1) monthly data; (2) mean monthly data of thirty years, and (3) mean annual data of thirty years. Ecological information system were used for graphics analysis on the spatial distribution of these climatic variables.

Algorithms↗

Large-scale spatial distribution of virioplankton in the Adriatic Sea: testing the trophic state control hypothesis.

Little is known concerning environmental factors that may control the distribution of virioplankton on large spatial scales. In previous studies workers reported high viral levels in eutrophic systems and suggested that the trophic state is a possible driving force controlling the spatial distribution of viruses. In order to test this hypothesis, we determined the distribution of viral abundance and bacterial abundance and the virus-to-bacterium ratio in a wide area covering the entire Adriatic basin (Mediterranean Sea). To gather additional information on factors controlling viral distribution on a large scale, functional microbial parameters (exoenzymatic activities, bacterial production and turnover) were related to trophic gradients. At large spatial scales, viral distribution was independent of autotrophic biomass and all other environmental parameters. We concluded that in contrast to what was previously hypothesized, changing trophic conditions do not directly affect virioplankton distribution. Since virus distribution was coupled with bacterial turnover times, our results suggest that viral abundance depends on bacterial activity and on host cell abundance.

Bacteria↗

Spatial distributions of genotypes under isolation by distance.

The spatial distributions of single-locus diploid genotypes, produced within populations of sexually reproducing individuals under isolation by distance, are measured and characterized in detail by quantifying the join-counts for simulated model populations. The models more realistically reflect spatially explicit distributions of genotypes in populations, because unlike the classical theory, they include the stochasticity inherent in the process of matings between genotypes. This stochasticity causes the formation of large areas or patches containing mostly one homozygous genotype, which is not predicted by the classical theory. A number of previously uncharacterized features of the spatial structures produced under isolation by distance are revealed. Spatial autocorrelation measures based on counts of pairs of homozygotes are highly consistent quantifications of the concentrations of homozygotes in patchy genotypic distributions for a given level of dispersal. Most strikingly, the degree of intermixing of homozygotes with heterozygotes over small spatial scales is much higher than previously thought, unless dispersal is extremely limited (e.g., Wright's neighborhood size less than approximately 5.0). Among implications for studies of spatial structure of real populations, one is that the results provide a basis for using join-counts as estimators of gene dispersal based solely on genetic data.

Diploidy↗

[Spatial distribution pattern of Pontania dolichura larvae and sampling technique].

In this paper, the spatial distribution pattern of Pontania dolichura larvae was analyzed with Taylor's power law, Iwao's distribution function, and six aggregation indexes. The results showed that the spatial distribution pattern of P. dolichura larvae was of aggregated, and the basic component of the distribution was individual colony, with the aggregation intensity increased with density. On branches, the aggregation was caused by the adult behavior of laying eggs and the spatial position of leaves, while on leaves, the aggregation was caused by the spatial position of news leaves in spring when m < 2.37, and by the spatial position of news leaves in spring and the behavior of eclosion and laying eggs when m > 2.37. By using the parameters alpha and beta in Iwao's m * -m regression equation, the optimal and sequential sampling numbers were determined.

Animals↗

The spatial distribution and geographic analysis of endodontic office locations at the national scale.

The major purpose of this article was to quantify and describe the spatial distribution of endodontic office locations at the national scale. This study consisted of 2858 US American Association of Endodontists member endodontists as subjects. Three research questions were developed and explored. The location quotient technique, the spatial autocorrelation approach, and the multiple-regression procedure were the major analytical methods. Major results were as follows: the highest concentration (2.09 to 2.62) of endodontic offices per 100,000 US population was located in just two states, Massachusetts and Connecticut; the spatial distribution of endodontic office locations did exhibit significant (p < or = 0.05, two-tailed test) spatial autocorrelation. Therefore, the spatial distribution of endodontic office locations was nonrandom. Individually, the most significant predictor of endodontic office locations was the location of general practice dentists (its beta coefficient was 0.960606, significant at p < or = 0.0001).

