bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Omnidirectional Movement Screw Blade of An Unmanned Mini Tiller
Authors: Cahyono Sukmaji , Prasetyo Ari
Published: April 2020

Rotary tiller commonly used effectively to process the soil before planting in a terrain area. The design of the blade in rotary tiller was a significant factor in achieving soil breakup and more efficient inversion evenmore soil-fertilizer mixing. The blades design for an unmanned tiller with omnidirectional movement was required intensive research. A prototype unmanned tiller was manufactured, and it has four screw wheel blade that required optimal design and high accuracy movement for soil processing application.  In the present research, the design of the screw blade is investigated by mathematical and simulation method. The model was reverse engineering from commercial blades become screw-like blade wheel design. The calculation of the screw wheel design performance uses a mathematical approach identical to that of a screw conveyor and also it is supported by simulations to find the critical point of the structure and maximum defection in the screw wheel structure. Meanwhile, to study the lift-motion and moving of soil particles, simulations were carried out with variations in the depth of the screw blades on the ground surface, namely 20%, 40% and 50%. From the calculation result, the optimal rotational speed and power are found at the intersection point the percentage of soil depth and vortek efficiency, they are 350 rpm at 1.5 kW power.
Trend Models for Analysis of Socio-Economic Security
Authors: Shvaiba D. N.
Published: April 2020

Correctness of the trend selection for predicting characteristics of socio-economic security statistics can be qualified with the help of a mean square error value and an aspect of “Ascending” and “Descending” series (although there are other aspects, for example, the aspects based on the median of a sample). According to the proposed model, it is possible to predetermine average monitoring errors for development of lower and upper limits of the forecast version in respect of values for characteristics of socio-economic security statistics. Model creation is a labor-intensive process, so that when predicting  characteristics of socio-economic security statistics, it is advisable to use, as a rule, a deterministic component of trend models. At the same time, an assumption about random nature of deviations in empirical values of time series from a trend for 5 %  significance  value is not  rejected.  Study of  the material allows us to admit that it is impossible  to  note exact cycles in time series of values for characteristics of  socio-economic  security  statistics.  However,  this does not represent a basis for the conclusion about presence of cycles in time series of values for characteristics of socio-economic security statistics because these cycles do not coincide in time, there is no clear priority in exceedance of actual values for characteristics of socio-economic security statistics over the calculated ones obtained with the help of models, or, on the contrary, exceedance of the calculated values over the actual ones. Various approaches can be used to calculate a magnitude of the forecast error. Thus, a question pertaining to selection of trend models for an analysis of socio-economic security is natural due to difference in reliability of data when using different models, and correctness of the selection will improve an efficiency of the analysis. So the study acquires practical significance for economic entities and entire industries
Innovative Models of Enterprise Marketing Activity
Authors: Volodko V. F.
Published: April 2020

The papers considers the following six innovative models of marketing activity: event marketing, brand immersion, geolocation internet-marketing, lead generation internet-marketing,   single commodity distribution and trade-service network, van selling. Even marketing is a systematic execution of events used as a platform for presentation of products while attracting attention of potential consumers and exerting emotional impact on them. The model is directed on four targeted objects: consu-mers, partners, market and own personnel. Brand immersion is the involvement of consumers in emotional perception and expe-rience  of  brand. Geolocation  internet-marketing  is  data  penetration  (location)  of  a large  circle  of  consumers  via the Internet on a wide geographic site. Lead generation internet-marketing is attraction (generation) of potential consumers (leads) via the Internet. Single commodity distribution and trade-service network is an aggregate of firms or individuals which and who take over or help to transfer ownership of a particular product or service to someone else on their way from a manufacturer to a consumer as well as providing trade and service services. Links of the commodity distribution network are: manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, dealers, brokers, agents, consignees, retailers, service and repair companies. Van selling is wholesale trade with prompt delivery of goods to consumers and placing orders on the spot (sale from wheels). The essence of each model has been revealed and their values and advantages in commercial activity have been considered in the paper.  It has been shown that an introduction of innovations is hindered by various factors: stereotypes of thinking, organizational difficulties, additional material costs, possible lack of direct economic benefits for some participants in the trade. All this makes it difficult to create and implement innovations in trade practice including the use of computer technologies in trade, for example,  in the field of public procurement. The paper proposes methods for eliminating these obstacles.
A New Cipher Based on Feistel Structure and Chaotic Maps
Authors: Et al. Al-Bahrani
Published: April 2020

Chaotic systems have been proved to be useful and effective for cryptography. Through this work, a new Feistel cipher depend upon chaos systems and Feistel network structure with dynamic secret key size according to the message size have been proposed. Compared with the classical traditional ciphers like Feistel-based structure ciphers, Data Encryption Standards (DES), is the common example of Feistel-based ciphers, the process of confusion and diffusion, will contains the dynamical permutation choice boxes, dynamical substitution choice boxes, which will be generated once and hence, considered static,

            While using chaotic maps, in the suggested system, called Chaotic-based Proposed Feistel Cipher System (CPFCS), we made the confusion and diffusion in dynamical behavior based on Standard and Lorenz maps. The first is used for substitution, and the second one for permutation operations .A proposed cryptographic system uses the same work (the same way) for both enciphering and deciphering. The proposed cipher operates on more than 500 bytes (4000-bit) readable text blocks by six round computing. Within the basic operator of the cipher, i.e., in the function of the round F, a dynamical lookup table 2D standard map system is used to enhance the complexity and diffusion of the unreadable text. Also, a 3D Logistic map used for key sequence generator and chaos based dynamical Initial Permutation (dynamical IP) are used to increase the diffusion and confusion. Three different image sizes and three different text length were implemented in CPFCS.  The results of the proposed system and security tests improve the applicability of PFCS in the data protection and security.
Uso de indicadores causa-efecto para el diagnóstico de la sostenibilidad hídrica en las Islas Baleares (España)
Authors: Navarro Sousa Sergio , Estruch-Guitart Vicente , Garcia Celso
Published: April 2020

En las Islas Baleares, la expansión del turismo y el crecimiento urbanístico ha supuesto una transformación de los usos del agua incrementando las extracciones y las dotaciones medias urbanas. Este estudio pretende establecer en su Demarcación Hidrográfica un diagnóstico comparativo del uso del recurso con la sostenibilidad en el manejo. Para el análisis, se aplican un conjunto de indicadores causa-efecto siguiendo el marco de referencia Fuerzas Motrices-Presiones-Estado-Impactos-Respuestas (FPEIR). Una de las limitaciones detectadas es la dificultad en la recogida de datos dado el gran número de sistemas de explotación de aguas continentales de la Demarcación. Los resultados socioeconómicos evaluados indican la gran apuesta por una economía del sector servicios, que ha supuesto un aumento demográfico litoral y el abandono progresivo del sector agrícola. En todas las islas, aunque a niveles porcentuales distintos, se ha detectado sobreexplotación, salinización y contaminación de algunas de sus masas de agua. El actual modelo de desarrollo, para evitar riesgos sobre el recurso y garantizar la autonomía y seguridad en el abastecimiento, requiere adaptaciones medioplacistas desde un planteamiento de avance hacia la integración y la moderación en el crecimiento cumpliendo con los objetivos medioambientales propuestos por la Directiva Marco del Agua (DMA) en los plazos previstos.
Puccinia triticina pathotypes THTT and THTS display complex transcript profiles on wheat cultivar Thatcher
Authors: Wei jie , Cui Liping , Zhang na , Du dongdong , Meng qingfang , Yan hongfei , Yang wenxiang
Published: April 2020

Background: Wheat leaf rust is an important disease worldwide. Understanding the pathogenic molecular mechanism of Puccinia triticina Eriks . ( Pt ) and the inconstant toxic region is critical for managing the disease. The present study aimed to analyze the pathogenic divergence between Pt isolates.
Results: Total RNA was extracted from the wheat cultivar Thatcher infected by two Pt isolates, Tc361_1 (THTT) and Tc284_2 (THTS), at 144 hours post inoculation (hpi). The mRNA was then sequenced, and a total of 2,784 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. Forty-five genes were specifically expressed in THTT; these genes included transcription initiation factors and genes with transmembrane transporter activity and other genes. Twenty-six genes were specifically expressed in THTS, including genes with GTPase activity, ABC transporters and other genes. Fifty-four differentially expressed candidate effectors were screened from the two isolates. Two candidate effectors were chosen and validated on tobacco, and the results showed that they could inhibit necrosis induced by BAX. qRT-PCR of 12 significant DEGs was carried out to validate that the results are similar to those of RNA-seq at 144 hpi, to show the expression levels of these DEGs in the early stage and to elucidate the differences in expression between the two Pt pathotypes.
Conclusion: The results obtained in this study showed that although the two pathotypes of THTT and THTS contribute similar virulence to wheat, there are a large number of genes participate in the interaction with the susceptible wheat cultivar Thatcher, and revealed the pathogenicity of rust is very complicated.
Exploring Pathways to Hospital Care for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Rural South Western Uganda
Authors: Kakongi Nathan , Rukundo Godfrey Zari , Galaye Bizu , Wakida Edith K. , Obua Celestino , Okello Elialilia S.
Published: April 2020

Background: In order to analyze use of health services and identify sources of delays in accessing the right care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), understanding of care seeking pathways is needed. The objectives of this study were: (i) to explore pathways to hospital care for patients with AD/ADRD and (ii) to describe challenges experienced by the patients and their families while seeking health care.
Methods: Using purposive sampling, 30-in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted among caregivers of elderly patients diagnosed with dementia from rural Southwestern, Uganda. Data was analyzed using ATLAS.Ti software.
Results: There was variability in pathways to care from individual to individual. There was one broader theme captured: points of care choice with four broader categories: hospitals, clinics, places of religious worship and traditional healers’ shrines, each with its facilitating factors, outcomes and challenges encountered. Most of the respondents reported use of hospitals at first and second visit to the health care point but places of religious worship became more common from third to sixth health care encounter.. Major improvements (58.1%) were observed on hospital use but little or no help with prayers, clinics and traditional healers. The challenges experienced with formal points of care focused on lack and cost of prescribed drugs, weakening effect of the drugs, lack of skills to manage the condition, and lack of improvement in quality of life. These challenges together with knowledge gap about the disease and belief in spiritual healing facilitated the shift from formal to informal health care pathways, more particularly the places of religious worship.

Conclusions: Our study findings indicate that caregivers/families of patients with dementia went to different places both formal and informal care settings while seeking health care. However, hospital point of care was more frequent at initial health care visits while places of worship took the lead at subsequent visits. Although no specific pathway reported, most of them begin with hospital (formal) and end with non-formal. We recommend that health systems carry out public awareness on dementia.

Key words: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, caregiver, dementia, pathways to health care and Southwestern Uganda.
Peer education for HIV prevention among high-risk groups: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: He Jiayu , Wang Ying , Du Zhicheng , Liao Jing , He Na , Hao Yuantao
Published: April 2020

Background: Peer education has become a strategy for health promotion among high-risk groups for HIV infection worldwide. However, the extent to which peer education could have an impact on HIV prevention or the long-term effect of this impact is still unknown. This study thus quantifies the impact of peer education over time among high-risk HIV groups globally.
Method: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was used to assess the effects and duration of peer education. A thorough literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library was performed, and studies about peer education on high-risk HIV groups were reviewed. Pooled effects were calculated and the sources of heterogeneity were explored using meta-regression and subgroup analysis.
Results: A total of 60 articles with 96484 subjects were identified, and peer education was associated with 36% decreased rates of HIV infection among overall high risk groups (OR: 0.64; 95%CI: 0.47-0.87). Peer education can promote HIV testing (OR=3.19; 95%CI:2.13,4.79) and condom use (OR=2.66, 95% CI: 2.11-3.36) while reduce equipment sharing (OR=0.50; 95%CI:0.33,0.75) and unprotected sex (OR=0.82; 95%CI: 0.72-0.94). Time trend analysis revealed that peer education had a consistent effect on behavior change for over 24 months and the different follow-up times were a source of heterogeneity.
Conclusion: Our study shows that peer education is an effective tool with long-term impact for behavior change among high-risk HIV groups worldwide. Low and middle-income countries are encouraged to conduct large-scale peer education.
Live-attenuated Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis vaccine with regulated delayed fur mutation confer protection against Streptococcus suis in mice
Authors: Li Yu-an , Du Yuan zhao , Guo Weiwei , New Dianfeng Chu , Fan Juan , New Xiaobo Wang , Bellefleur Matthew , Wang Shifeng , Shi Huoying
Published: April 2020

Background: Recombinant Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis ( S . Choleraesuis) vaccine vector could be used to deliver heterologous antigens to prevent and control pig diseases. We have previously shown that a live-attenuated S . Choleraesuis vaccine candidate strain rSC0011 (ΔP crp527 ::TT araC P BAD crp Δ pmi-2426 Δ relA199 :: araC P BAD lacI TT Δ asdA33 , Δ, deletion, TT, terminator) delivering SaoA, a conserved surface protein in most of S . suis serotypes, provided excellent protection against S. suis challenge, but occasionally lead to morbidity (enteritidis) in vaccinated mice (approximately 1 in every 10 mice). Thus, alternated attenuation method was sought to reduce the reactogenicity of strain rSC0011. Herein , we described another recombinant attenuated S. Choleraesuis vector, rSC0012 ( ΔP fur88 :: TT araC P BAD fur Δ pmi-2426 Δ relA199 :: araC P BAD lacI TT Δ asdA33 ) with regulated delayed fur mutation to avoid inducing disease symptoms while exhibiting a high degree of immunogenicity.
Results: The strain rSC0012 strain with the ΔP fur88 ::TT araC P BAD fur mutation induced less production of inflammatory cytokines than strain rSC0011 with the ΔP crp527 ::TT araC P BAD crp mutation in mice. When delivering the same pS-SaoA plasmid, the intraperitoneal LD 50 of rSC0012 was 18.2 times higher than that of rSC0011 in 3-week-old BALB/C mice. rSC0012 with either pS-SaoA or pYA3493 was cleared from spleen and liver tissues 7 days earlier than rSC0011 with same vectors after oral inoculation. The strain rSC0012 synthesizing SaoA induced high titers of anti-SaoA antibodies in both systemic (IgG in serum) and mucosal (IgA in vaginal washes) sites, as well as increased level of IL-4, the facilitator of Th2-type T cell immune response in mice. The recombinant vaccine rSC0012(pS-SaoA) conferred high percentage of protection against S. suis or S . Choleraesuis challenge in BALB/C mice.
Conclusions: The live-attenuated Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis vaccine rSC0012(pS-SaoA) with regulated delayed fur mutation provides a foundation for the development of a safe and effective vaccine against S . Choleraesuis and S. suis .
Keywords: Salmonella Choleraesuis, virulence, immunogenicity, Fur, inflammatory
The Nutrition Transition in Malaysia; Key Drivers and Recommendations for Improved Health Outcomes
Authors: Von Goh Ee , Azam-Ali Susan , McCullough Fiona , Mitra Soma
Published: April 2020

