bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automatic liver segmentation by integrating fully convolutional networks into active contour models
Authors: Guo Xiaotao , Schwartz Lawrence H. , Zhao Binsheng 
Published: July 2019

PurposeAutomatic and accurate three‐dimensional (3D) segmentation of liver with severe diseases from computed tomography (CT) images is a challenging task. Fully convolutional networks (FCNs) have emerged as powerful tools for automatic semantic segmentation, with multiple potential applications in medical imaging. However, the use of a large receptive field and multiple pooling layers in the network leads to poor localization around object boundaries. The network usually makes pixel‐wise prediction independently, making it difficult to respect local label consistency and enforce the smoothness of the object boundary.MethodsWe have developed an automatic liver segmentation method based on a novel framework that integrates fully convolutional network predictions into active contour models (ACM). We use only a single network architecture to generate a pixel label map containing spatial regional information (foreground and background) as well as layered boundary information. We exploit the structured network outcome to define an external constraint force of active contour models. A unique property of the designed force is that both its strength and direction are adaptive to its position and relative distance to the object boundary. The resulting integrated active contour models have the advantages of incorporating both high‐level and low‐level image information simultaneously, while enforcing the smoothness of the contour. Because the external constraint force can push the evolving contour to the liver boundary and exists everywhere in the image domain, it allows us to place the initial contour far away from the liver boundary. It potentially allows us to control the evolution of the contour in order to preserve the topology of the liver.ResultsWe have trained and evaluated our model on 73 liver CT scans from a clinic study. The integrated ACM model yields mean dice coefficients (DICE) 95.8 ± 1.4 (%). Without further fine‐tuning the network weights for two independent datasets, it yields mean DICE 96.2 ± 0.9 (%) for the SLIVER07 training dataset, and mean DICE 94.3 ± 2.7 (%) for the LiTS training dataset. In comparison with FCN alone model, the integrated ACM model yields improvements in terms of surface distance and DICE values for almost all the cases. Furthermore, the initialization of the active contour can be very far away from the liver boundary.ConclusionsExperimental results for segmenting livers (with severe diseases on CT images resulting in shape and density abnormalities) have revealed that our proposed model improves segmentation results in comparison with FCN alone. Without further fine‐tuning the network weights for two independent datasets, the model is capable of handling image variations from different datasets due to its inherent deformable nature. It is relatively easy to integrate more advanced (either existing or future) FCN architecture into our framework to further improve the segmentation performance.
Clinical safety assessment of the Halcyon system
Authors: Pawlicki Todd , Atwood Todd , McConnell Kristen , Kim Gwe-Ya 
Published: July 2019

PurposeThe Halcyon consists of precommissioned linear accelerator and treatment planning algorithms that were designed to simplify the acceptance, commissioning, and clinical workflow for image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy. The purpose of this work was to perform a comprehensive safety assessment for the clinical use of the Halcyon.MethodsSystems‐Theoretic Process Analysis was used as the safety assessment tool. As part of the analysis, a number of control loops and control actions are created to describe system function. Safety is assessed by determining unsafe control actions and a corresponding list of causal scenarios that leads to accidents. The scope of the analysis was from the acceptance of the Halcyon to routine patient treatments. All aspects of treating patients were considered including the roles of physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, and therapists. The analysis was completed by four physicists with input from other members of the radiation therapy team. The causal scenarios were summarized using the causality categories from the consensus recommendations for incident learning database structures in radiation oncology (Med Phys, Vol. 39, No. 12, Dec 2012).ResultsTwenty‐three (23) control loops containing 52 control actions were created for the clinical use of the Halcyon. One hundred forty‐four (144) unsafe control actions were identified with 385 associated causal scenarios. Twenty‐seven percent (27%) of the causal scenarios were related to equipment technical issues, while 73% of the causal scenarios were predominantly related to procedural issues, human behavior, and organizational management.ConclusionsFor routine clinical use of closed or largely automated radiation therapy equipment, the majority of safety concerns is related to nontechnical issues. The Halcyon and other similar systems may present opportunities to streamline, reduce, or eliminate some traditional equipment commissioning and routine quality assurance activities in exchange for an increased focus on issues related to organizational management, procedures, and human behavior.
