A conformal multi-port MIMO patch antenna for 5G wireless devices.

This paper presents a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array with low-profile and flexible characteristics. Multiple microstrip patches are arranged in the E-plane configuration and decoupled by shorted quarter-wavelength stubs. The antenna has a small element spacing of 0.032 λ, where λ is a free-space wavelength at the center frequency. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept, a 1 × 4 MIMO array prototype is fabricated. The measured results on the fabricated prototype demonstrate that the MIMO antenna has good operation features at 4.8 GHz with a reflection coefficient of less than -10 dB and an isolation of better than 20 dB. Besides, good radiation patterns and broadside gain of around 4.5 dBi are also attained. The antenna also works in the bending mode and has the capability of extending to large-scale MIMO arrays. Such attractive features prove the utility of the proposed antenna in various modern electronic devices.

Image-Based Ship Detection Using Deep Variational Information Bottleneck.

Image-based ship detection is a critical function in maritime security. However, lacking high-quality training datasets makes it challenging to train a robust supervision deep learning model. Conventional methods use data augmentation to increase training samples. This approach is not robust because the data augmentation may not present a complex background or occlusion well. This paper proposes to use an information bottleneck and a reparameterization trick to address the challenge. The information bottleneck learns features that focus only on the object and eliminate all backgrounds. It helps to avoid background variance. In addition, the reparameterization introduces uncertainty during the training phase. It helps to learn more robust detectors. Comprehensive experiments show that the proposed method outperforms conventional methods on Seaship datasets, especially when the number of training samples is small. In addition, this paper discusses how to integrate the information bottleneck and the reparameterization into well-known object detection frameworks efficiently.

A novel adaptive neural network-based time-delayed estimation control for nonlinear systems subject to disturbances and unknown dynamics.

This paper presents an adaptive backstepping-based model-free control (BSMFC) for general high-order nonlinear systems (HNSs) subject to disturbances and unstructured uncertainties to enhance the system tracking performance. The proposed methodology is constructed based on the backstepping control (BSC) with radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) -based time-delayed estimation (TDE) to overcome the obstacle of unknown system dynamics. Additionally, a command-filtered (CF) approach is involved to address the complexity explosion of the BSC design. As the errors arising from approximation, new control laws are established to reduce the effects in this regard. The stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed through the Lyapunov theorem and the superiority of the proposed methodology is confirmed through a comparative simulation with other model-free approaches.

The impact of cold waves and heat waves on mortality: Evidence from a lower middle-income country.

We estimate the impact of temperature extremes on mortality in Vietnam, using daily data on temperatures and monthly data on mortality during the 2000-2018 period. We find that both cold and heat waves cause higher mortality, particularly among older people and those living in the hot regions in Southern Vietnam. This effect on mortality tends to be smaller in provinces with higher rates of air-conditioning and emigration, and provinces with higher public spending on health. Finally, we estimate economic cost of cold and heat waves using a framework of willingness to pay to avoid deaths, then project the cost to the year 2100 under different Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios.

The expression and mutation of BRCA1/2 genes in ovarian cancer: a global systematic study.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review was designed to summarize the findings on expression and mutation of BRCA1/2 genes in ovarian cancer (OC) patients, focusing on mutation detection technology and taking clinical decisions for better treatment. AREAS COVERED: We conducted a systematic review by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses document selection guidelines for the document selection process and the PICOT standard for developing the keywords to search for. A total of 5729 publications were included, and 50 articles were put into the final screening. The results showed that Next-Generation Sequencing was a breakthrough technology in detecting Breast Cancer 1/2 (BRCA1/2) gene mutations because of its efficacy and affordability. Other technologies are also being applied now for mutation detection. The most prominent associations of BRCA1/2 gene mutations were age, heredity, and family history. Furthermore, mutations of BRCA1/2 could improve survival rate and overall survival. There is no sufficient study available to conclude a systematic analysis for the expression of BRCA1/2 gene in OC. EXPERT OPINION: Research will continue to develop more diagnostic techniques based on the expression and mutation of BCRA1/2 genes for OC in the near future.

The relative roles of domestic and foreign capital in aggregate production of GDP and CO2-equivalent emission across OECD countries.

This paper adopts a two-stage stochastic frontier analysis framework to analyse the roles of foreign and domestic capital in the aggregate production of gross domestic product (GDP) and CO2-equivalent emissions across 36 OECD countries from 1990 to 2014. The first stage estimates a quadratic output directional distance function to derive the marginal products of foreign and domestic capital with respective to GDP and emissions. The second stage examines explanations for variations in the marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS) of foreign and domestic capital across OECD countries. Our paper finds two important empirical evidence findings on the role of foreign capital in the aggregate production of desirable and undesirable outputs. Firstly, that foreign capital appears to be more effective than domestic capital in generating GDP and curbing CO2-equivalent emissions. We find that one standard deviation of GDP (or $2333 billion in 2011 dollars) would require $1857 billion (in 2011 dollars) of foreign capital in comparison with $4867 billion of domestic capital, ceteris paribus. On the other hand, the reduction of CO2-equivalent emissions by one standard deviation would demand $4091 billion (in 2011 dollars) of foreign capital relative to $16,539 billion of domestic capital. Second, foreign capital is more effective in reducing emissions in countries characterised by higher GDP per capita, larger population density, and higher shares of manufacturing sectors and exports.

