Examination of semen characteristics is routinely performed for fertility status investigation of the male partner of an infertile couple as well as for evaluation of the sperm donor candidate. A useful tool for preliminary assessment of semen characteristics might be an artificial neural network. Thus, the aim of the present study was to construct an artificial neural network, which could be used for predicting the result of semen analysis based on the basic questionnaire data. On the basis of eleven survey questions two models of artificial neural networks to predict semen parameters were developed. The first model aims to predict the overall performance and profile of semen. The second network was developed to predict the concentration of sperm. The network to evaluate sperm concentration proved to be the most efficient. 92.93% of the patients in the learning process were properly qualified for the group with a correct or incorrect result, while the result for the test set was 85.71%. This study suggests that an artificial neural network based on eleven survey questions might be a valuable tool for preliminary evaluation and prediction of the semen profile.
- MeSH
- analýza spermatu * metody přístrojové vybavení MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- motilita spermií MeSH
- mužská infertilita MeSH
- neuronové sítě (počítačové) * MeSH
- počet spermií metody přístrojové vybavení MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- sperma * MeSH
- spermabanky MeSH
- spermie * abnormality růst a vývoj ultrastruktura MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
BACKGROUND: Homelessness is a form of social pathology, which is for various reasons undesirable and as far as possible limited by efforts such as programmes that assist in transitioning out of homelessness. Because, as time passes, the homeless population undergoes both quantitative and qualitative changes, the process of developing these programmes requires up-to-date information on the extent and profile of this phenomenon that takes into account the characteristics of a given country. METHODS: A 12-month study of homeless individuals (ETHOS categories 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1) was conducted between December 2013 and November 2014 in Olsztyn, Poland. Demographic, sociological, psychological, and medical data were collected. RESULTS: The study population comprised 98 homeless individuals. The average homeless individual in our study population was a single (93.88%), most commonly divorced (59.18%), alcohol-dependent (78.57%), smoking (84.69%), middle-aged (54.33 years, SD 9.70) male (92.86%) with a low level of education (10.19 years of completed education, SD 3.09). The individual was most commonly an unemployed person suffering profound privation, living off various types of benefits, and spending a significant proportion of his income on alcohol and cigarettes. The person often resigned from social welfare due to his alcohol dependence. Almost a third of the study population (32.65%) declared that they occasionally went hungry. The principal source of food were meals provided by welfare services (89.80%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the design of the social welfare system for homeless people should always take into account issues related to alcohol dependence, and each homeless person should be evaluated for possible alcohol dependence. Institutionalised material support provided to homeless individuals should be organised in such a way as to minimise the risk of promoting alcohol and nicotine dependence.
- MeSH
- demografie MeSH
- lidé bez domova * MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pití alkoholu epidemiologie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- socioekonomické faktory MeSH
- ukazatele zdravotního stavu * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Polsko epidemiologie MeSH
According to studies, latent Toxoplasma gondii infection may affect several functions of the human brain. Here we search for the association between latent toxoplasmosis and cognitive performance. We tested 70 individuals for latent T. gondii infection. There were 26 Toxoplasma-infected subjects and 44 Toxoplasma-free subjects. Within these two groups we assessed cognitive performance using a set of standardized, widely recognized neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Digit Span Test and N-back test. The relationship between chronic toxoplasmosis and cognitive performance was assessed, with adjustment for age and sex. Patients with latent toxoplasmosis performed worse on one neuropsychological test, N-back Test – percentage of correct answers (β −8.08; 95%CI −15.64 to −0.53; p<0.05) compared to seronegative patients. However, after adjustment for age and sex, no statistically significant associations between latent toxoplasmosis and the scores on any cognitive tests were noticed. As statistically significant relationship was not observed, this study does not confirm that chronic latent T. gondii infection affects cognition.
- MeSH
- chronická nemoc MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- imunoglobulin G krev MeSH
- kognitivní poruchy parazitologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- protilátky protozoální krev MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- Toxoplasma MeSH
- toxoplazmóza komplikace MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
