JExample: Exploiting Dependencies Between Tests to Improve Defect Localization

To quickly localize defects, we want our attention to be focussed on relevant failing tests. We propose to improve defect localization by exploiting dependencies between tests, using a JUnit extension called JExample. In a case study, a monolithic white-box test suite for a complex algorithm is refactored into two traditional JUnit style tests and to JExample. Of the three refactorings, JExample reports five times fewer defect locations and slightly better performance (-8-12\%), while having similar maintenance characteristics. Compared to the original implementation, JExample greatly improves maintainability due the improved factorization following the accepted test quality guidelines. As such, JExample combines the benefits of test chains with test quality aspects of JUnit style testing.

Optical properties and defect structure of Sr2+ co-doped LaBr3:5%Ce scintillation crystals

Sr2+ co-doped LaBr3:5%Ce scintillators show a record low energy resolution of 2% at 662 keV and a considerably better proportional response compared to standard LaBr3:5%Ce. This paper reports on the optical properties and time response of Sr co-doped LaBr3:5%Ce. Multiple excitation and emission bands were observed in X-ray and optically excited luminescence measurements. Those bands are ascribed to three different Ce3+ sites. The first is the unperturbed site with the same luminescence properties as those of standard LaBr3:Ce. The other two are perturbed sites with red-shifted 4f-5d1 Ce3+ excitation and emission bands, longer Ce3+ decay times, and smaller Stokes shifts. The lowering of the lowest 5d level of Ce3+ was ascribed to larger crystal field interactions at the perturbed sites. Two types of point defects in the LaBr3 matrix were proposed to explain the observed results. No Ce4+ ions were detected in Sr co-doped LaBr3:5%Ce by diffuse reflectance measurements.

A Skull-Stripping Filter for ITK

Skull-stripping (or brain extraction) is an important pre-processing step in neuroimage analysis. This document describes a skull-stripping filter implemented using the Insight Toolkit ITK, which we named itk::StripTsImageFilter. It is a composite filter based on existing ITK classes. The filter has been implemented with usability, robustness, speed and versatility in mind, rather than accuracy. This makes it useful for many pre-processing tasks in neuroimage analysis. This paper is accompanied by the source code, input data and a testing environment.

Effect of lateral meniscectomy and osteochondral grafting of a lateral femoral condylar defect on contact mechanics: a cadaveric study in dogs

BACKGROUND Osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) aims at restoring normal articular cartilage surface geometry and articular contact mechanics. To date, no studies have evaluated the contact mechanics of the canine stifle following OAT. Additionally, there are no studies that evaluated the role of the meniscus in contact mechanics following OAT in human or canine femorotibial joints. The objective of this study was to measure the changes in femorotibial contact areas (CA), mean contact pressure (MCP) and peak contact pressure (PCP) before and after osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) of a simulated lateral femoral condylar cartilage defect with an intact lateral meniscus and following lateral meniscectomy. RESULTS With an intact lateral meniscus, creation of an osteochondral defect caused a decrease in MCP and PCP by 11% and 30%, respectively, compared to the intact stifle (p < 0.01). With an intact meniscus, implanting an osteochondral graft restored MCP and PCP to 96% (p = 0.56) and 92% (p = 0.41) of the control values. Lateral meniscectomy with grafting decreased CA by 54% and increased PCP by 79% compared to the intact stifle (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS OAT restored contact pressures in stifles with a simulated lateral condylar defect when the meniscus was intact. The lateral meniscus has a significant role in maintaining normal contact pressures in both stifles with a defect or following OAT. Meniscectomy should be avoided when a femoral condylar defect is present and when performing OAT.

Multiple osteosclerotic lesions in an Iron Age skull from Switzerland (320 - 250 BC) - An unusual case

