Autonomous Vehicle Dataset with Real Multi-Driver Scenes and Biometric Data.

The development of autonomous vehicles is becoming increasingly popular and gathering real-world data is considered a valuable task. Many datasets have been published recently in the autonomous vehicle sector, with synthetic datasets gaining particular interest due to availability and cost. For a real implementation and correct evaluation of vehicles at higher levels of autonomy, it is also necessary to consider human interaction, which is precisely something that lacks in existing datasets. In this article the UPCT dataset is presented, a public dataset containing high quality, multimodal data obtained using state-of-the-art sensors and equipment installed onboard the UPCT's CICar autonomous vehicle. The dataset includes data from a variety of perception sensors including 3D LiDAR, cameras, IMU, GPS, encoders, as well as driver biometric data and driver behaviour questionnaires. In addition to the dataset, the software developed for data synchronisation and processing has been made available. The quality of the dataset was validated using an end-to-end neural network model with multiple inputs to obtain the speed and steering wheel angle and it obtained very promising results.

A novel ground truth multispectral image dataset with weight, anthocyanins, and Brix index measures of grape berries tested for its utility in machine learning pipelines.

BACKGROUND: The combination of computer vision devices such as multispectral cameras coupled with artificial intelligence has provided a major leap forward in image-based analysis of biological processes. Supervised artificial intelligence algorithms require large ground truth image datasets for model training, which allows to validate or refute research hypotheses and to carry out comparisons between models. However, public datasets of images are scarce and ground truth images are surprisingly few considering the numbers required for training algorithms. RESULTS: We created a dataset of 1,283 multidimensional arrays, using berries from five different grape varieties. Each array has 37 images of wavelengths between 488.38 and 952.76 nm obtained from single berries. Coupled to each multispectral image, we added a dataset with measurements including, weight, anthocyanin content, and Brix index for each independent grape. Thus, the images have paired measures, creating a ground truth dataset. We tested the dataset with 2 neural network algorithms: multilayer perceptron (MLP) and 3-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D-CNN). A perfect (100% accuracy) classification model was fit with either the MLP or 3D-CNN algorithms. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first public dataset of grape ground truth multispectral images. Associated with each multispectral image, there are measures of the weight, anthocyanins, and Brix index. The dataset should be useful to develop deep learning algorithms for classification, dimensionality reduction, regression, and prediction analysis.

A pilot single-blind parallel randomised controlled trial comparing kinesiology tape to compression in the management of subacute hand oedema after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Hand oedema is a common consequence of hand trauma or surgery. There are numerous methods to reduce hand oedema but lack high-quality evidence to support best practice. The primary objective of this pilot trial was to assess study feasibility when comparing treatments for subacute hand oedema after trauma. METHODS: A parallel two-arm pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted in the hand therapy department at a regional hospital in Norfolk between October 2017 and July 2018. Patients were eligible if 18 years or over, referred to hand therapy with subacute hand oedema. Randomisation was on a 1:1 basis to treatment as usual (TAU) (compression, elevation and massage) or trial treatment (TT) (kinesiology tape, elevation and massage). One blinded assessor completed all assessments (prior to randomisation, 4 and 12 weeks later). Data on study feasibility, adherence and acceptability of treatments were collected. The primary outcome measure was hand volume (volumetry). Patient-rated severity (0-5 Likert scale), hand health profile of the Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM) and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) were also recorded. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were screened for eligibility and 26 consented and were randomised with 13 patients in each treatment arm. Twelve participants were lost to follow-up leaving 7 participants in each group included in the analysis. Assessor blinding was maintained in 64% of participants (9/14). Total mean acceptability scores, out of 100, were higher for TAU (87.9) than TT (76.1). Health resource use results showed TT was marginally cheaper (~£2 per patient) than TAU. Individual adherence ranged between 39 and 100%, with higher levels of overall adherence seen in the TAU group. Four participants (28%) reported adverse effects (TT group n = 3, TAU group n = 1). CONCLUSION: This pilot trial has identified that modifications are required in order to make a full-scale trial feasible. They include a formal assessment of treatment fidelity, research staff assisting with screening and recruitment of participants and multiple blinded assessors at each study site. Whilst not designed as an efficacy trial, it should be acknowledged that the small sample size and high loss to follow-up meant very small numbers were included in the final analysis resulting in wide confidence intervals and therefore low precision in parameter estimates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: 94083271 . Date of registration 16th August 2017. TRIAL FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research Trainees Co-ordinating Centre (TCC); Grant Codes: CDRF-2014-05-064.

How should interventions to treat hand oedema be delivered? An online Delphi Consensus Method.