A mixed finite element for the nonlinear analysis of in‐plane loaded masonry walls
Authors: Nodargi Nicola A. , Bisegna Paolo 
Published: July 2019

SummaryA mixed membrane eight‐node quadrilateral finite element for the analysis of masonry walls is presented. Assuming that a nonlinear and history‐dependent 2D stress‐strain constitutive law is used to model masonry material, the element derivation is based on a Hu‐Washizu variational statement, involving displacement, strain, and stress fields as primary variables. As the behavior of masonry structures is often characterized by strain localization phenomena, due to strain softening at material level, a discontinuous, piecewise constant interpolation of the strain field is considered at element level, to capture highly nonlinear strain spatial distributions also within finite elements. Newton's method of solution is adopted for the element state determination problem. For avoiding pathological sensitivity to the finite element mesh, a novel algorithm is proposed to perform an integral‐type nonlocal regularization of the constitutive equations in the present mixed formulation. By the comparison with competing serendipity displacement‐based formulation, numerical simulations prove high performances of the proposed finite element, especially when coarse meshes are adopted.
Nurses’ contribution to relatives’ involvement in neurorehabilitation: Facilitators and barriers
Authors: Guldager Rikke , Willis Karen , Larsen Kristian , Poulsen Ingrid 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAimThe aim of the present study was to identify possible facilitators and barriers that differently positioned relatives are facing when being actively involved in the rehabilitation process of patients with traumatic brain injury.DesignA qualitative secondary analysis of data from a qualitative study.MethodsData comprised participant observations and semi‐structured interviews with relatives of patients with traumatic brain injury. Data were analysed using a qualitative content analysis.ResultsThree exemplary cases illustrate how relatives’ differential and unequal resources function as facilitators and barriers. Facilitators for involvement are as follows: participating in nursing care situations, the possibility for being present during hospitalization, the relationship with the providers, experience with illness, dedication and proactivity. Contrary, being reactive, non‐participating in nursing care situations, unable to express own wants and needs, and minimal flexibility from workplace are barriers to involvement.
Dynamics of novel polybutadiene ionomers
Authors: Hemmer James R. , Mason Brian P. , Casalini Riccardo 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTThe dynamics of novel ionomers based on a low‐molecular‐weight polybutadiene with zinc acrylate moieties were investigated as a function of the number of ionic bonds by using a combination of calorimetry, dielectric broadband spectroscopy and rheology. We find that the ionic bonds have profound effects on the mechanical properties, including the introduction of a sol–gel transition. However, all techniques consistently indicate that the segmental dynamics of the polymer chains remain largely unaffected, and only very small changes in the glass transition were observed. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.2019,57, 1074–1079
Collapse Transition‐Assisted Crystallization in P3HT Solution
Authors: Sun Lei , Zhao Jingnan , Huang Weiheng , Chen Xiaowei , Zhang Wenhua , Ding Yanwei , Li Liangbin 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the multiple phase transitions such as collapse transition, phase separation, and crystallization in solutions is of fundamental importance to control the solution structure of conjugated polymers in device processing. Combining in situ synchrotron radiation small and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, ultrasensitive differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and polarized optical microscopy, we investigate the order–disorder transitions in poly(3‐hexylthiophene)/toluene solutions during cooling and heating processes. We demonstrate the occurrence of collapse transition of polymer chains from a random coil state to a lower dimensional network prior to the onset of crystallization during cooling in solution. This conformational preordering can lead to the formation of a lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, which is of great significance to the crystallization and ordering in polymer films, and further to promote its electric performance. It is examined that the mobility of films cast from chain‐collapsed solutions can be one order of magnitude higher than that from isotropic solutions with random‐coiled conformations. Thus, the conformational preordering in solutions is proposed to be a more efficient way than the postannealing of films to improve the electric performance of conjugated polymer films. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1105–1114
