bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiomics in paediatric neuro‐oncology: A multicentre study on MRI texture analysis
Authors: Fetit Ahmed E. , Novak Jan , Rodriguez Daniel , Auer Dorothee P. , Clark Christopher A. , Grundy Richard G. , Peet Andrew C. , Arvanitis Theodoros N. 
Published: October 2017

Brain tumours are the most common solid cancers in children in the UK and are the most common cause of cancer deaths in this age group. Despite current advances in MRI, non‐invasive diagnosis of paediatric brain tumours has yet to find its way into routine clinical practice. Radiomics, the high‐throughput extraction and analysis of quantitative image features (e.g. texture), offers potential solutions for tumour characterization and decision support.In the search for diagnostic oncological markers, the primary aim of this work was to study the application of MRI texture analysis (TA) for the classification of paediatric brain tumours. A multicentre study was carried out, within a supervised classification framework, on clinical MR images, and a support vector machine (SVM) was trained with 3D textural attributes obtained from conventional MRI. To determine the cross‐centre transferability of TA, an assessment of how SVM performs on unseen datasets was carried out through rigorous pairwise testing. The study also investigated the nature of features that are most likely to train classifiers that can generalize well with the data. Finally, the issue of class imbalance, which arises due to some tumour types being more common than others, was explored.For each of the tests carried out through pairwise testing, the optimal area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged between 76% and 86%, suggesting that the model was able to capture transferable tumour information. Feature selection results suggest that similar aspects of tumour texture are enhanced by MR images obtained at different hospitals. Our results also suggest that the availability of equally represented classes has enabled SVM to better characterize the data points.The findings of the study presented here support the use of 3D TA on conventional MR images to aid diagnostic classification of paediatric brain tumours.
Value of whole breast magnetic resonance elastography added to MRI for lesion characterization
Authors: Balleyguier Corinne , Lakhdar Aicha Ben , Dunant Ariane , Mathieu Marie‐Christine , Delaloge Suzette , Sinkus Ralph 
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this work was to assess the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in addition to MRI to differentiate malignant from benign breast tumors, and the feasibility of performing MRE on the whole breast.MRE quantified biomechanical properties within the entire breast (50 slices) using an 11 min acquisition protocol at an isotropic image acquisition resolution of 2 × 2 × 2 mm3. Fifty patients were included. Finally, 43 patients (median age 52) with a suspect breast lesion detected by mammography and/or ultrasound were examined by MRI and MRE at 1.5 T. The viscoelastic parameters, i.e. elasticity (Gd), viscosity (Gl), the magnitude of the complex shear modulus
, and the phase angle
, were measured via MRE and correlated with MRI Breast Imaging—Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) score, histological type, and histological grade. Stroma component and angiogenesis were also correlated with viscoelastic properties.In the 43 lesions, Gd decreased and y increased with the MRI BI‐RADS score (pGd = 0.02, py = 0.002), whereas (Gl) and y were increased in malignant lesions (pGl = 0.045, py = 0.0004). The area under the curve increased from 0.84 for MRI BI‐RADS alone to 0.92 with the MRI BI‐RADS and y (AUC increase +0.08; 95% CI (−0.003; 0.16)). Lesion characterization using the y parameter increased the diagnostic accuracy. The phase angle y was found to have a significant role (p = 0.01) in predicting malignancy independently of the MRI BI‐RADS. Interestingly, histological analysis showed no correlation between viscoelastic parameters and percentage and type of stroma, CD34 quantification of vessels, or histological grade.The combination of MRE and MRI improves the diagnostic accuracy for breast lesions in the studied cohort. In particular, the phase angle y was found to have a significant role in predicting malignancy in addition to BI‐RADS.
