Classification of cow’s behaviors based on 3-DoF accelerations from cow’s movements

Cow’s behavior classification helps people to monitor cow activities, thus the health and physiological periods of cows can be well tracked. To classify the behavior of cows, the data from the 3-axis acceleration sensor mounted on their neck is often used. Data acquisition and preprocessing of sensor data is required in this device. We acquire data from the 3-axis acceleration sensor mounted on the cows’neck and send to the microcontrollter. At the microcontroller, a proposed decision tree is applied in real-time manner to classify four important activities of the cows (standing, lying, feeding, and walking). Finally, the results can be sent to the server through the wireless transmission module. The test results confirm the reliability of the proposed device

Medication Adherence in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of death globally. While effective long-term medications that reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease are readily available, nonadherence to prescribed medications remains a significant reason for suboptimal management. Consequently, this might lead to increased morbidity and mortality and healthcare costs. Medication nonadherence causes are myriad and complicated, with factors at the patient, healthcare provider, and health system levels. Many clinical trials have investigated interventions to target these factors for improving medication adherence, including improving patient education, testing behavioral interventions, implementing medication reminder tools, reducing medication costs, utilizing social support, utilizing healthcare team members, and simplifying medication dosing regimens. This book chapter describes factors influencing medication adherence and highlights the impact of varying levels of adherence on patients’ clinical and economic outcomes. We also summarize interventions for improving medication adherence in cardiovascular disease

TextANIMAR: Text-based 3D Animal Fine-Grained Retrieval

3D object retrieval is an important yet challenging task, which has drawn more and more attention in recent years. While existing approaches have made strides in addressing this issue, they are often limited to restricted settings such as image and sketch queries, which are often unfriendly interactions for common users. In order to overcome these limitations, this paper presents a novel SHREC challenge track focusing on text-based fine-grained retrieval of 3D animal models. Unlike previous SHREC challenge tracks, the proposed task is considerably more challenging, requiring participants to develop innovative approaches to tackle the problem of text-based retrieval. Despite the increased difficulty, we believe that this task has the potential to drive useful applications in practice and facilitate more intuitive interactions with 3D objects. Five groups participated in our competition, submitting a total of 114 runs. While the results obtained in our competition are satisfactory, we note that the challenges presented by this task are far from being fully solved. As such, we provide insights into potential areas for future research and improvements. We believe that we can help push the boundaries of 3D object retrieval and facilitate more user-friendly interactions via vision-language technologies.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2304.0573

