Artifact Level Research Articles

Influence of Artefact Correction and Recording Device Type on the Practical Application of a Non-Linear Heart Rate Variability Biomarker for Aerobic Threshold Determination.

Recent study points to the value of a non-linear heart rate variability (HRV) biomarker using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA a1) for aerobic threshold determination (HRVT). Significance of recording artefact, correction methods and device bias on DFA a1 during exercise and HRVT is unclear. Gas exchange and HRV data were obtained from 17 participants during an incremental treadmill run using both ECG and Polar H7 as recording devices. First, artefacts were randomly placed in the ECG time series to equal 1, 3 and 6% missed beats with correction by Kubios software’s automatic and medium threshold method. Based on linear regression, Bland Altman analysis and Wilcoxon paired testing, there was bias present with increasing artefact quantity. Regardless of artefact correction method, 1 to 3% missed beat artefact introduced small but discernible bias in raw DFA a1 measurements. At 6% artefact using medium correction, proportional bias was found (maximum 19%). Despite this bias, the mean HRVT determination was within 1 bpm across all artefact levels and correction modalities. Second, the HRVT ascertained from synchronous ECG vs. Polar H7 recordings did show an average bias of minus 4 bpm. Polar H7 results suggest that device related bias is possible but in the reverse direction as artefact related bias.

Rigorous Plasma Microbiome Analysis Method Enables Disease Association Discovery in Clinic.

Blood microbiome is important to investigate microbial-host interactions and the effects on systemic immune perturbations. However, this effort has met with major challenges due to low microbial biomass and background artifacts. In the current study, microbial 16S DNA sequencing was applied to analyze plasma microbiome. We have developed a quality-filtering strategy to evaluate and exclude low levels of microbial sequences, potential contaminations, and artifacts from plasma microbial 16S DNA sequencing analyses. Furthermore, we have applied our technique in three cohorts, including tobacco-smokers, HIV-infected individuals, and individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as corresponding controls. More than 97% of total sequence data was removed using stringent quality-filtering strategy analyses; those removed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were low levels of microbial sequences, contaminations, and artifacts. The specifically enriched pathobiont bacterial ASVs have been identified in plasmas from tobacco-smokers, HIV-infected individuals, and individuals with SLE but not from control subjects. The associations between these ASVs and disease pathogenesis were demonstrated. The pathologic activities of some identified bacteria were further verified in vitro. We present a quality-filtering strategy to identify pathogenesis-associated plasma microbiome. Our approach provides a method for studying the diagnosis of subclinical microbial infection as well as for understanding the roles of microbiome-host interaction in disease pathogenesis.

Unsupervised Evaluation and Optimization for Electrical Impedance Tomography

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a radiation-free, fast, and convenient tomographic technology that uses only surface electrodes. EIT has the potential to provide continuous bedside monitoring of patients, for example, during mechanical ventilation. However, the soft-field nature of EIT leads to an ill-posed reconstruction problem that often results in multiple image solutions. This is exacerbated when EIT systems are used in variable measurement setups and scenarios, as few adjustment methods or EIT calibration approaches work reliably or require a reference phantom. The goals of this work are to design quality metrics to provide feedback for the EIT process to guide the system in adjusting the algorithm and parameters, for example, to alert the system in the event of poor image quality due to electrode connection variability. This then may be dealt with by physical electrode adjustment. In this article, the metrics, OAD and AL, representing object and artifact discreteness and artifact level, were designed to evaluate EIT image quality in an unsupervised way. Based on the quality index feedback, an image optimization process is proposed. The developed metrics and optimization methods were validated through data simulated in typical circular domain and thorax scenarios, and clinical data from human respiration. The conventional supervised evaluation metric, i.e., the correlation coefficient (COR) between the reference image and the reconstructed image, was used for comparison. The accuracy of new metrics was represented as the correlation coefficient of the new metric and COR. From the results, OAD and AL could improve the image quality by optimizing regularization parameters. The accuracy results of OAD and COR in the circular domain are 0.9429 and 0.9328, and those in thorax scenarios are 0.9741 and 0.8393. OAD and AL provide the evaluation of EIT images without using any prior knowledge or reference conductivity distribution, providing feedback to improve the reliability of EIT systems and reduce the risk of erroneous diagnosis.

