bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Hyperactive Kunjin Virus NS3 Helicase Mutant Demonstrates Increased Dissemination and Mortality in Mosquitoes
Authors: Du Pont Kelly E. , Sexton Nicole R. , McCullagh Martin , Ebel Gregory D. , Geiss Brian J.
Published: July 2020

Kunjin and West Nile viruses belong to the arthropod-borne flaviviruses, which can result in severe symptoms, including encephalitis, meningitis, and death. Flaviviruses have expanded into new populations and emerged as novel pathogens repeatedly in recent years, demonstrating that they remain a global threat. Currently, there are no approved antiviral therapeutics against either Kunjin or West Nile viruses. Thus, there is a pressing need for understanding the pathogenesis of these viruses in humans. In this study, we investigated the role of the Kunjin virus helicase on infection in cell culture and
in vivo
. This work provides new insight into how flaviviruses control pathogenesis and mosquito transmission through the nonstructural protein 3 helicase.
Small cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a rare neuroendocrine tumour
Authors: Rajendran Theakarajan , Katta Bhavana , Shaikh Oseen Hajilal , Kumbhar Uday Shamrao
Published: July 2020

Primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the pancreas is a rare disease with poor prognosis. Very few cases have been reported in the literature. It is a type of poorly differentiated variety of neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas with specific immunohistochemical markers. Imaging is not diagnostic for disease, and diagnosis is mainly by biopsy. We report a rare case of SCC of the pancreas who presented with features of obstructive jaundice without any paraneoplastic features. The patient is planned for palliative chemotherapy because of metastasis and is under regular follow-up.
Diagnostic validity of optic nerve head colorimetric assessment and optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with glaucoma
Authors: Mendez-Hernandez Carmen , Wang Surina , Arribas-Pardo Paula , Salazar-Quiñones Liseth , Güemes-Villahoz Noemi , Fernandez-Perez Cristina , Garcia-Feijoo Julian
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the optic nerve head (ONH) and macular vessel density with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and the ONH haemoglobin (ONH Hb) amount with Laguna ONhE program in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients.

Methods

In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, 67 OAG patients and 41 healthy age-sex frequency matched subjects were examined with OCT-A and retinal photos. The circumpapillary (wcpVD), optic nerve head (iVD) and macular (wmVD) capillary vessel density of OCT-A and ONH colorimetric assessment to determine the ONH Hb amount using the Laguna ONhE program were evaluated.

Results

Significant differences between normal subjects and glaucoma patients in the wcpVD (22.18±3.42 vs 16.03±2.89%; p<0.001), iVD (18.31±5.56 vs 12.52±4.67%; p<0.001), wmVD (15.60±2.34 vs 13.34±2.32%; p<0.001) and amount of ONH Hb (71.10±1.67 vs 68.86±2.46%; p<0.001) and in the papillary cup (68.14±5.25 vs 64.77±5.08%; p=0.001) were found. The Laguna ONhE glaucoma discriminant function (GDF) index had a negative value in the OAG patients and normal values in healthy subjects (−18.76±13.31 vs 7.98±14.09; p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUROC) for discriminating between healthy and glaucomatous eyes was highest for wcpVD (0.93; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.97, p<0.0001), followed by GDF (0.92; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.97, p<0.0001), iVD (0.79; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.86; p<0.0001) and ONH Hb (0.78; 95% CI 0.69 to 0.85, p<0.0001). Pair wise comparisons showed that the AUROC of wcpVD (0.93) was not significantly different than GDF (0.92) (p=0.855).

Conclusion

Laguna ONhE program and OCT-A have similar diagnostic validity in open-angle glaucoma patients.
Cataract service redesign in the post-COVID-19 era
Authors: Lin Pei-Fen , Naveed Hasan , Eleftheriadou Maria , Purbrick Robert , Zarei Ghanavati Mehran , Liu Christopher
Published: July 2020

COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has impacted all aspects of clinical practice in the UK. Cataract services suffered severe disruption due to necessary measures taken to reduce elective surgery in order to release capacity to support intensive care requirements. Faced with a potential 50% increase in cataract surgery workload per week in the post-COVID-19 world, eye units should use this event to innovate, not just survive but to also evolve for a sustainable future. In this article, we discuss the inadequacies of existing service rationing options to tackle the COVID-19 cataract backlog. This includes limiting rationing based on visual acuity, limiting surgery to first or only seeing eyes, and postponing clinic and surgical dates according to referral dates. We propose units use the lockdown time to reset and develop a comprehensive patient-centred care pathway using principles of value-based healthcare: the cataract integrated practice units. Developing an agile surgical database that incorporates all aspects of patient need from education to follow-up in their individual cataract journey will allow units to react and plan quickly in the early phase of recovery and beyond. We also discuss the considerations units should bear in mind on telemedicine, modifications for face-to-face clinics, theatre organisation and options of expanding cataract throughput capacity. The pause in elective surgery due to the pandemic may have provided cataract services a rare opportunity to reset and transform cataract service pathways for the digital era.
Life expectancy: what does it measure?
Authors: Modig Karin , Rau Roland , Ahlbom Anders
Published: July 2020

