Compliance with the surgical safety checklist in Switzerland: an observational multicenter study based on self-reported data.

BACKGROUND Since publication of the surgical safety checklist by the WHO in 2009, it has been introduced in many hospitals. However, frequency and quality of surgical safety checklist use is often low probably limiting the effectiveness of the checklist in preventing patient harm. The focus of this study was to examine the current state of compliance with the surgical safety checklist in Switzerland and to evaluate how the data relates to international comparative data. METHODS Between November 2020 and March 2021 twelve hospitals with 15 sites collected for at least 200 surgical interventions each whether the three sections of the surgical safety checklist (Sign In, Team Time Out, Sign Out) have been applied. This data collection was part of a large quality improvement project focusing on measuring and improving compliance with the surgical safety checklist via peer observation and feedback. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data; chi-square tests were used to compare sub-samples. RESULTS The hospitals collected valid compliance data for 8622 surgical interventions. Mean compliance rate was 91% when distinguishing between the two categories applied (including partially applied) and not applied. In line with previous research, Sign In (93%) and Team Time Out (94%) sections have been applied more frequently than Sign Out (86%). All three surgical safety checklist sections have been applied in 79% of the surgical interventions, no sections in 1%. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that the overall application of the surgical safety checklist in Switzerland can be considered high, although the completeness, especially of the Sign Out section, could be improved. At present, it seems difficult to compare compliance rates from different studies as measurement methods and definitions of compliance vary widely. A systematization and homogenization of the methodology within, but also beyond, national borders is desirable for the future

CELL-CENTERED LAGRANGIAN LAX-WENDROFF HLL HYBRID SCHEME ON UNSTRUCTURED MESHES

We have recently introduced a new cell-centered Lax-Wendroff HLL hybrid scheme for Lagrangian hydrodynamics [Fridrich et al. J. Comp. Phys. 326 (2016) 878-892] with results presented only on logical rectangular quadrilateral meshes. In this study we present an improved version on unstructured meshes, including uniform triangular and hexagonal meshes and non-uniform triangular and polygonal meshes. The performance of the scheme is verified on Noh and Sedov problems and its second-order convergence is verified on a smooth expansion test.Finally the choice of the scalar parameter controlling the amount of added artificial dissipation is studied

A novel semi-fragile forensic watermarking scheme for remote sensing images

Peer-reviewedA semi-fragile watermarking scheme for multiple band images is presented. We propose to embed a mark into remote sensing images applying a tree structured vector quantization approach to the pixel signatures, instead of processing each band separately. The signature of themmultispectral or hyperspectral image is used to embed the mark in it order to detect any significant modification of the original image. The image is segmented into threedimensional blocks and a tree structured vector quantizer is built for each block. These trees are manipulated using an iterative algorithm until the resulting block satisfies a required criterion which establishes the embedded mark. The method is shown to be able to preserve the mark under lossy compression (above a given threshold) but, at the same time, it detects possibly forged blocks and their position in the whole image.Se presenta un esquema de marcas de agua semi-frágiles para múltiples imágenes de banda. Proponemos incorporar una marca en imágenes de detección remota, aplicando un enfoque de cuantización del vector de árbol estructurado con las definiciones de píxel, en lugar de procesar cada banda por separado. La firma de la imagen hiperespectral se utiliza para insertar la marca en el mismo orden para detectar cualquier modificación significativa de la imagen original. La imagen es segmentada en bloques tridimensionales y un cuantificador de vector de estructura de árbol se construye para cada bloque. Estos árboles son manipulados utilizando un algoritmo iteractivo hasta que el bloque resultante satisface un criterio necesario que establece la marca incrustada. El método se muestra para poder preservar la marca bajo compresión con pérdida (por encima de un umbral establecido) pero, al mismo tiempo, detecta posiblemente bloques forjados y su posición en la imagen entera.Es presenta un esquema de marques d'aigua semi-fràgils per a múltiples imatges de banda. Proposem incorporar una marca en imatges de detecció remota, aplicant un enfocament de quantització del vector d'arbre estructurat amb les definicions de píxel, en lloc de processar cada banda per separat. La signatura de la imatge hiperespectral s'utilitza per inserir la marca en el mateix ordre per detectar qualsevol modificació significativa de la imatge original. La imatge és segmentada en blocs tridimensionals i un quantificador de vector d'estructura d'arbre es construeix per a cada bloc. Aquests arbres són manipulats utilitzant un algoritme iteractiu fins que el bloc resultant satisfà un criteri necessari que estableix la marca incrustada. El mètode es mostra per poder preservar la marca sota compressió amb pèrdua (per sobre d'un llindar establert) però, al mateix temps, detecta possiblement blocs forjats i la seva posició en la imatge sencera

