Automatic Moving Object Segmentation for Freely Moving Cameras

This paper proposes a new moving object segmentation algorithm for freely moving cameras which is very common for the outdoor surveillance system, the car build-in surveillance system, and the robot navigation system. A two-layer based affine transformation model optimization method is proposed for camera compensation purpose, where the outer layer iteration is used to filter the non-background feature points, and the inner layer iteration is used to estimate a refined affine model based on the RANSAC method. Then the feature points are classified into foreground and background according to the detected motion information. A geodesic based graph cut algorithm is then employed to extract the moving foreground based on the classified features. Unlike the existing global optimization or the long term feature point tracking based method, our algorithm only performs on two successive frames to segment the moving foreground, which makes it suitable for the online video processing applications. The experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in both of the high accuracy and the fast speed

Factors associated with health-seeking behavior among migrant workers in Beijing, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Migrant workers are a unique phenomenon in the process of China's economic transformation. The household registration system classifies them as temporary residents in cities, putting them in a vulnerable state with an unfair share of urban infrastructure and social public welfare. The amount of pressure inflicted by migrant workers in Beijing, as one of the major migration destinations, is currently at a threshold. This study was designed to assess the factors associated with health-seeking behavior and to explore feasible solutions to the obstacles migrant workers in China faced with when accessing health-care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 2,478 migrant workers in Beijing was chosen by the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews between investigators and subjects. The multilevel methodology (MLM) was used to demonstrate the independent effects of the explanatory variables on health seeking behavior in migrant workers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The medical visitation rate of migrant workers within the past two weeks was 4.8%, which only accounted for 36.4% of those who were ill. Nearly one-third of the migrant workers chose self-medication (33.3%) or no measures (30.3%) while ill within the past two weeks. 19.7% of the sick migrants who should have been hospitalized failed to receive medical treatment within the past year. According to self-reported reasons, the high cost of health service was a significant obstacle to health-care access for 40.5% of the migrant workers who became sick. However, 94.0% of the migrant workers didn't have any insurance coverage in Beijing. The multilevel model analysis indicates that health-seeking behavior among migrants is significantly associated with their insurance coverage. Meanwhile, such factors as household monthly income per capita and working hours per day also affect the medical visitation rate of the migrant workers in Beijing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study assesses the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on the migrant workers' decision to seek health care services when they fall ill, and it also indicates that the current health service system discourages migrant workers from seeking appropriate care of good quality. Relevant policies of public medical insurance and assistance program should be vigorously implemented for providing affordable health care services to the migrants. Feasible measures need to be taken to reduce the health risks associated with current hygiene practices and equity should be assured in access to health care services among migrant workers.</p

Frailty Index and Cardiovascular Disease among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional and Follow-Up Study

Evidence for the association between the frailty index and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is inconclusive, and this association has not been evaluated in Chinese adults. We aim to examine the association between the frailty index and CVD among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. We conducted cross-sectional and cohort analyses using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). From 2011 to 2018, 17,708 participants aged 45 years and older were included in the CHARLS. The primary outcome was CVD events (composite of heart disease and stroke). Multivariable adjusted logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between the frailty index and CVD in cross-sectional and follow-up studies, respectively. A restricted cubic spline model was used to characterize dose&ndash;response relationships. A total of 16,293 and 13,580 participants aged 45 years and older were included in the cross-sectional and cohort analyses, respectively. In the cross-sectional study, the prevalence of CVD in robust, pre-frailty and frailty was 7.83%, 18.70% and 32.39%, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, pre-frailty and frailty were associated with CVD; ORs were 2.54 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.28&ndash;2.84) and 4.76 (95% CI, 4.10&ndash;5.52), respectively. During the 7 years of follow-up, 2122 participants without previous CVD developed incident CVD; pre-frailty and frailty were associated with increased risk of CVD events; HRs were 1.53 (95% CI, 1.39&ndash;1.68) and 2.17 (95% CI, 1.88&ndash;2.50), respectively. Furthermore, a stronger association of the frailty index with CVD was observed in participants aged &lt;55, men, rural community-dwellers, BMI &ge; 25, without hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidemia. A clear nonlinear dose&ndash;response pattern between the frailty index and CVD was widely observed (p &lt; 0.001 for nonlinearity), the frailty index was above 0.08, and the hazard ratio per standard deviation was 1.18 (95% CI 1.13&ndash;1.25). We observed the association between the frailty index and CVD among middle-aged and elderly adults in China, independent of chronological age and other CVD risk factors. Our findings are important for prevention strategies aimed at reducing the growing burden of CVD in older adults

An automated management system for the community health service in China

Objective: To explore a useful tool for health administrative departments to manage the community health service (CHS). Methods: On the basis of existing health laws and regulations in China, we describe the design of an automated management system for the CHS with a supervision system and an evaluation system using computer technology and corresponding design software. Results: Four changes to the management of the CHS were made: repetitive work became automated, complicated work became simplified, nonregular services decreased, and obscure instructions became clear and specific. Conclusion: The automated management system will promote the development of CHS management

A facile route to obtain binary micro-nano roughness on composite coating surface

