Latent Diffusion Models to Enhance the Performance of Visual Defect Segmentation Networks in Steel Surface Inspection.

This paper explores the use of state-of-the-art latent diffusion models, specifically stable diffusion, to generate synthetic images for improving the robustness of visual defect segmentation in manufacturing components. Given the scarcity and imbalance of real-world defect data, synthetic data generation offers a promising solution for training deep learning models. We fine-tuned stable diffusion using the LoRA technique on the NEU-seg dataset and evaluated the impact of different ratios of synthetic to real images on the training set of DeepLabV3+ and FPN segmentation models.

Informing clinical assessment by contextualizing post-hoc explanations of risk prediction models in type-2 diabetes.

Medical experts may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems with greater trust if these are supported by 'contextual explanations' that let the practitioner connect system inferences to their context of use. However, their importance in improving model usage and understanding has not been extensively studied. Hence, we consider a comorbidity risk prediction scenario and focus on contexts regarding the patients' clinical state, AI predictions about their risk of complications, and algorithmic explanations supporting the predictions.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment for mental health needs: a perspective on service use patterns and expenditures from commercial medical claims data.

Objective: To examine changes in use patterns, cost of healthcare services before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their impacts on expenditures for patients receiving treatment for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use.

Methods: This cross-sectional study employed statistical tests to analyze claims in MarketScan® Commercial Database in March 2020-February 2021 and quarterly from March 2020 to August 2021, compared to respective pre-pandemic periods. The analysis is based on medical episodes created by the Merative™ Medical Episode Grouper (MEG).

Nano-Memristors with 4 mV Switching Voltage Based on Surface-Modified Copper Nanoparticles.

The development of memristors operating at low switching voltages <50 mV can be very useful to avoid signal amplification in many types of circuits, such as those used in bioelectronic applications to interact with neurons and nerves. Here, it is reported that 400 nm-thick films made of dalkyl-dithiophosphoric (DDP) modified copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) exhibit volatile threshold-type resistive switching (RS) at ultralow switching voltage of ≈4 mV. The RS is observed in small nanocells with a lateral size of <50 nm , during hundreds of cycles, and with an ultralow variability.

Photometric Stereo-Based Defect Detection System for Steel Components Manufacturing Using a Deep Segmentation Network.

This paper presents an automatic system for the quality control of metallic components using a photometric stereo-based sensor and a customized semantic segmentation network. This system is designed based on interoperable modules, and allows capturing the knowledge of the operators to apply it later in automatic defect detection. A salient contribution is the compact representation of the surface information achieved by combining photometric stereo images into a RGB image that is fed to a convolutional segmentation network trained for surface defect detection.

Defect-Free Metal Deposition on 2D Materials via Inkjet Printing Technology.

2D materials have many outstanding properties that make them attractive for the fabrication of electronic devices, such as high conductivity, flexibility, and transparency. However, integrating 2D materials in commercial devices and circuits is challenging because their structure and properties can be damaged during the fabrication process. Recent studies have demonstrated that standard metal deposition techniques (like electron beam evaporation and sputtering) significantly damage the atomic structure of 2D materials.

Atrial low voltage areas: A comparison between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm.

Background: Atrial fibrosis can promote atrial fibrillation (AF). Electroanatomic mapping (EAM) can provide information regarding local voltage abnormalities that may be used as a surrogate marker for fibrosis. Specific voltage cut-off values have been reproduced accurately to identify fibrosis in the ventricles, but these values are not well defined in atrial tissue.

Advanced Data Encryption ​using 2D Materials.

Advanced data encryption requires the use of true random number generators (TRNGs) to produce unpredictable sequences of bits. TRNG circuits with high degree of randomness and low power consumption may be fabricated by using the random telegraph noise (RTN) current signals produced by polarized metal/insulator/metal (MIM) devices as entropy source. However, the RTN signals produced by MIM devices made of traditional insulators, i.

Artificial Intelligence Clinical Evidence Engine for Automatic Identification, Prioritization, and Extraction of Relevant Clinical Oncology Research.

Purpose: We developed a system to automate analysis of the clinical oncology scientific literature from bibliographic databases and match articles to specific patient cohorts to answer specific questions regarding the efficacy of a treatment. The approach attempts to replicate a clinician's mental processes when reviewing published literature in the context of a patient case. We describe the system and evaluate its performance.

Optimisation of the thermoelectric efficiency of zirconium trisulphide monolayers through unixial and biaxial strain.

The goal of this work is to investigate the influence of mechanical deformation on the electronic and thermoelectric properties of ZrS monolayers. We employ density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the hybrid HSE06 level to evaluate the response of the electronic band gap and mobilities, as well as the thermopower, the electrical conductivity, the phononic and electronic contributions to the thermal conductivity, and the heat capacity. Direct examination of the electronic band structures reveals that the band gap can be increased by up to 17% under uniaxial strain, reaching a maximum value of 2.

Density-functional theory models of Fe(iv)O reactivity in metal-organic frameworks: self-interaction error, spin delocalisation and the role of hybrid exchange.

We study the reactivity of Fe(iv)O moieties supported by a metal-organic framework (MOF-74) in the oxidation reaction of methane to methanol using all-electron, periodic density-functional theory calculations. We compare results concerning the electronic properties and reactivity obtained using two hybrid (B3LYP and sc-BLYP) and two standard generalised gradient corrected (PBE and BLYP) semi-local density functional approximations. The semi-local functionals are unable to reproduce the expected reaction profiles and yield a qualitatively incorrect representation of the reactivity.

Anisotropic Thermal Conductivity in Few-Layer and Bulk Titanium Trisulphide from First Principles.

We study the thermal conductivity of monolayer, bilayer, and bulk titanium trisulphide (TiS 3 ) by means of an iterative solution of the Boltzmann transport equation based on force constants. Our results show that the thermal conductivity of these layers is anisotropic and highlight the importance of enforcing the fundamental symmetries in order to accurately describe the quadratic dispersion of the flexural phonon branch near the center of the Brillouin zone.

Electronic structure and reactivity of Fe(iv)oxo species in metal-organic frameworks.

We investigate the potential use of Fe(iv)oxo species supported on a metal-organic framework in the catalytic hydroxylation of methane to produce methanol. We use periodic density-functional theory calculations at the 6-31G**/B3LYP level of theory to study the electronic structure and chemical reactivity in the hydrogen abstraction reaction from methane in the presence of Fe(iv)O(oxo) supported on MOF-74. Our results indicate that the Fe(iv)O moiety in MOF-74 is characterised by a highly reactive (quintet) ground-state, with a distance between Fe(iv) and O(oxo) of 1.

The excess electron in polymer nanocomposites.

We have used ab initio molecular dynamics and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory to evaluate the energy and localisation of excess electrons at a number of representative interfaces of polymer nanocomposites. These modelled interfaces are made by combining liquid water and amorphous slabs of polyethylene and silica. The walls of the amorphous silica slabs are built with two surface chemistries: Q4 or fully-dehydroxylated and Q3/Q4 or partially-hydroxylated with a silanol content between 1.

The excess electron at polyethylene interfaces.

This work investigates the energy and spatial properties of excess electrons in polyethylene in bulk phases and, for the first time, at amorphous vacuum interfaces using a pseudopotential single-electron method (Lanczos diagonalisation) and density functional theory (DFT). DFT calculations are made employing two approaches: with pseudopotentials/plane waves and the local-density approximation; and with all-electron Gaussian basis functions at the B3LYP level of theory, supplemented with a lattice of ghost atoms. All three methods predict similar spatial localisation of the excess electron, but a reliable comparison of its energy can only be made between the Lanczos and DFT using Gaussian bases.

