Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SVD-Based Tensor-Completion Technique for Background Initialization

Extracting the background from a video in the presence of various moving patterns is the focus of several background-initialization approaches. To model the scene background using rank-one matrices, this paper proposes a background-initialization technique that relies on the singular-value decomposition (SVD) of spatiotemporally extracted slices from the video tensor. The proposed method is referred to as spatiotemporal slice-based SVD (SS-SVD). To determine the SVD components that best model the background, a depth analysis of the computation of the left/right singular vectors and singular values is performed, and the relationship with tensor-tube fibers is determined. The analysis proves that a rank-1 matrix extracted from the first left and right singular vectors and singular value represents an efficient model of the scene background. The performance of the proposed SS-SVD method is evaluated using 93 complex video sequences of different challenges, and the method is compared with state-of-the-art tensor/matrix completion-based methods, statistical-based methods, search-based methods, and labeling-based methods. The results not only show better performance over most of the tested challenges, but also demonstrate the capability of the proposed technique to solve the background-initialization problem in a less computational time and with fewer frames.
Contribution of community health workers to surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Obala health district

Introduction The establishment of effective community-based surveillance is an essential objective of all disease surveillance systems. Several studies and reports have found that the situation is far from optimal in several developing countries such as Cameroon. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study to assess the contribution of community health workers to surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in Obala health district. The performance of community health workers was measured using: the number of cases referred to the health center, the percentage of accomplished referrals, the percentage of cases referred by community health workers confirmed by the staff of health centers. A questionnaire containing forty-seven questions (open-ended and closed-ended) was used for interviews with community health workers. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21 and Excel 2007. Counts and percentages are reported. Results The study showed that the age ranged of community health workers was from 24 to 61 years with an average of 37.9 years ± 6.7 years. The most represented age group was between 40 and 50 with a percentage of 38.6%. The male sex was more represented than the female sex (61.4% vs 38.6%) or a sex ratio male man of 1.7. Forty-five percent of community health workers were selected at a village meeting, 93.1% of community health workers were involved in the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases and 87% experienced at least one preventable disease. Only 45.8% of them had the case definitions of the four diseases. Analysis of community health workers attendance at organized health committee meetings showed that 79% of community health workers attended at least one health committee meeting in 2015 and only 49% were monitored in 2015. Community health workers reported 42 suspected cases of measles, 37 of which actually went to the nearest Health Center, a baseline rate of 88%. Conclusion Community health workers play a key role in the control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Obala health district. Community-based surveillance is the foundation of surveillance activities. It is a mechanism based on simple case definitions of priority diseases and unexpected events or unusual conditions. Our study also reaffirms the importance of mastering case definitions and home visits and early detection of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Determination of kQ using MLC‐collimated rectangular fields for absolute dosimetry of the CyberKnife

Traditional CyberKnife (CK) calibration uses TG‐51, which requires kQ to be defined using the standard reference condition of 100 cm SSD in a 10 cm×10 cm field. Since the CK is calibrated using a 6 cm fixed‐aperture collimating cone at 80 cm SAD, the BJR‐25 method is commonly used to relate circular‐field PDDs to square‐field PDDs for kQ determination. Using the InCise MLC system, the CK is able to deliver rectangular fields, allowing a more direct measurement of %dd(10 cm) using conventional reference conditions. We define the PDD correction factor (CPDD) as the ratio of %dd(10 cm) measured using CK reference conditions to that measured using standard TG‐51 reference conditions. Using four ionization chambers (A1SL, CC08, CC13, and A19), %dd(10 cm) is measured using a 6 cm fixed cone at 80 cm SSD and at 100 cm SSD using an effective 10 cm×10 cm MLC‐collimated field. These values are used to calculate CPDD, while the latter is used to directly calculate a kQ value. This direct kQ value is then compared to values determined using the BJR‐25 method. Using the MLC system, this study demonstrates conversion between the %dd(10 cm) measured using CyberKnife reference conditions and TG‐51 reference conditions. These values provide the means for derivation of a kQ curve as a function of direct measurements of %dd(10 cm) using a 6 cm fixed‐aperture collimating cone at 80 cm SSD. PACS number: 87.55. Qr
The Effects of Subconcussive Impacts on Postural Stability

