scholarly journals Balanced Convolutional Neural Networks for Pneumoconiosis Detection

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9091
Author(s):  
Chaofan Hao ◽  
Nan Jin ◽  
Cuijuan Qiu ◽  
Kun Ba ◽  
Xiaoxi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
High Accuracy ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Computer Aided Detection ◽  
Excellent Performance ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Costly Treatment ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann

Pneumoconiosis remains one of the most common and harmful occupational diseases in China, leading to huge economic losses to society with its high prevalence and costly treatment. Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis still strongly depends on the experience of radiologists, which affects rapid detection on large populations. Recent research focuses on computer-aided detection based on machine learning. These have achieved high accuracy, among which artificial neural network (ANN) shows excellent performance. However, due to imbalanced samples and lack of interpretability, wide utilization in clinical practice meets difficulty. To address these problems, we first establish a pneumoconiosis radiograph dataset, including both positive and negative samples. Second, deep convolutional diagnosis approaches are compared in pneumoconiosis detection, and a balanced training is adopted to promote recall. Comprehensive experiments conducted on this dataset demonstrate high accuracy (88.6%). Third, we explain diagnosis results by visualizing suspected opacities on pneumoconiosis radiographs, which could provide solid diagnostic reference for surgeons.

scholarly journals Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in free-range yaks (Bos grunniens) in Gansu Province, Northwest China

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Si-Yuan Qin ◽  
Ming-Yang Yin ◽  
Guang-Yao Song ◽  
Qi-Dong Tan ◽  
Jin-Lei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northwest China ◽  
Gansu Province ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Cattle Industry ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Bos Grunniens ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Different Seasons

Abstract Background Little information about the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in yaks (Bos grunniens) in northwest China is available. Therefore, the objective of the study was to quantify faecal egg counts of gastrointestinal parasites (helminths and coccidia) in free-range yaks from Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, Northwest China. Results Parasites were detected in 290 of 733 (39.56%) faecal samples. The results showed that Strongylidae, Trichuris spp. and Eimeria spp. were detected all year round, Strongyloides papillosus was detected in autumn and summer, and Nematodirus spp. was detected in both autumn and spring. In contrast, Fasciola spp. was only detected in spring. The prevalence rates of parasitic infections in different seasons were significantly different. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of gastrointestinal parasites in yaks (Bos grunniens) in Gansu, China. The results demonstrated a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections, specifically GN infections, in yaks in GTAP and these infections can cause economic losses to the local cattle industry.

scholarly journals Pilot Assessment of a Rapid Test for the Detection of COVID-19 Disease by Using Latex Agglutination

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cariaga-Martínez A ◽  
◽  
Gutiérrez KJ ◽  
Alelú-Paz R ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Latex Agglutination ◽  
Complementary Method ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Containment Measures

The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which was declared a pandemic by the WHO in March 2020, has forced the scientific community to develop rapid detection tests in order to detect positive cases and implement the containment measures established in each country. In this regard, the techniques used (RTPCR, antibody test, etc.) have a number of drawbacks: require specialized personnel, in addition to, in some cases, obtaining results after 24 hours. Agglutination tests, widely used in the detection of viral particles, represent a simple, inexpensive and scalable method that would allow screening studies to be carried out in large populations. In this paper, we present a SARS-CoV-2 detection test based on this methodology, which could be considered as a complementary method to the techniques used for the detection of SARSCoV-2.

scholarly journals Disability status due to occupational diseases: Ukraine, 2015-2918

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 232-238
Author(s):  
I.S. Borуsova
Keyword(s):  
Work Experience ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Work Injury ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Disability Rate ◽  
Primary Disability ◽  
Developed World ◽  
First Time

