bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competition for food in macroplankton animals in the Vistula Lagoon
Authors: Opaliński Krzysztof W.
Published: August 2020

Competition for food can be observed in the macroplankton community in the Vistula Lagoon (northern Poland) in the spring (April-May-June). This is the time of mass occurrence of early developmental stages of the Baltic Sea herring, the European smelt, perch, and stickleback. Additionally, some quantities of the shrimp Neomysis integer can be found. These species use the same food resources, i.e. small zooplankton, but they occupy different habitats. However, in a very special situation in the Vistula Lagoon (low depth and water mixing by winds), they are living together and compete for food. The purpose of this paper is to find out which species is the superior competitor for food among the macroplankton living in the Vistula Lagoon. Animal size (dry weight Dw), daily consumption rate (C), and coefficients of food assimilation efficiency (U-1), as well as utilization of consumed energy for growth (K1), and utilization of assimilated energy for growth (K2) by individuals of particular species were used as measures of individual success in competition for food. Animal abundance (n m-3), the daily consumption rate of individuals of particular species living in the unit of water volume (J m-3 d-1), and total food consumed by animals of particular species living in the unit of water volume as a percent of the total food available were used as measures of population (or species) success in competition for food. The results do not provide a clear indication of which species is a superior competitor for food. Because competition occurs at the level of individuals rather than populations, a question arises why just Neomysis, despite their lowest food consumption and the lowest daily production rate succeeded in reaching high population numbers and sum of daily food consumption by the population.
Association between Antiretroviral Treatment and Markers of Systemic Inflammation among HIV Patients in Ghana
Authors: Haile Zelalem T. , Sarfo Bismark , Bonney Evelyn Y. , Mensah Eric A. , Deletsu Selase
Published: August 2020

Background:

Studies from high-income countries have reported that even after receiving antiretroviral treatment
(ART), HIV-infected adults may not achieve normal levels of certain inflammatory markers that are known to be associated
with the onset and development of non-communicable diseases.

Objective:

To examine the relationship between ART and markers of systemic inflammation in HIV/AIDS patients at an urban antiretroviral clinic in Ghana.

Methods:

We examined serum levels of high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18(IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor-α (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) from 40 HIV infected patients. Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to examine the
differences in markers of systemic inflammation according to the types of ART medication taken. We then utilized generalized additive models (GAM) with non-linear function to examine the association between ART and markers of systemic inflammation after adjusting for potential confounders.

Results:

Overall, 30 (75.0%) of the participants received ART and 35 (85%) were female. Kruskal-Wallis Test revealed no
significant differences in the markers of systemic inflammation among the three categories of ART (none, AZT, 3TC,
EFV/NVP, and TDF, 3TC/FTC, EFV/NVP). In the multivariable-adjusted GAM model, we found a significant but nonlinear association between time since diagnosis and CRP levels (p=0.006).

Conclusion:

Although the relatively small sample size limits the scope of the study's findings, these results suggest that individuals on ART need to be screened periodically for the development of chronic conditions. This line of investigation has
the potential to influence treatment and clinical guidelines that will improve the quality of care for HIV-infected patients.
Discovery of 3-Cinnamamido-N-Substituted Benzamides as Potential Antimalarial Agents
Authors: Liu Haicheng , Futamura Yushi , Wu Honghai , Ishiyama Aki , Zhang Taotao , Shi Tao , Zheng Qunxiong , Iwatsuki Masato , Ōmura Satoshi , Zou Hongbin , Osada Hiroyuki
Published: August 2020

Background:

Malaria is one of the most devastating parasitic diseases, yet the discovery
of antimalarial agents remains profoundly challenging. Very few new antimalarials have been developed
in the past 50 years, while the emergence of drug-resistance continues to appear.

Objective:

This study focuses on the discovery, design, synthesis, and antimalarial evaluation of 3-
cinnamamido-N-substituted benzamides.

Methods:

In this study, a screening of our compound library was carried out against the multidrugsensitive
Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain. Derivatives of the hit were designed, synthesized and
tested against P. falciparum 3D7 and the in vivo antimalarial activity of the most active compounds
was evaluated using the method of Peters’ 4-day suppressive test.

Results:

The retrieved hit compound 1 containing a 3-cinnamamido-N-substituted benzamide skeleton
showed moderate antimalarial activity (IC50 = 1.20 μM) for the first time. A series of derivatives
were then synthesized through a simple four-step workflow, and half of them exhibited slightly better
antimalarial effect than the precursor 1 during the subsequent in vitro assays. Additionally, compounds
11, 23, 30 and 31 displayed potent activity with IC50 values of approximately 0.1 μM, and
weak cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. However, in vivo antimalarial activity is not effective,
which might be ascribed to the poor solubility of these compounds.

