Study of Subjective and Objective Quality Evaluation of 3D Point Cloud Data by the JPEG Committee

The SC29/WG1 (JPEG) Committee within ISO/IEC is currently working on developing standards for the storage, compression and transmission of 3D point cloud information. To support the creation of these standards, the committee has created a database of 3D point clouds representing various quality levels and use-cases and examined a range of 2D and 3D objective quality measures. The examined quality measures are correlated with subjective judgments for a number of compression levels. In this paper we describe the database created, tests performed and key observations on the problems of 3D point cloud quality assessment

Three-dimensional imaging of progressive facial hemiatrophy (Parry-Romberg syndrome) with unusual conjunctival findings

Progressive hemifacial atrophy, also known as Parry-Romberg syndrome, is an uncommon degenerative condition which is poorly defined. It is characterized by a slow and progressive atrophy affecting one side of the face. The onset usually occurs during the first two decades of life. Characteristically, the atrophy progresses slowly for several years, and then it becomes stable. Ophthalmic involvement is common, with progressive enophthalmos which is a frequent finding. Cutaneous pigmentation is common in such conditions, however its extension to the conjunctiva is rarely reported. We report a case of Parry Romberg syndrome with characteristic clinical and radiographic presentation accompanied with rare ocular findings. The clinical features, radiological findings, and differential diagnoses to be considered, and the available treatment options are discussed in this report

The Anopheles gambiae transcriptome – a turning point for malaria control

Mosquitoes are important vectors of several pathogens and thereby contribute to the spread of diseases, with social, economic and public health impacts. Amongst the approximately 450 species of Anopheles, about 60 are recognized as vectors of human malaria, the most important parasitic disease. In Africa, Anopheles gambiae is the main malaria vector mosquito. Current malaria control strategies are largely focused on drugs and vector control measures such as insecticides and bed-nets. Improvement of current, and the development of new, mosquito-targeted malaria control methods rely on a better understanding of mosquito vector biology. An organism's transcriptome is a reflection of its physiological state and transcriptomic analyses of different conditions that are relevant to mosquito vector competence can therefore yield important information. Transcriptomic analyses have contributed significant information on processes such as blood-feeding parasite–vector interaction, insecticide resistance, and tissue- and stage-specific gene regulation, thereby facilitating the path towards the development of new malaria control methods. Here, we discuss the main applications of transcriptomic analyses in An. gambiae that have led to a better understanding of mosquito vector competence.publishersversionpublishe

"Mortality trends and geographic distribution of kidney cancer in Peru: a secondary analysis"

"Background The incidence of kidney cancer has been increasing worldwide, with variable patterns in mortality due to improved diagnostic techniques and increased survival. The mortality rates, geographical distribution and trends of kidney cancer in South America remain poorly explored. This study aims to illustrate mortality by kidney cancer in Peru. Methods A secondary data analysis of the Deceased Registry of the Peruvian Ministry of Health database, from 2008 to 2019 was conducted. Data for kidney cancer deaths were collected from health facilities distributed throughout the country. We estimated age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 persons and provided an overview of trends from 2008 to 2019. A cluster map shows the relationships among 3 regions. Results A total of 4221 deaths by kidney cancer were reported in Peru between 2008 and 2019. ASMR for Peruvian men ranged from 1.15 to 2008 to 1.87 in 2019, and from 0.68 to 2008 to 0.82 in 2019 in women. The mortality rates by kidney cancer rose in most regions, although they were not significant. Callao and Lambayeque provinces reported the highest mortality rates. The rainforest provinces had a positive spatial autocorrelation and significant clustering (p<0.05) with the lowest rates in Loreto and Ucayali. Conclusion Mortality by kidney cancer has increased in Peru, being a trend that disproportionally affects more men than women. While the coast, especially Callao and Lambayeque, present the highest kidney cancer mortality rates, the rainforest has the lowest rates, especially among women. Lack of diagnosis and reporting systems may confound these results.

Development of a new mRNA vaccine platform for tuberculosis

Background Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), is the frst cause of death by an infectious disease worldwide, killed 1.6 million people in 2021. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only approved vaccine for TB to date. However, while BCG is efective in preventing severe forms in children, its efcacy in adults is inconsistent and it does not prevent transmission, highlighting the need for new vaccine development [1]. The recent success of COVID-19 vaccines raised the interest for mRNA-based vaccines, as they are efective, safe and easy to produce. This project aims to develop a new mRNA vaccine platform for TB, based on mRNA coding for antigenic peptides from BCG and M.tb identifed by immunopeptidomics [2], and formulated with a patented technology of lipid nanoemulsions (NE) (WO2019138139A1), adapted for efcient intracellular delivery of mRNA [3]. Materials and methods We tested diferent prototypes of NE-mRNA formulations, coding for EGFP, in vitro. Human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549), human monocytic cells (THP-1), and primary human monocyte-derived macrophages, were transfected with NE-mRNA formulations. Transfection efciency was assessed by measuring the percentage of transfected cells, and the intensity of GFP fuorescence. The cytotoxicity of the formulations was evaluated using AlamarBlue, and by 7-AAD viability staining. Results In vitro preliminary data using EGFP-mRNA-NE formulations indicate that NE formulations can efciently deliver mRNA and induce expression of the encoded protein in diferent cell types, with low cytotoxicity. Conclusions The NE technology presented here is safe, stable, and can efciently deliver mRNA to various cell types. Selected NE formulations will be used as a carrier for a new vaccine candidate against TB, based on mRNA encoding relevant antigenic peptides. These will be tested in mice for safety, immunogenicity, efcacy and dose optimization in order to generate an efective and sustained humoral and cellular immune response against TB. The mRNA vaccines are rapid and relatively simple to produce. The vaccine platform described here could be adapted to develop vaccines against other infectious diseases, particularly to quickly respond to emerging pathogens.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nail - Patella Syndrome