Compression Artifacts Reduction Using Fusion of Multiple Restoration Networks

Lossy video compression achieves coding gains at the expense of the quality loss of the decoded images. Owing to the success of deep learning techniques, especially convolutional neural networks (CNNs), many compression artifacts reduction (CAR) techniques have been used to significantly improve the quality of decoded images by applying CNNs which are trained to predict the original artifact-free images from the decoded images. Most existing video compression standards control the compression ratio using a quantization parameter (QP), so the quality of the decoded images is strongly QP-dependent. Training individual CNNs for predetermined QPs is one of the common approaches to dealing with different levels of compression artifacts. However, compression artifacts are also dependent on the local characteristics of an image. Therefore, a CNN trained for specific QP cannot fully remove the compression artifacts of all images, even those encoded using the same QP. In this paper, we introduce a pixel-precise network selection network (PNSNet). From multiple reconstructed images obtained using multiple QP-specific CAR networks, PNSNet is trained to find the best CAR network for each pixel. The output of PNSNet is then used as an explicit spatial attention channel for an image fusion network that combines multiple reconstructed images. Experimental results demonstrated that the quality of decoded images can be significantly improved by the proposed multiple CAR network fusion method.

A Comprehensive Online Database about the Native Mounted Police and Frontier Conflict in Queensland

ABSTRACT In recent years the publication of online maps documenting frontier conflict between Indigenous peoples and interlopers in Australia has generated great public interest. These new resources are vital memorials to frontier conflict; however, we note they are still relatively “flat” resources, much more akin to visualized spreadsheets with a spatial element. Another new resource, the Frontier Conflict and the Native Mounted Police Database is a comprehensive relational database that comprehensively presents all elements of frontier conflict across the state of Queensland. It collates transcribed primary documents, georectified historical mapping data, and oral histories with archaeological site and artefact level data, and links these multi-tiered sets of information to the known structure, spread, and personnel of the paramilitary government agency, the Native Mounted Police. Rather than a single map being the main outcome, the Frontier Conflict and the Native Mounted Police Database uses the range of primary data to generate a comprehensive series of interactive maps, including layers relating to key historical data sets, as well as making the mass of primary and secondary data upon which the maps are based accessible to the user. In this Reflection, we describe the extent and limitations of the Frontier Conflict and the Native Mounted Police Database, and compare it with other online datasets. In collating frontier conflict relating to Queensland in a single, freely available online resource, we invite the public to actively engage in “truth-telling,” by assessing historical evidence for themselves, developing their critical thinking skills, and drawing their own conclusions about the nature and extent of frontier conflict.

Conditional generative adversarial network demosaicing strategy for division of focal plane polarimeters.

Division of focal plane (DoFP), or integrated microgrid polarimeters, typically consist of a 2 × 2 mosaic of linear polarization filters overlaid upon a focal plane array sensor and obtain temporally synchronized polarized intensity measurements across a scene, similar in concept to a Bayer color filter array camera. However, the resulting estimated polarimetric images suffer a loss in resolution and can be plagued by aliasing due to the spatially-modulated microgrid measurement strategy. Demosaicing strategies have been proposed that attempt to minimize these effects, but result in some level of residual artifacts. In this work we propose a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) approach to the microgrid demosaicing problem. We evaluate the performance of our approach against full-resolution division-of-time polarimeter data as well as compare against both traditional and recent microgrid demosaicing methods. We apply these demosaicing strategies to data from both real and simulated visible microgrid imagery and provide an objective criteria for evaluating their performance. We demonstrate that the proposed cGAN approach results in estimated Stokes imagery that is comparable to full-resolution ground truth imagery from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective.

Retrospective four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of liver: Method development.

