Tennis shot side-view and top-view data set for player analysis in Tennist.

Tennis is a popular sport, and the introduction of technology has allowed players to diversify their training. Tennis ball tracking is currently a focal point, serving not only to assist referees but also to enhance sports analysis. We introduce the Tennis Shot Side-View and Top-View Dataset, which serves as an invaluable resource for analyzing tennis movements and verifying landing positions after flight. This dataset combines side-view and top-view video clips, capturing various shot types and player movements from both outdoor and indoor fields. The dataset includes the actual ball positions of each clip for verification purposes. The Tennis Shot Side-View and Top-View Dataset represents a significant advancement in tennis research. Its multidimensional nature opens doors for in-depth player analysis, performance enhancement, and strategy development. We believe that this dataset will be a valuable asset to the tennis community, fostering innovation and excellence in the sport.

Development of a simulation system for femoroacetabular impingement detection based on 3D images.

Image-based criteria have been adopted to diagnose femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). However, the overlapping property of the two-dimensional X-ray outlines and static and supine posture of taking computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging images potentially affect the accuracy of the criteria. This study developed a CT image-based dynamic criterion to effectively simulate FAI, thereby providing a basis for physicians to perform pre-operative planning for arthroscopic surgery. Post-operative CT images of 20 patients with satisfactory surgical results were collected, and 10 sets of models were used to define the flexion rotation centre (FRC) of the three-dimensional FAI model. First, let these 10 groups of models simulate the FAI detection action and find the best centre offset, and then FRC is the result of averaging these 10 groups of best displacements. The model was validated in 10 additional patients. Finally, through the adjustment basis of FRC, the remaining 10 sets of models can find out the potential position of FAI during the dynamic simulation process. Rotational collisions detected using FRC indicate that the patient's post-operative flexion angle may reach 120° or greater, which is close to the actual result. The recommended surgical range of the diagnostic system (average length of 6.4 mm, width of 4.1 mm and depth of 3.2 mm) is smaller than the actual surgical results, which prevents the doctor from performing excessive resection operations, which may preserve more bones. The FRC diagnostic system detects the distribution of FAI in a simple manner. It can be used as a pre-operative diagnosis reference for clinicians, hoping to improve the effect and accuracy of debridement surgery.

Increased Circulating CD14+ Monocytes in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Presenting Impaired Apoptosis Activity.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting peripheral and axial joints. The osteolytic effect in the damaged joint is mediated by osteoclast activation. We aimed to investigate differential gene expression in peripheral CD14+ monocytes between patients with psoriatic arthritis (n = 15) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 15). Circulating CD14+ monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using CD14+ magnetic beads. Cell apoptosis was measured via Annexin V using flow cytometry. The gene expression profiling was analyzed via microarray (available in the NCBI GEO database; accession number GSE261765), and the candidate genes were validated using PCR. The results showed a higher number of peripheral CD14+ monocytes in patients with PsA than in the HCs. By analyzing the microarray data, identifying the differentially expressed genes, and conducting pathway enrichment analysis, we found that the apoptosis signaling pathway in CD14+ cells was significantly impaired in patients with PsA compared to the HCs. Among the candidate genes in the apoptotic signaling pathway, the relative expression level of cathepsin L was confirmed to be significantly lower in the PsAs than in the HCs. We concluded that the numbers of peripheral CD14+ monocytes increased, and their apoptosis activity was impaired in patients with PsA, which could lead to enhanced macrophage maturation and osteoclast activation. The resistance of apoptotic death in peripheral CD14+ monocytes may contribute to active joint inflammation in PsA.

An expedited model for identifying potential patients with periodic leg movements.

Periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) may have crucial consequences in adults. This study aimed to identify baseline characteristics, symptoms, or questionnaires that could help to identify sleep-disordered breathing patients with significant PLMS. Patients aged 20-80 years who underwent polysomnography for assessing sleep disturbance were included. Various factors such as sex, age, body measurements, symptoms, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and sleep quality scales were analysed to determine the presence of PLMS. The study included 1480 patients with a mean age of 46.4 ± 13.4 years, among whom 110 (7.4%) had significant PLMS with a PLM index of 15 or higher. There were no significant differences observed in terms of sex or BMI between patients with and without significant PLMS. However, the odds ratios (OR) for PLMS were 4.33, 4.41, and 4.23 in patients who were aged over 50 years, had insomnia, or had an ESS score of less than 10, respectively. Notably, the OR increased up to 67.89 times in patients who presented with all three risk factors. Our analysis identified significant risk factors for PLMS: age over 50, self-reported insomnia, and lower daytime sleepiness levels. These findings aid in identifying potential PLMS patients, facilitating confirmatory examinations and managing associated comorbidities.

Combining wireless radar sleep monitoring device with deep machine learning techniques to assess obstructive sleep apnea severity.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is polysomnography (PSG). However, PSG is a time-consuming method with clinical limitations. This study aimed to create a wireless radar framework to screen the likelihood of two levels of OSA severity (i.e., moderate-to-severe and severe OSA) in accordance with clinical practice standards. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, simultaneous study using the wireless radar system and PSG in a Northern Taiwan sleep center, involving 196 patients. The wireless radar sleep monitor, incorporating hybrid models such as deep neural decision trees, estimated the respiratory disturbance index relative to the total sleep time established by PSG (RDIPSG_TST), by analyzing continuous-wave signals indicative of breathing patterns. Analyses were performed to examine the correlation and agreement between the RDIPSG_TST and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), results obtained through PSG. Cut-off thresholds for RDIPSG_TST were determined using Youden's index, and multiclass classification was performed, after which the results were compared. RESULTS: A strong correlation (ρ = 0.91) and agreement (average difference of 0.59 events/h) between AHI and RDIPSG_TST were identified. In terms of the agreement between the two devices, the average difference between PSG-based AHI and radar-based RDIPSG_TST was 0.59 events/h, while 187 out of 196 cases (95.41%) fell within the 95% confidence interval of differences. A moderate-to-severe OSA model achieved an accuracy of 90.3% (cut-off threshold for RDIPSG_TST: 19.2 events/h). A severe OSA model achieved an accuracy of 92.4% (cut-off threshold for RDIPSG_TST: 28.86 events/h). The mean accuracy of multiclass classification performance using these cut-off thresholds was 83.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The wireless-radar-based sleep monitoring device, with cut-off thresholds, can provide rapid OSA screening with acceptable accuracy, and also alleviate the burden on PSG capacity. However, to independently apply this framework, the function of determining the radar-based total sleep time requires further optimizations and verification in future work.

Simple bone cysts of the proximal humerus presented with limb length discrepancy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Simple bone cysts (SBC) are benign tumor-like bone lesions typically identified in children. While SBC may lead to growth disturbances or growth arrest, such cases are uncommon. The mechanisms behind these observations remain unclear. Additionally, research on the etiology of SBC remains inconclusive, and there has been no consensus on the appropriate timing and methodology for treatment. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we present our experience in the successful surgical management of a 10-year-old girl with SBC, who presented with a pathological fracture complicated by malunion of the displaced fracture, varus deformity, and limb length discrepancy. We hypothesized two possible etiologies for the patient's growth arrest and subsequent humerus varus deformity: (1) Direct disruption of the physis by fluid from the cyst itself; and (2) damage to the epiphysis due to repetitive pathological fractures associated with SBC. In addressing this case, surgical intervention was undertaken to correct the proximal humerus varus deformity. This approach offered the advantages of simultaneously correcting angular abnormalities, achieving mild limb lengthening, providing definitive SBC treatment, and reducing the overall treatment duration. CONCLUSION: As per current literature, acute correction of acute angular deformity in proximal humeral SBC is not well comprehended. However, in this specific case, acute correction was considered an optimal solution.

