WPAN and IoT Enabled Automation to Authenticate Ignition of Vehicle in Perspective of Smart Cities.

Currently, two-wheelers are the most popular mode of transportation, driven by the majority the people. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies that most two-wheeler deaths are caused due to not wearing a helmet. However, the advancement in sensors and wireless communication technology empowers one to monitor physical things such as helmets through wireless technology. Motivated by these aspects, this article proposes a wireless personal network and an Internet of Things assisted system for automating the ignition of two-wheelers with authorization and authentication through the helmet. The authentication and authorization are realized with the assistance of a helmet node and a two-wheeler node based on 2.4 GHz RF communication. The helmet node is embedded with three flex sensors utilized to experiment with different age groups and under different temperature conditions. The statistical data collected during the experiment are utilized to identify the appropriate threshold value through a t-test hypothesis for igniting the two-wheelers. The threshold value obtained after the t-test is logged in the helmet node for initiating the communication with the two-wheeler node. The pairing of the helmet node along with the RFID key is achieved through 2.4 GHZ RF communication. During real-time implementation, the helmet node updates the status to the server and LABVIEW data logger, after wearing the helmet. Along with the customization of hardware, a LABVIEW data logger is designed to visualize the data on the server side.

Early Detection and Classification of Tomato Leaf Disease Using High-Performance Deep Neural Network.

Tomato is one of the most essential and consumable crops in the world. Tomatoes differ in quantity depending on how they are fertilized. Leaf disease is the primary factor impacting the amount and quality of crop yield. As a result, it is critical to diagnose and classify these disorders appropriately. Different kinds of diseases influence the production of tomatoes. Earlier identification of these diseases would reduce the disease's effect on tomato plants and enhance good crop yield. Different innovative ways of identifying and classifying certain diseases have been used extensively. The motive of work is to support farmers in identifying early-stage diseases accurately and informing them about these diseases. The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used to effectively define and classify tomato diseases. Google Colab is used to conduct the complete experiment with a dataset containing 3000 images of tomato leaves affected by nine different diseases and a healthy leaf. The complete process is described: Firstly, the input images are preprocessed, and the targeted area of images are segmented from the original images. Secondly, the images are further processed with varying hyper-parameters of the CNN model. Finally, CNN extracts other characteristics from pictures like colors, texture, and edges, etc. The findings demonstrate that the proposed model predictions are 98.49% accurate.

The Application of Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: An Overview on Nutrition Assessment.

In the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-mediated technologies have undergone rapid evolution in healthcare and medicine, from apps to computer software able to analyze medical images, robotic surgery and advanced data storage system. The main aim of the present commentary is to briefly describe the evolution of AI and its applications in healthcare, particularly in nutrition and clinical biochemistry. Indeed, AI is revealing itself to be an important tool in clinical nutrition by using telematic means to self-monitor various health metrics, including blood glucose levels, body weight, heart rate, fat percentage, blood pressure, activity tracking and calorie intake trackers. In particular, the application of the most common digital technologies used in the field of nutrition as well as the employment of AI in the management of diabetes and obesity, two of the most common nutrition-related pathologies worldwide, will be presented.

Empowering Lower Limb Disorder Identification through PoseNet and Artificial Intelligence.

A novel approach is presented in this study for the classification of lower limb disorders, with a specific emphasis on the knee, hip, and ankle. The research employs gait analysis and the extraction of PoseNet features from video data in order to effectively identify and categorize these disorders. The PoseNet algorithm facilitates the extraction of key body joint movements and positions from videos in a non-invasive and user-friendly manner, thereby offering a comprehensive representation of lower limb movements. The features that are extracted are subsequently standardized and employed as inputs for a range of machine learning algorithms, such as Random Forest, Extra Tree Classifier, Multilayer Perceptron, Artificial Neural Networks, and Convolutional Neural Networks. The models undergo training and testing processes using a dataset consisting of 174 real patients and normal individuals collected at the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Sadiq Abad. The evaluation of their performance is conducted through the utilization of K-fold cross-validation. The findings exhibit a notable level of accuracy and precision in the classification of various lower limb disorders. Notably, the Artificial Neural Networks model achieves the highest accuracy rate of 98.84%. The proposed methodology exhibits potential in enhancing the diagnosis and treatment planning of lower limb disorders. It presents a non-invasive and efficient method of analyzing gait patterns and identifying particular conditions.

Novel Antitubercular 6-Dialkylaminopyrimidine Carboxamides from Phenotypic Whole-Cell High Throughput Screening of a SoftFocus Library: Structure-Activity Relationship and Target Identification Studies.

