Generalised Decision Level Ensemble Method for Classifying Multi-media Data

In recent decades, multimedia data have been commonly generated and used in various domains, such as in healthcare and social media due to their ability of capturing rich information. But as they are unstructured and separated, how to fuse and integrate multimedia datasets and then learn from them eectively have been a main challenge to machine learning. We present a novel generalised decision level ensemble method (GDLEM) that combines the multimedia datasets at decision level. After extracting features from each of multimedia datasets separately, the method trains models independently on each media dataset and then employs a generalised selection function to choose the appropriate models to construct a heterogeneous ensemble. The selection function is dened as a weighted combination of two criteria: the accuracy of individual models and the diversity among the models. The framework is tested on multimedia data and compared with other heterogeneous ensembles. The results show that the GDLEM is more exible and eective

The outcome of 41 Late-Diagnosed Turkish GA-1 Patients: A Candidate for the Turkish NBS

Background: Glutaric aciduria type 1(GA-1) is an inherited cerebral organic aciduria. Untreated patients with GA-1 have a risk of acute encephalopathic crises during the first 6 years of life. In so far as GA-1 desperately does not exist in Turkish newborn screening (NBS) program, most patients in our study were late-diagnosed. / Method: This study included 41 patients diagnosed with acylcarnitine profile, urinary organic acids, mutation analyses in the symptomatic period. We presented with clinical, neuroradiological, and molecular data of our 41 patients. / Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 14.8 13.9 (15 days to 72 months) and, high blood glutaconic acid, glutarylcarnitine and urinary glutaric acid (GA) levels in 41 patients were revealed. Seventeen different mutations in the glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase gene were identified, five of which were novel. The patients, most of whom were late-diagnosed, had a poor neurological outcome. Treatment strategies made a little improvement in dystonia and the frequency of encephalopathic attacks. / Conclusion: All GA-1 patients in our study were severely affected since they were latediagnosed, while others show that GA-1 is a treatable metabolic disorder if it is diagnosed with NBS. This study provides an essential perspective of the severe impact on GA-1 patients unless it is diagnosed with NBS. We immediately advocate GA-1 to be included in the Turkish NBS

Decision level ensemble method for classifying multi-media data

In the digital era, the data, for a given analytical task, can be collected in different formats, such as text, images and audio etc. The data with multiple formats are called multimedia data. Integrating and fusing multimedia datasets has become a challenging task in machine learning and data mining. In this paper, we present heterogeneous ensemble method that combines multi-media datasets at the decision level. Our method consists of several components, including extracting the features from multimedia datasets that are not represented by features, modelling independently on each of multimedia datasets, selecting models based on their accuracy and diversity and building the ensemble at the decision level. Hence our method is called decision level ensemble method (DLEM). The method is tested on multimedia data and compared with other heterogeneous ensemble based methods. The results show that the DLEM outperformed these methods significantly

Burning out physical and emotional fatigue : evaluating the effects of a progamme aimed at reducing burnout amongst mental health nurses

Burnout is a common problem among mental health nurses. High levels of burnout result in job dissatisfaction, rapid turnover of staff, physical and psychological discomfort, and a reduction in the quality of patient care. While there is an abundance of research relating to burnout per se, research regarding the impact of burnout prevention programmes is lacking. This study aimed to measure the effects of a burnout prevention programme on mental health nurses working in Saudi Arabia (SA). A quasi-experimental design was used to test the effectiveness of a two-day burnout prevention workshop. The sample consisted of an intervention group (n=154) and a control group (n=142). Data collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) measured the effects of the workshop at one, three and six month intervals after completion of the programme. Data were analysed using the latest version of SPSS. Means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages were used to describe the sample and levels of burnout. A t-test, ANOVA, Multiple linear regression and chi squared were used to measure the effect of the workshop before and at the three time points after exposure. Findings indicate the program was effective with a significant reduction being reported one month after the intervention. However, although not returning to baseline scores, burnout scores had increased at six months. In conclusion, while the overall efficacy of the burnout reduction program is evident, mental health nurses would benefit from having opportunity to use some of the strategies on a regular basis

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Urotensin II: the old kid in town

Urotensin II (U-II) is a vasoactive hormone that acts through a recently described seven transmembrane-spanning G-protein-coupled receptor called GPR14. Although touted as the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide yet identified, the responses elicited by U-II are species-, tissue- and endothelium-dependent. Available data question the contribution of U-II to resting cardiovascular homeostasis in humans; instead they point to a role for this hormone in disease (heart failure and cardiac cell growth, renal function, diabetes, and mitogenesis in vascular and tumour cells). Key features of these diseases are increased expression and activity of U-II receptors. In this review, we focus on recent evidence that supports a role of U-II and its receptor in cardiovascular disease

Transport mode choices of regional passenger travel from Manila to Davao

Besides Metro Manila, Davao is one of the major developing cities in the Philippines. The study aims to determine how the characteristics of the passenger and the mode itself affect the decision of an individual on what mode to take going to a particular zone, namely, Davao. The group conducted a survey study that interviewed passengers going to Davao, obtaining the socio-economic characteristics of individuals and characteristics of the modes of transportation. Given these information, the group used logistic regression in analyzing the data, which is a regression model that analyzes binomially distributed data or variables. The result of this study is represented by a model that would determine the probability of each passenger\u27s choice of mode given his/her socio-economic characteristics and the characteristics of the modes themselves. An example of socio-economic characteristic is the individual\u27s personal income. The results of this study showed that the cost of travel and the individual\u27s personal income greatly affects the choice of mode of that individual. Cost of travel, travel time and monthly income of a passenger have great impact on his/her choice on what mode of transportation to take in traveling from Manila to Davao