Visual Recognition with Deep Nearest Centroids

We devise deep nearest centroids (DNC), a conceptually elegant yet surprisingly effective network for large-scale visual recognition, by revisiting Nearest Centroids, one of the most classic and simple classifiers. Current deep models learn the classifier in a fully parametric manner, ignoring the latent data structure and lacking simplicity and explainability. DNC instead conducts nonparametric, case-based reasoning; it utilizes sub-centroids of training samples to describe class distributions and clearly explains the classification as the proximity of test data and the class sub-centroids in the feature space. Due to the distance-based nature, the network output dimensionality is flexible, and all the learnable parameters are only for data embedding. That means all the knowledge learnt for ImageNet classification can be completely transferred for pixel recognition learning, under the "pre-training and fine-tuning" paradigm. Apart from its nested simplicity and intuitive decision-making mechanism, DNC can even possess ad-hoc explainability when the sub-centroids are selected as actual training images that humans can view and inspect. Compared with parametric counterparts, DNC performs better on image classification (CIFAR-10, ImageNet) and greatly boots pixel recognition (ADE20K, Cityscapes), with improved transparency and fewer learnable parameters, using various network architectures (ResNet, Swin) and segmentation models (FCN, DeepLabV3, Swin). We feel this work brings fundamental insights into related fields.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Study on the quantitative assessment of Staphylococcus aureus in the broiler chicken slaughtering line

Objective To analyze the risk and key prevention and control points of Staphylococcus aureus in a large broiler slaughterhouse and to provide guidance for the scientific prevention and control of Staphylococcus aureus contamination in broiler slaughter. Methods Combining the monitoring data and investigation data of Staphylococcus aureus contamination in a large broiler chicken slaughterhouse, a quantitative assessment model was constructed using @ RISK 7 software, and a quantitative assessment was conducted on the four stages of chicken slaughter (depilation, cleaning chamber, pre-cooling and segmentation). Results Our research determined the predictive growth and decline pattern of Staphylococcus aureus in slaughtering process. It showed that the pre-cooling and segmentation and transmission links were the main risk contributor links of Staphylococcus aureus contamination. The critical risk control points of Staphylococcus aureus in broiler slaughtering were the concentration of Staphylococcus aureus in precooled pool water and hand-borne Staphylococcus aureus in workers with the correlation coefficient of 0.62 and 0.50, respectively. Conclusion The identification of key control points and precise control measures of Staphylococcus aureus in broiler slaughtering can effectively guarantee the health and safety of terminal chicken products

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Evolution Laws for Frozen Wall Formation under Conditions of Sudden Seepage

Sudden seepage is a special working condition affecting artificial ground freezing (AGF) in many projects which results in significant differences within the temperature field. In order to study the characteristics of frozen walls influenced by water flow, a series of model tests were carried out at different seepage velocities. The model test results show that a frozen wall will change from symmetrical to eccentric as the cooling energy absorption of the soil and the brine return temperature increase. In model tests, when the seepage velocity was 0∼30 m/d, the frozen wall was partially destroyed. When the seepage velocity exceeded 30 m/d, the frozen wall was completely destroyed. This study examines the expansion rate of the upstream and downstream freezing fronts, and the distribution law of the freezing temperature field, the average temperature change under different seepage speeds, and the bearing capacity of the freezing wall are analyzed. Research on these factors suggests that a frozen wall has a certain level of resistance to sudden seepage. When the flow velocity is small, the freezing effect will be strengthened. With an increase in the flow velocity, the freezing effect will gradually weaken. Based on these conclusions, the current study points out targeted solutions that should be adopted in cases of sudden seepage in a project

Study on Water Purification Efficiency and Influencing Factors of a Constructed Wetland in Jiaxing

Constructed wetland plays an important role in the removal of micro-polluted water pollutants in urban water sources. However, the water purification capacity and influencing factors of the constructed wetlands still need to be explored. This study monitored the turbidity, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), dissolved oxygen (DO), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) at the water inlet and outlet of Shijiuyang Wetland in Jiaxing City from 2019 to 2021. The results showed that the turbidity and the wetland turbidity removal rate stayed high. The DO couldn’t meet national standard III for surface water during the high temperature time in summer, and NH3-N and COD are stable within national standard III. The partial regression analysis shows that the addition of chemicals is the most important factor affecting the turbidity. Temperature had the most important affect to NH3-N and DO, the higher the temperature, the lower the NH3-N value and the DO. The flow rate is the most important factor affecting the COD, the higher the flow rate, the lower the COD. Moreover, this paper proposes operation and maintenance improvement measures for the problem of excessive turbidity and DO in Shijiuyang Wetland. The research results are conducive to improving the understanding of water security in the Yangtze River Delta region

Farnesoid X Receptor Activation Protects Liver From Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Up-Regulating Small Heterodimer Partner in Kupffer Cells.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is the nuclear receptor of bile acids and is involved in innate immune regulation. FXR agonists have been shown to protect multiple organs from inflammatory tissue injuries. Because liver expresses high levels of FXR, we explored the potential therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanisms of pharmacologic FXR activation in a murine model of partial liver warm ischemia. Pretreatment of mice with FXR agonist 3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-4-(3'-carboxy-2-chlorostilben-4-yl)oxymethyl-5-isopropylisoxazole (GW4064) attenuated liver ischemia/reperfusion injuries (IRIs) in wild-type but not FXR knockout mice. Posttreatment with GW4064 facilitated liver recovery from IRI. Mechanistically, Kupffer cells (KCs) expressed much higher levels of FXR than bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). Pretreatment of KCs but not BMMs with GW4064 resulted in lower tumor necrosis factor α but higher interleukin-10 expressions following toll-like receptor stimulation. FXR-targeted gene small heterodimer partner (SHP) was critical for the regulation of KC response by GW4064. In vivo, the depletion of KCs but not cluster of differentiation (CD) 11b+ cells or knockdown of SHP diminished the immune regulatory effect of GW4064 in liver IRI. Thus, FXR activation protects liver from IRI by up-regulating SHP in KCs to inhibit the liver proinflammatory response