bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics analysis of 1180 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease
Authors: Zhao Heping , Zhu Ping , Han Tao , Ye Qing , Xu Cuiping , Wu Lina , Liu Fang , Yin Weili , Li Zhiyong , Guo Ying 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the clinical and liver stiffness characteristics of a cohort of Chinese patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma in different stages of Barcelona clinic liver cancer.MethodsDetails of 1180 patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma referred from October 2014 to November 2017 were collected retrospectively. Demographic data, etiology, clinical, and biochemical details were retrospectively analyzed. The changes of liver stiffness in different etiologies and different stages of Barcelona clinic liver cancer were especially analyzed.ResultsThe onset age was 60.33 ± 9.11 (range 24‐84) years, 9 cases were ≤40 years, 572 cases were 41‐60 years, males accounted for 83.92%, females accounted for 16.08%; 599 cases were ≥61 years, males accounted for 78.25%, females accounted for 21.75%. Compared with males, the proportion of females ≥61 is higher than that of men. Majority (n = 787; 66.69%) had HBV infection; second commonest cause was HCV infection (n = 217; 18.39%). More patients with HBV infection were 41‐60 years (69.06%) and were younger than HCV patients. There was no statistical difference in etiology, age, gender, and distribution of diabetes mellitus among different Barcelona clinic liver cancer stages (P > .05). The overall Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was found to be positively correlated with alkaline phosphatase, γ‐glutamyltransferase, and alpha‐fetoprotein and liver stiffness measurement values from stage A to stage D (P < .05). ANOVA analysis showed that the overall liver stiffness measurement among the four BCLC stages was found to be statistically significant different in HBV‐infected and HCV‐infected HCC patients.ConclusionMajority (99.24%) were patients aged >40 years old. Male is a high incidence population. In etiological analysis, HBV dominates HCC occurrence, HBV‐, HCV‐, and alcohol‐associated HCC have distinct clinical and biochemical characteristics, necessitating different screening policies to optimize HCC surveillance and management.
Microstructure and compression resistance of bean goose (Anser fabalis) feather shaft
Authors: Zou Meng , Xu Lihan , Zhou Jianfei , Song Jiafeng , Liu Shengfu , Li Xiujuan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe bean goose Anser fabalis, noted for its excellent flying ability, has feathers composed of keratinized products derived from epidermal cells, which play a crucial role in flight. The feather shaft is an important connective unit, made of a lightweight material, which also contributes to aiding flight. The shaft can withstand loads from different directions and has outstanding compression resistance. In this study, the microstructure and composition of the A. fabalis feather shaft were observed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and its compression resistance was studied by compression testing. The results indicated that the mechanical property of the shaft is related to its microstructure. Compression testing verified that the primary feathers had the strongest mechanical properties, followed by the secondaries, and finally the alulae. Under the same conditions, the specific energy absorption of the three feather types was 5.96, 5.02, and 3.17 J/g, respectively. With increasing moisture content, the rachis was softened and the energy absorption was reduced. At low moisture content, the specific energy absorption of the primaries was reduced to 1.03 J/g, that of the secondaries was reduced to 1.72 J/g, and that of the alulae to 0.39 J/g. The feather shafts have the advantage of light weight while maintaining the required mechanical properties. These results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for crashworthiness in bionic designs based on the requirements of light weight.
Sample preparation strategies for high‐throughput mass spectrometry imaging of primary tumor organoids
Authors: Johnson Jillian , Sharick Joe T. , Skala Melissa C. , Li Lingjun 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPatient‐derived 3D organoids show great promise for understanding patient heterogeneity and chemotherapy response in human‐derived tissue. The combination of organoid culture techniques with mass spectrometry imaging provides a label‐free methodology for characterizing drug penetration, patient‐specific response, and drug biotransformation. However, current methods used to grow tumor organoids employ extracellular matrices that can produce small molecule background signal during mass spectrometry imaging analysis. Here, we develop a method to isolate 3D human tumor organoids out of a Matrigel extracellular matrix into gelatin mass spectrometry compatible microarrays for high‐throughput mass spectrometry imaging analysis. The alignment of multiple organoids in the same z‐axis is essential for sectioning organoids together and for maintaining reproducible sample preparation on a single glass slide for up to hundreds of organoids. This method successfully removes organoids from extracellular matrix interference and provides an organized array for high‐throughput imaging analysis to easily identify organoids by eye for area selection and further analysis. With this method, mass spectrometry imaging can be readily applied to organoid systems for preclinical drug development and personalized medicine research initiatives.
