Spatiotemporal pattern and indicators associated with suicide

Objective: to analyze the spatiotemporal pattern and indicators associated with the occurrence of suicide. Methods: ecological study that analyzed the deaths by suicide repor- ted in the Mortality Information System. For temporal and spatial analysis, the Joinpoint and Scan methods were employed, respectively. Multivariate analysis was performed by the Ordinary Least Squares Estimation model, considering p<0.05. Results: significant growth in suicide mortality of 4.2% per year was observed. The highest Bayesian mortality rates ranged from 8.90 to 13.49 deaths per 100,000 population. Five statistically significant spatial clusters were identified (p<0.050). The primary cluster encompassed 64 municipalities, with a suicide risk 1.38 times higher (p<0.001). The indicators associated with suicide were Urbanization rate (β=0.07; p=0.020) and Employment & income (β=-9.40; p=0.030). Conclusion: there was a significant increase in suicide, and five spatial clusters were identified. The indicators Urbanization rate and Employment & income were associated with the grievance.

Cluster headache due to intranasal herpes simplex: a case report

Cluster headache is characterized by pain in the first division of trigeminal nerve along with autonomic features, with attacks last from 15 minutes to 180, up to eight times a day. Albeit considered as a primary headache, it may be mimicked by structural diseases like infections, inflammatory, tumoral and vascular. Intranasal and sinus infectious were also reported. Herpes simplex infections are quite common in the general population, and the nerve ganglia are the natural reservoir of the virus. Intranasal herpes, on the other hand, is exceedingly rare, with only few cases reported in the literature. Our main objective is to describe a case report of a 49-year-old male who was diagnosed with intranasal herpes infection during a bout of cluster headache, evaluated by an otolaryngologist. He got free of symptoms after using valacyclovir and melatonin. Thus, herpes simplex might be involved in the mechanisms of secondary or primary cluster headache. Further research is necessary to help elucidate this relationship.

Geographic distribution and prevalence of human echinococcosis at the township level in the Tibet Autonomous Region

Background Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by larval stages of cestodes belonging to the genus Echinococcus. Echinococcosis is prevalent in 10 provinces/autonomous regions in western and northern China. A 2016 epidemiological survey of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) showed that the prevalence of human echinococcosis was 1.66% which is much higher than the average prevalence in China (0.24%). Therefore, understanding the prevalence and spatial distribution characteristics of human echinococcosis at the township level in TAR is critical. Methods Data from echinococcosis cases were obtained from 692 TAR townships in 2018. Cases were identified using the B-ultrasonography diagnostic method. The epidemic status of echinococcosis was classified in all townships in TAR according to the relevant standards of population prevalence indexes as defined in the national technical plan for echinococcosis control. Spatial scan statistics were used to highlight the geographical townships most at risk of echinococcosis. SPSS 21.0 was used to calculate the prevalence for cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE). For spatial clustering analyses and mapping, data were processed using ArcGIS 10.1. Spatial scan analyses were performed using SaTScan V9.5. Results In 2018, 16,009 echinococcosis cases were recorded in 74 endemic counties in TAR. The total prevalence rate was 0.53%. All the 692 townships were classified according to the order of the epidemic degree from high to low. 127 townships had prevalence rates higher than or equal to 1%. The spatial clustering scanning analysis of echinococcosis cases and exposed population showed that CE displayed one primary cluster, two secondary clusters and six minor secondary clusters. The primary cluster and other clusters were defined by Log-likelihood ratio (LLR) statistically significant values. The primary cluster covered 88 townships in 12 epidemic counties. AE displayed one primary cluster and two secondary clusters. The primary cluster covered 38 townships in 6 epidemic counties.

The distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in Shanghai, China: a time-spatial study