Adult↗

Spatial distribution of messenger RNA in the cytoskeletal framework of ascidian eggs.

Maternal poly(A)+RNA, histone mRNA, and actin mRNA exhibit unique spatial distributions in the different ooplasmic regions of ascidian eggs. These RNAs also appear to migrate with their respective ooplasms during the episode of extensive cytoplasmic rearrangement that occurs after fertilization, suggesting they are associated with a structural framework. The role of the cytoskeletal framework (CF) in determining the spatial distribution of maternal mRNA was tested by subjecting Triton X-100 extracted (Styela plicata) eggs and early embryos to in situ hybridization with poly(U) and cloned DNA probes. Grain counts indicated that substantial proportions of the egg poly(A)+RNA, histone mRNA, and actin mRNA were present in the CF and that there was no alteration in the extent of mRNA-CF interactions during the period between fertilization and the two-cell stage. Analysis of grain distributions indicated that poly(A)+RNA, histone mRNA, and actin mRNA were concentrated in the same regions of detergent-extracted eggs as they are in intact eggs. The proportions and spatial distribution of these RNAs in the CF were not affected when the actin cytoskeleton was destabilized by cytochalasin B or DNase I. The data suggest that maternal mRNA is associated with the CF, that this association is responsible for mRNA rearrangement during ooplasmic segregation, and that mRNA-CF interactions are not dependent on the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton.

Actins↗

[Spatial distribution of cancer incidence by anatomic site in Quebec].

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of diseases provides useful information in etiologic research and in implementation of preventive activities in community health. Spatial autocorrelation analysis is one of the various methods that enables to determine spatial clustering of diseases. This method has not been applied to lung, stomach and colon cancer in Québec. These cancers are frequent and are associated with environmental factors. The objectives of the study are to determine spatial distribution of incidence rates of these cancer sites by sex and to help generate etiologic hypotheses. Community health departments (CHDs) of residence are considered as risk markers since their population and environment may be related to the selected cancer sites. Data were obtained from Québec Cancer Registry. Rates were standardized by the direct method. Autocorrelation analysis was done through BW coefficient and Moran's coefficient I for correlograms. Results of standardized rates were compared to those of non standardized rates. Rates yielded the same results for the BW coefficient. Conversely, results were quite different for the correlograms. This implies that results from standardized rates should be kept since the age structure of CHD populations are different. Important variation in the level of spatial autocorrelation was found among the six sex-specific cancer sites. For male lung cancer and male stomach cancer first-order neighbouring CHDs showed similar incidence rates according to a geographic gradient. Female lung cancer exhibited spatial autocorrelation. Absence of spatial autocorrelation for colon cancer suggests that CHD is not the appropriate scale for study of this cancer and allows use of conventional epidemiologic methods. These results are discussed in relation to current etiologic hypotheses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cluster Analysis↗

The spatial distribution of immunotoxins in solid tumors: assessment by quantitative autoradiography.

