bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance neurography findings in three critically ill COVID-19 patients with new onset of extremity peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Omar Imran M. , Garg Ankur 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionCoronavirus-19 (COVID-19) is most commonly associated with respiratory syndromes, although patients are presenting more frequently with neurological symptoms. When they occur, neurological conditions most commonly involve the central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system effects, particularly in the extremities, have been less commonly described. The mechanisms of peripheral neuropathy in critically ill patients with COVID-19 are likely to be multifactorial, and extremity peripheral nerve imaging in these cases has not been well described.Case presentationIn this case series, we describe the magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) findings in 3 critically ill patients who presented with new onset of peripheral neuropathies in the extremities, and we discuss possible common mechanisms of nerve injury, including the role of position-related nerve injury.ConclusionsMRN can be useful in identifying and localizing peripheral nerve abnormalities in the extremities of COVID-19 patients, and patients who are placed in the prone position during ventilation may be more susceptible to these injuries.
Imaging features of the aging spine
Authors: Wocial Krzysztof , A. Feldman Beata , Mruk Bartosz , Sklinda Katarzyna , Walecki Jerzy , Waśko Marcin 
Published: September 2021

Among many degenerative abnormalities commonly found in spine imaging, not all are associated with the patient’s symptoms. We aimed to assess features of the standard, asymptomatic aging process of the spine. In this narrative review, we emphasize studies that describe imaging features of the spine in asymptomatic populations of different age groups. Degeneration of the intervertebral discs, bulging, and facet joint arthropathy have been documented in almost 90% of asymptomatic patients over 60 years of age. After the age of 40 years, nearly all patients have anterior and lateral vertebral osteophytes, whereas posterior osteophytes are found in a minority of them. There is a gradual increase in vertebral bone marrow fat composition with age with the acceleration of this process in women after menopause. The prevalence of these findings is common in asymptomatic populations and varies depending on the patient’s age. It is essential to differentiate likely natural and age-related findings from pathological abnormalities to make an accurate diagnosis.
Is chest X-ray severity scoring for COVID-19 pneumonia reliable?
Authors: A. Abo-Hedibah Sherif , Tharwat Nehal , H. Elmokadem Ali 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionTo explore whether chest X-ray severity scoring (CX-SS) could be reliable to assess the severity of pulmonary parenchymal disease in COVID-19 patients.Material and methodsThe study consisted of 325 patients whose COVID-19 was confirmed by RT-PCR test and who underwent chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) studies to assess parenchymal disease severity. Only 195 cases included in the final analysis after exclusion of cases with previous chest disease and cases having more than 24 hours interval between their X-ray and CT chest studies. Both chest X-ray and CT severity scores (CT-SS) were recorded by 2 experienced radiologists and were compared to the clinical severity. Interobserver agreement was assessed for CX-SS and CT-SS.ResultsIn relation to the clinical severity, the sensitivity of the CX-SS for diagnosis of moderate to severe parenchymal disease was high (90.4% and 100%) and low for mild cases (66.2%), while the specificity was high for mild to moderate parenchymal disease (100%) compared to severe cases (86.7%). The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the CT-SS were higher than CX-SS. Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a strong positive correlation between CX-SS and CT-SS (rs = 0.88, p < 0.001). The inter-observer agreement for CX-SS was good (k = 0.79, p = 0.001), and it was excellent for CT-SS (k = 0.85, p = 0.001).ConclusionsCX-SS is reliable to assess the severity of COVID-19 pulmonary parenchymal disease, especially in moderate and severe cases, with the tendency of overestimation of severe cases.
