Context-aware features and robust image representations

Local image features are often used to efficiently represent image content. The limited number of types of features that a local feature extractor responds to might be insufficient to provide a robust image representation. To overcome this limitation, we propose a context-aware feature extraction formulated under an information theoretic framework. The algorithm does not respond to a specific type of features; the idea is to retrieve complementary features which are relevant within the image context. We empirically validate the method by investigating the repeatability, the completeness, and the complementarity of context-aware features on standard benchmarks. In a comparison with strictly local features, we show that our context-aware features produce more robust image representations. Furthermore, we study the complementarity between strictly local features and context-aware ones to produce an even more robust representation

A Complex Case of Cholestasis in a Patient with ABCB4 and ABCB11 Mutations

The low-phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis (LPAC) syndrome is a form of symptomatic cholelithiasis occurring in young adults, characterized by recurrence of symptoms after cholecystectomy and presence of hepatolithiasis. The case refers to a healthy 39-year-old Caucasian male who presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. His blood tests showed conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and elevated liver enzymes (total bilirubin 6.65 mg/dL, γ-glutamyltransferase 699 IU/L) and abdominal computed tomography revealed dilation of common bile duct and left intrahepatic ducts. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography identified choledocholithiasis, retrieved by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, after which there was a worsening of jaundice (total bilirubin 23 mg/dL), which persisted for several weeks, possibly due to ciprofloxacin toxicity. After an extensive workup including liver biopsy, the identification of two foci of hepatolithiasis on reevaluation abdominal ultrasound raised the hypothesis of LPAC syndrome and the patient was started on ursodeoxycholic acid, with remarkable improvement. Genetic testing identified the mutation c.1954A>G (p.Arg652Gly) in ABCB4 gene (homozygous) and c.1331T>C (p.Val444Ala) in ABCB11 gene (heterozygous). In conclusion, we describe the unique case of an adult male with choledocholithiasis, hepatolithiasis, and persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinemia after retrieval of stones, fulfilling the criteria for LPAC syndrome and with possible superimposed drug-induced liver injury, in whom ABCB4 and ABCB11 mutations were found, both of which had not been previously described in association with LPAC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exploring interconnections in SCM body of knowledge

This paper aims at contributing to new insights and ideas in the area of Supply Chain Management. Revisiting some theories and areas of knowledge is critical to generate different perspectives and ways of understanding supply chains. Accordingly, this paper reopens some areas of knowledge that have fed and are continuing to feed the area of SCM (Supply Chain Management) with new ideas and thoughts, in both theoretical and practical terms. SCM approaches and practices are cross functional, organizational and inter-organizational centred areas of knowledge and, for these reasons, the authors have also made an effort to dedicate some parts of the paper to discuss and register some competitive advantages arising essentially from a pre-paradigmatic body of knowledge like SCM

Towards a multi-dimensional methodology supporting a safeguarding decision on the future access to mineral resources

A multi-dimensional methodology is proposed to delimit areas hosting mineral resources of public importance (MRoPI). The assessment procedure considers the Level of Geological Knowledge (LGK) along with the Economic (Ec), Environmental (Ev) and Social Development and Acceptance (SDA) dimensions. Different sets of independent, but complementary and variably weighed, criteria support the appraisal of each dimension, and a final score (MRoPI r ) results from a reasonable balance between LGK and (Ec + Ev + SDA). A ranking based on MRoPI r will fall in the [1, 10] interval, as imposed by the scaling normalising factor, but only specific tracts having MRoPI r  ≥ 4 display LGK values confident enough to be covered by a safeguarding decision at a given time. Adequate MRoPI r mapping can also be done, interpolating within the kriging formalism and evaluating thoroughly the modelling results until achieving the final map. The methodology application shows in addition that the combined use of LGK, Ec, Ev and SDA allows to address suitably two overlapping and coexisting, although different, issues: (1) safeguarding the future access to mineral resources and (2) planning the mineral development in the short-medium term, recognising the need of assigning specific areas to mining activities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rare case of bilateral anterolateral and symmetrical bowing of tibia successfully treated with a distal tibial opening wedge osteotomy

The anterolateral bowing of the tibia is closely associated with the development of its pseudarthrosis. Roughly, all deformities are unilateral so the shortening and angulation are easy to identify. We present a 6-year-old boy with an exuberant bilateral anterolateral bowing of tíbia. He has short stature, disturbed gait and callosity at the lateral border of the foot. Deformity was successfully treated by opening wedge tibia osteotomy and filled the remaining gap with structural fibular graft. It was fixed with two crossed K-wires and cast immobilization for 6 weeks. We decided to correct it before skeletal maturity due to the significant disturbance of the gait and esthetic impairment. It was obtained a satisfactory morphological and functional result with a simple and fast technique.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio