bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fully automatic model‐based segmentation and classification approach for MRI brain tumor using artificial neural networks
Authors: Arunkumar N. , Mohammed Mazin Abed , Mostafa Salama A. , Ibrahim Dheyaa Ahmed , Rodrigues Joel J.P.C. , de Albuquerque Victor Hugo C. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThe accuracy of brain tumor diagnosis based on medical images is greatly affected by the segmentation process. The segmentation determines the tumor shape, location, size, and texture. In this study, we proposed a new segmentation approach for brain tissues using MR images. The method includes three computer vision fiction strategies which are enhancing images, segmenting images, and filtering out non ROI based on the texture and HOG features. A fully automatic model‐based trainable segmentation and classification approach for MRI brain tumour using artificial neural networks to precisely identifying the location of the ROI. Therefore, the filtering out non ROI process have used in view of histogram investigation to avert the non ROI and select the correct object in brain MRI. However, identification the tumor kind utilizing the texture features. A total of 200 MRI cases are utilized for the comparing between automatic and manual segmentation procedure. The outcomes analysis shows that the fully automatic model‐based trainable segmentation over performs the manual method and the brain identification utilizing the ROI texture features. The recorded identification precision is 92.14%, with 89 sensitivity and 94 specificity.
MASA‐OpenCL: Parallel pruned comparison of long DNA sequences with OpenCL
Authors: de Figueiredo Marco Antonio C. , de Oliveira Sandes Edans F. , Rodrigues Genaina N. , Teodoro George L. M. , de Melo Alba Cristina M. A. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryBiological sequence comparison is often used as an auxiliary task in the analysis of genetic material. Pairwise comparison algorithms like Smith‐Waterman evaluate two strings representing sequences of proteins, DNA or RNA to obtain optimal alignment between them. Many applications have been proposed to address the sequence comparison problem, prioritizing the use of graphics cards and proprietary languages such as CUDA. In this paper, we propose and evaluate MASA‐OpenCL, an OpenCL solution for comparing long DNA sequences that is based on the MASA sequence alignment framework, with pruning capability proportional to the similarity of the sequences compared. The results of MASA‐OpenCL were compared to its CUDA counterpart (MASA‐CUDAlign) and, in most cases, MASA‐OpenCL achieved better performance. In order to better understand the behavior of MASA‐OpenCL, we performed a statistical analysis considering 11 comparisons of sequences with high, medium and low similarity in 4 GPUs. As a result, we obtained a multiple linear regression model that considers (a) the sizes of the sequences, (b) the similarity between them, (c) the computational power of the GPU, and (d) the GPU memory bandwidth. We used this model to predict the performance in two other GPUs, with low error rates.
Establishing the Transitory Existence of Amorphous Phases in Crystallization Pathways by the CLASSIC NMR Technique
Authors: Hughes Colan E. , Williams P. Andrew , Kariuki Benson M. , Harris Kenneth D. M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWith the growing realization that crystallization processes may evolve through a sequence of different solid forms, including amorphous precursor phases, the development of suitable in‐situ experimental probes is essential for comprehensively mapping the time‐evolution of such processes. Here we demonstrate that the CLASSIC NMR (Combined Liquid‐ And Solid‐State In‐situ Crystallization NMR) strategy is a powerful technique for revealing the transitory existence of amorphous phases during crystallization processes, applying this technique to study crystallization of dl‐menthol and l‐menthol from their molten liquid phases. The CLASSIC NMR results provide direct insights into the conditions (including the specific time period) under which the molten liquid phase, transitory amorphous phases and final crystalline phases exist during these crystallization processes.
