Comparison of a new multiplex real-time PCR with the Kato Katz thick smear and copro-antigen ELISA for the detection and differentiation of Taenia spp. in human stools

Background : Taenia solium, the cause of neurocysticercosis (NCC), has significant socioeconomic impacts on communities in developing countries. This disease, along with taeniasis is estimated to infect 2.5 to 5 million people globally. Control of T. solium NCC necessitates accurate diagnosis and treatment of T. solium taeniasis carriers. In areas where all three species of Taenia tapeworms (T. solium, Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica) occur sympatrically, conventional microscope-and copro-antigen based diagnostic methods are unable to distinguish between these three Taenia species. Molecular diagnostic tools have been developed to overcome this limitation; however, conventional PCR-based techniques remain unsuitable for large-scale deployment in community-based surveys. Moreover, a real-time PCR (qPCR) for the discrimination of all three species of Taenia in human stool does not exist. This study describes the development and validation of a new triplex Taq-Man probe-based qPCR for the detection and discrimination of all three Taenia human tapeworms in human stools collected from communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The diagnostic characteristics of the test are compared with conventional Kato Katz (KK) thick smear and copro-antigen ELISA (cAgELISA) method utilizing fecal samples from a community based cross-sectional study. Using this new multiplex real-time PCR we provide an estimate of the true prevalence of taeniasis in the source population for the community based cross-sectional study. Methodology/Principal findings : Primers and TaqMan probes for the specific amplification of T. solium, T. saginata and T. asiatica were designed and successfully optimized to target the internal transcribed spacer I (ITS-1) gene of T. solium and the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COX-1) gene of T. saginata and T. asiatica. The newly designed triplex qPCR (T3qPCR) was compared to KK and cAgELISA for the detection of Taenia eggs in stool samples collected from 342 individuals in Dak Lak province, Central Highlands of Vietnam. The overall apparent prevalence of taeniasis in Dak Lak province was 6.72% (95% confidence interval (CI) [3.94-9.50]) in which T. solium accounted for 1.17% (95% CI [0.37-3.17]), according to the T3qPCR. There was sympatric presence of T. solium, T. saginata and T. asiatica. The T3qPCR proved superior to KK and cAgELISA for the detection and differentiation of Taenia species in human feces. Diagnostic sensitivities of 0.94 (95% credible interval (CrI) [0.88-0.98]), 0.82 (95% CrI [0.58-0.95]) and 0.52 (95% CrI [0.07-0.94]), and diagnostic specificities of 0.98 (95% CrI [0.94-1.00]), 0.91 (95% CrI [0.85-0.96]) and 0.99 (95% CrI [0.96-1.00]) were estimated for the diagnosis of taeniasis for the T3qPCR, cAgELISA and KK thick smear in this study, respectively. Conclusions : T3qPCR is not only superior to the KK thick smear and cAgELISA in terms of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, but it also has the advantage of discriminating between species of Taenia eggs in stools. Application of this newly developed T3qPCR has identified the existence of all three human Taenia tapeworms in Dak Lak province and proves for the first time, the existence of T. asiatica in the Central Highlands and the south of Vietnam

Ensembling techniques in solar panel quality classification

Solar panel quality inspection is a time consuming and costly task. This study tries to develop as reliable method for evaluating the panels quality by using ensemble technique based on three machine learning models namely logistic regression, support vector machine and artificial neural network. The data in this study came from infrared camera which were captured in dark room. The panels are supplied with direct current (DC) power while the infrared camera is located perpendicular with panel surface. Dataset is divided into four classes where each class represent for a level of damage percentage. The approach is suitable for systems which has limited resources as well as number of training images which is very popular in reality. Result shows that the proposed method performs with the accuracy is higher than 90%

Academic Anxiety of Vietnamese Secondary School Students as a Reason for Applying Online Learning

Academic anxiety is one of the major problems in student psychology across the world. It applies equally to students of all ages, from elementary school to college and university students. Research shows that learning online is an effective way to defuse feelings of academic anxiety. Elimination of anxiety is clearly visible regardless of age, gender, or prior online learning experience. The study aims to identify academic anxiety as one of the most important reasons for moving to online learning or blended learning in secondary school. The study investigated academic anxiety among secondary school students in Vietnam. After surveying 677 students in classroom learning, the results showed that 13.7% of secondary students suffered from frequent anxiety, and 3.0% of them suffered from very frequent anxiety. Lower anxiety was observed among students actively participated in-class activities, and students with excellent academic performance. These factors can be optimally enhanced through blended and online learning. There were no differences in academic anxiety among male and female students, urban and rural students. There was a moderate correlation between a student's anxiety level and pressure of the school, parental expectations, students' motivation for high performance, and especially, among students who have the melancholic temperament. And the influence of these negative factors can also be optimally reduced with the help of online learning. Regression model could provide useful suggestions for parents, teachers and students in reducing academic anxiety for students, including the use of full or blended online learning

