bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised learning‐based clustering approach for smart identification of pathologies and segmentation of tissues in brain magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Vigneshwaran S. , Govindaraj Vishnuvarthanan , Murugan Pallikonda R. , Zhang Yudong , Arun Prasath Thiyagarajan 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHuman‐made/developed algorithms provide automatic identification and segmentation of the tissues, lesions and tumor regions available in brain magnetic resonance scan images, which invocates predicaments such as high computational cost and low accuracy rate. Such hassles are reconciled with the utilization of an unsupervised approach in combination with clustering techniques. Initially, static features are chosen from the input image, which is fed to the self‐organizing map (SOM), where the algorithm employs the dimensionality reduction of input images. Consecutively, the reduced SOM prototype of data is clustered by the modified fuzzy K‐means (MFKM) algorithm. The MFKM algorithm can be modified in terms of membership variables because it operates with spatial information and converges quickly, and this would be of greater benefit to radiologists as they reduce the wrong predictions and voluminous time that normally occur owing to human involvement. The proposed algorithm provides 98.77% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity, which are better than any other traditional algorithms mentioned in this article.
Effect of prescriber peer comparison reports on fluoroquinolone use across a 16‐facility community hospital system
Authors: Allen John M. , Dunn Ryan , Bush Jeffrey 
Published: March 2019

IntroductionAntimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) continuously strive to optimize antibiotic use, while minimizing antibiotic‐associated adverse events. Among potential targets for antibiotic use reduction, fluoroquinolones (FQs) are an attractive drug class for ASPs due to their wide spectrum of activity, known adverse event profile, and availability of less toxic therapeutic options. The use of peer comparison on antibiotic use by ASPs has been described but is limited primarily to the outpatient setting.ObjectivesTo assess the impact of peer comparison using prescriber‐specific reports on FQ use and hospital‐acquired Clostridioides difficile rates across a 16‐facility community hospital system.MethodsIn January 2017, we began providing quarterly facility‐specific peer comparison reports to high‐volume antibiotic prescribers in three different medical specialties across our health‐system: Internal Medicine/Hospitalists/Family Medicine, Intensivists/Pulmonologists, and infectious diseases (ID). We completed a quasi‐experimental study designed to assess aggregated hospital data, evaluating FQ days of therapy/1000 patient days (DOT/1000 PD) in the intervention period (January‐December 2017), and compared with the baseline period (January‐December 2016). Additional outcomes that were evaluated include total antibiotic consumption (DOT/1000 PD), total percentage of antibiotics attributable to FQs, and cases of hospital‐acquired C. difficile/10000 PD (HA‐CD).ResultsCompared with the baseline period, FQ use decreased by 29% (baseline—83.9 DOT/1000 PD; intervention—58.5 DOT/1000 PD; P < 0.001). The overall percentage of antibiotics that were attributable to FQs also decreased in the intervention period (baseline—15.4%; intervention—11.3%; P < 0.001). During the intervention period, there were no significant increases in other key antibiotic classes, including antipseudomonal beta‐lactams and third‐generation cephalosporins. The rate of HA‐CD decreased by 20% in the intervention period compared with baseline.ConclusionIn a large community hospital system, the use of peer comparison reports based on prescriber specialty reduced FQ use, and may potentially reduce adverse events associated with FQ use.
3D printing collagen/chitosan scaffold ameliorated axon regeneration and neurological recovery after spinal cord injury
Authors: Sun Yan , Yang Cheng , Zhu Xu , Wang Jing‐Jing , Liu Xiao‐Yin , Yang Xi‐Ping , An Xing‐Wei , Liang Jun , Dong Hua‐Jiang , Jiang Wei , Chen Chong , Wang Zhen‐Guo , Sun Hong‐Tao , Tu Yue , Zhang Sai , Chen Feng , Li Xiao‐Hong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a disaster that can cause severe motor, sensory, and functional disorders. Implanting biomaterials have been regarded as hopeful strategies to restore neurological function. However, no optimized scaffold has been available. In this study, a novel 3D printing technology was used to fabricate the scaffold with designed structure. The composite biomaterials of collagen and chitosan were also adopted to balance both compatibility and strength. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to a T8 complete‐transection SCI model. Scaffolds of C/C (collagen/chitosan scaffold with freeze‐drying technology) or 3D‐C/C (collagen/chitosan scaffold with 3D printing technology) were implanted into the lesion. Compared with SCI or C/C group, 3D‐C/C implants significantly promoted locomotor function with the elevation in Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) score and angle of inclined plane. Decreased latency and increased amplitude were observed both in motor‐evoked potential and somatosensory‐evoked potential in 3D‐C/C group compared with SCI or C/C group, which further demonstrated the improvement of neurological recovery. Fiber tracking of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed the most fibers traversing the lesion in 3D‐C/C group. Meanwhile, we observed that the correlations between the locomotor (BBB score or angle of inclined plane) and the DTI parameters (fractional anisotropy values) were positive. Although C/C implants markedly enhanced biotin dextran amine (BDA)‐positive neural profiles compared with SCI group, rats implanted with 3D‐C/C scaffold displayed the largest degree of BDA profiles regeneration. Collectively, our 3D‐C/C scaffolds demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on rat complete‐transected spinal cord model, which provides a promising and innovative therapeutic approach for SCI. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1898–1908, 2019.
Akermanite reinforced PHBV scaffolds manufactured using selective laser sintering
Authors: Diermann Sven H. , Lu Mingyuan , Dargusch Matthew , Grøndahl Lisbeth , Huang Han 
Published: March 2019

AbstractScaffold assisted tissue engineering presents a promising approach to repair diseased and fractured bone. For successful bone repair, scaffolds need to be made of biomaterials that degrade with time and promote osteogenesis. Compared to the commonly used ß‐tricalcium phosphate scaffolds, Akermanite (AKM) scaffolds were found to degrade faster and promote more osteogenesis. The objective of this study is to synthesize AKM micro and nanoparticle reinforced poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate; PHBV) composite scaffolds using selective laser sintering (SLS). The synthesized composite scaffolds had an interconnected porous microstructure (61–64% relative porosity), large specific surface areas (31.1–64.2 mm−1) and pore sizes ranging from 303 to 366 and 279 to 357 μm in the normal and lateral direction, respectively, which are suitable for bone tissue repair. The observed hydrophilic nature of the scaffolds and the swift water uptake was due to the introduction of numerous carboxylic acid groups on the scaffold surface after SLS, circumventing the need for postprocessing. For the composite scaffolds, large amounts of AKM particles were exposed on the skeleton surface, which is a requirement for cell attachment. In addition, the particles embedded inside the skeleton helped to significantly reinforce the scaffold structure. The compressive strength and modulus of the composite scaffolds were up to 7.4 and 103 MPa, respectively, which are 149 and 197% of that of the pure PHBV scaffolds. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B:2596–2610, 2019.