Binary micro-nano rough morphology or structure shows a significant influence on hydrophobicity and icing-resistivity of the surface of coating materials. The leading cause for the classic Cassie state superhydrophobicity is the high area fraction of micro/nano air mattresses being in direct contact with a measured droplet. In this work, the dependence of static hydrophobicity on weight content of commercial surface-hydrophobicity-modified nano-silica in fluoropolymer based composite coatings has been investigated in detail via detecting static water contact angle (CA). It was found that elevating the weight content of hydrophobic nano-silica could contribute to a higher surface roughness, a more compact binary micro-nano morphology and a larger area ratio of air mattresses due to a stronger hypothesized phase separation. As a result, the remarkably improved water CA of composite coatings far higher than the neat polymer coating was observed relying on coating composition. Fortunately, the maximum static water CA of 167° was obtained in composite coating loaded with 50 wt% of hydrophobic nano-silica. For gaining the desired high comprehensive performances, it was advised to introduce 30 wt% of nano-filler into polymer. This work might open a facile route to achieve the promising superhydrophobic and anti-icing materials

A disease category feature database construction method of brain image based on deep convolutional neural network.

BACKGROUND:Constructing a medical image feature database according to the category of disease can achieve a quick retrieval of images with similar pathological features. Therefore, this approach has important application values in the fields such as auxiliary diagnosis, teaching, research, and telemedicine. METHODS:Based on the deep convolutional neural network, an image classifier applicable to brain disease was designed to distinguish between the image features of the different brain diseases with similar anatomical structures. Through the extraction and analysis of visual features, the images were labelled with the corresponding semantic features of a specific disease category, which can establish an association between the visual features of brain images and the semantic features of the category of disease which will permit to construct a disease category feature database of brain images. RESULTS:Based on the similarity measurement and the matching strategy of high-dimensional visual feature, a high-precision retrieval of brain image with semantics category was achieved, and the constructed disease category feature database of brain image was tested and evaluated through large numbers of pathological image retrieval experiments, the accuracy and the effectiveness of the proposed approach was verified. CONCLUSION:The disease category feature database of brain image constructed by the proposed approach achieved a quick and effective retrieval of images with similar pathological features, which is beneficial to the categorization and analysis of intractable brain diseases. This provides an effective application tool such as case-based image data management, evidence-based medicine and clinical decision support

Effect of a Community-Based Hepatitis B Virus Infection Detection Combined with Vaccination Program in China

Evidence on the effectiveness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection screening and vaccination programs remains rare in China. We used a quasi-experimental method, propensity score matching, to evaluate the effects of a community-based HBV infection detection combined with vaccination (HBVIDV) program in a pilot. Data were retrieved from the HBVIDV program implemented between July 2019 and June 2020. Outcomes were the difference between the treatment and control groups in hepatitis B vaccination (&ge;1 dose), hepatitis B vaccine series completion (&ge;3 doses), and serologic evidence of vaccine-mediated immunity. Altogether, 26,180 individuals were included, where 6160 (23.5%) individuals were assigned to the treatment group, and 20,020 (76.5%) individuals were assigned to the control group. After propensity score matching, 5793 individuals were matched. The rates of hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis B vaccine series completion, and prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity in the treatment and control groups were 29.0% vs. 17.8%, 22.1% vs. 13.1%, and 38.2% vs. 27.6%, respectively. The HBVIDV program was significantly associated with increased hepatitis B vaccination rate (OR, 1.884, 95% CI 1.725&ndash;2.057), hepatitis B vaccine series completion rate (OR, 1.872, 95% CI 1.696&ndash;2.065), and prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity (OR, 1.623, 95% CI 1.501&ndash;1.755). The greater magnitude of association between HBVIDV program and outcomes was observed among adults aged 35&ndash;54 years and adults who live in rural areas. The HBVIDV program was effective in increasing the hepatitis B vaccination rate, hepatitis B vaccine series completion rate, and prevalence of vaccine-mediated immunity among adults in the pilot. Further focusing the program on special populations and regions may produce more effective results

Gender differences in the relationship between alcohol consumption and insomnia in the northern Chinese population.

BackgroundInsomnia is one of the main symptoms of sleep disorders. Previous studies have suggested that alcohol intake is associated with several adverse health outcomes. The association between alcohol consumption and insomnia has been addressed in several studies with different results. However, whether gender may modify the association between alcohol consumption and insomnia is not clear. This study will focus on gender differences in the relationship between alcohol consumption and insomnia.MethodsThe final study includes 8081 subjects aged between 18 and 65 years from the Jidong cohort. The data on alcohol consumption is collected by questionnaires, and insomnia problems are assessed using the entire 8-item Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-8). Logistic analysis is used to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and insomnia.ResultsAmong the 8081 participants in this study, 2618 (32.4%) are alcohol drinkers, including 2424 males and 194 females. The prevalence of insomnia is 9.6% in the male and 10.6% in the female. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of mild-to-moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers for insomnia are 1.27 (1.02-1.58) and 1.02 (0.79-1.32), respectively. Heavy alcohol consumption is significantly correlated with insomnia in the female, after controlling for potential confounding factors (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.28-3.49, p for interaction = 0.002).ConclusionA significant association between alcohol consumption and insomnia is found in females, but not in males from the northern Chinese population