From feature selection to continuous optimization

Metaheuristic algorithms (MAs) have seen unprecedented growth thanks to their successful applications in fields including engineering and health sciences. In this work, we investigate the use of a deep learning (DL) model as an alternative tool to do so. The proposed method, called MaNet, is motivated by the fact that most of the DL models often need to solve massive nasty optimization problems consisting of millions of parameters. Feature selection is the main adopted concepts in MaNet that helps the algorithm to skip irrelevant or partially relevant evolutionary information and uses those which contribute most to the overall performance. The introduced model is applied on several unimodal and multimodal continuous problems. The experiments indicate that MaNet is able to yield competitive results compared to one of the best hand-designed algorithms for the aforementioned problems, in terms of the solution accuracy and scalability.Comment: Accepted for EA201

The effect of an educational intervention based on the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM)on the waste separation: A community based study

Introduction: In the management of recycling waste, separation of the wastes from source is crucially important. A successful source separation plan requires good participation of the community. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention based on the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM) on the behavior change of housewives in Sanandaj City, west of Iran, towards the waste separation at source. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental and community trail study. The population study was the households living in Sanandaj. The total number of 144 households were selected and divided into two groups (72 each). For each selected household, only the housewife was interviewed. To evaluate the behavior change towards the dry and wet waste separation, a training program based on the IBM was conducted for one group (training or intervention group) and the second group served as the control and received no training. The length of the intervention was two months with eight sessions. After a month, participants were asked to fill in a validated questionnaire based on the IBM, before and at the end of study. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and McNemar tests. Results: In the intervention group at the baseline, the mean ± standard deviation of the attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and self-efficacy score were 34.03 ± 5.12, 15.91 ± 4.58, 18.93 ± 4.01 and 31.54 ± 6.79 respectively. At the end of study, the score of components increased to 36 ± 4.28, 18.9 ± 4.56, 21.76 ± 2.65 and 34.72 ± 4.66 respectively. The increase in the components was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The intervention based on IBM could be an effective method to improve the behavior of separation the dry and wet waste. © 2019 INDIACLE

A study of emotional intelligence and the effect of educational intervention in emergency medicine residents

Introduction: This study aimed to examine emotional intelligence components and the impact of education in residents on emergency medicine wards. Materials and Methods: The study consists of two descriptive and interventional parts. The first part aimed to determine the IQ in emergency department residents and the second part - the effect of education on emotional intelligence of residents. To collect the required information, Sheering Emotional Intelligence Inventory was used. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. Results: Among the components of emotional intelligence in 120 residents of emergency medicine, the highest mean score was that for self-awareness (mean and standard deviation at 24.8 ± 3.7), and the lowest score was for social skill (mean 16.2, SD ± 3.4). There was no significant difference between the components of emotional intelligence in the intervention group and the control group before an educational intervention (P = 0.05), but after the intervention the difference between the groups became significant (P ? 0.05). Discussion: The descriptive findings of this study showed that among the emotional intelligence components, self-awareness and social skills of the residents had the highest and the lowest mean scores, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that teaching emotional intelligence to emergency medicine residents had a significant role in increasing their emotional intelligence

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in esophageal colon interposition

The idea of using the colon to replace a resected esophagus has a long history. The colon has become a favored organ for esophageal reconstruction in adults with esophageal cancer when the stomach is not suitable or is unavailable. In this article, we introduce an 84-year-old woman that she had surgery 40 years ago and presented with an invasive well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of colonic origin in reconstructed esophagus. © 2017 The Author

Golestan cohort study of oesophageal cancer: feasibility and first results

To investigate the incidence of oesophageal cancer (EC) in the Golestan province of North-East Iran, we invited 1349 rural and urban inhabitants of Golestan province aged 35–80 to undergo extensive lifestyle interviews and to provide biological samples. The interview was repeated on a subset of 130 participants to assess reliability of questionnaire and medical information. Temperature at which tea was consumed was measured on two occasions by 110 subjects. Samples of rice, wheat and sorghum were tested for fumonisin contamination. An active follow-up was carried out after 6 and 12 months. A total of 1057 subjects (610 women and 447 men) participated in this feasibility study (78.4% participation rate). Cigarette smoking, opium and alcohol use were reported by 163 (13.8%), 93 (8.8%) and 39 (3.7%) subjects, respectively. Tobacco smoking was correlated with urinary cotinine (κ=0.74). Most questionnaire data had κ >0.7 in repeat measurements; tea temperature measurement was reliable (κ=0.71). No fumonisins were detected in the samples analysed. During the follow-up six subjects were lost (0.6%), two subjects developed EC (one dead, one alive); in all, 13 subjects died (with cause of death known for 11, 84.6%). Conducting a cohort study in Golestan is feasible with reliable information obtained for suspected risk factors; participants can be followed up for EC incidence and mortality

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks