Understanding multilevel barriers to childhood vaccination uptake among Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) in Mogadishu, Somalia: a qualitative study.

Background: Disparities in vaccination coverage exist in Somalia with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) being among the groups with the lowest coverage. We implemented an adapted Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) intervention, which focused on routine vaccinations among displaced populations living in Mogadishu IDP camps. The intervention was successful in improving maternal knowledge and vaccination coverage but unsuccessful in improving timely vaccination.

Use of an adapted participatory learning and action cycle to increase knowledge and uptake of child vaccination in internally displaced persons camps (IVACS): A cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Vaccination is a key public health intervention that can reduce excess mortality in humanitarian contexts. Vaccine hesitancy is thought to be a significant problem requiring demand side interventions. Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) approaches have proven effective in reducing perinatal mortality in low income settings and we aimed to apply an adapted approach in Somalia.

Data Freshness and End-to-End Delay in Cross-Layer Two-Tier Linear IoT Networks.

The operational and technological structures of radio access networks have undergone tremendous changes in recent years. A displacement of priority from capacity-coverage optimization (to ensure data freshness) has emerged. Multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) is a solution that addresses the exponential growth of traffic demands, providing degrees of freedom in meeting various performance goals, including energy efficiencies in IoT networks.

Effects of Mulberry on The Central Nervous System: A Literature Review.

Background: Mulberry, including several species belonging to genus Morus, has been widely used as a traditional medicine for a long time. Extracts and active components of mulberry have many positive neurological and biological effects and can become potential candidates in the search for new drugs for neurological disorders.

Objectives: We aimed to systematically review the medical literature for evidence of mulberry effects on the central nervous system.

Examined and Positive Lymph Node Counts Are Associated with Mortality in Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the third leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. We aimed to disclose the prognostic values of examined (dissected) lymph node (ELN), negative lymph node (NLN), and positive (metastatic) lymph node (PLN) counts and lymph node (LNs) ratio in PCa patients.

Methods: We extracted data of PCa patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Data Gathering and Energy Transfer Dilemma in UAV-Assisted Flying Access Network for IoT.

Recently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as an alternative solution to assist wireless networks, thanks to numerous advantages they offer in comparison to terrestrial fixed base stations. For instance, a UAV can be used to embed a flying base station providing an on-demand nomadic access to network services. A UAV can also be used to wirelessly recharge out-of-battery ground devices.

Microfluidic devices for nucleic acid (NA) isolation, isothermal NA amplification, and real-time detection.

Molecular (nucleic acid)-based diagnostics tests have many advantages over immunoassays, particularly with regard to sensitivity and specificity. Most on-site diagnostic tests, however, are immunoassay-based because conventional nucleic acid-based tests (NATs) require extensive sample processing, trained operators, and specialized equipment. To make NATs more convenient, especially for point-of-care diagnostics and on-site testing, a simple plastic microfluidic cassette ("chip") has been developed for nucleic acid-based testing of blood, other clinical specimens, food, water, and environmental samples.

Complete earlobe keloid resection with fistulectomy.

Background: The earlobe is a location with a high risk of keloid scar formation. Keloid scars pose a surgical challenge from recidivation. The objective of this study was to investigate a new surgical approach for the treatment of auricular keloids.

Nuclemeter: a reaction-diffusion based method for quantifying nucleic acids undergoing enzymatic amplification.

Real-time amplification and quantification of specific nucleic acid sequences plays a major role in medical and biotechnological applications. In the case of infectious diseases, such as HIV, quantification of the pathogen-load in patient specimens is critical to assess disease progression and effectiveness of drug therapy. Typically, nucleic acid quantification requires expensive instruments, such as real-time PCR machines, which are not appropriate for on-site use and for low-resource settings.

Scaling relationship and optimization of double-pulse electroporation.

The efficacy of electroporation is known to vary significantly across a wide variety of biological research and clinical applications, but as of this writing, a generalized approach to simultaneously improve efficiency and maintain viability has not been available in the literature. To address that discrepancy, we here outline an approach that is based on the mapping of the scaling relationships among electroporation-mediated molecular delivery, cellular viability, and electric pulse parameters. The delivery of Fluorescein-Dextran into 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells was used as a model system.

Quantification of propidium iodide delivery using millisecond electric pulses: experiments.

The transport mechanisms in electroporation-mediated molecular delivery are experimentally investigated and quantified. In particular, the uptake of propidium iodide (PI) into single 3T3 fibroblasts is investigated with time- and space-resolved fluorescence microscopy, and as a function of extracellular buffer conductivity. During the pulse, both the peak and the total integrated fluorescence intensity exhibit an inverse correlation with extracellular conductivity.

Vesicle deformation and poration under strong dc electric fields.

When subject to applied electric pulses, a lipid membrane exhibits complex responses including electrodeformation and electroporation. In this work, the electrodeformation of giant unilamellar vesicles under strong dc electric fields was investigated. Specifically, the degree of deformation was quantified as a function of the applied field strength and the electrical conductivity ratio of the fluids inside and outside of the vesicles.