ABSTRACT
It has been proposed that, when processing a stream of events, humans divide their experiences in terms of inferred latent causes (LCs) to support context-dependent learning. However, when shared structure is present across contexts, it is still unclear how the "splitting" of LCs and learning of shared structure can be simultaneously achieved. Here, we present the Latent Cause Network (LCNet), a neural network model of LC inference. Through learning, it naturally stores structure that is shared across tasks in the network weights. Additionally, it represents context-specific structure using a context module, controlled by a Bayesian nonparametric inference algorithm, which assigns a unique context vector for each inferred LC. Across three simulations, we found that LCNet could (1) extract shared structure across LCs in a function learning task while avoiding catastrophic interference, (2) capture human data on curriculum effects in schema learning, and (3) infer the underlying event structure when processing naturalistic videos of daily events. Overall, these results demonstrate a computationally feasible approach to reconciling shared structure and context-specific structure in a model of LCs that is scalable from laboratory experiment settings to naturalistic settings.
Subject(s)
Algorithms , Bayes Theorem , Neural Networks, Computer , Humans , LearningABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significance of adopting healthy lifestyles to mitigate the risk of severe outcomes and long-term consequences. OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on assessing the prevalence and clustering of 5 unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among Vietnamese adults after recovering from COVID-19, with a specific emphasis on sex differences. METHODS: The cross-sectional data of 5890 survivors of COVID-19 in Vietnam were analyzed from December 2021 to October 2022. To examine the sex differences in 5 unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (smoking, drinking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior), the percentages were plotted along with their corresponding 95% CI for each behavior. Latent class analysis was used to identify 2 distinct classes of individuals based on the clustering of these behaviors: the "less unhealthy" group and the "more unhealthy" group. We examined the sociodemographic characteristics associated with each identified class and used logistic regression to investigate the factors related to the "more unhealthy" group. RESULTS: The majority of individuals (male participants: 2432/2447, 99.4% and female participants: 3411/3443, 99.1%) exhibited at least 1 unhealthy behavior, with male participants being more susceptible to multiple unhealthy behaviors. The male-to-female ratio for having a single behavior was 1.003, but it escalated to 25 for individuals displaying all 5 behaviors. Male participants demonstrated a higher prevalence of combining alcohol intake with sedentary behavior (949/2447, 38.8%) or an unhealthy diet (861/2447, 35.2%), whereas female participants tended to exhibit physical inactivity combined with sedentary behavior (1305/3443, 37.9%) or an unhealthy diet (1260/3443, 36.6%). Married male participants had increased odds of falling into the "more unhealthy" group compared to their single counterparts (odds ratio [OR] 1.45, 95% CI 1.14-1.85), while female participants exhibited lower odds (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.83). Female participants who are underweight showed a higher likelihood of belonging to the "more unhealthy" group (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.89-1.39), but this was not observed among male participants (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.41-0.89). In both sexes, older age, dependent employment, high education, and obesity were associated with higher odds of being in the "more unhealthy" group. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified notable sex differences in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among survivors of COVID-19. Male survivors are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors compared to female survivors. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored public health interventions targeting sex-specific unhealthy behaviors. Specifically, addressing unhealthy habits is crucial for promoting post-COVID-19 health and well-being.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Sex Characteristics , Adult , Female , Male , Humans , Latent Class Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cluster Analysis , Life StyleABSTRACT
The epidemiology of vertebral fractures (VF) in underrepresented populations is not well-documented. This cohort study was part of a longitudinal osteoporosis research project with the aim of determining the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for VF. 401 individuals (155 men) aged 50 years and older without a clinical diagnosis of VF were took radiographs at baseline and 2 years later. VF were ascertained using the Genant's semi-quantitative method. Bone mineral density (BMD) of femoral neck and lumbar spine were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic Inc). The association between VF and risk factors was analyzed by the multiple logistic regression. The 95% confidence interval for prevalence and incidence was estimated by exact Poisson test. At baseline, the prevalence of VF was 12.2% (n = 49, 95% CI 9.0-16.2%) and increased with advancing age with one-fifth of those aged 70 and older having a VF. During the follow-up period, we observed 6 new VF, making the incidence of 6.6/1000 person-years (n = 6, 95% CI 2.4-14.3). The risk of prevalent VF was associated with male gender (OR: 2.67; 95% CI 1.28-5.87) and T-score at the femoral neck (OR per one SD decrease: 1.1; 1.03-1.17). These data indicate that VF is common among adults, and that lower femoral neck BMD was a risk factor for VF.