Salt‐induced phase separation of CHAPS and potential application for hydrophobic molecule extraction
Authors: Lian Ai A , Tan Soo C , Nagamine Toshihiro , Liew Mervyn WO 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBACKGROUND3‐[(3‐Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]‐1‐propanesulfonate (CHAPS) is a zwitterionic detergent commonly utilized in protein biochemistry‐based applications. This study demonstrates for the first time the successful phase separation of CHAPS via salt addition. Elucidation of consolute solution temperature behavior and determination of binodal curve and tie‐line length (TLL) enabled the subsequent development of CHAPS‐based phase separation systems. The systems were then evaluated using a low‐molecular‐weight dye, Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB), and integral membrane protein, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19.RESULTSThe anionic identity of salts was found to be critical, with sulfate and phosphate salts being successful in inducing phase separation of CHAPS at 4 °C. CHAPS and (NH4)2SO4 mixtures were later found to have an upper consolute solution temperature (UCST). Binodal data were collected and fitted to an equation to allow determination of the minimum amount of CHAPS and (NH4)2SO4 required for the formation of phase separation systems. In CHAPS/(NH4)2SO4 systems, CBB was found to partition extensively to the micelle‐rich phase (MRP) with an extraction yield of 83 ± 0.32%, while CYP 2C19 was successfully recovered with an extraction yield of 46 ± 7.58%.CONCLUSIONPhase separation of CHAPS achieved at low temperature via sulfate salt addition can be exploited for the extraction of hydrophobic molecules. The outcomes of this study propound the scope for application of CHAPS as a component of phase separation systems. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Enhanced treatment of composite industrial wastewater using anaerobic‐anoxic‐oxic membrane bioreactor: performance, membrane fouling and microbial community
Authors: Wang Lin , Li Gucheng , Li Yongmei 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDA laboratory‐scale anaerobic‐anoxic‐oxic membrane bioreactor (AAO‐MBR) system was used to remove organic compounds and nitrogen in the composite industrial wastewater collected from an industrial park.RESULTSThe recommended conditions for both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen removal were as follows: hydraulic retention time of 73.6 h, sludge retention time of 35 days and mixed liquor return ratio of 300%. Under this condition, COD and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were 89.4% and 77.7%, respectively. After treatment, most organic compounds were removed, but there were still a few refractory organic compounds in the final effluent, such as 2‐hydroxydesmethylimipramine, 1‐dichloromethyl‐3‐methyl‐benzene and N‐phenyl‐2,3‐dichloromaleimide. Compared to carbohydrates, proteins in the extracellular polymetric substances accumulated more easily on the membrane surface, resulting in the membrane fouling. Ternary analysis at the family level indicated that the bacteria Desulfuromonadaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Spirochaetaceae were dominant in the anaerobic sludge, and played an important role in hydrolysis and fermentation. The abundance distributions of Nitromonadaceae, Caldilineaceae and Xanthomonadales were above 50% in the anoxic sludge, and these bacteria played an important role in denitrification.CONCLUSIONThe results can provide valuable information for optimizing the operation of the AAO‐MBR system for the treatment of composite industrial wastewater. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantification of patellofemoral cartilage deformation and contact area changes in response to static loading via high‐resolution MRI with prospective motion correction
Authors: Lange Thomas , Taghizadeh Elham , Knowles Benjamin R. , Südkamp Norbert P. , Zaitsev Maxim , Meine Hans , Izadpanah Kaywan 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundHigher‐resolution MRI of the patellofemoral cartilage under loading is hampered by subject motion since knee flexion is required during the scan.PurposeTo demonstrate robust quantification of cartilage compression and contact area changes in response to in situ loading by means of MRI with prospective motion correction and regularized image postprocessing.Study TypeCohort study.SubjectsFifteen healthy male subjects.Field Strength3 T.SequenceSpoiled 3D gradient‐echo sequence augmented with prospective motion correction based on optical tracking. Measurements were performed with three different loads (0/200/400 N).AssessmentBone and cartilage segmentation was performed manually and regularized with a deep‐learning approach. Average patellar and femoral cartilage thickness and contact area were calculated for the three loading situations. Reproducibility was assessed via repeated measurements in one subject.Statistical TestsComparison of the three loading situations was performed by Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests.ResultsRegularization using a deep convolutional neural network reduced the variance of the quantified relative load‐induced changes of cartilage thickness and contact area compared to purely manual segmentation (average reduction of standard deviation by ∼50%) and repeated measurements performed on the same subject demonstrated high reproducibility of the method. For the three loading situations (0/200/400 N), the patellofemoral cartilage contact area as well as the mean patellar and femoral cartilage thickness were significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). While the patellofemoral cartilage contact area increased under loading (by 14.5/19.0% for loads of 200/400 N), patellar and femoral cartilage thickness exhibited a load‐dependent thickness decrease (patella: –4.4/–7.4%, femur: –3.4/–7.1% for loads of 200/400 N).Data ConclusionMRI with prospective motion correction enables quantitative evaluation of patellofemoral cartilage deformation and contact area changes in response to in situ loading. Regularizing the manual segmentations using a neural network enables robust quantification of the load‐induced changes.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1561–1570.
