bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of antibiosis resistance in seven apple cultivars to Eotetranychus frosti (Tetranychidae)

Authors: Jafarian Fatemeh , Jafari Shahriar , Fathipour Yaghoub
Published: April 2020

Eotetranychus frosti (McGregor) (Tetranychidae) is a main pest of apple and some fruit trees in Iran. The life table parameters of E. frosti on seven apple cultivars (Red, Golab Kohanz, Gala Imperial, Gala Royal, Fuji, Granny Smith and Golden) at 27±1ºC, 50±10% RH and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) h were determined. The immature developmental times of E. frosti ranged from 6.50 days on Granny Smith to 18.31 days on Golab Kohanz. The lowest and highest survival rate for whole immature stages was 85.71% and 95.72% on Golab Kohanz and Red, respectively. Fecundity of E. frosti was affected by cultivars; varied from 60.43 eggs on Golab Kohanz to 110.19 eggs on Granny Smith. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) varied significantly among different cultivars in which the lowest value (0.119 day-1) was on Golab Kohanz and highest value (0.365 day-1) was on Granny Smith. The mean generation time (T) was shortest on Granny Smith (11.45 days) and longest on Golab Kohanz (30.09 days). According to the results, Granny Smith and Golab Kohanz were susceptible and resistant cultivars, respectively among the ones tested. The findings of this study provide new information that can be used to design a more comprehensive IPM program for this important pest.
Temperature-dependent development of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Authors: Farazmand Azadeh , Amir-maafi Masood , Atlihan Remzi
Published: April 2020

In this study, developmental time of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot feeding on immature stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch was evaluated at eight constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35, and 37.5 °C) providing 60±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16 L: 8 D. Duration of the egg to adult developmental time decreased sharply with increasing temperature, except at 37.5°C. To describe the developmental rate of A. swirskii as a function of temperature, one linear and 9 nonlinear models (Logan-6, Logan-10, Lactin-1, Lactin-2, Briere-1, Briere-2, Analytis-3, Polynomial, and Equation-16) were fitted. The lower temperature threshold (T0) and the thermal constant (K) were estimated by the linear model for the total immature stage as 7.90 °C and 140.85 DD, respectively. Based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and R2adj, Polynomial, Analytis-3, Analytis-3, Logan-10 and Briere-2 were the best models for eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and total immature stages of A. swirskii, respectively. Our findings showed that development and predation of A. swirskii occurs in a wide range of temperatures. Therefore, this predatory mite could be applied in control of T. urticae in different weather conditions.
Contribution to systematics of the family Cunaxidae (Acari: Bdelloidea) of Western Siberia, Russia

Authors: Khaustov Alexander A.
Published: April 2020

Mites of the family Cunaxidae of Western Siberia, Russia are reviewed. Female, male, protonymph and deutonymph of Parabonzia sibiriensis sp. nov. are described from the rotting log of birch. Dactyloscirus dolichosetosus Den Heyer is recorded for the first time in Palaearctic. Bonzia sphagnicola Willmann is recorded from Russia for the first time. Bonzia halacaroides Oudemans, Neobonzia kuznetsovi (Sergeyenko), Cunaxa setirostris (Hermann), C. capreolus (Berlese), C. bochkovi Khaustov, Cunaxoides croceus (Koch), and Lupaeus subterraneus (Berlese) are recorded for the first time for the Asian part of Russia. The Grandjean’s nomenclature for leg setae is applied to the family Cunaxidae for the first time.
Two new species of acaricaline eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from India

Authors: Roy Sourav , Chakrabarti Samiran
Published: April 2020

Two new species of eriophyoid mites viz., Cymeda indica sp. nov. on Cyclosorus dentatus. (Thelypteridaceae) and Neoacaphyllisa alangia sp. nov. on Alangium sp. (Cornaceae) are described here from Darjeeling district of West Bengal and Guwahati district of Assam, India respectively. The new species belong to the family Eriophyidae, subfamily Phyllocoptinae and tribe Acaricalini. They are the second members in the respective genera.
Stochastic and deterministic processes differently affect the community structure of edaphic mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Authors: Rocha Matheus S. , Reis-avila Gabriela , Pires Mateus M. , Da-costa Tairis , Ferla Noeli J. , Rodrigues Everton N. L.
Published: April 2020

Most mesostigmatid mites (Arachnida: Parasitiformes) are soil-dwelling predators, feeding predominantly on detritivorous and fungivorous invertebrates. Little is known about the role of environmental and spatial parameters in driving the structure of their local communities. The aim of this study is to assess the relative importance of environmental/spatial parameters in different scales and microhabitats on the community structure of edaphic mesostigmatid mites in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Soil and litter samples were collected in 20 sites (six subsamples per microhabitat per site; N = 240 samples) distant from each other over ranges varying from 100 m to seven km. Geographic distances between sampling sites and spatial eigenfunctions were used as proxies of stochastic processes to assess the influence of spatial parameters on mite community structure. Environmental parameters included soil grain size, moisture and organic matter, vegetation structure, litter depth and percentage of leaves, branches, and thin roots in plant litter. We collected 1135 Mesostigmata individuals from 77 species/morphospecies. Mite composition strongly differed between soil and litter microhabitats. Mite communities geographically closer were more similar to each other in terms of Mesostigmata composition than expected if there is no spatial structure. Litter depth, soil organic matter and soil moisture significantly contributed to edaphic mite community structure. Deterministic processes predominated in explaining the composition of the litter fauna, while the composition of the soil fauna was more sensitive to stochastic processes. Our results provide evidence that the composition of Mesostigmata communities not only differ between microhabitats, but they are differently structured by environmental and spatial parameters depending on the scale. This provides new insight into the processes affecting of mite diversity within soil ecosystem at fine and broad scales, and highlights the importance of the spatial proximity and microhabitat in driving the composition of mite communities.
Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Cerocepheus (Acari, Oribatida, Cerocepheidae)

Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. G.
Published: April 2020

A new species of Cerocepheus (Oribatida, Cerocepheidae) is described from rainforest litter in southern Chile. Cerocepheus osornoensis sp. nov. differs from Cerocepheus mirabilis by the smaller body size and the presence of bidentate lamellar cusps. Revised generic diagnosis, data on distribution of Cerocepheus and an identification key to known species of Cerocepheidae are presented.
Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a potential control agent for Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Authors: Filgueiras Rosenya Michely Cintra , Mendes Jairo De Almeida De Almeida , De Sousa Neto Eduardo Pereira , Monteiro Neville Vieira , Da Silva Melo José Wagner
Published: April 2020

Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is a pest species that has expanded not only in geographical distribution but also in the number of host plants. Control measures are still being evaluated in recently invaded countries. In some countries and for some crops, spraying with botanical extracts has been used to reduce R. indica populations. Laboratory and field studies point to the predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as promising for combating R. indica. However, this predator has not yet been commercially available. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of another predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, a commercially available generalist predator as a biological control agent of R. indica. The consumption and oviposition rate of N. barkeri were determined across the developmental stages of R. indica. The predation and oviposition capacity of N. barkeri and A. largoensis when fed R. indica eggs in the laboratory were compared. In the field, releases of the predator N. barkeri at densities of 900, 600 and 300 predators per plant were compared to spraying with botanical extracts such as cottonseed oil and azadirachtin to control R. indica. Our results suggested that N. barkeri is an effective predator to control R. indica. The consumption of N. barkeri was inversely related to the life stage of R. indica, and all developmental stages of R. indica enabled the reproduction of N. barkeri. The predation and oviposition of N. barkeri were higher than those of A. largoensis, and the releases of N. barkeri at densities of 900 and 600 predators/plant resulted in significant reductions in R. indica populations.
Description of Leptus (Leptus) cameroonicus sp. nov. and first record of Charletonia braunsi (Oudemans, 1910) from Cameroon (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae), with new metric and meristic data for some African Leptus

Authors: Haitlinger Ryszard , Šundić Miloje , Nkwala Alifery Laurel Djomnang
Published: April 2020

Leptus (L.) cameroonicus sp. nov. is described based on larvae ectoparasitic on Eyprepocinemis plorans ibandana (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Charletonia braunsi (Oudemans, 1910) is reported for the first time from Cameroon. E. plorans ibandana is new host for Leptus species, C. braunsi, C. cameroonensis Haitlinger & Kekeonou, 2014 and C. justynae Haitlinger, 1987. New metric and meristic data for the descriptions of L. (L.) aggoratus Haitlinger, 1990, L. (L.) bertoldi Haitlinger, 1993, L. (L.) benzaliensis Fain & Elsen, 1972, L. (L.) maranaensis Haitlinger, 1987, L. (L.) maringensis Fain & Elsen, 1972, L. (L.) mogadoranus Haitlinger, 1990, L. (L.) ogazulacus Haitlinger, 1990, L. (L.) pasopaicus Haitlinger, 1990 and Charletonia cameroonensis, based on examination of type material and additional specimens, are provided. Status of Momorangia gabini Haitlinger, 2004 is discussed. M. gabini is correct name, not Charletonia gabini. Keys to African Leptus and Charletonia are provided.
Molecular detection of rickettsial agents of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from wild birds of Panama

Authors: Bermúdez Sergio , Domínguez Lillian , Ochoa Isis , Oliveira Jonathan Gonçalves , De Lemos Elba Regina Sampaio , Castillo Bernardo , Smith Diorene , Herrera Jorge , Ogrzewalska Maria
Published: April 2020

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from wild birds in Panama were tested for the presence of tick-borne pathogens as Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Borrelia, Hepatozoon sp., and Babesia. Overall 124 ticks were found in 57 birds belonging to 28 species: Amblyomma longirostre (32 larvae, 1 nymph), Amblyomma nodosum (30 nymphs), Amblyomma geayi (15 larvae, 1 nymph), Amblyomma varium (5 larvae, 2 nymphs), Amblyomma naponense (2 larvae), Amblyomma ovale (2 larvae), and Amblyomma calcaratum (1 larva). DNA of Rickettsia amblyommatis was detected in 65% of A. longirostre, 69% of A. geayi and 14% of A. varium. Moreover, results from two larvae of A. longirostre showed DNA of unidentified Rickettsia sp. No DNA of Borrelia, Bartonella, Anaplasmataceae neither Babesia nor Hepatozoon was detected. These results expand knowledge about the host for immature Amblyomma ticks in Panama and show the first data of Rickettsia in ticks collected from birds in this country.
Comparative Analysis of Glycosylated and Nonglycosylated Filarial Homologues of the 20-Kilodalton Retinol Binding Protein fromOnchocerca volvulus(Ov20)
Authors: Nirmalan Niroshini , Cordeiro N. J. V. , Kläger Sabine L. , Bradley Janette E. , Allen Judith E.
Published: April 2020

