bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A unified material decomposition framework for quantitative dual‐ and triple‐energy CT imaging
Authors: Zhao Wei , Vernekohl Don , Han Fei , Han Bin , Peng Hao , Yang Yong , Xing Lei , Min James K 
Published: April 2018

PurposeMany clinical applications depend critically on the accurate differentiation and classification of different types of materials in patient anatomy. This work introduces a unified framework for accurate nonlinear material decomposition and applies it, for the first time, in the concept of triple‐energy CT (TECT) for enhanced material differentiation and classification as well as dual‐energy CT (DECT).MethodsWe express polychromatic projection into a linear combination of line integrals of material‐selective images. The material decomposition is then turned into a problem of minimizing the least‐squares difference between measured and estimated CT projections. The optimization problem is solved iteratively by updating the line integrals. The proposed technique is evaluated by using several numerical phantom measurements under different scanning protocols. The triple‐energy data acquisition is implemented at the scales of micro‐CT and clinical CT imaging with commercial “TwinBeam” dual‐source DECT configuration and a fast kV switching DECT configuration. Material decomposition and quantitative comparison with a photon counting detector and with the presence of a bow‐tie filter are also performed.ResultsThe proposed method provides quantitative material‐ and energy‐selective images examining realistic configurations for both DECT and TECT measurements. Compared to the polychromatic kV CT images, virtual monochromatic images show superior image quality. For the mouse phantom, quantitative measurements show that the differences between gadodiamide and iodine concentrations obtained using TECT and idealized photon counting CT (PCCT) are smaller than 8 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. TECT outperforms DECT for multicontrast CT imaging and is robust with respect to spectrum estimation. For the thorax phantom, the differences between the concentrations of the contrast map and the corresponding true reference values are smaller than 7 mg/mL for all of the realistic configurations.ConclusionsA unified framework for both DECT and TECT imaging has been established for the accurate extraction of material compositions using currently available commercial DECT configurations. The novel technique is promising to provide an urgently needed solution for several CT‐based diagnostic and therapy applications, especially for the diagnosis of cardiovascular and abdominal diseases where multicontrast imaging is involved.
Muscle‐ultrasound evaluation in healthy pediatric subjects: Age‐related normative data
Authors: Lori Silvia , Lolli Francesco , Molesti Elisabetta , Bastianelli Maria , Gabbanini Simonetta , Saia Valentina , Trapani Sara , Marinoni Marinella 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The muscle ultrasound examination (MUS) is a noninvasive and inexpensive technique for evaluating neuromyopathies. Standardized MUS normative data are incomplete in pediatric subjects. Methods: We performed a MUS study with 120 healthy children (59 males; mean age, 10.44 years; age range, 2–16 years). We measured the width and the echogenicity bilaterally in the following muscles: biceps brachii and brachialis, brachioradialis, forearm‐flexors, rectus femoris and vastus intermedius, tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, lateral and medial gastrocnemius. Results: The muscle thickness increased with age for all muscles. Confidence limits were set for each age group muscle width. Echogenicity increased with age only in some muscles. Discussions: Our MUS study provides new data on physiological muscle structural changes in healthy children to address the limited available references in this age group. Muscle Nerve 58: 245–250, 2018
Anaesthetizing children—From a nurse anaesthetist's perspective—A qualitative study
Authors: Danielsson Lena , Lundström Marie‐Louise , Holmström Inger K. , Kerstis Birgitta 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to describe nurse anaesthetists' experiences of encountering and caring for children in connection to anaesthesia.DesignQualitative design.MethodsSixteen written narratives based on eight nurse anaesthetists' experiences of meeting children was analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe overarching theme was: “anaesthetizing children is a complex caring situation, including interactions with the child and parents as well as ensuring patient safety, affected by the perioperative team and organizational prerequisites”. The nurses stated that in their interaction with the family, their goal was to ensure that children and parents felt secure and calm. “Striving to work in confidence” underlined the team and organizational influences. Encountering children involves more than knowledge about technical equipment, procedures and drugs. Knowledge about children's development and fears and parents' needs are essential for an optimal caring situation. Organizations need to realize that extra time, skills and resources are needed to safely anaesthetize children.