Modelling optimal lockdowns with waning immunity.

This paper studies continuing optimal lockdowns (can also be interpreted as quarantines or self-isolation) in the long run if a disease (Covid-19) is endemic and immunity can fail, that is, the disease has SIRS dynamics. We model how disease related mortality affects the optimal choices in a dynamic general equilibrium neoclassical growth framework. An extended welfare function that incorporates loss from mortality is used. In a disease endemic steady state, without this welfare loss even if there is continuing mortality, it is not optimal to impose even a partial lockdown. We characterize how the optimal restriction and equilibrium outcomes vary with the effectiveness of the lockdown, the productivity of working from home, the rate of mortality from the disease, and failure of immunity. We provide the sufficiency conditions for economic models with SIRS dynamics with disease related mortality-a class of models which are non-convex and have endogenous discounting so that no existing results are applicable.

Evaluation of methods to detect circular RNAs from single-end RNA-sequencing data.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA), a class of RNA molecule with a loop structure, has recently attracted researchers due to its diverse biological functions and potential biomarkers of human diseases. Most of the current circRNA detection methods from RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) data utilize the mapping information of paired-end (PE) reads to eliminate false positives. However, much of the practical RNA-Seq data such as cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (CLIP-Seq) data usually contain single-end (SE) reads. It is not clear how well these tools perform on SE RNA-Seq data. RESULTS: In this study, we present a systematic evaluation of six advanced RNA-based methods and two CLIP-Seq based methods for detecting circRNAs from SE RNA-Seq data. The performances of the methods are rigorously assessed based on precision, sensitivity, F1 score, and true discovery rate. We investigate the impacts of read length, false positive ratio, sequencing depth and PE mapping information on the performances of the methods using simulated SE RNA-Seq simulated datasets. The real datasets used in this study consist of four experimental RNA-Seq datasets with ≥100bp read length and 124 CLIP-Seq samples from 45 studies that contain mostly short-read (≤50bp) RNA-Seq data. The simulation study shows that the sensitivities of most of the methods can be improved by increasing either read length or sequencing depth, and that the levels of false positive rates significantly affect the precision of all methods. Furthermore, the PE mapping information can improve the method's precision but can not always guarantee the increase of F1 score. Overall, no method is dominant for all SE RNA-Seq data. The RNA-based methods perform better for the long-read datasets but are worse for the short-read datasets. In contrast, the CLIP-Seq based methods outperform the RNA-Seq based methods for all the short-read samples. Combining the results of these methods can significantly improve precision in the CLIP-Seq data. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a systematic evaluation of circRNA detection methods on SE RNA-Seq data that would facilitate researchers' strategies in circRNA analysis.

COVID-19 and a Green Recovery?

Preliminary evidence indicates that pollution increases the severity and likelihood of COVID-19 infections similar to many other infectious diseases. This paper models the interaction of pollution and disease preventive actions, either pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical interventions, on transmission of infectious diseases in a neoclassical growth framework. There are two externalities - households do not take into account how their actions affect disease transmission, and productive activity results in pollution which increases the likelihood of infections. The disease dynamics are modeled to be of SIS type. We study the difference in health and economic outcomes between the decentralized economy, where households do not internalize externalities, and socially optimal outcomes, and characterize the taxes and subsidies that decentralize the latter. Thus, we examine the question whether there are sufficient incentives to reduce pollution, at both private and public levels, once its effects on disease transmission is considered. In competitive outcomes, pollution increases with increased productivity. The socially efficient outcome has higher pollution than a competitive outcome, despite increase in abatement, as the effect of higher productivity and larger labor supply dominates. The results question the hopes of a Green Recovery.

Fe-Doped g-C3N4: High-Performance Photocatalysts in Rhodamine B Decomposition.

