Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
A GPU-accelerated fuzzy method for real-time CT volume filtering
During acquisition and reconstruction, medical images may become noisy and lose diagnostic quality. In the case of CT scans, obtaining less noisy images results in a higher radiation dose being administered to the patient. Filtering techniques can be utilized to reduce radiation without losing diagnosis capabilities. The objective in this work is to obtain an implementation of a filter capable of processing medical images in real-time. To achieve this we have developed several filter methods based on fuzzy logic, and their GPU implementations, to reduce mixed Gaussian-impulsive noise. These filters have been developed to work in attenuation coefficients so as to not lose any information from the CT scans. The testing volumes come from the Mayo clinic database and consist of CT volumes at full and at simulated low dose. The GPU parallelizations reach speedups of over 2700 and take less than 0.1 seconds to filter more than 300 slices. In terms of quality the filter is competitive with other state of the art algorithmic and AI filters. The proposed method obtains good performance in terms of quality and the parallelization results in real-time filtering.
A single vector system for tunable and homogeneous dual gene expression in Escherichia coli
Role of sclerostin in mastocytosis bone disease
AbstractMastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of disorders, characterized by accumulation of clonal mast cells which can infiltrate several organs, most often spine (70%). The pathogenesis of mastocytosis bone disease is poorly understood. The main aim of the study was to investigate whether neoplastic mast cells may be the source of sclerostin and whether there is an association between sclerostin and selected bone remodeling markers with mastocytosis related bone disease. We assessed sclerostin, bioactive sclerostin, and SOST gene expression in HMC-1.2 human mast cell culture supernatants and plasma of SM patients (n = 39). We showed that human mast cells can secrete sclerostin, and after their stimulation with IL-6, there is a significant increase in SOST gene expression. We observed significantly higher levels of sclerostin in patients diagnosed with more advanced disease. We observed a statistically significant correlation between concentations of sclerostin and its bioactive form and the concentration of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and between sclerostin and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We observed that significantly higher sclerostin concentrations are present in patients with increased sclerosis of the spongy bone. Sclerostin may serve as a marker of more advanced disease and bone disease in mastocytosis. Further studies are justified to evaluate its role in mastocytosis.
Correction: Moving towards a core measures set for patient safety in perioperative care: An e-Delphi consensus study
A comparative analysis of lumboperitoneal shunt outcomes in patients with post-hemorrhagic and post-traumatic hydrocephalus
Robust STAP with coprime sampling structure based on optimal singular value thresholding
An Extenics-TRIZ integrated RFPS model for different object of design requirements
Extending product life is one of the effective ways to reduce the waste of resources. However, many unsatisfactory products are scrapped because of a lack of adequate performance. The product should be improved and upgraded innovatively, and the existing upgradable products may create more economic benefits for the longer product life cycles. This paper proposed a product innovative design and product upgrade employing an Extenics-TRIZ Integrated requirement-function-principle-structure (RFPS) model, which aims at complex requirement flexibility with easy-to-use design process when the product needs a redesign. Here, the requirement flexibility refers to the ability of a design object to adapt its design levels. There are two design strategies: the extension analysis methods are utilized to map the top-level requirements to functions, principles, and structures requirements, and then the TRIZ is used to handle the design problems according to the objects on different levels. This design knowledge is summarized as RFPS, and it can be reused in computer-aided innovation further. A case study for a cutting table is illustrated to the innovation and upgrade, and it indicates the effectiveness for designers to implement the design methodology.
