bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary cardiac angiosarcoma directly invading the right lung: An autopsy report
Authors: Kiwaki Takumi , Ishihara Akira , Toyama Takanori , Kusaka Hiroaki , Kataoka Hiroaki
Published: August 2021

We presented a difficult‐to‐diagnose case of cardiac angiosarcoma. The patient presented pericardial effusion, but cytology of the effusion was negative. Because cytological detection of angiosarcoma cells is difficult, a possibility of malignancy should not be excluded with negative cytological examination. Biopsy of cardiac mass is the best way for diagnosis.
Distinct MRI pattern of “pseudoresponse” in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme treated with regorafenib: Case report and literature review
Authors: Gatto Lidia , Franceschi Enrico , Tosoni Alicia , Di Nunno Vincenzo , Maggio Ilaria , Tonon Caterina , Lodi Raffaele , Agati Raffaele , Bartolini Stefania , Brandes Alba Ariela
Published: August 2021

Antiangiogenic agents can induce a distinct MRI pattern in glioblastoma, characterized by a decrease in the contrast enhancement on T1‐weighted images and a simultaneous hyperintensity on T2‐weighted or fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images.
Odontogenic myxoma of the anterior mandible: Case report of a rare entity and review of the literature
Authors: Sohrabi Maryam , Dastgir Ramtin
Published: August 2021

This report intends to compare classic presentations of odontogenic myxoma in contrast to our case. We also suggest a comprehensive evaluation of lesions and strongly advocate against premature treatments before reaching a definitive diagnosis.
COVID‐19 infection presenting as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Authors: Hines Adam , Hakim Nausheen , Barrientos Jacqueline
Published: August 2021

A diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) was elicited during acute COVID‐19 infection. COVID‐19 spike proteins trigger the alternative pathway of complement. Acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection possibly expanded an existing PIG‐A mutation.
A unique presentation of bilateral kissing molars and three‐rooted maxillary premolars: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Sarna Krishan , Murithi Ian , Opondo Florence , Guthua Symon
Published: August 2021

3D radiographic evaluation of the patient should be conducted before disimpaction to establish proximity to the mandibular canal and borders of mandible. In addition, variations of the root canal system of premolars must thoroughly be understood.
Overcoming very late severe calcific stenosis due to two layers of under‐expanded stents with intravascular lithotripsy treatment: A case report
Authors: Doost Ata , Clugston Richard
Published: August 2021

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) shockwave treatment is effective in treatment of severe calcific coronary stenosis within two layers of old under‐expanded stents. Intravascular imaging is essential to analyze the mechanism of in‐stent failure and optimize treatment.
Whether to maintain or strengthen the treatment for pyoderma gangrenosum ulcerative type may depend on the response after two to four‐week treatment intervention: The outcome of three cases with details clinical course
Authors: Nakayama Yuichi , Akeda Tomoko , Iida Shohei , Habe Koji , Yokota Naho , Matsushima Yoshiaki , Nakai Yasuo , Kondo Makoto , Yamanaka Keiichi
Published: August 2021

Determining whether the treatment intensity needs to be increased or can be maintained at a constant level may be suggested after 2–4 weeks of treatment. The use of TNF‐α inhibitor, removal of necrotic tissue, and skin grafting may promote epithelialization.
A case of postpartum chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Rajbhandari Suyasha , Gurung Pritam , Nepal Gopi , Acharya Samir , Pant Basant
Published: August 2021

Headache is a common presentation during postpartum period. Anesthesiologist, obstetrician, and neurosurgeon should be aware of the possibility of subdural hematoma in patient complaining of headache following spinal anesthesia.
Apple Watch® facilitates single‐session catheter ablation of coexisting atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia
Authors: Kasai Yuhei , Kasai Jungo , Sekiguchi Yukio , Asano So , Fukunaga Hiroshi , Nagase Takahiko , Nitta Junichi
Published: August 2021

Heart rate information from a smartwatch can facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of SVT. Benefitting from long‐term HR trends, we performed successful RF catheter ablation of coexisting AVNRT and AVRT.
A comparative study on enhancing oil recovery with partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide: Emulsion versus powder
Authors: Han Xu , Li Changqing , Pan Feng , Li Yuxi , Feng Yujun
Published: August 2021

In China, powders of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (P‐HPAM) have been extensively used in chemically enhanced oil recovery (cEOR) processes. However, the relatively longer dissolution time of P‐HPAM and high investment in surface facilities diminish the profit. Here, we compared the properties between P‐HPAM and emulsion HPAM (E‐HPAM) with similar molecular weight of 1.5 × 107 g/mol at polymer concentration of 1000 mg/L under a simulated Daqing Oilfield reservoir. We found only 20 min was needed to completely dissolve E‐HPAM, 75% less time than for P‐HPAM. The apparent viscosity of E‐HPAM reached 69.6 mPa · s, 26% higher than that of P‐HPAM. Sheared at 7000 rpm for 30 s, 73.8% viscosity retention was maintained for E‐HPAM solution, 13.7% higher than that of P‐HPAM solution. After 90 days of thermal aging, E‐HPAM solution had 72.8% viscosity retention, 15.2% higher than P‐HPAM. After being adsorbed in a sand package, E‐HPAM and P‐HPAM solutions had 87.0% and 83.2% viscosity retention, respectively. The interfacial tension (IFT) between E‐HPAM solution and Daqing oil could reach 15.3 mN/m, 75.1% lower than that of the P‐HPAM solution with Daqing oil. After 1.2 PV of polymer solution was injected, E‐HPAM solution got an oil recovery factor of 24.1% (OOIP), 10.0% higher than that of P‐HPAM under identical conditions. Both polymer solutions could propagate smoothly in porous media without plugging. In the field trial of 63 wells, after 0.098 PV of E‐HPAM solution was injected within nine months, the injection pressure increased by 1.3 MPa, and an interim recovery factor of 0.58% was obtained.
Fermentation process quality prediction using teacher student stacked sparse recurrent autoencoder
Authors: Gao Xuejin , Meng Lingjun , Gao Huihui , Han Huayun , Qi Yongsheng
Published: August 2021

For predicting the value of the quality variable in fermentation processes, traditional data‐driven methods do not use information in large amounts of unlabelled data. To solve this data‐rich but information‐poor (DRIP) problem, a teacher student stacked sparse recurrent autoencoder (TS‐SSRAE) model is proposed. Compared with traditional data‐driven methods, the proposed method has three main advantages. First, an autoencoder is an unsupervised method which can effectively extract rich information in unlabelled data. The proposed stacked recurrent autoencoder (SRAE) with long short‐term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural unit is superior to traditional autoencoders when extracting the dynamic correlation information in the fermentation process. Second, sparse constraints can make it much easier for hidden neurons to obtain useful information in a single moment. Finally, the LSTM recurrent neural unit is complex and the inputs of a SRAE must be a sequence, which increases the complexity of the model to a certain extent. So, the knowledge distillation is employed to simplify the model and reduce the computing time. In order to demonstrate its effectiveness, the proposed method is applied to the penicillin fermentation process for a simulation experiment and Escherichia coli production of interleukin‐2. The results show that the proposed method based on TS‐SSRAE can have better performance than conventional methods.
Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured copper and lanthanum co‐doped zirconia for voltammetric sensing of tumor biomarkers
Authors: Abbas Hussien A. , Radwan Abdel Latief A. , Khaled Elmorsy , Hassan Rabeay Y.A.
Published: August 2021

Nanostructured ZrO2‐based materials with their biocompatibility, excellent electrical, and surface charge properties became one of the best candidates for the electrochemical sensing applications. Here, synthesis of Zr1‐xCuxLaxO2 compounds was achieved in nanoscale and fully characterized using XRD, TEM, DRS, and cyclic voltammetry. A mixture of monoclinic and cubic phases was detected for the undoped ZrO2 (Z sample, x = 0). For the Cu‐doped compounds, (ZFW1, x = 0.05 and ZFW2, x = 0.1), a combination of cubic fluorite and monoclinic phase were detected. The intensity of the monoclinic phase for the Cu‐doped was higher than that of the undoped ZrO2 sample. Cu and La co‐doped samples (ZL1C1, x = 0.05 and ZL2C2, x = 0.1) were stabilized in a single cubic phase structure. Therefore, their band gap dropped from (4.8 eV) for the undoped ZrO2 to (1.49 eV) for the ZL1C1 sample and (2 eV) for the ZL2C2 sample. Voltammetric sensing of neurotransmitter metabolites (vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA)) was achieved using the modified electrodes due to their acquired high electrocatalytic and high electrochemical performance.
Integrated Carbon Nanotube/MoO3 Core/Shell Arrays as Freestanding Air Cathodes for Flexible Li–CO2 Batteries
Authors: Chen Minghua , Liu Yue , Liang Xinqi , Wang Fan , Li Yu , Chen Qingguo
Published: August 2021

Li–CO2 batteries are a hopeful candidate for electrochemical energy storage applications by converting the greenhouse gas CO2 to chemicals. However, the energy harvest ability and cycling stability of powder catalysts have greatly restricted the practical application of this technique. Herein, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods are used to produce MoO3‐coated carbon nanotube (MoO3@CNT) arrays as cathode catalyst materials for Li–CO2 batteries. The interwoven structure of CNTs provides substantial electron transport pathways and the high uniformity of deposition enhances the catalytic activity/stability of the whole electrode, effectively promoting the diffusion of CO2 during the discharge process and accelerating the decomposition of Li2CO3 under low charge overpotential. At a current density of 0.05 mA cm−2 and a fixed capacity of 1 mAh cm−2, the as‐prepared electrode presents a competitively low charging overpotential (1 V), an impressive lifetime (300 cycles) and ultrahigh total discharge capacity (30.25 mAh cm−2). Using the pouch Li‐CO2 battery packed with the prepared electrode as the power supply, commercial light emitting diode equipment can be stably lit up under different bending angles. The research results promote the application of Li–CO2 batteries in portable systems.
BED‐online: Acceptance and efficacy of an internet‐based treatment for binge‐eating disorder: A randomized clinical trial including waitlist conditions
Authors: Wyssen Andrea , Meyer Andrea H. , Messerli‐Bürgy Nadine , Forrer Felicitas , Vanhulst Pierre , Lalanne Denis , Munsch Simone
Published: August 2021

Objective

Internet‐based guided self‐help (GSH) programs increase accessibility and utilization of evidence‐based treatments in binge‐eating disorder (BED). We evaluated acceptance and short as well as long‐term efficacy of our 8‐session internet‐based GSH program in a randomized clinical trial with an immediate treatment group, and two waitlist control groups, which differed with respect to whether patients received positive expectation induction during waiting or not.

