14 research outputs found
Quality metrics for Same Day Emergency Care – Consensus of a multi-professional panel of experts using a modified Delphi process
Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services are at the heart of recovery plans for Emergency Care in the National Health Service. There are no validated metrics for the quality of care in SDEC. The Society for Acute Medicine's Quality Improvement Committee invited to a three-stage modified Delphi process to gather metrics used by clinicians. Proposed metrics were ranked and further explored by 33 participating experts from a broad range of backgrounds including clinicians, data scientists and operational managers. Experts ranked five system-based metrics highest. These focus on optimization of the proportion of patients receiving same day care in and out of SDEC units. Patient and staff experience metrics were ranked low, possibly due to present lack of viable examples. The paper adds a glossary with the rationale for ranking of metrics and their use for the improvement of quality and safety of clinical care
On the Real-Time Semantic Segmentation of Aphid Clusters in the Wild
Aphid infestations can cause extensive damage to wheat and sorghum fields and
spread plant viruses, resulting in significant yield losses in agriculture. To
address this issue, farmers often rely on chemical pesticides, which are
inefficiently applied over large areas of fields. As a result, a considerable
amount of pesticide is wasted on areas without pests, while inadequate amounts
are applied to areas with severe infestations. The paper focuses on the urgent
need for an intelligent autonomous system that can locate and spray
infestations within complex crop canopies, reducing pesticide use and
environmental impact. We have collected and labeled a large aphid image dataset
in the field, and propose the use of real-time semantic segmentation models to
segment clusters of aphids. A multiscale dataset is generated to allow for
learning the clusters at different scales. We compare the segmentation speeds
and accuracy of four state-of-the-art real-time semantic segmentation models on
the aphid cluster dataset, benchmarking them against nonreal-time models. The
study results show the effectiveness of a real-time solution, which can reduce
inefficient pesticide use and increase crop yields, paving the way towards an
autonomous pest detection system
Enhancing the security of image transmission in Quantum era: A Chaos-Assisted QKD Approach using entanglement
The emergence of quantum computing has introduced unprecedented security
challenges to conventional cryptographic systems, particularly in the domain of
optical communications. This research addresses these challenges by
innovatively combining quantum key distribution (QKD), specifically the E91
protocol, with logistic chaotic maps to establish a secure image transmission
scheme. Our approach utilizes the unpredictability of chaotic systems alongside
the robust security mechanisms inherent in quantum entanglement. The scheme is
further fortified with an eavesdropping detection mechanism based on CHSH
inequality, thereby enhancing its resilience against unauthorized access.
Through quantitative simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this
scheme in encrypting images, achieving high entropy and sensitivity to the
original images. The results indicate a significant improvement in encryption
and decryption efficiency, showcasing the potential of the scheme as a viable
solution against the vulnerabilities posed by quantum computing advancements.
Our research offers a novel perspective in secure optical communications,
blending the principles of chaos theory with QKD to create a more robust
cryptographic framework.Comment: 29 pages, 10 equations, 11 figure
Performance Analysis of YOLO-based Architectures for Vehicle Detection from Traffic Images in Bangladesh
The task of locating and classifying different types of vehicles has become a
vital element in numerous applications of automation and intelligent systems
ranging from traffic surveillance to vehicle identification and many more. In
recent times, Deep Learning models have been dominating the field of vehicle
detection. Yet, Bangladeshi vehicle detection has remained a relatively
unexplored area. One of the main goals of vehicle detection is its real-time
application, where `You Only Look Once' (YOLO) models have proven to be the
most effective architecture. In this work, intending to find the best-suited
YOLO architecture for fast and accurate vehicle detection from traffic images
in Bangladesh, we have conducted a performance analysis of different variants
of the YOLO-based architectures such as YOLOV3, YOLOV5s, and YOLOV5x. The
models were trained on a dataset containing 7390 images belonging to 21 types
of vehicles comprising samples from the DhakaAI dataset, the Poribohon-BD
dataset, and our self-collected images. After thorough quantitative and
qualitative analysis, we found the YOLOV5x variant to be the best-suited model,
performing better than YOLOv3 and YOLOv5s models respectively by 7 & 4 percent
in mAP, and 12 & 8.5 percent in terms of Accuracy.Comment: Accepted in 25th ICCIT (6 pages, 5 figures, 1 table
Performance and Exergetic Investigation of a Domestic Split Air Conditioner using Blends of R22 and R290
In this article, the mechanical performance and exergy of a one-ton split type air conditioning system by using the mixture of two different refrigerants of different proportions have been investigated. It has become necessary to find an alternative of Chlorodifluoromethane (R22) as it has high ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) and GWP (Global Warming Potential). Propane (R290) has a lower ODP and GWP and in this project, it was considered with R22 for making different blends. Here, two different mixtures of R22 and R290 (respectively), were prepared and denoted as X6 and X7. After conducting a test run for several hours, evaporator temperature, condenser temperature, compressor suction and discharge pressure, and enthalpy at different points (obtained from REFPROP) were measured. By using experimentally obtained data, power consumption and Coefficient of Performance (COP) were calculated for different refrigerants. Different characteristic graphs were drawn establishing relation among various parameters. It was found that during the same observation period, the mixture X6 and X7 consumed less electric power than R22. Moreover, the COP was also found to be higher for X6 and X7 than that of R22. Finally, total exergy destruction in all components was calculated for different refrigerants and comparative analysis was made
