diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a60b85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
diff --git a/.jules/bolt.md b/.jules/bolt.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fef6afa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.jules/bolt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+## 2024-05-18 - CompuCell3D Field Access Exceptions
+**Learning:** In CompuCell3D Python scripts, avoid using `try...except` blocks inside tightly nested spatial loops for field accesses (like `self.cell_field`). Out-of-bounds SWIG object lookups throw exceptions that incur significant overhead.
+**Action:** Use explicit boundary checks (e.g., `min()`, `max()`) before accessing arrays to avoid throwing/catching exceptions.
diff --git a/Simulation/CancerInvasionSteppables.py b/Simulation/CancerInvasionSteppables.py
index 3782ab5..662c006 100644
--- a/Simulation/CancerInvasionSteppables.py
+++ b/Simulation/CancerInvasionSteppables.py
@@ -89,13 +89,11 @@ def initialize_paper_ecm(self):
                     pixels_assigned = 0
                     
                     for x, y in fiber_pixels:
-                        try:
+                        if 0 <= x < self.dim.x and 0 <= y < self.dim.y:
                             if self.cell_field[x, y, 0] is None:
                                 self.cell_field[x, y, 0] = fiber_cell
                                 self.fiber_locations.add((x, y))
                                 pixels_assigned += 1
-                        except:
-                            continue
                     
                     if pixels_assigned >= 10:
                         fibers_created += 1
@@ -175,13 +173,10 @@ def create_paper_cell(self, center_x, center_y, radius):
                 for dy in range(-radius, radius + 1):
                     if dx*dx + dy*dy <= radius*radius:
                         px, py = center_x + dx, center_y + dy
-                        if 0 <= px < 500 and 0 <= py < 500:
-                            try:
-                                if self.cell_field[px, py, 0] is None:
-                                    self.cell_field[px, py, 0] = cell
-                                    pixels_added += 1
-                            except:
-                                continue
+                        if 0 <= px < self.dim.x and 0 <= py < self.dim.y:
+                            if self.cell_field[px, py, 0] is None:
+                                self.cell_field[px, py, 0] = cell
+                                pixels_added += 1
             
             if pixels_added >= 20:
                 return True
@@ -206,16 +201,15 @@ def safe_cell_removal(self, cell):
         try:
             pixels_cleared = 0
             search_radius = 15
-            for x in range(max(0, int(cell.xCOM) - search_radius), 
-                          min(self.dim.x, int(cell.xCOM) + search_radius)):
-                for y in range(max(0, int(cell.yCOM) - search_radius), 
-                              min(self.dim.y, int(cell.yCOM) + search_radius)):
-                    try:
-                        if self.cell_field[x, y, 0] == cell:
-                            self.cell_field[x, y, 0] = None
-                            pixels_cleared += 1
-                    except:
-                        continue
+            x_min = max(0, int(cell.xCOM) - search_radius)
+            x_max = min(self.dim.x, int(cell.xCOM) + search_radius)
+            y_min = max(0, int(cell.yCOM) - search_radius)
+            y_max = min(self.dim.y, int(cell.yCOM) + search_radius)
+            for x in range(x_min, x_max):
+                for y in range(y_min, y_max):
+                    if self.cell_field[x, y, 0] == cell:
+                        self.cell_field[x, y, 0] = None
+                        pixels_cleared += 1
             return pixels_cleared > 0
         except Exception as e:
             return False
@@ -285,16 +279,13 @@ def paper_mmp_system(self):
             fibers_to_remove = []
             for cell in self.cell_list:
                 if cell.type == self.ECMFIBER:
-                    try:
-                        cx, cy = int(cell.xCOM), int(cell.yCOM)
-                        if 0 <= cx < 500 and 0 <= cy < 500:
-                            mmp_conc = mmp_field[cx, cy, 0]
-                            if mmp_conc >= self.degradation_threshold:
-                                fibers_to_remove.append(cell)
-                                # Paper: reduce MMP count by 1 after degradation
-                                mmp_field[cx, cy, 0] = max(0, mmp_conc - 1)
-                    except:
-                        continue
+                    cx, cy = int(cell.xCOM), int(cell.yCOM)
+                    if 0 <= cx < self.dim.x and 0 <= cy < self.dim.y:
+                        mmp_conc = mmp_field[cx, cy, 0]
+                        if mmp_conc >= self.degradation_threshold:
+                            fibers_to_remove.append(cell)
+                            # Paper: reduce MMP count by 1 after degradation
+                            mmp_field[cx, cy, 0] = max(0, mmp_conc - 1)
             
             # Remove degraded fibers
             for fiber in fibers_to_remove:
@@ -309,16 +300,16 @@ def check_ecm_contact(self, cell):
         try:
             cx, cy = int(cell.xCOM), int(cell.yCOM)
             
-            for dx in range(-3, 4):
-                for dy in range(-3, 4):
-                    nx, ny = cx + dx, cy + dy
-                    if 0 <= nx < 500 and 0 <= ny < 500:
-                        try:
-                            neighbor = self.cell_field[nx, ny, 0]
-                            if neighbor and neighbor.type == self.ECMFIBER:
-                                return True
-                        except:
-                            continue
+            x_min = max(0, cx - 3)
+            x_max = min(self.dim.x, cx + 4)
+            y_min = max(0, cy - 3)
+            y_max = min(self.dim.y, cy + 4)
+
+            for nx in range(x_min, x_max):
+                for ny in range(y_min, y_max):
+                    neighbor = self.cell_field[nx, ny, 0]
+                    if neighbor and neighbor.type == self.ECMFIBER:
+                        return True
             return False
         except:
             return False
@@ -371,11 +362,12 @@ def step(self, mcs):
                         contact_area += commonSurfaceArea
                 
                 if contact_area < self.crowding_threshold:
-                    try:
-                        mmp_conc = self.field.MMP[int(cell.xCOM), int(cell.yCOM), 0]
+                    cx, cy = int(cell.xCOM), int(cell.yCOM)
+                    if 0 <= cx < self.dim.x and 0 <= cy < self.dim.y:
+                        mmp_conc = self.field.MMP[cx, cy, 0]
                         growth_boost = 1.0 + (mmp_conc * 0.1)
                         cell.targetVolume += self.growth_rate * growth_boost
-                    except:
+                    else:
                         cell.targetVolume += self.growth_rate
 
 
diff --git a/Simulation/__pycache__/CancerInvasionSteppables.cpython-312.pyc b/Simulation/__pycache__/CancerInvasionSteppables.cpython-312.pyc
deleted file mode 100644
index 611fe30..0000000
Binary files a/Simulation/__pycache__/CancerInvasionSteppables.cpython-312.pyc and /dev/null differ