Physiological Signals based Day-Dependence Analysis with Metric Multidimensional Scaling for Sentiment Classification in Wearable Sensors

The interaction of the affective has emerged in implicit human-computer interaction. Given the physiological signals in the recognition process of the affective, the different positions by which the physiological signal sensors are installed in the body, along with the daily habits and moods of human beings, influence the affective physiological signals. The scalar product matrix was calculated in this study based on metric multidimensional scaling with dissimilarity matrix. Subsequently, the matrix of individual attribute reconstructs was obtained using the principal component factor. The method proposed in this study eliminates day dependence, reduces the effect of time in the physiological signals of the affective, and improves the accuracy of affection classification

Fractal dimension evolution and spatial replacement dynamics of urban growth

This paper presents a new perspective of looking at the relation between fractals and chaos by means of cities. Especially, a principle of space filling and spatial replacement is proposed to explain the fractal dimension of urban form. The fractal dimension evolution of urban growth can be empirically modeled with Boltzmann's equation. For the normalized data, Boltzmann's equation is equivalent to the logistic function. The logistic equation can be transformed into the well-known 1-dimensional logistic map, which is based on a 2-dimensional map suggesting spatial replacement dynamics of city development. The 2-dimensional recurrence relations can be employed to generate the nonlinear dynamical behaviors such as bifurcation and chaos. A discovery is made that, for the fractal dimension growth following the logistic curve, the normalized dimension value is the ratio of space filling. If the rate of spatial replacement (urban growth) is too high, the periodic oscillations and chaos will arise, and the city system will fall into disorder. The spatial replacement dynamics can be extended to general replacement dynamics, and bifurcation and chaos seem to be related with some kind of replacement process.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

High-Pitch, Low-Voltage and Low-Iodine-Concentration CT Angiography of Aorta: Assessment of Image Quality and Radiation Dose with Iterative Reconstruction

Objective: To assess the image quality of aorta obtained by dual-source computed tomography angiography (DSCTA), performed with high pitch, low tube voltage, and low iodine concentration contrast medium (CM) with images reconstructed using iterative reconstruction (IR). Methods: One hundred patients randomly allocated to receive one of two types of CM underwent DSCTA with the electrocardiogram-triggered Flash protocol. In the low-iodine group, 50 patients received CM containing 270 mg I/mL and were scanned at low tube voltage (100 kVp). In the high-iodine CM group, 50 patients received CM containing 370 mg I/mL and were scanned at the tube voltage (120 kVp). The filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm was used for reconstruction in both groups. In addition, the IR algorithm was used in the low-iodine group. Image quality of the aorta was analyzed subjectively by a 3-point grading scale and objectively by measuring the CT attenuation in terms of the signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNR and CNR, respectively). Radiation and CM doses were compared.Results: The CT attenuation, subjective image quality assessment, SNR, and CNR of various aortic regions of interest did not differ significantly between two groups. In the low-iodine group, images reconstructed by FBP and IR demonstrated significant differences in image noise, SNR, and CNR (p<0.05). The low-iodine group resulted in 34.3% less radiation (4.4 ± 0.5 mSv) than the high-iodine group (6.7 ± 0.6 mSv), and 27.3% less iodine weight (20.36 ± 2.65 g) than the high-iodine group (28 ± 1.98 g). Observers exhibited excellent agreement on the aortic image quality scores (κ = 0.904). Conclusions: CT images of aorta could be obtained within 2 s by using a DSCT Flash protocol with low tube voltage, IR, and low-iodine-concentration CM. Appropriate contrast enhancement was achieved while maintaining good image quality and decreasing the radiation and iodine doses

Predicting Prostate Biopsy Outcomes: A Preliminary Investigation on Screening with Ultrahigh B-Value Diffusion-Weighted Imaging as an Innovative Diagnostic Biomarker.

BACKGROUND:Routine screening of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is no longer recommended because of a high rate of over-diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) for PCa detection, and to explore the clinical utility of ultrahigh b-value DW-MRI in predicting prostate biopsy outcomes. METHODOLOGY:73 male patients were selected for the study. They underwent 3T MRI using T2WI conventional DW-MRI with b-value 1000 s/mm2, and ultrahigh b-value DW-MRI with b-values of 2000 s/mm2 and 3000 s/mm2. Two radiologists evaluated individual prostate gland images on a 5-point rating scale using PI-RADS, for the purpose of region-specific comparisons among modalities. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and likelihood ratios (LR) were investigated for each MRI modality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was also calculated. RESULTS:Results showed the improved diagnostic value of ultrahigh b-value DWI-MRI for detection of PCa when compared to other b values and conventional MRI protocols. Sensitivity values for 3000 s/mm2 in both peripheral zone (PZ) and transition zone (TZ) were significantly higher than those observed with conventional DW-MRI-Specificity values for 3000 s/mm2 in the TZ were significantly higher than other b-value images, whereas specificity values using 3000 s/mm2 in the PZ were not significantly higher than 2000 s/mm2 images. PPV and NPV between 3000 s/mm2 and the other three modalities were significantly higher for both PZ and TZ images. The PLRs and NLRs of b-value 3000 s/mm2 DW-MRI in the PZ and TZ were also recorded. ROC analysis showed greater AUCs for the b value 3000 s/mm2 DWI than for the other three modalities. CONCLUSIONS:DW-MRI with a b-value of 3000 s/mm2 was found to be the most accurate and reliable MRI modality for PCa tumor detection and localization, particularly for TZ lesion discrimination. It may be stated that the b-value of 3000 s/mm2 is a novel, improved diagnostic biomarker with greater predictive accuracy for PCa prior to biopsy

Context-Dependent Action of Scc4 Reinforces Control of the Type III Secretion System

Scc4 (formerly CT663) engages the transcription machinery and the pathogenic type III secretion system (T3SS). Both machines are required for infection. These requirements and the limited ability for genetic manipulation in have hampered dissection of Scc4's contributions. Here, by developing bacterial systems that permit the controlled expression and stable maintenance of Scc4, we assess Scc4's effects on chlamydial growth phenotype, secretion, and the patterns of T3SS gene expression. Expressing Scc4 in lacking a T3SS injectisome causes a growth defect. This deficiency is rescued by overexpressing the β-subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) or by exploiting sigma 70 (σ ) (homologous to chlamydial σ ) mutants that strengthen the interaction between σ region 4 and the β-flap, confirming Scc4's distinction as a module of RNAP holoenzyme capable of modulating transcription. expressing Scc4 sustains a functional T3SS, through which CopN secretion is boosted by cooption of Scc4 and Scc1. Finally, conditional expression of Scc4 in results in fast expansion of the -containing vacuole and accelerated chlamydial development, coupled to selective up- or downregulation of gene expression from different T3SS genes. This work reveals, for the first time, the context-dependent action of Scc4 linking it to diverse protein networks in bacteria. It establishes that Scc4, when overexpressed, exerts incredible effects on chlamydial development by reinforcing control of the T3SS. The T3SS is a key virulence factor required for infection. The control of the T3SS has not been well studied in this obligate intracellular pathogen. Here, we show that Scc4 plays a major role for precise control of the pathogenic T3SS at the levels of gene expression and effector secretion through genetically separable protein networks, allowing a fast adaptive mode of development during infection in human epithelial cells

Attenuation, image noise, SNR, and CNR in anatomic regions of interest of aorta.

<p>SNR, signal-to-noise ratio; CNR, contrast-to-noise ratio.</p><p>Attenuation, image noise, SNR, and CNR in anatomic regions of interest of aorta.</p

Attenuation, image noise, SNR, and CNR in low-iodine group.

<p>SNR, signal-to-noise ratio; CNR, contrast-to-noise ratio.</p><p>Attenuation, image noise, SNR, and CNR in low-iodine group.</p

Axial images of aortic segments with paraspinal muscle.

<p>A) Lumen of the ascending aortic root, B) the aortic arch, C) the descending aorta at the first lumbar (L1), and D) common iliac artery bifurcation. Mean attenuation values with standard deviations are shown in the images.</p

2D and 3D reconstructions with images generated using low-iodine and high-iodine groups.

<p>Volume rendering, maximum-intensity projection and multiplanar reformation images (A-F) show endovascular repair of aortic dissection (A, C, E) and aneurysm (B, D, F) with stent graft placed just below the left subclavian artery. A, C and E represent images acquired with the low-iodine protocol, while B, D and F are images generated with the high-iodine protocol. There is no difference in the visualization of stent graft and aortic branches between the two groups.</p

Patient demographics and characteristics.

<p>No significant differences (<i>P</i> > 0.05) were noted between the two groups regarding these demographic data and CTA acquisition characteristics. Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; SAFIRE, a product of Siemens Healthcare; FBP, filtered back projection.</p><p>Patient demographics and characteristics.</p