bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A standard system phantom for magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Stupic Karl F. , Ainslie Maureen , Boss Michael A. , Charles Cecil , Dienstfrey Andrew M. , Evelhoch Jeffrey L. , Finn Paul , Gimbutas Zydrunas , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Hill Derek L. G. , Jack Clifford R. , Jackson Edward F. , Karaulanov Todor , Keenan Kathryn E. , Liu Guoying , Martin Michele N. , Prasad Pottumarthi V. , Rentz Nikki S. , Yuan Chun , Russek Stephen E. 
Published: April 2021

PurposeA standard MRI system phantom has been designed and fabricated to assess scanner performance, stability, comparability and assess the accuracy of quantitative relaxation time imaging. The phantom is unique in having traceability to the International System of Units, a high level of precision, and monitoring by a national metrology institute. Here, we describe the phantom design, construction, imaging protocols, and measurement of geometric distortion, resolution, slice profile, signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), proton‐spin relaxation times, image uniformity and proton density.MethodsThe system phantom, designed by the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine ad hoc committee on Standards for Quantitative MR, is a 200 mm spherical structure that contains a 57‐element fiducial array; two relaxation time arrays; a proton density/SNR array; resolution and slice‐profile insets. Standard imaging protocols are presented, which provide rapid assessment of geometric distortion, image uniformity, T1 and T2 mapping, image resolution, slice profile, and SNR.ResultsFiducial array analysis gives assessment of intrinsic geometric distortions, which can vary considerably between scanners and correction techniques. This analysis also measures scanner/coil image uniformity, spatial calibration accuracy, and local volume distortion. An advanced resolution analysis gives both scanner and protocol contributions. SNR analysis gives both temporal and spatial contributions.ConclusionsA standard system phantom is useful for characterization of scanner performance, monitoring a scanner over time, and to compare different scanners. This type of calibration structure is useful for quality assurance, benchmarking quantitative MRI protocols, and to transition MRI from a qualitative imaging technique to a precise metrology with documented accuracy and uncertainty.
The Effects of Employment Counseling on Labor Market Outcomes for Adults and Dislocated Workers: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Experiment
Authors: McConnell Sheena , Schochet Peter Z. , Rotz Dana , Fortson Ken , Burkander Paul , Mastri Annalisa 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis article examines the effects of “intensive services” provided by the Adult and Dislocated Worker programs, two of the largest employment service programs in the United States. Intensive services include one‐on‐one staff assistance—assessments, coaching, career counseling, and service referrals. The study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in 28 randomly selected sites, with the randomization of job seekers to research groups with or without access to intensive services, yielding study findings with both internal and external validity. Using survey and administrative earnings data, we find that access to intensive services increased earnings by between 7 and 20 percent over a three‐year follow‐up period; these benefits exceed program costs from the perspective of both taxpayers and society as a whole. Although impacts were larger for more educated job seekers and in areas with higher rates of unemployment, impacts were similar across many other subgroups, including for adults compared with dislocated workers.
Hypoxia‐sensitive micelles based on amphiphilic chitosan derivatives for drug‐controlled release
Authors: Chen Zhiming , Wen Weiqiu , Guo Jianwei 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNatural chitosan (CS) is composed of a larger hydrophilic skeleton with great biocompatibility. A hypoxia sensitive amphiphilic conjugate (CS‐NBCF) was synthesized by conjugating CS with nitrobenzyl chloroformate (NBCF). Subsequently, nano micelles with high stability (CMC = 0.0030 mg/ml) were formed by self‐assembly of the polymers in deionized water. The hypoxia‐responsive function was demonstrated by examining the size variations of polymeric micelles under the hypoxia conditions. Doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated into the micellar core, the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of DOX were 15.0% and 52.6%, respectively. The in vitro release experiments showed that DOX could be released rapidly in hypoxic environment, and the release amount was up to 68% in 24 h. It was found from the cytotoxicity experiment that that the toxicity of the blank micelles was low, while DOX‐loaded micelles exhibited a good anti‐cancer effect under hypoxic conditions, and the cell inhibition rate of MCF‐7 was high up to 63%. As a result, the demonstrated properties endowed as‐developed polymeric micelles with promising application as drug delivery system in tumor treatment.
Microenvironmental regulation of tumour immunity and response to immunotherapy
Authors: Kockx Mark M , McCleland Mark , Koeppen Hartmut 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe confluence of immunology and oncology has led to a lot of uncertainty and questions about relevant biomarkers. Despite the complexity of the tumour microenvironment, most clinical studies have relied on a single‐parameter immunohistochemical assay to prospectively select patients for checkpoint inhibitor therapy; the results of this strategy have been highly variable and often less than optimal. While great efforts have been made to identify additional or alternative biomarkers, pathologists, drug developers, and clinicians alike have faced technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges on how to implement them successfully. In this review, we will discuss these challenges; we will also highlight recent advances in dissecting the functional diversity of immune cell populations within the tumour microenvironment and their potential for improved, biomarker‐driven therapeutic strategies. The dynamic nature and cellular diversity of the tumour microenvironment may challenge past models of a single biomarker predicting patient response and clinical outcome. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Through the self to music: The self as the creative origin for composing in time frames
Authors: Hamel Peter Michael 
Published: April 2021

