bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation between corrected carotid flow time and left ventricular outflow tract velocity‐time integral using a novel technique
Authors: Cheong Issac , Merlo Pablo Martín , Tamagnone Francisco Marcelo 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundTransthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely used for assessing patients in the intensive care unit, with cardiac output measurement being crucial for hemodynamic monitoring. This is achieved by measuring the velocity‐time integral (VTI) of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), which serves as a surrogate of stroke volume. However, conducting TTE in the critical care setting presents several challenges. Our primary objective was to investigate the relationship between carotid corrected flow time (cCFT) and LVOT VTI. Additionally, we aimed to determine the threshold cCFT value that reliably predicts a normal LVOT VTI.Materials and MethodsThis proof‐of‐concept study involves a post‐hoc analysis from a diagnostic accuracy investigation conducted in a medical‐surgical intensive care unit. We included patients admitted to the ICU from December 2021 to January 2022. We used a phased array transducer to measure the cCFT at the left supraclavicular fossa and the LVOT VTI in an apical 5‐chamber view.ResultsWe included 22 patients. The Spearman coefficient between LVOT VTI and cCFT was 0.82 (p < 0.0001). The area under the ROC curve for cCFT to predict LVOT VTI equal to or greater than 17 cm was 0.871 (95% CI 0.660–0.974). A cCFT exceeding 283 ms predicted LVOT VTI equal to or greater than 17 cm with a sensitivity of 93.3% (95% CI 68.1% to 99.8%) and specificity of 85.7% (95% CI 42.1% to 99.6%).ConclusionThe cCFT, measured using a novel technique with a phased array transducer, shows a strong correlation with LVOT VTI. Additionally, cCFT predicts a normal LVOT VTI with good sensitivity and specificity in critically ill patients. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Discrimination Between Benign and Malignant Lesions With Restriction Spectrum Imaging MRI in an Enriched Breast Cancer Screening Cohort
Authors: Loubrie Stephane , Zou Jingjing , Rodriguez‐Soto Ana E. , Lim Jihe , Andreassen Maren M.S. , Cheng Yuwei , Batasin Summer J. , Ebrahimi Sheida , Fang Lauren K. , Conlin Christopher C. , Seibert Tyler M. , Hahn Michael E. , Dialani Vandana , Wei Catherine J. , Karimi Zahra , Kuperman Joshua , Dale Anders M. , Ojeda‐Fournier Haydee , Pisano Etta , Rakow‐Penner Rebecca 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundBreast cancer screening with dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) is recommended for high‐risk women but has limitations, including variable specificity and difficulty in distinguishing cancerous (CL) and high‐risk benign lesions (HRBL) from average‐risk benign lesions (ARBL). Complementary non‐invasive imaging techniques would be useful to improve specificity.PurposeTo evaluate the performance of a previously‐developed breast‐specific diffusion‐weighted MRI (DW‐MRI) model (BS‐RSI3C) to improve discrimination between CL, HRBL, and ARBL in an enriched screening population.Study TypeProspective.SubjectsExactly 187 women, either with mammography screening recommending additional imaging (N = 49) or high‐risk individuals undergoing routine breast MRI (N = 138), before the biopsy.Field Strength/SequenceMultishell DW‐MRI echo planar imaging sequence with a reduced field of view at 3.0 T.AssessmentA total of 72 women had at least one biopsied lesion, with 89 lesions categorized into ARBL, HRBL, CL, and combined CLs and HRBLs (CHRLs). DW‐MRI data were processed to produce apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, and estimate signal contributions (C1, C2, and C3—restricted, hindered, and free diffusion, respectively) from the BS‐RSI3C model. Lesion regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated on DW images based on suspicious DCE‐MRI findings by two radiologists; control ROIs were drawn in the contralateral breast.Statistical TestsOne‐way ANOVA and two‐sided t‐tests were used to assess differences in signal contributions and ADC values among groups. P‐values were adjusted using the Bonferroni method for multiple testing, P = 0.05 was used for the significance level. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and intra‐class correlations (ICC) were also evaluated.ResultsC1, √C1C2, and were significantly different in HRBLs compared with ARBLs (P‐values < 0.05). The had the highest AUC (0.821) in differentiating CHRLs from ARBLs, performing better than ADC (0.696), especially in non‐mass enhancement (0.776 vs. 0.517).Data ConclusionThis study demonstrated the BS‐RSI3C could differentiate HRBLs from ARBLs in a screening population, and separate CHRLs from ARBLs better than ADC.Level of Evidence1.Technical Efficacy Stage2.