Ov20 is a structurally novel 20-kDa retinol binding protein secreted byOnchocerca volvulus. Immunological and biological investigation of this protein has been hampered by the inability to maintainO. volvulusin a laboratory setting. In an effort to find a system more amenable to laboratory investigation, we have cloned, sequenced, and expressed cDNA encoding homologues of Ov20 from two closely related filarial species,Brugia malayi(Bm20) andAcanthocheilonema viteae(Av20). Sequence comparisons have highlighted differences in glycosylation of the homologues. We present here an analysis of mouse immune responses to Ov20, Bm20, and Av20. The results suggest a strong genetic restriction in response to native Bm20 that is overcome when recombinant, nonnative material is used. Reactivity of human filarial sera to the three recombinant proteins confirmed previous specificity studies with Ov20 but highlighted important differences in the reactivity patterns of theO. volvulusandB. malayihomologues that may be due to differences in glycosylation patterns. Ov20 is a dominant antigen in infected individuals, while Bm20 is not. The availability of theB. malayihomologue enabled us to use defined murine reagents and inbred strains for genetic analysis of responsiveness in a way that is not possible for Ov20. However, the close sequence similarity between Ov20 and Av20 suggests that theA. viteaemodel may be more suited to the investigation of the biological functions of Ov20.
Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Human T Lymphocytes by Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Correlates with Toxin-Induced Proliferation and Is Regulated through Protein Kinase C
Authors: Yan Zhengyin , Yang David C. H. , Neill Roger , Jett Marti
Published: April 2020

The superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) simultaneously binds both the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II receptor on monocytes and the T-cell receptor (TCR) on T lymphocytes, resulting in a range of cell responses including induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In this study, we have used mixed cultures of human peripheral blood monocytes and lymphocytes to investigate biochemical events controlling SEB induction of TNF-α. TNF-α production induced by SEB in mixed cultures is more closely associated with T cells than with monocytes: (i) a TCR-binding-site mutant of SEB (N23F) is less active in TNF-α induction than an MHC class II receptor-binding-site mutant (F44R), and (ii) flow cytometric analysis indicated that SEB induced TNF-α production in T cells but not in monocytes. Pretreatment of cells with inhibitors of signal transduction pathways was employed to further define events in SEB-induced TNF-α production. Neither protein kinase A inhibitors nor two protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors altered SEB-induced TNF-α production. In contrast, SEB induced protein kinase C (PKC) translocation, and pretreatment of cultures with inhibitors of PKC blocked TNF-α induction. Alteration of levels of diacylglycerol (DAG), an activator of PKC, by treatment with inhibitors of phospholipase C or DAG kinase also altered SEB-induced TNF-α production. These data suggest that PKC activation plays a critical role in SEB-induced TNF-α production in human T cells.
Attenuated Expression of the
mga
Virulence Regulon in an M Serotype 50 Mouse-Virulent Group A Streptococcal Strain
Authors: Yung Der-Li , McIver Kevin S. , Scott June R. , Hollingshead Susan K.
Published: April 2020

The attenuated expression of virulence genes found in a group A streptococcal strain that is naturally pathogenic for mice was postulated to result from a defect in the strain's multigene regulator, Mga. The sequence of the
mga
gene reveals three amino acid changes in the gene product that might affect protein function. The defect in the
mga
gene was complemented by providing either the closely similar
mga4
allele or a more divergent
mga1
allele in
trans
. Complementation increased the amount of
emm50
transcript and the quantity of surface-extractable M protein, restoring virulence function.
Real-time cosmology with SKA
Authors: Liu Yan , Zhang Jing-Fei , Zhang Xin
Published: April 2020

In this work, we investigate what role the redshift-drift data of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will play in the cosmological parameter estimation in the future. To test the constraint capability of the redshift-drift data of SKA-only, the $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM model is chosen as a reference model. We find that using the SKA1 mock data, the $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM model can be loosely constrained, while the model can be well constrained when the SKA2 mock data are used. When the mock data of SKA are combined with the data of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), the constraints can be significantly improved, becoming almost as good as the data combination of the type Ia supernovae observation (SN), the cosmic microwave background observation (CMB), and the baryon acoustic oscillations observation (BAO). Furthermore, we explore the impact of the redshift-drift data of SKA on the basis of SN+CMB+BAO+E-ELT in the $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM model, the wCDM model, the CPL model, and the HDE model. We find that the redshift-drift measurement of SKA could help to significantly improve the constraints on dark energy and could break the degeneracy between the cosmological parameters. Therefore, we conclude that redshift-drift observation of SKA would provide a good improvement in the cosmological parameter estimation in the future and has the enormous potential to be one of the most competitive cosmological probes in constraining dark energy.
Algebraic Representations for Volumetric Frame Fields
Authors: Palmer David , Bommes David , Solomon Justin
Published: April 2020

Field-guided parameterization methods have proven effective for quad meshing of surfaces; these methods compute smooth
cross fields
to guide the meshing process and then integrate the fields to construct a discrete mesh. A key challenge in extending these methods to three dimensions, however, is
representation
of field values. Whereas cross fields can be represented by tangent vector fields that form a linear space, the 3D analog—an octahedral frame field—takes values in a nonlinear manifold. In this work, we describe the space of octahedral frames in the language of differential and algebraic geometry. With this understanding, we develop geometry-aware tools for optimization of octahedral fields, namely geodesic stepping and exact projection via semidefinite relaxation. Our algebraic approach not only provides an elegant and mathematically sound description of the space of octahedral frames but also suggests a generalization to frames whose three axes scale independently, better capturing the singular behavior we expect to see in volumetric frame fields. These new
odeco frames
, so called as they are represented by orthogonally decomposable tensors, also admit a semidefinite program–based projection operator. Our description of the spaces of octahedral and odeco frames suggests computing frame fields via manifold-based optimization algorithms; we show that these algorithms efficiently produce high-quality fields while maintaining stability and smoothness.
A Simple Deterministic Distributed MST Algorithm with Near-Optimal Time and Message Complexities
Authors: Elkin M.
Published: April 2020

The distributed minimum spanning tree (MST) problem is one of the most central and fundamental problems in distributed graph algorithms. Kutten and Peleg devised an algorithm with running time
O
(
D
+ √
n
⋅ log
*
n
), where
D
is the hop diameter of the input
n
-vertex
m
-edge graph, and with message complexity
O
(
m
+
n
3/2
). Peleg and Rubinovich showed that the running time of the algorithm of Kutten and Peleg is essentially tight and asked if one can achieve near-optimal running time together with near-optimal message complexity.

In a recent breakthrough, Pandurangan et al. answered this question in the affirmative and devised a randomized algorithm with time
Õ
(
D
+ √
n
) and message complexity
Õ
(
m
). They asked if such a simultaneous time- and message optimality can be achieved by a deterministic algorithm.

In this article, building on the work of Pandurangan et al., we answer this question in the affirmative and devise a deterministic algorithm that computes MST in time
O
((
D
+ √
n
) ⋅ log
n
) using
O
(
m
⋅ log
n
+
n
log
n
cdot log
*
n
) messages. The polylogarithmic factors in the time and message complexities of our algorithm are significantly smaller than the respective factors in the result of Pandurangan et al. In addition, our algorithm and its analysis are very simple and self-contained as opposed to rather complicated previous sublinear-time algorithms.

Finally, we use our new algorithm to devise a randomized MST algorithm with running time
Õ
(μ (
G
,ω) + √
n
) and message complexity
Õ
(|
E
|), where μ-radius μ (
G
,ω) ≤
D
is a graph parameter, which is typically much smaller than
D
. This improves a previous bound from Elkin.
Frege Systems for Quantified Boolean Logic
Authors: Beyersdorff Olaf , Bonacina Ilario , Chew Leroy , Pich Jan
Published: April 2020

We define and investigate Frege systems for quantified Boolean formulas (QBF). For these new proof systems, we develop a lower bound technique that directly lifts circuit lower bounds for a circuit class
C
to the QBF Frege system operating with lines from
C
. Such a direct transfer from circuit to proof complexity lower bounds has often been postulated for propositional systems but had not been formally established in such generality for any proof systems prior to this work.

This leads to strong lower bounds for restricted versions of QBF Frege, in particular an exponential lower bound for QBF Frege systems operating with AC
0
[
p
] circuits. In contrast, any non-trivial lower bound for propositional AC
0
[
p
]-Frege constitutes a major open problem.

Improving these lower bounds to unrestricted QBF Frege tightly corresponds to
the
major problems in circuit complexity and propositional proof complexity. In particular, proving a lower bound for QBF Frege systems operating with arbitrary P/poly circuits is equivalent to either showing a lower bound for P/poly or for propositional extended Frege (which operates with P/poly circuits).

We also compare our new QBF Frege systems to standard sequent calculi for QBF and establish a correspondence to intuitionistic bounded arithmetic.
Will digitization harm or help workers in healthcare?
Authors: Hernnäs Sofia
Published: April 2020

Some worry that digitization leads to replacement of human labor in healthcare, thus leading to a decline in the demand for medical personnel's skills. What lessons can we draw from previous waves of automation?
Technostress in digital healthcare environments
Authors: Stadin Magdalena
Published: April 2020

The introduction of information and communication technology has changed the working style of healthcare managers, often leading to stress. This article discusses the different implications of digitization and proposes some ideas for sustainable technology.
Data work and digitization
Authors: Bossen Claus
Published: April 2020

As technology and healthcare continue to commingle, data work is being redistributed as powerful professions discard unwanted tasks and other occupations are transformed.
Designing self-monitoring data for chronic care
Authors: Černá Kateřina
Published: April 2020

