Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CSFM: Community-based structure from motion

Structure-from-Motion approaches could be broadly divided into two classes: incremental and global. While incremental manner is robust to outliers, it suffers from error accumulation and heavy computation load. The global manner has the advantage of simultaneously estimating all camera poses, but it is usually sensitive to epipolar geometry outliers. In this paper, we propose an adaptive community-based SfM (CSfM) method which takes both robustness and efficiency into consideration. First, the epipolar geometry graph is partitioned into separate communities. Then, the reconstruction problem is solved for each community in parallel. Finally, the reconstruction results are merged by a novel global similarity averaging method, which solves three convex L1 optimization problems. Experimental results show that our method performs better than many of the state-of-the-art global SfM approaches in terms of computational efficiency, while achieves similar or better reconstruction accuracy and robustness than many of the state-of-the-art incremental SfM approaches.
Outcomes from the first multidrug-resistant tuberculosis programme in Kenya.

SETTING In March 2006, the first multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment programme was implemented in Kenya. OBJECTIVE To describe patients' treatment outcomes and adverse events. DESIGN A retrospective case note review of patients started on MDR-TB treatment at two Médecins Sans Frontières-supported sites and the national referral hospital of Kenya was undertaken. Sites operated an ambulatory model of care. Patients were treated for a minimum of 24 months with at least 4-5 drugs for the intensive phase of treatment, including an injectable agent. RESULTS Of 169 patients, 25.6% were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and 89.3% were culture-positive at baseline. Adverse events occurred in 67.4% of patients: 45.9% had nausea/vomiting, 43.9% electrolyte disturbance, 41.8% dyspepsia and 31.6% hypothyroidism. The median time to culture conversion was 2 months. Treatment outcomes were as follows: 76.6% success, 14.5% deaths, 8.3% lost to follow-up and 0.7% treatment failure. HIV-positive individuals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-11.03) and women (aOR 2.73, 95%CI 1.01-7.39) had a higher risk of unfavourable outcomes, while the risk was lower in those with culture conversion at 6 months (aOR 0.11, 95%CI 0.04-0.32). CONCLUSION In Kenya, where an ambulatory model of care is used for MDR-TB treatment, treatment success was high, despite high rates of HIV. Almost half of the patients experienced electrolyte disturbance and one third had hypothyroidism; this supports the view that systematic regular biochemical monitoring is needed in Kenya.
Pesticide Use, Poisoning, and Knowledge and Unsafe Occupational Practices in Thailand

The agricultural system in Thailand has shifted from a traditional to a commercial agricultural system. Pesticides have been imported into Thailand to increase agricultural productivity, resulting in adverse health effects for farmers and consumers. However, the scientific data available in Thailand are limited and inconsistent. Thus, this article reviews research studies regarding pesticide use, poisoning, and knowledge and unsafe occupational practices in Thailand over the last decade. This article also makes recommendations for future policies. Research studies conducted in Thailand during 2006–2017 were reviewed and summarized. Overall, there are several solutions to address the pesticide problem, such as rigorous legislation and regulations, campaigns for reducing pesticide use, education, and training. The Thai government has an important role in making policies and regulations and encouraging all agricultural activities to be sustainable.
Evaluation of genetic resistance to Salmonella Pullorum in three chicken lines

Abstract Resistance to diseases varies considerably among populations of the same species and can be ascribed to both genetic and environmental factors. Salmonella Pullorum (SP) is responsible for significant losses in the poultry industry, especially in developing countries. To better understand SP resistance in chicken populations with different genetic backgrounds, we orally challenged 3 chicken lines with SP—a highly selected commercial breed (Rhode Island Red, RIR), a local Chinese chicken (Beijing You, BY), and a synthetic layer line (dwarf, DW)—at 4 d of age. Two traits related to SP resistance, survival, and bacterial carriage in the spleen were evaluated after infection. Survival rates were recorded up to 40 d of age when all chickens still alive were killed to verify the presence of SP in the spleen to determine carrier state. Mortalities for RIR, BY, and DW chicks were 25.1%, 8.3%, and 22.7%, respectively, and the corresponding carrier‐states in the spleens were 17.9%, 0.6%, and 15.8%. Survival and carrier‐state heritabilities were estimated using an animal threshold model. Survival heritability was 0.197, 0.091, and 0.167 in RIR, BY, and DW populations, respectively, and the heritabilities of carrier state for DW and RIR were 0.32 and 0.16, respectively. This is the first time that the heritability of the SP carrier state has been evaluated in chickens. Our study provides experimental evidence that chickens with various genetic background exhibited significantly different SP‐resistant activities and heritabilities. These results may be useful for selecting lines with better disease resistance.
Quality of End-of-Life Care Provided to Patients With Different Serious Illnesses.