Interleaved 31P MRS imaging of human frontal and occipital lobes using dual RF coils in combination with single‐channel transmitter–receiver and dynamic B0 shimming
Authors: Lee Byeong‐Yeul , Zhu Xiao‐Hong , Woo Myung Kyun , Adriany Gregor , Schillak Scott , Chen Wei 
Published: October 2017

In vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a unique tool for the non‐invasive study of brain energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. The assessment of bioenergetic impairment in different brain regions is essential to understand the pathophysiology and progression of human brain diseases. This article presents a simple and effective approach which allows the interleaved measurement of 31P spectra and imaging from two distinct human brain regions of interest with dynamic B0 shimming capability. A transistor–transistor logic controller was employed to actively switch the single‐channel X‐nuclear radiofrequency (RF) transmitter–receiver between two 31P RF surface coils, enabling the interleaved acquisition of two 31P free induction decays (FIDs) from human occipital and frontal lobes within the same repetition time. Linear gradients were incorporated into the RF pulse sequence to perform the first‐order dynamic shimming to further improve spectral resolution. The overall results demonstrate that the approach provides a cost‐effective and time‐efficient solution for reliable 31P MRS measurement of cerebral phosphate metabolites and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) metabolic fluxes from two human brain regions with high detection sensitivity and spectral quality at 7 T. The same design concept can be extended to acquire multiple spectra from more than two brain regions or can be employed for other magnetic resonance applications beyond the 31P spin.
On quadratic matrix equations with infinite size coefficients encountered in QBD stochastic processes
Authors: Bini D. A. , Massei S. , Meini B. , Robol L. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryMatrix equations of the kind A1X2+A0X+A−1=X, where both the matrix coefficients and the unknown are semi‐infinite matrices belonging to a Banach algebra, are considered. These equations, where coefficients are quasi‐Toeplitz matrices, are encountered in certain quasi‐birth–death processes as the tandem Jackson queue or in any other processes that can be modeled as a reflecting random walk in the quarter plane. We provide a numerical framework for approximating the minimal nonnegative solution of these equations that relies on semi‐infinite quasi‐Toeplitz matrix arithmetic. In particular, we show that the algorithm of cyclic reduction can be effectively applied and can approximate the infinite‐dimensional solutions with quadratic convergence at a cost that is comparable to that of the finite case. This way, we may compute a finite approximation of the sought solution and of the invariant probability measure of the associated quasi‐birth–death process, within a given accuracy. Numerical experiments, performed on a collection of benchmarks, confirm the theoretical analysis.
Obesity and Associated Health Disparities Among Understudied Multiracial, Pacific Islander, and American Indian Adults
Authors: Subica Andrew M. , Agarwal Neha , Sullivan J. Greer , Link Bruce G. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectiveThis study examined the state of obesity, diabetes, and associated health disparities among understudied multiracial, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) adults.MethodsAggregated data for 184,617 adults from the California Health Interview Survey (2005 to 2011) were analyzed to determine obesity, diabetes, poor/fair health, and physical disability prevalence by racial group. Logistic regressions controlling for age, gender, and key social determinants (education, marital status, poverty, health insurance) generated multiracial, NHOPI, and AIAN adults' odds ratios (ORs) for our targeted health conditions versus non‐Hispanic white adults.ResultsObesity, diabetes, and other targeted health conditions were highly prevalent among multiracial, NHOPI, and AIAN adults, who displayed significantly greater adjusted odds than non‐Hispanic white adults for obesity (ORs = 1.2‐1.9), diabetes (ORs = 1.6‐2.4), poor/fair health (ORs = 1.4‐1.7), and, with the exception of NHOPI adults, physical disability (ORs = 1.5‐1.6). Multiracial and AIAN adults with obesity also had significantly higher adjusted odds of diabetes (OR = 1.5‐2.6) than non‐Hispanic white adults with obesity.ConclusionsMultiracial, NHOPI, and AIAN adults experience striking obesity‐related disparities versus non‐Hispanic white adults, urging further disparities research with these vulnerable minority populations.
Body Mass Index Trajectories from Adolescence to Early Young Adulthood: Do Adverse Life Events Play a Role?