Assessing risk of recurrent small bowel obstruction after non-operative management in patients with history of intra-abdominal surgery: a population-based comprehensive analysis in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Despite a significant 30% ten-year readmission rate for SBO patients, investigations into recurrent risk factors after non-operative management are scarce. The study aims to generate a risk factor scoring system, the 'Small Bowel Obstruction Recurrence Score' (SBORS), predicting 6-month recurrence of small bowel obstruction (SBO) after successful non-surgical management in patients who have history of intra-abdominal surgery. METHODS: We analyzed data from patients aged ≥ 18 with a history of intra-abdominal surgery and diagnosed with SBO (ICD-9 code: 560, 568) and were successful treated non-surgically between 2004 and 2008. Participants were divided into model-derivation (80%) and validation (20%) group. RESULTS: We analyzed 23,901 patients and developed the SBORS based on factors including the length of hospital stay > 4 days, previous operations > once, hemiplegia, extra-abdominal and intra-abdominal malignancy, esophagogastric surgery and intestino-colonic surgery. Scores > 2 indicated higher rates and risks of recurrence within 6 months (12.96% vs. 7.27%, OR 1.898, p < 0.001 in model-derivation group, 12.60% vs. 7.05%, OR 1.901, p < 0.001 in validation group) with a significantly increased risk of mortality and operative events for recurrent episodes. The SBORS model demonstrated good calibration and acceptable discrimination, with an area under curve values of 0.607 and 0.599 for the score generation and validation group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We established the effective 'SBORS' to predict 6-month SBO recurrence risk in patients who have history of intra-abdominal surgery and have been successfully managed non-surgically for the initial obstruction event. Those with scores > 2 face higher recurrence rates and operative risks after successful non-surgical management.

The impact of the fluconazole trailing effect on the persistence of Candida albicans bloodstream infection when treated with fluconazole.

OBJECTIVES: The trailing effect of Candida species is a phenomenon characterized by reduced but persistent growth at antifungal concentrations above the MIC. We assessed the impact of trailing growth on the persistence of Candida albicans candidemia in patients receiving fluconazole (FLC) therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated candidemia isolates at three hospitals in southern Taiwan between 2013 and 2020. Patients treated with FLC for FLC-susceptible C. albicans candidemia were enrolled. The degree of trailing was determined as the average growth above the MIC divided by the measured growth at the lowest drug concentration using the EUCAST method and classified into four categories: residual (0.1-5%), slight (6-10%), moderate (11-15%), and heavy trailers (>15%). RESULTS: Among isolates from 190 patients, the proportions of heavy trailers at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours were 63.7% (121/190), 63.2% (120/190), and 74.7% (142/190), respectively. Persistent candidemia was observed in 17 (8.9 %) patients. The proportion of persistent C. albicans candidemia in heavy trailing isolates at 48 hours was higher than in isolates without heavy trailing (13.3% [16/120] vs. 1.4% [1/70], p = 0.007). A multivariate analysis showed that immunosuppression (OR = 7.92; 95% CI: 2.38-26.39, p = 0.001), hospitalization days after the index date of C. albicans identification (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, p = 0.011), and heavy trailing isolates at 48 hours (OR = 10.04; 95% CI: 1.27-79.88, p = 0.029) were independent factors for persistent candidemia. DISCUSSION: The current study revealed that heavy trailing in C. albicans isolates is associated with persistent candidemia in patients receiving FLC treatment.

Interlayer bond polarizability model for interlayer phonons in van der Waals heterostructures.

Raman scattering provides essential insights into phonons, electronic structures and electron-phonon coupling within solids through the intensity of Raman peaks, which cannot be easily quantified using the classical bond polarizability model. The interlayer bond polarizability model (IBPM) had been developed to understand the Raman intensity of layer-breathing modes (LBMs) in two-dimensional materials. However, the quantitative understanding of the LBM intensity of a van der Waals heterostructure (vdWH) remains challenging. Here, in polynary vdWHs comprising twisted multilayer graphene (tMLG), MoS2 and hBN, we observed a series of LBMs, whose intensity is markedly dependent on the excitation energy and twist angle of the tMLG constituent. An improved IBPM is proposed to quantitatively understand the Raman intensity of LBMs in the tMLG-based vdWHs, including the emergence or absence of a specific LBM when the excitation energy is resonant with the electronic states of tMLG or MoS2 constituents. This work underscores the significant potential of the improved IBPM in accurately understanding and predicting the intensity profile of LBM in polynary vdWHs, even for the case of Raman scattering with excitation energies selectively resonant with the electronic states of the corresponding specific constituents.