Statistical mixture design investigation for extraction and quantitation of aporphine alkaloids from the leaves of Unonopsis duckei R.E. Fr. by HPLC–MS/MS
Authors: Rocha Pablo R. N. , de Freitas Flávio A. , Angolini Célio F. F. , Vasconcelos Lucas‐Smith F. , da Silva Alaíde L. B. , Costa Emmanoel V. , da Silva Felipe M. A. , Eberlin Marcos N. , Bataglion Giovana A. , Soares Patrícia K. , Koolen Hector H. F. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroductionAlkaloids‐derived drugs are a billionaire world‐market and several phytochemical investigations aim the identification of new sources and/or structures. Thus, improving the way of extracting and methods to quantify them are of utmost importance.ObjectiveTo quantify isoquinoline‐derived alkaloids in Unonopsis duckei R.E. Fr. through a new validated high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method in combination with a statistical mixture design that aimed a proper direct extraction of these compounds from leaves.MethodologyExtracts were obtained with acetone, methanol, chloroform, and n‐hexane in different combinations and proportions. Chemometrics were applied in order to compare peak areas, and therefore evaluate synergism and antagonism effects between the solvents. After selection of extraction solvent, the quantification was validated and applied in the best solvent combination to quantify the main alkaloids in U. duckei.ResultsChemometrics indicated a synergistic effect between chloroform and methanol solvents, thus improving alkaloid extraction and extract yield. Analytes were quantified in a 15‐min method, with limits of detection (LODs) between 0.5 and 5.2 ng/mL and limits of quantification (LOQs) between 1.6 and 17.2 ng/mL. The accuracy ranged between 80 and 120%. Coefficients of variation were lower than 17.42% at all concentrations. Concentrations of the alkaloids in U. duckei varied from 6.79 to 131.10 μg/g of dried leaf and glaziovine was found to be the main compound.ConclusionThe integration of simplex centroid model and quantification by HPLC‐MS/MS is promising. Statistical optimisation of the alkaloid extraction and application of selective, sensitive and robust HPLC–MS/MS method will contribute to quality control applications in phytotherapeutic medicines.
Synthesis of furan dimer‐based polyamides with a high melting point
Authors: Miyagawa Naoki , Suzuki Toyoko , Okano Kentaro , Matsumoto Takuya , Nishino Takashi , Mori Atsunori 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTPolyamide composed of furan dimer, which is prepared from biomass‐derived organic molecule 2‐furfural, is synthesized. The reaction of 2,2′‐furan dimer 5,5′‐dicarbonyl chloride with several 1,ω‐diamines was carried out with a solution or interfacial polycondensation leading to the corresponding polyamide. Measurement of the melting point was performed resulting to exhibit a higher temperature compared with the related polyamide bearing a single furan ring composed of furan‐2,5‐dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Thermal analyses (TG–DTA) also indicated higher temperatures of decomposition than those of FDCA‐derived polyamide. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 1516–1519
Global stabilization for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems with SISS‐like conditions and time delay
Authors: Zhang Weihai , Xue Lingrong , Jiang Xiushan 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThe global stabilization problem for a class of stochastic time‐delay nonlinear systems with stochastic‐input‐to‐state‐stable–like conditions is investigated. Different from the existing results, the nonlinear growing conditions are more general, and the existences of the state and input time delays make the work more challenging in the control design and stability analysis. By introducing an appropriate gain‐scaling method and using a homogeneous domain control strategy, a delay‐independent controller is constructed to ensure that the equilibrium at the origin of the closed‐loop system is globally asymptotically stable in probability. Examples are given to show the validness of the proposed method.
A new methodology to compute stabilizing control laws for continuous‐time LTV systems
Authors: Agulhari Cristiano M. , Garcia Germain , Tarbouriech Sophie , Peres Pedro L. D. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThis paper is devoted to the problem of computing control laws for the stabilization of continuous‐time linear time‐varying systems. First, a necessary and sufficient condition to assess the stability of a linear time‐varying system based on the norm of the transition matrix computed over a sequence of successive finite‐time intervals is proposed. A link with a stability condition for an equivalent discrete‐time model is also established. Then, 3 approaches for the computation of stabilizing state‐feedback gains are proposed: a continuous‐time technique, ie, directly derived from the stability condition, not suitable for numerical implementation; a method based on the stabilization of the discrete‐time equivalent model along with a transformation to generate the desired continuous‐time gain; and the computation of stabilizing gains for a set of periodic discrete‐time systems. Finally, by adapting one of the existing methods for the stabilization of periodic discrete‐time systems, an algorithm for the computation of a stabilizing state‐feedback continuous‐time gain is proposed. A numerical example illustrates the validity of the technique.
Synthesis of Piperidines via Intramolecular Hydride Transfer from α‐Amino sp3 Carbon Atoms to Ethenetricarboxylate‐Derived Fragments and Further Cyclization
Authors: Yamazaki Shoko , Naito Taku , Tatsumi Taiki , Kakiuchi Kiyomi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe cyclization of amides derived from ethenetricarboxylic acid bearing tert‐amino groups has been examined. The amides were efficiently converted to piperidine derivatives (2‐piperidones) upon heating in a polar solvent (e. g., DMSO or DMF) via intramolecular hydride transfer and subsequent ring closure. The reaction was less efficient in the presence of a Lewis acid. The reactivity varies depending on the alkyl substituents of tert‐amino groups, probably due to steric effects. The hydride transfer/cyclization mechanism was investigated by DFT calculations. The reaction of the carboxylic acid and relatively bulky diamines such as diisopropyl‐substituted diamine in the presence of amide condensation reagents at 60 °C gave the piperidine derivatives in a one‐pot reaction. The reaction of the diisopropylamine substituted piperidine product with primary amines gave secondary amine‐substituted piperidines.
