bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fully automated quantification method (FQM) of coronary calcium in an anthropomorphic phantom
Authors: van Praagh Gijs D. , van der Werf Niels R. , Wang Jia , van Ommen Fasco , Poelhekken Keris , Slart Riemer H.J.A. , Fleischmann Dominik , Greuter Marcel J.W. , Leiner Tim , Willemink Martin J. 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveCoronary artery calcium (CAC) score is a strong predictor for future adverse cardiovascular events. Anthropomorphic phantoms are often used for CAC studies on computed tomography (CT) to allow for evaluation or variation of scanning or reconstruction parameters within or across scanners against a reference standard. This often results in large number of datasets. Manual assessment of these large datasets is time consuming and cumbersome. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a fully automated, open‐source quantification method (FQM) for coronary calcium in a standardized phantom.Materials and MethodsA standard, commercially available anthropomorphic thorax phantom was used with an insert containing nine calcifications with different sizes and densities. To simulate two different patient sizes, an extension ring was used. Image data were acquired with four state‐of‐the‐art CT systems using routine CAC scoring acquisition protocols. For interscan variability, each acquisition was repeated five times with small translations and/or rotations. Vendor‐specific CAC scores (Agatston, volume, and mass) were calculated as reference scores using vendor‐specific software. Both the international standard CAC quantification methods as well as vendor‐specific adjustments were implemented in FQM. Reference and FQM scores were compared using Bland‐Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients, risk reclassifications, and Cohen’s kappa. Also, robustness of FQM was assessed using varied acquisitions and reconstruction settings and validation on a dynamic phantom. Further, image quality metrics were implemented: noise power spectrum, task transfer function, and contrast‐ and signal‐to‐noise ratio among others. Results were validated using imQuest software.ResultsThree parameters in CAC scoring methods varied among the different vendor‐specific software packages: the Hounsfield unit (HU) threshold, the minimum area used to designate a group of voxels as calcium, and the usage of isotropic voxels for the volume score. The FQM was in high agreement with vendor‐specific scores and ICC’s (median [95% CI]) were excellent (1.000 [0.999‐1.000] to 1.000 [1.000‐1.000]). An excellent interplatform reliability of κ = 0.969 and κ = 0.973 was found. TTF results gave a maximum deviation of 3.8% and NPS results were comparable to imQuest.ConclusionsWe developed a fully automated, open‐source, robust method to quantify CAC on CT scans in a commercially available phantom. Also, the automated algorithm contains image quality assessment for fast comparison of differences in acquisition and reconstruction parameters.
Automatic lung nodule detection in thoracic CT scans using dilated slice‐wise convolutions
Authors: Farhangi M. Mehdi , Sahiner Berkman , Petrick Nicholas , Pezeshk Aria 
Published: May 2021

PurposeMost state‐of‐the‐art automated medical image analysis methods for volumetric data rely on adaptations of two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) convolutional neural networks (CNNs). In this paper, we develop a novel unified CNN‐based model that combines the benefits of 2D and 3D networks for analyzing volumetric medical images.MethodsIn our proposed framework, multiscale contextual information is first extracted from 2D slices inside a volume of interest (VOI). This is followed by dilated 1D convolutions across slices to aggregate in‐plane features in a slice‐wise manner and encode the information in the entire volume. Moreover, we formalize a curriculum learning strategy for a two‐stage system (i.e., a system that consists of screening and false positive reduction), where the training samples are presented to the network in a meaningful order to further improve the performance.ResultsWe evaluated the proposed approach by developing a computer‐aided detection (CADe) system for lung nodules. Our results on 888 CT exams demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively analyze volumetric data by achieving a sensitivity of > 0.99 in the screening stage and a sensitivity of > 0.96 at eight false positives per case in the false positive reduction stage.ConclusionOur experimental results show that the proposed method provides competitive results compared to state‐of‐the‐art 3D frameworks. In addition, we illustrate the benefits of curriculum learning strategies in two‐stage systems that are of common use in medical imaging applications.
