bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) with diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) in prostate cancer: Prevalence and clinical significance of incidental findings
Authors: Kumasaka Soma , Motegi Shunichi , Kumasaka Yuka , Nishikata Tatsuya , Otomo Masami , Tsushima Yoshito 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) is now recommended as a first-line staging modality in prostate cancer patients, and the widespread use of DWIBS may lead to an increased frequency of incidental findings. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of incidental findings detected on whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) with DWIBS in patients with prostate cancer.
Methods
Data from 124 patients (age, 76.5 ± 5.6 years; range, 60–90) with pathologically confirmed prostate cancer, who underwent WB-MRI between December 2016 and April 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. Findings unrelated to prostate cancer were considered as incidental findings and categorized into two groups based on their clinical implications, as follow: imaging follow-up or additional examinations was required (significant incidental findings) and no need to additional work-up (non-significant incidental findings). A Chi-square test was performed to compare the differences in the prevalence of significant incidental findings based on age (≤ 75 and > 75 years old).
Results
A total of 334 incidental findings were found, with 8.1% (n = 27) as significant incidental findings and 91.9% (n = 307) as non-significant incidental findings. Significant incidental findings were more frequent in patients over 75 years old than those of 75 years old or younger (28.6% vs 11.1%, p = 0.018). Nineteen of the 27 significant incidental findings (70.4%) were observed on non-DWIBS sequences.
Conclusion
Clinically significant incidental findings, which required imaging follow-up or additional examinations, were commonly observed in patients with prostate cancer on WB-MRI/DWIBS.
Activation maps of convolutional neural networks as a tool for brain degeneration tracking in early diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson's disease based on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Suwalska Aleksandra , Siuda Joanna , Kocot Szymon , Zmuda Weronika , Rudzinska-Bar Monika , Polanska Joanna 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: Identification of Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients at risk for development of dementia is crucial for early intervention. Today, advanced, time-consuming and expensive imaging techniques (such as DaT-SCAN-SPECT) are used for diagnosis. The study aimed to prove the usefulness of convolutional neural networks (CNN) for the identification of brain areas related to the progress of cognitive impairment by using standard Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) sequences. Results: T1&T2 sequences of 18 patients were used in the pilot study. The activation maps were generated and the brain regions most involved in the classification process were identified that showed areas potentially significant in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment severity. The cerebellum was proven significant for distinguishing the above-mentioned classes in relative cerebellum volume (ANOVA p-value=0.0038 with large effect size η2=0.5254) and folding (p-value=0.0031, η2=0.5357) which is consistent with reports by other authors. Our analysis demonstrated that the convolutional neural networks combined with the proper image preprocessing pipeline could be used for feature extraction in MRI sequences and can successfully support the identification of the disease-specific abnormalities of the brain image.
miRNA Profiling in Human Precision-cut Lung Slices (PCLS))
Authors: Niehof Monika , Reamon-Buettner Stella , Danow Olga , Hansen Tanja , Sewald Katherina 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
ObjectiveHuman precision cut lung slices (PCLS) are widely used as an ex vivo model system for drug discovery and development of new therapies. PCLS reflect the functional heterogeneity of lung tissue and possess relevant lung cell types. We thus determined the use of PCLS in studying non-coding RNAs notably miRNAs, which are important gene regulatory molecules. Since miRNAs play key role as mediators of respiratory diseases, they can serve as valuable prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers, and in therapeutic interventions, of lung diseases. A technical limitation though is the vast amount of agarose in PCLS which impedes (mi)RNA extraction by standard procedures. Here we modified our recently published protocol for RNA 29 isolation from PCLS to enable miRNA readouts. Results The modified method relies on the separation of lysis and precipitation steps, and a clean-up procedure with specific magnetic beads. We obtained successfully quality miRNA amenable for downstream applications such as RTqPCR and whole transcriptome miRNA analysis. Comparison of miRNA profiles in PCLS with published data from human lung, identified all important miRNAs regulated in IPF, COPD, asthma or lung cancer. Therefore, this shows suitability of the method for analyzing miRNA targets and biomarkers in the valuable human 38 PCLS model.
Construction of a Prognostic Signature in Ewing’s Sarcoma: Based On Metabolism-Related Genes
Authors: Wu Bo , Zhu Dong , Yu Bo , Hou Yuanyuan , Wang Hongyu , Jiang Yuting , Fu Zhaoyu 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: By combining the expression profiles of metabolism-related genes (MRGS) with clinical information, the expression quantities of MRGS and the influence on development and prognosis were systematically analyzed, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical study on the prognosis of Ewing's sarcoma.Methods: MRGs expression profiles of 64 patients with Ewing's sarcoma were obtained from the GEO dataset. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify metabolization-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related with prognosis in Ewing's sarcoma patients. Then, multivariate Cox analysis was used to calculate novel prognostic markers based on metabolism-related DEGs. Finally, the new prognostic index was verified on the basis of the prognostic models.Results: Univariate Cox regression analysis identified 20 metabolization-related DEGs, 9 of which were significantly associated with Ewing's sarcoma patients' overall survival. Subsequently, we used nine metabolism-related DEGs to construct metabolism-related prognostic signature for patients with Ewing's sarcoma. Based on the 9 DEGs regression coefficient, we put forward the formula of each patient's risk score, and then divided the patients into high-risk group and low-risk group. The results indicated that the survival rate and survival time were higher in the low-risk group and lower in the high-risk group. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that risk score index was indeed an independent prognostic factor for Ewing's sarcoma. In addition, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for overall survival was 0.985. And a nomogram model was established.Conclusion: The experimental results suggest that the 9 metabolism-related DEGs marker may be effective in predicting the prognosis of Ewing's sarcoma to some extent, helping to individualize treatment of patients at different risks.
Fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia in patients with hematologic diseases and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteremia: a retrospective study
Authors: ZHU Lixia , Wang Lulu , Zhang Yuping , Chen Rongrong , Li Xueying , Sun Jianai , Zhou De , Zhu Mingyu , Zheng Xiaolong , Li Li , Zhu Jingjing , Xie Mixue , Yang Xiudi , Yu Wenjuan , Tong Hongyan , Zhu Honghu , Xie Wanzhuo , Jin Jie , Xiujin Ye 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia is one of the most severe manifestations of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM) infections. Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of SM bacteremia and to identify the risk factors of hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by SM in patients with hematologic diseases.
Methods
The clinical records of 55 patients diagnosed with hematologic diseases and SM bacteremia were retrospectively reviewed. We compared patients’ clinical characteristics and outcomes between the hemorrhagic pneumonia group and non-hemorrhagic pneumonia group.
Results
Twenty-seven (49.1%) patients developed hemorrhagic pneumonia. The overall mortality rate of SM bacteremia was 67.3%. The 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with hemorrhagic pneumonia than those without hemorrhagic pneumonia (85.2% and 50.0%, respectively, P = 0.003). Compared with the non-hemorrhagic pneumonia group, patients in the hemorrhagic pneumonia group were older and showed clinical manifestations as higher proportions of isolated SM in sputum culture, neutropenia and elevated procalcitonin. Multivariate analysis showed that neutropenia, high levels of procalcitonin, prior tigecycline therapy within 1 month were independent risk factors associated with hemorrhagic pneumonia.
Conclusions
Hematologic patients with SM bacteremia who have neutropenia, high level of procalcitonin and prior tigecycline therapy within 1 month should be early treated with combined effective antibiotics and best supportive interventions to avoid life-threatening hemorrhagic pneumonia.
Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolated from urinary tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bunduki Gabriel Kambale , Heinz Eva , Phiri Vincent Samuel , Noah Patrick , Feasey Nicholas , Musaya Janelisa 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are amongst the most frequent causes of urinary tract infections. We report a systematic review and meta-analysis of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of UPEC isolated from urinary tract infections.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using PRISMA guidelines (Research Registry ref 5874). Data were extracted from PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect databases for studies published from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Studies reporting antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors of UPEC isolated in confirmed urinary tract infections (≥ 105CFU/ml) were eligible. Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors of UPEC were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis model. Estimates with 95% confidence intervals, I-square (I2) statistic, and Cochran’s Q test were computed using the score statistic and the exact binomial method by incorporating the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation of proportions.