The spatial distribution of i.v. administered immunotoxins in s.c. human rhabdomyosarcoma RD2 xenografts was studied. The toxin and immunotoxins were: (a) diphtheria toxin (DT); (b) a binding-deficient form of DT (CRM107) linked to a monoclonal IgG1 antibody (454A12) directed against the human transferrin receptor (454A12-107); (c) the binding-deficient form of DT linked to the Fab' fragment of 454A12 (Fab'-107); and (d) the binding-deficient form of DT coupled to MOPC21, a monoclonal IgG1 with no significant binding to RD2 cells. DT and the immunotoxins were radiolabeled with 125I and injected via the tail vein into tumor-bearing athymic mice (median tumor weight, 0.25 g). Tumors were removed 2, 6, and 24 h after injection of DT or immunotoxin. Film images of 20-microns frozen sections were digitized by video microscopy, and gray levels were converted to tissue concentrations based upon the film response to radioactivity standards and the specific activity of the radiolabeled toxins. Images of the tumors were characterized quantitatively by the kurtosis and the area above threshold; the kurtosis is a measure of the spatial heterogeneity of the radiolabeled immunotoxins, and the area above threshold is defined here as the fractional tumor area that reaches or exceeds 1.5% of the initial plasma concentration. The spatial distribution of DT in the tumors was extremely uniform, characterized by low kurtosis values. In contrast, the autoradiograms of 454A12-107 were punctate in appearance and were characterized by very high kurtosis values. Fab'-107, which has approximately one-half the molecular weight of the intact immunotoxin and binds only monovalently, also produced punctate images with kurtosis values similar to those for 454A12-107. The nonbinding immunotoxin distributed somewhat less uniformly than DT but much more homogeneously than either of the binding immunotoxins. DT, 454A12-107, and Fab'-107 have similar affinities for their respective receptors, but the concentration of binding sites for DT on RD2 cells (<3,000 receptors/cell) is much lower than the concentration of transferrin receptor (60,000 receptors/cell). Thus, the heterogeneous distribution of 454A12-107 and Fab'-107 probably reflects retarded penetration due to binding to the tumor cells. The area above threshold was greatest for DT and lowest for 454A12-107; the fragment and nonbinding immunotoxins had intermediate values. The lower area above threshold for the nonbinding immunotoxin as compared with DT may be due to the considerably large molecular weight and hence the lower capillary permeability and diffusion coefficient of the immunotoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Experimental muscle pain changes the spatial distribution of upper trapezius muscle activity during sustained contraction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of local excitation of nociceptive muscle afferents on the spatial distribution of muscle activity. METHODS: Surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the upper trapezius muscle of 10 healthy volunteers with a 5 x 13 electrode grid during 90-s isometric contractions before, during, 15 and 30 min after intramuscular injection of hypertonic (painful) or isotonic (non-painful) saline. From the multi-channel EMG recordings, two-dimensional maps of root mean square and mean power frequency were obtained. The centre of gravity of the root mean square map was used to quantify global changes in the spatial distribution of muscle activity. RESULTS: During sustained contractions, average root mean square increased, average mean frequency decreased and the centre of gravity moved cranially. During experimental muscle pain, compared to before injection, the average root mean square decreased and there was a caudal shift of the centre of gravity. Fifteen minutes after the painful injection the centre of gravity returned to its original position. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term dynamic reorganization of the spatial distribution of muscle activity occurred in response to nociceptive afferent input. SIGNIFICANCE: The study furnishes an extension of the pain adaptation model indicating heterogeneous inhibition of muscle activity.

Adult↗

Spatial distribution of QT intervals: an alternative approach to QT dispersion.

QT dispersion (QTd) describes the heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization on the basis of the temporal range of QT intervals as measured in the 12-lead ECG. We examined the spatial distribution of QTd using multichannel magnetocardiograms (MCGs), which noninvasively register changes in magnetic field strength at 37 sites over the heart. As in ECG, the MCG signal in each channel may be used to measure QT interval. By calculating QT deviation from QTmin at each site, one can reconstruct the spatial distribution of QTd. Analysis of spatial QTd in ten healthy subjects and ten patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI) showed clear differences in spatial distribution. The healthy subjects generally displayed shorter QT intervals along a line corresponding to the approximate position of the septum with longer intervals in plateaus in the upper right and lower left. Spatial QTd of the post-MI patients deviated from this pattern, often displaying a sharp rise in QT duration over specific areas, which could be related to functional and morphological disturbances. The quantification of local irregularities as well as the overall pattern on the basis of a smoothness index allowed better discrimination between healthy subjects and post-MI patients than QTd. Distribution patterns of QTd which reflect local repolarization alterations may thus represent a more differentiated marker for pathology and risk.

Adult↗

Effects of spatial distribution of attention during inhibition of return (IOR) on flanker interference in hearing and congenitally deaf people.

This study explored the interaction between the spatial distribution of attention during inhibition of return (IOR) and different levels of flanker interference in congenitally deaf subjects as compared with hearing subjects. Color (Experiment 1) and alphanumeric (Experiment 2) flanker interference effects were differentiated into the pre-response and the response levels. The spatial distribution of attention was manipulated through IOR. Subjects were asked to either make color or letter/digit discriminations to the central targets or detect the abrupt-onset peripheral targets. Deaf subjects were significantly faster than hearing subjects at detecting peripheral targets irrespective of the cue validity, while the two groups had comparable sizes of IOR. In the central discrimination tasks, deaf subjects showed significant response level, but not pre-response level, flanker effects irrespective of the type of stimuli and the spatial location of the flanker. For hearing subjects, however, spatial attention interacted with the pre-response and response flanker effects in different ways. While flankers at the cued location caused interference effects at the response level and facilitatory effects at the pre-response level, those at the uncued location caused different effects depending on the type of stimuli. Moreover, increasing the peripheral attention for hearing subjects, by increasing the proportion of peripheral detection trials, made hearing subjects behave like deaf subjects. These results demonstrate that deaf people possess enhanced peripheral attentional resources as compared with hearing people. The spatial distribution of attention modulates mainly the resolution of the pre-response flanker interference in hearing people, but affects neither the pre-response nor the response level interference in deaf people.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Seed shadow, seedling recruitment, and spatial distribution of Buchenavia capitata (Combretaceae) in a fragment of the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

Here we describe the seed shadow, seedling recruitment, ontogenetic structure and spatial distribution of Buchenavia capitata (an emergent canopy tree) in a 380-ha fragment of the Atlantic forest in northeast Brazil. In particular, we examine seed distribution around 10 parental trees and both seedling recruitment and mortality, during an 18 month period beneath and around parental trees. Moreover, we describe: (1) B. capitata occurrence within treefall gaps; (2) population structure in terms of ontogenetic stages for the whole site; and (3) spatial distribution of adults within an area of 51 hectares. 99% of seeds were found beneath parent crowns (n = 4,236) and seed density reached 14.6 +/- 29.9 seeds/m2 (0-140 seeds/m2). 49% of all seeds germinated but seedling mortality reached 100% after an 18 month period. In addition, saplings of B. capitata were not found in forest understory and within 30 treefall gaps (94-2,350 m2). The adults showed an average DBH of 69.3 +/- 22.1 cm, were 19.2 +/- 2.9 m tall and presented a clumped spatial distribution. B. capitata matched some of the features presented by shade intolerant trees or large-gap specialists, and we hypothesize that low rates or even lack of long distance seed dispersal events may be reducing the probability of B. capitata seeds reaching suitable habitats for successful seedling recruitment and growth. Because of that (1) seedlings face high levels of early mortality; (2) there is no sapling recruitment at the study site; and (3) local population faces senility and it is threatened by local extinction.

