bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breast ultrasound image segmentation: A coarse‐to‐fine fusion convolutional neural network
Authors: Wang Ke , Liang Shujun , Zhong Shengzhou , Feng Qianjin , Ning Zhenyuan , Zhang Yu 
Published: June 2021

PurposeBreast ultrasound (BUS) image segmentation plays a crucial role in computer‐aided diagnosis systems for BUS examination, which are useful for improved accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis. However, such performance remains a challenging task owing to the poor image quality and large variations in the sizes, shapes, and locations of breast lesions. In this paper, we propose a new convolutional neural network with coarse‐to‐fine feature fusion to address the aforementioned challenges.MethodsThe proposed fusion network consists of an encoder path, a decoder path, and a core fusion stream path (FSP). The encoder path is used to capture the context information, and the decoder path is used for localization prediction. The FSP is designed to generate beneficial aggregate feature representations (i.e., various‐sized lesion features, aggregated coarse‐to‐fine information, and high‐resolution edge characteristics) from the encoder and decoder paths, which are eventually used for accurate breast lesion segmentation. To better retain the boundary information and alleviate the effect of image noise, we input the superpixel image along with the original image to the fusion network. Furthermore, a weighted‐balanced loss function was designed to address the problem of lesion regions having different sizes. We then conducted exhaustive experiments on three public BUS datasets to evaluate the proposed network.ResultsThe proposed method outperformed state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) segmentation methods on the three public BUS datasets, with average dice similarity coefficients of 84.71(±1.07), 83.76(±0.83), and 86.52(±1.52), average intersection‐over‐union values of 76.34(±1.50), 75.70(±0.98), and 77.86(±2.07), average sensitivities of 86.66(±1.82), 85.21(±1.98), and 87.21(±2.51), average specificities of 97.92(±0.46), 98.57(±0.19), and 99.42(±0.21), and average accuracies of 95.89(±0.57), 97.17(±0.3), and 98.51(±0.3).ConclusionsThe proposed fusion network could effectively segment lesions from BUS images, thereby presenting a new feature fusion strategy to handle challenging task of segmentation, while outperforming the SOTA segmentation methods. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/mniwk/CF2‐NET.
Prognostic value of three rapid scoring scales and combined predictors for the assessment of patients with coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Hu Hai , Kong Weili , Yao Ni , Qiu Yanru , Yao Rong 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimTo explore the factors affecting mortality in patients with COVID‐19 and to verify the predictive value of the three rapid scoring scales MEWS, RAPS and REMS.DesignCross‐sectional observational study.MethodsKaplan–Meier and Cox survival analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with COVID‐19‐related death. A ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the abilities of the three scoring scales to predict the prognosis of COVID‐19 patients.ResultsAge, low blood oxygen saturation level and decreased lymphocyte count were the high risk factors for COVID‐19‐related mortality. The analysis of the abilities of the three scales to predict the prognosis of COVID‐19 patients: The AUC of 0.641 for the RAPS (p = .065). The MEWS (AUC = 0.705, p = .007), compared with RAPS, the NRI was 0.371(p = .03), and the IDI = 0.092 (p = .046); The REMS (AUC = 0.841, p < .001), compared with MEWS, the NRI was 0.227(p = .12), and the IDI=0.09(p = .047); The Combining Predictor (AUC = 0.878, p < .001), compared with REMS, the NRI was 0.25(p = .113), and the IDI=0.02(p = .598).ConclusionPatients with an old age, low blood oxygen saturation level and decreased lymphocyte count were at a high risk of COVID‐19‐related mortality. Moreover, our analysis revealed that the REMS had a better prognostic ability than the MEWS and RAPS when applied to COVID‐19 patients. Our findings suggest that the REMS can be used as a rapid scoring tool for the early assessment of COVID‐19 severity.
Study on synthesis and demolding performance of polyethylene glycol fatty acid mold release agents
Authors: Wu Fucheng , Gao Shanjun , Zeng Yingying , Li Yunzhe , Zhao Zhixin , Shen Chunhui 
Published: June 2021

AbstractRelease agent is an indispensable kind of processing aids for composite molding. A kind of release agents was synthesized by using polyethylene glycol (Mn = 200, 300, 400) with different molecular weight as raw material, reacting with fatty acids with different carbon chains length (lauric acid, myristic acid, hexadecanoic acid, and stearic acid), and further crosslinking with phosphoric acid. The chemical structure of the synthesized release agent was confirmed by FT‐IR and 1H‐NMR. Through the performance test of the synthesized demolding agent, five release agents with excellent performance were screened out. The results showed: The release agents can be well dissolved in ethanol, a green and environment‐friendly solvent. The molecular weight was 480–630. The release agent's acid value was between 0.05 and 0.06KOH/(mg/g). The peeling strength was 0.066–0.087 MPa and the interlaminar shear strength was 1.101–1.323 MPa. The film‐forming time of the release agents on the mold was 1.5 min–3.5 min. The number of demolding was 16–20 times. The micro‐morphology of the resin surface demolded by NnP release agent synthesized in the present study and Meishu brand release agent widely‐used in the market was observed and compared by scanning electron microscope, indicating that the surface morphology of the resin demolded by NnP release agent was smoother after release. So the NnP release agents can be used in actual production.
Assessing children's perceptions of intervention acceptability ratings
Authors: Eckert Tanya L. , Eggleston Brittany N. , Hamsho Narmene F. , Williams Natalie L. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study explored the concordance between 70 third‐grade students' preintervention and postintervention acceptability ratings of a writing intervention administered over 7 weeks. In addition, the association between students' preintervention and postintervention acceptability ratings and intervention effectiveness was examined. Results indicated statistically significant differences between female and male students’ perceptions of the intervention before implementation. In comparison to their male peers, female students rated the intervention more favorably, and the associations between preintervention and postintervention acceptability ratings were larger for female students. In addition, moderate to large associations were observed between female students writing productivity and their preintervention and postintervention acceptability ratings, whereas small to moderate associations were observed for male students. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Registration of two germplasm lines with improved lint yield and fiber elongation in upland cotton
Authors: Fang Hui , Zhang Kuang , Bowman Daryl T. , Jones Don C. , Kuraparthy Vasu 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTwo conventional upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm lines, NC18‐05 (Reg. no. GP‐1082, PI 697272) and NC18‐06 (Reg. no. GP‐1083, PI 697273), were developed by the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University. The lines were bred for fiber elongation within yield‐competitive phenotypes. The two lines were derived from a randomly mated population using multiple parental lines. Both NC18‐05 and NC18‐06 produced equivalent or higher lint than commercial cultivars ‘DP393’, ‘SG747’, and ‘UA48’ during 2 yr in Clayton, NC. Germplasm line NC18‐05 produced 1507.2 kg ha–1 of lint, which was 36.2% higher than DP393 and 29.4% higher than UA48 (p < .05). Germplasm line NC18‐06 produced 1428.6 kg ha–1 of lint, which was 29.1% higher than DP393 and 22.6% higher than UA48 (p < .05). However, neither line yielded more lint per hectare than SG747 or the average of the parental lines (p > .05). Both NC18‐05 and NC18‐06 exhibited equal or higher fiber elongation values (6.0–49.2%) than the commercial cultivar controls. These two lines had higher lint percentages than UA48 (p < .05). NC18‐06 also demonstrated stronger fiber than DP393 and SG747 (p < .05). These two germplasm lines offer breeders a new source of exceptional fiber elongation before break within a high‐yielding background.