Gait-based Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and severity classification using force sensors and machine learning
Impact of epinephrine on neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest after automated external defibrillator use in Japan
Predicting noncontact injuries of professional football players using machine learning
Noncontact injuries are prevalent among professional football players. Yet, most research on this topic is retrospective, focusing solely on statistical correlations between Global Positioning System (GPS) metrics and injury occurrence, overlooking the multifactorial nature of injuries. This study introduces an automated injury identification and prediction approach using machine learning, leveraging GPS data and player-specific parameters. A sample of 34 male professional players from a Portuguese first-division team was analyzed, combining GPS data from Catapult receivers with descriptive variables for machine learning models—Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Feedforward Neural Networks (FNNs), and Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost)—to predict injuries. These models, particularly the SVMs with cost-sensitive learning, showed high accuracy in detecting injury events, achieving a sensitivity of 71.43%, specificity of 74.19%, and overall accuracy of 74.22%. Key predictive factors included the player’s position, session type, player load, velocity and acceleration. The developed models are notable for their balanced sensitivity and specificity, efficiency without extensive manual data collection, and capability to predict injuries for short time frames. These advancements will aid coaching staff in identifying high-risk players, optimizing team performance, and reducing rehabilitation costs.
Choice of props for courtship dancing in estrildid finches
Key factors in coastal village’s street planning for marine climate adaptation
It’s dark under the lamp? The moderating role of executives’ accounting competence on relationship between goodwill impairment signal and goodwill impairment
This study examines the influence of executives’ accounting competence on relationship between goodwill impairment signal and goodwill impairment, considering the perspective of performance compensation commitment. The research employs an empirical research method and utilizes a sample of A-share listed companies in China that have signed performance compensation commitment agreements from 2007 to 2022. I found that the executives’ accounting competence weakens the relationship between goodwill impairment signal and goodwill impairment. The stronger the executives’ accounting competence is, the weaker the goodwill impairment signal is, that is, the probability of the goodwill impairment is lower and the scale of goodwill impairment is smaller. Further research shows that the negative effect of executives’ accounting competence is more significant when the performance compensation commitment of the target assets is between 80% and 100%. Through heterogeneity analysis, it is found that the negative effect of executives’ accounting competence will be suppressed when the sample is in the period of equity incentive or the auditor audits the key issues of goodwill impairment. The research in this paper not only enriches the relevant literature on the characteristics of executives, but also discusses the subsequent measurement of goodwill, which is also conducive to promoting the formulation of accounting standards and assisting the supervision of capital markets, and has important theoretical and practical significance.
Peroxiredoxin 6 maintains mitochondrial homeostasis and promotes tumor progression through ROS/JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in multiple myeloma
Patella height ratios diagnose the same healthy knees differently
Abstract Our study aims to investigate if the ratios proposed by Insall-Salvati and Caton-Deschamps follow the theory of normal distribution levels in a healthy population. 434 skeletal mature, healthy knees were obtained from a CT-scan-based modelling system (SOMA). Patellae height ratios were measured using the Insall-Salvati ratio and the Caton-Deschamps index. The patella height ratios of the sample population were plotted on a quantile plot and diagnosed as patella alta, baja or normal using the original ratio definitions. The study population patella height values at the 95th, 98th and 5th centiles were identified and compared to those described as alta or baja by Insall-Salvati and Caton-Deschamps. This meant that if the patient had patella alta, this would be defined as a ratio of ≥ 1.2 and hypothesised that this would align at the 98th centile of the study population, whilst if diagnosed as patella baja (≤ 0.74), this should align at the 5th centile of the population. The inter-rater reliability of both ratios was calculated using kappa statistics. Two authors made all calculations and compared them for consistency using the intraclass correlation coefficient. For the Insall-Salvati ratio, the study population’s value at the 98th centile was equivalent to what Insall-Salvati describes as alta, a ratio of ≥ 1.2. In the study population, patients are overdiagnosed if using the Insall-Salvati ratio as patella baja ≤ 0.74, as the value at the 5th centile in the study population was 0.59. Using the Caton-Deschamps index, the 95th centile was 1.3, higher than the patella alta ratio determined by Caton as a ratio ≥ 1.2. Using Caton-Deschamps, patients are being underdiagnosed if utilising a patella baja ratio of ≤ 0.6. In our population, the 5th centile was 0.75. The two ratios had a kappa coefficient of 0.01, which indicates poor inter-rater reliability. Depending on the ratio used, caton-Deschamps and Insall-Salvati ratios diagnose patients as alta or baja differently. The current patella height ratios have originated from very small, select population samples. The future of patella height discussion should begin with data representing large populations. Then, we can discuss the upper and lower limits of abnormality.
