Autonomous Cross Domain Adaptation Under Extreme Label Scarcity.

A cross domain multistream classification is a challenging problem calling for fast domain adaptations to handle different but related streams in never-ending and rapidly changing environments. Notwithstanding that existing multistream classifiers assume no labeled samples in the target stream, they still incur expensive labeling costs since they require fully labeled samples of the source stream. This article aims to attack the problem of extreme label shortage in the cross domain multistream classification problems where only very few labeled samples of the source stream are provided before process runs. Our solution, namely, Learning Streaming Process from Partial Ground Truth (LEOPARD), is built upon a flexible deep clustering network where its hidden nodes, layers, and clusters are added and removed dynamically with respect to varying data distributions. A deep clustering strategy is underpinned by a simultaneous feature learning and clustering technique leading to clustering-friendly latent spaces. A domain adaptation strategy relies on the adversarial domain adaptation technique where a feature extractor is trained to fool a domain classifier by classifying source and target streams. Our numerical study demonstrates the efficacy of LEOPARD where it delivers improved performances compared to prominent algorithms in 15 of 24 cases. Source codes of LEOPARD are shared in https://github.com/wengweng001/LEOPARD.git to enable further study.

Case report of a criminal dismemberment in Northeast Brazil.

Several decomposed body parts were received for examination by the Forensic Anthropology section of the Medico-legal Institute of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. The portions of the lower and upper limbs, ribs, vertebrae, and a skull were thoroughly examined. The biological profile indicated a male individual with an estimated age range between 23 and 57 years and a mean age of 35.2 years (SD = 9.4; phase IV, Suchey-Brooks). The skeleton showed injuries caused by sharp force and sharp-blunt force trauma that affected all body segments. Macroscopically, the lesions are mainly in the diaphyseal segments of the long bones, sacrum, pelvis, mandible, maxilla, scapulae, sternum, vertebrae, the distal epiphysis of the left fibula, and the distal epiphysis of the left tibia displayed characteristics compatible with injuries produced perimortem. It was not possible to determine the cause of death. DNA analysis resulted in a positive identification. Because of common difficulties faced in forensic practice, it is often not possible for forensic anthropologists to go to the crime scene, X-ray or body scanners are frequently unavailable, and the victim's medical and/or dental records are sometimes absent. These difficulties make identification ultimately depend on genetic analysis, which is more time-consuming than other identification methods. Despite this, bone fragment examination in dismemberment cases is a complex task. Forensic Anthropology can shed light on cases involving the identification of dismembered remains, which are challenging because of the number of traumatic injuries, as well as different injury patterns, on bones.

Avaliação estabilométrica, eletromiográfica e qualidade de vida em pacientes com fibromialgia / Stabilometric and electromyographic evaluation and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia

Introdução: A fibromialgia é uma síndrome crônica não inflamatória, tendo como característica a dor difusa, seu diagnóstico é efetuado na presença de dor generalizada, sensibilidade à palpação em 11 pontos pré-determinados. Objetivo: Avaliar o equilíbrio, controle motor e a qualidade de vida em pacientes com fibromialgia. Métodos: Estudo controlado, duplo cego e inferencial de abordagem quantitativa, foi realizado com 11 voluntários com idade entre 18 e 75 anos. Avaliação eletromiográfica, estabilométrica, e aplicação dos questionários de qualidade de vida SF-36, Escala de Epworth e Escala de Depressão de Beck foram realizados. Resultados: Os participantes tinham idade média de 45,5 anos. Na Escala de Epworth apresentaram sonolência grave (54,54%), na Escala de Depressão de Beck apresentaram-se sem depressão ou depressão leve (36,36%), no Questionário SF-36 obtiveram pontuações próximas a 0. Na eletromiografia, encontrou-se pouca contração muscular para glúteo médio (35,03), supraespinhoso (135,5) e trapézio (176,08). Na estabilometria, obteve-se área de oscilação de 1,68 cm², velocidade anteroposterior e médio-lateral (1,50 e 1,21, respectivamente). Conclusão: Conclui-se que os pacientes com fibromialgia apresentaram redução na contração das musculaturas afetadas, desequilíbrio anterior e à direita com grande oscilação de área na plataforma de força e alteração no tempo de reação ao desequilíbrio. (AU)

