Conditional Generative Data Augmentation for Clinical Audio Datasets

In this work, we propose a novel data augmentation method for clinical audio datasets based on a conditional Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty (cWGAN-GP), operating on log-mel spectrograms. To validate our method, we created a clinical audio dataset which was recorded in a real-world operating room during Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) procedures and contains typical sounds which resemble the different phases of the intervention. We demonstrate the capability of the proposed method to generate realistic class-conditioned samples from the dataset distribution and show that training with the generated augmented samples outperforms classical audio augmentation methods in terms of classification performance. The performance was evaluated using a ResNet-18 classifier which shows a mean Macro F1-score improvement of 1.70% in a 5-fold cross validation experiment using the proposed augmentation method. Because clinical data is often expensive to acquire, the development of realistic and high-quality data augmentation methods is crucial to improve the robustness and generalization capabilities of learning-based algorithms which is especially important for safety-critical medical applications. Therefore, the proposed data augmentation method is an important step towards improving the data bottleneck for clinical audio-based machine learning systems

The occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Shigella spp. in Tehran, Iran

Background and Objectives: The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Shigella spp. is of increasing clinical concern specially in children worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Shigella spp. in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: The study included all Shigella isolates recovered from pediatric patients aged less than 12 years admitted to a major pediatric hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2008 to 2010. Bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) screening and confirmatory tests were performed according to the standard guidelines. Conjugal transfer experiments and plasmid analysis were also carried out. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were used to identify the genetic determinants responsible for ESBL production. Results: Four out of 55 Shigella isolates, including three S. sonnei and one S. flexneri, showed an ESBL-positive phenotype. Plasmid transfer of the ESBL phenotype was successful for the S. flexneri isolate only. By PCR and sequencing, one S. sonnei isolate tested positive for the CMY-59 gene, while the other two S. sonnei and the S. flexneri isolates tested positive for the blaTEM-1 and blaCTX-M-15 genes. Conclusion: We found the prevalence of ESBL producing Shigella isolates was higher than detection rates observed in many other countries. Our finding raise concerns about the dissemination of ESBL among the strains of endemic S. sonnei throughout the country, because this species is now the most frequently isolated Shigella species in Iran and shigellosis by such strains in the community can pose a significant threat to patients and presents a challenge for disease management

Pro-fibrotic phenotype of bone marrow stromal cells in Modic type 1 changes

Modic type 1 changes (MC1) are painful vertebral bone marrow lesions frequently found in patients suffering from chronic low-back pain. Marrow fibrosis is a hallmark of MC1. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are key players in other fibrotic bone marrow pathologies, yet their role in MC1 is unknown. The present study aimed to characterise MC1 BMSCs and hypothesised a pro-fibrotic role of BMSCs in MC1. BMSCs were isolated from patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion from MC1 and adjacent control vertebrae. Frequency of colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F), expression of stem cell surface markers, differentiation capacity, transcriptome, matrix adhesion, cell contractility as well as expression of pro-collagen type I alpha 1, α-smooth muscle actin, integrins and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were compared. More CFU-F and increased expression of C-X-C-motif-chemokine 12 were found in MC1 BMSCs, possibly indicating overrepresentation of a perisinusoidal BMSC population. RNA sequencing analysis showed enrichment in extracellular matrix proteins and fibrosis-related signalling genes. Increases in pro-collagen type I alpha 1 expression, cell adhesion, cell contractility and phosphorylation of FAK provided further evidence for their pro-fibrotic phenotype. Moreover, a leptin receptor high expressing (LEPRhigh) BMSC population was identified that differentiated under transforming growth factor beta 1 stimulation into myofibroblasts in MC1 but not in control BMSCs. In conclusion, pro-fibrotic changes in MC1 BMSCs and a LEPRhigh MC1 BMSC subpopulation susceptible to myofibroblast differentiation were found. Fibrosis is a hallmark of MC1 and a potential therapeutic target. A causal link between the pro-fibrotic phenotype and clinical characteristics needs to be demonstrated

Role of C-reactive protein in the bone marrow of Modic type 1 changes

Modic type 1 changes (MC1) are vertebral bone marrow lesions and associate with low back pain. Increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP) has inconsistently been associated with MC1. We aimed to provide evidence for a role of CRP in the tissue pathophysiology of MC1 bone marrow. From thirteen MC1 patients undergoing spinal fusion at MC1 levels, vertebral bone marrow aspirates from MC1 and intra-patient control bone marrow were taken. Bone marrow CRP, IL-1, and IL-6 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured with a colorimetric assay. CRP, IL-1, and IL-6 were compared between MC1 and control bone marrow. Bone marrow CRP was correlated with blood CRP and with bone marrow IL-1, IL-6, and LDH. CRP expression by marrow cells was measured with PCR. Increased CRP in MC1 bone marrow (mean difference: +0.22 mg CRP/g protein, 95% CI [-0.04, 0.47], p=0.088) correlated with blood CRP (r=0.69, p=0.018), with bone marrow IL-1β (ρ=0.52, p=0.029) and IL-6 (ρ=0.51, p=0.031). Marrow cells did not express CRP. Increased LDH in MC1 bone marrow (143.1%, 95% CI [110.7%, 175.4%], p=0.014) indicated necrosis. A blood CRP threshold of 3.2 mg/L detected with 100% accuracy increased CRP in MC1 bone marrow. In conclusion, the association of CRP with inflammatory and necrotic changes in MC1 bone marrow provides evidence for a pathophysiological role of CRP in MC1 bone marrow. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Sonification as a Reliable Alternative to Conventional Visual Surgical Navigation

