Srdjan Markovic

Characterization of visually similar diffuse diseases from B-scan liver images using nonseparable wavelet transform

This paper describes a new approach for texture characterization, based on nonseparable wavelet decomposition, and its application for the discrimination of visually similar diffuse diseases of liver. The proposed feature-extraction algorithm applies nonseparable quincunx wavelet transform and uses energies of the transformed regions to characterize textures. Classification experiments on a set of three different tissue types show that the scale/frequency approach, particularly one based on the nonseparable wavelet transform, could be a reliable method for a texture characterization and analysis of B-scan liver images. Comparison between the quincunx and the traditional wavelet decomposition suggests that the quincunx transform is more appropriate for characterization of noisy data, and practical applications, requiring description with lower rotational sensitivity.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma detection by salivary biomarkers in a Serbian population

Early detection of oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) is the key to improve the low 5-year survival rate. Using proteomic and genomic technologies we have previously discovered and validated salivary OSCC markers in American patients. The question arises whether these biomarkers are discriminatory in cohorts of different ethnic background. Six transcriptome (DUSP1, IL8, IL1B, OAZ1, SAT1, and S100P) and three proteome (IL1B, IL8, and M2BP) biomarkers were tested on 18 early and 17 late stage OSCC patients and 51 healthy controls with quantitative PCR and ELISA. Four transcriptome (IL8, IL1B, SAT1, and S100P) and all proteome biomarkers were significantly elevated (p<0.05) in OSCC patients. The combination of markers yielded an AUC of 0.86, 0.85 and 0.88 for OSCC total, T1-T2, and T3-T4, respectively. The sensitivity/specificity for OSCC total was 0.89/0.78, for T1-T2 0.67/0.96, and for T3-T4 0.82/0.84. In conclusion, seven of the nine salivary biomarkers (three proteins and four mRNAs) were validated and performed strongest in late stage cancer. Patient-based salivary diagnostics is a highly promising approach for OSCC detection. This study shows that previously discovered and validated salivary OSCC biomarkers are discriminatory and reproducible in a different ethnic cohort. These findings support the feasibility to implement multi-center, multi-ethnicity clinical trials towards the pivotal validation of salivary biomarkers for OSCC detection.

Characterization of visually similar diffuse diseases from B-scan liver images with the nonseparable wavelet transform

This paper describes the application of the nonseparable wavelet decomposition for the discrimination of diffuse diseases of liver. The proposed feature extraction algorithm uses the filter bank performing the quincunx transform and characterizes textures by a set of channel variances estimated at the output of each filter. Classification experiments on a set of three different tissue types show that this approach could be a reliable method for analysis of B-scan liver images.

Body size and countermovement depth confound relationship between muscle power output and jumping performance.

A number of studies based on maximum vertical jumps have presumed that the maximum jump height reveals the maximum power of lower limb muscles, as well as the tested muscle power output predicts the jumping performance. The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that both the body size and countermovement depth confound the relationship between the muscle power output and performance of maximum vertical jumps. Sixty young and physically active males were tested on the maximum countermovement (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ). The jumping performance (Hmax), peak (Ppeak) and the average power output (Pavg) during the concentric phase, countermovement depth (only in CMJ) and body mass as an index of body size were assessed. To assess the power-performance relationship, the correlations between Hmax with both Ppeak and Pavg were calculated without and with controlling for the effects of body mass, as well as for the countermovement depth. The results revealed moderate power-performance relationships (range .55<r<.64) that were comparable for CMJ and SJ jumps. When controlled for body mass, the same values were markedly higher (.61<r<.82; p<.05 for Ppeak of both jumps). When controlled for both the body mass and countermovement depth, CMJ revealed r=.88 and r=.77 for Ppeak and Pavg, respectively. Both jumps revealed stronger relationships with Ppeak than with Pavg (p<.05) when controlled for either body mass or both body mass and countermovement depth. We conclude that both body size (in CMJ and SJ) and countermovement depth (in CMJ) confound the relationship between the muscle power output with the performance of maximum vertical jumps. Regarding routine assessments of muscle power from jumping performance and vice versa, the use of CMJ is recommended, while Ppeak, rather than Pavg, should be the variable of choice.

Tests of muscle power output assess rapid movement performance when normalized for body size.

