Region and graph-based motion segmentation

Indexado ISIThis paper describes an approach for integrating motion estimation and region clustering techniques with the purpose of obtaining precise multiple motion segmentation. Motivated by the good results obtained in static segmentation we propose a hybrid approach where motion segmentation is achieved within a region-based clustering approach taken the initial result of a spatial pre-segmentation and extended to include motion information. Motion vectors are first estimated with a multiscale variational method applied directly over the input images and then refined by incorporating segmentation results into a region-based warping scheme. The complete algorithm facilitates obtaining spatially continuous segmentation maps which are closely related to actual object boundaries. A comparative study is made with some of the best known motion segmentation algorithms

Image segmentation using region merging combined with a multi-class spectral method

In this paper we propose an image segmentation algorithm that combines region merging with spectral-based techniques. An initial partitioning of the image into primitive regions is produced by applying a region merging approach which produces a chunk graph that takes in attention the image gradient magnitude. This initial partition is the input to a computationally efficient region segmentation process that produces the final segmentation. The latter process uses a multi-class partition that minimizes the normalized cut value for the region graph. We have efficiently applied the proposed approach with good visual and objective segmentation quality results

Distance measures for image segmentation evaluation

In this paper we present a study of evaluation measures that enable the quantification of the quality of an image segmentation result. Despite significant advances in image segmentation techniques, evaluation of these techniques thus far has been largely subjective. Typically, the effectiveness of a new algorithm is demonstrated only by the presentation of a few segmented images and is otherwise left to subjective evaluation by the reader. Such an evaluation criterion can be useful for different applications: the comparison of segmentation results, the automatic choice of the best fitted parameters of a segmentation method for a given image, or the definition of new segmentation methods by optimization. We first present the state of art of distance evaluation measures, and then, we compare several evaluation criteria

Developing a Novel Fully Automated Concept to Produce Bowden Cables for the Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is one of the driving forces of the global industry; thus, it is a very competitive sector which creates a constant need for process improvement, regarding productivity, quality, and flexibility. Automation has proven to be a viable solution for these production problems, with the rising adoption of these automated system by companies that try to design and implement more flexible systems, while reducing costs and improving process quality. Furthermore, the use of automation reduces the manpower factor and its associated variability. In the present work, a new concept for a Bowden cable production process is presented by employing the design science research (DSR) methodology. The project starts with the analysis of the previous production concept, determining possible problems and improvements, as well as setting objectives/requirements for a possible new concept/equipment. This information was used to develop a new automated Bowden cable production equipment, implementing several changes to the old concept and filling a gap in the literature in this field. The developed system was implemented and tested. A considerable reduction in cycle time was registered by 25%, which resulted in an increase of 30% in process productivityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rhizomucor and Scedosporium Infection Post Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplant

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing invasive fungal infections. This is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 17-year-old male patient diagnosed with severe idiopathic acquired aplastic anemia who developed fungal pneumonitis due to Rhizomucor sp. and rhinoencephalitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum 6 and 8 months after undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant from an HLA-matched unrelated donor. Discussion highlights risk factors for invasive fungal infections (i.e., mucormycosis and scedosporiosis), its clinical features, and the factors that must be taken into account to successfully treat them (early diagnosis, correction of predisposing factors, aggressive surgical debridement, and antifungal and adjunctive therapies)

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome after stem cell transplantation: a case report and literature review

Graft-versus-host disease is one of the most frequent complications occurring after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recently, renal involvement has been described as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Immunosuppression seems to play a major role: clinical disease is triggered by its tapering and resolution is achieved with the resumption of the immunosuppressive therapy. Prognosis is apparently favourable, but long term follow up data are lacking

IL-10 overexpression predisposes to invasive aspergillosis by suppressing antifungal immunity

