Mosquito detection with low-cost smartphones: data acquisition for malaria research

Mosquitoes are a major vector for malaria, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths in the developing world each year. Not only is the prevention of mosquito bites of paramount importance to the reduction of malaria transmission cases, but understanding in more forensic detail the interplay between malaria, mosquito vectors, vegetation, standing water and human populations is crucial to the deployment of more effective interventions. Typically the presence and detection of malaria-vectoring mosquitoes is only quantified by hand-operated insect traps or signified by the diagnosis of malaria. If we are to gather timely, large-scale data to improve this situation, we need to automate the process of mosquito detection and classification as much as possible. In this paper, we present a candidate mobile sensing system that acts as both a portable early warning device and an automatic acoustic data acquisition pipeline to help fuel scientific inquiry and policy. The machine learning algorithm that powers the mobile system achieves excellent off-line multi-species detection performance while remaining computationally efficient. Further, we have conducted preliminary live mosquito detection tests using low-cost mobile phones and achieved promising results. The deployment of this system for field usage in Southeast Asia and Africa is planned in the near future. In order to accelerate processing of field recordings and labelling of collected data, we employ a citizen science platform in conjunction with automated methods, the former implemented using the Zooniverse platform, allowing crowdsourcing on a grand scale.Comment: Presented at NIPS 2017 Workshop on Machine Learning for the Developing Worl

We All Can Help: Evaluation of an Online Gender-Based Violence Learning Series

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a persistent and pervasive public health problem and requires a collaborative response, especially from the health system. Health-care professionals (HCPs) are uniquely positioned to address GBV because they are often the first trusted professional that survivors interact with. Therefore, it is critical that HCPs are trained and equipped to provide an effective response. This capstone evaluates the uptake of Gender-Based Violence: We All Can Help, an online GBV Learning Series for HCPs in British Columbia. Evaluation findings revealed a low uptake to the learning series and identified logistical and internal barriers that HCPs face. This capstone uses the Theory of Planned Behavior to structure and understand these barriers to series’ uptake. Finally, recommendations, informed by literature and evaluation data, are offered to improve uptake of the series to ultimately strengthen the health sector’s response to GBV

Capital Budgeting and Entrepreneurial Organizations: A Survey of Hospital Practices

Efficiency and effectiveness for all entrepreneurial firms requires that limited resources be put to their best use. Thus the acquisition of long-term assets is an important decision for any entrepreneurial firm. For hospitals, which have become entrepreneurial to survive in today’s health care environment, long-term asset investment decisions have become critical to their survival. The objective of this study is to increase health care organizations’ awareness of the important considerations in selecting and monitoring long-term investments. Our findings from a small sample of American hospitals indicate that payback method is the primary criterion for evaluating hospital’s long-term investment projects. Also of note is the high proportion of hospitals whose approaches seem to incorrectly deal with the effects of inflation. On the other hand, the sample hospitals seem to be aware of the need to consider both tangible and intangible costs and benefits. They also exhibit awareness of the importance of follow up in the form of post audits

Global assessment of the severity of epilepsy (GASE) Scale in children: Validity, reliability, responsiveness

Summary Objective The Global Assessment of Severity of Epilepsy (GASE) Scale is a single-item, 7-point global rating scale designed for neurologist-report of overall severity of epilepsy in children. Building on previous preliminary evidence of its validity and reliability for research and clinical use, this study evaluated the GASE Scale\u27s construct validity, reliability, and responsiveness to changes in severity of epilepsy. Methods Data used for the study arose from the Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study (HERQULES), a 2-year multicenter prospective cohort study (n = 374) with observations taken at baseline, and 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis. Construct validity and reliability were quantified using Spearman\u27s correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Responsiveness was assessed using both distribution-based and anchor-based indices. Results The GASE Scale was at least moderately correlated (r ≥ 0.30) with several key clinical aspects and most strongly correlated with frequency and intensity of seizures and interference of epilepsy or drugs with daily activities (r \u3e 0.30). Total variation in GASE Scale scores explained by seven core clinical aspects of epilepsy increased over time (R2 = 28% at baseline to R2 = 70% at 24 months). The GASE Scale had modest test-retest reliability (ICC range: 0.52-0.64) and was responsive to changes in clinical criteria (standardized response mean range: 0.49-0.68; probability of change range: 0.69-0.75; Guyatt\u27s responsiveness statistic range: 0.56-0.84). The GASE Scale showed potential to discriminate stable and changed patients according to select criteria and to a composite score (area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve range: 0.50-0.67). Significance Results offer additional evidence in support of the GASE Scale\u27s validity, reliability, as well as responsiveness to changes in severity of epilepsy in children. We conclude that the GASE Scale is a potentially useful tool for assessing the severity of epilepsy in both clinical and research settings

Maternal Obesity Drives Functional Alterations in Uterine NK Cells

Over one-fifth of North American women of childbearing age are obese, putting these women at risk for a variety of detrimental chronic diseases. In addition, obesity increases the risk for developing major complications during pregnancy. The mechanisms by which obesity contributes to pregnancy complications and loss remain unknown. Increasing evidence indicates that obesity results in major changes to adipose tissue immune cell composition and function; whether or not obesity also affects immune function in the uterus has not been explored. Here we investigated the effect of obesity on uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, which are essential for uterine artery remodeling and placental development. Using a cohort of obese or lean women, we found that obesity led to a significant reduction in uNK cell numbers accompanied with impaired uterine artery remodeling. uNK cells isolated from obese women had altered expression of genes and pathways associated with extracellular matrix remodeling and growth factor signaling. Specifically, uNK cells were hyper-responsive to PDGF, resulting in overexpression of decorin. Functionally, decorin strongly inhibited placental development by limiting trophoblast survival. Together, these findings establish a potentially new link between obesity and poor pregnancy outcomes, and indicate that obesity-driven changes to uterine-resident immune cells critically impair placental development

Developing a Self-Administered Questionnaire as a Guide to Consultations with Women Treated for Breast Cancer

Background. Health professionals, including general practitioners involved in followup of breast cancer patients, need to systematically assess opportunities to offer patients support with ongoing or new problems. Methods. A self-administered needs assessment questionnaire was developed with reference to a multidisciplinary team. Short, evidence-based, readable questions were emphasized, and questions were tested for face validity. The questions flowed across three domains: physical, social, and psychological. Content validity and user friendliness were assessed. Results. A final set of 30 questions was rated as easy to read and comprehend (Flesch Reading Ease score 65.8 and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 6.9). When piloted with twenty-one patients the self-administered questionnaire detected 121 items of unmet need encompassing all three domains. Conclusions. This self-administered questionnaire has the potential to assist in the holistic assessment of breast cancer patient after treatment. The clinical value of the self-administered questionnaire will need to be further tested before it can be widely adopted