Production Of Biogas From Anaerobic Digestion Of Poultry Droppings And Domestic Waste Using Catalytic Effect Of Silica Gel
This research work has been performed to produce biogas from poultry and household (kitchen) waste using silica gel as a catalyst. A fabricated laboratory scale digester was
used to generate biogas from the locally available waste obtained from poultry farms and domestic kitchens. Two laboratory-scale digesters were prepared to digest the solid wastes with and without silica gel respectively. The operating temperatures of the digesters were maintained within 26°C-31°C. The water displacement method was used
to investigate the volume of the produced gas. It was found that the production rate of biogas was increased while using silica gel as catalyst. The total gas production was found to be 7921 ml/kg of waste without silica gel whereas it was 10545 ml/kg with a maximum production rate of 1206 ml/kg in a day with silica gel as a catalyst and it was 33.12% higher than before. Finally, by using a k-type thermocouple, the flame temperature of the gas was measured as 619°C. Considering the magnitude of flame temperature and total gas yield after adding the silica gel, the large scale set-ups can be a prospective source of clean energ
Table_1_T helper cell responses in adult diarrheal patients following natural infection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are primarily of the Th17 type.docx
BackgroundInfection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) gives rise to IgA antibodies against both the heat labile toxin (LT) and colonization factors (CFs), which are considered to synergistically protect against ETEC diarrhea. Since the development of ETEC-specific long lived plasma cells and memory B cells is likely to be dependent on T helper (Th) cells, we investigated if natural ETEC diarrhea elicits ETEC-specific Th cells and their relation to IgA responses.MethodsTh cell subsets were analyzed in adult Bangladeshi patients hospitalized due to ETEC diarrhea by flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from blood collected day 2, 7, 30 and 90 after hospitalization as well as in healthy controls. The LT- and CF-specific Th responses were determined by analysis of IL-17A and IFN-γ in antigen stimulated PBMC cultures using ELISA. ETEC-specific IgA secreted by circulating antibody secreting cells (plasmablasts) were analyzed by using the antibodies in lymphocyte supernatants (ALS) ELISA-based method and plasma IgA was also measured by ELISA.ResultsETEC patients mounted significant ALS and plasma IgA responses against LTB and CFs on day 7 after hospitalization. ETEC patients had significantly elevated proportions of memory Th cells with a Th17 phenotype (CCR6+CXCR3-) in blood compared to controls, while frequencies of Th1 (CCR6-CXCR3+) or Th2 (CCR6-CXCR3-) cells were not increased. Antigen stimulation of PBMCs revealed IL-17A responses to LT, most clearly observed after stimulation with double mutant heat labile toxin (dmLT), but also with LT B subunit (LTB), and to CS6 in samples from patients with LT+ or CS6+ ETEC bacteria. Some individuals also mounted IFN-γ responses to dmLT and LTB. Levels of LTB specific IgA antibodies in ALS, but not plasma samples correlated with both IL-17A (r=0.5, p=0.02) and IFN-γ (r=0.6, p=0.01) responses to dmLT.ConclusionsOur results show that ETEC diarrhea induces T cell responses, which are predominantly of the Th17 type. The correlations between IL-17A and IFN-g and intestine-derived plasmablast responses support that Th responses may contribute to the development of protective IgA responses against ETEC infection. These observations provide important insights into T cell responses that need to be considered in the evaluation of advanced ETEC vaccine candidates.</p
Presentation_1_T helper cell responses in adult diarrheal patients following natural infection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are primarily of the Th17 type.pptx
BackgroundInfection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) gives rise to IgA antibodies against both the heat labile toxin (LT) and colonization factors (CFs), which are considered to synergistically protect against ETEC diarrhea. Since the development of ETEC-specific long lived plasma cells and memory B cells is likely to be dependent on T helper (Th) cells, we investigated if natural ETEC diarrhea elicits ETEC-specific Th cells and their relation to IgA responses.MethodsTh cell subsets were analyzed in adult Bangladeshi patients hospitalized due to ETEC diarrhea by flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from blood collected day 2, 7, 30 and 90 after hospitalization as well as in healthy controls. The LT- and CF-specific Th responses were determined by analysis of IL-17A and IFN-γ in antigen stimulated PBMC cultures using ELISA. ETEC-specific IgA secreted by circulating antibody secreting cells (plasmablasts) were analyzed by using the antibodies in lymphocyte supernatants (ALS) ELISA-based method and plasma IgA was also measured by ELISA.ResultsETEC patients mounted significant ALS and plasma IgA responses against LTB and CFs on day 7 after hospitalization. ETEC patients had significantly elevated proportions of memory Th cells with a Th17 phenotype (CCR6+CXCR3-) in blood compared to controls, while frequencies of Th1 (CCR6-CXCR3+) or Th2 (CCR6-CXCR3-) cells were not increased. Antigen stimulation of PBMCs revealed IL-17A responses to LT, most clearly observed after stimulation with double mutant heat labile toxin (dmLT), but also with LT B subunit (LTB), and to CS6 in samples from patients with LT+ or CS6+ ETEC bacteria. Some individuals also mounted IFN-γ responses to dmLT and LTB. Levels of LTB specific IgA antibodies in ALS, but not plasma samples correlated with both IL-17A (r=0.5, p=0.02) and IFN-γ (r=0.6, p=0.01) responses to dmLT.ConclusionsOur results show that ETEC diarrhea induces T cell responses, which are predominantly of the Th17 type. The correlations between IL-17A and IFN-g and intestine-derived plasmablast responses support that Th responses may contribute to the development of protective IgA responses against ETEC infection. These observations provide important insights into T cell responses that need to be considered in the evaluation of advanced ETEC vaccine candidates.</p