Health service use and costs associated with fluoroquinolone‐related tendon injuries
Authors: Kuula Laura S. M. , Backman Janne T. , Blom Marja L. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess costs and health service use associated with tendon injuries after the use of fluoroquinolone antimicrobials in Finland during 2002–2012. This retrospective observational study included data from the Finnish Pharmaceutical Insurance Pool's pharmaceutical injury claims. In total, 145 compensated claimants aged ≥18 years presenting tendon injuries after the use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) were included in the study. Outcomes of interest were the number of outpatient visits to primary, secondary, tertiary, and private healthcare services, hospital days, rehabilitation and their costs. Regression models were used to analyze the impact of patient characteristics on hospital days, as well as the relationship between patient characteristics and tendon ruptures. Direct costs of a tendon injury averaged 14,800€ and indirect costs were estimated to be 9,077€ for employed claimants. Fifty‐one percent of the claimants were hospitalized, with an average duration of 21 days. Hospitalization was the costliest form of health service use with an average of 9,915€ per hospital episode. Hospital days and direct costs increased with the severity of the injury. Tendon ruptures, in particular bilateral ruptures, required substantially more hospital days and their direct costs were significantly higher than those of uncomplicated tendinitis. Concurrent use of oral corticosteroids and increasing age were associated with a higher likelihood of tendon ruptures. Although rare, FQ‐related tendon injuries can result in considerable costs and health service use. Medical staff should remain vigilant when prescribing FQs, especially in groups at increased risk for tendon injuries.
Strip spraying delays pyrethroid resistance in the redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor: a novel refuge strategy
Authors: Maino James L , Hoffmann Ary A , Binns Matthew , Cheng Xuan , van Rooyen Anthony , Umina Paul A 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDPesticide resistance has seen control options for the redlegged earth mite (RLEM), Halotydeus destructor, dwindle for Australian grain farmers. The recent discovery of high recessiveness for pyrethroid resistance in RLEM provided an opportunity to examine the feasibility of a refuge strategy to slow the evolution of resistance. Unlike lepidopterous pests in Bt crops, where refuge strategies are routinely practiced, RLEM is a slow‐moving pest, which will impact the design of susceptible refuges.RESULTSFirstly, we confirmed the pyrethroid resistant allele is recessive to the susceptible (wildtype) allele (in terms of resistance) across spatially separated Australian populations. Secondly, we demonstrated that a small, localized resistant mite population can revert to susceptibility at field relevant scales and conditions. Next, we used a simulation modelling approach to design a practical refuge strategy to maintain susceptibility to pyrethroids in populations with a low incidence of resistance. Certain configurations (e.g. a pesticide strip width of 50 m and refuge spacing of 10 m) maintained low levels of resistance across a 10‐year time horizon, with lower mite abundance and minimal yield loss. A larger refuge proportion did not always delay resistance, and, under certain conditions, increased resistance frequency.CONCLUSIONStrip spraying to maintain refuges can be readily incorporated into RLEM management programs where sprayer widths in commercial cropping contexts are typically between 20–40 m. A refuge approach to RLEM management that uses strip spraying may enhance long term control options in the absence of new chemical registrations but will now require field validation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
A population pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic model of YH12852, a highly selective 5‐hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor agonist, in healthy subjects and patients with functional constipation
Authors: Kim Siun , Lee Hyun A. , Jang Seong Bok , Lee Howard 
Published: June 2021

AbstractYH12852, a novel, highly selective 5‐hydroxytryptamine 4 (5‐HT4) receptor agonist, is currently under development to treat patients with functional constipation. In this study, we aimed to develop a pharmacokinetic (PK)–pharmacodynamic (PD) model that adequately described the time courses of the plasma concentrations of YH12852 and its prokinetic effect as assessed by the Gastric Emptying Breath Test (GEBT) and to predict the prokinetic effect of YH12852 at higher doses through PD simulation. We used the plasma concentrations of YH12852 from patients with functional constipation and healthy subjects and the GEBT results from healthy subjects obtained from a phase I/IIa trial. The PK‐PD modeling and covariate analysis were performed using NONMEM software. The prokinetic effect of YH12852 was described using a semimechanistic multicompartment PD model and an empirical model by Ghoos et al. A two‐compartment model with first‐order absorption adequately described the observed concentration‐time profiles of YH12852. The semimechanistic multicompartment PD model and the revised Ghoos model with two slope parameters adequately described the observed kPCDt (the percent dose of 13C excreted in the exhaled air at minute t after completing the test meal, multiplied by 1000) values. YH12852 accelerated gastric emptying even at low doses of 0.05–0.1 mg, and its prokinetic effect was greater in subjects suffering from more severe functional constipation. The PD simulation experiments revealed that the change from baseline in the half time for gastric emptying induced by YH12852 increased in a dose‐dependent manner at 0.05–5 mg although the results at doses >0.1 mg were extrapolated. We also showed that the empirical Ghoos model is a special case of the general semimechanistic multicompartment PD model for gastric emptying.