Background: The main purpose of this paper is to understand the multidimensional phenomenon of the nutrition transition in Malaysia, from 1980 to 2014, to inform future policies for a healthier nation. Methods: Data were obtained through Food Balance Sheets, Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS) and National Health and Morbidity Surveys (NHMS) for year-to-year review. Interaction between changes in food supplies and dietary trends and the progression of diet-related diseases and risk factors were observed using quasi-historical approach.Results: Energy supply for Malaysian population remained consistently in excess of average calorie needs by a minimum of 30%. There were significant signs of shifting food trends, particularly in the supply of wheat (+56.5%), rice (-23.7%), sugar and sweeteners (+23.9%), meat (+49.3%), fish and seafood (+38.7%), and eggs (+55.7%). The plant/animal protein ratio has decreased over time. Prevalence of NCD and associated risk factors has increased rapidly, some as high as 170%, despite various policy efforts to reduce them. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of policymakers taking a relook into its policies and strategies, and formulate sustainable, comprehensive and multifaceted actions together with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a conducive, healthy and nutritious food systems and environment for its population.
Combined therapy of somatostatin analogues with pegvisomant for the treatment of acromegaly: a meta-analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Ma Lingyun , Luo Daohuang , Yang Ting , Wu Songtao , Li Min , Chen Chaoyang , Zhou Shuang , Ma Lingyue , Wu Ye , Zhou Ying , Cui Yimin
Published: April 2020

Background: Acromegaly is a rare, chronic and severe disease. Drug therapy including somatostatin analogues, dopamine receptor agonists and growth hormone receptor antagonists are commonly used to treat patients who do not respond to surgery. The use of combination therapy with PEG and SAs has become more common over the last decade. We performed this study to accurately evaluate the effect of combination therapy of somatostatin analogues (SAs) with pegvisomant (PEG) on acromegalic patients. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Trip database were searched for relevant studies. Prospective clinical trials treating acromegaly with the co-administration of SAs and PEG were included. We performed a meta-analysis by using Stata 12.1 . Sensitivity analysis was conducted to explore heterogeneity. Results : Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. The overall rate of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) normalization was 66% (95% CI: 52%–78%; I 2 =62.59%). The combination therapy did not significantly change patients’ fasting plasma glucose (ES: 0.011 mmol*L -1 ; 95% CI: −0.374 to 0.397 mmol*L -1 ; P=0.954) or glycosylated haemoglobin (ES: -0.074%; 95% CI: −0.166% to 0.315%; P=0.544) while decreasing the fasting plasma insulin (ES: −21.487 pmol*L-1; 95% CI: −35.713 to -7.260 pmol*L-1; P=0.003). Elevation of liver enzyme levels was found in 14% (95% CI: 8% to 21%) of the patients. There was no significant difference for serious adverse events and treatment discontinuation due to adverse event between SAs monotherapy group and combination therapy group. Conclusions: Combined therapy of SAs and PEG effectively normalized IGF-1 levels in most of the patients whose IGF-1 level was greater than the upper limit of normal after high dose SAs monotherapy. The therapy also decreased significantly FPI levels with a neutral effect on glucose parameters in acromegaly patients. Moreover, elevated liver enzyme levels were observed in a small number of patients, which suggests a need for liver function monitoring. Trial registration We have our protocol registered in PROSPERO. (Registration number: CRD42019115549)
Upregulation of pERK and c-JUN by γ-tocotrienol and not α-tocopherol are essential to the differential effect on apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.
Authors: Moore Christine , Palau Victoria , Mahboob Rashid , Lightner Janet , Stone William , Krishnan Koyamangalath
Published: April 2020

Background: α-tocopherol (AT) and γ-tocotrienol (GT3) are vitamin E isoforms considered to have potential chemopreventive properties. AT has been widely studied in vitro and in clinical trials with mixed results. The latest clinical study (SELECT trial) tested AT in prostate cancer patients, determined that AT provided no benefit, and could promote cancer. Conversely, GT3 has shown antineoplastic properties in several in vitro studies, with no clinical studies published to date. GT3 causes apoptosis via upregulation of the JNK pathway; however, inhibition results in a partial block of cell death. We compared side by side the mechanistic differences in these cells in response to AT and GT3. Methods: The effects of GT3 and AT were studied on androgen sensitive LNCaP and androgen independent PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Their cytotoxic effects were analyzed via MTT and confirmed by metabolic assays. Cellular pathways were studied by immunoblot. Quantitative analysis and the determination of relationships between cell signaling events were analyzed for both agents tested. Non-cancerous prostate RWPE-1 cells were also included as a control. Results: The RAF/RAS/ERK pathway was significantly activated by GT3 in LNCaP and PC-3 cells but not by AT. This activation is essential for the apoptotic affect by GT3 as demonstrated the complete inhibition of apoptosis by MEK1 inhibitor U0126. Phospho-c-Jun was upregulated by GT3 but not AT. No changes were observed on AKT for either agent, and no release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm was detected. Caspases 9 and 3 were efficiently activated by GT3 on both cell lines irrespective of androgen sensitivity, but not in cells dosed with AT. Cell viability of non-cancerous RWPE-1 cells was affected neither by GT3 nor AT. Conclusions: c-JUN is a recognized master regulator of apoptosis as shown previously in prostate cancer. However, the mechanism of action of GT3 in these cells also include a significant activation of ERK which is essential for the apoptotic effect of GT3. The activation of both, ERK and c-JUN, is required for apoptosis and may suggest a relevant step in ensuring circumvention of mechanisms of resistance related to the constitutive activation of MEK1.
Role of high-dose salvage radiotherapy for oligometastases of the localised abdominal/pelvic lymph nodes: A retrospective study
Authors: Ito Makoto , Kodaira Takeshi , Koide Yutaro , Okuda Takahito , Mizumatsu Shinichiro , Oshima Yukihiko , Takeuchi Arisa , Mori Toshie , Abe Souichirou , Asai Ayumi , Suzuki Kojiro
Published: April 2020

