bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis in Southern China: Analysis of 107 Cases
Authors: Li Xiaojing , Hou Chi , Wu Wenlin , Liang Huici , Zheng Kelu , Zhang Yani , Zeng Yiru , Chen Lianfeng , Zhu Haixia , Tian Yang , Gao Yuanyuan , Peng Bingwei , Yang Sida , Wang Xiuying , Ning Shuyao , Liao Yinting , Lin Haisheng , Chen Wen-Xiong
Published: June 2020

Background: Research on pediatric anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is limited. We studied clinical features of children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in southern China.Methods: Pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis between 2014 and 2019 from one tertiary medical center was analyzed. The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was adopted to evaluate outcomes.Results: 107 children (M/F=50/57; mean onset age=6.3 y) with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were involved. Boys significantly showed earlier onset age, higher ratio of fever, longer hospital day, more courses of steroid treatment, higher mRS score after treatment. 48.6% of patients had prodromal events with infectious events most common. The most common symptom at onset and during whole course was seizures and psychiatric symptoms respectively. Initial median white cell count of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was 22.0x106/L. 12.1% of patients had positive herpes simplex virus DNA of CSF. All patients had CSF positive NMDAR antibodies, although 86.9% of patients had serologically positive. 9.3% of patients had overlapped other neuronal antibodies. Electroencephalograph showed abnormalities with slow wave (95.3%) and epileptic activity (41.5%). Delta brush was revealed in 3.8% of patients. 36.4% of patients had lesions in brain MRI, with local lesions most common. No tumor was found in all. 84.9% of patients responded well to the first line therapy (steroid plus immunoglobulin), while 12 patients accepted second-line therapy (Rituximab) with 91.7% of effective rate. 12.1% of patients relapsed. 2 male patients died. The median length of hospital stay was 28 days. The mRS score was significantly improved after treatment. 51.0% of patients had a full recovery. 76.6% of patients had mild neurological disability (mRS≤2). Male, speech disorder, initial score of mRS and administration of second-line therapy were independent risk factors associated with the outcome.Conclusions: Of pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis in southern China: the mean onset age was about 6-year-old, earlier in boys; boys remained slower to recover and with a worse prognosis; the most common respective symptom at onset and during whole course was seizures and psychiatric symptoms; combination with tumor was rare; most patients respond well to the immunotherapy; relapse and fatality rate were relatively low; most patients had a good prognosis.
A difference in a transfer function of two horizontal components between the ground level and the borehole at KiK-net Mashiki Station Anisotropy of shear wave propagation in Kyushu area based on seismic interferometry
Authors: Motoki Kentaro , Kato Kenichi
Published: June 2020

In this study, we evaluated the travel time of S-wave between the vertical array stations based on seismic interferometry, focusing on the difference in transfer function due to two horizontal components at the KiK-net Mashiki station (KMMH16). At that time, we surveyed the differences by back azimuth (BAZ) and the polarization direction of seismic waves. Furthermore, we expanded the survey to all KiK-net stations in the Kyushu district, to confirm whether the phenomena seen at KMMH16 is specific to this location.
The result shows that the difference by the polarization direction in the travel time was larger than the difference by the BAZ. This result suggests that the difference in transfer function at KMMH16 were affected by the anisotropy of the S-wave velocity. We evaluated the leading S-wave polarization directions (LSPDs) and the strength of anisotropy (ΔV) for all KiK-net stations in the Kyushu district. The LSPDs roughly correspond to the results of previous studies. The LSPDs in the forearc area are nearly perpendicular to the crustal deformation whereas those in the back-arc area are nearly parallel to it. This characteristic is similar to one found by Nakajima and Hasegawa (2008) in the Tohoku district. We examined the change in anisotropy before and after the Kumamoto earthquake at two stations, KMMH16 and KMMH14 that are located near the source region. The changes in the LSPD and the ΔV before and after the earthquake were not notable.
At stations that observed weak anisotropy, transfer functions of two horizontal components show similar shape. At stations that observed strong anisotropy, however, the shape of the transfer function differs greatly, depending on the horizontal direction. This suggests that an evaluation of site amplification using a single velocity model may reduce the reproducibility of ground motions.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility in the Mycobacteroides abscessus Complex is Restored by an Imipenem-Clarithromycin Combination
Authors: Ihara Hiroaki , Takei Satomi , Togo Shinsaku , Nakamura Ayako , Fujimoto Yuichi , Watanabe Junko , Kurokawa Kana , Kohei Shibayama , Sumiyoshi Issei , Ochi Yusuke , Iwai Moe , Okabe Takahiro , Chonan Masayoshi , Misawa Shigeki , Ohsaka Akimichi , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: June 2020