Development and validation of trigger tools in primary care: A scoping review
In primary care, trigger tools have been utilized to evaluate and identify patient safety events. The use of trigger tools could help clinicians and patients detect adverse events in a patient’s medical record. Due to a lack of research on the process development of trigger tools in primary care, the purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the trigger development and validation process in primary care settings. A scoping review methodology was used to map the published literature using the Joanna Briggs Methodology of performing scoping review. We considered only studies published in English in the last five years and included both qualitative and quantitative study designs. The final review included five articles. The primary care and combined primary-secondary care studies are included to gain more knowledge in the process development and validation of trigger tools. The trigger tool development process begins with clearly defining the triggers, which are then programmed into a combined computerized algorithm. The validation process was then carried out in two steps by both physician and non-physician experts for content and concurrent validity. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) of the final algorithm were critical in determining the validity of each trigger. This study provided a comprehensive guide to developing trigger tools, emphasizing the importance of precisely defining triggers through a thorough literature review and dual validation process. There were similarities in the development and validation of trigger tools across primary care and hospital settings, allowing primary care to learn from hospital settings.
A novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of cadmium ions based on nitrogen-enriched carbon modified electrode
Development and construction of a portable wind tunnel for investigating wind erosion through the application of photogrammetry techniques
AbstractClimate change is one of the most crucial issues in human society such that if it is not given sufficient attention, it can become a great threat to both humans and the Earth. Due to global warming, soil erosion is increasing in different regions. Therefore, this issue will require further investigation and the use of new tools. In this paper, a portable wind tunnel was designed and built for wind erosion studies using photogrammetry, which is a novel technique. This instrument consists of a working section, a fan, a portable voltage source inverter to control its angular speed, and a honeycomb to straighten the air flow in the working section. The eroded volume of soil is measured using photogrammetry by producing two 3D models and point clouds before and after the soil erosion test and calculating their volume changes. The results show that a 0.175 mm check distance precision is achievable under convergent imaging and with sufficient number of accurate control points which this value indicates the discrepancy between the anticipated and measured lengths of all the check distances. In addition, the features of this portable wind tunnel guarantee its easy portability, and its transparency enables the measurement of the threshold friction velocity. Additionally, this instrument, as an invention, has been registered at the Intellectual Property Center of Iran.
The Scania Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Implementation Study (SATIS)–Lessons from an accelerated treatment protocol
Background and objective The Scania Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Implementation Study (SATIS) aimed to investigate the tolerability, preliminary effectiveness, and practical feasibility of an accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aTBS) protocol in treating depression. Methods We used an open-label observational design, recruiting 20 patients (aged 19–84 years) from two public brain stimulation centers in Sweden. During the five-day treatment period and at a follow-up visit after 30 days we closely monitored adverse events and collected self-rated side effect data. Objective (MADRS, CGI) and subjective (MADRS-S) measures of symptoms and functioning (EQ-5D) were also assessed. Feasibility was evaluated using direct patient ratings combined with a qualitative approach evaluating staff experience. Results All patients reported adverse events at some point, the most common being headache (18/20 patients), but they were generally transient. MADRS scores decreased from 28.4 (min = 17, max = 38. SD = 6.9) at baseline to 20.0 (min = 1, max = 42. SD = 11.6) after the last day of treatment. 25% (n = 5) met the response criteria, with a mean time to response of 2.2 days (min = 1, max = 3. SD = 1.1). The practical arrangements surrounding this new treatment proved challenging for the organization, but patients reported few practical problems. Conclusion SATIS provided further insights into the potential benefits and challenges associated with aTBS protocols. Effectiveness and drop-out rates were comparable to national data of conventional iTBS, but with a markedly faster time to response. More resources were required than anticipated, increasing the clinical workload.