Life expectancy (LE) is considered a straightforward summary measure of mortality that comes with an implicit age standardisation. Thus, it has become common to present differences in mortality across populations as differences in LE, instead of, say, relative risks. However, most of the time LE does not quite provide what the term promises. LE is based on a synthetic cohort and is therefore not the true LE of anyone. Also, the implicit age standardisation is construed in such a way that it can be questioned whether it standardises age at all. In this paper, we examine LE from the point of view of its applicability to epidemiological and public health research and provide examples on the relation between an LE difference and a relative risk. We argue that the age standardisation in estimations of LE is not straightforward since it is standardised against different age distributions and that the translation of changes in age specific mortality into change in remaining LE will depend on the level and the distribution of mortality in the population. We conclude that LE is not the measure of choice in aetiological research or in research with the aim to identify risk factors of death, but that LE may be a compelling choice in public health contexts. One cannot escape the thought that the mathematical elegance of LE has contributed to its popularity.
Randomised, cOntrolled Multicentre trial of 26 weeks subcutaneous liraglutide (a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor Agonist), with or without contiNuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obstructive sleep apnoEa (OSA) (ROMANCE): study protocol assessing the effects of weight loss on the apnea–hypnoea index (AHI)
Authors: Sprung Victoria S , Kemp Graham J , Wilding John PH , Adams Valerie , Murphy Kieran , Burgess Malcolm , Emegbo Stephen , Thomas Matthew , Needham Alexander J , Weimken Andrew , Schwab Richard J , Manuel Ari , Craig Sonya E , Cuthbertson Daniel J
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often occur concurrently, and untreated OSA may potentially amplify the high risk of cardiovascular disease in T2DM. Compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the conventional treatment for OSA, can be poor and considering weight loss is the most effective treatment for OSA. This trial examines whether the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide, a glucose-lowering therapy associated with significant weight loss used in T2DM, can improve the severity and symptoms of OSA.

Methods and analysis

This is an outpatient, single-centred, open-labelled, prospective, phase IV randomised controlled trial in a two-by-two factorial design. One hundred and thirty-two patients with newly diagnosed OSA (apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥15 events/hour), and existing obesity and T2DM (glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥47 mmol/mol), will be recruited from diabetes and sleep medicine outpatient clinics in primary and secondary care settings across Liverpool. Patients will be allocated equally, using computer-generated random, permuted blocks of unequal sizes, to each of the four treatment arms for 26 weeks: (i) liraglutide (1.8 mg once per day) alone, (ii) liraglutide 1.8 mg once per day with CPAP, (iii) CPAP alone (conventional care) or (iv) no treatment (control). The primary outcome measure is change in OSA severity, determined by AHI. Secondary outcome measures include effects on glycaemic control (glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)), body weight and quality of life measures. Exploratory measures include measures of physical activity, MRI-derived measures of regional body composition including fat mass (abdominal subcutaneous, visceral, neck and liver fat) and skeletal muscle mass (cross-sectional analysis of thigh), indices of cardiac function (using transthoracic echocardiography) and endothelial function.

Ethical approval

The study has been approved by the North West Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee (14/NW/1019) and it is being conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice.

Trial registration numbers

ISRCTN16250774. EUDRACT No. 2014-000988-41. UTN U1111-1139-0677.
Smartphone app for neonatal heart rate assessment: an observational study
Authors: Myrnerts Höök Susanna , Pejovic Nicolas J , Cavallin Francesco , Lubulwa Clare , Byamugisha Josaphat , Nankunda Jolly , Tylleskär Thorkild , Alfven Tobias
Published: July 2020

Background

Heart rate (HR) assessment is crucial in neonatal resuscitation, but pulse oximetry (PO) and electrocardiography (ECG) are rarely accessible in low-resource to middle-resource settings. This study evaluated a free-of-charge smartphone application, NeoTap, which records HR with a screen-tapping method bypassing mental arithmetic calculations.

Methods

This observational study was carried out during three time periods between May 2015 and January 2019 in Uganda in three phases. In phase 1, a metronome rate (n=180) was recorded by low-end users (midwives) using NeoTap. In phase 2, HR (n=69) in breathing neonates was recorded by high-end users (paediatricians) using NeoTap versus PO. In phase 3, HR (n=235) in non-breathing neonates was recorded by low-end users using NeoTap versus ECG.

Results

In high-end users the mean difference was 3 beats per minute (bpm) higher with NeoTap versus PO (95% agreement limits −14 to 19 bpm), with acquisition time of 5 seconds. In low-end users, the mean difference was 6 bpm lower with NeoTap versus metronome (95% agreement limits −26 to 14 bpm) and 3 bpm higher with NeoTap versus ECG in non-breathing neonates (95% agreement limits −48 to 53 bpm), with acquisition time of 2.7 seconds. The agreement between NeoTap and ECG was good in the HR categories of 60–99 bpm and ≥100 bpm; HR <60 bpm had few measurements (kappa index 0.71, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.79).