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous organisms and the incidence of NTM infections has been increasing in recent years. Mycobacteroides abscessus (M. abscessus) is one of the most antimicrobial-resistant NTM; however, no reliable antibiotic regimen can be officially advocated. We evaluated the efficacy of clarithromycin in combination with various antimicrobial agents against the M. abscessus complex. Twenty-nine clinical strains of M. abscessus were isolated from various clinical samples. Of the isolates, 10 (34.5%) were of M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, 18 (62.1%) of M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, and 1 (3.4%) of M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. MICs of three antimicrobial agents (amikacin, imipenem, and moxifloxacin) were measured with or without clarithromycin. The imipenem-clarithromycin combination significantly reduced MICs compared to clarithromycin and imipenem monotherapies, including against resistant strains. The association between susceptibility of the M. abscessus complex and each combination of agents was significant (p = 0.001). Adjusted residuals indicated that the imipenem-clarithromycin combination had the synergistic effect (adjusted residual = 3.1) and suppressed the antagonistic effect (adjusted residual = -3.1). In subspecies of M. abscessus complex, the association with susceptibility of M. abscessus subsp. massiliense was similarly statistically significant (p = 0.036: adjusted residuals of synergistic and antagonistic effect respectively: 2.6 and -2.6). The association with susceptibility of M. abscessus subsp. abscessus also showed a similar trend but did not reach statistical significance. Our data suggest that the imipenem-clarithromycin combination could be the recommended therapeutic choice for the treatment of M. abscessus complex owing to its ability to restore antimicrobial susceptibility.
Lack of Benefit in COVID-19 Patients Treated with Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Liang , An Shuoyan , Yao Guangyu , Xiong Jiasheng , Xiong Haiyan , Zhao Ping , Jiang Lufang , Hua Wei , Xiong Chenglong , Duru Firat , Jiang Qingwu
Published: June 2020

Background

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) have been widely used for the treatment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), despite limited clinical evidence and controversial early reports. The aim of this report was to provide a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis on the use of HCQ/CQ with respect to safety and clinical efficacy of these medications.
Methods

We performed a systematic search of the medical databases and included studies if they focused on patients with COVID-19 who received HCQ or CQ alone, or in combination with other treatments, and were compared with a control group. We analyzed two important clinical objectives; viral clearance rate by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) negativity and all-cause mortality.
Results

A total of 14 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. The use of HCQ/CQ was associated with higher viral clearance rate compared with control group (OR: 3.12, 95% CI: 2.17–4.49 p < 0.0001). In the sensitivity analysis, the effect on viral clearance disappeared (OR 1.44, 95% CI: 0.87–2.37, p = 0.155). The use of HCQ/CQ was associated with a higher risk of mortality (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.51, p < 0.0001). Due to huge heterogeneity between the studies (I2 = 86%, p < 0.01), we performed a meta regression analysis. Both treatment within 24 hours (p = 0.047) and comorbidities [hypertension (p = 0.025), diabetes (p = 0.049) and chronic lung disease (p = 0.0064)] contributed to the heterogeneity. HCQ/CQ daily dose (p = 0.61) and age (p = 0.62) had no impact on effect size. Higher rate of comorbidities led to a higher risk of mortality by using HCQ/CQ. Overall, the use of HCQ/CQ resulted in longer QTc intervals.
Conclusions

Our meta-analysis did not reveal a clinical benefit of HCQ/CQ on in-hospital outcomes for patients with COVID-19. The use of HCQ/CQ did not result in rapid viral clearance on RT-PCR. Moreover, our results showed that HCQ/CQ treatment even increase in-hospital mortality, and higher rate of comorbidities led to a higher risk of mortality by using HCQ/CQ.
Clinical Efficacy of a Single-dose of Platelet Rich Plasma in the Management of Early Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study With Mri Assessment and Evaluation of Optimal Dose
Authors: Bansal Himanshu , Leon Jerry , Pont Jeremy L. , Wilson David A. , ST Sathya Meonah , Bansal Anupama , Preoteasa Iustin
Published: June 2020

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) causes substantial physical disability that limits a person's ability to indulge in daily activities. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs provide only minimal symptomatic benefit and are associated with mild to severe side effects, thus limiting its continuous use. This being the case, new alternate healing strategies with minimal adverse effects are being explored scientifically. In our study we have attempted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a single dose of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in treating osteoarthritis. Our primary objectives are:i) To optimise the correct dose of PRP preparation to achieve therapeutic relief in knee OAii) To identify the therapeutic efficacy of PRP in selected patients suffering from symptomatic primary knee OA through Randomized Clinical Trials and analyse the possible outcome using MRI analysis.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, 12-month, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 100 outpatients. PRP was prepared from the blood drawn from the subjects and administered intra-articularly guided by ultrasound. The degree of pain was assessed using WOMAC scores, the International Knee Documentation Committee score (IKDC) and six-minute pain free walking distance. The joint space width and articular cartilage thickness was evaluated through x-ray, ultrasonagraphy and MRI.Result: PRP with absolute count of approximately 100 billion platelets brings out significant therapeutic relief. The WOMAC scores showed reduction from 54.7 at baseline to 28.8 at one month, and 29.9 at 3 months showing efficacy of PRP over placebo. Improvement was evident in one month scores of IKDC tests (Baseline- 53.6; 1 month - 76.9) and VAS (Baseline - 5.8; 1 month - 2.46) followed by slight decline at 3, 6-month and one-year scores. Similarly, the pain-free distance covered during a 6-min walk was significantly improved at one month in both the groups (PRP-146 ft.; placebo-122 ft; p value <0.001). No change is seen on MRI and Joint space width.Conclusion: 7 times Concentration and absolute count of 100 billion platelets is crucial in a PRP formulation to be therapeutically effective in alleviating symptoms in moderate knee OA. The results indicate prevention of structural modification in the PRP group and better chondroprotective effects compared to placebo group.Trial Registration: This study has been registered in the US Clinical Trial Registry (U.S. National Library of Medicine) with Trial registration no. 04198467. Date of registration: December 13, 2019. (Retrospectively registered) URL - https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04198467?term=04198467&draw=2&rank=1
Weight Loss is Associated With Sustained Improvement of Disease Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis and Obesity: a Prospective Intervention Study With Two Years of Follow-up
Authors: Klingberg Eva , Björkman Sofia , Eliasson Björn , Larsson Ingrid , Bilberg Annelie
Published: June 2020

Backgroun Obesity is overrepresented in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and associated with increased disease activity. We have previously shown in 41 patients with PsA (Caspar criteria) and obesity (body mass index; BMI ≥33 kg/m2) that weight loss treatment with Very Low Energy Liquid Diet (VLED), 640 kcal/day during 12-16 weeks, followed by a structured reintroduction of an energy restricted diet resulted in a median weight loss of 18.6% and concomitantly a significant improvement of the disease activity in joints, entheses and skin.The objectives of this follow-up were to study the effects of the weight loss treatment on disease activity in longer term (12 and 24 months) and to study the effects on cardiovascular risk factors.Methods The patients were assessed with 66/68 joints count, Leeds enthesitis index (LEI), body surface area, blood pressure, BMI, questionnaires and fasting blood samples at the 12- and 24-month visits.Results In total, 39 and 35 PsA patients attended the 12- and the 24-month visits, respectively. Median weight loss since baseline was 16.0 % (IQR 10.5–22.4) and 7.4% (IQR 5.1–14.0) at the 12- and 24-months follow-up. The 66/68 swollen/tender joints score, LEI, CRP and HAQ score were still significantly reduced at the 12- and 24-month visits compared to baseline. The number of patients with Minimal Disease Activity increased from 28.2% (11/39) at baseline, to 38.5% (15/39; p=0.008) and 45.7 % (16/35; p=0.016) at the 12- and 24-month visits.The weight loss was also associated with improved levels of serum lipids, glucose and urate and the antihypertensive treatment was reduced or stopped in five patients during the follow-up.Conclusions Weight loss treatment with VLED included in the program was associated with long-term improvement of measures of disease activity, function and markers of the metabolic syndrome after 24-months follow-up.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02917434, Registered September 28, 2016- Retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02917434
Can artificial intelligence predict the need for oxygen therapy in early stage COVID-19 pneumonia?
Authors: Obinata Hirofumi , Ruan Peiying , Mori Hitoshi , Zhu Wentao , Sasaki Hisashi , Tatsuya Kodama , Wakana Murakami , Tanaka Masumi , Hsu Pin-Lun , Yang Dong , Xu Ziyue , Xu Daguang , Tamura Kaku , Yokobori Shoji
Published: June 2020

This study investigated the utility of artificial intelligence in predicting disease progression. We analysed 194 patients with COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Among them, 31 patients had oxygen therapy administered after admission. To assess the utility of artificial intelligence in the prediction of disease progression, we used three machine learning models employing clinical features (patient’s background, laboratory data, and symptoms), one deep learning model employing computed tomography (CT) images, and one multimodal deep learning model employing a combination of clinical features and CT images. We also evaluated the predictive values of these models and analysed the important features required to predict worsening in cases of COVID-19. The multimodal deep learning model had the highest accuracy. The CT image was an important feature of multimodal deep learning model. The area under the curve of all machine learning models employing clinical features and the deep learning model employing CT images exceeded 90%, and sensitivity of these models exceeded 95%. C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase were important features of machine learning models. Our machine learning model, while slightly less accurate than the multimodal model, still provides a valuable medical triage tool for patients in the early stages of COVID-19.
Predictors of Outpatients’ No-Show: Big Data Analytics using Apache Spark
Authors: Daghistani Tahani , AlGhamdi Huda , Alshammari Riyad , AlHazme Raed H.
Published: June 2020

Outpatients who fail to attend their appointments have a negative impact on the healthcare outcome. Thus, healthcare organizations facing new opportunities, one of them is to improve the quality of healthcare. The main challenges is predictive analysis using techniques capable of handle the huge data generated. We propose a big data framework for identifying subject outpatients’ no-show via feature engineering and machine learning (MLlib) in Spark platform. The aim of this paper is exploring factors that affect no-sow rate then can be used to formulate predictions using big data machine learning techniques.
Identification of an autophagy-related gene signature for survival prediction in patients with cervical cancer
Authors: Chen Hengyu , Deng Qingchun , Wang Wenwen , Tao Huishan , Gao Ying
Published: June 2020

Autophagy controls the survival and death of cancerous cells by regulating the degradation process of cytoplasm and cellular organelle. In the present study, the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (ARGs) between healthy and cancerous cervical tissues (squamous cell neoplasms) were obtained using data from GTEx and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The functionalities of the differentially expressed ARGs were analyzed using GO and KEGG database. After univariate and multivariate cox regression assay, we got a six ARG-related prognostic signature for the survival prediction of patients with squamous cell cervical cancer (Risk score= -0.63*ATG3-0.42*BCL2+0.85*CD46-0.38*IFNG+0.23*NAMPT+0.82*TM9SF1). Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated that patients with a high-risk score tend to have a poor prognosis (P<0.001). The value for area under the curves corresponding to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was 0.740. As observed, the expression of IFNG was negatively associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.026), while a high-risk score was significantly associated with increased age (P=0.008). To further validate the prognostic signature, we carried out a permutation test and confirmed the performance of the risk score.
Stratifying Malaria Receptivity In Bangladesh Using Archived Rapid Diagnostic Tests
Authors: Sagna André Barembaye , Kibria Mohammad Golam , Naher Shamsun , Islam Shayla , Aktaruzzaman M. M. , Alam Mohammad Shafiul , Koepfli Cristian
Published: June 2020

Background

Surveillance on low-density infections and exposure to vectors is crucial to understand where malaria elimination might be feasible, and where the risk of outbreaks is high. Archived rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), used by national malaria control and elimination programs for clinical diagnosis, present a valuable, yet rarely used resource for in-depth studies on malaria epidemiology.

Methods

We screened 1,022 RDTs from two sub-Districts in Bangladesh (Alikadam and Kamalganj) by qPCR for low-density Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections, and by ELISA for Anopheles salivary gland antibodies as a marker for exposure to vectors.

Results

Concordance between RDT and qPCR was moderate. qPCR detected 31/1022 infections compared to 36/1022 diagnosed by RDT. Exposure to Anopheles was significantly higher in Kamalganj despite low transmission, which could be explained by low bed net use.

Conclusions

Archived RDTs present a valuable source of antibodies for serological studies on exposure to vectors. In contrast, the benefit of screening archived RDTs to obtain a better estimate of test positivity is moderate. Kamalganj could thus be prone to outbreaks.
Comparative Analysis of Molecular Identification and Wing Morphometrics of Forensically Important Blow Flies in China
Authors: li xiangrong , Chen Tingjun , Shang Yajie , Ren Lipin , Pang Pengliang , Guo Yadong , wang yong , Zhang Changquan
Published: June 2020

Background: Correct species identification is the most crucial step in applying entomological evidence to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) since death of decomposed corpses. Wing morphometrics have been proposed in species classification as an alternative method of traditional morphology and molecular approaches. However, so far, this method has not been applied to the identification of Chinese Calliphoridae and few studies compare the two identification methods.Methods: We used landmark-based geometric morphometrics of wings to identify nine medically and forensically important blow fly species of China. 270 specimens representing nine species and eight genera were sampled, 18 landmarks on the right wing were measured and analyzed using canonical variates analysis and discriminant function analysis. Then, a cross-validation test was used to evaluate reliability of the method. Moreover, in order to further assess the validity of this method, molecular identification is used for comparative analysis. Eighty sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of Calliphoridae isolated from different countries were downloaded from Genbank, including the data previously submitted by our team. Results: Different species and genera can be well separated through morphometric analysis with an overall classification accuracy of 80~100%, but discrimination between sexes was less effective. The results indicated that the discriminative efficiency of the two methods is almost identical.Conclusions: Wing morphometrics can be used as a complementary method of molecular identification for the geographical location and gender identification of certain species as a simple and cheap method.
Predictive Data Mining Models for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infected Patients Recovery
Authors: Muhammad L. J. , Islam Md. Milon , Sharif Usman Sani , Ayon Safial Islam
Published: June 2020

