Сross-analysis of big data in accreditation of health specialists

Objective: The relevance of this study is due to the mass accreditation of health professionals that is developing in Russia, which requires innovative measurement tools and opens new opportunities for a well-founded cross-analysis of specialists’ professional readiness quality. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this article is to present approved methodical approaches to the transformation of accreditation data into a format suitable for secondary analysis of medical schools graduates quality based on the requirements of Professional Standards. Method: The leading methods of secondary data analysis are: a) codification of indicators in the primary data accumulation array; b) statistical processing of study results (evaluation of the relationships between the arrays of primary data accumulation and instrumental data, the correlation of test scores obtained by accreditation results with the labor functions of Professional Standards); c) the creation of representative samples for data analysis. The implementation of methods is carried out in the mode of working with arrays of big data, which also uses the method of cross-analysis to identify additional factors that affect to specialists’ professional readiness quality. Results: As a results of the research, there were: 1) approaches to the codification of data in the array and their secondary analysis were developed; 2) three samples were constructed with an estimation of representativeness for different strata, including subjects, assignments and corresponding labor functions; 3) the matrix of primary data in the specialty “Pediatrics” was verified using the example of the results of students from 50 medical universities in Russia. Conclusion: Approbation of methods of secondary data analysis conducted on representative samples of the subjects showed the effectiveness of the developed approaches that should be used when analyzing large data sets in the procedures of certification or accreditation. The materials of the article can be useful for specialists in the field of assessing the quality of education or assessing the professional readiness of health professionals, managers, professors and pedagogical staff of medical schools, specialists of centers for independent assessment of qualifications. © 2018, Modestum Ltd.. All rights reserved

New data on the level of immune stratum against Q fever agent in population of the of Republic of Guinea

which is bacteria of the species Coxiella burnetii. One of the factors showing the possibility of pathogen circulation in a certain territory is assessed by the presence of an immune stratum in the inhabitants of the region. In the 1980s, the study of the immune structure of the population of the Republic of Guinea in relation to coxiellosis has begun. The present study, carried out in 2015—2019, has been aimed to obtain new information about the immune stratum of the population of the Republic of Guinea against the causative agent of Q fever and to compare it with previous studies. Specific IgG antibodies in the blood of the Guinea residents were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a set of reagents manufactured at the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation). The serum samples were tested in at 1:100 dilution. Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 124/2346 (5.3% [CI 4.5-6.3]) samples. This study confirms the previously obtained data on the circulation of the causative agent of coxiellosis in all landscape and geographical zones of the Republic of Guinea. The natural and climatic conditions of the region, the variety of ixodic tick species currently inhabiting this territory being a reservoir and vector of infection, as well as a large amount of livestock are the factors for active circulation of the Q fever pathogen and the emergence of related disease outbreaks. The data obtained necessitate continuing further studies on distribution of C. burnetii in the territory of the Republic of Guinea. Taking into consideration the epidemiological significance of Q fever, a pressing task is to study a proportion of this infectious disease in the overall structure of diseases registered in the territory of the Republic of Guinea. It is also necessary to conduct regular epizootological monitoring in order to clarify the types of carriers and vectors of C. burnetii in different landscape and geographical zones of the Republic of Guinea as well as to assess the immune stratum against the pathogen in large and small cattle being the main sources of infection for humans. The data obtained will allow us to determine presence of a natural focus of this infection as well as its borders and develop a set of preventive (anti-epidemic) measures

Detection of Specific Antibodies to Arboviruses in Blood Sera of Persons Residing in Kindia Province, the Republic of Guinea

The aim of the work was to detect specific antibodies to West Nile, dengue, CCHF, and chikungunya viruses in blood sera of Guinean Kindia Province residents.Materials and methods. The obtained sera were analyzed in ELISA to discover IgG antibodies to abovementioned viruses.Results and conclusions. Detected were 267 (82 %) positive samples out of 326, containing immunoglobulins of G class to these arboviruses. The obtained data provide evidence for active circulation of dengue and West Nile fevers agents in this territory. Further studies of immune strata of the population, and possible carriers and vectors of arboviruses were demonstrated to be advisable for optimization of approaches to prophylactic (anti-epidemic) measures implementation

Experience of Application of the ELISA Method for Detection of Antibodies to Ebola Virus during the SAET Team Work in the Republic of Guinea

The aim of the work was to develop a kit for detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to Ebola virus in ELISA.Materials and methods. Ebola virus strain Zaire H.sapiens-wt/GIN/2015/Kalidie-Kindia-1022 grown on cell culture was used as antigen.Results and conclusions. The kit was used by the Rospotrebnadzor SAET team in its work in Guinea while investigating cases during Ebola fever epidemics. It was established that specific IgG antibodies persisted in Ebola fever survivors for 2 years. Application of this kit in the laboratory diagnostics permits ELISA to become the main and confirmatory laboratory method of Ebola fever detection

Studies of West Nile Virus Circulation in the Territory of the Saratov Region in 2010

Presented are the results of ecological and epizootiological surveillance of the territory of the Saratov region, which was carried out in autumn of 2010. The surveillance was aimed at detection of West Nile (WN) virus circulation and premises for WN Fever natural focus formation. It is demonstrated that in 2010 WN virus circulation took place in damp biotopes of the Saratov region territory, and that common species of small mammals were involved in it. Presented are the results of analysis of the WN virus role in the infectious pathology in the territory of the Saratov region

Spin Caloritronics

This is a brief overview of the state of the art of spin caloritronics, the science and technology of controlling heat currents by the electron spin degree of freedom (and vice versa).Comment: To be published in "Spin Current", edited by S. Maekawa, E. Saitoh, S. Valenzuela and Y. Kimura, Oxford University Pres

Detection of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Markers in Samples of Ixodes Ticks Collected in the Territory of the Republic of Guinea

Objective of the study. This work was carried out to identify markers (antigen and RNA) of CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus in samples from ticks, collected in all landscape-geographical areas of Guinea: Lower, Middle, Upper and Forest, to obtain up-to-date data on the distribution of the pathogen in the country.Materials and methods. Total of 4276 specimens of 8 species of ticks collected in 2016–2019 in the territory of the Republic of Guinea were studied, which were compiled into 1406 samples. Ectoparasites were collected from livestock animals, dogs, and small mammals. Viral antigen was detected using enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). The presence of RNA of the CCHF virus was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results and discussion. As a result of the studies, the antigen of the CCHF virus was detected in 21 samples (1.5 %), and RNA – in 37 (2.6 %). All samples, in which the viral antigen was detected, contained RNA of the CCHF virus. Positive results were obtained in samples from all geographical areas of the country. The main vectors and reservoirs of the pathogen in Guinea are ticks of the species Rh. sanguineus, Rh. geigyi, Rh. annulatus and Am. variegatum. The data obtained confirm the previously available information on the possibility of the pathogen circulation in this region and determine the need for further study of the spread of the CCHF virus in the territory of the Republic of Guinea

Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity.

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant