Facebook is trying to use AI to make MRI scans ten times faster

• Facebook is trying to use AI to make MRI scans up to 10x faster.
• The social network’s AI lab has teamed up with the NYU School of Medicine for a new research project.
• The company has access to 3 million magnetic resonance images from 10,000 clinical cases.

Rob Price, Business Insider US

August 20, 2018

NIH Image Gallery/flickr

Facebook wants to revolutionise MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans.

The social networking giant announced on Monday a new research project that aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to make MRI scans up to ten times faster, and has been granted access to a trove of around 3 million anonymised MRI images from 10,000 clinical cases.

In an announcement blog post, Facebook said the data it has accessed has had patient names removed, as well as “all other protected health information,” and the project is compliant with HIPAA privacy regulations.

The project is a collaboration between Facebook’s FAIR AI research lab and NYU School of Medicine’s Department of Radiology.

The efforts are a major foray by Facebook into into the medical space, as it attempts to apply its experimental AI research efforts to real-world problems. It’s an area that is rich with possibilities, but fraught with potential problems and privacy concerns. DeepMind, an AI lab owned by Google faced years of scrutiny over a data-sharing partnership with Britain’s NHS (National Health Service), and the UK’s data regulator ultimately ruled that the organisation violated British privacy laws.

MRI scans are lengthy affairs, often taking half an hour or so, while the patient lies dead still in a cramped tube. With this project, Facebook is betting that time can be cut down radically by using AI to capture less data, focusing the scanning process only on what’s important.

There are potential risks to the plan – what if in collecting less data, something is missed? – but also significant potential benefits. It means patients can take the scans more easily, and it increases the rate at which MRIs can be conducted, potentially bringing patient costs down.

“Using AI, it may be possible to capture less data and therefore scan faster, while preserving or even enhancing the rich information content of magnetic resonance images. The key is to train artificial neural networks to recognize the underlying structure of the images in order to fill in views omitted from the accelerated scan,” Facebook wrote in the blog post.

“This approach is similar to how humans process sensory information. When we experience the world, our brains often receive an incomplete picture – as in the case of obscured or dimly lit objects – that we need to turn into actionable information.”

Facebook has faced significant outrage over its privacy policies and use of customer data following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Facebook is trying to quell those concerns with this MRI initiative, reassuring the public that “no Facebook data of any kind will be used in the project.”

There was also uproar earlier this year after CNBC reported that Facebook had been talking to hospitals about sharing data on patients, and the company subsequently said the project had been put on hold.

https://www.businessinsider.my/facebook-nyu-school-of-medicine-launch-ai-mri-research-project-2018-8/

Restricting calories might offer protection against age-related diseases - A scientist who studies aging reveals how

• A scientist who studies aging in monkeys thinks that metabolism is at the center of the aging process.
• In her studies, caloric restriction seemed to protect monkeys against age-related damage and diseases.
• A study on caloric restriction in humans showed parallel effects.

Instead of survival of the fittest, evolution might actually be about survival of the laziest.

That’s according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal The Royal Society. Researchers from the University of Kansas studied fossils of ancient mollusks and gastropods, and found that organisms with higher metabolic rates were more likely to go extinct.

Charlotte Hu, Business Insider US

August 23, 2018

A capuchin monkey in Trujillo, Honduras.

 

US Air Force/Capt. David J. Murphy

Animals that required less energy to power their daily lives and maintain their bodily functions were more likely to win in the long run, the results showed.

While metabolism isn’t the only factor that determines whether a species goes extinct, the researchers suggest that it’s a very important component of long-term survival.

That new finding adds to a growing body of evidence that links lower metabolism with longevity. (Naked mole rats, for example, are the longest living rodentsthanks to a quirk in their metabolism.)

Rozalyn Anderson, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health, told Business Insider that her work in monkeys also suggests metabolism is at the center of the aging process.

“I think it’s all about energy: energy use, energy storage and the type of pathways that are being engaged to derive energy,” she said.

Restricting calories in monkeys

Anderson’s most recent research has been on the impacts of restricting caloric intake in Rhesus monkeys.

In a study of 76 monkeys published in the journal Science in 2009, Anderson and her colleagues found that restricting how many calories the animals consumed by 25% over a span of 20 years made them age differently, compared to a group of control monkeys that ate however much they wanted.

The monkeys who ate less were 2.5 times less likely to have an age-related disease like cancer or heart disease.

“The calorically restricted animals age differently,” Anderson said. “They don’t age slower, they age differently, and the way they age is associated with less disease risk. And that difference is in terms of their metabolism.”

She added that restricting a body’s caloric intake – the fuel it takes in – alters how the body produces and consumes energy, making it more energetically efficient.

Anderson also noted that the monkeys that underwent caloric restriction maintained their level of physical activity as they aged, whereas the control animals’ physical activity levels decreased. She explained at a conference in 2014that for calorically restricted animals, there’s a lower metabolic cost associated with movement – more “bang for your buck” when it comes to trading nutrients for usable energy units.

When humans restrict their calories, researchers have seen similar outcomes. A two-year-long, NIH-supported study published in The Journals of Gerontology in 2015 found that participants who restricted their calories by 12% on average saw decreases in risk factors that contribute to age-related heart disease and diabetes. The experiment did not significantly alter their metabolism, though.

Read more: Animals that defy the rules of aging – like naked mole rats – could help scientists unravel the secrets to longevity

Shutterstock

Connecting the dots between factors in the aging process

Anderson said that in her various studies of different facets of aging, she’s most fascinated when her research uncovers pathways that converge and overlap. This is happening more and more in the field of aging, and it’s helping her piece together why caloric restriction seems to alter parts of the aging process.

“I think it’s all completely connected, and these are just different ways of looking at the same phenomenon, which is the things that change with age that makes older people more vulnerable to disease than young people,” Anderson said. “How could you imagine a machine as complicated as a person or a monkey or a mouse, and not have it massively interconnected?”

For example, she found that a specific group of microRNAs – molecules that control gene expression – that she studied in relation to aging a while back plays an active role in the body’s response to caloric restriction. Anderson also found links between caloric restriction and her previous studies on NAD, a molecule that’s tied to energy metabolism and mitochondria. Putting these cellular-level studies into a bigger picture allows Anderson to gauge how all the moving parts come together when calories are limited.

“There’s this idea that the constellation of cells in a tissue are performing different tasks and different ones are creating vulnerability in different ways,” Anderson said. “It’s becoming more nuanced, for sure, it’s becoming more complicated. But it’s also making more sense. Which is why I think it’s kind of cool.”

Aging is inevitable, Anderson said, but her work is suggesting that how you age is flexible and manipulatable.

Understanding the relationship between metabolism and aging will allow scientists to better design studies on longevity. And as more research reveals how and why animals with lower metabolisms live longer and survive better, scientists may be able to figure out ways to mimic those effects in humans.

https://www.businessinsider.my/restricting-calories-could-protect-against-aging-2018-8/

Ophthalmic Lenses - 'MR' Resins

If  you are looking for high quality high-indexed premium ophthalmic glasses, the chances are the lens are MR (or Mitsui Resin) lenses, made by Mitsui Chemicals.  MR lenses are used by names like Essilor, Hoya, Nikon, Rodenstock, Seiko and Zeiss - for a comprehensive list, see the end of this article. 




Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (MCI) 

has over 30 years of experience in the development and production of innovative optical lens materials for the global market. The optical monomer brand name of MR™ is now globally recognized as a premium high index lens material. In 2008, SDC Technologies, Inc., a California based premium coating material company, and in 2011, Acomon group, a leading optical lens material manufacturer well known for its RAV7™ Series of R.I. 1.50 lens material, became MCI group companies.  Thus MCI is able to provide a full range of lens material and coating solutions to global lens manufacturers. In 2013, the Korean KOC Solution joined the MCI Group. KOC Solution, a manufacturer and distributor of plastic optical lens monomers, brings with it middle to high-index monomers to greatly enhance MCI's product portfolio.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.  Tokyo, Japan

MCI is globally known as a leading manufacturer of urethane products and in 1987 became the first company in the world to apply thiourethane chemical technology to ophthalmic lenses. MCI’s global R&D network with a broad range of technology contributes to excellence in designing the most advanced molecules for ophthalmic lens materials. For more about MCI R&D Strategy https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/techno/index.htm

