Hierarchic Clustering-Based Face Enhancement for Images Captured in Dark Fields

A hierarchic clustering-based enhancement is proposed to solve the luminance compensation of face recognition in the dark field. First, the face image is divided into five levels by a clustering method. Second, the results above are mapped into three hierarchies according to the histogram thresholds. A low, a middle, and a high-intensity block are found. Third, two kinds of linear transforms are performed to the high and the low-intensity blocks. Finally, a center wrap function-based enhancement is carried out. Experiment results show our method can improve both the face recognition accuracy and image quality

Efficacy and safety of postoperative levothyroxine sodium tablets for improving serum thyroid hormone levels and tumor marker levels in patients with thyroid tumors

Levothyroxine tablet has been used for improving serum thyroid hormones. Despite its efficacy, there has been a persistent recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of levothyroxine regimen (administered as sodium tablets or liquid) therapy, including the regime in combination with other thyroxine hormones, to determine its effectiveness and safety regarding thyroid tumor patient outcomes. An electronic search of the online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) was performed in duplicate independently by two authors (SSK and LPY) to identify any potential studies published in the English language from January 2002 to October 2022. The records were retrieved using keywords and MeSH terms. The Cochrane risk of bias tool in the Review Manager (RevMan software version 5.4.) was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included studies.  A total of 18 quality studies were reported on levothyroxine tablets. Results showed that liquid levothyroxine was more efficient than tablet levothyroxine. Further results showed that levothyroxine in combination with L-T3 or I-131 was more effective than L-T4 tablet monotherapy for improving thyroid cancer hormones. Levothyroxine tablet monotherapy is less efficient than liquid levothyroxine and/or levothyroxine combined therapy. This research recommends future research using larger randomized controlled studies

Development of a face recognition system and its intelligent lighting compensation method for dark-field application

A face recognition system which uses 3D lighting estimation and optimal lighting compensation for dark-field application is proposed. To develop the proposed system, which can realize people identification in a near scene dark-field environment, a light-emitting diode (LED) overhead light, eight LED wall lights, a visible light binocular camera, and a control circuit are used. First, 68 facial landmarks are detected and their coordinates in both image as well as camera coordinate systems are computed. Second, a 3D morphable model (3DMM) is developed after considering facial shadows, and a transformation matrix between the 3DMM and camera coordinate systems is estimated. Third, to assess lighting uniformity, 30 evaluation points are selected from the face. Sequencing computations of LED radiation intensity, ray reflection luminance, camera response, and face lighting uniformity are then carried out. Ray occlusion is processed using a simplified 3D face model. Fourth, an optimal lighting compensation is realized: the overhead light is used for flood lighting, and the wall lights are employed as meticulous lighting. A genetic algorithm then is used to identify the optimal lighting of the wall lights. Finally, an Eigenface method is used for face recognition. The results show that our system and method can improve face recognition accuracy by >10% compared to traditional recognition methods

Microstructural alterations of the hypothalamus in Parkinson's disease and probable REM sleep behavior disorder

