Attention-Guided Disentangled Feature Aggregation for Video Object Detection.

Object detection is a computer vision task that involves localisation and classification of objects in an image. Video data implicitly introduces several challenges, such as blur, occlusion and defocus, making video object detection more challenging in comparison to still image object detection, which is performed on individual and independent images. This paper tackles these challenges by proposing an attention-heavy framework for video object detection that aggregates the disentangled features extracted from individual frames.

Holistic multi-class classification & grading of diabetic foot ulcerations from plantar thermal images using deep learning.

Purpose: Diabetic foot is a common complication associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to ulcerations in the feet. Due to diabetic neuropathy, most patients have reduced sensitivity to pain. As a result, minor injuries go unnoticed and progress into ulcers.

Lithium-Associated Hyperparathyroidism Followed by Catatonia.

Objective: To familiarize the medical community with the less common adverse effects of lithium on parathyroid function, we present a case of lithium-associated hyperparathyroidism followed by the development of new-onset catatonia in a patient with schizoaffective disorder.

Methods: To allow for the safe resumption of lithium, the patient received laboratory screening of serum lithium, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, calcium, and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The hypercalcemia was evaluated by measuring parathyroid hormone (PTH), ionized calcium, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels.

Toxicokinetics of cis- and trans-Permethrin: Influence of Isomer, Maturation, and Sex.

Permethrin exposure of children and adults is widespread in many populations, but knowledge of its relative toxicokinetics (TK) and health risks in immature age groups is lacking. Studies were conducted in rats to determine the influence of immaturity and sex (on plasma and target organ dosimetry of each of the insecticide's 2 isomers, cis- and trans-permethrin [CIS and TRANS]). Postnatal day 15, 21, and 90 (adult), Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered a graduated series of doses of CIS and TRANS in corn oil.

Quantum dot encapsulated nanocolloidal bioconjugates function as bioprobes for in vitro intracellular imaging.

Bioimaging probes incorporating quantum dots (QDs) are important for identifying organelles and monitoring their movement/location in living cells. Organelle specificity can be accomplished by functionalizing probe surfaces with chemical groups that can react with antibodies capable of targeting specific organelle-protein epitopes. Here, such a bioprobe is generated by encapsulating ZnS-capped CdSe QDs within polystyrene (PS) nanocolloids via Pickering miniemulsion using laponite nanoclay platelets as solid-stabilizers.

Plasma Protein and Lipoprotein Binding of - and -Permethrin and Deltamethrin in Adult Humans and Rats.

The majority of residents of the United States, Canada, and Europe are exposed to pyrethroids, the most commonly used class of insecticides. Surprisingly little is known about key aspects of their pharmacokinetics, including their mode of transport in the systemic circulation. This study tested the hypothesis that pyrethroids are transported by both plasma lipoproteins and proteins, similarly to other highly lipophilic environmental contaminants.

Effect of dose and exposure protocol on the toxicokinetics and first-pass elimination of trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TRI) are frequent contaminants of drinking water and of groundwater at hazardous waste sites. There is relatively little information on the target organ deposition of TRI, despite its ingestion and common occurrence in humans. An important aim of the study was to delineate and contrast the toxicokinetics (TK) and bioavailability (F) of TRI and its well metabolized congener, TCE.

#Healthy Selfies: Exploration of Health Topics on Instagram.

Background: Social media provides a complementary source of information for public health surveillance. The dominate data source for this type of monitoring is the microblogging platform Twitter, which is convenient due to the free availability of public data. Less is known about the utility of other social media platforms, despite their popularity.

Toxicokinetics of Deltamethrin: Dosage Dependency, Vehicle Effects, and Low-Dose Age-Equivalent Dosimetry in Rats.

There is increasing concern that infants and children may be at increased risk of neurological effects of pyrethroids, the most widely used class of insecticide. The objectives of this investigation were to (1) characterize the dose-dependent toxicokinetics (TK) of deltamethrin (DLM) for exposures ranging from environmentally relevant to acutely toxic; (2) determine the influence of an aqueous versus oil vehicle on oral absorption and bioavailability; and (3) determine whether DLM exhibits low-dose, age-equivalent internal dosimetry. Serial arterial plasma samples were obtained for 72 h from adult, male Sprague Dawley rats given 0.

Brain uptake of deltamethrin in rats as a function of plasma protein binding and blood-brain barrier maturation.

Pyrethroids, including permethrin and deltamethrin (DLM), are very widely used of insecticides. It was hypothesized that lower plasma binding and increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration of DLM in immature rats contribute to the higher brain concentrations of DLM and more pronounced neurotoxicity reported in this age group. The left brain of anesthetized adult rats was perfused for 2min via a carotid artery with 1μM C-DLM in: 2-5% human serum albumin (HSA); plasma from adult and 15- and 21-d-old rats; and plasma from human donors of: birth-1 week, 1-4 weeks, 4 weeks-1 year, 1-3 years and adults.

Influence of Maturation on In Vivo Tissue to Plasma Partition Coefficients for Cis- and Trans-Permethrin.

Permethrin, the most widely used household insecticide in the United States, is marketed as a mixture of its cis (CIS) and trans (TRANS) isomers. The major objective of this investigation is to develop and utilize a reliable approach to determine in vivo partition coefficients (PCs) for CIS and TRANS in immature and adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Adult, postnatal day (PND) 21, and PND 15 rats were infused with environmentally relevant concentrations of CIS or TRANS via a subcutaneous osmotic pump for 48 or 72 h.

The immature rat as a potential model for chemical risks to children: Ontogeny of selected hepatic P450s.

Concern about potential susceptibilities of infants and children to chemicals has led to the consideration of immature rodents as potential test surrogates. Maturation of some hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYPs), that participate in metabolic activation of organic solvents and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), may differ significantly between humans and rodents. The present investigation was undertaken to delineate the ontogeny of selected hepatic CYPs in male and female Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats, and to contrast them with developmental profiles in humans.

Plasma protein binding limits the blood brain barrier permeation of the pyrethroid insecticide, deltamethrin.

Previous pharmacokinetic studies of deltamethrin (DLM) have revealed that brain levels of this highly lipophilic pyrethroid insecticide are only 15-20% of plasma levels. Experiments were performed to assess determinants limiting CNS access including plasma protein binding and the efflux transporter, P-gp. A human brain microvascular endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3, was utilized as a model in vitro system to evaluate blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeation.

Ontogeny of plasma proteins, albumin and binding of diazepam, cyclosporine, and deltamethrin.

Background: To characterize the ontogeny of plasma albumin and total proteins, due to the lack of a comprehensive pediatric database. Secondly, to establish the magnitude and duration of maturational changes in binding of highly-bound drugs/chemicals.

Methods: Anonymized plasma samples from 296 donors were pooled in 6 age brackets from birth to adolescence.

Measurement of plasma protein and lipoprotein binding of pyrethroids.

Introduction: A simple, reliable procedure was developed to measure binding of pyrethroid insecticides to total proteins and lipoproteins of rat and human plasma.

Methods: The extent of binding of (14)C-labeled deltamethrin (DLM), cis-permethrin (CIS) and trans-permethrin (TRANS) was quantified by a 3-step organic solvent extraction technique. Rat and human plasma samples, containing NaF to inhibit esterases, were spiked with a range of concentrations of each radiolabeled pyrethroid.

Association of brominated proteins and changes in protein expression in the rat kidney with subcarcinogenic to carcinogenic doses of bromate.

The water disinfection byproduct bromate (BrO3(-)) produces cytotoxic and carcinogenic effects in rat kidneys. Our previous studies demonstrated that BrO3(-) caused sex-dependent differences in renal gene and protein expression in rats and the elimination of brominated organic carbon in their urine. The present study examined changes in renal cell apoptosis and protein expression in male and female F344 rats treated with BrO3(-) and associated these changes with accumulation of 3-bromotyrosine (3-BT)-modified proteins.

Changes in mRNA and protein expression in the renal cortex of male and female F344 rats treated with bromate.

Bromate (BrO3(-)), a by-product of ozonation of drinking water, induces nephrotoxicity in male rats at much lower doses than in female rats. This difference appears to be related to the development of α-2u-globulin nephropathy in males. To determine sex-dependent changes in mRNA and protein expression in the renal cortex attributable to α-2u-globulin nephropathy, we performed microarray and immunohistochemical analyses in proximal renal tubules of male and female F344 rats treated with KBrO3 for 28 days.

Influence of exposure route and oral dosage regimen on 1, 1-dichloroethylene toxicokinetics and target organ toxicity.

The objective of this investigation was to elucidate the effects of route of exposure and oral dosage regimen on the toxicokinetics (TK) of 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE). Fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats that inhaled 100 or 300 ppm for 2 h absorbed total systemic doses of (10 or 30 mg/kg DCE, respectively. Other groups of rats received 10 or 30 mg/kg DCE by intravenous injection, bolus gavage (by mouth), or gastric infusion (g.

Presystemic elimination of trichloroethylene in rats following environmentally relevant oral exposures.

1,1,2-Trichloroethylene (TCE), a volatile organic contaminant (VOC) of drinking water in the Unites States, is frequently present in trace amounts. TCE is currently classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S.

Optimization, validation and application of a method for the determination of trichloroethylene in rat plasma by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a small halogenated compound that has been used extensively as a metal degreaser and a solvent for the past 100 years. As a result of its widespread use, TCE can be found in the groundwater of about one-third of the hazardous waste sites on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List. Human exposure to TCE in the environmental media is of concern because TCE has been found to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals.

In situ derivatization/solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of trichloroethylene metabolites in rat blood.

An in situ derivatization solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method has been developed for the determination of the trichloroethylene (TCE) metabolites, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), dichloroacetic acid (DCA) and trichloroethanol (TCOH), in rat blood. The analytical procedure involves derivatization of TCA and DCA to their ethyl esters with acidic ethanol, headspace sampling using SPME, and gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/NCI-MS) determination. Parameters affecting both derivatization efficiency and the headspace SPME procedure, such as the concentration of sulfuric acid, amount of ethanol, derivatization-extraction temperature and time, sample preheating time, agitator speed and desorption conditions, were optimized.

Trace level determination of trichloroethylene in biological samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/NCIMS) method using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was developed for the determination of trichloroethylene (TCE) in blood, liver, kidney, lung and brain. The method was optimized with respect to several parameters including extraction time, extraction temperature, desorption time and salt addition. The method showed good linearity over the range of 0.