Pharmacokinetics and Transplacental Transfer of Fluoxetine Enantiomers and Their Metabolites in Pregnant Women
Authors: Carvalho Daniela Miarelli , Lanchote Vera Lucia , Filgueira Gabriela Campos de Oliveira , Nardotto Glauco Henrique Balthazar , Duarte Geraldo , Cavalli Ricardo Carvalho , Moisés Elaine Christine Dantas 
Published: October 2018

Considering that fluoxetine (FLX) is used to treat depressive states during pregnancy and that it is a cytochrome P450 (CYP)2D6 inhibitor, which is involved in the metabolism of both of its enantiomers, this study aims to describe the enantioselective distribution and metabolism of FLX and of its metabolite norfluoxetine (NorFLX) following a single oral dose. Nine healthy pregnant women received 20 mg FLX at 32 weeks of gestation and later at the day of delivery. The apparent clearance of (S)‐(+)‐FLX (1.45 vs. 0.66 L/hour/kg) and the area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve (AUC) of the (S)‐(+)‐NorFLX (AUC0–∞ 942.7 vs. 498.6 ng hour/mL) were higher (P < 0.05) than those of the respective (R)‐(−) enantiomers, indicating that the (S)‐(+)‐FLX enantiomer is preferentially metabolized to (S)‐(+)‐NorFLX. The placental transfer (umbilical vein/maternal vein) of FLX and NorFLX is low (30–40%), with the predominant transfer of (S)‐(+)‐FLX (44 vs. 33%). The distribution of the enantiomers of FLX and NorFLX to amniotic fluid is low (< 10%).
Inorganic Nanomaterials for Restoration of Cultural Heritage: Synthesis Approaches towards Nanoconsolidants for Stone and Wall Paintings
Authors: Girginova Penka I. , Galacho Cristina , Veiga Rosário , Santos Silva António , Candeias António 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe synthesis of inorganic nanostructured materials for the consolidation of stone and wall paintings is reviewed. To begin, a description of the methods most commonly used to prepare nanoconsolidants is provided, particularly in the frame of colloid chemistry. Some concepts of the carbonation mechanism as well as the transport properties of some of these materials are addressed. An overview of the synthesis methods together with some of the application particularities of the distinct consolidants are presented thereafter. Furthermore, the requisites for efficient consolidants and some drawbacks of the nanoconsolidants are discussed.
Metal‐Free Route to Precise Synthesis of Poly(propylene oxide) and Its Blocks with High Activity
Authors: Zhang Cheng‐Jian , Duan Han‐Yi , Hu Lan‐Fang , Zhang Cheng‐Hui , Zhang Xing‐Hong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe fast and living ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of propylene oxide (PO) by metal‐free catalysis is reported. By using triethyl borane (TEB) and organic Lewis bases (LBs, e.g.: phosphazene base, amidine and guanidine) as the catalysts, various alkyl alcohols can effectively initiate the ROP of PO, yielding tailor‐made poly(propylene oxide)s (PPOs) with high regioregularity, predictable molecular weights, and narrow dispersity approaching Poisson distribution. The TEB/LB catalysts present unprecedentedly high activity (turnover frequency of up to 7500 h−1) and a truly living character for the polymerization, as evidenced by kinetic studies that showed fast initiation and growth, unobserved chain‐transfer to PO, chain extension reactions, and the synthesis of various PPO‐based block copolymers with narrow dispersities (Đ<1.1).
STWSN: A novel secure distributed transport protocol for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Dvir Amit , Ta Vinh‐Thong , Erlich Sefi , Buttyan Levente 
Published: October 2018

SummarySeveral transport protocols for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been designed to fulfill efficiency requirements such as energy and reliability. Unfortunately, most of these transport protocols do not include sufficient security mechanisms and hence are vulnerable to numerous reliability and energy attacks. To address these vulnerabilities, this paper proposes a novel secure transport protocol, named as secure transport protocol for wireless sensor networks (STWSN). On the basis of distributed transport for sensor networks (DTSN) protocol, our protocol adds a new security extension in order to provide secure transport protocol. We provide both informal and formal security analyses of STWSN and show that it resists attacks on energy efficiency and reliability requirements. Last but not least, a performance analysis and simulation results are also presented.