AbstractSince childhood, the composer Peter Michael Hamel has been embedded in a musical environment. Here he describes a new experience leading to some new insight when he was confronted with some results in brain science. Although he has always been interested in the scientific basis of sound and music, certain characteristics of temporal information processing in the brain were new to him. In particular, the time window of some 3 s fascinated him. As an immediate reaction, he decided to compose a string quartet, which he called The Time Frame. This time window, which is an anthropological universal, provides an operative basis for effortless communication, empathic relationships to others, and it is the brain's way to integrate continuity and simultaneity of what is experienced in a complementary mode. This time window is also a temporal platform for self‐awareness. This suggests a reflection of the concept of the “self” as it has been conceived since antiquity and in different cultural environments. This reflection has motivated the title of his report, “Through the Self to Music.” This appears to be contradictory to the internationally well‐received title of his book, Through Music to the Self. However, it can be interpreted as complementary. As the composer says: the “self” is a creative starting point for composing and listening “in” time windows.
History of otorhinolaryngology in Germany before 1921
Authors: Mudry Albert , Mlynski Robert , Kramp Burkhard 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn 2021, the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its foundation. The aim of this article is to present the main inventions and progress made in Germany before 1921, the date the society was founded. Three chronological periods are discernible: the history of otorhinolaryngology (ORL) in Germany until the beginning of the 19th century, focusing mainly on the development of scattered knowledge; the birth of the sub-specialties otology, laryngology (pharyngo-laryngology and endoscopy), and rhinology in the 19th century, combining advances in knowledge and implementation of academic structures; and the creation of the ORL specialty at the turn of the 20th century, mainly concentrating on academic organization and expansion. This period was crucial and allowed for the foundation of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery on solid ground. Germany played an important role in the development and progress of ORL internationally in the 19th century with such great contributors as Anton von Tröltsch, Hermann Schwartze, Otto Körner, Rudolf Voltolini, and Gustav Killian to mention a few.
Influence of compounding conditions, treatment of wood particles with fire-retardants and artificial weathering on properties of wood-polymer composites for façade applications
Authors: Schirp Arne , Schwarz Benjamin 
Published: April 2021

AbstractVarious fire-retardants (FR) for the pre-treatment of wood flour, for example, ammonium polyphosphate and different formulations based on phosphorus- and nitrogen-compounds, as well as for application during compounding were tested for their effectiveness in injection-molded and extruded composites based on high-density polyethylene and polypropylene. Small-scale tests for flammability of polymeric materials and for determination of the limiting oxygen index were used to characterize the composite materials. Differences pertaining to the applied compounding conditions, i.e., underwater granulation versus air granulation, were determined. The amount of phosphorus leached from FR during underwater granulation was analyzed. Artificial weathering trials were performed and reaction-to-fire performance and color changes of FR-composites were evaluated. Tensile strength properties of the composites and results for cold water immersion tests are also reported. An optimized formulation based on pre-treated wood flour was developed and extruded into façade profiles for the single burning item test according to DIN EN 13823. The test showed that classification C-s3, d0 according to DIN EN 13501-1 can be achieved if pre-treated wood flour is used. The use of untreated wood flour leads to a lower classification (D-s2, d0). Fire performance of extruded façade profiles can be improved by the use of pre-treated wood flour and enables new applications in the building sector.
Time-dependent modeling and experimental characterization of foamed EPDM rubber
Authors: Buchen Stefan , Kröger Nils Hendrik , Reppel Thomas , Weinberg Kerstin 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFoamed rubber with a mixed cellular microstructure is a compressible material used for various sealing applications in the automotive industry. For technical optimization, a sufficiently precise material model is required. Here a material description for the porous elastic and viscoelastic response of low density foamed rubber is proposed and adapted to ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)-based rubber. The elastic description is based on a spherical shell model which is homogenized in an analytical and also in a numerical manner. A viscoelastic contribution accounts for the time-dependence of the material’s response. The derived constitutive model is implemented in a finite element software and calibrated experimentally with multi-step relaxation tensile tests of foamed EPDM rubber.
Observable quality assessment of broadband very long baseline interferometry system
Authors: Xu Ming H. , Anderson James M. , Heinkelmann Robert , Lunz Susanne , Schuh Harald , Wang Guangli 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe next-generation, broadband geodetic very long baseline interferometry system, named VGOS, is developing its global network, and VGOS networks with a small size of 3–7 stations have already made broadband observations from 2017 to 2019. We made quality assessments for two kinds of observables in the 21 VGOS sessions currently available: group delay and differential total electron content ($$\delta $$
δ
TEC). Our study reveals that the random measurement noise of VGOS group delays is at the level of less than 2 ps ($$1\,\hbox {ps}\,=\,10^{-12}$$

1

ps

=

10

-
12

s), while the contributions from systematic error sources, mainly source structure related, are at the level of 20 ps. Due to the significant improvement in measurement noise, source structure effects with relatively small magnitudes that are not overwhelming in the S/X VLBI system, for instance 10 ps, are clearly visible in VGOS observations. Another critical error source in VGOS observations is discrete delay jumps, for instance, a systematic offset of about 310 ps or integer multiples of that. The predominant causative factor is found to be related to source structure. The measurement noise level of $$\delta $$
δ
TEC observables is about 0.07 TECU, but the systematic effects are five times larger than that. A strong correlation between group delay and $$\delta $$
δ
TEC observables is discovered with a trend of 40 ps/TECU for observations with large structure effects; there is a second trend in the range 60–70 ps/TECU when the measurement noise is dominant.
Current EU regulatory requirements for the assessment of chemicals and cosmetic products: challenges and opportunities for introducing new approach methodologies
Authors: Pistollato Francesca , Madia Federica , Corvi Raffaella , Munn Sharon , Grignard Elise , Paini Alicia , Worth Andrew , Bal-Price Anna , Prieto Pilar , Casati Silvia , Berggren Elisabet , Bopp Stephanie K , Zuang Valérie 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and other EU regulations, such as REACH and the Cosmetic Products Regulation advocate for a change in the way toxicity testing is conducted. Whilst the Cosmetic Products Regulation bans animal testing altogether, REACH aims for a progressive shift from in vivo testing towards quantitative in vitro and computational approaches. Several endpoints can already be addressed using non-animal approaches including skin corrosion and irritation, serious eye damage and irritation, skin sensitisation, and mutagenicity and genotoxicity. However, for systemic effects such as acute toxicity, repeated dose toxicity and reproductive and developmental toxicity, evaluation of chemicals under REACH still heavily relies on animal tests. Here we summarise current EU regulatory requirements for the human health assessment of chemicals under REACH and the Cosmetic Products Regulation, considering the more critical endpoints and identifying the main challenges in introducing alternative methods into regulatory testing practice. This supports a recent initiative taken by the International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods (ICATM) to summarise current regulatory requirements specific for the assessment of chemicals and cosmetic products for several human health-related endpoints, with the aim of comparing different jurisdictions and coordinating the promotion and ultimately the implementation of non-animal approaches worldwide. Recent initiatives undertaken at European level to promote the 3Rs and the use of alternative methods in current regulatory practice are also discussed.
Mass spectrometric identification and quantification of the antibiotic clavulanic acid in broiler chicken plasma and meat as a necessary analytical tool in finding ways to increase the effectiveness of currently used antibiotics in the treatment of broiler chickens
Authors: Putecova Kristina , Nedbalcova Katerina , Bartejsova Iva , Zouharova Monika , Matiaskova Katarina , Stastny Kamil 
Published: April 2021

