bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circuit Analysis and Characterization of Contactless Power Transfer System with Variable Impedance
Authors: YAMADA JUN , TSUDA KAZUMA , KOBAYASHI RYOTA , KANEKO YASUYOSHI 
Published: January 2018

SUMMARYA contactless power transfer system using a repeater coil (repeater Coil topology) has been proposed as a method of suppressing overcurrent without power control during misalignment or no‐load. By installing a repeater coil between the primary and secondary coils, it is possible to increase the input impedance in the case of misalignment of the secondary coil or no‐load condition. In addition, another contactless power transfer system using primary parallel and secondary series resonance capacitors (PS capacitor topology) has been proposed. In the PS capacitor topology, the input impedance can be increased during misalignment of the secondary coil or no‐load condition similar to the repeater coil topology. In this paper, we evaluated the characteristics of both these topologies. First, we conducted a circuit analysis of the repeater coil topology and proposed a design method. In addition, we theoretically clarified the characteristic difference of the two topologies and experimentally evaluated the characteristics.
Testing slope effect on flow resistance equation for mobile bed rills
Authors: Di Stefano Costanza , Ferro Vito , Palmeri Vincenzo , Pampalone Vincenzo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn this paper, a recently theoretically deduced rill flow resistance equation, based on a power‐velocity profile, is tested experimentally on plots of varying slopes in which mobile bed rills are incised. Initially, measurements of flow velocity, water depth, cross‐sectional area, wetted perimeter and bed slope conducted in 106 reaches of rills incised on an experimental plot having a slope of 14% were used to calibrate the flow resistance equation. Then, the relationship between the velocity profile parameter Γ, the channel slope, and the flow Froude number, which was calibrated using the 106 rill reach data, was tested using measurements carried out in plots having slopes of 22% and 9%. The measurements carried out in the latter slope conditions confirmed that (a) the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor can be accurately estimated using the proposed theoretical approach, and (b) the data were supportive of the slope independence hypothesis of rill velocity stated by Govers.
Clinical study of hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome in Shandong province, East China
Authors: Sheng Xiugui , Zhong Yan , Lu Chunhua , Peng Jingwei , Yu Hao , Guo Jing 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome (HOCS) in Shandong province, East China.MethodsThe present retrospective study assessed the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis among patients with HOCS treated at Shandong Cancer Hospital, China, between January 1, 2008, and January 31, 2016. Data from women with primary ovarian cancer who met HOCS diagnostic criteria (genetic‐disease group) were compared with data from a control group of 100 women with sporadic ovarian cancer (sporadic‐disease group) identified using simple random sampling.ResultsAmong 1247 records of primary ovarian cancer during the study period, 96 (7.7%) women from 77 pedigrees had HOCS (genetic‐disease group), and 65 of these pedigrees had sufficient data available for inclusion. In the genetic‐disease group, 55 (85%) and 10 (15%) women inherited the disease through the maternal and paternal lines, respectively. Age of onset was earlier in the genetic‐disease group compared with the sporadic‐disease group (P=0.016), the proportion of mucinous adenocarcinoma was lower in the genetic‐disease group (P=0.006), and the genetic‐disease group had higher 3‐year (P=0.036) and 5‐year (P=0.035) survival rates.ConclusionHOCS exhibited maternal lineage primarily, and featured an early age of onset, advanced disease (stage III), serous adenocarcinoma, and a better prognosis after comprehensive treatment (including surgery, chemotherapy, and occasionally radiotherapy) relative to sporadic ovarian cancer.
Rapid brain tissue segmentation process by modified FCM algorithm with CUDA enabled GPU machine
Authors: Kalaiselvi T , Sriramakrishnan P 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe proposed work introduces a modified method of fuzzy c means (FCM) algorithm using bias field correction and partial supervision techniques. The proposed method is named as bias corrected partial supervision FCM (BCPSFCM). The modified membership function takes the advantage of available knowledge from labeled patterns with the bias field correction. The experiment is tested on internet brain segmentation repository with their gold standard. The performance of the method is compared with three existing methods and 12 state of the art methods using dice coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Accuracy of the proposed method reached upto 98%, 98%, and 99% of GM, WM, and CSF segmentation but required additional computation power from graphics processing unit (GPU). Further parallel BCPSFCM is proposed with the help of compute unified device architecture enabled GPU machine and the processing time is reduced up to 49 times than the serial implementation.
