Nuances of Interpreting X-ray Analysis by Deep Learning and Lessons for Reporting Experimental Findings

With the increase in the availability of annotated X-ray image data, there has been an accompanying and consequent increase in research on machine-learning-based, and ion particular deep-learning-based, X-ray image analysis. A major problem with this body of work lies in how newly proposed algorithms are evaluated. Usually, comparative analysis is reduced to the presentation of a single metric, often the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), which does not provide much clinical value or insight and thus fails to communicate the applicability of proposed models. In the present paper, we address this limitation of previous work by presenting a thorough analysis of a state-of-the-art learning approach and hence illuminate various weaknesses of similar algorithms in the literature, which have not yet been fully acknowledged and appreciated. Our analysis was performed on the ChestX-ray14 dataset, which has 14 lung disease labels and metainfo such as patient age, gender, and the relative X-ray direction. We examined the diagnostic significance of different metrics used in the literature including those proposed by the International Medical Device Regulators Forum, and present the qualitative assessment of the spatial information learned by the model. We show that models that have very similar AUROCs can exhibit widely differing clinical applicability. As a result, our work demonstrates the importance of detailed reporting and analysis of the performance of machine-learning approaches in this field, which is crucial both for progress in the field and the adoption of such models in practice.

Less Is More: Audience Cognition of Comic Simplification in the Characters of Peking Opera

A simplified approach was used to determine if “Less is More” is still a trend in comics’ Peking opera characters. There were 225 website volunteers who took part in the study. Via a questionnaire survey and analysis, this study explored the feasibility of “simplification” in comedy. The results indicate that the proposed “simplifying” approach can be applied to the creation of dramatic characters, but the scale of simplification must be adjusted flexibly to suit different subjects. For audiences, there is not much recognition and sympathy for the works that are simplified in the extreme and the current symbolization. The simplification used in this study is merely the first step in testing the usefulness of simplification as an approach. It is used as a means of understanding the cognition of the audience to accept the simple features of Peking opera characters. In subsequent studies, the proposed “simplified” approach is necessary to adapt and improve with a view to practical application. It also requires an in-depth analysis of the cognitive differences of the different participants according to the cognitive and communication theories of artistic creation.

Analytical Approaches and Trends in the Determination of Psychoactive Drugs in Air

Understanding of the levels of psychoactive drugs in air is important for assessing both occupational and environmental exposure. Intelligence on the usage and manufacture of illegal drugs can also be gained. Environmental analysis and determination of air quality has recently expanded from its traditional focus to new pollutant categories that include illicit and psychoactive drugs. This is attributed to a greater part on the development of new, advanced techniques, such as liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), allowing for the trace determination of such compounds down to the parts-per-trillion (ng/L) levels generally reported in air. Studies have also investigated the effects of firsthand and secondhand smoking of drugs, such as cocaine, cannabis and opium. Generally, these have shown secondhand smoke effects to be limited, apart from in the case of opium. Some studies have highlighted ill effects resulting through the exposure of vapors and dusts from the storage of drugs, but this has been shown to result from mould and other fungal contaminates. Investigations into the possible occupational exposures resulting from the use of anesthetic drugs in surgery and accident and emergency have focused on nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, methoxyflurane, isoflurane, propofol and fentanyl. This review focuses on developments and applications for the determination of psychoactive drugs in air.

Vale Professor Michael John McAleer

Professor Michael John McAleer passed away on 8 July 2001, at the age of 68 [...]

Assessment of Air Quality Perception and Its Effects on Users’ Thermal Comfort in Office Buildings

Since people spend most of their time in indoor environments, the objective of this work was to study indoor air quality and its effects on users’ thermal comfort. Based on previous data from a building with a central air-conditioning system and two mixed-mode buildings located in the humid subtropical climate of Florianópolis, southern Brazil, statistical analyses were performed. Each user’s subjective answer obtained through a questionnaire was combined with the corresponding environmental conditions measured by instruments. Results showed that improvement in air quality was associated with the reduction of air temperature and humidity ratio. Also, there was a significant influence of thermal and humidity sensation on air quality satisfaction. Users felt more satisfied or neutral with air quality for being in thermal comfort, and not because of the CO2 concentration—which means that air quality perception is influenced by factors other than CO2. This study recommends implementing an air exchange device in split air-conditioners with air recirculation commonly used in mixed-mode buildings in Brazil. It is important to provide suitable indoor ventilation to reduce pollutant concentration, ensure good air quality and prevent respiratory diseases.