Temporal Trends in Inpatient Oncology Census Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Rates of Nosocomial COVID-19 Among Patients with Cancer at a Large Academic Center
Authors: Zubiri Leyre , Rosovsky Rachel P. , Mooradian Meghan J. , Piper-Vallillo A.J. , Gainor Justin F. , Sullivan Ryan J. , Marte Daniel , Boland Genevieve M. , Gao Xin , Hochberg Ephraim P. , Ryan David P. , McEwen Corey , Mai Minh , Sharova Tanya , Soumerai Tara E. , Bardia Aditya , Reynolds Kerry L. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted health care systems. However, to date, the trend of hospitalizations in the oncology patient population has not been studied, and the frequency of nosocomial spread to patients with cancer is not well understood. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on inpatient oncology census and determine the nosocomial rate of COVID-19 in patients with cancer admitted at a large academic center.

Materials and Methods
Medical records of patients with cancer diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted were reviewed to evaluate the temporal trends in inpatient oncology census during pre–COVID-19 (January 2019 to February 2020), COVID-19 (March to May 2020), and post–COVID-19 surge (June to August 2020) in the region. In addition, nosocomial infection rates of SARS-CoV-2 were reviewed.

Results
Overall, the daily inpatient census was steady in 2019 (median, 103; range, 92–118) and until February 2020 (median, 112; range, 102–114). However, there was a major decline from March to May 2020 (median, 68; range, 57–104), with 45.4% lower admissions during April 2020. As the COVID-19 surge eased, the daily inpatient census over time returned to the pre–COVID-19 baseline (median, 103; range, 99–111). One patient (1/231, 0.004%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 13 days after hospitalization, and it is unclear if it was nosocomial or community spread.

Conclusion
In this study, inpatient oncology admissions decreased substantially during the COVID-19 surge but over time returned to the pre–COVID-19 baseline. With aggressive infection control measures, the rates of nosocomial transmission were exceedingly low and should provide reassurance to those seeking medical care, including inpatient admissions when medically necessary.

Implications for Practice
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the health care system, and cancer patients are a vulnerable population. This study observes a significant decline in the daily inpatient oncology census from March to May 2020 compared with the same time frame in the previous year and examines the potential reasons for this decline. In addition, nosocomial rates of COVID-19 were investigated, and rates were found to be very low. These findings suggest that aggressive infection control measures can mitigate the nosocomial infection risk among cancer patients and the inpatient setting is a safe environment, providing reassurance.
Hydroxymethylfurfural as an Intermediate of Cellulose Carbonization
Authors: Nomura Takashi , Minami Eiji , Kawamoto Haruo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHydrogen bond donor solvents such as aromatic solvents inhibit the secondary degradation of cellulose‐derived primary pyrolysis products. In a previous study, we found that the formation of solid carbonized products was completely inhibited during cellulose pyrolysis in aromatic solvents, with 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) recovered in certain yields instead. This indicated that 5‐HMF is an intermediate in cellulose carbonization. To confirm this hypothesis, the thermal reactivity of 5‐HMF was investigated. At 280 °C, pure 5‐HMF polymerized into a hard glassy substance through OH group elimination, but further conversion was slow. When pyrolyzed in the presence of glycerol, a model of coexisting primary pyrolysis products from cellulose, a coupling reaction proceeded. Reactions characteristic of cellulose carbonization then occurred, including the formation of acidic groups and benzene‐type structures in the solid products. These results confirmed the above hypothesis. The molecular mechanism of cellulose carbonization is discussed, focusing on the crystalline nature.
Three‐dimensional analysis of the temporal bone and mandibular morphology in mandibular prognathism with facial asymmetry
Authors: Kawamura Tomoko , Fukui Tadao , Nishiyama Hideyoshi , Kobayashi Tadaharu , Takagi Ritsuo , Hayashi Takafumi , Saito Isao 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe aims of this study were to perform a three‐dimensional analysis of the craniofacial area, in particular, the temporal bone and to examine the morphological relationship between the temporal bone and asymmetry of the mandible in subjects with mandibular prognathism and facial asymmetry. Subjects were 50 adult orthognathic patients with facial asymmetry and mandibular prognathism. The initial computed tomographic data were reconstructed into three‐dimensional and multiplanar reconstruction images. Linear and angular measurements of the temporal bone and the mandible were obtained. Then deviated and non‐deviated sides were compared and the relationship between the temporal bone and mandibular morphology was investigated. The lengths of the mandibular body and ramus, the anteroposterior and vertical positions of the mandibular fossa, and the slant angle of the posterior surface of the petrous pyramid were significantly smaller (P < .05) on the deviated side than on the non‐deviated side. Further, the left‐right differences in the temporal bone were positively correlated with a deviation of the mandible and differences in the lengths of the mandibular body and ramus (P < .05). The results suggest that asymmetry of the temporal bone is closely related to mandibular asymmetry and might have an important role in the mechanism of facial asymmetry.
Downregulation of SUN2 promotes metastasis of colon cancer by activating BDNF/TrkB signalling by interacting with SIRT1
Authors: Liu Lijuan , Li Si‐Wei , Yuan Wenxin , Tang Jianjun , Sang Yi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDistant metastasis is the major cause of colon cancer (CC) treatment failure. SAD1/UNC84 domain protein‐2 (SUN2) is a key component of linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes that may be relevant for metastasis in several cancers. Here, we first confirmed that SUN2 levels were significantly lower in primary CC tissues and distant metastasis than in normal colon tissues, and high SUN2 expression predicted good overall survival. Overexpression of SUN2 or knockdown of SUN2 inhibited or promoted cell migration and invasion in vitro, respectively. Moreover, silencing of SUN2 promoted metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we showed that SUN2 exerts its tumour suppressor functions by decreasing the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to inhibit BDNF/tropomyosin‐related kinase B (TrkB) signalling. Additionally, SUN2 associated with SIRT1 and increased the acetylation of methyl‐CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) to increase its occupancy at the BDNF promoter. Taken together, our findings indicate that SUN2 is a key component in CC progression that acts by inhibiting metastasis and that novel SUN2–SIRT1–MeCP2–BDNF signalling may prove to be useful for the development of new strategies for treating patients with CC. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Green composites based on thermoplastic starches and various natural plant fibers: Impacting parameters of the mechanical properties using machine‐learning
Authors: Morin Sophie , Dumoulin Lionel , Delahaye Louise , Jacquet Nicolas , Richel Aurore 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMultivariate analyses on formulation and mechanical behavior of nonwoven and nonoriented natural fibers reinforced thermoplastic starch (TPS) composites were performed. Glycerol and water were considered as TPS plasticizers. Fibers composition (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), fibers morphology (fibers length), starch composition (i.e., amylose/amylopectin ratio) as well as the processing conditions (i.e., temperature, rotor speed, relative humidity during aging) were evaluated for their ability to affect the elastic modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break of the final materials. Multivariate linear regressions were computed to unveil the importance of each variable on the mechanical behavior. Fibers composition impacted the most the models: cellulose maximization improved the elastic modulus and tensile strength while lignin reduced the elastic modulus and hemicellulose decreased the tensile strength. TPS plasticizers, temperature, and rotor speed of the process were negatively impacting the elastic modulus but in a lesser extent than the fiber composition. Within the range of the created database, the selected variables and attributed coefficients were permitted to explain the variability. The produced models revealed that complex and yet uninvestigated interactions are to be considered within TPS‐based biocomposites. Therefore, this work discusses and suggests a “must‐have” list of variables for comparable analyses of new TPS‐based biocomposites using natural fibers as reinforcement.
