bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cascaded deep learning‐based auto‐segmentation for head and neck cancer patients: Organs at risk on T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Korte James C. , Hardcastle Nicholas , Ng Sweet Ping , Clark Brett , Kron Tomas , Jackson Price 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPurposeTo investigate multiple deep learning methods for automated segmentation (auto‐segmentation) of the parotid glands, submandibular glands, and level II and level III lymph nodes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Outlining radiosensitive organs on images used to assist radiation therapy (radiotherapy) of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is a time‐consuming task, in which variability between observers may directly impact on patient treatment outcomes. Auto‐segmentation on computed tomography imaging has been shown to result in significant time reductions and more consistent outlines of the organs at risk.MethodsThree convolutional neural network (CNN)‐based auto‐segmentation architectures were developed using manual segmentations and T2‐weighted MRI images provided from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) radiotherapy MRI auto‐contouring (RT‐MAC) challenge dataset (n = 31). Auto‐segmentation performance was evaluated with segmentation similarity and surface distance metrics on the RT‐MAC dataset with institutional manual segmentations (n = 10). The generalizability of the auto‐segmentation methods was assessed on an institutional MRI dataset (n = 10).ResultsAuto‐segmentation performance on the RT‐MAC images with institutional segmentations was higher than previously reported MRI methods for the parotid glands (Dice: 0.860 ± 0.067, mean surface distance [MSD]: 1.33 ± 0.40 mm) and the first report of MRI performance for submandibular glands (Dice: 0.830 ± 0.032, MSD: 1.16 ± 0.47 mm). We demonstrate that high‐resolution auto‐segmentations with improved geometric accuracy can be generated for the parotid and submandibular glands by cascading a localizer CNN and a cropped high‐resolution CNN. Improved MSDs were observed between automatic and manual segmentations of the submandibular glands when a low‐resolution auto‐segmentation was used as prior knowledge in the second‐stage CNN. Reduced auto‐segmentation performance was observed on our institutional MRI dataset when trained on external RT‐MAC images; only the parotid gland auto‐segmentations were considered clinically feasible for manual correction (Dice: 0.775 ± 0.105, MSD: 1.20 ± 0.60 mm).ConclusionsThis work demonstrates that CNNs are a suitable method to auto‐segment the parotid and submandibular glands on MRI images of patients with HNC, and that cascaded CNNs can generate high‐resolution segmentations with improved geometric accuracy. Deep learning methods may be suitable for auto‐segmentation of the parotid glands on T2‐weighted MRI images from different scanners, but further work is required to improve the performance and generalizability of these methods for auto‐segmentation of the submandibular glands and lymph nodes.
Positional and compositional analysis of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in human adipose tissue triglyceride by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Torres Alejandra N. , Tavares Ludgero , Pereira Maria J. , Eriksson Jan W. , Jones John G. 
Published: October 2021

The synthesis and turnover of triglyceride in adipose tissue involves enzymes with preferences for specific fatty acid classes and/or regioselectivity regarding the fatty acid position within the glycerol moiety. The focus of the current study was to characterize both the composition of fatty acids and their positional distribution in triglycerides of biopsied human subcutaneous adipose tissue, from subjects with wide ranges of body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity, using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The triglyceride sn2 position was significantly more enriched with monounsaturated fatty acids compared with that of sn1,3, while the abundance of saturated fatty acids was significantly lower in the sn2 position compared with that of sn1,3. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the total fraction of palmitoleic acid with both BMI and insulin sensitivity scores (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index). Additionally, we established that 13C NMR chemical shifts for ω‐3 signals, centered at 31.9 ppm, provided superior resolution of the most abundant fatty acid species, including palmitoleate, compared with the ω‐2 signals that were used previously. 13C NMR spectroscopy reveals for the first time a highly nonhomogenous distribution of fatty acids in the glycerol sites of human adipose tissue triglyceride, and that these distributions are correlated with different phenotypes, such as BMI and insulin sensitivity.
Analgesic effects of medicinal plants and phytochemicals on chemotherapy‐induced neuropathic pain through glial modulation
Authors: Lee Ji Hwan , Kim Nari , Park Sangwon , Kim Sun Kwang 
Published: October 2021

AbstractChemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) frequently occurs in cancer patients. This side effect lowers the quality of life of patients and may cause the patients to abandon chemotherapy. Several medications (e.g., duloxetine and gabapentin) are recommended as remedies to treat CIPN; however, usage of these drugs is limited because of low efficacy or side effects such as dizziness, nausea, somnolence, and vomiting. From ancient East Asia, the decoction of medicinal herbal formulas or single herbs have been used to treat pain and could serve as alternative therapeutic option. Recently, the analgesic potency of medicinal plants and their phytochemicals on CIPN has been reported, and a majority of their effects have been shown to be mediated by glial modulation. In this review, we summarize the analgesic efficacy of medicinal plants and their phytochemicals, and discuss their possible mechanisms focusing on glial modulation in animal studies.
Chemogenetic stimulation of the Gi pathway in astrocytes suppresses neuroinflammation
Authors: Kim Jae‐Hong , Rahman Md Habibur , Lee Won Ha , Suk Kyoungho 
Published: October 2021

AbstractEngineered G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are commonly used in chemogenetics as designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). Although several GPCRs have been studied in astrocytes using a chemogenetic approach, the functional role of the astrocytic Gi pathway is not clear, as the literature is conflicting depending on the brain regions or behaviors investigated. In this study, we evaluated the role of the astrocytic Gi pathway in neuroinflammation using a Gi‐coupled DREADD (hM4Di). Gi‐DREADD was expressed in hippocampal astrocytes of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced neuroinflammation mouse model using adeno‐associated viruses. We found that astrocyte Gi‐DREADD stimulation using clozapine N‐oxide (CNO) inhibits neuroinflammation, as characterized by decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, glial activation, and cognitive impairment in mice. Subsequent experiments using primary astrocyte cultures revealed that Gi‐DREADD stimulation significantly downregulated LPS‐induced expression of Nos2 mRNA and nitric oxide production. Similarly, in vitro calcium imaging showed that activation of the astrocytic Gi pathway attenuated intracellular calcium transients triggered by LPS treatment, suggesting a positive correlation between enhanced calcium transients and the inflammatory phenotype of astrocytes observed in the inflamed brain. Taken together, our results indicate that the astrocytic Gi pathway plays an inhibitory role in neuroinflammation, providing an opportunity to identify potential cellular and molecular targets to control neuroinflammation.
Responses of the atmospheric boundary layer to a low‐latitude mesoscale SST front
Authors: Zhao Zhongkuo , Bi Xueyan , Dudhia Jimy , Luo Yali , Song Jinbao , Song Qingtao , Wu Naigeng 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe responses of the atmospheric boundary layer at low latitudes (20°N) to forcing by an ocean‐mesoscale sea surface temperature (SST) front are investigated under the conditions that the background wind intersects with the SST front (i.e., there are cross‐frontal and along‐frontal wind components) through ideal numerical experiments. The simulation results show that the responses of the atmospheric boundary layer are sensitive to the background wind speed and its direction relative to the SST front. The type of convergence and divergence of Ekman transport and that of the background wind can be constructive or destructive, depending on the relative orientation of the background wind and the SST front. When the two kinds of convergence and divergence are constructive, they can cause strong convergence and divergence in the boundary layer near the SST front; further, the unbalanced state forced over the SST front will excite inertial gravity waves propagating into the free atmosphere. The vertical velocity excited in this case is much greater than that when there is only a cross‐frontal background wind component with an equivalent magnitude. On the contrary, when the two kinds of convergence and divergence are destructive, the resultants of convergence and divergence are reduced significantly, and the interaction between the boundary layer and the aloft atmosphere decays rapidly with height. The significance of the results obtained for the analysis of coastal precipitation are discussed.
The size effect and default risk: Evidence from the Vietnamese stock market
Authors: Quy Duong Le , Bertrand Philippe 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe literature is inconclusive on the source of the size effect. Our paper contributes to extant studies by investigating the relationship between the size premium and default risk in Vietnam, an important frontier emerging market. The debt‐to‐equity ratio and distance‐to‐default of Merton (1974, The Journal of Finance, 29, 449) are used as distress‐risk proxies. Based on more than 300 listed stocks over 2009–2019, we discover that the small portfolio delivers the highest average return. The excess return on the small portfolio is concentrated in firms with high distress risk. Furthermore, neutral size factors are built to dissect returns on the Fama‐French size factor from the default‐risk premium. Empirical results prove that the explanatory power of the size factor is negatively affected when the default‐risk neutrality is applied. Given this backdrop, the size premium in Vietnam is likely to be compensation for distress risk, consistent with a risk‐based point of view.
Three‐Component Acylation/Peroxidation of Alkenes through Visible‐Light Photocatalysis
Authors: Zhao Dengyang , Pan Yingjie , Chen Xiaoyun , Han Ying , Yan Chaoguo , Shi Yaocheng , Hou Hong , Zhu Shaoqun 
Published: October 2021