Stability and change of postchemotherapy symptoms in relation to optimism and subjective stress: A prospective study of breast cancer survivors
Authors: Cohen Miri , Levkovich Inbar , Pollack Shimon , Fried Georgeta 
Published: July 2019

AbstractObjectivesInconsistent findings were reported about the course of postchemotherapy symptoms; specifically, the effect of changes in optimism and perception of subjective stress on the evolution of symptoms remains understudied. This prospective study aimed (a) to examine the course of postchemotherapy symptoms of emotional distress, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties among breast cancer survivors and (2) to assess the effect of changes in optimism and subjective stress on the trajectory of these symptoms.MethodsNinety‐eight breast cancer survivors, diagnosed at stages I to III, aged 30 to 74, recruited consecutively (response rate 84.7%) completed fatigue, emotional distress, self‐reported cognitive difficulties, optimism, and subjective stress questionnaires at three points in time: upon enrollment (1‐6 months after completing treatment, Time 1) posttreatment, 6 months (Time 2), and 12 months (Time 3). A linear mixed‐effects model was used to analyze the data.ResultsEmotional distress decreased between time‐points, level of cognitive difficulties remained stable, and a marginal decrease in fatigue was evident. Optimism or subjective stress predicted changes in each of the symptoms (P<.01), except for the effect of optimism on cognitive difficulties (P=.06). The interactions between time and optimism and between time and subjective stress were only significant regarding their effect on emotional distress (P<.05), showing that the strongest effect of these variables was at Time 2.ConclusionThe course of postchemotherapy symptoms shows patterns of stability and change over a 1‐year period. Optimism and subjective perceptions of stress were shown to affect the decrease of symptoms. Therefore, these two factors should be specifically targeted in psycho‐social interventions.
Homolog comparisons further reconcile in vitro and in vivo correlations of protein activities by revealing over‐looked physiological factors
Authors: Tungtur Sudheer , Schwingen Kristen M. , Riepe Joshua J. , Weeramange Chamitha J. , Swint‐Kruse Liskin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractTo bridge biological and biochemical disciplines, the relationship between in vitro protein biochemical function and in vivo activity must be established. Such studies can (a) help determine whether properties measured in simple, dilute solutions extrapolate to the complex in vivo conditions and (b) illuminate cryptic biological factors that are new avenues for study. We have explored the in vivo–in vitro relationship for chimeras built from LacI/GalR transcription regulators. In prior studies of individual chimeras, amino acid changes that altered in vitro DNA binding affinity exhibited correlated changes in in vivo transcription repression. However, discrepancies arose when the two datasets were compared to each other: Although their DNA binding domains were identical and their in vitro binding affinities spanned the same range, their in vivo repression ranges differed by >50‐fold. Here, we determined that the presence of endogenous ligand for one chimera further exacerbated the offset, but that different abilities to simultaneously bind and “loop” two DNA operators resolves the discrepancy. Indeed, results suggest that the lac operon can be looped by even weakly interacting repressor dimers. For looping‐competent repressors, we measured in vitro binding to the secondary operator. Surprisingly, this was largely insensitive to amino acid changes in the repressor protein, which reflects altered specificity; this supports the emerging view that the locations of specificity determining positions can be unique to each protein homolog. In aggregate, this work illustrates how a comparative approach can enrich understanding of the in vivo–in vitro relationship and suggest unexpected avenues for future study.