Non-invasive multi-channel deep learning convolutional neural networks for localization and classification of common hepatic lesions
Authors: Shah Shubham , Mishra Ruby , Szczurowska Agata , Guziński Maciej 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionMachine learning techniques, especially convolutional neural networks (CNN), have revolutionized the spectrum of computer vision tasks with a primary focus on supervised and labelled image datasets. We aimed to assess a novel method to segment the liver from the abdomen computed tomography (CT) image using the CNN network, and to train a unique method to locate and classify liver lesion pre-histological findings using multi-channel deep learning CNN (MDL-CNN).Material and methodsThe post-contrast CT images of the liver with a resolution of 0.625 mm were chosen for the study. In a random method, 50 examples of each hepatocellular carcinomas, metastases tumours, haemangiomas, hepatic cysts were chosen and evaluated.ResultsThe dice score quantitatively analyses the similarity of segmentation results with the training dataset. In the first CNN model for segmenting the liver, the dice score was 96.18%. The MDL-CNN model yielded 98.78% accuracy in classification, and the dice score for locating liver lesions was 95.70%. Additionally, the performance of this model was compared to various other existing models.ConclusionsAccording to our study, the machine learning approach can be successfully implemented to segment the liver and classify lesions, which will help radiologists impart better diagnosis.
The role of diffusion tensor imaging in idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss: is it significant?
Authors: Mahmoud Walaa , Elshawaf Wessam , Tawfik Ahmed 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionTo assess the role of diffusion tensor imaging metrics in the evaluation of the microstructural integrity of the central auditory tract in patients with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and to compare these patients with healthy controls.Material and methodsThis prospective study, which was conducted upon 30 subjects (21 males, 9 females; age range from 16 to 65 years, mean age 45years) with SNHL proven by audiometric tests. Ten age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included as a control group. Patients (n = 30) and volunteers (n = 10) underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging of the brain. Both fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity (MD) of 3 points along the acoustic tract (inferior colliculus, lateral lemniscus and superior olivary nucleus) were measured bilaterally in all patients and correlated with controls.ResultsMean fractional anisotropy (FA) values were reduced bilaterally at the superior olivary nucleus and/or lateral lemniscus and more significantly at the inferior colliculus of subjects with SNHL in comparison to the volunteers. In patients of unilateral SNHL, similar results were obtained in the contralateral side when compared to controls with statistically significant difference at the 3 regions (p = 0.001). No significant changes were noticed in the MD parame­ters either in patient or control groups.ConclusionsThe FA value was a valuable non-invasive biomarker in evaluating the subtle microstructural abnormali­ties of the central auditory tract in idiopathic SNHL and correlated well with hearing impairment.
Ischaemic brain changes associated with catheter-based diagnostic cerebral angiography: a diffusion-weighted imaging study
Authors: Ikizceli Turkan , Donmez Halil , Kahveci Servet , Kahriman Guven 
Published: September 2021

IntroductionThis study aims to evaluate the incidence of clinically silent embolic cerebral infarctions and associated risk factors following diagnostic cerebral angiography with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).Material and methodsA total of 71 cerebral digital subtraction angiograms (42 male, 29 female, average age: 56.0 ± 15.0) obtained using nonionic contrast material were prospectively evaluated. To assess embolic events, before and after (1-3 days) angiography, DWI was performed. The risk factors for embolic ischemic brain changes such as the patient’s age and sex, atherosclerotic vessel wall disease, type of indication for catheter angiography, the number and size of the catheters, anatomic variants, selective/nonselective catheterization, contrast media volume, and time of procedure were determined. Fisher’s exact tests and Student t-tests were used for the statistical analyses of outcomes.ResultsThirteen new silent ischemic lesions were identified in 7 out of 71 patients who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography. Embolic cerebral lesions were often 6-10mm in diameter. According to the findings in this study, there was a strong correlation between diffusion abnormality and patient age, which was considered risk factors (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant correlations between other risk factors and the lesions’ appearance (p > 0.05).ConclusionsIn elderly patients, the angiographic procedures should be performed meticulously and DWI in all patients obtained routinely, even if the regular neurological examination shows they are healthy. In this way, the presence of microemboli and clinical results can be evaluated.
