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Quantitative Prediction of Linear B-Cell Epitopes
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2017
Pages:
1-3
Received:
7 December 2016
Accepted:
26 December 2016
Published:
21 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20170201.11
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Abstract: In scientific literature, there are many programs that predict linear B-cell epitopes from a protein sequence. Each program generates multiple B-cell epitopes that can be individually studied. This paper defines a function called <C > that combines results from five different prediction programs concerning the linear B-cell epitopes (ie., BebiPred, EPMLR, BCPred, ABCPred and Emini Prediction) for selecting the best B-cell epitopes. We obtained 17 potential linear B cells consensus epitopes from Glycoprotein E from serotype IV of the dengue virus for exploring new possibilities in vaccine development. The direct implication of the results obtained is to open the way to experimentally validate more epitopes to increase the efficiency of the available treatments against dengue and to explore the methodology in other diseases.
Abstract: In scientific literature, there are many programs that predict linear B-cell epitopes from a protein sequence. Each program generates multiple B-cell epitopes that can be individually studied. This paper defines a function called <C > that combines results from five different prediction programs concerning the linear B-cell epitopes (ie., Beb...
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Analyses of Prevalence of Mental Illness and Associated Characteristics in Anambra State
Igweze Amechi Henry,
Ashinze Akudo Nwankpa,
Edike Collins Cornelius
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2017
Pages:
4-9
Received:
22 December 2016
Accepted:
3 January 2017
Published:
24 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20170201.12
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Abstract: This study on the prevalence of mental illness and associated characteristics in Anambra State was aimed at determining the prevalence of mental illness by age, sex and period of the year. It was also aimed at determining the relationship between mental illness diagnosis and the studied characteristics. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test of association and the ordinal logistic regression were employed in the study. The results presented show that a significant association exist between mental illness and sex. Also a significant association was found to exist between mental illness and age of patients. This was also visible in the pattern of manifestation of mental illness as mental illness was found to reduce as age increases. On the average, the second quarter of the year was found to have the highest prevalence of mental illness in the study area. On the other hand, even when the first and second quarter proved to be significantly related with mental illness diagnosis, the chi-square test of association shows that there is no significant association between mental illness diagnosis and the period of the years the diagnosis was made. In conclusion, mental illness was found to have significant effect on demographic characteristics but partially with seasonal variations.
Abstract: This study on the prevalence of mental illness and associated characteristics in Anambra State was aimed at determining the prevalence of mental illness by age, sex and period of the year. It was also aimed at determining the relationship between mental illness diagnosis and the studied characteristics. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test of as...
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Effect of Food Habits on the Nutritional Status of Children in Cairo
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2017
Pages:
10-17
Received:
27 November 2016
Accepted:
29 December 2016
Published:
25 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20170201.13
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Abstract: In this study, 190 students (100 females and 90 males) aged 10-12 years of a selected sample from elementary school students in Cairo were chosen to investigate the effect of food habits and nutritional behaviors on their nutritional status. Our study revealed that 82.2% of children reported having breakfast, 57.5% of those had breakfast at home. Mother education had strong correlation with eating breakfast at home. It is found that the daily macronutrients intake were significantly higher in males than females. The mean daily intake of both macro- and micronutrients were higher for breakfast consumers than for breakfast skippers. With respect to BMI, the results indicate that the underweight were 10.5% and the overweight were 13.7% of the total sample, upon studying some dietary habits of the students and their associations with BMI, it can noticed that 8.4% of overweight students do not eat breakfast at home, 9.5% eat fast foods, 12.6% have snacks, their fruit and vegetable frequency intake/week are much lower than that of normal weight students and their regular physical activity are also lower than normal weight students. Females consumed milk or dairy products more frequently than males. It is found that there is positive correlation between dairy, fruit and vegetable intake and mother education. Also, there is a positive correlation between dairy, fruits and vegetables consumption and having the daily requirements of minerals and vitamins.
Abstract: In this study, 190 students (100 females and 90 males) aged 10-12 years of a selected sample from elementary school students in Cairo were chosen to investigate the effect of food habits and nutritional behaviors on their nutritional status. Our study revealed that 82.2% of children reported having breakfast, 57.5% of those had breakfast at home. M...
