bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing Taxpayers Engaged in Tax Evasion Evidence From Woldia City Administration Micro, Small and Large Enterprise Taxpayers
Authors: Tarko Erstu 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influencing taxpayers to engage in tax evasion. The researcher used descriptive and explanatory research design and has been followed by a quantitative research approach. The data was collected by dispatching self-administered questionnaires. After data collection has been performed, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. EFA results showed that the Kaiser-Mayer Olkin result 0.883 and the Bartlett test of 0.00 is suitable for the analysis. The data were analyzed with the Promax rotation method and extracted by the principal component analysis extraction method. All six factors were statistically significant for factor analysis. The explained variance of the first factor was 31.782%, the second factor explained 11.74% of the variance, the third factor explained 8.25% of the variance, the fourth factor explained 6.72% of the variance and the fifth factor explained 5.23% of the variance and the six-factor explained 4.12% of the variance. The extracted factors explained 67.84% of the variation of factors influencing taxpayers engaged in tax evasion. The finding of the study indicates that the relationship between the study variables was positive and statistically significant. The regression analysis also indicates that tax fairness, tax knowledge, and moral obligation significantly influence taxpayers to engage in tax evasion, and the remaining moral obligation and subjective norms were not statistically significant to influence taxpayers to engage in tax evasion.
Malaria Parasite Detection in Thick Blood Smear Microscopic Images Using Modified YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 Models
Authors: Abdurahman Fetulhak , Anlay Kinde Fante , Aliy Mohammed 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background Information: Manual microscopic examination is still the ”golden standard” for malaria diagnosis. The challenge in the manual microscopy is the fact that its accuracy, consistency and speed of diagnosis depends on the skill of the laboratory technician. It is diﬃcult to get highly skilled laboratory technicians in the remote areas of developing countries. In order to alleviate this problem, in this paper, we propose and investigate the state-of-the-art one-stage and two-stage object detection algorithms for automated malaria parasite screening from thick blood slides. Methods: YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 are state-of-the-art object detectors both in terms of accuracy and speed; however, they are not optimized for the detection of small objects such as malaria parasite in microscopic images. To deal with these challenges, we have modiﬁed YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 models by increasing the feature scale and by adding more detection layers, without notably decreasing their detection speed. We have proposed one modiﬁed YOLOV4 model, called YOLOV4-MOD and two modiﬁed models for YOLOV3, which are called YOLOV3-MOD1 and YOLOV3-MOD2. In addition, we have generated new anchor box scales and sizes by using the K-means clustering algorithm to exploit small object detection learning ability of the models. Results: The proposed modiﬁed YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 algorithms are evaluated on publicly available malaria dataset and achieve state-of-the-art accuracy by exceeding the performance of their original versions, Faster R-CNN and SSD in terms of mean average precision (mAP), recall, precision, F1 score, and average IOU. For 608 x 608 input resolution YOLOV4-MOD achieves the best detection performance among all the other models with mAP of 96.32%. For the same input resolution YOLOV3-MOD2 and YOLOV3-MOD1 achieved mAP of 96.14% and 95.46% respectively. Conclusions: Th experimental results demonstrate that the performance of the proposed modiﬁed YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 models are reliable to be applied for detection of malaria parasite from images that can be captured by smartphone camera over the microscope eyepiece. The proposed system can be easily deployed in low-resource setting and it can save lives.
Rapid Custom Prototyping of Soft Poroelastic Biosensor for Simultaneous Epicardial Recording and Imaging
Authors: Kim Bongjoong , Soepriatna Arvin , Park Woohyun , Cox Abigail , Moon Haesoo , Zhao Jianchao , Gupta Nevin , Park Chi Hoon , Kim Kyunghun , Lee Hyowon , Jeon Yale , Jang Hanmin , Kim Dong Rip , Lee Kwan-Soo , Goergen Craig , Lee Chi Hwan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The growing need for the implementation of stretchable biosensors in the human body and organ systems has driven a new rapid prototyping scheme through the direct ink writing (DIW) of multidimensional functional architectures in an arbitrary shape and size to meet the requirement of adapting the geometric nonlinearity of a specific biological site. Recent approaches involve the use of biocompatible viscoelastic inks that are dispensable through an automated nozzle injection system. However, their pragmatic application remains challenged in particular medical practices that demand long-term reliable recording under periodic large strain cycles, such as the cardiac cycle, due to their viscoelastic nature that produces both mechanical and electrical hysteresis. Herein, we report a new class of a poroelastic silicone composite that is adaptable for high-precision DIW of a custom-designed biosensor, which is exceptionally soft and insensitive to mechanical strain without generating significant hysteresis. The unique structural property of the composite material yields a robust and seamless coupling to living tissues, thereby enabling both high-fidelity recording of spatiotemporal electrophysiological activity and real-time ultrasound imaging for visual feedback. In vivo evaluation of a custom-fit biosensor in a murine acute myocardial infarction model demonstrates a potential clinical utility in the simultaneous intraoperative recording and imaging on the epicardial surface, which may guide a definitive surgical treatment.
A Combination of Pirfenidone and Inhibition of TGF-β Mitigates Cystic Echinococcosis–Associated Hepatic Injury
Authors: Wang Erqiang , Liao Zhenyu , Wang Lianghai , Liao Yuan , Xu Xiaodan , Liu Ping , Wang Xian , Hou Jun , Jiang Huijiao , Wu Xiangwei , Chen Xueling 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background & Aims: TGF-β not only inhibits the function of NK cells, but also promotes liver fibrosis. It is unclear whether the inhibition of TGF-β signaling pathway could relieve the CE-related liver fibrosis.Methods: By using the model of CE infected mouse liver, the effect of the infection of CE exerted on NK cells was identified. In vivo, SB525334 and Pirfenidone were applied to intervene the TGF-β signaling pathway.Results: During the infection of Echinococcus granulosus, the inhibitory receptors on the surface of NK cells increased, while the activated receptors decreased. TGF-β1 secretion was increased in liver tissues and mainly derived from macrophages. At the same time, the combination of drugs could also reduce the expression of TGF-β1 signaling pathway-related proteins and collagen. For the secretion of TGF-β1, only the pirfenidone group had an depressing effect. In addition, the combination of drugs can reduce liver cell damage and restore liver function.Conclusions: During the infection the of Echinococcus granulosus, the dysfunction of NK cells may be caused by increased secretion of TGF-β1 from macrophages. Echinococcus granulosus infection was a process of occupying lesions. This persistent pressure was accompanied by senescent hepatocytes. Senescent hepatocytes induced the secretion of TGF-β1 derived from macrophages, and promoted the activation of hepatic stellate cells and accelerated Echinococcus granulosus-associated liver fibrosis. By combining pirfenidone and SB525334, liver function, senescent hepatocytes, fibrosis associated with Echinococcus granulosus infection could be alleviated. Moreover, the functional status of NK cells also received partially amelioration. In summary, our work offered an experimental basis for clinical treatment.
Are smaller microplastics missing?
Authors: Aoki Kunihiro , Furue Ryo 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The size distribution of marine microplastics (< 5 mm) provides a fundamental data source for understanding the dispersal, break down, and biotic impacts of the microplastics in the ocean. The observed size distribution generally shows, from large to small sizes, a gradual increase followed by a rapid decrease. This decrease has led to the hypothesis that the smallest fragments are selectively removed by sinking or biological uptake. Here we propose a new model of size distribution without any removal of material from the system. The model uses an analogy with black-body radiation and the resultant size distribution is analogous to Planck's law. In this model, the original large plastic piece is broken into smaller pieces once by the application of “energy” or work by waves or other processes, under two assumptions, one that fragmentation into smaller pieces requires larger energy and the other that the probability distribution of the “energy” follows the Boltzmann distribution. Our formula well reproduces observed size distributions over wide size ranges from micro- (< 5 mm) to mesoplastics ( > 5 mm). According to this model, the smallest fragments are fewer because large “energy” required to produce such small fragments occurs more rarely.
Process Development and Safety Evaluation of ABCB5+ Limbal Stem Cells as Advanced-therapy Medicinal Product to Treat Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency
Authors: Norrick Alexandra , Esterlechner Jasmina , Niebergall-Roth Elke , Dehio Ulf , Sadeghi Samar , Schröder Hannes M. , Ballikaya Seda , Stemler Nicole , Ganss Christoph , Dieter Kathrin , Dachtler Ann-Kathrin , Merz Patrick , Sel Saadettin , Chodosh James , Cursiefen Claus , Frank Natasha Y. , Auffarth Gerd U , Ksander Bruce , Frank Markus H. , Kluth Mark Andreas 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: While therapeutic success of limbal tissue or cell transplantation to treat severe cases of limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency (LSCD) strongly depends on the percentage of LSCs within the transplanted cells, prospective LSC enrichment has been hampered by the intranuclear localization of the previously reported LSC marker p63. The recent identification of the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCB5 as a plasma membrane-spanning marker of LSCs that are capable of restoring the cornea and the development of an antibody directed against an extracellular loop of the ABCB5 molecule stimulated us to develop a novel treatment strategy based on the utilization of in-vitro expanded allogeneic ABCB5+ LSCs derived from human cadaveric limbal tissue.Methods: We developed and validated a Good Manufacturing Practice- and European Pharmacopoeia-conform production and quality-control process, by which ABCB5+ LSCs are derived from human corneal rims, expanded ex vivo, isolated as homogenous cell population and manufactured as an advanced-therapy medicinal product (ATMP). This product was tested in a preclinical study program investigating the cells’ engraftment potential, biodistribution behavior and safety.Results: ABCB5+ LSCs were reliably expanded and manufactured as an ATMP that contains comparably high percentages of cells expressing transcription factors critical for LSC stemness maintenance (p63) and corneal epithelial differentiation (PAX6). Preclinical studies confirmed local engraftment potential of the cells and gave no signals of toxicity and tumorgenicity. These findings were sufficient for the product to be approved by the German Paul Ehrlich Institute and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to be tested in an international multicenter phase I/IIa clinical trial (NCT03549299) to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy in patients with LSCD.Conclusion: Building upon these data in conjunction with the previously shown cornea-restoring capacity of human ABCB5+ LSCs in animal models of LSCD, we provide an advanced allogeneic LSC-based treatment strategy that shows promise for replenishment of the patient’s LSC pool, recreation of a functional barrier against invading conjunctival cells and restoration of a transparent, avascular cornea.