Clinical and etiological characteristics of severe hemorrhagic fever caused by coinfection of hantaan orthohantavirus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus
Authors: Jiang Feng , Zhao Yongxiang , Peng Ruihao , Wen Ya , Bi Yudan , Zhou Yichen , Chen Yao , Deng Hua , Han Xiaohu , Chen Zeliang 
Published: September 2024

AbstractSevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) usually have different infection routes, and coinfection is relatively rare. This study examines the clinical and etiological characteristics of coinfection by these two pathogens to provide important references for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Blood samples from 22 clinically diagnosed patients with HFRS were collected for molecular detection of HFRS and common tick and mouse borne diseases. Inoculate the blood of six severe and critically patients into cells to isolate and proliferate potential viruses, and retest the cell culture to determine the pathogen. In addition, complete data were collected from these 22 HFRS and concurrent SFTS patients, and white blood cells (WBCs), platelet (PLT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and other data were compared and analyzed. A total of 31 febrile patients, including 22 HFRS patients and 9 SFTS patients, were collected from September 2021 to October 2022. Among these HFRS patients, 11 were severe or critical. Severe and critical HFRS patients were characterized by rodent exposure history, pharyngeal and conjunctival hyperemia, abnormal WBC and PLT counts, and elevated BUN and Cr values. Virus isolation and molecular detection on blood samples from 6 patients showed that three of the six severe patients were positive for hantaan virus (HTNV), and two of the three HTNV positives were also positive for SFTS bunyavirus (SFTSV). The two coinfected patients exhibited different clinical and laboratory characteristics compared to those infected by either virus alone. Coinfection of HTNV and SFTSV leads to severe and complex hemorrhagic fever. Laboratory characteristics, such as the indicators of WBC, PLT, BUN, and Cr, may differ between HFRS and SFTS. These findings have implications and provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of coinfected cases.
Relationship Between Tourists' Perceived Restorative Environment and Wellness Tourism Destinations
Authors: Jeong Heonkyu 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTThis study aims to determine the importance of tourists' perceptions of wellness tourism destinations and their performance based on tourists' perceived restorative environments. An empirical analysis was conducted using sample data collected through a survey with 428 tourists who have experienced wellness tourism. According to the analysis results, there were differences in the level of tourists' perception of the restorative environment. Based on these differences, tourists were subdivided into “the high‐perception group,” “the medium‐perception group,” and “the low‐perception group.” A clear difference in the importance and performance of wellness destinations considered by tourists based on clusters was also found. This segmentation based on the restorative environment can be applied to the development of tourism resource tailored to tourist characteristics.
Free‐roaming horses exceeding appropriate management levels affect multiple vital rates in greater sage‐grouse
Authors: Beck Jeffrey L. , Milligan Megan C. , Smith Kurt T. , Street Phillip A. , Pratt Aaron C. , Kirol Christopher P. , Wanner Caitlyn P. , Hennig Jacob D. , Dinkins Jonathan B. , Derek Scasta J. , Coates Peter S. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractSince the passage of the Wild Free‐Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, federal agencies have been responsible for managing free‐roaming equids in the United States. Over the last 20 years, management has been hampered by direct opposition from advocacy groups, budget limitations, and a decline in the public's willingness to adopt free‐roaming horses (Equus caballus). As a result, free‐roaming equid numbers have increased to >3 times the targeted goal of 26,785 (horses and burros [E. asinus] combined), the cumulative sum of the appropriate management levels (AML) for all 177 designated herd management areas (HMA) managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This increase is one of the causes of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population declines, owing to habitat alteration from free‐roaming equids exacerbated by ongoing drought. To evaluate potential demographic mechanisms influencing these declines, we compiled survival data from 4 studies in central Wyoming, USA, including 995 adult female (first‐year breeders or older) sage‐grouse during the breeding season, 1,075 nests, 372 broods, and 136 juveniles (i.e., overwinter survival for fledged young), from 2008–2022. During this period, we also obtained population information for free‐roaming horses from 9 HMAs used by individual grouse in our sample. Population estimates of free‐roaming horses for these HMAs ranged from 59% to 7 times of the maximum appropriate management level (AMLmax). Sage‐grouse monitored outside of HMAs represented control populations and, because we assumed they were not exposed to populations of free‐roaming horses, we set values of AMLmax to zero for all grouse located outside of HMAs. To evaluate whether free‐roaming horses were negatively affecting sage‐grouse, we modeled daily survival of breeding age females, nest, broods, and juveniles. There was strong or moderate evidence that overabundant free‐roaming horses negatively affected nest, brood, and juvenile survival. When horse abundance increased from AMLmax to 3 times AMLmax, survival was reduced 8.1%, 18.3%, 18.2%, and 18.2% for nests, early broods (≤20 days after hatch), late broods (>20 days to 35 days after hatch), and juveniles, respectively. These results indicate increasing free‐roaming horse numbers affected vital rates for important life stages of sage‐grouse, and that maintaining free‐roaming horse numbers below AMLmax would reduce negative effects to sage‐grouse populations.