Long acting tariquidar loaded stearic acid-modified hydroxyapatite enhances brain penetration and antitumor effect of temozolomide.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first line chemotherapy for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment, but the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expressed in blood-brain barrier (BBB) will pump out TMZ from the brain leading to decreased TMZ concentration. Tariquidar (TQD), a selective and potent P-gp inhibitor, may be suitable for combination therapy to increase concentration of TMZ in brain. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a biodegradable material with sustained release characteristics, and stearic acid surface-modified HAP (SA-HAP) can increase hydrophobicity to facilitate TQD loading. TQD-loaded stearic acid surface-modified HAP (SA-HAP-TQD) was prepared with optimal size and high TQD loading efficiency, and in vitro release and cellular uptake of SA-HAP-TQD showed that SA-HAP-TQD were taken up into lysosome and continuously released TQD from macrophages. In vivo studies have found that over 70% of SA-HAP was degraded and 80% of TQD was released from SA-HAP-TQD 28 days after administration. SA-HAP-TQD could increase brain penetration of TMZ, but it would not enhance adverse effects of TMZ in healthy mice. SA-HAP-TQD and TMZ combination had longer median survival than TMZ single therapy in GL261 orthotopic model. These results suggest that SA-HAP-TQD has sustained release characteristics and are potential for improving antitumor effect with TMZ treatment.

Efficacy of cefoperazone/sulbactam for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia and the factors associated with poor outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the efficacy of cefoperazone/sulbactam (CPZ/SUL) in extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales infections and identify factors influencing outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre study was conducted in Taiwan (January 2015 to December 2020) and examined the efficacy of CPZ/SUL treatment in ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteraemia. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using agar dilution; ESBL/AmpC genes were detected using polymerase chain reaction. The primary outcome was clinical success, whereas the secondary outcome was 30-day mortality. Clinical success was defined as the complete resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of K. pneumoniae or E. coli infection, with no evidence of persistent or recurrent bacteraemia. The factors influencing outcomes were identified using a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: CPZ/SUL demonstrated a clinical success rate of 82.7% (91/110) in treating ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteraemia, with a 30-day mortality rate of 9.1% (10/110). Among 110 ESBL-producing isolates, a high clinical success rate was observed at an MIC of ≤32/32 mg/L. Multivariate analysis revealed that a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) of ≥6 was associated with lower clinical success [odds ratio (OR): 5.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-29.14, P = 0.033]. High Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (≥6) were significantly associated with increased 30-day mortality (OR: 14.34, 95% CI: 1.45-141.82, P = 0.023). DISCUSSION: CPZ/SUL demonstrated a clinical success rate of 82.7% (91/110) in treating ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteraemia. Treatment success was evident when the CPZ and SUL MIC was ≤32/32 mg/L. Comorbidities (CCI ≥6) were associated with lower clinical success, while disease severity (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≥6) correlated with higher mortality.

Onychopapilloma: a single medical center experience in Southern Taiwan.

Background: Onychopapilloma is an uncommon benign tumor of the nail bed and the distal matrix. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical and pathological features of onychopapilloma in Taiwan.Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 12 patients with histopathologically proven onychopapilloma in a medical center in southern Taiwan from 2017 to 2023. Results: This case series consisted of 5 men and 7 women aged 29 to 38, with a mean age of 41.25 years. The clinical features were as follows: distal subungual hyperkeratosis (100%), longitudinal erythronychia (50%), longitudinal leukonychia (50 %), distal onycholysis (41%), and distal nail plate fissuring (41%). The duration of the disease varied greatly, ranging from 1 month to several years. Most patients were asymptomatic (58%), while some presented tenderness (41%). Fingernail involvement was more prevalent than toe involvement, with the thumb being the most commonly affected site. Most of the patients presented with a solitary onychopapilloma. None of the seven patients who underwent surgery and were available for follow-up experienced recurrence.Conclusions: This study highlights that longitudinal erythronychia and leukonychia emerged as the predominant clinical presentations of onychopapilloma. Furthermore, our findings suggest that surgical excision appears to be an effective method for onychopapilloma.

