63 research outputs found
Fulgeo - towards an intuitive user interface for a semantics-enabled multimedia search engine
Multimedia documents like PowerPoint presentations or Flash documents are widely adopted in the Internet and exist in context of lots of different topics. However, so far there is no user friendly way to explore and search for this content. The aim of this work is to address this issue by developing a new, easy-to-use user interface approach and prototype search engine. Our system is called fulgeo and specifically focuses on a suitable multimedia interface for visualizing the query results of semantically-enriched Flash documents
fulgeo-Design of an Intuitive User Interface for a Multimedia Search Engine
Multimedia documents like PowerPoint presentations or
Flash documents are widely adopted in the Internet and exist
in context of lots of different topics. However, so far there is
no user friendly way to explore and search for this content.
The aim of this work is to address this issue by developing
a new, easy-to-use user interface approach and prototype
search engine. Our system is called fulgeo and specifically
focuses on a suitable multimedia interface for visualizing the
query results of Flash documents. The prototype is available
online as live demo at: http://fulgeo.komsys.org
Electroless Nanoplating of PdâPt Alloy Nanotube Networks: Catalysts with Full Compositional Control for the Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Due to its simplicity, flexibility and conformity, electroless plating presents itself as an attractive route towards functional metal nanostructures. Despite the importance for creating multimetallic materials with enhanced properties, the complex interactions between the components in electroless plating baths make alloy formations a challenging objective. In this work, we outline an electroless plating strategy fabricating PdâPt alloy nanomaterials, which is based on arbitrarily miscible plating baths for the individual metals. To demonstrate the excellent nanoscale conformity and homogeneity of our plating system, we apply it to ion trackâetched polymer templates with large inner surfaces as ambitious substrates, resulting in the formation of 3D freeâstanding PdâPtâââââânanotubeânetworks (NTNWs). Based on the electroâoxidation of methanol as a model reaction, we utilize the compositional freedom provided by our syntheses for optimizing the catalytic performance of our metal NTNWs, which heavily depends on the PdâPt ratio. Within our system, the highest surface normalized activity was found for the PdââPtââ NTNW, reaching more than a twoâfold increase of the peak current density in comparison to pure Pt. Overall, our reaction system provides a versatile toolkit for fabricating intricate PdâPt nanostructures of arbitrary elemental composition, and constitutes a starting point for designing new electroless alloy plating baths
Factors associated with virological rebound in HIV-infected patients receiving protease inhibitor monotherapy
OBJECTIVE: The Protease Inhibitor Monotherapy Versus Ongoing Triple Therapy (PIVOT) trial found that protease inhibitor monotherapy as a simplification strategy is well tolerated in terms of drug resistance but less effective than combination therapy in suppressing HIV viral load. We sought to identify factors associated with the risk of viral load rebound in this trial.
METHODS: PIVOT was a randomized controlled trial in HIV-positive adults with suppressed viral load for at least 24 weeks on combination therapy comparing a strategy of physician-selected ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy versus ongoing triple therapy. In participants receiving monotherapy, we analysed time to confirmed viral load rebound and its predictors using flexible parametric survival models.
RESULTS: Of 290 participants initiating protease inhibitor monotherapy (80% darunavir, 14% lopinavir, and 6% other), 93 developed viral load rebound on monotherapy. The risk of viral load rebound peaked at 9 months after starting monotherapy and then declined to approximately 5 per 100 person-years from 18 months onwards. Independent predictors of viral load rebound were duration of viral load suppression before starting monotherapy (hazard ratio 0.81 per additional year <50 copies/ml; P < 0.001), CD4+ cell count (hazard ratio 0.73 per additional 100 cells/”l for CD4+ nadir; P = 0.008); ethnicity (hazard ratio 1.87 for nonwhite versus white, P = 0.025) but not the protease inhibitor agent used (P = 0.27). Patients whose viral load was analysed with the Roche TaqMan-2 assay had a 1.87-fold risk for viral load rebound compared with Abbott RealTime assay (P = 0.012).
CONCLUSION: A number of factors can identify patients at low risk of rebound with protease inhibitor monotherapy, and this may help to better target those who may benefit from this management strategy
Neonatal invasive candidiasis in low-and-middle-income countries: data from the NeoOBS study
Neonatal invasive candidiasis (NIC) has significant morbidity and mortality. Reports have shown a different profile of those neonates affected with NIC and of fluconazole resistant Candida spp. isolates in low-and-middle-income -countries (LMICs) compared to high-income-countries (HIC). We describe the epidemiology, Candida spp. distribution, treatment and outcomes of neonates with NIC from LMICs enrolled in a global, prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study (NeoOBS) of hospitalised infants < 60 days postnatal age with sepsis (August 2018-February 2021). 127 neonates from 14 hospitals in 8 countries with Candida spp. isolated from blood culture were included. Median gestational age of affected neonates was 30 weeks (IQR: 28-34) and median birth weight was 1270 g (IQR: 990-1692). Only a minority had high risk criteria, such as being born < 28 weeks, 19% (24/127), or birth weight < 1000 g, 27% (34/127). The most common Candida species were C. albicans (n = 45, 35%), C. parapsilosis (n = 38, 30%) and Candida auris (n = 18, 14%). The majority of C. albicans isolates were fluconazole susceptible, whereas 59% of C. parapsilosis isolates were fluconazole resistant. Amphotericin B was the most common antifungal used [74% (78/105)], followed by fluconazole [22% (23/105)]. Death by day 28 post-enrolment was 22% (28/127). To our knowledge, this is the largest multi-country cohort of NIC in LMICs. Most of the neonates would not have been considered at high risk for NIC in HICs. A substantial proportion of isolates was resistant to first choice fluconazole. Understanding the burden of NIC in LMIC is essential to guide future research and treatment guidelines
Challenges in the implementation of the NeoOBS study, a global pragmatic observational cohort study, to investigate the aetiology and management of neonatal sepsis in the hospital setting
Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. To deliver high-quality data studies and inform future trials, it is crucial to understand the challenges encountered when managing global multi-centre research studies and to identify solutions that can feasibly be implemented in these settings. This paper provides an overview of the complexities faced by diverse research teams in different countries and regions, together with actions implemented to achieve pragmatic study management of a large multi-centre observational study of neonatal sepsis. We discuss specific considerations for enrolling sites with different approval processes and varied research experience, structures, and training. Implementing a flexible recruitment strategy and providing ongoing training were necessary to overcome these challenges. We emphasize the attention that must be given to designing the database and monitoring plans. Extensive data collection tools, complex databases, tight timelines, and stringent monitoring arrangements can be problematic and might put the study at risk. Finally, we discuss the complexities added when collecting and shipping isolates and the importance of having a robust central management team and interdisciplinary collaborators able to adapt easily and make swift decisions to deliver the study on time and to target. With pragmatic approaches, appropriate training, and good communication, these challenges can be overcome to deliver high-quality data from a complex study in challenging settings through a collaborative research network
Assessment of three antibiotic combination regimens against Gram-negative bacteria causing neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries
Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a major cause of neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 80% of these sepsis deaths could be prevented through improved treatment, the efficacy of the currently recommended first- and second-line treatment regimens for this condition is increasingly affected by high rates of drug resistance. Here we assess three well known antibiotics, fosfomycin, flomoxef and amikacin, in combination as potential antibiotic treatment regimens by investigating the drug resistance and genetic profiles of commonly isolated GNB causing neonatal sepsis in LMICs. The five most prevalent bacterial isolates in the NeoOBS study (NCT03721302) are Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, E. coli, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae complex. Among these isolates, high levels of ESBL and carbapenemase encoding genes are detected along with resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin and cefotaxime, the current WHO recommended empiric regimens. The three new combinations show excellent in vitro activity against ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates. Our data should further inform and support the clinical evaluation of these three antibiotic combinations for the treatment of neonatal sepsis in areas with high rates of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria
Challenges in the Implementation of the NeoOBS Study, a Global Pragmatic Observational Cohort Study, to Investigate the Aetiology and Management of Neonatal Sepsis in the Hospital Setting
Neonatal sepsis is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. To deliver high-quality data studies and inform future trials, it is crucial to understand the challenges encountered when managing global multi-centre research studies and to identify solutions that can feasibly be implemented in these settings. This paper provides an overview of the complexities faced by diverse research teams in different countries and regions, together with actions implemented to achieve pragmatic study management of a large multi-centre observational study of neonatal sepsis. We discuss specific considerations for enrolling sites with different approval processes and varied research experience, structures, and training. Implementing a flexible recruitment strategy and providing ongoing training were necessary to overcome these challenges. We emphasize the attention that must be given to designing the database and monitoring plans. Extensive data collection tools, complex databases, tight timelines, and stringent monitoring arrangements can be problematic and might put the study at risk. Finally, we discuss the complexities added when collecting and shipping isolates and the importance of having a robust central management team and interdisciplinary collaborators able to adapt easily and make swift decisions to deliver the study on time and to target. With pragmatic approaches, appropriate training, and good communication, these challenges can be overcome to deliver high-quality data from a complex study in challenging settings through a collaborative research network
VAS: A Video Adaptation Service to Support Mobile Video
Even though cellular networks offer a ubiquitous access to
the Internet for mobile devices, their throughput is often insufficient for the rising demand for mobile video. Classical
video streaming approaches can not cope with bandwidth
fluctuations common in those networks. As a result adaptive
approaches for video streaming have been proposed and
are increasingly adopted on mobile devices. However, existing
adaptive video systems often rely on available network
resources alone. As video content properties have a large
influence on the perception of occurring quality adaptations
our belief is that this is not sufficient. In this work, we thus
present a support service for a content-aware video adaptation
on mobile devices. Based on the actual video content
the adaptation process is improved for both the available
network resources and the perception of the user. By leveraging
the content properties of a video stream, the system
is able to keep a stable video quality and at the same time
reduce the network load
VAS: A Video Adaptation Service to Support Mobile Video
Even though cellular networks offer a ubiquitous access to
the Internet for mobile devices, their throughput is often insufficient for the rising demand for mobile video. Classical
video streaming approaches can not cope with bandwidth
fluctuations common in those networks. As a result adaptive
approaches for video streaming have been proposed and
are increasingly adopted on mobile devices. However, existing
adaptive video systems often rely on available network
resources alone. As video content properties have a large
influence on the perception of occurring quality adaptations
our belief is that this is not sufficient. In this work, we thus
present a support service for a content-aware video adaptation
on mobile devices. Based on the actual video content
the adaptation process is improved for both the available
network resources and the perception of the user. By leveraging
the content properties of a video stream, the system
is able to keep a stable video quality and at the same time
reduce the network load
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