bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ursodeoxycholic acid as a novel disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease: protocol for a two-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, The 'UP' study
Authors: Payne Thomas , Sassani Matilde , Buckley Ellen , Moll Sarah , Anton Adriana , Appleby Matthew , Maru Seema , Taylor Rosie , McNeill Alisdair , Hoggard N , Mazza Claudia , Wilkinson Iain D , Jenkins Thomas , Foltynie Thomas , Bandmann O
Published: August 2020

Introduction

There are no disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). We undertook the first drug screen in PD patient tissue and idntified ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as a promising mitochondrial rescue agent. The aims of this trial are to determine safety and tolerability of UDCA in PD at 30 mg/kg, confirm the target engagement of UDCA, apply a novel motion sensor-based approach to quantify disease progression objectively, and estimate the mean effect size and its variance on the change in motor severity.

Methods and analysis

This is a phase II, two-centre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of UDCA at a dose of 30 mg/kg in 30 participants with early PD. Treatment duration is 48 weeks, followed by an 8-week washout phase. Randomisation is 2:1, drug to placebo. Assessments are performed at baseline, week 12, 24, 36, 48 and 56. The primary outcome is safety and tolerability. Secondary outcomes will compare the change between baseline and week 48 using the following three approaches: the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part 3 in the practically defined ‘OFF’ medication state; confirmation of target engagement, applying 31Phosphorus MR Spectroscopy to assess the levels of ATP and relevant metabolites in the brain; and objective quantification of motor impairment, using a validated, motion sensor-based approach. The primary outcome will be reported using descriptive statistics and comparisons between treatment groups. For each secondary outcome, the change from baseline will be summarised within treatment groups using summary statistics and appropriate statistical tests assessing for significant differences. All outcomes will use an intention-to-treat analysis population.

Ethics and dissemination

This trial has been approved by the East of England – Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics committee. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific meetings and to patients in a lay-summary format.

Trial registration number

NCT03840005.
Chronic airflow limitation and its relation to respiratory symptoms among ever-smokers and never-smokers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Toren Kjell , Schiöler Linus , Lindberg Anne , Andersson Anders , Behndig Annelie F , Bergström Göran , Blomberg Anders , Caidahl Kenneth , Engvall Jan , Eriksson Maria , Hamrefors Viktor , Janson Christer , Kylhammar David , Lindberg Eva , Lindén Anders , Malinovschi Andrei , Persson Hans Lennart , Sandelin Martin , Eriksson Ström Jonas , Tanash Hanan A , Vikgren Jenny , Östgren Carl Johan , Wollmer Per , Sköld C. Magnus
Published: August 2020

Background

The diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is based on the presence of persistent respiratory symptoms and chronic airflow limitation (CAL). CAL is based on the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1:FVC) after bronchodilation, and FEV1:FVC less than the fifth percentile is often used as a cut-off for CAL. The aim was to investigate if increasing percentiles of FEV1:FVC were associated withany respiratory symptom(cough with phlegm, dyspnoea or wheezing) in a general population sample of never-smokers and ever-smokers.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study comprising 15 128 adults (50–64 years), 7120 never-smokers and 8008 ever-smokers completed a respiratory questionnaire and performed FEV1and FVC after bronchodilation. We calculated theirz-scores for FEV1:FVC and defined the fifth percentile using the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) reference value, GLI5and increasing percentiles up to GLI25. We analysed the associations between different strata of percentiles and prevalence ofany respiratory symptomusing multivariable logistic regression for estimation of OR.

Results

Among all subjects, regardless of smoking habits, the odds ofany respiratory symptomwere elevated up to the GLI15–20strata. Among never-smokers, the odds ofany respiratory symptomwere elevated at GLI<5(OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.43 to 5.23) and at GLI5–10(OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.69 to 3.91), but not at higher percentiles. Among ever-smokers, the odds ofany respiratory symptomwere elevated from GLI<5(OR 4.64, 95% CI 3.79 to 5.68) up to GLI≥25(OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.75).

Conclusions

The association between percentages of FEV1:FVC and respiratory symptoms differed depending on smoking history. Our results support a higher percentile cut-off for FEV1:FVC for never-smokers and, in particular, for ever-smokers.
Current and future applications of artificial intelligence in pathology: a clinical perspective
Authors: Rakha Emad A , Toss Michael , Shiino Sho , Gamble Paul , Jaroensri Ronnachai , Mermel Craig H , Chen Po-Hsuan Cameron
Published: August 2020