Analysis of the Effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Course of Common COVID-19
Authors: ZHANG xiaoyu , Wu Haibing , Ling Yun , Chen Liang 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background/aims: This study is to evaluate the effect of proton pump inhibitors on the course of common COVID-19.Methods: Clinical data of common COVID-19 patients admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center for treatment from January 20, 2020 to March 16, 2020 were collected. A retrospective study was conducted and the patients were divided into two groups according to whether they used proton pump inhibitors or not. The differences in SARS-CoV-2 clearance and hospital stay between the two groups were compared by univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: A total of 154 COVID-19 common cases were included in this study, including 80 males (51.9%), 35 patients (22.7%) in the proton pump inhibitors group, and 119 patients (77.3%) in the control group. In the proton pump inhibitors group and the control group, the duration of the SARS-CoV-2 clearance were 7(6-9) and 7(6-11) days, and the duration of the hospital stay was 21(16-25) and 20(15-26) days, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the cumulative incidence of the SARS-CoV-2 clearance and the discharge, all P > 0.05. Multivariate analysis showed that chronic gastropathy prolonged the duration of SARS-CoV-2 clearance, the HR was 20.924(3.547-123.447). Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic liver disease and malignant tumor all increased the duration of hospital stay for COVID-19, and the HR were 1.820 (1.073-3.085), 4.370 (1.205-15.844), 9.011 (2.681-30.290) and 5.270 (1.237-22.456), respectively; the duration of the hospital stay in COVID-19 patients was shortened by the SARS-CoV-2 clearance, and the HR was 0.907 (0.869-0.947); all P < 0.05.Conclusion: Proton pump inhibitors use has no effect on the prolonging or shortening of the course of adults hospitalized with COVID-19.
Factor VIII Inhibitor Bypass Activity (FEIBA) for the Reduction of Transfusion in Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Pilot Trial
Authors: Sera Valerie A , Stevens Ann E , Song Howard K , Rodriguez Victor M , Tibayan Frederick A , Treggiari Miriam 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
BackgroundUncontrolled bleeding after cardiac surgery can be life threatening. Factor eight inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) is a prothrombin complex concentrate empirically used as rescue therapy for correction of refractory bleeding diathesis post cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). FEIBA use as rescue therapy for bleeding diathesis after CPB has been associated with a low incidence of complications and a reduction in transfusion requirement and re-exploration. The feasibility and efficacy of early administration of FEIBA after termination of CPB have not been studied.MethodsWe designed a small randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial to determine the feasibility of a larger trial testing the hypothesis that FEIBA decreases transfusion requirements after CPB. Twelve adult patients undergoing elective major aortic cardiovascular surgery at a tertiary referral hospital were equally randomized to receive a single dose of either FEIBA or matched placebo intraoperatively at the end of CPB. The study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a larger pivotal trial to determine the effectiveness of FEIBA in reducing the total volume of blood products transfused perioperatively, and its safety profile.ResultsThere were no protocol deviations or events of unblinding, and adverse events were not different between groups. Patients in the FEIBA group were older, more likely to be female, had higher BMI, lower hematocrit, and longer hypothermic circulatory arrest. There were no differences in post randomization blood product transfusions (difference FEIBA vs. placebo: -899 mL; 95%CI: -5,206 to 3,409, p=0.65).ConclusionsThis pilot trial confirmed the adequacy of the trial design that involved the early, blinded administration of FEIBA, by demonstrating excellent protocol adherence. We conclude that a larger trial establishing the effectiveness of early prothrombin complex concentrate administration to reduce the use of blood products in the setting of high-risk cardiac surgery is feasible. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02577614, Registered 16 October, 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02577614
Tai Chi Exercise Improves Age-associated Decline in Cerebrovascular Function: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Li Lili , Wang Jingjing , Guo Shaoying , Xing Yangqi , Ke Xiongwen , Chen Yinghao , He Yuan , Wang Shun , Wang Jiayu , Cui Xinwu , Wang Zhihua , Tang Lixu 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Tai Chi exercise has been reported to enhance physical and mental health in the elderly; however, the mechanism remains elusive.Trial Design: We recruited 289 elderly people practicing Tai Chi for over 3 years, together with 277 age-matched old people and 102 young adults as controls. 168 Tai Chi players were successfully matched to 168 elderly controls aged 60-69 based on a propensity score for statistics.Methods: Cerebrovascular function was evaluated by measuring the hemodynamics of the carotid artery. Spearman correlation was performed to validate the age-associated physiological parameters. Results: Cerebrovascular function in the elderly significantly degenerated compared with young people, and was substantially correlated with age. Compared with the elderly control group, Tai Chi players showed significant improvements in CVHI (cerebral vascular hemodynamics indices) Score (P = 0.002), mean blood flow velocity (P = 0.014), maximal blood flow velocity (P = 0.04) and minimum blood flow velocity (P < 0.001), whereas the age-related increases in pulse wave velocity (P = 0.022), characteristic impedance (P = 0.021) and peripheral resistance (P = 0.044) were lowered. Conclusion: These data demonstrate a rejuvenation role of Tai Chi in improving the age-related decline of the cerebrovascular function.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900025187).
