Breast Cancer Detection by Means of Artificial Neural Networks

Breast cancer is a fatal disease causing high mortality in women. Constant efforts are being made for creating more efficient techniques for early and accurate diagnosis. Classical methods require oncologists to examine the breast lesions for detection and classification of various stages of cancer. Such manual attempts are time consuming and inefficient in many cases. Hence, there is a need for efficient methods that diagnoses the cancerous cells without human involvement with high accuracies. In this research, image processing techniques were used to develop imaging biomarkers through mammography analysis and based on artificial intelligence technology aiming to detect breast cancer in early stages to support diagnosis and prioritization of high-risk patients. For automatic classification of breast cancer on mammograms, a generalized regression artificial neural network was trained and tested to separate malignant and benign tumors reaching an accuracy of 95.83%. With the biomarker and trained neural net, a computer-aided diagnosis system is being designed. The results obtained show that generalized regression artificial neural network is a promising and robust system for breast cancer detection. The Laboratorio de Innovacion y Desarrollo Tecnologico en Inteligencia Artificial is seeking collaboration with research groups interested in validating the technology being developed

Best Practices in Dengue Surveillance: A Report from the Asia-Pacific and Americas Dengue Prevention Boards

The Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative organized Dengue Prevention Boards in the Asia-Pacific and the Americas regions consisting of dengue experts from endemic countries. Both Boards convened meetings to review issues in surveillance. Through presentations, facilitated discussions, and surveys, the Boards identified best practices in dengue surveillance including: (1) Dengue should be a notifiable disease in endemic countries; (2) World Health Organization regional case definitions should be consistently applied; (3) electronic reporting systems should be developed and used broadly to speed delivery of data to stakeholders; (4) minimum reporting should include incidence rates of dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, dengue shock syndrome, and dengue deaths, and hospitalization and mortality rates should be reported by age group; (5) periodic additional studies (e.g., capture/recapture) should be conducted to assess under-detection, under-reporting, and the quality of surveillance; (6) laboratory methods and protocols should be standardized; (7) national authorities should encourage laboratories to develop networks to share expertise and data; and (8) RT-PCR and virus isolation (and possibly detection of the NS1 protein) are the recommended methods for confirmation of an acute dengue infection, but are recommended only for the four days after onset of fever—after day 4, IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is recommended

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Exploring the CO2 conversion into hydrocarbons via a photocatalytic process onto M-doped titanate nanotubes (M = Ni and Cu)

A combined theoretical and experimental work was performed to assess the carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution reaction into short chain hydrocarbons. The theoretical calculations were performed by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the DFT + U level. The reaction mechanisms were elucidated with the string method by comparing the photocatalytic behavior of the pristine Ti-NT surface, previously synthesized in our group, and the M -doped Ti-NT (M -Ti-NT, where M = Cu, Ni) systems. For the pristine material, the results showed lower adsorption energies of the CO2 molecule (−0.27 eV), as compared to that obtained with the M -doped Ti- NT systems. Ni-Ti-NT showed an enhancement in photocatalytic performance with respect to the other surfaces, by yielding small activation energies throughout the reaction path. On the experimental side, Ti-NT and M-Ti-NT (M = Cu, Ni) materials were characterized through several techniques to assess their structural, morphological, textural, and optoelectronic properties. The photocatalytic CO2 reduction was evaluated under wavelength illumination between 440–540 nm. The liquid solar fuel identified products were HCOOH, CH2O, and CH3OH, showing a different distribution among photocatalysts which correlates with the position of the conduction band of the photocatalysts. Doping with Cu and Ni of the Ti-NT structure enhances the carriers’ density which improves the photoactivity mainly in the case of Ni-Ti-NT. The photocatalytic experimental results agree with the theoretical calculations.Fil: Celaya, Christian A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Mendez Galvan, Melissa. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Castro Ocampo, O.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Torres Martínez, Leticia M.. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León; MéxicoFil: Luévano Hipólito, Edith. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León; MéxicoFil: Díaz de León, Jorge Noé. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Lara García, Hugo A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Díaz, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Muñiz, Jesús. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Méxic

Immunogenicity and safety of a tetravalent dengue vaccine in dengue-naïve adolescents in Mexico City

Objective. To describe the immunogenicity and safety of a tetravalent dengue vaccine (TAK-003) in healthy adolescents living in Mexico City, an area considered non-endemic for dengue (NCT03341637). Methods. Participants aged 12–17 years were randomized 3:1 to receive two doses (Month 0 and Month 3) of TAK-003 or placebo. Immunogenicity was assessed by microneutralization assay of dengue neutralizing antibodies at baseline, Months 4 and 9. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) were recorded after each vaccination. Serious (SAEs) and medically-attended AEs (MAAEs) were recorded throughout the study. Results. 400 adolescents were enrolled, 391 (97.8%) completed the study. Thirty-six (9%) were baseline seropositive to ≥1 serotypes (reciprocal titer ≥10). Geometric mean titers (GMTs) in baseline seronegative TAK-003 recipients were 328, 1743, 120, and 143 at Month 4, and 135, 741, 46, and 38 at Month 9 against DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4, respectively. Placebo GMTs remained >10. Tetravalent seropositivity rates in vaccine recipients were 99.6% and 85.8% at Months 4 and 9, respectively. One MAAE in each group was considered treatment-related (TAK-003: injection-site erythema, and placebo: pharyngitis). Conclusion. TAK-003 was immunogenic against all four serotypes and was well tolerated in dengue-naïve adolescents living in Mexico City

Entomological and virological surveillance for dengue virus in churches in Merida, Mexico

ABSTRACT This study was designed to assess whether churches in endemic dengue districts in Merida, Mexico provide suitable breeding habitats for mosquitoes and are potential sites for dengue virus (DENV) transmission. Churches were inspected for immature and adult mosquitoes once every week from November 2015 to October 2016. A total of 10,997 immatures of five species were collected. The most abundant species were Aedes aegypti (6,051) and Culex quinquefasciatus (3,018). The most common source of immature Ae. aegypti were buckets followed by disposable containers. Adult collections yielded 21,226 mosquitoes of nine species. The most common species were Cx. quinquefasciatus (15,215) and Ae. aegypti (3,902). Aedes aegypti were found all year long. Female Ae. aegypti (1,380) were sorted into pools (166) and assayed for flavivirus RNA by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Two pools were positive for DENV (DENV-1 and 2). In conclusion, we demonstrated that some churches in Merida are infested with mosquitoes all year long and they potentially serve as sites for DENV transmission and should therefore be considered for inclusion in mosquito and arboviruses control and surveillance efforts

Feasibility Study of an Optical Caustic Plasmonic Light Scattering Sensor for Human Serum Anti-Dengue Protein E Antibody Detection

Antibody detection and accurate diagnosis of tropical diseases is essential to help prevent the spread of disease. However, most detection methods lack cost-effectiveness and field portability, which are essential features for achieving diagnosis in a timely manner. To address this, 3D-printed oblate spheroid sample chambers were fabricated to measure green light scattering of gold nanoparticles using an optical caustic focus to detect antibodies. Scattering signals of 20–200 nm gold nanoparticles using a green laser were compared to green light emitting diode (LED) light source signals and to Mie theory. The change in signal from 60 to 120 nm decreased in the order of Mie Theory &gt; optical caustic scattering &gt; 90° scattering. These results suggested that conjugating 60 nm gold nanoparticles and using an optical caustic system to detect plasmonic light scattering, would result in a sensitive test for detecting human antibodies in serum. Therefore, we studied the light scattering response of conjugated gold nanoparticles exposed to different concentrations of anti-protein E antibody, and a feasibility study of 10 human serum samples using dot blot and a handheld optical caustic-based sensor device. The overall agreement between detection methods suggests that the new sensor concept shows promise to detect gold nanoparticle aggregation in a homogeneous assay. Further testing and protocol optimization is needed to draw conclusions on the positive and negative predictive values for this new testing system

Characteristics of national surveillance systems.

<p>*Case definition used for dengue surveillance was same as World Health Organization Region Office recommended definition: WPRO  =  Western Pacific Regional Office; SEARO  =  Southeast Asia Regional Office; Pan American Health Organization;</p>†<p>Method of case ascertainment by national dengue surveillance system: active, passive or sentinel site surveillance;</p>‡<p>Source or location where cases are detected: OP  =  Outpatient clinics; IP  =  Inpatient or hospitalized;</p>§<p>Reporting of dengue cases is mandated by law;</p>¶<p>Mosquito surveillance is included as part of the national surveillance system and is not just in response to outbreaks.</p