Methylparaben induces malformations and alterations on apoptosis, oxidant–antioxidant status,ccnd1andmycaexpressions in zebrafish embryos
Authors: Ateş Perihan Seda , Ünal İsmail , Üstündağ Ünsal Veli , Alturfan Ahmet Ata , Yiğitbaşı Türkan , Emekli‐Alturfan Ebru 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMethylparabens (MP) are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmacy, and food industry. Although acute toxicity studies in animals indicated that parabens are not significantly toxic, the effects of chronic exposure under sublethal doses are still unknown and the number of related studies is limited. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of MP on the development of zebrafish embryos focusing on development, locomotor activity, oxidant–antioxidant status, apoptosis, andccnd1andmycaexpressions. The expressions ofccnd1andmycawere determined by RT‐PCR. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Apoptosis was determined using acridine orange staining. Locomotor activity was measured using touch‐evoked movement test. MP exposure increased malformations, LPO, apoptosis,ccnd1andmycaexpressions, and decreased GST activities and NO levels compared with the control group. Our findings will lead to further understanding of the mechanism of MP toxicity, and merit further research.
Usefulness of Sweep Imaging With Fourier Transform for Evaluation of Cortical Bone in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Minami Masataka , Ikoma Kazuya , Horii Motoyuki , Sukenari Tsuyoshi , Onishi Okihiro , Fujiwara Hiroyoshi , Ogi Hiroshi , Itoh Kyoko , Kubo Toshikazu 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundDiabetes decreases bone strength, possibly because of cortical bone changes. Sweep imaging with Fourier transform (SWIFT) has been reported to be useful for cortical bone evaluation.PurposeTo evaluate cortical bone changes in diabetic rats using SWIFT, assess the usefulness of this technique through comparisons with microcomputed tomography (μCT) and conventional MRI, and clarify the mechanism underlying cortical bone changes using histomorphometryStudy TypeAnimal cohort.Animal Model8‐week‐old male Wistar/ST rats (N = 36) were divided into diabetes (induced by streptozotocin injection) and control groups.Field Strength/Sequence7.04T MRI, SWIFT.AssessmentSix animals from each group were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injection. Tibial bones were extracted and evaluated using μCT and MRI. The cortical bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using μCT. Proton density‐weighted imaging (PDWI) and SWIFT were also performed. The signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) was calculated for each acquisition. The bone formation rate was evaluated using histomorphometry.Statistical TestsFindings at each timepoint were compared using Mann–Whitney U‐tests.ResultsCortical BMD was significantly lower in the diabetes group than in the control group only at 8 weeks (P < 0.05). At all timepoints, PDWI‐SNR showed no significant differences between groups (P = 0.59, 0.70, and 0.82 at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively). SWIFT‐SNR was significantly lower in the diabetes group than in the control group (P < 0.05 at 2 and 4 weeks and P < 0.01 at 8 weeks), and the bone formation rate was significantly lower in the diabetes group than in the control group (P < 0.01 for all).Data ConclusionSWIFT can detect cortical bone changes even before a decline in the cortical BMD in a diabetic model.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:389–397.
