Multi-dimensional dense attention network for pixel-wise segmentation of optic disc in colour fundus images.

Background: Segmentation of retinal fragments like blood vessels, Optic Disc (OD), and Optic Cup (OC) enables the early detection of different retinal pathologies like Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), Glaucoma, etc.

Objective: Accurate segmentation of OD remains challenging due to blurred boundaries, vessel occlusion, and other distractions and limitations. These days, deep learning is rapidly progressing in the segmentation of image pixels, and a number of network models have been proposed for end-to-end image segmentation.

Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexene over the Mesoporous H-Beta Zeolite on Copper/Nickel Bimetal Catalyst in Continuous Reactor.

The copper/nickel-metal on commercial H-Beta zeolite supports was synthesized with different wt % (Ni) of 5, 10, 15, and 20, and was used in the cyclohexene epoxidation process. The synthesized catalyst has been used in a continuous reactor for the cyclohexene epoxidation process, with mild conditions and HO as an oxidant. The catalytic performance was ascertained by adjusting parameters such as the temperature, pressure, WHSV, reaction time, and solvents.

Integrating molecular and radiological screening tools during community-based active case-finding for tuberculosis and COVID-19 in southern Africa.

Objectives: To evaluate diagnostic yield and feasibility of integrating testing for TB and COVID-19 using molecular and radiological screening tools during community-based active case-finding (ACF).

Methods: Community-based participants with presumed TB and/or COVID-19 were recruited using a mobile clinic. Participants underwent simultaneous point-of-care (POC) testing for TB (sputum; Xpert Ultra) and COVID-19 (nasopharyngeal swabs; Xpert SARS-CoV-2).

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the foremost cause of death by an infectious disease globally. Multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB; resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid, or rifampicin alone) is a burgeoning public health challenge in several parts of the world, and especially Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) refers to MDR/RR-TB that is also resistant to a fluoroquinolone, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) isolates are additionally resistant to other key drugs such as bedaquiline and/or linezolid.