Improving Domain Generalization by Learning without Forgetting: Application in Retail Checkout

Designing an automatic checkout system for retail stores at the human level accuracy is challenging due to similar appearance products and their various poses. This paper addresses the problem by proposing a method with a two-stage pipeline. The first stage detects class-agnostic items, and the second one is dedicated to classify product categories. We also track the objects across video frames to avoid duplicated counting. One major challenge is the domain gap because the models are trained on synthetic data but tested on the real images. To reduce the error gap, we adopt domain generalization methods for the first-stage detector. In addition, model ensemble is used to enhance the robustness of the 2nd-stage classifier. The method is evaluated on the AI City challenge 2022 -- Track 4 and gets the F1 score $40\%$ on the test A set. Code is released at the link https://github.com/cybercore-co-ltd/aicity22-track4

Evaluation of diabetic peer support in Malawi

BackgroundType 2 diabetes is a major health concern worldwide and requires urgent attention from health care providers and policy makers. Due to shortage of health care workers in low-income countries, peer support programs have been viewed as a viable option in management of diabetes and have shown to be effective in sub-Saharan Africa. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess and evaluate the Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) diabetic peer support program’s (DPSP) impact 4 years after its establishment by assessing knowledge, self-efficacy and behaviours of DPSP members compared to non-members.Methodology This is a cross-sectional study done among diabetic patients attending clinics between 12th August and 25th September 2018 at KCH. Self and interviewer-administered questionnaires (designed based on validated survey instruments) were used. The participants (n=176) were recruited consecutively after consenting. Results Results showed DPSP members were more knowledgeable regarding the effects of skipping meals and sweet juice on blood glucose and conditions not associated with diabetes. In terms of self-efficacy and behaviour changes, DPSP members believe that they are more able to correct hypoglycaemia, to communicate their concerns to health workers and to perform daily foot exam compared to non-members.Conclusion The KCH (Lilongwe) Diabetes Peer Support program has positively impacted its members and should be scaled up to engage all diabetic patients in Malawi. Ongoing training for peer supporters is necessary to update and reinforce management, knowledge and skills, and to ensure fidelity in program implementation

BIODEGRADATION OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS USING INDIGENOUS STRAINS OF BACTERIA FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL DEVELOPMENT

16S rRNA gene sequence analyses of the four isolates from a former industrial site (OC1, OC2, OC3, and OC4) were assigned to the genus, Enterobacter (OC1) and Pseudomonas (OC2, OC3, and OC4). The degradation and growth behaviour of the four isolates were investigated on naphthalene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene. All the strains utilized naphthalene, fluoranthene, chrysene but pyrene partially, as sole sources of carbon and energy. The time course studies using relative concentration> 100, >115, > 89 and> 12 ppm for naphthalene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene respectively, resulted in rapid exponential increases in cell numbers and concomitant disappearance of the test substrates. Naphthalene was degraded between the range of 25 and 99%, while chrysene degradation ranged between 35 and 69%, pyrene 4 -21% and fluoranthene 7 -19 %. Our results suggest that contaminated, former industrial sites contain a capable microbial community that may be used for bioremediation of the site for sustainable soil developmen

Effects of Surface Geology on Seismic Ground Motion Deduced from Ambient-Noise Measurements in the Town of Avellino, Irpinia Region (Italy)

The effects of surface geology on ground motion provide an important tool in seismic hazard studies. It is well known that the presence of soft sediments can cause amplification of the ground motion at the surface, particularly when there is a sharp impedance contrast at shallow depth. The town of Avellino is located in an area characterised by high seismicity in Italy, about 30 km from the epicentre of the 23 November 1980, Irpinia earthquake (M = 6.9). No earthquake recordings are available in the area. The local geology is characterised by strong heterogeneity, with impedance contrasts at depth. We present the results from seismic noise measurements carried out in the urban area of Avellino to evaluate the effects of local geology on the seismic ground motion. We computed the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) noise spectral ratios at 16 selected sites in this urban area for which drilling data are available within the first 40 m of depth. A Rayleigh wave inversion technique using the peak frequencies of the noise H/V spectral ratios is then presented for estimating Vs models, assuming that the thicknesses of the shallow soil layers are known. The results show a good correspondence between experimental and theoretical peak frequencies, which are interpreted in terms of sediment resonance. For one site, which is characterised by a broad peak in the horizontal-to-vertical spectral-ratio curve, simple one-dimensional modelling is not representative of the resonance effects. Consistent variations in peak amplitudes are seen among the sites. A site classification based on shear-wave velocity characteristics, in terms of Vs30, cannot explain these data. The differences observed are better correlated to the impedance contrast between the sediments and basement. A more detailed investigation of the physical parameters of the subsoil structure, together with earthquake data, are desirable for future research, to confirm these data in terms of site response

Prognosis of neonatal tetanus in the modern management era: an observational study in 107 Vietnamese infants.

