Concrete Surface Crack Detection with Convolutional-based Deep Learning Models

Effective crack detection is pivotal for the structural health monitoring and inspection of buildings. This task presents a formidable challenge to computer vision techniques due to the inherently subtle nature of cracks, which often exhibit low-level features that can be easily confounded with background textures, foreign objects, or irregularities in construction. Furthermore, the presence of issues like non-uniform lighting and construction irregularities poses significant hurdles for autonomous crack detection during building inspection and monitoring. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have emerged as a promising framework for crack detection, offering high levels of accuracy and precision. Additionally, the ability to adapt pre-trained networks through transfer learning provides a valuable tool for users, eliminating the need for an in-depth understanding of algorithm intricacies. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge the limitations and considerations when deploying CNNs, particularly in contexts where the outcomes carry immense significance, such as crack detection in buildings. In this paper, our approach to surface crack detection involves the utilization of various deep-learning models. Specifically, we employ fine-tuning techniques on pre-trained deep learning architectures: VGG19, ResNet50, Inception V3, and EfficientNetV2. These models are chosen for their established performance and versatility in image analysis tasks. We compare deep learning models using precision, recall, and F1 scores.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, Journal pape

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

The relation of preoperative stress and anxiety on patients' satisfaction after implant placement

Background: There are some factors which can affect preoperative patient anxiety such as the necessity of procedure, postoperative pain, and patient's conception of his body image. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of patients' preoperative anxiety and postoperative patients' satisfaction in dental implant surgery. Materials and Methods: Dental implants were placed in 40 patients (19 male and 21 female) who were referred to Dental Implant Surgery Department in Imam Reza clinic, during March–December of 2014 in Shiraz. The procedures were performed with or without bone regeneration. Preoperative anxiety was evaluated using Corah Dental Anxiety Scale, and postoperative satisfaction was determined on the basis of pain intensity, bleeding tendency, inability to eating, and overall satisfaction by filling a questionnaire in the 2nd or 3rd week after surgery. Data were collected and analyzed using Mann-Whitney test. Results: Preoperative anxiety was detected as high in 10%, mild in 85%, and moderate in 5% of patients. Anxiety and depression score did not differ in both genders. There was no statistical difference between neither level of anxiety nor depression in both high and low educated patients. Postoperative bleeding, difficulty in eating, and overall satisfaction was nearly the same in both genders. Statistical analysis demonstrated a lower pain level and higher pain threshold in men than women (P = 0.007). Patients' age was not related to anxiety, depression, amount of bleeding, pain, and difficulty in eating. Overall dental care satisfaction was similar in both men and women. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that while anxiety does play a role in the perception of pain by patients undergoing implant surgery, overall patient satisfaction and post surgical outcomes did not significantly differ

The Association between Premenstrual Syndrome and Physical Activity and Aerobic Power in Female High School Students

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and physical activity, aerobic power, and anaerobic power in female high school students. Materials and Methods: A total of 367 female high school students were selected randomly from district 5 of Tehran. Among them, 40 students who had the highest PMS score and all the inclusion criteria of the study were selected as subjects. The level of physical activity was assessed using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire and PMS was assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Aerobic power was assessed using submaximal 1-mile track jog test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for analyzing the relationship between variables. Results: The results indicated a significant negative correlation between PMS and physical activity (r = -0.86 and P < 0.05) and aerobic power (r = -0.71 and P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it seems that regular physical activity, especially aerobic activities, can be effective in reducing the symptoms of PMS

A comparison of Age Average of Iranian Medal Winners in Olympic and Asian Games to their Counterparts from Selected Countries

This study attempted to draw a comparison between the age average of Iranian medal winners in Olympic and Asian games and their counterparts from selected countries. The statistical population of the study included Olympic medal winners from the past 100 years and the Iranian who had won medals in 3 rounds of Asian games. The findings indicated that the age average of Iranian medal winners of 3 events (wrestling, weight lifting and taekwondo) at the Olympic games was 24.9 years, while the lowest age average in 3 rounds of Asian games was observed in Boxing (21.8), Karate (23.5), Track and Field (23.5), Fencing (24), Basketball (24), Taekwondo (24.4), Volleyball (24.5), Canoeing (24.6), Judo (24.7), Cycling (24.9) and Soccer (25). The age average of Iranian medal winners showed changes in a reversed U- shape in which the best performance was observed in the 21-28 years age range, while the corresponding age average of Olympic medal winners of the past 100 years in team games was 26-29 years. The age range for speed and strength sports was 22-25 years, while the age range in games requiring not only strength and speed but also high levels of concentration and experience was slightly higher. Professionals, coaches and trainers can utilize the findings of this research to help with scouting, practice planning and development of specialized training protocols for athletes to achieve their set goals

Bacteria-Mediated Modulatory Strategies for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common tumors worldwide, with a higher rate of distant metastases than other malignancies and with regular occurrence of drug resistance. Therefore, scientists are forced to further develop novel and innovative therapeutic treatment strategies, whereby it has been discovered microorganisms, albeit linked to CRC pathogenesis, are able to act as highly selective CRC treatment agents. Consequently, researchers are increasingly focusing on bacteriotherapy as a novel therapeutic strategy with less or no side effects compared to standard cancer treatment methods. With multiple successful trials making use of various bacteria-associated mechanisms, bacteriotherapy in cancer treatment is on its way to become a promising tool in CRC targeting therapy. In this study, we describe the anti-cancer effects of bacterial therapy focusing on the treatment of CRC as well as diverse modulatory mechanisms and techniques that bacteriotherapy offers such as bacterial-related biotherapeutics including peptides, toxins, bacteriocins or the use of bacterial carriers and underlying molecular processes to target colorectal tumors