The Use of Water Sac Dilation in Resecting Parapharyngeal Space Benign Tumor via Transoral Approach
Authors: Dong Yuke , Zhang Junbo , Li Yujie , Huang Wei , Dang Yanwei , Li Tao , Xu Lianfang , Shen Xiao , Li Hongyan , Huang Lijie , Li Beiying 
Published: September 2024

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of employing the water sac dilation (WSD) method during endoscopy‐assisted transoral resection of parapharyngeal space benign tumor (PSBT).MethodsBetween February 2017 and January 2022, a total of 32 patients diagnosed with PSBT were included in this prospective study and were randomly allocated into two groups: the WSD group and the control group. Tumors of the WSD group patients were all dissected using the WSD method.ResultsThe final numbers of studied patients in WSD group and control group were 17 and 15, respectively. The basic information was comparable between these two groups of patients. All these patients successfully underwent tumor resection via transoral approach. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume on the first postoperative day, drainage duration, and the total drainage volume in the WSD group patients were significantly lower than those in the control group patients (all p < 0.05). No surgical complications occurred, and no residual tumor or recurrence could be identified at 6 months after surgery in both groups of patients.ConclusionThe application of the WSD method in endoscopy‐assisted transoral resection of PSBT effectively attenuated intraoperative injury, improved surgical efficiency, and accelerated postoperative recovery.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 135:665–670, 2025
Impact of Biologics on Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyps and Allergic Fungal Sinusitis
Authors: Bentan Mihai A. , Pingree Graham , Lee Lawrance , Fitzpatrick Thomas , Schuman Theodore 
Published: September 2024

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of th2‐targeted biologic medications (dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab) on absolute risk reduction (ARR) of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS).MethodsThe TriNetX Research Network database was queried for each mAb's market lifespan through March 2024. Adults with CRSwNP were propensity score matched against non‐mAb controls based on age, sex, race, and asthma diagnosis. The primary outcome was rate of FESS, with secondary outcomes including inpatient admission, emergency department (ED) visit, and incidence of acute sinusitis. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients with AFRS.ResultsAll mAbs decreased FESS risk (dupilumab, ARR 11.48%, 95% CI 9.82%–13.15%, p < 0.001; omalizumab, ARR 12.02%, 95% CI 4.36%–19.68%, p = 0.002; mepolizumab, ARR 10.32%, 95% CI 5.24%–15.40%, p < 0.001) in CRSwNP patients. Only dupilumab also reduced risk of inpatient admission (ARR 8.59%, 95% CI 7.04%–10.15%, p < 0.001), ED visit (ARR 5.94%, 95% CI 4.28%–7.61%, p < 0.001), and acute sinusitis (ARR 2.60%, 95% CI 1.09%–4.12%, p = 0.001). In AFRS patients, only dupilumab reduced the risk of all outcomes: FESS (ARR 6.97%, 95 CI 2.86%–11.09%, p = 0.001), inpatient admission (ARR 16.93%, 95% CI 11.30%–22.57%, p < 0.001), ED visit (ARR 13.15%, 95% CI 7.15%–19.14%, p < 0.001), and acute sinusitis (ARR 7.17%, 95% CI 2.18%–12.17%, p = 0.005).ConclusionAlthough all mAbs reduced FESS risk in CRSwNP, only dupilumab reduced secondary outcomes as well. Similarly, only dupilumab improved all outcomes in AFRS patients. These data demonstrate the potential of mAbs in reducing disease burden and enhancing patient outcomes in CRSwNP and AFRS.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 135:593–601, 2025