Three‐Dimensional Macroporous Graphitic Carbon for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Salunkhe Rahul R. , Wang Jie , Alowasheeir Azhar , Lin Jianjian , Malgras Victor , Bando Yoshio , Zakaria Mohamed B. , Alshehri Abdulmohsen Ali , Kim Jeonghun , Yamauchi Yusuke , Wu Kevin C.‐W. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTwo‐dimensional (2D) graphene materials have attracted great interest as promising electrode materials in supercapacitors due to their high electrical conductivity derived from sp2‐cabon network. These 2D layered materials, however, tend to stack with each other, which largely decreases the surface area. Here we report the design of highly graphitic macroporous carbon with large surface area suitable for supercapacitor applications. When benchmarked with other carbon materials, such as amorphous macroporous carbon, activated carbon, graphite or exfoliated graphene oxides, our graphitic macroporous carbon show superior capacitance.
A UTP semantics for communicating processes with shared variables and its formal encoding in PVS
Authors: Shi Ling , Zhao Yongxin , Liu Yang , Sun Jun , Dong Jin Song , Qin Shengchao 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
CSP# (communicating sequential programs) is a modelling language designed for specifying concurrent systems by integrating CSP-like compositional operators with sequential programs updating shared variables. In this work, we define an observation-oriented denotational semantics in an open environment for the CSP# language based on the UTP framework. To deal with shared variables, we lift traditional event-based traces into mixed traces which consist of state-event pairs for recording process behaviours. To capture all possible concurrency behaviours between action/channel-based communications and global shared variables, we construct a comprehensive set of rules on merging traces from processes which run in parallel/interleaving. We also define refinement to check process equivalence and present a set of algebraic laws which are established based on our denotational semantics. We further encode our proposed denotational semantics into the PVS theorem prover. The encoding not only ensures the semantic consistency, but also builds up a theoretic foundation for machine-assisted verification of CSP# specifications.
Colonization with Multidrug‐Resistant Enterobacteriaceae is Associated with Increased Mortality Following Burn Injury in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Gallaher Jared R. , Banda Wone , Lachiewicz Anne M. , Krysiak Robert , Cairns Bruce A. , Charles Anthony G. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundMultidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacteria are an emerging international concern in low‐ and middle‐income countries that threaten recent public health gains. These challenges are exacerbated in immunocompromised hosts, such as those with burn injury. This study sought to describe the epidemiology and associated clinical outcomes of burn wound colonization in a Malawian tertiary burn center.MethodsThis is a prospective analysis of burn patients presenting to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, within 72 h of burn injury. A swab of each patient’s primary wound was collected at admission and each subsequent week. The primary exposure was burn wound colonization with MDR bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. A log binomial model estimated the association between the exposure and outcome, adjusted for confounders.ResultsNinety‐nine patients were enrolled with a median age of 4 years (IQR 2–12) and a male preponderance (54%). Median total body surface area burn (TBSA) was 14% (IQR 9–25), and crude in‐hospital mortality was 19%. Enterobacteriaceae were the most common MDR bacteria with 36% of patients becoming colonized. Wound colonization with MDR Enterobacteriaceae was associated with increased in‐hospital mortality with a risk ratio of 1.86 (95% CI 1.38, 2.50, p < 0.001) adjusted for TBSA, burn type (scald vs. flame), sex, age, length of stay, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization.
ConclusionMDR bacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae, are common and are associated with worse burn injury outcomes. In resource‐poor environments, a greater emphasis on prevention of MDR bacterial colonization, improved isolation precautions, affordable diagnostics, and antibiotic stewardship are imperative.
Using hardware counter-based performance model to diagnose scaling issues of HPC applications
Authors: Ding Nan , Xu Shiming , Song Zhenya , Zhang Baoquan , Li Jingmei , Zheng Zhigao 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPerformance diagnosing for HPC applications can be extremely difficult due to their complicated performance behaviors. One hand, developers used to identify the potential performance bottlenecks by conducting detailed instrumentation, which may introduce significant performance overheads or even performance deviations. On the other hand, developers can only conduct small numbers of application runs for profiling the performance with the limitations on both computing resources and time duration. Meanwhile, the performance bottlenecks of HPC applications may vary with the degree of parallelism. To address these challenges, our paper proposes a systematic performance diagnosing method focusing on building an accurate and interpretable performance model with performance counters. Our method is able to diagnose the HPC application scaling issues by predicting its runtime and performance behaviors in different functions. After applying this modeling method on three real-world HPC applications, HOMME, CICE and OpenFoam, our evaluations show that our diagnosing method based on the performance model has the ability to diagnose the potential scaling issues, which is typically missed by the traditional performance diagnosing method and achieves about 10% prediction errors in a scale of 4096 MPI ranks on two problem sizes.