AbstractClavulanic acid is a molecule with antimicrobial effect used in several livestock species treatment. Its inclusion in the treatment of infectious diseases of broilers requires determination of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters in order to determine the appropriate dosage for broilers and ensure safety of chicken products for human health. The present study describes the optimisation of analytical LC-MS/MS method for identification and quantification of clavulanic acid in broiler chicken plasma and meat. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification for the developed method were 3.09 μg·L−1 and 10.21 μg·L−1 for plasma and 2.57 μg·kg−1 and 8.47 μg·kg−1 for meat. The recoveries of the developed plasma and tissue extraction procedure were > 105.7% and > 95.6%, respectively. The achieved coefficient of variation of within-run precision ranged from 2.8 to 10.9% for plasma and from 6.5 to 8.5% for meat. The pharmacokinetic experiment was performed in 112 Ross broiler chickens assigned into time interval groups ranging from 10 min to 24 h in accredited animal facilities. Administered dose of clavulanic acid was 2.5 mg·kg−1 according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the experiment are as follows: Cmax = 1.82 ± 0.91 mg·L−1, Tmax = 0.25 h, T1/2 = 0.87 h, Kel = 0.80 ± 0.04 h−1, AUC0-∞ = 2.17 mg·h ·L−1.
Striking a balance: outcomes of short-term Mono-J placement following ureterorenoscopy
Authors: Reicherz Alina , Maas Verena , Reike Moritz , Brehmer Mirco , Noldus Joachim , Bach Peter 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTo evaluate factors affecting the outcomes of short-term Mono-J insertion for 6 h following ureteroscopic stone removal. Patients treated with a Mono-J for 6 h after ureterorenoscopy and stone removal were analysed. FaST 1 and 2 (Fast Track Stent Studies), two consecutive single academic centre studies, were conducted between August 2014 and April 2018. In each study, we randomized patients with renal or ureteral calculi to two groups before ureterorenoscopy. FaST 1 compared a Mono-J insertion for 6 h versus Double-J insertion for 3–5 days after ureterorenoscopy. FaST 2 compared a Mono-J insertion to a tubeless procedure in the same clinical setting. All patients were pre-stented for 3–5 days before URS. The study endpoint was stent-related symptoms as assessed by a validated questionnaire (USSQ). Results were stratified by clinical parameters, stone characteristics and operation details. 108 of 156 initially randomized patients undergoing ureterorenoscopy were included. USSQ scores covering the time 3–5 weeks after stone removal showed a significantly reduced urinary symptoms and pain index compared to the scores before ureterorenoscopy. USSQ results before and after stone removal did not correlate with stone size or operation time and did not differ significantly depending on stone localization, the treating endourologist, or ureterorenoscopic device used (p > 0.05). Six patients (5%) required reintervention. Following secondary ureterorenoscopy and ureteral drainage with a Mono-J for 6 h, quality of life is independent of stone size and localization, operation time, the treating endourologist, and the URS device used.
Validating scoring systems for fracture healing in infants and young children: pilot study
Authors: Crompton Samuel , Messina Fabrizio , Klafkowski Gillian , Hall Christine , Offiah Amaka C. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Recent studies have analysed birth-related clavicular fractures to propose time frames for healing that could be applied to dating of all fractures in cases of suspected child abuse.