Modeling Patterns of Polyvictimization and Their Associations with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Israeli Population
Authors: Vang Maria Louison , Ben‐Ezra Menachem , Shevlin Mark 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAlthough evidence is accumulating for the conceptual validity of the ICD‐11 proposal for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD), our understanding of the specificity of trauma‐related predictors is still evolving. Specifically, studies utilizing advanced statistical methods to model the association between trauma exposure and ICD‐11 proposals of traumatic stress and differences in profiles of trauma exposure are lacking. Additionally, time since trauma and a clear memory of the trauma are yet to be examined as predictors of PTSD and CPTSD. We analyzed trauma exposure as reported by a general population sample of Israeli adults (N = 834), using latent class analysis, and the resultant classes were used in regression models to predict PTSD and CPTSD operationalized both dimensionally and categorically. Four distinct groups were identified: child and adult interpersonal victimization, community victimization–male, community victimization–female, and adult victimization. These groups were differentially related to PTSD and CPTSD, with only child and adult interpersonal victimization consistently predicting CPTSD and disturbances in self‐organization. When modeled dimensionally, PTSD was associated with the child and adult interpersonal victimization and adult victimization groups, whereas only the child and adult interpersonal victimization group was predictive of PTSD when operationalized categorically. The roles of time since trauma and a clear memory of the trauma differed across PTSD and CPTSD. These findings support the use of trauma typologies for predicting PTSD and CPTSD and provide important insight into the distribution of trauma exposure in the Israeli population.
Comparative assessment of temporal changes in soil degradation under four contrasting land‐use options along a tropical toposequence
Authors: Alarima Cornelius I. , Annan‐Afful Ebenezer , Obalum Sunday E. , Awotunde Joseph M. , Masunaga Tsugimasu , Igwe Charles A. , Wakatsuki Toshiyuki 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAssessment of land‐use types has conventionally been on spatial rather than temporal scales, thus limiting the inference on relative potential of land‐use types against soil degradation, needed to validate their allotment to ecosystems on agricultural watersheds. The study assessed the changes in key indices of soil degradation among four land‐use systems of West African 'watershed' agroforestry development over about a decade (1999–2011) along a toposequence in Central Ghana. The land‐use systems were grass‐dominated natural fallow (Fallow), cocoa plantation (CPT), traditional rice farm (TRF), andSawahecotechnology for wet inland valley rice farm (Sawah), with sampled land areas covering 2,000, 1,500, 4,500, and 6400 m2, respectively. In 1999 and 2011, soil samples were taken from 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60‐cm depths. Samples were collected from about the same spots in both years. The samples were analyzed for selected physicochemical parameters and, for each land‐use option and depth, comparison made between 1999 and 2011. A mean‐weighted decadal change in degradation status was used to rank the land‐use options. Most of the decadal changes in soil properties (including available micronutrients) were negative, with about two‐third of the significant changes in the top (0–20 cm) soils. For instance, soil pH tended to decrease in 2011 compared with 1999; the decreases (14.51%) were significant in the topsoils underSawahwhere no other index showed significant decline. Topsoil total carbon decreased under TRF (49.08%) and CPT (32.80%). Available phosphorus marginally increased only underSawah. The overall aggregate scores for the mean‐weighted decadal change in degradation status showed that the land‐use options differed in their potential to resist degradation:Sawah(slight), Fallow (mild), and TRF/CPT (moderate). Our findings highlight the extent of temporal changes in soil degradation under different topo‐positions in tropical African ecosystems while pointing to the superiority ofSawahecotechnology. Increased use of this soil‐and‐water management system in lowland rice farming could, therefore, have some soil conservation benefits.
Filling a void: Analysis of early tropical soil and vegetative recovery under leguminous, post‐coal mine reforestation plantations in East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Woodbury David J. , Yassir Ishak , Arbainsyah  , Doroski Danica A. , Queenborough Simon A. , Ashton Mark S. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractLand degradation in Borneo, one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots, is extensive. In East Kalimantan, 5,000,000 ha of land are zoned for surface‐mined coal. Deforestation from this mining threatens biodiversity and results in soil degradation, erosion, and polluted runoff, all directly impacting human populations. Revegetation methods developed for temperate forests are commonly used globally for mine rehabilitation. However, few empirical studies of native forest restoration as part of mine rehabilitation exist from wet tropical regions. Here, a chronosequence was established to observe forest succession under leguminous plantations at the PT Singlurus Pratama coal mine in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Soil and natural regeneration data were recorded from samples of ten 20 × 60‐m plots randomly located in plantings aged 2, 7, and, 9 years postmining. Linear models (LMEMs) did not reveal greater soil pH, woody plant diversity, or soil phosphorus and nitrogen in older plantings. Rather, they showed higher soil carbon in older plantings, whereas nitrogen and pH were positively correlated with woody species diversity and abundance. Graminoids were less abundant, but ferns were more abundant in older sites in an ordination analysis. The implications are exotic tree plantations shade‐out competitive understory herbaceous species (such as graminoids), opening growing space for other vegetation. However, the establishment of woody species is spatially limited possibly by differences in soil degradation among sites. Our results suggest that planting leguminous trees alone may not be sufficient to restore native forests, and future management should conserve and facilitate the establishment of tropical forest topsoil.
