Learned versus Handcrafted Features for Person Re-identification

Person re-identification is one of the indispensable elements for visual surveillance. It assigns consistent labeling for the same person within the field of view of the same camera or even across multiple cameras. While handcrafted feature extraction is certainly one way of approaching this problem, in many cases, these features are becoming more and more complex. Besides, training a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) from scratch is difficult because it requires a large amount of labeled training data and a great deal of expertise to ensure proper convergence. This paper explores the following three main strategies for solving the person re-identification problem: (i) using handcrafted features, (ii) using transfer learning based on a pre-trained deep CNN (trained for object categorization) and (iii) training a deep CNN from scratch. Our experiments consistently demonstrated that: (1) The handcrafted features may still have favorable characteristics and benefits especially in cases where the learning database is not sufficient to train a deep network. (2) A fully trained Siamese CNN outperforms handcrafted approaches and the combination of pre-trained CNN with different re-identification processes. (3) Moreover, our experiments demonstrated that pre-trained features and handcrafted features perform equally well. These experiments have also revealed the most discriminative parts in the human body.

An Egyptian HPAI H5N1 isolate from clade 2.2.1.2 is highly pathogenic in an experimentally infected domestic duck breed (Sudani duck)

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses continue to cause major problems in poultry and can, although rarely, cause human infection. Being enzootic in domestic poultry, Egyptian isolates are continuously evolving, and novel clades vary in their pathogenicity in avian hosts. Considering the importance of domestic ducks as natural hosts of HPAI H5N1 viruses and their likelihood of physical contact with other avian hosts and humans, it is of utmost importance to characterize the pathogenicity of newly emerged HPAI strains in the domestic duck. The most recently identified Egyptian clade 2.2.1.2 HPAI H5N1 viruses have been isolated from naturally infected pigeons, turkeys and humans. However, essentially nothing is known about their pathogenicity in domestic ducks. We therefore characterized the pathogenicity of an Egyptian HPAI H5N1 isolate A/chicken/Faquos/amn12/2011 (clade 2.2.1.2) in Sudani duck, a domestic duck breed commonly reared in Egypt. While viral transcription (HA mRNA) was highest in lung, heart and kidney peaking between 40 and 48 hpi, lower levels were detected in brain. Weight loss of infected ducks started at 16 hpi and persisted until 120 hpi. The first severe clinical signs were noted by 32 hpi and peaked in severity at 72 and 96 hpi. Haematological analyses showed a decline in total leucocytes, granulocytes, platelets and granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio, but lymphocytosis. Upon necropsy, lesions were obvious in heart, liver, spleen and pancreas and consisted mainly of necrosis and petechial haemorrhage. Histologically, lungs were the most severely affected organs, whereas brain only showed mild neuronal degeneration and gliosis at 48 hpi despite obvious neurological clinical signs. Taken together, our results provide first evidence that this HPAI H5N1 isolate (clade 2.2.1.2) is highly pathogenic to Sudani ducks and highlight the importance of this breed as potential reservoir and disseminator of HPAI strains from this clade.

Etiology and pathology of epidemic outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 infection in Egyptian chicken farms

Epidemic outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) virus H5N1 have been frequently reported in Egypt during the last nine years. Here we investigate the involvement of AI H5N1 in outbreaks of acute respiratory disease that occurred in several commercial chicken farms in Egypt in 2011, and we describe to the pathology caused by the virus in the course of the outbreak.

Twenty-one chicken farms with history of acute respiratory symptoms and high mortalities were screened for AI H5N1. Virus identification was based on hemagglutination inhibition test, and PCR detection and sequencing of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes. Virus distribution was determined by immunohistochemical staining of AI antigens in organs of infected birds. Standard H&E staining was performed for histological examination of affected organs.

Eighty-one % of the examined birds, representing 100% of the screened farms, were positive for AI H5N1 virus. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the isolated virus reveals its affiliation to clade 2.2.1. Viral antigens were localized in the endothelial cells of the heart, liver, lungs and skin, where pathological lesions including congestion, hemorrhages, multifocal inflammation and necrosis were concurrently observed. According to the pattern of the viral antigen and lesion distribution in the visceral organs, we suggest cardiovascular and circulatory failures as the probable cause of death during these outbreaks. In conclusion, the present study further confirms the epidemic status of AI H5N1 virus in Egypt and reveals the highly pathogenic nature of the local isolates.

Spontaneous femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in a young patient

Spontaneous femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare disease and reported cases are very few. Most of them are related to underlying pathology either atherosclerotic disease or connective tissue disease. We present a 29-year-old healthy man with two months history of a painful pulsating mass at the level of the lower right thigh without any previous history of trauma, surgery or puncture of the femoral artery. An angiogram revealed a right superficial femoral artery pseudo-aneurysm. It was treated surgically by resection of the aneurysm, reconstruction with inter-positional saphenous vein graft. We reported this case because of its rare incidence in the young patient with no underlying pathology.

AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA WITH PERI-CARDIAL EFFUSION CAUSING CARDIAC TAMPONADE

Peri-cardial effusion is most commonly associated with tuberculous infection in the developing world. Peri-cardial effusion causes symptoms when it is large or when it has accumulated rapidly. Non-tuberculous causes of peri-cardial effusion include bacterial infections, uraemia, viral infections, rheumatic fever, connective tissue disorders, post - peri-cardiotomy syndromes and malignancy. We present a case of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia first presenting as a large peri-cardial effusion causing tamponade.