Conclusion

HR could be accurately and rapidly assessed using a smartphone application in breathing neonates in a low-resource setting. Clinical assessment by low-end users was less accurate with wider CI but still adds clinically important information in non-breathing neonates. The authors suggest low-end users may benefit from auscultation-focused training. More research is needed to evaluate its feasibility in clinical use.
State Earned Income Tax Credit policies and intimate partner homicide in the USA, 1990–2016
Authors: Moe Caitlin A , Adhia Avanti , Mooney Stephen J , Hill Heather D , Rivara Frederick P , Rowhani-Rahbar Ali
Published: July 2020

Economic insecurity is a risk factor for intimate partner homicide (IPH). The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest cash transfer programme to low-income working families in the USA. We hypothesised that EITCs could provide financial means for potential IPH victims to exit abusive relationships and establish self-sufficiency. We conducted a national, quasiexperimental study of state EITCs and IPH rates in 1990–2016 using a difference-in-differences approach. The national rate of IPH decreased from 1.9 per 100 000 adult women in 1990 to 1.3 per 100 000 in 2016. We found no statistically significant association between state EITC generosity and IPH rates (coefficient indicating change in IPH rates per 100 000 adult female years for additional 10% in amount of state EITC, measured as the percentage of federal EITC: 0.02, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.08). Financial control associated with abuse and current EITC eligibility rules may prevent potential IPH victims from accessing the EITC.
Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship of academic conferences: ethics of conflict of interest
Authors: Jayasinghe Saroj
Published: July 2020

Sponsorship of medical conferences by the pharmaceutical industry has led to many ethical issues, especially in resource-poor developing countries. The core issue in these instances is to reduce or avoid conflicts of interests (COIs). COI is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by secondary interests. Disruption of social trust should also be considered. This deontological approach should be complemented by a consequentialist approach. Towards this, the concept ofdistal interests (DI) is introduced. DI lies beyond the immediately visible COIs and the consequences of immediate decisions. They are ‘distal’ in time or place: ‘DI in time’ means consequence of the decision in future scenarios, while ‘DI in space’ means those that impinge on other institutions or bodies. In judging the consequences, it is also necessary to consider the reality of the existing relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and organisers of conferences. In more developed countries, these relationships are governed by stricter regulations, adherence to codes of conduct by both parties and stronger institutional oversights. In contrast, developing countries such as Sri Lanka the regulatory environment is lax and the demarcation of interests between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession is considerably blurred. Therefore, establishing clear rules of engagement between the stakeholders should be considered as an attempt to clear the muddy waters. The paper proposes a set of guidelines to capture these approaches.
Pre-hospital One-Hour Troponin in a Low-Prevalence Population of Acute Coronary Syndrome: OUT-ACS study
Authors: Johannessen Tonje R , Vallersnes Odd Martin , Halvorsen Sigrun , Larstorp Anne Cecilie K. , Mdala Ibrahimu , Atar Dan
Published: July 2020

Objective

The European Society of Cardiology 0/1-hour algorithm for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) has demonstrated high rule-out safety in large hospital validation cohorts. We aimed to validate the algorithm in a primary care setting, where patients have a lower pretest probability for acute coronary syndrome.

Methods

This prospective, observational, diagnostic study included patients with acute non-specific chest pain admitted to a primary care emergency clinic in Oslo, Norway, from November 2016 to October 2018. hs-cTnT was measured after 0, 1 and 4 hours. The primary outcome measure was the diagnostic performance of the 0/1-hour algorithm, the 90-day incidence of AMI or all-cause death the secondary.

Results

Among 1711 included patients, 61 (3.6%) were diagnosed with AMI. By applying the algorithm, 1311 (76.6%) patients were assigned to the rule-out group. The negative predictive value was 99.9% (95% CI 99.5% to 100.0%), the sensitivity and specificity 98.4% (91.2–100.0) and 79.4% (77.4–81.3), respectively. Sixty-six (3.9%) patients were triaged towards rule-in, where 45 were diagnosed with AMI. The corresponding positive predictive value was 68.2% (58.3–76.7), sensitivity 73.8% (60.9–84.2), and specificity 98.7% (98.1–99.2). Among 334 (19.5%) patients assigned to the observation group in need of further tests, 15 patients had an AMI. The following 90 days, five new patients experienced an AMI and nine patients died, with a low incidence in the rule-out group (0.3%).

Conclusion

The 0/1-hour algorithm for hs-cTnT seems safe, efficient and applicable for an accelerated assessment of patients with non-specific chest pain in a primary care emergency setting.

Trial registration number

NCT02983123.
Trends in hepatitis C virus seroprevalence and associated risk factors among men who have sex with men in Montréal: results from three cross-sectional studies (2005, 2009, 2018)
Authors: Lanièce Delaunay Charlotte , Cox Joseph , Klein Marina , Lambert Gilles , Grace Daniel , Lachowsky Nathan John , Maheu-Giroux Mathieu
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To eliminate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, Canada must adopt a microelimination approach targeting priority populations, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Accurately describing HCV prevalence and risk factors locally is essential to design appropriate prevention and treatment interventions. We aimed to estimate temporal trends in HCV seroprevalence between 2005 and 2018 among Montréal MSM, and to identify socioeconomic, behavioural and biological factors associated with HCV exposure among this population.