Conclusion:

In this study, the phenotypic screen of our compound library resulted in the first report
of a 3-cinnamamide framework with antimalarial activity and 40 derivatives were then designed and
synthesized. Subsequent structure-activity studies showed that compounds 11, 23, 30 and 31 exhibited
the most potent and selective activity against the P. falciparum 3D7 strain with IC50 values
around 0.1 μM. Our work herein sets another example of phenotypic screen-based drug discovery,
leading to potentially promising candidates of novel antimalarial agents once given further optimization.
Recent Advances in Ethnopharmacological and Toxicological Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Aloe barbadensis (Miller), Aloe vera
Authors: Gupta Vivek Kumar , Yarla Nagendra Sastry , de Lourdes Pereira Maria , Siddiqui Nikhat Jamal , Sharma Bechan
Published: August 2020

Background:

Aloe barbadensis (Miller) is one of the most used medicinal herbs in the
world since antiquity due to its valuable pharmacological properties. The species of A. vera are
widely distributed and cultivated throughout the world.

Objective:

This review article aims to present an account of information on the phytochemistry and
pharmacological properties of bioactive compounds from A. vera, highlighting their mechanism of
action and function as food supplement to improve human health. The development of A. vera
based phytomedicines and its future trends were also evaluated.

Methods:

A bibliographic search of scientific literature published till March 2020 was carried out
from the scientific databases and different search engines such as PubMed, ScienceDirect,
Cochrane library, and Scopus. The keywords used in several combinations included: Aloe vera,
phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, treatment, prevention, disease, health, in vitro, in vivo
and clinical studies. From eligible articles, the data were independently extracted by the standard
data extraction method.

Results:

A. vera is a good source of bioactive compounds. A. vera has been reported for its numerous
therapeutic applications. Besides, several valuable therapeutic potentials, the plant has also
been used as crop and food preservation as well as a functional food supplement due to the presence
of high content of carbohydrates, vitamins and several antioxidant molecules. Its oral ingestion
has been related to diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, kidney dysfunction, drug interactions, dermatitis,
erythema, and phototoxicity.

Conclusion:

Although there are several A. vera-based products available, the knowledge on the relationship
between biological and therapeutic properties should be clearly defined to ascertain the
exact action mechanism(s) to develop new drugs.
Evaluation of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Roles of N-Acetylcysteine on Biochemical and Oxidative Changes Induced by Acute Poisoning of Diazinon in Various Rat Tissues
Authors: Tahmasebi Kavoos , Jafari Mahvash , Izadi Farideh , Asgari Alireza , Bahadoran Hoosein , Heydari Javad , Khazaie Saeed
Published: August 2020

Background:

Exposure to diazinon (DZN) as an organophosphorus insecticide is
associated with reducing the antioxidant capacity of cells. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is widely
used in clinics to treat several diseases related to oxidative stress.

Objective:

The current study was aimed to evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic roles of
NAC on biochemical and oxidative changes induced by acute poisoning of DZN in various
tissues of male Wistar rats.

Methods:

Thirty rats were divided into five groups: control group received corn oil as DZN
solvent; DZN group received 100 mg/kg of DZN; NAC group received 160 mg/kg of NAC;
NAC-DZN and DZN-NAC groups received 160 mg/kg of NAC before and after 100 mg/kg
of DZN injection, respectively. Plasma and various tissues were prepared and evaluated for
the measurement of the biochemical parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers.

Results:

Both prophylactic and therapeutic treatments by NAC ameliorated the increased
lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione level and superoxide dismutase, catalase and
glutathione S-transferase activities in tissues (P<0.05). Moreover, treatment with the NAC
caused a significant reduction in DZN-induced high levels of plasma biochemical parameters.
Furthermore, acetylcholinesterase activity was positively correlated with both LDH
(P=0.000) activity and GSH (P=0.001) level and negatively correlated with MDA (P=0.009)
level in the brain.

Conclusion:

Results suggest that NAC could effectively ameliorate the DZN-induced oxidative
stress and cholinergic hyperactivity in various tissues especially in the brain, through
free radicals scavenging and GSH synthesis. Prophylactic approach exerted a stronger protective
effect compared to a therapeutic treatment.
Effect of Ionic Strength on the Aggregation Propensity of Aβ1-42 Peptide: An In-silico Study
Authors: Borah Priyanka , Mattaparthi Venkata S.K.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Aggregation of misfolded proteins under stress conditions in the cell
might lead to several neurodegenerative disorders. Amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42) peptide, the causative
agent of Alzheimer’s disease, has the propensity to fold into β-sheets under stress, forming
aggregated amyloid plaques. This is influenced by factors such as pH, temperature, metal
ions, mutation of residues, and ionic strength of the solution. There are several studies that
have highlighted the importance of ionic strength in affecting the folding and aggregation
propensity of Aβ1-42 peptide.

