This is not an apple! Benefits and challenges of applying computer vision to museum collections

The application of computer vision on museum collection data is at an experimental stage with predictions that it will grow in significance and use in the coming years. This research, based on the analysis of five case studies and semi-structured interviews with museum professionals, examined the opportunities and challenges of these technologies, the resources and funding required, and the ethical implications that arise during these initiatives. The case studies examined in this paper are drawn from: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA), Princeton University Art Museum (USA), Museum of Modern Art (USA), Harvard Art Museums (USA), Science Museum Group (UK). The research findings highlight the possibilities of computer vision to offer new ways to analyze, describe and present museum collections. However, their actual implementation on digital products is currently very limited due to the lack of resources and the inaccuracies created by algorithms. This research adds to the rapidly evolving field of computer vision within the museum sector and provides recommendations to operationalize the usage of these technologies, increase the transparency on their application, create ethics playbooks to manage potential bias and collaborate across the museum sector

Cross-cutting principles for planetary health education

Since the 2015 launch of the Rockefeller Foundation Lancet Commission on planetary health,1 an enormous groundswell of interest in planetary health education has emerged across many disciplines, institutions, and geographical regions. Advancing these global efforts in planetary health education will equip the next generation of scholars to address crucial questions in this emerging field and support the development of a community of practice. To provide a foundation for the growing interest and efforts in this field, the Planetary Health Alliance has facilitated the first attempt to create a set of principles for planetary health education that intersect education at all levels, across all scales, and in all regions of the world—ie, a set of cross-cutting principles

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Impact of a Food Skills Course with a Teaching Kitchen on Dietary and Cooking Self-Efficacy and Behaviors among College Students

College students may face barriers to eating healthy foods. Educational interventions providing practical knowledge and skills may help students to overcome financial barriers or other barriers to acquiring, preparing, and consuming healthy foods. We evaluated the association between participation in a semester-long food skills course with an interactive teaching kitchen and dietary and cooking self-efficacy and behaviors. Participants were recruited from course enrollees (intervention) and the general student population (comparison). We assessed differences in pre-post changes in the outcomes between groups using the propensity score weighting and mixed effects linear or Poisson regression. Course participation was associated with improved self-efficacy around cooking (group × time β-coefficient [SE]: 3.25 [0.57], p < 0.0001) and fruit (6.33 [1.19], p < 0.0001), vegetable (5.43 [1.42], p = 0.0002), and whole grain (5.83 [1.40], p < 0.0001) consumption. Course participants reported smaller pre-post decreases in vegetable consumption compared to non-participants (0.35 [0.16], p = 0.03), increased cooking frequency (0.22 [0.10], p = 0.03) and a decreased frequency of skipping meals (-0.47 [0.16], p = 0.003). There were no changes associated with the intervention in the consumption of fruit or whole grains, or in eating out frequency. Participation in a semester-long, personal food skills course with a teaching kitchen may improve self-efficacy, cooking, and vegetable consumption among college students

Impact of a Food Skills Course with a Teaching Kitchen on Dietary and Cooking Self-Efficacy and Behaviors among College Students

College students may face barriers to eating healthy foods. Educational interventions providing practical knowledge and skills may help students to overcome financial barriers or other barriers to acquiring, preparing, and consuming healthy foods. We evaluated the association between participation in a semester-long food skills course with an interactive teaching kitchen and dietary and cooking self-efficacy and behaviors. Participants were recruited from course enrollees (intervention) and the general student population (comparison). We assessed differences in pre–post changes in the outcomes between groups using the propensity score weighting and mixed effects linear or Poisson regression. Course participation was associated with improved self-efficacy around cooking (group × time β-coefficient [SE]: 3.25 [0.57], p p p = 0.0002), and whole grain (5.83 [1.40], p p = 0.03), increased cooking frequency (0.22 [0.10], p = 0.03) and a decreased frequency of skipping meals (−0.47 [0.16], p = 0.003). There were no changes associated with the intervention in the consumption of fruit or whole grains, or in eating out frequency. Participation in a semester-long, personal food skills course with a teaching kitchen may improve self-efficacy, cooking, and vegetable consumption among college students

Impact of human papillomavirus infection on the neovaginal and vulval tissues of women who underwent surgical treatment for Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections on the neovaginal and vulval tissues of women who underwent surgical treatment for Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Design: Multicenter observational study. Setting: University and community hospitals. Patient(s): Thirty-three women who had previously undergone neovagina reconstruction due to MRKH and who were referred to our centers for the evaluation and treatment of HPV neovaginal/vulval-related lesions. Intervention(s): HPV infections were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis or hybrid capture 2 tests; the patients underwent vaginoscopy, pap smear, and biopsy of the lesion and were treated by laser vaporization. Follow-up was conducted for 5 years. Main Outcome Measure(s): HPV-related neovaginal/vulval lesions, HPV testing, follow-up, recurrence rate. Result(s): Seventeen patients showed vulval lesions, and 16 patients neovaginal lesions. HPV testing results were positive for low-risk HPVs in 27 patients and high-risk HPVs in six patients. All the vulval lesions were condylomata, whereas 10 neovaginal lesions were condylomata, three were vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) degree 1, two were VAIN degree 2, and one was an adenocarcinoma. Eight patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty patients tested positive for an HPV infection, and seven patients (28%) had a recurrence of the lesion in the follow-up time. Conclusion(s): Patients who underwent neovagina reconstruction have sexual relationships and are HPV exposed. These patients should be evaluated after surgery for HPV infections to prevent HPV-related diseases and cancers. (Fertil Steril (R) 2011; 96: 969-73. (C)2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

The re-infection rate of high-risk HPV and the recurrence rate of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) usual type after surgical treatment

VIN usual type appears to be related to the HPV's oncogenic types. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the re-infection rate of high-risk HPV and the recurrence rate of VIN usual type after surgical treatment. The study enrolled 103 women affected by VIN usual type. They underwent wide local excision by CO2 laser. The patients were investigated by clinical evaluation and HPV DNA test 6 months after surgical treatment, and then were followed-up at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. The recurrences were treated with re-excision. The rate of HPV infection after surgical treatment was 34% at 6 months, 36.9% at 12 months, 40% at 18 months, 41.7% at 24 months and 44.7% at 36 months. The mean time from HPV infection to the development of VIN was 18.8 months. HPV testing in the follow-up of VIN usual type patients might be useful for identifying those patients with a higher risk of recurrence after surgical treatment, although more studies are needed. These preliminary data suggest that the test, in addition to clinical examination, can improve the efficacy of the follow-up