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Future trends in disease burden and drivers of health are of great interest to policy makers and the public at large. This information can be used for policy and long-term health investment, planning, and prioritisation. We have expanded and improved upon previous forecasts produced as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) and provide a reference forecast (the most likely future), and alternative scenarios assessing disease burden trajectories if selected sets of risk factors were eliminated from current levels by 2050. Methods: Using forecasts of major drivers of health such as the Socio-demographic Index (SDI; a composite measure of lag-distributed income per capita, mean years of education, and total fertility under 25 years of age) and the full set of risk factor exposures captured by GBD, we provide cause-specific forecasts of mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) by age and sex from 2022 to 2050 for 204 countries and territories, 21 GBD regions, seven super-regions, and the world. All analyses were done at the cause-specific level so that only risk factors deemed causal by the GBD comparative risk assessment influenced future trajectories of mortality for each disease. Cause-specific mortality was modelled using mixed-effects models with SDI and time as the main covariates, and the combined impact of causal risk factors as an offset in the model. At the all-cause mortality level, we captured unexplained variation by modelling residuals with an autoregressive integrated moving average model with drift attenuation. These all-cause forecasts constrained the cause-specific forecasts at successively deeper levels of the GBD cause hierarchy using cascading mortality models, thus ensuring a robust estimate of cause-specific mortality. For non-fatal measures (eg, low back pain), incidence and prevalence were forecasted from mixed-effects models with SDI as the main covariate, and YLDs were computed from the resulting prevalence forecasts and average disability weights from GBD. Alternative future scenarios were constructed by replacing appropriate reference trajectories for risk factors with hypothetical trajectories of gradual elimination of risk factor exposure from current levels to 2050. The scenarios were constructed from various sets of risk factors: environmental risks (Safer Environment scenario), risks associated with communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNs; Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination scenario), risks associated with major non-communicable diseases (NCDs; Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenario), and the combined effects of these three scenarios. Using the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways climate scenarios SSP2-4.5 as reference and SSP1-1.9 as an optimistic alternative in the Safer Environment scenario, we accounted for climate change impact on health by using the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change temperature forecasts and published trajectories of ambient air pollution for the same two scenarios. Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy were computed using standard methods. The forecasting framework includes computing the age-sex-specific future population for each location and separately for each scenario. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for each individual future estimate were derived from the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of distributions generated from propagating 500 draws through the multistage computational pipeline. Findings: In the reference scenario forecast, global and super-regional life expectancy increased from 2022 to 2050, but improvement was at a slower pace than in the three decades preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (beginning in 2020). Gains in future life expectancy were forecasted to be greatest in super-regions with comparatively low life expectancies (such as sub-Saharan Africa) compared with super-regions with higher life expectancies (such as the high-income super-region), leading to a trend towards convergence in life expectancy across locations between now and 2050. At the super-region level, forecasted healthy life expectancy patterns were similar to those of life expectancies. Forecasts for the reference scenario found that health will improve in the coming decades, with all-cause age-standardised DALY rates decreasing in every GBD super-region. The total DALY burden measured in counts, however, will increase in every super-region, largely a function of population ageing and growth. We also forecasted that both DALY counts and age-standardised DALY rates will continue to shift from CMNNs to NCDs, with the most pronounced shifts occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (60·1% [95% UI 56·8–63·1] of DALYs were from CMNNs in 2022 compared with 35·8% [31·0–45·0] in 2050) and south Asia (31·7% [29·2–34·1] to 15·5% [13·7–17·5]). This shift is reflected in the leading global causes of DALYs, with the top four causes in 2050 being ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared with 2022, with ischaemic heart disease, neonatal disorders, stroke, and lower respiratory infections at the top. The global proportion of DALYs due to YLDs likewise increased from 33·8% (27·4–40·3) to 41·1% (33·9–48·1) from 2022 to 2050, demonstrating an important shift in overall disease burden towards morbidity and away from premature death. The largest shift of this kind was forecasted for sub-Saharan Africa, from 20·1% (15·6–25·3) of DALYs due to YLDs in 2022 to 35·6% (26·5–43·0) in 2050. In the assessment of alternative future scenarios, the combined effects of the scenarios (Safer Environment, Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination, and Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenarios) demonstrated an important decrease in the global burden of DALYs in 2050 of 15·4% (13·5–17·5) compared with the reference scenario, with decreases across super-regions ranging from 10·4% (9·7–11·3) in the high-income super-region to 23·9% (20·7–27·3) in north Africa and the Middle East. The Safer Environment scenario had its largest decrease in sub-Saharan Africa (5·2% [3·5–6·8]), the Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenario in north Africa and the Middle East (23·2% [20·2–26·5]), and the Improved Nutrition and Vaccination scenario in sub-Saharan Africa (2·0% [–0·6 to 3·6]). Interpretation: Globally, life expectancy and age-standardised disease burden were forecasted to improve between 2022 and 2050, with the majority of the burden continuing to shift from CMNNs to NCDs. That said, continued progress on reducing the CMNN disease burden will be dependent on maintaining investment in and policy emphasis on CMNN disease prevention and treatment. Mostly due to growth and ageing of populations, the number of deaths and DALYs due to all causes combined will generally increase. By constructing alternative future scenarios wherein certain risk exposures are eliminated by 2050, we have shown that opportunities exist to substantially improve health outcomes in the future through concerted efforts to prevent exposure to well established risk factors and to expand access to key health interventions

Associated factors to attitudes and perceptions toward HIV/AIDS: a study of ethnic minorities in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

Background: In Central Highland of Vietnam, number of HIV infected people in the Highlands region was 2,869, with 654 cases of AIDS. There are very few researches on HIV/AIDS, especially, research in community [14]. The ethnic minority populations are the source of differences from other regions of in the country. Negative attitude and misperception toward HIV/AIDS are remaining among this group. To improve the perception and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among Ethnic minorities. This study aims to illustrate attitude and perception towards HIV/AIDS among ethnic minority in Buon Ma Thuot City and determine factors related to attitude and perception towards HIV/AIDS in this population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of collected from 810 ethnic minority aged 15-49 in Buon Ma Thuot city, Vietnam in 2012.  Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information regarding HIV knowledge, HIV perception and attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).  The mean score was calculated. Multivariate analysis performed to analyze the influence of socio-demographic, HIV information sources and HIV knowledge on attitudes and perception towards HIV/AIDS. Results: We identified the mass media channel is common HIV information resource (92.8%), but the respondents received HIV information through mass media channels had lower perception and attitude towards HIV/AIDS. The multivariate analysis showed that the socioeconomic-demographic characteristic, HIV information, and HIV knowledge significantly associated with perception and attitude towards HIV/AIDS. But the HIV information provided by health officers, who are ethnic minorities had more effectiveness of improving attitude towards PLWHA in community (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these data, we recommend improving quality of HIV massage through mass media channel with adequate HIV information combine with social messages. Besides, the role of multichannel mass media and the role of health officers is need to combine together

Sentinel surveillance for HIV among people who inject drugs at Gia Lai Province, Vietnam