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a chronic non-inflammatory syndrome, characterized by diffuse pain; its diagnosis is made in the presence of generalized pain, sensitivity to palpation in 11 predetermined points. Objective: To evaluate balance, motor control and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Methods: A double-blind, inferential, quantitative approach was performed with eleven volunteers aged 18-75 years. An electromyographic, stabilometric, and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, Epworth scale, and Beck Depression Scale were carried out. Results: Participants had a mean age of 45.5 years. In the Epworth Scale they presented severe drowsiness (54.54%), in the Beck Depression Scale they presented no depression or mild depression (36.36%), in the Questionnaire SF-36 they obtained scores close to 0. At electromyography, they found there was little muscle contraction for the gluteus medius (35.03), supraspinatus (135.5) and trapezius (176.08). In the stabilometry, it obtained an oscillation area of 1.68 cm², anteroposterior and mid-lateral velocity (1.50 and 1.21, respectively). Conclusion: It is concluded that patients with fibromyalgia have a reduction in the contraction of the affected muscles, anterior and right imbalance with great oscillation of the area on the force platform and change in the time of reaction to the imbalance. (AU)

Avaliação da espessura de tecido mole facial em uma população brasileira in vivo "a espessura do tecido mole facial em Brasileiros" / Evaluation of the facial soft tissue thickness in a Brazilian in vivo population "facial soft tissue thickness in Brazilians"

Introdução: Hoje em dia há uma enorme demanda para identificação individual tanto no campo da justiça civil e criminal. Existem várias maneiras de identificar indivíduos, dependendo se ele está vivo ou morto (cadáver ou esqueleto). Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de criar um banco de dados para a espessura do tecido mole facial em indivíduos vivos de uma determinada população brasileira, de acordo com idade, sexo e índice de massa corporal. Métodos: medições da espessura de tecidos moles faciais foram realizadas em 101 pacientes (62 homens e 39 mulheres, com idade entre 18 e 106 anos). TC foi realizado tendo em conta 20 pontos craniométricos selecionados previamente. A espessura dos tecidos moles nestes pontos foram inicialmente medida e comparada com a idade, sexo e estado nutricional e com dados de outras populações em todo o mundo. Resultados: De acordo com o sexo não houve diferenças significativas nos pontos: násio, rínion, meio do filtro labial midphiltrum , supradentale, e órbita lateral. Distâncias com diferenças significativa para ambos os sexos entre as diferentes populações foram: supradentale; infradentale; supramentale; órbita lateral; arco zigomático e linha oclusal. Alguns pontos antropométricos mostraram diferenças significativas entre sexo, faixa etária e estado nutricional. Entre os sexos, os homens apresentaram médias maiores. Entre os grupos etários, houve também diferenças significativas em algumas distâncias. Em relação ao estado nutricional, as distâncias foram menores entre peso normal e maior entre os obesos. Conclusão: Ao considerar várias populações, a espessura do tecido mole mostrou diferenças significativas em muitos pontos craniométricos destacando como eles podem ser distintas.

Introduction: Nowadays there is a huge demand for individual identification in both civil and criminal justice fields. There are several ways to identify individuals, depending on whether he is alive or dead (cadaver or skeleton). This research aimed to create a database for facial soft tissue thickness in living individuals of a specific Brazilian population, according to age, sex and body mass index. Methods: Measurements of facial soft tissues thickness were done in 101 patients (62 men and 39 women, aged 18 to 106 years). CT scans were performed taking into account 20 craniometric points previously selected. The soft tissue thickness in these points were initially found and compared with age, sex and nutritional status, and with another populations data worldwide. Results: According about sex was no significant difierence in points: nasion, rhinion, midphiltrum, supradentale and lateral orbit. Distances with significant difference for both sexes between the diferent populations were: supradentale; infradentale; supramentale; lateral orbit; zygomatic arch and occlusal line. Some anthropometric points showed significant differences between sex, age groups and nutritional status. Between sexes, men had greater means. Among age groups, there was also significant differences in some distances. In relation to nutritional status, the distances were lower among normal weight and higher among the obese. Conclusion: When considering various populations, soft tissue thickness had significant differences in many craniometric points highlighting how distinct they might be.