Background Shanghai, as a pilot city of China to achieve the goal of eliminating hepatitis C, its strategy of allocating medical resources is a pressing problem to be solved. This study aims to infer the time-spatial clustering patterns of HCV-infected cases, and grasp the dynamic genotype distribution of HCV, thereby inform elimination strategies of HCV with efficacy and efficiency. Methods Reported HCV cases including their demographic information in Shanghai city from 2005 to 2018 were released from the National Infectious Disease Reporting Information System, population data at community scale, geographical layers of hospitals, communities and districts were gathered from former research. Blood samples of HCV-infected individuals were collected during 2014–2018 from 24 sentinel hospitals, HCV-antibody test, qualitative nucleic acid test and NS5B/5’UTR gene amplification were performed accordingly to determine the genotypes of the specimen. Furthermore, global and local spatial self-correlation analysis of both acute and chronic HCV infections were conducted at community scale year by year, then time-spatial clusters of acute and chronic HCV infections and HCV genotype distribution of specimen collected from sentinel hospitals by districts were mapped by using Arcmap10.1. Results A total of 2631 acute HCV cases and 15,063 chronic HCV cases were reported in Shanghai from 2005 to 2018, with a peak in 2010 and 2017, respectively. The mean age of chronic HCV patients was 49.70 ± 14.55 years, 3.34 ± 0.32 years older than the acute (t = 10.55, P-value < 0.01). The spatial distribution of acute HCV infection formed one primary cluster (Relative Risk = 2.71), and the chronic formed one primary cluster and three secondary clusters with Relative Risk ranged from 1.94 to 14.42, meanwhile, an overlap of 34 communities between acute and chronic HCV clusters were found with time period spans varied from 6 to 12 years. Genotype 1 (N = 257, 49.71%) was the most prevalent HCV genotype in Shanghai, genotype 3 infections have increased in recent years. Baoshan district presented cluster of acute HCV and the highest proportion of genotype 2, Pudong new area was the cluster of chronic HCV and occupied the highest proportion of genotype 3. Conclusions Despite the low prevalence of HCV infection, it is still needed to push forward the elimination process in Shanghai, as there is a certain amount of HCV infected people waiting to be treated. The time-spatial clustering patterns and the dynamic of HCV genotype distribution together indicated a changing constitution of different transmission routes of HCV infection, thus, a focused strategy may be needed for high-risk population related to genotype 3 infection like drug users, in addition to an enforcement of the existing measures of preventing the iatrogenic and hematogenic transmission of HCV.

Epidemiological characteristics and determination of spatio-temporal clusters during the 2013 dengue outbreak in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Dengue is the worldwide most important mosquito-borne viral disease in humans. A large dengue outbreak occurred in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2013. The aims of this study were to describe the epidemiology of this outbreak and determine the spatio-temporal pattern in the sub-district with the highest number of dengue cases. Data on patients, including date of illness, were obtained from the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Center and analyzed descriptively using R statistical software. The geographic location of patients’ residences was determined from available geographical information databases supplemented with coordinated data collection in the field. A space-time permutation model from SaTScan™ was used to determine disease clusters corresponding to space and time. Results showed that Muang District, the centre of the province, had a higher number of cases than the other 25 districts. The Suthep subdistrict, part of Muang District, had most of the patients: 625 subjects distributed between 213 residences. The space-time analysis identified a primary cluster and 7 secondary clusters in different time periods. The primary cluster had 128 patients in a period of approximately 3 months. The number of patients in the secondary clusters ranged between 7 and 65. Most of the clusters occurred in densely populated areas during June and July (the rainy season). The finding from this study may support health agencies to plan surveillance campaigns for people at specified local areas with a high incidence of the disease.

Differentiation independent neuroprotective role of Vcan+ oligodendrocyte precursor cells in poststroke cognitive impairment recovery

The cell type-specific molecular pathology of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) in the hippocampus has not been thoroughly elucidated. We analyzed 27,069 cells by using single-cell RNA sequencing, and four oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) subtypes were identified, Vcan+ OPCs, which were determined to be the primary cluster among them. Additionally, we examined the features of endothelial cells (ECs) and found that Lcn2+ ECs might play neuroprotective roles via Vwf after stroke. These results may facilitate further studies attempting to identify new avenues of research and novel targets for PSCI treatment.

Application of genetic and K-means algorithms in clustering Babakoohi Anticline joints north of Shiraz, Iran

The fuzzy clustering technique is one of the ways of organizing data that presents special patterns using algorithms and based on the similarity level of data. In this study, in order to cluster the resulting data from the Babakoohi Anticline joints, located north of Shiraz, K-means and genetic algorithms are applied. The K-means algorithm is one of the clustering algorithms easily implemented and of fast performance; however, sometimes this algorithm is located in the local optimal trap and cannot respond with an optimal answer, due to the sensitivity of this algorithm to the centers of the primary cluster. In addition, it has some basic disadvantages, such as its inappropriateness for complicated forms and also the dependency of the final result upon the primary cluster. Therefore, in order to perform the study more accurately and to obtain more reliable results, the genetic algorithm is used for categorizing the data of joints of the studied area. Applying this algorithm for leaving the local optimal points is an effective way. The results of clustering of the aforementioned data using the two above techniques represent two clusters in the Babakoohi Anticline. Furthermore, for validity and surveying of the results of the suggested techniques, various mathematical and statistical techniques, including ICC, Vw, VMPC, and VPMBF, are applied, which supports the similarity of the obtained results and the data clustering process in two algorithms.