A secure channel code‐based scheme for privacy preserving data aggregation in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Lakshmi V.S. , Deepthi P.P. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryData aggregation is an efficient method to reduce the energy consumption in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, data aggregation schemes pose challenges in ensuring data privacy in WSN because traditional encryption schemes cannot support data aggregation. Homomorphic encryption schemes are promising techniques to provide end to end data privacy in WSN. Data reliability is another main issue in WSN due to the errors introduced by communication channels. In this paper, a symmetric additive homomorphic encryption scheme based on Rao‐Nam scheme is proposed to provide data confidentiality during aggregation in WSN. This scheme also possess the capability to correct errors present in the aggregated data. The required security levels can be achieved in the proposed scheme through channel decoding problem by embedding security in encoding matrix and error vector. The error vectors are carefully designed so that the randomness properties are preserved while homomorphically combining the data from different sensor nodes. Extensive cryptanalysis shows that the proposed scheme is secure against all attacks reported against private‐key encryption schemes based on error correcting codes. The performance of the encryption scheme is compared with the related schemes, and the results show that the proposed encryption scheme outperforms the existing schemes.
Communication emitter individual identification via 3D‐Hilbert energy spectrum‐based multiscale segmentation features
Authors: Han Jie , Zhang Tao , Qiu Zhaoyang , Zheng Xiaoyu 
Published: October 2018

SummarySpecific emitter identification can detect emitters automatically by extracting and analyzing features. A novel specific emitter identification method based on 3D‐Hilbert energy spectrum‐based multiscale segmentation (3D‐HESMS) is proposed. First, the time‐frequency energy spectrum is derived via the Hilbert‐Huang transform, that is, a complicated curved surface in a 3D space, namely, the 3D‐Hilbert energy spectrum. The differential box dimension, multifractal dimension, lacunarity change rate, and 3D‐Hilbert energy entropy are extracted to compose the feature vector under multiscale segmentation using fractal theory. Subsequently, communication emitter individual identification is obtained using the 4 features. Finally, the performance and complexity of the 3D‐HESMS method are compared with those of 2 existing methods. Experiments show that the performance of the 3D‐HESMS method is better than those of the 2 other methods. The extracted features with high stability, sufficiency, and identifiability can overcome the negative effects of the changes in signal‐to‐noise ratio and the number of training samples.
Continuous glucose monitoring defined glucose variability is associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Jun Ji Eun , Lee Seung‐Eun , Lee You‐Bin , Ahn Ji Yeon , Kim Gyuri , Hur Kyu Yeon , Lee Moon‐Kyu , Jin Sang‐Man , Kim Jae Hyeon 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to establish the association between continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)‐defined glycaemic variability (GV) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in type 1 diabetes independent of mean glucose and to examine the relative contribution of each internationally standardized CGM parameter to this association.Materials and methodsThis study included 80 adults with type 1 diabetes who underwent 3‐day CGM and autonomic function tests within 3 months. The degree of association between internationally standardized CGM parameters and CAN, defined as at least two abnormal parasympathetic tests or the presence of orthostatic hypotension, were analysed by logistic regression, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and dominance analysis.ResultsA total of 36 subjects (45.0%) were diagnosed with CAN. When adjusted with mean glucose and clinical risk factors of CAN, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glycaemic excursion, percent time in level 1 (glucose 54‐69 mg/dL) and level 2 (glucose < 54 mg/dL) hypoglycaemia, area under the curve in level 2 hypoglycaemia, low blood glucose index, high blood glucose index, and percent time in glucose 70 to 180 mg/dL were independently associated with CAN. Multivariable ROC analysis and dominance analysis revealed the highest relative contribution of percent time in level 2 hypoglycaemia to the independent associations between CGM parameters and presence of CAN.ConclusionsCGM‐defined GV was associated with CAN independent of mean glucose in adults with type 1 diabetes. Among internationally standardized CGM parameters, those describing the degree of level 2 hypoglycaemia were the most significant contributors to this association.