Method

Sixty‐three patients (87% female, mean age 37.2 years) followed the eight‐session guided cognitive‐behavioural internet‐based program and three booster sessions in a randomized clinical trial design including an immediate treatment and two waitlist control conditions. Outcomes were treatment acceptance, number of weekly binge‐eating episodes, eating disorder pathology, depressiveness, and level of psychosocial functioning.

Results

Treatment satisfaction was high, even though 27% of all patients dropped out during the active treatment and 9.5% during the follow‐up period of 6 months. The treatment, in contrast to the waiting conditions, led to a significant reduction of weekly binge‐eating episodes from 3.4 to 1.7 with no apparent rebound effect during follow‐up. All other outcomes improved as well during active treatment. Email‐based positive expectation induction during waiting period prior to the treatment did not have an additional beneficial effect on the temporal course and thus treatment success, of binge episodes in this study.

Conclusion

This short internet‐based program was clearly accepted and highly effective regarding core features of BED. Dropout rates were higher in the active and lower in the follow‐up period. Positive expectations did not have an impact on treatment effects.
The influences of gas diffusion layer material models and parameters on mechanical analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Authors: Leng Yu , Yao Huan , Yang Daijun , Li Bin , Ming Pingwen , Zhang Cunman
Published: August 2021

The deformation of gas diffusion layer (GDL) under compacting pressure has a close relationship with transport properties, and electrical and thermal conductivity of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this paper, two kinds of GDL material models with different material parameters are studied with the finite element method (FEM). Taguchi orthogonal experiments and analysis of variance (ANOVA) are performed to determine their effects on mechanical analysis of GDL deformation in PEMFC. Finally, the effects of material parameters on GDL diffusion and electrical performance are discussed. The results reveal that elastic modulus (E) is the only factor affecting the maximum displacement for GDL with isotropic model when the Poisson's ratio (ν) is in the range of 0–0.1. For orthotropic model, the through‐plane elastic modulus (Ez) has a great impact on both the deformation and contact pressure. In‐plane elastic modulus (Ex) and through‐plane shear modulus (Gxz) have significant influences on contact pressure. Ez has a great impact on diffusion and electrical performance of GDL, while the effects of Ex, Gxz and ν are negligible. In addition, orthotropic GDL material model and the parameters utilized are effective in analyzing the deformation of GDL.
Feedback from lateral occipital cortex to V1/V2 triggers object completion: Evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic causal modeling
Authors: Chen Siyi , Weidner Ralph , Zeng Hang , Fink Gereon R. , Müller Hermann J. , Conci Markus
Published: August 2021

Illusory figures demonstrate the visual system's ability to integrate disparate parts into coherent wholes. We probed this object integration process by either presenting an integrated diamond shape or a comparable ungrouped configuration that did not render a complete object. Two tasks were used that either required localization of a target dot (relative to the presented configuration) or discrimination of the dot's luminance. The results showed that only when the configuration was task relevant (in the localization task), performance benefited from the presentation of an integrated object. Concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed and analyzed using dynamic causal modeling to investigate the (causal) relationship between regions that are associated with illusory figure completion. We found object‐specific feedback connections between the lateral occipital cortex (LOC) and early visual cortex (V1/V2). These modulatory connections persisted across task demands and hemispheres. Our results thus provide direct evidence that interactions between mid‐level and early visual processing regions engage in illusory figure perception. These data suggest that LOC first integrates inputs from multiple neurons in lower‐level cortices, generating a global shape representation while more fine‐graded object details are then determined via feedback to early visual areas, independently of the current task demands.
Understanding the distributional impacts of health insurance reform: Evidence from a consumer cost‐sharing program
Authors: Aouad Marion , Brown Timothy T. , Whaley Christopher M.
Published: August 2021

We examine the heterogeneous effects of reference pricing, a health insurance reform introduced by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), on the distribution of spending by patients and insurers. Using medical claims data for CalPERS and a comparison group not subject to reference pricing, we use the changes‐in‐changes approach to estimate the quantile treatment effects of the program across different medical procedures. We find that the quantile treatment effects vary across the patient spending distributions, with a range of positive and negative estimates of the QTE, depending on the medical procedure considered. However, across all procedures, the insurer's spending distributions tend to shift left, with the largest reductions occurring in the right‐tail of the spending distributions. These effects are not captured by mean estimates but have important policy implications.
Fear conditioning potentiates the hippocampal CA1 commissural pathway in vivo and increases awake phase sleep
Authors: Subramaniyan Manivannan , Manivannan Sumithrra , Chelur Vikas , Tsetsenis Theodoros , Jiang Evan , Dani John A.
Published: August 2021