Chandra and XMM–Newton observations of A2256: cold fronts, merger shocks, and constraint on the IC emission

ABSTRACT We present the results of deep Chandra and XMM–Newton observations of a complex merging galaxy cluster Abell 2256 (A2256) that hosts a spectacular radio relic (RR). The temperature and metallicity maps show clear evidence of a merger between the western subcluster (SC) and the primary cluster (PC). We detect five X-ray surface brightness edges. Three of them near the cluster centre are cold fronts (CFs): CF1 is associated with the infalling SC; CF2 is located in the east of the PC; and CF3 is located to the west of the PC core. The other two edges at cluster outskirts are shock fronts (SFs): SF1 near the RR in the NW has Mach numbers derived from the temperature and the density jumps, respectively, of MT = 1.62 ± 0.12 and Mρ = 1.23 ± 0.06; SF2 in the SE has MT = 1.54 ± 0.05 and Mρ = 1.16 ± 0.13. In the region of the RR, there is no evidence for the correlation between X-ray and radio substructures, from which we estimate an upper limit for the inverse-Compton emission, and therefore set a lower limit on the magnetic field (∼ 450 kpc from PC centre) of B &gt; 1.0 μG for a single power-law electron spectrum or B &gt; 0.4 μG for a broken power-law electron spectrum. We propose a merger scenario including a PC, an SC, and a group. Our merger scenario accounts for the X-ray edges, diffuse radio features, and galaxy kinematics, as well as projection effects.

Spatiotemporal Pattern and Aggregation Effects of Poplar Canker in Northeast China

Research Highlights: This study looks at poplar canker caused by Cytospora chrysosperma as a geographical phenomenon, and it applies spatial statistics to reveal the pattern and aggregation effects of the disease on a large scale in time and space. The incidence area of poplar canker in Northeast China has spatial (spatiotemporal) aggregation effects, which emphasize the importance of coordinated prevention. The results of spatial and spatiotemporal clusters can guide specific regional prevention and indicate the possible predisposing factors, respectively. Background and Objectives: Poplar canker, a harmful forest biological disease that is widespread throughout Northeast China, brings enormous ecological and economic losses. The limited cognition of its spatiotemporal pattern and aggregation effects restricts the decision-making for regional prevention and the identification of disease-inducing conditions. This study aims to explore the spatiotemporal pattern and to detect the aggregation effects of the disease, trying to provide references for prevention. Materials and Methods: According to the incidence data of poplar canker reported by each county in Northeast China from 2002 to 2015, we mapped the distribution of the incidence rate in ArcGIS and performed retrospective scan statistics in SaTScan to detect the spatial and spatiotemporal aggregation effects of the incidence area. Results: The spatiotemporal pattern of poplar canker’s incidence rate presents the characteristic of “outbreak-aggregation-spread-stability.” The incidence area of the disease when we performed spatial aggregation scan statistics showed the primary cluster covering Liaoning province (LLR = 86469.86, p < 0.001). The annual spatial scan statistics detected a total of 14 primary clusters and 37 secondary clusters, indicating three phases of aggregation. The incidence area of disease also shows spatiotemporal aggregation effects with the primary cluster located around Liaoning province, appearing from 2009 to 2015 (LLR = 64182.00, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence area of poplar canker presents significant characteristics of spatial and spatiotemporal aggregation, and we suggest attaching importance to the clues provided by the aggregation effects in disease prevention and identification of predisposing factors.

Clustering the Vegetation Areas using Fuzzy C-Means Algorithm

To detect the vegetation land from google earth image and clustered that vegetation land to get the different clusters and so the area of clustered land is calculated. The detection is done by land cover classification usingafuzzy Cmeans clustering because it overcomes the disadvantage of Kmeans clustering algorithm because that clustered land is based on the land attributes not a particular distance.The exhibition of the FCM algorithm relies upon the choice of the primary cluster focus and the primary enrollment esteem. On the off chance that best primary cluster focus that is near the real, last cluster focus can be discovered, the FCM algorithm quickly cover the particular area and the preparing time can be radically decreased. Which altogether diminishes the calculation time required to segment a dataset into desired clusters?