scholarly journals Image features for quality analysis of thick blood smears employed in malaria diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Marcela Fong Amarís ◽  
Carol Viviana Martinez Luna ◽  
Liliana Jazmín Cortés Cortés ◽  
Daniel Ricardo Suárez Venegas
Keyword(s):  
Color Space ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Staining Procedure ◽  
Hsv Color Space ◽  
Blood Smears ◽  
Background Segmentation

Abstract Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) provides protocols for the diagnosis of malaria. One of them is related to the staining process of blood samples to guarantee the correct parasite visualization. Ensuring the quality of the staining procedure on thick blood smears (TBS) is a dicult task, especially in rural centers, where there are factors that can a ect the smear quality (e.g. types of reagents employed, place of sample preparation, among others). This work presents an analysis of an image-based approach to evaluate the coloration quality of the staining process of TBS used for malaria diagnosis. Methods: According to the WHO, there are di erent coloration quality descriptors of smears. Among those, the background color is one of the best indicators of how well the staining process was conducted. An image database with 420 images (corresponding to 42 TBS samples) was created for analyzing and testing image-based algorithms to detect the quality of the coloration of TBS. Background segmentation techniques were explored (based on RGB and HSV color spaces) to separate the background and foreground (leukocytes, platelets, parasites) information. Then, di erent features (PCA, correlation, Histograms, variance) were explored as image criteria of coloration quality on the extracted background information; and evaluated according to their capability to classify images as with Good or Bad coloration quality from TBS. Results: For background segmentation, a thresholding-based approach in the SV components of the HSV color space was selected. It provided robustness separating the background information independently of its coloration quality. On the other hand, as image criteria of coloration quality, among the 19 feature vectors explored, the best one corresponds to the 15-bins histogram of the Hue component with classi cation rates of > 97%. Conclusions: An analysis of an image-based approach to describe the coloration quality of TBS was presented. It was demonstrated that if a robust background segmentation is conducted, the histogram of the H component from the HSV color space is the best feature vector to discriminate the coloration quality of the smears. These results are the baseline for automating the estimation of the coloration quality, which is a key component for automating malaria diagnosis of TBS, that has not been studied before.

Evaluating Voice Assistants Responses in Portuguese for COVID-19 Vaccination (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Maurício Seródio Figueiredo ◽  
Tiago Eugenio de Melo ◽  
Raphaela Goes
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
World Health ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Additional Contribution ◽  
Information Tools ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND Voice Assistants (VAs) are devices that respond to human voices and can be commanded to do a variety of tasks. Nowadays, VAs are being used to obtain health information, which has become a critical point of analysis for researchers in terms of question understanding and quality of response. Particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic has and still is severely affecting people worldwide, which demands studies on how VAs can be used as a tool to provide useful information. OBJECTIVE This work aims to perform a quality analysis of different VAs’ responses regarding the actual and important subject of COVID-19 vaccines. We focus on this important subject since vaccines are now available, and the society urges to rapidly immunize the population. METHODS The proposed study is based on questions that were collected from the official World Health Organization website. These questions were submitted to the five dominant VAs (Alexa, Bixby, Cortana, Google Assistant and Siri), and responses were evaluated according to a rubric based on literature. We focus this study in Portuguese language as an additional contribution, since previous work are mainly focused in the English language, and we believe that VAs cannot be optimized to foreign languages. RESULTS Results show that Google Assistant has a better overall performance, and only this VA and Samsung Bixby achieved high scores on question understanding in the Portuguese language. Regarding the obtained answers, the study also shows the best Google Assistant overall performance. CONCLUSIONS Under the urgent context of COVID-19 vaccination, this work can help to understand how VAs must be improved to be more useful to the society and how careful people must be when considering VAs as a source of health information. Although VAs show to perform well regarding comprehension and user-friendness, this work proves that they must be better integrated to information sources to be useful as health information tools.

scholarly journals Groundwater Quality Analysis for Human Consumption: A Case Study of Sukkur City, Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 2616-2620 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Laghari ◽  
Z. A. Siyal ◽  
D. K. Bangwar ◽  
M. A. Soomro ◽  
G. D. Walasai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
World Health ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sodium Magnesium ◽  
Safe Limits ◽  
Health Organization

Drinking water quantity and quality is of the utmost importance. If the drinking water gets contaminated, it can result in severe health problems. For example, the continuous consumption of drinking water containing more than permissible amounts of fluoride can lead to bone deterioration and increased risk of bone fracture [1]. The present study was carried out to check the quality of underground water of Sukkur city. The analyzed parameters were fluoride, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, arsenic, TDS, pH, conductivity, odor, color and taste. World Health Organization (WHO) standards were followed in present study. Underground water samples were collected from 20 different populated locations of Sukkur city. Only arsenic, pH, iron and potassium were found to be within health safe limits while the rest of the parameters exceeded the permissible standards set out by WHO. The TDS, sodium, fluoride and magnesium were over the limits at some locations.