AbstractA three‐component acylation/peroxidation of alkenes through visible‐light photocatalysis was described. The acyl radical was generated by a hydrogen atom transfer process and enabled the radical addition and peroxidation. Various indole‐3‐carbaldehyde and styrene derivatives were subjected to the current visible light photochemical conditions, delivering β‐peroxy‐ketones in moderate to good isolated yields.
l‐cysteine‐modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a novel heterogeneous catalyst for persulfate activation on BTEX removal
Authors: Sun Xuecheng , Lyu Shuguang 
Published: October 2021

Abstractl‐cysteine‐modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles (l‐cys@nFe3O4) were synthesized successfully and used as catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) degradation. The composite was fully characterized, and the l‐cys@nFe3O4 had more protrusions and l‐cys was combined on the surface of nFe3O4. The removals of BTEX were 78.2%, 85.1%, 85.3%, 81.2%, respectively, in PS/l‐cys@nFe3O4 system, while only 52.7% 57.8%, 60.8%, and 56.3% of BTEX removals reached under the same condition for nFe3O4 chelated with l‐cys in 48 h. Four successive cycles of BTEX degradation were completed in PS/l‐cys@nFe3O4 system. The synergistic mechanisms of BTEX degradation in PS/l‐cys@nFe3O4 system were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), benzoic acid (BA) probe and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests. SFe bond in l‐cys‐Fe complexes promoted the electron transfer between nFe3O4 core and the solution, iron and iron at the interface, thereby promoting the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle and the catalytic capacity of nFe3O4. The optimal pH of PS/l‐cys@nFe3O4 system was 3, while HCO3− and Cl− exhibited negative influences on BTEX degradation. Only 14.2%, 15.5%, 15.9%, and 15.6% BTEX had been removed in the presence of 0.12‐M PS and 8.0 g/L l‐cys@nFe3O4 under the actual groundwater condition. However, expanding the dosage of PS and l‐cys@nFe3O4 was an effective strategy to overcome the adverse effect.Practitioner Points

L‐cys@nFe3O4 were synthesized successfully and used as catalyst to activate PS for BTEX degradation.
Four successive cycles of BTEX degradation were completed in PS/L‐cys@nFe3O4 system.
lS―Fe bond in L‐cys@nFe3O4 promoted the electron transfer between PS and nFe3O4 core.
Formal scheduling method for zero-defect manufacturing
Authors: Grobler-Dębska Katarzyna , Kucharska Edyta , Baranowski Jerzy 
Published: October 2021