Whether there is hypothalamic degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and its association with clinical symptoms and pathophysiological changes remains controversial. We aimed to quantify microstructural changes in hypothalamus using a novel deep learning-based tool in patients with PD and those with probable rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (pRBD). We further assessed whether these microstructural changes associated with clinical symptoms and free thyroxine (FT4) levels. This study included 186 PD, 67 pRBD, and 179 healthy controls. Multi-shell diffusion MRI were scanned and mean kurtosis (MK) in hypothalamic subunits were calculated. Participants were assessed using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), RBD Questionnaire-Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. Additionally, a subgroup of PD (n = 31) underwent assessment of FT4. PD showed significant decreases of MK in anterior-superior (a-sHyp), anterior-inferior (a-iHyp), superior tubular (supTub), and inferior tubular hypothalamus when compared with healthy controls. Similarly, pRBD exhibited decreases of MK in a-iHyp and supTub. In PD group, MK in above four subunits were significantly correlated with UPDRS-I, HAMD, and ADL. Moreover, MK in a-iHyp and a-sHyp were significantly correlated with FT4 level. In pRBD group, correlations were observed between MK in a-iHyp and UPDRS-I. Our study reveals that microstructural changes in the hypothalamus are already significant at the early neurodegenerative stage. These changes are associated with emotional alterations, daily activity levels, and thyroid hormone levels. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 vaccination willingness among people living with HIV in Shijiazhuang, China: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic imposed an enormous disease and economic burden worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is essential to containing the pandemic. People living with HIV (PLWH) may be more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 outcomes; thus, understanding their vaccination willingness and influencing factors is helpful in developing targeted vaccination strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 June and 30 August 2022 in Shijiazhuang, China. Variables included socio-demographic characteristics, health status characteristics, HIV-related characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to confirm factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination willingness among PLWH.ResultsA total of 1,428 PLWH were included, with a 90.48% willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. PLWH were more unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccination for those who were female or had a fair/poor health status, had an allergic history and comorbidities, were unconvinced and unsure about the effectiveness of vaccines, were unconvinced and unsure about the safety of vaccines, were convinced and unsure about whether COVID-19 vaccination would affect ART efficacy, or did not know at least a type of domestic COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately 93.00% of PLWH have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine among PLWH, and 213 PLWH (14.92%) reported at least one adverse reaction within 7 days.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study reported a relatively high willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccination among PLWH in Shijiazhuang. However, a small number of PLWH still held hesitancy; thus, more tailored policies or guidelines from the government should be performed to enhance the COVID-19 vaccination rate among PLWH

COVID-19 trajectories among 57 million adults in England: a cohort study using electronic health records

BACKGROUND: Updatable estimates of COVID-19 onset, progression, and trajectories underpin pandemic mitigation efforts. To identify and characterise disease trajectories, we aimed to define and validate ten COVID-19 phenotypes from nationwide linked electronic health records (EHR) using an extensible framework. METHODS: In this cohort study, we used eight linked National Health Service (NHS) datasets for people in England alive on Jan 23, 2020. Data on COVID-19 testing, vaccination, primary and secondary care records, and death registrations were collected until Nov 30, 2021. We defined ten COVID-19 phenotypes reflecting clinically relevant stages of disease severity and encompassing five categories: positive SARS-CoV-2 test, primary care diagnosis, hospital admission, ventilation modality (four phenotypes), and death (three phenotypes). We constructed patient trajectories illustrating transition frequency and duration between phenotypes. Analyses were stratified by pandemic waves and vaccination status. FINDINGS: Among 57 032 174 individuals included in the cohort, 13 990 423 COVID-19 events were identified in 7 244 925 individuals, equating to an infection rate of 12·7% during the study period. Of 7 244 925 individuals, 460 737 (6·4%) were admitted to hospital and 158 020 (2·2%) died. Of 460 737 individuals who were admitted to hospital, 48 847 (10·6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), 69 090 (15·0%) received non-invasive ventilation, and 25 928 (5·6%) received invasive ventilation. Among 384 135 patients who were admitted to hospital but did not require ventilation, mortality was higher in wave 1 (23 485 [30·4%] of 77 202 patients) than wave 2 (44 220 [23·1%] of 191 528 patients), but remained unchanged for patients admitted to the ICU. Mortality was highest among patients who received ventilatory support outside of the ICU in wave 1 (2569 [50·7%] of 5063 patients). 15 486 (9·8%) of 158 020 COVID-19-related deaths occurred within 28 days of the first COVID-19 event without a COVID-19 diagnoses on the death certificate. 10 884 (6·9%) of 158 020 deaths were identified exclusively from mortality data with no previous COVID-19 phenotype recorded. We observed longer patient trajectories in wave 2 than wave 1. INTERPRETATION: Our analyses illustrate the wide spectrum of disease trajectories as shown by differences in incidence, survival, and clinical pathways. We have provided a modular analytical framework that can be used to monitor the impact of the pandemic and generate evidence of clinical and policy relevance using multiple EHR sources. FUNDING: British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre, led by Health Data Research UK