Subject(s)
Osteoporosis , Spinal Fractures , Adult , Male , Humans , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Spinal Fractures/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Fractures/epidemiology , Spinal Fractures/etiology , Cohort Studies , Prevalence , Incidence , Vietnam , Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging , Osteoporosis/epidemiology , Osteoporosis/complications , Bone Density , Absorptiometry, Photon/methods , Risk Factors , Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Lumbar Vertebrae/injuriesABSTRACT
To study complex human activity and how it is perceived and remembered, it is valuable to have large-scale, well-characterized stimuli that are representative of such activity. We present the Multi-angle Extended Three-dimensional Activities (META) stimulus set, a structured and highly instrumented set of extended event sequences performed in naturalistic settings. Performances were captured with two color cameras and a Kinect v2 camera with color and depth sensors, allowing the extraction of three-dimensional skeletal joint positions. We tracked the positions and identities of objects for all chapters using a mixture of manual coding and an automated tracking pipeline, and hand-annotated the timings of high-level actions. We also performed an online experiment to collect normative event boundaries for all chapters at a coarse and fine grain of segmentation, which allowed us to quantify event durations and agreement across participants. We share these materials publicly to advance new discoveries in the study of complex naturalistic activity.
Subject(s)
Cognition , HumansABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19-induced lockdown has been implemented in many countries, which may cause unfavorable changes in lifestyles and psychological health. People's health literacy, healthy diet, and lifestyles play important roles in mitigating the negative impacts of the pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to examine associations of COVID-19 lockdown with changes in eating behavior, physical activity, and mental health; and the modification effects by digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) and eHealth literacy (eHEALS) on the associations. Methods: We conducted an observational study on 4,348 outpatients from 7th April to 31st May 2020. Data from 11 hospitals in Vietnam included demographic characteristics, DDL, eHEALS, eating behavior, physical activity, and mental health changes. Multiple logistic regression and interaction models were performed to examine associations. Results: Patients under lockdown had a lower likelihood of having "unchanged or healthier" eating behavior (odds ratio, OR, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI, 0.29 to 0.51; p < 0.001), "unchanged or more" physical activity (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.90; p < 0.001), and "stable or better" mental health (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.89; p < 0.001), as compared to those after lockdown. In interaction models, as compared to patients after lockdown and with the lowest DDL score, those under lockdown and with a one-score increment of DDL had a higher likelihood of having "unchanged or healthier" eating behavior (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.07; p < 0.001), and "stable or better" mental health (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04; p < 0.001). Similarly, as compared to patients after lockdown and with the lowest eHEALS score, those under lockdown and with a one-score increment of eHEALS had a higher likelihood of having an "unchanged or more" physical activity (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown measure could negatively affect eating behavior, physical activity, and mental health among outpatients. Better DDL and eHEALS were found to mitigate the negative impacts of the lockdown, which may empower outpatients to maintain healthy lifestyles and protect mental health. However, this study holds several limitations that may undermine the certainty of reported findings.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: We explored the association of underlying health conditions (UHC) with depression and anxiety, and examined the modification effects of suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), health-related behaviors (HB), and preventive behaviors (PB). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 8,291 outpatients aged 18-85 years, in 18 hospitals and health centers across Vietnam from 14th February to May 31, 2020. We collected the data regarding participant's characteristics, UHC, HB, PB, depression, and anxiety. Results: People with UHC had higher odds of depression (OR = 2.11; p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 2.86; p < 0.001) than those without UHC. The odds of depression and anxiety were significantly higher for those with UHC and S-COVID-19-S (p < 0.001); and were significantly lower for those had UHC and interacted with "unchanged/more" physical activity (p < 0.001), or "unchanged/more" drinking (p < 0.001 for only anxiety), or "unchanged/healthier" eating (p < 0.001), and high PB score (p < 0.001), as compared to those without UHC and without S-COVID-19-S, "never/stopped/less" physical activity, drinking, "less healthy" eating, and low PB score, respectively. Conclusion: S-COVID-19-S worsen psychological health in patients with UHC. Physical activity, drinking, healthier eating, and high PB score were protective factors.