Biased estimation of trends in cohort effects: the problems with age‐period‐cohort models in ecology
Authors: Pigeon Gabriel , Loe Leif Egil , Albon Steve D. , Bonenfant Christophe , Elston David A. , Justin Irvine R. , Ropstad Erik , Veiberg Vebjørn , Stien Audun 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEnvironmental variation can generate life‐long similarities among individuals born in the same breeding event, so‐called cohort effects. Studies of cohort effects have to account for the potentially confounding effects of current conditions (observation year) and age of individuals. However, estimation of such models is hampered by inherent collinearity, as age is the difference between observation year (period) and cohort year. The difficulties of separating linear trends in any of the three variables in Age‐Period‐Cohort (APC) models are the subject of ongoing debate in social sciences and medicine but have remained unnoticed in ecology. After reviewing the use of APC models, we investigate the consequences of model specification on the estimation of cohort effects, using both simulated data and empirical data from a long‐term individual‐based study of reindeer in Svalbard. We demonstrate that APC models are highly sensitive to the model's treatment of age, period and cohort, which may generate spurious temporal trends in cohort effects. Avoiding grouping ages and using environmental covariates believed to be drivers of temporal variation reduces the APC identification problem. Nonetheless, ecologists should use caution, given that the specification issues in APC models may have substantial impacts on estimated effect sizes and therefore conclusions.
Evaluation of Radical Scavenging Capacity of Polyphenols Found in Natural Malaysian Honeys by Voltammetric Techniques
Authors: Ismail Norjihada Izzah , Sornambikai Sundaram , Kadir Mohammed Rafiq Abdul , Mahmood Nasrul Humaimi , Zulkifli Razauden Mohamed , Shahir Shafinaz 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAs minor constituents present in natural honey, polyphenols have the capacity as antioxidant by donating electron to halt detrimental actions of free radicals. The present work aims to analyze the electrochemical behaviour of polyphenols identified in Malaysian Apis and Trigona honey samples, determine and compare their reducing strengths as well as qualitatively evaluate the radical scavenging capacity of these phenolics in Malaysian honey samples. Six flavonoids, eight phenolic acids, and tannin pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) dissolved in 0.1 M PBS pH 7 were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Seventeen Malaysian honey samples were analyzed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Cyclic voltammograms revealed that polyphenols with catechol moiety in their structure exhibited Ep1a at low potentials, ranging between +0.173 V and +0.404 V. PGG and quercetin may have equal tendency to donate electron (same Ep1a) but higher peak current was observed for the former indicates its higher reducing strength, suggesting PGG as the strongest antioxidant among studied polyphenols. From DP voltammograms, oxidation of honey phenolics occurred in all honey samples with predominant catechol‐bearing peak P1 observed in nanas N1, kelulut K3 and tualang T1 honeys. The varied peak current intensities observed for P1‐P3 in all analyzed Malaysian honey samples suggested that these honey samples can act against free radicals at varying degree and thus are good sources of natural antioxidants.
Multiplexed Immunosensing Platform Coupled to Hybridization Chain Reaction for Electrochemical Determination of MicroRNAs in Clinical Samples
Authors: Jirakova Ludmila , Hrstka Roman , Campuzano Susana , Pingarrón Jose M. , Bartosik Martin 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThere is an urgent need for development of rapid and inexpensive techniques for detection of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are potential biomarkers of various types of cancer. In this paper, we describe a multiplexed electrochemical platform for determination of three cancer‐relevant miRNAs: miR‐21, let‐7a and miR‐31. The strategy combines the use of magnetic beads (MBs) modified with a commercial antibody for the efficient capture of the heteroduplexes formed by hybridization of the target miRNA with DNA probe. Free non‐hybridized region of the DNA probe was thereafter hybridized with two biotin‐labeled auxiliary DNA probes in a process of hybridization chain reaction (HCR), resulting in a long hybrid bearing a large number of biotin molecules. Labeling of these multiple biotin units with streptavidin‐peroxidase conjugates allowed an amplification of the amperometric signal measured after capturing the modified MBs at a screen‐printed carbon electrode array of eight electrodes. The combined strategy demonstrated in a similar assay time significantly higher sensitivity than those previously described using modified MBs with the same capture antibody (without amplification by HCR) or a HCR strategy implemented on the surface of MBs, respectively. The methodology exhibits a good selectivity for discriminating single mismatches and was applied to the determination of the three target miRNAs in total RNA (RNAt) extracted from various cancer cell lines and from cervical precancerous lesions.