Background: HIV remains a public health challenge, especially among people who inject drug (PWID). The HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS), together with the HIV/AIDS case reporting, are two core components of the HIV/AIDS surveillance system providing systematic, on-going monitoring of HIV epidemic in Viet Nam. The HSS was first conducted in 1994 to determine HIV prevalence among the high-risk group by collecting blood sample. But in 2009, this system was monitored the risk behaviors by addition of a brief behavioral questionnaire, known as HSS+. In Central Highland, the HIV situation in Gia Lai province has primarily affected PWID, which are main criteria to select into the surveillance system.Aims: This study aims to determine risk factors for HIV infection to improve intervention programs for PWID in Gia Lai province, Vietnam.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 150 randomly selected PWID from June to September 2014 in Gia Lai province. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information regarding drug use, sexual behavior, accessibility of HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services. Blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of HIV antibodies using ELISA and rapid test. For data analysis, the frequencies and proportions were calculated. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests and multivariable logistic regression were performed to assess the association between risk factors and HIV infection.Results: We identified 14 infections among 150 PWID (prevalence = 9.3%). Among PWID, 22.7% (34/150) had shared needles and 3 HIV prevalence among PWIDs injecting drug for at least 3 years was 2.4%. HIV prevalence among PWIDs who have had sexual intercourse with more than one commercial sex worker (CSW) per month was 6.5%. In multivariable logistic regression, the odds of HIV infection with sharing needles, injecting for over 3 years, and sexual intercourse with more than one CSW per month was 6.7 (95% CI: 1.6-27.7), 6.1 (95% CI: 1.2-30.3) and with 4.0 (95% CI: 1.0-15.3), respectively.Conclusion: We identified a few modifiable risk factors among PWID. Based on these data, we recommend improving harm reduction intervention and behavior change communication. The sentinel surveillance site should continue monitoring PWID behavior over time. Keywords: HIV Sentinel surveillance, People Who Inject Drug (PWID), Gia Lai, Vietnam Received: 28 May 2018, Reviewed: 31 May 2018, Received:  in revised form 11 June 2018, Accepted: 29 June 2018,  DOI: 10.35898/ghmj-2256

Malaria risk factors and care-seeking behaviour within the private sector among high-risk populations in Vietnam: a qualitative study

BackgroundVietnam has successfully reduced malaria incidence by more than 90% over the past 10&nbsp;years, and is now preparing for malaria elimination. However, the remaining malaria burden resides in individuals that are hardest to reach, in highly remote areas, where many malaria cases are treated through the informal private sector and are not reported to public health systems. This qualitative study aimed to contextualize and characterize the role of private providers, care-seeking behaviour of individuals at high risk of malaria, as well as risk factors that should be addressed through malaria elimination programmes in Vietnam.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 key informants in Hanoi, 30 providers, 9 potential patients, and 11 individuals at risk of malaria in Binh Phuoc and Kon Tum provinces. Audio recorded interviews were transcribed and uploaded to Atlas TI™, themes were identified, from which programmatic implications and recommendations were synthesized.ResultsQualitative interviews revealed that efforts for malaria elimination in Vietnam should concentrate on reaching highest-risk populations in remote areas as well their care providers, in particular private pharmacies, private clinics, and grocery stores. Among these private providers, diagnosis is currently based on symptoms, leaving unconfirmed cases that are not reported to public health surveillance systems. Among at-risk individuals, knowledge of malaria was limited, and individuals reported not taking full courses of treatment, a practice that threatens selection for drug resistance. Access to insecticide-treated hammock nets, a potentially important preventive measure for settings with outdoor biting Anopheles vectors, was also limited.ConclusionsMalaria elimination efforts in Vietnam can be accelerated by targeting improved treatment, diagnosis, and reporting practices to private pharmacies, private clinics, and grocery stores. Programmes should also seek to increase awareness and understanding of malaria among at-risk populations, in particular the importance of using preventive measures and adhering to complete courses of anti-malarial medicines

Knowledge and practice on prevention of mosquito-borne diseases in livestock-keeping and non-livestock-keeping communities in Hanoi city, Vietnam: A mixed-method study

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are causing high morbidity and mortality for humans. Urban livestock keeping is still common in cities around the world. The animals may serve as reservoirs for zoonotic MBDs, which increase the risks for humans. Here we assess the knowledge and practices related to MBDs in households with livestock and without livestock and explore the perceptions of the health care sector about MBDs and livestock keeping in Hanoi city of Vietnam in a cross-sectional study. A quantitative survey was conducted including 513 households with and without livestock-keeping in six districts and complemented with qualitative surveys with four health staff from Hanoi Center of Disease Control and three district health centers. The quantitative survey indicated that the participants possessed basic knowledge on MBDs with an average score of 18.3 out of 35, of which non-livestock-keeping households had a better knowledge than households keeping livestock (p<0.05). Both household categories had low score, 3.5 out of 11, regarding preventive practices against MBDs. The negative binomial model showed that occupation and location of living were factors associated to the knowledge on MBDs. Farmers were likely to have better preventive practices as compared to office workers (p<0.05). Those who had better knowledge also had more adequate preventive practices against MBDs (p<0.001). The qualitative survey revealed that livestock keeping was determined as increasing risks of MBDs due to the increase of mosquito population. It is recommended that community campaigns to raise the awareness and change behavior on MBDs should be organized based on collaboration between the health sector and the veterinary sector for households with and without livestock living in central urban and peri-urban areas. Further studies are needed to confirm the association between urban livestock keeping and potential increasing risks of MBDs such as dengue and Japanese encephalitis