A BioFocus DPI SoftFocus library of ∼35 000 compounds was screened against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in order to identify novel hits with antitubercular activity. The hits were evaluated in biology triage assays to exclude compounds suggested to function via frequently encountered promiscuous mechanisms of action including inhibition of the QcrB subunit of the cytochrome bc1 complex, disruption of cell-wall homeostasis, and DNA damage. Among the hits that passed this screening cascade, a 6-dialkylaminopyrimidine carboxamide series was prioritized for hit to lead optimization. Compounds from this series were active against clinical Mtb strains, while no cross-resistance to conventional antituberculosis drugs was observed. This suggested a novel mechanism of action, which was confirmed by chemoproteomic analysis leading to the identification of BCG_3193 and BCG_3827 as putative targets of the series with unknown function. Initial structure-activity relationship studies have resulted in compounds with moderate to potent antitubercular activity and improved physicochemical properties.

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management.

Thrombosis of a prosthetic valve is one of the most severe complications of cardiac valve replacement. The incidence is 0.5% in the aortic and mitral positions and up to 20% in the tricuspid position. The presenting clinical picture ranges from the absence of symptoms to cardiogenic shock. The traditional treatment of this complication has been emergency surgery, but thrombolysis, which has been available for many years, is being considered as the first line of treatment more and more every day. The pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of thrombosis of prosthetic heart valves are reviewed here. Thrombolysis, which has an efficacy of over 80%, is emphasized in this review. Embolic complications associated with this therapeutic approach remain a great concern with rates of 3% to 10%, and some authors reporting rates up to 20%.

Thrombolytic treatment as first option in recurrent tricuspid prosthetic valve thrombosis and Ebstein's anomaly.

Ebstein's anomaly is the most frequent cause of congenital tricuspid regurgitation. The coexistence of a mechanical heart prosthesis in a low-pressure circuit and poor compliance in the anticoagulant therapy contributed decisively to the appearance of recurrent mechanical heart valve thrombosis in these patients. A 49 years old female patient is reported where thrombolytic therapy with recombinant Streptokinase (TT-rSK) was the first treatment choice in seven recurrent episodes of prosthetic valve thrombosis.

Oral vaccination with heat inactivated Mycobacterium bovis activates the complement system to protect against tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a pandemic affecting billions of people worldwide, thus stressing the need for new vaccines. Defining the correlates of vaccine protection is essential to achieve this goal. In this study, we used the wild boar model for mycobacterial infection and TB to characterize the protective mechanisms elicited by a new heat inactivated Mycobacterium bovis vaccine (IV). Oral vaccination with the IV resulted in significantly lower culture and lesion scores, particularly in the thorax, suggesting that the IV might provide a novel vaccine for TB control with special impact on the prevention of pulmonary disease, which is one of the limitations of current vaccines. Oral vaccination with the IV induced an adaptive antibody response and activation of the innate immune response including the complement component C3 and inflammasome. Mycobacterial DNA/RNA was not involved in inflammasome activation but increased C3 production by a still unknown mechanism. The results also suggested a protective mechanism mediated by the activation of IFN-γ producing CD8+ T cells by MHC I antigen presenting dendritic cells (DCs) in response to vaccination with the IV, without a clear role for Th1 CD4+ T cells. These results support a role for DCs in triggering the immune response to the IV through a mechanism similar to the phagocyte response to PAMPs with a central role for C3 in protection against mycobacterial infection. Higher C3 levels may allow increased opsonophagocytosis and effective bacterial clearance, while interfering with CR3-mediated opsonic and nonopsonic phagocytosis of mycobacteria, a process that could be enhanced by specific antibodies against mycobacterial proteins induced by vaccination with the IV. These results suggest that the IV acts through novel mechanisms to protect against TB in wild boar.

Estrategia para la preparación de unidades de salud en buenas prácticas clínicas / Strategy for the preparation of health units for good clinical practices

Introducción: El entorno regulatorio mundial es cada vez más exigente para establecer, implementar y mantener el cumplimiento de las buenas prácticas clínicas (BPC). En Cuba, una respuesta necesaria derivada del desarrollo creciente de la industria farmacéutica y biotecnológica nacional fue la creación del Centro Nacional Coordinador de Ensayos Clínicos (CENCEC). Una de las misiones del CENCEC es preparar a las unidades-sitios clínicos seleccionados que realizan investigaciones clínicas, para su posterior certificación en BPC por la autoridad reguladora nacional, con la finalidad de avalar la calidad que corresponde al proceso de investigación clínica que redunda en una esmerada atención y protección al paciente objeto de estudio. Objetivo: Describir la estrategia del CENCEC para la preparación en BPC de los sitios clínicos seleccionados del Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) que participan en ensayos clínicos. Métodos: Se revisan más de 250 documentos normativos emitidos por Europa, Estados Unidos, Japón y los países nórdicos relacionados con aspectos prácticos y éticos para la implementación de las BPC...

