Contextual Locally Generated Suggestions

This disclosure describes techniques for automatic generation and presentation of communication parameters via a virtual assistant dialog to a user that is engaged in another activity, e.g., driving a vehicle. The parameters are generated locally based on user-permitted contextual factors. Users can select from the presented options by using any combination of voice input, touch/gesture input, etc. The generated parameters can include, e.g., call/message recipients, message content, etc. The recipients are suggested based on prior on-device activity. Upon user selection of a message recipient, message content options are provided based on ranking candidate messages based on the context. With user permission, appropriate contextual information, e.g.. a destination, current location, etc. is included in the body of the candidate message

Contextually Performing Query Processing On-device or On a Remote Server

When a user issues a query, e.g., a spoken query to a user device such as a smartphone, smart speaker, in-car device, etc., the query may be processed locally on-device and additionally, remotely on a server (if permitted by the user). The determination of whether a query is processed locally or on a remote device is typically based on whether the device has a network connection. Local processing of queries can consume device resources. When the device is simultaneously in use for other critical tasks, such resource demand can have a negative impact on such tasks. This disclosure describes the use of a trained machine learning model that takes into account user-permitted contextual factors to determine whether query processing is to be performed on-device or on a remote server

Simulated Alternatives for Data Augmentation in Machine Learning

In domains such as automated speech recognition and search, pre-collected data is often used to understand user input and map it to an intention. In such systems, the context of the user query is important in arriving at the correct response. However, in many use cases, the amount of context to resolve the concept is limited. This disclosure describes data augmentation techniques that increase the amount of data available to understand user input. The techniques described herein can be used to automatically generate data that is adjacent to known correct observations and distinct from most incorrect observations. The techniques described in this disclosure enable growing a seed data set into a much larger corpus

Perceived stress among gravid and its effect on their oral health in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India

Background: The gestation period presents unique stresses that challenges overall psychological adaptation of a women. The present study is designed especially to focus on evaluating the effect of perceived stress on pregnant women and its effect on their oral health.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 18-30 years old, pregnant women in the Sri Ganganagar city. Prior to the clinical examination a questionnaire was used in order to collect the information which comprised of three parts and were completed through an interview. The first part comprised of demographics questionnaire, second part included oral hygiene questionnaire and third part was perceived Stress Scale. Descriptive analysis described demographics and socioeconomic characteristics. Multivariate analysis was used to describe the association between stress and various characteristics. Chi-square and Kruskal-wallis test was used to study the association of independent variables with level of stress.Results: The high stress was reported among those females who were aged > 25 years (46.66%), living in rural areas (73.33%), were employed (57.77%), were in third trimester of pregnancy (96.66%) and had no previous pregnancy experience (67.77%). The mothers in high stress group had high levels of dental diseases when compared to the other two groups (low and moderate stress).Conclusions: Based on the results, this study emphasizes on the need for a continued effort to improve the mental and oral health status of gravid women so as to reduce the incidences of psychological and physical troubles in this population predicted

Ensemble Fractional Sensitivity: A Quantitative Approach to Neuron Selection for Decoding Motor Tasks

A robust method to help identify the population of neurons used for decoding motor tasks is developed. We use sensitivity analysis to develop a new metric for quantifying the relative contribution of a neuron towards the decoded output, called “fractional sensitivity.” Previous model-based approaches for neuron ranking have been shown to largely depend on the collection of training data. We suggest the use of an ensemble of models that are trained on random subsets of trials to rank neurons. For this work, we tested a decoding algorithm on neuronal data recorded from two male rhesus monkeys while they performed a reach to grasp a bar at three orientations (45°, 90°, or 135°). An ensemble approach led to a statistically significant increase of 5% in decoding accuracy and 25% increase in identification accuracy of simulated noisy neurons, when compared to a single model. Furthermore, ranking neurons based on the ensemble fractional sensitivities resulted in decoding accuracies 10%–20% greater than when randomly selecting neurons or ranking based on firing rates alone. By systematically reducing the size of the input space, we determine the optimal number of neurons needed for decoding the motor output. This selection approach has practical benefits for other BMI applications where limited number of electrodes and training datasets are available, but high decoding accuracies are desirable

Route of Drug Abuse and Its Impact on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Drug Addicts

Background: Various studies have tested quality of life (QOL) among drug addicts, however very few have reported any association between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) and mode of drug administration among drug addicts. Hence, the present study was conducted aiming to evaluate the impact of mode of administration of drugs on OHRQOL among drug addicts. Methods: Data was collected using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method among 313 male drug addicts in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India, using self-administered questionnaires on oral hygiene aids and drug addiction history. OHRQOL was recorded using Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. The chi-square test, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. Findings: In this study, 56.2% of the drug addicts reported practicing oral hygiene aids. The main drugs abused were heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines as 51.4%, 35.1%, and 13.4%, respectively. Most of the drug addicts were employed (82.4%) and studied up to primary education (46.3%). The highest mean values of community periodontal index (CPI) and decayed, missing, filled surface (DMFS) were found among the cocaine addicts and amphetamine abusers with rates of 3.11 ± 0.98 and 6.69 ± 8.52, respectively. Poor OHRQOL was observed among addicts who consumed drugs in inhalation since a long time irrespective of the type of the drug, but among them heroin addicted subjects had the poorest OHRQOL. Conclusion: OHRQOL was poor among the drug addicts in comparison to general population. Preventive strategies on oral health and other health promotion programs for this vulnerable group can be unified

A brain-computer interface with vibrotactile biofeedback for haptic information

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been suggested that Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) may one day be suitable for controlling a neuroprosthesis. For closed-loop operation of BCI, a tactile feedback channel that is compatible with neuroprosthetic applications is desired. Operation of an EEG-based BCI using only <it>vibrotactile feedback</it>, a commonly used method to convey haptic senses of contact and pressure, is demonstrated with a high level of accuracy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A Mu-rhythm based BCI using a motor imagery paradigm was used to control the position of a virtual cursor. The cursor position was shown visually as well as transmitted haptically by modulating the intensity of a vibrotactile stimulus to the upper limb. A total of six subjects operated the BCI in a two-stage targeting task, receiving only vibrotactile biofeedback of performance. The location of the vibration was also systematically varied between the left and right arms to investigate location-dependent effects on performance.</p> <p>Results and Conclusion</p> <p>Subjects are able to control the BCI using only vibrotactile feedback with an average accuracy of 56% and as high as 72%. These accuracies are significantly higher than the 15% predicted by random chance if the subject had no voluntary control of their Mu-rhythm. The results of this study demonstrate that vibrotactile feedback is an effective biofeedback modality to operate a BCI using motor imagery. In addition, the study shows that placement of the vibrotactile stimulation on the biceps ipsilateral or contralateral to the motor imagery introduces a significant bias in the BCI accuracy. This bias is consistent with a drop in performance generated by stimulation of the contralateral limb. Users demonstrated the capability to overcome this bias with training.</p

Acute kidney injury in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated acute kidney injury (ICPi-AKI) has emerged as an important toxicity among patients with cancer. Methods: We collected data on 429 patients with ICPi-AKI and 429 control patients who received ICPis contemporaneously but who did not develop ICPi-AKI from 30 sites in 10 countries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ICPi-AKI and its recovery. A multivariable Cox model was used to estimate the effect of ICPi rechallenge versus no rechallenge on survival following ICPi-AKI. Results: ICPi-AKI occurred at a median of 16 weeks (IQR 8-32) following ICPi initiation. Lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, and extrarenal immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were each associated with a higher risk of ICPi-AKI. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was the most common lesion on kidney biopsy (125/151 biopsied patients [82.7%]). Renal recovery occurred in 276 patients (64.3%) at a median of 7 weeks (IQR 3-10) following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids within 14 days following ICPi-AKI diagnosis was associated with higher odds of renal recovery (adjusted OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.58 to 4.41). Among patients treated with corticosteroids, early initiation of corticosteroids (within 3 days of ICPi-AKI) was associated with a higher odds of renal recovery compared with later initiation (more than 3 days following ICPi-AKI) (adjusted OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.79). Of 121 patients rechallenged, 20 (16.5%) developed recurrent ICPi-AKI. There was no difference in survival among patients rechallenged versus those not rechallenged following ICPi-AKI. Conclusions: Patients who developed ICPi-AKI were more likely to have impaired renal function at baseline, use a PPI, and have extrarenal irAEs. Two-thirds of patients had renal recovery following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids was associated with improved renal recovery