Rayleigh‐Instability‐Induced Transformation for Confined Polystyrene Nanotubes Prepared Using the Solvent‐Vapor‐Induced Wetting Method
Authors: Fang Zhi‐Xuan , Chu Chien‐Wei , Tsai Chia‐Chan , Chang Chun‐Wei , Cheng Ming‐Hsiang , Chang Chia‐Chih , Chen Jiun‐Tai 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPolystyrene (PS) nanotubes prepared using the solvent‐vapor‐induced wetting method with anodic aluminum oxide templates are for the first time applied to study the thermal stabilities of polymer nanotubes confined in cylindrical geometries. The morphologies of the PS nanotubes and the corresponding transformed PS nanostructures driven by the Rayleigh instabilities after thermal annealing treatments are characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Morphology diagrams of the Rayleigh‐instability‐induced nanostructures for PS nanotubes prepared via the solvent‐vapor‐induced wetting method and the solution wetting method are constructed to study the differences in kinetics for samples using different wetting methods. Slower transformation kinetics for the PS samples prepared by the solvent‐vapor‐induced wetting method than those prepared by the solution wetting method are observed, indicating the better thermal stabilities and the relatively denser packings of the polymer chains in the nanopores for the PS samples prepared using the solvent‐vapor‐induced wetting method.
The Parkinson's Disease Mendelian Randomization Research Portal
Authors: Noyce Alastair J. , Bandres‐Ciga Sara , Kim Jonggeol , Heilbron Karl , Kia Demis , Hemani Gibran , Xue Angli , Lawlor Debbie A. , Smith George Davey , Duran Raquel , Gan‐Or Ziv , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Gibbs J. Raphael ,   23andMe Research Team, International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC), Hinds David A. , Yang Jian , Visscher Peter , Cuzick Jack , Morris Huw , Hardy John , Wood Nicholas W. , Nalls Mike A. , Singleton Andrew B. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundMendelian randomization is a method for exploring observational associations to find evidence of causality.ObjectiveTo apply Mendelian randomization between risk factors/phenotypic traits (exposures) and PD in a large, unbiased manner, and to create a public resource for research.MethodsWe used two‐sample Mendelian randomization in which the summary statistics relating to single‐nucleotide polymorphisms from 5,839 genome‐wide association studies of exposures were used to assess causal relationships with PD. We selected the highest‐quality exposure genome‐wide association studies for this report (n = 401). For the disease outcome, summary statistics from the largest published PD genome‐wide association studies were used. For each exposure, the causal effect on PD was assessed using the inverse variance weighted method, followed by a range of sensitivity analyses. We used a false discovery rate of 5% from the inverse variance weighted analysis to prioritize exposures of interest.ResultsWe observed evidence for causal associations between 12 exposures and risk of PD. Of these, nine were effects related to increasing adiposity and decreasing risk of PD. The remaining top three exposures that affected PD risk were tea drinking, time spent watching television, and forced vital capacity, but these may have been biased and were less convincing. Other exposures at nominal statistical significance included inverse effects of smoking and alcohol.ConclusionsWe present a new platform which offers Mendelian randomization analyses for a total of 5,839 genome‐wide association studies versus the largest PD genome‐wide association studies available (https://pdgenetics.shinyapps.io/MRportal/). Alongside, we report further evidence to support a causal role for adiposity on lowering the risk of PD. © 2019 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Using a 2x‐thru standard to achieve accurate de‐embedding of measurements
Authors: Ellison Jason , Smith Stephen B. , Agili Sedig 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe broadband measurement of interconnects and on‐board devices requires the usage of test fixtures in order to connect to the measurement instrumentation. Proper assessment of the device performance requires removal of the effects of these test fixtures which is done using a de‐embedding procedure. Previous de‐embedding procedures such as Thru‐Reflect‐Line (TRL), Line‐Reflect‐Match (LRM) and other similar methods require the measurement of multiple standards. Alternatively, some methods such as thru de‐embedding techniques require measurement of one standard with explicit computation of only two or three of the four error terms. This is justified by using the sometimes questionable assumption of fixture reciprocity. Prior art also does not include derivation of all of the required equations. Proposed and explained in detail here is the usage of a 2x‐thru standard which is manipulated to derive complete fixture models without making assumptions about reciprocity or symmetry. Subsequently these models are mathematically removed from the indirect measurement, thus isolating the performance of the DUT. In contrast to prior art, this method uses only one standard instead of three, and it computes all four terms to make a complete fixture model. Several test cases are presented which illustrate the accuracy and validity of the 2x‐thru method for broadband applications.
