Sequential Classification by Exploring Levels of Abstraction

AbstractIn the paper we describe a sequential classification scheme that iteratively explores levels of abstraction in the description of examples. These levels of abstraction represent attribute values of increasing precision. Specifically, we assume attribute values constitute an ontology (i.e., attribute value ontology) reflecting a domain-specific background knowledge, where more general values subsumes more precise ones. While there are approaches that consider levels of abstraction during learning, the novelty of our proposal consists in exploring levels of abstraction when classifying new examples. The described scheme is essential when tests that increase precision of example description are associated with costs – such a situation is often encountered in medical diagnosis. Experimental evaluation of the proposed classification scheme combined with ontological Bayes classifier (i.e., a näıve Bayes classifier expanded to handle attribute value ontologies) demonstrates that the classification accuracy obtained at higher levels of abstraction (i.e., more general description of classified examples) converges very quickly to the classification accuracy for classified examples represented precisely. This finding indicates we should be able to reduce the number of tests and thus limit their cost without deterioration of the prediction accuracy

Buildings thermal retrofit investment under ESCO formula : a case study from Poland

PURPOSE: The goal of analyzing investments carried out under the ESCO formula is to determine, implement and apply an optimal set of retrofitting technologies in order to reduce facility’s energy costs borne by its public owner, maintain a satisfactory level of building thermal parameters while upholding the economic profitability of the investment for the private partner. The purpose of this article is to show the investment evaluation process, which consists of determining the scope and method of investment undertaken to achieve the goals mentioned above.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A case study approach has been used to assess the profitability of building retrofit investment. The research procedure includes: (1) assessing the characteristics of the selected buildings; (2) collecting data; (3) developing retrofit alternatives, (4) evaluating project profitability of the project.FINDINGS: The empirical results show that the monthly costs of energy supply to buildings that would be borne by the municipality in case of realizing term modernization investment in ESCO formula would be lower than the cost of commercial loan taken for the total value of the investment in case the municipality would conduct the thermal retrofit on its own.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Research findings may be relevant for those municipalities in Poland which for some reason, have not decided to improve the technical condition of their buildings on their own.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The empirical results presented in this paper show that thermal modernization of buildings carried out in the ESCO formula can make this investment financially profitable for the private partner while reducing the cost and risks of the public partner.peer-reviewe

Conservative treatment of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common disease concerning 5-10% of women at reproductive age. It may cause sterility and decrease the quality of life. The best known symptoms are dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and pain related to ovulation. Endometriosis is a chronic illness which, so far, can not be completely cured. Clinical treatment is focused on decreasing symptoms, improving the quality of life, inhibition of endometrial focuses, sustaining sterility and preventing recurrences. Most of the time clinical treatment is not limited only to one possibility but usually joins a few therapeutic options. One of the possibilities is the surgical treatment, usually laparoscopic. Conservative treatment may be its completion. The main medical aim of conservative treatment is to decrease pain by inhibition of inflammation and to reduce or arrest the production of cyclic ovarian hormones, what usually leads to amenorrhea. Drugs used in conservative treatment of endometriosis are often connected with numerous side effects, constituting a serious limitation of a long-term therapy. That is the reason why much research concentrates on finding the optimal medical procedures for patients with endometriosis

Ocena wartości predykcyjnej stężenia TNF-alfa w surowicy krwi matki w prognozowaniu wrodzonego zakażenia noworodka oraz zakażenia matki

Introduction: The consequences of uncomplicated PPROM are serious, and the presence of overt intraamniotic infection (IAI) is associated with a significant increase in both, the maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality rate. TNF-alpha is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and plays an important role in modulating the acute phase reaction. Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of tnf-alpha levels in maternal serum within 6 hours after pprom and in the period of up to 12 hours after delivery, in the prediction of neonatal and maternal infection. Material and methods: The investigation was conducted on a group of 56 women diagnosed with PPROM between 30+0 and 36+6 weeks gestational age. In the period of up to 6hrs from pprom first sample of 10ml of maternal venous blood for laboratory testing was taken and the level of tnf-alpha was measured. A second sample of venous blood was taken within 12hrs from delivery to reassess the tnf-alpha levels. All the participants were divided retrospectively into four groups depending on the occurrence of adverse neonatal and maternal outcome. Measuring the concentration of tnf-alpha in maternal serum was performed using the elisa method (enzymelinked immunosorbent assay). Results: A statistically significant difference in the second assay (up to 12 hours after delivery) between the patients with and without signs of maternal infection was observed concerning the tnf-alpha serum level. The concentration of this cytokine in maternal serum after delivery was 1.79 and 1.36 pg/ml (pWstęp: Konsekwencje niepowikłanego PPROM są poważne, a dodatkowo obecność jawnej klinicznie IAI związana jest ze znaczącym wzrostem zachorowalności i śmiertelności matki i noworodka. TNF-alfa jest cytokiną biorącą udział w reakcji zapalanej oraz odgrywa istotną rolę w modulacji reakcji ostrej fazy. Cel: Celem pracy była ocena wartości predykcyjnej oznaczenia stężenia TNF-alfa w surowicy krwi matki w czasie 6 godzin od PPROM oraz 12 godzin od porodu w prognozowaniu zakażenia matki i noworodka. Materiał i metodyka: Badanie przeprowadzono w grupie 56 kobiet z PPROM pomiędzy 30+0 a 36+6 tygodniem ciąży. W okresie do 6 godzin od PPROM wykonano podstawowe badania laboratoryjne oraz zmierzono stężenie TNF-alfa w surowicy krwi matki. Ponowne oznaczanie analizowanych parametrów laboratoryjnych oraz stężenia TNF-alfa przeprowadzono w czasie do 12 godzin od porodu. Wszystkie włączone do badania pacjentki podzielono retrospektywnie na cztery grupy, w zależności od wystąpienia niekorzystnego wyniku położniczego matki i noworodka. Pomiar stężenia TNF-alfa w surowicy krwi matki wykonano przy użyciu metody ELISA. Wyniki: W grupie pacjentek z cechami zakażenia, stężenie TNF-alfa w surowicy krwi w okresie do 12 godzin od porodu było statystycznie wyższe w porównaniu do grupy kobiet bez cech zakażenia (1,79 vs. 1,36 pg/ml –