Competing failure analysis considering cascading functional dependence and random failure propagation time
Authors: Zhao Guilin , Xing Liudong 
Published: July 2019

AbstractFunctional dependence (FDEP) exists in many real‐world systems, where the failure of one component (trigger) causes other components (dependent components) within the same system to become isolated (inaccessible or unusable). The FDEP behavior complicates the system reliability analysis because it can cause competing failure effects in the time domain. Existing works have assumed noncascading FDEP, where each system component can be a trigger or a dependent component, but not both. However, in practical systems with hierarchical configurations, cascading FDEP takes place where a system component can play a dual role as both a trigger and a dependent component simultaneously. Such a component causes correlations among different FDEP groups, further complicating the system reliability analysis. Moreover, the existing works mostly assume that any failure propagation originating from a system component instantaneously takes effect, which is often not true in practical scenarios. In this work, we propose a new combinatorial method for the reliability analysis of competing systems subject to cascading FDEP and random failure propagation time. The method is hierarchical and flexible without limitations on the type of time‐to‐failure distributions for system components. A detailed case study is performed on a sensor system used in smart home applications to illustrate the proposed methodology.
Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of novel caffeine scaffold‐based bifunctional compounds for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Nwabufo Chukwunonso K. , El‐Aneed Anas , Krol Ed S. 
Published: July 2019

RationaleNovel bifunctional compounds composed of a caffeine scaffold attached to nicotine (C8‐6‐N), 1‐aminoindan (C8‐6‐I), or caffeine (C8‐6‐C8) were designed as therapeutics or diagnostics for Parkinson's disease (PD). In order to probe their pharmacological and toxicological profile, an appropriate analytical method is required. The goal of this study is to establish a tandem mass spectrometric fingerprint for the development of quantitative and qualitative methods that will aid future assessment of the in vitro and in vivo absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and pharmacokinetic properties of these lead bifunctional compounds for PD.MethodsAccurate mass measurement was performed using a hybrid quadrupole orthogonal time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer while multistage MS/MS and MS3 analyses were conducted using a triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Both instruments are equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source and were operated in the positive ion mode. The source and compound parameters were optimized for all three tested bifunctional compounds.ResultsThe MS/MS analysis indicates that the fragmentation of C8‐6‐N and C8‐6‐I is driven by the dissociation of the nicotine and 1‐aminoindan moieties, respectively, but not caffeine. A significant observation in the MS/MS fragmentation of C8‐6‐C8 suggests that a previously reported loss of acetaldehyde during caffeine dissociation is instead a loss of CO2.ConclusionsThe collision‐induced tandem mass spectrometry (CID‐MS/MS) analysis of these novel bifunctional compounds revealed compound‐specific diagnostic product ions and neutral losses for all three tested bifunctional compounds. The established MS/MS fingerprint will be applied to the future development of qualitative and quantitative methods.
Diet and inflammatory bowel disease: The Asian Working Group guidelines
Authors: Sood Ajit , Ahuja Vineet , Kedia Saurabh , Midha Vandana , Mahajan Ramit , Mehta Varun , Sudhakar Ritu , Singh Arshdeep , Kumar Ajay , Puri Amarender Singh , Tantry Bailuru Vishwanath , Thapa Babu Ram , Goswami Bhabhadev , Behera Banchha Nidhi , Ye Byong Duk , Bansal Deepak , Desai Devendra , Pai Ganesh , Yattoo Ghulam Nabi , Makharia Govind , Wijewantha Hasitha Srimal , Venkataraman Jayanthi , Shenoy K. T. , Dwivedi Manisha , Sahu Manoj Kumar , Bajaj Meenakshi , Abdullah Murdani , Singh Namrata , Singh Neelanjana , Abraham Philip , Khosla Rajiv , Tandon Rakesh , Misra S. P. , Nijhawan Sandeep , Sinha Saroj Kant , Bopana Sawan , Krishnaswamy Sheela , Joshi Shilpa , Singh Shivram Prasad , Bhatia Shobna , Gupta Sudhir , Bhatia Sumit , Ghoshal Uday Chand 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionThese Asian Working Group guidelines on diet in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present a multidisciplinary focus on clinical nutrition in IBD in Asian countries.MethodologyThe guidelines are based on evidence from existing published literature; however, if objective data were lacking or inconclusive, expert opinion was considered. The conclusions and 38 recommendations have been subject to full peer review and a Delphi process in which uniformly positive responses (agree or strongly agree) were required.ResultsDiet has an important role in IBD pathogenesis, and an increase in the incidence of IBD in Asian countries has paralleled changes in the dietary patterns. The present consensus endeavors to address the following topics in relation to IBD: (i) role of diet in the pathogenesis; (ii) diet as a therapy; (iii) malnutrition and nutritional assessment of the patients; (iv) dietary recommendations; (v) nutritional rehabilitation; and (vi) nutrition in special situations like surgery, pregnancy, and lactation.ConclusionsAvailable objective data to guide nutritional support and primary nutritional therapy in IBD are presented as 38 recommendations.