АТОМНО-СИЛОВАЯ МИКРОСКОПИЯ БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ОБЪЕКТОВ

A review of references on application of the atomic force microscopy for biological subjects’ investigation is submitted. Advantages of this method in comparison with other types of microscopy are shown. Achievements in this area and the problems arising during the work with biological cells are described.Представлен обзор литературных данных по применению метода атомно-силовой микроскопии для изучения биологических объектов. Показаны преимущества метода по сравнению с другими видами микроскопии. Описаны достижения в этой области, рассмотрены проблемы, возникающие при работе с биологическими клетками

Morphology Recovery and Convergence of Topographic Evolution in the Natori River Mouth after the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami

The 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami caused significant damage along the coastal region in Miyagi Prefecture. In the Natori River of Miyagi Prefecture, the recovery process of the estuarine morphology has been observed since the tsunami arrived. In this study, detailed analyses of collected aerial photographs and beach topography in front of the river mouth were conducted to evaluate whether the river mouth has reached a new equilibrium. The shoreline analysis suggests that the river mouth has obtained an equilibrium state after 2014 in which the sediment volume can be preserved within the littoral system. In addition, the convergence process to the stable topography was detected by the first spatial and temporal eigenfunctions obtained from the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the beach profiles. From the results, it can be concluded that the river mouth has obtained a new equilibrium of morphology after the tsunami. As the recurrence of the tsunami can be expected in the next several centuries, the findings of this study can be useful for long-term coastal and riverine management against future disasters in this river mouth, and other coastal regions that are prone to large-scale disasters in the near future

Morphology Recovery and Convergence of Topographic Evolution in the Natori River Mouth after the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami

The 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami caused significant damage along the coastal region in Miyagi Prefecture. In the Natori River of Miyagi Prefecture, the recovery process of the estuarine morphology has been observed since the tsunami arrived. In this study, detailed analyses of collected aerial photographs and beach topography in front of the river mouth were conducted to evaluate whether the river mouth has reached a new equilibrium. The shoreline analysis suggests that the river mouth has obtained an equilibrium state after 2014 in which the sediment volume can be preserved within the littoral system. In addition, the convergence process to the stable topography was detected by the first spatial and temporal eigenfunctions obtained from the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the beach profiles. From the results, it can be concluded that the river mouth has obtained a new equilibrium of morphology after the tsunami. As the recurrence of the tsunami can be expected in the next several centuries, the findings of this study can be useful for long-term coastal and riverine management against future disasters in this river mouth, and other coastal regions that are prone to large-scale disasters in the near future

Structure, microstructure and dielectric properties of lead-free BCT-<i>x</i>BZT ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary

409-415There is an urgent demand for high performance Pb-free piezoelectrics to substitute for the current workhorse, the lead zirconate titanate (PZT) family. In the present study, the high performance lead-free BCT-xBZT ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) were prepared by traditional method. The structure, microstructure of the ceramics samples were analyzed. Results show that MPB for these ceramics is achieved with BZT component of x = 0.48. Dielectric properties show ferroelectric-relaxor behaviour of this system. Furthermore, the combination of ImageJ and Lince software allows analyzing SEM images of the ceramics for estimating average particle size and particle size distribution

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients who died from Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Viet Nam

We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients who died from influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in hospitals in Viet Nam between August 2009 and March 2010.Of 58 fatal cases, 32 (55%) were below 30 years of age and 14 (24%) were pregnant females. Forty-five (78%) patients had at least one underlying medical condition including chronic heart, kidney or lung diseases or pregnancy. Twelve (21%) cases sought medical attention on the day of symptom onset. Only 13 (36%) of 36 cases for whom treatment data were available had been given antiviral drugs within the recommended two days of symptom onset.The clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of the patients who died from influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 are similar to those reported from other countries. To improve preparedness and response to future pandemics, Viet Nam needs to strengthen the surveillance of influenza; increase laboratory capacity to test for influenza viruses; and develop strategies for promoting the timely attendance of at-risk individuals at health facilities and the early administration of antiviral drugs, particularly for persons with underlying medical conditions and pregnant females