Herein, Fe-doped C3N4 high-performance photocatalysts, synthesized by a facile and cost effective heat stirring method, were investigated systematically using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, X-ray photoelectron (XPS), UV-Vis diffusion reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results showed that Fe ions incorporated into a g-C3N4 nanosheet in both +3 and +2 oxidation states and in interstitial configuration. Absorption edge shifted slightly toward the red light along with an increase of absorbance in the wavelength range of 430-570 nm. Specific surface area increased with the incorporation of Fe into g-C3N4 lattice, reaching the highest value at the sample doped with 7 mol% Fe (FeCN7). A sharp decrease in PL intensity with increasing Fe content is an indirect evidence showing that electron-hole pair recombination rate decreased. Interestingly, Fe-doped g-C3N4 nanosheets present a superior photocatalytic activity compared to pure g-C3N4 in decomposing RhB solution. FeCN7 sample exhibits the highest photocatalytic efficiency, decomposing almost completely RhB 10 ppm solution after 30 min of xenon lamp illumination with a reaction rate approximately ten times greater than that of pure g-C3N4 nanosheet. This is in an agreement with the BET measurement and photoluminescence result which shows that FeCN7 possesses the largest specific surface area and low electron-hole recombination rate. The mechanism of photocatalytic enhancement is mainly explained through the charge transfer processes related to Fe2+/Fe3+ impurity in g-C3N4 crystal lattice.

X-Ray Enhancement Based on Component Attenuation, Contrast Adjustment, and Image Fusion.

Inspecting X-ray images is an essential aspect of medical diagnosis. However, due to an X-ray's low contrast and low dynamic range, important aspects such as organs, bones, and nodules become difficult to identify. Hence, contrast adjustment is critical, especially because of its ability to enhance the details in both bright and dark regions. For X-ray image enhancement, we therefore propose a new concept based on component attenuation. Notably, we assumed an X-ray image could be decomposed into tissue components and important details. Since tissues may not be the major primary focus of an X-ray, we proposed enhancing the visual contrast by adaptive tissue attenuation and dynamic range stretching. Via component decomposition and tissue attenuation, a parametric adjustment model was deduced to generate many enhanced images at once. Finally, an ensemble framework was proposed for fusing these enhanced images and producing a high-contrast output in both bright and dark regions. We have used measurement metrics to evaluate our system and achieved promising scores in each. An online testing system was also built for subjective evaluation. Moreover, we applied our system to an X-ray data set provided by the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology to help with nodule detection. The experimental results of which demonstrated the effectiveness of our method.

The hidden burden of trichinellosis in Vietnam: a postoutbreak epidemiological study.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Muong Lat town (Thanh Hoa province, North Vietnam), following the confirmed diagnosis of trichinellosis in six patients from that town who had eaten hunted wild boar meat during the Vietnamese lunar year celebration. All inhabitants who declared to have eaten undercooked or raw wild boar meat at the celebration and showed at least one clinical symptom compatible with trichinellosis were included in the study and blood sampled. Anti-Trichinella IgG were determined by ELISA and Western Blot. Seropositive persons were given appropriate albendazole treatment and were followed up. A total of 100 inhabitants met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 30 (30%) had antibodies to Trichinella. Serologically confirmed cases had fever (90.0%), myalgia (86.7%), facial oedema (63.3%), diarrhoea (53.3%), and pain of the masseter muscles (43.3%). Eosinophilia was detected in 83.3% of these individuals. Clinical symptoms resolved in all patients during albendazole treatment. The results suggest that only a proportion of the trichinellosis cases had sought health care during the outbreak. There is a need to implement surveillance and better diagnosis for trichinellosis and to set up educational programs to prevent infection in North Vietnam.

Prevention and control of fish-borne zoonotic trematodes in fish nurseries, Vietnam.

Worldwide, >18 million persons were infected with fish-borne zoonotic trematodes in 2002. To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for reducing prevalence and intensity of fish-borne zoonotic trematode infections in juvenile fish, we compared transmission rates at nurseries in the Red River Delta, northern Vietnam. Rates were significantly lower for nurseries that reduced snail populations and trematode egg contamination in ponds than for nurseries that did not. These interventions can be used in the development of programs for sustained control of zoonotic trematodes in farmed fish.

A randomized controlled trial of Tai chi for balance, sleep quality and cognitive performance in elderly Vietnamese.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Tai chi exercise on balance, sleep quality, and cognitive performance in community-dwelling elderly in Vinh city, Vietnam. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred two subjects were recruited. INTERVENTION: Subjects were divided randomly into two groups. The Tai chi group was assigned 6 months' Tai chi training. The control group was instructed to maintain their routine daily activities. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Trail Making Test (TMT) were used as primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Participants in the Tai chi group reported significant improvement in TMT (part A) (F [1, 71] = 78.37, P < 0.001) and in TMT (part B), (F [1, 71] = 175.00, P < 0.001) in comparison with the control group. Tai chi participants also reported better scores in FES (F [1, 71] = 96.90, P < 0.001) and in PSQI (F [1,71] = 43.69, P = 0.001) than the control group. CONCLUSION: Tai chi is beneficial to improve balance, sleep quality, and cognitive performance of the elderly.