Sodegaura R&D Center Chiba, Japan

~ Pioneer in high index lens material development ~

Early 1980s	Started development of high index lens materials.
1987	Commercial release of MR-6™, the world's first thiourethane high index ophthalmic lens material (R.I.1.60)
1991	Commercial release of MR-7™, the world's first refractive index 1.67 ophthalmic lens material
1998	Commercial release of MR-10™ (R.I.1.67)
1999	Commercial release of MR-8™ (R.I.1.60)
2000	Commercial release of MR-174™ (R.I.1.74)
2008	Acquisition of SDC Technologies, Inc., a California based premium coating material company
2009	Acquisition of Film Specialties, Inc., an anti-fog coating specialty company of SDC Technologies, Inc.
2011	Acquisition of Acomon group, a Switzerland and Italy based lens material company
2013	Mitsui Chemicals becomes majority shareholder of KOC Solution, a Korea based lens material company

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. contributes to the development of “epoch making” lens materials to provide the best solution for optical lens users.

MR™ Series is produced and delivered according to strictly controlled operation protocols for the sustainable supply of high quality materials to lens manufacturers. The MR™ Series production plant is certified under ISO9001 and strict precaution is taken not only in monomer production, but also in packaging, storage and logistics.  As a chemicals company, human and environmental safety is a top priority. The MR™ Series plant is certified under ISO14001 and all operations are conducted with great consideration to minimize impact on the environment. For more about MCI CSR https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/sustainability/index.htm

High-end Chemical Plants

MR™ Series and RAV7™ Series sales, marketing and technical service are conducted by MCI global headquarters in Japan and 7 regional headquarters around the globe. Therefore, quick customer service in multiple languages is available for the highest customer satisfaction. Additionally, SDC Technologies, Inc. and KOC Solution Co., Ltd. also have global networks to support their customers in each region. Customer satisfaction is always the MCI group’s first priority.

https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/special/mr/about/index.htm

MR™ Series  ~ Trademark of Safe, Clear and Lightweight Lenses ~

Excellent optical materials with high refractive index, high Abbe number, low specific gravity and high impact resistance are provided by polymerizing monomers of MR™ Series. MR™ Series is especially suitable for ophthalmic lenses and is known as the first thiourethane based high index lens material. MR™ Series offers a variety of products to provide the best solution for optical lens users.

R.I. 1.60： MR-8™

The best balanced high index lens material with the largest share of the R.I. 1.60 lens material market. MR-8™ is suited to any strength ophthalmic lens and is a new standard in ophthalmic lens material.

R.I. 1.67： MR-7™ & MR-10™

Global standard R.I.1.67 lens material. Great materials for thinner lenses with strong impact resistance. Material Characteristics MR-7™   : Better color tintability MR-10™ : Higher heat distortion temperature

R.I. 1.74： MR-174™

Ultra high index lens material for ultra thin lenses. Strong prescription lens wearers are now free from thick and heavy lenses.

MR™ Series is a brand name of the raw material for optical lenses.
MR™ Series based lenses are available from most leading lens manufacturers.

>How to produce optical lens using MR™ Series >Where to buy MR™ Series based lenses

● Comparison of physical properties of lenses made with MR™ Series vs. other optical materials

	MR™ Series				Other
	MR-8™	MR-7™	MR-10™	MR-174™	Poly carbonate	Aclyric (RI:1.60)	Middle Index	ADC (CR-39® RAV7®)	Crown Glass
Refractive Index (ne)	1.60	1.67	1.67	1.74	1.59	1.60	1.55	1.50	1.52
Abbe Number (νe)	41	31	31	32	28-30	32	34-36	58	59
Heat Distortion Temp. (ºC)	118	85	100	78	142-148	88-89	-	84	>450
Tintability	Good	Excellent	Good	OK	None	Good	Good	Good	None
Impact Resistance	Good	Good	Good	OK	Good	OK	OK	OK	Poor
Static Load Resistance	Good	Good	Good	OK	Good	Poor	Poor	Good	Good

* CR-39 is a trademark of PPG Industries, Inc. RAV7 is a trademark of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. 
All properties are representative measurement figures obtained under specified test methods at Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and are not guaranteed as specifications.

https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/special/mr/products/index.htm

• Optical glasses are now fashionable with light weighted lenses.
• MR™ Series offers 3 different refractive index products (R.I. 1.60, 1.67, 1.74).
  With higher index materials, it is possible to achieve thinner lenses with the same strength.

• Both high refractive index and high Abbe number provide optical performance similar to glass lenses.
• Glass mold-casted MR™ Series shows minimal stress-strain.
  (Optical quality is superior to injection molded polycarbonate lens) 
  
  

•	For more information on Optical Quality (Abbe Number, Stress Strain)

High Abbe number material like MR-8™ minimizes prism effect (Chromatic aberration) of lenses and provides comfortable view to all wearers.

High Abbe Number Material

Low Abbe Number Material

MR™ Series resin is uniformly polymerized in a glass mold. Compared to the injection molded Polycarbonate lens, MR™ Series lens shows minimal stress strain and offers stress free clear vision.

Stress Strain Observation
(Crossed Nichol method using the polarizing film and white light source)

MR-8™ offers stress free clear vision

High impact and static load resistance helps promote wearer eye safety. (Pass US-FDA drop ball test standards) Good tensile strength for fashionable rimless frames. Good processability for precisely designed progressive lenses (Advantage of thiourethane materials) .

•	For more information on Mechanical Strength (Impact Resistance, Static Load Resistance, Tensile Strength Resistance, Butterfly Test)

• Good weatherability provides minimal change in lens color after years of usage.
• Good compatibility with coating materials.

•	For more information on Durability (Lens Color Change, Coating Compatibility)

Wide Color Range Sunglasses MR™ Series has good color tintability making it suitable for high fashion sunglasses which have special color needs. TRANSITIONS® Photochromic Lens System MR™ Series has good compatibility with TRANSITIONS® photochromic lens systems. Polarized Lens MR™ Series is widely used for both ophthalmic & plano polarized sunglasses. Sophisticated Designs MR™ Series has good mechanical strength and stress free properties making it suitable for various unique lens designs such as "Rimless frame” or “High curve lens".

* TRANSITIONS is a trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc.
All tests were conducted under specified test methods at Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and are not guaranteed as specifications.

Reference lens samples
CR-39® lens: R.I. 1.50 lens made of CR-39®, Middle index lens: R.I. 1.54-1.56 middle index lens
Polycarbonate lens: R.I.1.59 lens made of polycarbonate, Acrylic lens: R.I.1.60 lens made of acrylic materials

https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/special/mr/products/features.htm

SDC Coating

SDC Technologies, Inc. Website

SDC Technologies, Inc. Irvine, California, USA

SDC Technologies, Inc. is a wholly owned MCI affiliate company and is the recognized world leader in the development and manufacture of abrasion-resistant and functional coatings for application to plastic, glass, and metals. SDC’s products add premium performance, optical clarity, appearance and durability to eyewear, sunglasses, safety lenses, automotive and aeronautical products, electronic devices and other custom applications.

SDC Technologies Inc. range of high index coating products have been specifically formulated to work with the MR™ Series and provide the best coating and product performance for MR™ Series based lenses.

SDC High Index Coating Features
Index matched
Tintable & Non tintable
Excellent steel wool resistance
AR compatible
Optically clear
Compatible index matched primers

SDC Technologies Inc. recognizes that each customer has unique requirements. SDC’s team of Trusted Advisors takes the time to understand customer situations, and then recommends an appropriate solution to meet customer requirements. SDC also works closely with customers during the application process to ensure high quality performance and yields. SDC’s products can be applied in a variety of methods, including dip, spin, flow, spray, and sputter.

Optical

As the market leader in premium abrasion-resistant coatings, SDC manufactures a variety of CrystalCoat® coatings and primers for vision corrective lenses and other optical applications. SDC manufactures tintable and non-tintable coatings in both thermal cure and UV cure formulas. CrystalCoat® abrasion-resistant coatings can be applied to all lens substrates. SDC also manufactures high-performance index matched coatings that have been specifically formulated to work with the MR™ Series and provide the best coating and product performance for MR™ Series based lenses.

Sunglasses & Sports Eyewear

CrystalCoat® products are recommended for sunglasses and sports eyewear to improve scratch resistance and product durability. CrystalCoat® products can be used on tinted or clear substrates such as MR™ Series, polycarbonate, polyamide, ADC (CR-39®, RAV7®), acrylic and Trivex®. Available globally, SDC products provide tintability, anti-fog, and premium abrasion resistance for sunglass and sports eyewear applications.

Safety

SDC manufactures a broad range of CrystalCoat® products for safety applications. To address the current trend for anti-fog coating, SDC offers high-performance water sheeting, anti-fog coating and abrasion resistance specifically designed to meet the industry's high standards and testing requirements. SDC also offers primer-free coatings with a rapid thermal cure.

