Traffic Sign Shape Detection and Classification based on the Segment Surface Occupancy Analysis and Correlation Comparisons

This article addresses the issue of traffic sign recognition. It contributes to a growing body of research done by the automotive industry due to a necessity for ensuring better safety on the roads. This paper presents a novel method for traffic signs recognition. The implementation of the whole process of traffic sign recognition has a step-wise nature but the novelty is introduced into the traffic sign shape detection stage. The method is based on a new approach for traffic sign shape recognition based on the image content occupancy analysis. Further, the traffic sign content classification is based on a simplistic relational correlation analysis. The tests were performed on image data comprising various roads and lighting conditions. The test includes different sizes of templates used in the correlation comparison method. The results are presented in a manner of successfulness of the correct recognition

ALCOHOLIC AND POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Background: Delirium is an urgent condition in psychiatry and it occurs after long-lasting alcohol abuse, in surgical procedures and other organic mental syndromes with deprivation of interpersonal and social stimulations. The aim was to evaluate of sociodemographical and psychopathological differences in delirium patients with alcoholand surgical genesis, studied in period from January 1st 2003 to December 31st 2012 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Subjects and methods: Subjects were divided into two groups: alcoholics (N=75) and surgical patients (N=75) and multicentric, prospective study was performed in B&H. The following instruments have been used: list of general data (according to MCD-10 criteria), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Becks test of anxiety (BAI), Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale (HDRS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Descriptive and analytical statistical processing of patients has been performed (alpha level: 0.001). Results: Patients from alcohol group showed, with statistical significance p=0.001, the following: unemployment (OR=0.657, CI 0.540-670), ruined marriage (OR=0.570, CI 0.650-710), alcohol abuse (OR=0.179, CI 0.860-0.990), on represented expressed psychoticism, (OR=0.635, CI 0.550-0.715) in EPQ test, HDRS total was more frequent (OR=0.925, CI 0.870-1.120) and on MMSE test, total score was more frequent (OR=0.560, CI 0.570-810). Postoperative patients were older p=0.001 (OR= 1.120, CI 1.082- 1.159) with acutestress: (OR=0.735, CI 0.650-0.910) and showed neuroticism (OR=-0.660, CI 0.575-0.715). Discriminative function confirms the differences between alcohol and surgical groups of delirium patients: Canonical Fcn: r=0.771; Wilkin’s lambda

Differences Between the Two Most Common Forms of Neurofibromatosis and the Importance of their Exact Diagnosis- a case report

Neurofibromatoza tipa 2 je rijetka genetska bolest s autosomno dominantnim tipom nasljeđivanja. Karakterizira je prisustvo mnogih tumora središnjeg živčanog sustava, među kojima su najčešći meningeomi i švanomi. Obilježje ove bolesti su bilateralni vestibulo- kohlearni švanomi. Iako postoje određene sličnosti s neurofibromatozom tipa 1, neurofibromatoza tipa 2 je uzrokovana potpuno drugačijom genetskom mutacijom, izaziva posebnu kliničku slike te se nadzire i liječi sasvim drugačije. Prikazujemo slučaj 17-godišnjeg dječaka koji je na početku kliničke obrade bio pogrešno dijagnosticiran kao slučaj neurofibromatoze tipa 1. Uziman- jem detaljnije anamneze i statusa pacijenta te daljnjom radiološkom obradom određena je ispravna dijagnoza neurofibromatoze tipa 2. Bolesnik je operiran 3 puta od strane iskusnih kirurga te je njegov slučaj temeljito diskutiran na pedijatrijskom onkološkom odboru. Neurofibromatoze postoje u raznim oblicima te se vode kao različite bolesti. Svaka dijagnoza neurofibromatoze treba biti postavljena korištenjem definiranih dijagnostičkih kriterija kako bi se omogućilo ispravno liječenje bolesnika te što dulje očuvanje njegove kvalitete života.Neurofibromatosis type 2 is a rare genetic disease with an autosomal dominant mode of transmission. It is characterized by many tumors in the central nervous system, where meningiomas and schwannomas are the most common. The hallmark of this disease is bilateral vestibulocochlear schwannomas. Although certain similarities with neurofibromatosis type 1 exist, neurofibromatosis type 2 is caused by a completely different gene mutation, producing a distinct clinical presentation and is monitored and treated differently. This paper will present the case of a 17-year-old boy misdiagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 at the beginning of his clinical workup. After taking a detailed patient history and an additional radiological examination, the correct diagnosis of neurofi- bromatosis type 2 was reached. The patient was operated on multiple times by experienced surgeons, which was thoroughly dis- cussed at the pediatric oncology board. Neurofibromatoses come in many forms and are different diseases. Every diagnosis of neu- rofibromatosis should be made using defined diagnostic criteria to enable the correct treatment of the patient and preserve the patient’s quality of life as much as possible