Chest computed tomography versus RT-PCR in early diagnostics
of COVID-19 – a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Santura Izabella , Kawalec Paweł , Furman Maciej , Bochenek Tomasz 
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography (CT) scans of the chests of patients with the reference reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in early diagnosis of COVID-19. A systematic review with meta-analysis for numerical outcomes was performed, including 10 studies (6528 patients). High risk of systematic bias (spectrum bias) was demonstrated in all studies, while in several studies research information bias was found to be possible. The sensitivity of CT examination ranged from 72% to 98%, and the specificity from 22% to 96%. The overall sensitivity of the CT scan was 91% and the specificity 87% (95% CI). Overall sensitivity of the RT-PCR reference test was lower (87%) than its specificity (99%) (95% CI). No clear conclusion could be drawn on the rationale of using CT scanning in the early diagnosis of COVID-19 in situations when specific clinical symptoms and epidemiological history would indicate coronavirus infection. The sensitivity of the CT test seems to be higher than that of the RT-PCR reference test, but this may be related to the mode of analysis and type of material analysed in genetic tests. CT scanning could be performed in symptomatic patients, with a defined time interval from symptom onset to performing CT or RT-PCR, and it should be explicitly included as an additional procedure when initial coronavirus genetic test results are negative, while clinical symptoms and epidemiological history indicate possible infection. However, a reference test showing the presence of coronavirus genetic material is essential throughout the diagnostic and treatment process.
Parental preference for park attributes related to children’s use of parks in low-income, racial/ethnic diverse neighborhoods
Authors: Ogletree S Scott , Huang Jing Huei , Alberico Claudia , Marquet Oriol , Floyd Myron F , Hipp J Aaron 
Published: September 2021

Public parks offer free and easy to access spaces for outdoor recreation, which is essential for children’s outdoor play and physical activity in low-income communities. Because parks and playgrounds contribute to children’s physical, social, and emotional development, it is critical to understand what makes them attractive and welcoming for families with young children. Parents can be a key determinant to children visiting parks, with their preferences influencing whether or not families visit parks in their neighborhoods. Past studies have posited there are significant differences across racial/ethnic populations in preferred park characteristics, but few have investigated specific park attributes parents from different racial and ethnic groups desire for their children. This study examined attributes associated with parental preferences for parks in low-income diverse communities in New York City, New York and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Parents’ responses were grouped into 10 categories using content analysis, with four key preference themes identified: physical attributes, experiences, social environment, and amenities. Physical attributes (i.e., playgrounds, sports fields, green spaces) were most desired among all groups. A significant difference across race/ethnic groups was found in New York but not in Raleigh-Durham. In New York, Latino parents had a strong preference for experience attributes (i.e. safety, safe facilities, cleanliness) which differed from other groups. Examining Latino parents in both cities we found no significant difference between cities. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to encourage park use, our finding suggests facilities and park safety are modifiable ways local government agencies could design and maintain parks that would be preferred by parents for their children. Future research should examine how neighborhood context may influence parent preferences related to parks.
Parents’ responses were grouped into 10 categories using content analysis, with four key preference themes identified. A significant difference across race/ethnic groups was found in New York but not in Raleigh-Durham. Examining Latino parents in both cities we found no significant difference between cities. Physical attributes (i.e., playgrounds, sports fields, green spaces) were most desired among all groups. In New York, Latino parents had a strong preference for Experience attributes (i.e. safety, safe facilities, cleanliness) which differed from other groups. Future research should examine how neighborhood context may influence parent preferences related to parks and children’s physical activity.
RUSSIAN, PAN-EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN APPROACHES TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF FOREST TYPES
Authors: ФОМИН В.В. , МИХАЙЛОВИЧ А.П. , ЗАЛЕСОВ С.В. 
Published: September 2021

Проведен анализ подходов к классификации типов леса в России, Европейском союзе и странах Се- верной Америки по следующим позициям: содержание понятия основных классификационных единиц лесных типологий: тип условий местопроизрастания и тип леса; особенности выделения их границ; при- знаки (характеристики), используемые для определения типа условий местопроизрастания; характеристи- ки фитоценозов, используемых для определения типа леса; возможности учета сукцессионной динамики лесных насаждений и влияния антропогенных факторов; уровень внедрения в производство и регионы, в которых они используются. В рамках российского подхода представление о типе леса трансформиро- валось от его понимания с точки зрения его однородности в пространстве (сходство участков по внеш- нему облику и набору характеристик) до однородности во времени (при классифицировании приоритет отдан генезису лесных насаждений и процессам развития). Приведены результаты анализа особенностей европейских классификаций местообитаний (EUNIS), растительности (EVS) и типов леса (EFT), а также краткая характеристика основных североамериканских лесных типологий: классификация типов место- обитаний, биоклиматическая классификация экосистем, описание экологических участков.