Interrogation of Functional Cell-Surface Markers Identifies CD151 Dependency in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

The degree of genetic aberrations characteristic of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) makes identification of the molecular features that drive tumor progression difficult. Here, we perform genome-wide RNAi screens and comprehensive expression analysis of cell-surface markers in a panel of HGSC cell lines to identify genes that are critical to their survival. We report that the tetraspanin CD151 contributes to survival of a subset of HGSC cell lines associated with a ZEB transcriptional program and supports the growth of HGSC tumors.

[1st National Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics: expert consensus document].

On 2nd of June 2011 the Institut Català d' Oncologia l'Hospitalet--Hospital Duran i Reynals hosted the first Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics. The reason for the meeting, which follows on from an initiative of the Medical Societies of Radiotherapy, Oncology, Geriatrics and Gerontology and Palliative Care and Medical Oncology, was to initiate a joint line of work among the different specialties that generally take part in the handling of the elderly patient suffering from oncologic pathologies. This document summarises the different subjects covered during the Meeting.

Efficacy of prescribed injectable diacetylmorphine in the Andalusian trial: Bayesian analysis of responders and non-responders according to a multi domain outcome index.

Background: The objective of this research was to evaluate data from a randomized clinical trial that tested injectable diacetylmorphine (DAM) and oral methadone (MMT) for substitution treatment, using a multi-domain dichotomous index, with a Bayesian approach.

Methods: Sixty two long-term, socially-excluded heroin injectors, not benefiting from available treatments were randomized to receive either DAM or MMT for 9 months in Granada, Spain. Completers were 44 and data at the end of the study period was obtained for 50.

A novel inhibitor of glucose uptake sensitizes cells to FAS-induced cell death.

Evasion of death receptor ligand-induced apoptosis is an important contributor to cancer development and progression. Therefore, molecules that restore sensitivity to death receptor stimuli would be important tools to better understand this biological pathway and potential leads for therapeutic adjuncts. Previously, the small-molecule N-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-oxobutanamide (fasentin) was identified as a chemical sensitizer to the death receptor stimuli FAS and tumor necrosis factor apoptosis-inducing ligand, but its mechanism of action was unknown.

Quality of life beyond 6 months after diagnosis in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia.

Although intensive chemotherapy may improve survival in older people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) without adverse cytogenetics, its impact on quality of life (QOL) is mixed and most patients complain of fatigue up to 6 months after diagnosis. Little information is available on longer-term QOL outcomes. We prospectively followed 20 patients age 60 or older with AML who provided QOL data more than 6 months after diagnosis.

[Malignant insulinoma in an 84-year-old woman].

The malignant insulinoma is a very strange disorder (6% of the diagnosed insulinoma whose incidence is one to eight cases records in a million inhabitant per year) specially in people under 40 years or over 70 years old. We report the case of a woman, aged 84, who was admitted because of lost of consciouness and sweating. The patient suffers pancreatic tumour that products insuline with liver metastasis.

Systemic anaphylaxis due to hepatic hydatid disease.

Hydatidosis can be a cause of anaphylaxis; it has been clearly established that the accidental rupture of a cyst during surgery can provoke severe anaphylactic reactions. Spontaneous anaphylaxis secondary to hydatid disease is much less frequent. We report three patients who presented with spontaneous anaphylaxis without apparent cause.

Systemic anaphylaxis following parenteral orgotein administration.

We present a patient displaying a systemic anaphylactic reaction after local infiltration of orgotein. An IgE-mediated mechanism was demonstrated with skin tests and specific IgE measurement. It is concluded that orgotein can rarely cause IgE-mediated anaphylaxis.

Anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant in end-stage renal disease.

Anticardiolipin antibodies are autoantibodies clinically associated with hypercoagulability. Systemic thrombosis and thrombosis of the vascular access for haemodialysis coexist with immunoregulation abnormalities in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of the present study was to analyse the incidence of thrombotic episodes and the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant in 73 patients with ESRD--51 on haemodialysis and 22 on conservative treatment.