Sediment Transport Dynamics Modeling of Overland Flow on Gentle Slopes Based on Flume Experiments
Authors: Zhang Kai , Zhang Chengcheng , Wang Zhidan , Bai Yikui , Wang Xuan 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTSoil erosion is a global environmental issue, and sediment transport capacity (T

c
) is critical for developing soil erosion models. This study conducted flume drainage experiments at six flow discharges (0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, and 0.65 L s−1) and eight slope gradients (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, and 12.0°) to investigate how the T
c of gentle slopes in the northeastern hilly region of China and water erosion factors are related and to establish a T
c model of overland flow. The study demonstrated a power–law relationship between T
c, flow discharge, and slope gradient, as evidenced by a high coefficient of determination (R
2; 0.94) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE; 0.92) values. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between T
c and average flow velocity, with R
2 and NSE values of 0.86 and 0.84, respectively. Among the hydrodynamic parameters tested, the average flow velocity was determined to be the most effective T
c predictor, surpassing stream power (R
2 > 0.7, NSE > 0.7), shear stress (R
2 > 0.6, NSE > 0.6), and unit stream power (R
2 < 0.5, NSE < 0.5). These findings lay the foundation for developing process‐based sediment transport models for gentle slopes in the northeastern hilly regions of China.
Ecological patterns of benthic foraminiferal communities driven by seasonal and spatial environmental gradients in an Arctic fjord
Authors: Guilhermic Corentin , Nardelli Maria Pia , Mouret Aurélia , Pusceddu Antonio , Baltzer Agnès , Howa Hélène 
Published: September 2024

AbstractArctic fjords, being transitional areas between glacier‐covered land and the ocean, are characterized by strong environmental gradients. The seasonal melting of glaciers generates strong turbidity and primary production antagonist gradients, which can affect benthic habitats. Two sampling campaigns were carried out in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Arctic Ocean) in May and August 2021 to investigate seasonal changes in benthic foraminifera spatial distribution and ecosystem functioning along a longitudinal transect of 10 km from the Kronebreen tidewater glacier front. Concurrently, organic matter quantity and biochemical composition, sediment grain size, and physical parameters of the water masses were investigated as possible driving factors of benthic ecosystem responses. In a previous study, three statistically determined foraminiferal biozonations (glacier proximal, medial, and distal) were observed on the basis of their species content within the closest 10 km from the glacier front, presenting similar assemblages in both seasons. Our results indicate that foraminiferal distribution at the local scale is mainly driven by physical and geochemical gradients induced by melting waters and sediment discharges from the tidewater glacier occurring during summer. Due to the climate change, the melting season is expected to last longer and increasing global temperature will much probably accelerate the melting processes. Our findings strongly support the use of foraminifera as bioindicators to monitor the effects of ongoing climate change on the benthic ecosystems of Arctic fjords and, accessorily, as proxies for reconstructing glacier front positions in the recent past.