Purpose of our research was to develop a four‐dimensional (4D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method of liver. Requirements of the method were to create a clinical procedure with acceptable imaging time and sufficient temporal and spatial accuracy. The method should produce useful planning image sets for stereotactic body radiation therapy delivery both during breath‐hold and in free breathing. The purpose of the method was to improve the localization of liver metastasis. The method was validated with phantom tests. Imaging parameters were optimized to create a 4D dataset compressed to one respiratory cycle of the whole liver with clinically reasonable level of image contrast and artifacts. Five healthy volunteers were imaged with T2‐weighted SSFSE research sequence. The respiratory surrogate signal was observed by the linear navigator interleaved with the anatomical liver images. The navigator was set on head‐feet — direction on the superior surface of the liver to detect the edge of diaphragm. The navigator signal and 2D liver image data were retrospectively processed with a self‐developed MATLAB algorithm. A deformable phantom for 4D imaging tests was constructed by combining deformable tissue‐equivalent material and a commercial programmable motor unit of the 4D phantom with a clinically relevant range of deformation patterns. 4D Computed Tomography images were used as reference to validate the MRI protocol. The best compromise of reasonable accuracy and imaging time was found with 2D T2‐weighted SSFSE imaging sequence using parameters: TR = 500–550 ms, images/slices = 20, slice thickness = 3 mm. Then, image processing with number of respiratory phases = 8 constructed accurate 4D images of liver. We have developed the 4D‐MRI method visualizing liver motions three‐dimensionally in one representative respiratory cycle. From phantom tests it was found that the spatial agreement to 4D‐CT is within 2 mm that is considered sufficient for clinical applications.

Evaluation of image quality of wideband single-shot late gadolinium-enhancement MRI in patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device.

While wideband segmented, breath-hold late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been shown to suppress image artifacts associated with cardiac-implanted electronic devices (CIEDs), it may produce image artifacts in patients with arrhythmia and/or dyspnea. Single-shot LGE is capable of suppressing said artifacts. We sought to compare the performance of wideband single-shot free-breathing LGE against the standard and wideband-segmented LGEs in CIED patients. We retrospectively identified all 54 consecutive patients (mean age: 61 ± 15 years; 31% females) with CIED who had undergone CMR with standard segmented, wideband segmented, and/or wideband single-shot LGE sequences as part of quality assurance for determining best clinical practice at 1.5 T. Two raters independently graded the conspicuity of myocardial scar or normal myocardium and the presence of device artifact level on a 5-point Likert scale (1: worst; 3: acceptable; 5: best). Summed visual score (SVS) was calculated as the sum of conspicuity and artifact scores (SVS ≥ 6 defined as diagnostically interpretable). Median conspicuity and artifact scores were significantly better for wideband single-shot LGE (F = 24.2, p < .001) and wideband-segmented LGE (F = 20.6, p < .001) compared to standard-segmented LGE. Among evaluated myocardial segments, 72% were deemed diagnostically interpretable-defined as SVS ≥ 6-for standard-segmented LGE, 89% were deemed diagnostically interpretable for wideband-segmented LGE, and 94% segments were deemed diagnostically interpretable for wideband single-shot LGE. Wideband single-shot LGE and wideband-segmented LGE produced similarly improved image quality compared to standard LGE.

A comparison of algebraic reconstruction techniques for a single-detector muon computed tomography system

An attenuation-based muon computed tomography algorithm has been developed to enable imaging of large infrastructure using measurements from a single muon tracking module. The performance of the algorithm depends on the choice of reconstruction technique that is incorporated, and is evaluated for seven different reconstruction techniques from the computed tomography literature. The L1-Norm reconstruction technique proposed by Kudo et al. is found to provide the best overall performance. The least-squares conjugate gradient (LSCG) technique and the Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) are also capable of identifying special nuclear materials, but typically display higher levels of reconstruction artifacts in comparison with L1-Norm. A muon-tomography reconstruction of a simplified simulated reactor core using the L1-Norm algorithm is able to accurately reproduce the geometry, including the identification of missing fuel channels.

On the fulfillment of coordination requirements in open-source software projects: An exploratory study

In large-scale open-source software projects, where developers are often distributed across the entire planet, coordination among developers is crucial. To estimate whether a state of socio-technical congruence is achieved, which is associated with software quality and project success, we assess the alignment of collaboration and communication in such software projects in terms of coordination requirements. By means of an empirical study on a substantial set of large-scale open-source software projects—the development histories of all projects sum up to over 180 years—we aim at shedding light on this issue. To this end, to take a more semantic view on this phenomenon in comparison to previous work, we do not only identify coordination requirements arising from files and functions only, but also those arising from features. We found that open-source developers fulfill coordination requirements intentionally, but mostly those coordination requirements that arise from coupled source-code artifacts, while they resolve simpler ones independently. Furthermore, neither of the considered abstraction levels of source-code artifacts (files, functions, features) is more suitable to construct coordination requirements with respect to their fulfillment. This finding strongly indicates that features do not play an as important role in the development process as expected and commonly believed by the research community in the area of feature-oriented and feature-driven development. Finally, we identified notable evolutionary trends in the fulfillment of coordination requirements and showed that far-reaching social events (such as organizational issues) have a huge impact on their fulfillment, both negatively and positively. The key findings of our empirical study are that socio-technical relations are important to understand open-source development communities and that the incorporation of different abstraction levels for developer collaboration does yield important insights to further improve the evolution in open-source software projects.

Dentomaxillofacial CBCT: Clinical Challenges for Indication-oriented Imaging.

This critical review discusses the clinical challenges for patient-specific and indication-oriented dentomaxillofacial cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Large variations among units and protocols may lead to variable degrees of diagnostic and three-dimensional model accuracy, impacting both specific diagnostic tasks and treatment planning. Particular indications, whether diagnostic or therapeutic, may give rise to very specific challenges with regard to CBCT unit and parameter setup, considering the required image quality, segmentation accuracy, and artifact level. Considering that dental materials are in the field of view needed for diagnosis or treatment planning, artifact expression is a dominant factor in proper CBCT selection. The heterogeneity of dental CBCT units and performances may highly impact the scientific results. Thus research findings cannot be simply generalized as published evidence, and a demonstrated clinical applicability for a specific indication should not be simply extrapolated from one CBCT unit to another.

Fast TWIST with iterative reconstruction improves diagnostic accuracy of AVM of the hand

Very high temporal and spatial resolution is mandatory for the diagnosis of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) of the hand. Until now, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not fulfilled both requirements simultaneously. This study presents how the combination of a very fast TWIST MRI (time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories) sequence and iterative reconstructions optimizes temporal as well as spatial resolution. 11 patients were examined at a 3-T MRI scanner with two different TWIST protocols: the standard and the study protocol, acquiring a data set every 5.57 s and 1.44 s respectively. The study data was retrospectively iteratively reconstructed with different regularization factors (0.001, 0.002, 0.004, 0.008). Results were compared using the sign-test. P-values < 0.05 were regarded statistically significant. With a low amount of contrast medium, the temporal resolution of the study protocol enabled the differentiation of arteries from veins in all patients whereas the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) deteriorated. Depending on the regularization factors, SNR, delineation of arterial feeders and non-involved hand and interdigital arteries, as well as artefact levels varied. Overall, iterative reconstruction with regularization factor 0.004 achieved the best results, consequently showing the ability of MRI as a reliable diagnostic method in AVMs of the hand.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the oral and maxillofacial region: optimal fat suppression method

To compare 3 fat suppression methods-water excitation (WE), chemical shift selective (CHESS), and short T1 inversion recovery (STIR)-for optimal image quality and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the oral and maxillofacial region. In total, 53 patients with 73 lesions were enrolled in this study. MRI using DWI protocols with the 3 fat suppression methods were performed in addition to a conventional MRI protocol. The diagnostic image quality of lesions, image uniformity, degree of image artifacts, and ADC values of the lesions were evaluated. Average visual scores and ADC values were compared, and post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed, with the level of significance set at P < .0167. Diagnostic image quality was not significantly different among the fat suppression methods (P ≥ .042). Image uniformity was significantly higher (P < .001), and the degree of image artifacts was significantly lower (P < .001), in images using the STIR method. Mean ADC values did not differ significantly among the 3 methods. The STIR method was the most useful fat suppression method for DWI of the oral and maxillofacial region because of its high level of image uniformity and few image artifacts.

Calibrationless parallel imaging reconstruction for multislice MR data using low-rank tensor completion.

