Correction: Diagnosis of COVID­19 from Multimodal Imaging Data Using Optimized Deep Learning Techniques.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s42979-022-01653-5.].

Diagnosis of COVID-19 from Multimodal Imaging Data Using Optimized Deep Learning Techniques.

COVID-19 had a global impact, claiming many lives and disrupting healthcare systems even in many developed countries. Various mutations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, continue to be an impediment to early detection of this disease, which is vital for social well-being. Deep learning paradigm has been widely applied to investigate multimodal medical image data such as chest X-rays and CT scan images to aid in early detection and decision making about disease containment and treatment. Any method for reliable and accurate screening of COVID-19 infection would be beneficial for rapid detection as well as reducing direct virus exposure in healthcare professionals. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) have previously proven to be quite successful in the classification of medical images. A CNN is used in this study to suggest a deep learning classification method for detecting COVID-19 from chest X-ray images and CT scans. Samples from the Kaggle repository were collected to analyse model performance. Deep learning-based CNN models such as VGG-19, ResNet-50, Inception v3 and Xception models are optimized and compared by evaluating their accuracy after pre-processing the data. Because X-ray is a less expensive process than CT scan, chest X-ray images are considered to have a significant impact on COVID-19 screening. According to this work, chest X-rays outperform CT scans in terms of detection accuracy. The fine-tuned VGG-19 model detected COVID-19 with high accuracy-up to 94.17% for chest X-rays and 93% for CT scans. This work thereby concludes that VGG-19 was found to be the best suited model to detect COVID-19 and chest X-rays yield better accuracy than CT scans for the model.

Status report - The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program: a dynamic and innovative injury surveillance system. / Rapport d'étape - Le Système canadien hospitalier d'information et de recherche en prévention des traumatismes : un système de surveillance des blessures dynamique et novateur.

This status report on the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), an emergency department-based injury and poisoning surveillance system, describes the result of migrating from a centralized data entry and coding process to a decentralized process, the web-based eCHIRPP system, in 2011. This secure system is improving the CHIRPP's overall flexibility and timeliness, which are key attributes of an effective surveillance system. The integrated eCHIRPP platform enables near real-time data entry and access, has user-friendly data management and analysis tools, and allows for easier communication and connectivity across the CHIRPP network through an online collaboration centre. Current pilot testing of automated data monitoring and trend analysis tools-designed to monitor and flag incoming data according to predefined criteria (for example, a new consumer product)-is revealing eCHIRPP's potential for providing early warnings of new hazards, issues and trends.

RÉSUMÉ: Ce rapport d'étape sur le Système canadien hospitalier d'information et de recherche en prévention des traumatismes (SCHIRPT), un système de surveillance des blessures et des empoisonnements utilisé par les services d'urgence, décrit le résultat de la migration d'un processus d'entrée et de codage des données centralisé vers le processus décentralisé de l'eSCHIRPT, réalisée en 2011. Ce système sécurisé accroît la souplesse et la rapidité globales du SCHIRPT, attributs clés d'un système de surveillance efficace. La plate-forme intégrée de l'eSCHIRPT permet une entrée de données et un accès aux données en temps quasi réel, comprend des outils conviviaux de gestion et d'analyse des données et facilite la communication et la connectivité au sein du réseau du SCHIRPT grâce à un centre de collaboration en ligne. L'essai pilote mené actuellement sur les outils automatisés de contrôle de données et d'analyse des tendances ­ destinés à surveiller et à mettre en évidence les données d'entrée à partir de critères prédéfinis (par exemple un nouveau produit de consommation) ­ révèle le potentiel de détection rapide des nouveaux dangers, enjeux et tendances que possède l'eSCHIRPT.

Evaluation of the Enhanced Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Surveillance System (eIPDSS) Pilot Project.

BACKGROUND: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) causes significant morbidity in Canada, yet even with routine surveillance, it is difficult to interpret current IPD trends in serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance. The enhanced Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Surveillance System (eIPDSS) pilot project was designed to facilitate a better understanding of IPD trends at the national level by linking epidemiologic and laboratory (epi-lab) data. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the eIPDSS by assessing five attributes (usefulness, data quality, simplicity, acceptability and timeliness) and to develop recommendations for future national IPD surveillance. METHODS: An evaluation was developed that assessed the five key attributes through a qualitative survey sent to eight eIPDSS users as well as a quantitative analysis of the eIPDSS database. Recommendations were based on the results of both the survey and the analysis. RESULTS: The response rate to the survey was 100%. The majority of the survey respondents found the eIPDSS to be useful (75%), simple (100%) and acceptable (86%). Analysis of the eIPDSS database revealed that the majority of IPD cases (61%) were assessed as timely. Data quality and data management mechanisms were identified as issues by both survey respondents and the analysis of the database. Consultation with public health, regular audits and upgrades to the platform are recommended to address data quality and management issues. CONCLUSION: The epi-lab linked data of the eIPDSS enables the detection and analysis of IPD serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance trends. This web-based system facilitates data collection and is simple, acceptable and timely. With improvements that address data quality and management issues, it is feasible to develop a national surveillance system that links epi-lab data.

Surveillance summary of hospitalized pediatric enterovirus D68 cases in Canada, September 2014.

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has been detected infrequently and has not been associated with severe disease in Canada. In the early fall of 2014, following an unusual case increase in the United States, clusters of EV-D68 among children and some adults manifesting severe symptoms were reported in Canada. OBJECTIVE: To provide an initial epidemiological summary of pediatric cases hospitalized with EV-D68 in Canada. METHODS: A time-limited surveillance pilot was conducted collecting information on pediatric cases (less than 18 years of age) hospitalized with EV-D68 between September 1 and 30, 2014. RESULTS: In total, 268 cases were reported from Ontario (n=210), Alberta (n=45), and British Columbia (n=13). Of the 268 reported cases, 64.9% (n=174) were male; the sex difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). Age was reported for 255 cases, with a mean age for males of 5.4 years and for females of 5.3 years. For cases with data available, 6.8% (18/266) were admitted to an intensive care unit. Of those where clinical illness was recorded, respiratory illness alone was present in 98.3% (227/231), neurologic illness alone was present in 0.4% (n=1), and both illnesses were present in 0.9% of cases (n=2); cases with neither respiratory nor neurologic illness were rare (n=1). Of the 90 cases with additional clinical information available, 43.3% were reported as having asthma. No deaths were reported among the 268 cases. CONCLUSION: The EV-D68 outbreak in Canada in September 2014 represents the beginning of a novel outbreak associated with severe illness in children. These findings provide the first epidemiological summary of severe cases of EV-D68 as an emergent respiratory pathogen in Canada. The continued investigation of this pathogen is necessary to build on these results and capture the full spectrum of associated illness.

Effective animal health disease surveillance using a network-enabled approach.

There are many benefits that derive from real-time knowledge of the health status of the national livestock population. Effective animal disease surveillance is a requirement for countries that trade in live animals and their products in order to comply with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines. Rapid identification of introduced and emerging disease allows rapid response and mitigation of the economic consequences. Connections between animal and human disease caused by a common pathogen can be recognized and control measures implemented, thereby protecting public health and maintaining public confidence in the food supply. Production-limiting diseases can be monitored, and control programmes be evaluated with benefits accruing from decreased economic losses associated with disease as well as reducing the welfare concerns associated with diseased animals. Establishing a surveillance programme across a wide area with diverse ecosystems and political administrations as Canada is a complex challenge. When funding became available from a government programme to enable early detection of a bio-terrorist attack on livestock, the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN) became officially established. An existing web-based information platform that supports intelligence exchange, surveillance and response for public health issues in Canada was adapted to link the network animal health laboratories. A minimum data set was developed that facilitated sharing of results between participating laboratories and jurisdictions as the first step in creating the capacity for national disease trend analysis. In each of the network laboratories, similar quality assurance and bio-containment systems have been funded and supported, and diagnostic staff have been trained and certified on a suite of diagnostic tests for foreign animal diseases. This ensures that national standards are maintained throughout all of the diagnostic laboratories. This paper describes the genesis of CAHSN, its current capability and governance, and potential for future development.

Population education for social betterment.

PIP: In India primary education has increased 3 times in the last 30 years. Over this same period middle school education has increased 4 times, higher secondary education 5 times, and university level education over 6 times. The number of universities alone increased from 19 in 1950 to 118 by 1981. The inconsistencies brought about by rapid population growth may be judged by the fact that while the number of institutions and the enrollment of students has expanded beyond measure, the number of illiterate persons has risen from 386 million in 1971 to 446 million in 1981. Clearly, education is vital for human resource development. In political terms, human resource development prepares a population for adult participation in political processes. From social and cultural perspectives, the development of human resources helps people to lead fuller and richer lives. Population means people, and people need food, clothing, homes, education, transportation, health services, and jobs. As long as a country's resources can satisfy the essential needs of its population, there is no population problem. If the population grows faster than the rate at which the basic needs of each individual can be met, the buildup of such a situation produces a crisis of gigantic dimensions. To meet basic requirements, India needs to provide annually an additional 12 million tons of foodgrains, 188 million meters of cloth, 2.5 million houses, along with schools, teachers, and jobs over and above what is currently available. Another need is for fresh air, pure water, and space to live in. The question is how is this need to be met when the earth is a finite sphere. What will happen when the world's 3.5 billion people double into a staggering 7 billion by the end of the 20th century. It is because of this concern for family well being and the betterment of human resources that the Family Planning Association of India has since 1969 undertaken innovative pilot programs in popultion education for the younger generation, for teachers, social workers, and other concerned groups. The government of India promotes population education for school and out-of-school youths through the 5-year national population education project for schools and through the adult education project for out-of-school youth.^ieng