Probing the Linear‐to‐Plastic Transition in Polymer Nanocomposites via Atomistic Simulations: The Role of Interphases
Authors: Reda Hilal , Katsamba Panayiota , Chazirakis Anthony , Harmandaris Vagelis 
Published: September 2024

AbstractPolymer nanocomposites have found ubiquitous use across diverse industries, attributable to their distinctive properties and enhanced mechanical performance compared to conventional materials. Elucidating the elastic‐to‐plastic transition in polymer nanocomposites under diverse mechanical loads is paramount for the bespoke design of materials with desired mechanical attributes. In the current work, the elastic‐to‐plastic transition is probed in model systems of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and silica, SiO2, nanoparticles, through detailed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. This comprehensive, multi‐scale analysis unveils pivotal markers of the elastic‐to‐plastic transition, highlighting the quintessential role of microstructural and regional heterogeneities in density, strain, and stress fields, featuring the polymer‐nanoparticle interphase region. At the atomic level, the behavior of polymer chains interacting with nanoparticle surfaces is traced, differentiating between free and adsorbed chains, and identifying the microscopic origins of the linear‐to‐plastic transition. The mechanical behavior of subregions are characterized within the PEO/SiO2 nanocomposites, focusing on the interphase and bulk‐like polymer areas, probing stress heterogeneities and their decomposition into various force contributions. At the inception of plasticity, a disruption is discerned in isotropy of the polymeric density field, the emergence of low‐density regions, and microscopic voids/cavities within the polymer matrix concomitant with a transition of adsorbed chains to free. The yield strain also emerges as an inflection point in the local versus global strain diagram, demarcating the elastic limit, and the plastic regime shows pronounced strain heterogeneities. The decomposition of the atomic Virial stress into bonded and non‐bonded interactions indicates that the rigidity of the material is primarily governed by non‐bonded interactions, significantly influenced by the volume fraction of the nanoparticle. These findings emphasize the importance of the microstructural and micromechanical environment at the polymer‐nanoparticle interface on the linear‐to‐plastic transition, which is of great importance in the design of nanocomposite materials with advanced mechanical properties.
Denoising of dual‐VENC PC‐MRI with large high/low VENC ratios
Authors: Brunátová Jana , Löcke Miriam , Uribe Sergio , Bertoglio Cristóbal 
Published: September 2024

AbstractPurposeDual velocity encoding PC‐MRI can produce spurious artifacts when using high ratios of velocity encoding values (VENCs), limiting its ability to generate high‐quality images across a wide range of encoding velocities. This study aims to propose and compare dual‐VENC correction methods for such artifacts.Theory and MethodsTwo denoising approaches based on spatiotemporal regularization are proposed and compared with a state‐of‐the‐art method based on sign correction. Accuracy is assessed using simulated data from an aorta and brain aneurysm, as well as 8 two‐dimensional (2D) PC‐MRI ascending aorta datasets. Two temporal resolutions (30,60) ms and noise levels (9,12) dB are considered, with noise added to the complex magnetization. The error is evaluated with respect to the noise‐free measurement in the synthetic case and to the unwrapped image without additional noise in the volunteer datasets.ResultsIn all studied cases, the proposed methods are more accurate than the Sign Correction technique. Using simulated 2D+T data from the aorta (60 ms, 9 dB), the Dual‐VENC (DV) error is reduced to: (Sign Correction); and (proposed techniques). The methods are found to be significantly different (p‐value ). Importantly, brain aneurysm data revealed that the Sign Correction method is not suitable, as it increases error when the flow is not unidirectional. All three methods improve the accuracy of in vivo data.ConclusionThe newly proposed methods outperform the Sign Correction method in improving dual‐VENC PC‐MRI images. Among them, the approach based on temporal differences has shown the highest accuracy.
High‐resolution surface‐wave‐constrained mapping of sparse dynamic cone penetrometer tests
Authors: Wang Ao , Rejiba Fayçal , Bodet Ludovic , Finco Cécile , Fauchard Cyrille 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) provides local soil resistance information. The difference in the vertical and horizontal data resolution (centimetric vs. multi‐metric) makes it difficult to spatialize the DCP data directly. This study uses a high‐resolution section, extracted by the seismic surface‐wave method, as the auxiliary and physical constraint for mapping the DCP index (DCPI). Geostatistical formalism (kriging and cokriging) is used. The associated measurement error of the seismic surface‐wave data is also included in the cokriging system, that is, the cokriging with variance of measurement error (CKVME). The proposed methods are validated for the first time on a test site designed and constructed for this study, with known geotechnical perspectives. Seismic and high‐intensity DCP campaigns were performed on the test site. The results show that with decimating the number of DCP soundings, the kriging approach is no longer capable of estimating the lateral variation in the test site, and the root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) value of the kriging section is increased by . With the help of sections constraining the lateral variability model, the RMSE values of the cokriging and the CKVME sections are increased by and .