During the last decade, a dramatic rise in the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for use in pathology services has occurred. This trend is often expected to continue and reshape the field of pathology in the coming years. The deployment of computational pathology and applications of AI tools can be considered as a paradigm shift that will change pathology services, making them more efficient and capable of meeting the needs of this era of precision medicine. Despite the success of AI models, the translational process from discovery to clinical applications has been slow. The gap between self-contained research and clinical environment may be too wide and has been largely neglected. In this review, we cover the current and prospective applications of AI in pathology. We examine its applications in diagnosis and prognosis, and we offer insights for considerations that could improve clinical applicability of these tools. Then, we discuss its potential to improve workflow efficiency, and its benefits in pathologist education. Finally, we review the factors that could influence adoption in clinical practices and the associated regulatory processes.
Follow-up neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio after stroke thrombectomy is an independent biomarker of clinical outcome
Authors: Aly Moustafa , Abdalla Ramez N , Batra Ayush , Shaibani Ali , Hurley Michael C , Jahromi Babak S , Potts Matthew B , Ansari Sameer A
Published: August 2020

Background

Admission neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is significantly correlated to clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We investigated follow-up NLR and temporal changes in NLR after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) with respect to successful revascularization, clinical outcomes, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of EVT for anterior circulation emergent LVO was performed with both admission (NLR1) and 3–7 day follow-up NLR (NLR2) laboratory data. Patient demographics, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) presentations, reperfusion efficacy (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) score), sICH, and clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS)) at 90 days were studied. Univariate analyses correlated NLR1, NLR2, and temporal change in NLR (NLR2-NLR1) with successful reperfusion (mTICI ≥2b), favorable outcomes (mRS ≤2), sICH, and mortality. Multivariable logistic regression model evaluated the independent effects of NLR2 on favorable outcomes.

Results

142 AIS patients with median NIHSS 17 underwent EVT within 24 hours, and met NLR laboratory inclusion criteria. Lower follow-up NLR2 and less temporal change in NLR over 3–7 days, but not admission NLR1, inversely correlated with successful reperfusion (p<0.05) and favorable clinical outcomes (p<0.001). Higher follow-up NLR2 and greater temporal change in NLR was significantly associated with sICH and mortality (p≤0.05). In multivariable logistic regression, lower follow-up NLR2 remained a predictor of favorable outcomes (OR 0.785, p=0.001), independent of age or successful reperfusion.

Conclusions

Follow-up NLR is a readily available and modifiable biomarker that correlates with the degree of reperfusion after mechanical stroke thrombectomy. Lower follow-up NLR2 at 3–7 days is associated with successful reperfusion and an independent predictor of favorable clinical outcomes, with reduced risk for sICH and mortality.
Work environment risk factors for the duration of all cause and diagnose-specific sickness absence among healthcare workers in Sweden: a prospective study
Authors: Leineweber Constanze , Marklund Staffan , Gustafsson Klas , Helgesson Magnus
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Increasing sickness absence (SA) has been reported among healthcare workers in Sweden. Our aim was to analyse the impact of work environment factors on short-term and long-term SA based on musculoskeletal and psychiatric diagnoses among healthcare workers.

Methods

The study sample consisted of healthcare workers (n=12 452) drawn from representative samples of workers aged 16 to 64, who participated in the Swedish Work Environment Surveys (SWES) between 1993 and 2013. The outcomes were either short-term (≤28 days) or long-term (>104 days) SA between 1994 and 2016. HRs and 95% CIs were calculated for the impact of physical and psychosocial working conditions on risk of subsequent short-term or long-term SA for 3 years after participation in SWES.

Results

Heavy physical work and strenuous work postures showed elevated HRs for short-term and long-term SA compared with those without these work exposures. Similarly, high job demands and low job control each increased the risk for both short-term and long-term SA compared with employees with low job demands and high job control. Low job support increased the risk for short-term SA compared with those with high job support. Working conditions were strongly related to short-term SA due to musculoskeletal diagnoses but not to short-term SA due to psychiatric diagnoses. None of the work characteristics, except strenuous postures, elevated the risk for long-term SA due to psychiatric diagnosis compared with employees without these characteristics.

Conclusions

Ergonomic improvements and stress reduction among healthcare workers are likely to reduce the prevalence of SA foremost due to musculoskeletal diagnoses.
Complete resolution of diffuse inflammatory tracheal stenosis in a dog
Authors: Costa Maria Alexandra , Di Palma Stefano , Dennis Ruth , Gomez Selgas Aida , Fernández Yordan
Published: August 2020

A four‐year‐old female entire Weimaraner, recently diagnosed with epilepsy, was referred with a three‐week history of coughing and lethargy. The dog had been diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia on thoracic radiographs, but the cough continued despite antibiotic therapy and an apparent improvement in the radiographic lung changes. CT of the thorax revealed a diffuse and severe nodular thickening of the tracheal wall. Tracheoscopy showed a thickened and irregular mucosa with multiple nodules causing segmental stenosis of the trachea. Histopathology of the nodular tracheal mucosa demonstrated severe, multifocal to diffuse neutrophilic inflammation. Once infectious and neoplastic causes were excluded, the dog was diagnosed with an inflammatory tracheitis of unknown aetiology. A tapering course of glucocorticoids was prescribed, which led to a complete clinical and endoscopic resolution of the coughing and tracheal lesions, respectively.
Puppy acquisition: factors associated with acquiring a puppy under eight weeks of age and without viewing the mother
Authors: Kinsman Rachel H , Casey Rachel A , Knowles Toby G , Tasker Séverine , Lord Michelle S , Da Costa Rosa E P , Woodward Joshua L , Murray Jane K
Published: August 2020

Background

Puppy acquisition decisions may impact upon the health and behaviour of these dogs in later life. It is widely recommended by welfare organisations and veterinary bodies that puppies should not leave maternal care until at least eight weeks (56 days) of age, and that when acquiring a puppy it should be viewed with its mother.