The hippocampus is essential for spatial learning and memory. To assess learning we used contextual fear conditioning (cFC), where animals learn to associate a place with aversive events like foot‐shocks. Candidate memory mechanisms for cFC are long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD), but there is little direct evidence of them operating in the hippocampus in vivo following cFC. Also, little is known about the behavioral state changes induced by cFC. To address these issues, we recorded local field potentials in freely behaving mice by stimulating in the left dorsal CA1 region and recording in the right dorsal CA1 region. Synaptic strength in the commissural pathway was monitored by measuring field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) before and after cFC. After cFC, the commissural pathway's synaptic strength was potentiated. Although recordings occurred during the wake phase of the light/dark cycle, the mice slept more in the post‐conditioning period than in the pre‐conditioning period. Relative to awake periods, in non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep the fEPSPs were larger in both pre‐ and post‐conditioning periods. We also found a significant negative correlation between the animal's speed and fEPSP size. Therefore, to avoid confounds in the fEFSP potentiation estimates, we controlled for speed‐related and sleep‐related fEPSP changes and still found that cFC induced long‐term potentiation, but no significant long‐term depression. Synaptic strength changes were not found in the control group that simply explored the fear‐conditioning chamber, indicating that exploration of the novel place did not produce the measurable effects caused by cFC. These results show that following cFC, the CA1 commissural pathway is potentiated, likely contributing to the functional integration of the left and right hippocampi in fear memory consolidation. In addition, the cFC paradigm produces significant changes in an animal's behavioral state, which are observable as proximal changes in sleep patterns.
Response efficacy and heterogeneity of antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: Systemic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Xin , Tang Jia , Zhang Xue , Abdelrahim Mohamed E. A. , Yin Zubin
Published: August 2021

Backgrounds

This meta‐analysis aimed to assess antipsychotic and placebo effects in patients with schizophrenia at the level of symptom factors.

Methods

A systematic literature search up to June 2020 was undertaken and 62 studies were included, with 23,478 patients with schizophrenia at the study baseline point. We calculated mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. The comparison was made according to the study content using a continuous method with a random‐effects model.

Results

Patients with schizophrenia treated by antipsychotic drugs had a significantly lower psychiatric rating scale total score; lower clinical global impression of severity; lower positive and negative syndrome scale; and lower assessment of negative symptoms total score, when compared to placebo treated patients.

Conclusions

Patients with schizophrenia treated with an antipsychotic drug show a much greater improvement and lower inconsistency in the level of symptom factors when compared to the effects of placebo. Our findings evidence for a comparatively homogeneous outcome of the antipsychotic‐treatment in improving schizophrenia symptoms. This opposes the notion of the presence of patient sub‐groups with treatment non‐responsive schizophrenia.
Association between transient financial stress during early childhood and pre‐school cognitive and socioemotional development
Authors: Ramanathan Seethalakshmi , Balasubramanian Natarajan , Faraone Stephen V.
Published: August 2021

Economic difficulties in early childhood are associated with significant adverse long‐term socioemotional and cognitive outcomes. In this study, we examine an understudied financial stressor that is often observed during periods of high unemployment—transient familial financial stress (TFS). We use the early childhood longitudinal study–(birth) cohort, to examine the association between exposure to TFS during early childhood and subsequent socioemotional and cognitive development. Exposure to TFS early in life is associated with a 1.25‐ and 1.16‐point reduction (p < .05) in preschool reading and math scores, respectively. Path analysis suggests that these outcomes are partially mediated by mother–child interaction and parental investment. These findings provide important insights that can help inform early intervention efforts.
Caffeine intake from coffee and tea and invasive breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Zheng Kan Hong , Zhu Kexin , Wactawski‐Wende Jean , Freudenheim Jo L. , LaMonte Michael J. , Hovey Kathleen M. , Mu Lina
Published: August 2021

Research findings remain inconsistent whether caffeine consumption is associated with invasive breast cancer. We aimed to examine the association between caffeine intake from coffee and tea and incident invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women. We included 79 871 participants in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study in the current analysis. Incident invasive breast cancers were identified through September 30, 2015. Caffeine intake (mg/day) from caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea was estimated based on self‐reported frequency (cups/day) and average caffeine amount in each beverage. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore whether associations of caffeine intake from coffee and tea with invasive breast cancer were different by age, race and ethnicity, smoking status, body mass index, history of hormone therapy use, alcohol intake and subtypes of breast cancer. During a median follow‐up of 16.0 years, 4719 incident invasive breast cancers were identified. No significant association was found between caffeine intake from coffee and tea and invasive breast cancer incidence after adjusting for demographic, lifestyle and reproductive factors: HRs (95% CIs) for increasing quartiles of caffeine intake compared to the lowest were 1.03 (0.94, 1.12), 1.04 (0.95, 1.13) and 1.03 (0.94, 1.13), respectively (P‐for‐trend = .54). No significant associations of coffee and tea intake (cups/day) with overall breast cancer risk were found. Our findings are consistent with others showing no clear association of caffeine consumption with invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women.
Risk factors for sexual dysfunction during the first year postpartum: A prospective study
Authors: Szöllősi Katalin , Komka Kinga , Szabó László
Published: August 2021

Objective

To assess the connection of postpartum sexual dysfunction with mode of delivery, amenorrhea, depressive symptoms, and relationship satisfaction.