Modified fast adaptive scatter kernel superposition (mfASKS) correction and its dosimetric impact on CBCT‐based proton therapy dose calculation
Authors: Nomura Yusuke , Xu Qiong , Peng Hao , Takao Seishin , Shimizu Shinichi , Xing Lei , Shirato Hiroki 
Published: October 2019

PurposeWhile cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is able to provide patient anatomical information, its image quality is severely degraded due to scatter contamination, which degrades the accuracy of CBCT‐based dose distribution estimation in proton therapy. In this work, we combined two existing scatter kernel correction methods: the point‐spread function (PSF)‐based scatter kernel derivation method and the fast adaptive scatter kernel superposition (fASKS) model, and evaluated the impact of the modified fASKS (mfASKS) correction on the accuracy of proton dose distribution estimation. To evaluate feasibility of the mfASKS approach using accurate scatter distributions, both Monte Carlo simulations and experiments were performed for an on‐board CBCT machine integrated with a proton therapy machine.MethodsWe developed a strategy to modify central intensity, constant intensity, and amplitude of the scatter kernels derived from PSFs for the fASKS model. A parameter required for the fASKS model was derived by optimizing uniformity in the mfASKS‐corrected reconstructed images. Subsequently, the mfASKS model was used to remove scatter in CBCT imaging. We quantitatively compared the Hounsfield Unit (HU) and proton stopping power ratio (SPR) images for five different phantoms. To assess improvement of dose calculation accuracy, a series of proton treatment plans were produced using the CBCT images with and without the mfASKS correction.ResultsThe accuracies of both HU and SPR intensity quantifications are improved as a result of the mfASKS correction. Mean absolute water‐equivalent path length difference to the true value decreases from 10.3 to 0.934 mm for the Gammex phantom (simulation). At the same time, mfASKS is able to offer more accurate dose distributions, especially at the distal fall‐off region where noticeable dose overestimation is observed in the uncorrected scenario. Mean absolute relative error of proton range in the pelvic phantom improves from 5.03% to 2.57% (experiment).ConclusionsmfASKS enables more accurate CBCT‐based proton dose calculation. This technique has significant implications in image‐guided radiotherapy and dose verifications in adaptive proton therapy.
Toward the combined optimization of dynamic axes (CODA) for stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery using fixed couch trajectories
Authors: MacDonald R. Lee , Syme Alasdair , Little Brian , Ward Lucy , Thomas Christopher G. 
Published: October 2019

PurposeTo develop a novel system for patient‐specific combined optimization of couch, collimator, and gantry angles for use in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment planning. The system was designed to produce highly compact dose distributions by extensively sampling the 4π space. Automated fixed couch trajectory planning was used to reduce normal tissue doses by avoiding beams‐eye‐view (BEV) overlap with organs‐at‐risk (OARs) and improve monitor unit (MU) efficiency through collimator angle optimization.MethodsBy merging distinct BEV objective functions used to optimize the couch rotation angle and collimator angle, a three‐dimensional (3D) cost space (the CODA cube) was constructed with axes of gantry, couch, and collimator rotation angles. At each voxel in this CODA cube, the cost of implementing this combination of axes positions in fixed couch trajectories was quantified. The CODA cube was sampled and explored using a modified constrained Bellman‐Ford algorithm to suggest low‐cost fixed candidate arcs on each plane of the space, from which 10‐arcs are chosen throughout the 3D space using a k‐means clustering algorithm. These fixed couch trajectories were then imported into the Eclipse treatment planning system (v.11) and inverse‐optimized according to clinical standards. Eight artificial cranial targets were contoured in a test‐patient anatomy, and seven treatment plans were generated from combinations of three and four targets. The CODA cube optimized plans were compared to standard 4‐arc VMAT plans for cranial stereotactic radiotherapy/surgery that were optimized for the same sets of targets; maximum dose to each OAR, V12Gy to normal brain, conformity, and total MUs were compared. Both planning methods were inverse‐optimized with identical dosimetric objectives.ResultsCODA plans resulted in a reduction in maximum dose to OARs of 20.6% (P < 0.01), with maximum brainstem dose decreased by 2.63 Gy (P = 0.031) on average when compared to the standard arc arrangement. The mean reduction in total MU was 8.6% (P = 0.156), the mean increase in the inverse of the van’t Riet conformation number was 0.1%, (P = 0.67) and the mean decrease in normal brain tissue receiving 12 Gy or higher was 3.9% (P = 0.16), when compared to the standard VMAT arc configuration (n = 7).ConclusionsThe optimization of couch, collimator, and gantry angles simultaneously using a 3D optimization space achieved improvement on multiple clinical metrics when compared to the standard VMAT arc configuration. A statistically significant sparing to OAR maximum doses was seen. Combining these optimizations may yield superior results to independent optimization.