Predictive modelling of soils’ hydraulic conductivity using artificial neural network and multiple linear regression

As a result of heterogeneity nature of soils and variation in its hydraulic conductivity over several orders of magnitude for various soil types from fine-grained to coarse-grained soils, predictive methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity of soils from properties considered more easily obtainable have now been given an appropriate consideration. This study evaluates the performance of artificial neural network (ANN) being one of the popular computational intelligence techniques in predicting hydraulic conductivity of wide range of soil types and compared with the traditional multiple linear regression (MLR). ANN and MLR models were developed using six input variables. Results revealed that only three input variables were statistically significant in MLR model development. Performance evaluations of the developed models using determination coefficient and mean square error show that the prediction capability of ANN is far better than MLR. In addition, comparative study with available existing models shows that the developed ANN and MLR in this study performed relatively better

Long-term prospective randomised study of hepatitis B vaccines without booster dose in children

Introduction: Protective antibodies persisted up to 10 to 15 years after primary hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. Titres of antibody against HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) decrease with time. Necessity for routine booster dose remains controversial. Immunogenicity and efficacy of HBV vaccination without booster dose was examined in the present study. Methods: From 1984 to 1986, 318 Chinese children from HBV families aged 3 months to 11 years old were randomised into one of the three HBV vaccine regimens without booster doses—group A: 2-dose recombinant; group B: 3-dose recombinant; group C: 3-dose plasma-derived vaccines. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) titres, anti-HBs, and antibody against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), were measured yearly. Results: After 22 years, no subject was found to be HBsAg positive. Geometric mean titre (GMT) of antiHBs of group A subjects was significantly lower than that of group B and C subjects at year 1, 5, 10, and 15. No difference was observed in the GMTs between group B and C throughout the 22 years. At year 22, the proportion of subjects with anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL (the protective level) for groups A, B and C were 35.3%, 76.5%, and 52.4% respectively. The difference was statistically significant between groups A and B. A total of 72 subjects had ≥1 episodes of anamnestic response with rises in anti-HBs titres after the primary vaccination during the 22 years study period. Of these, eight anamnestic responses were mounted from subjects with the preceding antiHBs titre <10 mIU/mL. Three subjects became positive for anti-HBc. Conclusion: Protective anti-HBs persisted up to 22 years after HBV vaccination without the use of booster dose. The 3-dose regimens have a better long-term immunogenicity. However, the 2-dose recombinant HBV vaccine was not inferior to 3-dose vaccines in terms of protection against chronic HBV infection. Booster doses were not necessary, due to long-term immune memory

18-Year follow-up study of a prospective randomized trial of hepatitis B vaccinations without booster doses in children

Background & Aims: The long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination remain to be defined. We aimed to examine the long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of HBV vaccination with 3 different regimens over 18 years of follow-up. Methods: A total of 318 Chinese subjects receiving 3 different regimens of HBV vaccination (2-dose recombinant vs. 3-dose recombinant vs. 3-dose plasma-derived vaccines) without receiving a booster dose were recruited. The HBV serologic markers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), were determined at yearly follow-up. After 18 years, 88 subjects were still being followed up. Results: Compared with subjects receiving the 2-dose regimen, subjects receiving the 3-dose regimens had a significantly higher geometric mean titer of anti-HBs and a higher proportion had anti-HBs titers ≥10 mIU/mL during the 18 years of follow-up. There were no differences in these 2 parameters between subjects receiving the 3-dose recombinant and subjects receiving the 3-dose plasma-derived vaccines. A total of 88 anamnestic responses were documented in 70 subjects (8 with initial anti-HBs titers <100 mIU/mL at 12 months and 7 with anti-HBs titers <10 mIU/mL before the anamnestic responses). No subject became positive for HBsAg. Three subjects had benign breakthrough HBV infection without leading to chronicity indicated by isolated anti-HBc positivity. Conclusions: There was less long-term immunogenicity associated with the 2-dose regimen when compared with the 3-dose regimens of HBV vaccination. Because of the highly effective anamnestic responses, a booster dose was not necessary at least up to 18 years after the primary vaccination.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Twenty-two years follow-up of a prospective randomized trial of hepatitis B vaccines without booster dose in children: Final report

Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of HBV vaccination with different regimens of HBV vaccines (A: 2-dose recombinant vs. B: 3-dose recombinant vs. C: 3-dose plasma-derived vaccines) without booster dose were examined in 318 Chinese children. Geometric mean titer (GMTs) of anti-HBs of group A subjects was significantly lower than that of groups B and C subjects at years 1, 5, 10 and 15. At year 22, the proportion of subjects with anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL for groups A, B and C were 35.3%, 76.5% and 52.4%, respectively (p < 0.05 between groups A and B) in 55 subjects. In the 22 years study period, none was found to be HBsAg positive, and 72 subjects had ≥1 episodes of anamnestic response. In conclusion, the 3-dose regimens have a better long-term immunogenicity. In terms of protection against HBV infection, the 2-dose and 3-dose vaccines had equal efficacies. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Dual ultra-wideband (UWB) radar-based sleep posture recognition system : towards ubiquitous sleep monitoring

202309 bckwVersion of RecordRGCOthersHong Kong Polytechnic UniversityPublishe

Vision transformers (ViT) for blanket-penetrating sleep posture recognition using a Triple Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radar system

202307 bcchVersion of RecordRGCOthersDepartment of Biomedical Engineering; Research Institute for Smart Ageing; Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityPublishe