Unsupervised Learning Facial Parameter Regressor for Action Unit Intensity Estimation via Differentiable Renderer

Facial action unit (AU) intensity is an index to describe all visually discernible facial movements. Most existing methods learn intensity estimator with limited AU data, while they lack generalization ability out of the dataset. In this paper, we present a framework to predict the facial parameters (including identity parameters and AU parameters) based on a bone-driven face model (BDFM) under different views. The proposed framework consists of a feature extractor, a generator, and a facial parameter regressor. The regressor can fit the physical meaning parameters of the BDFM from a single face image with the help of the generator, which maps the facial parameters to the game-face images as a differentiable renderer. Besides, identity loss, loopback loss, and adversarial loss can improve the regressive results. Quantitative evaluations are performed on two public databases BP4D and DISFA, which demonstrates that the proposed method can achieve comparable or better performance than the state-of-the-art methods. What's more, the qualitative results also demonstrate the validity of our method in the wild

Prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in men and women with type 2 diabetes

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is associated with the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). T2D patients with LVSD are at higher risk of mortality and morbidity than patients without LVSD, while progression of LVSD can be delayed or halted by the use of proven therapies. As estimates of the prevalence are scarce and vary considerably, the aim of this study was to retrieve summary estimates of the prevalence of LVSD/HFrEF in T2D and to see if there were any sex differences. Methods: A systematic search of Medline and Embase was performed to extract the prevalence of LVSD/HFrEF in T2D (17 studies, mean age 50.1 ± 6.3 to 71.5 ± 7.5), which were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Results: The pooled prevalence of LVSD was higher in hospital populations (13 studies, n = 5835, 18% [95% CI 17-19%]), than in the general population (4 studies, n = 1707, 2% [95% CI 2-3%]). Seven studies in total reported sex-stratified prevalence estimates (men: 7% [95% CI 5-8%] vs. women: 1.3% [95% CI 0.0.2.2%]). The prevalence of HFrEF was available in one general population study (5.8% [95% CI 3.7.6%], men: 6.8% vs. women: 3.0%). Conclusions: The summary prevalence of LVSD is higher among T2D patients from a hospital setting compared with from the general population, with a higher prevalence in men than in women in both settings. The prevalence of HFrEF among T2D in the population was only assessed in a single study and again was higher among men than women

Trimellitic anhydride-conjugated serum albumin activates rat alveolar macrophages in vitro

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to airborne low molecular weight chemicals, like trimellitic anhydride (TMA), can result in occupational asthma. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are among the first cells to encounter these inhaled compounds and were previously shown to influence TMA-induced asthma-like symptoms in the Brown Norway rat. TMA is a hapten that will bind to endogenous proteins upon entrance of the body. Therefore, in the present study we determined if TMA and TMA conjugated to serum albumin induced the production of the macrophage mediators nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in vitro using the rat AM cell line NR8383 and primary AMs derived from TMA-sensitized and naïve Brown Norway rats. METHODS: Cells were incubated with different concentrations of TMA, TMA conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA), and BSA as a control for 24 h and the culture supernatant was analyzed for mediator content. RESULTS: TMA alone was not able to induce the production of mediators by NR8383 cells and primary AMs from sensitized and sham-treated rats. TMA-BSA, on the contrary, dose-dependently stimulated the production of NO, TNF, and IL-6 by NR8383 cells and of NO and TNF, but not IL-6, by primary AMs independent of sensitization. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that although TMA is a highly reactive compound, conjugation to a suitable protein is necessary to induce mediator production by AMs. Furthermore, the observation that effects of TMA-BSA were independent of sensitization suggests involvement of an immunologically non-specific receptor. In the discussion it is argued that a macrophage scavenger receptor is a likely candidate

Het Nieuwe Belichten onder Diffuus glas

Het Nieuwe Belichten combineert Het Nieuwe Telen met een belichtingsstrategie om het gewas gericht te sturen en energie te besparen. Samen met een diffuus kasdek werden deze elementen samengebracht om energie te besparen en de productie te kunnen sturen. Tomaten van het ras Komeett werden belicht met twee belichtingssystemen, een afdeling met SON-T belichting, en twee afdelingen met een hybride belichtingssysteem (SON-T en LED-tussenbelichting), waarvan één met diffuus glas. Onder diffuus glas leek het gewas vaak energie over te hebben en meer assimilaten in de vruchten te brengen, waardoor het mogelijk lijkt om met een hogere plantbelasting onder diffuus glas te telen. In deze proef resulteerde de hybridebelichting in een productiestijging van 1.6% t.o.v. SON-T belichting terwijl diffuus glas leverde een productiestijging van 4.9% op. Diffuus glas heeft zijn voordelen nu weer bewezen in een belichte teelt, en ook tijdens de wintermaanden. Er is 83 tot 89 kg tomaten m-2 geproduceerd, met gebruikt van maar 30 kg m-2 CO2. Tijdens de wintermaanden waren er teveel bladrandjes geconstateerd, vooral bij Dir SON-T maar vooral door gebruik van het middel Luna Privilege, is Botrytis goed onder controle gebleven. Voor wat betreft de warmtevraag zijn de energiedoelstellingen gehaald te zijn (21 m3 gas tijdens de teelt), maar het schatten besparing op elektra werd bemoeilijkt door het ontbreken van een referentie. Omdat er eerder in het najaar is begonnen met belichten, zijn er ca. 600 branduren meer zijn gemaakt dan in een praktijkteelt. Next Generation Lighting combines Next Generation Cultivation with a lighting strategy, aimed to steer the crop and save energy. These elements were combined with a diffuse greenhouse for the cultivation of Komeett tomatoes, illuminated with two lighting systems, HPS as reference, and two greenhouses with a hybrid lighting system (SON-T and LED interlighting), one with diffuse glass. The crop often seemed to have extra energy under diffuse glass, bringing more assimilates to the fruits, so that it appears possible to maintain a higher fruit load under diffuse glass. In this trial hybrid lighting resulted in a production increase of 1.6 % compared to HPS lighting, compared to a 4.9% production increase for the same hybrid lighting under diffuse glass. The advantage of diffuse glass is partly due to its, but also because more light is brought into the crop. The crops produced 83 to 89 kg of tomatoes per m2, using only 30 kg CO2 per m2. Too many leaf edges were observed during the winter months, especially under HPS lighting but Botrytis remained well under control due to the use of Luna Privilege. As far as the heat component is concerned, the energy target appears to been well achieved (21 m3 gas during cultivation). The savings in electricity is a more difficult aspect because due to the early planting date, consequently realising 600 more assimilation lighting hours in autumn compared to a commercial crop planted in October