When a self-monitoring tool is developed and implemented in chronic care nurses' work, it changes the way nurses accomplish their work, creating new requirements. This article is based on a design ethnographic study that helps us understand the implications of these changes.
Time utilization and psychosocial work environments in primary care
Authors: Anskär Eva
Published: April 2020

Swedish primary care staff spend a limited proportion of their work time directly with patients, leaving staff to suffer under heavy administration workloads using poorly designed IT systems. How can their time utilization experience be improved?
Digitization in the healthcare industry
Authors: Kochanke André
Published: April 2020

The steady advancement of information technology can be observed in many different industries, one example being healthcare. What impacts are expected and how can work life be improved? A hackathon specifically about this topic might give some answers.
Thermalytix
Authors: Kakileti Siva Teja , Madhu Himanshu , Subramoni Thara , Manjunath Geetha
Published: April 2020

Using artificial intelligence, and an oft-ignored modality, an Indian startup develops an affordable, accessible, and non-invasive breast cancer screening solution.
The usability and digitalization of healthcare
Authors: Rydenfält Christofer , Persson Johanna
Published: April 2020

As interaction researchers strive to make sense of the forest, they should not lose sight of the trees.
Gerontechnology, digitalization, and the silver economy
Authors: Anderberg Peter
Published: April 2020

Digitalization in healthcare is posed to change the way the older population is treated, the way health workers relate to them, and the participation of computing professionals in the mix.
Students implement the European Student Card
Authors: Tichy Walter
Published: April 2020

Student mobility is a shared goal of the member states of the European Union. One ingredient that makes student mobility possible is a universal student ID card that is accepted everywhere and can be coded with services at the institutions visited. The European Student Card (ESC) is such a universal ID card, standardized in Europe. A team of students from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology developed the software for it. It works as follows: A student with an ESC simply walks up to a self-service kiosk, presents the card to a reader, and then selects the desired services, such as cafeteria, library, lab access, etc. In this interview, the development team will explain how they made this work smoothly, including the security considerations. This project is another example of how undergraduate students can build impressive software if given a challenge, the right tools, and some supervision.
On cloud computing infrastructure for existing code-clone detection algorithms
Authors: Walker Andrew , Cerny Tomas
Published: April 2020

Microservice Architecture (MSA) is becoming a design standard for modern cloud-based software systems. However, even though cloud-based applications have been thoroughly explored with regards to networking, scalability, and decomposition of existing monolithic applications into MSA based applications, not much research has been done showing the viability of MSA in new problem domains. In this paper, we explore the application of MSA to the code-clone detection problem domain to identify any improvements that can be made over existing local code-clone detection applications. A fragment of source code that is identical or similar to another is a code-clone. Code-clones make it difficult to maintain applications as they create multiple points within the code that bugs must be fixed, new rules enforced, or design decisions imposed. As applications grow larger and larger, the pervasiveness of code-clones likewise grows. To face the code-clone related issues, many tools and algorithms have been proposed to find and document code-clones within an application. In this paper, we show that many improvements can be made by utilizing emerging cloud-based technologies.
Size efficient preprocessed symmetric rsa for wireless body area network
Authors: Shin Sangwon , Won Kwanghee , Shin Sung
Published: April 2020

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) is becoming highly distinctive within health application. Security is important for individual nodes because such applications deal with sensitive data. Within WBAN, approaches with higher security with less computation are preferred along with smaller key size because of limitations of WBAN. However reducing key size can result in reduction in security level. In this paper we propose the use of message authentication for WBAN with pre-processed symmetric RSA (PSRSA). PSRSA is based on RSA with smaller key with multiple layers of pre-processing to increase the total combinations. Based on our analysis, PSRSA provides high security level with smaller key size compare to RSA. We implemented PSRSA to check feasibility and tested couple of scenarios.
Experiment design for teaching digital logic and computer organization principle
Authors: Liu Xing , De Vaulx Christophe , Yuan Jingling
Published: April 2020

This paper presents the experiment program which requires the students to incorporate the knowledge learned from both digital logic and computer organization courses to develop a multi-cycle MIPS CPU with FPGA. First, it introduces how to incorporate the knowledge of these two courses by conducting the experiments on the same FPGA platform. Then, it discusses how to teach the students to design a multi-cycle MIPS CPU which supports interruption han- dling. Later, it presents an analogous teaching approach which compares the FPGA development to the C program- ming to help the students master the intricate FPGA devel- opment process in an easy-to-understand way. This exper- iment program targets to help the students build the sys- tematic thinking way as well as cultivate them to develop a complicate computer system by integrating the knowledge of different courses. The experimental program has been carried out in the Internet-of-Things speciality for 6 years, and the survey results showed this experiment program had achieved the desired teaching objective effectively.
Discovery of Herbal Pairs Containing Gastrodia elata Based on Data Mining and the Delphi Expert Questionnaire and Their Potential Effects on Stroke through Network Pharmacology
Authors: Zhou Rongrong , Zhu Yan , Yang Wei , Zhang Fengrong , Wang Junwen , Yan Runhong , Tang Shihuan , Li Zhiyong
Published: April 2020