Alexithyme Patientenmerkmale und Lebensqualität – Eine Querschnittsstudie an 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Leenen ◽  
Michael Rufer ◽  
Hanspeter Moergeli ◽  
Hans-Jörgen Grabe ◽  
Josef Jenewein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Fand Sich ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Tas 20

Aus Untersuchungen in der Normalbevölkerung ist bekannt, dass Menschen mit erhöhten Alexithymiewerten eine verminderte Lebensqualität (LQ) aufweisen. Für Patienten mit psychischen Störungen wurde dieser Zusammenhang jedoch kaum untersucht. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen alexithymen Patientenmerkmalen und der LQ bei Patienten mit Angststörungen zu überprüfen. Bei 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen wurden alexithyme Charakteristika mit der Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), die LQ mit der Kurzversion des World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire 100 (WHOQOL-BREF) erfasst. Darüber hinaus fand eine Erhebung der psychischen Symptombelastung (SCL-90-R) und depressiven Symptomatik (MADRS) statt. Mittels hierarchischer Regressionsanalysen wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der alexithymen Charakteristika und den unterschiedlichen LQ-Domänen berechnet. Die Patienten zeigten eine im Vergleich zur Normalbevölkerung deutlich verminderte LQ. Als Hauptergebnis fand sich, auch nach Kontrolle von Depression, Ängstlichkeit und Geschlecht, ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen den beiden TAS-20 Subskalen Schwierigkeiten, Gefühle zu identifizieren und zu beschreiben und vor allem der psychischen LQ. Unsere Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, bei der Diagnostik und Therapieplanung von Patienten mit Angststörungen alexithyme Merkmale einzubeziehen. Im Falle von ausgeprägten alexithymen Merkmalen sollten psychotherapeutische Interventionen zur Verbesserung der Schwierigkeiten Gefühle wahrzunehmen und zu kommunizieren in Betracht gezogen werden.

Cathartic Effect of Suicide Attempts Not Limited to Depression

Crisis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Sarfati ◽  
Blandine Bouchaud ◽  
Marie-Christine Hardy-Baylé
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Short Term

Summary: The cathartic effect of suicide is traditionally defined as the existence of a rapid, significant, and spontaneous decrease in the depressive symptoms of suicide attempters after the act. This study was designed to investigate short-term variations, following a suicide attempt by self-poisoning, of a number of other variables identified as suicidal risk factors: hopelessness, impulsivity, personality traits, and quality of life. Patients hospitalized less than 24 hours after a deliberate (moderate) overdose were presented with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression and Impulsivity Rating Scales, Hopelessness scale, MMPI and World Health Organization's Quality of Life questionnaire (abbreviated versions). They were also asked to complete the same scales and questionnaires 8 days after discharge. The study involved 39 patients, the average interval between initial and follow-up assessment being 13.5 days. All the scores improved significantly, with the exception of quality of life and three out of the eight personality traits. This finding emphasizes the fact that improvement is not limited to depressive symptoms and enables us to identify the relative importance of each studied variable as a risk factor for attempted suicide. The limitations of the study are discussed as well as in particular the nongeneralizability of the sample and setting.