The effects of Tai Chi training on physical fitness, perceived health, and blood pressure in elderly Vietnamese.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness, blood pressure, and perceived health in community-dwelling elderly. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Community-dwelling elderly in Vinh city, Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-six community-dwelling participants aged 60 to 79 years (68.9 ± 5.1 years) were recruited. INTERVENTION: SUBJECTS WERE DIVIDED RANDOMLY INTO TWO GROUPS: Tai Chi and Control groups. Participants in the Tai Chi group (aged 69.02 ± 5.16 years) attended a 60-minute Tai Chi practice session twice a week for 6 months. The session consisted of a 15-minute warm-up and a 15-minute cool-down period. The Control group (aged 68.72 ± 4.94 years) maintained routine daily activities. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Senior Fitness Test and Short-Form 36® (SF-36®) are primary outcome measures. RESULTS: After 24 weeks of the Tai Chi training program, the intervention group showed significant decrease in systole of 12 mmHg and heart rate 6.46 bpm. Body mass index and waist-hip ratio were also reduced by 1.23 and 0.04, respectively. The Senior Fitness Test and SF-36 showed significant improvement. CONCLUSION: In this randomized controlled trial study, Tai Chi is beneficial to improve systole blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, perceived health, and physical fitness. Assessment of the effects of Tai Chi may be focused more on chronic disease with a long-term training program in the future.

Relationship between snail population density and infection status of snails and fish with zoonotic trematodes in Vietnamese carp nurseries.

BACKGROUND: Fish-borne zoonotic trematodes (FZT) are a food safety and health concern in Vietnam. Humans and other final hosts acquire these parasites from eating raw or under-cooked fish with FZT metacercariae. Fish raised in ponds are exposed to cercariae shed by snail hosts that are common in fish farm ponds. Previous risk assessment on FZT transmission in the Red River Delta of Vietnam identified carp nursery ponds as major sites of transmission. In this study, we analyzed the association between snail population density and heterophyid trematode infection in snails with the rate of FZT transmission to juvenile fish raised in carp nurseries. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Snail population density and prevalence of trematode (Heterophyidae) infections were determined in 48 carp nurseries producing Rohu juveniles, (Labeo rohita) in the Red River Delta area. Fish samples were examined at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after the juvenile fish were introduced into the ponds. There was a significant positive correlation between prevalence of FZT metacercariae in juvenile fish and density of infected snails. Thus, the odds of infection in juvenile fish were 4.36 and 11.32 times higher for ponds with medium and high density of snails, respectively, compared to ponds where no infected snails were found. Further, the intensity of fish FZT infections increased with the density of infected snails. Interestingly, however, some ponds with no or few infected snails were collected also had high prevalence and intensity of FZT in juvenile fish. This may be due to immigration of cercariae into the pond from external water sources. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The total number and density of potential host snails and density of host snails infected with heterophyid trematodes in the aquaculture pond is a useful predictor for infections in juvenile fish, although infection levels in juvenile fish can occur despite low density or absence infected snails. This suggests that intervention programs to control FZT infection of fish should include not only intra-pond snail control, but also include water sources of allochthonous cercariae, i.e. canals supplying water to ponds as well as snail habitats outside the pond such as rice fields and surrounding ponds.

Study on clinical, paraclinical characteristics and treatment of coagulation disorder on patients with septic shock

Prospective study was carried out on 30 septic shock patients admitted to the emergency and intensive care unit of Bach Mai hospital from March 2004 to November 2004. Results: coagulation disorder rate accounted for 93.3% of patients including 50% with DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) and 43.3% with another coagulation disorders. Patients with DIC had a significant higher rates of multiple organs failure and mortality as compared without DIC (87% and 73.3% vs. 67% and 53.3%, respectively). DIC contributed to multiple organ failure and increase mortality rate. Management of coagulation disorder included replace therapy of fresh plasma (90%) and platelet block (30%) with a dose lower than recommended. Results of coagulation tests after treatment were likely to improve but not yet significantly.

The quality of health personel for essential care of obstetrics in 30 communes of Lang Son province

Assessment showed a poor quality of health personal and a large gaps of the provision of essential obstetric services between other kinds of health staff, in which 32.9% were understandard, only 7.1% rather good. Errors occurred at all levels of health staff (doctor, nurse, midwife,…), and in many obstetric situation. Thus the qualification of health staff in obstetric care should be promoted

To evaluate the essential obstetric care at 30 communes of Lang Son provine

The investigation was conducted at 30 communes health stations of zones II, III in 3 districts – Huu Lung, Cao Loc, Van Lang – Lang Son province. There were many shortenings in essential care and were not at a same level in various communes even in a same district. For a same commune, there were large gaps between various communes. The main causes of shortening were not the lack of resources, in term of quantity, but of management capacity. Among them, the non homogenous management not basing on the concrete condition of each commune, the negligence of quality standard are the most important