Background: Abdominal/pelvic lymph node (LN) oligometastasis, a pattern of treatment failure, is observed occasionally, and radiotherapy may work as salvage therapy. The optimal prescription dose, however, is yet to be determined. This study assessed the efficacy of high-dose radiotherapy.
Methods: The medical records of 113 patients at 4 institutes were retrospectively analysed who had 1 to 5 abdominal/pelvic LN oligometastases and were treated with definitive radiotherapy between 2008 and 2018. The exclusion criteria included non-epithelial tumours, uncontrolled primary lesions, palliative intent, and re-irradiation. The prescription dose was evaluated by using the equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2). Patients receiving EQD2 ≥60 Gy were placed into the high-dose group, and the remaining others the low-dose group. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to evaluate overall survival (OS), local control (LC), and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate log-rank and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analyses were performed to explore predictive factors. Adverse events were compared between the high-dose and low-dose groups.
Results: The primary tumour sites included the colorectum (n = 28), uterine cervix (n = 27), endometrium (n = 15), and ovaries (n = 10). The rate of 2-year OS was 63.1%, that of LC 59.7%, and that of PFS 19.4%. On multivariate analyses, OS were significantly associated with solitary oligometastasis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.48, p = 0.02), LC with high-dose radiotherapy (HR: 0.93, p < 0.001), and PFS with long disease-free interval (HR: 0.59, p = 0.01). Whereas high-dose radiotherapy did not significantly improve 2-year OS in the entire cohort (74.8% in the high-dose vs. 52.7% in the low-dose; p = 0.08), it did in the subgroup of solitary oligometastasis (88.8% in the high-dose vs. 56.3% in the low-dose; p = 0.009). As for Late grade ≥3 adverse event, ileus was observed in 7 patients (6%) and gastrointestinal bleeding in 4 (4%). No significant association between the irradiation dose and adverse event incidence was found.
Conclusions: As salvage therapy, high-dose radiotherapy was recommendable for oligometastasis in the abdominal/pelvic LNs. For solitary oligometastasis, LC and OS were significantly better in the high-dose group.
Path analysis of skin cancer preventive behaviors in rural women based on protection motivation theory
Authors: Kaviani Abdol-Hossain , Khorsandi Mahboobeh , Roozbahani Nasrin
Published: April 2020

Background: Determining the factors that affect the adoption of preventive behaviors that can reduce the risk of skin cancer is an important first step for designing interventions promoting these behaviors. Based on protection motivation theory, the present study conducted a path analysis of skin cancer preventive behaviors in rural women to explore such factors.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 243 rural women in the west of Iran were randomly selected to receive a valid and reliable questionnaire assessing constructs from protection motivation theory, as well as demographic information. Fully completed questionnaires were returned by 230 women and data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and LISREL8.8.
Results: In relation with skin cancer preventive behaviors, 27.8% of women wore sun-blocking clothing when working under the sun, 21.7% used sunscreen cream, 5.7% wore cap and 4.8 wore gloves and sunglasses. Protection motivation theory and per capita income explained 51% of motivation variance and 25% of the variance of skin cancer preventive behaviors. Response efficacy construct was the strongest predictor of the motivation of protection (ß= -0.44, p<0/001). Per-capita income (ß= -0.34, p<0/001) and motivation (ß= -0.33, p<0/001) were the strongest predictors of these behaviors.
Conclusions: This study showed that protection motivation theory is efficient in predicting preventive behaviors of skin cancer and the interventions can be designed and implemented by this theory. It is also necessary to perform proper planning in promoting these behaviors in people with low per-capita income.
Additional clinical benefits of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy to nonsurgical periodontal treatment of periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gou Huiqing , Chen Xu , Li Lu , Wang Xiaoqian , Xu Yan
Published: April 2020

Background: With more and more concerns concentrated on the novel therapy applying probiotics, we challenge its trustworthy clinical efficacy as an adjuvant to scaling and root planning (SRP) as compared with SRP alone or combined with placebo applied as the initial therapy of periodontitis. Methods: Electronic databases retrieval, a grey literature and a hand search were performed until February 2020 under certain screening condition. Clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy of SRP + probiotic versus SRP treating systemically healthy and nonsmoker individuals diagnosed with periodontitis were included. Primary outcome variables were PPD (pocket probing depth) reduction, CAL (clinical attachment level) gain and the percentage of BOP (bleeding on probing) reduction. Results: After screening, eleven publications were eligible for the systematic review and ten were evaluated in the meta-analysis. Results demonstrated statistically significant more overall PPD reduction at 1 month (0.48mm, p=0.005), overall CAL gain at 1 (0.35mm, p=0.004) and 3 months (0.13mm, p=0.04) and BOP percentage reduction (10.38, p=0.001) at short-term and 6 months (7.57, p< 0.00001) favoring SRP + probiotics treatment. Moreover, significant more reduction of PPD for moderate (0.19mm, p< 0.00001) and deep pockets (0.58mm, p< 0.00001) and gain of CAL for moderate pockets (0.20mm, p=0.0001) were observed at 3 months favoring adjunctive efficacy of probiotics. However, there were not a significant difference of overall PPD reduction at 3 (0.14mm, p=0.07) and 6 months (0.2mm, p=0.26) and overall CAL gain at 6 months (0.19mm, p=0.53) between two groups. Conclusions: Within the ranges of this study, the adjunctive use of probiotics seem to achieve short-term clinical benefits in the treatment of periodontitis. Conclusions must be treated with caution because of high heterogeneity among included studies and future long-term RCTs are needed to testify the clinical application value of probiotics.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation of the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba
Authors: Oropeza-Aburto Araceli , Cervantes-Perez Sergio Alan , Albert Victor A , Herrera-Estrella Luis Rafael
Published: April 2020

Background
The genus Utricularia belongs to Lentibulariaceae, the largest family of carnivorous plants, which includes terrestrial, epiphytic and aquatic species. The development of specialized structures that evolved for carnivory is a feature of this genus that has been of great interest to biologists since Darwin‘s early studies. Utricularia gibba is itself an aquatic plant with sophisticated bladder traps having one of the most complex suction mechanisms for trapping prey. However, the molecular characterization of the mechanisms that regulate trap development and the biophysical processes involved in prey trapping are still largely unknown due to the lack of a simple and reproducible gene transfer system.

Results
Here, we report the establishment of a simple, fast and reproducible protocol for genetic transformation of U. gibba based on the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens . An in vitro selection system using Phosphinotricin as a selective agent was established for U. gibba . Plant transformation was confirmed by histochemical GUS assays and PCR and qRT-PCR analyses. We report on the expression pattern of the 35S promoter and of the promoter of a trap-specific ribonuclease gene in transgenic U. gibba plants.

Conclusions
The genetic transformation protocol reported here is an effective method for studying developmental biology and functional genomics of this genus of carnivorous plants and advances the utility of U. gibba as a model system to study developmental processes involved in trap formation.
Albendazole regulates radiosensitivity of human pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting HIF-1α and basic fibroblast growth factor
Authors: Chen Haifeng , Zhou Xiaochong , Weng Zhen , Wei Xing , Xu Chunfang , He Yang
Published: April 2020

The authors have requested that this preprint be withdrawn due to author disagreement.
Impact of elastic ankle exoskeleton stiffness on neuromechanics and energetics of human walking across multiple speeds
Authors: Nuckols Richard W. , Sawicki Gregory S.
Published: April 2020

Background: Elastic ankle exoskeletons with springs of intermediate stiffness in parallel with the human plantarflexors can reduce the metabolic cost of walking by ~7% at 1.25 m s -1 . In a move toward ‘real-world’ application, we examined whether the unpowered approach has metabolic benefit across a range of walking speeds, and if so, whether the optimal exoskeleton stiffness was speed dependent. We hypothesized that, for any walking speed, there would be an optimal ankle exoskeleton stiffness - not too compliant and not too stiff - that minimizes the user’s metabolic rate. In addition, we expected the optimal exoskeleton stiffness to increase with walking speed. Methods: Eleven participants walked on a level treadmill at 1.25, 1.50, and 1.75 m s -1 while we used a state-of-the-art exoskeleton emulator system to apply bilateral ankle exoskeleton assistance at five controlled rotational stiffnesses (k exo = 0, 50, 100, 150, 250 Nm rad -1 ). We measured metabolic cost, lower limb joint mechanics, and EMG of muscles crossing the ankle, knee, and hip. Results: We measured significant reductions in metabolic cost at the lowest exoskeleton stiffness (50 Nm rad -1 ) for assisted walking at both 1.25 (4.2%; p = 0.032) and 1.75 m s -1 (4.7%; p = 0.009). At these speeds, the metabolically optimal ankle exoskeleton stiffness provided peak assistive torques of ~0.20 Nm kg -1 that resulted in reduced biological ankle moment of ~12% and reduced soleus muscle activity of ~10%. We found no spring stiffness that could reduce the metabolic cost of walking at 1.5 m s -1 . Across all speeds, the non-weighted sum of soleus and tibialis anterior activation rate explained the change metabolic rate due to exoskeleton assistance ( p < .05; R 2 > 0.56)). Conclusions: Elastic ankle exoskeletons with low rotational stiffness reduce users’ metabolic cost of walking at slow and fast walking speeds but not at intermediate walking speed. The relationship between the non-weighted sum of soleus and tibialis activation rate and metabolic cost (R 2 > 0.56) indicates that muscle activation may drive metabolic demand. Future work using computer simulations and ultrasound imaging will get ‘under the skin’ and examine the interaction between exoskeleton stiffness and plantarflexor muscle dynamics to better inform stiffness selection in human-machine systems.
Optimal Partner Wavelength Combination Method Applied to NIR Spectroscopic Analysis of Human Serum Globulin
Authors: Han Yun , Zhong Yun , Zhou Huihui , Kuang Xuesong
Published: April 2020

