bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Role of Transvaginal Two‐Dimensional Ultrasound Combined With Color Doppler in the Evaluation of Ovarian Function and Fertility After Uterine Artery Embolization
Authors: Shi Jing , Ge Yu Rong , Ni Jiana , Dong Xueqin 
Published: October 2021

ObjectiveOur study seeks to assess the value of transvaginal two‐dimensional ultrasound combined with color Doppler in evaluating ovarian function and reproductive function after uterine artery embolization (UAE).MethodsTotally 64 cases with cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) were collected. Their information was recorded, including baseline information, intraoperative and postoperative information, preoperative and postoperative uterine receptivity, and preoperative and postoperative levels of sex hormones in serum. Finally, the patients were followed up to observe whether they were pregnant after treatment.ResultsIn comparison with 24 hours after UAE, decreases were found in endometrial blood flow pulsatility index (PI), endometrial thickness, ovarian artery peak end‐systolic velocity (Vs), ovarian artery resistance index (RI), and the ratio of Vs to peak end‐diastolic velocity (S/D) 1 and 3 months after embolization, while Vd increased markedly 3 months after embolization. In addition, in terms of sex hormones, a significant increase was revealed in the level of follicle‐stimulating hormone, while the reduction in the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen (E2), prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (P) in the first month and the third month of menstrual resumption compared with those before treatment. From the follow‐up data, there were 50 cases of pregnancy, including 45 cases of intrauterine pregnancy, 2 cases of tubal pregnancy, and 3 cases of recurrent CSP.ConclusionUAE is a safe and effective method to prevent massive hemorrhage of CSP. Transvaginal two‐dimensional ultrasound combined with color Doppler can more accurately evaluate its therapeutic effect and provide a basis for effective treatment.
Expanding Nature: Product line and brand extensions of a scientific journal
Authors: Khelfaoui Mahdi , Gingras Yves 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAcademic publishers now market their most prestigious journals as commercial brands. This paper investigates this trend in the scholarly publishing market, by analyzing how the successive owners of the journal Nature have capitalized on its reputation to generate additional profits to those already accumulated through university library subscriptions. Two branding strategies of the journal Nature are analyzed: the first one, product line extension, consists in extending the Nature brand in the same product category, by creating an ever‐increasing number of derived Nature journals; the second one, brand extension, consists in extending the Nature brand to other categories of products and services, such as academic rankings, sponsored supplements, feature advertisements, or webinars and trainings. The Nature brand leveraging strategy has been imitated by many other journal publishers. These branded products and services are well suited to the particular dynamics of the scientific field, which is based on the continuous quest for recognition. They are thus sold at all stages of the research cycle, from writing grants to popularizing research results, to scientists and academic institutions competing to accumulate symbolic capital. In this respect, academic publishers that engage in scholarly journal branding contribute to the transformation of the scientific ‘community’ into a scientific market.
Fully automated multiorgan segmentation of female pelvic magnetic resonance images with coarse‐to‐fine convolutional neural network