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV) pandemic has neither clinically proven vaccine nor drugs; however, its patients are recovering with the aid of antibiotics medications, anti-viral drugs, and chloroquine as well as vitamin C supplementation. It is now evident that the world needs a speedy and quicker solution to contain and tackle the further spread of COVID-19 across the world with the aid of non-clinical approaches such as data mining approaches, augmented intelligence and other artificial intelligence techniques so as to mitigate the huge burden on the healthcare system while providing the best possible means for patients' diagnosis and prognosis of the 2019-nCoV pandemic effectively. In this study, data mining models were developed for the prediction of COVID-19 infected patients’ recovery using epidemiological dataset of COVID-19 patients of South Korea. The decision tree, support vector machine, naive Bayes, logistic regression, random forest, and K-nearest neighbor algorithms were applied directly on the dataset using python programming language to develop the models. The model predicted a minimum and maximum number of days for COVID-19 patients to recover from the virus, the age group of patients who are of high risk not to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, those who are likely to recover and those who might be likely to recover quickly from COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the present study have shown that the model developed with decision tree data mining algorithm is more efficient to predict the possibility of recovery of the infected patients from COVID-19 pandemic with the overall accuracy of 99.85 % which stands to be the best model developed among the models developed with other algorithms including support vector machine, naive Bayes, logistic regression, random forest, and K-nearest neighbor.
Particulate matter (PM2.5) as a potential SARS-CoV-2 carrier
Authors: Md Norefrina Shafinaz , Wai Yip Chee , Ibrahim Nazlina , Rashid Zetti Zainol , Mustafa Norlaila , Hamid Haris Hafizal Abd , Latif Mohd Talib , Er Saw Phei , Yik Lin Chin , Alhasa Kemal Maulana , Hashim Jamal Hisham , nadzir mohd shahrul mohd
Published: June 2020

The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic had raised questions on the route of transmission of this disease. Initial understanding was that transmission originated from respiratory droplet from an infected host to a susceptible host. However, indirect contact transmission of viable virus by fomites and through aerosols has also been suggested. Herein, we report the involvement of fine indoor air particulate with the diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) as the transport agent of the virus. PM2.5 was collected over four weeks during a 48 hours measurement intervals in four separate wards containing different infected clusters in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our results indicated highest SARS-CoV-2 RNA on PM2.5 in the ward associated with a lavatory. We suggest a link between the virus-laden PM2.5 and the ward’s design. Patients’ symptoms and numbers that govern the magnitude of viral shedding may also influence the number of airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA on PM2.5 in an enclosed environment.
Comparison of two systems of tonoplast purification from tobacco cells of suspension culture BY-2
Authors: Chen Тingzhuo , Kirpichnikova Anastasia , Mikhaylova Yulia , Shishova Maria
Published: June 2020

The tonoplast is an intracellular membrane, important for numerous functions of the vacuoles in plant cells. Transport, signaling, enzymatic activity and other processes of the tonoplast are the focus of a wide spectrum of studies. Multiple advanced analyses demand highly purified vacuoles or vesicles of the tonoplast membrane fraction. Since 1960 several approaches have been developed for such purification, but new goals and new model objects require adjustment of already existing techniques. The presented investigation aimed to compare two methods of tonoplast membrane fraction purification from tobacco suspension cell culture BY-2 (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv Bright Yellow) based on sucrose and sucrose/sorbitol gradients. The functional activity of obtained purified tonoplast fractions was measured by the hydrolytic activity of vacuolar H+-ATPase and H+-PPase.
Chemical Landscape Analysis with the Opentox Framework
Authors: Jeliazkova Nina , Jeliazkov Vedrin
Published: June 2020

The Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR) landscape and activity cliffs concepts have their origins in medicinal chemistry and receptor-ligand interactions modelling. While intuitive, the definition of an activity cliff as a “pair of structurally similar compounds with large differences in potency” is commonly recognized as ambiguous. This paper proposes a new and efficient method for identifying activity cliffs and visualization of activity landscapes. The activity cliffs definition could be improved to reflect not the cliff steepness alone, but also the rate of the change of the steepness. The method requires explicitly setting similarity and activity difference thresholds, but provides means to explore multiple thresholds and to visualize in a single map how the thresholds affect the activity cliff identification. The identification of the activity cliffs is addressed by reformulating the problem as a statistical one, by introducing a probabilistic measure, namely, calculating the likelihood of a compound having large activity difference compared to other compounds, while being highly similar to them. The likelihood is effectively a quantification of a SAS Map with defined thresholds. Calculating the likelihood relies on four counts only, and does not require the pairwise matrix storage. This is a significant advantage, especially when processing large datasets. The method generates a list of individual compounds, ranked according to the likelihood of their involvement in the formation of activity cliffs, and goes beyond characterizing cliffs by structure pairs only. The visualisation is implemented by considering the activity plane fixed and analysing the irregularities of the similarity itself. It provides a convenient analogy to a topographic map and may help identifying the most appropriate similarity representation for each specific SAR space. The proposed method has been applied to several datasets, representing different biological activities. Finally, the method is implemented as part of an existing open source Ambit package and could be accessed via an OpenTox API compliant web service and via an interactive application, running within a modern, JavaScript enabled web browser. Combined with the functionalities already offered by the OpenTox framework, like data sharing and remote calculations, it could be a useful tool for exploring chemical landscapes online.
Non-destructive method for estimating leaf area of Erythroxylum pauferrense (Erythroxylaceae) from linear dimensions of leaf blades
Authors: Ribeiro João Everthon da Silva , Coêlho Ester dos Santos , Figueiredo Francisco Romário Andrade , Melo Marlenildo Ferreira
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims: Determining the leaf area is essential for studies on growth, propagation, and ecophysiology of forest species. Developing quick, practical, and accurate methods is needed to estimate leaf area without destroying leaves. Therefore, this research aimed to obtain an equation from regression models that meaningfully estimate the leaf area of Erythroxylum pauferrense using linear dimensions of its leaf blades.Methods: For this purpose, 1200 leaves were randomly collected from different plants in the Mata do Pau-Ferro, a state park located in Areia city, Paraíba state, Brazil. Equations were fitted from simple linear, linear without intercept, quadratic, cubic, power, and exponential regression models. Next, the best equation was selected by checking the following assumptions: higher determination coefficient (R²) and Willmott's index (d), lower Akaike information criterion (AIC) and root mean square error (RMSE), as well as the BIAS index closest to zero.Key results: Based on the criteria used, all equations fitted using the product of length by width (L.W) can estimate the leaf area of E. pauferrense.Conclusions: The equation ŷ=0.6740*LW from the linear model without intercept significantly estimates the leaf area of E. pauferrense in a quick and practical way (R²=0.9960; d=0.9953; AIC=1231.61; RMSE=0.4255; BIAS=-0.0130).
Pelatihan penggunaan buku panduan pembuatan dan pelaksanaan pembelajaran di taman lalu lintas untuk guru taman kanak-kanak
Authors: Cahya Ningrum Eka Sapti , Christianti Martha , Maryatun Ika Budi , Cholimah Nur
Published: June 2020

