Record linkage is the process of identifying and combining records about the same individual from two or more different datasets. While there are many open source and commercial data linkage tools, ...the volume and complexity of currently available datasets for linkage pose a huge challenge; hence, designing an efficient linkage tool with reasonable accuracy and scalability is required.
We developed CIDACS-RL (Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health - Record Linkage), a novel iterative deterministic record linkage algorithm based on a combination of indexing search and scoring algorithms (provided by Apache Lucene). We described how the algorithm works and compared its performance with four open source linkage tools (AtyImo, Febrl, FRIL and RecLink) in terms of sensitivity and positive predictive value using gold standard dataset. We also evaluated its accuracy and scalability using a case-study and its scalability and execution time using a simulated cohort in serial (single core) and multi-core (eight core) computation settings.
Overall, CIDACS-RL algorithm had a superior performance: positive predictive value (99.93% versus AtyImo 99.30%, RecLink 99.5%, Febrl 98.86%, and FRIL 96.17%) and sensitivity (99.87% versus AtyImo 98.91%, RecLink 73.75%, Febrl 90.58%, and FRIL 74.66%). In the case study, using a ROC curve to choose the most appropriate cut-off value (0.896), the obtained metrics were: sensitivity = 92.5% (95% CI 92.07-92.99), specificity = 93.5% (95% CI 93.08-93.8) and area under the curve (AUC) = 97% (95% CI 96.97-97.35). The multi-core computation was about four times faster (150 seconds) than the serial setting (550 seconds) when using a dataset of 20 million records.
CIDACS-RL algorithm is an innovative linkage tool for huge datasets, with higher accuracy, improved scalability, and substantially shorter execution time compared to other existing linkage tools. In addition, CIDACS-RL can be deployed on standard computers without the need for high-speed processors and distributed infrastructures.
A 1% potassium peroxymonosulphate-based environmental disinfectant (PPED) produces sodium hypochlorite when combined with sodium chloride, which functions as a disinfectant. However, little is known ...about the impact of hospital cleaning with PPED on hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI).
To reduce HO-CDI, we promoted antimicrobial stewardship and hospital ward cleaning with PPED: this study was conducted to evaluate their impact.
We began a promotion of post-prescription review with feedback for broad-spectrum antimicrobials and hospital ward cleaning with PPED. We reviewed the ratio of HO-CDI, PPED consumption, and days of therapy (DOT) of broad-spectrum antimicrobials between July 2014 and March 2018, dividing this time into the pre-promotion (July 2014 to June 2015) and post-promotion periods (July 2015 to March 2018).
Using interrupted time series analysis, an immediate significant change in HO-CDI was observed after intervention (P=0.03), although a downward trend was not observed over this period (P=0.19). Trends in PPED consumption significantly changed over this period (P=0.02). DOT of carbapenems decreased immediately after the intervention began (P<0.01). A Poisson regression analysis showed that PPED consumption and DOT of carbapenems were independent factors affecting HO-CDI (P=0.039 and 0.016, respectively).
We revealed that DOT of carbapenems and use of PPED were associated with the HO-CDI ratio and that both interventions reduced the rate of HO-CDI. This is the first report on the impact of hospital ward cleaning with PPED on the reduction of HO-CDI.
Preterm births increase mortality and morbidity during childhood and later life, which is closely associated with poverty and the quality of prenatal care. Therefore, income redistribution and ...poverty reduction initiatives may be valuable in preventing this outcome. We assessed whether receipt of the Brazilian conditional cash transfer programme - Bolsa Familia Programme, the largest in the world - reduces the occurrence of preterm births, including their severity categories, and explored how this association differs according to prenatal care and the quality of Bolsa Familia Programme management.
A retrospective cohort study was performed involving the first live singleton births to mothersenrolled in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort from 2004 to 2015, who had at least one child before cohort enrollment. Only the first birth during the cohort period was included, but born from 2012 onward. A deterministic linkage with the Bolsa Familia Programme payroll dataset and a similarity linkage with the Brazilian Live Birth Information System were performed. The exposed group consisted of newborns to mothers who received Bolsa Familia from conception to delivery. Our outcomes were infants born with a gestational age < 37 weeks: (i) all preterm births, (ii) moderate-to-late (32-36), (iii) severe (28-31), and (iv) extreme (< 28) preterm births compared to at-term newborns. We combined propensity score-based methods and weighted logistic regressions to compare newborns to mothers who did and did not receive Bolsa Familia, controlling for socioeconomic conditions. We also estimated these effects separately, according to the adequacy of prenatal care and the index of quality of Bolsa Familia Programme management.
1,031,053 infants were analyzed; 65.9% of the mothers were beneficiaries. Bolsa Familia Programme was not associated with all sets of preterm births, moderate-to-late, and severe preterm births, but was associated with a reduction in extreme preterm births (weighted OR: 0.69; 95%CI: 0.63-0.76). This reduction can also be observed among mothers receiving adequate prenatal care (weighted OR: 0.66; 95%CI: 0.59-0.74) and living in better Bolsa Familia management municipalities (weighted OR: 0.56; 95%CI: 0.43-0.74).
An income transfer programme for pregnant women of low-socioeconomic status, conditional to attending prenatal care appointments, has been associated with a reduction in extremely preterm births. These programmes could be essential in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
As a Japanese contribution to the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) upgrade, KEK is in charge of developing the beam separation dipole cold masses. The full-scale prototype magnet ...(MBXFP1) was constructed in Hitachi and powering test at cold was conducted at KEK. After the test, the magnet was returned to Hitachi for the final assembly of the cold mass. The pressure vessel design of the cold mass was carried out by KEK in accordance with ASME code. A new design of bus leads was proposed to satisfy the requirement of flexibility as well as mechanical support and electrical insulation. Welding of the extremity pipes was challenging due to tight position tolerance. This article reports the structure, pressure vessel design, and assembly of the LMBXF prototype cold mass (LMBXFP1) including bus work, instrumentation, and welding works with geometrical measurements.
Mountable controller with parallelized VERSA Module Eurocard (VME) (MPV) is a VME-compatible system having a parallel readout architecture. This article presents the system architecture and its data ...acquisition performance. In this system, the readout sequence is implemented in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to achieve the ideal VME bus speed. Data from multiple VME slave modules are read out in parallel, merged, and sent to a server. Maximum data throughput of 400 Mbps was achieved. Thus, the MPV system can dramatically improve the performance of VME data acquisition systems.
Highlights • We evaluated RV-A vaccine effectiveness in a more ethnically diverse population. • We showed high VE despite the diversity of RV-A strains and prevalence of G2P4. • Protection lasted at ...least two years after the second dose vaccination. • The effect appeared to be higher against G1P8 and G2P4 than against nonG1/G2.
As an alternative to suture ligatures of the vessels, an electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer (EBVS) was recently developed. Meanwhile, ultrasonic coagulating shears (UCS) have been widely used ...clinically to provide hemostatic cutting in laparoscopic procedures. We conducted a comparative study to investigate the relative advantages of these two instruments.
The study included 30 patients with colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic colectomy using either the EBVS or the UCS. We performed a comparative analysis of the instruments by viewing videotapes showing their application in laparoscopic transverse colectomy and sigmoidectomy.
Average patient age was 71.6 +/- 1.4 years. Average hospital stay was 14.2 +/- 1.0 days. There were no statistical differences between the groups in age and hospital stay. The incidence of rebleeding was significantly lower in the EBVS group than in the UCS group for both surgical procedures (0.3 vs 1.2 in transverse colectomy, 0.3 vs 2.0 in sigmoidectomy, respectively). In addition, the required time for mesocolon dissection was also significantly shorter when the EBVS was used in both laparoscopic transverse colectomy and sigmoidectomy (7.9 vs 18.4, 15.0 vs 27.6, respectively).
The use of the EBVS will enable surgeons to reduce the total operating time for laparoscopic colectomy.
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