Abrasion Plus Local Fibrin Sealant Instillation Produces Pleurodesis Similar to Pleurectomy in Rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Pleurodesis performed either by pleurectomy or pleural abrasion is recommended in the approach to primary spontaneous pneumothorax to avoid recurrence. However, the efficacy of parietal pleural abrasion in producing pleurodesis is questioned. This study aims to determine the efficacy of apical abrasion alone, abrasion plus fibrin sealant application, and pleurectomy in producing pleurodesis in rabbits. METHODS: Rabbits were subjected to video-assisted thoracic surgery alone (control) or to video-assisted thoracic surgery with apical gauze abrasion, abrasion plus fibrin sealant instillation, or apical pleurectomy. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and 48 h and 28 days postoperatively to measure total leukocytes (white blood cell count), neutrophil counts, and serum interleukin (IL)-8 levels. After 28 days the animals were sacrificed for macroscopic evaluation of the degree of apical pleurodesis and microscopic evaluation of local pleural fibrosis and collagen deposition. RESULTS: White blood cell and neutrophil counts were similar in all groups, whereas the serum IL-8 level peaked at 48 h in all groups and decreased after 28 days, except in the pleurectomy group. After 28 days the abrasion plus fibrin sealant and pleurectomy groups had significantly more pleural adhesions, pleural fibrosis, and collagen deposition than the abrasion alone group, mainly due to thick mature fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Abrasion with local fibrin sealant instillation is as effective as pleurectomy in producing pleurodesis in rabbits. Apical pleurectomy elicits a more persistent elevation of serum IL-8 levels than apical abrasion alone or abrasion plus fibrin adhesive instillation.

CRIMINAL CONDUCT DUE TO DRUNKENNESS: CRITICAL EVALUATION OF BRAZILIAN TRAFFIC LEGISLATION.

This study aims to carry out a critical evaluation of the traffic legislation in Brazil, regarding drivers' criminal behavior due to alcohol and other psychoactive substances abuse while driving a motor vehicle. First thing to note is the legislation exclusive focus on the use of alcoholic beverages by drivers. No effective measures were taken to elaborate parameters for gauging in cases involving other psychoactive substances. Another issue is the drivers' right not to supply the organic material required for the examination of drunkenness, since it would collide with the constitutional right to remain silent, the more traditional manifestation of the principle of criminal law named Nemo tenetur se detegere. Today, the invocation of such right is rather a way of trying to avoid punishment by the law.

[Topical haemostatic agents and tissue adhesives]. / Agentes hemostáticos locais e adesivos teciduais.

In the last ten years the hemostatic agents and tissue adhesives have been frequently used and they are positive alternatives to prevent excessive blood loss. The objective of this review is to discuss the characteristics of each of these agents to facilitate the surgeon's decision when choosing the most suitable product for every type of bleeding and nature of hemorrhage. A survey of the literature on the subject, in English and in Portuguese, was conducted using PubMed (www.pubmed.com) and Google (www.google.com.br) to find recent articles on the topic. Based on these studies, the authors conducted a didactic review on the hemostatic agents and tissue adhesives and concluded that there is a hemostatic agent to be used in each specific scenario.

[Chest wall reconstruction in acquired defects]. / Reconstrução da parede torácica nos defeitos adquiridos.

Acquired chest wall defects present a challenging problem for thoracic surgeons. Many of such defects can be repaired with the use of local and regional musculocutaneous flaps, but larger defects compromising skeletal structure require increasingly sophisticated reconstructive techniques. The following discussion will review the options for repair acquired chest wall defects based in literature. The authors searched the Pubmed (www.pubmed.com) and found citations from January 1996 to February 2008. By reading the titles and the abstracts most of the citations were discharged because they focused in congenital chest wall defects or were cases report. However, many papers were found describing the outcome of large series of patients with acquired chest wall deformities. A review of recent literature shows that the repair of chest wall defects with soft tissues, if possible, remains the treatment of choice. Large chest wall defects require skeletal reconstruction to prevent paradoxical respiration. The selection of the most appropriate flap is primary dictated by the location and the size of the defect. It is important to transfer tissue with good vitality, so understanding the vascular supply is imperative. Autogenous grafts have been used in the past for skeletal reconstruction but a combination of synthetic materials with musculocutaneous flaps has been used lately. Based in the literature, the use of prosthetic material in chest wall reconstruction does not significantly increases the risk of wound infection.

[Cumulative trauma disorders: work or professional disease?]. / LER-DORT: doença do trabalho ou profissional?

This study aimed at reviewing the Brazilian legislation applied to occupational health. It refers to the diseases embodied in the Repetition Strain Injury (RSI) and Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) regarded as work or professional diseases. This analysis allowed to perform the historical evolution of legislation concerning the issue, noting that the state of the art of regulation on RSI-CTD is anchored in specific regulation present in the Normative Instruction 98/2003, that establishes the diagnostic criteria and classification of RSI-CTD. It was concluded that according to the existing legislation in Brazil, the pathologies related to RSI-CTD are considered as work diseases and their legal effects are similar to the work-related accidents.