Tujuan pengabdian ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kemampuan para guru dalam membuat dan melaksanakan pembelajaran di taman lalu lintas untuk taman kanak-kanak di Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Pemecahan masalah yang dilakukan bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang: (1) rambu lalu lintas yang harus ada dalam taman lalu lintas, (2) etika berlalu lintas yang harus dikenalkan pada anak usia dini, (3) cara membuat taman lalu lintas di sekolah,(4) cara merancang pembelajaran di taman lalu lintas, (5) cara melaksanakan pembelajaran di taman lalu lintas dalam bentuk praktik microteaching dan pendampingan, dan (6) pembuatan video praktik pembelajaran di taman lalu lintas. Pelatihan penggunaan buku panduan pembuatan dan pelaksanaan pembelajaran di taman lalu lintas untuk taman kanak-kanak bagi guru TK di DIY ini mencapai target yang diharapkan yaitu kehadiran peserta melebihi target, yaitu dari target 25 peserta menjadi 35 peserta. Selain itu, para guru dapat menggunakan taman lalu lintas dalam pembelajaran di sekolah, mengenalkan rambu lalu lintas dan etika berlalu lintas pada anak melalui penjelasan dengan gambar dan praktik langsung dengan bermain peran, serta mengajak anak untuk belajar di taman lalu lintas dalam tema pembelajaran yang lain seperti pekerjaan dan lingkungan.
Fluctuation of Public Interest in COVID-19 in the United States: Retrospective Analysis of Google Trends Search Data
Authors: Husain Iltifat , Briggs Blake , Lefebvre Cedric , Cline David M , Stopyra Jason P , O'Brien Mary Claire , Vaithi Ramupriya , Gilmore Scott , Countryman Chase
Published: June 2020

Background

In the absence of vaccines and established treatments, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are fundamental tools to control coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission. NPIs require public interest to be successful. In the United States, there is a lack of published research on the factors that influence public interest in COVID-19. Using Google Trends, we examined the US level of public interest in COVID-19 and how it correlated to testing and with other countries.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine how public interest in COVID-19 in the United States changed over time and the key factors that drove this change, such as testing. US public interest in COVID-19 was compared to that in countries that have been more successful in their containment and mitigation strategies.

Methods

In this retrospective study, Google Trends was used to analyze the volume of internet searches within the United States relating to COVID-19, focusing on dates between December 31, 2019, and March 24, 2020. The volume of internet searches related to COVID-19 was compared to that in other countries.

Results

Throughout January and February 2020, there was limited search interest in COVID-19 within the United States. Interest declined for the first 21 days of February. A similar decline was seen in geographical regions that were later found to be experiencing undetected community transmission in February. Between March 9 and March 12, 2020, there was a rapid rise in search interest. This rise in search interest was positively correlated with the rise of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 (6.3, 95% CI −2.9 to 9.7; P<.001). Within the United States, it took 52 days for search interest to rise substantially after the first positive case; in countries with more successful outbreak control, search interest rose in less than 15 days.