The single Hochdorf burial was found in 1887 during construction work in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. It dates from between 320 and 250 BC. The calvarium, the left half of the pelvis and the left femur were preserved. The finding shows an unusual bony alteration of the skull. The aim of this study was to obtain a differential diagnosis and to examine the skull using various methods. Sex and age were determined anthropologically. Radiological examinations were performed with plain X-ray imaging and a multislice computed tomography (CT) scanner. For histological analysis, samples of the lesion were taken. The pathological processing included staining after fixation, decalcification, and paraffin embedding. Hard-cut sections were also prepared. The individual was female. The age at death was between 30 and 50 years. There is an intensely calcified bone proliferation at the right side of the os frontalis. Plain X-ray and CT imaging showed a large sclerotic lesion in the area of the right temple with a partly bulging appearance. The inner boundary of the lesion shows multi-edged irregularities. There is a diffuse thickening of the right side. In the left skull vault, there is a mix of sclerotic areas and areas which appear to be normal with a clear differentiation between tabula interna, diploë and tabula externa. Histology showed mature organised bone tissue. Radiological and histological findings favour a benign condition. Differential diagnoses comprise osteomas which may occur, for example, in the setting of hereditary adenomatous polyposis coli related to Gardner syndrome.

Birhombic flap, a modified bilobed flap, for repair of nasal defect

BACKGROUND Reconstruction of longitudinal defects of the lateral nasal alar might be challenging. Reconstruction with a bilobed flap is common for round defects normally the bilobed flap is less suited for longitudinal defects. OBJECTIVE We describe a birhombic flap for longitudinal defect. METHODS Demonstration of the technique and practical application for this kind of reconstruction. RESULTS The bilobed flap is a very useful flap for lateral nasal tip or distal alar reconstruction. We show that a small modification of the flap allows to cover also longitudinal defects on the lateral tip of the nose. As the first lobe movement corresponds more to the rhomboid transposition flap, we prefer to call it birhombic flap. CONCLUSION The birhombic flap has its place in reconstructive surgery. This flap has a specific indication and precise advantages to other repairs in particular to the bilobed flap.

Intraoperative fabrication of patient-specific moulded implants for skull reconstruction: single-centre experience of 28 cases

BACKGROUND Intraoperatively fabricated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) implants based on computer-designed moulds were used to improve cosmetic results after hard tissue replacement. To assess the implant's cosmetic and functional results we performed both subjective and objective assessments. METHODS This retrospective analysis was performed using a cohort of 28 patients who received PMMA implants between February 2009 and March 2012. The cosmetic and functional results were assessed using a patient questionnaire. Furthermore an objective volumetric subtraction score (0-100) was applied and implant thickness, as well as gaps and tiers, were measured. RESULTS Patients mainly judged their cosmetic result as "good". Two of the 28 patients found their cosmetic result unfavourable. The functional result and stability was mainly judged to be good. Measurements of implant thickness showed a very high correlation with the thickness of the contralateral bone. Volumetric subtraction led to a median quality of 80 on a scale from 0 to 100. Median gaps around the margins of the implant were 1.5 mm parietally, 1.7 mm frontally and 3.5 mm fronto-orbitally, and median tiers were 1.2 mm, 0 mm and 0 mm respectively. The overall rate of surgical revisions was 10.7 % (three patients). Two patients suffered from wound healing disturbances (7.1 %). The overall complication rate was comparable to other reports in the literature. CONCLUSIONS Implantation of intraoperatively fabricated patient-specific moulded implants is a cost-effective and safe technique leading to good clinical results with a low complication rate.

Transcutaneous treatment with vetdrop(®) sustains the adjacent cartilage in a microfracturing joint defect model in sheep

The significance of the adjacent cartilage in cartilage defect healing is not yet completely understood. Furthermore, it is unknown if the adjacent cartilage can somehow be influenced into responding after cartilage damage. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the adjacent cartilage can be better sustained after microfracturing in a cartilage defect model in the stifle joint of sheep using a transcutaneous treatment concept (Vetdrop(®)). Carprofen and chito-oligosaccharids were added either as single components or as a mixture to a vehicle suspension consisting of a herbal carrier oil in a water-in-oil phase. This mixture was administered onto the skin with the aid of a specific applicator during 6 weeks in 28 sheep, allocated into 6 different groups, that underwent microfracturing surgery either on the left or the right medial femoral condyle. Two groups served as control and were either treated intravenously or sham treated with oxygen only. Sheep were sacrificed and their medial condyle histologically evaluated qualitatively and semi-quantitatively according to 4 different scoring systems (Mankin, ICRS, Little and O'Driscoll). The adjacent cartilage of animals of group 4 treated transcutaneously with vehicle, chito-oligosaccharids and carprofen had better histological scores compared to all the other groups (Mankin 3.3±0.8, ICRS 15.7±0.7, Little 9.0±1.4). Complete defect filling was absent from the transcutaneous treatment groups. The experiment suggests that the adjacent cartilage is susceptible to treatment and that the combination of vehicle, chitooligosaccharids and carprofen may sustain the adjacent cartilage during the recovery period.

A molecular analysis of the conditional defect in MuSVts 110 viral RNA splicing

Cells infected with MuSVts110 express a viral RNA which contains an inherent conditional defect in RNA splicing. It has been shown previously that splicing of the MuSVts110 primary transcript is essential to morphological transformation of 6m2 cells in vitro. A growth temperature of 33$\sp\circ$C is permissive for viral RNA splicing,and, consequently, 6m2 cells appear morphologically transformed at this temperature. However, 6m2 cells appear phenotypically normal when incubated at 39$\sp\circ$C, the non-permissive temperature for viral RNA splicing.^ After a shift from 39$\sp\circ$C to 33$\sp\circ$C, the coordinate splicing of previously synthesized and newly transcribed MuSVts110 RNA was achieved. By S1 nuclease analysis of total RNA isolated at various times, 5$\sp\prime$ splice site cleavage of the MuSVts110 transcript appeared to occur 60 minutes after the shift to 33$\sp\circ$C, and 30 minutes prior to detectable exon ligation. In addition, consistent with the permissive temperatures and the kinetic timeframe of viral RNA splicing after a shift to 33$\sp\circ$C, four temperature sensitive blockades to primer extension were identified 26-75 bases upstream of the 3$\sp\prime$ splice site. These blockades likely reflect four branchpoint sequences utilized in the formation of MuSVts110 lariat splicing-intermediates.^ The 54-5A4 cell line is a spontaneous revertant of 6m2 cells and appears transformed at all growth temperatures. Primer extension sequence analysis has shown that a five base deletion occurred at the 3$\sp\prime$ splice site in MuSVts110 RNA allowing the expression of a viral transforming protein in 54-5A4 in the absence of RNA splicing, whereas in the parental 6m2 cell line, a splicing event is necessary to generate a similar transforming protein. As a consequence of this deletion, splicing cannot occur and the formation of the four MuSVts110 branched-intermediates were not observed at any temperature in 54-5A4 cells. However, 5$\sp\prime$ splice site cleavage was still detected at 33$\sp\circ$C.^ Finally, we have investigated the role of the 1488 bp deletion which occurred in the generation of MuSVts110 in the activation of temperature sensitive viral RNA splicing. This deletion appears solely responsible for splice site activation. Whether intron size is the crucial factor in MuSVts110 RNA splicing or whether inhibitory sequences were removed by the deletion is currently unknown. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.) ^

Genetic analysis of factors regulating mesenchymal cell fates

Formation of cartilage and bone involves sequential processes in which undifferentiated mesenchyme aggregates into primordial condensations which subsequently grow and differentiate, resulting in morphogenesis of the adult skeleton. While much has been learned about the structural molecules which comprise cartilage and bone, little is known about the nuclear factors which regulate chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. MHox is a homeobox-containing gene which is expressed in the mesenchyme of facial, limb, and vertebral skeletal precursors during mouse embryogenesis. MHox expression has been shown to require epithelial-derived signals, suggesting that MHox may regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions required for skeletal organogenesis. To determine the functions of MHox, we generated a loss-of-function mutation in the MHox gene. Mice homozygous for a mutant MHox allele exhibit defects of skeletogenesis, involving the loss or malformation of craniofacial, limb and vertebral skeletal structures. The affected skeletal elements are derived from the cranial neural crest, as well as somitic and lateral mesoderm. Analysis of the mutant phenotype during ontogeny demonstrated a defect in the formation or growth of chondrogenic and osteogenic precursors. These findings provide evidence that MHox regulates the formation of preskeletal condensations from undifferentiated mesenchyme. In addition, generation of mice doubly mutant for the MHox and S8 homeobox genes reveal that these two genes interact to control formation of the limb and craniofacial skeleton. Mice carrying mutant alleles for S8 and MHox exhibit an exaggeration of the craniofacial and limb phenotypes observed in the MHox mutant mouse. Thus, MHox and S8 are components of a combinatorial genetic code controlling generation of the skeleton of the skull and limbs. ^