Biomechanical comparison of static and dynamic cervical plates in terms of the bone fusion, tissue degeneration, and implant behavior.

INTRODUCTION: Using an anterior cervical fixation device in the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has evolved to various systems of static and dynamic cervical plates (SCP and DCP). Dynamic cervical plates have been divided into three categories: the rotational (DCP-R), translational (DCP-T), and hybrid (DCP-H) joints. However, little studies have been devoted to systematically investigate the biomechanical differences of dynamic cervical plates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The biomechanical tests of load-deformation properties and failure modes between the SCP and DCP systems are implemented first by using the UHMWPE blocks as the vertebral specimens. The CT-based C2-C7 model simulates the strategies of cervical plate in ACDF surgery is developed with finite-element analyses. One intact, one SCP and two DCP systems are evaluated for their biomechanical properties of bone fusion and tissue responses. RESULTS: In the situation of biomechanical test, The mean values of the five ACDSP constructs are 393.6% for construct stiffness (p < 0.05) and 183.0% for the first yielding load (p < 0.05) less than those of the SCP groups, respectively. In the situation of finite-element analysis, the rigid-induced ASD is more severe for the SCP, followed by the DCP-H, and the DCP-R is the least. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Considering the degenerative degree of the adjacent segments and osteoporotic severity of the instrumented segments is necessary while using dynamic system. The mobility and stability of the rotational and translational joints are the key factors to the fusion rate and ASD progression. If the adjacent segments have been degenerative, the more flexible system can be adopted to compensate the constrained mobility of the ACDF segments. In the situation of the osteoporotic ACDF vertebrae, the stiffer system is recommended to avoid the cage subsidence.

Investigating the Effect of Design Parameters on the Mechanical Performance of Contact Wave Springs Designed for Additive Manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables design freedom to fabricate functionally graded wave springs designed by varying design parameters, which are not possible in traditional manufacturing. AM also enables optimization of the wave spring design for specific load-bearing requirements. Existing wave springs are manufactured by metal with constant dimensions (width and thickness of the strip, diameter) using customized traditional machines in which design variations are almost impossible. This study aims to investigate the effect of wave height, the overlap between the two consecutive coils, and the number of waves per coil on the mechanical properties, for example, load-bearing capacity, stiffness, and energy absorption of contact wave springs. Two designs, that is, rectangular and variable thickness wave springs, were chosen and the design of experiment was devised using Minitab software, resulting in 24 samples. HP MultiJet Fusion (MJF) printer was used to manufacture the samples for performing uniaxial compression tests up to 10 cycles and 90% of the compressible distance to study the variation in mechanical properties due to changes in parameters. Experimental and simulation results showed that variable thickness wave springs have better load bearing, stiffness, and energy absorption compared with the rectangular counterparts. In addition to that, the number of waves per coil and the overlap are directly proportional to the load-bearing capacity as well as stiffness of the wave springs, while the constant wave height is responsible for more uniformly distributed stresses throughout the coils. Load-bearing capacity was increased by 62%, stiffness by 37%, and energy absorption by 20% once the number of waves per coil is increased from 5 to 6 in rectangular wave springs. Overall, the parametric variations significantly affect the performance of wave springs; thus, designers can choose the optimized values of investigated parameters to design customized wave springs for specific applications as per load/stiffness requirements.

A Polysaccharide from Ficus carica L. Exerts Immunomodulatory Activity in Both In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Models.

Polysaccharides from Ficus carica L. (FCP) exert multiple biological activities. As a biological macromolecule, the available knowledge about the specific structures and mechanisms of the biological activity of purified 'Brunswick' fig polysaccharides is currently limited. In the present study, chemical purification and characteristics were identified via chemical and instrumental analysis, and then the impact of FCP on immunomodulation activity in vitro and in vivo was examined. Structural characteristics showed that the molecular weight of the FCP sample was determined to be 127.5 kDa; the primary monosaccharides present in the FCP sample were galacturonic acid (GalA), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glc), and xylose (Xyl) at a ratio of 0.321:0.287:0.269:0.091:0.013:0.011. Based on the investigation of in vitro immunomodulatory activity, FCP was found to stimulate the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6, and increased the pinocytic activity of macrophages. Further analysis revealed that FCP activated macrophages by interacting with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Moreover, the in vivo test results indicate that FCP showed a significant increase in serum pro-inflammatory factors in immunosuppressed mice. Overall, this study suggests that FCP has the potential to be utilized as a novel immunomodulator in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

Biobased polyester versus synthetic fiberglass casts for treating stable upper limb fractures in children: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Stable upper limb fractures, such as radius, ulna, or distal humerus fractures, are common pediatric orthopedic traumas that are traditionally managed with cast immobilization. The commonly used synthetic fiberglass cast is light and water resistant but may promote skin itchiness during casting, which is a common complaint of patients. In addition, these diisocyanate-based casts have been proven to be toxic and may cause asthma. Herein, we introduce a novel biobased polyester cast to compare its clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction with conventional synthetic fiberglass casts. METHODS: From Feb 2022 to Nov 2022, we undertook a single-center prospective randomized trial involving 100 children with cast-immobilized stable upper limb fractures. These patients were randomized into either biobased polyester or synthetic fiberglass groups. All patients were regularly followed up till the cast removal which occurred approximately 3-4 weeks after immobilizing. Objective clinical findings and subjective patient questionnaire were all collected and analyzed. RESULTS: According to the radiographs taken on the day of cast removal, there was no loss of reduction in both groups. The incidence of skin problems was 3.4 times higher in the synthetic fiberglass group than in the biobased polyester group. For the subjective questionnaire, the biobased polyester cast was preferred in every sub-item. CONCLUSIONS: Our study strongly suggested that the novel biobased polyester cast provides matching stability to conventional fiberglass casts and improves patient satisfaction in an eco-friendlier and safer way. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System ( https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ ; ID: NCT06102603; Date: 26/10/2023).

Fourier-Based Fast 3-D Ultrasound Imaging Using Row-Column-Addressed 2-D Arrays.

A Fourier-based fast 3-D ultrasound imaging method using row-column-addressed (RCA) 2-D arrays is presented. The row elements in an RCA array are activated sequentially, and all the column elements are used to receive. The obtained dataset is adapted to approximate to that obtained using a fully sampled array after a plane wave at a given incident angle is transmitted. In this way, the fast algorithm in plane-wave Fourier imaging (PWFI) can be applied to the adapted dataset. In addition, synthesizing multiple datasets based on multiple incident angles enables angular compounding, which improves the image quality. The proposed method was validated using computer simulations and physical-phantom experiments. The results show that the spatial resolution and contrast of the proposed method are comparable with those of its PWFI counterpart without requiring a fully sampled (FS) array. Compared with the delay-and-sum (DAS) method using the RCA array, the proposed method provides comparable spatial resolution but lower contrast; however, the computational complexity is significantly reduced from O(N4Nz) to O(WN2Nz log2(N2Nz)) , where N is the number of elements on each side of the RCA array, Nz is the number of voxels in the axial direction in the output image, and W is the number of compounding angles. For example, in the simulated results when the maximum compounding angle M is 5°, at a given point the lateral - 6-dB width provided by the proposed method is 0.241 mm (0.267 mm for DAS), the contrast ratio of a hyperechoic cyst is 8.87 dB (9.10 dB for DAS), the number of real number operations is reduced by a factor of 20.62, and the number of memory accesses is reduced by a factor of 47.21, both compared with DAS. This novel fast algorithm could facilitate the development of compact real-time 3-D imaging systems, especially when the channel count is high and a large field of view (FOV) is required.

Application of machine learning for mortality prediction in patients with candidemia: Feasibility verification and comparison with clinical severity scores.

BACKGROUND: Clinical severity scores, such as acute physiology, age, chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), Pitt Bacteremia Score (PBS), and European Confederation of Medical Mycology Quality (EQUAL) score, may not reliably predict candidemia prognosis owing to their prespecified scorings that can limit their adaptability and applicability. OBJECTIVES: Unlike those fixed and prespecified scorings, we aim to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) approach that is able to learn predictive models adaptively from available patient data to increase adaptability and applicability. METHODS: Different ML algorithms follow different design philosophies and consequently, they carry different learning biases. We have designed an ensemble meta-learner based on stacked generalisation to integrate multiple learners as a team to work at its best in a synergy to improve predictive performances. RESULTS: In the multicenter retrospective study, we analysed 512 patients with candidemia from January 2014 to July 2019 and compared a stacked generalisation model (SGM) with APACHE II, SOFA, PBS and EQUAL score to predict the 14-day mortality. The cross-validation results showed that the SGM significantly outperformed APACHE II, SOFA, PBS, and EQUAL score across several metrics, including F1-score (0.68, p < .005), Matthews correlation coefficient (0.54, p < .05 vs. SOFA, p < .005 vs. the others) and the area under the curve (AUC; 0.87, p < .005). In addition, in an independent external test, the model effectively predicted patients' mortality in the external validation cohort, with an AUC of 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: ML models show potential for improving mortality prediction amongst patients with candidemia compared to clinical severity scores.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antimicrobial Activities of Vancomycin and Rifampin against Elizabethkingia anophelis.

Elizabethkingia anophelis has emerged as a critical human pathogen, and a number of isolated reports have described the successful treatment of Elizabethkingia infections with vancomycin, a drug that is typically used to target Gram-positive bacteria. This study employed in vitro broth microdilution checkerboard and time-kill assays, as well as in vivo zebrafish animal models to evaluate the individual and combination antimicrobial effects of vancomycin and rifampin against E. anophelis. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranges of vancomycin and rifampin against 167 isolates of E. anophelis were 16-256 mg/L and 0.06-128 mg/L, respectively. The checkerboard assay results revealed a synergistic effect between vancomycin and rifampin in 16.8% (28/167) of the isolates. Time-kill assays were implemented for 66 isolates, and the two-drug combination had a synergistic interaction in 57 (86.4%) isolates. In vivo zebrafish studies revealed that treatment with vancomycin monotherapy, rifampin monotherapy, or vancomycin-rifampin combination therapy yielded a higher survival rate than the control group treatment with 0.9% saline. The results of this study support the use of vancomycin to treat E. anophelis infections.

Flexural Properties of Periodic Lattice Structured Lightweight Cantilever Beams Fabricated Using Additive Manufacturing: Experimental and Finite Element Methods.

Lattice structures are a type of lightweight structure that is more commonly being applied to engineering systems as a way to reduce mass and enhance mechanical properties. The cantilever beam case is one of the primary modes of loading in many engineering applications, where light-weighting is also crucial. However, lightweight lattice structured cantilever beams have not been investigated considerably due to design and manufacturing limitations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the response of four different lattice structured cantilever beams comprising of unit cells made from Schwarz-P, Schwarz-D, Gyroid, and Octet-truss structures fabricated using Multi Jet Fusion additive manufacturing technology. An investigation into the cross-sections of these structures leads to a conclusion that the beams made from such structures are non-prismatic in nature as a result of variation in cross-sections. This led to the development of equations for the moment of inertia of these structures, which helped in calculating symmetric and un-symmetric bending. These beams were subjected to cantilever loading until failure, which provided insights into flexural properties such as flexural stress, stiffness, and strain energy. Experimental results indicate that the surface-based structures, due to better surface-area-to-volume ratio, have better ability in transferring loads and hence perform better than the beam-based Octet-truss beam. The Schwarz-D beam had performed the best among all the beams, which is further supported in literature due to its stretch-dominated topology that results in higher values of modulus. The finite element analysis (FEA) findings also validate these findings in which the distribution of stresses can be seen to be better transmitted than the other structures. The FEA validation shows that the distribution of Von-Mises stress and their position in experimental tests and failure of these structures is also very close, which provides validation to the experimental setup and the testing of beams.