Compact Hash Codes for Efficient Visual Descriptors Retrieval in Large Scale Databases

In this paper we present an efficient method for visual descriptors retrieval based on compact hash codes computed using a multiple k-means assignment. The method has been applied to the problem of approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) search of local and global visual content descriptors, and it has been tested on different datasets: three large scale public datasets of up to one billion descriptors (BIGANN) and, supported by recent progress in convolutional neural networks (CNNs), also on the CIFAR-10 and MNIST datasets. Experimental results show that, despite its simplicity, the proposed method obtains a very high performance that makes it superior to more complex state-of-the-art methods

Bloom Filters and Compact Hash Codes for Efficient and Distributed Image Retrieval

This paper presents a novel method for efficient image retrieval, based on a simple and effective hashing of CNN features and the use of an indexing structure based on Bloom filters. These filters are used as gatekeepers for the database of image features, allowing to avoid to perform a query if the query features are not stored in the database and speeding up the query process, without affecting retrieval performance. Thanks to the limited memory requirements the system is suitable for mobile applications and distributed databases, associating each filter to a distributed portion of the database. Experimental validation has been performed on three standard image retrieval datasets, outperforming state-of-the-art hashing methods in terms of precision, while the proposed indexing method obtains a $2\times$ speedup

Associations between Pretend Play, Psychological Functioning and Coping Strategies in Pediatric Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Illness Study

Children with chronic illnesses are called to undertake complicated processes of adjustment and re-organization in their daily lives; as a result, they could experience several internalizing problems. Symbolic play could be a useful way to cope with these difficulties. The main aim of this paper is to assess pretend play, coping, and psychological symptoms in three groups of school-aged children with pediatric chronic diseases. The study involved 44 Italian school-aged, chronically ill children: 16 with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), 12 with cystic fibrosis (CF), and 15 with Leukemia. All patients were assessed by the Affect in Play Scale\u2013Brief version (APS-Br), and the Children\u2019s Coping Strategies Checklist\u2013Revision1 (CCSC-R1). Children with T1DM and CF also completed the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory for Children (SASI-C) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)\u2013children\u2019s version. Cohen\u2019s d (effect size) was applied between clinical and normative samples, and it showed a more organized play (APS-BR), but a more negative affect tone, comfort, and frequency of affect expression. Comparing APS-BR and CCSC-R1 rates between the three groups, significant differences were found for all the APS-BR dimensions, except for tone, and for CCSC-R1 seeking understanding. Comparing SASI-C score between T1DM and CF, higher scores were found for children with CF. In the end, correlations between all dimensions highlighted several relationships between play, coping, and adjustment problems for children with T1DM, and relationship between affect play and all variables for children with CF. Symbolic play helps chronically ill children to express emotions; helping them, as well as clinicians, to understand the difficulties caused by chronic conditions, and to cope with them

Caracterização cromossômica de formigas urbanas Camponotus atriceps sob a ação de cloreto de cobalto (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoTrabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação)Em formigas ocorre uma grande variação no número cromossômico devido, principalmente, a fusões, deleções, inversões e translocações. O número de cromossomos haplóides nas espécies de formigas varia de 1 a 32, mas a maioria apresenta n=20. Com o objetivo de confirmar o número de cromossomos em gânglios cerebrais de pré-pupa de formigas Camponotus atriceps, sob a ação de cloreto de cobalto para análise citogenética. Foram analisadas 33 metáfases que mostraram número médio de n=20 cromossomos

Unexpected episodes of cyanosis in late preterm and term neonates prompted admission to a neonatal care unit

Abstract Background We studied late preterm and term infants who were admitted to our neonatal care unit in a tertiary hospital for unexpected episodes of cyanosis that occurred during rooming-in for evaluation of their frequency, most frequent associated diseases, and documentation of the diagnostic clinical approach. Methods We carried out a retrospective study of infants with a gestational age ≥35 weeks who were admitted from the nursery with the diagnosis of cyanosis from January 2009 to December 2016. Exclusion criteria were the occurrence of acrocyanosis and the diagnosis of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse (SUPC). Results We studied 49 infants with a mean gestational age of 38 ± 2 weeks. The frequency of admission for cyanosis was 1.8/1000 live births and was similar (p = 0.167) in late preterm and term infants. The majority of episodes occurred during the first 24 h of life (57%). Only 16 infants (33%) were discharged with a diagnosis, that was mostly (n = 5;10%) gastro-esophageal reflux. Conclusions Unexpected episodes of cyanosis caused admission of 1.8/1000 live births to the neonatal care unit without differences between late preterm and term infants. These episodes occurred mainly during the first day of life and infants were mostly discharged without a known diagnosis

Traditional Uses of Cannabinoids and New Perspectives in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Recent findings highlight the emerging role of the endocannabinoid system in the control of symptoms and disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic, immune-mediated, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with no cure so far. It is widely reported in the literature that cannabinoids might be used to control MS symptoms and that they also might exert neuroprotective effects and slow down disease progression. This review aims to give an overview of the principal cannabinoids (synthetic and endogenous) used for the symptomatic amelioration of MS and their beneficial outcomes, providing new potentially possible perspectives for the treatment of this disease