Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brightness and contrast adjustments for different tissue densities in digital chest radiographs

Digital chest radiographs are often too bright and/or lack contrast when viewed on a video display. This is often seen when the radiographs are taken of patients with dense lungs, have incorrect X-ray exposure technique or have inappropriate image pre-processing performed by the image acquisition system (CR system or laser scanner). This paper describes a method which can automatically provide brightness and contrast adjustments to selectively enhance either soft or dense tissues. This reduces viewer interaction and improves displayed image quality. An algorithm has been developed to analyze the gray-level histogram of a chest radiograph and determine the breakpoints that separate: (1) the region outside the patient (background), (2) the radiographically soft tissues, and (3) the radiographically dense tissues. From these breakpoint values, a series of piecewise linear look-up tables (LUTs) are generated to selectively enhance either the soft tissues or the dense tissues. This is performed by (1) varying the contrast in the patient background to achieve the desired overall brightness, (2) selectively increasing the contrast of the tissue region of interest, and (3) reducing or maintaining the contrast of the remaining region. The resulting LUTs are applied to the original image via video display.
Therapeutic Apheresis in Hematologic, Autoimmune and Dermatologic Diseases With Immunologic Origin

The process of curing a patient by removing his illness by extracting blood is a very old one. Many years ago, phlebotomy was practiced to cure illness. Now, this old process, placed on a rational basis with therapeutic apheresis (TA), is being followed in clinical practice. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) with hollow fiber modules has been used in different severe diseases for more than 40 years. Based on many years of experience with the extracorporeal circulation in end‐stage renal disease, the authors herein give an overview of TA in immunological diseases, especially in hematologic, autoimmune and dermatologic diseases. Updated information on immunology and molecular biology of different immunological diseases is discussed in relation to the rationale for apheresis therapy and its place in combination with other modern therapies. With the introduction of novel and effective biologic agents, TA is indicated only in severe cases, such as in rapid progression despite immunosuppressive therapy and/or biologic agents. In mild forms of autoimmune disease, treatment with immunosuppressive therapies and/or biologic agents seems to be sufficient. The prognosis of autoimmune diseases with varying organ manifestations has improved in recent years, due in part to very aggressive therapy schemes. For the immunological diseases that can be treated with TA, the guidelines of the German Working Group of Clinical Nephrology and of the Apheresis Applications Committee of the American Society for Apheresis are cited. TA has been shown to effectively remove the autoantibodies from blood and lead to rapid clinical improvement.
The influence of humidity, sunlight, and temperature on the daytime decay of polyaromatic hydrocarbons on atmospheric soot particles.

In this paper we have attempted to quantify the loss of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on atmospheric soot particles with respect to the effects of humidity, solar radiation, and temperature. Dilute residential wood smoke and internal gasoline combustion emissions were individually aged in the presence of natural sunlight in 25-m/sup 3/ outdoor Teflon film chambers. Soot particles were collected on filters and analyzed for PAH. In each experiment first-order rate constants were computed for the disappearance of individual PAH. Rate expressions as a function of humidity, light, and temperature were then generated for nine different PAH from the wood smoke experiments. Estimates suggest that, at moderate humidities and temperatures. PAH half-lives in the chamber atmosphere were of the order of 1 h. At very low angle sunlight, very low water vapor concentrations, or very low temperatures. PAH daytime half-lives on airborne soot particles increased for many compounds to a period of days.
Primary care physicians surveyed in this study mistakenly interpreted improved survival and increased detection with screening as evidence that screening saves lives

Commentary on: Wegwarth O, Schwartz LM, Woloshin S, et al. Do physicians understand cancer screening statistics? A national survey of primary care physicians in the United States. Ann Intern Med 2012; 156: 340– 9. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Primary care physicians need to interpret results of randomised controlled trials assessing the efficacy of screening tests, but there is no evidence that they interpret screening-related statistics correctly. A National sample of 412 US primary care physicians was asked in 2010 and 2011 to say in which of two scenarios a cancer screening test saved lives: (A) a screening test for cancer X is associated with an improved 5-year survival (if screened: 99% survival, if not screened: 68%) and more detection of stage 1 cancers (if screened: 54% detection, if not screened: 36% detection); (B) a screening … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DAnnals%2Bof%2BInternal%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DANN%2BINTERN%2BMED%26rft.issn%253D0003-4819%26rft.aulast%253DWegwarth%26rft.auinit1%253DO. %26rft.volume%253D156%26rft.issue%253D5%26rft.spage%253D340%26rft.epage%253D349%26rft.atitle%253DDo%2BPhysicians%2BUnderstand%2BCancer%2BScreening%2BStatistics%253F%2BA%2BNational%2BSurvey%2Bof%2BPrimary%2BCare%2BPhysicians%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUnited%2BStates%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252F0003-4819-156-5-201203060-00005%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22393129%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.7326/0003-4819-156-5-201203060-00005&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=22393129&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F1%2Fe6.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=000301046800002&link_type=ISI
Rate and rhythm control have comparable effects on mortality and stroke in atrial fibrillation but better data are needed