Conservation and turnover of miRNAs and their highly complementary targets in early branching animals

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators that have been extensively studied in Bilateria, a group comprising the majority of extant animals, where more than 30 conserved miRNA families have been identified. By contrast, bilaterian miRNA targets are largely not conserved. Cnidaria is the sister group to Bilateria and thus provides a unique opportunity for comparative studies. Strikingly, like their plant counterparts, cnidarian miRNAs have been shown to predominantly have highly complementary targets leading to transcript cleavage by Argonaute proteins. Here, we assess the conservation of miRNAs and their targets by small RNA sequencing followed by miRNA target prediction in eight species of Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals), the earliest-branching cnidarian class. We uncover dozens of novel miRNAs but only a few conserved ones. Further, given their high complementarity, we were able to computationally identify miRNA targets in each species. Besides evidence for conservation of specific miRNA target sites, which are maintained between sea anemones and stony corals across 500 Myr of evolution, we also find indications for convergent evolution of target regulation by different miRNAs. Our data indicate that cnidarians have only few conserved miRNAs and corresponding targets, despite their high complementarity, suggesting a high evolutionary turnover

Final analysis of a 14-year long-term follow-up study of the effectiveness and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in women from four nordic countries

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)Background: The quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine prevented vaccine HPV type-related infection and disease in young women in the 4-year FUTURE II efficacy study (NCT00092534). We report long-term effectiveness and immunogenicity at the end of 14 years of follow-up after enrollment in FUTURE II. Methods: Young women (16–23 years of age) from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden who received three qHPV vaccine doses during the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled FUTURE II base study were followed for effectiveness for an additional ≥10 years through national registries. Tissue samples including but not limited to those collected during organized cervical cancer screening programs were obtained from regional biobanks to be adjudicated for histopathology diagnosis and tested for HPV DNA. The observed incidence of HPV16/18-related high-grade cervical dysplasia (primary outcome) was compared with recent historical background incidence rates in an unvaccinated population. Serum was collected at years 9 and 14 to assess antibody responses. Findings: No cases of HPV16/18-related high-grade cervical dysplasia were observed in the per-protocol effectiveness population (N = 2121; 24,099·0 person-years of follow-up) during the entire study. Vaccine effectiveness of 100% (95% CI 94·7–100) was demonstrated for ≥12 years, with a trend toward continued protection through 14 years post-vaccination. Seropositivity rates at study conclusion were >90% (HPV6/11/16) and 52% (HPV18) using competitive Luminex immunoassay, and >90% (all four HPV types) using the more sensitive IgG Luminex immunoassay. Interpretation: Vaccination of young women with qHPV vaccine offers durable protection against HPV16/18-related high-grade cervical dysplasia for ≥12 years, with a trend toward continued protection through 14 years post-vaccination, and induces sustained HPV6/11/16/18 antibody responses for up to 14 years post-vaccination. There was no evidence of waning immunity, suggesting no need for a booster dose during that period.Funding for this research was provided by Merck Sharp &Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ,USA (MSD).The authors would like to thank the study participants and base-study investigators. In particular, the authors are grateful to SuzanneCampbell, Ragnhild Flingtorp, and Bo Terning Hansen for contribu-tions to the study; Sara Nordqvist Kleppe for data management; andJette Junge for contributions serving on the pathology panel. Chris-tine Shields of MSD provided clinical scientist support to thefinalanalysis and contributed to the clinical study report. Roshonda Flor-ence of ExecuPharm provided operational leadership and coordi-nated with the pathology panel and central laboratories; this wasfunded by MSD.Medical writing support, under the direction of the authors, wasprovided by Erin Bekes, PhD, of CMC AFFINITY, McCann Health Medi-cal Communications, and was funded by MSD, in accordance withGood Publication Practice (GPP3) guidelines.Peer Reviewe