Human serum globulin (GLB), which contains various antibodies in healthy human serum, is of great significance for clinical trials and disease diagnosis. In this study, the GLB in human serum was rapidly analyzed by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy without chemical reagents. Optimal partner wavelength combination (OPWC) method was employed for selecting discrete information wavelength. For the OPWC, the redundant wavelengths were removed by repeated projection iteration based on binary linear regression, and the result converged to stable number of wavelengths. By the way, the convergence of algorithm was proved theoretically. Moving window partial least squares (MW-PLS) and Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination PLS (MC-UVE-PLS) methods, which are two well-performed wavelength selection methods, were also performed for comparison. The optimal models were obtained by the three methods, and the corresponding root-mean-square error of cross validation and correlation coefficient of prediction (SECV, RP,CV) were 0.813 g·L-1 and 0.978 with OPWC combined with PLS (OPWC-PLS), and 0.804 g L-1 and 0.979 with MW-PLS, and 1.153 g L-1 and 0.948 with MC-UVE-PLS, respectively. The OPWC-PLS and MW-PLS methods achieved almost the same good results. However, the OPWC only contained 28 wavelengths, so it had obvious lower model complexity. Thus it can be seen that the OPWC-PLS has great prediction performance for GLB and its algorithm is convergent and rapid. The results provide important technical support for the rapid detection of serum.
Comparison of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy, ultrasound, and mammography for the diagnosis of BI-RADS 4 category lesions
Authors: Liu Hongbiao , Zhan Hongwei , Sun Da
Published: April 2020

Background : We sought to determine the diagnostic efficacy of Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) in Chinese women with BI-RADS 4 category lesions and to compare this efficacy to that of ultrasound/mammography. Methods : We retrospectively assessed 177 women who had undergone BSGI of BI-RADS 4 category lesions detected via ultrasound and/or mammography. Results: Of the 177 cases, 117 (66.1%) were malignant lesions and 60 (33.9%) were benign. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of BSGI were 94.9% (111/117), 78.3% (47/60), 89.5% (111/124), and 88.7% (47/53), respectively. For mammography, the specificity and positive predictive values were 48.3% (29/60) and 77.5% (107/138), while for ultrasound they were 53.3% (32/60) and 79.6% (109/137). The sensitivity and specificity of BSGI for the detection lesions ≤1 cm were 90.9% (10/11) and 88.0% (22/25), while these values for breast lesions ＞1cm were 94.3% (100/106) and 71.4% (25/35), and these values for dense breast tissue were 94.0% (79/84) and 78.0% (39/50), as opposed to non-dense breast values of 97.0% (32/33) and 80.0% (8/10). The sensitivity of BSGI for invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) were 98.9% (95/96) and 75.0% (9/12).The tumor to normal tissue ratio of BSGI for malignant lesions was significantly higher than that of benign lesions (2.18±1.17 vs 1.66±0.40, t =7.56, P ＜0.05). Conclusions : These results reveal that BSGI is highly sensitive, with good positive/negative predictive values. BSGI for IDC proved to be superior to DCIS for diagnosis of BI-RADS 4 category lesions as compared with ultrasound or mammography. BSGI showed perfect results in dense breasts and lesions ≤ 1 cm in size.
Compbdt: an R program to compare two binary diagnostic tests subject to a paired design
Authors: Roldán-Nofuentes Jose Antonio
Published: April 2020

Background: The comparison of the effectiveness of two binary diagnostic tests is an important topic in Clinical Medicine. The most frequent type of sample design to compare two binary diagnostic tests is the paired design. This design consists of applying the two binary diagnostic tests to all of the individuals in a random sample, where the disease status of each individual is known through the application of a gold standard . This article presents an R program to compare parameters of two binary tests subject to a paired design.
Results: The “compbdt” program estimates the sensitivity and the specificity, the likelihood ratios and the predictive values of each diagnostic test applying the confidence intervals with the best asymptotic performance. The program compares the sensitivities and specificities of the two diagnostic tests simultaneously, as well as the likelihood ratios and the predictive values, applying the global hypothesis tests with the best performance in terms of Type I error and power. When the global hypothesis test is significant, the causes of the significance are investigated solving the individual hypothesis tests and applying the multiple comparison method of Holm. The most optimal confidence intervals are also calculated for the difference or ratio between the respective parameters. Based on the data observed in the sample, the program also estimates the probability of making a Type II error if the null hypothesis is not rejected, or estimates the power if the if the alternative hypothesis is accepted. The “compbdt” program provides all the necessary results so that the researcher can easily interpret them. The estimation of the probability of making a Type II error allows the researcher to decide about the reliability of the null hypothesis when this hypothesis is not rejected. The “compbdt” program has been applied to a real example on the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Conclusions: The “compbdt” program is one which is easy to use and allows the researcher to compare the most important parameters of two binary tests subject to a paired design. The “compbdt” program is available as supplementary material.
Efficacy and safety of IL-17 inhibitors for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yin Yufeng , Wang Mingjun , Liu Mengru , Zhou Erye , Ren Tian , Chang Xin , He Michun , Zeng Keqin , Guo Yufan , Wu Jian
Published: April 2020