In-House Development, Standardization, and Validation of a RT-qPCR Assay for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Ecuador.
Authors: Torre David De la , Pibaque Ronny , Veloz Tatiana , Beltrán Paúl , Baldeón Lucy 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported about 30 million cases of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and around 1 million deaths worldwide. Ecuador is the country with the highest mortality rate of confirmed cases in South America where both the poor ability to identify SARS-CoV-2 carriers and shortages in reagent supply have contributed the high infection rate observed. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop, standardize and validate an in-house protocol that cannot only reduces testing costs, but also increase the ability to screen widely the population. Primer-probe sets for the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein E and the human ribonuclease P (RP) were validated for a duplex quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) for the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) detection. Optimal E primers concentration was 400 nM and TaqMan probe 200 nM. The primer efficiency was set at 94.9% and R2 value at 0.99, which was comparable to commercial kits. The lower detection limit was found at 15 copies/ μL (50 copies/rx). In comparison to a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) commercial kit, there was a higher detection rate (30%) and results were highly reproducible (95%). We were able to develop a highly sensitive and low-cost duplex in-house RT-qPCR test for COVID-19 detection comparable to other commercially available kits.
7,8-dihydroxyflavone Improves Neuropathological Changes in the Brain of Tg26 Mice, A Model for HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder
Authors: Bryant Joseph , Andhavarapu Sanketh , Bever Christopher , Guda Poornachander , Katuri Akhil , Gupta Udit , Arvas Muhammed Ikbal , Asemu Girma , Heredia Alonso , Gerzanich Volodymyr , Simard Marc J , Makar Tapas Kumar 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: The combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) era has significantly increased the lifespan of HIV patients, turning a fatal disease to a chronic one. However, this lower but persistent level of HIV infection increases the susceptibility of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Therefore, research is currently seeking improved treatment for this complication of HIV. In HIV+ patients, low levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been associated with worse neurocognitive impairment. Hence, BDNF administration has been gaining relevance as a possible adjunct therapy for HAND. However, systemic administration of BDNF is impractical because of poor pharmacological profile.Methods: We investigated the neuroprotective effects of BDNF-mimicking 7,8 dihydroxyflavone (DHF), a bioactive high-affinity TrkB agonist, in the memory-involved hippocampus and brain cortex of Tg26 mice, a murine model for HAND. We immunohistochemically stained brain tissue sections from vehicle-treated wild type (WT), vehicle-treated Tg26, and DHF (5 mg/kg, i.p)-treated Tg26 mice to examine activation of TrkB and downstream signaling, expression of HIV-1 chemokine co-receptors CXCR4 and CCR5, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial damage. A one-way ANOVA with a Bonferroni Comparison post-hoc test was performed to analyze the data sets. Results: In the brain regions of Tg26 mice, we observed astrogliosis, increased CXCR4 and CCR5 expression, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial damage. Hippocampi and cortices of DHF treated mice exhibited a reversal of these pathological changes, suggesting the therapeutic potential of DHF in HAND. Our data indicates that DHF increases the phosphorylation of TrkB, providing new insights about the role of the TrkB-Akt-NFkB signaling pathway in mediating these pathological hallmarks.Conclusions: Our study provides an overview of how targeting BDNF-TrkB signaling in the pathophysiology of HAND may be relevant for future therapies, and sheds light on 7,8 Dihydroxyflavone as a potential adjunct therapeutic agent to current antiviral therapy.