Analysis of the Epidemic Curve of the Waves of COVID-19 Using Integration of Functions and Neural Networks in Peru

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors should clarify for the reader the connection between global number of cumulative deaths data downloaded from JHU CSSE and data from JHU APL. Is this one dataset or two. If two, were they combined to create one global deaths cumulative dataset?

Authors to clarify to readers which of the datasets (i.e. Global cumulative-JHU CSSE, JHU APL, Peru Dataset) were used to creating models outlined in the results section, under 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. 

In the investigation of possible correlation between isolation measures and rate of deaths, for clarity to readers, it might help to provide a time from first case to last cae in the study and in between clearly indicate periods with isolation measures and those  without.

Statement "decline in first wave is not due to vaccines and possibly second wave" gives an impression that this decline could only have been a result of only isolation measures. Is that the implication of the statement?

"Artificial neural networks with optimal architecture for the number of deaths in Peru were used"- Explain how you arrive at the conclusion that you had optimal architecture 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

In general, the manuscript is well written. However, it will help to seek assistance of an English language proof reader.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Title:    Analysis of the Epidemic Curve of the waves of Covid-19 using Integration of Functions and Neural Networks in Peru

 

 

Manuscript by: Oliver Amadeo Vilca Huayta, Adolfo Carlos Jimenez Chura, Carlos Boris Sosa Maydana, Alioska Jessica, Martinez Garcia

 

 

The study was meant to model the waves of COVID-19 through Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and the sigmoidal-Boltzmann model, based on Peru data in days. This is an interesting short and impactful study, although there are some limitations. I recommendation to “accept” this manuscript subject to minor revisions, outlined below:

 

 

 

The study lacks significant literature review/previous studies in the introduction section.

 

What was the motivation behind choosing the polynomial function P(x) [line 139]? This function is not the only one that could have been used.

 

In Figure 1, what does the x-axis label “Day-Peru” signify? Perhaps a clearer label could be employed.

 

Figure 1, the legend is not clear.

 

Figure 2 and Figure 5 fonts need to be improved.

 

Please recheck Equation 4, as it appears to be incorrect.

Does this study suggest that the method is only suitable for data exhibiting a sigmoidal pattern?

Please clearly state the limitations and future directions of the study.

In the results section, are there any comparisons regarding execution times? Why were not any other comparisons conducted?

The English language usage and punctuation need significant improvement (see lines; 123-125, 152). Please ensure that the manuscript is proofread again.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

needs improvement

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf