Template Matching: Matched Spatial Filters and Beyond

Template matching by means of cross-correlation is common practice in pattern recognition. However, its sensitivity to deformations of the pattern and the broad and unsharp peaks it produces are significant drawbacks. This paper reviews some results on how these shortcomings can be removed. Several techniques (Matched Spatial Filters, Synthetic Discriminant Functions, Principal Components Projections and Reconstruction Residuals) are reviewed and compared on a common task: locating eyes in a database of faces. New variants are also proposed and compared: least squares Discriminant Functions and the combined use of projections on eigenfunctions and the corresponding reconstruction residuals. Finally, approximation networks are introduced in an attempt to improve filter design by the introduction of nonlinearity

Aspetti penali della sicurezza sul lavoro.

L’articolo si ripromette di indagare alcuni aspetti (tra i tanti) problematici del D.Lvo 626/94. Si segnalano per la complessità delle tematiche di ordine generale sottostanti: l’individuazione delle posizioni di garanzia, in particolare la figura del datore di lavoro, e la delega di funzioni. Vengono anche delineati i compiti fondamentali del datore di lavoro, del dirigente e del preposto nonché della nuova figura disegnata dalla legge: il responsabile del servizio di protezione e prevenzione

Sicurezza del lavoro: brevi note sulle posizioni di garanzia

Il breve lavoro, a cavallo tra la legge 626 e le “bozze” dal nuovo testo unico sulla sicurezza nel lavoro, si ripromette di indagare alcuni aspetti problematici legati all’individuazione della figura datoriale specie nelle organizzazioni complesse.Cenni alla ben nota struttura piramidale quale delineata dal testo unico della sicurezza del lavoro

Management of severe epistaxis during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Epistaxis is a common problem during pregnancy. Few cases of severe epistaxis, not associated with nasal lesions or clotting disorders, were described in the literature. We reported a case of severe epistaxis in a pregnant patient, exploring all the different possible management options

Action and non-action oriented body representations. insight from behavioural and grey matter modifications in individuals with lower limb amputation

Following current model of body representations, we aimed to systematically investigate the association between brain modifications, in terms of grey matter loss, and body representation deficits, in terms of alterations of the body schema (BS) and of non-action oriented body representations (NA), in individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA)

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: diagnostic imaging and its role in staving off malpractice charges and litigation

The study aims to expound upon the imaging-based diagnostic methodologies aimed at identifying twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a serious, somewhat rare prenatal condition that takes place in pregnancies where identical twins, or other multiples, share a placenta (monochorionic placenta), highlighting how medico-legal outcomes can be affected by provable compliance with consolidated diagnostic guidelines or best practices. It is of utmost importance to produce a prompt identification of TTTS instances; an early diagnosis is in fact critical in order to effectively treat and manage TTTS. By virtue of TTTS being a highly progressive condition, a delay in diagnosis can result in disastrous outcomes; just a few weeks delay in the diagnosis of TTTS can turn out fatal for one or both twins. Hence, most TTTS malpractice claims involve allegations of medical negligence, namely the failure to recognize the condition in a timely fashion, or to proceed with adequate diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. In that regard, case law databases have been pored over (Justia, Lexis, Leagle), and five significant court cases have been examined and discussed in an attempt to identify objective medico-legal standards and bring to the forefront relevant forensic dynamics. In fact, when health professionals are capable of proving adherence to guidelines or best practices, this can shield them from malpractice allegations and ensuing litigation

Epirubicin. A new entry in the list of fetal cardiotoxic drugs? Intrauterine death of one fetus in a twin pregnancy. Case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Current knowledge indicate that epirubicin administration in late pregnancy is almost devoid of any fetal cardiotoxicity. We report a twin pregnancy complicated by breast cancer in which epirubicin administration was causatively linked to the death of one twin who was small for gestational age (SGA) and in a condition of oligohydramnios and determined the onset of a transient cardiotoxicity of the surviving fetus/newborn. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old caucasic woman with a dichorionic twin pregnancy was referred to our center at 20 and 1/7 weeks for a suspected breast cancer, later confirmed by the histopathology report. At 31 and 3/7 weeks, after the second chemotherapy cycle, ultrasound examination evidenced the demise of one twin while cardiac examination revealed a monophasic diastolic ventricular filling, i.e. a diastolic dysfunction of the surviving fetus who was delivered the following day due to the occurrence of grade II placental abruption. The role of epirubicin cardiotoxicity in the death of the first twin was supported by post-mortem cardiac and placental examination and by the absence of structural or genomic abnormalities that may indicate an alternative etiology of fetal demise. The occurrence of epirubicin cardiotoxicity in the surviving newborn was confirmed by the report of high levels of troponin and transient left ventricular septal hypokinesia. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings we suggest that epirubicin administration in pregnancy should be preceded by the screening of some fetal conditions like SGA and oligohydramnios that may increase its cardiotoxicity and that, during treatment, the diastolic function of the fetal right ventricle should be specifically monitored by a pediatric cardiologist; also, epirubicin and desamethasone for lung maturation should not be closely administered since placental effects of glucocorticoids may increase epirubicin toxicity

The conventional non-articulated SACH or a multiaxial prosthetic foot for hypomobile transtibial amputees? A clinical comparison on mobility, balance, and quality of life

The effects of a non-articulated SACH and a multiaxial foot-ankle mechanism on the performance of low-activity users are of great interest for practitioners in amputee rehabilitation.The aim of this study is to compare these two prosthetic feet and assess possible improvements introduced by the increased degrees of freedom provided by the multiaxial foot. For this purpose, a group of 20 hypomobile transtibial amputees (TTAs) had their usual SACH replaced with a multiaxial foot. Participants’ functional mobility, involving ambulatory skills in overground level walking, ramps, and stairs, was evaluated by performing Six-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), Locomotor Capability Index-5 (LCI-5), Hill Assessment Index (HAI), and Stair Assessment Index (SAI). Balance performances were assessed using Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and analysing upper body accelerations during gait.Moreover, the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) was performed to indicate the prosthesis-related quality of life. Results showed that participants walked faster using themultiaxial foot ( < 0.05) maintaining the same upright gait stability. Significant improvements with themultiaxial foot were also observed in BBS, LCI-5, and SAI times and 4 of 9 subscales of the PEQ. Our findings demonstrate that a multiaxial foot represents a considerable alternative solution with respect to the conventional SACH in the prosthetic prescription for hypomobile TTAs

Office-based approach to urinary tract infections in 50 000 patients: results from the REWIND study

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More than antioxidant: N-acetyl-L-cysteine in a murine model of endometriosis

N-acetyl-L-cysteine exerts a complex action on endometrial cells, involving regulation of gene expression and protein activity and location, all converging into a decreased proliferation and a switch toward a differentiating, less invasive, and less inflammatory phenotype. Also considering the lack of undesired side effects, including unaffected fertility potential, this suggests a beneficial use of NAC in endometriosis clinical treatment. Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved