bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thyroid nodules classification and diagnosis in ultrasound images using fine‐tuning deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Moussa Olfa , Khachnaoui Hajer , Guetari Ramzi , Khlifa Nawres 
Published: August 2019

AbstractUltrasonography AKA diagnostic sonography is a noninvasive imaging technique that allows the analysis of an organic structure, thanks to the ultrasonic waves. It is a valuable diagnosis method and is also seen as the evidence‐based diagnostic method for thyroid nodules. The diagnosis, however, is visually made by the practitioner. The automatic discrimination of benign and malignant nodules would be very useful to report Thyroid Imaging Reporting. In this paper, we propose a fine‐tuning approach based on deep learning using a Convolutional Neural Network model named resNet‐50. This approach allows improving the effectiveness of the classification of thyroid nodules in ultrasound images. Experiments have been conducted on 814 ultrasound images and the results show that our proposed approach dramatically improves the accuracy of the classification of thyroid nodules and outperforms The VGG‐19 model.
COMPARISON OF ROTATION AND WATER DISTRIBUTION UNIFORMITY USING DISPERSION DEVICES FOR IMPACT AND ROTARY SPRINKLERS
Authors: Issaka Zakaria , Li Hong , Jiang Yue , Tang Pan , Chao Chen 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe study provides laboratory testing of the effect of dispersion devices on the rotation and water distribution uniformity for impact and rotary spray sprinklers. A MatLab program was used to simulate the overlapped spray quadrants and visualize the variations in water distribution. Results showed rotation completion times of 15.5, 14.8, 15.1, and 14.9 s were not significantly different (p < 0.05) between the quadrants for the impact sprinkler with the F2 dispersion device. However, the rotary sprinkler with the R2 dispersion device produced larger rotation completion times of 20.2, 18.2, 20.4 and 17.3 s with significant differences (p > 0.05) between the quadrants under a pressure of 200 kPa. The rotary sprinkler with R2 gave large deviations (0.0–2.8 mm h−1) in water distribution, but the deviations from the impact sprinkler with F2 were smaller (0.0–1.7 mm h−1), indicating a more uniform water distribution. Insignificant differences (p < 0.05) occurred between the coefficient of uniformity (CU) of the overlapped quadrants with the same spacing, which fell within the acceptable CU of 75% for the sprinklers. The study revealed that the impact sprinkler equipped with F2 performed as efficiently as the rotary sprinkler with R2 from the perspective of rotation stability and water distribution uniformity. Findings from this study could be significant and useful for optimizing water dispersion devices for improving the performance of impact sprinklers under low‐pressure conditions. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Becoming a Great Reader: One Deaf Student's Journey
Authors: Salehomoum Maryam , Pearson P. David 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe case of a 17‐year‐old deaf student serves as a means of identifying specific home and school supports that had facilitated robust language and literacy development across the life span. Data consist of observations of the student while reading and thinking aloud, as direct evidence of proficiency, as well as follow‐up student and parent interviews that elicited an insider perspective regarding factors that had contributed to successful development from early childhood to adolescence. The authors discuss the importance of early and consistent exposure to language via the signed and auditory modalities and early and ongoing exposure to literacy‐based activities and explicit instruction in both home and school settings. The findings support several practices that can help ensure successful language and literacy development for deaf or hard of hearing students.