Background. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae can be regarded as a source of new antistroke drugs. The aim of this study was to discover herbal pairs containing Gastrodia elata (Tianma, TM) from formulae based on data mining and the Delphi expert questionnaire. The proposed approach for discovering new herbal combinations, which included data mining, a clinical investigation, and a network pharmacology analysis, was evaluated in this study. Methods. A database of formulae containing TM was established. All possible herbal pairs were acquired by data mining association rules, and herbal pairs containing TM were screened according to the Support and Confidence levels. Taking stroke as the research object, the relationships between herbal pairs containing TM and stroke were explored by the Delphi expert questionnaire and statistical methods. To explore the effects of herbal pairs containing TM on stroke, a network pharmacology analysis was performed to predict core targets, biological functions, pathways, and mechanisms of action. Results. A total of 1903 formulae containing TM, involving 896 Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) and 126 herbal pairs containing RG, were analyzed by association rules. A total of 27 herbal pairs were further screened according to the Support and Confidence levels. Twelve herbal pairs containing RG were added according to the expert questionnaires. Weightiness analysis showed that 9 groups of core herbal pairs contained RG, including TM‐QX, TM‐JH, TM‐CX, TM‐GG, TM‐SJM, TM‐JC, TM‐SCP, TM‐MJZ, and TM‐GT. Two core herbal pairs, TM‐JH and TM‐CX, were randomly screened to explore their network pharmacological mechanisms in stroke. The important biological targets for network pharmacological analysis of TM‐CX and TM‐JH related to stroke were PTGS2, ACE, APP, NOS1, and NOS2. An herbal pair‐compound‐core target‐pathway network (H‐C‐T‐P network) was established, and arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and the relaxin signaling pathway were identified by enrichment analysis. Conclusion. The herbal pairs of TM‐CX and TM‐JH obtained from data mining and the expert investigation were found to have effects of preventing and treating stroke through network pharmacology. This could be a viable approach to uncover hidden knowledge about TCM formulae and to discover herbal combinations with clinical and medicinal value based on data mining and questionnaires.
The Need for Artificial Intelligence in Digital Therapeutics
Authors: Palanica Adam , Docktor Michael J. , Lieberman Michael , Fossat Yan
Published: April 2020

Digital therapeutics is a newly described concept in healthcare which is proposed to change patient behavior and treat medical conditions using a variety of digital technologies. However, the term is rarely defined with criteria that make it distinct from simply digitizedversions of traditional therapeutics. Our objective is to describe a more valuable characteristic of digital therapeutics, which is distinct from traditional medicine or therapy: that is, the utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems to monitor and predict individual patient symptom data in an adaptive clinical feedback loop via digital biomarkers to provide a precision medicine approach to healthcare. Artificial intelligence platforms can learn and predict effective interventions for individuals using a multitude of personal variables to provide a customized and more tailored therapy regimen. Digital therapeutics coupled with artificial intelligence and machine learning also allows more effective clinical observations and management at the population level for various health conditions and cohorts. This vital differentiation of digital therapeutics compared to other forms of therapeutics enables a more personalized form of healthcare that actively adapts to patients’ individual clinical needs, goals, and lifestyles. Importantly, these characteristics are what needs to be emphasized to patients, physicians, and policy makers to advance the entire field of digital healthcare.
Role-Play: desenvolvendo habilidades e competências do Ensino Embasado na Estrutura Conceitual
Authors: Costa Patricia de Souza , Ávila Jéssica Rayse de Melo Silva , Santos Dinah Vieira Dos , Cruz Fabiana Pereira Da
Published: April 2020

O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar a percepção dos estudantes quanto à utilidade da técnica role-play no desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências, requeridas ao profissional da área contábil no primeiro estágio do Ensino Embasado na Estrutura Conceitual. A percepção sobre o uso da técnica foi identificada por meio de levantamento e grupo focal com os estudantes matriculados na disciplina Contabilidade Introdutória. Os resultados sugerem que, na percepção dos estudantes, o role-play auxilia no desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências de todas as categorias do domínio cognitivo da Taxonomia de Bloom (Conhecimento, Compreensão, Aplicação, Análise, Síntese e Avaliação), superando as expectativas do Ensino Embasado na Estrutura Conceitual de desenvolvimento apenas das três primeiras categorias.
Revolução tecnológica no mundo dos negócios e algumas oportunidades e desafios na área contábil
Authors: Almeida José Elias Feres
Published: April 2020

Este artigo apresenta uma análise sobre como a revolução tecnológica no mundo dos negócios traz novos desafios e oportunidades para profissionais, professores, pesquisadores e discentes, principalmente, das áreas de contabilidade e auditoria. As inovações disruptivas trazem mudanças significativas em ocupações profissionais e em suas atividades, que podem passar a ser computadorizadas (automatizadas). Baseando-se em estudos anteriores que analisaram a computadorização de profissões, este estudo apresenta alguns caminhos para que profissionais e acadêmicos possam desenvolver suas atividades e novas possibilidades considerando as mudanças que acontecem por causa das inovações disruptivas e como buscar novos conhecimentos a partir de iniciativas em conjunto. Na perspectiva profissional, a busca por realização de atividades mais consultivas e de assessoramento diminui o risco de computadorização. Já na perspectiva acadêmica, trazer novas ferramentas disponíveis em linguagens de programação para extrair e interpretar dados e textos para construir novas variáveis e abordagens pode contribuir para novas oportunidades de pesquisas.
Twenty Years of the Protection of Civilians in UN Peace Operations
Authors: Hunt Charles T. , Zimmerman Shannon
Published: April 2020

