60 research outputs found
Multifaceted utilization of a cortical stimulator during tumor resection
No full textAbstractBackgroundNeurosurgeons use Ojemann cortical stimulators to map and localize cortical and subcortical regions of the brain to map functional areas intraoperatively to avoid resecting or damaging functional tissue. Here we describe a technique where, rather than using a separate retracting tool, a handheld Ojemann cortical stimulator was used to retract cerebral parenchyma while simultaneously stimulating descending white matter tracts to prevent accidental damage to white matter tracts involved with motor function.Case descriptionA 48-year-old patient developed intractable seizures and preoperative workup showed a left frontal brain mass close to her motor region. Subdural grid electrodes were implanted to localize the patient's ictal onset zone. The electrodes were then removed and the tumor was resected along with the ictal onset zone. During the resection, the neurosurgeon (S. Vadera) successfully utilized the Ojemann cortical stimulator to stimulate descending white matter tracts to prevent accidental injury to the patient and also retract cerebral parenchyma during resection. Four weeks post-operative, the patient had made a complete recovery and had no unforeseen deficits or weaknesses.ConclusionHere we show that the Ojemann cortical stimulator can be used as an effective retraction tool as well as a cerebral parenchyma stimulator, effectively preventing accidental injury to functional tissue while concurrently giving the neurosurgeon a free hand to perform other tasks
Study on obesity and Influence of dietary factors on the weight status of an adult population in Jamnagar city of Gujarat: A cross-sectional analytical study
No full textBackground: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic diseases. Dietary factors are the major modifiable factors through which many of the external forces promoting weight gain act. Objectives: The objectives were to find the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the urban population of Jamnagar and to explore the effect of dietary factors on the weight status of the people. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult population of Jamnagar city. Cluster sampling technique was used to select study samples. Data were collected in a prestructured questionnaire by interviewing subjects through house-to-house visits. Data were analyzed in Epi Info and appropriate statistical methods were used. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 22.04% and 5.20%, respectively. Overweight was more prevalent in females than males. The prevalence rose with an increase in age up to 60 years. Among dietary factors, the total calorie intake and habit of snacking had a positive association with weight gain (P < 0.05). The mean intake of oil was more and the mean intake of vegetables was less among overweight subjects than nonoverweight subjects (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the urban population in Jamnagar was found to be 22.04% and 5.20%, respectively. Total calorie intake as well as composition of diet was the important dietary factor affecting weight gain
Towards an Author Intention Based Computational Model of Story Generation
No full textPart 6: Information RetrievalInternational audienceThis paper addresses the problem of plot controllable story generation model. Since most of the previous works focus on logically flawless plot, the main challenge is the need for more generic method to generate dramatic and interesting plot. Motivated by this background, this paper proposes a computational method for plot controllable story generation. Firstly, we use planning as a model of plot generation. Then we utilize author intentions as plot constraints to force the planner to consider substantially more complex plans. Finally we integrate author intentions into planning and develop a plot controllable Graphplan algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach
Multimedia Speech Therapy Tools and Other Disability Solutions as Part of a Digital Ecosystem Framework
No full textCurtin University has developed a multimedia prototype system for use by speech therapists to assist in the rehabilitation of motor speech impaired patients. These are often stroke victims who have to relearn the ability to communicate effectively. The process is usually laborious and instead of the usual card-based prompts used by the therapist, this multimedia solution offers screen and audio prompts together with high quality digitised speech. The result is a reduced work load for the therapist. In parallel with this work, is a Mobility Aid Assistive Device Program for the visually impaired. The support clusters for all these groups, whether they be therapists, caregivers, manufacturers of hardware or software do not interact to the extent they might. The author proposes a collaborative digital ecosystem framework that would assist this challenge
Scientific Paper Recommendation Using Author’s Dual Role Citation Relationship
No full textPart 3: Recommendation SystemInternational audienceVector representations learning (also known as embeddings) for users (items) are at the core of modern recommendation systems. Existing works usually map users and items to low-dimensional space to predict user preferences for items and describe pre-existing features (such as ID) of users (or items) to obtain the embedding of the user (or item). However, we argue that such methods neglect the dual role of users, side information of users and items (e.g., dual citation relationship of authors, authoritativeness of authors and papers) when recommendation is performed for scientific paper. As such, the resulting representations may be insufficient to predict optimal author citations.In this paper, we contribute a new model named scientific paper recommendation using Author’s Dual Role Citation Relationship (ADRCR) to capture authors’ citation relationship. Our model incorporates the reference relation between author and author, the citation relationship between author and paper, and the authoritativeness of authors and papers into a unified framework. In particular, our model predicts author citation relationship in each specific class. Experiments on the DBLP dataset demonstrate that ADRCR outperforms state-of-the-art recommendation methods. Further analysis shows that modeling the author’s dual role is particularly helpful for providing recommendation for sparse users that have very few interactions
Assessment Of Long-Term Outcome Among New Smear Positive Pulmonary TB Patients Treated with Intermittent Regimen Under RNTCP – A Retrospective Cohort Study
No full textBackground: Under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) of India, treatment of TB is given as thrice weekly regimen following WHO recommended DOTS strategy and the success of treatment is largely declared based on completeness and bacteriological conversion. Once the patient is declared as cured or treatment completed, they are not followed up under the programme unless they come to the health system again with symptoms. Present study was conducted to assess status of patients at 2 years after successful anti-TB treatment under DOTS and to explore any potential impact of treatment irregularity on long term outcome
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, all new smear positive (NSP) pulmonary TB cases declared as cured or treatment completed from were included in the study. They were interviewed, after 24 months from date of declaration of successful treatment, using semi-structured questionnaire. Patient TB treatment card and Tuberculosis registers were also used to collect desired information.