Progression of histopathological and behavioral abnormalities following mild traumatic brain injury in the male ferret
Authors: Schwerin Susan C. , Chatterjee Mitali , Imam‐Fulani Aminat O. , Radomski Kryslaine L. , Hutchinson Elizabeth B. , Pierpaoli Carlo M. , Juliano Sharon L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWhite matter damage is an important consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans. Unlike rodents, ferrets have a substantial amount of white matter and a gyrencephalic brain; therefore, they may represent an ideal small mammal model to study human‐pertinent consequences of TBI. Here we report immunohistochemical and behavioral results after a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury to the sensorimotor cortex of adult male ferrets. We assessed inflammation in the neocortex and white matter, and behavior at 1 day post injury and 1, 4, and 16 weeks post injury (WPI). CCI in the ferret produced inflammation that originated in the neocortex near the site of the injury and progressed deep into the white matter with time. The density of microglia and astrocytes increased in the neocortex near the injury, peaking at 4WPI and remaining elevated at 16WPI. Microglial morphology in the neocortex was significantly altered in the first 4 weeks, but showed a return toward normal at 16 weeks. Clusters of microglial cells in the white matter persisted until 16WPI. We assessed motor and cognitive behavior using the open field, novel object recognition, T‐maze, and gait tests. A transient deficit in memory occurred at 4WPI, with a reduction of rearing and motor ability at 12 and 16WPI. Behavioral impairments coincide with features of the inflammatory changes in the neocortex revealed by immunohistochemistry. The ferret represents an important animal model to explore ongoing damage in the white matter and cerebral cortex after TBI.
Baseline ICIQ‐UI score, body mass index, age, average birth weight, and perineometry duration as promising predictors of the short‐term efficacy of Er:YAG laser treatment in stress urinary incontinent women: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Fistonić Ivan , Fistonić Nikola 
Published: January 2018

Background and ObjectiveA growing body of evidence indicates that a non‐invasive erbium yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet (Er:YAG) laser may be an effective and highly tolerable treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. The primary objective was to identify pre‐intervention predictors of short‐term Er:YAG outcomes. The secondary objective was to identify patient segments with the best Er:YAG laser treatment short‐term outcomes.MethodsA prospective cohort study performed in 2016 at Ob/Gyn Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia, recruited 85 female patients who suffered from SUI. The intervention was performed with a 2940 nm wave length Er:YAG laser (XS Dynamis, Fotona, Slovenia). Outcomes were absolute change in the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Short Form (ICIQ‐UI SF) and a relative decrease in ICIQ‐UI score of ≥30% 2–6 months after the intervention.ResultsAge and pre‐intervention ICIQ‐UI values were independent significant predictors of laser treatment efficacy for SUI. A decrease in ICIQ‐UI score (minimum important difference, MID) of ≥30% was independently significantly associated with body mass index and ICIQ‐UI values before the intervention. All patients with four or five positive predictors saw a clinically relevant decrease in ICIQ‐UI of ≥30%. The total accuracy of the predictive model defined by the area under the curve was 0.83 (95%CI 0.74–0.91). At the cut‐off ≥3 positive predictors, C‐index was 0.80 (95%CI 0.71–0.90), positive predictive value was 0.97 (95%CI 0.87–0.99), and negative predictive value was 0.53 (95%CI 0.45–0.55).ConclusionsA relevant decrease in ICIQ‐UI (MID) of ≥30% can be predicted based on age, body mass index, average birth weight, perineometer squeeze duration, and ICIQ‐UI scores before the intervention. The association between Q‐tip test and treatment outcome was moderated by age. Q‐tip was a significant predictor for patients between 44 and 53 years of age. The best results should be expected in younger women with a body mass index of ≤23.3, average birth weight of >3.6 kg, ICIQ‐UI at a baseline of ≤10, and perineometer squeeze duration at a baseline of ≥3.51 seconds. The critical age for Er:YAG laser effect is 47.5 years. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:636–643, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Log‐Harnack inequalities for Markov semigroups generated by non‐local Gruschin type operators
Authors: Deng Chang‐Song , Zhang Shao‐Qin 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBased on coupling in two steps and the regularization approximations of the underlying subordinators, we establish log‐Harnack inequalities for Markov semigroups generated by a class of non‐local Gruschin type operators. Some concrete examples are also presented.
Audiovisual biofeedback improves the correlation between internal/external surrogate motion and lung tumor motion
Authors: Lee Danny , Greer Peter B. , Paganelli Chiara , Ludbrook Joanna Jane , Kim Taeho , Keall Paul 
Published: January 2018

PurposeBreathing management can reduce breath‐to‐breath (intrafraction) and day‐by‐day (interfraction) variability in breathing motion while utilizing the respiratory motion of internal and external surrogates for respiratory guidance. Audiovisual (AV) biofeedback, an interactive personalized breathing motion management system, has been developed to improve reproducibility of intra‐ and interfraction breathing motion. However, the assumption of the correlation of respiratory motion between surrogates and tumors is not always verified during medical imaging and radiation treatment. Therefore, the aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that the correlation of respiratory motion between surrogates and tumors is the same under free breathing without guidance (FB) and with AV biofeedback guidance for voluntary motion management.MethodsFor 13 lung cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, 2D coronal and sagittal cine‐MR images were acquired across two MRI sessions (pre‐ and mid‐treatment) with two breathing conditions: (a) FB and (b) AV biofeedback, totaling 88 patient measurements. Simultaneously, the external respiratory motion of the abdomen was measured. The internal respiratory motion of the diaphragm and lung tumor was retrospectively measured from 2D coronal and sagittal cine‐MR images. The correlation of respiratory motion between surrogates and tumors was calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient for: (a) abdomen to tumor (abdomen‐tumor) and (b) diaphragm to tumor (diaphragm‐tumor). The correlations were compared between FB and AV biofeedback using several metrics: abdomen‐tumor and diaphragm‐tumor correlations with/without ≥5 mm tumor motion range and with/without adjusting for phase shifts between the signals.ResultsCompared to FB, AV biofeedback improved abdomen‐tumor correlation by 11% (p = 0.12) from 0.53 to 0.59 and diaphragm‐tumor correlation by 13% (p = 0.02) from 0.55 to 0.62. Compared to FB, AV biofeedback improved abdomen‐tumor correlation by 17% (p = 0.01) and diaphragm‐tumor correlation by 15% (p < 0.01) while correcting 0.3 s (p = 0.54) and 0.2 s (p = 0.19) phase shifts, respectively. In addition, AV biofeedback with ≥5 mm tumor motion range, compared to FB improved abdomen‐tumor correlation by 14% (p = 0.18) and diaphragm‐tumor correlation by 17% (p = 0.01). The highest abdomen‐tumor and diaphragm‐tumor correlations were found using ≥5 mm tumor motion range and phase shifts, resulting in a 12% improvement in AV biofeedback.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that AV biofeedback improves the correlation of respiratory motion between surrogates and the tumor. This suggests a need for AV biofeedback for respiratory guidance utilizing respiratory surrogates during image‐guided and MRI‐guided radiotherapy in thoracic regions.
Feasibility study of range‐based registration using daily cone beam CT for intensity‐modulated proton therapy
Authors: Yao Weiguang , Krasin Matthew J. , Farr Jonathan B. , Merchant Thomas E. 
Published: January 2018

PurposeProton dose coverage is sensitive to proton beam range. The current practice of CT number–based registration for patient positioning focuses on matching the target and is not sufficient for proton therapy because the proton range depends on the medium traversed by the beam. Patient body deformations and anatomical changes result in range deviation in the target. We propose proton range–based registration to minimize the range deviation.MethodsThe range was calculated from cone beam–computed tomography (CBCT) of the patient on couch, and the range deviation was the difference of the calculated range from that on the initial (day 1) CBCT. In the investigated prostate cases in which the main cause of range deviation was the rotation of femur bones, and in the investigated abdomen cases in which the main cause of range deviation was body growth and anatomic change, our range‐based registration was used to obtain the optimal beam angle by minimizing the range deviation. The new angle was limited to be ±5° from that planned to prevent potentially increased dose to the organs at risk. To demonstrate the benefit of range‐based registration, we investigated the range at the voxels on the surface of the target volume. The calculation error of range deviation due to CBCT scatter was investigated by using solid water phantoms with different thicknesses. Range‐based registration using both CBCTs and CTs was performed in cases of two patients with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma and one patient with upper abdominal tumor. The range was represented by the water‐equivalent thickness to shorten the computation for online application purposes.ResultsIn the phantom study, the calculation error of range deviation due to CBCT scatter was within 2 mm for a 1‐cm thickness change (the mean range deviation was 0.8 mm). In the CT study of the prostate cases, the range deviation (mean ± root‐mean‐square deviation) on the contour in each slice was efficiently reduced from 3.6 ± 2.8 mm to 2.1 ± 1.4 mm, with most slices being within 3 mm; in the CT study of the abdomen cases, the range deviation of the whole set was reduced from 4.4 ± 1.9 mm to 3.5 ± 2.1 mm. Both the mean and root‐mean‐square deviation of the range deviation on each treatment day were decreased. The dose coverage on the target was improved and the dose on the OARs was only slightly changed.ConclusionRange‐based registration can efficiently mitigate range deviation due to patient positioning and anatomical changes. It can shorten patient positioning time and reduce the patient's dose from CBCT.