Chemico‐mineralogical changes of ultramafic topsoil during stockpiling: implications for post‐mining restoration
Authors: Quintela‐Sabarís Celestino , L'Huillier Laurent , Mouchon Liane‐Clarisse , Montargès‐Pelletier Emmanuelle , Echevarria Guillaume 
Published: April 2018

AbstractLateritic topsoils, which are usually removed and stored apart before mining operations take place, play an essential role in the success of post‐mining restoration. They contain elements to recover chemical (organic matter, nutrients) and biological (seed and bud banks, microorganisms) fertility of the soil. Conserving topsoil fertility during storage time is essential for a successful use of topsoil during restoration. In this study, different chemico‐mineralogical properties of a lateritic topsoil from the Goro nickel mine (New Caledonia) were monitored from its original in situ emplacement on the soil profile, immediately after its stockpiling and after 24 months of storage. Our analyses show that topsoil experienced noticeable changes immediately after storage, mostly produced by mixing of different soil profiles. Cation Exchange Capacities and concentrations of most elements did not vary even after 24 months of storage. However, a slight reduction of Ni, Cr, K, Na and of the C:N ratio, and an increase of Ca have been observed. Stockpiling has not affected negatively the chemical fertility of the topsoil, although biological parameters should be considered to have a complete view of stockpiling sustainability.
Splicing mutations in human genetic disorders: examples, detection, and confirmation
Authors: Anna Abramowicz , Monika Gos 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Precise pre-mRNA splicing, essential for appropriate protein translation, depends on the presence of consensus “cis” sequences that define exon-intron boundaries and regulatory sequences recognized by splicing machinery. Point mutations at these consensus sequences can cause improper exon and intron recognition and may result in the formation of an aberrant transcript of the mutated gene. The splicing mutation may occur in both introns and exons and disrupt existing splice sites or splicing regulatory sequences (intronic and exonic splicing silencers and enhancers), create new ones, or activate the cryptic ones. Usually such mutations result in errors during the splicing process and may lead to improper intron removal and thus cause alterations of the open reading frame. Recent research has underlined the abundance and importance of splicing mutations in the etiology of inherited diseases. The application of modern techniques allowed to identify synonymous and nonsynonymous variants as well as deep intronic mutations that affected pre-mRNA splicing. The bioinformatic algorithms can be applied as a tool to assess the possible effect of the identified changes. However, it should be underlined that the results of such tests are only predictive, and the exact effect of the specific mutation should be verified in functional studies. This article summarizes the current knowledge about the “splicing mutations” and methods that help to identify such changes in clinical diagnosis.
Baricitinib in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and an Inadequate Response to Conventional Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in United States and Rest of World: A Subset Analysis
Authors: Wells Alvin F. , Greenwald Maria , Bradley John D. , Alam Jahangir , Arora Vipin , Kartman Cynthia E. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Introduction
This article evaluates the efficacy and safety of baricitinib 4 mg versus placebo in United States including Puerto Rico (US) and rest of the world (ROW) subpopulations using data pooled from RA-BEAM and RA-BUILD, which enrolled patients with moderate-to-severe adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods
In RA-BEAM, patients with an inadequate response (IR) to methotrexate, at least one X-ray erosion, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥ 6 mg/L were randomized to placebo or orally administered baricitinib 4 mg daily or subcutaneously administered adalimumab 40 mg every other week. In RA-BUILD, patients with an IR to at least one conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) and with hsCRP ≥ 3.6 mg/L were randomized to placebo or baricitinib 2 or 4 mg daily. Patients in both trials were biologic naive. In this post hoc analysis, data from both studies were pooled (714 baricitinib 4 mg-treated, 716 placebo-treated patients).

Results
Overall, 188 US and 1242 ROW patients were included. Subgroups differed in baseline characteristics including race, weight, age, time since RA diagnosis, current corticosteroid use, and previous csDMARD use. At weeks 12 and 24, baricitinib-treated patients had larger responses compared to placebo-treated patients for multiple efficacy outcomes: American College of Rheumatology 20/50/70 response, low disease activity, remission, Disease Activity Score 28-C-reactive protein, and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index. Overall, similar efficacy was observed in US and ROW subgroups with no notable safety differences between subgroups at weeks 12 or 24.

Conclusion
Baricitinib 4 mg was efficacious compared to placebo in US and ROW subpopulations. Safety was similar between subgroups.

Funding
Eli Lilly & Company and Incyte Corporation.

Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers, NCT01721057; NCT01710358.