Methods

We used data from three cross-sectional surveys conducted among Montréal MSM in 2005 (n=1795), 2009 (n=1258) and 2018 (n=1086). To ensure comparability of seroprevalence estimates across time, we standardised the 2005 and 2009 time-location samples to the 2018 respondent-driven sample. Time trends overall and stratified by HIV status, history of injection drug use (IDU) and age were examined. Modified Poisson regression analyses with generalised estimating equations were used to identify factors associated with HCV seropositivity pooling all surveys.

Results

Standardised HCV seroprevalence among all MSM remained stable from 7% (95% CI 3% to 10%) in 2005, to 8% (95% CI 1% to 9%) in 2009 and 8% (95% CI 4% to 11%) in 2018. This apparent stability hides diverging temporal trends in seroprevalence between age groups, with a decrease among MSM <30 years old and an increase among MSM aged ≥45 years old. Lifetime IDU was the strongest predictor of HCV seropositivity, and no association was found between HCV seroprevalence and sexual risk factors studied (condomless anal sex with men of serodiscordant/unknown HIV status, number of sexual partners, group sex).

Conclusions

HCV seroprevalence remained stable among Montréal MSM between 2005 and 2018. Unlike other settings where HCV infection was strongly associated with sexual risk factors among MSM, IDU was the pre-eminent risk factor for HCV seropositivity. Understanding the intersection of IDU contexts, practices and populations is essential to prevent HCV transmission among MSM.
Local sales restrictions significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco: findings from four Minnesota cities
Authors: D'Silva Joanne , Moze Joanne , Kingsbury John H. , Lien Rebecca K , Matter Christine M , Brock Betsy , Akom Antwi
Published: July 2020

Background

In 2017 and 2018, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Falcon Heights, Minnesota were among the first US cities to restrict the sale of menthol tobacco to adult-only stores. The study examined changes in the availability and marketing of these products following policy implementation.

Methods

Retail store audits were conducted approximately 2 months pre-policy and post-policy implementation. Tobacco retail stores (n=299) were sampled from tobacco licensing lists in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Falcon Heights, as well as six comparison cities without menthol policies. The presence of menthol tobacco was assessed, along with the number of interior and exterior tobacco ads and promotions at each store.

Results

The majority of policy intervention stores (grocery, convenience stores and pharmacies) were compliant (Minneapolis, 84.4%; Duluth, 97.5%; and St. Paul and Falcon Heights, 100.0%) and did not sell menthol tobacco. In contrast, menthol tobacco was available in all comparison city stores, and most (96.0%) exempted tobacco shops and liquor stores post-policy implementation. Two Minneapolis convenience stores added interior tobacco shops, allowing them to continue selling menthol tobacco. Significant decreases in menthol tobacco marketing post-policy were observed in the stores’ interior in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth (p<0.001) and on the stores’ exterior in Duluth (p=0.023).

Conclusions

Findings demonstrate high rates of compliance, indicating that sales restrictions can significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco. However, challenges to policy adherence underscore the need for continued monitoring and enforcement action.
Hybrid fuzzy system dynamics model for analyzing the impacts of interrelated risk and opportunity events on project contingency
Authors: Siraj Nasir B. , Fayek Aminah Robinson
Published: July 2020

Traditional risk analysis techniques are ineffective for capturing the dynamic causal interactions and subjective uncertainties involved in assessing risk and opportunity events since they treat risks independently and rely on the availability of sufficient historical data. In this paper, a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics (FSD) model is developed to analyze the impacts of interrelated and interacting risk and opportunity events on work package cost to determine work package and project contingencies using expert judgement and subjective assessment. A fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is employed to structure and analyze the causal interactions among risk and opportunity events. This paper provides the following contributions: (1) a systematic risk assessment and prioritization procedure; (2) a structured method for defining the dynamic causal relationships among risk and opportunity events and quantifying their impact on work package and project contingencies using FSD; and (3) a method for representing linguistic variables and applying fuzzy arithmetic in FSD.
Multiscale Fractional Cumulative Residual Entropy of Higher-Order Moments for Estimating Uncertainty
Authors: Dong Keqiang , Zhang Xiaofang
Published: July 2020

The fractional cumulative residual entropy is not only a powerful tool for the analysis of complex system, but also a promising way to analyze time series. In this paper, we present an approach to measure the uncertainty of non-stationary time series named higher-order multiscale fractional cumulative residual entropy. We describe how fractional cumulative residual entropy may be calculated based on second-order, third-order, fourth-order statistical moments and multiscale method. The implementation of higher-order multiscale fractional cumulative residual entropy is illustrated with simulated time series generated by uniform distribution on [0, 1]. Finally, we present the application of higher-order multiscale fractional cumulative residual entropy in logistic map time series and stock markets time series, respectively.
THE CHALLENGES OF STRATEGIC INNOVATION: ACHIEVING OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: TEGETHOFF THOMAS , SANTA RICARDO , SCHLUEP ISABELLE , FERNANDO MORANTE DIEGO , CRUZ MARTHA LUCIA
Published: July 2020

Organisations are spending substantial resources on implementing product and process innovations. It is, therefore, important to evaluate if the implementation of those innovations substantially improves the effectiveness of business operations, meets the organisation’s expectations, and gains a sustainable competitive advantage.

Quantitative data from 250 questionnaires were analysed using structural equation modelling. Respondents were selected from several industries in Colombia. Initial findings suggest that strategies have an indirect impact on operational effectiveness through the success of the organisational learning process. However, the organisations investigated lack the appropriate application of linkages and process innovation to achieve operational effectiveness and, therefore, sustainable competitiveness.

The paper offers useful insights for organisations when implementing innovation initiatives. It also provides information for Colombian Government institutions on developing mechanisms, economic policy strategies, and business support services for enhancing the economic and commercial viability of Colombian companies in the manufacturing and service sectors. The studied organisations need to redefine the role of linkages and process innovation to complement organisational learning, as all the three dimensions together are required to foster operational effectiveness.
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation in a rabbit model of obstructive sleep apnea reduces apneas and improves oxygenation
Authors: Schiefer Matthew , Gamble Jenniffer , Baskin Jonathan , Strohl Kingman
Published: July 2020

This report describes a rabbit model for testing the impact of hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) on obstructive apneas. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is induced by injecting hyaluronic acid (as a filler) into the base of the tongue. HNS reduced the length and rate of obstructions and improved oxygenation during sleep. Our efforts with this model advanced understanding of the complexities of this OSA preclinical model for neurostimulation reversal of sleep-disordered breathing.
Mutations in the BRAF, NRAS, and C‐KIT Genes of Patients Diagnosed with Melanoma in Colombia Population
Authors: Gutiérrez-Castañeda Luz D. , Gamboa Mauricio , Nova John A. , Pulido Leonardo , Tovar-Parra Jose D.
Published: July 2020

Introduction. Mutations in the BRAF, NRAS, and C‐KIT genes have been associated with the histopathological characteristics of melanoma. Likewise, the incidence of each of these subtypes changes according to the geographical origin of the population analyzed. Objective. To determine the mutation frequency in exons 11 and 15 of the BRAF gene, exons 1 and 2 of the NRAS gene, and exons 11, 13, and 17 of the C‐KIT gene and to relate it with histological subtypes in patients from a region with high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Methodology. The clinicopathological characteristics of 54 cutaneous melanoma samples were analyzed. Mutation analysis was performed via qPCR on paraffin‐embedded tumor tissue samples using probes specific for the V600E mutation. Amplification of exons 11 and 15 of the BRAF gene, exons 1 and 2 of the NRAS gene, and exons 11, 13, and 17 of the C‐KIT gene was performed for subsequent sequencing using the Sanger method. Result. The most frequent histological subtype in the analyzed sample was lentigo maligna/lentigo maligna melanoma (52%) followed by acral lentiginous melanoma (20%). The BRAF‐V600 variant was the most frequent (63.6%). The most frequent (54%) mutation in NRAS was p.Lys5∗. In the C‐KIT gene, only the Val560Ala mutation was found. Conclusion. Differences in histological subtypes and mutations in the BRAF, NRAS, and C‐KIT genes were found in the analyzed population. This indicates that environmental and genetic factors significantly influence the introduction of the disease in this geographic region.
Effect of Contextual Interference in the Practicing of a Computer Task in Individuals Poststroke
Authors: Moliterno Alice Haniuda , Bezerra Fernanda Vieira , Pires Louanne Angélica , Roncolato Sarah Santos , da Silva Talita Dias , Massetti Thais , Fernani Deborah Cristina Gonçalves Luiz , Magalhães Fernando Henrique , de Mello Monteiro Carlos Bandeira , Dantas Maria Tereza Artero Prado
Published: July 2020

Objectives. Sensory and motor alterations resulting from stroke often impair the performance and learning of motor skills. The present study is aimed at investigating whether and how poststroke individuals and age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls benefit from a contextual interference effect on the practice of a maze task (i.e., constant vs. random practice) performed on the computer. Methods. Participants included 21 poststroke individuals and 21 healthy controls, matched by sex and age (30 to 80 years). Both groups were divided according to the type of the practice (constant or random) presented in the acquisition phase of the learning protocol. For comparison between the groups, types of practice, and blocks of attempts, the analysis of variance with Tukey’s post hoc test (p < 0.05) was used. Results. Poststroke individuals presented longer movement times as compared with the control group. In addition, only poststroke individuals who performed the task with random practice showed improved performance at the transfer phase. Moreover, randomized practice enabled poststroke individuals to perform the transfer task similarly to individuals without any neurological impairment. Conclusion. The present findings indicated a significant effect of contextual interference of practice in poststroke individuals, suggesting that applying randomized training must be considered when designing rehabilitation protocols for this population.
Wenyang Jieyu Decoction Alleviates Depressive Behavior in the Rat Model of Depression via Regulation of the Intestinal Microbiota
Authors: Feng Zhenyu , Ma Xiaojuan , Meng Shuang , Wang Hongjuan , Zhou Xiaorong , Shi Min , Zhao Jie
Published: July 2020