Glittre ADL test in eutrophic, overweight and obese elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Augusto Baumhardt Guidoti ◽  
Ângelo Pereira Cattani ◽  
Cintia Laura De Araujo ◽  
Fernanda Beatriz Costa Delacoste ◽  
Guilherme Scotta Hentschke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Exercise Intolerance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

The Glittre ADL-test (TGlittre) has been designed and validated to measure functional capacity during daily living activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but is now used in several other situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of TGlittre in a sample of overweight and obese eutrophic elderly. This was an experimental and cross-sectional study, which included 21 elderly women, allocated by BMI, in eutrophic (n = 8), overweight (n = 6) and obese (n = 7) groups. They were assessed for functional capacity (TGlittre and 6MWT), quality of life (QOL) with the questionnaire World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older People (WHOQOL-OLD) and handgrip strength (HGS). TGlittre correlated with age (p = 0.0040) and with 6MWT (p = 0.0086), but no statistical difference was found in TGlittre's performance time and the distance covered in 6MWT between groups. TGlittre did not correlate with HGS (p = 0.1493) and WHOQOL-Old (p = 0.0905). The data obtained in the present study corroborate that TGlittre is used as a functional measurement variable in the elderly population.Keywords: aged, obesity, exercise intolerance.­­­

Flouride and Nitrate Status of Some Ground Waters in Chittor District of Rajasthan State (India)

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Trapti Sharma ◽  
R. P. Nagar ◽  
R. C. Gaur ◽  
Pooja Gupta ◽  
Charanjit Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
World Health ◽  
Indian Council ◽  
Standard Methods ◽  
Ground Waters ◽  
Drinking Waters ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Research World ◽  
Drinking Purpose

In Rajasthan state the ground waters of some areas like Ramganj-mandi, Morak, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Chittor and Udaipur etc. are susceptible from drinking point of view.To test the quality of groundwater in Chittor district 14, ground water samples were collected from various places and analyzed for pH, E.C., Fluoride and Nitrate parameters by standard methods (A.P.H. A., Washington, USA, 1995). The study revealed that none of the ground waters was found suitable completely from drinking point of view. Some are having electrical conductivity > 1.4 dS/m, some are having pH >8.5, some area having fluoride >1.5 ppm and some are having nitrate>45 ppm. These are the limits of various parameters permitted by various International authorities like Bureau of Indian Standard, Indian Council of Medical Research,world health Organization etc. for drinking waters. So, it is recommended to the residents of above areas to use water for drinking purpose only after reverse osmosis or adopting suitable method of removing excess of Fluoride and Nitrate for drinking water to avoid unwanted pathogenic diseases harmful for human health.

HSV color space based pupil position locating method

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Cao ◽  
Qijie Zhao ◽  
Dawei Tu ◽  
Hui Shao
Keyword(s):  
Color Space ◽  
Hsv Color Space

STUDI PERBANDINGAN KUALITAS AIR BERSIH DALAM KAITANYA DENGAN AKTIVITAS MASYARAKAT DI SEKITAR SUMBER AIR PADA DESA WAINITU, BATUMERAH, AMAHUSU, DAN HALONG

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-119
Author(s):  
Lela Uyara ◽  
Pieter Kunu ◽  
Silwanus M Talakua
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Water Quality Analysis ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Microbiological Parameters ◽  
Standard Quality

The study aims to determine the quality of clean water in the villages of Wainitu, Batumerah, Amahusu and Halong by comparing the result of water quality analysis with water quality standard. Water quality analysis includes Physiscal, Chemical, and Microbiological parameters. This research uses descriptive method, this method describes systematics, accurate about facts and characteristic of the quality of clean water of each research location. The results showed that the source of clean water in the village of Batumerah did not meet the standard of clean water quality standards indicated by the number of E. coli and the high total coliform.  Keywords: standard quality of clean water, water quality, Wainitu, Batumerah, Amahusu and Halong villages   ABSTRAK Penelitian yang bertujuan untuk menetapkan kualitas air bersih di Desa Wainitu, Batumerah, Amahusu dan Halong, dengan membandingkan hasil analisis kualitas air dengan standar baku mutu air bersih. Analisis kualitas air meliputi parameter fisika, kimia dan mikrobiologi. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif; metode ini menggambarkan sicara sistematis, akurat, fakta dan karakteristik mengenai kualitas air bersih di masing-masing lokasi penelitian. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sumber air bersih di Desa Batumerah tidak memenuhi standar baku mutu air bersih yang ditunjukkan oleh jumlah E. coli dan total Koliform yang tinggi. Kata Kunci: baku mutu air bersih, Desa Wainitu, Batumerah, Amahusu dan Halong, kualitas air

FOREGROUND IMAGE EXTRCTION IN THE HSV COLOR SPACE

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Jyh-Yeong Chang ◽  
Jia-Jye Shyu ◽  
Yi-Cheng Luo
Keyword(s):  
Color Space ◽  
Hsv Color Space
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