Toxicological safety assessment of the human‐identical milk oligosaccharide 3′‐sialyllactose sodium salt
Authors: Phipps Kirt R. , Baldwin Nigel J. , Lynch Barry , Stannard Diane R. , Šoltésová Alica , Gilby Ben , Mikš Marta H. , Röhrig Christoph H. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractHuman breastmilk is a mixture of nutrients, hormones and bioactive molecules that are vital for infant growth and development. Infant formula (IF) lacks many of these compounds, most notably human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are abundant in breastmilk but scarce in IF. Sialyllactoses, such as 3′‐sialyllactose, constitute a large portion of the HMO fraction. To produce IF that matches breastmilk more closely, biosynthesized human‐identical milk oligosaccharides (structurally identical to HMOs) such as 3′‐sialyllactose sodium salt (3′‐SL) are proposed for use in IF and foods for the general population. The safety assessment of 3′‐SL comprised in vitro genotoxicity tests and a 90‐day oral (gavage) toxicity study. This is the first 90‐day study conducted with 3′‐SL using neonatal rats (7 days old at the start of dosing—equivalent age to newborn human infants in terms of central nervous system and reproductive development), demonstrating the safety of 3′‐SL for consumption by infants, the most sensitive age group. The neonatal rats received 3′‐SL at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day and reference controls received 5,000 mg/kg BW/day of fructooligosaccharide (an ingredient approved for use in IF) for comparison with the high‐dose 3′‐SL group, followed by a 4‐week recovery period. There was no evidence of genotoxicity in vitro. In the absence of any test item‐related adverse effects in the 90‐day study, the high dose (5,000 mg/kg BW/day) was established as the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level. This confirms the safety of 3′‐SL for use in IF for infants, as well as in functional foods for the general population.
Optical sectioning and high resolution visualization of trabecular meshwork using Bessel beam assisted light sheet fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Suchand Sandeep C. S. , Sarangapani Sreelatha , Hong Xun J. J. , Aung Tin , Baskaran Mani , Murukeshan Vadakke M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractGlaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness, is an eye disease caused by irregularities in the ocular aqueous outflow system causing an elevated intraocular pressure. High resolution imaging of the aqueous outflow system comprising trabecular meshwork is immensely valuable to vision analysts and clinicians in comprehending the disease state for the efficacious analysis and treatment of glaucoma. Currently available ocular imaging devices are unable to deliver high resolution images for the visualization of the trabecular meshwork. A method to obtain high resolution (sub‐micrometer) images of the trabecular meshwork using Bessel‐Gauss beam scanned light sheet fluorescence microscopy is presented and the optical sectioning capability of this technique to obtain three‐dimensional volumetric images of the trabecular meshwork of an intact eye without any physical dissection is demonstrated. Figure: Three‐dimensional visualization of trabecular meshwork of porcine eye.
Implementation of a dynamic culture condition to the heterotypic 3D breast cancer model
Authors: Penderecka Karolina , Ibbs Matthew , Kaluzna Apolonia , Lewandowska Anna , Marszalek Andrzej , Mackiewicz Andrzej , Dams‐Kozlowska Hanna 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCell culture system is used for a wide range of research and biotechnology production. Majority of in vitro cell studies are conducted as static, two dimensional (2D) dish culture system where cells grow in a monolayer. However, to better reflect the in vivo condition, three dimensional (3D) culture systems were introduced that allow investigating the cell–cell and cell–microenvironment interactions. In this work, the 3D breast cancer model was investigated. Previously, we developed a 3D breast cancer model that constituted of fibroblasts and breast cancer cells seeded on the silkworm silk scaffold. The dynamic culture condition that provides the medium flow and shear forces was implemented to the model. The dynamic conditions were compared to the static cultivation regarding its influence on the number of cells, their viability, scaffold penetration, and cells co‐localization. The implication of the dynamic condition to the 3D cultures resulted in a higher number and viability of the cells compared with the static 3D cultures. In contrast to the static culture condition, during the dynamic cultivation cells penetrated entirely and evenly the inner parts of the scaffold. Moreover, in coculture, the transitions like a ratio of fibroblast to the cancer cells, fibroblast morphology, and their localization were similar in both types of culture conditions, but they proceeded much faster during the dynamic cultivation. The implementation of dynamic culture condition shortened the time needed to establish the settle 3D breast cancer model. The established dynamic cancer model can be used to study tumor biology and drug screening.