Objective:

To understand the effect of ionic strength of the solution on the aggregation propensity
of Aβ1-42 peptide, using computational approaches.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were performed
on Aβ1-42 peptide monomer placed in (i) 0 M, (ii) 0.15 M, and (iii) 0.30 M concentration
of NaCl solution. To prepare the input files for the MD simulations, we have used the
Amberff99SB force field. The conformational dynamics of Aβ1-42 peptide monomer in different
ionic strengths of the solutions were illustrated from the analysis of the corresponding
MD trajectory using the CPPtraj tool.

Results:

From the MD trajectory analysis, we observe that with an increase in the ionic
strength of the solution, Aβ1-42 peptide monomer shows a lesser tendency to undergo aggregation.
From RMSD and SASA analysis, we noticed that Aβ1-42 peptide monomer undergoes
a rapid change in conformation with an increase in the ionic strength of the solution. In addition,
from the radius of gyration (Rg) analysis, we observed Aβ1-42 peptide monomer to be
more compact at moderate ionic strength of the solution. Aβ1-42 peptide was also found to
hold its helical secondary structure at moderate and higher ionic strengths of the solution.
The diffusion coefficient of Aβ1-42 peptide monomer was also found to vary with the ionic
strength of the solution. We observed a relatively higher diffusion coefficient value for Aβ1-42
peptide at moderate ionic strength of the solution.

Conclusion:

Our findings from this computational study highlight the marked effect of ionic
strength of the solution on the conformational dynamics and aggregation propensity of Aβ1-42
peptide monomer.
Improved Background Subtraction Technique for Detecting Moving Objects
Authors: Pal Tannistha
Published: August 2020

Introduction:

Moving object detection from videos is among the most difficult task in different areas of
computer vision applications. Among the traditional object detection methods, researchers conclude that Background
Subtraction method carried out better in aspects of execution time and output quality.

Mehtod:

Visual background extractor is a renowned algorithm in Background Subtraction method for detecting moving
object in various applications. In the recent years, lots of work has been carried out to improve the existing Visual
Background extractor algorithm.

Result:

After investigating many state of art techniques and finding out the research gaps, this paper presents an improved
background subtraction technique based on morphological operation and 2D median filter for detecting moving object
which reduces the noise in the output video and also enhances its accuracy at a very limited additional cost. Experimental
results in several benchmark datasets confirmed the superiority of the proposed method over the state-of-the-art object
detection methods.

Conclusion:

In this article, a method has been proposed for moving object detection where the quality of the output object
is enhanced and good accuracy is achieved. This method provide with accurate experimental results, which helps in
efficient object detection. The proposed technique also deals with Visual Background extractor Algorithm along with the
Image Enhancement Procedure like Morphological and 2-D Filtering at a limited additional cost

Discussion:

This article worked on certain specific field, like noise reduction and image enhancement of output images of
the existing ViBe Algorithm. The technique proposed in this article will be beneficial for various computer vision
applications like video surveillance, road condition monitoring, airport safety, human activity analysis, monitoring marine
border for security purpose etc.
Implementación de laboratorios virtuales como alternativa para estimular las actividades académicas en el aula de clase
Authors: Ramirez Vanegas Carlos Alberto , Rodriguez Varela Carlos
Published: August 2020

Actualmente la formación que es impartida a los estudiantes de ingeniería tiene un alto contenido teórico el cual la mayoría de las veces no se logra mostrar a través de la práctica por la falta de recursos para la implementación de laboratorios. Lo anterior conlleva a que los estudiantes no refuercen sus conocimientos a través de la ejemplificación. De acuerdo a lo expuesto se propone que el contenido teórico sea verificado a través de softwares, esto no solamente ayuda al estudiante a mejorar su aprendizaje de una manera sencilla sino también es una buena simulación del entorno real minimizando costos y aportándole al estudiante de ingeniería una herramienta más que el sector laboral le demandará.En el presente trabajo se muestra la implementación de dos softwares, uno para ingeniería eléctrica y otro para ingeniería industrial. El primero ISIS PROTEUS para la implementación de circuitos electrónicos y eléctricos y el segundo PROMODEL para ejemplificación de casos de producción, los cuales de una manera económica y sencilla muestran de una forma aplicada conceptos y que además permite hacer variaciones en las variables lo que en laboratorios físicos es más tedioso y costoso por el uso de materiales.
Una nueva metaheurística aplicada al problema de ruteo de vehículos capacitados (cvrp) para la distribución de productos perecederos
Authors: Galarcio Jesús D. , Buelvas Maria , Nisperuza Paula , López Jorge , Hernandez Helman
Published: August 2020

La distribución representa un gran desafío para las empresas de alimentos perecederos que buscan satisfacer a sus clientes en términos de una calidad cambiante a lo largo de la cadena de suministro. En este contexto, en el siguiente articulo presentamos un nuevo modelo matemático para la distribución de productos perecederos que tiene como objetivo minimizar el tiempo total de viaje y las tardanzas en la entrega de los productos transportados. Con el objetivo de enfrentar este problema complejo, empleamos un algoritmo genético (GA) y una nueva metaheurística hibrida (N2) que combina operadores de tres distintos algoritmos para resolver cinco instancias de 25 clientes adaptadas de la literatura. Los resultados permiten comprobar la funcionalidad del modelo y muestran que el nuevo algoritmo es capaz de obtener mejores resultados en comparación con el algoritmo evolutivo, lo que brinda a los tomadores de decisiones una buena herramienta para la planeación de rutas de este tipo de productos.
Robotik@, a strategy to motivate students to choose engineering careers.
Authors: Rios Natividad , Payares Daissy , Meza L Alisawer , Hernández Juan D. , Baldiris Silvia
Published: August 2020

Educational robotics is a demonstrated didactical strategy that motivates students to consider engineering careers and benefits both their professional development as well as the learning process. This paper shows an experience carried out in the city of Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) that includes training teachers and facilitating them to take into consideration teaching educational robotics in the secondary school curriculum. The teachers’ training was based on the use of ROBOTREINO, an OER intended to be an educational resource for teachers that introduces them to the world of Educational Robotics. After the training, teachers were able to offer secondary education students a learning experience called ROBOTIK@ based on the use of mobile robots in the field of physics.  The experience shows promising results.
Estado del arte de redes educativas para el intercambio de conocimientos en robótica educativa
Authors: Guasmayan Guasmayan Fredy Alexander , Gonzalez Vargas Nestor Andres
Published: August 2020

En este documento y para tener una idea clara de la robótica educativa, se enseñan de forma integrada y en un marco coherente, diferentes términos y conceptos. Además se presenta una exposición del estado del arte haciendo énfasis en redes educativas para el intercambio de conocimientos en el área de la robótica educativa que han sido validados en el contexto Iberoamericano. Además se describe la metodología a considerar para la implementación de una red educativa, en el contexto del proyecto “Implementación de una red para compartir material educativo en la subregión centro del Departamento del Cauca”. Y por último se describe la metodología a considerar para la implementación de una estrategia de apropiación de conocimiento por parte de estudiantes universitarios utilizando rúbricas y objetos de aprendizaje.
Estrategia Ecológica Para Reducir El Impacto Ambiental Generado Por El Co2 Emitido Por Aeronaves De La Aviación Policial
Authors: TORRES ROBINSSON  C. , DIAZ JOHN  E.
Published: August 2020

El  impacto ambiental que genera el gas contaminante (CO2) emitido por las aeronaves de instrucción de la Escuela de Aviación Policial, es un factor de afectación a la capa de ozono y conlleva consecuencias para la salud de los seres humanos, por lo que es necesario crear una estrategia ecologica con la cual se puedan mitigar los efectos. Con la investigación se pudo establecer que los niveles de CO2 en la Escuela de Aviación Policial, ubicada en el municipio de San Sebastián de Mariquita, Tolima. Son más elevados de los que se recomienda en los estudios consultados por el grupo investigador, por tanto es fundamental la siembra de plantas purificadoras de aire en el área cartografiada. La investigación se encuentra estructurada en ocho (8) capítulos. El primero consiste el planteamiento y descripción de la situación problemática. El segundo comprende el análisis de los antecedentes literarios y teóricos que dan soporte a la investigación ya que aportan metodológica y epistemológicamente a la misma. Posteriormente se aborda el proceso metodológico. La investigación es de tipo cuasi-experimental y con un alcance de tipo descriptivo, ya que se diseñó un experimento pero no se pueden controlar ni manipular con rigor todas las variables. El capítulo cuarto analiza resultados con base en las características técnicas definidas en la metodología de investigación, el quinto nos habla de los indicadores de impacto en la implementación de la estrategia institucional, el sexto es el presupuesto, el séptimo contiene las conclusiones del proceso y el octavo es la bibliografía.
M-Learning para Servicios Formativos en Soluciones Contables: Una Revisión
Authors: Sotelo Gomez Fabinton , Fernández Eliana
Published: August 2020

En la actualidad la profesión contable está sobrellevando un proceso de cambio y evolución de la mano con las nuevas tecnologías, sin embargo, la educación no avanza a la par con el contexto, está debe establecer un proceso de cambio que se vea reflejado en las nuevas prácticas y estrategias para la educación. Este artículo enmarca una revisión del estado del arte en el contexto del Aprendizaje electrónico móvil (M-Learning) el acceso a servicios formativos desde dispositivos móviles en la contaduría pública, con el ánimo de tener como base teórica la necesidad del desarrollo de una aplicación móvil que fortalezca apoyo al proceso de gestión pedagógica de los estudiantes del programa de Contaduría Pública de la fundación Universitaria de Popayán en las áreas de Economía, Contabilidad y Finanzas.
Estrategia gamificada para el desarrollo de la autorregulación del aprendizaje en estudiantes de grado 8°
Authors: Torres García Domingo Antonio , Portillo de Arco Ingrid Rocío , Sierra Pineda Isabel Alicia
Published: August 2020

El propósito de este artículo es demostrar la influencia de la estrategia ARAGAME en el desarrollo de la autorregulación del aprendizaje de los estudiantes de grado 8° de la Institución Educativa Los Garzones de la ciudad de Montería. Se diseñó e implementó la estrategia de aula gamificada (ARAGAME) para desarrollar la autorregulación del aprendizaje. El estudio es de enfoque empírico analítico y se usó el método cuantitativo enmarcado dentro del diseño cuasi-experimental con dos grupos intactos. Los instrumentos fueron el cuestionario pretest antes de la intervención y el postest al finalizar. Se realizaron comparación de medias con t de student para muestras relacionadas e independientes (intra e inter-grupo). Los resultados obtenidos establecen que la implementación de la estrategia permitió mejorar sustancialmente la autorregulación del aprendizaje en especial la dimensión cognitiva y motivación en comparación con los resultados promedios del grupo control, además de permitir la apropiación de teorías, contenidos y saberes mediante un proceso satisfactorio e integral desde la cotidianidad.
Consumo de fragmentos proteicos y digestibilidad de proteína en dietas suministradas a bovinos Chino Santandereano
Authors: Contreras-Marquez David Esteban , Quintero-Pardo Juan Sebastian , Correa-Rojas Edwin Davier , Canchila-Asencio Emiro Rafael , Gutiérrez-Zocadagui Heidy Yeritza
Published: August 2020

Objetivo. Cuantificar la concentración y consumo de los fragmentos de la proteína (NNP, PV, PVAD, PVLD, PIDN y PIDA) presente en la dieta suministrada a bovinos y su efecto en la digestibilidad de la proteína bruta. Materiales y métodos. Fueron analizadas dietas ofrecidas a bovinos Chino Santandereano en estabulación, utilizando cuatro animales en delineamiento en cuadrado latino 4x4, siendo los tratamientos: NS, no suplementados; BAJO, suplementados con cantidad relativa al 0.5% del peso-corporal; MEDIO, suplementados con cantidad relativa al 1.0% del peso corporal; ALTO, suplementados con cantidad relativa al 1.5% del peso corporal. El consumo fue determinado diariamente y la digestibilidad a través de colecta total de heces en los dos últimos días de cada periodo. Resultados. Mayor concentración de proteína bruta fue encontrada en suplemento en comparación con el pasto (p<0.001), exhibiendo el forraje mayor concentración de PBNNP (p<0.001), a la vez que el suplemento presentó concentración más elevada de PV (p<0.001) y PVAD (p=0.027). Animales suplementados presentaron mayor consumo de PB, PBNNP (p=0.037), PV, PIDN, PVAD, PIDA y PVLD (p<0.05), no obstante, cuando se determinó la concentración que representa el consumo de PIDA en el consumo de PB, no se observó diferencia entre suplementados y NS (p=0.078). Mayor digestibilidad de la PB fue encontrada en animales suplementados cuando contrastados con NS (p<0.001), observándose entre tratamientos suplementados un efecto lineal ascendente a medida que aumentó el nivel de suplementación. Conclusiones. La suplementación mejora la digestibilidad de la proteína bruta por aportar mayor cantidad de fragmentos nitrogenados de alta digestibilidad.
Antiviral and healing potential of Sambucus nigra extracts
Authors: Bartak Michalina , Lange Agata , Słonska Anna , Cymerys Joanna
Published: August 2020

Nowadays, the application of alternative methods instead of clinical treatment creates a new possibility to prevent the development of diseases. Medicinal plants such as Sambucus nigra have been well known due to their extraordinary properties. The similarity to synthetic substances makes it potentially dependable; however, a high concentration of cyanogenic glycosides may exert detrimental consequences. It has been documented that Sambucus nigra extracts are used against both human and animal viruses, like influenza A and B viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), dengue virus (DENV-2), human herpesvirus type 1 (HSV-1) and human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63). Such reports are notably valuable especially considering the widespread usage of commercial drugs, which could be ineffective. This review provides insight on recent research on the health properties of plant Sambucus nigra as an antiviral medication that may help propose new therapy.
Family Members’ Perspectives on Family and Social Support Available to Suicidal Patients, and Health Systems’ Interactions and Responses to Suicide Cases in Alberta: Protocol for a Quantitative Research Study
Authors: Abou El-Magd Rabab M , Urichuk Liana , Surood Shireen , Li Daniel , Greenshaw Andrew , Grunau Mara , MacNeil Laureen , Challborn Ione , Grauwiler David , Olson Robert , Agyapong Vincent Israel Opoku
Published: August 2020

Background

Suicide is a major cause of preventable death globally and a leading cause of death by injury in Canada. To support people who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors and to ultimately prevent people from dying by suicide, it is important to understand individual and familial experiences with the health care system.

