A comparative study of Machine Learning-based classification of Tomato fungal diseases: Application of GLCM texture features

Globally, agriculture remains an important source of food and economic development. Due to various plant diseases, farmers continue to suffer huge yield losses in both quality and quantity. In this study, we explored the potential of using Artificial Neural Networks, K-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine to classify tomato fungal leaf diseases: Alternaria, Curvularia, Helminthosporium, and Lasiodiplodi based on Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix texture features. Small differences between symptoms of these diseases make it difficult to use the naked eye to obtain better results in detecting and distinguishing these diseases. The Artificial Neural Network outperformed other classifiers with an overall accuracy of 94% and average scores of 93.6% for Precision, 93.8% for Recall, and 93.8% for F1-score. Generally, the models confused samples originally belonging to Helminthosporium with Curvularia. The extracted texture features show great potential to classify the different tomato leaf fungal diseases. The results of this study show that texture characteristics of the Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix play a critical role in the establishment of tomato leaf disease classification systems and can facilitate the implementation of preventive measures by farmers, resulting in enhanced yield quality and quantity.

Clinical effect of open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate through the triceps approach in the treatment of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus

OBJECTIVE

The stability of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the displaced humeral shaft is poor, and surgery is currently the main treatment. The posterolateral approach to the upper arm has many advantages but it is not widely used in clinical applications. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effect of open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate through the triceps approach in the treatment of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 26 patients with fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus who were admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. According to the AO ASIF classification, 12 patients had type A, 8 patients had type B, and 6 patients had type C fractures. The posterior transtriceps approach was used for open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate to evaluate its clinical efficacy.

RESULTS

All patients were followed completely, and the follow-up time was 6.0-18.0 months. Fracture nonunion occurred in 1 patient after the operation, and the other 25 patients healed well; 2 patients showed symptoms of radial nerve injury and numbness in the tiger's mouth area, which improved after 2 weeks. The average healing time of the fracture was 12.3 weeks. There were no infections or complications such as plate fractures. Elbow joint function according to Mayo scoring standards was as follows: 19 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, 2 cases were fair, and 2 cases were poor. The excellent and good rate was 84.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Open reduction through the triceps approach and internal fixation with a steel plate for the treatment of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus can directly expose and protect the radial nerve and its branches and reduce radial nerve damage, and plate fixation on the tension side is biomechanical and worthy of clinical application.

Dual-modality endomicroscopy with co-registered fluorescence and phase contrast

We describe a dual-modality laser scanning endomicroscope that provides simultaneous fluorescence contrast based on confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) and phase-gradient contrast based on scanning oblique back-scattering microscopy (sOBM). The probe consists of a 2.6mm-diameter micro-objective attached to a 30,000-core flexible fiber bundle. The dual contrasts are inherently co-registered, providing complementary information on labeled and un-labeled sample structure. Proof of principle demonstrations are presented with ex-vivo mouse colon tissue.

[Tuberculoma of the posterior fossa: 3 cases in the departement of neurosurgery, university hospital of Gabriel Toure]

The cerebral tuberculoma is an expansive process of slow evolution of the tuberculous bacillus. Bacteriological diagnosis is rarely made. It is usually radiological or histological. The treatment is medical and surgical. We conducted a retrospective study from March 2007 to February 2010 which focused on three cases of cerebral tuberculoma. Two of our patients were male, 75% against 25% female: The age of our three patients was respectively 47, 23, and 4 years. The history of extrapulmonary tuberculosis was found in one case. The heaviness of the head was the pattern in a patient operated on for Pott's disease. The diagnosis was suspected by neuroradiology in 3 patients and histological confirmation was made in 2 cases. The polychimiotherapy of 12 months was established and the improvement has been obtained from the third month of treatment.

Drugs in the parallel market for the treatment of urethral discharge in Dakar: epidemiologic investigation and physicochemical tests

OBJECTIVE

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) constitute a major public health concern in developing countries. Their interest lies mainly in their diagnosis and their early treatment. Owing to lack of health education and poor living conditions inherent in underdevelopment, self-medication is common practice in these Third World countries. Therefore, the illegal sale of drugs is an important phenomenon in Africa and Asia.

METHODS

An investigation, with a view to evaluating the importance of drug sales in the parallel market for the treatment of urethral discharge in Dakar, was carried out in 50 different locations in the working-class districts of the capital from 13 February to 6 March 1997. These drugs, obtained from vendors in the illegal market, were tested and analyzed using the standard physicochemical methods.

RESULTS

The most frequently proposed drugs to treat male urethritis are: ampicillin 250-mg capsules (44%); oxytetracyline 250-mg capsules (24%); and cotrimoxazole 450-mg tablets (12%). In most cases (88%), these drugs were sold unpackaged; 12% were sold in blisters. Furthermore, in 90% of cases, the expiry date was not indicated. The dosage and duration of treatment were correct in only 6% of cases. The physicochemical analysis was based on the external appearance, the identification, and the dosage of the active principle. Of these drugs offered by street vendors, 53.1% had an unusual appearance; they were mainly ampicillin 250 mg (21 of 22 samples) and oxytetracycline 250 mg (6 of 12 samples). Furthermore, all active principles were identified as positive, with the exception of ampicillin 250 mg, for which only one sample of the 22 was positive; the others appeared to be flour, with no trace of the active principle.

CONCLUSION

Given the extent of these illegal sales of drug and their harmful consequences for the health of the population, adequate measures should be taken to eradicate this blight. For this mission to succeed, public authorities, health professionals and populations should combine their efforts.

[The relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and metastatic lymphoepithelioma in the cervical lymph nodes, in comparison with other metastatic carcinomas and granulomatous diseases]

The nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma is closely related with Epstein-Barr virus. The first clinical manifestation is frequently enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes of unknown origin. The histology of the metastatic lymphoepithelioma in the lymph nodes sometimes resembles those of other metastatic carcinoma and granulomatous diseases. To differentiate the lymphoepithelioma from other disorders, we detected Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), using stamp specimens. By polymerase chain reaction, all seven lymphoepitheliomas presented amplified EBV genomes, while five of the 58 other carcinomas and eight of the 19 granulomatous diseases also did. By in situ hybridization, lymphoepitheliomas showed EBV genomes which were confined to the tumor cells, though in the other diseases they were found in the lymphocytes. Detection of EBV is very useful in making a diagnosis of lymphoepitheliomas.