Production and characterization of co-composted biochar and digestate from biomass anaerobic digestion
Authors: Casini David , Barsali Tommaso , Rizzo Andrea Maria , Chiaramonti David 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBiochar, produced through pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, is attracting increasing interest as soil amendment thanks to its potential numerous benefits to agriculture, as well as its ability to sequester carbon in soil. Solid fraction of digestate from anaerobic digestion is a well-known N-rich substrate, most often composted in large and small agro-industrial plants. Co-composting biochar and digestate has the potential to synergistically increase the agronomic value of both components: however, it needs further process and on-field research. The present research work reports on the experimental tests on producing biochar and co-composting various biochar amounts with digestate from biomass anaerobic digestion (product here named COMBI). Biochar was produced by feeding wood chips from chestnut to an innovative oxidative reactor. In order to evaluate the quality of the products obtained by composting and co-composting, correlating this with the final biochar rate in the material, the net organic matter yield, the humified organic matter, the compliance with the European Compost Network Quality Assurance Scheme (ECN-QAS) limits for inorganic pollutants, and the product stabilization and sanitization indexes were investigated. The 11.2% w/w d.b. biochar rate in the initial blend (19.8% w/w d.b final concentration in the co-composted products) offered the best performances and is recommended for further investigation. Additional benefits from co-composting were also assessed, as the reduced dust load that favors safety and health during logistics and use.
Association of plasma retinol levels with incident cancer risk in Chinese hypertensive adults: a nested case–control study
Authors: Xie Liling , Song Yun , Lin Tengfei , Guo Huiyuan , Wang Binyan , Tang Genfu , Liu Chengzhang , Huang Weitong , Yang Yan , Ling Wenhua , Zhang Yan , Li Jianping , Huo Yong , Wang Xiaobin , Zhang Hao , Qin Xianhui , Xu Xiping 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the association between plasma retinol and incident cancer among Chinese hypertensive adults. We conducted a nested case–control study, including 231 patients with incident cancer and 231 matched controls during a median 4·5-year follow-up of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial. There was a significant, inverse association between retinol levels and digestive system cancer (per 10 μg/dl increases: OR 0·79; 95 % CI 0·69, 0·91). When compared with participants in the first quartile of retinol (&lt; 52·3 μg/dl), a significantly lower cancer risk was found in participants in quartile 2–4 ( ≥ 52·3 μg/dl: OR 0·31; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·71). However, there was a U-shaped association between retinol levels and non-digestive system cancers where the risk of cancers decreased (although not significantly) with each increment of plasma retinol (per 10 μg/dl increases: OR 0·89; 95 % CI 0·60, 1·31) in participants with retinol &lt; 68·2 μg/dl, and then increased significantly with retinol (per 10 μg/dl increase: OR 1·65; 95 % CI 1·12, 2·44) in participants with retinol ≥ 68·2 μg/dl. In conclusion, there was a significant inverse dose–response association between plasma retinol and the risk of digestive system cancers. However, a U-shaped association was observed between plasma retinol and the risk of non-digestive cancers (with a turning point approximately 68·2 μg/dl).