Methods

For a prospective longitudinal study, we invited 729 Hungarian obstetrics patients to complete questionnaires at 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2), and 12 months (T3) postpartum. We sent them the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS), the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), and a self‐constructed questionnaire for body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and other data. Of the 389 who responded at T1, we selected 293 who met our criteria for age, obstetrical history, relationship history, completeness of response, and sexual activity. At T2 and T3, we selected 214 and 95. We analyzed their data by multivariate logit regression.

Results

The rates of sexual dysfunction were 44.70% (T1), 40.18% (T2), and 23.15% (T3). Mode of delivery was not a risk factor. Amenorrhea was a risk factor at T1 (P = 0.012) and T2 (P = 0.001). Obesity was a protective factor at T1 (P = 0.021). The higher the EPDS score (T1:P < 0.001; T2:P = 0.035; T3:P = 0.043), and the lower the RAS score (T1:P = 0.016; T2:P = 0.010; T3:P = 0.032), the greater was the risk of dysfunction.

Conclusion

Level of relationship satisfaction, severity of depressive symptoms, amenorrhea, and BMI are connected with sexual dysfunction within a year postpartum.
Stereotype accommodation concerning older people
Authors: Stanciu Adrian
Published: August 2021

From a cultural learning perspective, immigrants can integrate novel stereotypes learned in host countries into pre‐existing stereotypes. Research has not previously addressed this possibility in relation to stereotypes specifically about older people. This cross‐sectional study examines whether cultural differences concerning stereotypes about older people, duration of stay in the host culture and cultural orientation affect stereotype accommodation amongst immigrants from 40 host countries. In two multinational, country‐representative datasets—the European Social Survey (ESS) and the World Value Survey (WVS)—stereotype accommodation is measured along dimensions of warmth and competence and operationalised as absolute differences between the meta‐beliefs of immigrants and the corresponding average meta‐beliefs of the general population in host countries and countries of origin. Complex regressions that corrected beta‐coefficients at the individual level for country effects show that more meaningful cross‐cultural differences in the stereotype about the social warmth of older people predicted that immigrants' meta‐beliefs were less similar to the origin culture than the host culture. This finding is a first step towards understanding the effect that moving from one culture to another has on the stereotypes about old age held by immigrants, and, potentially, how this will impact their own well‐being when they become old.
Approaches to preclinical studies with heterogeneous breast phantom using reconstruction and three‐dimensional image processing algorithms for diffuse optical imaging
Authors: Üncü Yiğit Ali , Sevim Gençay , Canpolat Murat
Published: August 2021

The continuous‐wave back reflection diffuse optical tomography (rCWDOT) system is one of the new medical imaging modalities. This study examines the success of reconstruction and three‐dimensional (3D) image processing algorithms on data obtained from a heterogonous breast phantom by rCWDOT. Breast phantoms were prepared by putting a bit of spleen inside the tail. The spleen mimics a breast tumor since it has more blood than tail fat. rCWDOT was used to acquire data from the breast phantoms. The breast phantoms were reconstructed using the transpose‐free quasi‐minimal residual (TFQMR) reconstruction algorithm. Then, image processing algorithms were performed to improve the image quality. In image processing, 3D Gaussian filtering and bi‐cubic interpolation were used to enhance the appearance and remove noise from the images. After the image processing, the images were evaluated numerically using the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) method. It has been shown that the used reconstruction technique and image processing algorithms for a heterogeneous breast phantom provided 3D images that resemble actual ones. This study will help researchers use the most convenient reconstruction algorithm and image processing algorithms and perform preclinical experiments in this field.
Lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio combined with CA19‐9 for predicting postoperative recurrence of colorectal cancer in patients with diabetes
Authors: Yu Dan , An Guangyu , Yao Jiannan
Published: August 2021

Objective

To investigate the significance of lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) combined with carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19‐9 for predicting postoperative recurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with type II diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 106 postoperative patients with stage II–III CRC and with type II diabetes. Their clinical indexes such as LMR and CA19‐9 were collected, and the patients were followed up for 5 years.

Results

The CA19‐9 level was 119.7 U/ml at baseline in the relapsed group, while this was 24.81 U/ml in non‐relapsed group (p = 0.001). On the contrary, the LMR level was 5.10 and 2.57 for non‐relapsed and relapsed group (p < 0.001), respectively. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves stratified by CA19‐9 and LMR suggested that patients with lower CA19‐9 had higher survival probability (p < 0.001), while patients with high LMR level had higher survival probability (p < 0.001). The multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis with CA19‐9 and LMR indicated that although the baseline CA19‐9 is significantly associated with increasing risk of disease recurrence, the HR (HR = 1.0, 95% CI 1.00–1.01) was small and close to 1, whereas the high baseline LMR (HR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.32–0.61) was associated with decrease in disease recurrence. Model with continuous CA19‐9 and LMR was able to better predict (AUC 73.17%) the disease recurrence.

Conclusion

LMR combined with CA19‐9 may become a new index for predicting postoperative recurrence of CRC in patients with diabetes.
Systemic immune‐inflammation index is associated with disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Wu Junlai , Yan Lifang , Chai Kexia
Published: August 2021

Background

The systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) is a recently developed indicator for systemic inflammatory response. We aimed to explore the association between SII and disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

This retrospective study included 136 patients with AS and 63 healthy controls. Patients were divided into two groups according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); active group (n = 60) and remission group (n = 76). Clinical, laboratory, and demographic characteristics were recorded. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to determine correlations of SII with C‐reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and BASDAI in AS patients. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for AS disease activity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of SII and the above variables for the active group compared with the remission group.

Results

Systemic immune‐inflammation index levels were higher in AS patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). SII levels were higher in the active group than in the remission group (p < 0.001). For patients with AS, SII correlated positively with CRP (rs = 0.483, p < 0.001), ESR (rs = 0.374, p < 0.001), and BASDAI (rs = 0.667, p < 0.001). SII (OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.006–1.012, p < 0.001) was an independent risk factor affecting AS disease activity. The specificity and sensitivity of SII using a cutoff value of 513.2 were 83.33% and 86.84%, respectively, for the active group.

Conclusion

Systemic immune‐inflammation index was increased in AS. SII may be a novel indicator for monitoring AS disease activity.
Discrete light sheet microscopic segmentation of left ventricle using morphological tuning and active contours
Authors: Irshad Mehreen , Sharif Muhammad , Yasmin Mussarat , Rehman Amjad , Khan Muhammad Attique
Published: August 2021

Left ventricular segmentation using cardiovascular MR scan is required for the diagnosis and further cure of cardiac diseases. Automatic systems for left ventricle segmentation are being studied for attaining more accurate results in a shorter period of time. A novel algorithm introducing discrete segmentation of left ventricle achieves an independent processing of images swiftly. The workflow consists of four segments; first, automated localization is performed on the MR image. Second, performing preprocessing intimately improves and enhances the quality of image using mean contrast adjustment. Central segmentation of endocardium and epicardium layers includes novel MTAC (Morphological tuning using active contours) segmentation algorithm that provides a perfect combination of active contours and morphological tuning to bring an adequate and desirable segmentation. The prospective snake model is a restrained progression, which takes iterations for an impulse throughout the left ventricle contours. At the end, contrast based refining overcomes minor edge problems for both outer and inner boundaries. Proposed algorithm is evaluated via Sunnybrook cardiac MR images by producing an overall average perpendicular distance 2.45 mm, an average dice matrix (endo: 91.3%; epi: 92.16%) and 91.7% dice matrix of overall endocardium and epicardium contours from ground truth contours.
A review of mammographic image quality in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Pape Ruth , Spuur Kelly Maree , Wilkinson Jenny Maree , Zuhukepe Aileen
Published: August 2021

Introduction

To report for the first time the image quality of mammograms performed in Papua New Guinea (PNG) using the Perfect, Good, Moderate, Inadequate (PGMI) image evaluation system (IES); and to benchmark the image quality against BreastScreen Australia (BSA) National Accreditation Standards (NAS).

Methods

A retrospective image quality analysis of the de‐identified mammograms of 102 women imaged at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) was undertaken using the PGMI IES. Each craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) image was assigned a grade and the reasons for the grade recorded. Age was recorded in years. Simple frequency analysis was undertaken and comparison with BSA NAS 2.4 was made.

Results

Women were aged between 25 and 74 years. There were 111 CC views and 109 MLO views. The most frequent individual grade for the CC view was G (83.8%) and for the MLO view M (72.48%); and for a routine series (four images), P and G combined (14.8%). Non‐visualisation of the IMA (28%), nipple not in profile (26%) and short length of pectoral muscle (12%) were the most cited reasons for assigning an M grade.

Conclusion

The reported image quality is not commensurate with that required by BSA (P and G > 50%) and while common positioning errors can be rectified through education and training, it is also important to recognise the complex challenges faced by PNG radiographers in obtaining mammographic images that extend beyond education and training and reflect the emerging nature of the modality as well as wider health, economic and other issues. This work raises the need for national standards, dedicated equipment, and radiographer education to best serve the women of PNG.
Fragmented QRS on far‐field intracardiac electrograms as a predictor of arrhythmic events
Authors: Osaka Yuki , Ono Yuichi , Goto Kentaro , Yabe Kento , Tanaka Akifumi , Miyazaki Toru , Suzuki Asami , Kurihara Ken , Goya Masahiko , Otomo Kenichiro , Sasano Tetsuo
Published: August 2021

Background

Studies suggest that fragmented QRS (fQRS) can predict arrhythmic events in various cardiac diseases. However, the association between fQRS recordings on intracardiac electrogram (EGM) and ventricular arrhythmic events remains unknown.

Methods

We enrolled 51 patients (age, 62 ± 12 years; 40 men) with an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) and structural heart disease and evaluated surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and EGM measurement of fQRS and the association between fQRS and arrhythmic events.

Results

fQRS was detected on surface ECG and ICD‐EGM in 12 (23.5%) and 15 (29.4%) patients, respectively. fQRS was detected more frequently on ICD‐EGM in patients with fQRS on surface ECG than in patients without fQRS (7/12 [58.3%] vs 8/39 patients [20.5%], P = .01). Appropriate ICD therapies were documented in 16 patients. Among these patients, fQRS was detected more frequently on surface ECG and ICD‐EGM in patients with appropriate ICD therapies (8/16, 50.0%; P = .001 and 11/16, 68.9%; P < .001). Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia was significantly more frequent in patients with appropriate ICD therapies (15/16, 93.8%; P = .04). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that fQRS on ICD‐EGM was a predictor of arrhythmic events (P = .03). Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis revealed that ICD therapies were significantly more frequent among patients with fQRS on both surface ECG and ICD‐EGM than among those without fQRS (66.7% vs 6.6%, P < .001).

Conclusion

The presence of fQRS on ICD‐EGM can be a predictor of arrhythmic events in ICD patients. Surface ECG and ICD‐EGM measurement may help predict ventricular arrhythmic events.
Impacts of multi‐timescale circulations on meridional heat transport
Authors: Liu Qiao , Li Tim , Zhou Weican
Published: August 2021

Relative contributions to the zonal mean meridional heat transport by the climatological annual mean, climatological annual variation, synoptic, intra‐seasonal and lower‐frequency motions were examined based on the ERA‐Interim reanalysis data for the period of 1981–2015. The meridional heat transport analysed in this study only includes the component related to meridional wind and temperature. In the tropics, the climatological annual mean circulations dominate the long‐term mean meridional heat transport, while the interaction between the climatological annual mean temperature and the seasonal anomalous flow largely contributes to the seasonal variation of the meridional heat transport. In the middle latitudes, the climatological annual mean circulations and transient eddies (mostly synoptic and intra‐seasonal eddies) are of roughly equal importance in the poleward heat transport, leading to the maximum poleward heat transport around 50°N/S. The upper‐ and lower‐tropospheric heat transports by the climatological annual mean circulations appear opposite, with the magnitude of the lower‐tropospheric transport being greater. The preferred maximum zonal mean heat transport at 50°N by the climatological mean flow is attributed to the maximum zonal mean low‐level southerly in situ. The preferred peak latitude of the mid‐latitude poleward heat transport by synoptic eddies near 50°N arises from the combined effect of the strong synoptic‐scale meridional wind and temperature variabilities in situ and their in‐phase relationship. The heat transport by tropical cyclones (TCs) was estimated by applying a statistical relationship between TC intensity and the vertically integrated temperature averaged over the TC core region derived from high‐resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations. For northern hemisphere summer, TCs contribute about 35% of the total heat transport in the active TC regions, suggesting that TCs play a critical role in the regional meridional heat transport.
Index‐ and model‐dependent projections of East Asian summer monsoon in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 simulations
Authors: Tian Zhiping , Hu Dan , Lang Xianmei , Jiang Dabang
Published: August 2021

In terms of five categories of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) indices and one classic meridional wind index, we project the EASM intensity change over the 21st century using 27 global climate models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) under the mid‐range combined scenarios of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways and Representative Concentration Pathways (SSP2‐4.5). Results show that future changes in the EASM intensity are index‐ and model‐dependent. Relative to the reference period 1985–2014, the EASM intensity strengthens slightly based on the east–west thermal contrast indices but varies little as a whole based on the southwest monsoon indices over the 21st century, with large discrepancies among the models. However, it tends to weaken over time based on the other three categories of indices, including the north–south thermal contrast indices, the shear vorticity indices, and the South China Sea monsoon indices. In terms of the meridional wind index that directly measures the EASM circulation in the lower troposphere and holds valid under future global warming, the EASM intensity strengthens significantly over the 21st century as a consequence of increases in zonal and meridional land–sea thermal contrasts between the East Asian continent and the adjacent oceans of western North Pacific and South China Sea. There are certain relationships between the trends of the meridional wind index and other EASM indices. The projections are overall consistent between the ensemble means of all available 27 models and the 14 good models as selected according to their abilities to simulate the present EASM climatology, but with different magnitudes.
Reluctant Militants: Colonialism, Territory, and Sanusi Resistance on the Ottoman‐Saharan Frontier
Authors: Lohnes Jonathan M.
Published: August 2021

Libya's enigmatic Sanusi brotherhood has been the subject of perennial debate since its emergence in Ottoman Cyrenaica in the mid nineteenth century, becoming a screen upon which apologists and detractors could project their own political anxieties and desires. For European critics, the brotherhood embodied the irrationality and fanaticism of the Islamic East. Its networks in North and Central Africa constituted an obstacle to their expansionist designs, while Sanusi prestige throughout the Muslim world rendered the brotherhood a threat to the entire colonial order of things. Nationalist historiography has generally endorsed this view, albeit with a positive valence, characterizing the Sanusiyya as an anticolonial social movement. Meanwhile, modern critical scholarship has tried to impose order on the chaos of the turn‐of‐the‐century Sahara by assigning to the fraternity the role of a “proto‐state.” This article proposes a new framework for understanding the history and sociology of the Sanusi. Drawing on theorists of subaltern resistance such as James Scott and Michael Adas—alongside Ottoman, British, French, and Italian primary sources—I demonstrate that the brotherhood began its life as an inward‐looking Islamic social justice movement with little evident interest in state building or the geopolitical controversies of the moment. I coin the term “reluctant militants” to describe its mercurial trajectory from frontier evangelism to armed struggle in response to French and Italian colonial encirclement. This process culminated in the Long War of 1911–1931, during which the Sanusiyya played a critical part in the struggles over post‐Ottoman reconstruction, from the Maghreb to Anatolia.
The Development of the State‐Owned Enterprises in Turkey: 1923–1980
Authors: Zaifer Ahmet
Published: August 2021

This article seeks to re‐interpret the development of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) in Turkey from 1923 to 1980. The article shows that the dominant strong state tradition (SST) literature, which interpreted the development of SOEs as an independent project of the state to maintain its control over society, had been unable to fully explain the development processes of SOEs because it treated the state as an external entity distinct from (and even opposing to) the social classes. Employing an alternative Poulantzian framework, the article argues that the development of SOEs in Turkey was driven by class‐industry interest and appeared as a precondition of the development of capitalism in Turkey. As such, relations between SOEs and the social classes were internal and complementary, rather than external and antagonistic. The SOEs were providing the bulk of industrial inputs and investment capital to the bourgeoisie fractions within the constitutive context of domestic capital accumulation strategies at the time (e.g. capitalist consolidation in 1930s, capitalist expansion in 1950s, capitalist expansion with duty losses in 1960s and 1970s). The SOEs were also benefiting the laboring and popular classes in terms of employment opportunities and higher wages.
Evaluation of the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Lophatherum gracile Brongn based on chemical fingerprinting by HPLC with electrochemical detection
Authors: Zhang Ping , Chun Zeli , Shao Qiju , Fu Lidan , Luo Yipan , Gu Ding , Chen Rongxiang
Published: August 2021

A combinative method using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrochemical detection for fingerprinting and quantitative analysis was developed and successfully applied for the quality evaluation of Lophatherum gracile Brongn leaves collected from 21 geographical locations in China. In the fingerprint analysis, 18 common peaks were observed among the 21 samples, and 10 peaks were identified. Simultaneous quantification of the 10 components was conducted to interpret the variations in these compounds among the L. gracile Brongn leaves originating from different geographical locations. The correlation between the chromatograms and the antioxidant activities of the samples was further studied. The results indicated a linear correlation between the antioxidant activity and the total common peak areas of the fingerprints obtained by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrochemical detection. Importantly, it was found that high‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrochemical detection fingerprinting can not only determine the quantities of individual components present in such samples but also evaluate the antioxidant activities of the samples. The developed method is a valuable reference for the further study and development of L. gracile Brongn.
Ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid‐phase microextraction by solidifying L‐menthol‐decanoic acid hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents for detection of five fungicides in fruit juices and tea drinks
Authors: Lin Zhihao , Zhang Yaohai , Zhao Qiyang , Chen Aihua , Jiao Bining
Published: August 2021

An ecofriendly and efficient ultrasound‐assisted deep eutectic solvents dispersive liquid‐phase microextraction by solidifying the deep eutectic solvents‐rich phase was developed to determine azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, epoxiconazole, cyprodinil, and prochloraz in fruit juices and tea drinks by high‐performance liquid chromatography. A varieties of environmental hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents serving as extraction agents were prepared using L‐menthol and decanoic acid as hydrogen‐bond acceptor and hydrogen‐bond donor, respectively. The deep eutectic solvents were ultrasonically dispersed in sample solutions, solidified in a freezer and easily harvested. The main variables were optimized by one‐factor‐at‐a‐time and response surface test. The new method performs well with relative recovery of 71.75‐109.40%, linear range of 2.5‐5000 μg/L (r ≥ 0.9968), detection limit of 0.75‐8.45 μg/L, quantification limit of 2.5‐25 μg/L,, and inter‐ and intraday relative standard deviations below 13.53 and 14.84%, respectively. As for the extraction mechanism, deep eutectic solvents were disposed into many fine particles in the solution and captured the analytes based on the changes of particle size and quantity in deep eutectic solvents droplets after extraction. The environmental method can successfully detect fungicide residues in real fruit juices and tea drinks.