AbstractA defect prevention is a part of manufacturing company practice. Paper proposes a formal approach for solving scheduling problems with unexpected events as extension of general frameworks for Zero-Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) strategy. ZDM aims to improve the process efficiency and the product quality while eliminating defects and minimizing process errors. However, most of ZDM applications focus on using the technological achievements of Industry 4.0 to detect and predict defects, forgetting to optimize the schedule on the production line. We propose formal method to create predictive-reactive schedule for problems with defect detection and repair. Our proposal is based on the formal Algebraic-Logical Meta-Model (ALMM). In particular, it uses the model switching method and combines defect detection, heuristics construction and decision support containing predictions of disturbances in the production process and enabling their prevention. Production defects are detected and repaired, and consequently, production delivers components without defects, and in the shortest possible time. Moreover, the collection and analysis of data related to the occurrence of disturbances in the production process helps the management board in making decisions based on analysis gathered and stored data. Thus, the proposed method includes strategies such as detection, repair, prediction and prevention for defect-free production. We illustrate the proposed method on the example of a flow-shop system with different types of product defect problem.
Supervise me if you can. Relational feelings, incentive pays and supervisory violations
Authors: Dughera Stefano , Marciano Alain 
Published: October 2021

AbstractWe study a bonus pay setting where a principal hires a supervisor to evaluate a group of potentially shirking workers. The supervisor and her workers develop relational feelings (either positive or negative) after interacting with each other. We analyze a novel class of organizational infractions where the supervisor provides false evaluations of the workers’ performance to accommodate her other-regarding preferences. We show that the workers’ reaction to these supervisory violations and their decision to provide effort depend on their relational concerns. The implication is that incentive pays can be ineffective due to the distortion of relational concerns.
Bayesian dynamic network actor models with application to South Korean COVID-19 patient movement data
Authors: Arrizza Antonio Mario , Caimo Alberto 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMotivated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this article introduces Bayesian dynamic network actor models for the analysis of infected individuals’ movements in South Korea during the first three months of 2020. The relational event data modelling framework makes use of network statistics capturing the structure of movement events from and to several country’s municipalities. The fully probabilistic Bayesian approach allows to quantify the uncertainty associated to the relational tendencies explaining where and when movement events are established and where they are directed. The observed patient movements’ patterns at an early stage of the pandemic can provide interesting insights about the spread of the disease in the Asian country.
A case of esophageal granular cell tumor diagnosed by mucosal incision-assisted biopsy
Authors: Inokuchi Yasuhiro , Watanabe Mamoru , Hayashi Kei , Kaneta Yoshihiro , Furuta Mitsuhiro , Machida Nozomu , Maeda Shin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractFor an esophageal submucosal mass suspicious of granular cell tumor (GCT) based on gross appearance and endoscopic ultrasound findings, a sufficient number of biopsy specimens is required for a definite diagnosis using immunohistochemical examination. When the specimen obtained by forceps biopsy is insufficient, endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is believed to be an useful alternative. However, it may be difficult to obtain an adequate amount of tumor material using EUS-FNA. Mucosal incision-assisted biopsy (MIAB) is a simple method that can collect larger amounts of specimens. This procedure is helpful for physicians who encounter the problem of obtaining an adequate amount of biopsy material from esophageal tumors suspicious for GCT. We present a case of esophageal GCT that was successfully diagnosed through MIAB.
When the Complexity of the Large-Scale Development Project Becomes a Roadblock to Access to Justice
Authors: HWANG Pillkyu , PARK Yae-Ahn 
Published: October 2021