Correlation of integrin alpha 7 with clinicopathological characteristics and survival profiles, as well as its regulatory role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness in non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Xia Dongping , Chen Beibei , Yang Xun 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to evaluate the correlation of integrin alpha 7 (ITGA7) with patients' clinicopathological characteristics and survival profiles, as well as its influence on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness in non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsA total of 397 NSCLC patients underwent surgical resection were included, and ITGA7 was measured in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry. patients' clinical data were extracted from database, and follow‐up records were reviewed. In cellular experiments, expression of ITGA7 was measured in NSCLC cell lines and normal human lung epithelial cell line by RT‐qPCR. The influence of ITGA7 on cell activity was assessed by transfecting overexpression plasmids and knockdown plasmids of ITGA7 into A549 cells.ResultsIntegrin alpha 7 was upregulated in tumor tissues compared with the adjacent tissues of NSCLC patients. Patients with ITGA7 high expression presented poorer pathological differentiation, larger tumor size, and more advanced TNM stage compared with patients with ITGA7 low expression. For survival profiles, both disease‐free survival and overall survival were shorter in ITGA7 high expression patients compared with ITGA7 low expression patients. In cellular experiments, ITGA7 was upregulated in NCI‐H1650, A549, HCC‐827, and NCI‐H1299 cells compared with normal human lung epithelial cells BEAS‐2B. In addition, ITGA7 promoted cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, and facilitated cell stemness in A549 cells.ConclusionIntegrin alpha 7 correlates with poor clinicopathological characteristics and survival profiles, and it promotes cell proliferation, stemness but suppresses cell apoptosis in NSCLC.
Prognostic significance of the CRP/Alb and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing TACE and RFA
Authors: Shen Yanjun , Wang Huige , Li Wendong , Chen Jinglong 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe C‐reactive protein (CRP)/albumin (Alb) ratio (CAR) is a basic inflammatory factor that has been related to poor survival of patients with various tumors. Our research retrospectively examined the relationship between the CAR and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsThis study included 172 patients with HCC who were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).ResultsThe CAR was weakly related to the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR, r = .159, P = .037) and the lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR, r = −.263, P = .001). The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) (0/1‐2) was related to liver cirrhosis (P = .003), tumor number (P = .02), Child‐Pugh grade (P = .001), the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR, P = .006), and the LMR (P = .021). Correlation analysis demonstrated that an elevated CAR was markedly correlated with the tumor size (P = .019), alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) level (P = .033), thrombosis of the portal vein (P = .004), the NLR (P = .036), and the LMR (P = .001). Multivariate analysis indicated that the prognosis of the CAR‐High and NLR‐High cohort (mOS = 7 months) was significantly worse than those of the CAR‐High or NLR‐High cohort (mOS = 15 months) and the CAR‐Low and NLR‐Low cohort (mOS = 26.5 months).ConclusionsCombination of the NLR and the CAR represents a convenient, quick, and noninvasive biological marker that could improve prognostic prediction in patients with HCC.
Metal Ion Selective Self‐Assembly of a Ligand Functionalized Polymer into [1+1] Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Polymer Structures via Metal–Ligand Coordination
Authors: Xu Xiaowen , Van Guyse Joachim F. R. , Jerca Valentin Victor , Hoogenboom Richard 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe design and synthesis of polymer‐based metallomacrocycles relying on metal–ligand interactions remain a challenge in the polymer field. Instead of utilizing chemical reactions to synthesize macrocycles, a general approach is proposed to construct metallomacrocyclic structures through supramolecular self‐assembly of a specific macroligand with suitable transition metal ions. Therefore, a new ditopic macroligand (L) consisting of PEG end‐capped with 2,6‐bis(1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine derivatives is prepared via CuAAC “click” reaction. Four types of metal (Fe2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+) complexes are obtained by simply mixing a solution of metal ions and L in appropriate concentrations. The investigation of the coordination chemistry suggests that coordination of L with Cu2+ results in the formation of a [1+1] metallomacrocycle, while the other metal complexes exclusively lead to the formation of linear metallopolymers and/or larger aggregates. This work provides new insights into designing metallomacrocycles and may have potential application in the synthesis of catenanes and other cyclic or cycle‐based topological architectures.