© 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & ImmunologyProinflammatory immune responses are critically required for antimicrobial host defenses; however, excessive inflammation has the potential to damage host tissues thereby paradoxically contributing to the progression of infection. A central negative regulator of inflammatory responses is IL-10, an immunosuppressive cytokine with a wide variety of functions across multiple cell types. Although the role of IL-10 during infection appears to vary for different microorganisms, a largely detrimental role has been attributed to this cytokine during fungal disease. Given the variable risk of infection and its outcome among patients with comparable predisposing factors, susceptibility to invasive aspergillosis (IA) is thought to rely largely on genetic predisposition. The initial investigation of genetic variability at the IL10 locus led to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influencing its transcriptional activity; thus, IL-10 may be a reasonable candidate for the genetic regulation of susceptibility to IA in high-risk patients.Supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013), the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (contracts IF/00735/2014 to A.C., IF/01390/2014 to E.T., IF/00021/2014 to R.S., and SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 to C.C.), the Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesas (CRUP), Portugal (Ações Integradas Luso-Alemãs A-43/16), the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (project-ID 57212690), the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Madrid, Spain) (grant #PI12/02688) and the ERA-NET PathoGenoMics (grant #0315900A).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic variation in PFKFB3 impairs antifungal immunometabolic responses and predisposes to Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Copyright © 2021 Gonçalves et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.Activation of immune cells in response to fungal infection involves the reprogramming of their cellular metabolism to support antimicrobial effector functions. Although metabolic pathways such as glycolysis are known to represent critical regulatory nodes in antifungal immunity, it remains undetermined whether these are differentially regulated at the interindividual level. In this study, we identify a key role for 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) in the immunometabolic responses to Aspergillus fumigatus. A genetic association study performed in 439 recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and corresponding donors revealed that the donor, but not recipient, rs646564 variant in the PFKFB3 gene increased the risk of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) after transplantation. The risk genotype impaired the expression of PFKFB3 by human macrophages in response to fungal infection, which was correlated with a defective activation of glycolysis and the ensuing antifungal effector functions. In patients with IPA, the risk genotype was associated with lower concentrations of cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the important contribution of genetic variation in PFKFB3 to the risk of IPA in patients undergoing HSCT and support its inclusion in prognostic tools to predict the risk of fungal infection in this clinical setting. IMPORTANCE The fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus can cause severe and life-threatening forms of infection in immunocompromised patients. Activation of glycolysis is essential for innate immune cells to mount effective antifungal responses. In this study, we report the contribution of genetic variation in the key glycolytic activator 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) to the risk of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The PFKFB3 genotype associated with increased risk of infection was correlated with an impairment of the antifungal effector functions of macrophages in vitro and in patients with IPA. This work highlights the clinical relevance of genetic variation in PFKFB3 to the risk of IPA and supports its integration in risk stratification and preemptive measures for patients at high risk of IPA.This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (PTDC/SAU-SER/29635/2017, PTDC/MED-GEN/28778/2017, UIDB/50026/2020, and UIDP/50026/2020), the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000039), the Institut Mérieux (Mérieux Research Grant 2017), the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Research Grant 2017), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 847507, and the “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434) and FCT under the agreement LCF/PR/HR17/52190003. Individual support was provided by FCT (SFRH/BD/136814/2018 to S.M.G., PD/BD/137680/2018 to D.A., CEECIND/04058/2018 to C.C., and CEECIND/03628/2017 to A.C.). M.G.N. was supported by an ERC Advanced Grant and a Spinoza Grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation among patients with acute myeloid leukemia presenting active disease: Experience of a single European Comprehensive Cancer Center

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) represents a potentially curative approach for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We report the outcome of relapsed/refractory AML patients treated with ASCT.Method: A retrospective cohort from 1994 to 2013 that included 61 patients with diagnosis of relapsed/refractory AML. Outcomes of interest were transplant-related mortality (TRM), incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), relapse incidence, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results: The median age was 61 years (range 1 to 65). The cumulative incidence of 90 days, 1 year, and 3 years TRM were 60%, 26.7%, and 13.3%, respectively (p< 0.001). The incidence of relapse was 21.7% at 1 year, 13% at 3 years, and 8.7% at 5 years. Median OS was estimated to be 8 months (95CI 3.266-12.734) and median PFS, 3 months (95CI 1.835-4.165).Conclusion: In our cohort, TRM in first years after ASCT remains considerable, but ASCT in this setting seems to be a good choice for AML patients with active disease. However, novel approaches are needed to reduce TRM and relapse in this set of patients

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome after stem cell transplantation: a case report and literature review

Abstract Graft-versus-host disease is one of the most frequent complications occurring after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recently, renal involvement has been described as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Immunosuppression seems to play a major role: clinical disease is triggered by its tapering and resolution is achieved with the resumption of the immunosuppressive therapy. Prognosis is apparently favourable, but long term follow up data are lacking. We report a case of a 53-year-old man who developed nephrotic syndrome 142 days after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia. Onset of nephrotic syndrome occurred after reduction of immunosuppressants and was accompanied by manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Histological examination of the kidney was consistent with Minimal Change Disease. After treatment with prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil he had complete remission of proteinuria and improvement of graft-versus-host disease. Eighteen months after transplantation the patient keeps haematological remission and normal renal function, without proteinuria. Since patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease might be considered at risk for development of nephrotic syndrome, careful monitoring of renal parameters, namely proteinuria, is advisable.</p