To provide joint calibrationless parallel imaging reconstruction of highly accelerated multislice 2D MR k-space data. Adjacent image slices in multislice MR data have similar coil sensitivity maps, spatial support, and image content. Such similarities can be utilized to improve image quality by reconstructing multiple slices jointly with low-rank tensor completion. Specifically, the multichannel k-space data from multiple slices are constructed into a block-wise Hankel tensor and iteratively updated by promoting tensor low-rankness through higher-order SVD. This multislice block-wise Hankel tensor completion was implemented for 2D spiral and Cartesian k-space undersampling where sampling patterns vary between adjacent slices. The approach was evaluated with human brain MR data and compared to the traditional single-slice simultaneous autocalibrating and k-space estimation reconstruction. The proposed multislice block-wise Hankel tensor completion approach robustly reconstructed highly undersampled multislice 2D spiral and Cartesian data. It produced substantially lower level of artifacts compared to the traditional single-slice simultaneous autocalibrating and k-space estimation reconstruction. Quantitative evaluation using error maps and root mean square error demonstrated its significantly improved performance in terms of residual artifacts and root mean square error. Our proposed multislice block-wise Hankel tensor completion method exploits the similar coil sensitivity and image content within multislice MR data through a tensor completion framework. It offers a new and effective approach to acquire and reconstruct highly undersampled multislice MR data in a calibrationless manner.

Does microenema administration improve the quality of DWI sequences in rectal MRI?

To determine whether the administration of a microenema immediately prior to rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) decreases the level of gas-related artifacts on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. This retrospective analysis included 492 (183 baseline and 309 post-total neoadjuvant treatment [TNT]) consecutive MRI scans for rectal cancer from January 2019 to January 2020. Scan-related factors were identified including microenema use (yes or no), field of view (FOV) in DWI (b = 800 or b = 1500), and magnet strength (1.5T or 3T). Two readers scored DWI studies for gas-related artifacts and T2-weighted sequences for the amount of intraluminal gas on a 5-point scale. Fisher's exact test and the Rao-Scott Chi-squared test were used to examine associations between microenema use and other factors. Generalized estimating equation and multivariable regression models were performed to examine the effect of microenema use in subgroups of scansfor each reader. Cohen's κ was used to assess inter-reader agreement. Gas-related artifact levels decreased in scans with microenema overall(P < 0.001) as well as when scans werestratified by FOV (P ≤ 0.003). For both readers, post-TNT scans with microenema showed lower artifact levels overall (P < 0.014 and P < 0.001) and inpost-TNTsubgroups of axial DWI scans(P ≤ 0.006 and P < 0.001) and scans acquiredwith a3T magnet (P ≤ 0.001 for both FOV). No evidence of decreased artifact level was found for baseline studies. Decreased gas was seen with microenema use (P < 0.001 for both readers). Inter-reader agreement on artifact-level and gas-level assessments ranged from slight to substantial (κ = 0.273-0.685). Microenema use prior to rectal MRI reduces gas-related artifacts on DWI, including both large and small FOV sequences and particularly on post-TNT scans performed at 3T, and offers a viable solution to improve DWI quality.

Comparative Study of Image Quality in Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Computed Tomography

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used in medical imaging to reconstruct a 3-D image of a patient. To limit the radiation dose applied to patients, researches focus on reducing the statistical noise or increasing the contrast in the image. Recently, time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) CT-also known as time-of-flight (TOF) CT-has been proposed to reduce scatter contribution to images and its negative effects on image quality. This technique uses the TOF information of X-ray photons to sort out scattered and ballistic photons without energy measurement. This article compares simulated images quality obtained from different CT scanner implementations (fan-beam, cone-beam with and without anti-scatter grids, and TCSPC). The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), the scattered-to-primary ratio (SPR), the inaccuracy of the computed attenuation value, and the cup artifact magnitude are used as comparison metrics to study the overall sensitivity of the different scanner implementations to scatter contribution. Using timing jitters of 200, 100, and 50 ps, the simulations demonstrate that the TCSPC implementation improves the CNR, accuracy, and cup artifact levels of the reconstructed images, when compared to a cone-beam CT, by reducing its scatter contribution. A 10-ps timing jitter on the measured time of flight leads to an image quality similar to fan-beam CT.