OBJECTIVES: Most data regarding the prognosis in neonatal tetanus originate from regions where limited resources have historically impeded management. It is not known whether recent improvements in critical care facilities in many low- and middle-income countries have affected indicators of a poor prognosis in neonatal tetanus. We aimed to determine the factors associated with worse outcomes in a Vietnamese hospital with neonatal intensive care facilities. METHODS: Data were collected from 107 cases of neonatal tetanus. Clinical features on admission were analyzed against mortality and a combined endpoint of 'death or prolonged hospital stay'. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis showed that only younger age (odds ratio (OR) for mortality 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.98) and lower weight (OR for mortality 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.54) were significantly associated with both the combined endpoint and death. A shorter period of onset (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-0.99), raised white cell count (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.35), and time between first symptom and admission (OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.14-12.51) were also indicators of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for a poor outcome in neonatal tetanus in a setting with critical care facilities include younger age, lower weight, delay in admission, and leukocytosis

Hexa Histidine–Tagged Recombinant Human Cytoglobin Deactivates Hepatic Stellate Cells and Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Anti-fibrotic therapy remains an unmet medical need in human chronic liver disease. We report the anti-fibrotic properties of cytoglobin (CYGB), a respiratory protein expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main cell type involved in liver fibrosis. APPROACH & RESULTS: Cygb-deficient mice which had bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver cholestasis or choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet-induced steatohepatitis significantly exacerbated liver damage, fibrosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. All these manifestations were attenuated in Cygb-overexpressing mice. We produced 6His-tagged recombinant human CYGB (His-CYGB), traced its bio-distribution and assessed its function in HSCs or in mice with advanced liver cirrhosis using thioacetamide (TAA) or 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC). In cultured HSCs, extracellular His-CYGB was endocytosed and accumulated in endosomes via clathrin-mediated pathway. His-CYGB significantly impeded ROS formation spontaneously or in the presence of ROS inducers in HSCs, thus leading to the attenuation of collagen type I alpha 1 production and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. Replacement the iron centre of the heme group with cobalt nullified the effect of His-CYGB. In addition, His-CYGB induced interferon-β secretion by HSCs which partly contributed to its anti-fibrotic function. Momelotinib incompletely reversed the effect of His-CYGB. Intravenously injected His-CYGB markedly suppressed liver inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative cell damage in TAA- or DDC-administered mice without adverse effects. RNA-seq analysis revealed the downregulation of inflammation and fibrosis-related genes and the upregulation of antioxidant genes in both cell culture and liver tissues. The injected His-CYGB predominantly localised to HSCs but not to macrophages, suggesting specific targeting effects. His-CYGB exhibited no toxicity in humanised liver chimeric PXB mice. CONCLUSIONS: His-CYGB could have anti-fibrotic clinical applications for human chronic liver diseases

Discovery, Characterization, and Structure–Activity Relationships of an Inhibitor of Inward Rectifier Potassium (Kir) Channels with Preference for Kir2.3, Kir3.X, and Kir7.1

The inward rectifier family of potassium (Kir) channels is comprised of at least 16 family members exhibiting broad and often overlapping cellular, tissue, or organ distributions. The discovery of disease-causing mutations in humans and experiments on knockout mice has underscored the importance of Kir channels in physiology and in some cases raised questions about their potential as drug targets. However, the paucity of potent and selective small-molecule modulators targeting specific family members has with few exceptions mired efforts to understand their physiology and assess their therapeutic potential. A growing body of evidence suggests that G protein-coupled inward rectifier K (GIRK) channels of the Kir3.X subfamily may represent novel targets for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In an effort to expand the molecular pharmacology of GIRK, we performed a thallium (Tl+) flux-based high-throughput screen of a Kir1.1 inhibitor library for modulators of GIRK. One compound, termed VU573, exhibited 10-fold selectivity for GIRK over Kir1.1 (IC50 = 1.9 and 19 μM, respectively) and was therefore selected for further study. In electrophysiological experiments performed on Xenopus laevis oocytes and mammalian cells, VU573 inhibited Kir3.1/3.2 (neuronal GIRK) and Kir3.1/3.4 (cardiac GIRK) channels with equal potency and preferentially inhibited GIRK, Kir2.3, and Kir7.1 over Kir1.1 and Kir2.1.Tl+ flux assays were established for Kir2.3 and the M125R pore mutant of Kir7.1 to support medicinal chemistry efforts to develop more potent and selective analogs for these channels. The structure–activity relationships of VU573 revealed few analogs with improved potency, however two compounds retained most of their activity toward GIRK and Kir2.3 and lost activity toward Kir7.1. We anticipate that the VU573 series will be useful for exploring the physiology and structure–function relationships of these Kir channels