Background. Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and treatment of depression. This study investigated whether Wenyang Jieyu decoction (WYJYD) alleviates depressive behavior in the rat model via regulation of the intestinal microbiota. Methods. Rat model of depression was established by stress stimulus. SD male rats were randomly allocated into normal control, model, model + low‐dose WYJYD (1.89 g/kg/d), model + medium‐dose WYJYD (3.08 g/kg/d), model + high‐dose WYJYD (7.56 g/kg/d), and model + fluoxetine (3.33 mg/kg/d) groups. Behavioral changes were observed using forced swim test. Histopathological changes in hippocampal tissue were examined by HE staining. Indicators in serum were detected by ELISA. Indicators in hippocampal tissue were detected by qPCR and western blot. Microbiota distribution in feces was detected using high‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results. Compared with the model group, the immobility time in WYJYD and fluoxetine groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the cell structure was significantly improved. Compared with the model group, the 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and norepinephrine (NE) levels in medium‐ and high‐dose WYJYD groups and the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the high‐dose WYJYD group were significantly increased (P < 0.05, all), and the fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF2), forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1), and phospho‐protein kinase B/protein kinase B (p‐AKT/AKT) expressions were increased with WYJYD treatments. The Chao1 and ACE indices in high‐dose WYJYD and the Simpson and Shannon indices in medium‐dose WYJYD were significantly different than the model group. The similarity of the intestinal microbial community of each group after WYJYD treatment tended to be closer to the control group. Compared with the model group, as the dosage of WYJYD increased, the abundance of genera Coprococcus, Lachnospira, and rc4-4 was significantly increased, while the abundance of genera Desulfovibrio, Burkholderia, and Enterococcus was significantly decreased. Conclusion. WYJYD may alleviate the depressive behavior of the rat model by regulating the intestinal microbiota and neurotransmitters.
Research on Mandatory Lane-Changing Behavior in Highway Weaving Sections
Authors: Hao Wei , Zhang Zhaolei , Gao Zhibo , Yi Kefu , Liu Li , Wang Jie
Published: July 2020

As the accident-prone sections and bottlenecks, highway weaving sections will become more complicated when it comes to the mixed-traffic environments with connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and human-driven vehicles (HVs). In order to make CAVs accurately identify the driving behavior of manual-human vehicles to avoid traffic accidents caused by lane changing, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of the mandatory lane-changing (MCL) process in the weaving area. An analytical MCL method based on the driver’s psychological characteristics is proposed in this study. Firstly, the driver’s MLC pressure concept was proposed by leading in the distance of the off-ramp. Then, the lane-changing intention was quantified by considering the driver’s MLC pressure and tendentiousness. Finally, based on the lane-changing intention and the headway distribution of the target lane, an MLC positions probability density model was proposed to describe the distribution characteristics of the lane-changing position. Through the NGSIM data verification, the lane-changing analysis models can objectively describe the vehicle lane-changing characteristics in the actual scenarios. Compared with the traditional lane-changing model, the proposed models are more interpretable and in line with the driving intention. The results show significant improvements in the lane-changing safe recognition of CAVs in heterogeneous traffic flow (both CAVs and HVs) in the future.
Smoking Intensity and Associated Factors among Male Smokers in Ethiopia: Further Analysis of 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Handebo Simegnew , Birara Setognal , Kassie Ayenew , Nigusie Adane , Aleminew Wallelign
Published: July 2020

Background. Smoking invariably has health, social, economic, and environmental consequences in Ethiopia. Reducing and quitting cigarette smoking improves individual health and increases available household funds for food, education, and better economic productivity. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing cigarette smoking intensity and associated factors among male smokers in Ethiopia. Methods. The data were extracted from the 2016 national cross‐sectional Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. Our study used data from the standardized and adapted men’s questionnaire. The study included a total of 391 (weighted) smokers who at least smoked one manufactured cigarette per day. The data were collected using a two‐stage cluster design which includes selection of enumeration areas and then selection of households. The number of manufactured cigarettes smokers smoked per day was used to measure smoking intensity. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the study findings. Bivariable and multivariable truncated negative binomial Poisson regression models were employed to determine smoking intensity. Results. The finding showed that on average men smoked weighted nine cigarettes per day. One in every five of the smokers (21.2%) smoked 10 cigarettes per day. Smokers living in rural areas (IRR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.244, 0.756), currently married (IRR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.91), formerly married (IRR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.96), richer men (IRR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.90), and richest men (IRR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.87) were associated with lower smoking intensity. Smokers in the Somali (IRR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.29, 6.11), Harari (IRR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.14, 10.51), and Dire Dawa (IRR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.23, 7.80) regions; older age (IRR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.40); affiliated with Protestant religion (IRR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.92); poorer men (IRR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.27); watched television (IRR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.35); drunk alcohol (IRR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.82); and completed primary (IRR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01, 0.317) and higher education (IRR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.88, 4.67) were positively associated with smoking intensity. Conclusion. Male smokers in Ethiopia smoked intensively with an average of nine manufactured cigarettes per day. Tobacco control interventions should target the following: Eastern Ethiopia regions, older aged, affiliated with Protestant religion, poorer men, watched television, drunk alcohol, and primary and higher educational level.
Elevated miRNA Inversely Correlates with E-cadherin Gene Expression in Tissue Biopsies from Crohn Disease Patients in contrast to Ulcerative Colitis Patients
Authors: Guz Małgorzata , Dworzański Tomasz , Jeleniewicz Witold , Cybulski Marek , Kozicka Joanna , Stepulak Andrzej , Celiński Krzysztof
Published: July 2020