Background: The global regulatory environment is increasingly demanding to establish, implement, and maintain the compliance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP). In Cuba, The National Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials (CENCEC) was created as a necessary response derived from the increasing development of the national pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry. One of the missions of the CENCEC is to prepare selected clinical units/sites that conduct clinical research for a further certification in GCP by the national regulatory authority in order to guarantee the quality that corresponds to the process of clinical research, resulting in a careful attention and protection of the patient under study. Objective: To describe the strategy of the CENCEC for the preparation of good clinical practices in the selected clinical sites of the National Health System (SNS) that participate in clinical trials. Methods: More than 250 regulatory documents issued by Europe, the United States, Japan and the Nordic countries, related to ethical and practical aspects for the implementation of good clinical practices, were reviewed...

Thrombolysis as first choice therapy in prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. A study of 68 patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Valvular thrombosis is a serious complication in patients with prosthetic heart valves. Traditional treatment is emergency surgery, but thrombolysis provides a non invasive alternative. In this paper we evaluate the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis in prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. METHODS: Data of 68 patients diagnosed of prosthetic valve thrombosis, treated at the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Havana during a 6-years period were analyzed. They received thrombolysis with a recombinant streptokinase infusion at 250,000 IU in 30 minutes followed by 100,000 IU/hour during 72 hours or less if the thrombosis resolved before. The evaluation was based on clinical and echocardiographic findings. RESULTS: Affected sites were mitral (50 cases), tricuspid (9), and aortic (9). Mean time of prosthesis implantation was 6.8 years. The presentation form was generally heart failure (NYHA functional class III-IV) in 64 (94.1%) patients. Mean time interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 10.6 days. There was total response to treatment in 58 (85.3%) patients, partial in 4 (5.9%) and failure in 6 (8.8%). Recombinant streptokinase overall dose was 5.1 x 10(6) IU and mean infusion time 50 hours. Major hemorrhagic complications were observed in two patients. Five embolic events occurred during thrombolysis. Four patients died. Rethrombosis was noted in 11 patients; 10 were retreated successfully with thrombolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolysis with recombinant streptokinase is efficacious and safe for the treatment of prosthetic heart valve thrombosis. It does not contraindicate surgical treatment if there is no total response, because patient goes to surgery in better hemodynamic conditions with lower risk. Nowadays it can be considered as first-line treatment in all patients with prosthetic heart valve thrombosis regardless of functional class unless specific contraindications exist.

Marcadores bioquímicos de infarto miocárdico agudo posoperatorio en la cirugía cardíaca / Biochemical markers of postoperative acute myocardial infarction in heart surgery

El infarto del miocardio agudo posoperatorio es uno de los determinantes de la morbimortalidad posoperatoria en la cirugía cardíaca y es relativamente frecuente. Como consecuencia del mismo proceder quirúrgico los criterios clínicos, electrocardiográficos y enzimáticos clásicos pierden eficacia, por lo cual no pueden ser aplicados de la manera acostumbrada. Se revisan los marcadores bioquímicos para esta complicación, sus valores y criterios de aplicación en este grupo poblacional particular

Marcadores bioquímicos de infarto miocárdico agudo posoperatorio en la cirugía cardíaca / Biochemical markers of postoperative acute myocardial infarct in heart surgery

El infarto del miocardio agudo posoperatorio es uno de los determinantes de la morbilidad y mortalidad posoperatoria en la cirugía cardiaca y es relativamente frecuente. Como consecuencia del mismo proceder quirúrgico los criterios clínicos, electrocardiográficos y enzimáticos clásicos pierden eficacia, por lo cual no pueden ser aplicados de la manera acostumbrada. Se revisan los marcadores bioquímicos para esta complicación, sus valores y criterios de aplicación en este grupo poblacional particular(AU)

The postoperative acute myocardial infarction is one of the determinants of postoperative morbidity and mortality in heart surgery and it is relatively frequent As a result of the surgical procedure, the classical clinical, electrocardiographic and enzimatic criteria lose efficiency and, therefore, they cannot be applied in the usual way. The biochemical markers for this complications , their values and application criteria in this particular population group are reviewed(AU)

Factores de riesgo y evaluación del riesgo de muerte hospitalaria en la sustitución valvular mitral con prótesis mecánica / Risk factors and evaluation of hospital death risk in valvular mitral replacement with a mechanical prosthesis