Conclusions

Containment and mitigation strategies require public interest to be successful. The initial level of COVID-19 public interest in the United States was limited and even decreased during a time when containment and mitigation strategies were being established. A lack of public interest in COVID-19 existed in the United States when containment and mitigation policies were in place. Based on our analysis, it is clear that US policy makers need to develop novel methods of communicating COVID-19 public health initiatives.
Development of an Online Health Care Assessment for Preventive Medicine: A Machine Learning Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Yu Cheng-Sheng , Lin Yu-Jiun , Lin Chang-Hsien , Lin Shiyng-Yu , Wu Jenny L , Chang Shy-Shin
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

In the era of information explosion, the use of the internet to assist with clinical practice and diagnosis has become a cutting-edge area of research. The application of medical informatics allows patients to be aware of their clinical conditions, which may contribute toward the prevention of several chronic diseases and disorders.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we applied machine learning techniques to construct a medical database system from electronic medical records (EMRs) of subjects who have undergone health examination. This system aims to provide online self-health evaluation to clinicians and patients worldwide, enabling personalized health and preventive health.

METHODS

We built a medical database system based on the literature, and data preprocessing and cleaning were performed for the database. We utilized both supervised and unsupervised machine learning technology to analyze the EMR data to establish prediction models. The models with EMR databases were then applied to the internet platform.

RESULTS

The validation data were used to validate the online diagnosis prediction system. The accuracy of the prediction model for metabolic syndrome reached 91%, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.904 in this system. For chronic kidney disease, the prediction accuracy of the model reached 94.7%, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.982. In addition, the system also provided disease diagnosis visualization via clustering, allowing users to check their outcome compared with those in the medical database, enabling increased awareness for a healthier lifestyle.

CONCLUSIONS

Our web-based health care machine learning system allowed users to access online diagnosis predictions and provided a health examination report. Users could understand and review their health status accordingly. In the future, we aim to connect hospitals worldwide with our platform, so that health care practitioners can make diagnoses or provide patient education to remote patients. This platform can increase the value of preventive medicine and telemedicine.
REMOTION Blended Transdiagnostic Intervention for Symptom Reduction and Improvement of Emotion Regulation in an Outpatient Psychotherapeutic Setting: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Bielinski Laura Luisa , Krieger Tobias , Moggi Franz , Trimpop Leonie , Willutzki Ulrike , Nissen Christoph , Berger Thomas
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Emotion regulation has been identified as an important transdiagnostic factor relevant to the treatment of mental health disorders. Many empirically validated psychotherapeutic treatments incorporate elements targeting emotion regulation. Most of these treatment approaches are conceptualized as standard face-to-face treatments not as blended treatments, which include an internet-based intervention.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine, for the first time, a new internet-based intervention—REMOTION—that will be provided transdiagnostically, as an add-on to psychotherapy, to provide a blended treatment format.

METHODS

A total of 70 participants will be assigned (1:1 allocation ratio) to either the intervention group (REMOTION + psychotherapy) or the treatment-as-usual group that receives psychotherapy alone. To maximize external validity, a typical outpatient treatment sample of patients diagnosed with a range of disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, and adjustment disorder will be recruited from a university outpatient clinic. Patients with bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, or acute suicidality will be excluded from the study. The feasibility and potential effectiveness of the intervention will be examined by assessing data at baseline, 6 weeks (post), and 12 weeks (follow-up). The primary outcome is general symptom severity, assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory. Secondary outcomes are emotion regulation, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, health related quality of life, well-being, and a variety of feasibility parameters. Quantitative data will be analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

Participant recruitment and data collection started in February 2020, and as of November 2020, are ongoing. Results for the study are expected in 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot randomized controlled trial will inform future studies using transdiagnostic blended treatment.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04262726; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04262726

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/20936
BeyondSilos, a Telehealth-Enhanced Integrated Care Model in the Domiciliary Setting for Older Patients: Observational Prospective Cohort Study for Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Assessments (Preprint)
Authors: Piera-Jiménez Jordi , Daugbjerg Signe , Stafylas Panagiotis , Meyer Ingo , Müller Sonja , Lewis Leo , da Col Paolo , Folkvord Frans , Lupiáñez-Villanueva Francisco
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Information and communication technology may provide domiciliary care programs with continuity of care. However, evidence about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of information and communication technology in the context of integrated care models is relatively scarce.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to provide evidence on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the BeyondSilos project for patients enrolled in the Badalona city pilot site in Spain.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of information and communication technology–enhanced integration of health and social care, including the third sector (intervention), compared to basic health and social care coordination (comparator). The study was conducted in Badalona between 2015 and 2016. Participants were followed for 8 months.

RESULTS

The study included 198 patients: 98 in the intervention group and 100 in the comparator group. The mean Barthel index remained unchanged in the intervention group (mean change 0.14, 95% CI –4.51 to 4.78; P=.95) but decreased in the comparator group (mean change –3.23, 95% CI –5.34 to –1.11; P=.003). Instrumental Activities of Daily Living significantly decreased in both groups: mean changes of –0.23 (95% CI –0.44 to –0.02; P=.03) and –0.33 (95% CI –0.46 to –0.20; P<.001) in the intervention and comparator groups, respectively. No differences were found in the Geriatric Depression Scale (intervention: mean change 0.28, 95% CI –0.44 to 1.01, P=.44; comparator: mean change –0.29, 95% CI –0.59 to 0.01, P=.06). The intervention showed cost-effectiveness (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio €6505.52, approximately US $7582).