Enhanced toughness and gas permeabilities of polyimide composites derived from polyimide matrix and flower‐like polyimide microparticles
Authors: Wang Yao , Lu Yunhua , Zhang Jianhua , Liang Ying , Chi Haijun , Xiao Guoyong 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe flower‐like polyimide (PI) based on 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and benzidine was successfully obtained via solvothermal method. Using the flower‐like PI as organic fillers, the flower‐like PI/PI composites were fabricated by using 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether and 1,2,4,5‐pyromellitic dianhydride as monomers through in situ polymerization and thermal imidization. The residual amino groups on the surface of flower‐like PI microparticles easily lead to the formation of chemical linkage between the flower‐like PI and PI matrix, which are benefit for tight interface and uniform dispersion. These experimental results showed that the broken elongation of the composites was significantly improved from 9.8% (pure PI) to 33.5% (PI‐4%), but the tensile strength and Young's modules were slightly sacrificed. The glass transition temperatures were mainly concentrated at around 352°C, while the 5% and 10% thermal decomposition temperature were slightly reduced. Furthermore, the light transmittance remarkably decreased from 75.9% (pure PI) to 4.3% (PI‐5%) at 550 nm. When the incorporation of flower‐like PI was 5%, an obvious increase of water uptake from 2.05% to 2.89% was noticed, and the water surface contact angle increased from 67.5° to 89.4°, indicating the increasing hydrophobicity. Additionally, with the increase of flower‐like PI fillers, the gas permeation flux of H2, CO2, O2, and N2 enhanced by more than two times, and the selectivities of O2/N2 and CO2/N2 increased first and then decreased. Therefore, the flower‐like PI microparticles will be promising functional fillers to improve the properties of polyimide materials.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of prasugrel versus ticagrelor following percutaneous coronary intervention: An observational study
Authors: Belviso Nicholas , Aronow Herbert D. , Wyss Richard , Barbour Marilyn , Zhang Yichi , Wen Xuerong , Kogut Stephen 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundObservational studies comparing ticagrelor and prasugrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have yielded contradictory results, but these studies often did not consider differential censoring (eg, for treatment switching or insurance disenrollment) or confounding by time‐dependent factors.ObjectiveOur objective was to conduct a comparative effectiveness and safety analysis of ticagrelor and prasugrel in patients who underwent PCI after being hospitalized for an ACS.MethodsThis study used the Optum's de‐identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database and included patients aged 18 years or older with an index hospital admission between May 2012 and September 2015, a diagnosis of ACS managed with PCI, and treatment with either ticagrelor or prasugrel. The primary composite outcome was defined as the first occurrence of all‐cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemic stroke. The secondary composite outcome included the first occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) bleed, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), or other major bleeds requiring hospitalization. Weighted Cox proportional hazard models and robust variance estimation were implemented to adjust for baseline comorbidities, time‐varying exposure, time‐dependent confounders, and differential censoring.ResultsIncluded in the analysis were 2559 patients initiated on ticagrelor and 4456 patients initiated on prasugrel following PCI. Patients initiated on ticagrelor were 10% more likely to have eligibility disenrollment (Ticagrelor: 57%, Prasugrel: 47%, p < 0.01) and 7 percentage‐points more likely to switch medication (Ticagrelor: 35%, Prasugrel: 28%, p < 0.01). After adjusting for multiple factors, including time‐varying exposure and censoring imbalance, ticagrelor was associated with a higher risk of all‐cause death, MI, or stroke when compared to prasugrel (Hazard ratio (HR): 1.33; 95% CI: 1.04–1.68). Similarly, ticagrelor was associated with a higher risk in bleeding events when compared with prasugrel (HR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.19–2.17).ConclusionWhen compared with ticagrelor, prasugrel use following PCI for ACS was associated with a lower risk of death, MI, or stroke, as well as a reduced risk of major bleeding.