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on TAVR Activity: A Worldwide Registry

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the provision of structural heart intervention worldwide. Our objectives were: 1) to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) activity globally; and 2) to determine the differences in the impact according to geographic region and the demographic, development, and economic status of diverse international health care systems. Methods: We developed a multinational registry of global TAVR activity and invited individual TAVR sites to submit TAVR implant data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the number of TAVR procedures performed monthly from January 2019 to December 2021 was collected. The adaptive measures to maintain TAVR activity by each site were recorded, as was a variety of indices relating to type of health care system and national economic indices. The primary subject of interest was the impact on TAVR activity during each of the pandemic waves (2020 and 2021) compared with the same period pre–COVID-19 (2019). Results: Data were received from 130 centers from 61 countries, with 14 subcontinents and 5 continents participating in the study. Overall, TAVR activity increased by 16.7% (2,337 procedures) between 2018 and 2019 (ie, before the pandemic), but between 2019 and 2020 (ie, first year of the pandemic), there was no significant growth (–0.1%; –10 procedures). In contrast, activity again increased by 18.9% (3,085 procedures) between 2020 and 2021 (ie, second year of the pandemic). During the first pandemic wave, there was a reduction of 18.9% (945 procedures) in TAVR activity among participating sites, while during the second and third waves, there was an increase of 6.7% (489 procedures) and 15.9% (1,042 procedures), respectively. Further analysis and results of this study are ongoing and will be available at the time of the congress. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to a reduction in the number of patients undergoing TAVR worldwide, although health care systems subsequently adapted, and the number of TAVR recipients continued to grow in subsequent COVID-19 pandemic waves. Categories: STRUCTURAL: Valvular Disease: Aorti

Support for Predictive Application Autoscaling on Kubernetes Platform

The goal of this work is to create a new interface that will allow users to process collected metrics for scaling according to a formula (e.g. average value, mathematical equations, conditional statements) defined by a user. It also allows users to use an external interface for connecting KEDA to a component that defines its own scaling behavior, with which the user can achieve more complex solutions like automated predictive scaling of applications on Kubernetes platform. I solved the selected problems by modifying the KEDA core by implementing a new interface for scaling according to a custom formula with arithmetic and conditional expressions and the ability to connect a custom external remote method for calculating metrics using gRPC technology. The created solution provides a more flexible way to process metrics and also allows user to implement their own methods

Recognition of Driving Lane Borders in Video from On-Board Camera

Tato práce se zabývá detekcí jizdních pruhů. Konkrétně vlastního generátoru syntetických dat, jeho využití při trénování neuronových sítí, testování výsledků na konvoluční neuronové síti (CNN) modelu UNet a možnosti rozšíření tohoto modelu na SALMNet model (Structure-Aware Lane Marking Detection Network) pomocí přidání SGCA modulu (Semantic-Guided Channel Attention) a pyramidového modulu PDC (Pyramid deformable convolution). Výsledky trénování syntetických dat ukazují že síť umí rozpoznávat silniční pruhy velmi dobře, s přesností kolem 95\,\% (na jednodušších obrázcích dosahuje i 99\,\%). Nad reálným datasetem se výsledky lišily pro jednotlivé datasety, TuSimple dosahoval větší přesnosti kvůli menší obtížnosti obrázků, a sice kolem 62\,\%. Datová sada CuLane dosahovala pouze kolem 37\,\% velmi nestabilně.This paper talks about lane detection. Specifically custom generator of synthetic images, usage during training of neural networks, testing on convolutional neural network (CNN) UNet model and possibilities of extension of this model to SALMnet (Structure-Aware Lane Marking Detection Network) via addding SGCA module (semantic-guided channel attention) and PDC module (pyramid deformable convolution). Training results from synthetic datasets show very accurate results, reaching around 95\,\% in accuracy (even 99\,\% for easier images). Trainings with real datasets show lower accuracy, depending on the difficulty of the dataset itself. TuSimple has easier and clearer images and reaches about 62\,\%. CuLane is much more complex and results show accuracy around 37\,\%.