IMPORTANCE Efforts to improve end-of-life care have focused primarily on patients with cancer. High-quality end-of-life care is also critical for patients with other illnesses. OBJECTIVE To compare patterns of end-of-life care and family-rated quality of care for patients dying with different serious illnesses. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in all 146 inpatient facilities within the Veteran Affairs health system among patients who died in inpatient facilities between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2012, with clinical diagnoses categorized as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cancer, cardiopulmonary failure (congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), dementia, frailty, or other conditions. Data analysis was conducted from April 1, 2014, to February 10, 2016. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Palliative care consultations, do-not-resuscitate orders, death in inpatient hospices, death in the intensive care unit, and family-reported quality of end-of-life care. RESULTS Among 57 753 decedents, approximately half of the patients with ESRD, cardiopulmonary failure, or frailty received palliative care consultations (adjusted proportions, 50.4%, 46.7%, and 43.7%, respectively) vs 73.5% of patients with cancer and 61.4% of patients with dementia (P < .001). Approximately one-third of patients with ESRD, cardiopulmonary failure, or frailty (adjusted proportions, 32.3%, 34.1%, and 35.2%, respectively) died in the intensive care unit, more than double the rates among patients with cancer and those with dementia (13.4% and 8.9%, respectively) (P < .001). Rates of excellent quality of end-of-life care reported by 34 005 decedents' families were similar for patients with cancer and those with dementia (adjusted proportions, 59.2% and 59.3%; P = .61), but lower for patients with ESRD, cardiopulmonary failure, or frailty (54.8%, 54.8%, and 53.7%, respectively; all P ≤ .02 vs patients with cancer). This quality advantage was mediated by palliative care consultation, setting of death, and a code status of do-not-resuscitate; adjustment for these variables rendered the association between diagnosis and overall end-of-life care quality nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Family-reported quality of end-of-life care was significantly better for patients with cancer and those with dementia than for patients with ESRD, cardiopulmonary failure, or frailty, largely owing to higher rates of palliative care consultation and do-not-resuscitate orders and fewer deaths in the intensive care unit among patients with cancer and those with dementia. Increasing access to palliative care and goals of care discussions that address code status and preferred setting of death, particularly for patients with end-organ failure and frailty, may improve the overall quality of end-of-life care for Americans dying of these illnesses.
MiR-205 and MiR-375 MicroRNA Assays to Distinguish Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Adenocarcinoma in Lung Cancer Biopsies

Introduction: Identification of adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) histology of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in biopsies is clinically important but can be inaccurate by routine histopathologic examination. We quantify this inaccuracy at a cancer center, and evaluate the utility of a microRNA-based method to histotype AC/SCC in biopsies. Methods: RNA was extracted from tissue sections with greater than 90% tumor content that were macro- or micro-dissected from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens. MicroRNAs in RNA from the biopsies and from resected tumors were quantified by TaqMan reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays and normalized against the RNU6B housekeeping RNA. Publicly available microRNA expression datasets were examined. Results: NSCLC subtyping of small biopsy specimens by routine histopathologic examination either failed or mistyped the histology of 21% of 190 cases. Using 77 resectates, an reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based assay of microRNAs miR-21, miR-205, and miR-375 was developed to identify AC and SCC subtypes of NSCLC. This method identified the AC/SCC histotypes of 25 biopsies with an accuracy of 96%, and correctly histotyped all 12 cases for which the histology had been mistyped by routine histopathologic examination of the biopsy. Examination of publicly available datasets identified miR-205 and miR-375 as microRNAs with the best ability to histotype AC and SCC, and that levels of the two microRNAs in AC or SCC are unaffected by the pathologic stage of the tumor or the age or race of the patient. Conclusions: Histotypic microRNA assays can aid the subtyping of NSCLC biopsies as AC or SCC by standard histopathologic methods.
Inhibitory Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols on Growth and Cellular Adherence Oral Bacterium

Inhibitory Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols on Growth and Cellular Adherence Oral Bacterium, Porpilyromonas gingivatis Seaji SAKANAKA,t Masami AizAwA, MLljo KiM, and Takehiko YAMAMoTo" Centrat Researc'h Laboratories, 72ti. }'o Kagaku Co,, Ltd., 1-3 Tlikara-ma('1ii, Vokkaichi, Vie 5iO, Japcm 'Dc7)artment of Biotechiiology, Fleikuraina U7iii'ersity, Gakuen-cho, FIiku. }'ama 729-02, Jlrpan Received April 13, 1995 of an
Pathogenic link between hydroa vacciniforme and Epstein-Barr virus-associated hematologic disorders.