Objectives: To systematically assess the efficacy and safety of IL-17 inhibitors in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning IL-17 inhibitors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Meta-analyses were used to determine the efficacy and safety of the IL-17 inhibitors in the treatment of these patients. The primary end point was predefined as the proportion of patients with at least 20% improvement in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS20) response criteria at week 16, and the secondary end point was defined as ASAS40 at week 16. Results: Six phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials including 1733 patients (1153 patients received IL-17 inhibitors, including secukinumab or ixekizumab, whereas 580 patients received a placebo as comparators) were included. At week 16, the IL-17 inhibitor regimen produced a significant increase in the ASAS20 response rate (RR=1.63, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.84, p=0.00) and the secondary endpoint ASAS40 response rate (RR=2.12, 95% CI 1.75 to 2.56, p=0.00) versus those for the placebo. With respect to the safety profile, more treatment-emergent adverse events (RR=1.11, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.22, p=0.03) and non-severe infections (RR=1.82, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.37, p<0.001) were described after treatment with IL-17 inhibitors than after treatment with placebo, while no increased risk of other adverse events was indicated after IL-17 inhibitor therapy, including death, discontinuation due to adverse events, or serious adverse events. Conclusions: IL-17 inhibitors produced favourable response rates but an increased risk of non-severe infections in the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis.
Comparison of Personal and Shared Frameshift Neoantigen Vaccines in a Mouse Mammary Cancer Model.
Authors: Peterson Milene , Murphy Sierra Nicole , Lainson John , Zhang Jian , Shen Luhui , Diehnelt Chris W , Johnston Stephen Albert
Published: April 2020

Background: It is widely hoped that personal cancer vaccines will extend the number of patients benefiting from checkpoint and other immunotherapies. However, it is clear creating such vaccines will be challenging. It requires obtaining and sequencing tumor DNA/RNA, predicting potentially immunogenic neoepitopes and manufacturing a one-use vaccine. This process takes time and considerable cost. Importantly, most mutations will not produce an immunogenic peptide and many patient’s tumors do not contain enough DNA mutations to make a vaccine. We have discovered that frameshift peptides (FSP) created from errors in the production of RNA rather than from DNA mutations are potentially a rich source of neoantigens for cancer vaccines. These errors are predictable, enabling the production of a FSP microarray. Previously we found that these microarrays can identify both personal and shared neoantigens. Here, we compared the performance of personal cancer vaccines (PCVs) with that of a shared antigen vaccine, termed Frameshift Antigen Shared Therapeutic (FAST) vaccine , using the 4T1 breast cancer model. Sera from 4T1-tumor bearing mice were assayed on the peptide microarray containing 200 Fs neoantigens, for the PCV, the top 10 candidates were select and personal vaccines constructed and administrated to the respective mice. For the FAST, we selected the top 10 candidates with higher prevalence among all the mice challenged. Seven to 12 days challenged mice were immunized, combined or not with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) (αPD-L1 and αCTLA-4). Primary and secondary tumor clearance and growth were evaluated as well as cellular and humoral immune response against the vaccine targets by IFN-γ ELISPOT and ELISA. Lastly, we analyzed the immune response of the FAST-vaccinated mice by flow cytometry in comparison to the control group. Results: We found that PCVs and FAST vaccines both reduced primary tumor incidence and growth as well as lung metastases when delivered as monotherapies or in combination with ICI. Additionally, the FAST vaccine induces a robust and effective T-cell response. Conclusions: These results suggest that FSPs produced from RNA-based errors are potent neoantigens that could enable production of off-the-shelf shared antigen vaccines for solid tumors with efficacy comparable to that of PCVs.
Does the addition of concurrent visual feedback increase adherence to a home exercise program in people with stroke: a single-case series?
Authors: Levy Tamina , Crotty Maria , Laver Kate , Lannin Natasha , Killington Maggie
Published: April 2020

Objective

Evidence is accumulating for the benefits of technology use in stroke rehabilitation. Few studies have examined ways in which technology can be used to increase adherence to programs after discharge from rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to determine if the addition of concurrent visual feedback, via a tablet computer, increased adherence to an exercise program following stroke.

Ten participants were provided with a self-administered exercise program and were asked to perform 60 minutes of exercise daily. After a baseline phase (one week), participants were given a tablet computer (two weeks) and were asked to video record each exercise session. The tablet computer was removed during the fourth week of the program.

Results

Exercise duration, measured via wrist-worn accelerometry, was investigated over the four weeks using the two-standard deviation (2 SD) band method. A statistically significant effect was observed in four out of ten cases, demonstrated by two successive data points occurring outside the 2 SD band during the intervention phase, suggesting that adherence was increased in response to the tablet computer use. This preliminary study indicates that the use of visual feedback, via a tablet computer, may increase adherence to an exercise program in people with stroke.