The economic burden of disability due to occupational diseases is significant: the economic losses "due to health problems related to work" in the developed world exceed 1,25 trillion US dollars and amount to 4 to 6% of GDP. A large number of employees work in Ukraine in unfavorable conditions. The study analyzes the dynamics of disability due to occupational diseases in Ukraine for the period from 2015 to 2018 using the example of Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Donetsk regions. The results of the study proved that the indicators of disability due to occupational diseases in these areas have a pronounced upward trend. It has been determined that the number of injured or aggrieved persons who received occupational diseases in the Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Donetsk regions is 78.5% of the total number of those in Ukraine with occupational diseases. The proportion of those who were initially recognized as disabled due to occupational diseases increased in 2015-2018, increased in these areas and amounted in absolute numbers: in the Dnipropetrovsk region –  906 people (2018) against 705 people (2016); in the Lviv region – 273 people against 239 people, respectively; in Donetsk region – 193 people against 108 people, respectively. Primary disability rate for 2015-2018 period increased by 28.5% in Dnepropetrovsk to almost 50% in Donetsk region. The proportion of those who were initially recognized as disabled due to work injury in the Dnipropetrovsk region was 159 people (2018) against 123 people (2016); in the Lviv region: 42 people against 11 people, respectively; in the Donetsk region: 28 people against 11 people, respectively. The rate of primary disability due to work injury also increased by 29.2% in the Dnipropetrovsk region and by 53% in the Donetsk region. The number of persons with disabilities recognized for the first time depended on age and length of service in hazardous conditions. Persons with 10-19 years of work experience in 2015-2018 accounted for 89.2%. According to our data, 50.1% of workers aged 40 to 49 years are recognized as persons with disabilities, 40% – from 50 to 59 years of age. It is important that in 2018 in 5% of cases, an occupational disease caused disability among workers at the age of 39. In 2018 (as in 2016 and in 2017) in Ukraine, the main conditions that resulted in occupational diseases were: imperfection of mechanisms and working tools – 23.9%; the imperfection of the technological process - 19.5% and the ineffectiveness of the personal protective equipment – 13.5% of their total number. In the structure of disability due to occupational diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system occupied the 1st place; 2nd place – respiratory diseases; 3rd place – injuries and poisoning.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Copper Transporters from Lotus spp. and Their Involvement under Flooding Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Escaray ◽  
Cristian J. Antonelli ◽  
Guillermo J. Copello ◽  
Sergi Puig ◽  
Lola Peñarrubia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Copper Uptake ◽  
Copper Transporter ◽  
Copper Transporters ◽  
Transporter Family ◽  
Adaptive Mechanisms ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Natural Grassland

Forage legumes are an important livestock nutritional resource, which includes essential metals, such as copper. Particularly, the high prevalence of hypocuprosis causes important economic losses to Argentinian cattle agrosystems. Copper deficiency in cattle is partially due to its low content in forage produced by natural grassland, and is exacerbated by flooding conditions. Previous results indicated that incorporation of Lotus spp. into natural grassland increases forage nutritional quality, including higher copper levels. However, the biological processes and molecular mechanisms involved in copper uptake by Lotus spp. remain poorly understood. Here, we identify four genes that encode putative members of the Lotus copper transporter family, denoted COPT in higher plants. A heterologous functional complementation assay of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ctr1∆ctr3∆ strain, which lacks the corresponding yeast copper transporters, with the putative Lotus COPT proteins shows a partial rescue of the yeast phenotypes in restrictive media. Under partial submergence conditions, the copper content of L. japonicus plants decreases and the expression of two Lotus COPT genes is induced. These results strongly suggest that the Lotus COPT proteins identified in this work function in copper uptake. In addition, the fact that environmental conditions affect the expression of certain COPT genes supports their involvement in adaptive mechanisms and envisages putative biotechnological strategies to improve cattle copper nutrition.

Rapid and visual detection of Meloidogyne hapla using recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) assay

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Song ◽  
Xiai Yang ◽  
Xiaowei Zhang ◽  
Mingbao Luan ◽  
Bing Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Recombinase Polymerase Amplification ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Meloidogyne Hapla ◽  
Root Knot Nematode ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Lateral Flow Dipstick ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Control

The northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, is a biotrophic parasite that infects many crops and causes severe economic losses worldwide. Rapid and accurate detection of M. hapla is crucial for disease forecasting and control. We developed a recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) assay for rapid detection of M. hapla. The primers and a probe were designed based on the effector gene 16D10 sequence and were highly specific to M. hapla. The RPA reaction was performed at a wide range of temperatures from 25 to 45°C within 5 to 25 min, and the amplicon was visualized directly on the LFD within 5 min. The detection limits of the RPA-LFD assay were 10-3 female and 10-2 J2/0.5 g of soil, which was 10 times more sensitive than the conventional PCR assay. In addition, the RPA-LFD assay can detect M. hapla from infested plant roots and soil samples, and the entire detection process can be completed within 1.5 h. These results indicate that the RPA-LFD assay is a simple, rapid, specific, sensitive, and visual method that can be used for rapid detection of M. hapla in the field and in resource-limited conditions.

Studies on Beetles of the Family Ptinidae IX.—A Laboratory Study of the Biology of Ptinus tectus Boield

1953 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Howe ◽  
H. D. Burges
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Study ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Developmental Period ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
High Grade ◽  
The Family ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Stevenson Screen ◽  
Food Value

Ptinus tectus occurs on a large range of foodstuffs in all types of storage places, in warehouse refuse and in the nests of birds. It is widely distributed in cool and temperate areas but is very rarely found in hot climates. In Britain it can survive the winter when exposed in a Stevenson screen to outdoor shade conditions. P. tectus is seldom found on imported cargoes inspected aboard ship, but many British warehouses carry a population of the species resident in the fabric of the premises.The larva is able to bore through cellophane, card and textiles and can also make impressions on wood. The fully fed larva spins a cocoon on the fabric of containers and buildings. Holing of packages and contamination by silk of high grade produce form the chief economic losses caused by the species, but occasionally large populations are found, sufficient to reduce the food value of produce. Unlike the larvae, adult beetles cannot penetrate sound linen bags, but lay eggs through the meshes.In a series of consecutive experiments, performed identically as far as possible, variations in the length of developmental period and in emergence weight of adult beetles were greater than would be expected by chance. The variations could not be related to any single observed or suspected inconsistency of technique or environment. It is desirable therefore to conduct comparative experiments simultaneously.