Introduction: Hand oedema (swelling) is a common consequence of hand trauma or surgery, but there is little agreement on how interventions to treat hand oedema should be delivered in practice. The purpose of this study was to engage a group of self-identified hand therapy experts to develop consensus on how four commonly used oedema management treatments should be implemented, which could be used in clinical practice or future clinical trials. Method: A web-based Delphi study was conducted with eight volunteer hand therapists who met the pre-defined eligibility criteria for an 'expert' and were members of the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT). An a priori level of agreement was set at 75%. Interventions requiring consensus were decided on as a result of a previous national survey of practice and consisted of compression, elevation, massage and kinesiology tape. Results: A total of 25 items were discussed across 3 rounds. This ranged from 23 items in round 1, to three items in round 3. In round 1, consensus was reached on 7/23 (30%) items. The required 75% consensus was reached on 14 items in round 2 and 1/3 items achieved consensus in round 3. Massage was the only treatment that required a third round. Discussion: Consensus was reached on intervention description for three of the four modalities including the materials used (what), method of application including duration and frequency (when and how much) and tailoring or modifications. Two questions relating to massage did not reach the required consensus threshold and a majority agreement was accepted. The small panel size is a limitation and may affect the credibility of the consensus reached.

Reducing wait time for administration of systemic anticancer treatment (SACT) in a hospital outpatient facility.

The demand for systemic anticancer treatment continues to rise due to the increasing numbers being diagnosed with cancer and developments in treatment options. The net result is greater pressure on services and subsequent patient delays. Delays in treatment could decrease the benefit of the therapy and be detrimental to patient experience. Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER 2) positive breast cancer within Raigmore Hospital waited an average of 41 min from the scheduled appointment time despite the administration of subcutaneous (SC) trastuzumab being scheduled for a 15 min treatment window. Given the frequency of these injections, this was having an adverse impact on patients and services. The aim of this project was for patients with breast cancer to receive treatment within the 15 min window. Lean principles were applied to reduce waste and increase value. Exploration of the problem led to the solution of relocating the administration of SC trastuzumab from the Macmillan Day Bed Unit (MDBU) to the Highland Breast Centre (HBC). Multiple improvement tools and techniques were used to implement the change. Data were collected on the median number of treatment episodes of SC trastuzumab per week at baseline and patient wait from appointment time to treatment completion was calculated at baseline and as an ongoing measure. Patient experience feedback was gathered following relocation of the treatment. Following relocation, the average time from scheduled appointment to discharge was 14 min (66% reduction). Patient experience feedback was positive and identified an unanticipated outcome; the regular Friday afternoon clinic, identified as most efficient for the service, was found by patients to be particularly convenient for their own planning. Through the application of Lean principles, the service was redesigned in a cost neutral way and resulted in a reduction in the wait time for treatment.

Unfolding pathway and intermolecular interactions of the cytochrome subunit in the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center.

Precise folding of photosynthetic proteins and organization of multicomponent assemblies to form functional entities are fundamental to efficient photosynthetic electron transfer. The bacteriochlorophyll b-producing purple bacterium Blastochloris viridis possesses a simplified photosynthetic apparatus. The light-harvesting (LH) antenna complex surrounds the photosynthetic reaction center (RC) to form the RC-LH1 complex. A non-membranous tetraheme cytochrome (4Hcyt) subunit is anchored at the periplasmic surface of the RC, functioning as the electron donor to transfer electrons from mobile electron carriers to the RC. Here, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to probe the long-range organization of the photosynthetic apparatus from Blc. viridis and the unfolding pathway of the 4Hcyt subunit in its native supramolecular assembly with its functional partners. AFM images reveal that the RC-LH1 complexes are densely organized in the photosynthetic membranes, with restricted lateral protein diffusion. Unfolding of the 4Hcyt subunit represents a multi-step process and the unfolding forces of the 4Hcyt α-helices are approximately 121 picoNewtons. Pulling of 4Hcyt could also result in the unfolding of the RC L subunit that binds with the N-terminus of 4Hcyt, suggesting strong interactions between RC subunits. This study provides new insights into the protein folding and interactions of photosynthetic multicomponent complexes, which are essential for their structural and functional integrity to conduct photosynthetic electron flow.

Insights into the Origin of Distinct Medin Fibril Morphologies Induced by Incubation Conditions and Seeding.

Incubation conditions are an important factor to consider when studying protein aggregation in vitro. Here, we employed biophysical methods and atomic force microscopy to show that agitation dramatically alters the morphology of medin, an amyloid protein deposited in the aorta. Agitation reduces the lag time for fibrillation by ~18-fold, suggesting that the rate of fibril formation plays a key role in directing the protein packing arrangement within fibrils. Utilising preformed sonicated fibrils as seeds, we probed the role of seeding on medin fibrillation and revealed three distinct fibril morphologies, with biophysical modelling explaining the salient features of experimental observations. We showed that nucleation pathways to distinct fibril morphologies may be switched on and off depending on the properties of the seeding fibrils and growth conditions. These findings may impact on the development of amyloid-based biomaterials and enhance understanding of seeding as a pathological mechanism.