Room‐temperature ferroelectric K2W7O22 (KWO) nanorods as a sensor material for the detection of acetone
Authors: Johnson Michael , Zhang Qifeng , Wang Danling 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAcetone has been shown to be a biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. The newly synthesized K2W7O22 (KWO) nanorods show a sensitive response to acetone at room temperature. This promising sensing performance could provide an optimal way to design an easy‐to‐use breathalyzer device for both personal and clinical use to monitor blood glucose levels non‐invasively. The preliminary results indicate that such good response is mainly due to the strong room temperature ferroelectric property of KWO, which has been controlled for the first time by optimizing the temperature for hydrothermal growth. The study of the relationship between material structure and properties indicates that the material is a single crystal with potassium atoms replacing the tungsten causing the ferroelectric property to emerge. The porous structure with a specific surface facet (002) exhibits good sensitivity and selectively for detection of acetone. The unique structure and material properties of as‐synthesized K2W7O22 allow it to effectively interact with acetone. The preliminary results reveal that the sensing performance of K2W7O22 can be further improved by tuning its crystal structure.
Maternal Overfeeding during Lactation Impairs the Metabolic Response to Fed/Fasting Changing Conditions in the Postweaning Offspring
Authors: Pomar Catalina Amadora , Castro Heriberto , Picó Catalina , Palou Andreu , Sánchez Juana 
Published: August 2019

ScopeThe metabolic response to fed/fasting changing conditions at early age in rats with different predisposition to obesity‐related alterations due to maternal conditions during the perinatal period is studied.Methods and resultsOffspring of dams made obese by a cafeteria diet and moved to a normal‐fat diet 1 month before gestation (O‐PCaf, with an apparently normal phenotype in adulthood), and offspring of cafeteria diet‐fed dams during lactation (O‐CAF, with a thin‐outside‐fat inside phenotype), together with the offspring of control dams (O‐C), are studied at early age. Fasting is associated with downregulation of lipogenesis‐related genes in liver and rpWAT, and upregulation of genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid uptake in rpWAT in O‐C animals. The response to fed/fasting conditions is impaired in O‐CAF, but not in O‐PCaf animals. The fasting‐induced increase in the expression of Prkaa1 in liver and rpWAT, and the corresponding increase of hepatic AMPKα1 protein levels of O‐C animals are attenuated in O‐CAF rats, while no alterations are found in O‐PCaf animals versus controls.ConclusionMaternal intake of a cafeteria diet during lactation causes early alterations in the offspring, impairing their metabolic flexibility in response to fed/fasting changing conditions, which may contribute to hindering energy homeostasis maintenance.
Warhead fragment position measurement method by using two light filed cameras
Authors: Li Hanshan , Zhang Xiaoqian , Yan Keding 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe warhead fragments formed by projectile proximity explosion are easily occluded and coincided at the same time, it is very difficult to identify the spatial position of each warhead fragment, which will affect the analysis and research of the launching performance of weapons. To obtain dynamic parameter of each warhead fragment, this article proposes a new measurement method by using two light field cameras with micro‐lens array imaging, establishes the spatial position calculation model of warhead fragment, researches the spatial position recognition algorithm of warhead fragment, gives the calculation function of the depth value of the warhead fragment based on digital refocusing principle of light field camera. According to the depth information of the warhead fragment in the optical imaging region, sets up the recognition model and provides the processing algorithm of multiple warhead fragments occlusion and coincidence. In accordance with the spatial position calculation function of warhead fragment, utilizes the differential method to analyze the testing error. Through simulation and experimental analysis, the results of simulation and contrastive testing show that the proposed method can effectively recognize and distinguish the occlusive warhead fragments, which makes up for the shortcomings of the traditional binocular vision testing method.
Widefield illumination photoacoustic imaging of blood vessel phantom
Authors: Han Jae‐Ho , Cha Jaepyeong 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe achieved photoacoustic tomographic imaging by employing widefield illumination using a pulsed laser source that irradiates the entire area of interest for the specimen under investigation. This approach can be simpler and more efficient than the use of narrow point‐source scanning. Tomographic images were computed via an inverse‐reconstruction‐based algorithm from signals acquired using a single transducer with circular scanning configuration. The signals were coupled to the transducer probe with index‐matching gel around the circumference of the specimen, eliminating the need for aquatic immersion. A blood‐vessel‐mimicking phantom was used to demonstrate our setup and the image reconstruction was also verified by simulation, proving the feasibility of a miniaturized system based on this design.
