Isolated sign language recognition through integrating pose data and motion history images.

This article presents an innovative approach for the task of isolated sign language recognition (SLR); this approach centers on the integration of pose data with motion history images (MHIs) derived from these data. Our research combines spatial information obtained from body, hand, and face poses with the comprehensive details provided by three-channel MHI data concerning the temporal dynamics of the sign. Particularly, our developed finger pose-based MHI (FP-MHI) feature significantly enhances the recognition success, capturing the nuances of finger movements and gestures, unlike existing approaches in SLR. This feature improves the accuracy and reliability of SLR systems by more accurately capturing the fine details and richness of sign language. Additionally, we enhance the overall model accuracy by predicting missing pose data through linear interpolation. Our study, based on the randomized leaky rectified linear unit (RReLU) enhanced ResNet-18 model, successfully handles the interaction between manual and non-manual features through the fusion of extracted features and classification with a support vector machine (SVM). This innovative integration demonstrates competitive and superior results compared to current methodologies in the field of SLR across various datasets, including BosphorusSign22k-general, BosphorusSign22k, LSA64, and GSL, in our experiments.

Epidemiology and clinical features of rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus infections and coinfections in children with acute gastroenteritis prior to rotavirus vaccine introduction in Meerut, North India.

There are limited reports on the etiology of multiple enteric viruses causing acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in North India. In the present study we have determined the prevalence of three enteric viruses, namely rotavirus, astrovirus (AstV) and adenovirus (AdV) in a total of 312 diarrheic children (<5 years) hospitalized at Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh from August 2014 to July 2016; and results were compared with data from Delhi. The fecal samples were individually screened for group A rotavirus (RVA), AdV, and AstV using enzyme immunoassay kits. At least one viral agent was detected in 29.2% of 312 fecal specimens. RNA of rotavirus antigen-positive samples was extracted by TRIzol method. Rotavirus G/P genotyping was performed using seminested multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RVA was the most predominant virus (18.3%) followed by AstV (12.5%), and AdV (9.9%). Coinfections were detected in 10.6% cases and the most common coinfection in diarrheic children was RVA combined with AstV (36.4%). Overall, the enteric viruses were found most prevalent in the 6 to 11 months age group (P = .01). Increased duration of vomiting (≥3 days) was significantly (P = .04) associated with AdV infection (61.3%) as compared with AstV (30.76%) and rotavirus (26.31%). G1P[8] was detected throughout as the most prevalent rotavirus strain (10.5%). Unusual RV strains like G2P[6] and G2P[8] were also detected. Of note G3, G4, and G12 rotavirus were detected for the first time in Meerut. This is the first report that demonstrated the important contribution of multiple enteric viruses causing AGE in young children in this part of Uttar Pradesh (Meerut).

Surveillance and genetic characterization of rotavirus strains circulating in four states of North Indian children.

Acute gastroenteritis due to Rotavirus (RV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children worldwide. In India, around 0.1 million death reported annually due to RV illness. So, to assess the disease burden continuous surveillance of the circulating genotypes is needed. This study aimed to ascertain the genetic variance of 429 rotavirus positive specimens observed during the period October 2013-September 2014 at four study centers from North India. Out of 1057 patients enrolled, 1018 stool samples were collected at four centers in four different states of North India. Children aged <5 years who showed the symptoms of severe diarrhea and needed hospitalization were enrolled. The stool samples collected were screened by Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA), and the RV positive samples were characterized by semi-nested PCR. During the study period October 2013 through September 2014, ~42% patients were found to be rotavirus positive of 1018 collected specimen. In Delhi, Rohtak and Meerut, we observed that Rotavirus is seasonal compared to Tanda (HP). The rate of rotavirus detection was significantly higher among children aged below 2 years, and a total of 21.5% of rotavirus infections comprised children aged <6 months. Genotype G1(48.0%) was predominant and frequently circulating strain whereas G12 (16.8%) and G9 (10.0%) was second and third prevalent strain in the four states of North India. High frequency of G1 genotypes was detected under the age group of 6-11 months which is followed by G12, similarly high rate severe disease was observed due to G1 genotypes followed by P[8], P[6] and G12. The most common types of strains were G1P[8] (27.73% of strains), G12P[6] (13.28%), G9P[4] (7.23%) and G1P[6] (6.75%). The rare strain reported were G1P[9]; P[11] strain was detected in combination with G1, G2, and G12. These data emphasized G12 is the second most predominant strain circulating among Northern Indian children highlights the needs for inclusion in the future polyvalent vaccine to break the burden of rotavirus infection.

Measuring the levels of noise at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport and comparisons with model simulations.