Authors: Zabihollahy Fatemeh , Viswanathan Akila N , Schmidt Ehud J , Morcos Marc , Lee Junghoon 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPurposeBrachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is the standard treatment for cervical cancer and has been shown to improve overall survival rates compared to EBRT only. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is used for radiotherapy (RT) planning and image guidance due to its excellent soft tissue image contrast. Rapid and accurate segmentation of organs at risk (OAR) is a crucial step in MR image‐guided RT. In this paper, we propose a fully automated two‐step convolutional neural network (CNN) approach to delineate multiple OARs from T2‐weighted (T2W) MR images.MethodsWe employ a coarse‐to‐fine segmentation strategy. The coarse segmentation step first identifies the approximate boundary of each organ of interest and crops the MR volume around the centroid of organ‐specific region of interest (ROI). The cropped ROI volumes are then fed to organ‐specific fine segmentation networks to produce detailed segmentation of each organ. A three‐dimensional (3‐D) U‐Net is trained to perform the coarse segmentation. For the fine segmentation, a 3‐D Dense U‐Net is employed in which a modified 3‐D dense block is incorporated into the 3‐D U‐Net‐like network to acquire inter and intra‐slice features and improve information flow while reducing computational complexity. Two sets of T2W MR images (221 cases for MR1 and 62 for MR2) were taken with slightly different imaging parameters and used for our network training and test. The network was first trained on MR1 which was a larger sample set. The trained model was then transferred to the MR2 domain via a fine‐tuning approach. Active learning strategy was utilized for selecting the most valuable data from MR2 to be included in the adaptation via transfer learning.ResultsThe proposed method was tested on 20 MR1 and 32 MR2 test sets. Mean ± SD dice similarity coefficients are 0.93 ± 0.04, 0.87 ± 0.03, and 0.80 ± 0.10 on MR1 and 0.94 ± 0.05, 0.88 ± 0.04, and 0.80 ± 0.05 on MR2 for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid, respectively. Hausdorff distances (95th percentile) are 4.18 ± 0.52, 2.54 ± 0.41, and 5.03 ± 1.31 mm on MR1 and 2.89 ± 0.33, 2.24 ± 0.40, and 3.28 ± 1.08 mm on MR2, respectively. The performance of our method is superior to other state‐of‐the‐art segmentation methods.ConclusionsWe proposed a two‐step CNN approach for fully automated segmentation of female pelvic MR bladder, rectum, and sigmoid from T2W MR volume. Our experimental results demonstrate that the developed method is accurate, fast, and reproducible, and outperforms alternative state‐of‐the‐art methods for OAR segmentation significantly (p < 0.05).
A data‐driven semantic segmentation model for direct cardiac functional analysis based on undersampled radial MR cine series
Authors: Wech Tobias , Ankenbrand Markus Johannes , Bley Thorsten Alexander , Heidenreich Julius Frederik 
Published: October 2021

PurposeImage acquisition and subsequent manual analysis of cardiac cine MRI is time‐consuming. The purpose of this study was to train and evaluate a 3D artificial neural network for semantic segmentation of radially undersampled cardiac MRI to accelerate both scan time and postprocessing.MethodsA database of Cartesian short‐axis MR images of the heart (148,500 images, 484 examinations) was assembled from an openly accessible database and radial undersampling was simulated. A 3D U‐Net architecture was pretrained for segmentation of undersampled spatiotemporal cine MRI. Transfer learning was then performed using samples from a second database, comprising 108 non‐Cartesian radial cine series of the midventricular myocardium to optimize the performance for authentic data. The performance was evaluated for different levels of undersampling by the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) with respect to reference labels, as well as by deriving ventricular volumes and myocardial masses.ResultsWithout transfer learning, the pretrained model performed moderately on true radial data [maximum number of projections tested, P = 196; DSC = 0.87 (left ventricle), DSC = 0.76 (myocardium), and DSC =0.64 (right ventricle)]. After transfer learning with authentic data, the predictions achieved human level even for high undersampling rates (P = 33, DSC = 0.95, 0.87, and 0.93) without significant difference compared with segmentations derived from fully sampled data.ConclusionA 3D U‐Net architecture can be used for semantic segmentation of radially undersampled cine acquisitions, achieving a performance comparable with human experts in fully sampled data. This approach can jointly accelerate time‐consuming cine image acquisition and cumbersome manual image analysis.
Genotype‐related respiratory progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy—A multicenter international study
Authors: Trucco Federica , Ridout Deborah , Domingos Joana , Maresh Kate , Chesshyre Mary , Munot Pinki , Sarkozy Anna , Robb Stephanie , Quinlivan Rosaline , Riley Mollie , Wallis Colin , Chan Elaine , Abel Francois , De Lucia Silvana , Hogrel Jean‐Yves , Niks Erik H. , de Groot Imelda , Servais Laurent , Straub Volker , Ricotti Valeria , Manzur Adnan , Muntoni Francesco ,   for the UK NorthStar Clinical Network and AFM Network
Published: October 2021

AbstractIntroduction/AimsMutations amenable to skipping of specific exons have been associated with different motor progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Less is known about their association with long‐term respiratory function. In this study we investigated the features of respiratory progression in four DMD genotypes relevant in ongoing exon‐skipping therapeutic strategies.MethodsThis was a retrospective longitudinal study including DMD children followed by the UK NorthStar Network and international AFM Network centers (May 2003 to October 2020). We included boys amenable to skip exons 44, 45, 51, or 53, who were older than 5 years of age and ambulant at first recorded visit. Subjects who were corticosteroid‐naive or enrolled in interventional clinical trials were excluded. The progression of respiratory function (absolute forced vital capacity [FVC] and calculated as percent predicted [FVC%]) was compared across the four subgroups (skip44, skip45, skip51, skip53).ResultsWe included 142 boys in the study. Mean (standard deviation) age at first visit was 8.6 (2.5) years. Median follow‐up was 3 (range, 0.3‐8.3) years. In skip45 and skip51, FVC% declined linearly from the first recorded visit. From the age of 9 years, FVC% declined linearly in all genotypes. Skip44 had the slowest (2.7%/year) and skip51 the fastest (5.9%/year) annual FVC% decline. The absolute FVC increased progressively in skip44, skip45, and skip51. In skip53, FVC started declining from 14 years of age.DiscussionThe progression of respiratory dysfunction follows different patterns for specific genotype categories. This information is valuable for prognosis and for the evaluation of exon‐skipping therapies.
Timing of oral intake after esophagectomy: A narrative review of the literature and case report
Authors: Johnson Stephani , Ziegler Jane , August David A. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractEsophagectomy, a treatment modality for esophageal cancer, is associated with high rates of morbidity, the most common being anastomotic leaks and pulmonary complications. The current standard of care for nutrition support after esophagectomy includes a period of nothing by mouth with enteral nutrition support via jejunostomy tube owing to the concern of increasing the risk of anastomotic leak as a result of early postoperative oral intake. However, the optimal timing of oral diet initiation remains controversial. This narrative review presents a patient who incurred an anastomotic leak following esophagectomy after initiation of oral intake on postoperative day 5 and evaluates the current literature on the timing of oral diet initiation after esophagectomy. A systematic literature search was performed to assess current evidence evaluating early oral diet (EOD) initiation after esophagectomy. Over the past 5 years, 11 studies have evaluated the impact of EOD initiation after esophagectomy in comparison with a conventional feeding regimen, including a period of nothing by mouth with enteral or parenteral nutrition support. The available evidence suggests that EOD initiation does not increase rates of complications after esophagectomy. However, the evidence is limited by the lack of a standardized definition of what constitutes EOD initiation, patient selection bias, variations in nutrition support provided in the studies, and lack of statistical analyses evaluating the impact of potential confounding variables. Additional research with larger, high‐quality randomized controlled trials is needed to determine the optimal timing of diet initiation after esophagectomy.
Transition to motherhood for Japanese primiparas from delivery to 6 months postpartum: A qualitative study
Authors: Katou Youko , Okamura Mitsuko , Ohira Mitsuko 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAimThis study investigates aspects of the socio‐culturally influenced Japanese primiparas’ transition to motherhood.DesignA qualitative descriptive study approach with interviews of Japanese primiparas was used.MethodsIndividual interviews with 21 Japanese primiparas were conducted, with a focus on their transition to motherhood and familiarization with the maternal role. The interviews were analysed, and categories and subcategories were established. This paper was developed using the COREQ guidelines for reporting qualitative studies.ResultsSeven major categories with 26 subcategories were identified in the transition to motherhood. The seven categories are listed as follows: “confusion with first childcare experience,” “suffering related to childcare,” “clinging to the image of an ideal mother,” “internal conflict while comparing oneself to other mothers,” “undertaking childcare by disengaging from one's stereotype,” “realization of becoming a mother” and “changing relationship with surrounding people.”
Insight into acetylene plasma deposition using molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Brault Pascal , Ji Marisol , Sciacqua Dario , Poncin‐Epaillard Fabienne , Berndt Johannes , Kovacevic Eva 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMolecular dynamics simulations are carried out for studying the growth and properties of polymers from pure acetylene plasma. A mixture of H, C2H, and C2H2 is the initial composition used for running the molecular dynamics simulations. The resulting films are characterized by determining the bond order, [H]/[C] ratio, and simulated infrared spectrum. The latter is qualitatively compared with three different experiments: IR peak identification and positions are recovered.
Green chemical production of biocompatible conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) by nonthermal plasma‐activated water
Authors: Chen Tungpo , Tseng Yu‐Ting , Wan Chieh‐Hao , Gu Yesong 
Published: October 2021

AbstractTo synthesize a conductive polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) using a more environmentally friendly approach, we have previously used a nonthermal plasma (NTP) to activate H2O2 for the initiation of water‐soluble PEDOT:PSS synthesis, which has been confirmed to be degradable. Considering the instability of H2O2, we have attempted to use NTP to activate water instead of H2O2 and optimize the polymerization to achieve better effectiveness. In this study, we have also demonstrated that for the synthesis of PEDOT, an acidic condition is more suitable for more radical formation and a mild heating procedure could be used for better polymerization. Further characterizations revealed that the final product of PEDOT:PSS was not only biocompatible but also comparable to other approaches regarding conductivity.
The use of GA‐RxODE (Genetics Algorithms and Running simulations from Ordinary Differential Equations‐based model) method to optimize bioequivalence studies
Authors: Nuske Ezequiel Omar , Morozov Mikhail , Alejandro Serra Héctor 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBioequivalence (BE) studies are prerequisite in generic products approval. Normally, they are quite simple in design and expensive in execution, and sometimes suffer ethical questioning. Genetics Algorithms and Running simulations from Ordinary Differential Equations‐based model (GA‐RxODE) is a multipurpose method used in pharmacokinetic (PK) optimization. It can be used to complete concentration–time (C–T) missing data. In this investigation, GA‐RxODE was applied in BE field. For this purpose, three BE studies were selected as a source data comprising formulations of metformin, alprazolam and clonazepam. From them, five blood samples values per volunteer‐round from specific preset times were chosen as if BE study was carried out with five instead of the classic 10–20 samples. With the five values of each volunteer a complete C–T curve was simulated by GA‐RxODE and certain PK estimation parameters (as maximum concentration,Cmax, and area under C–T curve from zero to infinite, AUCinf) were elicited. Finally, with these modeled parameters, a BE analysis was performed according to certain regulatory agencies guidances. Some results, expressed as geometric mean ratios of compared formulations and their 90% confidence intervals (CI90), were as follows: MetforminCmax = 0.954 (0.878–1.035), AUCinf = 0.949 (0.881–1.022); AlprazolamCmax = 1.063 (0.924–1.222), AUCinf = 1.036 (0.857–1.249), ClonazepamCmax = 0.927 (0.831–1.034), and AUCinf = 1.021 (0.931–1.119). All CI90 were inside the 0.8–1.25 BE range. In summary, the simulated data were bioequivalent and non‐significantly different from original studies’ data. This raises the opportunity to perform more economic BE studies to build reliable PK estimation parameters from a few samples per volunteer.
Critical parameters for a class of integral difference equations
Authors: Ochoa‐Ortega Gilberto , Gomez Marco A. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTThis contribution addresses the problem of calculating the critical parameters of a class of integral delay systems. The starting point of the analysis is a neutral‐type system with distributed delay that results from the application of a differential operator, and whose spectrum contains the spectrum of the integral system. Based on recent results concerning the delay Lyapunov matrix for the class of obtained neutral‐type systems, it is shown that the set of critical frequencies of the integral delay system is contained in the set of critical frequencies of a delay‐free system of matrix equations.
A convolutional neural network architecture designed for the automated survey of seabird colonies
Authors: Le Hieu , Samaras Dimitris , Lynch Heather J. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractSatellite imagery is now well established as a method of finding and estimating the abundance of Antarctic penguin colonies. However, the delineation and classification of penguin colonies in sub‐meter satellite imagery has required the use of expert observers and is highly labor intensive, precluding regular censuses at the pan‐Antarctic scale. Here we present the first automated pipeline for the segmentation and classification of seabird colonies in high‐resolution satellite imagery. Our method leverages site‐fidelity by using images from previous years to improve classification performance but is robust to georegistration artifacts imposed by misalignment between sensors or terrain correction. We use a segmentation network with an additional branch that extracts the useful information from the prior mask of the input image. This prior branch provides the main model information on the location and size of guano in a prior annotation yet automatically learns to compensate for potential misalignment between the prior mask and the input image being classified. Our approach outperforms the previous approach by 44%, improving the average Intersection‐over‐Union segmentation score from 0.34 to 0.50. While penguin guano remains a challenging target for segmentation due to its indistinct and highly variable appearance, the inclusion of prior information represents a key step toward automated image annotation for population monitoring. Moreover, this method can be adapted for other ecological applications where the dynamics of landscape change are slow relative to the repeat frequency of available imagery and prior information may be available to aid with image annotation.