On 23 July 2018, when the villagers gathered around the porch to wrap up the day with a good chat, one of the five auxiliary dams of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam in Attapeu province, the southeastern state of Laos, collapsed. Four days before the collapse, reports of cracks and subsidence started to come through. It should have been enough to prompt evacuation warning issuance by the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Co. Ltd (PNPC), a consortium of South Korean companies SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C) and Korea Western Power Company (KOWEPO), Thailand-based RATCH Group, and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE). PNPC has a Concession Agreement with the Laos government ‘to plan, design, finance, construct, own, operate and maintain’ the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam. The warning was issued, but it came too late.
How Are Under Ice Phytoplankton Related to Sea Ice in the Southern Ocean?
Authors: Bisson K. M. , Cael B. B. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractLittle is known about Southern Ocean under‐ice phytoplankton, despite their suspected potential—ice and stratification conditions permitting—to produce blooms. We use a distributional approach to ask how Southern Ocean sea ice and under‐ice phytoplankton characteristics are related, circumventing the dearth of co‐located ice and phytoplankton data. We leverage all available Argo float profiles, together with freeboard (height of sea ice above sea level) and lead (ice fractures yielding open water) data from ICESat‐2, to describe co‐variations over time. We calculate moments of the probability distributions of maximum chlorophyll, particulate backscatter, the depths of these maxima, freeboard, and ice thickness. Argo moments correlate significantly with freeboard variance, lead fraction, and mixed layer depth, implying that sea ice dynamics drive plankton by modulating how much light they receive. We discuss ecological implications in the context of data limitations and advocate for diagnostic models and field studies to test additional processes influencing under‐ice phytoplankton.
Development, implementation and feedback for an online speciality membership examination in orthodontics during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Eckhardt Charlotte E. , Seehra Jadbinder , Chadwick Stephen M. , Voerman Kim , Landau Alex , Ryan Fiona S. , Fleming Padhraig S. , Garrett Matthew , Cobourne Martyn T. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIntroduction The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) offer the bi-collegiate Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth) examination, a summative assessment of specialist knowledge, skill and behaviour in orthodontics. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global effect on almost every facet of normal life, including the conduct of face-to-face examinations. We highlight development, implementation and feedback for the bi-collegiate MOrth Part 2 examination delivered remotely to a cohort of candidates in September 2020 by RCSEng/RCPSG.Methods Two anonymised online surveys (Google Forms) were distributed via electronic mail following completion of the examination diet. Forty-two candidates were sent a survey covering four domains and comprising a total of 31 questions. The 20 examiners were sent a survey containing eight questions. In both surveys, free-text responses were also collected. A rating system was used to categorise responses. All survey responses were summarised in an online data collection sheet.Results The response rate was 78.5% (33/42) and 75% (15/20) for candidates and examiners, respectively. Overall, favourable responses in relation to all sections of the assessment were elicited from candidates with the majority (mean 79.8%; 75.8-81.9%) reporting that the online examination format worked well. Equally, favourable responses were reported by examiners. Notably, 80% of examiners felt that the online exam style did not affect the mark a candidate would receive, and 100% were confident that the marks the candidates received were a reflection of their ability and were not affected by the online delivery of the assessment.Conclusions The feedback from both candidates and examiners relating to an online remote assessment of the bi-collegiate MOrth Part 2 was generally positive. Based on the survey responses, this format of a high-stakes examination was acceptable to all stakeholders, and demonstrated a high level of perceived validity and reliability in terms of content.
Bar-cas12a, a novel and rapid method for plant species authentication in case of Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn
Authors: Buddhachat Kittisak , Paenkaew Suphaporn , Sripairoj Nattaporn , Gupta Yash Munnalal , Pradit Waranee , Chomdej Siriwadee 
Published: October 2021

AbstractRapid and accurate species diagnosis accelerates performance in numerous biological fields and associated areas. However, morphology-based species taxonomy/identification might hinder study and lead to ambiguous results. DNA barcodes (Bar) has been employed extensively for plant species identification. Recently, CRISPR-cas system can be applied for diagnostic tool to detect pathogen’s DNA based on the collateral activity of cas12a or cas13. Here, we developed barcode-coupled with cas12a assay, “Bar-cas12a” for species authentication using Phyllanthus amarus as a model. The gRNAs were designed from trnL region, namely gRNA-A and gRNA-B. As a result, gRNA-A was highly specific to P. amarus amplified by RPA in contrast to gRNA-B even in contaminated condition. Apart from the large variation of gRNA-A binding in DNA target, cas12a- specific PAM’s gRNA-A as TTTN can be found only in P. amarus. PAM site may be recognized one of the potential regions for increasing specificity to authenticate species. In addition, the sensitivity of Bar-cas12a using both gRNAs gave the same detection limit at 0.8 fg and it was 1,000 times more sensitive compared to agarose gel electrophoresis. This approach displayed the accuracy degree of 90% for species authentication. Overall, Bar-cas12a using trnL-designed gRNA offer a highly specific, sensitive, speed, and simple approach for plant species authentication. Therefore, the current method serves as a promising tool for species determination which is likely to be implemented for onsite testing.