Isomerism in secondary bonded complexes: Do structural rules apply?
Authors: Alikhani M. Esmail , Silvi Bernard 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe growing importance of secondary bonded complexes in modern coordination chemistry has given rise to an abundant literature in both experimental and theoretical coordination chemistry. We recently proposed an unified chemical model of secondary interaction enabling to understand the structures in terms of simple chemical rules and concepts. For some complexes the stoichiometry of the electrophilic moiety makes isomerism possible. The problems of isomerism and of the interconversion of isomers are addressed in the present. It is shown, that the reaction mechanisms discussed for pentacoordinated phosphorus derivatives are not suitable for complexes bound by a secondary interaction. The possibility of Berry's pseudo rotations is rejected for this class of systems.
Food Applications of Starch Nanomaterials: A Review
Authors: Alves Maria Jaízia dos Santos , Chacon Wilson Daniel Caicedo , Gagliardi Talita Ribeiro , Agudelo Henao Ana C. , Monteiro Alcilene Rodrigues , Ayala Valencia Germán 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDifferent architectures at a nanometric scale such as nanocrystals, nanofibers, nanomicelles, nanoparticles, and nanovesicles can be produced from native starches using “top‐down” and “bottom‐up” approaches. These starch nanomaterials (SNMts) have particle size lower than 1000 nm, exhibiting different physicochemical properties than those found in native starches. In recent years several studies have explored the applications of SNMts in the food sector. The production and food application of SNMts have grown mainly in the last 5 years due to the fact that SNMts can be used to stabilize biological and synthetic compounds with antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, SNMts can be used as a stabilizing agent in food emulsions, or as reinforcing material in food packaging. The current review article focuses on comprehensively analyzing the current state of the art in SNMts for food applications, aiming to encourage other research groups to expand production and application in the food sector.
Modified moment connection between I‐beam and double‐I built‐up column
Authors: Gholipour Masoumeh , Deylami Ardeshir 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDouble‐I sections are widely used as columns in moment‐resisting frames. The conventional welded moment connection between I‐beam and double‐I built‐up column behaves in a partially restrained manner and does not provide the strength and ductility required in special moment frames. In this paper, a modification method is proposed to improve the behavioural characteristics of conventional moment connections. The modification involves replacing the continuous cover plate with two alternative plates having increased width and thickness at the location of the beam flange‐plates. The behaviour of the proposed connection was investigated in detail both experimentally, by means of two full‐scale specimens, and analytically, by means of eight finite element models. Based on the results obtained, in beams with a modified connection most of the plasticity develops remote from the column cover plate, and the panel zone remains in an elastic state. Accordingly, the deformation of the modified connection is reduced significantly and its stiffness is increased to the level required for a fully restrained connection. The hysteresis curves of the modified connection are also stable during large inelastic deformations with no substantial pinching. The modified connection provides the strength and ductility required in special moment frames.