Airport noise and its impact on the surrounding areas are major issues in the aviation industry. The Istanbul Atatürk Airport is a major global airport with passenger numbers increasing rapidly per annum. The noise levels for day, evening and night times were modeled around the Istanbul Atatürk Airport according to the European Noise Directive using the actual data records for the year 2011. The "ECAC Doc. 29-Interim" method was used for the computation of the aircraft traffic noise. In the setting the noise model for the local airport topography was taken into consideration together with the noise source data, the airport loadings, features of aircraft and actual air traffic data. Model results were compared with long-term noise measurement values for calibration. According to calibration results, classifications of the aircraft type and flight tracks were revised. For noise model validation, the daily noise measurements at four additional locations were used during the verification period. The input data was re-edited only for these periods and the model was validated. A successful model performance was obtained in several zones around the airport. The validated noise model of the Istanbul Atatürk Airport can be now utilized both for determining the noise levels in the future and for producing new strategies which are about the land use planning, operational considerations for the air traffic management and the noise abatement procedures.

Modeling of noise pollution and estimated human exposure around Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Turkey.

The level of aircraft noise exposure around Istanbul Atatürk Airport was calculated according to the European Noise Directive. These calculations were based on the actual flight data for each flight in the year 2011. The study area was selected to cover of 25km radius centered on the Aerodrome Reference Point of the airport. The geographical data around Istanbul Atatürk Airport was used to prepare elevation, residential building, auxiliary building, hospital and school layers in SoundPlan software. It was found that 1.2% of the land area of Istanbul City exceeds the threshold of 55dB(A) during daytime. However, when the exceedance of threshold of 65dB(A)is investigated, the affected area is found quite small (0.2% of land area of city). About 0.3% of the land area of Istanbul City has noise levels exceeding 55dB(A) during night-time. Our results show that about 4% of the resident population was exposed to 55dB(A) or higher noises during daytime in Istanbul. When applying the second threshhold criteria, nearly 1% of the population is exposed to noise levels greater than 65dB(A). At night-time, 1.3% of the population is exposed to 55dB(A) or higher noise levels.

Acromegalic arthropathy of the hip: a case report.

Acromegaly is a chronic and slowly developing endocrinopathy caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone and consequently of insulin like growth factor-1. The arthropathy in acromegaly can affect both axial and peripheral joints and it may present as the earliest clinical symptom of the disease. Patients with acromegaly may have high prevalence of joint related comorbidity and a reduced self perceived quality of life. An early diagnosis is crucial to obtaining the optimal treatment due to the potential reversibility of the lesions in an early stage. The aim of this case report is to draw attention to the possible articular involvement of acromegaly.

Internal iliac artery pseudoaneurysm: an unusual cause of sciatica and lumbosacral plexopathy.

This report describes an unusual case of lumbosacral plexopathy resulting from internal iliac artery pseudoaneurysm. A 50-yr-old woman presented with multiple penetrating trauma to the thorax, abdomen, and left buttock. Several weeks after the injury, severe sciatica and motor dysfunction developed in her left leg. Progressively worsening pain was followed by left foot drop. An electrodiagnostic evaluation suggested a lower lumbosacral plexopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a hematoma extending adjacent to the left lumbosacral plexus. Computerized tomographic angiography revealed a left internal iliac artery pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm was excised surgically. In the early postoperative period, the patient reported total relief of pain. Her motor function recovered gradually over several weeks; however, some residual weakness of foot dorsiflexion persisted. With this case presentation, we underscore that an arterial pseudoaneurysm should be remembered as an etiologic possibility of lumbosacral plexopathy and sciatica, especially in patients with history of iatrogenic or accidental trauma. An increased awareness of this rare cause of sciatica and lumbosacral plexopathy may enable early intervention alternatives.

[Thoracic trauma: an analysis of 521 patients]. / Gögüs travmalari: 521 olgunun degerlendirilmesi.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated thoracic trauma cases with regard to etiologic causes, treatment methods, outcome, and factors affecting the results in the light of our experience and relevant literature data. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was made of 521 patients (399 males, 122 females; mean age 42 years; range 4 to 93 years) who were treated for thoracic trauma from September 1997 to August 2002. RESULTS: Isolated thoracic trauma and multisystem trauma were found in 348 (67%) and 173 (33%) patients, respectively. Blunt injuries accounted for 87%, the most common cause being traffic accidents (62%), and penetrating injuries accounted for 13%. The most frequent thoracic pathologies included multiple (56%) and single (24%) rib fractures, and flail chest (8.4%). Extrathoracic injuries were seen in 33.2%, the extremities (41%) and the skull (40%) being the most commonly involved. Treatment consisted of symptomatic treatment in 159 patients (30.5%), tube thoracostomy in 337 patients (64.6%), and thoracotomy in 15 patients (2.9%). In isolated thoracic trauma and multisystem trauma, morbidity rates were 3.4% and 22%, and mortality rates were 2.5% and 16.2%, respectively. The overall mortality was 7.1% (37 patients). The mean length of hospital stay was 7.1 days (range 1 to 64 days). CONCLUSION: A great majority of thoracic trauma patients can be treated with conservative methods or tube thoracostomy. Accompanying multisystem traumas are associated with dramatic increases in morbidity and mortality rates.

Endobronchial lipoma: a rare cause of bronchial occlusion.

Benign neoplasms of the endobronchial tree are uncommon, and among them lipomas are the most uncommon. Endobronchial lipoma is histologically benign in character but may cause bronchial obstruction. We describe a 47-year-old woman with an endobronchial lipoma arising from the right main bronchus which was treated as asthma for 4 years.