Objective
To assess differences in healing rates between femoral fractures and birth-related clavicular fractures in infants and young children.

Materials and methods
A retrospective 5-year pilot study of femoral fractures in children younger than 3 years of age was performed. Anonymised radiographs were independently scored by two radiologists for stages of fracture healing. In cases of reader disagreement, radiographs were independently scored by a third radiologist.

Results
In total, 74 radiographs (30 children) met the inclusion criteria. Fracture healing evolved over time with subperiosteal new bone formation (SPNBF) appearing first, followed by callus then remodelling. A power calculation for a single proportion, with a level of confidence of 95% and a margin of error of 5%, showed that in a definitive study, 359 radiographs would be required.

Conclusion
Although the overall pattern of healing is similar, in this small pilot study, the earliest times for SPNBF and callus formation in femoral fractures appeared to lag behind healing of birth-related clavicular fractures. Remodelling appeared earlier than remodelling of clavicular fractures. A power calculation has determined numbers of femoral radiographs (359) required for a definitive study.
Natural language processing of radiology reports to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and age distribution of fractures
Authors: Jungmann Florian , Kämpgen B. , Hahn F. , Wagner D. , Mildenberger P. , Düber C. , Kloeckner R. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Objective
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients presenting in hospitals because of emergency conditions decreased. Radiology is thus confronted with the effects of the pandemic. The aim of this study was to use natural language processing (NLP) to automatically analyze the number and distribution of fractures during the pandemic and in the 5 years before the pandemic.

Materials and methods
We used a pre-trained commercially available NLP engine to automatically categorize 5397 radiological reports of radiographs (hand/wrist, elbow, shoulder, ankle, knee, pelvis/hip) within a 6-week period from March to April in 2015–2020 into “fracture affirmed” or “fracture not affirmed.” The NLP engine achieved an F1 score of 0.81 compared to human annotators.

Results
In 2020, we found a significant decrease of fractures in general (p < 0.001); the average number of fractures in 2015–2019 was 295, whereas it was 233 in 2020. In children and adolescents (p < 0.001), and in adults up to 65 years (p = 0.006), significantly fewer fractures were reported in 2020. The number of fractures in the elderly did not change (p = 0.15). The number of hand/wrist fractures (p < 0.001) and fractures of the elbow (p < 0.001) was significantly lower in 2020 compared with the average in the years 2015–2019.

Conclusion
NLP can be used to identify relevant changes in the number of pathologies as shown here for the use case fracture detection. This may trigger root cause analysis and enable automated real-time monitoring in radiology.
Quantitative X-ray phase contrast computed tomography with grating interferometry
Authors: Birnbacher Lorenz , Braig Eva-Maria , Pfeiffer Daniela , Pfeiffer Franz , Herzen Julia 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe ability of biomedical imaging data to be of quantitative nature is getting increasingly important with the ongoing developments in data science. In contrast to conventional attenuation-based X-ray imaging, grating-based phase contrast computed tomography (GBPC-CT) is a phase contrast micro-CT imaging technique that can provide high soft tissue contrast at high spatial resolution. While there is a variety of different phase contrast imaging techniques, GBPC-CT can be applied with laboratory X-ray sources and enables quantitative determination of electron density and effective atomic number. In this review article, we present quantitative GBPC-CT with the focus on biomedical applications.