Improving flood resilience through governance strategies: Gauging the state of the art
Authors: Matczak Piotr , Hegger Dries 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThere has been an upsurge in studies of flood risk governance (FRG): steering and decision‐making by public and private actors as a complement to risk assessments and technical management options. The scholarly debate is, however, highly fragmented, complicating the production of cumulative insights. To address this knowledge gap, we used six governance strategies for achieving flood resilience that previously have been put forward as a conceptual framework to review 121 articles published between 2016 and 2019, complemented with insights contained in recent overview articles, to gauge the state‐of‐the‐art in FRG literature: to (a) diversify flood risk management strategies; (b) align the strategies; (c) adequately involve private actors, including citizens; (d) put an adequate rule system in place; (e) cater for sufficient monetary and non‐monetary resources; (f) inspire an open and inclusive normative debate. We found, first, that literature is producing insights on increasingly technically advanced risk assessments and agent‐based models but societal debate on justice in flood risk governance is getting attention. A clearly emerging topic is that of citizen engagement in flood risk governance. Second, the geographical focus of the studies is still skewed toward the Global North. To make progress in understanding flood risk governance for better resilience more systematic and comparative empirical assessments of flood risk governance in order to derive generalizable lessons while better taking into account the context‐specificity of FRG. Testing flood risk governance solutions against comparative cases, by balancing the geographical scope of research efforts, and enhancing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary working is a way to deliver knowledge for more resilience.This article is categorized under:
Human Water > Water Governance
Engineering Water > Planning Water
Discovering the origin of Yukawa couplings at the LHC with a singlet Higgs and vector-like quarks
Authors: King Simon J. D. , King Stephen F. , Moretti Stefano , Rowley Samuel J. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Although the 125 GeV Higgs boson discovered at the LHC is often heralded as the origin of mass, it may not in fact be the origin of Yukawa couplings. In alternative models, Yukawa couplings may instead arise from a seesaw type mechanism involving the mixing of Standard Model (SM) chiral fermions with new vector-like fermions, controlled by the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of a new complex Higgs singlet field 〈Φ〉. For example, the largest third family (t, b) quark Yukawa couplings may be forbidden by a U(1)′ gauge or global symmetry, broken by 〈Φ〉, and generated effectively via mixing with a vector-like fourth family quark doublet (T, B). Such theories predict a new physical Higgs singlet ϕ, which we refer to as the Yukon, resulting from 〈Φ〉, in the same way that the Higgs boson h0 results from 〈H〉. In a simplified model we discuss the prospects for discovering the Yukon ϕ in gluon-gluon fusion production, with (t, b) and (T, B) quarks in the loops, and decaying in the channels ϕ → γγ, Zγ and ϕ → tT → tth0, ttZ. The potential for discovery of the Yukon ϕ is studied at present or future hadron colliders such as the LHC (Run 3), HL-LHC, HE-LHC and/or FCC. For example, we find that a 300–350 GeV Yukon ϕ could be accessed at LHC Run 3 in the di-photon channel in the global model, providing a smoking gun signature of the origin of Yukawa couplings. The tth0, ttZ channels are more involved and warrant a more sophisticated analysis.
The invariant space of multi-Higgs doublet models
Authors: Bento M. P. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In a model with more than one scalar doublet, the parameter space encloses both physical and unphysical information. Invariant theory provides a detailed description of the counting and characterization of the physical parameter space. The Hilbert series for the 3HDM is computed for the first time using partition analysis, in particular Omega calculus, giving rise to the possibility of a full description of its physical parameters. A rigorous counting of the physical parameters is given for the full class of models with N scalar doublets as well as a decomposition of the Lagrangian into irreducible representations of SU(N). For the first time we derive a basis-invariant technique for counting parameters in a Lagrangian with both basis-invariant redundancies and global symmetries.
Gluon scattering in AdS from CFT
Authors: Alday Luis F. , Behan Connor , Ferrero Pietro , Zhou Xinan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
We present a systematic study of holographic correlators in a vast array of SCFTs with non-maximal superconformal symmetry. These theories include 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SCFTs from D3-branes near F-theory singularities, 5d Seiberg exceptional theories and 6d E-string theory, as well as 3d and 4d phenomenological models with probe flavor branes. We consider current multiplets and their generalizations with higher weights, dual to massless and massive super gluons in the bulk. At leading order in the inverse central charge expansion, connected four-point functions of these operators correspond to tree-level gluon scattering amplitudes in AdS. We show that all such tree-level four-point amplitudes in all these theories are fully fixed by symmetries and consistency conditions and explicitly construct them. Our results encode a wealth of SCFT data and exhibit various interesting emergent structures. These include Parisi-Sourlas-like dimensional reductions, hidden conformal symmetry and an AdS version of the color-kinematic duality.