Highly Accelerated Real-Time Free-Breathing Cine CMR for Patients With a Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device

To develop a 16-fold accelerated real-time, free-breathing cine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) pulse sequence with compressed sensing reconstruction and test whether it is capable of producing clinically acceptable summed visual scores (SVS) and accurate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). A 16-fold accelerated real-time cine CMR pulse sequence was developed using gradient echo readout, Cartesian k-space sampling, and compressed sensing. We scanned 13 CIED patients (mean age = 59 years; 9/4 males/females) using clinical standard, breath-hold cine and real-time, free-breathing cine. Two clinical readers performed a visual assessment of image quality in four categories (conspicuity of endocardial wall at end diastole, temporal fidelity of wall motion, any artifact level on the heart, noise) using a five-point Likert scale (1: worst; 3: clinically acceptable; 5: best). SVS was calculated as the sum of 4 individual scores, where 12 was defined as clinical acceptable. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to compare SVS, and the Bland-Altman analysis was conducted to evaluate the agreement of LVEF. Median scan time was 3.7 times shorter for real-time (3.5 heartbeats per slice) than clinical standard (13 heartbeats per slice, excluding nonscanning time between successive breath-hold acquisitions). Median SVS was not significantly different between clinical standard (15.0) and real-time (14.5). The mean difference in LVEF was -2% (4.7% of mean), and the limits of agreement was 5.8% (13.5% of mean). This study demonstrates that the proposed real-time cine method produces clinically acceptable SVS and relatively accurate LVEF in CIED patients.

Autopilot and algorithms: accidents, errors, and the current need for human oversight.

Citation:Kirsch D. Autopilot and algorithms: accidents, errors, and the current need for human oversight. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(10):1651–1652.

Leveraging inter-industry spillovers through DIY laboratories: Entrepreneurship and innovation in the global bicycle industry

DIY laboratories have the potential to advance new technologies, products and services through the leveraging of low-cost facilities by entrepreneurial individuals. We add to this emerging understanding of the DIY phenomenon by investigating the prevalence, operations and contextual factors that impact the use of DIY laboratories in the bicycle industry. We find two contexts in which DIY laboratories are utilised to develop component-level innovations: first, DIY laboratories are utilised as a low-cost way to enter an industry where the entrepreneur lacks the necessary financial resources and rely upon bootstrapping to build their enterprise. Second, and more frequently, DIY laboratories were used for the integration of diversified technical knowledge originating in other industries. Our study highlights the important role that DIY laboratories may play in leveraging inter-industry knowledge spillovers whereby DIY laboratories operate as incubators in the repurposing of diversified knowledge from high-technology sectors to lower-technology sectors to generate incremental innovation. Further, the modular product architecture of the bicycle helped facilitate the co-opting of technical knowledge prevalent in other industries by allowing entrepreneurs to focus their product development and subsequent commercialisation activities at the component level of the product artefact.

PERAN SENTRAL BUNDA MARIA DALAM PROSESI ARAK-ARAKAN PATUNG TUAN MA DI LARANTUKA (SUATU UNGKAPAN KEARIFAN LOKAL DALAM TRADISI RELIGIUS)

Saint Mary’s figure is so exclusive to the people of Larantuka City which appear in the Semana Santa ritual. In Lera Wulan Tanah Ekan’s Lamaholot ethnic pre-Catholic religious system which views female figures as representations of the universe, it brings forth an allegation that there is a correlation with the cultural dominance of the Virgin Mary figure. This paper analyzes Semana Santa’s, especially Tuan Ma procession phenomenon as the main indicator of Larantuka society’s exclusive appreciation and perception background toward the Virgin Mary and try to seek, Larantuka people as Lamaholot ethnic have a local wisdom called Lewotana covering all the values they embrace and implement, including the value in their religious system. The phenomenon of the cultural system religion of Larantuka society alteration from Lera Wulan Tanah Ekan and Lewotana into Catholic culture only occurs at the level of social behavior and artifacts, the idea of the value of the sacred women figure who is considered as a representation of the universe still exist in the cognitive nature of Larantuka society with the figure of the Virgin Mary as a substitution process media of feminist value along with symbol as ‘place’ meaning to the admiration and respect to woman figure, especially mother. Keyword: Tuan Ma, Semana Santa, A kulturasi, K earifan L okal, F eminisme .