Objective

We present the protocol for a study, the objective of which is to explore how people who died by suicide, and their family members, interacted with the health care system.

Methods

This is a quantitative research study. Data will be collected through a self-administered paper-based or online survey of the family member of patients who died by suicide. The sample size was calculated to be 385 (margin of error ±3%).

Results

Data collection will start in October 2020 and results will be available by March 2021. We expect the results to shed light on the experiences of individuals who died by suicide and their family members with the health care system. The study has received ethical clearance from the Health Ethics Research Board of the University of Alberta (Pro00096342).

Conclusions

Our study may inform practice, policy, and future research. The findings may shape how members of the health care system respond to people who are at risk of suicide and their families.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/19112
Factors Impacting Clinicians’ Adoption of a Clinical Photo Documentation App and its Implications for Clinical Workflows and Quality of Care: Qualitative Case Study
Authors: Jacob Christine , Sanchez-Vazquez Antonio , Ivory Chris
Published: August 2020

Background

Mobile health (mHealth) tools have shown promise in clinical photo and wound documentation for their potential to improve workflows, expand access to care, and improve the quality of patient care. However, some barriers to adoption persist.

Objective

This study aims to understand the social, organizational, and technical factors affecting clinicians’ adoption of a clinical photo documentation mHealth app and its implications for clinical workflows and quality of care.

Methods

A qualitative case study of a clinical photo and wound documentation app called imitoCam was conducted. The data were collected through 20 in-depth interviews with mHealth providers, clinicians, and medical informatics experts from 8 clinics and hospitals in Switzerland and Germany.

Results

According to the study participants, the use of mHealth in clinical photo and wound documentation provides numerous benefits such as time-saving and efficacy, better patient safety and quality of care, enhanced data security and validation, and better accessibility. The clinical workflow may also improve when the app is a good fit, resulting in better collaboration and transparency, streamlined daily work, clinician empowerment, and improved quality of care. The findings included important factors that may contribute to or hinder adoption. Factors may be related to the material nature of the tool, such as the perceived usefulness, ease of use, interoperability, cost, or security of the app, or social aspects such as personal experience, attitudes, awareness, or culture. Organizational and policy barriers include the available clinical practice infrastructure, workload and resources, the complexity of decision making, training, and ambiguity or lack of regulations. User engagement in the development and implementation process is a vital contributor to the successful adoption of mHealth apps.

Conclusions

The promising potential of mHealth in clinical photo and wound documentation is clear and may enhance clinical workflow and quality of care; however, the factors affecting adoption go beyond the technical features of the tool itself to embrace significant social and organizational elements. Technology providers, clinicians, and decision makers should work together to carefully address any barriers to improve adoption and harness the potential of these tools.
Use of Telemedicine for Chronic Liver Disease at a Single Care Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Guarino Maria , Cossiga Valentina , Fiorentino Andrea , Pontillo Giuseppina , Morisco Filomena
Published: August 2020

Background

The COVID-19 outbreak has overwhelmed and altered health care systems worldwide, with a substantial impact on patients with chronic diseases. The response strategy has involved implementing measures like social distancing, and care delivery modalities like telemedicine have been promoted to reduce the risk of transmission.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the benefits of using telemedicine services for patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) at a tertiary care center in Italy during the COVID-19–mandated lockdown.

Methods

From March 9 to May 3, 2020, a prospective observational study was conducted in the Liver Unit of the University Hospital of Naples Federico II to evaluate the impact of (1) a fully implemented telemedicine program, partially restructured in response to COVID-19 to include video consultations; (2) extended hours of operation for helpline services; and (3) smart-working from home to facilitate follow-up visits for patients with CLD while adhering to social distancing regulations.

Results

During the lockdown in Italy, almost 400 visits were conducted using telemedicine; only patients requiring urgent care were admitted to a non–COVID-19 ward of our hospital. Telemedicine services were implemented not only for follow-up visits but also to screen patients prior to hospital admission and to provide urgent evaluations during complications. Of the nearly 1700 patients with CLD who attended a follow-up visit at our Liver Unit, none contracted COVID-19, and there was no need to alter treatment schedules.

Conclusions

Telemedicine was a useful tool for following up patients with CLD and for reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This system of health care delivery was appreciated by patients since it gave them the opportunity to be in contact with physicians while respecting social distancing rules.
Maximizing the Potential of Patient-Reported Assessments by Using the Open-Source Concerto Platform With Computerized Adaptive Testing and Machine Learning
Authors: Harrison Conrad , Loe Bao Sheng , Lis Przemysław , Sidey-Gibbons Chris
Published: August 2020