scholarly journals Simple and Portable Magnetic Immunoassay for Rapid Detection and Sensitive Quantification of Plant Viruses

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 3039-3048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Rettcher ◽  
Felicitas Jungk ◽  
Christoph Kühn ◽  
Hans-Joachim Krause ◽  
Greta Nölke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Potato Virus X ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Virus Concentration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Sum Frequency

ABSTRACTPlant pathogens cause major economic losses in the agricultural industry because late detection delays the implementation of measures that can prevent their dissemination. Sensitive and robust procedures for the rapid detection of plant pathogens are therefore required to reduce yield losses and the use of expensive, environmentally damaging chemicals. Here we describe a simple and portable system for the rapid detection of viral pathogens in infected plants based on immunofiltration, subsequent magnetic detection, and the quantification of magnetically labeled virus particles.Grapevine fanleaf virus(GFLV) was chosen as a model pathogen. Monoclonal antibodies recognizing the GFLV capsid protein were immobilized onto immunofiltration columns, and the same antibodies were linked to magnetic nanoparticles. GFLV was quantified by immunofiltration with magnetic labeling in a double-antibody sandwich configuration. A magnetic frequency mixing technique, in which a two-frequency magnetic excitation field was used to induce a sum frequency signal in the resonant detection coil, corresponding to the virus concentration within the immunofiltration column, was used for high-sensitivity quantification. We were able to measure GFLV concentrations in the range of 6 ng/ml to 20 μg/ml in less than 30 min. The magnetic immunoassay could also be adapted to detect other plant viruses, includingPotato virus XandTobacco mosaic virus, with detection limits of 2 to 60 ng/ml.

scholarly journals Sheep Brucellosis in Kuwait: A Large-Scale Serosurvey, Identification of Brucella Species and Zoonotic Significance

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef Al-Sherida ◽  
Adel H. El-Gohary ◽  
Amro Mohamed ◽  
Mohamed El-Diasty ◽  
Gamal Wareth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
History Of ◽  
Combined Action

Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease of major concern in humans of Kuwait, and B. melitensis causes most human cases. The disease is endemic in small ruminants, cattle, and camels for decades, causing substantial economic losses in livestock production. However, a nationwide large-scale investigation of brucellosis in the small ruminant population has not been done in the past two decades. A serosurvey of sheep brucellosis in the five districts of Kuwait with most animal production farms was done between 2016 and 2019. In total, 67,054 serum samples from 233 sheep herds were collected and tested. Additionally, milk and tissue samples were collected from 46 seropositive cases for bacteriology. Thirty persons from seven seropositive farms were tested by serology. The incidence of seropositive cases was 7% in districts devoid of vaccination, while it was 4.7% in farms with history of vaccination. The serosurvey revealed that 89% of non-vaccinated herds (n = 181) were seropositive by Rose Bengal test (RBT), buffered acidified plate antigen test (BAPAT), and complement fixation test (CFT). Prevalence of 100% was reported for non-vaccinated sheep herds from Al-Wafrah and Al-Jahra districts, followed by those from Al-Salmi (88.24%), Al-Abdali (86.7%) and Kabd (75.6%). Implementation of vaccination with B. melitensis Rev.1 vaccine and test-and-slaughters in 20 herds reduced the seroprevalence to 33.3% and 25% in herds from Al-Jahra and AL-Wafrah, respectively. B. melitensis was isolated from 20 samples (43.5%). More than half of the examined animal owners (56.6%) tested positive for Brucella using RBT, BAPAT and CFT. The high numbers of infected herds and high prevalence in herdsmen are alarming. Thus, control measures have to be ensured immediately. The epidemiological situation in Kuwait is similar to those of the neighboring countries and the combined action of these states is needed. The understanding of the economic and public health impact of brucellosis in Kuwait needs to grow.

scholarly journals Perspectives on the Nutritional Management of Metabolic Syndrome in Asia: People, Practice and Programmes

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70
Author(s):  
Chee Huei Phing
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Nutritional Management ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Care Processes ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Large Populations

AbstractNumerous Asian countries have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome, also associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Healthcare expenditure varies among Asian countries, and is influenced by poverty factor and large populations. The effect of metabolic syndrome on nutritional management in Asia demonstrates the essential for clinicians to equalize the needs for higher standards of dietetics practice; as they execute optimal care processes with the aim of improving outcomes, alongside setting of workforce limitations, inadequate expertise in metabolic syndrome nutrition practice, as well as ethnic diversity among Asians. This paper presents some aspects of dietetics practice and the possibility that an alteration in practice is mandatory if dietitians are to play an active role in preventing or decelerating the evolution of the metabolic syndrome.

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