Results
Our search returned 2,504 hits, of which 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis, totalling 1,888 UPEC isolates. Highest antimicrobial resistance rates were observed among the antibiotic class of tetracycline in 69.1% (498/721), followed by sulphonamides in 59.3% (1119/1888), quinolones in 49.4% (1956/3956), and beta-lactams in 36.9% (4410/11964). Among beta-lactams, high resistance was observed in aminopenicillins in 74.3% (1157/1557) and first generation cephalosporins in 38.8% (370/953). Meanwhile, virulence factors with highest prevalence were immune suppressors (54.1%) followed by adhesins (45.9%). Taken individually, the most observed virulence genes were shiA (92.1%), CSH (80.0%), fimH/MSHA (75.3%), traT (75.1%), sisA (72.2%), iucD (65.7%), iutA (61.8%), kpsMTII (60.6%), and PAI (55.2%).
Conclusions
The increased antibiotic resistance of UPEC isolates was demonstrated and suggested a need for reassessment of empirical therapies in urinary tract infections treatment caused by this pathogen. In addition, this pathotype exhibited diverse surface and secreted virulence factors.
Revisiting Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Levels: A Circadian Heart Rate Variability-based Approach
Authors: Alkhodari Mohanad , Jelinek Herbert F. , Saleem Shiza , Hadjileontiadis Leontios J. , Khandoker Ahsan H. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Analysis of heart failure is important in clinical practice to ensure coronary artery disease (CAD) patients will be provided with appropriate timely treatment. The current gold standard, echocardiography, although reliable, provides a once-off left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurement but does not provide information about heart function the during day / night cardiac cycles. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of heart rate variability (HRV) features in classifying CAD patients into multiple LVEF groups through a new index, HRV ejection fraction (HRVEF) and its agreement to established norms. A total of 92 heart failure patients were included in this study. HRVEF groups optimized on hourly basis through Jenks natural breaks algorithm exhibited a consistent pattern with a goodness of variance fit (GVF) of more than 0.70 accuracy during the late-night to early-morning (01:00-08:00) and evening (17:00-23:00) time periods. At these hours, several HRV features were found significant in differentiating between HRVEF groups using statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. These features include the successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD), low and high frequency (LF, HF) power, standard deviation of normal heartbeats (SD2), short-term scaling exponent (alpha1), and percentage of normal heartbeats in alternation segments (PAS). This study paves the way towards new LVEF guidelines based on the association between LVEF and HRV features for a better demonstration of the circadian cardiac function at different LVEF levels in CAD patients.
Effects of Positioning Conditions on Material Properties In Powder bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Kayacan Mevlüt Yunus , Yılmaz Nihat 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Among additive manufacturing technologies, Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is considered the most widespread layer-by-layer process. Although the L-PBF, which is also called as SLM method, has many advantages, several challenging problems must be overcome, including part positioning issues. In this study, the effect of part positioning on the microstructure of the part in the L-PBF method was investigated. Five Ti6Al4V samples were printed in different positions on the building platform and investigated with the aid of temperature, porosity, microstructure and hardness evaluations. In this study, martensitic needles were detected within the microstructure of Ti6Al4V samples. Furthermore, some twins were noticed on primary martensitic lines and the agglomeration of β precipitates was observed in vanadium rich areas. The positioning conditions of samples were revealed to have a strong effect on temperature gradients and on the average size of martensitic lines. Besides, different hardness values were attained depending on sample positioning conditions. As a major result, cooling rates were found related to positions of samples and the location of point on the samples. Higher cooling rates and repetitive cooling cycles resulted in microstructures becoming finer and harder.
Pros and Cons of Self Driving Vans - A Real Life Motorway Case Study Analysis from Great Britain
Authors: Nandakumar Ramjit 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Given the speculations that autonomous vehicles are sure to take over the transport sectors in the near future, this study micro-simulates the impacts of automating the freight vehicle VAN using the micro-simulation software AIMSUN at SAE Level 4 on an existing motorway network in the United Kingdom using real road network conditions and traffic information. This study analyses the impacts of automation of vans in different levels of automation penetrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) with heterogeneous traffic conditions on traffic parameters such as speed, time and different environmental factors such as CO2, NOx, PM and VOC. For better understanding the impacts of automation, analysis along the motorway was carried out along different stretches of the motorway between two junctions. In this study, the impacts of automation of van in different road characteristics such as congested stretches, stretches with slope and flat stretches were also analyzed in detail. The study highlights that with an increase in van automation penetrations, traffic parameters such as speed and time are positively impacted while negative impacts on environmental conditions are observed along the motorway stretches.