A Síndrome Unha-Rótula ou Nail-Patella Syndrome (OMIN 161200) (Osteo-Onicodisplasia Hereditária), descrita pela primeira vez por Chatelain em 1820, é uma síndrome polimalformativa rara que afecta tecidos de origem ecto e mesodérmica. É condição hereditária, transmitida como traço autossómico dominante, tendo o gene responsável sido identificado (9q34) e caracterizado como codificando uma proteína que desempenha papel crítico no desenvolvimento padronizado dorso-ventral dos tecidos dos membros. Clinicamente, caracteriza-se por aplasia ou hipoplasia das unhas e rótulas, pela presença de exostoses nos ilíacos (“cornos ilíacos”), anomalias pigmentares na íris e nefropatia. As alterações ungueais, habitualmente presentes à nascença, são altamente evocadoras e permitem um diagnóstico precoce, como tal prevenindo o desenvolvimento ulterior de importantes limitações osteo-esqueléticas ou de insuficiência renal. É apresentado caso clínico de jovem de 4 anos, do sexo masculino, eurocaucasiano, com instabilidade na marcha e rótulas ausentes, uma perturbação do desenvolvimento preenchendo critérios para a Síndrome de Asperger e anomalias ungueais congénitas. Neste caso são dignos de registo o contraste nítido entre a extensão das alterações dermatológicas, a discreta expressão das anomalias ortopédicas e a inexistência de compromisso renal. Efectivamente, não apenas não tinha alterações renais ou auditivas como - para além da ausência das rótulas, de uma clinodactilia do 5º dedo das mãos e de uma ligeira discromia iridiana - nenhumas outras alterações foram detectadas numa criança com um óbvio atraso do desenvolvimento estato-ponderal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cistectomia Radical e o seu Impacto na Sexualidade Feminina: uma Revisão da Literatura

Objectivo: A cistectomia radical (CR) é considerada o “gold-standard” no tratamento curativo dos tumores vesicais músculo-invasivos localizados. Nas mulheres implica classicamente a remoção da bexiga e órgãos adjacentes: uretra, parede anterior da vagina,útero e anexos. Em relação à derivação urinária, as mais utilizadas são a neobexiga ortotópica e o conducto ileal. Tendo em conta o grande impacto físico e psicológico que esta cirurgia tem na vida das mulheres, nomeadamente a nível sexual, procedeu-se a uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema, com vista a caracterizar a disfunção sexual secundária a CR, bem como técnicas e tratamentos existentes para minimizar a sua incidência. Métodos: Realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica da literatura publicada entre 2000 e 2008, com recurso à Medline®/PubMed®, sobre o impacto da cistectomia radical e diferentes derivações urinárias na vida sexual das mulheres tratadas. Resultados: A CR tem impacto negativo na sexualidade feminina. Tal é independente do tipo de derivação urinária utilizada, prendendo-se com factores como lesões nervosas e vasculares decorrentes da técnica cirúrgica empregue. Conclusões: A CR é uma cirurgia com grande impacto na sexualidade feminina. É possível, alterando a técnica cirúrgica, promover à diminuição da disfunção sexual feminina subsequente a CR

Texture Analysis of T1-weighted Turbo Spin-Echo MRI for the Diagnosis and Follow-up of Collagen VI-related Myopathy

Muscle texture analysis in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revealed a good correlation with typical histological changes resulting from neuromuscular disorders. In this research, we assess the effectiveness of several features in describing intramuscular texture alterations in cases of Collagen VI-related myopathy. A T1-weighted Turbo Spin-Echo MRI dataset was used (Nsubj = 26), consisting of thigh scans from subjects diagnosed with Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy or Bethlem Myopathy, with different severity levels, as well as healthy subjects. A total of 355 texture features were studied, including attributes derived from the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix, the Run-Length Matrix, Wavelet and Gabor filters. The extracted features were ranked using the Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm with Correlation Bias Reduction, prior to cross-validated classification with a Gaussian kernel SVM.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionhttps://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9433942

Noise properties of the CoRoT data: a planet-finding perspective

In this short paper, we study the photometric precision of stellar light curves obtained by the CoRoT satellite in its planet finding channel, with a particular emphasis on the timescales characteristic of planetary transits. Together with other articles in the same issue of this journal, it forms an attempt to provide the building blocks for a statistical interpretation of the CoRoT planet and eclipsing binary catch to date. After pre-processing the light curves so as to minimise long-term variations and outliers, we measure the scatter of the light curves in the first three CoRoT runs lasting more than 1 month, using an iterative non-linear filter to isolate signal on the timescales of interest. The bevhaiour of the noise on 2h timescales is well-described a power-law with index 0.25 in R-magnitude, ranging from 0.1mmag at R=11.5 to 1mmag at R=16, which is close to the pre-launch specification, though still a factor 2-3 above the photon noise due to residual jitter noise and hot pixel events. There is evidence for a slight degradation of the performance over time. We find clear evidence for enhanced variability on hours timescales (at the level of 0.5 mmag) in stars identified as likely giants from their R-magnitude and B-V colour, which represent approximately 60 and 20% of the observed population in the direction of Aquila and Monoceros respectively. On the other hand, median correlated noise levels over 2h for dwarf stars are extremely low, reaching 0.05mmag at the bright end.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in A&