Methods

Owner‐reported prospective data were used to explore risk factors for puppy acquisition age, and whether the mother was viewed during acquisition, within a cohort of dog owners participating in an ongoing longitudinal project.

Results

A quarter (461/1844) of puppies were acquired under eight weeks of age and 8.1 per cent were obtained without viewing the mother (n=149). Only 1.6 per cent of puppies were obtained under eight weeks of age and without the mother being seen (n=30). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that owners who intended their puppy to be a working dog, visited their puppy prior to acquisition, and/or obtained a puppy of unknown breed composition had increased odds of acquiring a puppy under eight weeks of age. The odds also increased as the number of dogs in the household increased but decreased as annual income rose. Owners who visited their puppy prior to acquisition, obtained a Kennel Club registered puppy, viewed the puppy’s father, and/or collected their puppy from the breeder’s home had decreased odds of acquiring a puppy without viewing the mother.

Conclusion

Targeting interventions towards identified owners who are more likely to acquire a puppy against current recommendations could help reduce these types of acquisitions.
A UGV-based modular robotic manipulator for soil sampling and terramechanics investigations
Authors: Olmedo Nicolas A. , Barczyk Martin , Zhang Hong , Wilson Ward , Lipsett Michael G.
Published: August 2020

Unmanned vehicles are a natural choice for accessing challenging or hazardous terrains, for instance oil sands tailings ponds, and performing tasks such as soil sampling and terramechanics investigations. In previously published work, an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) named RTC-I was designed and built for this task by part of our group. The present article covers the design choices and technical details of a custom-built robotic manipulator, a soil sampler, and an instrumented wheel deployed onboard a second-generation UGV named RTC-II. The robotic manipulator is designed to provide the reach, payload capacity, ruggedness, and self-locking operation required for field operations. The soil sampler employs a curved scoop to minimize deformation of the collected sample. The instrumented wheel permits independent control of the normal load and the slip ratio during terramechanics investigations. Each of the three designs is deployed and successfully tested in field experiments. Measurements collected by the soil sampler and instrumented wheel will be used in future work dealing with sampler force modeling and real-time terrain parameter estimation, respectively.
$$f(\mathcal {G})$$ Noether cosmology
Authors: Bajardi Francesco , Capozziello Salvatore
Published: August 2020

We develop the n-dimensional cosmology for $$f(\mathcal {G})$$f(G) gravity, where $$\mathcal {G}$$G is the Gauss–Bonnet topological invariant. Specifically, by the so-called Noether Symmetry Approach, we select $$f(\mathcal {G})\simeq \mathcal {G}^k$$f(G)≃Gk power-law models where k is a real number. In particular, the case $$k = 1/2$$k=1/2 for $$n=4$$n=4 results equivalent to General Relativity showing that we do not need to impose the action $$R+f(\mathcal {G})$$R+f(G) to reproduce the Einstein theory. As a further result, de Sitter solutions are recovered in the case where $$f(\mathcal {G})$$f(G) is non-minimally coupled to a scalar field. This means that issues like inflation and dark energy can be addressed in this framework. Finally, we develop the Hamiltonian formalism for the related minisuperspace and discuss the quantum cosmology for this model.
Testing the Real Option Hypothesis on the Declining Open-Market Repurchase Announcement Returns
Authors: Ding David K. , Koerniadi Hardjo , Krishnamurti Chandrasekhar
Published: August 2020

Recent studies report that open-market repurchase announcements have become less attractive to stock investors. This study documents that lower announcement returns are attributed to subsequent repurchase announcements, which have increased in number in recent years. Using the real-option-to-delay framework proposed by Ikenberry, D and T Vermaelen (1996). The option to repurchase stock. Financial Management, 25, 9–24, this study finds evidence consistent with decreasing value of the option to repurchase shares prior to subsequent open-market repurchase announcements. This explains the decreasing market reactions to such announcements.
A NOVEL ITERATIVE MATCHING SCHEME BASED ON HOMOGRAPHY METHOD FOR X-RAY IMAGE
Authors: SONG LUJIE , ZOU HAIBO , JI ZHENYU , XIE XIAOMING , LI WEI
Published: August 2020

Purpose anterior cervical decompression and fusion is a common surgical procedure. Traditionally, experienced doctors observe X-ray films regularly examined by patients to determine postoperative conditions by observing the tiny movements between the limited vertebral bodies. But it is not accurate. This may lead to error diagnostics and serious deterioration of the condition and secondary injury to the patient and will also put a greater financial burden on them. Doctors need a quantitative standard to determine small motion with limited vertebral landmarks after surgery. Computer vision technology is needed to match the over-extension and over-flexion cervical vertebral body to provide objective measurement data for further quantification of intervertebral activity. Based on conventional scheme, the point mean square error is used as the evaluation criterion of the matching effect, and the iterative matching scheme is proposed to improve the stability of the original scheme. The cervical X-ray films of patients from the China–Japan Friendship Hospital were collected as samples to verify the reliability of the scheme. Compared with the existing image matching schemes based on feature points, our scheme is superior in matching effect, matching speed and stability. This scheme can provide a solid foundation for further assisting doctors in the study of rehabilitation after anterior cervical fusion.
On the time–energy uncertainty relation of Kieu applied to quantum evolutions of Grover’s search
Authors: Sun Jie , Lu Songfeng
Published: August 2020

Recently, Kieu derived a new class of time–energy uncertainty relations, which is not only formal but also suitable for evaluating the speed limit of quantum dynamics. However, when this time–energy uncertainty relation was applied to study the quantum adiabatic Grover’s search, some approximation had been done for reaching the right conclusion. That is, the final state being orthogonal to the initial state in this problem was assumed which may cause confusion, while the truth is that the overlap between these two states is indeed very small when the problem size is very big but not equal to zero exactly. In this paper, we modify the time–energy uncertainty relation of Kieu applied to two quantum evolutions of Grover’s problem, and find that the resulting computational complexities match well with the previous works on this topic but without the need of making the assumption like that in the work of Kieu.
A systematic review and meta-analysis on effect of spinal mobilization and manipulation on cardiovascular responses
Authors: Gera Charu , Malik Manoj , kaur Jaspreet , Saini Minaxi
Published: August 2020

Background: Spinal pain or misalignment is a very common disorder affecting a significant number of populations resulting in substantial disability and economic burden. Various manual therapeutic techniques such as spinal manipulations and mobilizations can be used to treat and manage pain and movement dysfunctions such as spinal mal-alignments and associated complications. These manual therapeutic techniques can affect the cardiovascular parameters.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the effect of spinal manipulation and mobilization on cardiovascular parameters.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of spinal mobilization and manipulation on cardiovascular responses. Mean changes in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and Heart Rate (HR) were primary outcome measures. RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analyses. Quality of the included studies was assessed by PEDro Rating scale. Risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane collaboration tool of risk of bias.

Results: Results of meta-analysis showed that there was statistically significant decrease in SBP ([Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text], 0.08; [Formula: see text]) with moderate heterogeneity ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) in experimental group as compared to control group. There was statistically non-significant decrease in DBP ([Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text], 0.69; [Formula: see text]) with high heterogeneity ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), Change HR was statistically non-significant ([Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text], 3.11; [Formula: see text]) with moderate heterogeneity ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Exclusion of short duration studies in sensitivity analysis revealed a statistically significant change in DBP ([Formula: see text], 95% [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text]). However, the result was statistically non-significant for HR after sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion: Spinal manipulations and mobilizations may result in significant decrease of systolic as well as diastolic Blood Pressure.
Refining Indeterministic Choice: Imprecise Probabilities and Strategic Thinking
Authors: Castro Jorge , Gabarro Joaquim , Serna Maria
Published: August 2020

Often, uncertainty is present in processes that are part of our routines. Having tools to understand the consequences of unpredictability is convenient. We introduce a general framework to deal with uncertainty in the realm of distribution sets that are descriptions of imprecise probabilities. We propose several non-biased refinement strategies to obtain sensible forecasts about results of uncertain processes. Initially, uncertainty on a system is modeled as the non-deterministic choice of its possible behaviors. Our refinement hypothesis translates non-determinism into imprecise probabilistic choices. Imprecise probabilities allow us to propose a notion of uncertainty refinement in terms of set inclusions. Later on, unpredictability is tackled through a strategic approach using uncertainty profiles and angel/daemon games ([Formula: see text]-games). Here, imprecise probabilities form the set of mixed strategies and Nash equilibria corresponds to natural uncertainty refinements. We use this approach to study the performance of Web applications — in terms of response times — under stress conditions.
SQL is No Excuse to Avoid DevOps
Authors: Limoncelli Thomas A.
Published: August 2020

Using SQL databases is not an impediment to doing DevOps. Automating schema management and a little developer discipline enables more vigorous and repeatable testing, shorter release cycles, and reduced business risk. When you can confidently deploy new releases, you do it more frequently. New features that previously sat unreleased for weeks or months now reach users sooner. Bugs are fixed faster. Security holes are closed sooner. It enables the company to provide better value to customers.
Weatherability of Arc Thermal Spray Al-Mg Coating in a Simulated Marine Environment
Authors: NAKANO Atsushi
Published: August 2020