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Hospital Equipment Management in District Base Hospitals in Kalutara District in Sri Lanka
Dellabada Batawalage Ayanthi Saranga Jayawardena
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2017
Pages:
18-21
Received:
8 December 2016
Accepted:
3 January 2017
Published:
29 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20170201.14
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Abstract: Introduction: Medical equipment management is important as human resource management to function a hospital in a maximum capacity. Accurate and comprehensive data are needed in order to have a good equipment management. It has several domains such as, procurement, accept, inspect, install, ensure performance within the accepted standards, safe and effective use, maintenance and service, repair, eventual retirement and disposal. Quality hospital equipment management is also important to reduce accidents caused by improper handling of unsafe equipment to the patients and staff. Objective: To assess the current practice of hospital equipment management in District Base Hospitals (DBHs) in Kalutara District in Sri Lanka. Methodology: This was a hospital based cross sectional descriptive study conducted at the DBHs in Kalutara district in Sri Lanka. All the healthcare managers at different levels engaged in hospital equipment management were included in this study. Results: All hospitals reported lack of efficient equipment management system and all hospitals were found to be without guidelines for procurement of equipment. Most of the hospital departments (85.4%) do not have proper register maintained for equipment maintenance. Only about very few wards (14.6%) had an equipment maintenance register, but all these registers were lacking necessary details. Conclusion and recommendation: The findings of this study revealed that hospitals do not have proper management of their equipment. Processes of equipment management can be re-engineered with implementation of computerized management system to have a good quality hospital equipment management system.
Abstract: Introduction: Medical equipment management is important as human resource management to function a hospital in a maximum capacity. Accurate and comprehensive data are needed in order to have a good equipment management. It has several domains such as, procurement, accept, inspect, install, ensure performance within the accepted standards, safe and ...
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Automatic Detection and Segmentation of Kidneys in Magnetic Resonance Images Using Image Processing Techniques
Mariam Saii,
Zaid Kraitem
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2017
Pages:
22-26
Received:
27 December 2016
Accepted:
12 January 2017
Published:
4 February 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20170201.15
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Abstract: Kidney Detection and Segmentation in MR images allows extracting meaningful information for nephrologists, also for practical use in clinical routine, thus we should apply an fast, automatic and robust algorithm. We demonstrate the possibility of construct an algorithm that achieve these requirements. Therefore, a novel kidney segmentation algorithm was created depending on multiple stages. The Region of Interest (ROI) is extracted after we convert the input image to binary one via specific thresholding level yields from K Mean Clustering algorithm. The resulted binary image contain both of kidneys as the biggest regions, so we can isolate them after we calculate the objects areas in labeled image. Finally we can use some morphological operation to remove small objects surrounding the kidney region. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through experimental results on complex MR slices. Kidneys were accurately detected and segmented in a few seconds.
Abstract: Kidney Detection and Segmentation in MR images allows extracting meaningful information for nephrologists, also for practical use in clinical routine, thus we should apply an fast, automatic and robust algorithm. We demonstrate the possibility of construct an algorithm that achieve these requirements. Therefore, a novel kidney segmentation algorith...
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Multilevel Logistic Modeling of Adult Mortality Among Regional States in Ethiopia
Kassaye Wudu Seid,
Ayele Taye Goshu
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2017
Pages:
27-36
Received:
16 December 2016
Accepted:
27 December 2016
Published:
13 February 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.bsi.20170201.16
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Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate adult mortality variations among regional states in Ethiopia. Data from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS 2011) are used. Multilevel logistic regression model is fitted to the data. The findings show that the correlates of adult mortality are adult's age, age of household head, sex of household head, wealth index, type of toilet facility, and type of cooking fuels. The between-region variance is estimated to be 0.1727 which is significant at 5% level of significance, indicating that variation of adult mortality among regional states is non-zero. The intra-correlation is estimated to be 0.0099, suggesting that about 1% of the variation in adult mortality could be attributed to differences across regional states. The variance of the random coefficient model is statistically significant, implying the presence of adult mortality variation among regional states of the country. The deviance statistic is about 4113.945 and it is compared with Chi-square at difference of full and empty model with degree of freedom 33.924 at df 22 and p-value < 0.000. This reveals that there is enough evidence against null hypothesis. Therefore, the multilevel model consisting the explanatory variables is considered the final model. It revealed that the random coefficient multilevel logistic regression analysis suggests that there exist considerable differences in adult mortality across regions in the country.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate adult mortality variations among regional states in Ethiopia. Data from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS 2011) are used. Multilevel logistic regression model is fitted to the data. The findings show that the correlates of adult mortality are adult's age, age of household head, sex of househol...
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