Control of Pharmaceutical Cocrystal Polymorphism on Various Scales by Mechanochemistry: Transfer from the Laboratory Batch to the Large-Scale Extrusion Processing

We demonstrate a controllable mechanochemical synthesis of cocrystal polymorphs of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and nicotinamide (vitamin B3) on different scales and without using bulk solvents. Next to the previously described polymorph of the 1:1 cocrystal, which is one of the first cocrystals approved for human consumption, we report here a new, thermodynamically more stable polymorph detected during in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction monitoring of milling reactions. The new polymorph is currently available exclusively by mechanochemical synthesis, and its crystal structure was determined from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. Laboratory in situ monitoring by Raman spectroscopy provided direct insight into the cocrystals formation and was further used to optimize the manufacturing procedure. Subgram synthesis using a laboratory mixer mill was transferred to the 10 g scale on a planetary ball mill and continuous manufacturing using a twin-screw extruder. Both cocrystal polymorphs perform excellently in tableting, thus alleviating the notoriously poor compactible properties of vitamin C, while the mechanochemical cocrystallization does not harm its antioxidant properties

Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers PTX3, CypA, and HB-EGF: How Are They Linked in Patients With STEMI?

We investigated circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers pentraxin-3 (PTX3), cyclophilin A (CypA), and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF); oxidative stress; and antioxidant status markers in the patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) to better understand a relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress. We examined the impact of oxidative stress on high values of inflammatory parameters. The study included 87 patients with STEMI and 193 controls. We observed a positive correlation between PTX3 and HB-EGF (ρ = 0.24, P = .027), CyPA, and sulfhydryl (SH) groups (ρ = 0.25, P = .026), and a negative correlation between PTX3 and SH groups (ρ = −0.35, P = .001) in patients with STEMI. To better understand the effect of the examined parameters on the occurrence of high concentrations of inflammatory parameters, we grouped them using principal component analysis. This analysis identified the 4 most contributing factors. Optimal cutoff values for discrimination of patients with STEMI from controls were calculated for PTX3 and HB-EGF. An independent predictor for PTX3 above the cutoff value was a “metabolic-oxidative stress factor” comprised of glucose and oxidative stress marker prooxidant-antioxidant balance (odds ratio = 4.449, P = .030). The results show that higher PTX3 values will occur in patients having STEMI with greater metabolic and oxidative stress status values

Control of Pharmaceutical Cocrystal Polymorphism on Various Scales by Mechanochemistry: Transfer from the Laboratory Batch- to the Large-Scale Extrusion Processing

We demonstrate a controllable mechanochemical synthesis of cocrystal polymorphs of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and nicotinamide (vitamin B3) on different scales and without using bulk solvents. Next to the previously described polymorph of the 1:1 cocrystal, which is one of the first cocrystals approved for human consumption, we report here a new, thermodynamically more stable polymorph detected during in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction monitoring of milling reactions. The new polymorph is currently available exclusively by mechanochemical synthesis, and its crystal structure was determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. Laboratory in situ monitoring by Raman spectroscopy provided direct insight into the cocrystals formation and was further used to optimize the manufacturing procedure. Sub-gram synthesis using laboratory mixer mill was transferred to the 10 g scale on a planetary ball mill and continuous manufacturing using a twin-screw extruder. Both cocrystal polymorphs perform excellently in tableting, thus alleviating the notoriously poor compactible properties of vitamin C, while the mechanochemical cocrystallization does not harm its antioxidant properties.</p

Oxidative stress, bioelements and androgen status in testes of rats subacutely exposed to cadmium

The objective of our study was to examine testicular toxicity of cadmium (Cd), focusing on oxidative stress (OS), essential metals and androgenic status and morphological changes. Male Wistar rats [controls and four Cd-subgroups (n = 6) organized according to the exposure (1, 3, 10 and 21 days)] were intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with 1 mg CdCl2/kg/day. Testicular Cd deposition was noticed from the 1st day. After 10 and 21 days, copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) increased by 60-109% and 43-67%, respectively, while zinc (Zn) decreased by 24-33%. During 121 days of the exposure, decrease in testicular total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activities occurred gradually by 30-78% and 15-84%, respectively, while superoxide anion radical (O-2(center dot-)) increased gradually by 114-271%. After 10-21 days, decrease in testicular catalase (CAT) activity appeared by 13-31%. After 21 days, malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased by 44% and the ratio of oxidized glutathione/reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH) increased by 130% in testes of the rats exposed to Cd. Additionally, decreased testicular testosterone level and the relative testes mass, along with induced microscopic and macroscopic changes were occured, what can be explained as the consequence of instantly developed OS, impaired essential metals status and Cd testicular deposition