Anticorrosion property of Al-5mass%Mg sprayed coating was evaluated by an atmospheric exposure test simulating marine environment for one-year. The test simulating marine environment means an accelerated exposure test where artificial seawater is sprayed on the coating surface in a general atmospheric exposure test. When the initial film thickness is small, the thickness of Al-Mg thermal spray coating decreased. For both exposure tests for one-year, the corrosion products of Al-Mg thermal spray could not be identified. From the results of EPMA, after the one-year atmospheric exposure test, Cl originating from airborne salts in atmosphere or from sprayed artificial seawater was not observed in the surface or inside of the Al-Mg coating. The spontaneous potential of Al-Mg thermal spray coating shifted to the noble side from that of the initial material after the one-year atmospheric exposure test. The anode polarization exhibited the same behavior in the two kinds of atmospheric exposure tests.
An integrated 1D breathing lung simulation with relative hysteresis of airway structure and regional pressure for healthy and asthmatic human lungs
Authors: Yoon Sujin , Tam Tran Minh , Rajaraman Prathish K. , Lin Ching-Long , Tawhai Merryn , Hoffman Eric A. , Choi Sanghun
Published: August 2020

This study introduces a one-dimensional (1D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model mimicking the realistic changes in diameter and length in whole airways and reveals differences in lung deformation between healthy and asthmatic subjects. Utilizing computational models, the effects of parenchymal inertance and airway wall compliance are investigated by changing ventilation frequency and airway wall elastance, respectively.
Microarray Normalization Revisited for Reproducible Breast Cancer Biomarkers
Authors: Kenn Michael , Cacsire Castillo-Tong Dan , Singer Christian F. , Cibena Michael , Kölbl Heinz , Schreiner Wolfgang
Published: August 2020

Precision medicine for breast cancer relies on biomarkers to select therapies. However, the reliability of biomarkers drawn from gene expression arrays has been questioned and calls for reassessment, in particular for large datasets. We revisit widely used data‐normalization procedures and evaluate differences in outcome in order to pinpoint the most reliable reprocessing methods biomarkers can be based upon. We generated a database of 3753 breast cancer patients out of 38 studies by downloading and curating patient samples from NCBI‐GEO. As gene‐expression biomarkers, we select the assessment of receptor status and breast cancer subtype classification. Each normalization procedure is applied separately, and biomarkers are then evaluated for each patient. Differences between normalization pipelines are quantified as percentages of patients having outcomes different for each pipeline. Some normalization procedures lead to quite consistent biomarkers, differing only in 1‐2% of patients. Other normalization procedures—some of them have been used in many clinical studies—end up with distrusting discrepancies (10% and more). A good deal of doubt regarding the reliability of microarrays may root in the haphazard application of inadequate preprocessing pipelines. Several modes of batch corrections are evaluated regarding a possible improvement of receptor prediction from gene expression versus the golden standard of immunohistochemistry. Finally, we nominate those normalization methods yielding consistent and trustable results. Adequate bioinformatics data preprocessing is key and crucial for any subsequent statistics to arrive at trustable results. We conclude with a suggestion for future bioinformatics development to further increase the reliability of cancer biomarkers.
Quality of Novel Coronavirus Related Health Information over the Internet: An Evaluation Study
Authors: Joshi Ashish , Kajal Fnu , Bhuyan Soumitra S. , Sharma Priya , Bhatt Ashruti , Kumar Kanishk , Kaur Mahima , Arora Arushi
Published: August 2020

Background. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread globally from its epicenter in Hubei, China, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The most popular search engine worldwide is Google, and since March 2020, COVID-19 has been a global trending search term. Misinformation related to COVID-19 from these searches is a problem, and hence, it is of high importance to assess the quality of health information over the internet related to COVID-19. The objective of our study is to examine the quality of COVID-19 related health information over the internet using the DISCERN tool.Methods. The keywords included in assessment of COVID-19 related information using Google’s search engine were “Coronavirus,” “Coronavirus causes,” “Coronavirus diagnosis,” “Coronavirus prevention,” and “Coronavirus management”. The first 20 websites from each search term were gathered to generate a list of 100 URLs. Duplicate sites were excluded from this search, allowing analysis of unique sites only. Additional exclusion criteria included scientific journals, nonoperational links, nonfunctional websites (where the page was not loading, was not found, or was inactive), and websites in languages other than English. This resulted in a unique list of 48 websites. Four independent raters evaluated the websites using a 16-item DISCERN tool to assess the quality of novel coronavirus related information available on the internet. The interrater reliability agreement was calculated using the intracluster correlation coefficient.Results. Results showed variation in how the raters assigned scores to different website categories. The .com websites received the lowest scores. Results showed that .edu and .org website category sites were excellent in communicating coronavirus related health information; however, they received lower scores for treatment effect and treatment choices.Conclusion. This study highlights the gaps in the quality of information that is available on the websites related to COVID-19 and study emphasizes the need for verified websites that provide evidence-based health information related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Protective Effects of Polyphenols Present in Mediterranean Diet on Endothelial Dysfunction
Authors: Stromsnes K. , Mas-Bargues C. , Gambini J. , Gimeno-Mallench L.
Published: August 2020

Endothelial dysfunction tends to be the initial indicator in proinflammatory state and macro- and microvascular complications, such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown that certain compounds in diet can generate beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease due to its interactions with endothelial cells. Thus, this review is aimed at investigating whether certain polyphenols present in the Mediterranean diet, specifically catechin, quercetin, resveratrol, and urolithin, could exert positive effects on endothelial dysfunction. After analysis of numerous papers, we found that polyphenols aiding endothelial function is beneficial not only for patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or endothelial dysfunction but for all people as it can improve the effects of aging on the endothelia. The additional benefit of these polyphenols on weight loss further improves health and lowers the risk of several diseases, including those caused by endothelial dysfunction. However, it is important to note that the dosages in the majorities of the studies mentioned in this review were of supplemental rather than nutritionally relevant quantities, and therefore, the recommended dosages are difficult to determine.
Determinants of Wheat Commercialization among Smallholder Farmers in Debre Elias Woreda, Ethiopia
Authors: Endalew Birara , Aynalem Mezegebu , Assefa Fenta , Ayalew Zemen
Published: August 2020

Even though wheat commercialization has got great emphasis, smallholder farmers face challenges to participate in the wheat market. As a result, understanding the intensity of smallholder farmers’ wheat commercialization and factors affecting wheat commercialization has vital importance to tackle the problem. Consequently, this study was undertaken in northwestern Ethiopia to measure smallholder farmers’ wheat commercialization and analyze factors that hamper wheat commercialization in the study area. For this purpose, a systematic sampling technique has been employed to select a total of 154 smallholder wheat producer household heads. A semistructured questionnaire has been used as a principal primary data collection method. Similarly, the output commercialization index and the beta regression model have been employed for data analysis. The result of the study showed that 23.4%, 51.9%, and 24.7% of smallholder farmers were subsistence, semicommercialized, and commercialized, respectively. The result indicated that the majority of smallholder farmers are semicommercial wheat producers. Moreover, the beta regression result indicated that educational status, number of oxen, land size allocated to wheat production, farming experience in wheat production, extension service, and market distance are major factors for smallholder farmer’s wheat commercialization. Therefore, an attempt to increase smallholder farmers’ wheat commercialization should give special priority for significant explanatory variables.
Study of Osteoarthritis‐Related Hub Genes Based on Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Zhu Zhengqing , Zhong Lei , Li Ronghang , Liu Yuzhe , Chen Xiangrun , Li Zhaoyan , Huang Lanfeng
Published: August 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of morbidity and disability worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of OA is unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize the pathogenesis and implicated genes of OA. The gene expression profiles of GSE82107 and GSE55235 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Altogether, 173 differentially expressed genes including 68 upregulated genes and 105 downregulated genes in patients with OA were selected based on the criteria of ∣log fold‐change | >1 and an adjusted p value < 0.05. Protein‐protein interaction network analysis showed that FN1, COL1A1, IGF1, SPP1, TIMP1, BGN, COL5A1, MMP13, CLU, and SDC1 are the top ten genes most closely related to OA. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of COL1A1, COL5A1, TIMP1, MMP13, and SDC1 were significantly increased in OA. This study provides clues for the molecular mechanism and specific biomarkers of OA.
Effectiveness of Intravitreal Ranibizumab in Nonvitrectomized and Vitrectomized Eyes with Diabetic Macular Edema: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Gedar Totuk Ozgun Melike , Kanra Ayse Yagmur , Bromand Mohammed Nadim , Kilic Tezanlayan Guler , Ari Yaylalı Sevil , Turkmen Irem , Ardagil Akcakaya Aylin
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injections for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in eyes with and without previous vitrectomy. The medical records of 28 eyes (11 vitrectomized and 17 nonvitrectomized) of 28 patients (mean age, 59.0 ± 9.6 years; male to female ratio 1 : 1) who were diagnosed with DME and had received IVR treatment were reviewed retrospectively. The indications of vitrectomy in 11 vitrectomized eyes were intravitreal hemorrhage (n = 8) and epiretinal membrane (n = 3). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and total macular volume (TMV) were measured at baseline and at months 6, 12, 18, and 24 of the follow-up. The number of IVR injections, the duration between diagnosis of DME and IVR injection, and the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level at baseline were also recorded. Baseline demographics, HbA1c, BCVA, CMT, and TMV values were similar between two groups (p>0.05). The duration between diagnosis of DME and IVR injections was similar in both groups (16 ± 5 months vs. 13 ± 4 months, respectively; p=0.11). IVR injection was performed 6.3 times in vitrectomized eyes and 6.1 times in nonvitrectomized eyes during the 24-month period (p>0.05). The mean BCVA improved significantly during the 24-month period in both groups. The improvements in BCVA, in CMT, and in TMV were more significant at month 6 (p=0.036) group, at month 12 (p=0.013), at month 12 (p=0.021), and month 24 (p=0.021) in nonvitrectomized eyes, respectively, while there was no difference in improvements of BCVA, CMT, and TMV in vitrectomized group at each visit. Treatment effected by time in terms of BCVA, CMT, and TMV values in all groups (p=0.0004, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), not by time-group interaction and group (all p values >0.05). In conclusion, IVR treatment for DME is equally effective in both groups. However, the response to treatment is seen earlier in nonvitrectomized eyes compared to vitrectomized eyes.
A Novel Inertial-Aided Star Pattern Matching Method for Distributed Multiple FoVs
Authors: Wang Rong , Cao Yuxuan , Liu Jianye , Xiong Zhi
Published: August 2020

An aerospace vehicle in high-speed flight involves distributed multiple fields of view (FoVs) of a star sensor, and the maneuvering of the vehicle requires inertial-aided star pattern matching. Accordingly, an inertial-aided star pattern matching method for distributed multiple FoVs is proposed. First, the observation and fusion principles of distributed multiple FoVs are illustrated. Then, an inertial-aided star pattern matching scheme is designed based on the space-time distribution of the line-of sight (LoS) vector and inertial measurement information. Next, an LoS vector estimation method assisted by inertial information and the dynamic establishment of a distributed local catalog are proposed. Finally, in a simulation, the dynamic establishment of the part catalog improves the efficiency of star pattern matching by reducing the catalog scale, and the usability of inertial-aided star pattern matching is analyzed for different gyro and accelerometer precisions.
Conversational Therapy through Semi-Immersive Virtual Reality Environments for Language Recovery and Psychological Well-Being in Post Stroke Aphasia
Authors: Giachero A. , Calati M. , Pia L. , La Vista L. , Molo M. , Rugiero C. , Fornaro C. , Marangolo P.
Published: August 2020

Aphasia is a highly disabling acquired language disorder generally caused by a left-lateralized brain damage. Even if traditional therapies have been shown to induce an adequate clinical improvement, a large percentage of patients are left with some degree of language impairments. Therefore, new approaches to common speech therapies are urgently needed in order to maximize the recovery from aphasia. The recent application of virtual reality (VR) to aphasia rehabilitation has already evidenced its usefulness in promoting a more pragmatically oriented treatment than conventional therapies (CT). In the present study, thirty-six chronic persons with aphasia (PWA) were randomly assigned to two groups. The VR group underwent conversational therapy during VR everyday life setting observation, while the control group was trained in a conventional setting without VR support. All patients were extensively tested through a neuropsychological battery which included not only measures for language skills and communication efficacy but also self-esteem and quality of life questionnairies. All patients were trained through a conversational approach by a speech therapist twice a week for six months (total 48 sessions). After the treatment, no significant differences among groups were found in the different measures. However, the amount of improvement in the different areas was distributed over far more cognitive and psychological aspects in the VR group than in the control group. Indeed, the within-group comparisons showed a significant enhancement in different language tasks (i.e., oral comprehension, repetition, and written language) only in the VR group. Significant gains, after the treatment, were also found, in the VR group, in different psychological dimensions (i.e., self-esteem and emotional and mood state). Given the importance of these aspects for aphasia recovery, we believe that our results add to previous evidence which points to the ecological validity and feasibility of VR treatment for language recovery and psychosocial well-being.
Spatial Transverse Vibration Simulation Model of Axially Moving Sucker Rod String under the Excitation of Curved Borehole
Authors: Wang Hongbo , Dong Shimin
Published: August 2020

The mechanical model of transverse vibration of sucker rod string (SRS) in directional well is simplified to the transverse vibration model of longitudinal and transverse curved beam with initial bending under borehole constraints. In this paper, besides considering the excitation of alternating axial load on the transverse vibration of SRS, it is proposed for the first time that curved borehole is also the main excitation for the transverse vibration when the SRS moves reciprocating axially in the borehole. Based on the elastic body vibration theory, the transverse vibration mathematical model of SRS with initial bending under borehole constraints is established. In this model, the curved borehole excitation caused by the axial motion and the alternating axial load excitation is considered. Besides, the elastic collision theory is applied to describe the constraint of tube on the SRS transverse vibration in this model. Then the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method is used to calculate the transverse vibration of SRS in directional wells. The simulation results show the following: (1) The simulation results of the three simulation models in this paper are different. The results indicate that the curved borehole excitation caused by the axial motion and the alternating axial load excitation is the main excitation for the SRS transverse vibration. (2) In directional wells, the rod and tube contact along the well depth, and the dangerous sections locate at the deviation section of the borehole and the compression section of the rod. On the whole, the contact force between rod and tube in deviation section of borehole is larger. The transverse vibration of the compression section of the rod is the most violent.
Fucoidan Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Enhancing p62/SQSTM1-Dependent Selective Autophagy to Alleviate Atherosclerosis
Authors: Cheng Yufei , Pan Xudong , Wang Jing , Li Xu , Yang Shaonan , Yin Ruihua , Ma Aijun , Zhu Xiaoyan
Published: August 2020

NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis, and autophagy inhibits inflammasome activation by targeting macrophages. We investigated whether fucoidan, a marine sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds, could reduce NLRP3 inflammasome activation by enhancing sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1)-dependent selective autophagy to alleviate atherosclerosis in high-fat-fed ApoE-/- mice with partial carotid ligation and differentiated THP-1 cells incubated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Fucoidan significantly ameliorated lipid accumulation, attenuated progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques, deregulated the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, autophagy receptor p62, and upregulated microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II/I levels. Transmission electron microscopy and GFP-RFP-LC3 lentivirus transfection further demonstrated that fucoidan could activate autophagy. Mechanistically, fucoidan remarkably inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which was mostly dependent on autophagy. The inhibitory effects of fucoidan on NLRP3 inflammasome were enhanced by autophagy activator rapamycin (Rapa) and alleviated by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Fucoidan promoted the colocalization of NLRP3 and p62. Knockdown of p62 and ATG5 by small interfering RNA significantly reduced the inhibitory effects of fucoidan treatment on NLRP3 inflammasome. The data suggest that fucoidan can inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation by enhancing p62/SQSTM1-dependent selective autophagy to alleviate atherosclerosis.
A Pipeline to Call Multilevel Expression Changes between Cancer and Normal Tissues and Its Applications in Repurposing Drugs Effective for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Gao Wei , Yang Jianwei , Zhuo Changhua , Huang Sha , Lin Jinyuan , Wu Guangfeng , Zhou Min
Published: August 2020

Differential gene analyses on gastric cancer usually focus on expression change of single genes between tumor and adjacent normal tissues. However, besides changes on single genes, there are also coexpression and expression network module changes during the development of gastric cancer. In this study, we proposed a pipeline to investigate various levels of changes between gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissues, which were used to repurpose potential drugs for treating gastric cancer. Specifically, we performed a series of analyses on 242 gastric cancer samples (33‐normal, 209‐cancer) downloaded from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), including data quality control, differential gene analysis, gene coexpression network analysis, module function enrichment analysis, differential coexpression analysis, differential pathway analysis, and screening of potential therapeutic drugs. In the end, we discovered some genes and pathways that are significantly different between cancer and adjacent normal tissues (such as the interleukin‐4 and interleukin‐13 signaling pathway) and screened perturbed genes by 2703 drugs that have a high overlap with the identified differentially expressed genes. Our pipeline might be useful for understanding cancer pathogenesis as well as gastric cancer treatment.
Extents of Predictors for Land Surface Temperature Using Multiple Regression Model
Authors: Yuvaraj R. M.
Published: August 2020

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key factor in numerous areas such as climate change, land use/land cover in the urban areas, and heat balance and is also a significant participant in the creation of climate models. Landsat data has given numerous possibilities to understand the land processes by means of remote sensing. The present study has been performed to identify the LST of the study region using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS satellite images for two time periods in order to compare the data. The study also attempted to identify and predict the role and importance of NDVI, NDBI, and the slope of the region on LST. The study concludes that the maximum and minimum temperatures of 40.44 C and 20.78 C were recorded during the November month whereas the maximum and minimum LST for month March has increased to 42.44 C and 24.57 C respectively. The result indicates that LST is inversely proportional to NDVI (−6.369) and slope (−0.077) whereas LST is directly proportional to NDBI (+14.74). Multiple linear regression model has been applied to calculate the extents of NDVI, NDBI, and slope on the LST. It concludes that the increase in vegetation and slope would result in slight decrease in temperature whereas the increase in built-up will result in a huge increase in temperature.
Discovering the Graph-Based Flow Patterns of Car Tourists Using License Plate Data: A Case Study in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Bing He , Bo Kong , Ling Yin , Qin Wu , Jinxing Hu , Dian Huang , Zhanwu Ma
Published: August 2020

Identifying flow patterns from massive trajectories of car tourists is considered a promising way to improve the management of tourism traffic. Previous researches have mainly focused on tourist movements at the macro-scale, such as inbound, domestic, and urban tourism using flow maps. Compared with modeling the flow patterns of tourists at the macro-scale, modeling tourist flow at the microscale is more complicated. This paper takes Dapeng Island located in Shenzhen as the study area and uses the car recognition devices to collect traffic flow. Firstly, car tourists are separated from the mixed traffic flow after analyzing the spatial-temporal characteristics of tourists and residents. Next, daily graphs of tourist movements between road segments and tourist attractions are constructed. Finally, a frequent subgraph mining algorithm is used to extract the flow patterns of car tourists. The experimental results show that (1) car tourists have obvious preferences in the selection of trip time and tourist attractions; (2) the intercity tourists tend to take multidestination trips rather than a single destination trip in the same type of attractions; (3) car tourists are inclined to park their cars in an easy-to-access place, even if the attractions visited are changed. The main contribution of this paper is to present a new method for discovering the flow patterns of car tourists hidden in massive amounts of license plate data.