Development of an overactive bladder assessment tool (BAT): A potential improvement to the standard bladder diary
Authors: Kelleher Con , Chapple Christopher , Johnson Nathan , Payne Christopher , Homma Yukio , Hakimi Zalmai , Siddiqui Emad , Evans Christopher , Egan Shayna , Kopp Zoe 
Published: January 2018

AimsTo develop a comprehensive patient‐reported bladder assessment tool (BAT) for assessing overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, bother, impacts, and satisfaction with treatment.MethodsSubjects were consented and eligibility was confirmed by a recruiting physician; subjects were then scheduled for in‐person interviews. For concept elicitation and cognitive interviews, 30 and 20 subjects, respectively, were targeted for recruitment from US sites. All interviews were conducted face‐to‐face, audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymized, and analyzed using a qualitative data analysis software program. A draft BAT was created based on the results of the concept elicitation interviews and further revised based on cognitive interviews as well as feedback from an advisory board of clinical and patient‐reported outcome (PRO) experts.ResultsNocturia, daytime frequency, and urgency were reported by all subjects (n = 30, 100.0%), and incontinence was reported by most subjects (n = 25, 83.3%). The most frequently reported impacts were waking up to urinate (n = 30, 100.0%), embarrassment/shame (n = 24, 80.0%), stress/anxiety (n = 23, 76.7%), and lack of control (n = 23, 76.7%). Following analysis, item generation, cognitive interviews, and advisory board feedback, the resulting BAT contains four hypothesized domains (symptom frequency, symptom bother, impacts, and satisfaction with treatment) and 17 items with a 7‐day recall period.ConclusionsThe BAT has been developed in multiple stages with input from both OAB patients and clinical experts following the recommended processes included in the FDA PRO Guidance for Industry. Once fully validated, we believe it will offer a superior alternative to use of the bladder diary and other PROs for monitoring OAB patients in clinical trials and clinical practice.
Does distance to a cystic fibrosis center impact health outcomes?
Authors: Johnson Ben , Ngueyep Rodrigue , Schechter Michael S. , Serban Nicoleta , Swann Julie 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIntroductionThis paper considers the impact of geographic distance from cystic fibrosis centers on lung function in children, young adults, and adults with cystic fibrosis.MethodsClinical patient‐level data on 20 351 patients from 1986 to 2011 were evaluated from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation National Patient Registry. We measure distance using a patient's zip code centroid to the center where they received care. A heteroscedastic mixed effects model was used to capture the association of distance with longitudinal variation in patients’ lung function.ResultsChildren, young adults, and adults in lower socioeconomic categories had a %FEV1 between 3 and 10 percentage‐points lower than those living in higher income areas and those privately insured. For patients who changed distance categories, high distance was associated with lower lung function in young adults (P‐value <0.001). For older patients we observed the reverse, suggesting that the choice to move farther away is associated with better health (P‐value <0.001). For patients who did not change distance categories, only medium distance in children was significant (P‐value = 0.01). Known confounding factors including age and CFTR mutation class were statistically significantly associated to health outcomes (P‐value <0.001).ConclusionsThis study shows distance is not found to be associated with health lung function among patients whose distance category remained unchanged during the analysis. For patients who move, the association of health with distance depends on the age of the patient; adult patients further from their care center are healthier. Overall, we find that socioeconomic and genetic factors appear to impact health outcomes to a greater extent.