Rhein‐based necrosis‐avid MRI contrast agents for early evaluation of tumor response to microwave ablation therapy
Authors: Wu Tianze , Zhang Jian , Jin Qiaomei , Gao Meng , Zhang Dongjian , Zhang Libang , Feng Yuanbo , Ni Yicheng , Yin Zhiqi 
Published: August 2019

PurposeEarly evaluation of tumor response to thermal ablation therapy can help identify untreated tumor cells and then perform repeated treatment as soon as possible. The purpose of this work was to explore the potential of rhein‐based necrosis‐avid contrast agents (NACAs) for early evaluation of tumor response to microwave ablation (MWA).Methods3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to test the cytotoxicity of rhein‐based NACAs against HepG2 cells. Rat models of liver MWA were used for investigating the effectiveness of rhein‐based NACAs in imaging the MWA lesion, the optimal time period for post‐MWA MRI examination, and the metabolic behaviors of 68Ga‐labeled rhein‐based NACAs. Rat models of orthotopic liver W256 tumor MWA were used for investigating the time window of rhein‐based NACAs for imaging the MWA lesion, the effectiveness of these NACAs in distinguishing the residual tumor and the MWA lesion, and their feasibility in early evaluating the tumor response to MWA.ResultsGadolinium 2,2',2''‐(10‐(2‐((4‐(4,5‐Dihydroxy‐9,10‐dioxo‐9,10‐dihydroanthracene‐2‐carboxamido)butyl)amino)‐2‐oxoethyl)‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triyl)triacetic acid (GdL2) showed low cytotoxicity and high quality in imaging the MWA region. The optimal time period for post‐MWA MRI examination using GdL2 was 2 to 24 h after the treatment. During 2.5 to 3.5 h postinjection, GdL2 can better visualize the MWA lesion in comparison with gadolinium 2‐[4,7,10‐tris(carboxymethyl)‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododec‐1‐yl]acetic acid (Gd‐DOTA), and the residual tumor would not be enhanced. The tumor response to MWA as evaluated by using GdL2‐enhanced MRI was consistent with histological examination.ConclusionGdL2 appears to be a promising NACA for the tumor response assessment after thermal ablation therapies.
Stability analysis of a fire‐loaded shallow tunnel by means of a thermo‐hydro‐chemo‐mechanical model and discontinuity layout optimization
Authors: Sun Zizheng , Zhang Yiming , Yuan Yong , Mang Herbert A. 
Published: August 2019

SummaryWhen subjected to fire loading, shallow tunnels may experience loss of stability. This may result in large deformations and ultimately in local collapse of such structures. High temperature has a great negative influence on tunnels, not only because of thermal‐induced mechanical degradation of the heated lining but also because of thermal spalling in consequence of the build‐up of pore pressure. Thermal spalling causes quick loss of lining sections. Mechanical degradation sole can be simulated by thermo‐mechanical models, while consideration of mechanical degradation and spalling requires thermo‐hydro‐chemo‐mechanical (THCM) models and a spalling criterion. After simulation of both processes, the stability of a tunnel structure can be assessed by means of limit analysis. In this work, at first, a fully coupled THCM model is developed. Then, by using a “stress vs strength” criterion and a boundary shifting strategy, the coupled mechanical degradation and thermal spalling processes are captured, providing time‐dependent and space‐dependent information of the heated lining. Finally, a novel numerical approach, termed discontinuity layout optimization (DLO), is applied to quantify the stability of the tunnel structure with the help of a factor of safety. The proposed numerical procedure is used to conduct numerical studies with, as well as without, consideration of spalling. The results show that spalling has a great impact on the stability of the tunnel. It reduces the thickness of the lining section and accelerates the heating process of the inner concrete.