Identification of Optimum Operational Parameter Levels for Plain Basin, Corrugated Basin and Compartmental Basin Solar Stills
Authors: Gnanaraj Sundararaj Joe Patrick , Ramachandran Solaisamy 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This study aimed at optimizing or maximizing the distillate production in plain basin, corrugated basin and compartmental basin solar stills by integrating them with optimum level of the four operational parameters - Mass of Heat Storage Material, Basin Water Depth, Basin Cover Thickness and External Mirror Position. The efficiency of the parameters is not uniform and it differs from still to still due to variation in the structure of the basin. Further, the most efficient level in a parameter differs from still to still. A particular basin water depth which is highly productive in plain basin still may not suit well for corrugated or compartmental basin still. To find out the optimum parameter levels, the 4 operational parameters and the four levels of each parameter were combined as per L16 orthogonal array and the distillate production under different combination of operational parameter levels were analyzed using S/N ratio analysis, mean response method, analysis of variance and regression analysis. The analysis revealed that the optimum mass of heat storage material was 16 kg in plain basin, 12 kg in corrugated basin and 10 kg in compartmental basin still. The efficiency of corrugated basin and compartmental basin solar stills was maximum at a lower basin water depth of 15 mm and 10 mm respectively. But plain basin still efficiency was maximum at a higher basin water depth of 20 mm. The optimum basin cover thickness was 4 mm in all the solar stills, in spite of a difference in the structure of the basin. In the same way, the distillate production was maximum when the external mirrors were positioned on the two sloping sides of the solar still (east and west direction). The expected production from the solar stills integrated with the optimum parameter levels was estimated using regression analysis and mean response method. The average distillate production which was 3304, 3493 and 3629 ml/m2.day in the modified (not with optimum parameter levels) plain basin, corrugated basin and compartmental basin solar stills respectively, improved to 6414, 7153 and 7629 ml/m2.day respectively when they were modified with optimum parameter levels and the increase in production was 94 %, 105 % and 110 % respectively.
Fruit juices acts as biocatalyst in efficient synthesis of potentially bioactive imidazoles
Authors: Gulati Susheel , Singh Rajvir , Sangwan Suman 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
An efficient and eco-friendly itinerary for the synthesis of imidazole derivatives (3a-3h) from reaction between substituted aldehydes (1a-1h), benzil (2a) and ammonium acetate (2b) in presence of Citrus limon L. juice, Vitis vinifera L. juice and Cocos nucifera L. juice has been carried out. The purity of compounds was confirmed by melting point and thin layer chromatography. All synthesized compounds (3a-3h) were characterized by 1HNMR, FTIR and CHN spectral techniques and tested for in vitro herbicidal activity against Raphanus sativus L. (Radish seeds). The compounds (3a-3h) were also evaluated for their antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides by poisoned food techniques method. Antibacterial activity was also determined against Erwinia cartovora and Xanthomonas citri by inhibition zone method. From activity data, it was observed that compounds 3f and 3c were found most active against Raphanus sativus L. (root) and Raphanus sativus L. (shoot) respectively. Compound 3d was found most active against Rhizoctonia solani and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides fungus at highest concentration. Compound 3b has shown maximum inhibition zone i.e. 2.10-7.10 mm against Erwinia cartovora at 2000 µg/mL concentration. Maximum Xanthomonas citrii growth was inhibited by compounds 3c showing inhibition zone 1.00-5.00 mm at highest concentration.
Janus Kinase Inhibitors: A Review of Their Application in the Vitiligo
Authors: Niu Chao , Xie Hunjun , Aisa Haji Akber 
Published: March 2021

Abstract:
The small-molecular inhibitors targeted JAks (JAK inhibitors), could modulate the cytokines-mediated signaling via JAK-STAT pathway, which plays a important role in immune regulation and cell proliferation. The JAK inhibitors are previously designed and synthesized to treat diseases involved with hematologic and immune system. Increasing evidence shows that they are quite effective in atopic dermatitis (AD), alopecia areata (AA), psoriasis, vitiligo, and other autoimmune-induced dermatologic conditions. Currently, many JAK inhibitors possessing anti-vitiligo activity are being investigated in laboratory and clinically. In this view, we would like to summarize so we review the applications of these inhibitors with emphasis on profile of vitiligo, clinical efficacy, dosages, development of new candidates and adverse events through available literatures.