Hypergolic Synthesis of Inorganic Materials by the Reaction of Metallocene Dichlorides with Fuming Nitric Acid at Ambient Conditions: The Case of Photocatalytic Titania

Hypergolic materials synthesis is a new preparative technique in materials science that allows a wide range of carbon or inorganic solids with useful properties to be obtained. Previously we have demonstrated that metallocenes are versatile reagents in the hypergolic synthesis of inorganic materials, such as γ-Fe2O3, Cr2O3, Co, Ni and alloy CoNi. Here, we go one step further by using metallocene dichlorides as precursors for the hypergolic synthesis of additional inorganic phases, such as photocatalytic titania. Metallocene dichlorides are closely related to metallocenes, thus expanding the arsenal of organometallic compounds that can be used in hypergolic materials synthesis. In the present case, we show that hypergolic ignition of the titanocene dichloride–fuming nitric acid pair results in the fast and spontaneous formation of titania nanoparticles at ambient conditions in the form of anatase–rutile mixed phases. The obtained titania shows good photocatalytic activity towards Cr(VI) removal (100% within 9 h), with the latter being dramatically enhanced after calcination of the powder at 500 °C (100% within 3 h). Notably, this performance was found to be comparable to that of commercially available P25 TiO2 under identical conditions. The cases of zirconocene, hafnocene and molybdocene dichlorides are discussed in this work, which aims to show the wider applicability of metallocene dichlorides in the hypergolic synthesis of inorganic materials (ZrO2, HfO2, MoO2).

Replacement Strategies for Animal Studies in Inhalation Testing

Animal testing is mandatory in drug testing and is the gold standard for toxicity and efficacy evaluations. This situation is expected to change in the future as the 3Rs principle, which stands for the replacement, reduction, and refinement of the use of animals in science, is reinforced by many countries. On the other hand, technologies for alternatives to animal testing have increased. The need to develop and use alternatives depends on the complexity of the research topic and also on the extent to which the currently used animal models can mimic human physiology and/or exposure. The lung morphology and physiology of commonly used animal species differs from that of human lungs, and the realistic inhalation exposure of animals is challenging. In vitro and in silico methods can assess important aspects of the in vivo effects, namely particle deposition, dissolution, action at, and permeation through, the respiratory barrier, and pharmacokinetics. This review discusses the limitations of animal models and exposure systems and proposes in vitro and in silico techniques that could, when used together, reduce or even replace animal testing in inhalation testing in the future.

Plant-Derived Saponins: A Review of Their Surfactant Properties and Applications

In response to increasing natural surfactant demand and environmental concerns, natural plant-based surfactants have been replacing synthetic ones. Saponins belong to a class of plant metabolites with surfactant properties that are widely distributed in nature. They are eco-friendly because of their natural origin and biodegradable. To date, many plant-based saponins have been investigated for their surface activity. An overview of saponins with a particular focus on their surface-active properties is presented in this article. For this purpose, works published in the past few decades, which report better surfactant relevant properties of saponins than synthetic ones, were extensively studied. The investigations on the potential surfactant application of saponins are also documented. Moreover, some biological activities of saponins such as antimicrobial activity, antidiabetic activity, adjuvant potentials, anticancer activity, and others are reported. Plants rich in saponins are widely distributed in nature, offering great potential for the replacement of toxic synthetic surfactants in a variety of modern commercial products and these saponins exhibit excellent surface and biological activities. New opportunities and challenges associated with the development of saponin-based commercial formulations in the future are also discussed in detail.

Integrative Medicine—Acupuncture on Yourself?

The aim of this editorial is to demonstrate publications on self-acupuncture from both the East (China) and the West and to bring new variants such as self-applied laser medicine into the focus of interest. Self-acupuncture with needles may of course only be carried out according to the applicable laws of the respective country and these are naturally very different. However, important evidence from the studies published so far has not yet been clearly proven. The answer to a question resulting from the editorial, how tradition and innovation in the field of self-acupuncture can be efficiently combined, will have to be proven by future studies.

A Novel Approach of Heat Rate Enhancement in Rectangular Channels with Thin Porous Layer at the Channel Walls

Heat transfer enhancement is a topic of great interest nowadays due to its different applications in industries. A porous material also known as metallic foam plays a major role in heat enhancement at the expense of pressure drop. The flow in channels demonstrates the usefulness of this technology in heat extraction. In our current study, a porous strip attached to the walls of the channels is proposed as an alternative for heat enhancement. The thickness of the porous strip was varied for different Reynolds numbers. By maintaining a laminar regime and using water as a fluid, we determined an optimum thickness of porous material leading to the highest performance evaluation criterion. In our current study, with the aspect ratio being the porous strip thickness over the channel width, an aspect ratio of 0.2 is found to be the alternative. A 40% increase in heat enhancement is detected in the presence of a porous strip when compared to a clear channel case for a Reynolds number equal to 200, which improves further as the Reynolds number increases accordingly.