Nedeljkovic, A, Mirkov, DM, Markovic, S, and Jaric, S. Tests of muscle power output assess rapid movement performance when normalized for body size. J Strength Cond Res 23(5): 1593-1605, 2009-Among other routinely tested physical abilities, the tests of rapid movement performance and the tests of direct assessment of muscle power have been independently evaluated in complex batteries of physical fitness tests. Based on the scaling effects, we hypothesized that the tests of rapid movement performance assess the same physical ability as the tests of direct assessment of muscle power properly normalized for the effect of body size. Young physically active men (n = 111) were evaluated on 23 physical ability tests based on the assessment of muscle strength, muscle power, and rapid movement performance. When non-normalized data were used, a principle component analysis revealed a structure with overlapping tests from the above-mentioned groups including the indices of body size. However, when the indices of muscle strength and directly assessed muscle power were properly normalized for the effect of body size, the obtained structure was in line with the hypothesis. Most of the tests of both the direct assessment of muscle power and rapid movement performance proved to belong to the same factor, whereas the muscle strength tests and body size measures, respectively, loaded the remaining 2 factors. This result suggests that the rapid movement performance could be employed to assess muscle power and, possibly, the neuromuscular efficiency in general, which could be important for understanding some basic aspects of the design and function of the human locomotor system. An important practical implication of our findings could be that the direct assessment of muscle power (that usually requires expensive equipment and complex data processing procedures) could be skipped from the complex batteries of physical fitness tests and replaced by generally simpler tests of rapid movement performance.

Texture analysis and classification with the nonseparable wavelet transform

This paper investigates the application of nonseparable wavelet transform for the texture characterization. On a set of 21 Brodatz textures we have performed traditional dyadic wavelet decomposition (in two levels) and nonseparable quincunx decomposition (in six levels), testing their ability to classify textures in: (a) normal working conditions, (b) noisy environment, and (c) with respect to rotation. Our experiments have shown that the quincunx transform is appropriate for characterization of noisy data, small number of resolution levels and shorter feature vectors and rotationally invariant description.

Can Didactic Continuing Education Improve Clinical Decision Making and Reduce Cost of Quality? Evidence From a Case Study

Introduction: Administration of human serum albumin (HSA) solutions for the resuscitation of critically ill patients remains controversial. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of continuing medical education (CME) on health care professionals’ clinical decision making with regard to HSA administration and the costs of quality (COQ). A quasi‐experimental study of time series association of CME intervention with COQ and use of HSA solution was conducted at the Surgery Department of the Hospital Valjevo, Serbia. The CME contained evidencebased criteria for HSA solution administration in surgical patients. The preintervention period was defined as January 2009 to May 2011. CME was provided in June 2011, with the postintervention period June 2011 to May 2012. Methods: Total mortality rate, the rate of nonsurgical mortality, the rate of surgical mortality, the rate of sepsis patient mortality, index of irrational use of HSA solutions, and number of hospital days per hospitalized patient were collected for each month as quality indicators. Statistical analysis was performed by multivariate autoregressive integrated moving average (MARIMA) modeling. The specification of the COQ was performed according to a traditional COQ model. Results: The CME intervention resulted in an average monthly reduction of the hospital days per hospitalized patient, the rate of sepsis patient mortality, index of irrational use of HSA solutions, and COQ for

The relationship between hip, knee and ankle muscle mechanical characteristics and gait transition speed

593,890.77 per year. Discussion: Didactic CME presenting evidence‐based criteria for HSA administration was associated with improvements in clinical decisions and COQ. In addition, this study demonstrates that models combining MARIMA and traditional COQ models can be useful in the evaluation of CME interventions aimed at reducing COQ.

Implementation of the Infrared Thermography for Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of the AlSi Cast Piston

The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between mechanical characteristics of hip, knee and ankle extensor and flexor muscle groups and gait transition speed. The sample included 29 physically active male adults homogenized regarding their anthropometric dimensions. Isokinetic and isometric leg muscle mechanical characteristics were assessed by an isokinetic dynamometer, while individual walk-to-run (WRT) and run-to-walk transition speeds (RWT) were determined using the standard increment protocol. The relationship between transition speeds and mechanical variables scaled to body size was determined using Pearson correlation and stepwise linear regression. The highest correlations were found for isokinetic power of ankle dorsal flexors and WRT (r=.468, p<.01) and the power of hip extensors and RWT (r=.442, p<.05). These variables were also the best predictors of WRT and RWT revealing approximately 20% of explained variance. Under the isometric conditions, the maximal force and rate of force development of hip flexors and ankle plantar flexors were moderately related with WRT and RWT (ranged from r=.340 to .427). The only knee muscle mechanical variable that correlated with WRT was low velocity knee flexor torque (r=.366, p<.05). The results generally suggest that the muscle mechanical properties, such as the power of ankle dorsal flexors and hip extensors, influence values of WRT and RWT.

Microsatellite instability affecting the T17 repeats in intron 8 of HSP110, as well as five mononucleotide repeats in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Abstract In this paper, the possibility of implementation of the infrared thermography as a technical systems’ diagnostic method is investigated. The infrared thermography as a contemporary method was used for visualization of the working conditions in the piston of an automotive engine as well as for analyzing of the thermal changes the piston sustained under exploitation. The obtained results were used to define the properties of the alloy used for production of the piston for a highly loaded diesel engine. In such way, the problems caused by erroneous choice of the material could be avoided.