CONCLUSIONS

The information and communication technology–enhanced integrated domiciliary care program was cost-effective. The beneficial effects of this approach strongly rely upon the commitment of the professional staff involved.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03111004; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ NCT03111004
Health Perceptions and Misconceptions Regarding COVID-19 in China: Online Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Zhou Jiawei , Ghose Bishwajit , Wang Ruoxi , Wu Ruijun , Li Zhifei , Huang Rui , Feng Da , Feng Zhanchun , Tang Shangfeng
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Great efforts have been made to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including national initiatives to promote the change of personal behaviors. The lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak indicate that knowledge and attitudes about infectious diseases are related to panic among the population, which may further complicate efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Misunderstandings may result in behaviors such as underestimation, panic, and taking ineffective measures to avoid infection; these behaviors are likely to cause the epidemic to spread further.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to assess public health perceptions and misunderstandings about COVID-19 in China, and to propose targeted response measures based on the findings to control the development of the epidemic.

METHODS

The study was conducted in April 2020 through an online survey, with participants in 8 provinces in Eastern, Central, and Western China. We designed a questionnaire with a health knowledge section consisting of 5 questions (4 conventional questions and 1 misleading question) on clinical features of and preventive measures against COVID-19. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, binary logistic regression, and Mantel-Haenszel hierarchical analysis were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 4788 participants completed the survey and the mean knowledge score was 4.63 (SD 0.67), gained mainly through experts (76.1%), television (60.0%), newspapers (57.9%), and opinions (46.6%) and videos (42.9%) from social media. Compared to those who obtained information from only 1 or 2 channels, people who obtained information from >3 channels had increased health perception and a better ability to identify misleading information. Suggestions from experts were the most positive information source (χ2=41.61), while information on social media was the most misleading. Those aged >60 years (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10-2.11), those with a lower or middle income (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.00-1.83), those not working and not able to work (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.04-3.21), those with a household income <100,000 RMB (2 suspected symptoms (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.50-5.80) were more likely to be misled by videos on social media, but the error correction effect of expert advice was limited in these groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple information channels can improve public health perception and the identification of misleading information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Videos on social media increased the risk of rumor propagation among vulnerable groups. We suggest the government should strengthen social media regulation and increase experts’ influence on the targeted vulnerable populations to reduce the risk of rumors spreading.
Compelling Freedom on Campus: A Free Speech Paradox
Authors: Cameron* Jamie
Published: June 2020

In 1985, it was largely unknown how the Supreme Court of Canada would respond to the Charter.1 At first glance, a drugstore’s right to be open for business on Sunday, selling groceries, plastic cups, and a bicycle lock, seemed an unlikely source of inspiration for the Court’s first pronouncement on the essence of freedom. Perhaps unexpectedly, the justices enforced the entitlement, finding that a Sunday closing law compelling a corporation to comply with the Christian Sabbath infringed section 2(a)’s guarantee of religious freedom.2 In doing so, R v Big M Drug Mart defined freedom as “the absence of coercion or constraint,” stating without equivocation that no one who is compelled “to a course of action or inaction” is “truly free”.3 In Justice Dickson’s considered view, coercion includes “blatant forms of compulsion”, such as “direct commands to act or refrain from acting on pain of sanctions”, as well as forms of indirect control.4 In plain and unmistakeable terms, Big M promised that, under the Charter, “no one is to be forced to act in a way contrary to his beliefs or conscience”.5

 

* Professor Emeritus, Osgoode Hall Law School. I thank Kate Bezanson and Alison Braley-Rattai for includingme in this special issue of Constitutional Forum, and am grateful to Kate Bezanson for her comments onan earlier draft. I also thank Ryan Ng (JD 2021) for his valuable research assistance in the preparation ofthis paper. Finally, I note that I was a member of York University’s Free Speech Working Group in fall 2018.This paper does not in any way express the views of York University or the Working Group, which has longsince disbanded.

1Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s 2(a), Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B of the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 [Charter].2R v Big M Drug Mart, [1985] 1 SCR 295, 18 DLR (4th) 321 [Big M].3Ibid at 336.4Ibid.5 Ibid at 337.
The Role of Small Business in Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation in Nothwest Nigeria
Authors: Usaini Muhammad , Elijah Sunday
Published: June 2020

The great aim of this research is to empirically assess small business-critical roles in economic development and poverty reduction in northwest Nigeria. There is a positive relationship between small enterprise and economic growth in the OLS regression analysis. There is also a clear inverse association between poverty incidence, small business and economic growth. The empirical result thus established the connection between small business, economic growth and poverty incidence.