OBJECTIVES To determine the pathogenic association of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections with both typical hydroa vacciniforme (HV) and severe HV-like eruptions, and to survey the complications and outcomes of patients. DESIGN Case series. PATIENTS Twenty-nine patients with HV or severe HV-like eruptions. INTERVENTIONS In situ hybridization and immunostaining of biopsy specimens; extraction of DNA samples from cutaneous lesions and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells for EBV DNA assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinicopathologic manifestations, hematologic findings, complications, and outcomes; presence of latent EBV infection. RESULTS T cells positive for EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA (EBER) were detected, to various degrees, in cutaneous infiltrates in 28 (97%) of 29 patients, including all 6 patients with definite HV with a positive phototest reaction, 11 of 12 patients with probable HV without evidence of photosensitivity, and all 11 patients with severe HV associated with systemic symptoms. In addition to EBER-positive T cells, many cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing T-cell intracellular antigen 1 and granzyme B were present in the cutaneous lesions. Natural killer (NK) cells were absent or at a background level. The UV-induced cutaneous lesions showed histopathologic findings consistent with those of HV, containing many EBER-positive cells. Although no hematologic abnormalities were found in the definite and probable HV groups, the amounts of EBV DNA were increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. By contrast, the severe HV group had markedly increased levels of EBV DNA associated with NK-cell lymphocytosis, and complications including chronic active EBV infection, hypersensitivity to mosquito bites, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Five patients with severe disease died of EBV-associated NK/T-cell lymphomas or hemophagocytic syndrome 2 to 14 years after onset. CONCLUSION Both typical and severe HV are included within the spectrum of cutaneous disorders mediated by EBV-infected T cells, and the severe HV group may have overt EBV-associated NK/T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders with a frequently fatal outcome.
Experimental Limit Load of Forged Piping Branch Junctions and Comparison with Existing Solutions

Limit load test results from fourteen forged piping branch junctions are reported. Eight were uncracked. Three had outside, non-through wall cracks running parallel to the run pipe centerline at the flank and the others had crotch corner cracks among the selected specimens. The collapse behaviors such as bulging deformation at the side flanks of junctions with and without crack were depicted. Based on the experimental data, the relationships of limit load with structural dimension and crack size were then summarized and the existing solutions were evaluated in use of the test results.
A multidisciplinary approach to improving the care and outcomes of patients with retinoblastoma at a pediatric cancer hospital in Egypt

ABSTRACT Background: Retinoblastoma poses a substantial burden in developing countries. We conducted this study to assess the effect of implementing a multidisciplinary approach and standardized protocols for treating pediatric patients with retinoblastoma at the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE). Materials and Methods: In January 2011, the CCHE implemented standardized protocols for the diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of retinoblastoma cases. The hospital also introduced a new retinoblastoma management algorithm and data analysis system. In this study, we compared the pathologic features, tumor invasiveness, reporting, and survival of 276 pediatric patients who underwent enucleations of 290 eyes before or after the implementation of the retinoblastoma protocols. Results: Time to enucleation (indicating time needed for decision taking) decreased significantly within the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group for intraocular disease after January 2011 (68.7 ± 48 weeks vs. 47.3 ± 28.3 weeks; p < 0.05). Mean optic nerve stump length increased from 5.6 mm in the earlier period to 7.2 mm in the later period (p = 0.004). The overall quality of pathology reporting also improved during the later period. The probability of 3-year survival was significantly higher for patients during the later period (94.2% vs. 79.2%; p = 0.018). Conclusions: The implementation of standardized protocols and a multidisciplinary approach improved reporting; discrepancies in disease classification and the amount of missing data were reduced; and quality measures and prognostic capabilities of the team were substantially improved. Such established data-driven practice supports faster decision making to enucleate diseased eyes and save patients’ lives through providing measurable indicators.
An Automated Approach for Kidney Segmentation in Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Images

Automated segmentation of kidneys in three-dimensional (3-D) abdominal ultrasound volumes is a task of paramount importance in automated diagnosis of abdominal trauma. However, ultrasound speckle noise, low-contrast boundaries, partial kidney occlusion, and probe misalignment restrict the utility of the solution, especially when it is used in emergency rooms and Focused Assessment with Sonography Trauma applications. This paper introduces a systematic and cost-effective method capable of detecting and segmenting the kidney's shape in acquired 3-D ultrasound volumes, using off-line training datasets. This paper offers a new shape model representation, called the complex-valued implicit shape model, to generate a 3-D kidney shape model by combining prior knowledge of training shapes and anatomical knowledge. We apply shape-to-volume registration, based on a new similarity metric, to detect the kidney shape by fitting the 3-D shape model on 3-D ultrasound volumes. Upon kidney detection, the fitted shape model is used to initialize and evolve a new level-set function, called complex-valued rational level-set with shape prior, to segment the kidney's shape. Experimentation using both simulated and actual ultrasound volumes indicate that the proposed solution provides a better performance over the state-of-the-art volumetric ultrasound segmentation methods.
Comparisons of the Millimeter and Submillimeter Bands for Atmospheric Temperature and Water Vapor Soundings for Clear and Cloudy Skies