Despite the undeniable advantages of image-guided surgical assistance systems in terms of accuracy, such systems have not yet fully met surgeons' needs or expectations regarding usability, time efficiency, and their integration into the surgical workflow. On the other hand, perceptual studies have shown that presenting independent but causally correlated information via multimodal feedback involving different sensory modalities can improve task performance. This article investigates an alternative method for computer-assisted surgical navigation, introduces a novel sonification methodology for navigated pedicle screw placement, and discusses advanced solutions based on multisensory feedback. The proposed method comprises a novel sonification solution for alignment tasks in four degrees of freedom based on frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. We compared the resulting accuracy and execution time of the proposed sonification method with visual navigation, which is currently considered the state of the art. We conducted a phantom study in which 17 surgeons executed the pedicle screw placement task in the lumbar spine, guided by either the proposed sonification-based or the traditional visual navigation method. The results demonstrated that the proposed method is as accurate as the state of the art while decreasing the surgeon's need to focus on visual navigation displays instead of the natural focus on surgical tools and targeted anatomy during task execution

Development of an Online General Biology Open Educational Resource (OER) Laboratory Manual

Currently, many academic institutions are using one or more variations of online modalities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and science educators face a unique challenge with distance-learning laboratories. Many resources to engage students in virtual, interactive laboratory activities exist, but we found that high costs and/or overlooked content left gaps for several topics typically taught in a general, introductory biology course for undergraduate biology majors (e.g., organismal biology). Additionally, resources for an online lab must be identified and curated from multiple sources, requiring intense demands on the instructors’ time. To meet this need and to overcome the financial burden of high-cost lab manuals or software, we developed, piloted, and revised a series of online general biology lab exercises. We have published these exercises as an Open Educational Resource (OER) digital laboratory manual under the Creative Commons License Agreement, and they are accessible online via Manifold, Creative Commons, and the CUNY Academic Works portal

General Biology 2 Laboratory Manual

Currently, many academic institutions are using one or more variations of online modalities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and science educators face a unique challenge with distance-learning laboratories. Many resources to engage students in virtual, interactive laboratory activities exist, but we found that high costs and/or overlooked content left gaps for several topics typically taught in a general, introductory biology course for undergraduate biology majors (e.g., organismal biology). Additionally, resources for an online lab must be identified and curated from multiple sources, requiring intense demands on the instructors’ time. To meet this need and to overcome the financial burden of high-cost lab manuals or software, we developed, piloted, and revised a series of online general biology lab exercises. We have published these exercises as an Open Educational Resource (OER) digital laboratory manual under the Creative Commons License Agreement, and they are accessible online via Manifold, Creative Commons, and the CUNY Academic Works portal

The components of workplace violence against nurses from the perspective of women working in a hospital in Tehran: a qualitative study

Background: Based on the World Health Organization (WHO), workplace violence can affect events where employees are abused, attacked or threatened in their workplace, and it also has some consequences such as safety, welfare, and health. Like other types of violence, workplace violence and aggression are an increasing phenomenon. Moreover, workplace violence not only disrupts interpersonal and organizational relationships, but it also impairs the persons self-esteem and affects their physical and mental health and well-being. Thus, this study aimed to explain the components of workplace violence against nurses from the perspective of women working in a hospital in Tehran, which was conducted through the qualitative method and content analysis. Methods: In this study Purposive sampling included 21 female nurses who were working in different wards of the hospital. Also, female nurses were selected with maximum diversity in terms of work experience, age, and the wards they were working in. in this study the semi-structured interview was the main method of data collection. The interview transcriptions were extracted and then divided into meaningful units. For strengthening and confirming the results and accuracy of the research, the author used the data acceptability, credibility, accuracy, validity, believability, verifiability, reliability, and transferability. Results: During the data analysis process of this study, the first 15 classes with the same characteristics were put together and then divided into 6 classes. Afterwards, based on the common features at a more abstract level, they were converted into 2 themes. Based on the findings, violence against women in the workplace occurs at two levels, that namely interpersonal violence and organizational coercion. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary for managers to commit to lay the groundwork for reducing violence in the hospital, as well as barriers to report these cases especially the hospital managers and officials should create awareness on workplace among the staff, patient and visitors and must ensure stringent actions to prevent it. © 2021, The Author(s)

Occupational cognitive failure and its relationship with unsafe behaviors and accidents

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between occupational cognitive failures (OCFs) and unsafe behaviors, accidents and driving offences among municipal bus drivers in Tehran, Iran. Methods. Systematic random sampling was used to select 190 drivers from 3 transport and traffic Tehran districts. Data were collected with the occupational cognitive failure questionnaire (OCFQ), the driver behavior questionnaire and a data collection form. Results. The mean (SD) numbers of driving-related offences and road traffic accidents were 1.5 (2.6) and 0.37 (1.0), respectively. The mean (SD) numbers of deliberate driving violations, unintended violations, driving slips and mistakes were 6.97 (5.5), 1.61 (1.5), 13.6 (9.0) and 4.53 (3.28), respectively. The mean (SD) number of the OCFs was 28.9 (20.5). A significant correlation was found between occupational cognitive error and unsafe driving behavior subscales. The stepwise logistic regression results showed that, while controlling the effects of confounding factors, the OCF predicts 6, 9, 15 and 9 of deliberate violations, unintended violations, driving slips and driving mistakes, respectively. Conclusion. The results of this study show that the score of the OCFQ is a predictor of unsafe driving behaviors and its subscales