Subject(s)
Anxiety , COVID-19 , Comorbidity , Depression , Outpatients , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anxiety/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Outpatients/psychology , Outpatients/statistics & numerical data , Vietnam/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
The spatial extent and persistence of bacterial change caused by deposition of water-based drill cuttings on the seafloor were explored by a community-wide approach. Ten centimeter sediment cores were sampled along transects extending from ≤15 m to 250 m from three nearby drilling sites in the southern Barents Sea. Eight months, 8 years and 15 years, respectively, had passed since the completion of the drillings. At locations heavily affected by drill cuttings, the two most recent sites showed distinct, corresponding deviances from native Barents Sea bacterial community profiles. Otherwise marginal groups, including Mollicutes and Clostridia, showed significant increases in relative abundance. Beyond 100 m from the boreholes the microbiotas appeared undisturbed, as they did at any distance from the 15-years old borehole. The extent of the biological distortion, as indicated by the present microbial study, agreed with previously published macrofaunal surveys at the same drilling sites.
Subject(s)
Microbiota , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Environmental Monitoring , Geologic Sediments , Water , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysisABSTRACT
People with pre-existing health conditions (PEHC) are vulnerable to viral infection while health literacy (HL) and preventive behaviors (PB) have been shown to benefit people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to examine the association between PEHC and suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), and to investigate the modification effect of HL and PB. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 8291 participants visiting outpatient departments at 18 hospitals and health centers across Vietnam from 14 February to 31 May 2020. Data were collected regarding participant's characteristics, HL, PB, PEHC, and S-COVID-19-S. Regression models were used for analyzing the associations. Results showed that people with PEHC had a 3.38 times higher likelihood of having S-COVID-19-S (odds ratio, OR, 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 3.01, 3.79; p < 0.001). In comparison to participants without PEHC and with the lowest HL score, those with PEHC and one HL score increment had a 7% lower likelihood of having S-COVID-19-S (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.92, 0.94; p < 0.001). In comparison to participants without PEHC and not adhering to mask wearing, those with PEHC and adhering to mask wearing had a 77% lower likelihood of having S-COVID-19-S (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.16, 0.32; p < 0.001). Higher HL and adherence to mask wearing can protect people from having S-COVID-19-S, especially in those with PEHC.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Health Behavior , Health Literacy , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Masks , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and Questionnaires , Vietnam/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Offshore drilling operations result in the generation of drill cuttings and localized smothering of the benthic habitats. This study explores bacterial community changes in the in the upper layers of the seafloor resulting from an exploratory drilling operation at 1400m water depth on the Barents Sea continental slope. Significant restructurings of the sediment microbiota were restricted to the sampling sites notably affected by the drilling waste discharge, i.e. at 30m and 50m distances from the drilling location, and to the upper 2cm of the seafloor. Three bacterial groups, the orders Clostridiales and Desulfuromonadales and the class Mollicutes, were almost exclusively confined to the upper two centimeters at 30m distance, thereby corroborating an observed increase in anaerobicity inflicted by the drilling waste deposition. The potential of these phylogenetic groups as microbial bioindicators of the spatial extent and persistence of drilling waste discharge should be further explored.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring/methods , Geologic Sediments/microbiology , Microbial Consortia/drug effects , Oil and Gas Fields , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Clostridiales/drug effects , Clostridiales/isolation & purification , Deltaproteobacteria/drug effects , Deltaproteobacteria/isolation & purification , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Microbial Consortia/genetics , Norway , Oceans and Seas , Tenericutes/drug effects , Tenericutes/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Leiomyomas are common smooth muscle neoplasms; however, leiomyomas of the seminal vesicles are extremely rare. We report a case of seminal vesicle leiomyoma in a 55-year-old African American male who underwent robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) for Gleason 8 (4 + 4) adenocarcinoma. An incidental nodule arising from the left seminal vesicle was discovered during surgery, complicating the surgical dissection and suggesting extra-prostatic extension. The histologic findings in this case raised the possibility that this seminal vesicle leiomyoma may have arisen from a remnant of the mid-portion of the Müllerian duct; however, a thorough immunohistochemical (IHC) workup disproved this theory.