Commentary on : Al-Khatib SM, Allen LaPointe NM, Chatterjee R, et al. Rate- and rhythm-control therapies in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2014;160:760–73. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents a large and growing burden on cardiovascular healthcare and leads to a substantial impact on quality-of-life, increased cardiovascular events and a doubling of hospitalisation and death rates.1 Unlike many other cardiac conditions, the evidence base for treatment in AF remains patchy with clear gaps relating to a number of clinically important management strategies. Current practice involves three major elements: anticoagulation to prevent stroke or systemic embolism, medications to control heart rate and a decision on whether to restore and maintain sinus rhythm. This systematic review and meta-analysis of tabular data addresses the benefits and risks of adding rhythm control to rate control therapy, considers the preferential method … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DAnn%2BIntern%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D160%26rft.spage%253D760%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252FM13-1467%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24887617%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.7326/M13-1467&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=24887617&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F19%2F6%2F222.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=000337348700003&link_type=ISI
An Efficient GPU General Sparse Matrix-Matrix Multiplication for Irregular Data

General sparse matrix-matrix multiplication (SpGEMM) is a fundamental building block for numerous applications such as algebraic multigrid method, breadth first search and shortest path problem. Compared to other sparse BLAS routines, an efficient parallel SpGEMM algorithm has to handle extra irregularity from three aspects: (1) the number of the nonzero entries in the result sparse matrix is unknown in advance, (2) very expensive parallel insert operations at random positions in the result sparse matrix dominate the execution time, and (3) load balancing must account for sparse data in both input matrices. Recent work on GPU SpGEMM has demonstrated rather good both time and space complexity, but works best for fairly regular matrices. In this work we present a GPU SpGEMM algorithm that particularly focuses on the above three problems. Memory pre-allocation for the result matrix is organized by a hybrid method that saves a large amount of global memory space and efficiently utilizes the very limited on-chip scratchpad memory. Parallel insert operations of the nonzero entries are implemented through the GPU merge path algorithm that is experimentally found to be the fastest GPU merge approach. Load balancing builds on the number of the necessary arithmetic operations on the nonzero entries and is guaranteed in all stages. Compared with the state-of-the-art GPU SpGEMM methods in the CUSPARSE library and the CUSP library and the latest CPU SpGEMM method in the Intel Math Kernel Library, our approach delivers excellent absolute performance and relative speedups on a benchmark suite composed of 23 matrices with diverse sparsity structures.
Blood pressure lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes improves cardiovascular events including mortality, but more intensive lowering to systolic blood pressure less than 130 mm Hg is associated with further reduction in stroke and albuminuria without further reduction in cardiac events

Commentary on: Emdin CA, Rahimi K, Neal B, et al. Blood pressure lowering in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 2015;313:603–15. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Hypertension and diabetes are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease.1 Although lowering blood pressure (BP) reduces cardiovascular events,1 thresholds to initiate antihypertensive therapy and BP targets have been areas of controversy. Until recently, guideline recommendations for BP targets have been more stringent in patients with diabetes. Emdin and colleagues report information from a systematic review of 45 randomised trials. The trials included 104 586 participants with diabetes with higher or lower BP targets. They compared antihypertensive medications with placebo or two antihypertensive medications in this patient group. Outcomes assessed included macrovascular and microvascular outcomes. Overall, lowering systolic BP (SBP) by … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DJAMA%26rft.volume%253D313%26rft.spage%253D603%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Fjama.2014. 18574%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25668264%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1001/jama.2014. 18574&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=25668264&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F20%2F5%2F183.atom
HSCs and niche relations marked by CD166.

In this issue of Blood , Chitteti et al show that CD166 is a potential marker for both human and murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and that the osteoblastic niche plays a critical role in the maintenance of HSCs through homotypic interactions of CD166. [1][1] ! [Figure][2] Human and
Organochlorine contaminants in arctic marine food chains: identification, geographical distribution and temporal trends in polar bears.

Contamination of Canadian arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems by organochlorine (OC) compounds was measured by analysis of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) tissues collected from 12 zones between 1982 and 1984. PCB congeners (S-PCB), chlordanes, DDT and metabolites, chlorobenzenes (S-CBz), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (S-HC-H), and dieldrin were identified by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nonachlor-III, a nonachlor isomer in technical chlordane, was positively identified for the first time as an environmental contaminant. S-PCB and S-CHLOR accounted for >80% of the total organochlorines in adipose tissue. Six PCB congeners constituted approximately 93% of S-PCB in polar bears. Levels of most OCs were lowest in the high Arctic, intermediate in Baffin Bay, and highest in Hudson Bay. Levels of . cap alpha. -HCH were evaluated in zones influenced by surface runoff. Levels of S-CHLOR were four times higher and levels of the other OCs were two times higher in adipose tissue of bears from Hudson Bay and Baffin Bay in 1984 than in adipose tissue archived since 1969 from these areas; levels of S-DDT did not change.
Recombinant long-acting glycoPEGylated factor IX in hemophilia B: a multinational randomized phase 3 trial.

This multinational, randomized, single-blind trial investigated the safety and efficacy of nonacog beta pegol, a recombinant glycoPEGylated factor IX (FIX) with extended half-life, in 74 previously treated patients with hemophilia B (FIX activity ≤2 IU/dL). Patients received prophylaxis for 52 weeks, randomized to either 10 IU/kg or 40 IU/kg once weekly or to on-demand treatment of 28 weeks. No patients developed inhibitors, and no safety concerns were identified. Three hundred forty-five bleeding episodes were treated, with an estimated success rate of 92.2%. The median annualized bleeding rates (ABRs) were 1.04 in the 40 IU/kg prophylaxis group, 2.93 in the 10 IU/kg prophylaxis group, and 15.58 in the on-demand treatment group. In the 40 IU/kg group, 10 (66.7%) of 15 patients experienced no bleeding episodes into target joints compared with 1 (7.7%) of 13 patients in the 10 IU/kg group. Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) assessed with the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions visual analog scale score improved from a median of 75 to 90 in the 40 IU/kg prophylaxis group. Nonacog beta pegol was well tolerated and efficacious for the treatment of bleeding episodes and was associated with low ABRs in patients receiving prophylaxis. Once-weekly prophylaxis with 40 IU/kg resolved target joint bleeds in 66.7% of the affected patients and improved HR-QoL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT01333111.
Most accurate algorithms for RSS-based Wi-Fi indoor localisation

Since Wi-Fi transceivers are available in most handheld devices, they are well suited for indoor localisation. This article analyses the relevance of thirteen factors of model based received signal strength indoor-localisation algorithms on localisation accuracies and identifies for each of these factors algorithms or parameter-settings that achieve high position accuracy. In order to assure the results' meaningfulness and comparability, these factors' optima have been identified via trace-driven empirical studies. By comparing position accuracies of the optimised optLoc localisation algorithm and of the Radar algorithm, a significant increase of accuracy was shown. In case of the optLoc algorithm, error distances dropped by ca. 1m and localisation-error rates decreased also significantly. In addition, the article studies energy efficiency of Wi-Fi based indoor localisation and identifies the most energy efficient approach.
Visual odometry using motion vectors from visual feature points

In recent years, location-based services and indoor positioning systems gained increasing importance for both, research and industry. Visual localization systems have the advantage of not being dependent on dedicated infrastructure and thus are especially interesting for navigation within buildings. While there are already approaches of using pre-recorded databases of reference images to obtain an absolute position for a given query image, suitable means to estimate the relative movement of pedestrians from an ego perspective video are still missing. This paper presents a novel visual odometry system for pedestrians. The user carries a mobile device while walking - the camera aims into the direction of walking. Using only the video stream as input, the system generates a two-dimensional trajectory, which describes the path traveled by the user. Both, the user's current heading as well as the walking direction are estimated based on the movement of visual feature points in successive video frames. In order to assess the accuracy of the system, it is evaluated in three different scenarios (indoors in an university building, in an urban area and in a city park). Not relying on reference points (for instance provided by a database, which references visual feature points with geo-data), the error accumulates with distance traveled. After a walked distance of 100 meters, the average error lies between 4.6 and 13.9 meters (depending on the scenario). Consequently, the system is a promising approach for visual odometry, which can be used in conjunction with existing absolute visual positioning systems or as a core part of a future SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) system.
An algorithm for generating node disjoint routes in Kautz digraphs

The authors focus on a particular class of interconnection networks: Kautz networks. These networks have nice properties: a network with degree d and N=d/sup k/+d/sup k-1/ nodes (for any cardinal d, k>0), has a diameter of at most /sup d/log N, the degree d is fixed and independent of the network size. The network is fault-tolerant and the connectivity is d. There is a straightforward mapping from standard computation graphs such as a linear array, a ring and a tree to a Kautz network. The network allows for a simple routing algorithm, even when nodes or links are faulty. There exists d node disjoint paths between any pair of vertices. The paper presents an algorithm to generate these node disjoint routes. The routes are delivered with increasing length and are free of loops. It proves that these routes are node disjoint and as short as possible. <<ETX>>
The hippocampus facilitates integration within a symbolic field

Translations of summary This paper attempts to elaborate a fundamental brain mechanism involved in the creation and maintenance of symbolic fields of thought. It will integrate theories of psychic spaces as explored by Donald Winnicott and Wilfred Bion with the neuroscientific examinations of those with bilateral hippocampal injury to show how evidence from both disciplines sheds important light on this aspect of mind. Possibly originating as a way of maintaining an oriented, first person psychic map, this capacity allows individuals a dynamic narrative access to a realm of layered elements and their connections. If the proposed hypothesis is correct, the hippocampus facilitates the integration of this symbolic field of mind, where narrative forms of thinking, creativity, memory, and dreaming are intertwined. Without the hippocampus, there is an inability to engage many typical forms of thought itself. Also, noting the ways these individuals are not impaired supports theories about other faculties of mind, providing insight into their possible roles within human thought. The evidence of different systems working in conjunction with the symbolic field provides tantalizing clues about these fundamental mechanisms of brain and mind that are normally seamlessly integrated, and hints at future areas of clinical and laboratory research, both within neuroscience and psychoanalysis.
Oseltamivir for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza infection

Background: Influenza infection is a global problem affecting millions of people worldwide, despite efficacious vaccines. Treatment and prophylaxis against influenza have been successful using antiviral medications such as adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors. Objective: To review the antiviral agents and specifically the neuraminidase inhibitor, oseltamivir, for use in treatment and prophylaxis of influenza infection. Methods: This review focuses on published literature regarding the clinical use of oseltamivir, as well as discussing emerging threats such as avian influenza, antiviral resistance, and strategies such as combination antiviral treatment to mitigate these threats. Results: Oseltamivir is effective in reducing symptom burden in those with influenza A or B infection, and is preventative against developing infection after exposure. Emergence of naturally occurring or post-treatment oseltamivir-resistant influenza as well as an avian influenza pandemic may limit its future use as a monotherapeutic antiviral treatment agent.
Accuracy and precision of estimation equations to predict net endogenous acid excretion using the Australian food database

AIM The gold standard of measurement for net endogenous acid production (NEAP) is net acid excretion (NAE), a test that is not readily available, and consequently, estimative equations by Remer and Manz and Frassetto et al. are often used. These equations rely on nutrient databases and it is recommended that their validity be assessed using a country's database before their application in research in that country. We sought to delineate the accuracy and precision of these estimation equations using the Australian food database. METHODS In a double blind, randomised, cross-over fashion, healthy participants (n = 13) residing in regional Australia were exposed to varying net acid loads while they collected weighted food diaries and 24-hour urine samples for measurement of NAE. RESULTS In comparison to the Frassetto et al. equations (equation one bias = -57.1 mEq/day, equation two bias = -32.8 mEq/day), only the Remer and Manz equation was accurate (bias = -5.4 mEq/day); however, all equations were imprecise. CONCLUSIONS Using the Australian database, the performance of these equations to predict NEAP appears equal to other databases; however, caveats apply in their application. For future research, the equation by Remer and Manz is preferential for group estimates. None of the equations are recommended for individual estimates.
Delay analysis in synchronous circuit-switched delta networks

Multistage interconnection networks (MINs) provide a cost-effective alternative to a full crossbar connection for processor-processor or processor-memory communication in a tightly coupled multiprocessor system. Delta networks, a class of blocking type MIN with unique path property, have been studied extensively for their self-routing capability. A probabilistic analysis of the blocking and its effect on the delay is presented here, for such a network operated in a synchronous circuit-switched mode. Under the assumption of uniformly distributed access requests independently generated at each unblocked source, an upper bound on the expected latency has been established. The bound has been compared with simulation results. <<ETX>>
Clinical Skills of Nurses in Mobile Health Services

The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the acceptability of the clinical skills of community nurses in mobile health services. An explorative, descriptive design was employed. After a literature study, interviews were conducted with patients, and analysed, the results were verified by means of observation of the mobile services. The clinical skills were described as favourable and not favourable by patients some of which were confirmed during the observation phase. Guidelines for a more user friendly service were written.