Risk of breast cancer in women after a salivary gland carcinoma or pleomorphic adenoma in the Netherlands

Salivary and mammary gland tumors show morphological similarities and share various characteristics, including frequent overexpression of hormone receptors and female preponderance. Although this may suggest a common etiology, it remains unclear whether patients with a salivary gland tumor carry an increased risk of breast cancer (BC). Our purpose was to determine the risk of BC in women diagnosed with salivary gland carcinoma (SGC) or pleomorphic adenoma (SGPA). BC incidence (invasive and in situ) was assessed in two nationwide cohorts: one comprising 1567 women diagnosed with SGC and one with 2083 women with SGPA. BC incidence was compared with general population rates using standardized incidence ratio (SIR). BC risk was assessed according to age at SGC/SGPA diagnosis, follow-up time and (for SGC patients) histological subtype. The mean follow-up was 7.0 years after SGC and 9.9 after SGPA diagnosis. During follow-up, 52 patients with SGC and 74 patients with SGPA developed BC. The median time to BC was 6 years after SGC and 7 after SGPA. The cumulative risk at 10 years of follow-up was 3.1% after SGC and 3.5% after SGPA (95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 2.1%-4.7% and 2.6%-4.6%, respectively). BC incidence was 1.59 times (95%CI 1.19-2.09) higher in the SGC-cohort than expected based on incidence rates in the general population. SGPA-patients showed a 1.48 times (95%CI 1.16-1.86) higher incidence. Women with SGC or SGPA have a slightly increased risk of BC. The magnitude of risk justifies raising awareness, but is no reason for BC screening

The accuracy and precision of radiostereometric analysis in monitoring tibial plateau fractures

Background and purpose: The application of radiostereometric analysis (RSA) to monitor stability of tibial plateau fractures during healing is both limited and yet to be validated. We therefore evaluated the accuracy and precision of RSA in a tibial plateau fracture model. Methods: Combinations of 3, 6, and 9 markers in a lateral condyle fracture were evaluated with reference to 6 proximal tibial arrangements. Translation and rotation accuracy was assessed with displacement-controlled stages, while precision was assessed with dynamic double examinations. A comparison of error according to marker number and arrangement was completed with 2-way ANOVA models. Results: The results were improved using more tantalum markers in each segment. In the fracture fragment, marker scatter in all axes was achieved by a circumferential arrangement (medial, anterior, and lateral) of the tantalum markers above the fixation devices. Markers placed on either side of the tibial tuberosity and in the medial aspect of the fracture split represented the proximal tibial reference segment best. Using 6 markers with this distribution in each segment, the translation accuracy (root mean square error) was less than 37 μm in all axes. The precision (95% confidence interval) was less than ± 16 μm in all axes in vitro. Rotation, tested around the x-axis, had an accuracy of less than 0.123° and a precision of ± 0.024°. Interpretation: RSA is highly accurate and precise in the assessment of lateral tibial plateau fracture fragment movement. The validation of our center's RSA system provides evidence to support future clinical RSA fracture studies.Lucian B Solomon, Aaron W Stevenson, Stuart A Callary, Thomas R Sullivan, Donald W Howie, and Mellick J Chehad

The beneficial effect of hydroxyapatite lasts: A randomized radiostereometric trial comparing hydroxyapatite-coated, uncoated, and cemented tibial components for up to 16 years

Analysis and Stochastic

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB may predominantly present with an attenuated clinical phenotype

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB, Sanfilippo syndrome type B) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme N-acetyl-α-D-glucosaminidase (NAGLU). Information on the natural course of MPS IIIB is scarce but much needed in view of emerging therapies. To improve knowledge on the natural course, data on all 52 MPS IIIB patients ever identified by enzymatic studies in the Netherlands were gathered. Clinical data on 44 patients could be retrieved. Only a small number (n = 9; 21%) presented with a classical MPS III phenotype; all other patients showed a much more attenuated course of the disease characterized by a significantly slower regression of intellectual and motor abilities. The majority of patients lived well into adulthood. First signs of the disease, usually mild developmental delay, were observed at a median age of 4 years. Subsequently, patients showed a slowing and eventually a stagnation of development. Patients with the attenuated phenotype had a stable intellectual disability for many years. Molecular analysis was performed in 24 index patients. The missense changes p.R643C, p.S612G, p.E634K, and p.L497V were exclusively found in patients with the attenuated phenotype. MPS IIIB comprises a remarkably wide spectrum of disease severity, and an unselected cohort including all Dutch patients showed a large proportion (79%) with an attenuated phenotype. MPS IIIB must be considered in patients with a developmental delay, even in the absence of a progressive decline in intellectual abilities. A key feature, necessitating metabolic studies, is the coexistence of behavioral problems