Relationship between traumatic dental injuries and obesity in Brazilian schoolchildren.

The aim of this study was to investigate if obesity is associated to the occurrence of dental trauma in the permanent anterior teeth of adolescents from Recife, Brazil. It included a random sample of 1046 boys and girls aged 12 years attending both public and private schools. The sample size was calculated using a 95% confidence interval level; a statistical significance of 5%; and an odds ratio of 1.55. The sample selection was carried out in two stages: first, schools were selected by simple sampling, and then children were chosen using a proportionality coefficient. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews, after examiner calibration. Dental trauma was classified according to ANDREASEN; ANDREASEN criteria. Obesity was considered according to National Center of Health Statistics - NCHS (USA) procedures for the assessment of nutritional status. Subjects were considered as non-obese when the observed percentile was < or = 97, while obese adolescent presented percentiles >97. Data were summarized and analyzed using the statistical software SPSS. The prevalence of traumatic injuries was higher among obese boys than obese girls (17.2% and 16.2%, respectively), but there were no statistically significant differences between traumatic dental injuries and obesity (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the presence of obesity was not associated to traumatic dental injuries in adolescents from Recife, Brazil.

The post-mortem pink teeth phenomenon: A case report

This study presents the case of the post-mortem pink teeth phenomenon observed during an autopsy procedure performed on the body of a man who was kidnapped and murdered approximately 30 days before the examination. The corpse was in an advanced stage of decomposition and putrefaction. Both maxillary and jaw bones were in- tact, as well as the permanent teeth which presented the “pink teeth phenomenon” , probably due to a haemorrhage in the pulp chambers. The pink discolouration was most pronounced at the neck of the teeth. The cause of death was asphyxia. Although the examiners stressed that post-mortem pink teeth must not be considered as a reliable odontological parameter for determining the cause of death, the results of other studies have shown that the pink teeth phenomenon is a common finding related to cases of asphyxia such as strangulation, drowning or suffocation. Thus, the pink teeth phenomenon must be studied in order to determine its role as a post-mortem finding. As of now, an exact relationship between the cause of death and this phenomenon remains unknown (AU)

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Brazilian dental students.

The aim of this analytical cross-sectional study was to evaluate the presence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) among dental students in two Brazilian dental schools. The sample included 227 randomized subjects from fifth to ninth semesters who were developing clinical activities. Each student signed an informed consent form. A self-reporting questionnaire was used to obtain data on the practice of physical exercise, the presence of pain during or soon after treating patients, and the adoption of preventive measures related to clinical activities. Results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 13.0. The chi(2) test was used to identify associations between variables. The presence of pain during or after clinical work was reported by 173 participants (76.2 percent). Statistically significant differences were found between gender and the occurrence of pain. Pain was present during clinical activities (p=0.006) and imposed limitations on the work routine (p=0.011). Among those who practiced physical exercise, eighty-eight (74.6 percent) reported pain. The high percentage of pain reported by dental students suggests the value of reviewing work conditions in dental practices in order to minimize the exposure of all workers to WMSD.

Prevalence and risk factors related to traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian schoolchildren.

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the occurrence of dental trauma in permanent anterior teeth of schoolchildren in Recife, Brazil. It included a random sample of 1046 boys and girls aged 12 attending both public and private schools. The sample size was calculated using a 95% confidence interval level; a statistical significance of 5% (alpha); a sample power of 80%; and an odds ratio of 1.55. The sample selection was carried out in two stages: first, schools were selected by simple sampling, and then children were chosen using a proportionality coefficient. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews, after examiner calibration. Dental trauma was classified according to Andreasen criteria. Overjet was considered a risk factor when it presented values higher than 5 mm. Lip coverage was classified as adequate or inadequate, while obesity was considered according to National Center for Health Statistics procedures for the assessment of nutritional status. Data were summarized and analyzed using the statistical software SPSS. The prevalence of dental injuries was 10.5%. Boys experienced more injuries than girls, 12.2% and 8.8%, respectively (P > 0.05). Children attending public schools presented more traumatic injuries than those from private schools, 11.4% and 9.5%, respectively, but there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between traumatic dental injuries and overjet (P < 0.05); between traumatic dental injuries and inadequate lip coverage (P = 0.000), and between obesity and dental trauma (P < 0.05). It was concluded that boys attending public schools and presenting an overjet size >5 mm, inadequate lip coverage, and obesity were more likely to have traumatic dental injuries in Recife, Brazil.