Exploring the effects of compression via principal components analysis on X-ray image classification

Abstract: Image compression in medical applications implores careful consideration of the effects on data veracity. The inexorable challenge of assessing the volume-veracity trade-off is becoming more prevalent in this critical application area, and particularly when machine learning is used for the purpose of assisted diagnostics. This paper investigates the impact of compressing X-ray images on the accuracy of fracture diagnostics. The accuracy of the classification system is assessed for X-ray images of both healthy and fracture bones when subjected to different levels of compression. Compression is achieved using principal components analysis. Results indicate that accuracy is only marginally affected under a level one compression but begins to deteriorate under level two compression. These results are potentially useful as the level one compression yields gains up to 94% with less than a 2% drop in classification accuracy

La importància de l’emplaçament a les esglésies romàniques montsenyenques del bisbat de Vic

L’art romànic del Montseny no té el reconeixement de la vall de Boí, perquè les esglésies són senzilles. Posseeixen trets comuns que es solen repetir (orientació a l’est de l’absis, l’accés amb porta de mig arc per migdia...) Això és més o menys visible en funció que l’església hagi mantingut l’estat actual o hagi “evolucionat” seguint els estils de l’època. Però hi ha una característica que no s’ha perdut mai, un qualitat única que tothom gaudeix però que sols alguns autors (com Mariano Pagès amb les seves fotos) han sabut observar adequadament. L’element que caracteritza la construcció romànica al Montseny és la implantació al lloc. Cap de la desena d’esglésies esmentades estan emplaçades de manera atzarosa, com no podia ser de cap altre manera, quan el fet de bastir l’església suposava la “conquesta” del terreny. Totes elles tenen una situació especial al lloc, ja sigui perquè estan en el punt culminat d’un turó que els permet controlar l’entorn, o per ser al centre de la plana a treballar, o el lloc de trobada del masos del poble. La seva situació ha fet que avui el paisatge sigui irrecognoscible sense elles. Els mestres d’obra que les van aixecar sabien que la relació de l’obra arquitectònica amb l’entorn és fonamental.Postprint (published version

An Adaptive Coding Pass Scanning Algorithm for Optimal Rate Control in Biomedical Images

High-efficiency, high-quality biomedical image compression is desirable especially for the telemedicine applications. This paper presents an adaptive coding pass scanning (ACPS) algorithm for optimal rate control. It can identify the significant portions of an image and discard insignificant ones as early as possible. As a result, waste of computational power and memory space can be avoided. We replace the benchmark algorithm known as postcompression rate distortion (PCRD) by ACPS. Experimental results show that ACPS is preferable to PCRD in terms of the rate distortion curve and computation time

Management of Cardiac Tamponade: A Comperative Study between Echo-Guided Pericardiocentesis and Surgery—A Report of 100 Patients

Background. Cardiac tamponade (CT) represents a life-threatening condition, and the optimal method of draining accumulated pericardial fluid remains controversial. We have reviewed 100 patients with CT at our institution over a five-year period and compared the results of echo-guided pericardiocentesis, primary surgical treatment, and surgical treatment following pericardiocentesis with regard to functional outcomes. Methods. The study group consisted of 100 patients with CT attending Yuzuncu Yil University from January 2005 to January 2010 who underwent one of the 3 treatment options (echo-guided pericardiocentesis, primary surgical treatment, and surgical treatment following pericardiocentesis). CT was defined by clinical and echocardiographic criteria. Data on medical history, characteristics of the pericardial fluid, treatment strategy, and follow-up data were collected. Results. Echo-guided pericardiocentesis was performed in 38 (38%) patients (Group A), primary surgical treatment was preformed in 36 (36%) patients (Group B), and surgical treatment following pericardiocentesis was performed in 26 (26%) patients (Group C). Idiopathic and malignant diseases were primary cause of tamponade (28% and 28%, resp.), followed by tuberculosis (14%). Total complication rates, 30-day mortality, and total mortality rates were highest in Group C. Recurrence of tamponade before 90 days was highest in Group A. Conclusions. According to our results, minimal invasive procedure echo-guided pericardiocentesis should be the first choice because of lower complication and mortality rates especially in idiopathic cases and in patients with hemodynamic instability. Surgical approach might be performed for traumatic cases, purulent, recurrent, or malign effusions with higher complication and mortality rates