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). Similar symptoms, but different treatment procedures for both diseases require precise diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major posttranscriptional players that regulate the expression of genes during the inflammation and thus could be appropriate biomarkers for differentiation between UC and CD. For this purpose, we analyzed the expression of miR-21-3p, miR-31-3p, miR-125b-1-3p, miR-146a-3p, miR-155-5p, and E-cadherin (CDH1) genes associated with IBD, in 67 tissue samples: 28 inflamed mucosa samples (n = 16 UC, n = 12 CD), 28 adjacent normal colonic mucosa (n = 16 UC, n = 12 CD), and 11 normal mucosa from healthy patients using reverse transcription real‐time RT‐PCR. We found all analyzed miRNAs were significantly overexpressed in UC tissue as compared to adjacent normal tissue of patients with UC, as well as to normal mucosa from healthy controls. Four miRNAs (except miR-125b-1-3p) were significantly upregulated in CD lesions as compared to adjacent normal tissue of patients with CD, and four miRNAs, except miR-146a-3p, were significantly higher in CD samples compared to normal mucosa from healthy individuals. In the CD group, we found an inverse correlation between miR-155-5p or miR-146a-3p expressions and CDH1expression in inflamed mucosa. This type of correlation was also detected for miR-213p in adjacent normal tissue and CDH1 in inflamed mucosa, as well as between miR-155-5p and CDH1 in adjacent normal tissue. Elevated miRNA expression is characteristic for IBD‐mediated inflammation process and inversely correlated with CDH1 gene expression, which suggest involvement of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in IBD development.
Development of Stacked Long Short-Term Memory Neural Networks with Numerical Solutions for Wind Velocity Predictions
Authors: Wei Chih-Chiang
Published: July 2020

Taiwan, being located on a path in the west Pacific Ocean where typhoons often strike, is often affected by typhoons. The accompanying strong winds and torrential rains make typhoons particularly damaging in Taiwan. Therefore, we aimed to establish an accurate wind speed prediction model for future typhoons, allowing for better preparation to mitigate a typhoon’s toll on life and property. For more accurate wind speed predictions during a typhoon episode, we used cutting-edge machine learning techniques to construct a wind speed prediction model. To ensure model accuracy, we used, as variable input, simulated values from the Weather Research and Forecasting model of the numerical weather prediction system in addition to adopting deeper neural networks that can deepen neural network structures in the construction of estimation models. Our deeper neural networks comprise multilayer perceptron (MLP), deep recurrent neural networks (DRNNs), and stacked long short-term memory (LSTM). These three model-structure types differ by their memory capacity: MLPs are model networks with no memory capacity, whereas DRNNs and stacked LSTM are model networks with memory capacity. A model structure with memory capacity can analyze time-series data and continue memorizing and learning along the time axis. The study area is northeastern Taiwan. Results showed that MLP, DRNN, and stacked LSTM prediction error rates increased with prediction time (1–6 hours). Comparing the three models revealed that model networks with memory capacity (DRNN and stacked LSTM) were more accurate than those without memory capacity. A further comparison of model networks with memory capacity revealed that stacked LSTM yielded slightly more accurate results than did DRNN. Additionally, we determined that in the construction of the wind speed prediction model, the use of numerically simulated values reduced the error rate approximately by 30%. These results indicate that the inclusion of numerically simulated values in wind speed prediction models enhanced their prediction accuracy.
Poverty of Energy and Its Impact on Living Standards in Ethiopia
Authors: Getie Elias Mandefro
Published: July 2020

Energy is the backbone of the economic development of a country. Ethiopia has bulk energy resource potential, and the effect of energy poverty on well-being, physical health, agriculture automation, education system, industries, and ability to prosper is valuable. A large proportion of the population living in Ethiopia has no electricity access. Among more than 110 million people living in Ethiopia, 46% only use electric energy for day-to-day activities like food preparation and other tasks. In the rural area of the country, where 80% of the population lives, people have no sustainable energy supply. The rural electrification needs special mechanisms to enhance the living standards of the people by opening opportunities for electric power infrastructures. The sustainable development of the country will be achieved when citizens are enabled to live up to the standard of living as humans. This paper investigates energy poverty in Ethiopia and its impact on the living standards of the people, like human resource development, health of individuals, and automation of agriculture, for the purpose of upgrading individual’s lifestyle in the country.
Robust Adaptive Fractional Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Controller for Microgyroscope
Authors: Fei Juntao , Wang Zhe , Liang Xiao
Published: July 2020