Trends in Abundance and Fishing Mortality of American Eels
Authors: Kahn Desmond M 
Published: October 2018

Abstract
A range of findings on the status of American Eels Anguilla rostrata has been published. The most extreme report occurred in 2014, when the International Union for the Conservation of Nature placed the species on its Red List, meaning that the Union considered it endangered. The trend in abundance of American Eels is consequently of concern for conservation biology and fishery management. Here, I present a new index of American Eel relative abundance in the estuarine waters along the U.S. Atlantic coast from 1981 through 2014, consisting of the total American Eel catch per trip by recreational anglers. Abundance was highest in 1981 and then declined through 1995 to about one-sixth of the 1981 value. By 2003, abundance began an irregular increase; by 2014, it was approximately one-half of the 1981 value. Combining commercial landings with the index of relative abundance produces the trend in fishing mortality, which has been relatively low during both the period of declining abundance and the period of increasing abundance, although it increased temporarily during the period of lower abundance from 1995 through 2002. I include a discussion of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 2012 stock assessment and explore some general issues in stock assessment of American Eels.
Examining the associations between performance based and ratings of focused attention in toddlers: Are we measuring the same constructs?
Authors: Acar Ibrahim H. , Frohn Scott , Prokasky Amanda , Molfese Victoria J. , Bates John E. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe study examines the concurrent and longitudinal associations between ratings‐based measures (parents, secondary caregivers, and observers) and performance‐based measures of focused attention in toddlers aged 30 (n = 147), 36 (n = 127), and 42 months (n = 107). Parents and secondary caregivers rated focused attention behaviours using the Children's Behaviour Questionnaire and observers rated toddlers' focused attention during a series of laboratory tasks using the Leiter‐R Examiner Rating Scale. Toddlers' behaviours on three structured tasks (Token Sort, Toy Play, and Lock Box) were used to assess their performance‐based focused attention in a laboratory setting. Correlations show that parent ratings are not related to observer and teacher ratings or to the performance‐based measures at all ages tested. Second, based on confirmatory factor analyses, a single factor explains the common variance between indicators when the parent ratings are not included in the models. The single factor shows measurement invariance between ages 36 and 42 months based on factor structure, relations of indicators to the factor, and factor scale over time. Third, indicators of focused attention at age 30 months do not seem to measure a common, coherent factor. Interpretations of similarities and differences between ratings and performance‐based indicators of focused attention and the presence of a focused attention construct are discussed.Highlights

The concurrent and longitudinal association between ratings and performance‐based attention was examined.
Parent‐ratings, observer‐ratings, and performance‐based attention via structured tasks were used.
Parent ratings of attention were not related to other ratings, or to the performance‐based measures at all ages; a single factor explains the common variance between indicators when the parent ratings are not included in the models; indicators of focused attention at age 30 months do not seem to measure a common, coherent factor.
Volatility spillovers between real exchange rate returns and real stock price returns in Malaysia
Authors: Wong Hock Tsen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis study analyses volatility spillovers between real exchange rate returns and real stock price returns in Malaysia. The component‐generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model with asymmetric effect is used to decompose volatility into permanent or long‐run component and transitory or short‐run component. Permanent and transitory components of volatility are commonly high in the global financial crisis, 2008. The results of the seemingly unrelated regressions framework show that volatility spillovers of permanent component between real exchange rate returns and real stock price returns are stronger than volatility spillovers of transitory component between real exchange rate returns and real stock price returns. Moreover, volatility spillovers of permanent and transitory components between real Malaysian ringgit against the U.S. dollar return and real stock price returns are stronger than real Malaysian ringgit against the Japanese yen exchange rate return and real stock price returns. There is some evidence of Granger causality between real exchange rate returns and real stock price returns. On the whole, there is some evidence of the link between the exchange rate market and the stock market in Malaysia.