The analysis of approaches to the classiﬁ cation of forest types in Russia, the European Union and the countries of North America is carried out according to the following positions: the content of the concept of the main classiﬁ cation units of forest typologies: the type of growing conditions and the type of forest; features of their boundaries revealing; characteristics used to determine the type of growing conditions; characteristics of phytocoenoses used to determine the type of forest; the possibility of taking into account the successional dynamics of forest stands and the inﬂ uence of anthropogenic factors; the level of introduction into the industry and the regions in which they are used. Within the framework of the Russian approach, the idea of the type of forest was transformed from uniformity in space (similarity of forest sites, stands and understorey vegatation) to uniformity in time (priority is given in genesis and development processes). The results of the analysis of the features of the habitat classiﬁ cations (EUNIS), vegetation (EVS) and forest types (EFT) on the Pan-European level are presented, as well as a brief description of the main North American forest typologies: Habitat Type Classiﬁ cations, Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classiﬁ cation, Ecological Site Description.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THE BELT DEVELOPED BY THE MANIPULATOR LOGGING MACHINE FOR SELECTIVE LOGGING, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT AVAILABILITY
Authors: ДЕРЮГИН Н.А. , ГЕРЦ Э.Ф. 
Published: September 2021

Рассмотрена возможность реализации проходных рубок в сосняка 40, 60 и 80 лет валочно-пакетирующей машиной (ВПМ) с грузонесущим манипулятором типа ЛП-19. Рассмотрена возможность изреживания нормальных древостоев ВПМ на 20 %. Обеспечение доступности деревьев, назначенных в рубку, и возможность их беспрепятственного выноса к месту укладки достигаются за счет сокращения расстояния между рабочими стоянками и сокращения ширины разрабатываемой ленты. При сокращении расстояния между стоянками увеличивается кратность обработки отдельных участков полулент, а сокращение ширины разрабатываемой ленты за счет наиболее удаленных ее зон с наименьшей кратностью обработки увеличивает общую кратность обработки полулент и, соответственно, доступность деревьев, отведенных в рубку. Приведены значения расстояний между рабочими позициями и ширины лент, обеспечивающие достаточную доступность деревьев, назначенных в рубку, по всей площади разрабатываемой ленты для рассматриваемых древостоев.
The article discusses the possibility of implementation of cross-cutting felling in a pine forest of 40, 60 and 80 years old feller-buncher (VPM) with a load-carrying manipulator of the LP-19 type. The possibility of thinning normal IPM stands by 20 % is considered. Ensuring the accessibility of trees assigned to the felling and the possibility of their unimpeded removal to the place of laying is achieved by reducing the distance between working stations and reducing the width of the belt being developed. With a reduction in the distance between sites, the frequency of processing of individual sections of semi-belts increases, and a reduction in the width of the belt being developed due to its most remote zones with the lowest frequency of processing increases the total frequency of processing of half-belts and, accordingly, the availability of trees allocated to the felling. The values of the distances between the working positions and the width of the bands are given, which ensure suffi cient accessibility of the trees assigned to the felling over the entire area of the belt being developed for the stands under consideration.
TERRITORY OF THE URAL FEDERAL DISTRICT AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF IMPROVING THEIR PROTECTION FROM FIRES
Authors: КУПЛЕВАЦКИЙ С.В. , ЗАХАРОВА И.С. , ШАБАЛИНА Н.Н. 