The Protection of Civilians (PoC) has been part of United Nations (UN) peace operations for twenty years. Today, PoC is irrefutably a ‘centre of gravity’ for how UN peace operations see and portray themselves. Despite negative perceptions, a great deal of progress has been made in how missions prepare for and respond to the demands of protection mandates. For the vulnerable populations they serve, mandates to protect raise expectations and provide hope that peacekeepers will safeguard them. Yet efforts to implement PoC mandates have encountered a range of problems, which peace operations have struggled to address. This article critically reflects on the past two decades of promoting, planning for and practicing protection in UN peace operations. It argues that while the achievements are many, significant challenges remain and much more must be done to deliver on this cardinal obligation.
Experimental Contrastive Pragmatics Using Robots
Authors: Fischer Kerstin , Prondzinska Alicja Depka
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we explore how robots can be used to study pragmatic strategies across a number of languages. Robots can assume many of the roles played by human interaction partners in a range of situations. They can be programmed to produce specific behaviours, each time repeating a behaviour in an identical way for as often as necessary. Thus, robots can be useful tools for investigating human behaviour in certain situations and even in cross-cultural contexts. We explore this use of robots in two case studies – one which investigates the delivery of bad news in Danish, German and English, and one which examines the giving of feedback in Danish, German and Polish. In both studies, systematic intercultural differences become apparent in the pragmatic strategies that are adopted. On the basis of the results, we discuss the advantages, potential pitfalls and possible solutions of using robots in the study of contrastive pragmatics.
TFPI2 suppresses breast cancer progression through inhibiting TWIST-integrin α5 pathway
Authors: Zhao Danyi , Qiao Jingjing , He Hongmei , Song Jincheng , Zhao Shanshan , Yu Jing
Published: April 2020

Background

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) participates in carcinogenesis of various tumors, and is associated with poor survival of breast cancer patients. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of TFPI2 on breast cancer progression remains to be investigated.

Methods

The expression level of TFPI2 in breast cancer tissues and cell lines was examined via qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) and immunohistochemistry. CCK8 (Cell Counting Kit-8), colony formation, wound healing or transwell assays were used to detect cell viability, proliferation, migration or invasion, respectively. In vivo subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model was established to detect tumorigenic function of TFPI2, and the underlying mechanism was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot.

Results

TFPI2 was down-regulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, and was associated with poor prognosis of patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Over-expression of TFPI2 inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) was negatively associated with TFPI2 in breast cancer patients, whose expression was decreased by TFPI2 over-expression or increased by TFPI2 knockdown. Moreover, TWIST1 could up-regulate integrin α5 expression. Functional assays indicated that the inhibition abilities of TFPI2 over-expression on breast cancer progression were reversed by TWIST1 over-expression. In vivo subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model also revealed that over-expression of TFPI2 could suppress breast tumor growth via down-regulation of TWIST1-mediated integrin α5 expression.

Conclusions

TFPI2 suppressed breast cancer progression through inhibiting TWIST-integrin α5 pathway, providing a new potential therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.
Evaluation of double-folded meatal-based flap (modified Mathieu) in redo circumcised distal penile hypospadias: a prospective multicenter study
Authors: Nagla Salah , Radwan Mohammed , Alhefnawy Mohamed , Ghaith Ahmed , Hagrass Ayman M. , Shalaby Mohammed , Awad Mohammed , Negm Mohamed Ahmed , Elgamal Samir
Published: April 2020

Background

Sometimes it becomes a dilemma to repair a failed circumcised distal penile hypospadias with partial or complete wound dehiscence. In many of these cases, redo operations need a graft or a flap. The aim of this study is to evaluate the double-folded meatal-based flap in redo circumcised hypospadias with shallow urethral plate and a small glans penis.

Results

From September 2015 to August 2018, we prospectively studied the double-folded meatal-based flap in 56 failed circumcised distal hypospadias without penile curvature with shallow urethral plate and a small glans penis. Distally folded Mathieu flap was done. Forty-seven cases only had completed the study. We had 19 patients with distal penile hypospadias, 19 with sub-coronal hypospadias, and 9 with coronal hypospadias. Median operative time was 50 (range 40–80 min). The median length of the double-folded flap was 14 (range 10–18 mm). The median follow-up was 12 (range 1–33 months). The success of the operation means that there is an absence of any complications. Our success rate was 73%. We had 8 patients with meatal retraction, one fistula, and one patient with wound disruption. Only 3 patients (6.4%) needed re-operation: one case with meatal retraction, another with fistula, and a third with complete wound disruption.