Satellite forward VDES channel modeling and impact on higher‐layer performance
Authors: Giambene Giovanni , Gomez Iago , de Cola Tomaso , Sebastian Roshith , Rahman MD Saifur 
Published: October 2021

SummaryVHF data exchange system (VDES) is an emerging maritime communications standard that is meant to provide ship‐to‐shore, shore‐to‐ship, and ship‐to‐ship information services. VDES also includes a satellite component to extend the service coverage also to the high sea. Ships can receive important information via VDES and access this service via satellite when they are far from the shore. This paper uses data taken during a measurement campaign to develop an ON‐OFF model for the VDE‐SAT downlink channel taking the multipath effects caused by sea reflections into account. This model has been used to evaluate the impact of packet‐level forward error correction (FEC) schemes (i.e., ideal codes, RaptorQ codes, and 2‐Dimension Reed‐Solomon codes) to further protect transmissions from deep fading events and to evaluate the impact at the transport level considering the possibility to adopt the transmission control protocol (TCP) for a file map delivery service.
Applied element method‐based blast‐resistant design of façade columns with limited standoff distance
Authors: Attia Fatma , Salem Hamed 
Published: October 2021

AbstractExterior columns are highly susceptible to structural damage in cases of blast attacks, and its failure may lead to a progressive collapse of the entire structure. In this study, a three‐dimensional nonlinear dynamic analysis was carried out on a 10‐Storey reinforced concrete office building. The building was designed according to ACI 318, then its exterior columns were subjected to blast loading threat. The computational program used is Extreme Loading for Structures software, which is based on the applied element method (AEM). The AEM can estimate the structural behavior from the elastic stage through cracking, large displacement, complete elements separation, and eventually collapse. In this study, an exterior column is analyzed under different weights of (TNT) detonation charges concerning different standoff distances, the behavior of the columns is evaluated according to UFC 3‐340‐02 and PDC‐TR 06‐08. Analysis trials are carried out to estimate a safe and economical column design that can withstand a predefined charge weight and standoff distance.
LncRNA MEG3 restrained pulmonary fibrosis induced by NiO NPs via regulating hedgehog signaling pathway‐mediated autophagy
Authors: Gao Qing , Chang Xuhong , Yang Mengmeng , Zheng Jinfa , Gong Xuefeng , Liu Han , Li Kun , Wang Xiaoxia , Zhan Haibing , Li Sheng , Feng Sanwei , Sun Xingchang , Sun Yingbiao 
Published: October 2021

AbstractLong noncoding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (lncRNA MEG3) was down‐regulated in pulmonary fibrosis of rats induced by Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs), while the downstream regulatory mechanisms of MEG3 remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among MEG3, Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway and autophagy in pulmonary fibrosis caused by NiO NPs. The pulmonary fibrosis model in rats was constructed by intratracheal instillation of 0.015, 0.06, and 0.24 mg/kg NiO NPs twice a week for 9 weeks. Collagen deposition model was established by treating A549 cells with 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL NiO NPs for 24 h. Our results indicated that NiO NPs activated Hh pathway, down‐regulated the expression of MEG3, and reduced autophagy activity in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, the autophagy process was promoted by Hh pathway inhibitor (CDG‐0449), while the collagen formation in A549 cells was reduced by autophagy activator (Rapamycin). Furthermore, the overexpressed MEG3 inhibited the activation of Hh pathway, resulting in autophagy activity enhancement along with collagen formation reduction. In summary, lncRNA MEG3 can restrain pulmonary fibrosis induced by NiO NPs via regulating hedgehog signaling pathway‐mediated autophagy, which may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.