Sacrococcygeal teratoma in foetus – case report

Summary Sacrococcygeal teratoma develops from all three germinal layers (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm). Sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCT) are the most common neoplasms in the fetus and newborns, with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 40,000. Female to male ratio is 3:1. Perinatal mortality rate among fetuses with prenatally diagnosed SCT is high, mainly due to cardiac failure. According to Polish Gynecology Society Recommendation, the main aim of intrauterine intervention or pharmacological treatment in case of prenatally diagnosed SCT is to prevent development of severe fetal cardiac failure. Fetal cardiac failure is one of the most important prognostic factors in surveillance of fetus and newborns with SCT. The following article describes a case report of a 34-year-old pregnant woman, 23 weeks of gestation, with a diagnosis of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma. Each pregnant woman with suspicion of neoplasm in fetus should be referred to tertiary center of perinatal care to gain access to specific diagnostic methods and medical care of many specialists, such as obstetricians, neonatologists, general practitioners and infant surgeons. The role of psychological care during hospitalization is also invaluable and helps the patient to minimize the mental trauma, due to diagnosed fetal abnormalities

Concentration of selected cytokines in women with premature rupture of membranes and preterm delivery – preliminary study

Material and methods: 35 patients with PROM (average age 29.6}3.8 years, average time of gestation 35.2+/-.5 weeks) were analyzed. The pregnant women were divided into 2 groups: 15 women delivered ≤24h and 20 women delivered >24h since the appearance of PROM. In both analyzed subgroups, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, G-CSF, CRP and leucocytosis have been compared. The concentration of IL-6, TNF-α and G-CSF in serum was measured by immunoenzymatic ELISA method, CRP concentration by immunoturbimetric method. Results: In the whole group of women with PROM, the differences in average serum concentration of IL-6 before and after delivery (6.01+/-3.71pg/mL and 7.98+/-3.44pg/mL p0.05). The same remark was connected with difference of IL-6 concentration in analogical groups of women (6.42+/-4.14pg/mL vs 5.71+/-3.42pg/mL, p>0.05). Equally interesting observation were statistically significant differences in G-CSF concentration before and after delivery (147.06+/-103,88 vs 74.67+/-46.84, p24h could indicate an important contribution of changes in proportions of these cytokines in PTD the etiology in PROM

Polymorphism in the genes of Toll-like receptors type 2 and type 4 (TLR-2 and TLR-4) and the risk of premature rupture of the membranes – preliminary study

Introduction: Toll-like receptors (TLR) -2 and -4 are a part of basic defence mechanism protecting against bacterial infections. They recognize microbial products and increase immune response of the host organism. The relationship between the expression of TLR receptors and the occurrence of intraamniotic infection (IAI) as well as preterm labour was demonstrated. Therefore, a relationship between TLR-2 and -4 genes polymorphism, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), intraamniotic infection and preterm labour is claimed to exist. Aim: The aim of the following study was to evaluate the frequency of two genetic polymorphisms: Arg753Gln (G20877A) in TLR-2 and Thr399Ile (C8993T) in TLR-4 genes in a group of pregnant women with preterm rupture of membranes and preterm labour. Material and methods: 33 pregnant women with the diagnosis of preterm – between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation – rupture of membranes (study group), and 60 healthy pregnant women (controls) were enrolled into the study. To analyse Arg753Gln polymorphism of TLR-2 gene and Thr399Ile polymorphism of TLR-4 gene, polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragments length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) were used. Results: For G20877A polymorphism in TLR-2 gene, the frequency of heterozygous GA genotype in the study group was 9.1% and was comparable with the control group (8.3%, p=ns). Moreover, frequency mutated G allele was comparable in both examined groups (4.6% in the study group and 4.2% in the control group, p=ns). For C8993T polymorphism in TLR-4 gene, heterozygous CT genotype was less frequent in the study group in comparison with the control group (9.1 vs. 16.7%). The homozygous CC genotype was more frequent in the study group (90.0 vs 83.3%, p=ns), with relatively high value of the odds ratio (OR=2,0). Similar observations were conducted by analysing the frequencies of the alleles in both examined groups. Conclusion: Overrepresentation of heterozygous CT genotype and mutated T allele of C8993T polymorphism in TLR-4 gene in the control group may indicate that, possibly, it plays a protective role against PROM. However, this hypothesis requires further investigation on a larger group of patients with premature rupture of membranes