IMPROD biparametric MRI in men with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (IMPROD Trial): Sensitivity for prostate cancer detection in correlation with whole‐mount prostatectomy sections and implications for focal therapy
Authors: Merisaari Harri , Jambor Ivan , Ettala Otto , Boström Peter J. , Montoya Perez Ileana , Verho Janne , Kiviniemi Aida , Syvänen Kari , Kähkönen Esa , Eklund Lauri , Pahikkala Tapio , Vainio Paula , Saunavaara Jani , Aronen Hannu J. , Taimen Pekka 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundProstate MRI is increasingly being used in men with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa). However, development and validation of methods for focal therapy planning are still lagging.PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy on lesion, region‐of‐interest (ROI), and voxel level of IMPROD biparametric prostate MRI (bpMRI) for PCa detection in men with a clinical suspicion of PCa who subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy.Study TypeProspective single‐institution clinical trial (NCT01864135).PopulationSixty‐four men who underwent radical prostatectomy after IMPROD bpMRI performed in prebiopsy settings.Field Strength/SequenceIMPROD bpMRI consisted of T2‐weighted imaging (T2w) and three separate diffusion‐weighted imaging acquisitions with an average acquisition time of 15 minutes.AssessmentThe diagnostic accuracy of prospectively reported manual cancer delineations and regions increased with 3D dilation were evaluated on the voxel level (volume of 1.17 mm3, 1 mm3, 125 mm3) as well as the 36 ROI level. Only PCa lesions with a diameter ≥ 5 mm or any Gleason Grade 4 were analyzed. All data and protocols are freely available at: http://petiv.utu.fi/improdStatistical TestsSensitivity, specificity, accuracy.ResultsIn total, 99 PCa lesions were identified. Forty (40%, 40/99) had a Gleason score (GS) of >3 + 4. Twenty‐eight PCa lesions (28%, 28/99) were missed by IMPROD bpMRI, three (7.5%, 3/40) with GS >3 + 4. 3D dilation of manual cancer delineations in all directions by ~10–12 mm (corresponding to the Hausdorff distance) was needed to achieve sensitivity approaching 100% on a voxel level.Data ConclusionIMPROD bpMRI had a high sensitivity on lesion level for PCa with GS >3 + 4. Increasing 3D lesion delineations by ~10–12 mm (corresponding to the Hausdorff distance) was needed to achieve high sensitivity on the voxel level. Such information may help in planning ablation therapies.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1641–1650.
Who pays you to be green? How customers' environmental practices affect the sales benefits of suppliers' environmental practices
Authors: Chen Chien‐Ming , Ho Hillbun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis article examines whether a supplier's sales from a customer depends on the supplier's engagement in pro‐environmental practices (PEPs), and how this relationship is moderated by the customer's PEP level. This article synthesizes findings from several streams of literature including corporate environmental management, supply chain management, and contingency theory. We hypothesize that (1) a supplier gets greater sales benefits from its PEPs when the (corporate) customer's PEP level is higher, and (2) a supplier gets higher sales from a customer when the supplier's PEP level aligns with the customer's PEP level. To test the hypotheses, we use data from public U.S. manufacturing firms and their key customers between 2006 and 2016. The results show that the effect of a manufacturer's PEPs on sales is significantly higher when the customer's PEP level is higher. The results also show that a manufacturer's sales from a particular customer are higher when the manufacturer's PEP level does not exceed the customers' PEP level. This study provides empirical evidence that an investment in PEPs does not always enhance sales—the sales effect of PEPs may vary according to the customer's PEP level. To our knowledge, this is the first large‐scale study that examines the effect of environmental practices on sales.
Palliation of malignant ascites
Authors: Hodge Caitlin , Badgwell Brian D. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMalignant ascites (MA) carries a poor prognosis. It can have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL), with increasing abdominal distention, pain, and dyspnea. Diuretics typically do not work well for MA. Paracentesis is effective in providing temporary symptom relief but requires frequent repeat procedures. Options for durable symptom management include indwelling catheters, peritoneal ports, peritoneovenous shunts, intraperitoneal (i.p.) catumaxomab, and hyperthermic i.p. chemotherapy. These interventions do not necessarily improve overall survival but may improve QOL.
NMR shutter‐speed elucidates apparent population inversion of 1H2O signals due to active transmembrane water cycling
Authors: Li Xin , Mangia Silvia , Lee Jing‐Huei , Bai Ruiliang , Springer Charles S. 
Published: March 2019

PurposeThe desire to quantitatively discriminate the extra‐ and intracellular tissue 1H2O MR signals has gone hand‐in‐hand with the continual, historic increase in MRI instrument magnetic field strength [B0]. However, recent studies have indicated extremely valuable, novel metabolic information can be readily accessible at ultra–low B0. The two signals can be distinguished, and the homeostatic activity of the cell membrane sodium/potassium pump (Na+,K+,ATPase) detected. The mechanism allowing 1H2O MRI to do this is the newly discovered active transmembrane water cycling (AWC) phenomenon, which we found using paramagnetic extracellular contrast agents at clinical B0 values. AWC is important because Na+,K+,ATPase can be considered biology’s most vital enzyme, and its in vivo steady‐state activity has not before been measurable, let alone amenable to mapping with high spatial resolution. Recent reports indicate AWC correlates with neuronal firing rate, with malignant tumor metastatic potential, and inversely with cellular reducing equivalent fraction. We wish to systematize the ways AWC can be precisely measured.MethodsWe present a theoretical longitudinal relaxation analysis of considerable scope: it spans the low‐ and high–field situations.ResultsWe show the NMR shutter‐speed organizing principle is pivotal in understanding how trans–membrane steady–state water exchange kinetics are manifest throughout the range. Our findings illuminate an aspect, apparent population inversion, which is crucial in understanding ultra‐low field results.ConclusionsWithout an appreciation of apparent population inversion, significant misinterpretations of future data are likely. These could have unfortunate diagnostic consequences.
Induction of periodic nanostructures in polythiophene films through block copolymer templating
Authors: Azuma Koei , Komamura Takahiro , Chandra Alvin , Kato Fuminobu , Nabae Yuta , Hayakawa Teruaki 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTA new class of periodically nanostructured polythiophene materials with high regularity and numerous morphologies is prepared through the cooperative self‐assembly of polythiophene derivatives with a templating block copolymer (BCP) and poly(1,4‐isoprene)‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA). The selection of the hydrophilic and aprotic triethylene glycol (TEG) group as side chains on polythiophene and the use of hydrophilic and protic PMA are crucial to producing well‐ordered nanostructures in polythiophene films, as it enables selective coassembly within the hydrophilic domain through hydrogen bonding. The composite films are shown to have formed hexagonally packed cylinders with 28 nm periodicities based on small‐angle X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The formation of hydrogen bonding is revealed by a shift in the carbonyl peak of PMA in the Fourier transform infrared spectra of the composite film relative to the neat film. This suggests that the TEG‐functionalized polythiophene selectively incorporates into PMA. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1105–1112
Phase transitions of the rapid‐compression‐induced mesomorphic isotactic polypropylene under high‐pressure annealing
Authors: Fu Xiaobo , Jia Wenxia , Li Xiaoting , Wang Yaming , Wang Zhen , Liu Chuntai , Shen Changyu , Shao Chunguang 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThe mesomorphic isotactic polypropylene was prepared by rapid compression instead of the common method of temperature quenching, and their phase transition under high pressure was investigated in depth by combining wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. It was found that annealing under pressure can promote the further arrangement of chain segments of the mesophase toward the crossed state in the orthorhombic γ‐phase, and the long period of the mesophase slightly decreased from 8.2 to 7.2 nm. The kinetics of this meso‐γ transition strongly depends on pressure. As annealing pressure increased, the mobility of molecular segments was reduced, and then the onset and finishing time of phase transition were both delayed significantly. A critical annealing pressure was found between 1.6 and 1.75 GPa, which determines whether the phase transition occurs or not. When pressure reaches 1.75 GPa, mesophase did not transform at all within 120 min. Based on the results, a reasonable mechanism was proposed to show the crystallization process of mesophase under high‐pressure annealing. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 651–661