Geostationary satellites provide revisiting times that are desirable for nowcasting and observations of severe weather. To overcome the problem of spatial resolution from a geostationary orbit, millimeter to submillimeter wave sounders have been suggested. This study compares the capabilities of various oxygen and water vapor millimeter and submillimeter bands for temperature and water vapor atmospheric profiling at nadir in cloudy situations. It shows the impact of different cloud types on the received signal for the different frequency bands. High frequencies are very sensitive to the cloud ice phase, with potential applications to cirrus characterization.
Prospective evaluation of Ceftriaxone use in medical and emergency wards of Gondar university referral hospital, Ethiopia

Ceftriaxone is among the most commonly utilized antibiotics owing to its high potency, wide spectrum of activity, and low risk of toxicity. It is used to treat different types of bacterial infections including pneumonia, bone infections, abdominal infections, Skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections. However, evidence around the globe shows the misuse of Ceftriaxone. This study aimed at evaluating the appropriateness of ceftriaxone use in medical and emergency wards of Gondar university referral hospital (GURH), Northwest Ethiopia. A prospective, cross‐sectional study design was employed to evaluate the use of ceftriaxone. The medical records of patients who received ceftriaxone were reviewed prospectively between January 1 and March 30, 2017. Appropriateness of ceftriaxone use was evaluated as per the protocol developed from current treatment guidelines. A total of 390 patients’ medical records were reviewed. The utilization rate of ceftriaxone was found to be high with a point prevalence of 59%. Ceftriaxone was empirically used in 79.5% of cases. The most common indications of Ceftriaxone were respiratory tract infections (29.3%), central nervous system infections (24.1%), and prophylactic indications (16.4%). The mean duration of ceftriaxone therapy in our study was 11.47 days, with a range of 1‐52 days. More than two‐thirds (80.2%) of ceftriaxone use were found to be inappropriate and majority of unjustified ceftriaxone use emanated from inappropriate frequency of administration (78.3%), absence of culture and sensitivity test (68.7%), and duration of therapy (47%). Empiric treatment with ceftriaxone and the presence of coadministered drugs was significantly associated with its inappropriate use. The present study revealed a very high rate of inappropriate use of ceftriaxone which may potentially lead to emergence of drug‐resistant microorganisms and ultimately exposes the patient to treatment failure and increased cost of therapy.
Thyroid Cancer in Pregnancy

Abstract Owing to the young median age of diagnosis, thyroid cancer in women can coincide with pregnancy and affect its management. The evaluation of a thyroid nodule in pregnant women is similar to that in nonpregnant women, but special consideration must be taken for the impact of a cancer diagnosis and its sequelae in pregnancy. The initial comprehensive exam for pregnant and nonpregnant women includes evaluation of the biochemical function and structure of the thyroid gland, and then fine-needle aspiration biopsy of any suspicious nodule. Management diverges after biopsy and diagnosis, as pregnancy affects timing of thyroidectomy and radioiodine exposure. Owing to the indolent nature of differentiated thyroid cancers, surgery can often be delayed to the immediate postpartum period without change in recurrence or mortality rate. However, for more aggressive thyroid cancers or if the patient wishes to pursue surgery during pregnancy, a discussion about maternal health, fetal risk, and disease prognosis is needed between the physician and patient. This review serves to discuss the evaluation of the thyroid nodule and management of thyroid cancers in the pregnant population, as well as address thyroid cancer surveillance in pregnant women with a previous history of thyroid cancer.
Evaluation of the reliability of blood pressure data transmission through an IEEE 802.11 link in the presence of IEEE 802.15.4 interference

Wireless sensors operating in unlicensed frequency bands have been proposed for monitoring physiological signals during surgical procedures in the operating room (OR). The IEEE 802.15. 4/ZigBee wireless interface in the 2.4 GHz industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) band has been widely adopted for the implementation of radio transceivers (motes) suitable for medical wireless sensors. However, other medical devices in the OR transmit medical information in the same frequency band through IEEE 802.11/WiFi interfaces. Therefore, the introduction of wireless sensors in current medical practice is conditioned to the assurance of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) with the collocated medical devices already operating in the same frequency band. This is especially critical with life-supporting equipment, which cannot be interfered with during medical procedures. This paper presents the evaluation of the reliability of the transmission of blood pressure (BP) data from an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) console through an IEEE 802.11/WiFi interface when a collocated IEEE 802.15. 4/ZigBee mote is transmitting. The Bland-Altman plotting method was used to assess the effects of cochannel and adjacent-channel interference. The results show that EMC is assured between both systems.