Patient-reported assessments are transforming many facets of health care, but there is scope to modernize their delivery. Contemporary assessment techniques like computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and machine learning can be applied to patient-reported assessments to reduce burden on both patients and health care professionals; improve test accuracy; and provide individualized, actionable feedback. The Concerto platform is a highly adaptable, secure, and easy-to-use console that can harness the power of CAT and machine learning for developing and administering advanced patient-reported assessments. This paper introduces readers to contemporary assessment techniques and the Concerto platform. It reviews advances in the field of patient-reported assessment that have been driven by the Concerto platform and explains how to create an advanced, adaptive assessment, for free, with minimal prior experience with CAT or programming.
Qualitative Evidence Synthesis on Self-Collection for Human Papillomavirus–Based Cervical Screening: Protocol for Systematic Review
Authors: Camara Hawa , Zhang Ye , Lafferty Lise , Vallely Andrew , Guy Rebecca , Kelly-Hanku Angela
Published: August 2020

Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide. In the 1980s, it was found that the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus causes over 90% of all cervical cancer cases. Since that discovery, diagnostic technologies have been developed for the detection of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical samples. However, significant sociocultural and structural barriers remain. Considerable strides have taken place in recent years to address these barriers, such as the self-collection for human papillomavirus–based cervical screening method.

Objective

The purpose of this review is to synthesize qualitative evidence around the self-collection method and identify strategies to increase acceptability and feasibility in different settings. This qualitative synthesis will be used to better understand how to conceptualize and implement more effective, accessible, and socially and culturally acceptable cervical screening programs and policies globally.

Methods

A systematic search will be conducted in Global Health, Cochrane, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), ProQuest, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, EMCARE, Medline (OVID), Scopus, and Web of Science. Published and peer-reviewed articles will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen and assess the studies. The data will be coded and analyzed using a thematic synthesis process. The socioecological model will be used to organize emergent themes at the micro and macro levels. The results will be presented in narrative and tabular form.

Results

The article search and data extraction were completed in May 2020. The data were analyzed in June 2020. The review will be submitted for publication in Fall 2020.

Conclusions

This review will present the global evidence of the perspectives and experiences of various key stakeholders and how these perspectives and experiences impact their decision-making process to perform or accept self-collection for human papillomavirus–based cervical screening. The review will provide guidance to implementation researchers as well as implications for future research.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019109073; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=109073

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/21093
Clinometric Gait Analysis Using Smart Insoles in Patients With Hemiplegia After Stroke: Pilot Study
Authors: Seo Minseok , Shin Myung-Jun , Park Tae Sung , Park Jong-Hwan
Published: August 2020

Background

For effective rehabilitation after stroke, it is essential to conduct an objective assessment of the patient’s functional status. Several stroke severity scales have been used for this purpose, but such scales have various limitations.

Objective

Gait analysis using smart insole technology can be applied continuously, objectively, and quantitatively, thereby overcoming the shortcomings of other assessment tools.

Methods

To confirm the reliability of gait analysis using smart insole technology, normal healthy controls wore insoles in their shoes during the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The gait parameters were compared with the manually collected data. To determine the gait characteristics of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke, they were asked to wear insoles and take the TUG test; gait parameters were calculated and compared with those of control subjects. To investigate whether the gait analysis accurately reflected the patients’ clinical condition, we analyzed the relationships of 22 gait parameters on 4 stroke severity scales.

Results

The smart insole gait parameter data were similar to those calculated manually. Among the 18 gait parameters tested, 14 were significantly effective at distinguishing patients from healthy controls. The smart insole data revealed that the stance duration on both sides was longer in patients than controls, which has proven difficult to show using other methods. Furthermore, the sound side in patients showed a markedly longer stance duration. Regarding swing duration, that of the sound side was shorter in patients than controls, whereas that of the hemiplegic side was longer. We identified 10 significantly correlated gait parameters on the stroke severity scales. Notably, the difference in stance duration between the sound and hemiplegic sides was significantly correlated with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) lower extremity score.

Conclusions

This study confirmed the feasibility and applicability of the smart insole as a device to assess the gait of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. In addition, we demonstrated that the FMA score was significantly correlated with the smart insole data. Providing an environment where stroke patients can easily measure walking ability helps to maintain chronic functions as well as acute rehabilitation.

Trial Registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000041646, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000047538
A Federated Online Search Tool for Biospecimens (Sample Locator): Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Schüttler Christina , Huth Verena , von Jagwitz-Biegnitz Magdaléna , Lablans Martin , Prokosch Hans-Ulrich , Griebel Lena
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

The German Biobank Alliance (GBA) aims to establish a cross-site biobank network. For this endeavor, the so-called Sample Locator, a federated search tool for biospecimens and related data, has been developed, forming the heart of its information technology (IT) infrastructure.

OBJECTIVE

To ensure the sustainable use of such a tool, we included researchers as participants in an end user–based usability evaluation.

