433 research outputs found
SonoNet: Real-Time Detection and Localisation of Fetal Standard Scan Planes in Freehand Ultrasound
Identifying and interpreting fetal standard scan planes during 2D ultrasound
mid-pregnancy examinations are highly complex tasks which require years of
training. Apart from guiding the probe to the correct location, it can be
equally difficult for a non-expert to identify relevant structures within the
image. Automatic image processing can provide tools to help experienced as well
as inexperienced operators with these tasks. In this paper, we propose a novel
method based on convolutional neural networks which can automatically detect 13
fetal standard views in freehand 2D ultrasound data as well as provide a
localisation of the fetal structures via a bounding box. An important
contribution is that the network learns to localise the target anatomy using
weak supervision based on image-level labels only. The network architecture is
designed to operate in real-time while providing optimal output for the
localisation task. We present results for real-time annotation, retrospective
frame retrieval from saved videos, and localisation on a very large and
challenging dataset consisting of images and video recordings of full clinical
anomaly screenings. We found that the proposed method achieved an average
F1-score of 0.798 in a realistic classification experiment modelling real-time
detection, and obtained a 90.09% accuracy for retrospective frame retrieval.
Moreover, an accuracy of 77.8% was achieved on the localisation task.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, published in IEEE Transactions in Medical
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Microgravity Flame Spread in Exploration Atmospheres: Pressure, Oxygen, and Velocity Effects on Opposed and Concurrent Flame Spread
Microgravity tests of flammability and flame spread were performed in a low-speed flow tunnel to simulate spacecraft ventilation flows. Three thin fuels were tested for flammability (Ultem 1000 (General Electric Company), 10 mil film, Nomex (Dupont) HT90-40, and Mylar G (Dupont) and one fuel for flame spread testing (Kimwipes (Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.). The 1g Upward Limiting Oxygen Index (ULOI) and 1g Maximum Oxygen Concentration (MOC) are found to be greater than those in 0g, by up to 4% oxygen mole fraction, meaning that the fuels burned in 0g at lower oxygen concentrations than they did using the NASA Standard 6001 Test 1 protocol. Flame spread tests with Kimwipes were used to develop correlations that capture the effects of flow velocity, oxygen concentration, and pressure on flame spread rate. These correlations were used to determine that over virtually the entire range of spacecraft atmospheres and flow conditions, the opposed spread is faster, especially for normoxic atmospheres. The correlations were also compared with 1g MOC for various materials as a function of pressure and oxygen. The lines of constant opposed flow agreed best with the 1g MOC trends, which indicates that Test 1 limits are essentially dictated by the critical heat flux for ignition. Further evaluation of these and other materials is continuing to better understand the 0g flammability of materials and its effect on the oxygen margin of safety
Vulnerabilidad profunda”: identificación de las dimensiones estructurales de la vulnerabilidad climática a través de la investigación cualitativa en Argentina, Canadá y Colombia
Los acontecimientos climáticos extremos se están haciendo cada vez más frecuentes y severos debido al cambio climático. La vulnerabilidad a las condiciones extremas es el resultado de tres componentes: exposición a los peligros, sensibilidad del sistema y capacidad para adaptarse. Un estudio cualitativo a gran escala de la vulnerabilidad rural a las condiciones climáticas extremas en Argentina, Canadá y Colombia demuestra las causas político-económicas de fondo de la vulnerabilidad en cada contexto. Las causas estructurales son difíciles de identificar usando índices cuantitativos y métricas deductivas solas, pero los enfoques cualitativos pueden ayudar a identificar elementos clave que generan vulnerabilidad a un nivel más profundo. La tecnología y la diversificación son insuficientes para abordar esa vulnerabilidad estructural o “profunda”.Extreme climate events are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Vulnerability to extremes is the result of three components: exposure to hazards, sensitivity of the system, and capacity to adapt. A large-scale qualitative study of rural vulnerability to climate extremes in Argentina, Canada, and Colombia demonstrates the political-economic root causes of vulnerability in each context. Structural causes are difficult to identify using quantitative indices and deductive metrics alone, but qualitative approaches can help identify key drivers of vulnerability at a deeper level. Technology and diversification are insufficient to address such structural or “deep” vulnerability.Fil: Fletcher, Amber J.. University Of Regina; CanadáFil: Mussetta, Paula Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Turbay, Sandra. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Acevedo Mejía, Erika Cristina. Universidad de Antioquia; Colombi
An Untriggered Search for Optical Bursts
We present an untriggered search for optical bursts with the ROTSE-I
telephoto array. Observations were taken which monitor an effective 256 square
degree field continuously over 125 hours to m_{ROTSE}=15.7. The uniquely large
field, moderate limiting magnitude and fast cadence of 10 minutes permits
transient searches in a new region of sensitivity. Our search reveals no
candidate events. To quantify this result, we simulate potential optical bursts
with peak magnitude, m_{p}, at t=10 s, which fade as f=(\frac{t}{t_{0}})
^{\alpha_{t}}, where \alpha_t < 0. Simple estimates based on observational
evidence indicate that a search of this sensitivity begins to probe the
possible region occupied by GRB orphan afterglows. Our observing protocol and
image sensitivity result in a broad region of high detection efficiency for
light curves to the bright and slowly varying side of a boundary running from
[\alpha_{t},m_{p}]=[-2.0,6.0] to [-0.3,13.2]. Within this region, the
integrated rate of brief optical bursts is less than 1.1\times 10^{-8} {\rm
s}^{-1} {\rm deg}^{-2}. At 22 times the observed GRB rate from BATSE,
this suggests a limit on \frac{\theta_{opt}}{\theta_{\gamma}}\lesssim 5 where
\theta_{opt} and \theta_{\gamma} are the optical and gamma-ray collimation
angles, respectively. Several effects might explain the absence of optical
bursts, and a search of the kind described here but more sensitive by about 4
magnitudes should offer a more definitive probe.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl
Biofilm Formation by Listeria monocytogenes 15G01, a Persistent Isolate from a Seafood-Processing Plant, Is Influenced by Inactivation of Multiple Genes Belonging to Different Functional Groups
Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous foodborne pathogen that results in a high rate of mortality in sensitive and immunocompromised people. Contamination of food with L. monocytogenes is thought to occur during food processing, most often as a result of the pathogen producing a biofilm that persists in the environment and acting as the source for subsequent dispersal of cells onto food. A survey of seafoodprocessing plants in New Zealand identified the persistent strain 15G01, which has a high capacity to form biofilms. In this study, a transposon library of L. monocytogenes 15G01 was screened for mutants with altered biofilm formation, assessed by a crystal violet assay, to identify genes involved in biofilm formation. This screen identified 36 transposants that showed a significant change in biofilm formation compared to the wild type. The insertion sites were in 27 genes, 20 of which led to decreased biofilm formation and seven to an increase. Two insertions were in intergenic regions. Annotation of the genes suggested that they are involved in diverse cellular processes, including stress response, autolysis, transporter systems, and cell wall/membrane synthesis. Analysis of the biofilms produced by the transposants using scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy showed notable differences in the structure of the biofilms compared to the wild type. In particular, inactivation of uvrB and mltD produced coccoid-shaped cells and elongated cells in long chains, respectively, and the mgtB mutant produced a unique biofilm with a sandwich structure which was reversed to the wild-type level upon magnesium addition. The mltD transposant was successfully complemented with the wild-type gene, whereas the phenotypes were not or only partially restored for the remaining mutants. IMPORTANCE The major source of contamination of food with Listeria monocytogenes is thought to be due to biofilm formation and/or persistence in food-processing plants. By establishing as a biofilm, L. monocytogenes cells become harder to eradicate due to their increased resistance to environmental threats. Understanding the genes involved in biofilm formation and their influence on biofilm structure will help identify new ways to eliminate harmful biofilms in food processing environments. To date, multiple genes have been identified as being involved in biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes; however, the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study identified four genes associated with biofilm formation by a persistent strain. Extensive microscopic analysis illustrated the effect of the disruption of mgtB, clsA, uvrB, and mltD and the influence of magnesium on the biofilm structure. The results strongly suggest an involvement in biofilm formation for the four genes and provide a basis for further studies to analyze gene regulation to assess the specific role of these biofilm-associated genes.Peer reviewe
Paracetamol plus ibuprofen for the treatment of fever in children (PITCH): economic evaluation of a randomised controlled trial
Objective To estimate the cost to the NHS and to parents and carers of treating febrile preschool children with paracetamol, ibuprofen, or both, and to compare these costs with the benefits of each treatment regimen
Medicine dosing by weight in the home: Can parents accurately weigh preschool children? A method comparison study
Objective: To determine the accuracy with which parents can estimate preschool children's weight using home scales in order to calculate antipyretic dose. Design: Cross-sectional, method comparison study. Setting and participants: 156 preschool children aged 6 months to 6 years recruited from primary care and the community to an antipyretic strategies trial and managed at home. Comparison and outcome measures: Research nurse weight estimate using Seca 835-2 digital paediatric scales compared with parental weight estimate using usual home scales. Results: Parents of 62 (40%) preschool children had home scales. Research scale estimated weights were heavier than home scale weight estimates, with a mean difference of 0.41 kg (95% CI -0.24 to 0.74 kg), with 95% limits of agreement of -2.44 to 1.47 kg. Conclusion: Weight can be estimated accurately enough to calculate antipyretic medicine doses by the minority of parents having scales that can be used to estimate their child's weight
Paracetamol plus ibuprofen for the treatment of fever in children (PITCH): randomised controlled trial
Objective To investigate whether paracetamol (acetaminophen) plus ibuprofen are superior to either drug alone for increasing time without fever and the relief of fever associated discomfort in febrile children managed at home
A Search for Early Optical Emission from Short and Long Duration Gamma-ray Bursts
Gamma-ray bursts of short duration may harbor vital clues to the range of
phenomena producing bursts. However, recent progress from the observation of
optical counterparts has not benefitted the study of short bursts. We have
searched for early optical emission from six gamma-ray bursts using the ROTSE-I
telephoto array. Three of these events were of short duration, including GRB
980527 which is among the brightest short bursts yet observed. The data consist
of unfiltered CCD optical images taken in response to BATSE triggers delivered
via the GCN. For the first time, we have analyzed the entire 16 degree by 16
degree field covered for five of these bursts. In addition, we discuss a search
for the optical counterpart to GRB 000201, a well-localized long burst. Single
image sensitivities range from 13th to 14th magnitude around 10 s after the
initial burst detection, and 14 - 15.8 one hour later. No new optical
counterparts were discovered in this analysis suggesting short burst optical
and gamma-ray fluxes are uncorrelated.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, subm. to ApJ Let
Prompt Optical Observations of Gamma-ray Bursts
The Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE) seeks to measure
simultaneous and early afterglow optical emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).
A search for optical counterparts to six GRBs with localization errors of 1
square degree or better produced no detections. The earliest limiting
sensitivity is m(ROTSE) > 13.1 at 10.85 seconds (5 second exposure) after the
gamma-ray rise, and the best limit is m(ROTSE) > 16.0 at 62 minutes (897 second
exposure). These are the most stringent limits obtained for GRB optical
counterpart brightness in the first hour after the burst. Consideration of the
gamma-ray fluence and peak flux for these bursts and for GRB990123 indicates
that there is not a strong positive correlation between optical flux and
gamma-ray emission.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ Letter
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