Results: A total of 657 out of 706 successfully treated NSP TB patients were included in the study. Out of these, 326 (49.6%) patients had any interruption during their treatment. The average number of doses missed during intensive phase and continuation phase was 7.5 and 11.9 respectively. Average duration of any interruption during treatment was 6.5 days. No significant difference was observed in proportion of treatment interrupters and non-interrupters across demographic variables except for a higher proportion of treatment interruption in patients enrolled from urban district. Out of 657 subjects, 71 (10.85%) had relapse of TB. Another 39 (5.9%) patients died due to TB. These unfavourable outcomes were not significantly different among treatment interrupters and treatment non-interrupters.
Conclusion: After being successfully treated, the new smear positive pulmonary TB patients had a very high proportion of relapse of TB. Treatment non-adherence was not significantly associated with long term unfavourable outcomes
Impact of TB-HIV collaborative activities on case fatality among HIV-infected Tuberculosis patients in Gujarat, INDIA
No full textAwareness of HIV/AIDS among rural youth in India: A community based cross-sectional study
No full textIntroduction: More than one third of reported cases of HIV/AIDS in India are among youth and 60 percent of these reside in rural areas. Assessment of the awareness of HIV/AIDS in the youth is important for determining the impact of previous and current awareness programs as well as the need for interventions. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of rural youth regarding HIV/AIDS and to explore the epidemiological determinants of awareness among them. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among youths aged 15-24 years in rural areas of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. A cluster sampling design was used, surveying 50 subjects from each of 30 clusters. Data was collected through house-to-house visits using a semi-structured questionnaire. Proportions and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: Out of a total of 1,237 subjects who participated in survey, 60% knew something about HIV. Of those who had heard of HIV, more than 90% subjects knew the modes of transmission and more than 80% were aware of modes of prevention of HIV/AIDS. One fifth of the subjects had misconceptions in relation to HIV/AIDS. On applying multiple logistic regression, age, education, occupation, and mass media exposure were found to be the major determinants of their knowledge with regard to HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: Basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS is still lacking in two fifths of the rural youth. Literacy and media exposure are factors that determine awareness of HIV among them and can be helpful to raise their knowledge regarding this scourge.</jats:p
A Study on Status of Empowerment of Women in Jamnagar District
No full textBackground: Empowerment of women is important for decision making in relation to health seeking, family planning, nutrition and economic issues, for her as well as for the family.
Aim: To assess the level of empowerment of women in Jamnagar district.
Settings and design: A cross sectional study was designed in rural and urban areas of Jamnagar district.
Material and methods: An open-ended questionnaire was used for data collection on parameters relating to women empowerment through house-to-house survey.
Statistical analysis: Chi-square was used.
Results: Mean age of participants was 30.74 ± 7.65 years, 14.77% were illiterate, majority of women were housewives, 28.86% were not involved in decision regarding their marriage and 14.09% were not involved in household decisions. About quarter had no say in financial matters of family and 57% didn’t hold any bank account. The condition was worse for rural and urban slum women. 21% of the women had experienced some kind of domestic violence, which was higher in case of urban women. About one fifth of the women had no role in decisions related to reproductive health viz; spacing and of number of children, methods of family planning.
Conclusion: one fifth of the women had no say regarding the reproductive issues and similarly a quarter had no participation in financial decisions. One in every five (21.47%) had faced domestic violence in some form. Education, employment had a positive impact on status of women in relation to empowerment
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