ABSTRACT
Spatial variations in composition of marine microbial communities and its causes have largely been disclosed in studies comprising rather large environmental and spatial differences. In the present study, we explored if a moderate but temporally permanent climatic division within a contiguous arctic shelf seafloor was traceable in the diversity patterns of its bacterial and archaeal communities. Soft bottom sediment samples were collected at 10 geographical locations, spanning spatial distances of up to 640 km, transecting the oceanic polar front in the Barents Sea. The northern sampling sites were generally colder, less saline, shallower, and showed higher concentrations of freshly sedimented phytopigments compared to the southern study locations. Sampling sites depicted low variation in relative abundances of taxa at class level, with persistent numerical dominance by lineages of Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria (57-66% of bacterial sequence reads). The Archaea, which constituted 0.7-1.8% of 16S rRNA gene copy numbers in the sediment, were overwhelmingly (85.8%) affiliated with the Thaumarchaeota. Beta-diversity analyses showed the environmental variations throughout the sampling range to have a stronger impact on the structuring of both the bacterial and archaeal communities than spatial effects. While bacterial communities were significantly influenced by the combined effect of several weakly selective environmental differences, including temperature, archaeal communities appeared to be more uniquely structured by the level of freshly sedimented phytopigments.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Point-of-care glucose (POCG) testing on capillary blood specimens is central to maintaining glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Although there are known performance issues with POCG methods, especially for maintaining tight glucose control, there is little information about the accuracy of results in the critical ranges that may involve life-threatening conditions. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability of POCG measurements in critical, high (>600 mg/dL) and low (<40 mg/dL) ranges. DESIGN: One-year retrospective analysis of POCG (ACCU-CHEK glucose meter, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis, Indiana) results for routine patient care were obtained. The frequency and accuracy of repeat testing after critical POCG results was analyzed. A convenience sample of noncritical capillary POCG measurements retested on venous blood specimens by another point-of-care device (RAPIDPoint 405 analyzer, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Malvern, Pennsylvania) was also evaluated. RESULTS: Critical values were observed in 2.4 per 1000 POCG tests (256 of 105,928; 0.24%), with the highest rate (76 of 2289; 3.32%) from the emergency department. Twice as many critical high values as critical low values were seen. Nearly 80% of critical POCG tests (204 of 256) were repeated within 10 minutes. Of these 204 repeat measurements, 112 (54.9%) met accuracy criteria (±15 mg/dL of low and ±20% of high initial values). Accuracy was significantly higher when retesting was performed on the same meter or by the same operator (P ≤ .05). Comparison of capillary and venous POCG testing of noncritical results showed no significant difference (P = .95), with 89.8% (125 of 139) meeting accuracy criteria. CONCLUSIONS: POCG measurements in the critical range are frequently erroneous, which is likely caused by preanalytic factors associated with sampling capillary blood. POCG testing practices should include retesting to confirm critical results.
Subject(s)
Blood Chemical Analysis/instrumentation , Blood Glucose/analysis , Point-of-Care Systems/statistics & numerical data , Acute Disease , Blood Chemical Analysis/standards , Blood Chemical Analysis/statistics & numerical data , Capillary Tubing , Critical Illness , Diabetes Complications/blood , Diabetes Complications/diagnosis , Diabetes Mellitus/blood , Humans , Hyperglycemia/blood , Hyperglycemia/diagnosis , Hypoglycemia/blood , Hypoglycemia/diagnosis , Point-of-Care Systems/standards , Quality Control , Reproducibility of Results , Retrospective StudiesSubject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Abnormalities, Multiple/therapy , Genes, ras , Abnormalities, Multiple/physiopathology , Chondroitin Sulfates/metabolism , Craniofacial Abnormalities/genetics , Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Farnesyltranstransferase/antagonists & inhibitors , Genotype , Germ-Line Mutation , Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics , Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use , Humans , Neoplasms/genetics , Phenotype , SyndromeABSTRACT
Because of postradiation changes in the breast, evaluation of the efficacy of conservative local radiation treatment is difficult, and early detection of recurrent disease is often a diagnostic challenge. MR imaging of the breast aids in the follow-up of conservatively treated breast cancers. When recurrent disease is suspected, MR imaging allows for the differentiation between late postradiation changes in the breast and recurrent carcinoma.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Breast/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Breast/radiation effects , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Carcinoma/diagnosis , Carcinoma/radiotherapy , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Image Enhancement/methods , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosisSubject(s)
Abdominal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neuroblastoma/diagnosis , 3-Iodobenzylguanidine , Abdominal Neoplasms/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Infant , Iodobenzenes , Male , Neuroblastoma/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
A favorable clinical result was obtained in 10 patients with jugular glomal tumors treated by external radiotherapy (approximately 50 Gy), alone or combined with surgical treatment, and preceded in some cases by embolization. Radiologic review examinations showed complete stability of lesions without bone reconstruction phenomena, in spite of a decrease in tympanic mass and regression of functional symptoms.
Subject(s)
Glomus Jugulare Tumor/radiotherapy , Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/radiotherapy , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Glomus Jugulare Tumor/complications , Glomus Jugulare Tumor/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Osteolysis/diagnostic imaging , Osteolysis/etiology , Radiography , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Two patients with breast angiosarcoma and hepatic and splenic metastases developed a hemoperitoneum confirmed by ultrasound and CT scan imaging. This complication has further adverse effects on the already extremely poor prognosis of this disease.