Very long-term results (more than 20 years) of valve repair with carpentier's techniques in nonrheumatic mitral valve insufficiency

BACKGROUND

Mitral valve repair is considered the gold standard in surgery of degenerative mitral valve insufficiency (MVI), but the long-term results (>20 years) are unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We reviewed the first 162 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve repair between 1970 and 1984 for MVI due to nonrheumatic disease. The cause of MVI was degenerative in 146 patients (90%) and bacterial endocarditis in 16 patients (10%). MVI was isolated or, in 18 cases, associated with tricuspid insufficiency. The mean age of the 162 patients (104 men and 58 women) was 56+/-10 years (age range 22 to 77 years). New York Heart Association functional class was I, II, III, and IV in 2%, 39%, 52%, and 7% of patients, respectively. The mean cardiothoracic ratio was 0.58+/-0.07 (0.4 to 0.8), and 72 (45%) patients had atrial fibrillation. Valve analysis showed that the main mechanism of MVI was type II Carpentier's functional classification in 152 patients. The leaflet prolapse involved the posterior leaflet in 93 patients, the anterior leaflet in 28 patients, and both leaflets in 31 patients. Surgical technique included a Carpentier's ring annuloplasty in all cases, a valve resection in 126 patients, and shortening or transposition of chordae in 49 patients. During the first postoperative month, there were 3 deaths (1.9%) and 3 reoperations (2 valve replacements and 1 repeat repair [1.9%]). Six patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 151 patients with mitral valve repair were followed during a median of 17 years (range 1 to 29 years; 2273 patient-years). The 20-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 48% (95% CI 40% to 57%), which is similar to the survival rate for a normal population with the same age structure. The 20-year rates were 19.3% (95% CI 11% to 27%) for cardiac death and 26% (95% CI 17% to 35%) for cardiac morbidity/mortality (including death from a cardiac cause, stroke, and reoperation). During the 20 years of follow-up, 7 patients were underwent surgery at 3, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10, or 12 years after the initial operation. Valve replacement was carried out in 5 patients, and repeat repair was carried out in 2 patients. At the end of the study, 65 patients remained alive (median follow-up 19 years). Their median age was 76 years (age range 41 to 95 years). All except 1 were in New York Heart Association functional class I/II.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral valve repair using Carpentier's technique in patients with nonrheumatic MVI provides excellent long-term results with a mortality rate similar to that of the general population and a very low incidence of reoperation.

The role of cysteine residues in structure and enzyme activity of a maize beta-glucosidase

The maize Zm-p60.1 gene encodes a beta-glucosidase that can release active cytokinins from their storage forms, cytokinin-O-glucosides. Mature catalytically active Zm-p60.1 is a homodimer containing five cysteine residues per a subunit. Their role was studied by mutating them to alanine (A), serine (S), arginine (R) or aspartic acid (D) using site-directed mutagenesis, and subsequent heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. All substitutions of C205 and C211 resulted in decreased formation and/or stability of the homodimer, manifested as accumulation of high levels of monomer in the bacterial expression system. Examination of urea- and glutathione-induced dissociation patterns of the homodimer to the monomers, HPLC profiles of hydrolytic fragments of reduced and oxidized forms, and a homology-based three-dimensional structural model revealed that an intramolecular disulfide bridge formed between C205 and C211 within the subunits stabilized the quaternary structure of the enzyme. Mutating C52 to R produced a monomeric enzyme protein, too. No detectable effects on homodimer formation were apparent in C170 and C479 mutants. Given the Km values for C170A/S mutants were equal to that for the wild-type enzyme, C170 cannot participate in enzyme-substrate interactions. Possible indirect effects of C170A/S mutations on catalytic activity of the enzyme were inferred from slight decreases in the apparent catalytic activity, k'cat. C170 is located on a hydrophobic side of an alpha-helix packed against hydrophobic amino-acid residues of beta-strand 4, indicating participation of C170 in stabilization of a (beta/alpha)8 barrel structure in the enzyme. In C479A/D/R/S mutants, Km and k'cat were influenced more significantly suggesting a role for C479 in enzyme catalytic action.

Structure-neurotoxicity trends of analogues of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the cytotoxic metabolite of the dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP

The dopaminergic neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) derives from its metabolism to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium cation (MPP+), which is then selectively accumulated in dopaminergic neurons. In an effort to assess the structural requirements governing MPP+ cytotoxicity, we evaluated dopaminergic toxicity of MPP+ analogues 3 weeks after their microinfusion into rat substantia nigra. We also evaluated the substrate suitability of MPP+ analogues for high-affinity dopamine uptake in striatal synaptosomes by measuring their ability to induce specific dopamine release. The intranigral neurotoxicity of MPP+ analogues in vivo correlates mainly with their in vitro inhibitory activity on mitochondrial respiration, consistent with a compromise in cellular energy production as the principal mechanism of MPTP-induced cell death. This study extends the structure-neurotoxicity data base beyond that obtainable using MPTP analogues, since many of these are not metabolized to pyridinium compounds. Such information is crucial to assess which possible endogenous or exogenous compounds may exert MPTP/MPP(+)-like toxicity.