Effectiveness of edema management techniques for subacute hand edema: A systematic review.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. INTRODUCTION: Prolonged hand edema can have detrimental effects on range of motion and function. There is no consensus on how best to manage traumatic subacute edema. This is the first systematic review which examines the clinical effectiveness of edema treatments on hand volume. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the evidence of effectiveness of treatments for sub-acute hand edema. METHODS: A literature search of AMED, CINAHL, Embase, and OVID MEDLINE (from inception to August 2015) was undertaken. Studies were selected if they met the following inclusion criteria: randomized controlled or controlled trials in adults who have subacute swelling after a recent upper limb musculoskeletal trauma or cerebral vascular attack or after surgery. Two independent assessors rated study quality and risk of bias using the 24-point MacDermid Structured Effectiveness Quality Evaluation Scale (SEQES). RESULTS: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Study quality ranged from 23 to 41 out of 48 points on the SEQES. A total of 16 edema interventions were evaluated across the studies. Due to heterogeneity of the patient characteristics, interventions, and outcomes assessed, it was not possible to pool the results from all studies. Therefore, a narrative best evidence synthesis was undertaken. There is low to moderate quality evidence with limited confidence in the effect estimate to support the use of manual edema mobilization methods in conjunction with standard therapy to reduce problematic hand edema. CONCLUSION: Manual edema mobilization techniques should be considered in conjunction with conventional therapies, in cases of excessive edema or when the edema has not responded to conventional treatment alone; however, manual edema mobilization is not advocated as a routine intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b.

Sensory relearning after surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome: a pilot clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome does not always alleviate sensory deficits, especially in patients with severe disease. No proven treatment is currently available for these patients. METHODS: We conducted a pilot randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the feasibility, patient acceptability, and efficacy of a sensory relearning (SR) program in patients who have ongoing sensory deficits after carpal tunnel decompression. Patients were randomized to receive either: (i) a 4-week sensory relearning home program; or (ii) no further treatment. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks after randomization. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were randomized. Efficacy analysis adjusted for baseline score and age showed a potentially clinically worthwhile benefit of SR. CONCLUSIONS: Data on screening, eligibility, and patient acceptability of the intervention confirm the feasibility of undertaking a definitive randomized, controlled trial.

Effects of sensory reeducation programs on functional hand sensibility after median and ulnar repair: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: This is the first systematic review looking at the effectiveness of sensory re-education programmes on functional sensibility which focuses purely on clinical trials of adult patients with median and ulnar nerve injuries. METHODS: A literature search of AMED, CINAHL, Embase and OVID Medline (from inception to July 2011) was undertaken. Studies were selected if they met the following inclusion criteria: controlled trials (with or without randomization) of sensory re-education, including early and late phase, in adults with median and/or ulnar nerve repair. Two independent assessors rated study quality and risk of bias using the 24 point MacDermid Evaluation Tool. RESULTS: A total of seven articles met the inclusion criteria representing five separate studies Study quality ranged from 13 to 33 out of 48 points on the Evaluation Tool. Due to heterogeneity of the interventions and outcomes assessed it was not possible to pool the results from all studies. There is limited evidence to support the use of early and late SR programmes. CONCLUSION: Further trials are needed to evaluate the effect of early and late sensory re-education which are adequately powered, include validated and relevant outcomes and which are reported according to CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b.

The responsiveness of sensibility and strength tests in patients undergoing carpal tunnel decompression.

BACKGROUND: Several clinical measures of sensory and motor function are used alongside patient-rated questionnaires to assess outcomes of carpal tunnel decompression. However there is a lack of evidence regarding which clinical tests are most responsive to clinically important change over time. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study 63 patients undergoing carpal tunnel decompression were assessed using standardised clinician-derived and patient reported outcomes before surgery, at 4 and 8 months follow up. Clinical sensory assessments included: touch threshold with monofilaments (WEST), shape-texture identification (STI™ test), static two-point discrimination (Mackinnon-Dellon Disk-Criminator) and the locognosia test. Motor assessments included: grip and tripod pinch strength using a digital grip analyser (MIE), manual muscle testing of abductor pollicis brevis and opponens pollicis using the Rotterdam Intrinsic Handheld Myometer (RIHM). The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) was used as a patient rated outcome measure. RESULTS: Relative responsiveness at 4 months was highest for the BCTQ symptom severity scale with moderate to large effects sizes (ES = -1.43) followed by the BCTQ function scale (ES = -0.71). The WEST and STI™ were the most responsive sensory tests at 4 months showing moderate effect sizes (WEST ES = 0.55, STI ES = 0.52). Grip and pinch strength had a relatively higher responsiveness compared to thenar muscle strength but effect sizes for all motor tests were very small (ES ≤0.10) or negative indicating a decline compared to baseline in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: For clinical assessment of sensibility touch threshold assessed by monofilaments (WEST) and tactile gnosis measured with the STI™ test are the most responsive tests and are recommended for future studies. The use of handheld myometry (RIHM) for manual muscle testing, despite more specifically targeting thenar muscles, was less responsive than grip or tripod pinch testing using the digital grip analyser (MIE). When assessing power and pinch strength the effect of other concomitant conditions such as degenerative joint disease on strength needs to be considered.