Context: The effects of concussions on postural stability, both acutely and chronically, have been well studied and noted. However, whether subconcussive impacts lead to these same impairments has not been heavily investigated. Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of subconcussive impacts on postural stability in NCAA Division I football athletes. We hypothesized that both the subconcussive (SUBC) group and the control (CONT) group would show declines in postural stability following a single fall season. We also hypothesized that there would be no significant differences between SUBC and CONT from preseason to postseason for Balance Error Scoring System total score and Approximate Entropy (ApEn) values. The secondary purpose was to predict deficits in postural stability based on cumulative linear acceleration, cumulative rotational acceleration, total number of impacts, and Head Injury Criterion (HIC). We hypothesized that the total number of impacts and cumulative linear acceleration would predict significant changes in postural stability. Design: This was a prospective longitudinal study. Setting: The Georgia Southern University Biomechanics Laboratory. Participants: 15 NCAA Division 1 collegiate football players were instrumented with the Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) and 13 non-contact athletes with a fall season were recruited for control participants. Intervention: The 2014 fall football season. Results: No clinically significant deficits in postural stability were measured over the course of a single season. There was an increase in ApEn in the anteroposterior direction for left leg stance in both groups and in the mediolateral direction for double leg stance in SUBC over time. Conclusion: The results of this study show no deficits across a single athletic season. However, caution should still be taken as there is literature supporting late-life detriments due to brain trauma. INDEX WORDS: Subconcussive, Head Impact Telemetry System, postural stability, static stance, BESS, gait, dual task, approximate entropy
University of Southern Denmark Impact of CAre-related Regret Upon Sleep ( ICARUS ) cohort study Protocol of a 3-year multicentre , international , prospective cohort study of novice healthcare professionals

Introduction Healthcare professionals are particularly at risk of developing numerous physical and psychological health problems. The experiences of emotional burden associated with providing healthcare, notably care-related regret, have been associated with these health problems, but only using cross-sectional data so far. Evidence of a causal impact of regret has not been assessed. The Impact of CAre-related Regret Upon Sleep (ICARUS) study is the first prospective and international cohort study established to examine how newly practising healthcare professionals adapt to their challenging job by assessing the impact of care-related regret on sleep and job quitting. Method and analysis The ICARUS cohort study will include newly practising healthcare professionals working in acute care hospitals and clinics recruited between May 2017 and November 2019. Data collection, which will begin as soon as the participant starts working with patients, will consist of a 1-year weekly assessment using a secure web survey. Follow-up data will be collected at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the end of the first year. We will collect detailed information on the experience of care-related regret (ie, highest regret intensity, accumulation of regrets and coping strategies related to regrets), sleep problems and job quitting. Moreover, quality of life, health status and burnout will be assessed during the follow-up. Several confounders factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, personality, night shifts and work environment characteristics, will be
Fast Quasi-Newton Algorithms for Penalized Reconstruction in Emission Tomography and Further Improvements via Preconditioning

This paper reports on the feasibility of using a quasi-Newton optimization algorithm, limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno with boundary constraints (L-BFGS-B), for penalized image reconstruction problems in emission tomography (ET). For further acceleration, an additional preconditioning technique based on a diagonal approximation of the Hessian was introduced. The convergence rate of L-BFGS-B and the proposed preconditioned algorithm (L-BFGS-B-PC) was evaluated with simulated data with various factors, such as the noise level, penalty type, penalty strength and background level. Data of three 18F-FDG patient acquisitions were also reconstructed. Results showed that the proposed L-BFGS-B-PC outperforms L-BFGS-B in convergence rate for all simulated conditions and the patient data. Based on these results, L-BFGS-B-PC shows promise for clinical application.
Comparison of Epson scanner quality for radiochromic film evaluation

Epson Desktop scanners have been quoted as devices which match the characteristics required for the evaluation of radiation dose exposure by radiochromic films. Specifically, models such as the 10000XL have been used successfully for image analysis and are recommended by ISP for dosimetry purposes. This note investigates and compares the scanner characteristics of three Epson desktop scanner models including the Epson 10000XL, V700, and V330. Both of the latter are substantially cheaper models capable of A4 scanning. As the price variation between the V330 and the 10000XL is 20‐fold (based on Australian recommended retail price), cost savings by using the cheaper scanners may be warranted based on results. By a direct comparison of scanner uniformity and reproducibility we can evaluate the accuracy of these scanners for radiochromic film dosimetry. Results have shown that all three scanners can produce adequate scanner uniformity and reproducibility, with the inexpensive V330 producing a standard deviation variation across its landscape direction of 0.7% and 1.2% in the portrait direction (reflection mode). This is compared to the V700 in reflection mode of 0.25% and 0.5% for landscape and portrait directions, respectively, and 0.5% and 0.8% for the 10000XL. In transmission mode, the V700 is comparable in reproducibility to the 10000XL for portrait and landscape mode, whilst the V330 is only capable of scanning in the landscape direction and produces a standard deviation in this direction of 1.0% compared to 0.6% (V700) and 0.25% (10000XL). Results have shown that the V700 and 10000XL are comparable scanners in quality and accuracy with the 10000XL obviously capable of imaging over an A3 area as opposed to an A4 area for the V700. The V330 scanner produced slightly lower accuracy and quality with uncertainties approximately twice as much as the other scanners. However, the results show that the V330 is still an adequate scanner and could be used for radiation dosimetry purposes. As such, if budgetary requirements are limited, the V700 scanner would be the recommended option at a price eight times cheaper than the 10000XL; however, the V330 produces adequate results at a price which is 2.5 times cheaper again. This may be a consideration for smaller institutions or individuals working with radiochromic film dosimetry. PACS number: 87.55. Qr; 87.56. Fc
Exposure-Programmable CMOS Pixel With Selective Charge Storage and Code Memory for Computational Imaging