Authors: Elsenburg Leonie K. , Smidt Nynke , Hoek Hans W. , Liefbroer Aart C. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether there are different classes of body mass index (BMI) development from early adolescence to young adulthood and whether these classes are related to the number of adverse life events children experienced.MethodsData were from the TRAILS (TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey) cohort (n = 2,218). Height and weight were objectively measured five times between participants' ages 10 to 12 years and 21 to 23 years. Parents reported on the occurrence of adverse life events in their child's life in an interview when children were 10 to 12 years old. Unconditional and conditional growth mixture modeling was used for statistical analysis.Results“Normal weight” (75.1%), “late onset overweight” (20.1%), and “early onset overweight” classes (4.8%) were identified. In analyses unadjusted for additional covariates, children who experienced a higher number of adverse events had higher odds to be in the late onset overweight (OR [95% CI] = 1.08 [1.00‐1.17]) than the normal weight class, but the association was attenuated in analyses adjusted for additional covariates (OR [95% CI] = 1.07 [0.98‐1.16]).ConclusionsThree BMI trajectory classes can be distinguished from early adolescence to young adulthood. The accumulation of adverse life events is not related to BMI trajectory class.
Behavioral Associations with Overweight in Low‐Income Children
Authors: Gearhardt Ashley N. , Miller Alison L. , Sturza Julie , Epstein Leonard H. , Kaciroti Niko , Lumeng Julie C. 
Published: October 2017

ObjectiveFood reinforcement (relative reinforcement value [RRV]), self‐control (the ability to delay gratification [ATDG]), and eating outside of homeostatic need (eating in the absence of hunger [EAH]) are associated with overweight/obesity. These constructs have typically been studied in isolation in children, and little is known about how they interrelate and whether these associations differ by sex. The objective of this study is to investigate these associations by sex.MethodsIn a low‐income sample of 230 7‐ to 10‐year‐old children, RRV, ATDG, and EAH were assessed. The model showing that elevated RRV, lower ATDG, and greater EAH are each independent, direct predictors of overweight in middle childhood was separately tested by sex. It was predicted that greater RRV and less ATDG would also have indirect effects on overweight through EAH. The association between RRV and ATDG was investigated.ResultsFor girls, higher RRV was indirectly associated with overweight through EAH. For boys, no associations of RRV, ATDG, or EAH with overweight were significant. Finally, for girls, RRV and ATDG were significantly positively associated.ConclusionsIn girls, higher food reinforcement appears to be an important contributor to overweight. During middle childhood, ATDG may be assessing food reinforcement rather than self‐control. Future studies are needed to identify the mechanisms underlying childhood overweight in boys.
Risk factors for fetomaternal bleeding after laser therapy for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Chon Andrew H. , Korst Lisa M. , Grubbs Brendan H. , Kontopoulos Eftichia V. , Quintero Rubén A. , Chmait Ramen H. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo quantify and assess potential risk factors for transplacental passage of fetal red blood cells (RBCs) into the maternal circulation (fetomaternal bleeding, FMB) after laser surgery for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).Study DesignA retrospective study of Rhesus‐D negative patients that underwent laser surgery for TTTS. Patients with and without postoperative detectable fetal RBCs on Kleihauer‐Betke (KB) testing were compared to determine risk factors for FMB. Patients were further sub‐classified into those with a FMB < 20% and ≥20% of estimated fetoplacental blood volume.ResultsOf 60 studied patients, 26/60 (43%) had a positive postoperative KB test. The median fetal:adult RBC ratio was 0.00125, estimated to be a FMB volume of 6.25 mL. There were 17/26 (65%) of patients with FMB < 20% and 9/26 (35%) patients with ≥20% of the fetoplacental blood volume. Stage III‐Recipient and III‐Recipient/Donor patients were more likely to have a positive KB test (14/21 [66.7%] vs 12/39 [30.8%], OR = 4.50 [1.27–16.54], P = 0.0162). No other risk factors for FMB were apparent.ConclusionsFetomaternal bleed appears to be a common finding after laser surgery for TTTS. TTTS Stage, particularly stage III‐Recipient and III‐Recipient/Donor, appears to be a risk factor for FMB.
Moisture ingress prediction in polyisobutylene‐based edge seal with molecular sieve desiccant
Authors: Kempe Michael D. , Nobles Dylan L. , Postak Lori , Calderon Jose Alonzo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractOften photovoltaic modules are constructed with materials that are sensitive to water. This is most often the case with thin film technologies, including perovskite cells, where the active layers are a few microns thick and can be sensitive to moisture, liquid water or both. When moisture or liquid water can ingress, a small amount of water can lead to corrosion and depending on the resulting reactions, a larger local detrimental effect is possible. To prevent moisture from contacting photovoltaic components, impermeable frontsheets and backsheets are used with a polyisobutylene (PIB)‐based edge seal material around the perimeter. Here, we evaluate the ability of a PIB‐based edge seal using a molecular sieve desiccant to keep moisture out for the expected module lifetime. Moisture ingress is evaluated using test coupons where the edge seal is placed between 2 pieces of glass, one of which has a metallic calcium film on it, and monitoring the moisture ingress distance as a function of time. We expose samples to different temperature and humidity conditions to create permeation models useful for extrapolation to field use. This extrapolation indicates that this PIB material is capable of keeping moisture out of a module for the desired lifetime.
Randomized clinical study of safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of RIPK1 inhibitor GSK2982772 in healthy volunteers
Authors: Weisel Kathleen , Scott Nicola E. , Tompson Debra J. , Votta Bartholomew J. , Madhavan Sujith , Povey Kat , Wolstenholme Allen , Simeoni Monica , Rudo Todd , Richards‐Peterson Lauren , Sahota Tarjinder , Wang J. Gene , Lich John , Finger Joshua , Verticelli Adeline , Reilly Michael , Gough Peter J. , Harris Philip A. , Bertin John , Wang Mei‐Lun 
Published: October 2017

AbstractGSK2982772 is a highly selective inhibitor of receptor‐interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) being developed to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. This first‐in‐human study evaluated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and exploratory pharmacodynamics (PD) of GSK2982772 administered orally to healthy male volunteers. This was a Phase I, randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study. In Part A, subjects received single ascending doses of GSK2982772 (0.1‐120 mg) or placebo in a crossover design during each of 4 treatment periods. In Part B, subjects received repeat doses of GSK2982772 (20 mg once daily [QD] to up to 120 mg twice daily [BID]) or placebo for 14 days. Part C was an open‐label relative bioavailability study comparing 20‐mg tablets vs capsules. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), RIPK1 target engagement (TE), and pharmacodynamics (PD) were assessed. The most common adverse events (AEs) were contact dermatitis and headache. Most AEs were mild in intensity, and there were no deaths or serious AEs. The PK of GSK2982772 was approximately linear over the dose range studied (up to 120 mg BID). There was no evidence of drug accumulation upon repeat dosing. Greater than 90% RIPK1 TE was achieved over a 24‐hour period for the 60‐mg and 120‐mg BID dosing regimens. Single and repeat doses of GSK2982772 were safe and well tolerated. PK profiles showed dose linearity. The high levels of RIPK1 TE support progression into Phase II clinical trials for further clinical development.