Anti-Fog

Following the recent acquisition of FSI Coating Technologies, Inc. (FSICT), formerly Film Specialties, Inc., SDC now offers a whole new range of premium anti-fog coatings. Solutions that improve product durability include high performance “Water Washable” anti-fog coatings, standard and customized anti-fog coated film and sheet products, as well as complementary hard coating systems and primers. Anti-fog applications include medical, safety, military, and sports eyewear as well as industrial sheet and PET film for commercial freezer display doors.

* CR-39 and Trivex are trademarks of PPG Industries, Inc. RAV7 is a trademark of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/special/mr/products/sdc.htm

1. Preparation of MR™ Series

Mix MR™ monomer (component) A & B with additives, then degas the MR™ monomer mixture.

2. Filling

Fill molds with the MR™ monomer mixture.

3. Polymerization

Place the filled molds into ovens, where they undergo a heat-cycle, turning the MR™ monomer mixture into a MR™ Series lens.

4. Grinding / Polishing

Grind and polish the surface of the MR™ Series lens to create a curvature for required strength.

5. Tinting

Tint the surface of the MR™ Series lens.

6. Coating

Hard Coating Anti Reflection Coating

Coat the surface of the MR™ Series lens to protect from scratches, reflection etc.

7. Final Inspection

Inspect the coated lens.

https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/special/mr/lens_production/index.htm

Company	Lens Brand
ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL NIKON ESSILOR CO. LTD. CARL ZEISS VISION INC. RODENSTOCK SEIKO OPTICAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD. HOYA CORPORATION ASAHI LITE OPTICAL CO., LTD. Itoh Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. TOKAI OPTICAL CO., LTD. CHEMIGLAS CORPORATION DAEMYUNG OPTICAL CO., LTD. SOMO OPTICAL CO., LTD. KOREA OPTICAL CO., LTD. HANMI SWISS OPTICAL CO., LTD. Opticom Co.,Ltd.	Variluxr® See Max, See Style Clarlet® Impression® SPG, SSU, SLU, ASTERIA, SOLFE, SUPALITE NULUX, HILUX HYPER BELUNA DAGAS Clex Opti SV

Company	Lens Brand
ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL NIKON ESSILOR CO. LTD. CARL ZEISS VISION INC. SHAMIR OPTICAL INDUSTRY, LTD. RODENSTOCK SEIKO OPTICAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD. HOYA CORPORATION ASAHI LITE OPTICAL CO., LTD. Itoh Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. TOKAI OPTICAL CO., LTD. CHEMIGLAS CORPORATION  DAEMYUNG OPTICAL CO., LTD. SOMO OPTICAL CO., LTD. KOREA OPTICAL CO., LTD. HANMI SWISS OPTICAL CO., LTD. Opticom Co.,Ltd.	Variluxr®, Anateo® (BBGR) See Proud, Presio Series GT2™, Gradal®, AO Compact®, AO Easy, SOLA Compact ULTRA™, SOLAOne™, SOLAMAX® Genesis™, Piccoro®, Attitude™, Creation® Impression®Free Sign PAFINA, Perfas, JOYAS HOYALUX HYPER VIEW BELUNA, RESONAS, TOKAI Chemi-Pro, Chemilux DAGAS SOMO LUX Clex Opti Profree

Company	Lens Brand
ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL NIKON ESSILOR CO. LTD. CARL ZEISS VISION INC. Itoh Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. SPECIALTY LENS CORPORATION YOUNGER OPTICS KBco Opticom Co.,Ltd.	Essilor® Polarized Lenses Polashades SkyPol iRx Pro™ NuPolar® Xperio™ PolaMax

MR™ Series lenses are available from many other lens manufacturers around the world.

https://www.mitsuichem.com/en/special/mr/availability/index.htm


Also:  http://ophthalmiclenses.blogspot.com/2012/05/all-about-mr-seriesmr-8-mr-7-mr-10-mr.html



On Lenses, see:

http://ophthalmiclenses.blogspot.com/2012/05/all-about-mr-seriesmr-8-mr-7-mr-10-mr.html

https://healthticket.blogspot.com/2018/08/how-to-choose-best-lenses-for-your.html

https://healthticket.blogspot.com/2020/02/sticker-shock-why-are-glasses-so.html