Analytical estimates of front velocity in the frontal polymerization of thermoset polymers and composites
Authors: Kumar Aditya , Gao Yuan , Geubelle Philippe H. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis note presents approximate analytical expressions for the velocity of the self‐propagating reaction front in the frontal polymerization of thermoset polymers and composites. Prior estimates available in the literature for the front velocity have been limited by their applicability to simple reaction kinetics. The improved estimates provided in this work are shown to be applicable to complex reaction kinetics encountered in the frontal polymerization of neat thermoset polymers or fiber‐reinforced polymer‐matrix composites with a wide range of polymer chemistries, including dicyclopentadiene, cyclooctadiene, acrylates, and epoxies. They are also shown to be applicable to wide range of values of the initial temperature and initial degree of cure of the resin, and of the volume fraction of the reinforcing phase.
Synthesis and Characterization of Large PbSe Colloidal Quantum Dots
Authors: Palosz Witold , Trivedi Sudhir , DeCuir Eric , Wijewarnasuriya Priyalal S. , Thon Susanna M. , Cheng Yan , Lu Chengchangfeng , Jensen Janet L. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLarge colloidal quantum dots of PbSe (first excitonic peak position >2 µm) are synthesized under different conditions of temperature, the concentration of precursors and their ratio, and concentration of oleic acid and diphenylphosphine. The dependence of the optical properties, grain size dispersity, and process yield on the processing conditions is systematically explored and discussed. The Ostwald ripening process and how it affects grain growth is demonstrated. Finally, the results for the dependence of the absorption wavelength on the grain diameter for large nanocrystals are compared to the relationships reported in the literature for smaller nanocrystals.
A Dual‐Functional Ferroferric Oxide/Quantum Dots Theranostic Nanoplatform for Fluorescent Labeling and Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Yin Naiqiang , Li Peng , Xu Xiaoliang , Zhu Lixin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA biocompatible, nontoxic theranostic nanoplatform consisting of mesoporous silica‐coated ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) and Mn‐doped ZnS‐ZnS quantum dots (QDs) is synthesized via a layer‐by‐layer method. Transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffractometer, magnetometry, and fluorophotometer are employed to characterize the nanoplatform. The nanoplatform exhibits excellent superparamagnetic, fluorescent, and light absorption properties. The template method is introduced to form a mesoporous silica structure on the nanoplatform, lowering the mass of the nanoplatform and effectively promoting the absorption efficiency of the incident light compared with the traditional silica layer. In addition, after endocytosis of the nanoplatform, cancer cells are easily detected under a fluorescence microscope because of the excellent fluorescent behavior of QDs. Moreover, in vitro experiments confirm that nanoplatform possesses perfect photothermal effect to destroy tumor cells under laser irradiation. Therefore, ferroferric oxide/QDs nanoplatforms, combined with the functions of fluorescent labeling and photothermal therapy for cancer cells, are expected to be a promising biopotential material in the field of diagnosis and treatment.
Exposure‐response modeling for extrapolation from adult to pediatric patients who differ with respect to prognostic factors: Application to everolimus
Authors: Dumortier Thomas , Heimann Günter , Fink Martin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPediatric extrapolation is essential for bringing treatments to the pediatric population, especially for indications where the recruitment of pediatric patients into clinical trials is difficult and where fully powered trials are impossible. Often a similar exposure‐response relationship between adult and pediatric patients can be assumed, but just matching exposures can be misleading when some prognostic factors for efficacy differ between those two patient populations. We present an example in liver transplantation where different study designs led to different (time‐dependent) hazards between populations. Only after accounting for this difference an apparent mismatch between the extrapolation from adults and the pediatric study could be resolved. This article also exemplifies a clear scientific, methodological approach of pediatric extrapolation, including model building in adults, extrapolation to pediatrics, qualification of the extrapolation, and derivation of the actual pediatric efficacy.