In this paper, a robust adaptive fractional fast terminal sliding mode controller is introduced into the microgyroscope for accurate trajectory tracking control. A new fast terminal switching manifold is defined to ensure fast finite convergence of the system states, where a fractional-order differentiation term emerges into terminal sliding surface, which additionally generates an extra degree of freedom and leads to better performance. Adaptive algorithm is applied to estimate the damping and stiffness coefficients, angular velocity, and the upper bound of the lumped nonlinearities. Numerical simulations are presented to exhibit the validity of the proposed method, and the comparison with the other two methods illustrates its superiority.
Provenance Transmission through a Two-Dimensional Covert Timing Channel in WSNs
Authors: Xu Qinbao , Liu Li , Akhtar Rizwan , Raja Muhammad Asif Zahoor , Wang Changda
Published: July 2020

Provenances, which record the history of data acquisition and transmission, are hard to be transmitted in resource-tightened wireless sensor networks (WSNs) due to their drastic size expansion with the increase in packet transmission hops. To ease the burden caused by the provenance transmission, we first designed a two-dimensional covert timing channel (2dCTC) and then applied it to provenances transmission in WSNs. Based on Cantor Expansion, 2dCTC uses pseudo packet IDs permutation and packet sizes variation together to form a two-dimensional communication medium. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results show that 2dCTC not only has a much higher channel capacity than those of most of the known CTCs, but also conserves more energy for provenance transmission in WSNs. Furthermore, 2dCTC provides a new way to increase CTCs channel capacity and stealthiness through multi-dimensional approaches.
Model Experimental Study of Carbon Fiber Heating Wire for Deicing and Snow Melting on a Bridge Deck
Authors: Tan Yan , Zhu Yuntao , Xiao Henglin
Published: July 2020

In order to use the carbon fiber heating wire more efficiently and safely, the influence of the built‐in carbon fiber heating wires (CFHWs) on the temperature changes of the bridge deck is studied in this paper. The model experiments of the temperature rise and ice melting are carried out in a room with low temperature cold storage environment, and the temperature variation of the specimens under different ambient temperatures, namely, −2, −4, and −8°C, was measured. The results show that, in the temperature rise experiment, the temperature change rate of the measuring points of the surface layer in the central part above CFHW is the most obvious, with the temperature change rate of 2.123°C/h; owing to the limited radiation range of CFHW, the temperature change rate of the measuring points between the CFHW and the CFHW of the surface layer decreases significantly, with a value of 0.703°C/h, and the temperature of the measuring points of the heating layer where CFHW is located shows a nearly linear increase, with a temperature change rate of 1.313°C/h. The temperature of the bridge deck is basically above 0°C as most of the heat generated by CFHW is transferred to the bridge deck after heating, which can effectively prevent the bridge deck from freezing. In the ice melting experiment, the temperature change rate of the measuring points of the surface layer in the central part above the CFHW is 1.406°C/h, and the maximum temperature change rate of the measuring points between the CFHW and CFHW of the surface layer is 0.408°C/h. The overall ice melting condition on the specimen surface is appreciable. When the heating power is set to 190 W/m2, the influence of the ambient temperature on the measuring points of the surface layer is negligible, but the influence of the ice melting rate at different positions from the heating wire is obvious. Therefore, it can be seen that optimizing the layout of the CFHW can effectively improve the whole uniformity and efficiency of ice melting of the bridge deck. The results from relevant research can provide a reference for the design and operation of deicing and snow melting applications on a bridge deck.
Robust Spectrum Sensing via Double-Sided Neighbor Distance Based on Genetic Algorithm in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Gul Noor , Khan Muhammad Sajjad , Kim Junsu , Kim Su Min
Published: July 2020

In cognitive radio networks (CRNs), secondary users (SUs) can access vacant spectrum licensed to a primary user (PU). Therefore, accurate and timely spectrum sensing is vital for efficient utilization of available spectrum. The sensing result at each SU is unauthentic due to fading, shadowing, and receiver uncertainty problems. Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) provides a solution to these problems. In CSS, false sensing reports at the fusion center (FC) received from malicious users (MUs) drastically degrade the performance of cooperation in PU detection. In this paper, we propose a robust spectrum sensing scheme to minimize the effects of false sensing reports by MUs. The proposed scheme focuses on double-sided neighbor distance (DSND) based on genetic algorithm (GA) in order to filter out the MU sensing reports in CSS. The simulation results show that the sensing results are more accurate and reliable for the proposed GA majority-voting hard decision fusion (GAMV-HDF) and GA weighted soft decision fusion (GAW-SDF) compared to conventional equal gain combination soft decision fusion (EGC-SDF), maximum gain combination soft decision fusion (MGC-SDF), and majority-voting hard decision fusion (MV-HDF) schemes in the presence of MUs.