METHODS

To develop a prototype ready for evaluation, we needed input from GBA IT experts. Thus, we conducted a 2-day workshop with 8 GBA IT team members. The focus was on the respective steps of a user-centered design process. With the acquired knowledge, the participants designed low-fidelity mock-ups. The main ideas of these mock-ups were discussed, extracted, and summarized into a comprehensive prototype using Microsoft PowerPoint. Furthermore, we created a questionnaire concerning the usability of the prototype, including the System Usability Scale (SUS), questions on negative and positive aspects, and typical tasks to be fulfilled with the tool. Subsequently, the prototype was pretested on the basis of this questionnaire with researchers who have a biobank background. Based on this preliminary work, the usability analysis was ultimately carried out with researchers and the results were evaluated.

RESULTS

Altogether, 27 researchers familiar with sample requests evaluated the prototype. The analysis of the feedback certified a good usability, given that the Sample Locator prototype was seen as intuitive and user-friendly by 74% (20/27) of the participants. The total SUS score by the 25 persons that completed the questionnaire was 80.4, indicating good system usability. Still, the evaluation provided useful advice on optimization potential (eg, offering a help function).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this usability analysis indicate that the considerations regarding a user-friendly application that have been made in the development process so far strongly coincide with the perception of the study participants. Nevertheless, it was important to engage prospective end users to ensure that the previous development is going in the desired direction and that the Sample Locator will be used in the future. The user comments and suggestions for improvement will be considered in upcoming iterations for refinement.
Interpretable Conditional Recurrent Neural Network for Weight Change Prediction: Algorithm Development and Validation Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kim Ho Heon , Kim Youngin , Park Yu Rang
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

In recent years, mobile-based interventions have received more attention as an alternative to on-site obesity management. Despite increased mobile interventions for obesity, there are lost opportunities to achieve better outcomes due to the lack of a predictive model using current existing longitudinal and cross-sectional health data.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a weight change predictive model using an interpretable artificial intelligence algorithm for mobile-based interventions and to explore contributing factors to weight loss.

METHODS

Lifelog mobile app (Noom) user data of individuals who used the weight loss program for 16 weeks in the United States were used to develop an interpretable recurrent neural network algorithm for weight prediction that considers both time-variant and time-fixed variables. This interpretable model was trained and validated with 5-fold cross-validation (training set: 70%; testing: 30%) using the lifelog data. Mean absolute percentage error between actual weight loss and predicted weight was used to measure model performance. To better understand the behavior factors contributing to weight loss or gain, we calculated contribution coefficients in test sets.

RESULTS

A total of 17,867 users’ data were included in the analysis. The overall mean absolute percentage error of the model was 3.50%, and the error of the model declined from 3.78% to 3.45% by the end of the program. The time-level attention weighting was shown to be equally distributed at 0.0625 each week, but this gradually decreased (from 0.0626 to 0.0624) as it approached 16 weeks. Factors such as usage pattern, weight input frequency, meal input adherence, exercise, and sharp decreases in weight trajectories had negative contribution coefficients of –0.021, –0.032, –0.015, and –0.066, respectively. For time-fixed variables, being male had a contribution coefficient of –0.091.

CONCLUSIONS

An interpretable algorithm, with both time-variant and time-fixed data, was used to precisely predict weight loss while preserving model transparency. This week-to-week prediction model is expected to improve weight loss and provide a global explanation of contributing factors, leading to better outcomes.
Epidemiology of Malaria in East Nusa Tenggara Province in Indonesia: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Guntur Robertus Dole , Kingsley Jonathan , Islam Fakir M Amirul
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Malaria is a global pandemic that results in approximately 228 million cases globally; 3.5% of these cases are in Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia. Following the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative, Indonesia is in the process of achieving malaria-free zone status by 2030. However, the eastern part of Indonesia, including the East Nusa Tenggara Province (ENTP), still has a disproportionately high rate of malaria.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this cross-sectional study are to determine the awareness and knowledge, attitude, and practice toward various aspects of malaria among rural adults and their associated factors, including sociodemographic factors and ethnicities; assess the gap between coverage of, access to, and use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) among the households; estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with malaria in rural adults; and develop a risk prediction model for malaria.

METHODS

A multistage cluster sampling procedure with a systematic random sampling procedure at cluster level 4 was applied to recruit 1503 adults aged 18 years or older from the ENTP. Each participant participated in a face-to-face interview to assess their awareness and knowledge, attitude, and practice toward aspects of malaria, practices of sleeping under LLINs, and history of malaria. Information on sociodemographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors was also documented. The proportion of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward aspects of malaria and their variations across different sociodemographic and ethnic groups will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Coverage and access to LLINs will be evaluated based on the WHO recommendations. Malaria risk factors will be analyzed using logistic regression. Multilevel logistic regression will be applied to estimate the risk score for malaria.

RESULTS

Of the total participants, 99.46% (1495/1503) of rural adults from 49 villages in the ENTP participated in a face-to-face interview from October to December 2019. The study results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

CONCLUSIONS

The best malaria risk prediction model will be developed in this study. In this protocol, we developed a methodology to provide new evidence to guide health policy in supporting the ENTP government’s expectation to achieve the malaria-free rating by 2030.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/23545