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en 1301 pacientes sometidos a sustitución valvular mitral, en el Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular entre enero de 1996 y mayo de 2001. Los objetivos fueron conocer la mortalidad operatoria y establecer las bases de un sistema de puntaje de riesgo de mortalidad. Se determinó el riesgo relativo y las probabilidades de muerte. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue de 9,0 (por ciento) (27 pacientes). La causa de muerte más frecuente fue el fallo multiorgánico (14 pacientes,51,8 (por ciento). Los factores de riesgo más importantes fueron: en el preoperatorio, la cardiomegalia severa (RR 6,1) y la urgencia de la operación (RR 5,1); en el transoperatorio, el bajo gasto cardíaco (RR 6,0) y en el posoperatorio la disfunción neurológica (RR ,33,6) y el fallo multiorgánico (RR 26,9). La mortalidad operatoria es aceptable. El sistema de puntaje de riesgo de muerte es factible y debe ser automatizado y validado(AU)

A prospective study was conducted among 1 301 patients who underwent valvular mitral replacement at the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery from January, 1996, to May, 2001, aimed at knowing the operative mortality and to establish the bases of a mortality risk scoring system. The relative risk and the death probabilities were determined. The hospital mortality was 9.0 percent (27 patients). The most frequent cause of death was multiple organ failure (14 patients, 51.8 percent) The most important risk factors were: in the preoperative, severe cardiomegaly (RR 6.1) and emergency surgery (RR 5.1); in the transoperative, low cardiac output (RR 6.0); and in the postoperative, neurological dysfunction (RR 33.6) and multiple organ failure (RR 26.9). Operative mortality was acceptable. The death risk scoring system is feasible and it should be automated and validated(AU)

Disfunción neurológica en la cirugía cardiovascular: acercamiento al tema / Neurological dysfunction in cardiovascular surgery: approaching to the topic

Se hizo una revisión actualizada de la disfunción neurológica que se puede producir en el postoperatorio de la cirugía cardiovascular. Se realizó una reseña de la clasificación, frecuencia de aparción, mecanismos fisiopatológicos y factores de riesgo, mortalidad, algunos medios diagnósticos y tratamiento

Falla orgánica múltiple: acercamiento al tema / Dealing with multiple organ failure

Uno de los mayores retos que enfrenta un médico en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos es la falla multiorgánica. Síndrome con una oscura etiopatogenia multifactorial, cuadro clínico variado, medios diagnósticos tempranos escasos, con una mortalidad muy alta y hasta ahora, sin un tratamiento específico. En este artículo se revisan estos elementos con el objetivo de actualizar los conocimientos de nuestros cardiólogos, que con tanta frecuencia trabajan en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos, en relación a este letal e interesante síndrome

Disfunción neurológica en el posoperatorio inmediato de la cirugía cardiovascular: factores de riesgo, complicaciones asociadas, mortalidad y estadía / Neurological dysfunction in the immediate postoperative of cardiovascular surgery: risk factors, associales complications and thrombolytic treatment

La disfunción neurológica es una complicación frecuente y con una mortalidad asociada en aumento. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de 691 pacientes (42,2 porciento) entre 1 639 casos admitidos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Quirúrgicos después de ser sometidos a operaciones cardiovasculares de enero de 1991 a septiembre de 1998. Ocurrió disfunción neurológica en 75 pacientes (10,8 porciento). Los factores de riesgo prequirúrgicos para este tipo de evento fueron: cirugía vascular de aorta, accidente vascular encefálico, insuficiencia renal crónica, operación cardiovascular anterior y el uso de diuréticos. Los predictores transoperatorios fueron: ocurrencia de infarto miocárdico agudo, de fibrilación auricular y bajo gasto cardíaco, tiempos de pinzamiento aórtico y circulación extracorpórea mayores de 60 y 90 min respectivamente, diuresis mayor de 2 L, el uso de apoyo circulatorio, de más de 2 unidades de sangre o glóbulos o de una unidad de plasma y menor temperatura corporal. En el posoperatorio los factores de riesgo fueron: coagulopatía, bajo gasto cardíaco, paro cardiorrespiratorio, fibrilación auricular, volúmenes de sangrado mayores de 75 ml/m2/h en las primeras 5 h, uso de más de 1 unidad de plasma o de más de 2 unidades de sangre o glóbulos el 1er día, diuresis mayor de 3 L el 1er día y la reintervención quirúrgica. La muerte ocurrió en 32 (42,7 porciento) de los pacientes que presentaron daño neurológico