Brazil↗

Spatial distribution of the 26S proteasome in meristematic tissues and primordia of rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The 26S proteasome is known to play central roles in the growth of many eukaryotes. However, little is known regarding its distribution in higher plants. Here, we report the spatial distribution pattern of Rpn3 (a regulatory PA700 subunit) and C2 (a subunit of the 20S proteasome) in rice ( Oryza sativa L.) seedlings as determined by in situ hybridization. The transcripts were abundantly co-expressed in the apical and marginal meristems of shoots and roots. Interestingly, these transcripts also accumulated in the leaf and ligule primordia of the shoot apex. Our results suggest that the 26S proteasome is spatially distributed among various tissues and may be involved not only in cell division but also in organ formation in higher plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Impact of spatial distribution of M2 macrophages on prognosis and neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a crucial treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer; however, approximately 30-40% of patients experience primary resistance, the mechanisms of which urgently require elucidation. The tumor microenvironment exhibits a high degree of spatial heterogeneity. M2 macrophages, as critical immune cells within this environment, are typically associated with poor prognosis. Yet, whether their spatial distribution impacts chemotherapy efficacy remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the in situ spatial distribution characteristics of M2 macrophages and chemoresistance in gastric cancer. METHODS: Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Stomach Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-STAD) cohort, the association between M2 markers (CD163, MRC1) and histological grade as well as overall survival (OS) was evaluated. Spearman correlation and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the mechanistic link between M2 macrophages and stromal barrier construction. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and digital pathology image analysis were utilized to calculate the areal density of M2 macrophages in the intratumoral core and the peritumoral stroma, respectively. The tumor-to-peritumoral ratio (TPR) was constructed, followed by a rank correlation analysis between TPR and the tumor regression grade (TRG). RESULTS: TCGA-STAD results confirmed that patients with high expression of M2 markers had worse OS (P=0.03), and the expression levels of M2 markers increased with histological grade. MRC1 was highly significantly and positively correlated with the pro-fibrotic factor TGFB1 (rho=0.447, P<0.001), with the gene set significantly enriched in pathways such as positive regulation of cytokine production and myeloid leukocyte activation. Histological examination revealed that in chemoresistant patients (TRG 3), M2 macrophages were primarily retained in the peritumoral stroma, with a median TPR of 0.50; in chemosensitive patients (TRG 1-2), a massive influx of M2 macrophages into the tumor core was observed, with a median TPR of 6.67. TPR was negatively correlated with TRG (rs=-0.65, P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical impact of M2 macrophages in the gastric cancer microenvironment is highly dependent on their spatial distribution. The peritumoral-enriched pattern (TPR <1) mediates primary chemoresistance, whereas high infiltration in the core objectively reflects the pathological footprint following effective chemotherapy. The TPR serves as a novel tool for assessing neoadjuvant chemosensitivity in gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC)↗

Perforant path activation of the hippocampus: spatial distribution, effects of urethane and atropine.

Spatial distribution of field responses evoked by perforant path stimulation were studied in the hippocampus of both anaesthetized and drug-free rats. Simultaneous recordings with an array of 4 electrodes allowed us to construct a 2-dimensional map of the evoked field potentials. In addition, we examined the effects of atropine-SO4 and urethane on the amplitude of the dentate response. Trisynaptic activation of the CA1 region occurred regularly in the drug-free rat while CA1 population spikes were rarely seen in the anaesthetized animal. The latency of the CA1 population spike was shortest at the fimbrial side and increased gradually towards the subicular side. In the dentate gyrus atropine increased the amplitude of the population spike. We suggest that atropine may interfere with the septo-hippocampal feed-forward inhibition, and urethane may decrease the effectiveness of the perforant path-granule cell synapse, as well as the intrahippocampal excitatory circuit.

Animals↗

Spatial distribution of leaf dry weight per area and leaf nitrogen concentration in relation to local radiation regime within an isolated tree crown.

To assess the spatial distribution of photosynthetic capacity within an isolated 20-year-old walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) crown, the distribution of relevant leaf characteristics was measured. Variations in leaf dry weight per area (W(a)), and nitrogen content on a weight (N(w)) and area basis (N(a)) were studied along two horizontal and one vertical gradients of leaf irradiance, at two dates (July 30 and September 3). In addition, the content of total nonstructural carbon on a weight (TNC(w)) and area basis (TNC(a)) was measured on July 30. Concurrently, the spatial distribution of daily integrated leaf irradiance within the crown was simulated by a three-dimensional radiation transfer model over a one week period before sampling at each date. High spatial heterogeneity was observed for W(a) (from 50 to 140 g m(-2)), TNC(a) (from 4 to 17 g m(-2)) and N(a) (from 1.2 to 3.6 g m(-2)) among the foliage. Although TNC(w) and N(w) were not correlated and only weakly correlated to daily leaf irradiance, respectively, W(a), TNC(a) and N(a) were strongly correlated to daily leaf irradiance. The relationship between observed N(a) and simulated daily leaf irradiance was used to assess the spatial distribution of N(a) within the crown at each date. Total leaf nitrogen in the foliage was estimated to be 339 g in late July and 317g in early September. For the whole crown (i.e., 1729 current-year shoots), N(a) increased strongly with basal shoot diameter (an index of "shoot vigor"), highlighting the fact that large shoots were mainly located in sunlit locations and exhibited high photosynthetic capacity.

Journal Article↗