Conclusion

Distally folded meatal-based flap is an additional option in redo circumcised hypospadias with shallow urethral plate, small glans penis, and pliable anterior penile skin with a considerable high percent of meatal recession.
A study of optimal concentration range and time window of sevoflurane preconditioning for brain protection in MCAO rats
Authors: Deng Ying , Shi Chengmei , Gu Yi , Yang Ning , Xu Mao , Xu Ting , Guo Xiangyang
Published: April 2020

Background

Sevoflurane preconditioning improves brain function in MCAO rats, and there are several methods for determining appropriate concentration and time windows for preconditioning. This study investigated the brain protective effects with a single sevoflurane preconditioning at different concentrations and different time windows on MCAO rats.

Methods

Adult Sprague-dawley rats were randomly assigned to 14 groups. The rats in the sevoflurane preconditioning group inhaled 0.5 MAC, 1.0 MAC, and 1.3 MAC sevoflurane, respectively for 3 h, and then MCAO models were established at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h. MCAO and sham groups underwent no preconditioning with sevoflurane. The neurological severity score, cerebral infarct volume and brain water content of the rats were measured 24 h after reperfusion.

Results

After inhalation of 1.3 MAC sevoflurane for 3 h of preconditioning, the MCAO model was established after 24 h. This preconditioning improved the neurological severity score, reduce cerebral infarct volume and brain water content in MCAO rats. After inhalation of 1.0 MAC sevoflurane for 3 h of preconditioning, MCAO model established after 24 h reduced the cerebral infarct volume and brain water content of MCAO rats, but the neurological severity score showed no significant improvement, and no significant brain protective effects were observed at other concentrations and time windows.

Conclusions

These results suggested that after inhalation of 1.3 MAC sevoflurane for 3 h of preconditioning, MCAO model established after 24 h demonstrated significant brain protective effects in MCAO rats.
Clinical utility of genetic testing in the early diagnosis of Danon disease mimicking hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case report
Authors: Novelli Valeria , Bisignani Antonio , Pelargonio Gemma , Primiano Guido , Narducci Maria Lucia , Palmieri Vincenzo , Tiziano Francesco Danilo , Zeppilli Paolo , Servidei Serenella , Crea Filippo , Genuardi Maurizio
Published: April 2020

Background

Danon disease (OMIM 300257) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, characterized by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), skeletal myopathy, variable intellectual disability, and other minor clinical features.

This condition accounts for ~ 4% of HCM patients, with a more severe and early onset phenotype in males, causing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the first three decades of life.

Genetic alterations in the LAMP2 gene are the main cause of this inherited fatal condition. Up to date, more than 100 different pathogenic variants have been reported in the literature. However, the majority of cases are misdiagnosed as HCM or have a delay in the diagnosis.

Case presentation

Here, we describe a young boy with an early diagnosis of HCM. After 2 episodes of ventricular fibrillation within 2 years, genetic testing identified a novel LAMP2 pathogenic variant. Subsequently, further clinical evaluations showing muscle weakness and mild intellectual disability confirmed the diagnosis of Danon disease.

Conclusions

This report highlights the role of genetic testing in the rapid diagnosis of Danon disease, underscoring the need to routinely consider the inclusion of LAMP2 gene in the genetic screening for HCM, since an early diagnosis of Danon disease in patients with a phenotype mimicking HCM is essential to plan appropriate treatment, ie cardiac transplantation.
Assessment of successful percutaneous mitral commissurotomy by MRproANP and sCD146
Authors: Badoz Marc , Arrigo Mattia , Mogenet Anne-Claire , Sadoune Malha , Meneveau Nicolas , Mebazaa Alexandre , Seronde Marie-France
Published: April 2020

Background

We studied the course of plasma concentrations of 4 cardiovascular biomarkers: natriuretic peptides (BNP, NT-proBNP; mid-regional (MR) pro-atrial NP); and soluble endothelial CD146 (sCD146), in patients with severe mitral valve stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) to identify potential markers of procedural success.

Methods

Biomarkers were tested in 40 patients the day before and the day after PMC. Success was defined as mitral valve area ≥ 1.5 cm2; or an increase of ≥0.5 cm2 in mitral valve area associated with echocardiographic mitral regurgitation <grade 3–4 post-PMC.

Results

Average age was 63.5 ± 12.7 years; 32(80%) were female. Before PMC, mean valve area was 1.1 ± 0.2 cm2, mean gradient 9.1 ± 3.5 mmHg. PMC was successful in 30 (75%) and unsuccessful in 10 (25%). PMC yielded a significant reduction in MR-proANP and sCD146, driven by a significant reduction in these biomarkers in patients with successful procedure, whereas no reduction was observed in patients with unsuccessful procedure. A significant correlation was found between changes in plasma sCD146 and the relative change in mitral valve area. Elevated pre-procedural sPAP correlated with high sCD146, and accordingly, a significant correlation between the decrease in sPAP and sCD146 after PMC was shown.

Conclusions

MR-proANP and plasma sCD146 decreased significantly immediately after successful PMC. They appear to be markers of immediate success of PMC and of the hemodynamic improvement achieved by this procedure in patients with MS.

Trial registration

This study is part of the cohorts registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on June 16, 2011 under the number NCT01374880.