Introduction of a putative biocontrol agent into a range of phytoplasma‐ and liberibacter‐susceptible crop plants
Authors: Lidor Ofir , Dror Orit , Hamershlak Dor , Shoshana Nofar , Belausov Eduard , Zahavi Tirtza , Mozes‐Daube Netta , Naor Vered , Zchori‐Fein Einat , Iasur‐Kruh Lilach , Bahar Ofir 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDPhytoplasma, the causative agent of Bois Noir disease of grapevines, are vectored by the planthopper Hyalesthes obsoletus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae). A Dyella‐like bacterium (DLB) isolated from H. obsoletus inhibits the growth of Spiroplasma melliferum, a cultivable relative of phytoplasma. Additional evidence suggests that DLB can reduce the symptoms of yellows disease in grapevine plantlets. The aim of this study was to test whether DLB could colonize a range of phytoplasma‐ and liberibacter‐sensitive crop plants, and thus assess its potential agricultural use.RESULTSVitex agnus‐castus, the preferred host plant of H. obsoletus was found to be a natural host of DLB, which was successfully introduced into a range of crop plants belonging to seven families. The most effective DLB application method was foliar spraying. Microscopy observation revealed that DLB aggregated on the leaf surface and around the stomata, suggesting that this is its route of entry. DLB was also present in the vascular tissues of plants, indicating that it moved systemically through the plant.CONCLUSIONSDLB is a potential biocontrol agent and its broad spectrum of host plants indicates the possibility of its future use against a range of diseases caused by phloem‐limited bacteria. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Characterization of field‐evolved resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis‐derived Cry1F δ‐endotoxin in Spodoptera frugiperda populations from Argentina
Authors: Chandrasena Desmi I , Signorini Ana M , Abratti Gustavo , Storer Nicholas P , Olaciregui Magdalena L , Alves Analiza P , Pilcher Clinton D 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDTransgenic maize (Zea mays L.) event TC1507 (Herculex® I insect protection), expressing Cry1F δ‐endotoxin derived from Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai, was commercialized in 2003 in the Americas. Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) susceptibility to Cry1F was monitored annually across several regions in Argentina using diagnostic concentration bioassays. Reduced performance of TC1507 maize against S. frugiperda was reported in 2013. A resistant population was established in the laboratory and the dominance of Cry1F resistance was characterized.RESULTSDuring 2012–2015, high‐survivorship of several populations was observed in the resistance monitoring program. Reciprocal crosses of a Cry1F‐resistant population with a Cry1F‐susceptible population were evaluated to calculate effective dominance (DML) based on mortality levels observed at 100 µg/ml Cry1F. Two additional dominance levels (DLC and DEC) were calculated using lethal (LC50) or effective concentration (EC50) derived from concentration–response bioassays. Estimates indicated that Cry1F resistance in S. frugiperda in Argentina was either highly recessive (DML = 0.005) or incompletely recessive (DLC < 0.26 and DEC < 0.19).CONCLUSIONThis study is the first documented confirmation and characterization of S. frugiperda Cry1F field‐evolved resistance in Argentina. The resistance to Cry1F in S. frugiperda populations collected in Argentina, is autosomal and incompletely recessive similar to the resistance reported in Brazil. © 2017 Dow AgroSciences LLC. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Microbiome facilitated pest resistance: potential problems and uses
Authors: Gressel Jonathan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMicrobiome organisms can degrade environmental xenobiotics including pesticides, conferring resistance to most types of pests. Some cases of pesticide resistance in insects, nematodes and weeds are now documented to be due to microbiome detoxification, and is a demonstrated possibility with rodents. Some cases of metabolic resistance may have been misattributed to pest metabolism, and not to organisms in the microbiome, because few researchers use axenic pests in studying pesticide metabolism. Instances of microbiomes evolving pesticide resistance contributing to resistance of their hosts may become more common due the erratic nature of climate change, as microbiome populations typically increase and evolve faster in stressful conditions. Conversely, microbiome organisms can be engineered to provide crops and beneficial insects with needed resistance to herbicides and insecticides, respectively, but there has not been sufficient efficacy to achieve commercial products useful at the field level, even with genetically engineered microbiome organisms. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Mechanochemistry on the Müller–Brown surface by Newton trajectories
Authors: Quapp Wolfgang , Bofill Josep Maria 
Published: October 2017

AbstractChemical processes which suffer the application of mechanical force are theoretically described by effective potential energy surface (PES). We worked out (W. Quapp, J. M. Bofill, Theor. Chem. Acc. 2016, 135, 113) that the changes due to the force for the minimums and for the saddle points can be described by Newton trajectories (NT) of the original PES. If the force is so high that the saddle point disappears into a shoulder then the mechanochemical action is fulfilled: the pulling force breaks down the reaction barrier. The point is named barrier breakdown point. Different families of NTs form corridors on the original PES which describe qualitative different actions of the force. The border regions of such corridors are governed by the valley‐ridge inflection points (VRI) of the surface. Here, we discuss all this on the basis of the well‐known Müller–Brown surface, and we describe a new kind of NT‐corridor.