Computational imaging, as a rapid emerging field, enables unprecedented photographic capability through the encoding of visual information. Currently, as exposure programming is not support by image sensors, computational cameras use off-chip components to accomplish exposure/encoding optical computations. In this paper, we present a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) pixel structure with exposure encoding capabilities that enable on-chip computational imaging. As a proof-of-concept, a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10 \times 10$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-pixel prototype chip is fabricated in a 0.13-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> 8-metal 1-poly CMOS process with shared pixel output wires and two 3.3-V power supplies. Each computational pixel is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$12.1~ \mu \text {m} \times 12.2 ~\mu \text {m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> with a fill factor of 33.2%. Measurement results confirm that at a frame rate of 60 f/s, the proposed pixel is capable of performing both temporal and spatial exposure encoding. The proposed pixel design paves a promising path to achieve on-chip temporal-spatial exposure encoding directly on the sensor focal plane for computational imaging.
The role of genetic testing in epilepsy diagnosis and management

ABSTRACT Introduction: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. More than 500 epilepsy-associated genes have been described in the literature. Most of these genes play an important role in neuronal excitability, cortical development or synaptic transmission. A growing number of genetic variations have implications on diagnosis and prognostic or therapeutic advice in terms of a personalized medicine. Area covered: The review presents the different forms of genetic epilepsies with respect to their underlying genetic and functional pathophysiology and aims to give advice for recommended genetic testing. Moreover, it discusses ethical and legal guidelines, costs and technical limitations which should be considered. Expert commentary: Genetic testing is an important component in the diagnosis and treatment of many forms of epilepsy.
Individualized margins for prostate patients using a wireless localization and tracking system

This study investigates the dosimetric benefits of designing patient‐specific margins for prostate cancer patients based on 4D localization and tracking. Ten prostate patients, each implanted with three radiofrequency transponders, were localized and tracked for 40 fractions. “Conventional margin” (CM) planning target volumes (PTV) and PTVs resulting from uniform margins of 5 mm (5M) and 7 mm (7M) were explored. Through retrospective review of each patient's tracking data, an individualized margin (IM) design for each patient was determined. IMRT treatment plans with identical constraints were generated for all four margin strategies and compared. The IM plans generally created the smallest PTV volumes. For similar PTV coverage, the IM plans had a lower mean bladder (rectal) dose by an average of 3.9% (2.5%), 8.5% (5.7%) and 16.2 % (9.8%) compared to 5M, 7M and CM plans, respectively. The IM plan had the lowest gEUD value of 23.8 Gy for bladder, compared to 35.1, 28.4 and 25.7, for CM, 7M and 5M, respectively. Likewise, the IM plan had the lowest NTCP value for rectum of 0.04, compared to 0.07, 0.06 and 0.05 for CM, 7M and 5M, respectively. Individualized margins can lead to significantly reduced PTV volumes and critical structure doses, while still ensuring a minimum delivered CTV dose equal to 95% of the prescribed dose. PACS numbers: 87.53. Kn, 87.55. D
Routine reporting of mammographic density from screening mammograms

exenterative phase has been prolonged or difficult. This may increasingly become the case as more patients are treated with preoperative chemoradiation therapy. Pancreaticoduodenectomy remains a formidable procedure when utilized in appropriately selected patients. Experienced centres report a mortality rate of less than five percent but, at least when it is employed for pancreatic adenocarcinoma cure rates have remained static around 15–20% indicating that the long term outcomes are still to be optimized. If PD is viewed as a multi-visceral resection then study of the evolution of PE will contribute towards improving patient outcomes both in terms of survival and quality of life, as well as improving institutional resource management and surgical training.
MapReduce Approach to Build Network User Profiles with Top-k Rankings for Network Security

Network-user profiling has been used as security technique to detect unknown or malicious behaviors. Top-k rankings of reached services is a new technique for building user profiles. This technique requires to keep in memory all the traffic data during a period of time to build the rankings. However, a single user can produce gigabytes of network traffic data, which may result in low execution performance and out-of memory errors. This work proposes a MapReduce approach that generates top-k rankings from huge network capture files.
Effects of inflammation and Plasmodium falciparum infection on soluble transferrin receptor and plasma ferritin concentration in different age groups: a prospective longitudinal study in Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency (ID) is a major cause of anemia, along with other nutritional, parasitic, and genetic factors. Accurate biomarkers are needed to estimate the relative contribution of ID to anemia. Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is thought to be unaffected by inflammation. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to determine the difference in sTfR and plasma ferritin (PF) concentrations among infants (6-23 mo of age), school-age children (6-8 y of age), and women (15-25 y of age) with and without inflammation and with and without Plasmodium falciparum infection and to assess the effect of adjusting sTfR and PF for inflammation or for P. falciparum infection on the estimated prevalence of ID. DESIGN The data were derived from a 14-mo prospective longitudinal survey on anemia, which was conducted in the Taabo area, south-central Côte d'Ivoire. RESULTS At baseline, sTfR concentration was significantly higher in infants and school-age children with either inflammation or P. falciparum infection than in control individuals without inflammation or without P. falciparum infection. Individuals with inflammation had significantly higher PF concentrations than did subjects without inflammation. Adjustments in sTfR concentrations for inflammation or P. falciparum infection in infants and school-age children resulted in significantly lower ID prevalence. Adjustment of PF for inflammation and Plasmodium infection resulted in a higher ID prevalence in infants and women. CONCLUSIONS In Ivorian infants and school-age children, ID prevalence was considerably lower after adjustment of sTfR for inflammation. However, as the prevalence estimates for ID differed widely if based on sTfR or PF, caution is still needed when estimating ID prevalence in areas with a high prevalence of inflammation or malaria. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN02181959.
On Efficiency of Distributed Password Recovery

One of the major challenges in digital forensics today is data encryption. Due to the leaked information about unlawful sniffing, many users decided to protect their data by encryption. In case of criminal activities, forensic experts are challenged how to decipher suspect's data that are subject to investigation. A common method how to overcome password-based protection is a brute force password recovery using GPU-accelerated hardware. This approach seems to be expensive. This paper presents an alternative approach using task distribution based on BOINC platform. The cost, time and energy efficiency of this approach is discussed and compared to the GPU-based solution.
Microscopy tools for investigating nano-to-mesoscale peptide assemblies

We provide a panorama on the utilization of microscopy for investigating peptide-based self-assemblies. Specifically, we present results from researches around the self-assembly of L-diphenylalanine. Recent advances obtained in our group are presented and the paramount role of microscopy on these developments is highlighted. We begin by presenting a brief overview of self-ordered structures built from peptidic building blocks. In following, we present the use of microscopy tools within a multiscale perspective. First, we analyze the assemblies at the micrometer length reporting on the use of optical approaches. In following, we focus on electron microscopy to discuss the morphology of nanostructures at mesoscopic scale. Finer topological details are discussed through the presentation of atomic force microscopy studies. The different techniques are discussed within a comparative context emphasizing the complementarity among different analytical tools. Aspects related to the applications of these structures are also presented, specially their utilization as biosensors, where the morphological characterization via microscopy appears together with electrochemical analyses.
Two-Step Linear Least-Squares Method For Photovoltaic Single-Diode Model Parameters Extraction

In this paper, a new method to calculate the five parameters of the single-diode model of a photovoltaic cell or panel is presented. This new method takes into account the intrinsic properties of the model equation and the technique of linear least-squares fitting; so, the computational complexity and costs are very low. Moreover, the proposed method, named two-step linear least-squares method, is able to work absolutely blindly with any kind of <italic>I–V</italic> curve. It does not need initial guesses at all and, consequently, it is not necessary to know previously any information of any parameter. The proposed method provides the parameters of the single-diode model just using the coordinates of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$</tex-math></inline-formula> points <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(N\ge 5)$</tex-math></inline-formula> of the <italic>I–V</italic> curve. The results provided by this method in a first stage have the same order of accuracy of the best documented methods in the field of parameters extraction, but, furthermore, in a second stage, the best accuracy documented until now is obtained in two important case studies usually used in the literature as well as in a large-scale <italic> I–V</italic> curve repository with more than one million of curves.