Published: September 2021

На основании анализа данных о фактической горимости лесов в пределах субъектов Российской Федерации, входящих в Уральский федеральный округ (УрФО), за период с 2001 по 2021 гг. предпринята попытка установления причин в различии количества лесных пожаров и пройденной ими площади по годам. Установленные различия в сроках начала и окончания пожароопасного сезона позволяют повысить эффективность охраны лесов от пожаров за счет оперативной переброски сил и средств пожаротушения. Установлены причины в различии средней площади лесных пожаров по субъектам Российской Федерации, входящих в УрФО. Данные о причинах возникновения лесных пожаров позволяют повысить эффективность лесопожарной пропаганды и тем самым снизить количество лесных пожаров по вине населения.
На основании анализа количества лесных пожаров и пройденной ими площади даны рекомендации по совершенствованию охраны лесов от пожаров. Отмечается, что совершенствование нормативно-правовых документов по охране лесов от пожаров снизит показатели фактической горимости лесов и минимизирует риски для населения.
Based on the analysis of data on the actual ﬁ re rate of forests with in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation included in the Ural Federal District for the period from 2011 to 2021. An attempt was made to establish the reasons for the difference in the number of forest ﬁ res and the area covered by them by years. Differences in the timing of the beginning and end of the ﬁ re hazardous season have been established, which mane et possible to increase the efﬁ ciency of forest protection from ﬁ res due to the operational transfer of ﬁ re extinguishing forces and ﬁ reﬁ ghting means. The reasons for the difference in the average area of the forest ﬁ res in the constituent entities of Russian Federation included in the Ural Federal District has been established. Data on the causes of forest ﬁ res can increase the effectiveness of the forest ﬁ re propaganda and thereby reduce the number of forest ﬁ res caused by the population. Based on the analysis of the number of the forest ﬁ res and the areas covered by them, recommendations are given for improving the protection of forests from ﬁ res. In is noted that the improvement of regulatory documents on the protection of forests from ﬁ res will reduce the optical ﬁ re rate of forests indicators a minimize risks to the population.
Characterizing the performance of a POPS miniaturized optical particle counter when operated on a quadcopter drone
Authors: Liu Zixia , Osborne Martin , Anderson Karen , Shutler Jamie D. , Wilson Andy , Langridge Justin , Yim Steve H. L. , Coe Hugh , Babu Suresh , Satheesh Sreedharan K. , Zuidema Paquita , Huang Tao , Cheng Jack C. H. , Haywood James 
Published: September 2021

Abstract. We first validate the performance of the Portable Optical Particle
Spectrometer (POPS), a small light-weight and high sensitivity optical
particle counter, against a reference scanning mobility particle sizer
(SMPS) for a month-long deployment in an environment dominated by biomass
burning aerosols. Subsequently, we examine any biases introduced by
operating the POPS on a quadcopter drone, a DJI Matrice 200 V2. We report
the root mean square difference (RMSD) and mean absolute difference (MAD) in
particle number concentrations (PNCs) when mounted on the UAV and operating
on the ground and when hovering at 10 m. When wind speeds are low (less than 2.6 m s−1), we find only modest differences in the RMSDs and MADs of 5 % and
3 % when operating at 10 m altitude. When wind speeds are between 2.6 and 7.7 m s−1 the RMSDs and MADs increase to 26.2 % and 19.1 %, respectively,
when operating at 10 m altitude. No statistical difference in PNCs was
detected when operating on the UAV in either ascent or descent. We also find
size distributions of aerosols in the accumulation mode (defined by
diameter, d, where 0.1 ≤ d ≤ 1 µm) are relatively consistent
between measurements at the surface and measurements at 10 m altitude, while
differences in the coarse mode (here defined by d >  1 µm)
are universally larger. Our results suggest that the impact of the UAV
rotors on the POPS PNCs are small at low wind speeds, but when operating
under a higher wind speed of up to 7.6 m s−1, larger discrepancies occur. In
addition, it appears that the POPS measures sub-micron aerosol particles
more accurately than super-micron aerosol particles when airborne on the
UAV. These measurements lay the foundations for determining the magnitude of
potential errors that might be introduced into measured aerosol particle
size distributions and concentrations owing to the turbulence created by the
rotors on the UAV.