FoodNet: Recognizing Foods Using Ensemble of Deep Networks

In this work we propose a methodology for an automatic food classification system which recognizes the contents of the meal from the images of the food. We developed a multi-layered deep convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that takes advantages of the features from other deep networks and improves the efficiency. Numerous classical handcrafted features and approaches are explored, among which CNNs are chosen as the best performing features. Networks are trained and fine-tuned using preprocessed images and the filter outputs are fused to achieve higher accuracy. Experimental results on the largest real-world food recognition database ETH Food-101 and newly contributed Indian food image database demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology as compared to many other benchmark deep learned CNN frameworks.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, IEEE Signal Processing Letter

Interlayer-engineered high remnant polarization (2Pr_r > 70μ\muC/cm2^2) in Hf0.5_{0.5}Zr0.5_{0.5}O2_2 thin films

In this letter, we report a high remnant polarization, 2P$_r$ > 70$\mu$C/cm$^2$ in thermally processed atomic layer deposited Hf$_{0.5}$Zr$_{0.5}$O$_2$ (HZO) film on Silicon with NH$_3$ plasma exposed thin TiN interlayer and Tungsten (W) as a top electrode. The effect of interlayer on the ferroelectric properties of HZO is compared with standard Metal-Ferroelectric-Metal and Metal-Ferroelectric-Semiconductor structures. The x-ray diffraction confirms that the thickness of the interlayer plays an important role to enhance the orthorhombic ferroelectric phase. The HRTEM images reveal that TiN acts as a seed layer for the local epitaxy in HZO and hence a 2X improvement in remnant polarization. Finally, the HZO devices are shown to be wake-up free, and exhibit endurance $>10^6$ cycles. This study opens a pathway to achieve epitaxial ferroelectric HZO films on Si with improved memory performance.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

PBEF1/NAmPRTase/Visfatin: a potential malignant astrocytoma/glioblastoma serum marker with prognostic value

Malignant astrocytomas comprise anaplastic astrocytoma (AA; grade III) and Glioblastoma (GBM; grade IV). GBM is the most malignant with a median survival of 10-12 months in patients. Using cDNA microarray based expression profiling of different grades of astrocytomas, we identified several fold increased levels of PBEF1 transcripts in GBM samples. Pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor 1 gene (PBEF1) encodes Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAmPRTase), which catalyses the rate limiting step in the salvage pathway of NAD metabolism in mammalian cells. Further validation using real time RT-qPCR on an independent set of tumor samples (n=91) and normal brain samples (n=9), GBM specific higher expression of PBEF1 was confirmed. Immunohistochemical staining for PBEF1 on a subset of the above samples largely reinforced our finding. We carried out ELISA analysis on serum samples of astrocytoma patients to determine whether this protein levels would correlate with the presence of tumor and tumor grade. PBEF1 serum levels were substantially elevated in many of the AA and GBM patients. Statistical analysis of these data indicates that in patients with astrocytoma, serum PBEF1 levels correlate with tumor grade and is highest in GBM. Immunohistochemical analysis of an independent set of 51 retrospective GBM cases with known survival data revealed that PBEF1 expression in the tumor tissue along with its co-expression with p53 was associated with poor survival. Thus, we have identified PBEF1 as a potential malignant astrocytoma serum marker and prognostic indicator among GBMs

Novel glioblastoma markers with diagnostic and prognostic value identified through transcriptome analysis

Purpose: Current methods of classification of astrocytoma based on histopathologic methods are often subjective and less accurate. Although patients with glioblastoma have grave prognosis, significant variability in patient outcome is observed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify glioblastoma diagnostic and prognostic markers through microarray analysis. Experimental Design: We carried out transcriptome analysis of 25 diffusely infiltrating astrocytoma samples [WHO grade II - diffuse astrocytoma, grade III - anaplastic astrocytoma, and grade IV - glioblastoma (GBM)] using cDNA microarrays containing 18,981 genes. Several of the markers identified were also validated by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analysis on an independent set of tumor samples (n = 100). Survival analysis was carried out for two markers on another independent set of retrospective cases (n = 51). Results: We identified several differentially regulated grade-specific genes. Independent validation by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR analysis found growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible α (GADD45α) and follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) to be up-regulated in most GBMs (both primary and secondary), whereas superoxide dismutase 2 and adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 were up-regulated in the majority of primary GBM. Further, identification of the grade-specific expression of GADD45α and FSTL1 by immunohistochemical staining reinforced our findings. Analysis of retrospective GBM cases with known survival data revealed that cytoplasmic overexpression of GADD45α conferred better survival while the coexpression of FSTL1 with p53 was associated with poor survival. Conclusions: Our study reveals that GADD45α and FSTLI are GBM-specific whereas superoxide dismutase 2 and adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 are primary GBM-specific diagnostic markers. Whereas GADD45α overexpression confers a favorable prognosis, FSTL1 overexpression is a hallmark of poor prognosis in GBM patients

Hemorrhage and ischemia in different hemispheres in a child with moyamoya disease: Case report and review of literature

Hemorrhagic type of moyamoya disease (MMD) is extremely rare in children. Ischemia following hemorrhage is very rare in MMD. There are only 11 reports of mixed-type of MMD, with the patient having both hemorrhage and ischemia in the same hemisphere at the time of presentation, or at different time periods. The ischemia is usually secondary to a precipitating cause. However, there are no reports of a child presenting with both ischemia and hemorrhage in different hemispheres. We present a previously unreported phenomenon of MMD, presenting as hemorrhage and ischemia in opposite hemispheres and review the relevant literature

Endovascular therapy for acute stroke: Quo vadis?

Endovascular therapy (EVT) has gained vogue in the management of patients with acute stroke. Newer stent-retriever devices have led to better recanalization rates. In many centers, EVT is slowly being used as an add on to or in some instances, even as an alternative to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA). The publication of the results of the SYNTHESIS expansion, Interventional Management of Stroke III and Mechanical Retrieval Recanalization of Stroke Clots Using Embolectomy trials in 2013 has questioned the enthusiastic use of EVT in acute stroke. They demonstrate that EVT (using a variety of devices) is no superior to IV tPA in the management of acute stroke. In the light of these controversial findings, we review the current status of EVT in the management of acute stroke

Carotid endarterectomy: The procedure of choice for carotid stenosis

Ischemic stroke is the commonest cause of neurological morbidity and mortality. Carotid endarterectomy has been shown to be beneficial in preventing ischemic strokes in patients with significant stenosis of the carotid artery, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Carotid artery stenting has been proposed as an alternative to CEA for this population. This paper reviews the available literature on carotid endarterectomy comparing it to the best medical therapy and carotid artery stenting in the prevention of ischemic strokes in patients with carotid stenosis. The use of newer imaging techniques and tools to redefine the existing idea of “asymptomatic” stenosis and post procedural strokes has also been reviewed. We present a concise review of existing data that shows unequivocally that endarterectomy still remains superior to stenting and best medical therapy as of now

Giant cavernous carotid aneurysm with spontaneous ipsilateral ICA occlusion: Report of 2 cases and review of literature

Giant aneurysms of the cavernous carotid artery are rare entities which present predominantly with features of compression of the adjacent neural structures, most commonly the III, IV, VI and V cranial nerves. Historically, treatment options included occlusion of the feeding vessel, direct surgery on the aneurysm, bypass procedures and in recent times, the use of endovascular devices. While intramural thrombus formation is commonly seen in giant aneurysms, we present 2 cases of giant cavernous aneurysms which on evaluation were found to have spontaneous occlusion of the feeding internal carotid artery secondary to thrombus formation, and review the available literature regarding the same