Unsupervised Motion Artifact Detection in Wrist-Measured Electrodermal Activity Data

One of the main benefits of a wrist-worn computer is its ability to collect a variety of physiological data in a minimally intrusive manner. Among these data, electrodermal activity (EDA) is readily collected and provides a window into a person's emotional and sympathetic responses. EDA data collected using a wearable wristband are easily influenced by motion artifacts (MAs) that may significantly distort the data and degrade the quality of analyses performed on the data if not identified and removed. Prior work has demonstrated that MAs can be successfully detected using supervised machine learning algorithms on a small data set collected in a lab setting. In this paper, we demonstrate that unsupervised learning algorithms perform competitively with supervised algorithms for detecting MAs on EDA data collected in both a lab-based setting and a real-world setting comprising about 23 hours of data. We also find, somewhat surprisingly, that incorporating accelerometer data as well as EDA improves detection accuracy only slightly for supervised algorithms and significantly degrades the accuracy of unsupervised algorithms.Comment: To appear at International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) 201

Excretory system of the liver in deers (Manzana americana, Blastocerus bezoarticus e Manzana simplicicornis) II. Ramus principalis sinister

A sistematização do ramus principalis sinister do sistema excretor do fígado foi estudada em 8 peças retiradas de 6 veados mateiros (Manzana americana) 1 veado catingueiro (Manzana simplicicornis) e 1 veado do rabo branco (Blastocerus bezoarticus). Foi utilizado látex Neoprene corado para o preenchimento das vias biliares, e o método empregado para a evidenciação dos coletores foi o da dissecação, realizada após a fixação das peças com solução aquosa de formol a 10%. Nas três espécies, participam do sistema do ramus principalis sinister sob diferentes arranjos, o ramus dorsalis lobi sinistrim o truncus intermediomedialis, o truncus intermediolateralis, o ramus lateralis lobi sinistri e o ramus lobi quadrati. Do sistema de duetos ainda fazem parte contribuições inominadas, vindas dos vários territórios hepáticos.The excretory system of the liver in 8 specimens of Manzana americana (6), 1 of Manzana simplicicornis (1) and 1 of Blastocerus bezoarticus (I) was injected with colored latex Neoprene, fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and dissected. The ramus principalis sinister is made up of the ramus dorsalis lobi sinistri, the truncus intermediomedialis, the truncus intermediolateralis, the ramus lateralis lobi sinistri and the ramus lobi quadrati

Comparison of Overnight Pooled and Standard Sputum Collection Method for Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Northern Tanzania.

In Tanzania sputum culture for tuberculosis (TB) is resource intensive and available only at zonal facilities. In this study overnight pooled sputum collection technique was compared with standard spot morning collection among pulmonary TB suspects at Kibong'oto National TB Hospital in Tanzania. A spot sputum specimen performed at enrollment, an overnight pooled sputum, and single morning specimen were collected from 50 subjects and analyzed for quality, quantity, and time to detection in Bactec MGIT system. Forty-six (92%) subjects' overnight pooled specimens had a volume ≥5 mls compared to 37 (37%) for the combination of spot and single morning specimens (P < 0.001). Median time to detection was 96 hours (IQR 87-131) for the overnight pooled specimens compared to 110.5 hours (IQR is 137 right 137-180) for the combination of both spot and single morning specimens (P = 0.001). In our setting of limited TB culture capacity, we recommend a single pooled sputum to maximize yield and speed time to diagnosis

Censimento dei profughi di guerra : Ottobre 1918, ai termini del Regio Decreto 14 Settembre 1918

La Prima guerra mondiale determinò vasti movimenti di popolazione e milioni di profughi. Da tutti i fronti di guerra, milioni di persone furono costrette ad abbandonare le proprie case minacciate dalle artiglierie e dall’avanzata degli eserciti, per cercare altrove un posto dove vivere durante i lunghi anni del conflitto. L'iniziativa di un censimento generale dei profughi di guerra fu presa, subito dopo la ritirata delle truppe italiane alla linea del Piave, dall'Alto Commissariato dell'Emigrazione, ma le prime indagini condotte sotto l'assillo dell'urgenza, apparvero non rispondenti agli scopi prefissati. Il 14 settembre 1918 venne emanato un Regio decreto che riorganizzò il programma del censimento dei profughi di guerra nei suoi principi, nei suoi fini e nei suoi metodi. Il nuovo e definitivo censimento venne condotto a termine dal Ministero delle Terre Liberate. I risultati furono pubblicati nel maggio 1919 nel presente volume

Shorter regimens improved treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Tanzania in 2018 cohort

Objective: In 2018, shorter treatment regimens (STR) for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) were introduced in Tanzania and included kanamycin, high-dose moxifloxacin, prothionamide, high-dose isoniazid, clofazimine, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. We describe treatment outcomes of people diagnosed with DR-TB in a cohort initiating treatment in 2018 in Tanzania. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at the National Centre of Excellence and decentralised DR-TB treatment sites for the 2018 cohort followed from January 2018 to August 2020. We reviewed data from the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program DR-TB database to assess clinical and demographic information. The association between different DR-TB regimens and treatment outcome was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Treatment outcomes were described as treatment complete, cure, death, failure or lost to follow-up. A successful treatment outcome was assigned when the patient achieved treatment completion or cure. Results: A total of 449 people were diagnosed with DR-TB of whom 382 had final treatment outcomes: 268 (70%) cured; 36 (9%) treatment completed; 16 (4%) lost to follow-up; 62 (16%) died. There was no treatment failure. The treatment success rate was 79% (304 patients). The 2018 DR-TB treatment cohort was initiated on the following regimens: 140 (46%) received STR, 90 (30%) received the standard longer regimen (SLR), 74 (24%) received a new drug regimen. Normal nutritional status at baseline [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.57, 95% CI (3.33–12.94), p < 0.001] and the STR [aOR = 2.67, 95% CI (1.38–5.18), p = 0.004] were independently associated with successful DR-TB treatment outcome. Conclusion: The majority of DR-TB patients on STR in Tanzania achieved a better treatment outcome than on SLR. The acceptance and implementation of STR at decentralised sites promises greater treatment success. Assessing and improving nutritional status at baseline and introducing new shorter DR-TB treatment regimens may strengthen favourable treatment outcomes